Nokia 4.2 India launch scheduled for today: Expected price and specifications

HMD Global is all set to launch its Nokia 4.2 smartphone in India today. The company has been teasing to launch the smartphone for a few days now, and last week, it took to Twitter to say that the device will be launched on May 7. Nokia 4.2 smartphone was initially launched at the Mobile World Congress 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. The key features of the handset include a dedicated button for Google Assistant and an LED notification light on the power button. A teaser shared by the company also showed the back of a smartphone, which looked exactly like Nokia 4.2, and this further cements the fact that the handset will finally make its way to India today. Another teaser by HMD Global shows a pink coloured variant of Nokia 4.2 that was earlier shown at the MWC 2019, which means that we can expect to see this colour variant in India too. Like all other Nokia smartphones from HMD Global, the device is a part of Google’s Android One program. It features a fingerprint scanner and sports a vertically aligned dual rear camera setup. Here’s everything that we know about the smartphone:

Nokia 4.2 price in India (expected)

Globally, Nokia 4.2 is priced at $169 (approximately Rs 11,700) for its base variant that comes with 2GB RAM and 16GB storage, while its 3GB RAM/32GB storage version costs $199 (approximately Rs 13,800). In India too, the pricing of the smartphone is expected to be similar. In this price range, it will compete with the likes of Nokia 4.2 will compete with smartphones like Redmi Note 7 Pro, Samsung Galaxy M30 (review) and Realme 3 Pro.

Nokia 4.2 specifications

Since Nokia 4.2 has been launched already, we know about the specifications of the smartphone. The handset comes with a 2.5D glass on the front as well as on the back. It is made of a polycarbonate body and has a metallic internal structure. Nokia 4.2 has a 5.71-inch HD+ (720 x 1520 pixel) display that has an aspect ratio of 19:9. Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 439 SoC processor, the device from Nokia comes with up to 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. Users can also add a microSD card of up to 400GB for more storage. For imaging duties, Nokia 4.2 sports a dual rear camera setup that comprises of a 13MP camera with f/2.2 autofocus lens and a 2MP fixed-focus lens.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.

Microsoft Build 2019 developer’s conference: All the key announcements

Microsoft today announced a number of new things that it will be doing at its Build 2019 developer’s conference. The software giant has a lot up its sleeve. Here, we have listed down all the plans that it spoke about at Microsoft Build 2019. Take a look:

New features for Edge Chromium browser

The software giant unveiled a number of new features for its Edge Chromium browser at its developer’s conference. To begin with, the browser has got a new ‘IE Mode’, that will enable businesses to load old sites on the new browser with Internet Explorer. The company will let businesses customize the New Tab page and it is also building on new Collections feature that will let users collect text, images, and information in a note. It is worth noticing that Microsoft will be keeling the links of the images or text that you drop in these Collections. Most importantly, the company is also focussing on privacy and would not let web trackers follow you on the internet.

Fluid Framework

With the new Fluid Framework developer platform, Microsoft will let developers build more interactive apps and services on the internet. We should mention that prior to this, the company has tried multiperson collaboration on the internet in Office as well as its Whiteboard app. And now, with Fluid Framework, it looks like the software giant is getting the learnings to all. According to the company, the content produced using Fluid Framework will be split into different components and hence, developers will be able to use it across various apps.

Edge Chromium browser for macOS

Microsoft has teased that it is getting its Edge Chromium browser for macOS. We should mention that it was first launched last month on Windows as Canary and Dev builds, and now, it will be seen finally making its way to macOS. While the company has not given out any official dates yet, it has definitely hinted that it will be getting the browser to macOS too.

Enhancements to Cortana

Microsoft will be introducing some improvements to its digital assistant Cortana so that it can compete with its rivals like Google Assistant. The company has announced that going forward, the digital assistant will be able to respond to conversations, set reminders and even get meetings in place for the user. While Cortana could already do some of the things that were announced, the part about having conversations is the key addition.

New Minecraft AR games for smartphones

Last but not least, the company teased that a new Minecraft AR game will soon be coming to smartphones. While we do know now that Microsoft is working on the game, we have not been given any details about it as of now. It is speculated to be on the lines of Pokemon Go.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.

The character promo of Sacred Games 2 is out, and internet can’t keep calm

Netflix Originals Sacred Games had created quite a stir when it launched. The makers on Monday dropped the first look for the upcoming season (Sacred Games 2) and according to the same, Kalki Koechlin and Ranvir Shorey will be joining the cast. In the same promo, we also see glimpses of Saif Ali Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who play Sartaj Singh and Ganesh Gaitonde respectively. However, they have saved the best for the last as we see Pankaj Tripathi as the mysterious Guruji. It is noteworthy that, Guruji did not have a lot of screen time in the first season but he is expected to play a vital role in the upcoming season. In this new promo, there is no date mentioned on when Sacred Games 2 will start streaming we now know it will happen sometime this year. Kalki will be playing a character called Batya, while Ranvir will essay the role of Shahid Khan in Sacred Games 2. The duo will play pivotal roles in the unravelling of a new mystery. Talking about her role in Sacred Games 2, Kalki Koechlin said, “Personally, I am a fan of the series, and it is super awesome to be a part of the Sacred Games and Netflix family. Season 2 promises to be much more exciting and I cannot wait for viewers to watch me in the series.” Ranvir Shorey, on the other hand, said, “The digital platform is so empowering and working on this audience-favourite show has been an absolute delight! My character in Sacred Games 2, Shahid Khan, is a complete departure from any of the roles I have played before, and I am looking forward to fans across the world bingeing on the new season.” Another change in the second season of Sacred Games is that it will now be directed by Anurag Kashyap and Neeraj Ghaywan. Neeraj is the director of critically acclaimed film Masaan and has replaced Vikramaditya Motwane, who is continuing as the showrunner. For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.

Blaupunkt BH01 Bluetooth wireless headphones launched in India

The audio market in India is getting bigger by the day. Some might give its credit to companies like Reliance JIO, as they have increased internet penetration in India. However, one main reason is that the youngsters are waking up to the smartphone culture and want better audio accessories and equipment to soothe their senses. Today, Blaupunkt BH01 Bluetooth wireless headphones were launched in India aimed at the next-gen user. The German company forayed into personal audio range in Feb 2019 here. They are quickly bringing new headphones for each type of users. The Blaupunkt BH01 Bluetooth wireless headphones fall in the affordable range of BT headsets and are priced at Rs 1,699. The company claims that the resonance provided by these headphones are best in class and they work on Bluetooth 5.0, the latest BT tech right now. These are over the ear pair of headphones, which have good cushioning on the ear cups as well as headband. The company has added a unique equalizer button on them that enables the user to switch between music mode and Turbo boost mode. Blaupunkt says, the Turbo boost mode is added keeping the Indian consumers in mind who listen to a lot of Bollywood and regional music. Andrzej Cebrat, Managing Director, Blaupunkt said, “Blaupunkt in India has already become leaders in the range of home audio products. Blaupunkt with its century-old legacy of impeccable innovation and 20+ years of experience in Indian audio products segment. It aims to raise the bar in India market and meet consumer demands with its latest edition BHO1 in the Indian Market”. The Blaupunkt BH01 Bluetooth wireless headphones come with 300 mAh battery. This can keep the headphones alive for up to 10 hours in a single charge. The battery gets fully charged in 2.5 hours. There is a mic function on the headphones too which lets the users make voice calls with the headphones. Other control buttons on the headphones include Play, Pause and track change. With Blaupunkt BH01 Bluetooth wireless headphones, the company has extended its range of audio products in the Indian market. Now they have a range of televisions, sound bars and headphones. And at this price point, they will go ahead and fight for market space with the likes of Skullcandy, who already have a good lead in India.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel.

