Deal: Strap on a Google Daydream View VR Headset for just £39

Best Huawei P20 Pro Deals in the UK for January 2019

Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas UK – The best presents for him and her

Huawei P30 Pro to feature ‘periscope’ camera for optical zoom, leak claims

Best TV Deals in the UK for January 2019

Have we finally got the release date for the Samsung Galaxy S10?

Best Soundbar Deals for January 2019

Apple AirPods 2: Release date, features and all the latest leaks

Bypoll results 2019 LIVE updates: Counting resumes in Jind after ruckus over tally of EVMs briefly halts process

Bypoll results 2019 LIVE updates: The BJP is leading with 28,811 votes in Jind. The counting was briefly stopped for the Jind Assembly seat after chaos broke over the tally of two EVMs. The authorities called for additional security personnel in view of the situation.

The post Bypoll results 2019 LIVE updates: Counting resumes in Jind after ruckus over tally of EVMs briefly halts process appeared first on Firstpost.

from Firstpost http://bit.ly/2Ttl7eR

West Indies vs England: Skipper Jason Holder says hosts still have a lot of work to do in Test series, have feet firmly grounded

West Indies captain Jason Holder insists that his team still "has a lot of work to do" to finish off a shell-shocked England when the second Test gets underway on Thursday.

The post West Indies vs England: Skipper Jason Holder says hosts still have a lot of work to do in Test series, have feet firmly grounded appeared first on Firstpost.

from Firstpost http://bit.ly/2Bb5W2s

Tim Cook explains reasons behind slow iPhone sales in emerging markets like India

Apple's CEO Tim Cook blames weak macro-conditions and foreign exchange as key factors behind slow iPhone sales

The post Tim Cook explains reasons behind slow iPhone sales in emerging markets like India appeared first on Firstpost.

from Firstpost http://bit.ly/2Ttld6d

Interim Budget 2019: Political considerations shouldn’t derail Rajya Sabha proceedings, says Venkaiah Naidu

Invoking the spirit and principles of republicanism, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu appealed to leaders of various parties that their political considerations should not derail the proceedings of the House in the Budget Session.

The post Interim Budget 2019: Political considerations shouldn’t derail Rajya Sabha proceedings, says Venkaiah Naidu appeared first on Firstpost.

from Firstpost http://bit.ly/2Bb5MrS

Peter Jackson to make new documentary from never-before-seen footage of The Beatles in studio

Peter Jackson said that the film will be based on roughly 55 hours of footage of The Beatles working on songs in the studio.

The post Peter Jackson to make new documentary from never-before-seen footage of The Beatles in studio appeared first on Firstpost.

from Firstpost http://bit.ly/2TjhWWY

Australia vs Sri Lanka: Upbeat hosts retain winning combination from Brisbane for Canberra Test

Australia opted Thursday to stick with a winning combination for the second Test against Sri Lanka, meaning all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and young batting prospect Will Pucovski miss out on making their debut.

The post Australia vs Sri Lanka: Upbeat hosts retain winning combination from Brisbane for Canberra Test appeared first on Firstpost.

from Firstpost http://bit.ly/2BerXNU

Rahul Gandhi is a ‘congenital liar’ who is ‘hallucinating conversations’, claims Smriti Irani in Facebook post

In a Facebook post titled "Is the dynast a congenital liar — India’s first post-truth politician", Smriti Irani alleged that Rahul Gandhi has engaged in "hallucinating conversations" with Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar and others.

The post Rahul Gandhi is a ‘congenital liar’ who is ‘hallucinating conversations’, claims Smriti Irani in Facebook post appeared first on Firstpost.

from Firstpost http://bit.ly/2TjhGY0

Banned pacer S Sreesanth claims he was forced to admit to spot-fixing role after threats from Delhi Police

Banned cricketer S Sreesanth, who had earlier been arrested in connection with the 2013 spot-fixing scandal, on Wednesday claimed in the Supreme Court that he had made the confession about his involvement in the alleged crime as Delhi Police had threatened that his family members would be implicated and tortured.

The post Banned pacer S Sreesanth claims he was forced to admit to spot-fixing role after threats from Delhi Police appeared first on Firstpost.

from Firstpost http://bit.ly/2BerNpM

Mexico declares end of war on drugs; govt won’t use army to capture cartel kingpins, says President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador declared Mexico's war on drugs over, saying his govt would not prioritise using the army to capture cartel kingpins

The post Mexico declares end of war on drugs; govt won’t use army to capture cartel kingpins, says President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador appeared first on Firstpost.

from Firstpost http://bit.ly/2TjhpEs

66 organisations call for 24-hour strike against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Manipur; schools remain shut, vehicles stay off roads

Manipur People Against Citizenship Amendment Bill (MPACAB), with representation from 66 organisations, has demanded the withdrawal of the Bill

The post 66 organisations call for 24-hour strike against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Manipur; schools remain shut, vehicles stay off roads appeared first on Firstpost.

from Firstpost http://bit.ly/2Bb5fpS

Fortnite brings Bluetooth controller support on mobile

Highlights: Fortnite for Android and iOS now supports bluetooth controllers. The game supports 60FPS on select Android devices. The update for Fortnite on mobile brings with it bug fixes. If you are frustrated using touch controls for Fortnite on iOS and Android then there is good news for you. Epic has updated the game on iOS and Android to support bluetooth controllers. On Android you can use any bluetooth controller, but on iOS users can only use controllers that are “Made for iPhone” certified. On its official website, Epic says, on Android “most of Bluetooth controller adapters, such as Steelseries Stratus XL, Gamevice, XBox1, Razer Raiju, and Moto Gamepad” are supported. On iOS, “MFi controllers, such as Steelseries Nimbus and Gamevice” are supported. Fortnite already supported 60FPS on the new iPhones but the developer has also added 60FPS support for select Android devices. As of now, 60FPS is supported on the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 (USA variant), HONOR View 20 and the Huawei Mate 20 X. The update also brings with it bug fixes for issues that bar players from building multiple structure types while simultaneously holding down the build button and changing build types. Epic has further "Fixed Harvesting Tool button no longer swaps back to the previously selected weapon, Fixed Multiple simultaneous button presses on mobile can disable the fire button, Fixed No padlock icon appears on the directional pad when locking with auto-run on mobile and Fixed Several UI buttons having lower resolution than the other buttons.” There are a number of other additions to the game and you can check out all the details of the update on the official Epic website here. Moving to other platforms the game is running on, Fortnite for Xbox has received keyboard and mouse support. Microsoft announced keyboard and mouse support for the Xbox One and Fortnite was one game that capitalized on it. At CES, Razer showcased its Xbox Keyboard and mouse combo and announced support for a number of games. Sadly, PUBG isn’t getting keyboard and mouse support on the console.  Speaking of the other popular battle royale game, PUBG, a survey conducted in India found that 73.4 percent of players were found to play PUBG on their smartphones. This is of course because the game is free for smartphones and the specifications required to run PUBG on a phone are not as demanding as Fortnite on a phone. Apart from smartphones PUBG is available on the PC, Xbox One and PS4. The PS4 was the last gaming hardware to get the game.  Also read: Fortnite made $2.4 billion revenue in 2018, PUBG earned $1.028 billion: Report Fortnite V7.20 content update brings new Sneaky Snowman item, Sniper Shootout Limited Time Mode and more "PUBG Wala hai kya?" asks PM Modi addressing online gaming during Pariksha Pe Charcha event

