GadgetMasala

Huawei P30 Pro in India soon after global launch

2019-03-16T00:52:00.000-07:00

The Huawei P30 Pro is expected to come with a 10x optical zoom, which would be a first on a smartphone.

Huawei Mate 20 Pro is the present flagship smartphone available in India at Rs 69,990.(Huawei)

Smartphone maker Huawei will launch its upcoming P30 Pro smartphone in India shortly after its global unveiling at an event in Paris.

“The company is dedicated to the India market and it aims to narrow the gap in the timing of global launches of flagship devices with this phone,” an industry source told IANS on Friday.

The Huawei P30 Pro is expected to come with a 10x optical zoom, which would be a first on a smartphone. A major highlight of the device is expected be the quad-camera set-up at the rear.

It is rumoured to sport a 40-megapixel f/1.6 main camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS) and a 20-megapixel f/2.2 wide-angle camera. For selifes, the smartphone is expected to house a 32-megapixel front camera which could also have 3D recognition. Up front, Huawei P30 could sport a 6.47-inch OLED display which would also double as a loudspeaker using vibration to produce sound.

Facebook launches ML, AI-based technology to detect, block revenge porn

2019-03-16T00:47:00.000-07:00

Facebook has also launched a new online hub “Not Without My Consent” to help victims of revenge porn.

Facebook says it new tech can detecting non-consensual intimate images(Source Internet)

Facebook on Friday announced a new tool to detect revenge porn on its platforms including Instagram. The company also launched a new online resource hub to help users respond to the abuse.

Facebook says its new tool is driven by machine learning and artificial intelligence which allow it to detect “near nude images or videos that are shared without permission on Facebook and Instagram.”

The company adds the tool will help detect non-consensual intimate images without anyone reporting it. If any image violates the company’s Community Standards, Facebook moderators will remove it. And in some cases, it will also disable an account for sharing the content without permission. Facebook, however, will allow users to appeal the ban if they think the company has made a mistake.

“This programme gives people an emergency option to securely and proactively submit a photo to Facebook. We then create a digital fingerprint of that image and stop it from ever being shared on our platform in the first place. After receiving positive feedback from victims and support organisations, we will expand this pilot over the coming months so more people can benefit from this option in an emergency,” Antigone Davis, Global Head of Safety, wrote in a blog post.

Facebook has also launched a “Not Without My Consent” platform to the victims of revenge porn. The forum is part of Facebook’s Safety Center.

The forum allows victims to reach out to organisations and resources for assistance including how to get the non-consensual content deleted from the platform.

“And over the coming months, we’ll build a victim support toolkit to give people around the world more information with locally and culturally relevant support,” added Davis.

Xiaomi Redmi Go to launch in India on March 19: Expected specifications, features

2019-03-16T00:33:00.000-07:00

Xiaomi Redmi Go will come with Android Oreo (Go edition), Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset and support for over 20 regional languages.

Redmi Go will launch with Android Oreo (Go edition).(Xiaomi)

Redmi Go, Xiaomi’s first smartphone with Android Go, is set to launch in India on March 19.

Xiaomi is using the regional flavour to tease its upcoming smartphone as company VP Manu Kumar Jain tweeted the launch date announcement in Hindi. The teaser video of Redmi Go also displays the text in regional Indian languages. There’s also a micro site for Redmi Go where interested users can click on the ‘Notify Me’ button for the launch.

Xiaomi has highlighted some features of Redmi Go on the micro site. Redmi Go will feature a ‘big’ HD display with long battery life. Redmi Go has been rumoured to offer an 18:9 display. The smartphone will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and support expandable storage. Leaked specifications of Redmi Go also suggest Bluetooth 4.2, dual-SIM support and 1GB of RAM.

On the software front, it will run on Android Oreo (Go edition). Redmi Go was earlier rumoured to launch with Android Pie (Go edition). Google launched this updated OS back in August last year. Based on the latest Android OS, Android Pi (Go edition) edition comes with 500MB of additional storage, verified boot and dashboard to track data usage.

Redmi Go will also come with India-centric features such as support for over 20 regional languages and Google Assistant in Hindi.

Redmi Go will join a small but growing list of Android Go smartphones in india. Some of the Android Go phones available in India include Samsung Galaxy J2 core,Nokia 1,Nokia 2.1,Micromax Bharat Go and Lava Z50. HMD Global is expected to launch its new Android Go phone,Nokia 1 plus in India soon.

PUBG Mobile’s latest update brings Tukshai vehicle, G36C rifle: All you need to know

2019-03-14T22:33:00.000-07:00

PUBG Mobile 0.11.5 update brings a new weapon, the G36C rifle and Tukshai vehicle. This update also brings some changes and improvements to ‘Survive Till Dawn’ for zombies on PUBG Mobile.

PUBG Mobile latest update is available in beta for Android and iOS users.

PUBG Mobile recently rolled out the much-awaited Zombies update , and there’s already a new update in the works. The update is available on beta mode for Android and iOS users.

PUBG Mobile 0.11.5 update is sized around 1.7GB and can be downloaded from here. This isn’t a major update for PUBG mobile but it comes with new weapon and vehicle additions. Some notable ones include dynamic weather to Erangel and Miramar map. Vikendi received ‘Moonlight’ weather in the last update.

PUBG Mobile also brings a new weapon, the G36C rifle and Tukshai vehicle. This update also brings some changes and improvements to ‘Survive Till Dawn’ for zombies on PUBG Mobile.

Here are the full patch notes for PUBG Mobile 0.11.5.

•Added a new weapon: G36C rifle (Vikendi only). Fires 5.56mm rounds and can be equipped with stocks. Replaces SCAR-L in Vikendi.

•Added a new Sanhok-exclusive vehicle: Tukshai, a three-wheeled bus. This will replace the Jeep, Dacia and Mini Bus.

•Quick chat message “I got supplies” is now pre-selected.

•Outfit preview will send a warning when a piece being previewed is hidden by a currently equipped piece.

•When previewing outfits from a new crate, the preview from the previous crate will now be removed.

•Added tapping feedback to buttons of the main menu.

