This is when your Nokia smartphone will get an Android 9 Pie update
HMD Global this week launched its Nokia 7.1 smartphone. And at the launch, the company gave away detailed information about when exactly will other Nokia smartphones be getting the Android 9 Pie update.
Recently, HMD Global’s Nokia 7 smartphone got updated with the latest Android version and the update is expected for other Nokia smartphones too, as they come under Google’s Android One program.
At the event, the company has confirmed that the Android 9 Pie update will be coming to handsets including Nokia 6.1, Nokia 6.1 Plus, Nokia 8 and Nokia 8 Sirocco.
The smartphones running on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 600 SoC series — namely Nokia 6.1 and Nokia 6.1 Plus — will be getting the update first. The Android 9 Pie update will come to both the smartphones in October.
The Nokia 8 and Nokia 8 Sirocco (review) will be getting the latest Android version update in November. However, no dates have been disclosed by the company for the release of these updates. In the last few years, all the Nokia smartphones that have been launched fall under the Android One program — which promises timely Android updates and security patches for at least two years from the launch day of the smartphone.
The company has also said that it plans to roll out the Android 9 Pie updates to Nokia smartphones other than the ones it mentioned.
Speaking of the most recently launched smartphone by HMD Global — Nokia 7.1 runs Android 8.1 Oreo.
Like other Nokia smartphones that have launched recently, Nokia 7.1 is also a part of Google’s Android One program – which means that it will also be getting an update to Android 9 Pie soon. The company has confirmed this at the launch event of the smartphone and the update is expected to come to the phone next month.
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Flipkart Big Billion Day sale: Deals on Samsung Galaxy S8, On6, A7 and other smartphones, tablets you should know about
If you have been waiting to buy a smartphone from Samsung, you really have a reason to look forward to Flipkart’s upcoming festive season sale. The technology giant is rolling out discount offers on a number of its smartphones that will be applicable during Flipkart’s ‘The Big Billion Days’ sale, which is starting on October 11.
Samsung‘s last year’s flagship smartphone — Galaxy S8 — is going to get a price cut of Rs 20,000 and will be available for Rs 29,990 during Flipkart’s sale. It is worth noticing that the offer will only be available on the 64GB storage variant of the device.
To recall, Samsung Galaxy S8 comes with a 5.8-inch Infinity display and has a bezel-less design. The smartphone also has Samsung Pay and supports Samsung’s digital assistant Bixby.
Other than this, Samsung Galaxy On6 smartphone will be available at a reduced price too. While it is currently available at Rs 14,490, during the sale one can buy it for Rs 11,990.
Other smartphones from Samsung that will be getting a discount are Galaxy J3 Pro, Galaxy On Max and the 64GB storage variant of Galaxy On Nxt. While earlier they were priced at Rs 8,490, Rs 16,900 and Rs 16,900, their prices will be reduced to Rs 6,190, Rs 11,990 and Rs 9,990 respectively.
Samsung Galaxy A7 — the company’s first smartphone with triple rear cameras — will also be going on sale at a price of Rs 23,990.
Tablets from Samsung will too be available on a discounted price. Samsung Galaxy Tab A T355Y — which is currently priced at Rs 16,500 — will be available for Rs 11,999. The company’s flagship tablet — Samsung Galaxy Tab S2, which is available for Rs 38,500, can be bought at Rs 21,999 during Flipkart’s sale.
The company is also slashing the price of its smartband Samsung Gear Fit 2 Pro. Currently, the smartband is priced at Rs 13,490, and during the sale it will be available at Rs 8,999.
It is worth mentioning that all these smartphones will be available at no cost EMI. A 10% instant discount can be availed if the purchase has been made via HDFC Bank debit or credit card. Seems like Samsung us going all out this festive season. However, we would have loved to see a discount on the latest flagship smartphones by Samsung as well.
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Xiaomi begins local manufacturing of Mi LED TVs in India
Chinese electronics maker Xiaomi has been dominating the Indian smartphone market for a reasonable time now. And this week, the company has announced that it will now be manufacturing its Mi LED TVs in India.
The technology giant has joined hands with Noida based Dixon Technologies to begin manufacturing of Mi LED TVs in India at a facility in Tirupati. The facility has been inaugurated by Andhra Pradesh’s chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Speaking on the occasion of the inauguration, N. Chandrababu Naidu said, “I have a vision of making Tirupati an IT Hub, offering a one-stop solution for leading electronics players encompassing the entire life cycle of and ecosystem in electronics from design to death.”
He further added, “I am delighted to welcome Xiaomi, the undisputed leader of ‘Smart TVs’ in India, along with Dixon Technologies to the holy city of Tirupati and to the family of other leading electronics players that will help showcase the state as an example of transparent governance.”
The Mi LED TV manufacturing plant is spread across 32-acres and will appoint over 850 people to work there. According to Xiaomi, the factory will have the ability to produce 1,00,000 Mi LED TVs per month by Q1 2019.
Xiaomi’s Vice President and Managing Director of its India operations, Manu Jain said, “After a successful smartphone journey, we are beginning a new chapter with Mi LED TV manufacturing in India. We are already the number one ‘Smart TV’ brand in India, and we hope that with our increased focus on local manufacturing, we would be able to increase our supply and reach out to many more Mi Fans.”
Xiaomi’s plant will start local manufacturing with Mi LED Smart TV 4A 80cm (32-inch) and Mi LED Smart TV 4A 180cm (43-inch).
According to market research firm IDC’s “Worldwide Quarterly Smart Home Device Tracker 2018Q2”, Mi LED TV is the top ‘Smart TV’ brand in India. In 2015, Xiaomi announced that its plans to manufacture smartphones in India and today, the company claims to have six smartphone manufacturing plants in the country.
It has manufacturing plants in Sri City, Sriperumbudur and Noida. Its power bank plant is also located in Noida. The Chinese smartphone company has said in a statement that over 95% of its smartphones sold in India are made in the country itself.
With the introduction of its air and water purifiers, projectors, security cameras, televisions and kitchen equipment, Xiaomi has also forayed into the smart home category in the country.
Xiaomi has four Mi Home Experience Stored in India — in Bengaluru, Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai. Overt thay, the company also has 36 Mi Home stores in the country and with the aim of growing its offline network, it eyes to expand that number to 100 this year.
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Comparison: LG V40 ThinQ vs Huawei P20 Pro
If you are someone who loves technology, you must be delighted this year with the launch of smartphones with multiple cameras. Earlier this year, we saw the launch of Huawei P20 Pro which sports a triple rear camera setup coupled with a front camera for selfies and video calls.
The smartphone reportedly surpassed the newly launched Apple iPhone XS Max in DxOMark ratings. While Apple’s flagship only managed a 105, Huawei P20 Pro scored 109.
And this week, LG rolled out its flagship of the year V40 ThinQ smartphone that comes with a total of five cameras – three on the back panel and dual front facing snappers.
