Raees Technical and Commercial Informatics.

Xiaomi MIUI 10 Announced, Will Focus on AI and Machine Learning

2018-01-25T09:30:00.001+05:30

Xiaomi/Weibo

HIGHLIGHTS

MIUI 10 will focus on artificial intelligenceXiaomi wants to make MIUI an "unfinished business"Xiaomi made the announcement at an MIUI event in China

Xiaomi has announced the development of MIUI 10, its upcoming firmware based on Android. Hong Feng, vice president of Xiaomi, is said to have announced the MIUI 10 at an assembly meeting in China. At the annual event, the company discusses and reveals key developments of their MIUI milestones every year. Meanwhile, Xiaomi has already started to roll out the MIUI 9.2 update for some smartphones that are on MIUI 9 already. Also, recently Xiaomi had listed the 40 smartphones that are eligible for the MIUI 9 update on Weibo.

According to a report in MyDrivers, Xiaomi has said major research and development efforts of the MIUI team will now be moved from MIUI 9 to MIUI 10. Additionally, Xiaomi also shared an image of the event on Chinese micro-blogging website Weibo. It is clear from the reports, that the main focus for MIUI 10 developers will be artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Last year in July, Xiaomi had launched MIUI 9, the current version of its MIUI custom Android ROM. The MIUI 9 was launched with the Xiaomi Mi 5X. Some of the new features of MIUI 9 included faster app load times, new design elements, lock screen shortcuts, split-screen feature, and more. Xiaomi claims to have optimised the system to enable faster app loading and boost performance.

As we mentioned, MIUI 9.2 Global Stable Update is now rolling out for smartphones like Xiaomi Redmi 5A, Redmi Y1 Lite, Redmi Y1, Mi Mix 2, Redmi 5, Redmi 5 Plus, Redmi 4 Prime, Mi 3, Mi 4, Mi Note. The MIUI 9.2 has brought several changes like Add to favorites icon adjustments, simplified design for virus scan result page, and hiding free and incompatible themes in the list of the purchased items. Additionally, Mi Mover now supports data migration restarting, which helps restore data migration on a new smartphone, even in case of interruption.

Notably, there is no information from Xiaomi on the timelines for MIUI 10 coming to smartphones from the company's bandwagon.

MWC 2018: Nokia expected to announce Nokia 9, Nokia 1, Nokia 3310 (4G) and more

2018-01-25T09:29:00.001+05:30

Nokia's comeback story is set to continue at this year's Mobile World Congress with the company set to launch a slew of new phones. HMD Global, the company that brought Nokia back into the smartphone game has sent out media invites for an event on February 25 - a day ahead of MWC 2018.

Let's take a look at what Nokia is expected to announce at MWC 2018 in Barcelona:

Nokia 9

HMD Global's first high-end flagship is expected to be slot in above the Nokia 8 and compete with the iPhones and Galaxy Notes of the world. The Nokia 9 is set to be powered by the Snapdragon 835 processor and come with dual cameras on the front as well as the back, a 3,250mAh battery and 128GB of internal storage.

In a case of better late than never, Nokia is set to finally embrace the bezel-less mania with the Nokia 9 which is expected to come with a 5.5-inch OLED display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. The Nokia 9 is also expected to carry forward the Bothie and OZO Audio features HMD Global introduced in the Nokia 8.

Via three microphones and Nokia's special acoustic algorithms, OZO audio allows for the capture of 360 degree surround sound. Bothie on the other hand is more of a gimmick which allows users to record video/capture photos from both the front and rear camera at the same time.

Nokia 1

The Nokia 1 is expected to be HMD Global's cheapest Android powered smartphone yet. Expected to slot in below the Nokia 2, the Nokia 1 is set to run on Android Go - a platform developed specifically by Google for budget smartphones.

The Nokia 1 is rumoured to come with a 720p IPS LCD display, a chassis made out of metal and polycarbonate and fairly modest specifications - 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage expandable via a microSD card. Just like the rest of Nokia's Android smartphone line-up, the software on board is expected to be clean and devoid of bloat.

Nokia 3310 - 4G

Last year, in order to capitalize on nostalgia, HMD Global launched a refreshed version of the legendary Nokia 3310. While the 3310 (2017) comes with many modern features such as a 2.4-inch QVGA colour display a 2MP rear camera with LED flash, microSD card support and more, it runs on age old 2G networks.

Now, it seems that HMD Global is planning to introduce a 4G capable version of the iconic smartphone. While the 2G variant runs on Nokia's S30+ feature phone platform, the 4G variant is expected to run on a forked version of Android, specifically YunOS - an operating system made by the Alibaba Group that is based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP).

With the 4G variant of the Nokia 3310 running on a forked version of Android, there is hope that the smartphone will support stripped down versions of applications like Facebook and WhatsApp. The rest of the feature are expected to be similar to the standard 2G variant.

Smartphone with five camera setup, Asha branded phone

With HMD Global reportedly acquiring the Asha trademark from Microsoft, a QWETY feature phone with the Asha brand name is also expected at MWC 2018. The feature phone is expected to run on Nokia's S30+ operating system.

Also doing the rounds of the internet lately is a possible Nokia smartphone with a penta-camera setup. Reported by China's VTech, Nokia is supposedly working on a smartphone with five cameras and a bezel-less design. While an MEC launch is unlikely, Nokia might surprise us all with a Nokia 10.

In addition to all the phones listed above, there is a possibility that HMD Global will announce the global variants of the Nokia 6 (2018) and Nokia 7 at MWC 2018 in Barcelona. Both the Nokia 7 and Nokia 6 (2018) are powered by the Snapdragon 630 chipset and come with OZO Audio and Bothie support. Currently, both smartphones are available only in China.

Windows 10 Build 17083 is now available with new features on the Fast Ring

2018-01-25T09:27:00.001+05:30

Image Courtesy: PCWorld.com

Windows 10 Build 17083 is today rolling out to the Windows Insiders on the Fast Ring and for those who opted in to Skip Ahead. Windows 10 Build 17083 is from the Redstone 4 branch and it comes with a series of new features which would improve your user experience.

Windows 10 Build 17083 introduces a series of improvements but the software giant is removing the highly-anticipated Sets interface. With the latest Insider build, Microsoft is bringing Fonts to the Windows 10 App Store, introducing new privacy tools, improving Timeline feature and fixing the bugs.

Windows 10 Build 17083 Full Changelog

Fonts in the Microsoft Store

Last year, we reported that Microsoft is experimenting with adding fonts to the Microsoft Store, as the software giant is in the process of making the store app the one destination for everything. Microsoft is now allowing users to download the Fonts from the Store with just a click.

