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Smartphone Launches during Lockdown

While the lockdown put a stop to everything in India, 5 Smartphone makers didn’t let the virus affect their plans. While on-ground events and gatherings were of course, a big ‘no’, the online world was ready to be the platform and the audience.

If purchasing a new Smartphone is on your to-do list right now, here’s a list of recent launches that could help you make a quick decision.

1. OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro

The launch of the much awaited 8 was a global online event on 14th of April. On 19th, the pricing for India was announced. OnePlus has never disappointed with the quality and with the 8, it has only gone a step further with the premium feel and smooth experience. If you’re willing to shell out 41,999 INR and up, then the OnePlus 8 series is good for you.

2. Xiaomi Mi 10

Who doesn’t love Xiaomi? With great quality and affordable pricing, Xiaomi has always kept its fans happy and increasing in number with every new launch. Xiaomi Mi 10 is no exception. It was launched on 8th of May and directly competes with the OnePlus 8 series. The biggest plus with Xiaomi Mi 10 is that it offers 5G support too. So, it is future-ready! It could set your bank balance back by 49,999 INR which is the starting price. If budget is your constraint, OnePlus 8 is worth considering but if the features are what you’re looking at and are willing to shell out the extra bucks, Mi 10 is worth every penny.

3. Apple iPhone SE

Nothing has ever stopped Apple from doing its thing, then how could the lockdown ruin its plans to launch the SE? The Apple A13 Bionic chipset is what Apple fans have been waiting for and the wait got over on 15th of April. The display is quite small at 4.7 inches only so if you’re okay with that, then the size won’t be any problem. A budget iPhone is rare so this is for grabs if you’re wanting an Apple iPhone but can’t afford the other variants. The price of the SE starts at 42,500 INR and is quite a steal for an Apple product.

4. RealMe Narzo Series

RealMe has so many fans. There are plenty of reasons for that. Great quality and features at very affordable prices. Who wouldn’t want to bet their money on RealMe Smartphones? The Narzo 10 series is the latest one that you can set your eyes on. The prices start at only 8,499 INR and the Smartphones are too good for the price. The Narzo series was launched on the 11th of May. Both, the Narzo 10 and the Narzo 10A are available for purchase. Take a pick!

5. Poco F2 Pro

The newfound love Poco has been popular ever since the very first release. When everyone knows that the brand has been derived from Xiaomi, it becomes easy to assume that the quality will always be top-notch. It has been true and the new Poco F2 Pro that was launched globally on 12th of May lives up to all the expectations. It is all set to launch in India on the 19th of June. While everyone is eagerly waiting for it to be available for purchase, let us tell you that for all that it offers, it is quite affordable. The expected price is around 41,000 INR. Just like the F1, the F2 fails to disappoint. If you haven’t made up your mind yet, wait for this one to launch and then you can make your final decision.

How to Install Android 11 on your Smartphone

The Android 11 Developer Preview is out and we can’t even! First things first. If you have a compatible pixel Smartphone then you can get it right now. You’re all excited and waiting for the steps involved but a word of caution here. This is a beta version so expect a lot of bugs and incomplete features. Also, if anything goes wrong, your device might go Kaput. So, while you have all the anticipation of the great stuff it has to offer, be also aware of the risks you’re taking. It is advisable to try this on your second device. We advise you against downloading android 11 on your main Smartphone.

Which Android phones are compatible for Android 11?

Google Pixel 2
Google Pixel 2 XL
Google Pixel 3
Google Pixel 3 XL
Google Pixel 3a
Google Pixel 3a XL
Google Pixel 4
Google Pixel 4 XL

If you own any of these smartphones, you can go ahead with downloading Android 11. Here’s how you can do that.

