TECH NEWS FOR YOU
If you want to be the first to read the freshest news from the tech world, you came to the right place. My name is Ansh and I will be your guide to the world of technology
New iPhones and Apple Watch Series 4 launched yesterday at Apple Special Launch Event
iPhone XS, XS MAX and iPhone XR launched yesterday at the Apple Special Event
Apple's high-end iPhones have dual 12-megapixel cameras, OLED displays and faster A12 Bionic chips. A cheaper, colorful version comes with an LCD screen. The iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR, Apple's new iPhones for 2018, are officially here. While the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max have virtually the same guts, just in two different sizes, the iPhone XR introduces a profound shift in Apple's strategy by folding its "bargain" phone into the premium iPhone mix.
Apple has dabbled in cheaper iPhones before, with the iPhone SE and iPhone 5C, but their designs stood apart from the mainstream iPhones, and didn't last. Here, the cheaper iPhone XR shares the design and many of the same specs as the top-tier iPhones. It comes in bright colors and has some slimmed-down features, like a smaller battery than the new iPhone XSes. The pricing is the most attractive for iPhone loyalists. Although there's nothing "budget" about the iPhone XR's $749 starting price, people looking for a new iPhone this year could easily gravitate to the relatively cheaper, more colorful XR. This reveal of Apple's 2018-2019 lineup is a big moment for the tech giant, which shook up its iPhone range in 2017 when it introduced the iPhone X, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, effectively killing any chance of a future iPhone 9 and turning its whole iPhone naming scheme on its head.
At a time when phones are becoming more and more expensive, Apple's decision to embrace the new "X" family is important because it cements a new strategy for Apple, one that will continue to set the pace for phone makers as we move toward 2019. To Pre-Order, click here
Can't wait for iOS 12 launch? Try the 'public beta' version
Ahead of the official final release of iOS 12 for the iPhone, iPad and the iPod Touch later this year, Apple has released a "public beta" that you can download if you want to be the first to use the newest features.
Better performance: One of Apple's promises is that iOS 12 will run smoother than iOS 11, particularly on older devices. As iOS 12 will run on devices as old as the iPhone 5s, this performance boost could allay fears users of older iPhones and iPads may have about downloading the new software. The keyboard will load faster, the share menu will open quicker and app switching will be faster. Apple says the processor performance slows after a boost to save battery power.
Augmented reality: (AR) gets a new file format, USDZ, optimized for sharing in terms of size and compatibility. ARKit, the framework that drives AR apps and experiences on iOS, has been updated to ARKit 2. It can now do smarter shared experiences, face tracking and handle virtual objects in the real world.
Apple is adding the ability to customize Animoji with Memojis that can, for now, only be accessed via the iMessage app. Your iPhone's camera will map your face and expressions constantly, following which you can select characters and accessories to spruce up your animated version.
Oppo Find X First Impressions
The Oppo Find X is the Chinese company's latest flagship in the Find series, and it was launched in India on Thursday. Oppo Find X's most unique and interesting feature is a camera slider that allows its front face to be completely dominated by the screen. This marks the comeback of Oppo's Find series, which has not been refreshed since the launch of the Oppo Find 7 back in 2014. The Oppo Find X is the most expensive model in Oppo's India lineup. The Oppo Find X price in India is Rs. 59,990 for the model with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and there are no other configurations. A limited Automobili Lamborghini Edition was also announced at the event but is not coming to the Indian market as of now.
Key specifications of the Oppo Find X include a flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and the unique camera slider that houses the selfie camera as well as the dual rear cameras. This smartphone, much like other offerings in Oppo's lineup, runs ColorOS 5.1 on top of Android 8.1 Oreo. The phone will be available exclusively on Flipkart online, but also across Oppo's offline stores.
OnePlus 6 review: Everything you need to know about OnePlus' latest flagship phone
Oneplus 6 is set to be a big commercial success. Already, the phone is breaking sales records of its predecessor OnePlus 5T. Now that the phone is on sale and most of the reviews are out, you most probably have made up your mind whether to invest in the new OnePlus 6 or not. If you haven't yet, here's everything you need to know about the smartphone.
A lot of brands have shifted from metal to glass design in order to make their phones look trendier and add a premium look and feel to them. For instance, Apple went with the glass design for its iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X. However, when it comes to OnePlus 6, the phone does look better. But it's not a radical change from the predecessor. It looks like a OnePlus 5T from the back with a glass back panel slapped on it.
The notch phones are here to stay, for some time. Ever since Apple introduced the iPhone X with notch display, a number of Android players joined the league to give more screen real estate. OnePlus 6 is no exception. But it's a constant distraction, annoying and barely adds any value to the table, unlike what Apple accomplished with iPhone X.