Although the smartphone is yet to launch in India, it has already created a stir with its most talked about feature of five cameras. Photography enthusiasts are waiting to try it themselves. If you are one of them and want to buy either of the two smartphones, the choice must be a tough one.
And if you are indeed finding yourself facing this tough choice, then we are here to help you by comparing all the specifications of both the devices. Read our comparison of the two photography-centric smartphones and decide which one is the right buy for you:
LG V40 ThinQ: 6.4-inch QHD+ OLED FullVision display
Huawei P20 Pro: 6.1-inch full HD+ OLED display
LG V40 ThinQ: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor
Huawei P20 Pro: Octa-core Kirin 970 processor
LG V40 ThinQ: 12MP sensor with 78-degree viewing angle + 16MP ultra-wide angle sensor with 107-degree viewing angle + 12MP telephoto lens with 45-degree viewing angle
Huawei P20 Pro: 40MP RGB sensor + 20MP monochrome sensor + 8MP camera with 3x optical zoom
LG V40 ThinQ: 8MP+5MP dual front cameras
Huawei P20 Pro: 24MP front facing snappers
LG V40 ThinQ: 6GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage
Huawei P20 Pro: 6GB RAM and 128GB of onboard storage
LG V40 ThinQ: 3,300mAh battery
Huawei P20 Pro: 4,000mAh battery
LG V40 ThinQ: Up to 2TB
Huawei P20 Pro: Not applicable
LG V40 ThinQ: Android 8.1 Oreo
Huawei P20 Pro: EMUI 8.1 based on Android 8.1 Oreo
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[td_smart_list_end]
In This Article
Display
LG V40 ThinQ: 6.4-inch QHD+ OLED FullVision display
Huawei P20 Pro: 6.1-inch full HD+ OLED display
Processor
LG V40 ThinQ: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor
Huawei P20 Pro: Octa-core Kirin 970 processor
Primary camera
LG V40 ThinQ: 12MP sensor with 78-degree viewing angle + 16MP ultra-wide angle sensor with 107-degree viewing angle + 12MP telephoto lens with 45-degree viewing angle
Huawei P20 Pro: 40MP RGB sensor + 20MP monochrome sensor + 8MP camera with 3x optical zoom
Selfie camera
LG V40 ThinQ: 8MP+5MP dual front cameras
Huawei P20 Pro: 24MP front facing snappers
RAM and storage
LG V40 ThinQ: 6GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage
Huawei P20 Pro: 6GB RAM and 128GB of onboard storage
Battery
LG V40 ThinQ: 3,300mAh battery
Huawei P20 Pro: 4,000mAh battery
Support for microSD card
LG V40 ThinQ: Up to 2TB
Huawei P20 Pro: Not applicable
Operating system
LG V40 ThinQ: Android 8.1 Oreo
Huawei P20 Pro: EMUI 8.1 based on Android 8.1 Oreo
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[td_smart_list_end] Instagram makes it easy to find and follow people with ‘Nametags’
When we think of posting a picture on social media today, we inevitably think of Instagram. The Facebook-owned photo-sharing app is getting stuffed with new features — and some of them have been inspired by its rival Snapchat.
The latest such feature to be rolled out is Nametag. With Nametag, Instagram wants to make it easier for its users to find and follow people they know. And interestingly, it is basically Instagram’s version of Snap Codes that we have earlier seen on Snapchat. The feature is being rolled out to both Android and iOS versions of Instagram.
So now, instead of asking people for their Instagram handle, users can now share and scan each other’s nametag. To access the feature, users will have to go to the Menu of their apps that appears on top right of their profiles. After that, they should select the option of ‘Nametag’.
Nametag can also be personalised by touching anywhere on the screen or tapping the button at the top to try other designs. These include various colours, emojis or selfies with different stickers. Once you decide your nametag, you can either have your friends scan it or share it with them via text messages or on social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp. This can be done by just pressing the arrow on top right of your nametag.
And if you wish to scan someone else’s ‘Nametag’, you can swipe right to go your app’s camera, hover over the nametag and hold down on your screen. You can also scan someone else’s Nametag by tapping ‘Scan a nametag’ option that will appear when you view your own nametag.
Besides Nametag, Instagram is also known to be testing a new “school communities” feature. As the name suggests, the feature makes it easier for Instagram users at the same university to find and follow each other. However, users will have to add their school and graduation year to their profile for it to work. If users are a part of any particular organization like a sports team or a sorority, they can add that too.
It is worth mentioning that this concept is similar to the Networks feature from Facebook‘s early days.
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Nokia 7.1 with PureDisplay technology, Zeiss-branded camera lenses launched: Price, specifications and more
HMD Global has unveiled Nokia 7.1 smartphone at an event in London. Nokia 7.1 is the successor to the company’s Nokia 7 smartphone that we saw last year and has been launched right after Nokia 6.1 Plus and Nokia 5.1 Plus. The smartphone comes with PureDisplay screen technology and Zeiss-branded dual cameras.
Nokia 7.1 mobile will be available in two colour variants — Gloss Midnight Blue and Gloss Steel. In global markets, the smartphone will be available starting October. In Europe, the base storage model of Nokia 7.1 is priced at 299 Euros and the higher storage model costs 349 Euros.
While there is no official word about the smartphone‘s availability in India, HMD Global is hosting an event here on October 11. So we wouldn’t be wrong to expect the smartphone getting launched then.
Specifications
The Nokia 7.1 features a 5.84-inch FHD+ IPS LCD display that has an aspect ratio of 19:9. Nokia 7.1 comes with PureDisplay screen technology which — according to the company — ensures a more immersive viewing experience and enhances contrast with HDR10 support. HMD Global is calling Nokia 7.1 the first ever Nokia smartphone to come with the said technology that allows users to view vibrant videos on various apps that support HDR content. Nokia 7.1 mobile can also convert SDR content to HDR in real-time.
The front and the back panel of the smartphone are covered with Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The design comes clubbed with dual-anodised Series 6000 aluminium frame that has diamond cut edges. The back panel also houses the dual camera setup and the fingerprint sensor. Powered by 1.8GHz Snapdragon 636 processor, Nokia 7.1 smartphone comes in two storage variants — one with 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage and the other with 4GB RAM and 64GB onboard storage. Both the variants can support a microSD card of up to 400GB.
The dual rear camera setup of the smartphone comes with a 12MP+5MP sensors. While the primary sensor comes with f/1.8 aperture and 1.28 micron pixels, the secondary sensor has depth support. Both the cameras come with Zeiss-branded lenses. For selfies and video calls, there is an 8MP front facing snapper that has an aperture of f/2.0.
Nokia 7.1 houses a 3,060mAh battery and runs Android 8.1 Oreo. Note that the device is a part of Google’s Android One program — much like other Nokia smartphones that have been launched this year. This means that users will get timely Android updates and security patches. HMD Global has also promised an Android 9 Pie update for Nokia 7.1 soon. The newly launched Nokia 7.1 is ARCore certified — which means that it has the ability to run a number of AR apps that are found in Play Store.