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2S3dDST

Specs comparison: Samsung Galaxy M10 vs Xiaomi Redmi 6A

The Samsung Galaxy M10 is powered by an Exynos 7870 octa-core processor and has a dual camera setup on the back. Samsung has launched the M series in India to target Millenials. The phone has a water drop notch on top of it, which makes it stylish in terms of design. On the other hand, the Redmi 6A is a very basic phone in terms of design and display but packs a powerful set of specifications under a price of Rs 6,000. So, let’s compare these two budget devices to know which one packs better hardware under its hood within a limited budget.    Let’s begin with the display of these two smartphones. As you can see in the sheet above, the Samsung Galaxy M10 sports a 6.22-inch display that offers a resolution of 720 x 1520 pixels, while the Xiaomi Redmi 6A features a 5.45-inch display that comes with a resolution of 720 x 1440 pixels.  When it comes to the processor, the Galaxy M10 is powered by an Exynos 7870 octa-core processor, which is paired with 2GB RAM and 16GB internal memory, while the Xiaomi Redmi 6A is powered by a MediaTek Helio A22 chipset, which is coupled with 2GB RAM and 16GB internal memory that is expandable to up to 256GB via a microSD card.  As far as the cameras are concerned, the Galaxy M10 has a dual 13MP + 5MP camera setup on the back along with a 13MP sensor on the front. On the other hand, the Xiaomi Redmi 6A features a 13MP unit on the back with a 5MP sensor on the front.  The Galaxy M10 will go on sale in India on February 5 via Amazon. The Xiaomi Redmi 6A is available on Amazon for Rs 5,999

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2UtjXjh

Moto G7 Plus retail box leak shows 27W TurboPower fast charging support

Highlights: Retail box image leak shows Moto G7 Plus with 27W TurboPower fast charging support. The main 16MP camera is also seen having OIS. The phone is seen sporting a waterdrop notch. Last week, all the phones belonging to the Moto G7 series were leaked delving out a lot of information about the devices. It seemed that we might not see any major leaks in the run-up to the launch event, but now the images of the retail box of the Moto G7 Plus are making rounds on the internet showing that the phone will come with 27W TurboPower fast charging support. Previous generation of Motorola phones ship with the Turbo charging support. However, there is no confirmation if all other phones in the series, apart from Moto G7 Plus, will have the same TurboPower fast charging support. In addition to the TurboPower charging, the Moto G7 Plus is expected to have the Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) on its main 16MP camera. Brazilian tech website Tudocelular also reports that Motorola will bundle a protective cover for free, along with a charger with USB-C to USB-C cable. Last week, press renders and the starting price of the Motorola G7 series were leaked after Motorola Brazil accidentally listed the phones on the website. According to the leaks, the Moto G7 is expected to sport a waterdrop notch on a 6.24-inch display. Under the hood, the Moto G7 may have a mid-range Snapdragon 632 processor, which is expected to power the Moto G7 Play and Moto G7 Power as well. The Plus model may have a Snapdragon 636 SoC. The spec sheet shared in the article also shows the G7 having 4GB of RAM. The G7 Plus is seen having a 4GB RAM (base), the Moto G7 Play has a 2GB RAM (base) and Moto G7 Power has a 3GB RAM. Motorola is expected to launch four phones under the G7 lineup in Brazil, ahead of the upcoming Mobile World Congress 2019 event. All the phones are said to be offered in multiple variants, that is, with different RAM and storage capacities. Related Read: Moto G7, Moto G7 Plus renders hint at 'waterdrop' notch design, dual-rear cameras Moto G7 Play EEC listing suggests it will come pre-loaded with Android 9 Pie Moto G7 leaked specs hints 6.4-inch display, 3500mAh battery

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2WtnfF3

Chrome OS to support multiple Google accounts soon

Highlights: Canary channel of Chrome OS gets support for multiple Google accounts. The feature should appear in all Chromebooks soon. New accounts can be added using the account manager.   You may have read reports about Chrome OS getting support for multiple Google accounts around September last year. Well, according to a recent report by Chrome Story, the updated Canary channel of Chrome OS finally has it. What it means is that support for multiple Google accounts will soon roll out even to the Stable version of Chrome OS. When it does, you should be able to add more than one Google account on your Chromebook using the newly added account manager. According to Chrome Story’s report, the account manager is already available on the Canary channel of Chrome OS. For the uninitiated, Chrome and Chrome OS are available in four release channels: Stable (recommended for most regular users), Beta (for those wanting to try features still in development), Dev (for those wanting to experiment some more), and Canary (for those wanting nightly builds). The Canary channel is updated nightly and is the most unstable of the four channels as all new features in development are tested on it. If you have a Chromebook and are on the Canary channel, you can access the account manager by opening Settings, then selecting People, and then selecting Google Accounts. You should then be greeted by a window containing this message as the title: “Manage your Google Accounts in one place”. Once you’ve added more than one Google account, you’ll be asked which account you want to use as default when you open an app (like Gmail) for the first time after that. Chrome OS is a Linux-based operating system developed by Google for use on its proprietary Chromebook devices. All Chromebooks come bundled with Chrome OS. It’s a lightweight operating system that primarily supports web applications. In other words, it’s an operating system designed around the Chrome browser. Like the popular browser, Chrome OS supports Chrome apps from the Chrome Web Store. In 2016, Google introduced Google Play Store support on Chrome OS and has since been trying to create a more seamless experience for Android users.   Related Read: Chrome OS 69 releases with Material Design and brings Linux apps to Chromebooks

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2DMumBr

Samsung Galaxy S10 enters mass production

Highlights Samsung Galaxy S10 enters mass production. Phone may come with screen protector pre-installed. 5G variant to go into mass production later. With Samsung just 20 days away from announcing its next set of flagship smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy S10 and S10+, a source has told The Investor that the S10 has entered mass production. The insider says that the production for the three variants of the Samsung Galaxy S10 has begun and that these are the 4G variants of the phone. The source says that the 5G variants will enter mass production later and will be manufactured at Samsung’s Gumi plant. The insider also told the publication that the mid-sized and large Galaxy S10 will come with a screen protector pre-installed. Typically, curved screen protectors have cost a pretty penny in the past, so Samsung pre-installing screen protectors would be a great move. However, we expect these to be standard flexible screen protectors and not actually tempered glass protectors. The Galaxy S10 and S10+ have been the subject of plenty of leaks in the recent weeks. The phones are expected to ship with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor for the US market and Samsung’s own Exynos 9820 for the Indian markets. Interestingly, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 is manufactured on the 7nm process while Samsung Exynos 9820 utilises the 8nm process. The Qualcomm and Exynos chips are pretty neck-to-neck in terms of the on-paper features and specs, but as always, we will only know their true differences once the phone launches in multiple markets and enough benchmarking is done. Besides the processors, the Samsung Galaxy S10 is expected to have the front-facing camera embedded in the display, similar to the punch-hole design. Given that Samsung announced the production of the world’s first 1TB UFS storage chip, we wouldn’t be surprised if this makes its way into one of the variants of the Galaxy S10 or S10+. Samsung is expected to unveil the next lineup of Galaxy S flagships, the Galaxy S10 and S10+ on the 20th of February, just before Mobile World Congress. During the event, we do expect Samsung to showcase the 5G variant of the phone, alongside the much awaited foldable phone as well. Hopefully, all these devices would also make their way to the Samsung booth at MWC, in which case, we will be bringing you a hands-on demo of both. Related Read: Samsung Galaxy S10 Rumour Roundup: Everything we know about the phones so far