Survive Till Dawn

•Zombies will now enter a weakened state from time to time during the match.

•2. Fixed some areas on the map where zombies could not enter.

•3. Damage outside of safe zone at night has been increased.

•4. Some resource drops have been tuned.

•5. Some zombie skills have been tuned.

•6. Vehicle fuel levels have been tuned.

Android Q first developer preview rolls out: How to download, top features and more

2019-03-14T22:22:00.000-07:00

Android Q developer preview is now available on Google’s Android beta programme for all Pixel smartphones.

Android Q developer preview is now live for Pixel phones.(Google)

Google has released the first developer preview for its next Android iteration, Android Q. Google Pixel users can download and install the Android Q developer preview on their devices.

Android Q developer preview is available for all generations of the Pixel – Pixel XL, Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel 3, pixel 3 XL. Google is expected to release Android Q stable update later this year around September.

If you have a Pixel phone, you can try out the pre-release version of Android Q through the Android beta programme. Note that you backup data on your phone before starting the software update. Google also warns that since this is a beta update it “may contain errors and defects that can affect the normal functioning of your device.”

After opting in for the Android beta programme, a system update for Android Q will be rolled out to your Pixel device. The first Android Q beta update is sized a little over 1GB.

If you haven’t received the Android Q beta update as yet, you can choose to download the system image and manually flash it to your device. There’s a list of system images for all Pixel phones here. However, it is advised that manual flash should be done knowing the risks involved.

Sharing Shortcuts for apps on Android Q. ( Google )

With the first Android Q beta update, Google has listed new features and changes coming to Android. Google has updated device location with more control to users. The new app permissions for location include ‘never’, ‘only when the app is in use’, or ‘all the time’. Android Q also comes with support for foldable devices with large screens.

New Settings Panel on Android Q. ( Google )

App shortcuts get better on Android Q with options to jump directly into another app to share content. Google has also introduced a new floating settings panel which will have different functions depending on the app.

How to get Slack’s new ‘Dark Mode’ on your Android, iOS smartphones

2019-03-11T00:10:00.001-07:00

The dark mode for Slack is currently being rolled out to beta testers on both iOS and Android devices.

Slack rolls out ‘Dark Mode’ for its Android, iOS beta users(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Dark mode is the hottest new trend in apps as it is slightly easy on the eyes and conserves battery life too. Now, productivity app Slack is the latest to join the bandwagon by offering a dark mode feature to its app users.

The dark mode for Slack is currently being rolled out to beta testers on both iOS and Android devices, The Verge reported.

If you want to switch to a dark mode, you need to be a part of Slack’s beta testing programme. You can join the beta testing from the app settings panel and choosing ‘Join Beta’ to gain access to the dark mode.

Once you join the programme, you will be able to toggle to the dark mode from the settings panel. You may be prompted to restart the app depending on the OS you are using.

Samsung Galaxy A30 first impressions: Improved design, camera looks promising

2019-03-09T01:58:00.000-08:00

Samsung Galaxy A30 features a large 6.4-inch FHD+ display.

Samsung revamps its Galaxy A series with three new phones in India. Here’s our first impression of the Galaxy A30 priced at Rs 16,990.

Samsung quietly launched its revamped Galaxy A series in India last week. The refreshed series features Galaxy A10, Galaxy A30 and Galaxy A50 starting at Rs 8,940 and going up to Rs 22,990.

Of the three, the Galaxy A30 is a mid-range budget phone with a price tag of Rs 16,990. The smartphone comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. Galaxy A30 comes with a refreshed design, dual cameras, fast charging and OneUI. Here’s our first impression of the new Galaxy A30.

Display, design

Galaxy A30 sports a U-shaped notch which Samsung calls the ‘Infinity-U’ display. The smartphone has curved edges with a tall body. You’ll find the power button and volume keys on the right side of the phone.

The fingerprint sensor is placed at the rear panel which is a plastic body topped with a glossy finish. A trend being adopted by smartphone brands these days, this is aimed to give a premium look and feel to budget phones. Most phones turn out looking tacky, but the Galaxy A30 finds a balance by being subtle without losing premium touch. It comes in three colour options of black, red and blue.

Galaxy A30 has a large 6.4-inch FHD+ display. Thanks to its AMOLED panel, the smartphone’s display offers vivid colours and good contrast.

Performance

Samsung uses its new Exynos 7904 processor on the Galaxy A30. The same chipset powers the Galaxy M30 phone as well. In comparison, rival chipsets like Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 660 are said to give better performance than the Exynos 7904. Overall performance can only be judged after a full review, though.

Galaxy A30 runs on the new OneUI based on Android 9 Pie. The new UI is especially designed for large screened phones with a cleaner and minimalist look. The icons are placed on the lower half of the screen making it easier for users to navigate around. OneUI is definitely better to use than the previous Samsung Experience with no flashy animations or gimmicky features on the phone.

The smartphone packs a 4,000mAh battery with 15W fast charging and USB Type-C port.

Samsung Galaxy A30 features a plastic body with a glossy finish.

Camera

For photography, Galaxy A30 sports dual 16-megapixel and 5-megapixel rear cameras. The secondary 5-megapixel sensor has 123-degree ultra-wide lens. I tried out the camera indoors and the photos turned out pretty good. But a better clarity can be given only through testing the cameras outdoors and in low-light.

I did notice the camera app to be a little slow while switching from normal to wide-angle. The phone also lagged a little while moving around the camera app itself.

There’s a 16-megapixel front camera for selfies. I particularly liked the front camera as the selfies turned out really clear and crisp provided you turn the beauty filter off.

Summing up,

During my brief usage of the Galaxy A30, I discovered that the phone is pretty, has promising cameras and performance too. But the price tag could be a downer for the Galaxy A30 as similar offerings can be found on cheaper phones. For example, the Redmi Note 7 also comes with similar specifications and features but costs around Rs 5,000 lesser.

2019-03-07T21:18:00.000-08:00

Oppo F11 has the trendy gradient back panel but is rather heavy to carry around. Read our first impressions of the latest smartphone with 48-megapixel camera.

Oppo F11 Pro comes with 6GB of RAM and 64GB storage.