Connectivity options of the smartphone include 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v5.0, GPS/ A-GPS, GLONASS, NFC, USB Type-C, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Besides a fingerprint sensor, the smartphone also has an accelerometer, ambient light sensor, electronic compass, gyroscope and a proximity sensor.
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Truvison TW2462 24-inch gaming TV launched in India: Price, specs and more
The Indian television market has seen a number of new entrants in the last few months. Chinese technology firm Xiaomi launched its Mi TV 4C Pro and Mi TV 4 Pro models last month and prior to that, we saw the launch of new televisions from Blaupunkt.
And now, the European consumer electronics and appliances company Truvison has announced that it is expanding its television line-up in the country. The company has today introduced TW2462 24-inch Gaming TV in India. Called as an affordable LED television by Truvison, TW2462 24-inch Gaming TV is claimed to come with a high performance engine and is supposed to give a faster response for streamlined user experience.
According to Truvison, TW2462 24-inch Gaming TV has been designed to add versatility to consumers’ gaming experience.
The television sports a glossy finish and features a 24-inch Full HD 1080p IPS LED panel which is said to offer an enhanced contrast and better colour reproduction. It is the first television to be sold in the country to come with built-in NES games.
The firm said in a statement that TW2462 24-inch Gaming TV has improved the response time and contrast ratio for better gaming experience.
It comes with A+ grade panel and a resolution of 1080p clubbed with a wide colour enhancer. The corporation claims that these three together ensure that the integrity of the picture is always deep and detailed, perfect and pure. It is also said to create perfect blacks with an infinite contrast ratio along with instantaneous response time and fast moving scenes.
This gaming television has two USB ports and one HDMI input and includes a 20W speaker that has support for Dolby Digital Sound.
The company has also claimed that the gaming TV has one among the lowest power consumption in the market because of its customized back-light mode. If you wish to buy the Truvison TW2462 24-inch Gaming TV, you can buy it for price of Rs 10,990. The TV set is already available at leading retail stores.
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Samsung Galaxy S9+, Note 9 are now available in new colour variants along with festive season offers
Samsung has marked the beginning of the festive season by announcing new colour options for both of its flagship smartphones that were launched this year. The Samsung Galaxy S9+ — which till now was only available in Blue and Sunrise Gold colour variants — will now also be available in Burgundy Red colour. And customers can now buy the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 in Lavender Purple colour variant besides the Ocean Blue, Midnight Black and Artisan Copper.
That’s not all. Customers can also avail festive season offers if they are planning to buy the two smartphones. To begin with, if you buy the Samsung Galaxy S9+ or the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 using HDFC bank credit/debit card or Paytm Mall, you’ll be eligible for getting a cashback of Rs 6,000. And if you already own a Galaxy smartphone and are upgrading to the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, you will be able to get an additional Rs 6,000 as an exchange bonus.
Galaxy Watch is also available at a discount to Samsung Galaxy Note 9 buyers. The smartwatch — which is otherwise available at Rs 24,999 — can be bought by Note 9 buyers at just Rs 9,999.
While the 128GB storage version of Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is priced at Rs 67,900, the 512GB model costs Rs 84,900. With a cashback offer of Rs 6,000, the price of the base model will come down to Rs 61,900 and the cost of 512GB storage variant will become Rs 79,900.
Speaking of Samsung Galaxy S9+, its base model is priced at Rs 64,900, the 128GB storage version is available at Rs 68,900 and the 256GB storage variant bears a price tag of Rs 72,900. With the cashback offer rolled in, the base model’s price will come down to Rs 58,900, the 128GB storage version will cost Rs 62,900 and the 256GB storage variant will be priced at Rs 66,900.
Also for festive season offers, Aditya Babbar, General Manager, Mobile Business, Samsung India said, “Festive season is the time when our consumers look forward to upgrading to newer smartphones and technologies. This is best time to own our latest powerful flagship smartphones that are now available in exciting new colours and come with compelling offers, adding to the festive cheer.”
Earlier this month, Samsung Galaxy Note 9 also received an update that claims to make the camera experience on the phablet better. According to a report in Android Police, the update fine-tunes a number of things in Galaxy Note 9’s camera. It has enhanced the way day and night HDR is controlled and improved the brightness of faces in backlit conditions. In a nutshell, the new update is aimed at enhancing the colours when using the phablet for photography.
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Deal: OnePlus 6 to be available at Rs 29,999 for five days
If you are planning to buy the OnePlus 6, we have some good news for you. You can buy the smartphone for Rs 5,000 less than its actual price at Rs 29,999, during the Amazon Great Indian Sale. The Amazon Great Indian Sale is scheduled to begin on October 10 and will go on till October 15. So you have five days to purchase the OnePlus 6 (review) at a discounted price. OnePlus launched its flagship device earlier this year at Rs 34,999 and it is the first time that the company is offering it at a discounted price.
It is worth noticing that only the 64GB variant is listed for a discount on Amazon. This could mean that only that variant is available at a lower price, however we would have to wait for the sale to begin to know exactly.
Offering the phone at a discounted price makes sense as the company is all set to launch its next flagship – OnePlus 6T – on October 17. This will give the company a chance to clear stocks rapidly. After the launch of OnePlus 6T, the company is likely to discontinue its previous flagship if it remains true to its philosophy of focussing on one device at a time. Prior to this, OnePlus was never known for offering discounts on its devices during such sales. We have mostly seen the company offer cashbacks and exchange discounts before this.
We can probably credit this move to the competition the company has received from Xiaomi’s Poco F1. A strategy change was inevitable to move sales.
While OnePlus 6 at Rs 29,999 is definitely a good buy, one can also wait a few days for the OnePlus 6T, to get additional features like in-display fingerprint sensor, a display with waterdrop shaped notch and a bigger 3700mAh battery.
To recall, OnePlus 6 features a 6.28-inch FHD+ Full Optic AMOLED display that comes with a 19:9 aspect ratio. Powered by Qualcomm’s latest processor, Snapdragon 845, OnePlus 6 was launched with Android 8.1 Oreo skinned with company’s own OxygenOS 5.1. However, it recently received an update for Android 9.0 Pie. OnePlus 6 comes with a 16MP Sony IMX519 sensor and a 20MP Sony IM376K sensor on its back panel. For selfies and video calls, there is a 16MP front facing snapper. The smartphone also houses a 3,300mAh battery.
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LG V40 ThinQ with five cameras launched: Price, specs and more
After being silently unveiled by LG last week, the V40 ThinQ has gone official with a launch event in New York. The successor to the V30 smartphone that we saw last year, LG V40 ThinQ comes with five cameras. It has a triple rear camera setup and dual front facing snappers. The newly launched smartphone from LG has high end specifications including Snapdragon 845 processor and IP68 water and dust resistance. Here’s a look at the price and specifications of the device.
LG V40 ThinQ price
LG V40 ThinQ is priced at $899.99 and will be available in Aurora Black, Moroccan Blue, Platinum Gray and Carmine Red colour variants. The price of the smartphone may vary with the mobile carrier. It will be going on sale in the US starting October 18.