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2Gbz64V

Apple bans Facebook Research App that allegedly spied on teenagers

Highlights: Apple bans Facebook Research App that accessed root-level information on users’ phones. Facebook allegedly paid up to $20 per month to users to download the VPN app. The social media company denies any wrongdoing, says it took consent to access data.   It seems that Facebook hasn’t learnt from its mistakes. It is already shrouded by several controversies related to data theft, yet new reports of spying and data collection activity crop up ever so often, putting the data protection claims of the Menlo Park-based company under the lens. In the latest development, it is alleged that Facebook was spying on teenagers through an app by accessing all the data passing through their phones in exchange of up to $20 a month. Apple has now banned the app. According to TechCrunch, Facebook has been secretly paying people to install a “Facebook Research” VPN that gives it access to users’ data and web activity. The report claimed that Facebook sidestepped the App Store and “rewarded” teenagers and adults to download the Research app. Reportedly, Facebook admitted that it was running the Research programme to gather data on usage habits. The report says that since 2016, Facebook has been paying users from ages 13 to 35 up to $20 per month plus referral fees to sell their privacy by installing the iOS or Android “Facebook Research” app. “Facebook even asked users to screenshot their Amazon order history page. The program is administered through beta testing services Applause, BetaBound and uTest to cloak Facebook’s involvement, and is referred to in some documentation as “Project Atlas” — a fitting name for Facebook’s effort to map new trends and rivals around the globe,” the report mentioned. Now, the publication says that seven hours after the spying story was published, Facebook said it would shut down the iOS version of its Research app. Reportedly, Apple had already blocked the Research app on the basis of policy violation by the social media platform. According to an Apple spokesperson, the Facebook’s Research app was blocked even before the Facebook ‘seemingly’ pulled it voluntarily. The iPhone-maker said that it revoked the Enterprise Certificate that allowed Facebook to distribute the Research app without going through the App Store. “We designed our Enterprise Developer Program solely for the internal distribution of apps within an organisation. Facebook has been using their membership to distribute a data-collecting app to consumers, which is a clear breach of their agreement with Apple. Any developer using their enterprise certificates to distribute apps to consumers will have their certificates revoked, which is what we did in this case to protect our users and their data,” an Apple spokesperson was quoted as saying. Facebook also issued a statement claiming that it did no do anything wrong. “Key facts about this market research program are being ignored. Despite early reports, there was nothing ‘secret’ about this; it was literally called the Facebook Research App. It wasn’t ‘spying’ as all of the people who signed up to participate went through a clear on-boarding process asking for their permission and were paid to participate. Finally, less than 5 percent of the people who chose to participate in this market research program were teens. All of them with signed parental consent forms,” Facebook told TechCrunch. The Research program will continue to run on Android. This is not the first time that Apple has banned a Facebook app. This VPN app is similar to Facebook’s Onavo Protect app, another VPN that the social media giant had launched earlier and was found to be collecting user data. The Onavo app was banned by Apple in June and was removed by Facebook in August 2018. The latest incident would certainly worsen Apple-Facebook relationship that is already going through a rough patch. Related Read: Mark Zuckerberg ordered all Facebook executives to switch to Android smartphones Last year, Apple CEO Tim Cook took a dig at Facebook claiming that it was too late for Facebook to regulate itself. At that time, Facebook was being criticised for its involvement in the users’ data sharing controversy with now-redundant UK firm Cambridge Analytica. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg replied by saying that the criticism from his counterpart at Apple was unfounded and not at all aligned with the truth. Related Read: Top Tech Stories That Made Headlines in 2018

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2HHgHPW

Ubers UberBOAT on-demand speed boat service to be available in Mumbai from February 1

Highlights: UberBOAT service with on-demand speed boats announced in Mumbai. UberBOAT will be available from Mumbai's coastal routes, Gateway of India, Elephanta Islands and Mandwa Jetty.  The service will be available from February 1. Uber has announced a pilot launch of its new UberBOAT service in Mumbai, in partnership with Maharashtra Maritime Board. The company’s new on-demand speed boat service will enable customers to use waterways as a mode of transportation from the city’s popular coastal routes namely Gateway of India, Elephanta Islands and Mandwa Jetty. The new service will be available for Uber users in Mumbai from February 1 and there are two variants of the service, UberBOAT with a seating capacity of six to eight passengers and another called UberBOAT XL for more than ten passengers. The rides will cost Rs 5,700 for UberBOAT and Rs 9,500 for BOAT XL, for all the active routes.    Commenting on the launch of UberBOAT, Prabhjeet Singh, Head of Cities, Uber India & South Asia says, “We are excited to launch UberBOAT in Mumbai, in partnership with Maharashtra Maritime Board. As pioneers in the organized on-demand transport system, Uber’s vision is to create a multi-modal platform to better serve riders and the cities we operate in. With UberBOAT, we will tap the vast potential of the city’s waterways transport system. We aim to provide efficient and easily accessible services to riders who are looking at navigating through these specific routes. With this service, boat operators will be able to gain access to Uber’s highly engaged rider base and enhance their earning opportunity.” Mr. Vikram Kumar, CEO, Maharashtra Maritime Board, said, "We are delighted to see the first ever and unique initiative by Uber to launch uberBOAT service in Mumbai. We are confident that this will further bolster the city’s waterway transport facilities by providing locals/Mumbaikars as well as tourists a reliable and convenient ­­­­­­option to travel between Gateway of India, Mandwa and Elephanta. Additionally, Maharashtra maritime board will further strive and work with Uber to create  new possibilities and augment business for local boat operators.” Additionally, all the UberBOAT rides will come equipped with safety features like emergency contact details, lifejackets, printed collaterals along with a manual that highlights safety instructions.  Related Reads: Uber Lite app optimised for entry-level Android smartphones and low network connectivity launched in India Google Assistant in India can now be used to book Uber and Ola rides    

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2S2YX6w

LG V50 ThinQ to be companys first 5G smartphone, might be announced at MWC 2019

Highlights LG V50 ThinQ could be company's first 5G smartphone Might be announced at MWC 2019 Would be available in North America and Europe first With Mobile World Congress 2019 just around the corner, we’re hearing rumours that LG might not stop at announcing just the LG G8. The company may not sto at the G8 though, with rumours suggesting that LG would also end up announcing the LG V50, the company’s first 5G smartphone. 5G is the big thing for this year amongst telecom operators, smartphone manufacturers and even chipset makers. Everyone is betting big on 5G, with some companies already having pledged to produce a 5G smartphone in this year. OnePlus has done this, as has Samsung. Now, thanks to a leak from etnews, a Korean publication, we are expecting that the company will announce the LG V50 ThinQ alongside the LG G8 ThinQ at its press conference during Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The leak further details that the LG V50 ThinQ will come equipped with the optional X50 5G modem. Additionally, we can expect the phone to have a 6-inch display and a 4000mAh battery. It is not yet clear whether LG will use IPS-LCD or OLED panel for the phone since the company tends to flip-flop between the two. The 5G phone is expected to launch in North American and Europe first, for a suggested retail price of $1163. According to a story by Pocket-Lint, the 5G modems in LG’s phone has been having some issues with excess heat, suggesting that the V50 might come with a vapour chamber cooler. We don’t know whether this is an issue with the X50 modem in general, a side-effect of 5G or an issue isolated to LG’s rumoured device. It would appear that after a lacklustre MWC in 2018, LG is planning to make some big announcements at the world’s biggest mobile expo this year. Related Read: Qualcomm skips India on 2019 5G roadmap, here's why

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2CQwk1M

Google Pixel 3 XL Lite shows up on Geekbench with 4GB RAM

Highlights Google Pixel 3XL with 4GB RAM spotted Listing suggests Snapdragon 710 processor May launch in Spring 2019 as Verizon exclusive There have been plenty of rumours about the existence of a “cheaper” variant of the Pixel phones, dubbed Pixel Lite. The Google Pixel 3 Lite and Pixel 3XL Lite have been leaked repeatedly through CAD renders and what not. Every time the phone leaks, there is some new information that comes to light. Today, the Pixel 3 Lite made an appearance on Geekbench, revealing some interesting information about the specifications of the allegedly upcoming smartphones from Google. The newest listing on Geekbench shows the Pixel 3XL Lite as sporting 4GB of RAM, which is interesting seeing how an earlier leak that revealed the same phone to sport 6GB of RAM. The Google Pixel 3 Lite and Pixel 3 XL Lite are supposed to be mid-range smartphones from Google, but somehow, the XL variant sports more RAM than Google’s current flagship device. Regardless, the device managed to score 1640 and 4973 in Single and Multi-Core tests respectively. The numbers fall within the expected range for mid-range devices. A few days ago, thre same phone had popped up on Geekbench, but with 6GB RAM listed instead of 4. The Google Pixel 3 Lite is expected to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 while the bigger Google Pixel 3XL Lite is expected to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 chipset. With respect to RAM, we expect both the phones to sport up to 4GB RAM, but seeing that 2019 is all about new trends, we could see Google deviate from the norm. The Google Pixel 3 XL Lite is rumoured to come with a 6-inch display and 32GB of RAM. Both the phones are expected to sport a 12-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel front-facing shooter which would allegedly deliver the same quality of imaging as the flagship Pixel smartphones. The Google Pixel 3 Lite, on the other hand, will sport a smaller, 5.56-inch FHD+ display and a smaller battery. Interestingly, rumours point that the two phones could support Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 4+ technology, a proprietary standard, instead of USB-PD, an open standard that Google has been pushing for the mass adoption of. As of now, it isn’t clear if and when Google will announce these new mid-range smartphones, although rumours suggest a Spring 2019 release.