Fonts such as Arial Nova is already available for download in the Microsoft Store, and the Fonts panel in the Settings app has been updated to show font capabilities, size, colours and other information.

Diagnostic Data changes

With users’ permission, Microsoft collects Windows diagnostic data to fix the reported bugs (for example a screenshot). Microsoft is adding new features (Diagnostic Data Viewer) to the operating system with the aim to be more transparent about your privacy and provide you new tools to control the collected data.

Diagnostic Data Viewer will allow you to identify the collected data, you can enable the feature from Settings > Privacy > Diagnostics & feedback. In the Diagnostic Data Viewer app, you can view your diagnostics events, search your diagnostic events, filter your diagnostic event categories, and more.

Timeline is getting better

Microsoft is improving Windows Timeline with today’s preview update, allowing users to easily delete the activities from Timeline. Microsoft has added an option that would allow you to wipe all the activities in last hour or day with just one tap. Windows Timeline has been updated with abilities to sync the activities to the cloud for a seamless cross-device experience, and it can be enabled from the settings.

Quiet Hours is Focus Assist

Quiet Hours was introduced a while ago with the very first version of Windows 10 operating system and the Redstone 4 is all set to rename it to Focus Assist.

Windows Hello

The company is now allowing the users with the Microsoft account to setup Windows Hello from the Settings -> Sign-in options, allowing a faster and more secure sign-in.

Apple HomePod Launch: Is It Too Late to Take on Google and Amazon?

2018-01-25T09:24:00.001+05:30

Apple on Tuesday announced a February 9 release date for its smart speaker called the HomePod - allowing the company that first popularised virtual assistants through its smartphones to finally enter the market for virtual assistants in the home.

The looming question for the company, though, is whether it is too late.

Apple is releasing its smart speaker nearly three years after the Amazon Echo and after the Google Home, which launched in 2016. Apple also originally scheduled the HomePod to hit the market in December 2017 before the critical holiday shopping season. But the device was delayed until early 2018, past the time for avid shopping and gift giving.

For those wondering whether they should buy Apple's new thing -- pre-orders are set for Friday -- here's a look at how the HomePod stacks up.

By setting the price of the HomePod at $350 (roughly Rs. 22,200), Apple appears to be hoping consumers will see it as a premium device.

For that reason, the HomePod is probably more comparable to the $400 (roughly Rs. 25,500) Google Home Max, which is Google's most expensive smart speaker, than cheaper versions that go for $130(roughly Rs. 8,300). The HomePod also is far more expensive than Amazon's highest-end Echo speaker, the $150 (roughly Rs. 9,500) Echo Plus, which is more focused on smart home setup than audio. Amazon's main Echo device costs $100 (roughly Rs. 6,360). (Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos is the owner of The Washington Post.)

In essence, Apple hopes consumers will believe the HomePod is of much higher-quality than others on the market.

Apple has been able to sell devices at a premium price tag in the past. But it will be testing the value of its brand by asking consumers to spend hundreds more to buy its smart speaker.

Speaker: Apple has been playing up its audio quality as the biggest way its HomePod stands out from the pack. The company wants to remind you that this is a speaker and not just a box where Siri lives. Apple claims the device is also designed to make a variety of music sound good. That's not always something its competitors can tout, though Google has touted the audio quality of the Home Max.

HomePod, like the Home Max, uses sound waves to map the room and adjusts its playback accordingly. For example, placing it on a table near the wall should make it play music differently than if you put it in the middle of the room.

The music lovers who will benefit most from HomePod, of course, will be Apple Music subscribers. Per Apple's release, HomePod will be able to carry out lots of commands specifically from Apple Music's 45 million song catalogue. HomePod can handle conversational questions as well such as "Hey Siri, can you play something totally different?"

Still, HomePod will launch without an important audio feature: the ability to link HomePods together. That's something Google and Amazon's speakers can now do. Apple said this feature won't be available until later this year.

What's more, dedicated speaker companies such as Sonos are partnering with Google and Amazon to make smart speakers sound better. So Apple is facing plenty of competition as it tries to make a mark as a late entry into the market.

Intelligence: The HomePod should be able to do the things that Siri already does in your phone, such as set timers and check the weather. The speaker will have Apple's connected home software built in, meaning it will be compatible with the light bulbs, thermostats and other devices that already work with your iPhone. It will also work with the Apple TV as a speaker for both music and video.

HomePod will also work as a speakerphone for your smartphone calls, either on speakerphone or using FaceTime's audio chat.

But much of its intelligence will be connected to the abilities of Siri, which is already under fire for not being as conversational or versatile as Google's Assistantor Amazon's Alexa.

Then there's another big question: How well will Apple play with others to make non-Apple devices and software work with the HomePod?

Both Google and Amazon have aggressively courted other companies to beef up skills (both useful and playful) for their speakers: playing trivia games, ordering pizzas, meowing like a cat, etc.

Apple announced that HomePod will work with a few popular services such as Evernote and WhatsApp. And it has strong ties with app developers thanks to its App Store. But the company will have to round up those relationships to a new platform to make the HomePod worth its high price.

Qualcomm fined €1 billion by the EU for paying off Apple

2018-01-25T09:23:00.001+05:30

Qualcomm was slapped with a €997 million ($1.2 billion) fine by the EU. The chipset company paid Apple to shun competitors between 2011 and 2016. According to the European Court, “billions of dollars” were involved in the deal for the 4G chips in iPhones and iPads.

Margrethe Vestager, EU Competition Commissioner, said the deal meant that “no rival could effectively challenge Qualcomm in this market, no matter how good their products were”.

The agreement between Qualcomm and Apple shut out mostly Intel, who supply iDevices since the launch of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Vestager also added that the fine, equal to 4.9% of Qualcomm's income, must serve as a warning to other tech companies. She said Apple is in clear since there is no evidence of wrongdoing.

The case against Qualcomm has parallels with the 2009 Intel lawsuit - a conglomerate pays off to computer manufacturers to shut out smaller competitors. The company is currently under investigation by the EU for selling chipsets for internet dongles at below-cost to hinder Icera, now owned by Nvidia.