Enable the developer options on your Pixel smartphone. How to do that? Go to Settings > About Phone > Tap on Build Number 10 times. This enables the developer options for your android phone.
Go back and tap System > Advanced > Developer options. Enable OEM unlocking here. After that, scroll down and enable USB debugging.
Now for the work on your computer. Open Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge version 79 or above, and visit the Android developer preview website.
If you’re using a Windows 10 computer, download the Google USB Driver for Windows for the flashing process. No additional drivers are needed for Mac.
Connect your phone to your computer and on the Android developer, preview website click on the Android Flash Tool Link next to your device name.
Click OK on the pop-up page that asks for permission. On your android phone, tap ‘allow’ for USB debugging. This will authenticate your device and your smartphone is now connected. In case your phone isn’t connected, click on Add New Device > a pop-up will appear, click on your phone’s name > click Connect. Tap Allow on the pop-up on your android phone. Your phone is now connected.
After your phone is connected, click on the box where your phone’s name appears. On the next page you’ll see the pencil icon that you need to click, next to Selected Build. Here you will be able to enable the Lock Bootloader option if you want to ensure that your phone’s bootloader is locked once the process is finished. And it’s finally time to hit install!
You’ll now be asked to avoid interacting with your phone. Confirm and click ‘I Accept’.
You’ll be asked to Factory reset your phone. Click ‘yes’ on your computer and Tap ‘Allow’ on your android phone.
Your Smartphone will now reboot to its bootloader screen. You’ll also see the current status of your phone on your computer screen.
While waiting you might see a pop-up on the computer screen asking you to reselect your device. This is a possibility if you’re flashing your phone for the first time. Click ‘Reselect device’. You’ll see another pop-up. Click Android > Connect > you’ll see one more pop-up asking you to unlock the bootloader, click Start.
On your phone’s screen, navigate to unlock the bootloader with the volume keys and select it by hitting the power button. The Android 11 download will now start. You can track the progress on your computer’s screen.
Once Android 11 is downloaded and finished installing, you’ll be asked to lock your phone’s bootloader. Click Start and select ‘Lock the Bootloader’ on your smartphone. Navigate with the volume keys and select by clicking the power button. Lastly, tap done on your computer’s screen.
Now you have to wait till your phone reboots. Once this is done, your computer shows a message that reads ‘Software successfully updated’. (Yayyy!!) You can then start setting up your device and unplug it from the computer.

Now that your device is set up, you now have a Pixel phone that runs Android 11 along with the latest security patch!

These steps might look like they’re a lot of work but believe it or not, the whole process is really simple. Once you download Android 11, you can enjoy testing it out! Are there any bugs? Are the features good? We will be happy to know from you! After all, you’re the early birds to enjoy Android 11 right now. Throw some light on what can be expected. We are waiting!

Not Everything Chinese is a Virus

Well, the halt of Chinese products and the promotion of ‘Make in India’ was not just a hype after all. Looking at the current scenario, who would want to invest in Chinese businesses? We’d rather sustain our own economy right now. Since, China is very much the centre of attention for all the wrong reasons right now, we have another legit reason for you to say good bye to all things Chinese. These Chinese apps could be spreading a pandemic in your phone right now. Get rid of them, we suggest. It’s not only us but the government agrees too.

Caution: There’s not five or ten of them. There’s a whopping 42 Chinese apps that could be spyware or malware.

There are also some alarming and ironic facts that we will talk about but first let’s see which are the apps in your phone that need to go to trash right now.

Weibo (Time to say ‘We Go’)
WeChat (Time to sing We don’t Chat anymore)
SHAREIt (Shares more than you want it to)
UC News (gives your news to spies)
UC Browser (knows what’s happening in your house while you browse)
BeautyPlus (Minus privacy of course)
NewsDog (Don’t be the dog)
Viva Video (We ‘no’ video)
Parallel Space (And parallel spying)
APUS browser (Read again. It’s not ASUS)
Perfect Corp (with imperfect intentions)
Virus Cleaner (more like virus installer?)
CM Browser (Chief Malware browser?)
Mi Community (Of spies!)
DU Recorder (Ewww Recorder)
Vault-Hide (Sensitive Details SHOW)
YouCam MakeUp (You CAN’T)
Mi Store (of Malware)
CacheClear DU Apps Studio (Cash clear?)
DU Battery Saver (Data drainer?)
DU Cleaner (Wiping out your private data!)
DU Privacy (not so private after all)
360 security (against your info!)
DU Browser (click bait!)
Clean Master – Cheetah Mobile (Maybe, as fast as a Cheetah when it comes to compromising your data?)
Baidu translate (translating your data for cyber attacks)
Baidu Map (tracking all your moves)
Wonder Camera (makes you wonder where your info got leaked)
ES File Explorer (ES File Destroyer)
Photo Wonder (All those selfies aren’t private to you)
QQ International (International spies)
QQ Player (playing with your data)
QQ NewsFeed (feeding someone else with your news)
WeSync (Your data with our intentions)
QQ Security Centre (Securing Malware on your device)
SelfieCity (Selfish City?)
Mail Master (Malware Master)
QQ Launcher (Launching viruses on your phone)
Mi Video call (Your and everyone else’s video call is in trouble)