Oppo F11 Pro is a new mid-range smartphone with 48-megapixel rear camera. Priced at Rs 24,990, the smartphone will go on sale in India on March 15.

Apart from a 48-megapixel camera, highlights of Oppo F11 Pro include a pop-up selfie snapper and premium design. It also comes with a 4,000mAh battery with Vooc ultra-fast charging capabilities.

The smartphone’s design is also eye catching with its ‘gradient colour’ in two options of ‘Thunder Black’ and ‘Aurora Green’. The smartphone adds another choice to users in the mid-range price segment. Here’s our first impression of the new Oppo F11 Pro.

Display, design

Starting with the first attractive feature, Oppo has put in efforts on the design and look of the phone. Smartphone brands like Honor, Oppo and Vivo have extensively popularised the gradient colour effect. The F11 Pro is no different. We have the ‘Aurora Green’ variant of the F11 Pro and the smartphone does look beautiful. Its blue-green effect has a subtle tone to it and doesn’t appear tacky.

The power button on the F11 Pro also has this thin green accent which looks pretty. A small detail but it adds to the overall design of the phone. Thanks to the pop-up camera, Oppo F11 Pro has a true edge-to-edge display with no notch or punch-hole camera. Watching videos on the F11 Pro will be a delightful experience with every inch of the screen used.

Oppo F11 Pro features a 6.5-inch display.

Unapologetically heavy

Oppo F11 Pro is pretty heavy. It’s 2019 and glass bodies or big batteries can no longer be excuses for the extra weight, especially on a 25k smartphone. The F11 Pro isn’t slim either. With phones aiming to be lighter and slimmer, it’s surprising the F11 Pro turned out different.

Performance

Performance on the F11 Pro can only be determined after a review of the phone. In terms of specifications, the smartphone comes with MediaTek’s Helio P70 chipset paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Oppo’s usage of Helio P70 seems questionable considering the Realme 3 priced at Rs 8,999 is available with the same chipset.

On the software front, Oppo F11 Pro runs on ColorOS 6.0 based on Android Pie. With the new custom OS, Oppo has finally introduced an app drawer. The animations seem similar to Xiaomi’s MIUI 10 especially the brightness and volume bar. ColorOS is however still heavy with multiple pre-installed apps and custom apps too.

Camera

Camera is undoubtedly the highlight of the F11 Pro. Catching on the increasing trend, the F11 Pro also offers a 48-megapixel camera. It also comes with ‘ultra night mode’ called ‘nightscape’ for low light photography. I tried out the camera with nightscape turned on. This feature does add extra brightness to photos but it misses out on details.

The pop-up selfie camera is placed at the centre of the phone. Smartphones with this camera mechanism have the Pop-pop Camera on the side. I fiddled with the selfie camera and tried out the portrait mode. It still doesn’t get the job right as my hair ended up being blurred along with the background.

Summing up,

Oppo F11 Pro does come with attractive features like its design and the pop-up selfie camera. However phones cheaper than the F11 Pro also offer a 48 megapixel camera and Helio P70 chipset. We can arrive at a better judgement after reviewing the smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+, Galaxy S10e launched in India: Price, specifications, features

2019-03-06T02:30:00.000-08:00

Samsung Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+, Galaxy S10e go on sale in India on March 8

Samsung Galaxy S10 series will go on sale in India on March 8. Here’s everything you need to know about the latest flagship series.

Samsung on Wednesday launched its flagship Galaxy S10 series in India. The new Galaxy S10 phones were first unveiled last month ahead of MWC.

Samsung is bringing three S10 models in India - Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+ and Galaxy S10e. The smartphones have been available for pre-orders in India, and will go on sale starting March 8. Samsung claimed the pre-bookings for Galaxy S10 are double than last year’s Galaxy S9 series. The smartphones will be available via Amazon India, Flipkart, Airtel in-store and offline stores.

Samsung Galaxy S10: Price

The flagship series starts at Rs 55,900 for the Galaxy S10e with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. Galaxy S10 comes in two variants of 8GB+128GB and 8GB+128GB priced at Rs 66,900 and 84,900 respectively.

Galaxy S10+ top-end model offers a mammoth 1TB of inbuilt storage with 12GB of RAM. This variant of Galaxy S10+ is priced at Rs 117,900. The smartphone also comes with 8GB RAM and two storage options of 128GB and 512GB priced at Rs 73,900 and Rs 91,900 respectively.

A journalist holds the new Samsung Galaxy S10 smartphone at a press event .

Samsung also launched its latest wearables – Galaxy Buds, Galaxy Fit and Galaxy Watch Active. Galaxy Buds is priced at Rs 9,990.

Galaxy S10 specifications, features

Samsung introduced its new Infinity-O display with the Galaxy S10 series. The Galaxy S10 and S10+ also come with wireless powershare which can charge compatible phones along with the Galaxy Watch and Buds.The smartphones also sport triple-camera setup with new features like super slo-mo video recording, and feature an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. The Galaxy S10 series is powered by Exynos 9820 processor.The cheapest Galaxy S10e comes with dual cameras, a flat display and physical fingerprint sensor. Check out its full specifications and features here.

Realme 3 Pro to launch in India in April, to take on Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro

2019-03-04T22:30:00.000-08:00

Realme 3 Pro will compete with Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 7 Pro which features 48-megapixel rear camera.

Realme 3 Pro is coming soon

Realme on Monday announced it will launch an upgraded ‘Realme 3 pro’ in India in April this year. The smartphone will compete with Xiaomi’s 48-megapixel camera phone, Redmi Note 7 Pro.

Commenting on Xiaomi’s ‘camera beast’ Redmi Note 7 Pro, Realme CEO Madhav Sheth said, “We understand someone calls it a good beast. We also say it’s a good beast. More competition is good for consumers. Unless you don’t have a product against it how will you understand whether it’s really a beast or not.”

According to reports, Realme 3 Pro will come with a 48-megapixel rear camera, just like Redmi Note 7. It is also expected to run a faster processor.