Via

Substratum 953 adds support for Sony Xperia phones running Nougat, new showcase tabs, and more

2018-01-25T09:21:00.001+05:30

The Substratum Theme Engine was updated yesterday to version 953, bringing support for Sony Xperia phones running Nougat and revamping the design for the Theme Showcase among other things. Perhaps the most welcome change for Sony Xperia owners still on Nougat is the ability to apply Substratum themes in “legacy mode.” As a reminder, it was Sony who first developed the Runtime Resource Overlay and later the Overlay Manager Service for Xperia phones and contributed the code to AOSP, which is what makes Substratum work on other phones as well.

The Theme Showcase has gone through some changes to its tabs as they are now listed vertically instead of the overly swipe-tastic horizontal list in previous builds, and the theme labels are in white text in better contrast to the corresponding thumbnail images. The database of themes included in the Showcase and the process of submitting themes to the Showcase have also been changed.

The under-the-hood changes to the Showcase are described as follows by Substratum lead developer nicholaschum:

The showcase now updates on demand, and will no longer cache the database on the device so it’s pretty much a live place for us to promote our wonderful community and what everyone’s been doing!

The reorganized tabs are explained by nicholaschum as follows:

Featured Themes: For new themes and upcoming stars!Featured Apps: For amazing apps that our contributors would like shownThemers Collective: The community collection of themes hosted on our Play Store accountTeam Themes: Themes created by team members!Clear/Dark/Light: Category based themesGoogle Apps: Collection of theme ready appsSamsung: Collection of Samsung-ready/compatible themesSystemUI Tweaks: Previously called Plugins, but now more categorizedOther Tweaks: Also from Plugins, more categorizationWallpapers: Wallpaper packs

You can see screenshots of the new Showcase layout in the gallery below.

Aside from the usual performance enhancements and bug fixes there is one caveat: if you try to open a theme based on older Substratum theme templates you’ll get an error message implying that your copy of the theme is not licensed or that you have pirating apps installed on your system. The false positives are apparently triggered in the latest Substratum versions by code in theme templates from early last Fall. Consequently if you get such a message and you don’t have any such piracy apps installed, you’ll need to contact the theme developer and tell them to update to the latest template.

If the Substratum Theme Engine update hasn’t already rolled out to your device it should be available soon in the Play Store. You can read the full changelog in nicholaschum’s Google+ post.

Download QR-Code

substratum theme engine

Developer: [projekt.]

Price: Free

Vivo X20 Plus UD with under-display fingerprint scanner is official

2018-01-25T09:19:00.001+05:30

After numerous leaks and demoing the phone at CES 2018, vivo finally officially announced the X20 Plus UD. The launch marks the arrival of the first smartphone with fingerprint scanner under the display.

The phone has an AMOLED display that allows the Clear ID 9500 sensor to work, while the rest of the specs match the already available vivo X20 Plus.

The phone arrives with a 6.43” screen of 18:9 ratio and FullHD+ resolution (2160 x 1080 pixels). The RAM on board is 4 GB, while the storage is 128 GB and it can be expanded through the hybrid slot if you don't need a second SIM.

vivo equipped the X20 Plus UD with a dual camera on the back - main one having Ð° 12 ÐœP sensor and a f/1.8 lens, while the secondary being 5 MP, although the company advertises it as a 24 MP camera. It also comes with 12 MP front camera and LED flash.

The battery that is powering the phone has 3,905 mAh capacity and is charged through the USB-C connector. There is also support for 4G VoLTE and Bluetooth 5.0. The phone stands at 165.2 x 80.02 x 7.35 mm and weighs 183.1 grams.

The phone will officially go on sale on February 1 at 10:00 with a price tag of CNY3,598 (€456/$565). The color option is only one - Black with golden rims around the display and the dual-cam setup on the back.

Source (in Chinese)

Airtel is Offering Up to Rs 100 Rental Discount for Six Months on Postpaid Plans

2018-01-25T09:18:00.001+05:30

While prepaid tariff plans continue to get better every day, Airtel is trying its best to retain the postpaid users. The Sunil Mittal-led company is now offering up to Rs 100 discount on the Airtel Postpaidplans. This rental discount is valid for six months. Apart from the base Rs 399 myPlan Infinity Postpaid Plan, all Airtel postpaid plans are eligible for Rs 100 rental discount for six months. This rental discount brings down the price of the monthly rental, allowing customers to stay in the postpaid.

With the Rs 399 Airtel myPlan Infinity postpaid plan, Airtel is offering Rs 50 rental discount for six months. So the price of the Rs 399 plan will be Rs 349 for the next six months excluding the taxes. And Airtel is providing Rs 100 rental discount on Rs 499, Rs 799, and Rs 1199 postpaid plans, meaning the monthly rental of these plans come down to Rs 399, Rs 699, and Rs 1099, respectively.

And the best part is the rental discount is valid for six months, not for one month or two months. With this new development, Airtel is offering unlimited voice calls without any FUP including roaming calls, 100 SMS per day, free Amazon Prime subscription, 30GB data with data rolloverscheme at Rs 399 (excluding taxes). Including taxes, the price of the Rs 399 goes around Rs 442.

But still, Airtel’s postpaid plans are not even close to Airtel prepaid plans. But they do offer additional perks such as Amazon Prime subscription, and the data rollover scheme is icing on the cake. In contrast, Airtel’s prepaid plan of Rs 509 now offers 1.4GB data per day, unlimited voice calls, and 100 SMS per day for 90 days. That said, the overall data with this plan is 126GB, but without data rollover scheme.

Also, we’re not sure about the rental discount offered by Airtel on the premium plans such as Rs 1,999 and Rs 2,999. We’re expecting it to be the same Rs 100 discount.

Airtel is actively improving its postpaid plans to retain the subscriber base. In today’s age of prepaid plans, there’s no reason for having a postpaid connection as prepaid plans are much better than postpaid. Airtel is the leader when it comes to the postpaid segment in India, and this new Rental Discount offer will surely help Airtel to retain the base.

Helio P70 chipset arrives on AnTuTu, scores 156,906

2018-01-25T09:17:00.001+05:30

MediaTek is preparing to launch the Helio P40 and Helio P70 midrange chipsets in the upcoming weeks, and the latter just popped on AnTuTu. The SoC scored 156,906, which is higher than the Helio X30, Snapdragon 660 and Exynos 7872.

The chipset that is expected to be unveiled at MWC 2018 scored 73,969 in CPU, which is above its upper mid-range competitors, but GPU result was 30,737, which is falling behind both the SD660 and Helio X30.

UX score of the upcoming midranger is 41,089, outperformed only by the flagship Helio X30 but at least it is leading the SoC race in RAM with 11,111. The cumulative score is almost 157,000 which is higher than the result of a Snapdragon 821 in the LG G6 or a Snapdragon 835 in the Sony Xperia XZ Premium.