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2Ws6IRL

Samsung announces industry-first 1TB universal flash storage for smartphones

Key Highlights: Samsung has started mass-producing 1TB flash storage ahead of Galaxy S10 release. 1TB UFS chip has the same footprint as the 512GB one, which Samsung claimed as an industry-first. The Galaxy S10 is expected to come with the upgraded storage that can store 260 10-minute 4K videos. Samsung announced on Tuesday it has started mass-production of 1 terabyte flash storage for smartphones, making it the industry first. The 1TB UFS is twice as much as what is available right now. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 houses 512GB flash storage, and in the upcoming Galaxy S10 flagships, choosing which photo to delete will be a thing of the past. The 1TB UFS storage sports the same footprint, which is something only Samsung has been able to do. Samsung claims the upgraded storage will bring a more “notebook-like” experience to its upcoming smartphones. With 1TB of onboard storage on a smartphone, users may be able to store 260 10-minute 4K videos as compared to 13 videos on a 64GB storage which is “widely used in current high-end smartphones,” according to Samsung. The 1TB UFS also comes with the promise of faster data transfer speeds. Samsung claimed the storage can move data 10 times faster than a microSD card. With smartphone OEMs coming up with ingenious ways to differentiate themselves, storage is something Samsung hopes will help smartphones stand out. As camera and content capture tech improved over time, the demand for more storage is now more than ever. There are strong rumours that the top variant of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S10 will come with 1TB of onboard flash storage. The Galaxy S10 Plus is expected to tout four rear cameras and two front-facing cameras. The company announced it plans to expand the production of 1TB eUFS in the first half of 2019 to “fully address the anticipated strong demand for the 1TB eUFS from mobile device manufacturers around the world.” Related Reads: Samsung Galaxy S10+ to sport 12GB RAM and 1TB storage: Report Samsung Galaxy S10+ with Snapdragon 855 SoC spotted on Geekbench

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2BcKsST

Paytm Mall LG Special Sale: Best deals on LG TVs

Paytm Mall LG Special Sale has kicked off on January 28 and will go on till February 2. The e-commerce platform is also offering an additional 10% discount on making payment through Kotak bank debit or credit card. The offer is valid on EMI transactions as well. So, let’s begin.  LG 32-inch HD Ready Smart LED TV The LG 32-inch HD Ready LED TV is now available on sale at a discounted price of Rs 19,590 (including Rs 1,500 cashback). You can also get an additional 10% discount on making payment via Kotak bank debit or credit card. Check out the deal here.  LG 43-inch Full HD LED Smart TV The LG 43-inch Full HD LED Smart TV comes with a built-in Wi-Fi that allows you to download and watch content from apps like Netflix, Youtube, Hotstar and more. The TV offers a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. During the sale, it is available for Rs 35,247 inclusive of cashback. Check out the deal here.  LG 49-inch Full HD Smart LED TV The LG 49-inch Full HD Smart TV comes with the same features as the one I mentioned above. However, it has a bigger panel size of 49-inches. The TV is available during the sale for Rs 49,281. Check out the deal here. LG 43-inch Ultra HD LED Smart TV The LG latest AI ThinQ TV, which was launched in India at a price of Rs 69,990 is now available at Paytm Mall on a discounted price of Rs 46,950. On top of that, you will also get an additional cashback of Rs 3,287, which brings down the effective price to Rs 43,663. Besides that, you can also get an extra 10% discount on making payment through Kotak bank card. Check out the deal here.  LG 55-inch UHD Smart Al ThinQ TV The LG 55-inch UHD Smart AI ThinQ TV can now be bought during the sale at a discounted price of Rs 64,728 (inclusive of cashback). If you have a Kotak bank debit or credit card then you can also get an additional 10% discount even on EMI transactions. Check out the deal here.

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2B5bP1l

Alleged Nokia 9 PureView passes Chinas 3C certification, launch expected soon

Highlights Nokia 9 PureView could launch during MWC 2019 Nokia 9 PureView is rumoured to sport 5 rear cameras Nokioa 9 Pureview has been rumoured since 2017 The Nokia 9 has been the subject of relentless rumours of over two years now. We first heard rumours of the phone back in 2017, and as the years have passed, the rumours just keep coming. In the last few months, rumours of an upcoming Nokia 9 have been gaining some credibility though, with leaks of purported cases and what not. Now, it would seem that the Nokia 9 might have an actual launch date. HMD Global owned Nokia has announced their event for 24th February during the Mobile World Congress days. Incidentally, a phone with the product code TA-1094 has passed China’s 3C certification process, leading many to believe that this is the Nokia 9, and it could be announced at MWC 2019. However, we do strongly urge some caution as we know that when Nokia launches a phone in China, it may or may not come to international markets right after. The listing says that the phone will be accompanied by an 18watt fast charger, but nothing else. There are no details on the specifications or even the design of the phone. What we do know, and can naturally expect, is for the phone to sport Zeiss Optics, given that the two companies renewed their partnership last year. A case that leaked earlier showed 7 holes on the back, 5 presumably for the 5 cameras, one for the flash and the seventh hole for an optical sensor. What we can speculate is that the Nokia 9 could come with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, which would make sense given that flagship devices should sport flagship specs, but given how long there have been rumours around this phone, it is possible that the prototyping concluded before the Snapdragon 855 was made available to OEMs. Hence, it could potentially just end up coming with a Snapdragon 845. Almost all rumours point to the phone featuring the Snapdragon 845, possibly mated with 6GB of RAM. Rumours also suggest that the Nokia 9 could rock a QHD display. It might also sport a hefty battery. Rumours of this nature regarding the announcement of the Nokia 9 have come up before, especially around major international events like MWC and even Nokia’s own global product launches, so we would suggest taking this one with a pinch (or two) of salt. Related Read: Nokia 9 launch postponed due to camera issues: Report