It’s worth noting that Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 7 Pro uses Sony IMX586 sensor for 48-megapixel camera. It runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 processor. Other key specifications of the smartphone include 13-megapixel selfie camera with studio lighting, beautify mode and AI mode, USB Type-C port, 3.5mm headphone jack, and a 4,000mAh battery.

Based on the trends, Realme 3 Pro will be an upgraded version of Realme 3 which competes with Xiaomi Redmi Note 7. Scheduled to go on sale on March 12, Realme 3 comes with a 6.2-inch HD+ notched screen with Gorilla Glass protection. It is powered by a MediaTek Helio P70 processor with 3GB/32GB and 4GB/64GB RAM and storage variants.

Realme 3 comes with 13-megapixel and 2-megapixel dual rear cameras. On the front it has 13-megapixel selfie camera with 1.12um pixels, AI Beautification, HDR and AI Facial Unlock. The smartphone is powered by a 4,230mAh battery.

Samsung Galaxy M30 review: The new mid-range phone takes on Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro

2019-03-03T23:00:00.000-08:00

Samsung Galaxy M30 will go on sale in India on March 7 at a starting price of Rs 14,990. Here’s our review of the latest Samsung smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy M30 with triple-rear cameras takes on Xiaomi Redmi Note 7(internet photo)

Brand: Samsung
Product: Galaxy M30
Key specs: 6.4-inch FHD+ Infinity U Super AMOLED display, 13MP f1.9, 5MP depth and 5MP 123degree lens, 16MP selfie camera, 5,000mAh battery, USB Type-C, Exynos 7904 SoC, 4+64GB, 6GB+128GB.
Price: Rs 14,990 (starting)
Rating: 3.5/5

Samsung last month launched a new budget smartphone series, Galaxy M. The series debuted with Galaxy M10 and Galaxy M20 budget smartphones. The third offering under the latest series is Galaxy M30.

Samsung Galaxy M30 takes on Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 7 Pro and Mi A2 with big 5,000mAh battery and mid-range level specifications. The smartphone will go on sale in India at a starting price of Rs 14,990. The top-end model with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage is priced at Rs 17,990.

Samsung Galaxy M30 doesn’t look very different from the Galaxy M10 and Galaxy M20. It has a similar unibody look and feel with glossy finish on the back panel. A subtle difference is the triple-rear camera setup, vertically aligned on the left top corner. On the front, it has Samsung’s own cut-out display, Infinity U. Interestingly enough, Galaxy M30’s back panel doesn’t attract fingerprint smudges as much as M20. It’s better to grip and use for longer period of time.

Galaxy M30 comes with a 6.4-inch full HD+ Super AMOLED display. The screen is vibrant and offers pretty satisfactory legibility indoors and outdoors. The Samsung experience v9.5 is slick but it’s still based on older Android 8.1 Oreo. The latest Android Pie would have made way for a range of new features such as Adaptive Battery and Adaptive display.Samsung Galaxy M30 comes with a 15-megapxiel selfie camera. ( Samsung )

Samsung Galaxy M30’s highlight is the triple-rear camera setup. This includes a 13-megapixel camera with f/1.9 sensor, 5-megapixel depth sensor, and 5-megapixel ultra-wide sensor with 123-degree viewing angle. The UI is quite similar to what we’ve seen on older phones like Galaxy A9 2018. As far as the camera performance goes, it’s pretty impressive for the given price point. The lowlight images, however, leave much to be desired. Selfie enthusiasts will like the 16-megapixel front-shooter.

Performance wise, Samsung Galaxy M30 doesn’t disappoint either. Exynos 7904 octa-core processor can easily handle your day-to-day tasks such as browsing, social networking and streaming multimedia on-the-go. Graphic-intensive games PUBG Mobile, Asphalt and Marvel Contest of Champions run smooth on the phone. The phone does heat up little after longer sessions of gaming, but that’s the case with most of the mid-range phones.

The 5,000 mAh battery is quite reliable. On moderate to heavy usage, Galaxy M30 can easily last more than a day. Our use case included lots of browsing, music and video streaming, and gaming. If you’re a light user, you can draw more from Galaxy M30’s big battery.

Verdict

Samsung Galaxy M30 is a capable mid-range smartphone. If you’re looking for a phone with big battery and good camera, Galaxy M30 is worth considering. That said, you may want to wait for review of Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro which offers Snapdragon 675 processor and 48-megapixel Sony IMX586 sensor. The Xiaomi phone will go on sale in India on March 6.

Realme 3 to launch in India today: All you need to know

2019-03-03T22:26:00.000-08:00

Realme 3 will compete with Xiaomi Redmi-Note 7 pro and Samsung Galaxy M30. Here’s everything we know about the smartphone so far.

Realme 3 to launch in India today(source internet photo)

After Samsung and Xiaomi, it’s Realme’s turn to launch new budget smartphone in India. The company is set to launch ‘Realme 3’ on March 4.

Ahead of the launch, Realme has revealed a few important details about the new phone. The latest smartphone will come with “diamond cut” graphic back panel. The phone will also feature dual-rear camera.

Realme has also confirmed Realme 3 will be powered by MediaTek Helio P70 processor, the same chipset that powers the company’s Realme U1. Based on TSMC’s 12nm FinFET technology, Helio P70 processor comes with a dual quad-core set up, This includes four Arm Cortex-A73 2.1GHz cores and four Arm Cortex-A53 2.0GHz cores. The chipset also has ARM Mali-G72 MP3 GPU for graphics.

Ahead of the official launch, Realme also dropped a teaser highlighting the smartphone’s camera capabilities. The photo hints at brighter colours and more precise depth. Camera resolution of the phone is not known yet.

Realme 3 will take on the likes of Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Proand Samsung Galaxy M30. Xiaomi is offering a 48-megapixel rear camera on its new budget phone whereas Samsung is giving a bigger 5,000mAh battery.

Future Apple products will just ‘blow you away’: Tim Cook

2019-03-02T01:40:00.000-08:00

Optimistic about Apple’s future, Cook said there’s a “long, great roadmap of fantastic” products related to the Apple Watch and AirPods.

Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks to members of the media at an Apple press event in San Francisco, California. (AFP Photo)(AFP)

Apple Inc. Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook said he has ‘never been more optimistic’ about where the company is today and where it’s heading. In a pep talk to investors, Cook said the iPhone maker is “planting seeds” and “rolling the dice” on future products that will just “blow you away.”

Speaking at the company’s annual general meeting in Cupertino, California, Cook reiterated that the iPhone maker is still on track to double revenue from services in 2020 from the nearly $25 billion in 2016. Referencing speaking notes on an iPad, Cook touched on several of the company’s product categories.

He said eventually the goal is to lower the price on the $1,200 MacBook Air laptop with a higher-resolution screen and said there’s a “long, great roadmap of fantastic” products related to the Apple Watch and AirPods. He indicated that more health features would come to the smartwatch.

Apple shares rose more than 1 percent in afternoon trading Friday in New York. The stock was down before Cook started speaking.

Investors are waiting for Apple to come up with a next big thing as demand for its best-selling product, the iPhone, slows, leading to the company’s first holiday-quarter sales decline since 2001. Cook has often mentioned augmented reality as a game changing technology and Apple is working on a pair of AR glasses. In the meantime, the company is focusing on a growing services businesses and rising sales of other devices like the Watch and AirPods. Cook noted that Apple bought 18 companies in 2018 and is constantly on the lookout for more acquisitions.

The CEO also fielded questions from investors about privacy, diversity and politics. In an apparent jab at Facebook Inc. and Google, Cook criticized companies that build data profiles of their users, and reiterated that Apple is pushing for regulation against such practice. One shareholder noted that although Apple management’s political opinion appears to differ from the Trump administration’s

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro vs Redmi Note 7: Specifications, price, features compared

2019-03-01T23:23:00.000-08:00

Redmi Note 7 Pro and Redmi Note 7 are the latest budget phones from Xiaomi. Here’s a comparison between the two phones.

How Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro compares with Redmi Note 7. (Xiaomi)

Xiaomi on Thursday launched its first budget smartphones, Redmi Note 7 Pro and Redmi Note 7 in India. This was also the global debut of the Redmi Note 7 Pro smartphone.

The new budget smartphones come with a refreshed glass body design, camera upgrades and improvements under the hood. Redmi Note 7 and Redmi Note 7 Pro both cater to different price categories in the budget segment with a difference of around Rs 2,000. Here’s a comparison between the two Redmi smartphones.

Design, display

The new Redmi Note 7 Pro phones are testament to Xiaomi’s shift from metal bodies to glass backs in this series. There’s a 2.5D curved glass with Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and rear of both the smartphones. Redmi Note 7 Pro and Redmi Note 7 both look pretty similar with not much distinction. However, Redmi Note 7 Pro comes in two gradient colour finishes of ‘Nebula Red’ and ‘Neptune Blue’. Redmi Note 7 also comes in flashy colours of red and blue.

Some familiarity in design includes the vertically aligned rear cameras and circular fingerprint sensor. The display gets bigger with a smaller sized notch which Xiaomi calls the ‘dot notch’. In terms of specifications, Redmi Note 7 and the Pro version feature a 6.3-inch Full HD+ display.

Performance

Redmi Note 7 Pro would arguably be a better performer with a more powerful processor. The smartphone runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 675 processor. The same chipset also powers the recently launched Vivo V15 Pro. Redmi Note 7, on the other hand is powered by the older Snapdragon 660 processor.

Redmi Note 7 Pro also offers up to 6GB of RAM, while Redmi Note 7’s top model packs 4GB of RAM. Battery capacity remains the same on both phones with a 4,000mAh battery. The new Redmi Note series also supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 4.

Camera

In addition to the processor, camera is another major differentiator between the two phones. Redmi Note 7 Pro boasts a 48-megapixel camera with Soni IMX 586 image sensor. It is accompanied by a 5-megapixel depth sensor at the rear.

In comparison, Redmi Note 7 offers a 12-megapixel plus 2-megapixel dual-camera setup. Redmi Note 7 series come with the same camera features like night mode, AI portrait mode, EIS and AI scene detection. For selfies, there’s a 13-megapixel AI-based front camera on both the smartphones.

Price

Redmi Note 7 (3GB+32GB) has the lowest price tag of Rs 9,999 in India. The 4GB+64GB model of Redmi Note 7 is priced at Rs 11,999. If users are opting for this variant, then can shell out a little more and opt for the Redmi Note 7 Pro base model priced at Rs 13,999. Redmi Note 7 Pro with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage can be availed at Rs 16,999.

Google Duo video calling app expands to the web

2019-03-01T12:10:00.000-08:00

If you want to use Google Duo on web, simply head to duo.google.com and use your existing account or create a new account by verifying your mobile number to chat.

Google Duo requires one’s mobile number to register on the service.(Google)

Google’s answer to Apple FaceTime, Google Duo, is now available to web users.

The video chat service had been available to iOS and Android users since launch in 2016. It will now be available to web users as well, allowing them use the browser on their laptops or computers to connect with people in Skype-like fashion.

If you want to use Google Duo on web, simply head to duo.google.com and use your existing account or create a new account by verifying your mobile number to chat.

The web-based version is compatible with Chrome, Firefox and Safari. As it is a gradual rollout, it may not be available in all countries.

IRCTC launches payment aggregator, IRCTC iPay

2019-03-01T12:09:00.000-08:00

IRCTC iPay offers payment methods including credit card, debit card, UPI and international cards as well.

Female's hand typing text on her cellphone in a public transport

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has launched its own payment aggregator system, IRCTC iPay, a step which will help promote government’s Digital India initiative.

A statement from the railways’ catering and ticketing arm said the exclusive digital payment gateway will provide an improved online digital payment convenience and ease of doing business to passengers availing online travel related services through the IRCTC website.

“With the launch of IRCTC iPay, the passengers will not need any third-party platforms as the IRCTC iPay provides payment options like credit card, debit card, UPI – Unified Payment Interface, International Card. The option of IRCTC prepaid card cum wallet, auto debit shall also be available shortly,” the statement said.