The Helio P70 is expected to be built on the 12nm process by TSMC. It will have octa-core CPU, Mali G72 MP4 GPU, and Category 13 LTE modem. MediaTek is yet to announce any phone makers that will use the chipset.

Source (in Chinese) | Via

Detel D1+ Feature Phone With Dual-SIM Support and 650mAh Battery Launched at Rs 399

2018-01-25T09:15:00.001+05:30

Detel, a mobile phone maker today announced a affordable feature phone with dual-SIM support at just Rs 399. Dubbed as the Detel D1+, this feature phone succeeds the earlier launched Detel D1, which created a disruption in the Indian market for Rs 349. The Detel D1+ is specially designed for visually impaired, senior citizens, and kids. This device comes with an interesting feature called ‘Talking feature.’ The Detel D1+ will be exclusively available on B2BAdda.com, from January 26, 2018.

Firstly, Detel introduced a new feature called ‘Talking Feature,’ which utilises the speaker at the rear to provide audio alerts while dialling a phone number, browsing contacts, etc. Detel launched this feature phone in the vision to ‘Connect the Unconnected.’

Talking about the features of the Detel D1+, it offers dual SIM slot, torchlight, GPRS web browser, 3D speaker, microSD card support. Interestingly, the D1+ will be available in seven colour variants. The D1+ features 1.44-inch TFT display.

Commenting on the launch, Mr Yogesh Bhatia, MD, S. G. Corporate Mobility (parent company of Detel), stated, “We are glad to bring to our customers a feature phone that is not only economical & affordable but also caters to a lot more needs of the feature phone buyers in India. India is a price sensitive market and the consumers especially in tier- 2, 3 markets, and in rural areas are cautious about their spending behaviour”

Detel says it’s aiming at the 40 crore people in India who still remain unconnected not just with the rest of the world but also within themselves. Detel has already disrupted the feature phone market with the Detel D1 feature phone earlier, and the company also partnered with state-run telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and offered the Detel D1 at Rs 499, along with free voice calling plan. There are no words on the BSNL offer availability for the Detel D1+ though.

iPhone X Available With Rs. 12,000 Cashback in India on HDFC Bank EMI Transactions

2018-01-25T09:14:00.001+05:30

The previous cashback of Rs. 10,000 has been increasedIt is applicable on HDFC card and consumer loan EMI transactionsThe offer is valid till March 11

HDFC Bank has partnered with Apple India to extend a cashback of up to Rs. 12,000 on purchase of several iPhone models including the iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and more. The offer is valid on EMI transactions on HDFC Bank credit cards, debit cards, and consumer durable loans. The scheme is valid till March 11 across Apple resellers in India. Cashback will be credited on or before 90 business days, and the offer is valid on a maximum of two transactions per card per category during the given period.

Cashback on the Apple iPhone X will be Rs. 12,000. Customers can avail Rs. 10,000 cashback on the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, Rs. 3,000 cashback on the iPhone 7and 7 Plus, Rs. 2,000 cashback on the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, and Rs. 1,000 cashback on the iPhone 6, iPhone SE, and iPhone 5s.

All the mentioned iPhone models, except iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 6s, and iPhone 6s Plus (available under No Extra Cost EMI), are subject to interest depending on the EMI period. The cashback is valid over and above the "best available price" at stores. "Cashback will be printed on the charge slip. Customer will not receive cashback if not eligible as per charge slip," according to the offer page. Do note that the offer is not applicable for HDFC Corporate cards.

A list of eligible stores can be found here.

Earlier this month, HDFC Bank offered up to Rs. 10,000 cashback on various iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and Apple Watchvariants in India. This offer was also applicable on credit and debit card EMI transactions. Notably, the cashback on iPhone 7/ 7 Plus and below remains same as before.

Google Files Go app: How to delete WhatsApp ‘Good morning’ messages and more

2018-01-25T09:13:00.001+05:30

A report in WSJ says WhatsApp Good Morning messages are clogging up smartphones in India and slowing down these mobiles. Here's how Google's Files Go app can help users to clear up space on their phone.

Google Files Go app: How to delete WhatsApp ‘Good morning’ messages and more

Google Files Go App: This is more than just about deleting all those WhatsApp Good Morning messages. Here’s how it works.

For smartphone users in India, figuring out how to clear space on the device can often be a challenge. Yes, 32GB storage phone with microSD support might be the new standard here, but this is often never enough given the love for WhatsApp forwards in India and phones tend to fill up fast on storage. In fact, Wall Street Journal has reported on how WhatsApp forwards, especially ‘Good Mornings’ are causing phones to fill up in India. The report also looks at the GoogleFiles Go app, which has crossed 10 million downloads on the Play Store since its December, 2017 launch.

According to the WSJ report, Google Files Go app is designed for a market like India. In fact, Google’s team of engineers worked for months, training their AI and database to identify ‘Good Morning’ messages, even those where they are written on top of images. Google also told WSJ that Files GO has cleared up on average more than 1GB of data per user. So how does the Google Files Go app work and how can it clear up space on your phone? We explain below.

What is Google Files Go App? How to download?

Google Files Go app was first announced at the company’s annual Google for India event in December, 2017. The app is more than just about clearing up space on the smartphone. It also allows users to share files from their mobiles, even when they are offline. India is a mobile-driven market with more internet users coming online for the first time via their smartphones, which is one of the reasons why this app was launched and appeals to the user base.

Google Files Go app can be downloaded from the Play Store. It supports Android 5.0 Lollipop and above versions of the OS. So most users in India who have bought an Android phone in the past two years should be able to access the app.

Google Files Go app will ask for permission to the storage of the phone so as to suggest files to delete.

What can the Google File Go app do? How does it clear space on the phone?

As soon as the user will open the Google Files Go app, it will ask for permission to access the storage of the phone. Users need to grant this in order for the app to figure out which files, apps, photos, etc should be deleted. Once a user grants permission, the app shows the total amount of used storage on the phone out of the total available storage.

As the user scrolls down, information is displayed in card formats with Files Go showing which unused apps can be deleted, temporary app files to delete, downloaded files, large files, photos, etc. It will also showcase media from ShareIt, bluetooth, WhatsApp, etc., which the user can delete to get back storage space. In fact in WhatsApp media, the infamous Good Morning messages were also visible for deletion.

WhatsApp Good Morning messages, large files on the system, etc can all be deleted straight from the Google Files Go app.