That’s a very long list there. These Chinese apps aren’t banned but it is advisable to delete them if you have installed them on your phone. If you haven’t, we have you reasons enough to not install them.

Do you see a strange and ironic finding?

Most of these apps are anti-virus apps. It definitely makes you less suspicious of them. Who can imagine that an app that’s supposed to rid your phone of viruses will end up infecting it instead? Now that you know that these apps could be a threat, there shouldn’t be a doubt.

The one that’s caught off guard in this controversial and factual news is Xiaomi. We all love Xiaomi and all its offerings to us but since this has instilled some amount of fear against the use of Mi apps, it could mean ‘crisis’ management time for Xiaomi. For those who trust the brand, continuation of use will be seen but it will be hard to instill the same trust in new buyers. Let’s see how Xiaomi handles the situation.

Another brand that everyone was shocked to see on the list is TrueCaller. However, before things got out of hand, Sweden based TrueCaller said in their defense: “In response to certain reports, we would like to clarify that we are a Sweden based company. We are not sure why the app is on this list, but we’re investigating. Truecaller is not a malware, and all our features are permission-based and are disabled by default.” This statement is believable because TrueCaller is a Swedish brand but it does make everyone wonder why it was on the list.

As of now, there’s no concrete evidence or proof for the public at least. However, the government has listed these as threats and we must avoid the risk unless we want our phones to also be hit by a pandemic. Just saying. I mean it isn’t that important to take Selfies with a SelfieCity, right?

What is 5G? How does 5G technology work?

There is so much talk about 5G across the globe. It has been in the tech news for quite some time but a lot of us still don’t know all the details. What is this 5G technology? How does it work? Let’s decode this next-gen tech and see how it will revolutionize forthcoming mobile phone generations.

For a simple start, 5G is the fifth generation of mobile networks. It is an evolution of the current 4th generation LTE networks. With the growing connectivity in the world, imagine billions of devices connected to each other with a network and mind of their own. The existing 4G network is fast enough already. Now imagine something faster than that, that too with a faster response time. Sounds cool! Doesn’t it? Now let’s see how all of it works.

First, let’s understand a term called latency. It is the time taken by devices to respond to each other over a wireless network. Now if you thought all the celebration and hype around 5G isn’t worth your while, check this out:

3G network response time – 100 milliseconds.
4G network response time – 30 milliseconds.
5G network response time – 1 millisecond.

Read that again. 1 MILLISECOND. Imagine an almost zero wait time, zero lag and everything happening in actual real time.

So what will this ultra small wait time help us with?

Internet of Things! Machine to machine communication will become unbelievably fast and imagine a whole world of machines interacting with each other without any human intervention!
Unbelievably reliable low latency communications.
Enhanced mobile broadband.

Imagine a world of smart farms, cities, schools, villages. 5G is about to shrink the world further and it seems to provide comfort to lives, businesses and communities like one has never imagined before.

Now with so much to offer, how do 5G networks work?

Initially, 5G networks will have to work with 4G networks to ensure a continuous connectivity.

Getting deeper into the technical aspects; a mobile network has two main components, the ‘Radio Access Network’ and the ‘Core Network’.

The Radio Access Network –

It comprises of an array of facilities that include small cells, towers, masts and home systems that connect mobile users and wireless devices to the main core network.