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2GaBngP

19-year-old reportedly paid Rs 790 for a PS4 pretending it was a fruit

Let’s face it, we’ve all dreamed of ways to get a gaming console for cheap. This 19-year-old actually went ahead and executed it. For those unaware, internationally, you can checkout from a store on a self checkout counter. The self checkout counter is reserved for those with small and few goods in their basket. This 19-year-old decided to pose a PS4 as a fruit or vegetable and checked it out for $11, £8 or Rs 790 to be precise. The individual in question has been arrested. That's not all. This isn't the first time the individual has done this. For his second act, he was caught and convicted on 24 Jan and faces four months in jail. He said he did this to sell the PS4 to buy tickets to Nice, France. The incident took place in Monbeliard, in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comte region of eastern France.The PS4 in India is priced at Rs 27,000 approx.  Sony’s PS4 is the hottest selling console of this generation. Sony has said that as of December 31 2018, the company has sold more than 91.56 million units since launch. The PS4 launched back in 2013. If you are looking to pick up a PS4, we’d say hold your horses. If rumours circulating the internet are to be believed, then both Sony and Microsoft are expected to announce the next PlayStation and Xbox in 2019. The new consoles are expected to hit store shelves in 2020. The new consoles are said to be significantly more powerful than the current generation. This isn’t the first time that we have heard of people using unethical methods to get their hands on a gaming consoles or games. Back in 2016 a violent robbery took place where the thieves made off with physical copies of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End. The game is a PS4 exclusive and you can read our review of the game here. Back in 2006, two trucks carrying $1.5 million worth of Xbox 360 were taken over by bandits. If you are one that has a PS4 or an Xbox One, then you can check out our list of games to look forward to in February here. Source Also read: New leaks suggest PS5 and next Xbox specifications and pricing   Vikendi scavenger-hunt announced for PUBG Xbox, new update released with multiple hotfixes Ban PUBG, 11-year old appeals to Maharashtra Govt as it promotes "gaming addiction, violence and cyber bullying"

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2FYQkDt

How to add a-la-carte channels on Tata Sky, Airtel Digital TV, Videocon D2H and Dish TV as per new DTH channel rules

Highlights: TRAI’s new rules for TV channel selection go into effect from Feb 1. Most DTH service providers are now enabling users to choose the channels they want to watch. Here we have listed the process for some of the major DTH providers.   TRAI’s new order marking changes to TV channel selection will be implemented from February 1. Those who have a DTH connection in their home will need to select channels, individually or from bouquets, that they want to watch. The new rules are meant to save money for TV channel subscribers but it remains to be seen if consumers will actually be able to save money or not under the new scheme. The date of implementation of new rules draws near and almost all the major DTH subscribers have announced the process, which their consumers will need to follow for watching TV channels under the new scheme. Here’s a rundown. Tata Sky Tata sky has set-up a web-portal where its users can log-in and select various options on how to recharge under the new scheme. One can visit the website here and login using their Registered Mobile Number (RTN) or subscriber ID. They will then be presented with three options, ‘Recommended for you’, ‘Tata Sky Packs’ and ‘All Packs and Channels’. The first option will be based on the current pack that is activated for the user, while the Tata Sky Packs are all “Curated & Regional Packs by Tata Sky.” The third option is basically a listing of all channels and bouquets provided by the network broadcasters. We logged in to find that the 'Recommended for you' option suggested a considerably more expensive option compared to our current connection. The current pack we have is the Sports Dhamaka pack, which is priced at Rs 420 per month with 221 channels and services. The new option suggested a new plan priced at Rs 646 per month that “Matches key channels.” The second option of Tata Sky Packs is basically a selection of Bouquets by different broadcasters and it just might work for someone, depending upon the channels they want to watch. Under all Packs and Channels, one will find the a-la-carte option to select the channels they want to watch. However, we noted that Tata Sky is charging over the maximum price of Rs 19 for some SD and HD channels, more than prices specified by broadcasters. UPDATE: This increased pricing is because of the added GST tax of 18 percent on a channel. Airtel Digital TV Airtel Digital TV subscribers will get to choose channels under the new TRAI rules when they log in to the company’s Subscriber Corner, which can be accessed here. Users can then proceed to view their Digital TV connections and click on 'Proceed to Recharge' option. In the next window, under the Connections tab, there is a banner that enables one to select channels under new TRAI rules. Clicking on the option will open a new web-page that displays packs curated by Airtel and scrolling down, one can choose from Broadcaster Bouquet or a-la-carte mode. The prices listed by Airtel seem to be on the higher side but this could be due to the addition of GST tax of 18 percent. Update: We reached out to Airtel for clarification and it is confirmed that channels with increased prices are due to addition of GST tax.  Users who want to go through the same process offline can navigate to channel 998 and make their own plans or select from a range of recommended plans as per the new TRAI guidelines. On the said channel, they will get to see the new channel prices and select them, in an a-la-carte mode and/or as bouquet plans. They can then scan a QR code from their TV via their phone and send it to 54325 for activating the pack with their selected channels. The selected pack will be activated on their connection from February 1. A demonstration of how to go with the process is also available on channel no 999. Videocon D2H Videocon D2H service provider is also sending a notification to its users to head over to its web-portal and select the channels they want to watch. And we did, however, we had a tough time finding the new options as the new web-pages are hidden under the Consumer Corner tab on the top bar. One will need to select 'Create Your Own Pack' under the 'Consumer Corner' tab to select channels or bouquets to proceed with creating a new plan for their DTH subscription under the new mandate. One can click here to visit the Videocon website, log in and create a plan for their connection. Dish TV Dish TV users will find the option to register for the TV channels they want to watch by navigating to the DTH provider’s website. The option to do so pops up on the website and one can log-in and select the channels or bouquets they want. There are also some pre-provided Dish Combo plans, which might interest users. You can access the website here to select the channels you want to watch. What you need to know TRAI said that its new rules are meant for reducing cable and DTH bills and they will go into effect from February 1. Almost all network broadcasters have announced the new pricing for their TV channels and under the new rules, every DTH service provider will charge a mandatory Network Capacity Fee (NCF) of Rs 130 + taxes, total not exceeding Rs 154, that will accommodate 100 Free-to-Air (FTA) channels. In case one wants to add more channels, they will need to pay an additional Rs 20 for getting network capacity of 25 additional channels. Meanwhile, we are trying to clarify why certain channels are priced higher by DTH providers.  Related Reads: Will new DTH Channel rules make TV watching cheaper or more expensive? DTH channel selection becomes easier with TRAI Channel Selector web app: How to use, channel pricing and all you need to know Here’s how much TV channels will cost from January 1 as per new TRAI price regime

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2Tndu9o

OnePlus tops Counterpoints best selling premium smartphone list in India, mocks Apple with iDare you campaign

Highlights: OnePlus tops premium smartphone selling brand in 2018 in India. Samsung, however, takes up the top spot in terms of shipments. Apple took a beating this quarter and took the third spot. OnePlus has emerged as the best selling smartphone brand in 2018 in India, and has captured 36 percent of the total premium smartphone market share in the fourth quarter of last year, Counterpoint Research has said in Counterpoint Market Monitor Service Data for Q4 2018. The market research firm also says that with a market share of 15 percent, the OnePlus 6 was the best-selling premium model throughout 2018 in terms of shipment as well as in retail value. The OnePlus 6T (10 percent) was positioned at second place followed by the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus (8 percent). Not only that, OnePlus has recorded its highest ever shipments in a single quarter (Q4 2018) to lead premium smartphone segment for three successive quarters. The success was driven by the strong demand of the OnePlus 6T during Diwali season. These reasons were enough for the Chinese brand to take a dig at Apple on Twitter and Instagram. OnePlus fans also mocked the Cupertino-based tech company for losing out to OnePlus in the Indian market. iDare you pic.twitter.com/iSstVVv0aI — OnePlus India (@OnePlus_IN) 30 January 2019 “OnePlus recorded its highest ever shipments in a single quarter to lead the premium smartphone segment for three successive quarters. Additionally, the success of OnePlus drove overall premium smartphone shipments to a record number in a single year. This was driven by strong demand of its latest OnePlus 6T during festive season. The momentum continues even after festive season due to strong word of mouth and product feedback from the end users,” Karn Chauhan, Research Analyst at Counterpoint Research, said in a statement. OnePlus was followed by Samsung, which captured 26 percent share of the premium segment and its shipments grew 72 percent year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2018. The newly-launched Galaxy A9 with a quad rear camera setup contributed towards Samsung’s growth. However, Samsung led the premium market for the full year 2018 in terms of shipments, narrowly inching ahead of OnePlus. Apple took the third spot as its premium segment shipments declined 25 percent YoY in last quarter due to “extreme high-premium-commanding pricing for iPhones as Apple continues to choose to pay 20 percent import duty on new imported iPhones instead of manufacturing in India.” Counterpoint Research also says that the competition for Apple will increase in 2019 with the entry of Android premium offerings by Chinese brands including Huawei and aggressive sales and distribution strategy from OnePlus, Samsung, Huawei and Google. Overall, the premium smartphone segment (retail price more than or equal to Rs 30,000/$400) shipments reached its highest ever in a quarter (Q4 2018) and a year (2018). The overall premium segment grew by 8 percent YoY for the full year and 16 percent YoY for the fourth quarter. The top three brands, OnePlus, Apple and Samsung contributed to 92 percent of the overall premium market in Q4 2018. Related Read: Overall iPhone sales down 20% YoY in November: Counterpoint Research Jio Phones top feature phone, overall handset Indian market in 2018: Counterpoint Research

