Reliance Jio GigaFiber registrations to open tomorrow, August 15
Reliance Jio recently announced that they will begin the registrations for their upcoming Jio GigaFiber on August 15. Jio GigaFiber is basically Reliance Jio's take on the home broadband services. According to Jio, the Giga Fiber is a one-stop solution for broadband internet, IPTV, Landline and much more.
How to register for Reliance Jio GigaFiber
The Jio GigaFiber registrations are set to begin on August 15, 2018. The registration is free of cost. Users can show their interest by heading over to Reliance Jio's website or the MyJio app on their smartphones. For the registration, users will need to fill some details which include their name, address, email address, contact number and a few other details.
Once you successfully register for the GigaFiber, you will be notified once the service is available in your area. The company claims that they will give priority to the cities where they get the most interest from. Jio aims to bring the GigaFiber connectivity to homes, small and medium businesses across 1,100 cities in India.
According to a recent leak, the Jio GigaFiber plans could start from as low as Rs. 500 giving users a whopping 350GB of data at 50mbps for 30 days. However, in the leaked plan details there was no mention of any plans which offer higher than 100mbps of speed. Though Jio has promised to bring 1gbps of speed via GigaFiber, they might roll out more plans after the commercial launch.
As per Economic Times, the company is looking forward to rolling out the GigaFiber broadband service before Diwali. The company is aiming to make the service available in the metro cities first. However, this might change according to the number of registrations Reliance Jio receives tomorrow.
Android Go optimization lets your old smartphone run as good as new on the latest Android Software.
Google announced Android Oreo 8.1 Go Edition for enabling the smartphones with low-end hardware to run the latest version of Android without any hiccups. Many companies have used this feature by Google to sell low-end smartphones. However, the Android Oreo 8.1 Go Edition is not a completely different smartphone. It is an optimized version of the already existing Android Oreo. Also, what's interesting is that it automatically enables those optimizations based on the RAM the device has. In this article, we are gonna show you how to give your old smartphone a new life with a Low-RAM Property Patcher mod. Please note that this method requires a custom recovery.
Disclaimer: BeetelBite is not responsible for bricked devices, dead SD cards or any kind of damage made to your smartphone. You are choosing to make these modifications and any result, positive or negative, you will be responsible.
What is Low-RAM Property Patcher mod?
Low-RAM Property Patcher mod is developed for users to enable or disable Android Go optimizations on the current Android Oreo 8.1 ROM on any device without any need of rebuilding it. It enables all the optimizations that have introduced on the Android Go project by Google. You just need to flash the enabler file using a custom recovery like TWRP.
The XDA senior member AdrianDC developed this mod. It will work only if the ROM developers validate the low ram UI changes. Heavily modded ROM's like MIUI might now have it. However, we tested it out on multiple devices running Lineage OS and it worked fine.
It will bring in various optimizations. Some of them are:
Flat recent/multitasking UI
high-end graphics disabled
multi-windows disabled
less recent apps cache
minor notification icons changes
no apps notifications access/zen access / VR listeners/picture in picture (PIP) accesses
less logger buffer sizes (devs)
How to enable Android Go optimizations?
Download Low-RAM Property Patcher (Enabler and Disabler) flashable zips from here.
Move the zips in your smartphone and remember its path.
Enter your device's recovery mode. You can do this by either Switching off your device and by pressing power, volume up and down button at the same time. This can also be done by a simple command on the ADB "adb reboot recovery".
TWRP is one of the best custom recoveries out there in the market.
Click the install button on the TWRP recovery or if you are using any other custom recovery, select the install package option in that. If you don't have the TWRPrecovery or any other custom recovery installed, make sure to install that and then continue from steps here.
After that navigate to where you kept the enabled zip and select it.
Make sure to clean Cache and Dalvik Cache after flashing it.
Flash the zip file and then wipe Cache/Dalvik Cache and reboot.
The steps to disabling the Low RAM optimizations are the same, except you need to flash the disabler file instead of enabler file.
Edit: After playing a little while with the Android Go, we figured out that rooted users can enable Android Go optimizations without flashing any file. They just need to add a line in their system/build.prop file. You need root to edit that file.
Just 'ro.config.low_ram=true' line in your system/build.prop file and reboot the device.
Vivo Y81 is powered by MediaTek's Helio P22 processor paired with the IMG PowerVR GE8320 GPU.
