Likely launching next month in India, the OnePlus 10T has been spotted on Benchmark sites reportedly performing with the latest Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 at the helm. Frame rates, along with operating temperature have been reported on Twitter by leaker Yogesh Brar, claiming that in the popular and graphically demanding game Genshin Impact, the newly identified OnePlus smartphone boasted 57FPS on average, at 43-46˚C on Extreme graphics settings. This is in comparison to the existing OnePlus 10 Pro which currently performs at 55FPS running at 45-49˚C. A common complaint with the 10 Pro is that the phone runs too hot. Although this is not entirely fixed, OnePlus has partially internalised this problem with the new chip.
Another leaker Mukul Sharma revealed that the OnePlus 10T is currently undergoing Research and Development testing in India, revealing variants with 8GB/128GB and12GB/256GB, attesting that 150W charging is quite likely. Two supposed finishes are a Green and Grey shade, while he further confirms that the smartphone will be offered as an upper mid-range device.
In other news, the smartphone is expected to come with a 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED panel with second-generation LTPO technology allowing the display to refresh between 1hz and 120hz. The phone might come with a 360hz touch sampling rate to improve responsiveness and gaming. On the back of the phone, the phone is rumoured to come with a triple camera setup yet again, with the now popular 50MP IMX766 sensor on the primary shooter, an 8MP sensor for the ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2MP macro camera. The phone would feature anything between 4500-5000mAh battery as there is no real clarification on the same.
In the recent WWDC 2022 event on June 6, Apple inc finally announced its iOS 16 update, which will be released in September 2022. Although this is excellent news for all the tech followers and smartphone enthusiasts, this is also bad news for some previous iPhone users.
With iOS 16, Apple also announced that some devices wouldn’t be receiving these updates, specifically the iPhones starting from 7 Plus to the bottom will not be receiving these updates. The announcement shocked many people because the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus were released in September 2016, which isn’t a long time for smartphones not to receive further updates.
Like the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, iOS 16 is not to be released for the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus, among other devices. Following Apple’s WWDC event on June 6, iPhone 7 customers rushed to Twitter to voice their frustrations over the lack of an update for their phones.
Cancer is the second-leading cause of death globally. In 2020 alone, cancer was responsible for nearly 10 million deaths. Scientists have conducted ongoing research and experimented to find a cure for this disease throughout history. The first cancer patient was cured in 1898 using radiation, a method used to cure cancer in the current times, and this is called chemotherapy. Chemotherapy damages the genes inside the nucleus of the abnormal cancerous cells. Although this treatment has a five-year survival rate of 90%, it is often pretty dangerous for people because of the excessive radiation exposure to the patients. The dangers of excessive radiation have motivated scientists to find a safer and more efficient way of curing cancer through research and experiments.
In a recent trial on 18 rectal cancer patients in the US, cancer disappeared from each patient through a drug called Dostarlimab. Doctors at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York conducted the research published in the New England Journal of Medicine. “At the time of our report, no patients had had chemoradiotherapy or surgery.” researchers said in a media outlet study, which meant that the drug Dostarlimab didn’t require any surgery or chemotherapy to decrease the tumour.
The trial is a fascinating breakthrough since nothing like this has ever happened in the history of cancer, where the cancer tumour has decreased/faded from each patient. Experts applauded the study because not all patients had significant adverse effects from the pharmaceutical experiment.
Although this is exciting news, people should not be overly hyped about this because Dostarlimab is not 100% a cure for cancer and has significant side effects which make it undifferentiable from chemotherapy. “We do not know if it will work for other cancers, apart from rectal cancer, because testing and trials have not been done,” Dr Ashok Kumar Vaid. “(My) initial thoughts were that this was very exciting because patients were getting cured without any radiation, surgery, or chemotherapy. A deeper dive brings up questions,” Adds Dr Anil Heroor
Even though there are multiple drawbacks to this study, such as the cost of treatment, small sample size, and eligibility, this is an outstanding achievement for science. Everyone should hope for the best while being realistic.
Motorola has made its mark in the Indian market hot on the heels of releases such as the Motorola Edge 30, G52, and Edge 30 Pro. The OEM recently announced the Motorola G82 for India, sporting the Snapdragon 695 5G and a 120hz display in the mid-range segment.
