Nokia 7 plus Android 9 Pie update rolling out today

HMD Global has announced that its has started to roll the Android 9 Pie OS update on the Nokia 7 plus (Review) and owners of the smartphones will start receiving Android 9 Pie on their Nokia 7 plus from September 28 but the Digital Wellbeing features will be available to users from this autumn. As part of the Android One programme, the Nokia 7 plus will introduce App Actions - a feature unique to Android One devices and Google Pixel smartphones running on Android 9 Pie. App Actions constantly learns from a users daily usage and assists them with everyday tasks. The Digital Wellbeing features encourage users to take breaks from screen time. New functionalities include - highlighting device time on the Dashboard, the ability to set time limits for app usage and Wind Down Mode which fades the phone to grayscale and activates Do Not Disturb at a predetermined time. “We constantly strive to deliver on our promise of offering pure, secure, up-to-date Android on Nokia smartphones. Today, we are extremely delighted to start the roll out of Android 9 Pie on Nokia 7 plus –  making us among the first to offer the latest innovations from Google, including Android One exclusive features such as App Notifications, to the value flagship tier,” Juho Sarvikas, Chief Product Officer, HMD Global, said in a statement. The Nokia 7 plus sports a 6-inch FHD+ display and is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoC with 4GB RAM. It is the first smartphone by the company to offer an 18:9 display aspect ratio. At the back of the phone is a dual-rear camera setup with 12MP wide-angle and 13MP telephoto lens with Zeiss optics. At the front is a 16MP camera, also with Zeiss lens. The device offers a 3800mAh battery.

from Latest Technology News https://ift.tt/2xW6DdG

Oppo Find X with 10 GB RAM spotted on TENAA, reportedly scores 271,362 in Antutu benchmarks

Oppo showed some innovation with its Find X smartphone that sported a futuristic look, thanks to the motorised camera setup. Although the device uses moving parts, which are bound to fail past a certain usage limit, the company seems to be working on its successor that comes with a similar design and notably, 10GB RAM and 256GB of internal storage. A recent TENAA listing reveals the device in a new grey colour and suggests that it could come equipped with the same motorised camera setup and a near bezel-less display. However, it remains to be seen whether the upcoming phone is just a new memory variant or a new Find series device.  In a separate report, the Antutu benchmark of the new variant has also leaked online. As per the image, the new 10GB RAM model of the phone manages to score 2, which is not as high as one would expect. The 8GB RAM variant of the OnePlus 6 managed to score 244,517 in our Antutu benchmark test and it should be noted that simply increasing the RAM in a phone does not necessarily mean that it will be faster. However, the unit on which the benchmark was run is said to be a production model and as such, one can expect a slight increase in these scores when the final retail handset is rolled out.  The OPPO Find X originally comes with 8GB of RAM with 256GB of inbuilt storage. The Find X comes with a 19.5:9 6.4-inch HD+ OLED panel with a 93.8 percent screen-to-body ratio. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC with an Adreno 630 GPU. It features an unconventional camera setup, which rests inside a separate motorised unit that pops up every time the camera app is launched or a face unlock must be done. On the rear, it sports a 16MP primary sensor and a 20MP secondary sensor. On the front is a 25MP sensor.  The OPPO Find X packs a 3,730mAh unit with support for VOOC fast charging and the company claims that it can charge from 0 to 100 percent in just 35 minutes. The Find X runs on ColorOS 5.1, which is based on Android 8.1 Oreo, with a fair amount of pre-installed bloatware. You can read our first impressions of the device here. 

from Latest Technology News https://ift.tt/2N8EXbd

Huawei Mate 20 Pro leak reveals voice unlock feature

Several leaks and reports have been linking the upcoming Huawei Mate 20 Pro smartphone with a lot on new innovation. Recently, a report talked about a new square camera array that the smartphone is expected to come with. Now, Israeli technology news platform Girafa has claimed that the smartphone, which is scheduled to launch on October 16 in London along with the Huawei Mate 20, will feature Bone Voice ID, a technology that will let owners unlock their handsets with a voice command. Girafa also says that the tech is so powerful that it can recognise “the magic words” in crowded areas as well. It has been heavily reported that the Huawei Mate 20 Pro will offer an in-display fingerprint sensor and Face ID. The platform says that Huawei’s technology will sport an advanced 3D face recognition system and will unlock the phone in half a second. The platform further claims that the smartphone will come with a battery capacity of 4,200mAh and with that, the company reportedly plans to introduce SuperCharge 2.0 that can charge 70 percent battery in 30 minutes. When it comes to the camera, the platform says that the Huawei Mate 20 Pro will have a triple rear camera setup like they incorporated in the Huawei P20 Pro, but this time, they will replace the Telephoto lens with an Ultra Wide Angle one. There is also a claim of Cinema Scene with advanced AI capabilities in the video shooting mode. Other claims include the IP67 water and dust resistant rating, stereo speakers on the front, Android 9 Pie with EMUI 9.0 and a new Nano SD card. What you’ll not find here is the 3.5 mm headphone jack. Previous reports have said that the Mate 20 Pro may feature a massive 6.9-inch AMOLED display and will be powered by company’s latest Kirin 980 processor and will come loaded with Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered features. Huawei may also launch a 15W wireless and 40W wired charger at the event.

from Latest Technology News https://ift.tt/2Qa2OsI

Taiwanese white hat hacker promises to delete Mark Zuckerbergs Facebook page, will stream it live

A Taiwanese white hat hacker is claiming to delete Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook page and stream the whole thing through a Facebook Live session. In a Facebook post, the hacker, named Chang Chi-yuan said he will be deleting the account of Facebook’s founder himself and scheduled a live stream for Sunday 3:30 PM IST. The hacker’s Facebook Page, which is in Taiwanese has 26,000 followers. The page, and Chang himself, is listed as a “special contributor” to Line Corp’s bug bounty hall of fame for 2016. Chang was reportedly sued by a local bus operator in Taiwan for hacking into their system and buying a ticket for a single Taiwanese dollar. The hacker is also known for writing articles on earning money by hacking. Facebook too has a bug bounty programme where it rewards and recognises individuals who successfully point out and fixes bugs on the platform. If Chang is successful, it won’t be the first time Zuckerberg’s account has been hacked. The Facebook co-founder’s page was hacked back in 2011 when a hacker posted a status update asking the founder to allow users to invest in the social media platform and convert it into a “social business”. Facebook has been mired in controversies with recent revelations about allowing third parties like Cambridge Analytica to leverage data people shared on Facebook to influence national elections across the world, which led to the #DeleteFacebook campaign encouraging users to delete their Facebook accounts. Recently, Instagram and WhatsApp co-founders, both of which Facebook acquired have quit the company over allegations of diluting the privacy measures of the apps to sell more ads.  Provided Facebook allows it, the live stream will begin at 6PM local time on Sunday. In India, you can tune in at 3:30PM and watch the white hat hacker attempt to take control of Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook account and delete it.