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2sYCdFq

Apple sued over FaceTime eavesdropping bug

Highlights Apple is being sued by a lawyer over the FaceTime Bug The bug lets users eavesdrop on others without them knowing The bug was discovered by a 14-year-old Recently it was discovered that an iPhone user could eavesdrop on another iPhone or Mac user using the group FaceTime feature. Now, the Cupertino giant is being sued because of the bug. Bloomberg has reported that a Houston based lawyer is claiming that his iPhone allowed an unknown person to eavesdrop on a private conversation with a client. According to the Bloomberg report, “Attorney Larry Williams II said the glitch intrudes on the privacy of “one’s most intimate conversations without consent,” according to the complaint he filed in state court in Houston. He said he was eavesdropped on while taking sworn testimony during a client deposition. Williams is seeking unspecified punitive damages on his claims of negligence, product liability, warranty breach.” According to the source, Apple has declined to comment on the lawsuit. The FaceTime bug was reportedly found by a teenager who wanted to chat with his friends while playing Fortnite. 14-year-old Grant Thompson in Tucson, Arizona wanted to FaceTime his friends while playing the game. On Jan 19, Thompson called his friend using FaceTime. When his friend did not receive the call, he immediately went on to add another friend to the call. By doing so, Thompson could hear his first friends voice at the other end of the line. His friend however, could only see the ringing screen that one sees when receiving a FaceTime call. He tried it a bunch of times to see if it would happen again and in doing so discovered the bug. Grant got the bug to the attention of his mother Michele Thompson, a lawyer by profession who “tried to notify Apple of the flaw through a variety of avenues, many of which were dead ends.” She also took to twitter to highlight the problem. Her tweet reads, “My teen found a major security flaw in Apple’s new iOS. He can listen in to your iPhone/iPad without your approval. I have video. Submitted bug report to @AppleSupport...waiting to hear back to provide details. Scary stuff! #apple #bugreport @foxnews” According to emails Michele Thompson shared with NBC News, she tried to get in touch with Apple's general counsel with a letter headline, "Urgent Security Issue Regarding iOS 12.1.3." But got no response for this. She also shared a video showing the step by step process accessing the bug. The video is not public as it contains their phone numbers.  The story about the iOS bug was first broken by 9to5 Mac. You can read about the bug in detail here.   Also Read: Apple iPhone shipments for Q4 plummet in China Sharp hopes to be OLED supplier for future Apple iPhones: Report Apple to see dropped iPhone sales in first half of 2019: Analyst

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2WrPdB3

Twitter could soon prioritise News on timeline

Highlights: Twitter is currently testing a new feature on Android. The feature puts news stories above all other tweets on the main timeline. There's no word on when the feature will make it to the iOS version of Twitter.   It appears Twitter is currently testing a new feature on Android that displays news above everything else when you open the app. When the feature is fully implemented, Twitter will show the most recent and relevant news tweets before showing tweets from other followers. The prompt at the top of the home screen now reads, “Catch up on what’s happened while you were away”. There’s no word yet on when the feature will make it to the iOS version of Twitter. Responding to a request for comment made by Mashable SE Asia, Twitter Product Manager Wally Gurzynski said that the new feature was indeed being tested to help users find news they may have missed more easily. “People come to Twitter every day to catch up on what’s happening and all the surrounding conversation. With this update, we’re making it easier for people to see the news and stories their followers have been discussing while they’ve been away – right at the top of their timeline,” commented Gurzynski. Depending on the version of Twitter installed on your Android smartphone and the region you’re in, you may or may not get to see the new feature when open the app right now. Besides, we’re not sure for how long you have to be away before Twitter thinks it’s time for you to “catch up”. For many years now, Twitter has been stacking relevant tweets above the rest under labels like “In case you missed it” and “While you were away”. But this is the first time Twitter is pushing news stories to the top like this. Though it’s no new feature, Twitter allows users to get notifications for every activity on an individual Twitter account that’s followed. For example, you could be notified every time your favourite tech magazine tweeted or went live. To enable this feature, simply head to the profile of the account you’re following and hit the bell icon next to the blue “Following” button. It goes without saying that you must first follow the account to be notified of their tweets and live posts.   Related Read: Facebook is paying teens and adults to sell their personal data by installing a VPN app

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2RZlkJG

Vikendi scavenger-hunt announced for PUBG Xbox, new update released with multiple hotfixes

Highlights: PUBG players on Xbox can take part in an exclusive scavenger hunt on the new snow map to win prizes. The challenge requires players to take screenshots of obscure locations and submit to win prizes. The challenge is divided in two parts and ends Feb 2 and Feb 3 respectively. The Vikendi map was added to PLAYERUNKOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS live servers for Xbox last week. To promote the snow-laden map, PUBG is now organising a scavenger-hunt, exclusive to Xbox players. Known as the Vikendi Scavenger Hunt, Xbox players can complete a set of 10 challenges to win both physical and in-game prizes.    The first round with the first five challenges started January 26 and players have time till February 1, 2:00PM PST to complete it. The second set with challenge 6-10 began on January 27 and will go on till Feb 3, 8:00 AM PST.    To participate in the scavenger hunt, players must find obscure locations in the Vikendi maps and post screenshots of the same proving they were indeed there. The obscure locations will be teased by PUBG in the challenge posts in their website. The player must upload the full screenshot of challenge location including the map and the compass, along with their Xbox Gamertag and email address in this Google Docs link.    To take a screenshot, the player must press the Xbox button and press Y.  The screenshot then can be uploaded to Xbox Live. The screenshots can be accessed from your Xbox account.    The first player to submit a correct screenshot for the challenges will be eligible to win special PUBG goodies along with in-game items. However, in case a player is the first to submit screenshots of two or more challenges, he will be eligible for only one prize, which will be of their choosing. The unchosen prize will then be given to the second fastest player. However, all players who submit a correct screenshot will win in-game items.    The prizes will vary on difficulty of the challenges and will be revealed along with the challenges. So far, there are two in-game prizes to win, one for each set of five challenges.  The winners of challenge #1~5 will get the Snow Beanie (Pink) while the winners of challenge #6~10 will receive Snow Sunglasses.    Players can only submit one screenshot at a time using the submission form. Hence, in case you have two screenshots, you have to fill the submission form twice.    PUBG for both Xbox and PS4 was undergoing server maintenance and was taken offline. The new update can now be downloaded as the maintenance is now over. The new update brings hotfixes for several bugs and resolve remaining issues in the platform. The update patch note reveals the game has fixed characters not appearing in the lobby and main weapons not equipping.    Here are the list of all the bugfixes issued in the new update:    Fixed an issue where sometimes “PLAY”/”READY” button would not function correctly (XBOX ONLY) Fixed an issue where a party member’s character would intermittently not appear in the lobby Fixed an issue where you were unable able to move to “CAREERS” tab in the “SEASON” menu Fixed an issue where you were unable to pick up the wanted quantity of an item from a loot box Fixed bugs related to Survivor Pass: Vikendi Fixed an issue where the mission list language would not update after changing the language in SETTINGS Fixed an issue where a UI button would be placed incorrectly Fixed an issue where main weapons were not equipped if selected immediately after throwing a molotov Fixed an issue where sometimes main weapons were not equipped in certain situations Fixed an issue where “Now you see me now you don’t” achievement could not be achieved on Vikendi Fixed mistyped information on the “SEASON – Survivor Point” page   Related Reads: How to Play PUBG Mobile on PC "PUBG Wala hai kya?" asks PM Modi addressing online gaming during Pariksha Pe Charcha event PUBG players in India prefer using smartphones to play the battle royale game: Study