The build and design of the phone are fairly basic, with a PMMA Thermoplastic material on the back panel, and Gorilla Glass 3 protection on the front. The phone comes in two finishes – Meteorite Gray and White Lily. All this is topped off by a water and dust resistance rating of IP52.
The display is a 6.6 inch 120hz 10-bit pOLED panel delivering inky blacks and vibrant colours. With a 360hz touch sampling rate, gaming and general usage are more responsive to touch input, providing a snappier experience.
The G82 comes with 6 or 8GB of DDR4X memory, and 128GB of uMCP storage, with up to 1 TB expandable storage through the microSD card slot available on the sim tray.
The phone contains a 5000mAh cell, with an included charger for 33W “Turbo Power” fast charging, as the company calls it.
Moving on to the cameras, the triple camera setup on the back is a 50+8+2 MP effort for the Main, Ultra-wide, and Macro cameras respectively. The 50-megapixel main camera with an f/1.8 aperture supports OIS, a rare addition in this competitive segment, but definitely great for both stable video and improved Night Mode shots. Furthermore, video is capped to 1080p 60fps on the main lens. Towards the front, is a 16MP selfie camera with an f/2.2 aperture with the ability to capture up to 1080p 30fps.
The Moto G82 will be shipping with Android 12 with a light skin over an otherwise close-to-stock android experience, delivering a bloatware-free, smooth and unified experience powered by Google products. The phone will be available for purchase on Flipkart from the 14th of June.
Specs:
SoC: Snapdragon 695 5G [Octa-core]
Display: 120hz pOLED 6.6 inches FHD+
360hz Touch Sampling
700 nits (1000 nits peak)
10-bit colour, covering the DCI-P3 colour gamut
RAM: 6GB/8GB RAM LPDDR4X
Storage: 128GB + 1TB Expandable – uMCP
Battery: 5000mAh + 33W “Turbo Power” Fast Charging
Operating System: Android 12 My UX
Back Cameras:
50 MP f/1.8, Wide Angle, Primary Camera with OIS up to 1080p 60fps
BMW has been on an update spree like most other manufacturers in the year 2022. This time around, it’s the X4’s turn to receive a stealthy yet worthy Shadow edition update, a limited edition! This vehicle is also offered in a standard edition, but the M Sport package amplifies the overall appeal as expected no matter which you choose. On a sunny afternoon, we drove a limited edition BMW X4 Shadow edition wrapped in a nardo grey suit, one of the best colours on automobiles. Rev along.
BMW X4 MSport x30d-Wiser and meaner with time
Launched back in 2014, BMW last updated the BMW X4 in 2019. This year, the BMW X4 gets an updated, versatile chassis shared with older and younger X siblings from the family. The shadow edition accentuates this car’s appearance with all black and nardo grey contrast. BMW equips the X4 in x30i or x30d configurations, both standard in the M Sport package. Visually, both are identical, with sharper fascia and slim M Sport BMW adaptive LED lights front and rear. While the X6 is the original SUV Coupe beauty, the X4 symbolises this design in the midsize SUV Coupe silhouette making it one of the most handsome SUVs for its asking price.
Standing on M Sport dual spoke M light run-flat 20-inch tyres and adaptive suspensions, the X4 looks stunning in proportion. Shadow edition masks all the chrome elements of the standard car in gloss and matte black combinations. First seen on the M4, the adaptive air intakes sit neatly behind the more proportionate BMW grille. Sharper angles make this update feel modern and apt for this year and the future. M Sport batches all around the car, red M Sport brake callipers and wider tyres with 245 section up front and 275 at rear heighten the car’s road presence compared to its predecessor. This time in sharp geometric shapes, the rear black diffuser and M Sport dual exhausts add a sense of sporty appeal to the overall X4 package.