from Latest Technology News https://ift.tt/2xMnLDk

Acer unveils self-driving concept car in Taiwan

Acer unveiled a self-driving concept car at the Taiwan Automotive Technology Innovation Summit 2018 today. According to a press release sent out by the Taiwanese electronics company, it worked in collaboration with Yulon Group, one of the country’s top automakers and its subsidiaries HAITEC and Luxgen. The former is an automotive electronics provider, and the latter, a car brand. Integrating Acer’s autonomous driving system with the Luxgen S3 electric vehicle platform, the two companies demonstrated their Level 4-ready self-driving concept car, reads the press release. By doing so, the companies showcased their shared vision of AI and autonomous driving technology. “Both the automotive and ICT industries are going through a paradigm shift; automation, connectivity, electrification, and ‘servicification’ are key trends of future development,” commented Edward Lin, Associate Vice President of Value Lab at Acer, Inc. ““In the realm of smart transportation, Acer already has a foothold in electronic ticketing, smart parking, connected car, and traffic prediction, and we’re excited to work with Yulon Group to venture into self-driving cars,” he added. The Level 4-ready self-driving concept car is based on the Luxgen S3 electric vehicle platform. It embodies Acer’s autonomous driving system, which encompasses sensing, decision-making, and control. Acer’s system leverages AI and sensor fusion algorithms with data from real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning, Lidars, MMW radars, inertial measurement unit (IMU), and ultrasonic sensors. According to the press release, it also uses deep learning technology  to perform object recognition. It then implements dynamic vehicle control to enable autonomous driving. “Autonomous driving is the future trend of the automotive industry, manufacturers around the world are stepping up from level 2 autonomous driving to Level 3 and 4,” commented Jung-Kuei Chen, Vice President of the Product Engineering Group II at HAITEC. “With Acer, we’ve jointly unveiled Taiwan’s first self-driving concept car with ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), IoV (Internet of Vehicles) and autonomous driving technology. Integrating Acer’s expertise in AI and the cloud with HAITEC’s self-developed open vehicle platform, we’ve achieved so much through our cross-industry collaboration,” Chen added. According to Acer’s press release, the company’s self-driving system makes dynamic vehicle control decisions through AI models based on key data, including image recognition, 3D Lidar  obstacle detection, high-precision maps, and real-time positioning. With all of this, the system can steer, brake, cruise, manoeuvre, and park. It also includes a cloud management system for car sharing services so a control centre can send vehicles when users make transportation requests on their mobile device. The system can manage scheduling, monitoring, notifying, and reporting. It also allows safety monitoring and human override. Lin believes Acer, with its strength across software, hardware, and services, is in a great position to leverage its AI technology and fulfill its vision of offering Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS).

from Latest Technology News https://ift.tt/2xI3n6C

Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro with 626-inch full-HD+ notched display, quad-camera setup launched in Thailand

Xiaomi has officially announced the Redmi Note 6 Pro smartphone in Thailand. The new phone is quite similar to its predecessor in terms of design but following the trend, it gets a notch on its display. Additionally, it features a 19:9 display aspect ratio and comes with dual front-facing sensors with AI-enabled features and Beauty Mode. The main camera sensors also get an overhaul and the display size is slightly bigger this time. The company announced the device via its forum and Facebook page but it is not listed on its Thailand website yet.  Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro Specifications The Redmi Note 6 Pro is powered by the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor as its predecessor, the Redmi Note 5 Pro (review). It does feature a slightly larger 6.26-inch full-HD+ IPS LCD display with a 19:9 aspect ratio. Xiaomi says that it sports 86 percent screen-to-body ratio, and its screen is protected by a 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass with 500 nits of brightness. The phone comes with 4GB RAM coupled with 64GB of internal storage, however, there could be more memory and storage variants that might be revealed once the device is listed on the company’s website.  In terms of optics, the Redmi Note 6 Pro comes equipped with dual 12 + 5 MP sensors. The 12 MP sensor features a f/1.9 aperture with 1.4um pixels and dual auto-focus support. The second one is a 5MP depth sensor. On the front, it sports a 20MP main sensor that supports 4-in-1 pixel binning and a 2MP depth sensor. The front camera is placed inside the notch, along with the proximity/ambient light sensor, speaker and the notification light. The whole package is powered by a 4000mAh battery, which is claimed to last up to 2 days on a single full charge. Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro Price  The smartphone is priced at THB 7,000 (Rs 15,713) and comes in Black, Blue and Rose Gold colour models. It is expected to be priced the same when it launches in India but there is no word yet on when it will be announced. In Thailand, Xiaomi is also offering the option of selecting from a free Mi Selfie Stick or Mi Wi-Fi Repeater with the device.

from Latest Technology News https://ift.tt/2OhPFAB

Moto X4 3GB32GB variant is reportedly available for Rs 13,999

Mumbai-based retailer Mahesh Telecom is making news again - this time for selling the 3GB RAM and 32GB storage variant of the Moto X4 for a price of Rs 13,999. The retailer posted a photo and the price drop information about the handste on Twitter. The smartphone is listed for Rs 15,999 on Flipkart and Amazon is selling the phone for Rs 13,621, which is approximately less than what Mahesh Telecom is selling the smartphone for, but the retailer's tweet confirms the price drop. Lenovo-owned Motorola launched the Moto X4 smartphone in November last year at a starting price of Rs 20,999 for 3GB RAM and 32GB storage variant, and the 4GB RAM and 64GB storage was priced at Rs 22,999. The smartphone sports a 5.2-inch Full HD display whihc is protected by the Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. It is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 630 SoC and is equipped with a 3000mAh battery with Moto’s TurboPower fast charging system. At the back, the smartphone features a dual-camera setup consisting of a 12MP and 8MP sensor. The 12MP unit has a Dual Autofocus Pixel Sensor and a f/2.0 aperture and the 8MP unit features an ultra-wide angle lens with a 120-degree field of view. On the front is a 16MP shooter with a f/2.0 aperture lens. The Moto X4 was launched preloaded with Android Nougat, and in December, the company started to roll out the Android Oreo update the device. #MotoX4 [3GB/32GB] Now available for Rs.13999/- only pic.twitter.com/sEcJ8mOUK2 — Mahesh Telecom (@MAHESHTELECOM) 27 September 2018 The Moto X4 comes with Bluetooth 5.0 and the company claims that the phone can connect with up to four speakers at a time. Moto also says that the phone is smart enough to recognise speaker distance and balance latency, regardless of the speaker’s brand. It can also switch to stereo mode if needed. The international variant of the phone comes preloaded with Amazon’s Alexa but the AI-based assistant is not present on the Indian variant.