LG V40 ThinQ specifications
The LG V40 ThinQ features a 6.4-inch QHD+ OLED FullVision display that has an aspect ratio of 19.5:9 and is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor paired with 6GB RAM, the smartphone runs Android 8.1 Oreo. On the storage front, it has 128GB of internal storage and can hold a microSD card of up to 2TB.
For imaging duties, LG V40 ThinQ sports five cameras with a triple rear camera setup and two selfie cameras. The rear cameras of the smartphone include a 12MP sensor with f/1.5 aperture, 1.4-micron pixel size and 78-degree viewing angle, clubbed with a 16MP ultra-wide angle sensor with f/1.9 aperture, 1-micron pixel size, and 107-degree viewing angle. The third sensor in the triple rear camera setup is a 12MP telephoto lens that has a f/2.4 aperture, 1-micron pixel size, and 45-degree viewing angle. The rear cameras also come with Dual Phase Detection Auto Focus, HDR, and a third generation AI Cam mode that can recognise up to 19 subjects. It also has four optimised filter options.
The dual front camera setup comes with an 8MP primary sensor with f/1.9 aperture and 1.4-micron pixels and a 5MP sensor with f/2.2 aperture, 1.4-micron pixels.
The LG V40 ThinQ smartphone comes with a Triple Preview feature that enables users to take three simultaneous shots from the three rear cameras. Users can then select the best shot from the three shots taken.
The smartphone houses a 3,300mAh battery and supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 and fast wireless charging. Connectivity options of the smartphone include 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v5.0, GPS, NFC, USB Type-C, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
LG V40 ThinQ mobile also includes a rear facing fingerprint sensor and also comes with face recognition. It has a Boombox Speaker and 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC tuned by Meridian for enhanced audio and features DTS:X 3D Surround Sound.
Prior to LG V40 ThinQ, we saw a triple rear camera setup in Huawei’s flagship of the year – P20 Pro smartphone. While LG has used three different lenses in its smartphone, the Huawei P20 Pro sports a 40 MP RGB 1/1.7-inch sensor, clubbed with a 20 MP monochrome sensor and an 8MP telephoto lens.
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Microsoft Surface Event: 5 announcements you should know about
Technology giant Microsoft has unveiled its new line-up of Surface products at an event in New York. The new range of products from the technology company includes updates to the current laptop line and Surface Headphones. Microsoft has also launched the laptops in a new colour this time.
Here are the updates from Microsoft’s event that you should know about:
- Surface Pro 6 and Surface Laptop 2 Microsoft has announced its Surface Pro 6 laptop/tablet hybrid at the event. The updated laptop comes in a new matte black colour and Intel 8th generation processor. The company claims that its battery can last for 13.5 hours. Other than this, Microsoft also showcased the second generation Surface laptop that sports a 13.5-inch display and comes with an Alcantara fabric keyboard cover. It is powered by eighth generation quad-core processor and is claimed to have a battery life of 14.5 hours. While the Surface Pro 6 is priced at $899, the Surface Laptop 2 costs $999. The pre-orders of the laptops have started already and they will start shipping on October 16.
- Surface Headphones The newly launched Surface Headphones by Microsoft come with built-in digital assistant — Cortana. The over the ear wireless Bluetooth headphones have the volume and noise-cancellation buttons built into the ear cups. The headphones also have an automatic pause and play feature that stops the audio when the user takes them off. The Surface Headphones can be charged by a USB Type C cable and are said to have a battery life of up to 15 hours. Priced at $349, the headphones have gone on pre-orders. However, their date of shipping has not been confirmed by the company.
- Surface Studio 2 Microsoft also unveiled Surface Studio 2, which is its creative focused device. It features a 28-inch display and has a 50% improved graphic performance. It has an inbuilt Xbox Wireless and is compatible with Surface Dial. Surface Studio 2 bears a price tag of $3,499 and its pre-orders have begun. It will be shipped on October 16.
- App Mirroring With App Mirroring, users can cast their Android screens on their Windows 10 device. The user will have to go to Your Phone app, then select an app from their smartphone that they wish to use on their Windows 10 device. The feature will be available for both Android and iOS.
- Surface All Access The Surface line-up is set to get an All Access program. This will let customers club a Surface device with accessories and Office 365 for $24.99 per month for two years. This should surely make it easier for Windows users to get the device and programs of their choice as they can pay for it in installments. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrRGsoUGGHg For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
Moto E5 Plus, Moto X4 get a price cut in India
If you have been planning to buy a budget smartphone, there is some good news for you. You now have the option of buying the Moto E5 Plus and Moto X4 at cheaper prices in India as the company has announced an official price-cut on both the devices. While Moto X4 was launched in India last year, the Moto E5 Plus was unveiled this year in July along with Moto E5.
With the festive discount, Moto E5 Plus is available on Rs 10,999, while earlier it was priced at Rs 11,999. The 3GB RAM and 4GB RAM versions of Moto X4 have both got a price cut of Rs 2,000 and are now available at Rs 13,999 and Rs 15,999 respectively. While the 3GB RAM variant was earlier priced at Rs 15,999, the 4GB RAM version costed Rs 17,999.
However, there is no word on whether the price cut is a permanent one or it’s just an offer rolled out by the company for the festive season.
Lenovo-owned Motorola has announced that the offer is applicable at all Moto Hubs and retail stores in the country. With the offer on the two Moto smartphones, customers can avail Rs 3,000 cashback via Paytm Mall. They will also get no cost EMIs through Bajaj Finserv and can avail Home Credit on all Motorola smartphones.
To recall, the Moto E5 Plus features a 6-inch HD+ Max Vision IPS LCD display and has an aspect ratio of 18:9. The Android 8.0 Oreo based smartphone is powered by 1.4GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor clubbed with 3GB RAM. For imaging duties, there is a 12MP rear camera and a 5MP front facing snapper. Moto E5 Plus comes with 32GB of internal storage and can hold a microSD card of up to 128GB. The smartphone comes with a massive 5,000mAh battery.
Speaking of Moto X4 smartphone, it sports a 5.2-inch full-HD LTPS IPS display and is powered by a 2.2GHz octa-core Snapdragon 630 processor paired with 3GB/4GB/6GB RAM. Note that the 6GB version of the Android 7.1 Nougat based Moto X4 is not available at a discounted price. The smartphone comes with a dual rear camera setup with 12MP+8MP sensors. For selfies and video calls, there is a 16MP front facing camera. The smartphone is available in two storage variants — 32GB and 64GB — and can hold a microSD card of up to 2TB. Moto X4 houses a 3,000mAh non-removable ‘all-day’ battery.
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OnePlus 6T render reveals a water-drop notch and no triple-rear camera setup
Smartphones from OnePlus have always managed to create stir before their launch. And OnePlus 6T is surely not an exception. Speculations about the device have been piling up since the last few weeks now and one among the prominent rumours is the one that claims that OnePlus 6T will sport a triple camera setup.