On the inside, our shadow edition featured all-black interiors with red stitching on good quality leather finishes and soft-touch leather on the dash, doors and centre consoles. Nothing much has changed since its last update in 2019, apart from the 12.3 BMW live cockpit touch infotainment system featuring wireless Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and gesture controls with M Sport animated dials to display gravitational acceleration, lean angles and more. M Sport three-spoke steering feels sturdy and acts sharp, making this SUV coupe feel more like a typical coupe than a midsize SUV. There are some misses, like the lack of wireless charging and 360-degree cameras, especially in a day and age when affordable cars are loaded with such sensors and more. The quality of leather and fit-finish levels are one of the best in the premium segment, and everything feels tactile. Being an SUV Coupe, the X4 packs a healthy electric-operated boot space of 525L with a space saver tyre.
BMW X4 MSport x30d-M Sport package as standard
The X4 is offered in twin-turbo combos of a 4-cylinder 252 bhp and 350 Nm petrol x30i engine, and our review (absolute) unit is provided in 6-cylinder 262 bhp and 620 Nm diesel x30d engine. BMW has got rid of other xDrive offerings. We test the better of the two – x30d, and its various drive modes include Eco, Eco Pro, Comfort, Comfort what-not, Sport and Sport Plus, with individual configurations for all settings. Truth be told, our dials were usually red with the Sport plus mode activated for most of our drive. What was surprising was the sheer opulent drive in comfort modes. The diesel engine is engineer-aged like a fine wine and feels refined, and the gearbox is smooth, mated to sophisticated NVH levels on a chassis developed for the X7!
Despite the larger shoes with 20-inch wheels, the adaptive suspension, brilliant chassis with minimal to no body roll, refined diesel engine and class-leading NVH levels give the BMW X4 a duality. It can be calm in comfort modes, and when you are in the mood for some paddle shifting fun, this bimmer can surprise you. A 0-100kmph sprint is achievable in 5.8s! This car is quick, considering the size and volume. To put it in perspective, this midsize mammoth is almost as fast as the newly launched BMW i4, and that is an all-electric sedan! Different modes aside, this car can perform a wheel spin on ECO mode if demanded. SPORT plus modes aggrandise the power, steering feel, suspension feedback and overall responsiveness of the BMW X4. BMW M sport package amplifies this car’s appeal by many folds. In an era dominated by midsize SUVs, this brilliant SUV Coupe does not just stand out with its design but also its mean twin-turbo M spec power.
The BMW X4 does feel like an SUV in all its elements. Still, it drives like a sedan thanks to an enthusiastic engine coupled with a smooth 8-speed Steptronic transmission, sharp steering inputs and M sport black magic on the limited shadow edition. Interiors, too, are sumptuous and accommodating despite the M sport seats with ample lumbar support. The adaptive suspension has made a world of difference to the overall drive quality of the updated BMW X4. There is almost no body roll despite the sheer size of this SUV, and high-speed stability has to be one of the best ammunition in its arsenal, coupled with solid but progressive braking.
BMW X4 MSport x30d- The sporty SUV styled as a Coupe
We drove spiritedly all day long in a limited Shadow edition BMW X4 x30d, and not many will be available in India. The black treatment on the exterior and interior with subtle M Sport badges makes the BMW X4 a handsome car. Newer details make the X4 look sharp and modern, ready to age with poise. Limited editions not just age with grace but sometimes appreciate with time. This beautiful monstrosity is a worthy set of wheels in your garage if you are tired of the ordinary-looking SUVs on our roads. Not only is it sporty in its drive appeal, but also composed in a way. BMW X4 has matured into a stunning midsize SUV Coupe update from BMW.
In 2022, everything is expensive, especially computers and computing parts. Thanks to an ongoing pandemic, most of us work from home, and kids learn from home too. There has never been a better demand for computers as in this era and although your phone is yet another computer with a smaller display and different OS, the need for a full-fledged computer has increased many folds. Add the fact that most laptops are easily over the price of 30K. Asus launched their BR 1100 series, one with (BR1100FKA) and one without a touchscreen (BR1100CKA), for as low as 25K! We review the latter.
Design – Small chassis, smaller screen
A 180-degree opening hinge on something like a 13-inch laptop chassis with an 11-inch 1366×768 anti-glare display makes this little wonder usable from many angles. The keyboard is not backlit but has tactile feedback and does the job for countless hours of typing. It is definitely a little cramped and takes time to familiarise. The trackpad is also smaller than most current laptops but supports gesture recognition and decent multi-touch support. The design is enforced with steel connectors, military-grade MIL-STD-810H certified with soft rubber circumference and a beautiful matte texture on the front and comes in a dark grey, light grey highlights and black keyboard accentuating the appeal of this budget laptop.