Below each card is the amount of space that one will get if they remove these files from their phones. So suppose a user wants to keep all WhatsApp messages for some reason, but wants to clear up the Bluetooth files, then they can just tap on Clear Media for Bluetooth files and those will be deleted.

Even in WhatsApp messages, it is possible to individually decide which pictures should be deleted. A user can just tap on the particular card and it will expand. The user can then individually select each picture which they wish to delete from the phone.

Google File Go App: Here’s how it can be used to transfer files without using the internet.

What is the Files Tab on Google Files Go? How can it transfer files without Internet?

Files Go app is not just about deleting all those WhatsApp Good morning messages. It can also be used to transfer data securely to another user without relying on the internet. The app relies on a secure Hotspot. For this, switch to the Files Tab at the bottom, scroll down and the option for Transfer Securely without Internet should be visible.

Now the user can tap on Send. The app will ask for location and permission to make calls. Grant those as well as permission to modify storage. Next, set up a name. The user also needs to make sure the friend to whom they wish to transfer a file also has the app. The user will then have to tap on the receive option. Once their friend has accepted the transfer, a secure connection is created. Now a user can just choose which file to share, and it will be transferred in seconds. We managed to share 77 MB video file in just over 20 seconds on the app.

Vodafone, Flipkart Partner to Offer Entry-Level 4G Smartphones at Effective Price of Rs. 999

2018-01-25T08:57:00.001+05:30

HIGHLIGHTS

Vodafone partners with Flipkart to offer a range of 4G smartphonesEffective price comes after receiving cashbacksA minimum recharge worth Rs. 150 is required to avail cashback

Vodafone on Wednesday tied up with Flipkart to bring a range of entry-level 4G smartphones to India at an effective price of Rs. 999. The latest partnership comes months after the telco partnered with Micromax and China's Transsion Group-owned Itel Mobile to make their entry-level options even more affordable. All existing and new Vodafone prepaid subscribers can avail the new offer, which is available under Flipkart's #MyFirst4GSmartphone campaign, and get cashbacks to make their purchases sweeter than before.

To avail the new offer, Vodafone subscribers who purchase an eligible smartphone from Flipkart will need to recharge their prepaid accounts with a minimum denomination of Rs. 150 per month for 36 months. The recharges can be of any denomination totalling to at least Rs. 150 per month. At the end of the first 18-month period, the participating subscribers will receive a cashback worth Rs. 900, while after another 18 months, a cashback worth Rs. 1,100 will be given - totalling the cashback of Rs. 2,000. It is worth noting here that the cashback will be credited to their Vodafone M-Pesa wallets.

"This is an initiative to make 4G smartphones available at a never before price points and thus, democratize access to Vodafone SuperNet 4G. We hope that this will help fulfill the aspirations of several million phone users across the country who desire a smartphone but couldn't afford one. It will also encourage current non-users of 4G to upgrade and enjoy a richer user experience with Vodafone SuperNet 4G," said Avneesh Kholsa, Associate Director - Consumer Business, Vodafone India, in a joint press statement.

Smartphone models that are eligible for the Vodafone offer are from brands such as Micromax, iVoomi, Yu Televentures, Xolo, Intex, Swipe, and Alcatel. These include the Micromax Vdeo 2, Micromax Spark 4G, Xolo Era 3X, Xolo Era 1X Pro, Intex Aqua A4, and Intex Aqua 5.5 VR+. The full list of smartphones can be seen on the Flipkart Vodafone offer page. The offer will run until March 31 and will require customers to have a valid Vodafone prepaid SIM card.

In last October, Vodafone announced a similar partnershipwith Micromax that was strategically designed to take on Jio Phone by offering the Bharat-2 Ultra 4G-capable feature phone at an effective price of Rs. 999. The telecom operator also expanded its relationship with the Indian smartphone maker in November and offered Rs. 2,200 cashback on the Micromax Bharat 2 Plus, Micromax Bharat 3, Micromax Bharat 4, and the Micromax Canvas 1. Last month, it further expanded its focus towards the same avenue and partnered with Itel Mobile to launch the Itel A20 with an effective price of Rs. 1,590.

Similar to Vodafone, Bharti Airteland BSNL also brought their effective price-carrying smartphone versions. In December, Airtel partnered with Intex to launch the Intex Aqua Lions N1 for an effective price of Rs. 1,649 under its Mera Pehla Smartphone initiative, while BSNL in October brought the Micromax Bharat 1 as a rival against Rs. 999 Jio Phone.

Reliance Jio's new mass-connect plan to further hurt incumbents: Analysts

2018-01-25T08:56:00.001+05:30

KOLKATA: Reliance Jio Infocomm's new mass-connect Rs 98-a-month 4G plan, seen as a highlight of its second successive cut in effective rates in two weeks, is likely to cause another round of market disruption and more revenue erosion for incumbents Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular, analysts said.

Brokerage JPMorgan said Jio's Rs 98/month plan - offering 2GB of data with a 28-days validity span — "could really hurt incumbents", as it is aimed squarely "at attracting the next layer of 4G data subscribers".

This plan, the brokerage said, "would cause another round of ARPU (average revenue per user) downgrades in the industry for plans catering to entry-level data subscribers", adding that Jio's strategy in the immediate term appears to be cornering "a mass segment of incumbents' price sensitive voice/non-data subscribers on to its Rs 98/month plan, which is its most affordable 4G plan, in step with its rapid market share expansion ambitions.

Credit Suisse said Jio's Rs 98 plan could become "a meaningful catch all plan" that would drag down ARPU for most high-end smartphone users to just Rs 83," causing further revenue losses and financial pain to incumbents in the coming quarters.

Late on Tuesday, Jio revised its tariff plans for a second time in as many weeks, effective January 26, saying it was bettering bitter rival Bharti Airtel's recent offers.

On Wednesday, Bharti Airtel's shares fell 6.51% to close at Rs 458.95 on the BSE, while Idea's dropped 5.38% to close at Rs 94.05.

The telecom sector, already plagued by brutal price competition and debt of Rs 5 lakhcrore, has had another poor quarter. Jio's latest tariff cuts are likely to further drag ARPU — a key performance metric — by another 20-30% in the coming quarters.

Unlike Jio, which clocked in a strong ARPU of Rs 154 in the December quarter, Airtel and Idea's fell to Rs 123 and Rs 114, respectively, stung by the cut in interconnection usage charges (IUC), which compounded pressures on their voice and data businesses amid continuing price wars.