from Latest Technology News https://ift.tt/2P0kAPi

Best Bluetooth speaker deals under Rs 1,000 on Amazon

A wireless speaker is an ideal device to boost the sound of your smartphone without spending thousands of bucks. They are portable and handy, at the same time eliminate the hassle of a wired speaker. We have handpicked some of the best Bluetooth speakers that are up for sale on Amazon with a hefty price cut. So, let’s get started.  iBall Musi Cube BT20 Portable Bluetooth Speaker  Price: Rs 1,119 Deal price: Rs 699 The iBall Musi Cube BT20 Portable Bluetooth Speaker features a built-in mic, which allows you to answer calls with the phone connected to it. Besides regular Bluetooth streaming, users can also route audio via a flash drive, an AUX cable, and a microSD card. According to the company, the speaker can provide up to four hours of music playback in a full charge. Click here to buy.  Juarez Super Bass Mini Portable Speaker Price: Rs 2,490 Deal price: Rs Rs 699 The Juarez Super Bass Mini Portable Speaker is Bluetooth 4.2 enabled and it comes equipped with an AUX port and a microSD card slot. It sports a built-in mic, which makes it easy to answer calls when your phone is connected. It is said to deliver up to eight hours of music playback in a single full charge. Click here to buy.  Zebronics ZEB-NOBLE Portable Speaker   Price: Rs 777 Deal price: Rs  470 The Zebronics ZEB-NOBLE Portable Speaker is equipped with a built-in FM, microSD card slot and an AUX port. It comes equipped with a microphone and onboard controls that lets you manage the audio volume and skip between audio tracks. Click here to buy. PTron Mini Portable Wireless Speaker  Price: Rs 1,500 Deal price: Rs 699 The PTron Portable Wireless Speaker is Bluetooth 4.2 enabled and has an AUX port for streaming music via a 3.5mm audio cable. As per the company, the speaker has a battery life of up to eight hours. Click here to buy.  Portronics Cubix Bluetooth Speaker  Price: Rs 1,599 Deal price: Rs 729  Portronics claims that the Cubix Bluetooth Speaker works in a Bluetooth range of 10m. The speaker comes with a built-in AUX cable, which is definitely a welcomed addition. According to the company, it has a battery life of up to four hours. Click here to buy.

from Latest Technology News https://ift.tt/2InGCZr

Microsoft to end support for Skype 7 on November 1

Microsoft has announced that it will end the support for Skype 7 (Skype classic) on November 1 and reiterated that the users should soon upgrade to the newer Skype 8. Microsoft claims that updating from version 7 to version 8 will allow it to unify the experience of using Skype across all desktop and mobile platforms. It says that all version 8 applications are optimised to work in conjunction with company’s modern, mobile-friendly cloud services architecture, with which its engineering teams can deliver features and quality improvements to customers quickly. “We’re continuing to work on your most requested features. As we continue to focus on and improve Skype version 8, support for Skype versions 7, and below will end on November 1, 2018 on desktop devices and November 15, 2018 on mobile and tablet devices. Although you may be able to use older versions for a little while, we encourage you to update today to avoid any interruption,” the company states in a blog post. Skype 8 promises features like free HD video and screensharing calls with up to 24 participants, @mentions (messages directed specifically to a participant in a chat), a dedicated chat media gallery, and improved file sharing (with support now for files up to 300MB). It also brings in a new reactions feature that enables sending emoticons during video calls. The announcement comes on the heels of its recently launched call recording feature, along with another one that enables users to search within a conversation. Users will soon be able to add phone numbers to existing contacts, have more control over the availability status, among other changes. Last month, Microsoft rolled out the end-to-end encrypted Private Conversations to all Skype users on iOS, Android, Linux, Mac and Windows Desktop with an aim to keep important conversations hidden in both the chat list and notifications.

from Latest Technology News https://ift.tt/2OhPB3P

Fortnite Battle Royale Season 6 update brings map changes, Shadow Stones, pets and more

After a lengthy wait, the Season 6 update for Fortnite Battle Royale is finally here. As expected, the update brings with it a slew of gameplay changes like new outfits, pets, along with changes to the map and more.  One of the most notable changes to the map is the new floating island that is now located above the Loot Lake. According to the video shared by Epic Games, the island is created by ‘Kevin the Cube’, the large purple cube that landed on the map a few weeks back. The cube slowly made its way to Loot Lake, where it melted and turned the lake purple and bouncy. The update also brings with it a new consumable called Shadow Stones. The stones grant players with temporary powers like invisibility and the ability to phase through walls.  The update also brings Battle Pass for Season 6 and the developer notes that it offers over 100 rewards and is available for 950 VBucks, which is the in-game currency. With the pass, players can level up and earn up to 100 rewards worth over 25,000 VBucks. In addition to this, levelling up the Battle Pass also lets players unlock three new pets, namely Bonse, Scales and Camo. These pets are passive and will not affect the gameplay itself, but will react to different situations. Further, the pass also enables players to access Weekly Challenges for levelling up and earning rewards faster. It also brings two new exclusive outfits, namely Calamity and DJ Yonder.  While most of the updates for Fortnite Battle Royale seem to be working without a hitch, however, there was one that went through unintentionally. First noticed by Twitter users @Agony, it seems like the new ‘Calamity’ skin showcases exaggerated breast physics when performing the ‘jubilation’ emote. Kotaku notes that this animation can be seen only for that particular emote and that Epic Games is already working on a fix. “This is unintended, embarrassing, and it was careless for us to let this ship,” a spokesperson from Epic Games told the publication. “We are working now to fix this as soon as possible.” The Season 6 update comes just a few days after Sony finally relented on its stance against cross-platform play. The company now allows Fortnite players on the PS4 to play with/against Xbox One and Nintendo Switch games. While support is only in open beta right now, it does point towards more games offering cross-platform play.  The most important thing in the Season 6 update pic.twitter.com/FrnzFsF1Fl — FaZe Agony (@Agony) September 27, 2018

from Latest Technology News https://ift.tt/2N5Qo3f

LG V40 ThinQ revealed with five cameras, 64-inch display in new official video ahead of launch