Made for connectivity
The chassis on both the FKA touchscreen and CKA non-touchscreen models are the same, and thus both enjoy some diverse utility and connectivity. The front and back panels are neat while the LHS houses a Kensington lock, 45W barrel charge port, USB (G3.2 with charge support) Type-C, USB (G3.2) Type-A, full HDMI 1.4 port, a blank cutout of the FKA stylus while the RHS has a full RJ45 port, USB (G2.0) Type-A port, another blank cutout, 3.5mm headphone jack, power button and volume rocker like most phones. Couple that with Intel wireless AC-9560 WiFi connectivity, and the laptop supports high-speed dual-band connectivity with Bluetooth 4.2, an impressive connectivity package for the price.
Performance – Not bad but too limited
At this price, Asus has packed the chassis with consistent ruthless usage in mind like students and field operators. The laptop comes with a dual-core Intel Celeron N4500 (1.1 – 2.8GHz) paired with a generic 4GB DDR4 RAM, and a 64GB internal memory marks a limit to this laptop’s usage. Chrome with multiple tabs pin this laptop’s RAM and at times processor use at alarming levels. 4GB and 64GB are the bare minimum, but somehow our unit received and ran Windows 11 Home 21H2 update with ease. What seems to limit everyday use are the RAM and internal memory. Assigning more virtual memory did little to nothing. Tabs refresh more often than expected, and memory management only loads the tab you are accessing at the moment. The processor does a decent job of keeping things snappy overall.
The laptop has multiple shortcuts assigned to FN keys and one-touch software-enabled buttons to disable the noise-cancellation enabled mics and camera. The 0.9MP 720p camera is clear and decent for video connectivity with support for 720p 30fps recording. Viewing angles on the LED-backlit display are good, but outdoor display brightness could be an eye strain. The user-facing speakers are impressively loud and clear and make a great companion for online classes, conferences, videos, and multi-media. The efficient internals aid this laptop’s 45Wh battery to last as long as 7+ hours of use. At 1.26Kgs and 25K starting price, the Asus BR1100CKA is an interesting laptop. It does all justice to its form factor, and despite being chunky, it feels trustworthy to wield.
Verdict – Not bad for the price
Laptops are expensive this year, and Asus BR1100CKA proves a great companion for someone interested in regular text use with occasional multi-media consumption. It offers a whole Windows experience at the cost of low-tier hardware with good connectivity, but products like the Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 with an external keyboard offer a much more versatile package at similar prices. Think before you choose!
Good – Price, military-grade protection, connectivity
The popular social media site Instagram has come with another new update. Instagram is testing a new ‘Show All’ feature for stories. Instagram stories are a popular feature used by all to share their daily insights and highlights. The stories are on the feed for 24hours since it’s upload time.
Currently, the user can upload as many stories as they want. So the viewer gets to see all the stories uploaded without skipping them. The new update will let the users watch only the first three stories uploaded. Then, one can click on the ‘Show All’ button to watch more stories. Else the application will take you to another person’s story. This will let users skip the ‘n’ number of stories shared by the users.
In Brazil, an Instagram user, Phill Ricelle, observed the feature and shared a screenshot through Twitter. The screenshot seems to reveal the Instagram Stories layout, alongside a brand new option placed beside the person’s profile photo in the top left corner. Translation reveals that the feature reads ‘Show All. The latest update is available for significant user groups to test the feature before making it accessible to all the users.
Most recently, Instagram has launched a brand new characteristic referred to as Enhanced Tags. The feature will allow customers to credit their creative collaborators in posts and short videos that appear in Feed and Reels on Instagram. Instagram mentions in its post that “this feature will display a creator’s publicly displayed and self-identified profile category.” The categories consist of makeup artist, choreographer, creative director, photographer, and other categories, as displayed within the article’s feature image.
As per some reports, Instagram by Meta is working towards making the Reel creation process easier for the app users.
Only time will tell whether the updates will be a hit or a miss and how easy they will be for users.