Under this new arrangement, IRCTC will have full control of the payment system because of its direct relationship with acquiring banks, card networks and other partners. “This will help reduce the gap between IRCTC and banks which will eventually lead to substantial reduction in payment failures. Moreover, in case an online transaction is unsuccessful or some other error occurs, IRCTC can directly get in touch with the bank instead of relying on an intermediate source which usually delays the process,” the statement said.

Apple self-driving car layoffs give hints to division’s direction

2019-02-27T22:59:00.000-08:00

While the iPhone maker has acknowledged its interest in self-driving cars in broad terms, it has never detailed precisely which technologies it is working on and whether it seeks to build a whole vehicle or the sensors, computer system and software to control one.

Among those laid off were at least two dozen software engineers, including a machine learning engineer, and 40 hardware engineers.

Apple said on Wednesday it planned to lay off 190 employees in its self-driving car programme, Project Titan, changes that provide a rare window into the automotive technologies the company has been pursuing.

The tech firm said in a filing with state regulators that it planned to lay off people from eight different Santa Clara County facilities near its Cupertino, California, headquarters, as of April 16. A company spokesman confirmed that the reduction was from the self-driving car programme.

While the iPhone maker has acknowledged its interest in self- driving cars in broad terms, it has never detailed precisely which technologies it is working on and whether it seeks to build a whole vehicle or the sensors, computer system and software to control one.

The public documents filed with regulators provide some previously undisclosed clues.

Among those laid off were at least two dozen software engineers, including a machine learning engineer, and 40 hardware engineers, according to a letter sent by Apple to California employment regulators earlier this month.

Some of the positions hint at physical products for consumers: three product design engineers and an ergonomics engineer face layoffs. A machine shop supervisor was among the reductions, though it is unclear how many machinists reported to the supervisor and whether the shop fabricates automotive parts or smaller parts for electronics and sensors.

The layoffs appear to be the first major shake-up of Project Titan under Doug Field, who returned to Apple last year as Vice President of Special Projects after a stint at electric car maker Tesla Inc.

Apple operates the car project on a “need-to-know” basis, with only about 5,000 of Apple’s 140,000 full-time workers included, according to court documents in a theft of trade secrets criminal case filed this year against an ex-Apple employee.

About 1,200 of those are “core” employees that are “directly working on the development of the project,” according to the complaint, which was unsealed in January.

Despite the headcount changes, the company appears to have ramped up its testing on California roads. In a filing with regulators earlier this month, Apple said it had logged nearly 80,000 miles of testing in its home state in 2018, far surpassing the less than 1,000 miles it had logged the year before.

It was, however, far fewer than Alphabet Inc’s Waymo unit, which logged 1.2 million miles in California last year.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 India launch LIVE: Note 7 Pro, Redmi Go phones also expected

2019-02-27T22:44:00.000-08:00

Redmi Note 7 : Xiaomi is set to launch its first phone with 48-megapixel camera in India. Follow the latest updates here.

Xiaomi looks to take on Samsung’s revived efforts to tap the budget smartphone market in India with a new series. The Chinese handset company is set to launch Redmi Note 7 in India today. Featuring a 48-megapixel rear camera, Redmi Note 7 will compete with Samsung Galaxy M30 and upcoming Realme 3.

Redmi Note 7 marks Xiaomi’s departure from metal unibody design for its budget phones. The latest smartphone sports a more premium glass-like finish on the back. Redmi Note 7 also comes with a new screen design with a much smaller notch. Apart from new screen design, Redmi Note 7 is expected to come with high-end specifications and competitive price tag. Xiaomi is also rumoured to launch Redmi Note 7 Pro in India today. The Pro model is expected to come with a better 48-megapixel camera.

Follow live updates here.

Netflix users on iOS can now enjoy ’Smart Downloads’ feature

2019-02-08T22:50:00.000-08:00

Netflix ‘Smart Downloads’ deletes a downloaded episode after it is watched, and automatically downloads the next episode.

Netflix introduced ‘Smart Downloads’ feature back in 2016.(AP)

Digital content streaming platform Netflix on Friday rolled out the “Smart Downloads” feature for iOS users to help them manage their downloaded titles on the app.The feature which was made available for Android users in July 2018, deletes downloaded episodes after they have been watched and automatically downloads the next one.“Netflix iOS users can get the convenience of ‘Smart Downloads’ spending less time managing their downloads and more time watching,” the company said in a statement.While connected to the Wi-Fi, the opt-in feature now works on Android, Windows 10 ond iOS devices.Users also have the choice to opt-out of this feature, the company added.Founded in 1997 and headquartered in the US, Netflix is one of the largest online video streaming service with over 5 million Indian users and 137 million global users.

Here’s how you can keep your smartphone data secure, avoid fraudsters

2019-02-08T22:39:00.000-08:00

According to a recent report, fraud from mobile browsers and apps contributed to 73% of total fraud transactions in the third quarter of 2018. Here are easy tips that will help you avoid fraudsters.

Easy tips to avoid SMS fraudsters(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Harish Chander, a 52-year-old businessman from Gurugram, allegedly lost Rs 60,000from his black account after he downloaded an application from a link sent on SMS. He also reported that OTPs sent to his number were automatically redirected to a different number.

If true, this will not be the first time fraudsters have tried to access private data of users through malicious links shared via text messages and even WhatsApp.

According to a recent RSA report, fraud from mobile browsers and apps contributed to 73% of total fraud transactions in the third quarter of 2018. Fraud from mobile apps increased by 27%. The report also pointed out that India is amongst the top phishing hosting countries second only to the United States.

To ensure your private data remains secure, don’t click on malicious links shared on SMS or WhatsApp. Most of these links contain malware and adware that makes it easier for criminals and fraudsters to hijack your phone and even lead to online theft like Chander’s case.

Here are some easy tips and tricks that will help you keep fraudsters at bay.

Never click on links that seek details about your debit card, credit card or income tax for this instance. Also, not just text messages, be wary of such links sent on WhatsApp or emails. If you receive any suspicious message regarding your bank account, call up the respective bank immediately and make a query of the same.

Download applications from the official Google Play Store or Apple App Store only. Turn off settings that allow the apps to be downloaded from untrusted sources, bypassing the official app stores.