A week ahead of the official launch LG has teased the LG V40 ThinQ in a 30-second video. The video has been posted by the company on its official media channels like YouTube and Facebook, and it shows off the upcoming smartphone's design, five cameras, along with its colours. LG claims that this is the first time ever that the company has revealed its product's design before the official launch. The LG V40 ThinQ will be unveiled on October 3 in New York and on October 4 in Seoul, South Korea. In the video, LG emphasises on the “clean smartphone design,” saying that the texture of the handset is soft and the smartphone has a silky feel which is said to be achieved by sandblasting the reinforced glass on the back. The smartphone will be available in Platinum Gray, Carmine Red and Moroccan Blue colours. The width of the handset is said to be the same as the LG V30, but the bezels are reportedly slimmer and the screen size is increased to 6.4-inches. When it comes to the camera, the V40 ThinQ will feature two 3mm-sized illumination sensor and laser sensor besides the front and rear camera. In a previous video, LG had teased a horizontally-aligned three rear cameras: One with a wide-angle lens, another with zoom capabilities (telephoto lens) and a third one dedicated to capturing portrait images. Recently,  the frequent tipster Evan Blass posted an image of the device on Twitter claiming that it's the LG V40 ThinQ. The image also showed three cameras on the back panel and two on the front. An LG phone with model number LM-V405UA was recently spotted on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) website in the US. It has been reported that the model number belongs to the LG V40 ThinQ. There is a fingerprint sensor on the back and it is speculated that the device could also come with the Face Unlock feature. When it comes to the hardware, the phone is expected to be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 processor and come equipped with a 6.4-inch OLED or pOLED panel with QHD+ resolution.

from Latest Technology News https://ift.tt/2R6egqM

Apple iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max to go on sale today: Price, offers, specs and all you need to know

The new Apple iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max are going up for sale today, except the least expensive iPhone Xr that will be made available in India next month. The new iPhones run on an upgraded processor, feature a more refined screen and come with new camera-centric features. The iPhone XS features a 5.8-inch display, which is smaller in comparison with the 6.5-inch screen on the iPhone XS Max. The two phones go up against other flagship smartphones like the current Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and will also take on the upcoming XS, Huawei Mate 20 and if one goes lower in the price range, the upcoming OnePlus 6T.  iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max Specs and Features The iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max are powered by Apple’s latest A12 Bionic SoC that comes with a new Neural Engine. The Neural Engine is said to be capable of performing 5 trillion operations per second, which is considerably higher than Apple’s previous SoC, the A11 Bionic that could perform 600 billion operations in the same time frame. The A12 Bionic processor is based on the 7nm manufacturing process with 6.9 billion transistors, a six-core CPU and a four-core GPU. The new SoC is said to perform 15 percent faster and consume 40 percent lesser power than its predecessor. Out of the six cores, two are high-performance cores, while four are efficiency cores, which are claimed to consume 50 percent lesser power. As compared to the previous chip which has a 2-core engine, the neural engine on the A12 Bionic has an 8-core design that helps the apps to launch 30 percent faster. The iPhone XS comes equipped with a 5.8-inch OLED Super Retina True Tone display with a notch, while the XS Max sports the same display panel, but in a larger screen size of 6.5-inches. This year’s iPhones also come equipped with a surgical steel chassis and a glass back. Both the phones are rated IP68 water and dust resistant, which means they can be submerged in 2-meter deep fresh water for up to 30 minutes. The iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max come with Dolby Vision and HDR Support and feature Gigabit-class LTE for faster download speeds and Dual SIM-Dual Standby (DSDS) support as it comes with a nano-SIM and a digital eSIM support.  Coming to the optics, both the iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max feature a dual 12MP f/1.8 wide angle + 12MP f/2.4 telephoto lens configuration on the rear. Apple claims that coupled with the new A12 Bionic SoC, the phones can rapidly capture four frames with zero shutter lag and with also capture long exposure shots for detailed shadows. On the front, the two phones carry forward the iPhone X’s 7MP True Depth camera system. The camera is said to unlock faster than its predecessor and take better Bokeh photos from the front camera.  iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max Price and Availability The iPhone XS comes in three storage models of 64GB, 256GB and 512GB and is priced at Rs 99,900, Rs 1,14,900 and Rs 1,34,900 respectively. The larger iPhone XS Max starts at Rs 1,09,900 for the 64GB version and costs Rs 1,24,900 and Rs 1,44,900 for the 512GB model respectively. The two phones will be available for purchase from Flipkart, Airtel Online Store, Reliance Jio, Paytm Mall, Croma and via the company’s offline retailers starting 6 PM today.  iPhone XS and XS Max Launch Offers  Flipkart has taken the iPhone XS and the XS Max off from pre-orders and is offering a 10 percent instant discount on MasterCard for ‘First Online Payment’ but will come up to Rs 100 per transaction. Those purchasing the phones on EMI transactions with HDFC bank credit cards or using Axis Bank Buzz credit card will get to avail 5 percent off. Flipkart is also offering a ‘Purchase Buyback Guarantee’ for Rs 199 on the two phones and says that one can get up to Rs 49,500 Buyback value. One can also opt for a no-cost EMI option that starts at Rs 18,317 per month for the iPhone XS Max and at Rs 16,650 for the iPhone XS.  On Airtel Online Store, the phones are still up for pre-orders and it’s offering 5 percent cashback on Axis Bank or Citibank credit cards, but only by opting for either 12 or 24 months of EMI. They can also avail 5X reward points on all non-EMI transactions. As an exclusive offer, one can also pick up the phone on the day of launch from a nearby Airtel Store on September 28 between 6 PM to 10 PM and the next day between 10 AM to 8 PM. There is also a standard delivery option for those who can wait. Jio is not running any offers on the iPhone XS and the XS Max, while Paytm Mall is currently allowing pre-booking of the devices with an exchange bonus of Rs 7,000 and those who have already pre-booked the device will get their unit deliverd in 4 hours. The fast delivery option is being implemented in Delhi, Chandigarh, Noida, Gurgaon, Gaziabad, Ahdmedabad, Hyderabad, and Lucknow

from Latest Technology News https://ift.tt/2DJyO5A

Google Pixel 3 XL new hands-on video suggests improved haptic feedback

Another day, another Google Pixel 3 XL leak. This time a new hands-on video has been posted again by a Russian reviewer named Rozetked. In the video, the reviewer can be seen comparing the Pixel 2 XL with the Pixel 3 XL and he claims that the haptic feedback on the Google Pixel 3 XL has been improved and is better than its predecessor. He says that the feedback is “a new awesome vibration system,” which is smooth and is akin to that on Apple devices (Taptic Engine) and he adds that the haptic feedback “may be better” on the Pixel 3 XL. Apart from talking about the haptic feedback, the reviewer also speaks about the upcoming device's glass back, notch, camera bulge, wireless charging, a single rear camera and a possible Google Pixel Ultra. Just like most of the reports, Rozetked says the smartphone looks “good” with an all-glass back and wireless charging but tears apart the notched display. Just like in the previous leaks, there is only one camera on the back but one can also notice a bulge that makes the smartphone a little wobbly on a table when compared with the Pixel 2 XL side-by-side. There is also a mention of Pixel Ultra which is reportedly a completely bezel-less smartphone without a notch and could be priced near $1000 in the US. The design, specifications and features of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL have leaked already. Google Pixel 3 XL has previously been spotted in an unboxing video on YouTube and a series of leaks showed the presumed camera samples of the smartphone. The design of the Pixel 3 has also leaked and a set of images have shown the smartphone having a Pixel 2 XL-like design. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL have also reportedly passed through NCC certification and will launch on October 9 in New York. The handsets are expected to launch running on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC. The Google Pixel 3 XL might sport a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a notch, which will incorporate a dual-camera setup and proximity sensors. The phone is said to come with 4GB RAM, a 3,430mAh battery, and it will most likely run on Android 9 Pie OS. As spotted in leaks, there is a single camera on the back. The Pixel 3, on the other hand, might feature a smaller 5.4-inch AMOLED display. The Pixel 3 is also speculated to feature a dual front camera setup.