Tete-e-tete with Yogesh Mudras of UBM India: How gaming revived in India and is quickly becoming big

Recently, we caught up with Mr Yogesh Mudras, MD, UBM India. We picked his brains on how the gaming industry in India is evolving and what role is the ecosystem playing in its growth. He gave us some good insights on what made gaming revive here, since it was a dying breed in India, just 5 years ago.
  • Can you tell our readers more about what the UBM India group does when it comes to gaming?
A little backgrounder, UBM India, organises exhibitions in the country and provides the industry with platforms that bring together buyers and sellers from around the world. Through a portfolio of over 25 large scale exhibitions, 40 content led conferences & seminars across the country. In the gaming vertical, we host a 2-day interactive Game Development and Design Conference in India, which aims to bring different stakeholders under a single platform from the industry with keynote presentations, brainstorming panel discussions and case studies. This summit provides a platform for game designers, programmers, artists, producers, and business professionals in the gaming community to enhance their knowledge, address challenges and gain insights on future trends of the industry. The conference is an initiative taken to address all aspects of gaming, ranging from current trends, a slow shift from mobile games to the augmented engagement level of online games, digital distribution platforms, game design and development for the Indian market, emerging technologies to smart monetisation. Under the aegis of UBM and Informa, we also present a lineage in Gaming expos and conferences with — Game Developers Conference ( GDC ) which is held annually in San Francisco attracting over 550 exhibitors, 28,000 attendees, hosting over 500 sessions with 830 speakers and another annual three day expo — Middle East Games Con in Abu Dhabi that delivers a world of innovation and the ultimate gaming experience bringing in the region’s vibrant and ever-growing community together.
  • Till a few years ago gaming was a dying breed, how did it revive?
Gaming in India saw its first light with games like Tetris, Space Impact, Solitaire, Super Mario and Pacman. In the last few decades, the gaming industry in India has come a long way and with a tag of being called the Boomtown of digital gaming, it is all set to reach, or even surpass, the $1 billion market by 2020. With millennials increasingly getting hooked to technology with mobile phones and social media the booming opportunity in the gaming space has revived. With the emergence and growing adoption of 3G/4G network mobile services, which was not there back then, and with increased production of games, the industry will get a further push. This, in turn, will offer new opportunities for developers, publishers and technology experts. Over the last two years, gaming has hit new heights in India as there is a focus on the local development of games, large volume of users and rising potential of monetisation. This implies that gaming has the potential to emerge as a significant sector creating jobs for thousands of millennials who can join the creative workplace. Apart from this, game apps allow players to stream their games on social media platforms and post scores and statistics or invite people to join the force. Clearly, the gaming industry is far more evolved from the time when a lot of us were growing up.
  • What is accelerating its growth now?
The gaming industry has seen growth from casual to serious gamers. The major drivers for the gaming industry growth are increasing smartphone penetration and affordability, expanding the internet user base and declining data prices. The way games are run today has changed completely in terms of both engagement and revenues. Rising demand for evolved gaming consoles such as PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch etc., is being witnessed in urban areas of India. Government initiatives like Digital India and Make in India have created a lucrative pull towards the gaming industry, encouraging gamers to play games based on famous events like Kaun Banega Crorepati, T20fever.com, IPL and Khel Kabaddi, amongst others. Moreover, the innovation of technologies, the focus of gaming companies is towards AR, VR and AI related games in the country and is anticipated to boost India’s gaming market in the coming year. Gaming startups are spaces for rapid growth. With money moving into the Indian gaming industry, investors are certainly expecting exceptional results and return on investment, as India is the world’s second largest internet population with skills base across IT, Testing and Arts.  Game development outsourcing is a promising trend in India, as there is abundant talent in the programming and art sectors. Although there are some challenges involved, this is the ideal time to invest in the industry given that just two years ago, India was placed on the 2nd position in the mobile game session’s category, securing a 13 per cent share. There are many factors from both the organisation and a business perspective regardless of platform. Almost all new games these days are competitive and is a form of entertainment which give people the power to enjoy their passion for gaming in ways that suit their mood, lifestyle or interest. The global games industry has reinvented itself to maximize consumer engagement and is based on three dimensions playing, viewing and owning which helped in revenue growth on a global scale. As we look toward the future, we foresee games playing an increasingly impactful role in disrupting and reshaping traditional industries, from implementing individual game mechanics to an array of mergers and acquisitions crossing the boundaries of traditional industries.
  • How is India poised to become the next big thing when it comes to Gaming?
There are nearly 300 million gamers in India and 95% of them are below 30. Looking ahead, app store game downloads for local and foreign players are expected to reach 5.3 billion by 2020. Now, there are players in India who take gaming seriously and are professionally well trained who can compete with other country gamers in gaming Arenas and Tournaments. Tournaments like DOTA, players are winning prize amount of 1 Million dollars each, a professional gamer doesn’t have to do some boring 9-5 Job to earn money, he can earn it by doing what he loves to do. some of the trending games in India right now are PUBG, Clash Royale, HQ Trivia, 8 Ball Pool, and of course, Candy Crush, amongst others, which has given way to real-time experience, leading to massive user-retention.
  • Will UBM India Group hold gaming tournaments as well? If so, where and when?
UBM India is an aggregator platform, our aim is to support the gaming industry by hosting conferences such as the recently held Game Development and Design Conference. It is an initiative aimed at stakeholders to converse and discuss the way forward for the gaming industry in India. It is a platform for all the stakeholders in the gaming fraternity to come together and address all aspects of gaming, ranging from current trends, a slow shift from mobile games to the augmented engagement level of online games, digital distribution platforms, game design and development for the Indian market, emerging technologies to smart monetisation. Our aim is to bring together creative forces, everyone under one roof to provide opportunities for developers, hardware, software and middleware service providers, visualization technologies, content production services, online streaming service providers corporations, and the end user.
  • What according to you is the biggest challenge for this market, especially brands who sell hardware or software solutions to gamers?
With technology ever changing, to compete in this field itself is a huge challenge. The evolution of technology has caused the death of handheld gaming devices. These days, we have mobile gaming with consoles still thriving and each new invention of the console makes us believe in new invention and capabilities. The hardware platforms, on which the game runs, be it an arcade, a PC or a gaming console has witnessed a flat trajectory in the console market. The original systems weren’t designed to support the latest technology which means a lot of porting and backward compatibility and both hardware and software has to go hand-in-hand for this.
Yogesh Mudras
Mr. Yogesh Mudras, MD, UBM India
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.

Google I/O 2019: What to expect at the developer conference

Technology giant Google will kick start its annual I/O 2019 developer conference on Tuesday. At the event, the company is expected to shed a light on the new features and improvements coming to its Android operating system, Google Assistant, and to its various popular apps and services. But this year, Google is expected to do more than what it normally does. The company is also expected to launch its mid-range smartphones at the event. Here, we have compiled everything that you can expect from Google I/O 2019 developer conference:

Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL

google pixel Reports and rumours about the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL smartphones have been surfacing online for months now. Google is expected to unveil its mid-range smartphones on the first day of Google I/O 2019. While the Pixel 3a will reportedly be available at a starting price of $399, the Pixel 3a XL will cost $479. It has also been said that both the smartphones will come with a camera performance that will be on par with its Pixel 3 flagship handsets. But then, they will come with a plastic build instead of a glass one, be powered by less powerful processors and come without wireless charging.