Small cells are a major feature of 5G networks especially at the new millimetre wave (mmWave) frequencies. Here, the connection range is very short. Small cells will be distributed in clusters to provide a continuous connection.

5G Macro Cells will use MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) antennae which have multiple connections in order to send and receive more data simultaneously. The benefit to us is that more people can connect to the network at the same time while getting the same, rich output.

The Core Network

This is the mobile exchange and data network which has the job of managing all of the mobile voice, data and internet connections. Most of the advanced features of 5G including network slicing for various applications and services will be managed in the core.

Network Slicing

This enables a smart way to segment the network for a particular business or application.

Network Function Virtualization (NVF)

This is the ability to instantiate network functions in real time for any location within the operator’s cloud platform. Network functions that used to run on dedicated hardware will now be able to operate on software on a virtual machine. NVF is extremely important for speed efficiency to support new business applications.

This is all the basic tech that goes into operations of 5G networks.

Now imagine a world where you don’t have to wait for a page to load. That’s just the tip of the iceberg and that’s the least of the best that 5G can do for you. Let our imagination dream big. Now imagine a world where you don’t have to operate anything in your house and all of those machines work on their own as and when needed. That’s what we’re talking about. Maybe even bigger and better things are in store for us with 5G. Only time will tell if it’s a boon or a bane. After all, we are all going to become super lazy with so much tech at our disposal. However, with all those perks, we aren’t really complaining. Are we?

Touchless Technology Saves the Day

Since everything is revolving around Coronavirus, it’s treatment and the ‘new normal’, let’s think about what the world might look like if technology was to evolve too. I mean, if besides social distancing, we were to maintain a distance from gadgets too, yet operate them at the same time, how would it be?

While touchscreen technology has been around for more than a decade now, we can hardly imagine life without it. Touchscreen phones, tabs, laptops, everything. Since viruses (especially Coronavirus) and other microorganisms tend to live on surfaces, can we really control a breakout of the same by coming up with ‘touchless’ technology?

Fast-forward to 2025 and I’m leaving to buy some groceries. I simply wink at my car door to open it. A ‘wink and blink’ technology. Cool, quick and efficient. Isn’t it? I remember registering my eyelid for anti-theft certification. It was a long process and my eye did hurt but we have to be cautious. It is better to have my eye hurt than contract Coronavirus. Now I can be sure that neither will my car be stolen nor will I contract Coronavirus (at least not by touching the surface of my car). What a relief.

I am back home and it is time to check my phone. It is at my work desk and I only have to wave ‘hello’ to it for its screen to appear on my TV – the big screen experience! I feel super lazy for not even lifting my hand to touch the phone but that’s what all of this new Touchless technology is about! Besides, my hand already hurts from waving ‘hello’. And now that the display is on the big screen, I’d finish a few tasks and enter a Zoom call for my official meeting. Let’s go with checking my social media accounts first. To enter my Instagram account, I simply make a ‘duck face’, for TikTok I need to make an exaggerated dance move and for Twitter, I need to speak a strong opinion for a ’cause’. Touchless technology is that simple! Crazy, isn’t it? For the Zoom call thereafter, I simply make an ‘It’s Monday again’ face and there we go. I’m beginning to think that why wasn’t Touchless technology always a way of life?

The whole of my face and body hurt right now by making all those expressions and gestures so it’s a free workout session every day too! That’s quite a bonus. I’m not complaining. What I’m thinking about is just this, that if we were winking at our cars without this ‘touchless’ technology, it would be so odd. Think about making that ‘it’s Monday again’ face to login to Zoom meetings and getting fired by your boss.

Well, so much for avoiding pandemics. We’re afraid of the touch but I guess we should be more afraid of the ‘touchless’ unless we want to get weirder, looted by tech companies for the new technology and well, more susceptible to a mental care rehabilitation centre. We’re okay with building herd immunity for now, I guess?

Driving NASA to Space – Elon Musk’s SpaceX

While you all were thinking of all the controversies and downfall that Elon Musk must’ve seen in the last two years, he launched yet another milestone, literally. SpaceX successfully launched NASA astronauts into space!