Don’t we all love large displays, why else would we want to watch movies on those large crisp projections in a movie theatre? LCD, and OLED displays as good as they may be and as large as they get, might not be the optimal solution when it comes to viewing content on a large canvas especially while saving some bucks. Do you know how much a 55-inch television with 4K HDR 120Hz refresh rate costs in India? You might want to google search and see for yourself! This is exactly why movie theatres use projectors rather than large AMOLED displays. Today, we have an alternative to something as large as a 300-inch crisp 4k HDR 120Hz display, powered by something so small, that we could carry it around. Meet the Optoma GT1080HDR DLP Projector.
Simply Optoma:
Design is simple yet lightweight and installation on a table or ceiling is easy. The front-facing projector is about a foot wide with 12.4-inches, 4.5-inches tall and 9.5-inches in length. The remote has all the necessary buttons and every button is illuminated. There’s also a lens cover that covers the short throw lens neat and complete.
More value than money:
Being DLP this projector is virtually maintenance-free, has better picture quality, wider colour range and greater contrast while also being capable of displaying up to 3800 Lumens of vibrant bright projection. Do not go by its name of GT1080HDR as the projector is able to project up to 4K HDR at 120Hz refresh rate. Optoma has packed the GT1080HDR DLP Projector with multiple I/O when it comes to connectivity. HDMI 2.0, HDMI 1.4a, VGA in and out, USB power in and out, audio in and out, RS 232 port, AC power and Kensington lock.
Projector distance can be adjusted from as low as 1.3 feet to 11.3 feet. Being a short-throw projector the Optoma GT1080HDR DLP Projector can produce a crisp 4K 120inch display from a mere 4 feet. The remote is illuminated, a clever trick especially for a projector. Active and passive 3D is offered with the right content and glasses at a rapid refresh rate of 144Hz, mighty impressive for a product that costs less than a 55inch 4k television with similar specs. The contrast is 50000:1 and thanks to DLP, the projector lamp is easily replaceable by a claimed viewing time of 10 years as per normal usage of 4 hours per day. If all of this wasn’t enough, Optoma has loaded a 10-watt speaker inside the projector to have an audio and video experience right out of the box.
We played a couple of games at a 4K HDR high refresh rate and the projector pleasantly surprised us. Colours and contrast are amazing in games and games look more immersive with naturally punchy colours. The speaker too performs decently for a built-in speaker and no complaints here. The built-in fan is relatively silent and never audible. Next, we tried a couple of movies, youtube songs and the audio-video experience left us mesmerised. Optoma colour reproduction is one of the best when it comes to projections. Colour tones are natural throughout ECO and ECO+ modes. HDR performance was at par with expensive projectors and overall, the Optoma GT1080HDR DLP projector seems to have more value than money for what it provides.
Verdict:
If you are looking for a capable 4K display and own a new-gen console like the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, definitely consider auditioning the Optoma GT1080HDR DLP Projector. With the right panel, proper sources and innate capabilities like impressive colour tones, passive 3D, and keystone correction with +/- 40 degrees, this Optoma projector is definitely a great value addition to your display arsenal.
Rating – 4.5/5
Good – Short-throw projection, display customisation
Bad – Manual keystone correction, old UI
Ugly – Bright mode distorts colours
Projection – Upto 300inch 4K Signal / HDR Compatible
Shorter installation distance with short throw lens design
Bright 1080p projector – 3,800 ANSI Lumens
High contrast outcome – 50,000:1
Easy connectivity – HDMI, VGA, R232, 10W speaker
Low ownership costs – up to 15,000 hours of lamp life (Eco+ Mode)
Motorola has been on a launching spree ever since it promised to deliver a new smartphone every month last year. This time around, it is the Motorola Edge 30, and Motorola claims this to be the slimmest and lightest 5G smartphone in India. We tested the brand claims and the phone only to witness surprised by our findings.
Display – POLED goodness
Motorola has retained the FHD+ pOLED panel from its predecessor, the Edge 20, with one of the fastest refresh rates at 144Hz on Edge 30. This display is bright, has punchy colours and has an extended edge to edge design, making the bezels as narrow as physically possible in 2022. The display also gets 10-bit HDR10 capabilities and content support for the same. There’s a fast in-display fingerprint sensor, and a hole punch camera makes this look amazing, especially at the starting price of 27999.