However, that may not be the case as the latest leak suggests otherwise.
According to the renders spotted by winfuture.de, the OnePlus 6T will sport a dual rear camera setup like its previous flagship OnePlus 6. We will have to wait some more before we see a triple rear camera setup on a OnePlus device. Which we were hoping could be the case this time.
The latest leak seems to be in-line with a teaser of OnePlus 6T that was recently aired on TV. The teaser showed Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachan holding the OnePlus 6T and his finger covered the portion of the phone where the third camera sensor should have been.
However, it is almost confirmed that the upcoming OnePlus 6T would come with an in-display fingerprint sensor and a water-drop notch. OnePlus 6’s notch took up about a third of the top of the display of the device. In comparison, OnePlus 6T’s notch will just enough to wrap around the selfie camera of the smartphone.
Also note that the render does not show OnePlus 6T smartphone with a normal fingerprint sensor on its hardware.
With an in-display fingerprint sensor and a water-drop notch onboard, we can assume that the device will be nearly bezel-less — much like the Vivo Nex mobile. The only difference will be that Vivo Nex smartphone did not have a notch at all.
Most specifications of the device are likely to remain the same as OnePlus 6 since the smartphone is supposed to be just an upgrade from the company.
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LG unveils its new range of AI-enabled speakers in India
LG Electronics has unveiled its new line-up of speakers that feature Artificial Intelligence and Meridian Audio.
The newly launched audio devices include the PK series and the LG XBOOM AI ThinQ WK7. While the LG PK3 is priced at Rs 10,990, the PK5 costs Rs 14,990 and the PK7 bears a price tag of Rs 22,990. Speaking of the LG XBOOM AI ThinQ WK7, it is priced at Rs 27,990.
LG has partnered with UK-based Meridian Audio to deliver an enhanced sound experience to music lovers. For those who don’t know, Meridian Audio makes high-fidelity audio components.
Speaking about the launch, Younchul Park, Director-Home Electronics, LG Electronics India said, “As technology is pervasive and ever-changing, we have been witnessing a lot of exciting trends coming our way, one of which is definitely AI. With this evolving trend, we are happy to present the new range of speakers equipped with this technology.”
LG’s new XBOOM AI ThinQ WK7 has a cylindrical form factor with grilles wrapped around the body and it measures 135mm x 210.7mm x 135 mm.
The speaker from LG is among the first products to come with Google’s new Android Things platform built-in. With this, users will be able to get information, weather updates, check their schedule on calendar, make phone calls and control smart home devices.
The speakers in LG’s PK series come with a handle that makes them more portable. The speakers come with grilles in the front that lets users see their dual tweeters and woofers.
The speakers come with dual passive radiators that are claimed to give a better bass performance without using any additional power or speakers.
The PK series also come with voice command feature. Users can control the speaker with their voice by just pressing a button and activating their phone’s voice assistant.
The new range of speakers from LG are weather and splash proof — which means they can easily be used near the pool or under sprinklers.
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iPhone XS users report of ‘charge-gate’
The world saw Apple iPhone XS and XS Max last month. Shortly after that, the new iPhones hit the shelves in various markets around the world and millions of fans bought them. As everyone has got more familiar with the new Apple iPhones over the past few weeks, issues are being reported by some users of the phone.
Some users have claimed that iPhone XS don’t charge automatically when it is plugged in the power source and one needs to interfere manually to initiate charging. There are some, who have also referred to this issue as ‘charge-gate.’
On September 24, a user complained about this issue on Apple’s Communities portal. His post read, “I connect the Lightning cable to my phone to charge and most of the time it’s automatically charges. However I’ve noticed several times plugging the phone in and no charge comes up. Tried unplugging and plugging back in, sometimes it’ll work.” The user further said that he has to illuminate the screen for making the charging icon pop up and that keeping the device untouched hasn’t helped. He has stated that he only used Apple branded cabled to charge his phone and concluded by saying that the issue could be related to the port or software.
A number of other users commented on the post saying that they were also facing similar issues. Some users also came up with problems relating to different configurations and colour variants of iPhone XS Max. A thread on Reddit was also created — but that doesn’t only talk about iPhone XS and XS Max having this problem, but further throws light on other devices from Apple with similar issue.
A user on Reddit said, “My iPhone X did this also, so it’s not just the iPhone XS. I chalked it up to their USB security updates.” There are comments on the said Reddit thread that talk about these charging issues on older iPhone models like iPhone 6S and iPhone 7 Plus. A report in 9to5Mac has added that users have reported about a similar issue on iPad models too.
After these claims were made by users, popular YouTube channel Unbox Therapy decided to put the new iPhones to test to see if there actually was a problem. While iPhone X and XS smartphones responded normally to the Lightning cable, the iPhone XS Max did not. It only displayed the charging icon on the screen when it was tapped to wake.
Till now, there has been no word from Apple regarding the ‘charge-gate’ issue.
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Elon Musk agrees to resign as the Chairman of Tesla
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has agreed to step down as the Chairman of the electric car maker and pay a fine of $20 million under settlement reached with Securities and Exchange Commission. Musk has been asked to resign from the post of Chairman within 45 days and will not be able to take the role back at the company for the next three years.
However, he would be able to retain his position as Tesla’s CEO. The SEC has also charged the electric automaker with “failing to have required disclosure controls and procedures relating to Musk’s tweets.” The company has agreed to settle this charge — which means that both Tesla and Elon Musk will be paying $20 million separately as fines. According to SEC, these will be “distributed to harmed investors under a court-approved process.”
The electric automaker is also appointing two new independent directors to its board and a lawyer will be hired to keep an eye on Elon Musk’s communications and tweets.
This basically means that Elon Musk, who until now used Twitter frequently to unveil new products and talk about various updates, will be more restricted with his tweets about Tesla.
Speaking on the matter, Stephanie Avakian, co-director of the SEC’s enforcement division said, “The total package of remedies and relief announced today are specifically designed to address the misconduct at issue by strengthening Tesla’s corporate governance and oversight in order to protect investors.”
As a part of the agreement, Elon Musk does not have to admit or deny the allegations made by the SEC.
The settlement marks the starting of a new era of corporate governance for Tesla — which according to some shareholders is currently very tightly controlled by Elon Musk and those who are closely aligned to him.
Last year, the electric automaker had added James Rupert Murdoch, the CEO of Twenty-First Century Fox, and Linda Johnson Rice, Chairman and CEO of Johnson Publishing Company to its board in an attempt to diversify it. Other members of the board include Robyn Denholm, Brad W Buss, Antonio Gracias and Ira Ehrenpreis.
A complaint by the SEC had been filed on Thursday alleging that Elon Musk had lied in his tweets on August 7 where he claimed that he had a “funding secured” for the private takeover of Tesla at $420 per share. Just a week after the tweet was posted, federal securities regulators had reportedly sent a subpoena to Tesla. Following this, charges against Musk were filed just 6 weeks later.