Elon Musk and the team have been working on this dream for the last 18 years and on 30th May of 2020, the automobile tycoon’s SpaceX launched astronauts beyond the skies. The Falcon 9 rocket left Launch Complex 39A carrying two astronauts, Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley. This marked history for Elon Musk as SpaceX became the very first private company to have launched astronauts for NASA.

With all of this, if all goes well, SpaceX will also begin launching astronauts not only for NASA but other space agencies and private companies. The first operational Crew Dragon mission, called Crew-1, is expected to launch to the ISS on or around Aug. 30, with 3 NASA astronauts and 1 astronaut from the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency.

A test dummy named Ripley was onboard Demo-1 that was launched previously in March 2019 with no real astronauts on board. This was for a week-long test. Elon Musk has been extremely overwhelmed with emotion and when someone’s hard work does pay off, it definitely is a victory worth all the emotions and celebrations.

While the return is more important than entry, Musk and team are geared up to ensure that the reentry is safe and only then will he consider it to be a true victory. Elon Musk has earned quite a reputation over the years. Tesla fans are many and now SpaceX is all set to create a wave of new fandom. He has shown remarkable resilience even during tough times and his crisis management skills have proven to be unparalleled. After all, courage is the true virtue that one must live by.

Amidst all the Coronavirus chaos that the world has been hit really hard with, there’s consolation here in this huge achievement that showcases what all a human being can do. It is all about setting goals and following through to achieve them. Elon Musk has set an example for all to follow.

Leaving you with a positive note by Adidas – ‘Impossible is nothing’.

Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 Under Works | To Come With 120Hz Display?

While the entire world is at home, not defying the lockdown and helping each other out in the best ways possible, we all know a lot of things which were scheduled to happen in 2020 have been cancelled or postponed. Many smartphones manufacturers have already postponed their upcoming launches or strictly sticking to online launches for the same.

But on a positive note, this is a good time to do the homework well and make no noise, like Samsung has been doing. The Korean smartphone giant is reportedly working on the next version of the Samsung Galaxy Fold and if rumours are to be believed, the upcoming fold will be cheaper and better in many ways.

Samsung Galaxy Fold

The upcoming Galaxy Fold is expected to be priced at $1780 to $1880 which is a significant dip compared to the Fold which retailed for $1980. The new Fold is expected to be unveiled alongside the new Galaxy Note series, somewhere around the month of August.

Additionally, if the reports are true, the upcoming Galaxy Fold will also carry support for the S-pen stylus. The main display is expected to measure 7.59-inch which is an increment from the previous 7.3-inch and is said to carry a 1689 X 2213 screen resolution. The display will also have an ultra-thin coating of glass, something that Samsung has been advertising a lot from the time it launched the Galaxy Z-Flip. The display could also support 120Hz refresh rate.

The secondary screen on the outer face of the Fold will see improvements as well and Samsung could go for a 6.23-inch panel with a resolution of 819 x 2267 and 60Hz refresh rate. The selfie camera could be placed under a punch-hole cutout.

In the camera department, the main sensor will be upgraded to a 64MP sensor and will be flanked by 12MP and a 16MP additional modules. This setup is quite close to Samsung’s triple camera setup on the Galaxy S20 and the S20+. Last but not least, the Galaxy Fold 2 or whatever Samsung decided to name it will also bring in support for 5G like Samsung’s latest flagship releases. However, a hit at lower onboard memory sounds right which will keep the manufacturing costs low and thus make it affordable?

Zoom Beware | Google Meet Adds 3 Million Users Daily

In the first-quarter report for 2020, Google’s parent company Alphabet reported its earnings during which Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai shared that Google’s video conferencing app ‘Meet’ is reporting a heavy addition of users. The addition of users goes up to 3 million users on a daily basis which is a big jump from its 2 million a day users when it reported earlier in the month.

Google Meet is a video conferencing application

Google Meet is a video conferencing application like other that we know of and the platform has been seeing a steady rise in its user base, most of it triggered by the current stay at home situation. The current rise in users is basically a three-fold increase in users since the month of January taking the total to over 100 million now.