Use security applications from Avast, Kaspersky, and Quick Heal to keep a tab on the apps downloaded on your phone. Check what access these apps have on your phone. For instance, a Torch app does not need access to your contacts or SMS.

You can also make sure your Google account is safe by running a ‘Security Check.’

Use Have I been pwned?website to check whether your email account is safe or not. The website also allows you to check security of your passwords as well.

Use two-step verification tool for your crucial accounts including Facebook, Gmail, and WhatsApp.

Use strong passwords. You may also consider using password management tools like LastPass.

Use a strong and unique password for screen lock and in-app lock on your phone.

Deadly PPC Mistakes that will Cost you Thousands of Dollars

2019-01-24T09:31:00.002-08:00

Most marketers have a hard time getting their PPC game strong because they make some basic yet crucial mistakes. But, on the bright side, these are fairly easy to overcome. Pay Per Click Search Engine Marketing, a book by David Szetela makes it even easier to understand and master any PPC mistakes. Below listed are the 5 most common and costly ones.

Directing Visitors To Website’s Homepage

When you put an ad for a product, use a URL that redirects visitors directly to the product page, not the homepage of the website. By doing the later, you are at risk of losing an interested visitor because it’s highly unlikely that he will surf through the website to locate that product.

Putting up an Ad without Split-testing it

Now that nearly all PPC engines authorize you to split test your ad beforehand, it would be foolish not to. Split test ads using different versions of the texts to figure out which combination generates the most click-throughs and conversions.

Not Availing Ad Extensions

Google promotes the use of ad extensions and claims that they improve CTR by up to 30%. Yet, we hardly see the app or dynamic search extensions with ads. Advertisers should really look into this lucrative offering by Google.

Bidding Too Low at the Start of the Campaign

Here are two essential insights:

Click-throughs and ad rank are conjoint.
The longer it takes to earn clicks, the longer it takes to gauge which keywords, ad extensions, and landing pages provoke most conversions.

Therefore, bid generously for your ads at the start of the campaign, and tone it down gradually when you start pocketing initial goals.

Not Using Negative Keywords

Using negative keywords prevents your broad match ad results from emerging in irrelevant but similarly worded searches. If done painstakingly carefully, it manages aptness without ruling out potential traffic.

Xiaomi Mi Note 5, Mi Band 3 to launch along with Mi 8 on May 31

2018-05-28T01:31:00.001-07:00

Xiaomi’s flagship event will take place on May 31 where the company will launch the Mi 8 smartphone, MIUI 10 and also the Mi Band 3 fitness tracker

Xiaomi is hosting its 8th anniversary event on May 31 in Shenzen, China

Xiaomi is only three days away from hosting its annual flagship event which also commemorates the company’s eighth anniversary. On May 31, Xiaomi will be launching its flagship smartphone Mi 8 along with the new MIUI 10 and its fitness tracker, Mi Band 3. The company is also rumored to launch Mi Note 5 smartphone.

Based on speculations and reports, Mi Band 3 is expected to feature a touchscreen display. In comparison to the Mi Band 2, the display on the Mi Band 3 is expected to be rounder. The fitness tracker could also feature gestures like a long press, swipes for various tasks.

Xiaomi has started closed beta programme for MIUI 10 ahead of its official launch. At present, MIUI 10 beta is compatible with Redmi Note 5, Mi MIX, Mi MIX 2, Mi MIX 2s, and Mi 6. The new MIUI 10 is expected to debut on the Mi 8 which will be Android based.

Although not confirmed as yet, there have been reports of Xiaomi possibly launch Mi Note 5, successor to Mi Note 3. Leaks suggest the Mi Note 5 will feature a 5.99-inch full-screen display with very thin bezels. The smartphone could be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 processor paired with 4GB and 6GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage.

Coming to the highlight of the event, Mi 8 has been rumored and leaked quite extensively. The smartphone’s alleged retail box was leaked recently revealing a few but key details of the smartphone. Going by the images, the front of the retail box has the ‘Mi’ logo and the number ‘8’. The rear of the retail box contains the specifications of Mi 8. The smartphone will feature a dual-camera setup of 20-megapixel sensors.

The box further reveals that Mi 8 will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 processor, as rumored. This variant of the smartphone comes with 6GB RAM and 64GB onboard storage. Xiaomi is also expected to offer 8GB RAM and up to 256GB internal storage with the Mi 8. Another feature highlighted on the retail box is ‘Dual GPS’ which hasn’t been heard of till now.

While this leak cannot be confirmed, the details match with what has been rumoured so far. Based on recent rumours, Xiaomi Mi 8 is expected to run MIUI based Android Oreo, a 5.65-inch full HD+ display, and a 4,000mAh battery. The smartphone is also speculated to come with wireless charging support.

In terms of design, Xiaomi will possibly be the next phone maker to embrace the iPhoneX’s notch display design. It is also expected to give Apple competition with a facial recognition at par with the iPhone X’s ‘Face ID’. Another interesting feature the Mi 8 could offer is an in display fingerprint sensor. As the name suggests, the fingerprint sensor will be embedded under the display of the phone.

In addition to expected flagship specifications, Mi 8 could surprise with some interesting features. However, it is best to take this information with a grain of salt and wait for the official confirmation. The launch event will take place on May 31 in Shenzen, China.

Xiaomi Mi 8: ‘Leaked’ retail box reveals Snapdragon 845 processor, dual GPS

2018-05-27T11:54:00.001-07:00

Xiaomi’s flagship smartphone will launch on May 31. Here’s a look at its expected specifications and features.

Xiaomi Mi 8 retail box leaked online.(Slash Leaks)

We’re only four days away from Xiaomi’s flagship launch event. Xiaomi will be celebrating the company’s eighth anniversary with the launch of its flagship smartphone, Mi 8. The company will also announce a new version of its custom UI, MIUI 10. As we inch closer to the launch, more details of the Mi 8 smartphone are leaking online.