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2RqVU2A

Specs comparison: Honor View 20 vs Huawei P20 Pro

Huawei’s sub-brand Honor has unveiled its View 20 in India long back. After a long wait, the Honor View 20 is finally gone on sale via Amazon today. The phone has a 48MP camera on the back, which is accompanied by a TOF 3D camera. The company launched the device in India with a price tag of Rs 37,999. On the other hand, Huawei’s flagship phone P20 Pro is one of the powerful devices, which is powered by a Kirin 970 processor. Let’s do a quick specs comparison of the two to know which device is more powerful in terms of hardware at least on paper.    Let’s begin with comparing the display of these two smartphones in detail. The Honor View 20 sports a 6.39-inch display that offers a resolution of 1080 x 2310 pixels, while the Huawei P20 Pro features a 6.10-inch display that comes with a resolution of 1080 x 2240 pixels.  When it comes to the processor, the Honor View 20 is powered by the latest Kirin 980 processor, which is paired with 6GB RAM and 128GB internal memory. On the other hand, the Huawei P20 Pro is backed by a Kirin 970 processor, which is coupled with the same 6GB RAM and 128GB internal memory. One of the main highlights of both smartphones is their rear cameras. The Honor View 20 is the world’s first smartphone that features a dual 48MP + TOF 3D camera setup on the back, while the Huawei P20 has a triple 40MP + 20MP+ 8MP camera setup at the back. On the front, the Honor View 20 has a 25MP unit, while Huawei P20 Pro has a 24MP sensor on the front.  The Honor View 20 is available in India for Rs 37,999, while you can get the Huawei P20 Pro via Amazon at a discounted price of Rs 59,999.

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2UtvgIp

WhatsApp may bring simplified media menu and tracking feature for Android

Highlights: WhatsApp may soon launch simplified Media menu for Android. The beta build version 2.19.18 shows the updated options in the menu.   WhatsApp has been bringing a lot of updates to the app's Android version and now it may soon launch a simplified media menu and a feature that will allow users to track where the media has been shared in a chat. WABetaInfo, a popular website that tests new WhatsApp features before they are rolled out to the general public, said that these were spotted in the beta build version 2.19.18 of WhatsApp for Android. The ‘revamped’ Media section will have new options for both group chats and individual chats. In the Media section, users will now be able to see new options when they tap on the three-dot menu button. The new options are aimed at simplifying the Media section, where the overflow menu shows three new options for (a) seeing a media in a chat, (b) setting the media as a profile photo, group icon or wallpaper, and (c) a new single “rotate” option. WABetaInfo also notes that the “Show in chat” feature is officially available in this version and will roll out to the users in the next Google Play Stable release. With this feature, you can pin-point to the exact point in the chat where the media, both pictures and videos, were shared. The ‘Set as’ option has been refined and users will be able to use this menu to set an image as a group icon or wallpaper. The ‘Rotate’ option will allow users to rotate the picture multiple times instead of the older options of just left and right. Recently, WhatsApp enabled the group call shortcut button in the Android app. The feature was already available on iOS. Apart from the Group Call shortcut button, the update also brought a fix for a GIF bug. Android users can now see a dedicated button at the top right corner in group chats. When you tap on that button, a tray slides up from the bottom giving an option to users for choosing participants of a group call. Related Read: WhatsApp reportedly testing fingerprint authentication feature, revamped Audio Picker option WhatsApp tests limiting mass forwards to five chats at once and removal ofquick forward button to curb fake news

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2WwYGr5

Asus launches ZenBook 13, ZenBook 14 and ZenBook 15 in India

Highlights: Asus has launched a new generation of ZenBook laptops in India. It consists of the ZenBook 13, ZenBook 14, and ZenBook 15. The starting price for these laptops is Rs 71,990. Asus has launched a new generation of ZenBook laptops in India, which consists of the ZenBook 13, ZenBook 14, and ZenBook 15. The three new models go on sale on both online and offline platforms starting today. Online platforms include Flipkart, Amazon, and Paytm Mall. Prices start at Rs 71,990 (for the base variant of the ZenBook 13) and go all the way up to Rs 1,39,990 (for the ZenBook 15). As there’s no space on the keyboard to include a regular numpad, the ZenBook 13 and ZenBook 14 come with Asus’ innovative NumberPad, which is essentially a haptic numpad built into the touchpad. The ZenBook 15, on the other hand, is big enough and gets a physical numpad like on most 15.6-inch laptops. According to Asus, the ZenBook 13, with its 13.3-inch Full HD display, is more compact than an A4 sheet of paper and weighs 1.19 kilogrammes. The ZenBook 14, which features a 14-inch Full HD display, is also about the same size as an A4 sheet and weighs the same 1.19 kilogrammes. All three models come with Intel’s 8th Gen Core series of CPUs and PCIe-based solid-state drives for storage. For rendering graphics, the ZenBook 13 and ZenBook 14 get an optional NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics card, while the larger ZenBook 15 gets an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design as standard. RAM options include 8GB and 16GB. Solid-state storage comes in 512GB and 1TB capacities. Ports on the new ZenBooks include USB 3.1 Gen 2 (both Type-A and Type-C), full-size HDMI, and a 3.5mm audio jack. According to Asus, the 50Wh lithium-polymer battery on the ZenBook 13 and ZenBook 14 is good for up to 14 hours of runtime on a single charge, while the 73Wh lithium-polymer battery on the ZenBook 15 is good for up to 16 hours of runtime on a single charge. All models in the new ZenBook series come with Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Home pre-installed. The three new ZenBook laptops are currently available in Royal Blue and Icicle Silver colours.   Related Read: Asus ZenBook 13 Review

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2DI9smR

Firefox gives users more control over their privacy settings with Strict mode

Highlights The new update to Firefox brings with it advanced content blocking. This stops third party trackers from following you from site to site. This feature when enabled, may break some sites. The new update to the Firefox browser gives user more control over their privacy. Under content blocking, there is a new option called strict. This essentially stops third-party trackers from following you from one site to the next. The content blocking under the privacy tab of the website will come with three options - Standard, Strict and Custom. The Standard option blocks sites when you browse in private mode. This is similar to what we have seen in Incognito mode in the Chrome browser. The next option is the one that is very interesting. It is the Strict option. Checking the Strict option will shut down all web tracking and internet cookies. These are of course the ones which the browser can detect. Turning Strict mode on will prevent the tracking of your browser and hence you will not see ads based on your browsing. For example, when you search for shoes online and then you log onto facebook, you will see the ads of those particular shows in your feed. If you are browsing in Strict mode on the Firefox browser, then you will not see the ad for the shoes on your social network or any other site you visit. There is one downside to the Strict mode and that is that sometimes it can cause a site to break or not load properly, so as a user, you will have to be mindful of that. If this affects the sites you visit, then worry not, it can be easily disabled by clicking on the small "i" in the address bar. The custom mode gives you access to tinker with settings based on your preferences. By default the browser will have the Standard mode active, so if you want to implement the Strict mode or Custom mode, you will have to do so by getting into the settings.  On its official blog, Mozilla says, “One of the features we outlined in our approach to anti-tracking was Enhanced Tracking Protection, otherwise known as “removing cross-site tracking”. We initially announced in October that we would roll out Enhanced Tracking Protection off-by-default. This was just one of the many steps we took to help prepare users when we turn this on by default this year. We continue to experiment and share our journey to ensure we balance these new preferences with the experiences our users want and expect. Before we roll this feature out by default, we plan to run a few more experiments and users can expect to hear more from us about it.” Also Read: Facebook is paying teens and adults to sell their personal data by installing a VPN app 90 percent of auto sales in India were digitally influenced in 2018: Report Google Duo might soon get a web-app version