Google Meet has been experiencing a strong surge in its user base and Google has been putting constant efforts in its developments. The company recently rolled out several updates last week including tiled layouts. The current update allows the app to 16 people together as opposed to four previously. Google meet also allows users to share high-quality video with audio with the new feature ‘Present a Chrome tab’. other features include a low-light mode for better visibility and improved noise cancellation.

Not only this, but Google also rechristened its video conferencing app for G Suite customers from ‘Hangouts Meet’ to just being ‘Meet’ now. Moreover, the company has made all the premium features of meet absolutely free for people until the 30th of September. The following extension has been made owing to the current pandemic situation across the world.

New Camera Buying Guide For First Timers

A camera is one of the most used gadgets in the present time. We all have a small and capable camera with us at all times – our smartphones. Smartphones cameras have now evolved to be more capable than they were five years ago. Most of us love our smartphones which can carry out the day to day imaging needs very easily. However, if you are looking to upgrade to a different camera, it is a different ball game altogether.

Tips to Buying a New Camera

Buying a new camera is much simpler now. You have a lot of brands and types of cameras that are available within a wide price range. What becomes difficult is the process of choosing which camera to buy. There are many choices which usually confuse buyers. Megapixels, zoom, battery life etc, a lot to consider before putting your money on one.

Buying a camera is basically identifying what you would be doing with your camera. Are you shooting your regular life or doing something which required more control? In this guide, we have narrowed down the types of cameras according to their capabilities and uses.

The first thing you do is set a budget range. Your budget will depend on what you want to get. Needless to say, the higher your budget, the better equipment you can buy. So, set a budget which will enable you to narrow down the options available in the same range.

Now that your budget has been finalized, you can choose what type of camera to buy. For someone who would use the camera for his day to day photos, vacations etc, you can go for a small but powerful digital camera. Digital cameras have now become extremely capable and pack very powerful sensors and processors inside. Digital cameras are easier to operate and you do not need to be a pro to actually take pictures. Simply setting up it in auto mode will allow you to take pictures very easily. While portability and image quality is the advantage, the downside of digital cameras is basically the small sensor and limited flexibility that could be an issue for someone who likes more control.

Interchangeable lens cameras are making most of the noise. The name suggests, allows you to change the lens of the camera. An interchangeable lens camera could have various sizes of sensors. Micro four-thirds, APS-C or 35mm sensor which is commonly known as Full-Frame cameras. Interchangeable lens cameras have a major division now which is the DSLRs and the Mirrorless camera. While DSLRs are traditional cameras with big bulky bodies and a pentaprism mirror for their optical viewfinders, mirrorless cameras have ditched all the extra flab and become smaller and lighter which eases the handling.

The choice of the sensor size is an important factor when buying an interchangeable camera. While DSLRs will leave with the choice of either an APS-C or a Full-Frame sensor, mirrorless cameras can come with a micro four-third sensor which is smaller than the traditional crop (APS-C) sensor. In digital photography, the size of the sensor plays an important role, especially with image quality. Megapixels do count, but honestly, the megapixel roar is just gimmick. Any camera with a megapixel count above 20 is just good enough for the images that you would take. With a full-frame sensor, you will have more data which can be later processed if you are shooting for commercial purposes or need to make very large prints.

What about those who do not want the normal conventional cameras? Well for those who like to capture their adventures, an action camera is the way to go. Action cameras, do not get it wrong, are quite powerful when compared to their tiny size. Most of the top of the line action cameras can record 4K footage as well as large images. Action cameras are built very rough and tough and come with weather sealing, allowing you to take it anywhere in any weather condition. Images taken on action cameras are usually warped as the angle of view is very wide. However, you can choose different options of crop like the narrow-angle of view or the superwide.

Remember, you will use the camera to its best abilities if it actually suffices all the requirements you have. Buying a very expensive camera without the technical know-how makes it just as obsolete as buying a sports car for driving on the country roads. You know it is going to scrape its belly. Why not get an SUV and take advantage of the higher ground clearance instead?