OnePlus 6 comes with a dual-camera setup which consists of a 16-megapixel Sony IMX 519 sensor with f/1.7 aperture with OIS and a 20-megapixel Sony IMX 376K secondary rear camera. The phone helps you take great macro shots and results are mostly impressive when light conditions are conducive.
Performance, backed by top-end processors and RAM power, has always been a strong virtue of OnePlus. The latest OnePlus 6 is powered by Snapdragon 845 processor coupled with 6GB RAM. And true to its claims, OnePlus 6 does deliver a solid performance. From working on multiple apps simultaneously to playing graphic intensive games, OnePlus 6 handles everything with ease.
OnePlus 6 is a solid phone but not without imperfections. Despite the shortcomings, OnePlus 6 is a good option for those looking for a phone with decent looks and top-notch performance and have a less-than-Rs 40,000 budget. I'd recommend the OnePlus 6, 6GB RAM model, considering it has 64GB inbuilt storage and supports expandable storage, and comes at Rs 34,999.
But if you budget more than that, you may consider a range of premium phones like Samsung Galaxy S9 and Huawei P20 Pro, among others. For OnePlus 5T users, they should stick with their phone for now as OnePlus 6 isn't a big upgrade you were expecting it to be. Moreover, OnePlus may launch just another version, the OnePlus 6T, with slightly better features in less than six months as has been the case with OnePlus 3T and OnePlus 5T.
Xiaomi Redmi S2 Launch In India Confirmed For June 7th
The Xiaomi Redmi S2 was launched in China on the 10th of May. It appeared that the Redmi S2 would remain a China-exclusive or at least not make its way to India. Xiaomi has a plethora of budget smartphones, especially in the sub 10K category with the Redmi 5A, Redmi 5 and the Redmi Note 5. However, that assumption has not held true, as the company has confirmed a June 7th launch event.
As the invite highlights, the soon to be launched smartphone will be camera-centric. Xiaomi's Redmi Y series is all about the front-facing camera and the Redmi S2 has been tipped to launch as the Redmi Y2 in India. The device is expected to be priced under Rs 10,000 and will succeed the Redmi Y1 which was launched in November 2o17. The Redmi S2 will slot between the Redmi 5 and Redmi Note 5.
The S2 takes a lot of design cues from other Xiaomi smartphones launched in 2018. It has the same vertically place dual-camera setup found on the Mi MIX 2s and Redmi Note 5 Pro. The aluminium unibody design is also familiar along with a circular fingerprint sensor placed on the back of the smartphone.
The Xiaomi Redmi S2 has a 5.99 inch IPS LCD display with a 1440 x 720 px resolution. This translates into an 18:9 aspect ratio which has become the norm for even budget smartphones.
Xiaomi Mi A2 (Mi 6X) With 5.99-inch Display, 2910mAh Battery Spotted on TENAA
With the Redmi 5 launch done and dusted and Mi MIX 2S smartphone scheduled for launch on Tuesday, another Xiaomi smartphone has been spotted online. Images of an alleged Xiaomi Mi 6X or Mi A2 handset has been found in a Chinese certification website revealing some of the specifications of the smartphone. The rumoured smartphone is presumed to be available worldwide as Xiaomi Mi A2, the new version of the Mi A1 Android One handset. The company had launched the Mi A1 in China as Mi 6X running stock Android and being a part of the Android One initiative by Google.
As per a listing on TENAA, spotted by SlashLeaks, images and specifications of a smartphone bearing the model number M1804D2SE were showcased. The listing suggests that the alleged Xiaomi Mi A1 (Mi 6X) will sport a 5.99-inch display. The smartphone will be powered by a 2910mAh battery and the dimensions are given to be 158.88×75.54×7.3mm. From the images revealed in the listing, we can see a red coloured variant of the Xiaomi Mi A2 (Mi 6X).
When it comes to the design, the smartphone resembles the Redmi Note 5 Pro that the company launched earlier this year. The vertically aligned dual rear camera setup can be seen in the top left corner. Also present is also a circular fingerprint sensor at the back. The front panel appears to come with a selfie camera and an earpiece at the top of the handset.
Interestingly, the images suggest that the smartphone will sport a display with 18:9 aspect ratio, a welcome change from the Xiaomi Mi A1. It is also notable that the company may not go with the currently popular iPhone X-like notch in its handset.
This is the most beautiful phone I've ever seen - here's how it was made
That was my first thought when I unwrapped the ocean depths Essential Phone, which is neither blue nor green, but a deep jewel tone.
It's made out of ceramic, and around the edge is a shiny, copper-colored titanium band. Altogether, it's a color combination that's never been used on a smartphone before - and it's quite possibly the best-looking phone I've ever seen.