from Latest Technology News https://ift.tt/2NJgHBA

AI-based Athena security camera system can detect guns and alert the authorities

A security surveillance camera system developed by Athena Security in the United States of America is capable of using artificial intelligence and cloud technology to detect guns and alert authorities, says a recent Fortune report. According to the company, casualties in schools or businesses may be prevented if such a system is implemented. Apparently, it has already been installed in Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster, Pennsylvania. When the system spots a gun in range, it uses the cloud to send an alert to the right people, like the business owner or a law enforcement officer. It is also capable of streaming live video to these people, giving, say, a police officer a real time look at the situation. Users of this system have the option of hooking the camera up to other third-party security systems so that doors can be locked and lifts halted. The application of the technology is great but false positives are a big problem for a computer vision system, which is capable of alerting the police directly. Athena Security claims that its systems' gun detection technology is 99 percent accurate. “We’ve basically perfected that, and so we’re already starting to work on fights, knives, and other crimes,” says Athena System co-founder, Lisa Falzone in a statement to Fortune. “We expect fights to be done in the next couple months, at least the first version of it.” The security system from Athena Security will be available in three tiers: Professional, Enterprise, and Unlimited Professional, with each containing increasing feature sets. The monthly price for each camera varies between $25 (Rs 1,820 approx) and $100 (Rs 7,265 approx) depending on the chosen tier. “Our vision and mission is to use artificial intelligence for good, and to really help people and try to help save people’s lives,” commented Falzone in her statement to Fortune. Falzone had earlier worked with Chris Ciabarra on an iPad Point of Sale software called Revel Systems, which was eventually sold in 2017.

from Latest Technology News https://ift.tt/2Q9klkM

OnePlus 6T will reportedly feature 3700mAh battery capacity

If information circulating the internet is to be believed, then the battery capacity of the OnePlus 6T will be larger than the OnePlus 6. The OnePlus 6 houses a 3300mAh battery and the OnePlus 6T will reportedly feature a 3700mAh battery. Now, this isn’t the largest battery capacity on a smartphone as we have seen devices sporting a 4000mAh and even 5000mAh batteries. The OnePlus 6 does have a good battery life and with an increased capacity and software-based optimizations that make it even better, the OnePlus 6T could end up having a better battery life than its predecessor with the extra capacity. A previous report suggests that the upcoming device could launch on October 17 in India. The date seems to be a little early as historically OnePlus has launched its “T” devices in November. Additionally, an image of the launch invite also features the new tagline “Unlock The Speed,” which is most likely a reference to the presence of an in-display fingerprint sensor on the upcoming phone. Vivo is the first company that launched a smartphone with an in-display fingerprint sensor. The OnePlus 6T is rumoured to feature a ‘waterdrop’ notch display, same as the Oppo R17 Pro or the Vivo V11 Pro. In terms of display size, it is rumoured to sport a 6.4-inch AMOLED screen with a 2340x1080p resolution. As mentioned above, the device is expected to feature an in-display fingerprint scanner and a previously leaked image of the device’s retail box and the new invitation image hint at the same. The smartphone is expected to launch running on the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC, which is coupled with the Adreno 630 GPU. The 6T was also listed on an online retailers website ahead of the launch. The listing suggests that it could be launched in 6GB and 8GB RAM versions and with 64GB/128GB/256GB of internal storage.   In terms of optics, the OnePlus 6T was rumoured to feature a triple rear camera setup. However, a recently leaked image of the device’s rear panel suggests that the company might equip the phone with dual cameras only. The first official TV ad of the smartphone aired recently, and it also hinted at the same, although nothing is certain until the device is launched. The OnePlus 6T is confirmed to ditch the 3.5mm audio jack. As far as pricing is concerned, it could be priced at $550 (Rs 38,000 approx), however, the online listing that revealed most of the upcoming device’s specs was selling it for $569, which approximates to Rs 41,000.  You can read our rumour roundup on the OnePlus 6T here.

from Latest Technology News https://ift.tt/2R3Tw2V

10 things not to miss while buying smartphone on Flipkart, Amazon and other websites

from Gadgets Now https://ift.tt/2LWczrZ
via IFTTT

New Apple and Samsung smartphones, Facebook hacked and other top tech news of the week

from Gadgets Now https://ift.tt/2Nc3BaX
via IFTTT

How to secure your Facebook account with two-factor authentication

Here are the steps you need to take to activate two-factor authentication on your Facebook account.

from Gadgets Now https://ift.tt/2IpEYGL
via IFTTT

How to edit PDFs online for free

We all have used PDF files at some point in time. On many occasions, there was this urgent need to make some edits to the file but we were unable to do so. Although Adobe Acrobat is pretty heavy software with all the essential editing tools at your disposal, in order to edit a PDF using Adobe Acrobat you need to have a paid version of the software.

from Gadgets Now https://ift.tt/2DukSJa
via IFTTT

How to sync PUBG game data across all your devices

PUBG or PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is one of the most popular battle royale games on mobile gaming platform at the moment.

from Gadgets Now https://ift.tt/2OooQLb
via IFTTT

China to host 5th World Internet Conference

China will hold the fifth World Internet Conference (WIC) in its river town of Wuzhen in November, officials said on Friday.

from Gadgets Now https://ift.tt/2NNRrtY
via IFTTT

After August Android distribution numbers, Android 9.0 Pie skips September numbers as well

Google has unveiled the latest Android distribution numbers that is dated on September 28, 2018. Interestingly, the latest mobile OS version, Android 9.0 Pie has still not been able to make its debut in the list, indicating that it is on less than 0.1% of all the smartphones in the world. The OS version started rolling out to Pixel devices in early August and later reached to Essential Phone followed by OnePlus 6 and more recently on Nokia 7.1 Plus smartphone.