How do we know that the launch will on May 7?

pixel 3a There are various leaks about Google’s Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL smartphones. But if something does confirm the launch, it is the smartphone’s listing on e-commerce giant Flipkart’s website. The listing says that one can find out more about the two handsets on May 8. If the two smartphones will get listed on Flipkart on May 8, they have been unveiled on May 7, which is the first day of Google’s conference.

Details about Android Q

Android Q might go completely ‘button-less’; here’s how If there’s one thing that everyone looks forward to at Google I/O every year, it is the full preview of Android. While the company has already released two betas of Android Q, we are sure it is saving a lot of details for the event. The latest version of Android will give users more control over privacy, ability to limit apps to track their location only when required to, a system-wide dark mode, and a number of other features.

Android Q: Things that are little-known

Android Q While the features we mentioned till now are known because of the Android Q betas, there are other things that are not known popularly. For instance, Android Q will be able to work with foldable phones and will enable them to go from tablet to handset mode seamlessly. Google is also reported to get a Samsung Dex-like mode with Android Q.

More information on Google Stadia

How to install the Android Q beta on your Google Pixel smartphonestadia 7 There are plenty of questions that Google left unanswered about its cloud gaming service Stadia. We don’t even know how much Google Stadia’s subscription will cost yet. At its I/O developer conference this year, Google is expected to announce more about the new service.

Nest Hub Max with a smart display

google search The technology giant has revealed a Nest-branded Home Hub smart display without giving us too many details about it previously. It is expected to give us more details about it during Google I/O 2019. The device comes with a 10-inch display and has stereo speakers. That’s all that we know about the Hub Max right now, but then, one doesn’t have to be a genius to know that it will focus a lot on Google Assistant.

Additions to Google Assistant

google assistant Google Assistant just gets better every year. And this year should be no different. Google will be showing off what’s new to its digital assistant during the developer conference and how it has made it smarter than its rivals. News on Google Lens is expected too.

Duplex

google assistant One among the key highlights of last year’s Google I/O was the demonstration of Duplex, that enables Google Assistant to make calls to make reservations on your behalf. We are really hoping to find out more about it at this year’s event.

Enhancements in Google Photos

google photos Let’s face it: A majority of us use Google Photos as the default app for photos now. Google knows this, and it never manages to get more useful features to the app every year. We will have to wait a little more to find out what it plans to get this year.

Maybe some additions to Android TV OS

Samy SM32-K5500 HD LED TV 5 While we know that there isn’t much to expect from Wear OS this year, there is no word about the Android TV OS. So, there is a possibility that Google will be upgrading it for users this year.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App. [td_smart_list_end]

How to report something on Facebook?

Facebook is not the safest and securest social platform in the world, but then, not any platform is 100% safe. Hateful, inappropriate and wrong content gets posted on social media every day. Most social media platforms deploy AI and automated software which filters the inappropriate content out. But since it is just a program, sometimes it cannot recognize objectionable content. And that’s where the moderators come in. Facebook moderators watch and keep an eye on the contents being posted on its platform every day. But even if that doesn’t help, every Facebook user has the option to report posts on the platform. Although Facebook itself has the “Report Something” discussion page which describes how the user can report what they think is inappropriate. The guide helps the user by letting them know how to handle situations and how to report something or some post/video/image etc. But other than that, here’s how you can report something on Facebook:

How to report on Hate Speech?

If the user finds something which promotes Hate Speech or something similar, then he can take the following steps to report it:
  1. First, they need to click on the three dot icon on the right of the post.
  2. They will then be taken to ‘Give feedback on this post’ page.
  3. Once the user has submitted the reason why they are reporting the post, they would need to click on send. Facebook’s Community Standards have several things which the user can report if he thinks that it doesn’t belong on the social platform. Posts involving harassment, nudity, violence, terrorism, hate speech can be reported by the user.
  4. Once reported, the user would get a response thanking him for his feedback.

How to report on an Impersonation/ Impersonator?

If a user finds someone impersonating them or someone they know on Facebook, the following steps can be followed:
  1. First, the user needs to go to the profile of the person who is impersonating someone.
  2. Then he needs to click on the three dots icon on the top right of the profile.
  3. Once done, he needs to select the ‘Give feedback or report this profile’.
  4. After that, the user needs to select the reason for his report. He can select the ‘Pretending to be Someone’ or ‘Fake Name’.

How to report an AD

Nowadays, Ads can become a constant pain if they pop-up every time the user is browsing on his social media page. They can hinder the user’s experience on social media. If this is happening with you or with someone you know, the following steps can be followed to stop it:
  1. The user would need to click on the three dots on the right of the post (Ad).
  2. After which he would need to select the “Hide Ad” or “Report Ad” option. Once done, that Ad will be removed from your Facebook feed immediately. This can be used on other social media platforms as well.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.

How to maintain privacy and ensure that you are secure on Instagram

Instagram is currently the most popular social media app. While it’s a great way to share your photos with your friends, your Instagram profile can often be vulnerable to various privacy risks. But then, you can protect yourself on the platform by following certain easy steps. You don’t necessarily have to avoid the platform for it. We have listed down everything that you can do to make sure your Instagram account is safe. Take a look:

Make your profile Private

By not having a public profile, you are getting yourself and your content away from the eyes of anyone who you have not accepted as your follower. While it means lesser views on Stories and fewer likes on photos, it also means that your content is only visible to those whom you really care about on the app. Here’s how you can make your Instagram profile private:
  • Open your profile on Instagram.
  • Swipe to the left and click on the ‘Settings’ icon.
  • Tap on the option of ‘Privacy and Security’ and then select ‘Account Privacy’.
  • Enable the toggle next to ‘Private Account’.
  • If you are accessing your profile via the web, the only difference will be a checkbox in place of a toggle with the option of ‘Private Account’. Just click on it to select the option.
Once you do this, only your followers will be able to see what you post on the platform. Rest will have to wait till you approve their follow request.

Turn on two-factor authentication for your account

If you have the option of two-factor authentication turned on, then you will receive a text message with a code every time you log in to Instagram using a new device. You would be required to enter the code to log in to your account. This basically ensures that no one logs in to your account and poses as you.  Here’s how you can do it:
  • Go to the Settings of your account and click on ‘Privacy and Security’.
  • Here, tap on ‘Two-Factor Authentication’ and then select ‘Get Started’.
  • Enable the toggle next to ‘Text Message.’ You can also alternatively enable ‘Authentication App’ if you have a preference of that over messages.

Check if your account has been hacked

Do you think that your Instagram account has been hacked? You will be able to confirm this by checking your past account activity on the app. Here’s how you can do that:
  • Go to ‘Settings’ and then tap on ‘Privacy and Security’.
  • Here, click on the option of ‘Access Data’. If you are accessing via the web, you would see the option of ‘View Account Data’ instead. Press on that.
  • You will come to a page that will give you information on various aspects of your profile including ‘Account privacy changes’, ‘Logins’ and ‘Logouts’ to name a few.
  • Check all of these and if you find any unfamiliar activity, it means that someone else has access to your account. If you are sure that this is the case, change your password.

Stop third part apps from getting your data

There are tonnes of third-party apps that will ask to get access to data on your Instagram account. But then, you should only give access to apps that truly require it to function correctly. If you think you have already given access to an app that doesn’t need your Instagram data, you can revoke it too. However, note that this can only be done via the web. Here are the steps that you need to follow:
  • Access your Instagram profile via the web.
  • Go to Settings.
  • Tap on ‘Authorized Apps‘. This will show you a list of apps that have access to your Instagram data.
  • Press on ‘Revoke Access’ for any app you don’t wish to share your data with and when asked to confirm, select ‘Yes’.