Vivo has launched its latest budget smartphone in India, the Vivo Y81. The device is officially available on Amazon India at Rs. 12,990. The new Vivo Y81 will compete directly with smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5, Honor 9N, and the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 in the Indian market.
As for the specifications, the Vivo Y81 runs Android 8.1 Oreo operating system with the company's own FunTouch OS 4.0 on top. It sports a 6.22-inch IPS HD+ display with a resolution of 1520x720 pixels and an aspect ratio of 19:9 with the infamous notch. The device is powered by the MediaTek Helio P22 processor paired with the IMG PowerVR GE8320 GPU.
The Vivo Y81 sports dual SIM card support with a dual 4G standby mode for making it easier for customers to use two 4G enabled SIM card connections on the smartphone. It comes with 3GB of RAM along with 32GB of internal storage expandable up to 256GB via a microSD card. All of this is backed by a 3,260mAh battery and will be made available in two colour variants - black and gold.
Now for the optics on the device, it features a 13-megapixel primary camera on the back with an aperture of f/2.2. This is paired with various features like HDR mode, pro mode, portrait bokeh mode, AI face beauty mode, and many others. On the front, the device sports a 5-megapixel camera sensor to take selfies.
The ZenFone 5Z is an affordable flagship smartphone from Asus
Asus launched their latest flagship smartphone, the Asus ZenFone 5Z last month. The smartphone is here to bring flagship grade hardware at an affordable price. It gives direct competition to the OnePlus 6 and the Honor 10. Can the ZenFone 5Z get the crown of being the best affordable flagship of 2018? Lets find out in our full review.
Specifications
The Asus ZenFone 5Z features a 6.2-inch FullHD+ IPS LCD display an 18.7:9 aspect ratio. The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor coupled with the Adreno 630 GPU. Our review unit packs in 6GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. The storage is further expandable using a microSD card. The phone runs on Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box. All of this is backed by a 3,300mAh battery.
The smartphone runs on Android Oreo out of the box
On the optics front, the ZenFone 5Z sports a dual-camera setup at the back consisting of a 12-megapixel primary and an 8-megapixel secondary sensor. Up front, there is an 8-megapixel selfie snapper.
Design
The Asus ZenFone 5Z features a glass sandwich design which is pretty common with today’s flagship smartphones. The smartphone surely looks spectacular from the back with all that shiny glass and reflective design. However, the glass on the back is filled with fingerprints as soon as you start using it which is why Asus has included a clear case in the box.
The device features a glass sandwich design
Flip the phone over and it will shout it is from 2018 due to the fact that there is a notch up front. The notch allows for a larger screen-to-body ratio. It might feel a bit disturbing while consuming media within the first few days of usage. However, one soon gets used to it and the notch stops bothering.
Display
Asus ZenFone 5Z sports a 6.2-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1080x2246 pixels and an 18.7:9 aspect ratio. The display gets bright enough and the content is easily visible outdoors. Even the minimum brightness of the device won’t hurt your eyes while using the phone at night. The Display settings of the smartphone allow users to hide the notch. However, as it is an IPS LCD display one can tell that the notch still exists.
Software & UI
The ZenFone 5Z runs on Android 8.0.0 Oreo with ZenUI layered on top of it. The custom UI does bring a lot of features but it is not something that will fit everyone’s taste. Despite the fact that it is running a custom UI, the device is pretty smooth and there is no lag whatsoever.
The lock screen allows for a picture slideshow and the stock launcher comes with Google Now sitting on its left. The whole launcher is pretty quick and responsive. Asus even kept the bloatware to the minimal. There is also a theme store which allows users to customise the whole experience.
Home Screen
Notification Panel
About Phone
The smartphone also comes with a bunch of AI features which include AI charging and AI ringtone. The AI charging learns your charging habits and helps in improving the longevity of the battery. AI ringtone adjusts the volume of your smartphone according to the surroundings.
One issue which I did notice with ZenUI was an annoying notification. I live in an area where my Mobile Data keeps switching between 3G and 4G. Due to the fact that I am on roaming, every time the switch happens, I get an annoying notification saying my data roaming is turned on. Unlike other smartphones, there is no option to turn that notification off. However, I am quite sure that a small issue like this can be fixed using a software update.
Performance
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset inside makes the ZenFone 5Z a true flagship. The processor is a beast for gaming and which is why games like PUBG Mobile and Asphalt 8 ran smoothly on the device. The smartphone feels quick and snappy while jumping between apps, thanks to the 6GB RAM.