from Gadgets Now https://ift.tt/2OXY89r
via IFTTT

Intel says has enough chips to meet annual revenue targets

Chipmaker Intel Corp said on Friday it had enough supplies to meet annual revenue targets

from Gadgets Now https://ift.tt/2zERfVn
via IFTTT

Google CEO Sundar Pichai to testify before US House panel

Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai has agreed to testify before the US House Judiciary Committee

from Gadgets Now https://ift.tt/2xL1CFH
via IFTTT

Qualcomm dealt a blow in legal battle with Apple

A US trade judge on Friday declined to block the importation of Apple Inc

from Gadgets Now https://ift.tt/2xYKuvb
via IFTTT

Donald Trump invites Google CEO for a meet-up, here's why

Larry Kudlow, the head of the National Economic Council, extended the invitation while meeting with Pichai and the offer was accepted, according to the White House.

from Gadgets Now https://ift.tt/2DCCNB7
via IFTTT

Google reportedly paying this much to remain Apple's default search engine

Google is reportedly paying Apple a whopping $9 billion in 2018 to remain the default search engine for iPhone's Safari browser on iOS, the media reported.

from Gadgets Now https://ift.tt/2QcqkW0
via IFTTT

17 charged for Apple store theft worth $1 million

Police in the US has announced the arrest of 17 persons in connection with robberies targeting Apple stores across 19 counties in California that has caused a loss of over $1 million.

from Gadgets Now https://ift.tt/2OiPDsu
via IFTTT

BSNL announces ‘gift’ for its customers on its 18th Foundational Day

State owned telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has turned 18 this year. To mark the occasion, it has announced special tariff vouchers (STV) as a gift to its customers.

from Gadgets Now https://ift.tt/2OXQnQO
via IFTTT

50 million Facebook accounts hacked: How to find out if your account was hacked or not and more

In what has come as a shocking breach of user data, it was revealed yesterday that as many as 50 million Facebook accounts were hacked. It’s a big blow to the social media network giant’s reputation who was already reeling under the Cambridge Analytica scandal that broke out in March.

from Gadgets Now https://ift.tt/2NNEDDP
via IFTTT

Some iPhone XS smartphones are clicking ‘strange’ selfies, say customers

At the time of the launch, Apple made it clear that the iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max were considerable updates for selfie lovers as the camera came with some new features. However, out of these two, the iPhone XS comes with what can be called as an unwanted upgrade. According to some early adopters, the XS model is smoothening the skin of the user while clicking selfie images.

from Gadgets Now https://ift.tt/2QiONcp
via IFTTT

Here’s how you can be amongst the first ones to receive OnePlus 6T

It is no secret anymore that OnePlus 6T is near its launch now. The Chinese smartphone brand OnePlus has announced ‘The Lab’ contest, its community reviewing programme for the upcoming OnePlus 6T smartphone.

from Gadgets Now https://ift.tt/2zEsUi6
via IFTTT

AIR streaming services launched on Amazon Alexa smart speakers

The All India Radio Friday launched its streaming services on e-commerce platform Amazon's voice-controlled smart speakers in a bid to expand its global footprint.

from Gadgets Now https://ift.tt/2N9Szmg
via IFTTT

U.S. trade judge declines to block iPhone imports

A U.S. trade judge on Friday declined to block the importation of Apple Inc

from Gadgets Now https://ift.tt/2R9lIBl
via IFTTT

Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly cause comic chaos in Holmes and Watson trailer - CNET

The game is a tripped-up foot. Ferrell as Sherlock Holmes and Reilly as Dr. John Watson attempt to solve a murder plot against Queen Victoria.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2xMi7RQ

Actors who played Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson - CNET

Here's a look at some of the actors who've portrayed the great detective and his partner in movies and TV shows.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2QkAkg5

Stranger Things haunted house offers plenty of Demogorgon - CNET

The Universal Studios theme park's Halloween Horror Nights event is made up of good scary fun.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2QnXen1

Inside the Universal Studios Stranger Things haunted house - CNET

The Netflix series gets a haunted house setup for Halloween Horror Nights. Ready to go Upside Down?

from CNET https://ift.tt/2OjrUbD

Tesla's Elon Musk settles with SEC, is out as board chair, will pay $20M - Roadshow

Musk will remain CEO and Tesla will separately pay another $20 million.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2QjVfjr

Tom Hardy on why (and how) Bane would beat Venom - CNET

Usually actors are asked who'd win in a physical fight, but what about in a meeting of the mouths?

from CNET https://ift.tt/2R7SxyG

Tim Allen compares Toy Story 4 to Avengers: Infinity War - CNET

Thanos better not snap Woody and Buzz to infinity and beyond, is all we're saying.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2OlmQ6q

Monoprice ups sound quality game with a sweet $150 headphone - CNET

This comfortable, full-sized M650 is the best-sounding product I've ever heard from the company.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2R8MQR3

Can you stop being an audiophile? - CNET

I once tried going cold turkey and stopped listening to my high-end system. But I quickly came back.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2y33711

Awe-inspiring First Man brings you the moon and stars - CNET

Review: As NASA turns 60, Ryan Gosling and Damian Chazelle's immersive drama stunningly recounts the small steps that led to humanity's giant leap.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2Qju4oR

Neil Armstrong, first man on the moon, flies high - CNET

Take a look back at Armstrong's years at NASA as a new movie about him heads to theaters.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2Ok2hXZ

You cannot stop the wind in the Smart Forease concept - Roadshow

Smart's new concept celebrates 20 years of making strange little runabouts.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2QkFk4t

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 now comes in cloud silver video - CNET

There are four Note 9 colors in the US now: Check them out up close.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2DFr2Kb

Nachos and a 90-inch TV -- what could be better? - CNET

Show Us Yours: Chris' "basic home-theater experience" features a taste of the good life and a really, really big TV.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2Ip2P9H

9 best food delivery apps and how to choose among them - CNET

You'll probably be surprised to realize how many options there are to use your phone to get a meal delivered from a restaurant nearby.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2xJJSdK

Oculus' standalone VR, Musk sued by SEC video - CNET

This week's most important tech stories include Oculus' announcement of a standalone VR, Instagram's co-founders leave the company and Elon Musk being sued by the SEC.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2NQCmba

Godzilla Italiano: Driving Nissan’s $1.5-million Italdesign GT-R50 concept car - Roadshow

Nissan and Italdesign celebrate 50 years of GT-R with a one-off concept that's both totally unique and wonderfully familiar.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2NbRevs

The best facial recognition cameras you can buy today - CNET

More and more home security cameras have facial recognition. Here are your best options.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2NRTjlg