Remove some followers

Sometimes, in order to keep your account secure, you need to remove certain followers. This will make sure that they are not able to see your posts anymore. If you think you are in need of this, here’s what you need to do:
  • Select ‘Followers’ on your Instagram profile.
  • Search for the name of the follower you wish to block.
  • Tap on the three-dot icon next to their name, and then select ‘Remove’
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.

Spotify is testing interactive voice-controlled ads: Report

Music streaming app Spotify has started testing ads that listeners can interact by using their voices, according to a recent report that has surfaced online. The concept behind these ads is that when a user hears a voice-controlled advertisement, all they have to say is ‘Play Now’ to listen to a piece of content that they would find relevant. As of now, the app is using two ads to test the new functionality. One of them is for Axe products by Unilever and the other is for a podcast called ‘Stay Free: The Story of the Clash’, which is exclusively available on Spotify. So basically, if a user says the key word during an ad, you will be taken to the podcast or the Axe-product playlist. According to the company, the microphone of the user’s smartphone will only be active during the duration of the ad being played on Spotify. In case the user says anything other than ‘Play Now’, the advertisement that is being played will get deactivated. As of now, Spotify is testing the new ad feature on Android as well as on iOS versions of its app. However, the clear use case here are speakers that are activated by voice and we should mention that Spotify, during its earnings call, descried it as “critical area of growth”. One among the major competitors that Spotify has in the United States is Pandora, which also recently experimented with ads that can be controlled by voice. But then, in Pandora’s case, it only added to the voice commands that were already present on its service since the beginning of the year. It is also worth mentioning that currently, Spotify is only testing the new ad-related feature only in the United States. In addition to this, the feature will only be activated if you have the music streaming app‘s voice controls turned on. In case you don’t like the concept of voice-controlled ads, you can also disable them completely by heading to the Settings section of your app and disabling the ‘Voice-Enabled Ads’ toggle.
This is not the only feature that Spotify has been experimenting with. A recent report claimed that the music streaming app will be placing suggested podcast episodes into playlists that are generated algorithmically for its users. We should mention that this year, Spotify plans to spend $500 million on acquisitions that it plans on making in the podcast industry, so, it’s not surprising to see that it is coming up with features like these already.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.

OnePlus 7 Pro price in India leaked ahead of launch

OnePlus 7 Pro’s price in India has been leaked weeks ahead of the smartphone’s official launch. It has been reported that OnePlus 7 Pro will be going on sale in the country at a starting price of Rs 49,999 for its 6GB RAM/128GB storage variant. It is worth noticing that this information has come in just a day after OnePlus 7 Pro went on pre-orders in India on Amazon’s website. OnePlus 7 Pro is all set to debut on May 14 and along with it, the company will also be launching OnePlus 7. The key highlights of the smartphone are reported to be a pop-up selfie camera, a display with a refresh rate of 90Hz and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 SoC. Here’s a look at the details of the rumoured pricing of the OnePlus 7 Pro smartphone:

OnePlus 7 Pro price in India (expected)

The India pricing of OnePlus 7 Pro has been leaked by popular tipster Ishan Agarwal. He took to Twitter to say that the 6GB RAM/128GB storage model of the smartphone will be priced at Rs 49,999, while its 8GB RAM/256GB storage version will cost Rs 52,999. The variant that will come with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage will reportedly cost Rs 57,999. He has also said that the handset will be available in Mirror Grey, Nebula Blue, and Almond colour options. Recently, it was also reported that OnePlus 7 will be available in India at a starting price of Rs 39,500. So, it seems like there is going to be quite a difference in the pricing of the two.

OnePlus 7 Pro specifications (expected)

The upcoming handset is expected to come with a 6.7-inch QHD+ (1440×3120 pixels) display that has an aspect ratio of 19.5:9 and a refresh rate of 90Hz. Powered by Qualcomm 855 SoC, the smartphone is expected to come with up to 12GB of RAM and offer up to 256GB of UFS 3.0 storage.
On the camera front, the OnePlus 7 Pro is expected to sport a triple rear camera setup with a 48MP primary sensor with an f/1.6 lens and OIS coupled with an 8MP telephoto sensor with an f/1.6 lens and a 16Mp wide-angle sensor with an f/1.6 lens. The smartphone houses a 4,000mah battery that has support for 30W Warp Charge. The company is all set to launch its flagship smartphones on May 14 at simultaneous events in the United States, India and Europe.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.

How to organize your pictures in Google Photos

Google Photos, like a number of other services by the technology giant, has become one among the most indispensable apps for Android smartphones. It stores as many images as you can manage to click and doesn’t cost a penny. But then, having thousands of photos in your smartphone often means that it becomes incredibly hard to look for them. Not many are aware, but Google Photos has a number of tools that can help you keep your pictures organised and make using the app more manageable. Here, we have listed down everything that you can do organize your pictures on Google Photos, and no, it wouldn’t take ages to follow them. Take a look:

Make albums

You may think that this is the most basic way of organizing Google Photos, but then, it is very effective. Follow these steps to make albums in your Google Photos app:
  • Select the images that you want to include in the album by long pressing on the first one and then clicking on the rest of them.
  • Press the plus icon in the top right corner of the screen and then tap on ‘Album’.
  • You will then be prompted with a number of options. Click on ‘New Album’ if you want to create a fresh album for the photos or ‘Shared Album’ if you want to put them in an album that other people have access to. You can also find and select an existing album.
  • Name your album and click on the blue checkmark to save the images in it.

Create albums of people or pets

If you don’t have too much time, you can actually get AI’s help in making these albums. This is particularly true if you want to create albums showing images of specific people or pets. Here’s what you need to do:
  • Go to the ‘Albums’ tab in Google Photos.
  • Click on the ‘New Album’ under the ‘Albums’ header.
  • Select the option of automatically adding photos of people and pets.
  • Choose the faces that you want to include the images in your album and then tap on ‘Confirm’.
  • Add a title for your album and then exit from the album.
Google Photos will then keep on adding relevant new photos in the album on its own.

Pick out your ‘Favourites’

The easiest way to quickly access an image in Google Photos is by marking it as your favourite. Here’s what you need to do:
  • Open any image or video in Google Photos.
  • Click on the Star icon on the upper right corner of the image or video.
All the photos that have a star on them will appear in the ‘Favourites’ section of the app.

Google Photos is doing it for you

You may not realise it, but Google Photos has been organizing your photos already. You can head to ‘Albums’ section of the app and on the top, you’ll find various albums with the titles – People, Places, Places and Things.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.

Nokia 4.2 launch in India set for May 7, HMD Global confirms

1
Nokia 4.2 smartphone is all set to launch in India next week on May 7, HMD Global has confirmed. The Finnish smartphone maker took to Twitter to post a teaser that confirms the launch of its upcoming handset. The official teaser has a short video that shows a power button with an LED notification light and a Google Assistant button. We should mention that these are among the highlights of the Nokia 4.2 smartphone, that made its global debut at the Mobile World Congress 2019 in Barcelona, Spain in February this year. It is also worth noticing that the company has posted this teaser just days after Nokia 4.2 and Nokia 3.2 handsets were listed on the company’s official website. The company took to Nokia Mobile India’s official Twitter account to confirm the launch of the Nokia 4.2 smartphone. The teaser was posted on Friday, May 3, 2019, and it said that the handset is all set to launch in India in the next four days. This basically means that we will see the device get launched in the country on May 7. The teaser posted by the company is a short 14-seconds video that, as we mentioned earlier, shows a power button that sports an LED notification light and a dedicated Google Assistant key on the handset. As of now, there is no word about whether Nokia 3.2 smartphone will also be getting launched in India on the same day as Nokia 4.2. However, considering that Nokia 3.2 is also listed on the company’s website, it will definitely be launched sometime soon.