Morgan Stanley said Jio's new plan could trigger "churn of low-end 4G data users from incumbent carriers to Jio, or tariff down-trending" if Airtel, Vodafone and Idea match the tariff.

Xiaomi Mi 6X allegedly leaks in hands-on photos

2018-01-25T08:54:00.001+05:30

Xiaomi is apparently working on a successor to last year's Mi 5X, which will unsurprisingly be called Mi 6X. This model is allegedly pictured in the hands-on images you can see below, which come from two different sources. Although overall the design seems similar between the gold and black units depicted, don't take any of this for granted just yet.

The Mi 6X is going with an iPhone X lookalike vertical dual rear camera arrangement, whereas its predecessor 'emulated' the design of the iPhone 7 Plus in this regard. The phone obviously sports an 18:9 touchscreen, possibly a 5.99" panel.

Xiaomi might actually unveil (or at least showcase) this handset at MWC next month, and it may be powered by the company's own Surge S2 chipset. This will have an octa-core CPU with four Cortex-A73 cores clocked at up to 2.2 GHz and four Cortex-A53 cores at up to 1.8 GHz. The GPU employed is the Mali-G71 MP8.

Interestingly, the Mi 5X was also launched as the Mi A1 in some markets (part of the Android One program). It's unclear if the Mi 6X will have the same fate and turn into a Mi A2 outside of China.

Source 1 (in Chinese) | Source 2 | Via 1| Via 2

Samsung teases camera improvements for Galaxy S9

2018-01-25T08:53:00.001+05:30

Samsung is unveiling its latest flagship smartphone in Barcelona on February 25th

Image: Samsung

Samsung sent out invites this evening to its planned Galaxy S9 launch event next month, which is now slated for February 25th in Barcelona. We knew that Samsung was saving the reveal of its next flagship smartphone for the Mobile World Congress conference in Spain, which officially runs from February 26th to March 1st. It appears now we have a date and time, with the Samsung Unpacked event kicking off at 6PM CET (12PM ET / 9AM PT) a day ahead of MWC’s start. The event will be live streamed via Samsung’s website.

Usually, these kinds of invites are either completely obtuse or subtly revealing, and yet Samsung’s this go around is a bit down the middle. The invite text, “Camera, reimagined,” isn’t exactly groundbreaking. Cameras are “reimagined” every year by Apple, Samsung, and every other phone maker under the sun, very occasionally living up to the word but oftentimes falling short. So we don’t have too much to go on besides this standard marketing boilerplate.

But it’s safe to say the latest Galaxy phone will likely have a slightly improved battery, a killer screen, and some nifty but potentially gimmicky experimental features. The Verge will be there live next month, so check back then for Galaxy S9 coverage and all the other news announcements out of MWC.

BSNL Intros New STV 191 Prepaid Tariff Plan With Unlimited Data and Voice Calls for 28 Days

2018-01-24T10:19:00.001+05:30

Amidst the high-competition in the Indian market, state-run telco Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has introduced a new Rs 191 tariff plan for its subscribers in Telangana region. Under the prepaid recharge plan Rs 191, BSNL is providing all benefits including voice calls, data, and SMS. The telco is calling this plan as Voice STV 191, and it’s a promotional offer, meaning it will be valid for 90 days from the date of introduction. According to BSNL’s official website, this offer is valid between January 10, 2018, to April 9, 2018. After the completion of 90 days, BSNL may extend the validity benefit or completely kill the plan.

The BSNL Voice STV 191 gives unlimited voice calling to any network while in the home circle. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer free roaming voice calls. The plan also offers 1GB data per day, but the data benefit is unlimited as post-1GB FUP every day, users can still enjoy data speed at 80 Kbps, which is enough to send and receive WhatsApp messages.

Also, the Rs 191 pack offers 300 any network SMS in the home circle, meaning customers will be charged if they send an SMS to a person in another circle. Finally, this new plan is valid for 28 days.

Alongside the Voice STV 191, BSNL is also offering other prepaid plans such as the Rs 187, which offers benefits of unlimited voice calling even on roaming, 1GB data per day for 28 days, and 100 SMS per day for the validity period. Furthermore, BSNL also has plans such as Rs 459 and Rs 551. The former offers 1GB data per day and unlimited voice calls to any network across the country for 71 days, while the latter offers only data benefit and it’s 5GB data per day for 90 days.

Also, BSNL introduced two voice calling plans of Rs 62 and Rs 81. They both offer unlimited voice calls to any network in the country for 9 days and 14 days respectively. Also, the Rs 62 pack gives 300 SMS, while the Rs 500 pack offers 500 SMS for the validity period. Lastly, BSNL is also running a Welcome Offer in Andhra Pradesh & Telangana circles, under which it’s giving free BSNL 3G SIM card to interested customers along with free 351MB of data.

Rumored 6.1-inch LCD iPhone comes with 18:9 screen

2018-01-24T10:19:00.000+05:30

Apple is readying three iPhones for this fall's big launch, according to rumors we've heard last year. Two of those will have OLED panels like the iPhone X, and in fact one will be a direct successor to the model that's available now, featuring the exact same screen size.

The third iPhone has been said to sport a 6.1" LCD display, and it's expected to become Apple's entry-level model of 2018, starting at $700 to $800. Now a new rumor out of Taiwan claims to know exactly which screen panel it will employ: JDI's bezel-starved model introduced last June. This comes with 18:9 aspect ratio, 2,160x1,080 resolution, and has slim bezels on all four sides - that's pretty much a prerequisite for any high-end or upper-midrange phone in this day and age.

JDI's 'Full Active' LCD panel in question

It thus appears that the LCD iPhone will deliver another 'full screen' look, but there may be a notch in there just to keep all three handsets looking alike (and that may account for the size discrepancy, since the LCD iPhone is rumored to be 6.1" while JDI claimed its panel is 6").

This more affordable iPhone will swap stainless steel for aluminum in its frame as an additional measure helping it reach the aforementioned price point. You should also expect it to have a single-lens rear camera and no 3D Touch.

Source (in Chinese) | Via

Airtel to absorb 4,000 Tata Teleservices, Telenor staff after merger

2018-01-24T10:18:00.004+05:30

Bharti Airtel will be absorbing around two-third employees of Telenor India and Tata Teleservices' consumer mobility business after merger with both companies,

The report adds that the Sunil Mittal-led telecom company may post about 15 percent of the employees from the two telcos overseas, including Africa.