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2FYAcC2

Ban PUBG, 11-year old appeals to Maharashtra Govt as it promotes gaming addiction, violence and cyber bullying

Highlights: An 11-year old kid has reportedly appealed to the Maharashtra Govt to ban PUBG. The letter stems from the kid’s belief that the game promotes “violence, murder, aggression, looting, gaming addiction and cyber bullying.” PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is becoming synonymous with battle royale genre of games, at least in India. The mobile version of the game is also doing well with over 30 million daily active players, however, there are instances where the title is considered addictive and a distraction for students. It was recently banned from primary schools in Gujarat and now, India Today reports that an 11-year old kid named Ahad has requested the Maharashtra Government to ban the famous online multiplayer game as it promotes barbarousness and cyber bullying. The letter sent by him is said to be an  "appeal to forthwith ban online game PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds [PUBG] as it promotes immoral conduct such as violence, murder, aggression, looting, gaming addiction and cyber bullying". Ahad’s appeal further states that if the game is not banned, "I will be compelled to seek appropriate legal [civil and criminal] proceeding as per law; naturally at your cost and consequences." As per the report, the letter was marked to seven prominent personalities in the government including Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, MEITY minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Maharashtra education minister Vinod Tawde, among others. Apparently, Ahad is considering filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court since he has not received any reply for his appeal yet.  Ahad’s concerns of PUBG being addictive might have some weight since we have come across reports that some people were severely affected as they played the game for several hours continuously. However, as the saying goes, too much of anything is bad for you and this goes not only for PUBG but for almost everything. Additionally, we would like to know if Ahad is 11 years old, why did his parents allow him to play a game that is rated for a 16+ audience? Many of you might not know but PUBG Mobile is rated playable for anyone who is of age 16 and above and this is clearly mentioned on the title’s Google Play store page. The game does contain violence but most action-adventure shooter games are the same.  PUBG Mobile age rating on the Google Play Store The battle royale game is so well known that the Prime Minister of India recently referred to it in the context of being addictive. In an event called “Pariksha pe Charcha 2.0” (Discussions on Exams 2.0), the mother of a class-IX student said that her son is so inclined towards online gaming that it is affecting his studies. She asked the PM for a solution for this to which Modi replied,  “Ye PUBG wala hai kya?” (Is he one of the PUBG players?). As soon as he said the words, the crowd at the event burst out into applause.  As we mentioned earlier, PUBG is banned in primary schools in Gujarat as the state government’s primary education department issued a circular asking district authorities to implement a ban on the game. The circular is said to have been issued after Gujarat State Commission for Protection of Child Rights made a recommendation to do so as children were supposedly getting addicted to the game and it was “adversely affecting their studies”. Earlier, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association asked the state’s governor to ban PUBG Mobile for the same reason and because it was said to be highly addictive and the reason for poor performance of students in Class X and XII exams.  We would like to point out that PUBG, on mobile devices, is rated for players of age 16 and above. On PC, Xbox One, and PS4 has ESRB rating of Teen, which is generally suitable for ages 13 and up.  Related Reads:  “PUBG Wala hai kya?” asks PM Modi addressing online gaming during Pariksha Pe Charcha event PUBG Mobile ban sought in J&K as Students Association deems it more addictive than drugs PUBG Mobile 0.11.0 Beta update goes live, introduces RE2: Sunset zombie mode, new weather for Vikendi and more  

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2RsQqV8

Googlecom gets voice Assistant support on Android

Highlights: Google brings voice assistant support on Google.com for Android The search field now has a grey microphone icon.   Google has been working a lot to provide a hands-free experience on its services by integrating its AI-powered virtual assistant with them. The company has now expanded the Google Assistant voice support to Google.com on Android. The development was first spotted by 9to5mac and now users can tap on the microphone on the Google.com search field to initiate voice searches. Previously, users could do a voice search on mobile with the Android keyboard microphone. The microphone icon is generic and grey instead of the one on desktop web, which has the symbolic four Google Assistant colours. The search works like it does on any other service. Once you tap on the microphone to carry out a voice search on mobile, you are greeted with a full screen interface with “Speak now” followed by “Listening…” once an audio is detected with live transcription on the screen. Before asking for a query, Google will ask for certain permissions to input queries. Once you have input your search query, it is processed like it usually does on other services. If you ask direct questions, “What’s the temperature,” it will give you focused answers. If you ask generic questions like, “Redmi Note 7”, it will return with the results from various sources. Users can also exit the page by tapping the ‘x’ located on the top right corner of the full-page white screen. At CES 2019, Google introduced new features of the Google Assistant. This includes integration with Google Maps, Interpreter Mode, Flight check-in and Google Assistant Connect platform. With this new platform, the device manufacturers can now integrate the Assistant into their products. The platform uses Google’s existing smart home platform to expand to new device types. Related Read: Google Photos is the latest app to get Material Design Google Maps added to list of apps with new Material Design

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2B4P39R

Facebook is paying teens and adults to sell their personal data by installing a VPN app

Highlights: Facebook has reportedly been paying teens and adults to sell their data by installing an app called Facebook Research.  It's a VPN app that accesses root-level information to monitor web activity, instant messages, etc. Facebook paid $20 per month to users. After a series of mishaps and misdemeanours, Facebook’s popularity certainly took a dip in 2018. The social-networking giant has been at the receiving end of much criticism after news surfaced that Facebook enabled third parties to harvest personal user data for targeted ads. Now, in a bid to acquire more info on its competitors, Facebook has been reportedly paying people aged 13-35 to install a “Facebook Research” VPN, which is used to monitor the user’s phone and web activity. The VPN app is similar to Facebook’s Onavo Protect app, another VPN that the company had launched earlier which was found to be collecting user data as well. The Onavo app was banned by Apple in June and was removed by Facebook in August 2018. The latest Facebook Research app sidesteps the app store and monetarily rewards teens and adults who downloaded the app. Users received $20 per month along with referral fees, like a payment for selling your data to the social networking company. The app installs root certificates in iOS and Android that gives it root access to the network traffic. This could be a violation of Apple policy as Facebook is  analyzing phone activity by decoding network activity. Facebook told TechCrunch that the company has indeed been running the program to “gather data on usage habits” and that it doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon. The social network has been paying users since 2016 to sell their data by installing the app on iOS and Android. The TechCrunch report claims Facebook even asked users to take screenshots of their Amazon order history page. Facebook, however, is shy of associating itself with the app. It is being serviced through beta testing services Applause, BetaBound and uTest, to hide Facebook’s involvement. The Facebook Research app reportedly can parse through user’s private messages in social media apps, web searches, emails, browsing history, location information and more. It’s unclear exactly what data Facebook is harvesting in the name of “tracking usage habits”, but it does get scarily deep-level access to user data. The app proves just how desperate the social network company is right now to maintain its dominance. The data-sniffing VPN app Onavo gave Facebook inputs about WhatsApp’ meteoric rise before the Mark Zuckerberg-owned company swooped in and acquired them. The Onavo app also gave Facebook clues as to what features to copy from other apps. Since the app was banned and removed by Apple, the Facebook Research app, might just be another attempt to resume harvesting user data to stay ahead of the game. Related Reads: Why #DeleteFacebook? Top Tech Stories That Made Headlines in 2018

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2Tm55mX