The Essential Phone, which is the brainchild of Android creator Andy Rubin, launched in August 2017. The phone debuted at $700, but its price was slashed by $200 a few months later amid reports of poor sales. Last month, research firm IDG estimated that Essential had sold fewer than 90,000 phones, a fraction of what Apple and Samsung typically sell.
Still, there's no denying that the Essential Phone is one of the more innovative smartphones to launch in recent years, and after using the device for a few weeks, I wanted to know how Essential's designers came up with the design for its phone - and why they chose such unusual color combinations.
Xiaomi Mi 6X / Mi A2 with 5.99-inch FHD+ display, dual rear cameras, metal body gets certified [Update: Detailed specs]
Earlier: Xiaomi had launched the Mi 5X back in June 2017 and today the successor of it; Mi 6X with 5.99-inches full HD+ full-screen display, dual-rear cameras has been certified in China, after it surfaced in live images couple of months back. While all the eyes are on the Mix 2S, Mi 7, Xiaomi is also silently prepping the Mi 6X as well.The Xiaomi Mi 6X is Codenamed M1804D2SC and going by the looks, the design certainly has a resemblance to the Redmi Note 5 Pro. It comes with a fingerprint sensor, dual-rear cameras on the rear. Following the trend, the Mi 6X rocks a tall 18:9 display. It packs a 2910mAh battery and it measures 158.88×75.54×7.3mm.However, we still don't know other details like chipset, RAM, storage and camera specifics.Since the device is listed on the certification website, it is possible that the smartphone is ready to hit mass production, and might be launching very soon. We will let you know once we learn more about the Mi 6X. The phone might also be introduced outside China as Mi A2.
Huawei P20 Pro Advertisements Take On Apple And Samsung
The date has been set for the launch of the Huawei P20 and the P20 Pro in France. The company has been teasing these devices ever since the commencement of MWC 2018. And now, the company has chosen a new way of marketing for its upcoming flagship smartphones. Huawei is using multiple trucks with a flux banner that says 'be patient and wait the renaissance is coming.' What makes this even more interesting is the fact that, these trucks have been deployed in front of Apple and Samsung stores.
The Huawei P20 and the P20 Pro will be the next flagship smartphones from the Chinese smartphone giant. These devices talk a lot about the camera capabilities and display. The company is most likely to introduce newer colour variants of this smartphone, that has never been used on a smartphone. A fascinating fact about these devices is their cameras. Both smartphones have a dual Leica engineered camera. Additionally, the Pro moniker has a triple camera setup with a 40MP sensor.
These phones have a taller display, with a notch that has an earpiece, front-facing camera and other necessary sensors. However, there are possibilities, that these devices might have a 3D facial recognition similar to the Apple iPhone X.
Vivo V9 pre-order starts from tomorrow: Threat to other smartphones
Vivo V9 has been unveiled in a couple of markets and will be launched in India tomorrow. The device arrives with highlights such as a full-screen design, display notch as in the iPhone X, AI capabilities integrated into the camera, a 24MP AI selfie camera, and other aspects.
The Vivo V9 is expected to be priced around Rs. 23,000 in the country. While that is yet to be confirmed, there is a teaser page on Amazon India confirming that the Vivo V9 will be available for pre-order tomorrow.
Given that the Vivo V9 has several advanced features despite being a mid-range smartphone in terms of pricing, we are sure that the device will be a stiff challenger to a slew of other smartphones already available in the market.
So, here we have listed these rivals of the Vivo V9 for you. You can check and decide if you want to purchase the Vivo smartphone or any other model from here.
A VERY HAPPY WOMEN'S DAY TO ALL THE WOMEN ON OUR EARTH
What is the ESSENTIAL PHONE ?
The Essential Phone has a titanium and ceramic body, an edge-to-edge display protected by Gorilla Glass 5 and dual-lens camera-one lens of which has a sensor dedicated to black-and-white photography. Accompanying the phone is a 360-degree camera that can be attached to the top of the device. There are two main reasons why the Essential Phone is getting so much attention. One is the involvement of Rubin. The other is the display. The spec sheet doesn't really do it justice: The Essential Phone is one of the first phones to eliminate the top bezel completely, meaning the screen extends all the way to the upper edge. There is a small bezel at the bottom of the phone, so it's not fully symmetrical.
Xiaomi to launch a new smartphone on March 14 in India
Xiaomi has today announced the launch of its latest Mi TV 4A series in India. At the launch event, the brand has teased the launch of a new smartphone in India.At the end of the live video of the Mi TV 4A, Xiaomi showed a side profile of a smartphone and after it teased the launch date of March 14, 2018. The company has not revealed what smartphone it will be launching on the said date, but many believe it could be none other than Xiaomi Redmi 5.
To recall, the brand introduced the Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus in China in December last year. The Redmi 5 comes in two storage variants- 2GB RAM with 16GB of internal storage variant is priced at 799 Yuan, which is approximately Rs 7,795 and for 3GB RAM with 32GB of internal storage version one has to pay 899 Yuan (approximately Rs 8,770).