Nokia 4.2 price in India (expected)

Nokia 4.2 smartphone’s base model that comes with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, is priced at $169, which is approximately Rs 11,700. Its higher-end variant with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage costs $199, which is roughly Rs 13,800. If the handset is priced similarly in India, it will be competing with the likes of Redmi Note 7 Pro, Samsung Galaxy M30 (review), and the recently launched Realme 3 Pro smartphones.

Nokia 4.2 specifications

Nokia 4.2 sports a 2.5D glass on the front and the back and comes with a polycarbonate body and a metal internal structure. The smartphone has a 5.71-inch HD+ (720 x 1520 pixel) display with an aspect ratio of 19:9. Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 439 SoC processor, the handset comes with up to 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The device can also support a microSD card of up to 400GB. Nokia 4.2 sports a dual rear camera setup of a 13MP camera with f/2.2 autofocus lens along with a 2MP fixed-focus lens.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.

Top smartphones that were bestsellers across the world in 2018

The global smartphone market is undoubtedly one among the most competitive segments, and last year, it saw a decline. While most companies saw good results in the first half of 2018, the second saw a fall in the sales of smartphones across the world. Blame the global economic slowdown, but it seems like a lot of people avoided buying smartphones in the last two quarters of the year and most manufacturers had to face a low demand. The problem was big enough for even Apple to revise the prices of its iPhones to get more people to buy its products. Today, Counterpoint has published a list of top-selling smartphones across the globe in 2018. We have to say, even though Apple’s 2018 iPhones saw a decline in sales, the company still managed to grab six out of these ten slots and that is very impressive. The only other two companies which made it to the list were Chinese smartphone brand Xiaomi and South Korean technology giant Samsung. This is quite surprising as completely expected OnePlus to be on the list too, especially considering that it has seen tremendous growth last year and is currently ruling the premium smartphone market in India. But it seems like the company would have to push its sales further if it wants to be on the 2019 list of top selling smartphones. Coming back to Counterpoint’s report, it also did not have any other smartphones from major technology brands like Oppo, Vivo and even Huawei. But then Huawei will most likely make an appearance in 2019’s list as the company this year has taken Apple’s No. 2 position in terms of global shipments. Here’s a look at the smartphones that sold the most across the world in 2018:

iPhone X

iPhone X The tenth-anniversary of Apple’s flagship smartphone – iPhone X – is the most sold smartphone of 2018. Considering that it is a collector’s edition smartphone and that its prices fell after the launch of 2018 iPhones, it is no surprise that iPhone X managed to grab the top spot in this list.

iPhone 8

Various reports last year suggested that while Apple has to cut down the production of iPhone XR, it ordered its suppliers to make more of its 2017 iPhones because they saw an increase in sales. So, we did expect the most affordable of the three 2017 iPhones – iPhone 8 – to be on the list. It is the second most sold smartphone of 2018.

iPhone 8 Plus

iphone 8 Plus iPhone 8 Plus followed closely at No. 3. It cannot be said that whether it was the relatively comparatively lesser prices or the presence of a home button which a number of users are still more comfortable with that led to a sudden rise in sales. But the fact that the iPhone 8 Plus is on this list clearly means that it had a good 2018.

iPhone 7

iphone 7 Apple is known for rolling out the latest updates to its older smartphone models. And this is one reason that a number of iPhones are bought even 2-3 years after their launch. While they offer a number of same features as the newer iPhones because of the same version of iOS, they are priced way lesser. This may be the reason that the iPhone 7 made it to the list.

Xiaomi Redmi 5A

Redmi 5A The next device on the list is finally not Apple. It’s a budget smartphone from Chinese smartphone company Xiaomi – Redmi 5A. The company is known for its entry-level and affordable smartphones and currently hold the top position in the budget segment of the Indian smartphone market.

Samsung Galaxy S9

Samsung Galaxy S9 Samsung’s 2018 flagship smartphone – Galaxy S9 – is the next best-sold smartphone on the list. The smartphone is known for its powerful performance, excellent camera and of course, its beautiful display.

iPhone XS Max

iphone xs 14 Apple’s last year’s flagship smartphone – iPhone XS Max – is the next best-sold smartphone of 2018. We should mention that iPhone XS Max was the most expensive of the three devices that were launched by Apple last year.

iPhone XR

iphone XR 5 iPhone XR was launched as the affordable iPhone by Apple last year. However, as we just saw in the list here, iPhone XS Max did better than iPhone XR in terms of sales. The smartphone has almost the same features as the iPhone XS and XS Max and only differs in the kind of screen that is used, and rear camera.

Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus

Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus Polaris Blue Samsung’s Galaxy S series’ higher end variant – Galaxy S9 Plus – is the ninth most sold smartphone of 2018. The smartphone has the same set of specifications as Samsung Galaxy S9 and only differs in terms of the screen size.

Samsung Galaxy J6

samsung-galaxy-j6 The second and the last budget smartphone on the list – Samsung Galaxy J6 – is the tenth on Counterpoint’s list of most sold smartphones of 2018.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App. [td_smart_list_end]

Apple shipped 43.8 million iPhones in Q2 2019: IHS

While iPhones accounted for most of Apple’s earnings previously, the same has not been the case with iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR (review), largely because of their exorbitant pricing. Recently, the Cupertino-based technology giant held its Q2 2019 earnings call and revealed that the iPhone shipments had fallen 17% year-on-year. Just days after that, analyst group IHS has provided its estimate of the number of iPhones the company has sold in Q2 2019. According to the report by IHS, Apple has shipped 43.8 million iPhones in Q2 2019, which is down 16% year on year as compared to 52.2 million iPhone shipments in Q2 2018. The estimate by IHS first appeared in 9to5Mac and we should mention that it is higher than that of other analyst firms like Canalys and IDC. While Canalys estimated that the company shipped 40.2 million iPhones, IDC has given the number 36.4 million as its estimate. It is also worth noticing that IHS estimated that South Korean technology giant Samsung has shipped 70.8 million smartphones in Q2 2019, which is a fall of 9%. Huawei, on the other hand, is said to have shipped 59.1 million handsets in the same period. This is not the first time that a decline in iPhone shipments has been reported about and Apple has reinforced its commitment to services to make up for it. The Cupertino-based technology giant has reported a growth in revenue from the wearables that it is selling and services. During the company’s earnings call, CEO Tim Cook said that with price adjustments in China, lower Chinese taxes on the iPhone and Apple’s trade-in program, iPhone sales will start recovering towards the end of this quarter.
Cook also added that the correction of the iPhone pricing in India has started giving the company better results. To recall, the technology company had recently reduced the pricing of iPhone XR in India from Rs 76,900 to Rs 59,900. Apple CEO also said that India is very challenging as a market in the short term but it is extremely important for the company for the long term. Apple is also trying to open its retail stores in India, although there is no word as of now about when that will happen. It is also worth mentioning that Apple is taking all the required steps to manufacture its high-end smartphone in the country as that will lead to a further fall in the prices of the latest iPhones.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.