The complaint by the SEC said that Elon Musk had violated anti-fraud provisions laid down by the federal securities laws. The commission had demanded the court to fine Musk and bar him from taking up the post of an officer or director of any public company.
Elon Musk on the other hand has been quotes saying that these charges are “unjustified action” and have left him “deeply saddened and disappointed.”
The company and the board have issued a statement in which they support Musk.
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Image: Elon Musk Twitter
Nikon launches its full-frame mirrorless cameras in India
Japanese technology company Nikon on Wednesday launched Nikon Z7 and Nikon Z6 full-frame mirrorless cameras along with Nikkor Z series lenses in India. Although the two cameras look identical, they differ in terms of megapixels, ISO range and focus points.
While Nikon Z7 and Nikkor Z camera lenses are scheduled to go on sale in India starting September 27, the Nikon Z6 will hit the shelves later in November. The Nikon Z7 body-only costs Rs 2,69,950, while the price of Nikkor Z 24-70mm F/4 S + Mount Adapter FTZ Kit is Rs 3,26,950, the Nikkor Z 24-70mm F/4 S Kit bears a price tag of Rs 3,14,950, and the Nikon Z7 + Mount Adapter FTZ Kit is priced at Rs 2,81,950.
The price of Nikon Z6 body-only is Rs 1,69,950, and the Nikon Z6 + Nikkor Z 24-70mm F/4 S + Mount Adapter FTZ Kit bears a price tag of Rs 2,26,950. Speaking of the Nikon Z6 with Nikkor Z 24-70mm F/4 S Kit and the Nikon Z6 + Z6 Mount Adapter FTZ Kit, the former costs Rs 2,14,950 while the latter is priced at Rs 1,81,950.
Coming to the standalone cost of camera lenses and mount adapter, the Nikkor Z 24-70mm F/4 S bears a price tag of Rs 78,450, the Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.8 S is priced at Rs 66,950, the Mount Adapter FTZ costs Rs 19,950 and the price of Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S is Rs 50,950.
The Nikon Z mount system comes with mirrorless cameras along with a large diameter mount and compatible ‘NIKKOR’ lenses and accessories. The Z mount system offers an entire range of high-performance lenses including a f/0.95 lens — which is the fastest in the company’s history.
The newly launched mount adapter is also compatible with NIKKOR F mount lenses — which adds to the number of choices for those who love photography.
The company also has plans to unveil new lenses that would extend its range of high-performance ‘NIKKOR Z’ lenses.
Speaking at the launch, Sajjan Kumar, Managing Director, Nikon India said, “The new products are designed to deliver a new standard of optical excellence embodying the technological brilliance in new mount and optics, yet retaining our renowned legacy, the mirrorless cameras brings imaging to new heights and challenges the norm. With features that offer creative possibilities the cameras deliver an unparalleled standard of optical brilliance that are sure to delight a photographer’s fancy. Packed with powerful features, all the products showcase Nikon’s legendary craftsmanship that will empower users to expand the realm of photographic capabilities.”
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Fujifilm X-T3 compact mirrorless camera launched in India: Price, specs and more
After being launched globally this month, the Fujifilm X-T3 has made its way to India. The mirrorless camera falls in the premium segment and competes with latest announcements from rivals like Nikon and Canon.
The Fujifilm X-T3 body-only costs Rs 1,17,999 and the 18-55mm lens kit bears a price tag of Rs 1,49,999. The X-T3 accessory has to be bought seperately at Rs 25,999. T
he compact mirrorless camera by Fujifilm comes with a newly-developed back-illuminated 26.1MP X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor clubbed with a X-Processor 4 image processing engine. According to Fujifilm, the processing speed of the camera is nearly 3 times faster than that of the models that are currently available. The company also claims that Fujifilm X-T3 is the first ever APS-C mirrorless camera that can capture 4K/60fps 10-bit videos.
The X-Processor 4 image processing engine used in Fujifilm X-T3 allows the camera to carry out functions like ‘Color Chrome Effect’ and ‘Monochrome Adjustment’. And the 26.1-megapixel X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor sports 2.16 million phase detection pixels — which, according to the company, are 4 times the pixels present in current models. This expands the phase detection AF area to the entire sensor — which means that phase detection AF can accurately be used even on subjects that are placed away from the centre of the frame of the camera.
The low-light auto-focus limit has also increased from -1EV to -3EV. This enables the camera to use phase detection AF even in areas that are lowly-lit.
The Fujifilm X-T3 compact mirrorless camera features a high-resolution 3.69-million-dot EVF that comes with a high magnification ratio of 0.75x. While the display time lag is 0.005 seconds, the camera has a refresh rate of approximately 100 frames per second.
The newly launched mirrorless camera also has a ‘Sports Viewfinder mode’ that enables it to capture subjects that are moving. There is also a new ‘Pre-shoot’ feature which enables the camera to begin shooting a scene when the user half-presses the shutter button and record it when the button is completely pressed.
The company has said that the camera sensor has a 1.5 times faster read speed than that of other models. It is because of this that the camera can do fast 17ms reading of 4K/60P video. Furthermore, with reduced rolling shutter distortion, camera can better record fast-moving subjects.
Speaking on the launch of Fujifilm X-T3, Mr Haruto Iwata, Managing Director, Fujifilm India said, “It is a proud moment for us to announce the much-awaited Fujifilm X-T3 mirrorless digital camera in the same year which marks our 10th anniversary in India. As we celebrate this success today, we are also gearing up for the next big leap towards new goals, one of which is to achieve 30% Market Share in the Indian Mirrorless Market in the next 3-4 Years. X-T3 is our step towards that endeavor and we at Fujifilm are confident that the new X-T3 will receive the same recognition and acceptance received by its predecessors. We strongly believe that in the next five years demand for mirrorless cameras will surpass that of DSLRs. We will continue to bring the best of technology and innovation to our consumers at the best possible price point.”
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Uber launches ‘Gift Cards’ in India for Uber Eats and Uber rides
With the festive season coming up, Uber on Tuesday launched a new ‘Gift Card’ model for its customers. These Gift Cards that are being offered by the company can be redeemed for Uber Rides as well as Uber Eats. The value of Uber Gift Cards range from Rs 500 and goes up to Rs 10,000 and customers can purchase them via Paytm or Woohoo.
It has been revealed by the San Francisco based company that Qwikcilver is the official issuer of these Gift cards. As we mentioned earlier, these cards can be bought by Uber users for their contacts either on Paytm or on Woohoo. There are six denominations of Gift Cards that are available including Rs 500, Rs 1,000, Rs 2,000, Rs 3,000, Rs 5,000, and Rs 10,000.
Those who receive these Gift Cards can use them to order food via Uber Eats or simply for Uber rides. If you choose to get the Gift Cards from Paytm, you can use the promo code GIFT05 to get a cashback worth Rs 100.
And if you happen to receive a gift card, you can redeem it by going to the ‘Payments’ section in your Uber app and then select ‘Add Payment Method’. Once you do this, choose the option of Gift Card and then enter the code. Uber credits would then be added to your account.