The Xiaomi Redmi 5 features a 5.7-inch display that supports HD+ resolution of 720 x 1440 pixels along with support for 18:9 aspect ratio. It is powered by a 1.8GHz Octa-Core Snapdragon 450 processor, along with Adreno 506 GPU, 2GB/3GB of RAM and 16GB/32GB of internal storage. The smartphone also has an option to expand the memory up to 128GB via microSD card. The smartphone runs on Android 7.1.2 Nougat operating system with MIUI 9 on top of it and is backed up by a 3200mAh battery.
Apple set to release trio of new smartphones: Get ready for the largest iPhone ever!!!
With the new lineup, Apple wants to appeal to the growing number of consumers who crave the multitasking attributes of so-called phablets while also catering to those looking for a more affordable version of the iPhone X, according to people familiar with the products.Apple, which is already running production tests with suppliers, is expected to announce the new phones this fall. The plans could still change, say the people, who requested anonymity to discuss internal planning. Despite months of breathless hype, the iPhone X hasn't sold as well as expected since its debut last year. Apple sold 77.3 million iPhones in the final quarter of 2017, below analysts' projections of 80.2 million units. Some consumers were turned off by the iPhone X's $1,000 price despite liking the design even as they wanted something more cutting-edge than the cheaper iPhone 8. With its next lineup, Apple is seeking to rekindle sales by offering a model for everyone.
Samsung Galaxy S9, S9+ now available for pre-order in India
Although prices are yet to be announced, Galaxy S9 may cost around $720 and S9+ nearly $840.In terms of specifications, Galaxy S9 and S9+ are powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor.The S9 houses 4GB RAM whereas the S9+ has 6GB RAM. The S9 comes with 3,000mAh battery while the S9+ houses 3,500mAh battery.The Galaxy S9 and S9+ cameras have a "Super Speed Dual Pixel" sensor with dedicated processing power and memory to take high-quality pictures . Samsung's "Dual Aperture" (F1.5 / F2.4) -- the world's first such feature in any smartphone -- automatically lets in more light when it's dark and less light when it's too bright, taking photos that are crisp and clear.The "Super Slow-mo" video captures 960 frames per second. The "Slow-mo" videos can also be turned into GIFs.The Galaxy S9 and S9+ also offer automatic "Motion Detection", a feature that detects movement in the frame and automatically begins
Vivo's New Concept Phone Has The Thinnest Possible Bezels And A Pop-Up Selfie Camera
It features the world's highest screen-to-body ratio, as well as a revamped take on the in-screen fingerprint sensor Vivo showed off earlier in the year. The top / left / right bezels measure just 1.8mm, and the bottom bezel comes in at just 4.3mm -- all industry bests by far. The iPhone X's screen-to-body ratio is 82%. Xiaomi's Mi Mix 2 comes in at 83%. The Vivo Apex? 95%. Even though the iPhone X, Essential Phone, or even the trendsetting Xiaomi Mi Mix have been called "bezel-less," they are not quite really that. The Mi Mix and its sequel have sizable bottom bezels. The Essential Phone and the iPhone X each have a noticeable notch that cuts into the display at the top.
Lamborghini, Vodafone team up to offer new infotainment experience
Telecom giant Vodafone has recently joined hands with Italian supercar maker Lamborghini for global connected car solutions. The two companies are in association in order to offer a unique infotainment experience ever in a sports car. Lamborghini and Vodafone will work together in order to introduce worldwide connectivity. The press statement says that the partnership will enable Lamborghini to shape the future of the driving experience through connectivity. The statement further adds that starting next year, Lamborghini owners will be able to improve their journey experience through the access to world's largest network of Internet of Things (IoT), and hence, will enjoy unparalelled connectivity in over 190 countries. The financial details regarding this deal is a mystery at the moment. The two companies have entered into an agreement to introduce worldwide connectivity that will support infotainment services in the company's models such as the recently launched Urus hyper SUV.
Nokia 7 Plus Is an Android One Smartphone With 6-Inch Display, and Dual Rear Zeiss Cameras
Nokia 7 Plus was launched at the HMD Global launch event in Barcelona on Sunday, ahead of MWC 2018. The Android One smartphone has been designed for 'creators', the Finnish company said, and sports a dual rear camera setup just like the original Nokia 7. The company is touting the use of Zeiss optics on the rear camera, as well as its capabilities in the realm of low-light photography. It offers the Bothie feature first seen on the Nokia 8, and also bears a 6-inch 18:9 display - the first smartphone from the company to bear the longer, more immersive display aspect ratio. The smartphone sits above the Nokia 7 in the HMD Global Nokia Android smartphone lineup, and below the Nokia 8.