GeekBench
AnTuTu
The Asus ZenFone 5Z managed to score 2429 on Geekbench's Single Core test while the Multi-Core test achieved a score of 8694. Antutu Benchmarks gave the ZenFone 5Z an impressive score of 249352.
Camera
The Asus ZenFone 5Z sports a dual-camera setup at the back consisting of a 12-megapixel primary and an 8-megapixel secondary sensor. The secondary lens is a 120-degree wide-angle lens. The cameras on the smartphone offer good bokeh and dynamic range. The dual-camera setup also allows for portrait mode and the shots came out pretty decent and though the edge detection is not excellent, it is acceptable. The wide-angle camera was able to bring in more field of view.
1 of 3
Outdoor Shot
Wide-Angle
Portrait Mode
Up front, there is an 8-megapixel selfie shooter which offers an 84-degree field of view. The front camera on the smartphone is quite impressive and the dynamic range is something above average. There is also a portrait mode for the front camera which performs reasonably well.
1 of 2
Selfie
Portrait Mode
Battery
The 3,300mAh battery and the power-efficient Snapdragon 845 SoC make a great combination on the ZenFone 5Z. With light usage, the smartphone easily lasts through a day with around 30-40% battery left for the next day. Even with moderate to heavy usage, the phone is pretty reliable and get through a full working day. In situations where you run out of juice, the Asus ZenFone 5Z can recharge pretty quickly, thanks to the Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0.
Screen on time
PC Mark Battery Test
Verdict
At Rs. 29,999, the Asus ZenFone 5Z brings great value for your money. The smartphone offers flagship grade hardware at an affordable price without compromising on the build and design. The phone has everything that a 2018 flagship should need, a dual-camera setup, a notch up front, USB Type-C port and even a headphone jack. The AI features are just an icing on the cake.
If the Asus ZenFone 5Z sounds perfect, no it is not. The smartphone runs on Android Oreo-based ZenUI which is not something everyone is going to like. We would have appreciated if the company brought stock Android experience just like their recently launched ZenFone Max Pro M1. However, it is a tradeoff as you are getting a number of extra features like Theme support, an inbuilt app lock, twin apps and much more.
Asus ZenFone 5Z is a great value for money smartphone
Speaking of extra features, the Asus ZenFone 5Z comes with a feature called ZeniMoji. It is nothing but Asus' take on Apple's AniMoji. However, as the ZenFone 5Z does not have that extra hardware, the ZeniMoji is nothing but a gimmick.
If you are a light user, the 6GB+64GB variant should be able to serve you well. However, if you are a hardcore user we suggest you get the 8GB+256GB variant as it can offer more storage and better multitasking. The 6GB+128GB variant does not make much sense as you will only get a boost in internal storage by spending Rs. 2,000 more. You can get more storage using the device's microSD card slot for much cheaper.
PUBG Mobile is currently one of the most popular Android games
Player Unknown's Battle Grounds or more popularly known as PUBG has become a sensation over the gaming industry. Tencent games also introduced a mobile version of the game soon after launch which caught up even more attention due to the fact that it was available on the Google Play Store for free. However, the game was high demanding which is why mid-range or low-end smartphone gamers could not enjoy the game at its best. The company has now come up with a lighter version of the game.
PUBG MOBILE LITE is here! Built with Unreal Engine 4, this version of PUBG MOBILE is compatible with even more devices and optimized for devices with less RAM without compromising the gameplay experience that has attracted millions of fans around the world.
The PUBG Mobile Lite features a smaller map
PUBG Corp. has now introduced the PUBG Mobile Lite which targets the low-end Android smartphone market. The lite version of the game will be available via the Google Play Store soon. As this is a soft launch, the game is currently available only in the Philippines and will soon make its way to the other markets.
The PUBG Mobile and the PUBG Mobile Lite are not exactly similar as to achieve the lite version the company had to make some compromises. The battle royale match on the lite version of the game supports only 40 members unlike 100 on the regular version. Due to the lesser number of players, the average span of a match has been reduced to 10 minutes and the map is now smaller at 2x2 km.
The lite version of the app is currently available in the Philippines and if you live there you can just head over to the Google Play Store and download the app. However, if you live outside of the Philippines and cannot wait for the launch, head over to this link to download the APK and OBB files of the PUBG Mobile Lite.