Note that the validity of Uber Gift cards is 36 months from the date of when they are activated. If you have balance remaining even after 36 months are over, you will not be able to use it as it shall expire. But on the upside, there are no rigid rules about using the balance of a particular Gift Card partially or completely. However, you can only redeem them in Indian cities.
Speaking about the newly launched model, Madhu Kannan, Uber’s Chief Business Officer for India and Emerging Markets said, “The upcoming festive season gives us the perfect opportunity to launch the Uber Gift Card, a first-of-its-kind initiative combining fantastic offers across food and transportation at the tap of a button. Paytm has been a long-standing partner in bringing technology-enabled convenience to the Indian consumer, and we’re proud to take this partnership a step further with our first Uber Gift Card offering in India.”
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Samsung Galaxy Note 9 burst into flames in New York-based woman’s bag: Report
Last month, Samsung launched its latest flagship phablet Galaxy Note 9 with a massive 4,000mAh battery. And before anybody could recall the Galaxy Note 7 debacle that happened in 2016, CEO DJ Koh clarified that Samsung Galaxy Note 9’s battery is completely safe. He was quoted saying about the battery that engineers at Samsung had full confidence in its safety. He further said that users of Samsung Galaxy Note 9 did not have to worry about the battery at all.
But Samsung Galaxy Note 9’s battery seems to have gotten trouble for the company just a month after the phablet was launched. A woman has reportedly claimed that her Samsung Galaxy Note 9 caught fire inside her purse.
According to a report in New York Post, Diane Chung, resident of Long Island has filed a lawsuit against the technology giant that alleges that her Samsung Galaxy Note 9 burst into flames inside her purse while she was in an elevator of Bayside building.
After her phone became extremely hot while she was in the elevator, Chung stopped using it and kept it inside her bag. The report further states that she heard ‘whistling’ and ‘screeching’ sounds from her bag, which was followed by smoke coming out of it.
According to the lawsuit, when she tried to put her bag on the floor to empty it, she burnt her fingers and because the smoke was so thick, her visibility was also compromised.
She kicked the phone out of the elevator once it reached the lobby and the door opened. This ended when a ‘good Samaritan’ took note of the burning smartphone and put it in a bucket of water.
Chung has described the entire incident as ‘traumatic.’ She even went on to disclose that the fire that erupted spoiled everything else that was kept in her purse.
With her lawsuit, Chung is demanding unspecified damages and wants Samsung Galaxy Note 9 sales to be stopped.
New York Post also quoted Samsung speaking on the matter. The company reportedly said, “We have not received any reports of similar incidents involving a Galaxy Note 9 device and we are investigating the matter.”
Back in 2016, Samsung Galaxy Note 7 had to be recalled after a number of units exploded in different parts of the world. The reason behind these explosions was a fault in the battery of the phablet by Samsung.
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Sony Master Series A9F Bravia OLED TVs launched in India: Price, specs and more
One among the most popular products from Sony are its televisions from the BRAVIA series. And the company just took the lineup from the series to a new level by launching its Master Series A9F Bravia OLED TV range in India.
The television series come with a Netflix calibrated mode and have a built-in microphone that allows users to search using just their voice. This makes the search experience hands-free as users can simply say out loud to the TV to play TV shows, movies and more.
The new Sony OLED TVs run Android 8.0 Oreo and also have a TV center speaker mode that can work with home theater systems.
While the Bravia KD-55A9F comes with a 55-inch screen and is priced at Rs 3,99,000, the Bravia KD-65A9F sports a 65-inch display and costs Rs 5,59,990. Both the models of Sony televisions will be going on sale in India starting September 20.
According to the company, Sony Master Series A9F Bravia OLED TV range comes with X1 Ultimate image processor that is said to intelligently detect objects in the picture. It does so using the company’s new object based super resolution mechanism that is claimed to enhance accuracy. The new televisions also come equipped with pixel contrast booster. With these features onboard, the new range of televisions from Sony can deliver better 4K HDR picture quality and enhanced contrast.
The Sony Master Series A9F Bravia OLED TVs also come with Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology that accommodates multi-dimensional sound and according to the company, can create a rich sound field with three actuators and two subwoofers facing sideways.
The new range of televisions has multi-lingual support. They can support 11 Indian and 14 international languages.
The company’s new offerings sport a single slate design and have only one stand at the back.
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Samsung to launch a Galaxy device on October 11th
Right after we saw its latest phablet from the Note series, Samsung has sent out invitations hinting the launch of another device next month. The invite reads ‘4x the fun.’ and further mentions that it is ‘A Galaxy Event’ which will be held on October 11. There is no time or venue mentioned on the invite, but it does say that the event will be live-streamed on the company’s official website Samsung.com.
According to CNET, the invite says that “Samsung’s newest Galaxy device is bringing more ways to express yourself than ever before.”
However, there is no further indication about what Samsung plans to unveil on the said date.
There are a number of possible announcements that Samsung may have planned for October. We might get to see the launch of an updated detachable Galaxy Book, or the Samsung Chromebook that recently surfaced online.
Rumours of a foldable smartphone by Samsung have also been doing rounds, so we cannot rule out that too. But what probably fits the best is the smartphone with four cameras — considering that the invite reads ‘4x the fun.’ Reports about Samsung’s smartphone with four cameras first came out in July.
The smartphone is said to be a part of Samsung Galaxy A (2019) series and will come with triple rear cameras and an in-display fingerprint sensor. The report further claimed that among the three cameras of the smartphone one lens will come with variable aperture, one will be a super-wide angle lens, and the last one will be a telephoto lens.
However, as of now, it is only being guessed what the company has up its sleeve for its October 11 event as there is no official word from Samsung mobile about it. We cannot be sure until the event – which is scheduled exactly a month after Apple’s flagship event in which the Cupertino based technology giant unveiled its latest iPhones along with the Apple Watch Series 4.
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Price Drop: Apple iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 7 and iPhone 6s get price cut in India
There is good news for Apple fans. Keeping up with its tradition, the company has slashed the prices of its older iPhone variants right after launching its new flagship lineup. The pricing for older iPhones have gone down globally as well as in India. The devices to get a price cut include iPhone 6s, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X.
Note that iPhone SE, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, and iPhone X have been discontinued in the US. However, in India, only the iPhone SE has been discontinued and the others are available to buy at reduced prices.
The iPhone lineup in India now starts with the base variant of iPhone 6S — which is priced at Rs 29,900. The price of the 128GB storage version of the device has been brought down to Rs 39,900. The bigger screen sibling of the device — iPhone 6S Plus — has also received a price cut and its 32GB variant is now available for Rs 34,900, whereas its 128GB storage version costs Rs 44,900.
Speaking of Apple‘s tenth anniversary smartphone — the 64GB storage variant is available for Rs 91,900 and the price of the 256GB version has been reduced to Rs 1,06,900. iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus — which were also launched last year — have received price cuts too. The 64GB and 256GB versions of iPhone 8 are now available for Rs 59,900 and Rs 74,900 respectively. Speaking of the bigger screen sibling, the 64GB storage version of iPhone 8 Plus is priced at Rs 69,900 and the 256GB storage variant costs Rs 84,900.