9 great reads from CNET this week - CNET

We check out Uber's plans to fly us around town; drop-test Apple's new iPhone XS; and take a look at NASA's future as it turns 60.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2Nb2UhR

Flippy, the burger-flipping robot, now works for the Dodgers video - CNET

This cooking robot didn't work out in a restaurant, but it's found a new home with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2NQd4d9

Tend Secure Lynx Pro review: Tend Secure's Lynx Pro is a decent camera with disappointing facial recognition - CNET

Tend Secure's facial-recognition-enabled Lynx Pro security camera struggled to pick up on faces during my testing.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2NNlUYY

Meet the Enterprise, NASA's first Space Shuttle video - CNET

In 1977, NASA transformed the Space Shuttle from a bold idea into a captivating reality.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2NayQTH

2019 Nissan Altima: Sharper looks, turbo power and a lot more tech - Roadshow

Now in its sixth generation, the 2019 Nissan Altima gets a full-body makeover, and the result is quite good, indeed.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2NTI2RO

Wisenet SmartCam N1 review: Wisenet's indoor security camera IDs faces, shows you who's there - CNET

Wisenet's SmartCam N1 indoor security camera does a decent job recognizing faces, but you have to pay for cloud storage.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2Nade9O

NASA's Star Trek dreams aren’t so crazy after all - CNET

Star Trek, Star Wars and Isaac Asimov run deep at NASA as its people work to turn science fiction into science fact.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2N6x0Dm

Best Buy sold someone a third-gen Chromecast before its announcement

---

After an updated Chromecast with the inclusion of Bluetooth and likely better Wi-Fi reception passed through the FCC last month, it became clear that we’d probably see updated hardware at Google’s October 9 event. Well, the wait is over because Best Buy accidentally sold the third-gen streaming device to a customer before it was even announced.

As you can see from the image below, someone on Reddit was able to walk into their local Best Buy and buy the new device. When they were being checked out, the cashier wasn’t able to ring up the Chromecast initially because the store’s system said it wasn’t to be sold until October 9. The employee bypassed the warning and sold it using the outgoing device’s SKU because both devices were listed for $35.

Reddit

The product’s packaging doesn’t look too different compared to the outgoing version’s, but there are some distinct differences between the Chromecast hardware. While the device keeps its puck shape with an attached HDMI plug, the Chromecast ditches the magnetic portion that helps users manage the cable and swapped out the Chrome logo found on the top of the hardware for Google’s “G” icon found on the back of Pixel smartphones.

The third-gen Chromecast is reportedly slightly thicker than the current model. It also replaces the outgoing device’s glossy plastic build for one with a matte finish. And lastly, Google decided to stick with microUSB instead of moving to USB-C to power the Chromecast.

Unfortunately, the Reddit user hasn’t found any proof of the inclusion of Bluetooth or any other changes. They weren’t able to actually use the device as the Home app states that the Chromecast needs an update first. It’s likely that the streaming hardware will remain useless until Google officially announces the device.

What do you think about this new Chromecast? Were you expecting more from the third-gen product? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!

from Android Authority https://ift.tt/2QhsPXq

We asked, you told us: Your vote for smartphone color isn’t a color at all

If you’ve ever had a color preference for your smartphone, chances are you were forced to grab a phone case to express your style.

While the ubiquitous black and white hue options (not colors!) will always dominate what we get from smartphone makers, we are starting to see more colors and styles. And we aren’t talking about “midnight” vs “titanium” black either. With glass backs increasingly popular, we’re seeing a whole new trend of fancy color shimmers and light bending effects.

I had a great time recently playing with HTC’s shimmering gradients in their U12 Plus range, particularly the flame red style (although translucent blue was the clear favorite for me, if you can call that a color). Huawei and Honor are all about gradient colors in their latest releases, with the P20 Pro’s twilight gradient catching the eye of many fans. It’s happening in flagships for sure, but even the lower end of the market is seeing more variety, including even the polycarbonate Oppo Realme 2.

With all this happening, we wanted to know more about your choice when it comes to that difficult decision. This week’s poll asked what your color preference was, and 40,000 of you submitted your votes in our YouTube poll and in the Android Authority website poll. Here are the results!

What’s your favorite smartphone color?

Black wins! Schwarz, noir, zwart – call it what you want, it’s all black on black. Black won both polls, monstering the Youtube poll with two in every three votes going for it. The rest of the votes were pretty close to evenly split. Now, in the web poll, where we could add more options, black did drop back from an absolute majority to just a strong preference — polling 43 percent. The next most popular was pretty closely split between grey/silver, red, and with white polling about six percent.

Interestingly, once blue was in the bigger poll, it immediately shot to second, winning 14 percent. Twilight, despite being only on one device, managed nine percent which is pretty strong.

Just out of interest, we did look up the general population’s view of their color preference for cars as well. Here’s a split courtesy of Wikipedia data via paint manufacturers DuPont and PPG Industries:

Is it analogous? Note how popular white, grey/silver, and black are, and in that order. Now, with cars a much more substantial purchase, this could be down to resale value, too. In any case, there isn’t any need to balance a black bezel with a black car.

And your comments told us quite a lot about what drives the need for a black device.

Your comments

Now, we did get a lot of comments — more than 900 comments in often firm, clear disagreement. That’s colors for you though. No one really fights over the best color, but we do like to talk about our preference. And some of these are purely practical — how clearly you see fingerprints on a certain color, and so on. It’s actually just the same as it is when you buy a car — do you want to have a car that doesn’t show dust, something that isn’t flashy, or something that stands out?

Here’s some of what your comments had to say about the smartphone color dilemma:

• Black: Makes the bezel around the screen so much less distracting. My personal choice would be a phone with a black front and colored back though
• Any color is ok as long as the front bezels are black
• I like all shades of blue
• Always black especially matte black as it attracts less lasting fingerprints and is not at all prone to smudges
• It really doesn’t matter when I’m only going to use a case anyway
• My question: is transparent a color?

And perhaps explaining the votes, this was our most popular comment — formatting and all:

M A T T E
B L A C K
E V E R Y
T H I N G

And that’s where we’ll leave it for this week! Thanks as always for your votes and thoughts. Let us know what you think of the outcome here and if black will reign forever, or if it’s likely to lose out as bezels go from fat to slim to almost nothing?

from Android Authority https://ift.tt/2QiKX38

You could earn up to $121k per year as a C# developer

Are you ready to start your C# coding odyssey and earn big bucks as a software developer? You’ve picked the right day for it.

C# is a programming language often overlooked by first-time coders. There are some great reasons to give it a try, and not just because of the huge price drop on the Complete C# Coding Bootcamp right now.

C# (pronounced ‘C sharp’) is similar to C, but it’s generally considered to be easier to learn. That’s one reason why Microsoft developed it. Take C, update it to make it more powerful, simplify the code, and you’ve got C#. 