Palm is making its comeback to the smartphone industry
Palm, a company which was famous back in 2007 for its PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) is now coming up with a new smartphone. The company used to build devices that were way ahead of their time running an os called WebOS. Palm has been inactive since 2011 and it is now going to make a comeback with its new Android smartphone.
According to a report by Android Police, the all-new Palm phone will run on Google's Android. The smartphone will be manufactured by TCL which is the same company that is manufacturing BlackBerry smartphones for the US and the European markets. In the US, the Palm phone will be initially available via Verizon.
The Palm phone is said to come with a 3.3-inch display and run on Android (Image Credits: Android Police)
Android Police has also got some images of the smartphone alongside some details on what the smartphone will carry under the hood. The upcoming smartphone is currently being codenamed as "Pepito" and will feature a 3.3-inch HD display. The display size was acceptable back in 2007, however, it is way smaller than today's standards where we usually deal with 6-inch smartphones.
The "Pepito" smartphone will be powered by the entry-level Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 chipset. The device will pack in 3GB of RAM coupled with 32GB of onboard storage. The handset will run on Google's Android 8.1 Oreo operating system out of the box. All of this will be backed by an 800mAh battery which is a lot less what today or even smartphones from 2 or 3 years ago offered.
The specifications of the upcoming smartphone clearly state that the device is not looking to compete against the flagships and rather bring a more affordable and easily pocketable Android smartphone.
Samsung launched their latest flagship Galaxy Note 9 on August 9 and with the Note 9, Epic Games announced the availability of the much awaited Fortnite for Android. The game is finally here and currently only available for a few devices. For a few days from now, it will be only available for some Samsung devices and then it will make its way to other supported devices.
List of supported devices
Samsung Galaxy S7 / S7 Edge
Samsung Galaxy S8 / S8+
Samsung Galaxy S9 / S9+
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Samsung Galaxy Note 9
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3
Samsung Galaxy Tab S4
Google Pixel / Pixel XL
Google Pixel 2 / Pixel 2 XL
Asus ROG Phone
Asus Zenfone 4 Pro
Asus ZenFone 5Z
Essential PH-1
Honor 10
Honor Play
Huawei Mate 10 / Pro
Huawei Mate RS
Huawei Nova 3
Huawei P20 / Pro
LG G5
LG G6
LG G7 ThinQ
LG V20
LG V30 / V30+
Nokia 8
OnePlus 5 / 5T
OnePlus 6
Razer Phone
Xiaomi Blackshark
Xiaomi Mi 5 / 5S / 5S Plus
Xiaomi 6 / 6 Plus
Xiaomi Mi 8 / 8 Explorer / 8SE
Xiaomi Mi Mix
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S
Xiaomi Mi Note 2
ZTE Axon 7 / 7s
ZTE Axon M
Nubia / Z17 / Z17s
Nubia Z11
How to install Fortnite on Samsung devices
Head over to Settings>Advanced Features>Games and turn on Game Launcher
Now you can see a new app called "Game Launcher" in your app drawer
Fire up Game Launcher and swipe up to discover new games
Here you will find Fortnite with a Download button on top of it, tap on that
Now you will get the option to Install the "Fortnite Installer"
Game Launcher
Fortnite Installer
Open up the "Fortnite Installer" app and follow the on-screen instructions to download the game
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 (left) vs Samsung Galaxy Note 9 (right): Which one will come out on top?
Samsung has launched its new Galaxy Note 9 smartphone at an event held in New York. The device is know become what most people in the tech industry are calling the device of the year. Considering the fact that the device is an extremely over-powered beast that will do most of the work you are able to throw at it with a single breeze, let's not ignore the fact that the Galaxy Note 8 will be a bit lower priced now. Which will be an excellent option for you to get. Below is a press release that Samsung issued comparing both the new Galaxy Note 9 to the Galaxy Note 8, to make your decision a much simpler one.
Press Release:
The latest addition to a series that continues to raise the bar for smartphone power and performance, the Galaxy Note 9 features an array of innovative technologies that help users get the most out of everything they do.
The Galaxy Note9’s all-day, 4,000mAh battery is the largest ever featured in a Galaxy flagship phone, and offers enough charge to power through an entire day’s worth of work, play, and everything in between. The device also features generous built-in storage options (either 128GB or 512GB) that allow users to put the days of deleting photos, videos and apps to make room for more behind them.