An Airtel spokesperson told the newspaper: "It is inevitable in a post-merger scenario that all employees will not find meaningful roles and accordingly, will be provided complete support to deal with such an outcome. An exercise is under way to map the employee pool to the post-merger requirements."

Airtel is likely to absorb as many employees as it can within the Indian telecom business while "a few will be offered opportunities across its international operations and other group companies," the spokesperson added.

According to the report, Tata Teleservices(TTSL) consumer mobility business employed around 5,000 in October while Telenor India had around 2,000 people on its payroll. While employees have left both companies, some at TTSL are being absorbed in other roles within the Tata Group.

Here Is The List Of Smartphones Getting EMUI 8.0 Update In China

2018-01-24T10:18:00.003+05:30

Last week, Huawei announcedthat it will soon start rolling out its upgraded operating system — EMUI 8.0, which is based on Android 8.0 Oreo.

Now, the company has announced the list of devices that will be receiving this new software update. The list of phones includes Honor V10, Honor 9, Honor V9, Honor 7X, Honor 8 Youth, Honor 8, Honor V8 and Honor Note 8.

Interestingly, all the models which are slated to receive this new EMUI 8.0 update are powered by the company’s own Kirin chipset. However, the company’s official has said that the update for these models is still under development. The company has not yet provided any timeline for the update.

Huawei has described the upgraded EMUI 8.0 as “an avant-garde technological software which is efficient, secure and above all, user-friendly.” According to the company, EMUI 8.0 — which is the successor to EMUI 5.1 — comes with artificial intelligence that makes the software experience smarter and quicker.

Honor EMUI 8 Update List

The updated version of the operating system comes with features like Real-Time Scene and Object Recognition, Smart Tips, and AI-accelerated language translation, among others. It also brings some artificial intelligence-based capabilities such as resource allocation, context awareness as well as user behaviour or behaviour prediction.

Because the EMUI 8.0 update is based on Android Oreo, users will also have access to features like split-screen interface, navigation dock, one-hand operation and smart view.

The company’s spokesperson had previously said that users will be witnessing a faster and smarter phone experience, powered by advanced AI technological features. He had added that the update significantly cuts down on the number of steps needed to achieve the desired function through its smart applications like navigation dock and smart screen, and enables the user to reach 90% of the core functions in just a single click.

(Source)

InFocus M7s With 18:9 Display, Dual Camera Setup Launched: Price, Specifications

2018-01-24T10:11:00.003+05:30

InFocus M7s is priced at TWD 4,290 in TaiwanThe smartphone features a 5.7-inch HD+, 18:9 displayIt sports a dual camera setup on the back

InFocus on Tuesday unveiled the M7s in Taiwan as its latest model with 18:9 aspect ratio-featuring display. The new model comes with a price tag of TWD 4,290 (approximately Rs. 9,300). While the handset initially exclusive to the Taiwanese market, it is likely to be available in some other global markets in the coming future. It will be available in Obsidian Black and Platinum Light Gold colour options.

The dual-SIM (Nano) InFocus M7s runs Android 7.0 Nougat and features a 5.7-inch HD+ (720x1440 pixels) On-Cell IPS display with 18:9 aspect ratio and a 2.5D curved glass protection. The handset is powered by a quad-core MediaTek MT6737H SoC, which is clocked at 1.3GHz and is paired with 3GB of RAM. InFocus has provided a dual rear camera setup on the M7s that has a 13-megapixel primary sensor with f/2.0 aperture and a 5-megapixel secondary camera sensor. The setup is accompanied by an LED flash and offers features such as Bokeh mode and full-HD video recording support. Also, an 8-megapixel camera sensor is available on the front with an f/2.2 aperture, 120-degree wide-angle lens.

On the storage front, the InFocus M7s has 32GB onboard storage that is expandable via microSD card (up to 128GB). The smartphone also has a bunch of connectivity options such as 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth v4.0, GPS/ A-GPS, Micro-USB, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It also comes with a rear-facing fingerprint sensor that can unlock the screen in just 0.2 seconds, as per the company's claim. Sensors on board include an accelerometer, ambient light, and proximity sensor. Besides, the handset packs a 4000mAh battery that is touted to deliver up to 20 hours of back up on a 3G network and 528 hours of standby time on a 4G network.

InFocus M7s

KEY SPECS

Display

5.70-inch

Processor

1.3GHz quad-core

Front Camera

8-megapixel

Resolution

720x1440 pixels

RAM

3GB

Android 7.0

Storage

32GB

Rear Camera

13-megapixel

Battery Capacity

4000mAh

Lenovo Yoga 920 Vibes with Intel’s 8th-gen Core CPU launched in India: Price, specifications

2018-01-24T10:11:00.000+05:30

Lenovo Yoga 920 has latest Intel 8th generation Core processors and features watchband hinge design for convertible design.

Lenovo has launched Yoga 920 Vibes, a limited edition premium convertible notebook, in India with a price tag of Rs 1,27,150 excluding Goods and Service Tax (GST). As the name suggests, the newly launched Yoga 920 Vibes is the direct successor to Yoga 910, and it sits at the top of the price spectrum in Lenovo’s Yoga series.

The Yoga 920 and Yoga 920 Vibes were first showcased at IFA 2017 in Berlin in late August, and makes use of Intel’s newest 8th generation Core processors. Like it’s predecessor, the Yoga 920 series sports a 13.9-inch touchscreen display with 4K UHD (3840×2160 pixels) resolution, and comes with support for an option stylus with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and low lag.

Lenovo’s new laptop is powered by Intel Core i7-8550U, a quad-core processor with eight threads, 6MB L3 cache and maximum clock frequency of 4GHz. While both the 7th as well as 8th generation chipsets are based on Kaby Lake architecture, Intel claims the new chipsets offer 40 percent boost in performance over its predecessor. The Yoga 920 also comes with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD storage, which not only helps with fast boot but also super fast data transfer and overall performance.

In terms of design, Lenovo is retaining the watchband hinge first seen with the launch of Yoga 3 Pro in 2014, but it has been toughened and streamlined to work better and offer lower friction on Yoga 920. It features metal unibody chassis, but the limited edition Vibes model comes with textured Corning Gorilla Glass on top of the front casing, giving it a premium and distinct appearance.

The Yoga 920 offers two Thunderbolt 3 ports with Power Delivery, which means it is also the default port for charging. Apart from that, there is one regular USB 3.0 port with always-on charging and 3.5mm audio jack. Lenovo claims the Yoga 920 will last for 10 hours but it needs to be tested to understand the battery capacity varies in different work scenario.