Is it the slimmest and lightest 5G phone as per Motorola claims?
Motorola has taken inspiration from the new generation of iPhones, which is visible in the design. Buttons are on the RHS ends, and despite the lack of a headphone jack, this time around, the phone features a Dolby Atmos algorithm on dual stereo speakers. Acrylic back and sides and a pOLED panel make the Edge 30 feel lighter than its visual appeal. At 155gms, this is one of the most lightweight phones available in India.
Specs – Balanced performer
Snapdragon 778+ 5G SOC is one of the most balanced SOCs made by Snapdragon. It easily handles the Android 12 based UI; scrolling is super smooth and fast and supports 13 5G bands, with none available to test. Overall, the WiFi 6E capable SOC with the latest Bluetooth 5.2 and support for multiple bands with carrier aggregation make this a good phone for a connected lifestyle. We played a couple of games, and the processor handled them all at the highest graphic settings with smooth gameplay at 360Hz touch sampling. Also, the standby time on Snapdragon 778, including this plus variant phone, is one of the best in Android smartphones.
Cameras – A decent pair of shooters
Motorola has included a 50MP OIS primary with 50MP ultra-wide sensor and a 2MP depth sensor for aiding camera algorithms. The shots from this phone are decent, and the best part is the colour consistency between cameras. Low light photography, too, has improved many folds compared to its predecessor, the Edge 20. The ultrawide sensor doubles as the macro shooter. The front 32MP camera is above average. All the sensors support 4K video recording, making it future proof and great for content creation.
Battery – Lasts long, really long.
Edge 30 comes with a 4020mAh battery coupled with a 33W fast charger inside the box. The best part is that Snapdragon 778+ is a very balanced SOC and thereby provides good performance and pairs it with good efficiency. This phone can last a heavy usage day with ease, thanks to the efficient SOC onboard.
Motorola features
Speakers are decently loud at this price range, and they sound richer than the competition. Moto Gametime allows for overclocking the processor when you play games and some optimised software settings to aid gaming on this phone. Motorola secures your data on the phone with Thinkshield technology, a gift from its parent company Lenovo. Motorola also equips the Edge 30 with ready for functionality, allowing straightforward phone content sharing with TV, computers and other devices. The whole package is available in two RAM trims and two colours of your choice. There’s quite a bit of functionality provided by Motorola for the price alongside the usual moto gestures.
Verdict – A good mid-range smartphone.
Motorola Edge 30 is one of India’s lightest, if not the slimmest 5G smartphone. Overall ad-free UI, capable low-light cameras, lightweight construction, and pOLED goodness powered by one of Snapdragon’s best SOC make the Motorola Edge 30 a good recommendation for anyone who wants the best of all worlds in the Android smartphone universe.
OnePlus Nord starts getting the stable version of the Android-12-primarily based on OxygenOS 12. The OxygenOS 12 stable update is rolling out quickly after OnePlus had launched the beta model of the operating system. The new edition can be had to users via over the air (OTA) update. The update is being rolled out to customers in India.
OnePlus has informed that the users of the open beta will be the first ones to acquire the stable update as it releases. The brand has additionally provided a changelog for the customers on Beta 2. The changelog informs that the new firmware version will carry in updates as well as will restore the issues.
The new update will bring new capabilities along with an enhanced dark mode, a OnePlus Shelf, and an overhauled design. The update will be available to the ones on the Android 11 version.
Customers outside of India probably won’t be waiting much longer for the update that weighs in at 4GB also packing the April 2022 protection patch. So, customers should make sure to have the considered necessary space available in order to install the update successfully. The phone must also be at above 30 percent battery to kick off the update.
OnePlus shared the information through its network forum and additionally highlighted a number of the recognized problems that a future update of the software will aim to resolve.
Known problems:
The display of a few pages in Settings can be one-of-a-kind from the system.
The display screen will glitch in specific scenarios when
The camera might also additionally crash while taking pictures in Portrait mode.
The abnormal display of thumbnails when taking burst pictures.
The abnormal display of the Quick device connects when in the Guest mode.