Tesla sends email to employees warning them against leaking information to the press

Electric car maker Tesla today sent out an email to its employees which stated that leaking information about the company to the press can lead to firing, felony charges, and lawsuits, according to a report. The email was sent by Tesla’s security team and contained the recent actions that the company has taken against employees who had leaked information about it. The report, which was first published by CNBC, said that the email spoke about an employee who “exfiltrated confidential business information from the Tesla domain to his personal account and threatened to disclose confidential company information.” The electric car maker has filed felony charges against this employee. The email also spoke about two lawsuits against former employees over “stealing proprietary information and trade secrets” and intellectual property. We should mention that this is the latest moves in Silicon Valley to keep employees from leaking out information to the press. And ironically, this was leaked out too. To recall, technology giant Google had also leaked out a similar email in 2016 which stated how the company finds out which employees are leaking out information. This was followed by an email from Cupertino-based technology giant Apple that was sent to its employees in 2018. The email spoke about how Apple had got 12 of its employees arrested for leaking out information to the press about its future plans. In 2018, a report in Buzzfeed carried an internal memo from a Facebook executive which said that the company severely reprimands leakers on its internal forums: “How fucking terrible that some irresponsible jerk decided he or she had some god complex that jeopardizes our inner culture and something that makes Facebook great?” Secrecy is a very important factor in the Silicon Valley culture and according to The Guardian, companies at times leave mouse traps to see if the employees would behave. Mouse traps are basically USB sticks that are supposed to have sensitive data are left behind. But then, at times, this is fake just to get hold of the employees who are leaking information to the press.
Considering that a lot has been going on at Tesla off late, this email does not come as a surprise as the company would do what is required to make sure its information is safeguarded. But Tesla controversies are somehow incomplete without Twitter. Today’s email also pointed out that an employee was fired, “for sharing confidential business information on Twitter, including production numbers, with journalists.”
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.

OnePlus 7 Pro seen being thrown in water in a video; here’s what the company has to say

OnePlus’ upcoming smartphones are undoubtedly dominating the technology news across the globe. In the last few days, the company itself has posted some teasers, which has given us some idea about what to expect from the OnePlus 7 Pro. Today, OnePlus has posted a teaser video of its upcoming flagship handset falling into a bucket of water on Twitter. Along with the video, OnePlus has written, “Water resistant ratings for phones cost you money. We bought something less expensive instead.” This clearly means that although OnePlus 7 Pro will not come with an IP rating, it will have some level of water resistance. However, OnePlus has also made it clear that you should not try to do the same. If you want the video on full-screen mode, you will be able to read a warning by the company that reads, “Products not IP certified. Water resistant under optimal test conditions. OnePlus makes no guarantees regarding water/liquid resistance.” OnePlus has also mentioned that water damage of the smartphone will not be covered under standard warranty. https://twitter.com/oneplus/status/1124358412999983105 OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei has also published a blog post talking about the video, in which he has said, “We know that an IP rating would be the simplest way to prove our phone’s capability, but the certification doesn’t help us communicate our focus on your real experience, which is why we created this direct and relatable video to show you what our water-resistant quality can actually bring to you in your real life in a more powerful way.” He further added that OnePlus has “never stopped improving our design and going through tests to make sure you can finally experience our water-resistant quality.” We have to agree with what he is saying as OnePlus smartphones, even though they come without an IP rating, are known to survive spills.
To make it completely clear that this isn’t something that users should try, Pei added, “However, this is not a bucket challenge, and we certainly don’t want all of you to try to drop your OnePlus 7 Pro in a bucket. And just like other smartphone brands that do IP classify their devices, our warranty does not cover water damage.” Considering that OnePlus 7 Pro is expected to cost more than previous smartphones by the company, we thought that OnePlus would include an IP rating this time. But now that the company has announced that it isn’t, we have to admit that it is slightly disappointing to know that OnePlus 7 Pro would not be water resistant. OnePlus 7 Pro is all set to launch on May 14 along with OnePlus 7 at three simultaneous events in the US, India and Europe.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.

Realme 3 Pro to go on sale for the third time in India on May 6: Get all the details here

Realme 3 Pro smartphone went on sale in India for the second time yesterday via Flipkart and Realme store. The Chinese smartphone brand later revealed in a tweet that the stock of the smartphone was completely sold out within minutes. If you have not been able to buy the smartphone so far, you would be happy to know that Realme has announced the third sale of the handset too. Realme 3 Pro will be going on sale for the third time in India on Monday, May 6, at 12pm IST. The handset was launched in India last week and during the first day of its sale, Realme had organised three separate flash sales – at 12pm (noon), 4pm, and 8pm IST. But this trend did not continue during the second sale as Realme 3 Pro only went up on sale at 12 pm. Here’s a look at all the details of the smartphone that you should know about before you buy it:

Realme 3 Pro price in India

The Realme 3 Pro smartphone can be bought at a starting price of Rs 13,999 in India. It s worth noticing that at the given price, the handset competes directly with Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 7 Pro, which has garnered a slot of appreciation for packing powerful specifications at an affordable price. The rivalry between the two smartphones began Realme teased its 3 Pro device saying that it could support Fortnite, unlike other ‘Pro’ smartphones. Soon after this, Xiaomi said that it is working with Epic Games and Qualcomm to get support for the battle-royale game to Redmi Note 7 Pro. It was announced earlier this week that the device now has Fortnite support.

Realme 3 Pro specifications

Realme 3 Pro runs Android 9.0 Pie skinned with ColorOS 6.0 and sports a 6.3-inch full-HD+ display. The display of the handset comes with a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and has an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 SoC, Realme 3 Pro smartphone comes with up to 6GB of RAM and offers up to 128GB of internal storage. Users cam also add a microSD card of up to 256GB to get more storage.
On the camera front, the handset sports a dual rear camera setup that comes with a 16MP primary sensor with f/1.7 aperture and a 5MP sensor that has an f/2.4 aperture. A 25MP front-facing camera is also present on Realme 3 Pro. For connectivity, Realme 3 Pro has a fingerprint sensor, dual-SIM support, 4G LTE, and Widevine L1 certification. The newly-launched handset packs a 4,045mAh battery.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.

Huawei Mate 30 Pro will come with 5G, penta-camera setup and 55W fast charging support: Report

0
Huawei Mate 20 Pro was launched in the later months of 2018 and it instantly grabbed eyeballs due to its design and the distinctive back panel. It held a triple-rear camera set up in a ‘bug-eye’ sort of way. And when launched it was awarded as one of the best camera smartphones of the year. In a way, it also paved the way for the Huawei P30 Pro. But now, the successor of the smartphone, the Huawei Mate 30 Pro is in talks and it will have everything bigger and better than its predecessor. The Huawei Mate 30 Pro will reportedly be launched in October 2019 and it would be the Chinese company’s second flagship of the year. Although there is a lot of time for its launch, a few details about the smartphone have already surfaced online. According to them, the upcoming smartphone may come with 5G connectivity support and 55W fast charging. According to a report by new.qq.com, the Huawei Mate 30 Pro will have a 6.71-inch OLED display which would be curved from all sides and is said to be supplied by BOE. It would also have an in-display fingerprint scanner, although it is not confirmed till now whether it will be ultrasonic or optical. But the main design change of the display will most probably be the notch, as it would reportedly hold a hole-punch display.
Other than that, the Huawei Mate 30 Pro will reportedly be powered by the Kirin 985 SoC, the successor of the Kirin 980 SoC used in its current flagship – Huawei P30 Pro. For 5G connectivity, the Huawei Mate 30 Pro will have a Baron 500/ Balong 5000 chip but there will also be an option to opt for the 4G variant of the device. In the camera department, Huawei Mate 30 Pro will reportedly have a quad-camera setup similar to the P30 Pro. There could be a standard lens, a telephoto lens, a wide-angle lens and a Time of Flight (ToF) camera.  But there is also a possibility that it could have a penta-camera setup. As mentioned above, it would most probably come with a 55W fast charging support and will pack a 4,200mAh battery. It would also support a 10W reverse charging. Currently, these specifications are based on rumours so are liable to change. For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.