Lenovo Yoga 920 supports connectivity options like dual channel Wi-Fi 802.11ac, and Bluetooth 4.2 for playing wireless music. It features dedicated fingerprint sensor for Windows Hello login, and JBL-tuned speakers with Dolby Audio support. The notebook weighs around 1.37kg, which makes it 30 grams lighter than its predecessor.

Energizer Hardcase H240S Feature Phone With 4G VoLTE Support Launched

2018-01-24T10:09:00.002+05:30

HIGHLIGHTS

Hardcase H240S new feature phone is an ultra-durable mobile, says companyThe feature phone is dust and water resistantThe 4G feature phone runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow

Avenir Telecom, a licensee of the Energizer brand, launched a new feature phone on Tuesday. The Energizer Hardcase H240S is a 4G feature phone.Notably, the phone runs Android, but without access to Google Play - users will have to settle for the pre-installed apps on board. The company has pitched the new feature phone as an ultra-durable mobile. It is IP68 certified, which makes it dust and water resistant handset. Avenir says that phone is designed with reinforced materials, which enables it to withstand drops from a height of up to 1.2 metres, making it shock proof. Also, the phone is also capable of immersion in up to 1.2 metres of water for 30 minutes, the company says.

With a hybrid dual-SIM slot, this feature phone supports two SIM cards or a SIM card and a microSD card. The Energizer Hardcase H240S runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow and has 1GB of RAM. The feature phone sports a 2.4-inch QVGA TFT display with 240x320 pixels resolution and is powered by a quad-core MediaTek MT6737M processor, clocked at 1.1GHz, coupled with Mali T720 GPU. The Hardcase H240S features a Sony 5-megapixel camera at the back. It has an internal memory of 8GB, but the company says it is possible to increase storage memory up to 32GB but for that you will have to use two microSD cards.

In terms of connectivity, the mobile phone supports 4G VOLTE, which is its biggest highlight. The company said in a release, "Equipped with a 4G/LTE throughput of up to 150/50 Mbps, the Energizer HARDCASE H240S is always ready for connection to email, social networks or high-speed internet sites." It also has Wi-Fi 802.11A, Bluetooth 4.0, and Micro USB 2.0. The sensors present in the device are GPS with AGPS and GLONASS and an accelerometer.

Also, this 4G feature phone includes a powerful 2000mAh battery. The company says the battery is rated to deliver up to 9.5 days of standby time and up to 12 hours of talktime. In terms of dimensions, the phone measures 132x56x18.5mm and weighs 256 grams. Avenir Telecom has not revealed the price of the 4G feature phone as of now, or exact availability.

Wine 3.0 arrives on Android to let you run Windows apps on your phone

2018-01-24T10:09:00.000+05:30

Wish you could do more with your phone than just run Android? Codeweavers is working to sort you out: it’s just released version 3.0 of the Wine compatibility layer for Linux-based systems, which can now be built into an APK package and installed on your Android device.

Once you grab the installer from this page and install it on your device (Android Police noted that it works better on some phones like the OnePlus 5T, and crashes on others like the Google Pixel from 2016), you’ll be greeted by a full-screen Windows 7 interface – Start menu and all.

In addition, Wine v3 works better with x86 Android devices than those powered by ARM processors; if you’re on the latter, you’ll be limited to running apps that were ported to Windows RT (the XDA Developers forum has a nice list of them).

Regardless of your processor type, you’ll need to bring your own Windows programs to the device, because none are bundled with this build. You might also want to connect a Bluetooth keyboard for text input, as software keyboards aren’t immediately recognized and pulled up when you tap on empty fields and the command prompt.

If this sounds like your cup of tea, give Wine 3.0 a go by grabbing the stable build APK for your x86 or ARM-based device from this page.

Redmi 5A, Other Mobiles Available With Offers in Xiaomi Republic Day Sale

2018-01-24T10:08:00.000+05:30

The Republic Day sale will be held from January 24 to January 26Xiaomi Redmi 5A will be available in open sale for Rs. 4,999MobiKwik and Hungama offers are available for buyers

Xiaomi is all set to kick off its Republic Day sale on Mi.com with offers available on mobile phones, audio accessories, power banks, home gadgets, and other non-tech essentials. The Xiaomi sale will be held from Wednesday, January 24 to Friday, January 26. The sale will commence at 12am IST (midnight) on January 24. An open sale for Redmi 5A will be held during the sale period.

Starting with the offers in the sale, users can grab discount coupons at 10am on each day of the sale. There are several discount coupons in denominations of Rs. 50, Rs. 100, Rs. 200, Rs. 500, which can be availed once logged in. Additionally, you get flat 30 percent SuperCash up to Rs. 4,000 on payments through MobiKwik. Buyers will also get 3 months of Hungama Play subscription and 12 months of Hungama music subscription.

The Xiaomi Mi A1 is available for Rs. 13,999, down from the launch price of Rs. 14,999; the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 is available for Rs. 32,999, down from Rs. 35,999; the Mi Max 2 is available starting from Rs. 12,999, down from Rs. 13,999; the Redmi Note 4 is available starting from Rs. 9,999; the Redmi 4 is available starting from Rs. 6,999. Other phones in the Redmi series such as the Redmi 5A is available starting from Rs. 4,999, the Redmi Y1 is available starting from Rs. 8,999, and the Redmi Y1 Lite is available starting from Rs. 6,999.

Accessories on sale include the Xiaomi 20000mAh Mi Power Bank 2i for Rs. 1,499, the 10000mAh Mi Power Bank 2i for Rs. 799, the Mi Band - HRX Edition for Rs. 1,299, the Mi In-Ear Headphones Basic Matte for Rs. 499, the Mi Capsule Earphones for Rs. 799, the Mi In-Ear Headphones Pro HD for Rs. 1,699, the Mi Bluetooth Speaker Basic 2 for Rs. 1,599, and the Mi Headphones Comfort for Rs. 2,999. There is up to Rs. 200 discount on select smartphone cases and covers.

Home gadgets such as the Mi Router 3C for Rs. 999 and the Mi Wi-Fi Repeater 2 for Rs. 799 are also available in the Xiaomi Republic Day sale. Non-tech accessories include the Mi Band strap - HRX Edition Blue for Rs. 199, Mi Business Backpack for Rs. 1,299, and the Mi Crewneck T-shirt Black for Rs. 549.

Additionally, the Mi Car Charger is available for Rs. 699, the Mi Bluetooth Headset Basic Black is available for Rs. 899 and the Mi VR Play 2 headset is available for Rs. 1,099.