If you are somehow interested in buying the iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus, they are available at discounted prices too. iPhone 7’s 32GB storage version now costs Rs 39,900 and the 128GB storage model is priced at Rs 49,900. As for the iPhone 7 Plus smartphone, its base variant is now available for Rs 49,900, and its 128GB storage version costs Rs 59,900.
However, if you don’t want to settle for these and want to only buy either iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max, you would have to wait till September 28. And if you are intending to buy the iPhone Xr, then you have to wait a little longer as that will go on sale in India on October 26.
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Apple Watch Series 4 unveiled with a revamped design and built-in EKG scanner
Apple has unveiled its Apple Watch Series 4 at an event at Steve Jobs Theatre today. The smartwatch series has got its first ever design overhaul ever since it was first showcased by Apple over three years ago.
The smartwatch’s display is bigger than the previous versions as Apple Watch Series 4 sports thinner bezels. Described as an ‘intelligent guardian for your health,’ the Apple Watch Series 4 comes with an ECG functionality that has US FDA’s ‘De Novo’ classification.
That’s not all, Apple’s new smartwatch has a number of other features that — to put it in Apple’s words — make it the ultimate health and fitness watch.
Apple Watch Series 4 specifications
To begin with, Apple Watch Series 4 display is 30% larger than Apple Watch Series 3’s and comes in two casing options — 40mm and 44mm. Apple Watch Series 4 comes with a nearly edge-to-edge design and has a renewed placement of its microphone to reduce echo. The new smartwatch by Apple comes with three new watch faces based on fire, water, and vapour effects.
Apple Watch Series 4 runs the new Apple S4 SoC that comes with a 64-bit dual-core processor and a new GPU — promising a two times faster performance than Series 3. The new smartwatch by Apple comes with next-gen accelerometer and has a gyroscope with up to 32 g-forces and up to 2x dynamic range. The Apple Watch Series 4 is powered by latest watchOS 5 and has the UI which has been optimised for the smartwatch’s larger display.
There are changes in the Digital Crown of the watch too. Apple Watch Series 4’s Digital Crown comes with haptic feedback. This helps navigating various apps a lot easier.
The microphone of the Apple Watch Series 4 has been moved away from its speaker — and this, according to Apple, will reduce the amount of echo.
Apple Watch Series 4 can detect falls and once it does so, it immediately alerts concerned emergency services and SOS contacts. It will also notify users about low heart rate and atrial fibrillation. But the most revolutionary change that it has is the fact that it lets users carry out an electrocardiogram. This feature makes Apple Watch Series 4 the first ECG product offered over the counter directly to consumers. Users can save the ECG results in Health app of the iPhone and can further share them in the form of a PDF.
Price and availability
The non-cellular variant of Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS only) is priced at $399, whereas the GPS and cellular version is priced at $499. Apple Watch Series 4 will go on pre-orders starting September 14 and will first go on pre-orders in 26 markets starting September 21. Speaking of watchOS 5, it will be available starting September 17. Note that Apple Watch Series 3 has also received a price cut and is now available at $279.
Apart from Silver and Space Grey, Apple Watch Series 4 will also be available in Gold stainless finish.
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Apple iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR launched: India price, specifications and more
The wait is over for Apple fans! The technology giant has finally taken the wraps off its this year’s flagship smartphones. And as rumour suggested, the company has unveiled three new iPhones, namely – Apple iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR.
Although the design of the three newly launched iPhones is similar to the iPhone X, what sets them apart is the different features that they are packed with. It is also worth noticing that with its new line up, Apple has finally let go of its design that became so popular with iPhone 6 and continued to be a rage among smartphones till iPhone X was launched last year.
Apple iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max specifications
The first major highlight in the specifications if iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max that we want to talk about is the fact that the handsets are Dual SIM Dual Standby. Both the smartphones will support eSIM cards even from providers like Airtel and Reliance Jio.
Powered by Apple A12 Bionic processor, iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max sport OLED HDR Super Retina displays that are claimed by the company to be more saturated and battery efficient. While iPhone XS comes with 5.8-inch display, iPhone XS Max sports a 6.5-inch screen. With A12 Bionic processor onboard, the devices promise a better augmented reality experience and are said to launch apps 30% faster than 2017 iPhones.
For imaging duties, both iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max come with a dual rear camera setup – comprising of a 12MP wide-angle lens with f/1.8 aperture and a 12MP telephoto lens with f/2.4 aperture. For selfies and video calls, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max sport a 7MP TrueDepth camera with f/2.2 aperture. The front facing snapper of the iPhones promises more depth in portrait images. In fact, with iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, you can adjust the blur level of the background of the images even after they have been clicked.
Both the iPhones are available in three storage options — 64GB, 128GB, and 512GB and run the iOS 12 software. The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max come with IP68 water-resistance rating and come with Face ID unlock feature.
Speaking of battery life, iPhone XS is said to last 30 minutes longer and iPhone XS Max is claimed to last one and a half hours longer than iPhone X.
iPhone XR specifications
While most of the specifications of iPhone XR mobile are the same as that of iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, there are some key things that are different. Firstly unlike iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max which sport OLED screens, iPhone XR comes with a 6.1-inch LCD screen with 1,792×828-pixel resolution. It has an aluminium body and a glass back panel and comes with a single 12MP wide angle rear camera with Optical Image Stabilization.
It comes in three storage options — 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB. The smartphone comes with IP67 water resistance instead of IP68 like iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max and its battery life is said to be 1.5 hours more than that of iPhone 8 Plus.
Much like iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR is powered by A12 Bionic processor and runs iOS 12 software. The device can be bought in six colours including blue, coral, yellow, white, black, and Project Red.
Price
The iPhone XS comes with a price tag of $999 for the base variant, $1,149 for 256GB version and $1,349 for the highest 512GB model. In India, the price of iPhone XS begins at Rs 99,900. Speaking of iPhone XS Max, the base variant is priced at $1,099, the 256GB version bears a price tag of $1,249 and the 512GB storage model costs $1,449. iPhone XS Max’s 64GB storage model is priced at Rs 1,09,900.
Apple iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max will go on pre-orders on September 14, and will ship starting September 21. In India, they will be available starting September 28.
Speaking of iPhone XR, the 64GB variant is priced at $749, the 128GB storage model at $799 and the 256GB version at $899. In India, the price of iPhone XR begins at Rs 76,900. The pre-orders for iPhone XR will begin on October 19 and it will start shipping from October 26 in over 50 countries including India.
Price update:
Apple iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max will be available in 64GB, 256GB and 512GB capacity models in space grey, silver and a new gold finish starting at Rs 99,900 and Rs 109,900 MRP, respectively, through Apple Authorised Resellers.
Apple-designed accessories including leather and silicone cases in a range of colours will be available starting at Rs 3500, while the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max Leather Folio will be available for Rs 9,900.
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