Honor 20 Pro leaked image shows a punch-hole display design

1

The upcoming flagship smartphone from Huawei’s sub-brand – Honor 20 – is scheduled to launch on May 21 in London. Earlier, some leaks and camera renders of the upcoming smartphone had surfaced online showing what it would look like. Weeks ahead of the official launch of the device, another leak has surfaced online which shows the front of the Honor 20 Pro. In the leaked image, it can be seen that the Honor 20 Pro will be housing a hole-punch notched display. Although this is not the first time Honor is coming with a hole-punch cut out display as we have already seen it on the Honor View 20, but this time the hole punch will be bigger than before.

Last month, we saw an image of the Honor 20 Pro’s rear panel which revealed that it would house a quad-camera setup and will come with a gradient back panel. Another leak of the device showed that the Honor 20 Pro will come with a white gradient design with a pinkish hue. But the recent images revealed by DigitalTrends shows the Honor 20 Pro on top of its retail box.

The image shows that the Honor 20 Pro will reportedly sporting a hole-punch camera on the top left corner of the screen. But the thing is, the hole punch camera size on the Honor 20 Pro is bigger than it was on the Honor View 20. Other than that, the device has a thin bezel at the bottom and almost no bezels at the top and sides. There is also a SIM-card slot on the upper left edge of the smartphone. While the display content on top of the Honor 20 Pro shows Amazon’s Alexa along with Fortnite installer. This means that it will support Fortnite gameplay and it might also come with Alexa voice assistant.

honor-20-pro-screen-leak
Image courtesy: Digital Trends

Talking about the specifications of the Honor 20 Pro, the leaks and rumours suggest that it will be powered by the Kirin 980 SoC. It will reportedly sport a 40MP main camera with the custom Sony IMX600 image sensor and RGB filter. The main camera will be paired with a 20MP wide-angle camera along with an 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom support. The last camera will be a ToF (Time-of-Flight) camera. The Honor 20 Pro is expected to come with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of inbuilt storage. The battery of the device might be of a 3,650mAh capacity with support for 22.5W fast charging.

But since these specifications are based on leaks, they should be taken with a pinch of salt. More details about the device will be made available once it launches later this month.

For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.

Vivo S1 Pro with 32MP pop-up selfie camera, 3,700mAh battery launched: Price and specifications

0
Chinese smartphone brand Vivo has launched a new smartphone in its S-Series in China. The highlights of the newly launched Vivo S1 Pro include a 32MP selfie pop-up selfie camera and an AI-enhanced triple rear camera setup. The handset will be going on sale in China starting May 9. Other key features of the smartphone include its 3,700mAh battery, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 675 SoC, and a 48MP primary camera. Here’s a look at all the details of the Vivo S1 Pro smartphone:

Vivo S1 Pro price

The Vivo S1 Pro smartphone is available in China at a price of CNY 2,698, which is approximately Rs 27,700. Strangely, the same price tag has been listed for the 6GB RAM/256GB storage variant as well as for 8GB RAM/128GB storage model. The handset has gone up on pre-orders on Vivo China’s e-Shop and it will be going on sale starting May 9 at 10 am China time. Vivo S1 Pro smartphone is available in Love Blue and Coral Red colour options. The company launched a vanilla variant Vivo S1 in March that was priced at CNY 2,298 (approximately Rs 24,500). The Vivo S1 was only available in 6GB RAM/128GB storage variant. As of now, there is no word on the price or availability of the device in India.

Vivo S1 Pro specifications

The Vivo S1 Pro smartphone comes with a gradient finish on its back panel and has an in-display fingerprint scanner. Its screen does not have a notch or bezels and the device sports a vertically stacked triple rear camera setup and a pop-up selfie camera module. Coming to the specifications of the newly-launched smartphone, it runs Funtouch OS 9 based on Android 9 Pie and features a 6.39-inch full-HD+ (2340×1080 pixels) Super AMOLED display that has an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 SoC, the handset comes with up to 8GB of RAM and offers up to 256GB of internal storage. Vivo S1 Pro smartphone can support a microSD card of up to 256GB. For imaging duties, Vivo S1 Pro sports a 32MP pop-up selfie camera with an f/2.0 aperture and a triple rear camera setup. The rear camera module of the handset comes with a 48MP primary sensor with an f/1.78 aperture, an 8MP wide-angle sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and a 5MP depth sensor with an f/2.4 aperture. The camera app comes with features like Panorama, beauty, and AR shoot. The smartphone houses a 3,700mAh battery and for connectivity, it has Wi-Fi, VoLTE, GPS, and A-GPS.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.

BSNL extends its ‘Bumper Offer’ data recharge plan to June 30, adds additional data to the existing plans

State-owned telecom operator BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited) has revised its prepaid plan once more. In its new plan, BSNL has extended the deadline for its Bumper Offer benefits for the prepaid subscribers to June 30. Earlier, the Bumper Offer plan of BSNL provided selected users an additional 2.21GB data per day. The same plan was extended in January till April 30 and now the company is extending it even further. Other than that, BSNL has also updated its prepaid plans with additional data benefits and they also confirm the extension. For that, users need to recharge from plans ranging from Rs 186 to Rs 1,699. In the extended Bumper Offer, BSNL is giving its customers benefits of 2.21GB data everyday till June 30. To avail it, the users need to recharge from the prepaid plans including Rs 186, Rs 429, Rs 485, Rs 666, Rs 999, and Rs 1,699. As mentioned, the plans run from Rs 186 to Rs 1,699 prepaid recharge. But it should be noted that, this plan is similar to the offer BSNL announced back in September 2018. That offer was scheduled to end on January 31 but BSNL extended the validity till April 30. And now that the April’s date limit has passed and once again the company has extended the deadline of the offer to June 30.
The revised prepaid plan from BSNL will offer as much as 3.21GB of data everyday to the user if the recharge is done using the Rs 186 or Rs 429 packs. Earlier, they offered 1GB of data everyday to the user till their mentioned validity. Other than the before-mentioned plans, the Rs 485 prepaid plan and the Rs 666 prepaid recharge plan will also offer 3.7GB of data everyday. Originally both the plans offered 1.5GB of data everyday to the user for the said duration of time. Other than that, the highest recharge of Rs 1,699 prepaid plan is also getting the increased data usage limit. Now the users who recharges using this recharge pack will get 4.21GB of data everyday which earlier offered only 2GB of data to its user per day. The increased and revised data plan was first noticed by Telecom Talk and it also stated that currently the extended offer is can be used by the users of Chennai and Tamil Nadu circles only. The telecom operator will bring these extended data plans to the other circles in the coming days. For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.