C# developers earn $55k to $121k per year. (Source: Gooroo.io)

One of the main reasons to learn C# is the number of toolsets and frameworks that support the language, all of which are backed by Microsoft. For example, most developers agree that Visual Studio is one of the most feature rich and powerful development environments on the market.

C# gives you prospects too. It has mainstream adoption on the Microsoft and Unity platforms. Big software developers such as Blizzard Entertainment and Electronic Arts use it. Developers love the language for being easy to use and well-designed. Finally, Gooroo.io reports that, on average, C# developers earn $55k to $121k per year.

The Complete C# Coding Bootcamp is the ideal place to start learning. This mega bundle of 11 learning kits — produced by top experts in the industry — is over 89 hours of interactive tutorials and projects to get you C# coding in your sleep.

This online bootcamp also adds a host of transferable skills to add to your resume, such as HTML and CSS which are used in web development. You’ll come to terms with Microsoft Visual Studio, Eclipse, Unreal Engine, Unity, and various other programming environments.

The C# Bootcamp in full:

• C# Programming from Zero to Hero: The Fundamentals — $199 value
• A 16-Hour C# Course with Microsoft Visual Studio 2013 — $150 value
• A 20-Hour C# 6.0 Course with Web Forms & Intro to Unity — $100 value
• Advanced Topics: Take Your C# Skills to the Next Level — $69 value
• Basics for Beginners: Learn C# Fundamentals by Coding — $49 value
• C# Developers: Learn the Art of Writing Clean Code — $49 value
• C# Intermediate: Classes, Interfaces & OOP — $49 value
• C#: The Complete Foundation — $40 value
• C# Performance Tricks: How To Radically Speed Up Your Code — $20 value
• Boost Your C# with Structural & Creational Design Patterns — $20 value
• Boost Your C# with Behavioural Design Patterns — $20 value

The 11 learning kits retail separately for a combined $765, but right now you can purchase the lot for just $41. You get lifetime access too, so it’s still worth picking up during the promotion even if you won’t have the time to start for a while.

Over 2,200 people have already signed up. If you’d like to join them hit the button below to find the deal before it expires.

The AAPicks team writes about things we think you’ll like, and we may see a share of revenue from any purchases made through affiliate links. To see all our hottest deals, head over to the AAPICKS HUB.

---

Looking for a new phone or plan? Start here with the Android Authority Plan Tool:

from Android Authority https://ift.tt/2NRg2OE

5 Android apps you shouldn’t miss this week! – Android Apps Weekly

Welcome to the 263rd edition of Android Apps Weekly! Here are the big headlines from the last week:

• Trivia Crack 2 is finally almost here. The game was in development for five years. It’s now in pre-registration on Google Play. The core game play should be about the same as the previous game. That includes multiplayer trivia games with a wheel spinner. Most of the differences come in the UI, a few new game play mechanics, and more. The game features hundreds of thousands of questions and it’s available in more than 20 languages. We will tell you more when we get our hands on the game upon its release.
• Slack purchased the Astro email app this week and promptly shut it down. We don’t know for how much money. In any case, the entire tech space knows what this probably means. Slack is a productivity chat app for business. Astro is an email client with AI elements. There isn’t a huge leap in logic here. Astro will officially close down on October 10th. After that, we imagine that Slack will work on their new email client. Slack is pretty spectacular so we have high expectations for its future email services.
• Mozilla launched Firefox Monitor this week and we like it a lot. Firefox Monitor is a new site that checks your accounts for you. It lets you know if accounts become hacked or otherwise compromised. That way you can get them under control before things get out of control. It also features alerts, a simple UI, and plenty of other security features. It’s not an app, but you can access the site on both mobile and desktop browsers. We highly recommend trying it.
• Toyota finally agreed to use Android Auto in its vehicles. That is actually a pretty big deal. Toyota didn’t want any third party apps in its center stack in its vehicles. They claimed that Android Auto and Apple CarPlay asked for too much personal information. That issue is apparently over now. Toyota will announce the vehicles getting Android Auto in the future. While we’re on the topic, Jaguar and Land Rover are using Android Auto from now on as well.
• PlayStation cross-play is finally coming to the world and we couldn’t be happier. Fortnite should be the first game in Sony’s upcoming beta of the cross-play service. We imagine other multi-platform games will get a similar treatment over time. This is a bigger deal in the console gaming world than the mobile gaming world. However, there are many games with console and mobile versions, like Fortnite and many indie games. This should benefit mobile gamers as well as console gamers over time. Good on you, Sony!

---

---

---

---

---

---

10 best plant apps and flower identification apps for Android

If we missed any big Android apps or games news, tell us about them in the comments!

from Android Authority https://ift.tt/2Ir3MOW

Sprint confirmed that its LTE network coverage sucks

Sprint

From relatively poor network coverage to a failed 4G initiative, Sprint experienced several significant missteps throughout the last 10 years. It is that former misstep that got BTIG analyst Walt Piecyk’s attention since he published a presentation slide on Twitter that stands as a microcosm for Sprint’s poor fortunes.

According to the alleged slide, Sprint’s LTE network coverage pales in comparison to Verizon’s, AT&T’s, and T-Mobile’s. It even pales in comparison to the carrier’s general coverage map, which covers most of the U.S.

Then again, Sprint put itself in this position when it went all-in on WiMax in 2008 as its first foray into 4G instead of the more ubiquitous LTE. Limited adoption and less-than-adequate real-world speeds led to Sprint’s decision to shut down its WiMax network in 2016.

Realizing it backed the wrong horse, Sprint got to work on its LTE network in 2011 and had it fully functional by early 2014. By then, however, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile already fleshed out their LTE networks and continually built upon them ever since.

From every viewpoint, Sprint has been working from behind for almost a decade. The carrier is not afraid to admit as much, however, because it really wants its merger with T-Mobile to go through without a hitch.

If the merger is successful, the new T-Mobile would reportedly capture 54 percent of the prepaid market. Then again, the U.S. Department of Justice reportedly contacted smaller wireless operators to get their takes on the potential merger.

The fear is that, if the T-Mobile-Sprint merger goes through, prepaid plans will become more expensive. Seeing how the prepaid market mainly consists of lower-income consumers, price increases would become very problematic for consumers and prepaid carriers alike.

There is also the problem of one less carrier, which would look bad for a limited market that already lacks competition.

T-Mobile and Sprint argue that the merger will help them deliver the fastest 5G network, create thousands of new jobs, and better compete against Verizon and AT&T. It all hinges on the FCC, which paused its review process due to new information from T-Mobile and Sprint.

from Android Authority https://ift.tt/2zDWpAF