First Spotted on Slash Leaks, the alleged retail box of Mi 8 has surfaced online, revealing a few but key details of the smartphone. Going by the images, the front of the retail box has the ‘Mi’ logo and the number ‘8’. The rear of the retail box contains the specifications of Mi 8. The smartphone will feature a dual-camera setup of 20-megapixel sensors.

The box further reveals that Mi 8 will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 processor, as rumored. This variant of the smartphone comes with 6GB RAM and 64GB onboard storage. Xiaomi is also expected to offer 8GB RAM and up to 256GB internal storage with the Mi 8. Another feature highlighted on the retail box is ‘Dual GPS’ which hasn’t been heard of till now.

While this leak cannot be confirmed, the details match with what has been rumoured so far. Based on recent rumours, Xiaomi Mi 8 is expected to run MIUI based Android Oreo, a 5.65-inch full HD+ display, and a 4,000mAh battery. The smartphone is also speculated to come with wireless charging support.

In terms of design, Xiaomi will possibly be the next phone maker to embrace the iPhoneX’s notch display design. It is also expected to give Apple competition with a facial recognition at par with the iPhone X’s ‘Face ID’. Another interesting feature the Mi 8 could offer is an in-display fingerprint sensor. As the name suggests, the fingerprint sensor will be embedded under the display of the phone.

In addition to expected flagship specifications, Mi 8 could surprise with some interesting features. However, it is best to take this information with a grain of salt and wait for the official confirmation. The launch event will take place on May 31 in Shenzen, China.

Elon Musk is ‘wrong’ about the impact of Artificial Intelligence on humans: ex-Google chief

2018-05-27T02:48:00.001-07:00

“Musk is concerned about the possible misuse of this technology and I am too but I am more convinced by the overwhelming benefit of AI,” said former Google CEO Eric Schmidt

Pepper, a humanoid robot manufactured by SoftBank Robotics, is pictured at the SoftBank Robotics exhibition stand during the VivaTech trade fair (Viva Technology), on May 25, 2018 in Paris.(AFP

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt believes Elon Musk is wrong about the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on human beings. Speaking at “VivaTech” conference in Paris on Friday, Schmidt said that the AI can help humans become smarter and bring about positive changes.

Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk has been pretty vocal about his views about the AI. Musk in the past has said that the AI is bad for humanity and can even tigger world war III.

“I think Elon is exactly wrong” about AI, Schmidt said. “Musk is concerned about the possible misuse of this technology and I am too but I am more convinced by the overwhelming benefit of AI.”

“AI will make people smarter and this will be a net gain,” said Schmidt who is currently a board member of Alphabet, Google’s parent company.

Earlier, during the same event, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg - who has been in verbal spat with Musk over AI for long -- expressed optimism about the possibilities of AI.

“I think that AI is going to unlock a huge amount of positive things, whether that’s helping to identify and cure diseases, to help cars drive more safely, to help keep our communities safe,” he was quoted as saying.

Mush recently warned that if not regulated or controlled soon, AI will become an “immortal dictator” and there will be no escape for humans. “At least when there’s an evil dictator, that human is going to die. But for an AI there would be no death. It would live forever, and then you’d have an immortal dictator, from which we could never escape,” he said in a new documentary titled “Do You Trust This Computer?”

Musk has always been a critic of AI and asked for stiff regulations to curb the technology. In a recent tweet, Musk said that people should be more concerned with AI than the risk posed by North Korea.

“If you’re not concerned about AI safety, you should be. Vastly more risk than North Korea,” Musk tweeted.

Musk has also quit the board of OpenAI, a non-profit AI research company he co-founded that aims to promote and develop friendly AI that benefits the humanity. In a recent public spat with Zuckerberg, Musk said: “I’ve talked to Mark about this (AI). His understanding of the subject is limited”.

Zuckerberg replied: “I think people who are naysayers and try to drum up these doomsday scenarios -- I just, I don’t understand it. It’s really negative and in some ways I actually think it is pretty irresponsible

.

GDPR: Here’s how EU data privacy law will affect Indian companies

2018-05-27T02:28:00.000-07:00

Non-compliance of GDPR rules can cost companies a fortune -- 20 million Euros or 4% of annual turnover.

GDPR: Good or bad for Indian firms?(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) designed to give citizens in the European Union (EU) more rights to control their personal information also applies to an Indian entity if it monitors the behaviour of individuals in the EU.

“The scope of GDPR is very wide. It does not matter whether you are in the EU or outside,” Supratim Chakraborty, Associate Partner at the law firm Khaitan & Co, said.

“If you are providing goods and services through the data subjects in EU, you will be covered under the ambit. For example, the outsourcing services will be covered under GDPR. Moreover, establishments which are engaged in tracking data subjects of the EU through apps or any other tools will be liable to comply to the new regulations,” Chakraborty added.

According to the European Commission, the law applies to a company or entity which processes personal data as part of the activities of one of its branches established in the EU, regardless of where the data is processed. Non-compliance of GDPR rules can cost companies a fortune -- 20 million Euros or 4% of annual turnover.It also applies to a company established outside the EU offering goods/services -- whether paid or for free -- which monitors the behaviour of individuals in the EU.

According to Shree Parthasarathy, Partner, Deloitte India, Indian businesses are battling severe issues of data protection and cyber security that have larger business implications on productivity and customer confidence.

“Embracing GDPR with a strategic roadmap should be the immediate priority for Indian CXOs, that would include creating awareness, training as well as constitution of a dedicated data protection framework,” Parthasarathy said in a statement.

“GDPR can be a competitive advantage for India, if enterprises understand its relevance and further bring in a risk-based iterative mechanism to their business strategy that is trustworthy secure, and agile in the digital world,” he added.

According to a Deloitte survey conducted in collaboration with Data Security Council of India (DSCI), large organisations with more than 10,000 employees (21% of respondents), embarked on their GDPR readiness journey in 2016 itself.

Whereas, 43% of organisations started their GDPR readiness journey only in late 2017 or early 2018, the results showed.

“GDPR compliance should not only be looked at as an effort and money draining exercise but also as a business advantage which can be a differentiator in the market. An entity compliant with GDPR requirements would definitely command more confidence from customers as compared to those who do not,” Chakraborty said.