Flipkart Mobile Summer Carnival 2019 to begin tomorrow: Discounts on Realme 2 Pro, Nokia 6.1 Plus, Honor 10 and more

To take on Amazon India, Flipkart will be hosting a sale on its platform called Mobile Summer Carnival that will be live on its platform from May 4 to May 7. It is worth noticing that the dates of Flipkart Mobile Summer Carnival 2019 are exactly the same as the Amazon Summer Sale. As the name suggests, during the sale on Flipkart, a number of smartphones will be available as discounted prices. Handsets that are listed by the company include Realme 2 Pro, Nokia 6.1 Plus, Honor 8X, and Redmi Note 5 Pro among others. Customers who buy new smartphones during Flipkart Mobile Summer Carnival 2019 will also get the complete mobile protection at Rs 99 and they will have the option of going for no-cost EMI options. During the sale on Flipkart, Nokia 5.1 Plus will be available at a discounted price of Rs 7,999, instead of its latest price tag of Rs 10,599. Originally, the handset was priced at Rs 10,999 in India, but later, it received a price cut. This isn’t the only smartphone from HMD Global that can be bought at a reduced rate. Nokia 6.1 Plus’s 4GB RAM/64GB internal storage variant will also be available at a discounted price of Rs 12,999. The handset was launched at Rs 15,999 and recently received a price cut after which it could be bought at Rs 15,499. However, as of now, there is no word on whether the 6GB RAM variant will be available at a reduced rate too. Realme 2 Pro smartphone will also be available at Rs 10,999 during the sale. The 4GB RAM/64GB storage option of the device is otherwise available at Rs 11,990. The 6GB RAM/64GB storage option and the 8GB RAM/128GB storage option are also available at discounted prices of Rs 13,990 and Rs 15,990 respectively.
Coming to Redmi Note 5 Pro, it will be available at a discount of Rs 2,000. So, its base variant with 4GB of RAM can be picked up at Rs 10,999. In addition to this, various handsets from Honor including Honor 10, Honor 10 lite, Honor 9N, Honor 9 lite, Honor 7S, Honor 7A and Honor 7i will also be available at lesser prices during Flipkart’s Mobile Summer Carnival. The 4GB RAM option of Honor 8X can be bought at Rs 12,999, while the 6GB RAM model can be picked up at Rs 14,999. Honor 9N, on the other hand, can be bought at Rs 9,499 and Honor 10 and Honor 10 Lite will be available at a price of Rs 24,999 and Rs 12,999 respectively.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.

OnePlus’s new OxygenOS Open Beta adds a bloatware which shares sensitive information with Tencent

0
Before the launch of the OnePlus 7 Pro and OnePlus 7 scheduled for May 14, the company has come to light once again, and this time for all the wrong reasons. The company had rolled out its OxygenOS Open Beta Software update for the OnePlus 6 and the OnePlus 6T devices earlier. And the users of the devices have found something which could land OnePlus in trouble. In the new beta update, the company has added an Intelligent Cleanup feature with the intention of freeing up the storage on the OnePlus 6 and the OnePlus 6T devices. The Intelligent Cleanup feature is present in the preinstalled File Manager application of the device. Besides cleaning up the phone, the app is also sending data to the company who made the application – Tencent. This is obviously very worrisome for the users. The users noticed that the Intelligent Cleanup tool was a tool made by Tencent. And as per the reports shared by the users on the official OnePlus forum, they are concerned about their data being with Tencent. And it is opposite of the OnePlus’ claim of it being against bloatware. OnePlus had added the Intelligent Cleanup feature for its File Manager app in the OxygenOS Open Beta 17 for the OnePlus 6 and in OxygenOS Open Beta 9 for the OnePlus 6T. In the changelog of the update, this feature is already listed as Clean in the application and it uses a tool developed by Tencent and OnePlus. A user had also pointed out that the updated privacy for File Manager states that relevant data is sent to Tencent’s Singapore server.
It is true that some of the information might be sent to Tencent server such as the Android version, language, region, and hardware model. But it is the other information that is being shared about which the users are worried. Information such as application caching details and app usage details are more sensitive and is found problematic by the users. Some users on Reddit have also reported the same issue about their data being shared with Tencent. However, it should be noted that the feature is currently limited only to India. And there is no word from OnePlus about its expansion of this feature to the other markets. As mentioned earlier, OnePlus is against the addition of unnecessary bloatware to its devices. We hope that OnePlus will soon fix this or give out a statement about what information is being shared so that its users can be at peace.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.
 

Microsoft has said that it will make text typed in incognito made ‘private’

Scores of people live under the impression that their activities in Google’s Chrome Incognito mode are not being tracked or recorded. However, software giant Microsoft has revealed that anything that you type on any browser on Windows is being used to learn user’s typing habits so that they can be assisted with autocomplete and autocorrect suggestions. The company has also added that it is working to fix this situation saying that it will begin treating all the text that is typed by users in the incongnito made as private. So, it will no longer be analysed by anyone. We should mention that this is very similar to how smartphones treat typed text into secure text fields. Do note that the change will not become live immediately and it will take some time for it to come into effect. This is because it has currently been applied in the Chromium codebase and can be tested before being adopted in Google Chrome itself. It is worth mentioning that this contribution by Microsoft comes as the software giant is ramping up the Chromium-based version of its Edge browser. This step has been taken after Microsoft decided to abandon the EdgeHTML rendering engine. The report of the development first appeared in 9to5Google and it said that it spotted the change in Chromium developers’ message board. We should add that the thread said that the change has been added by a Microsoft employee and it is being reviewed by peers from within the open-source Chromium organisation. It should also be noted that both Chromium and Windows have mechanisms that let them identify when text should be treated as private, however, they need to be linked. While Chromium comes with a tag called ‘shouldDoLearning’, with which the text can read for pattern learning. On the other hand, Windows 10 comes with an attribute called ‘IS_PRIVATE’, which lets the text to be isolated.
We should mention that the older versions of Windows also don’t come with equivalent protection, which basically means that the private or incognito mode of the browsers do not understand these preferences. However, with the upcoming change that Microsoft has spoken about, the text that is typed in the private browsing session will be used or retained by the end of the session. Caches of text typed by the user will be dumped along with his browsing history, and cookies, according to the software giant.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.

Oppo A3s receives a price cut in India, now available at Rs 7,990

Chinese smartphone brand Oppo has reduced the price of its A3s smartphone in India. The Oppo A3s handset is now available at a starting price of Rs 7,990 in the country. With the latest revision, both the variants of the smartphone – one with 2GB RAM and the other with 3GB RAM – would be available at new, reduced prices. While the company had initially launched the smartphone only in a 2GB RAM option, it was later also launched in a 3GB RAM model. The key highlights of the smartphone include an HD+ display, a dual rear camera setup, and an octa-core SoC. Oppo A3s is available in Dark Purple and Red colour variants.

Oppo A3s

Mumbai-based retailer Mahesh Telecom has listed the revised prices of the 2GB RAM and 3GB RAM variants of Oppo A3s. While the base variant with 2GB RAM can be bought at Rs 7,990, the 3GB RAM model is priced at Rs 9,990. However, the new prices are not listed on Amazon India till now. There is also no official word from Oppo about the change in pricing. To recall, Oppo A3s was launched in India in July 2018 and the base variant had a price tag of Rs 10,990 back then. The handset received a price cut of Rs 1,000 last year. The company further reduced the pricing by Rs 1,000 in December 2018. Coming to the 3GB RAM model, it was launched in August 2018 at a price of Rs 13,990. After a few price cuts, it is now being sold at Rs 10,990 in India.

Oppo A3s specifications

Coming to the specifications of Oppo A3s, the smartphone runs Android 8.1 Oreo skinned with ColorOS 5.1 and features a 6.2-inch HD+ ‘Super Full Screen’ IPS display. Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 processor, Oppo A3s has up to 3GB of RAM and it comes equipped with Adreno 506 GPU.
On the camera front, the Oppo A3s has a dual rear camera setup that comprises of a 13MP primary sensor and a 2MP secondary sensor. The handset also has an LED flash. For selfies and video calls, there is an 8MP sensor that comes with AI Beauty technology 2.0. The Oppo A3s is available in 32GB and 64GB storage options and it can hold a microSD card of up to 256GB. The smartphone houses 4,230mAh battery and comes with 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, Micro-USB, and a 3.5mm headphone jack for connectivity.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.