A new, Bluetooth Low-Energy enabled S Pen makes the series’ signature feature even more dynamic, allowing you to utilize the powerful tool as a customizable control for managing apps and functions. The device also introduces a camera that combines Samsung’s industry-leading innovations with deep-learning technology that takes the work out of snapping the perfect photo.
These are just a few of the exciting innovations that make the Galaxy Note9 ideal for those who demand the best of the best. Check out the infographic below to learn more about how Samsung enhanced its latest flagship device.
Here is a specifications comparison between the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and the Galaxy Note 8. (Image: Samsung)
Now that all has been said, the decision is up to you. Do you want the newest Samsung Galaxy Note 9 with all of the new features or you are able to sacrifice a few features and save on a lot of money by purchasing the Samsung Galaxy Note 8?
Google Pixel 3 XL render image, showcases a new colour design. (Image: Phone Designer)
During the past few months, we have been an audience to a lot of Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL leaks and reports. Recently a Ukranian blogger posted a hands-on video of a nearly final production unit of the Google Pixel 3 XL. Now, the same blogger has posted a video of putting the Pixel 3 XL smartphone through the AnTuTu benchmarking test.
The video of the new supposed Pixel 3 XL smartphone shows how the device runs and performs in real life, unlike the hands-on video which focused much more on the box contents of the smartphone. In the video, after he showcases how the device works, he moves on to performing the AnTuTu test on it, in the end confirming a few specifications of the device thanks to the device validation test.
The device validation test in the video showcased that the device will sport a 6.7-inch display with a resolution of 2960x1440 pixels. It will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor paired with the Adreno 630 GPU and will come with 4GB of RAM along with 64GB of internal storage. Do keep in mind that there might be more storage and RAM variants which will be launched by the company officially later this year.
It will come with the Pixel 2 XL and HTC U11 like Active Edge technology and will run on Google's newest Android Pie operating system. As for the cameras, the device will feature a 12.2-megapixel primary camera of the back, and a triple camera setup on the front consisting of all 8.1-megapixel cameras.
The three camera setup on the front is said to help the device with better facial recognition with the help of 3D facial mapping technology. In the video, an Always-on display wallpaper can also be viewed similar to the older Pixel and a few other handsets.
The Galaxy Note 9 is here, but let's see what else you can buy with the same money.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is one of the best flagship smartphones you can currently purchase. But as we all know, nothing is perfect. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 does have its shortcomings. Like it's price, the Note 9 costs more than the iPhone X, making it one of the most expensive smartphones right now. However, it is also one of the most powerful smartphones currently available in the market. If you are looking to buy a smartphone of that power, but not the Note 9 because you don't like its massive size or its huge price. Here is a list of alternatives you can consider.
Apple iPhone X
Apple is being said to unveil three new iPhones in September along with a cheaper variant of the MacBook Air.
The best smartphone made by Apple in their entire history, at least what the company likes to call it. The iPhone X is your best bet if you don't like Android. It runs on iOS unlike the Note 9. Also, if you don't have much use for the S-Pen and you don't mind the Notch, the iPhone X is the best alternative for you.
Huawei P20 Pro
The Huawei P20 Pro is the only smartphone with a triple rear camera.
The Huawei P20 Pro is one of the best smartphones when it comes to low-light photography. This is thanks to its triple rear camera setup. The smartphone a 40m-megapixel f/1.8 aperture sensor along with a 20-megapixel f/1.6 aperture and an 8-megapixel f/2.4 aperture sensor at the rear. The combination of all these and the AI optimizations by the company make the P20 Pro a great camera smartphone.
Google Pixel 2 XL
Google Pixel 2 XL
The Pixel 2 XL is the smartphone made by the very company that owns the maintains the Android Ecosystem. The Google-branded smartphone is claimed to have one of the best smartphone cameras on the market. Also, it has dual front firing stereo speakers that make it the best for listening to music. However, what's most interesting is its software. The smartphone runs on stock Android making it the purest experience of Android. Also, it makes it easier for it to receive the latest updates. Like the smartphone has already gotten the Android P Update.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Note 8 is the predecessor of the Note 9
The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is the predecessor of the Galaxy Note 9. The smartphone packs everything the Note 9 packs, including the S-Pen. It runs on slightly older hardware, but it is quite cheap compared to that. Now that the Note 9 has launched, Samsung will soon bring the prices of the Note 8 close to the Rs. 45,000 mark. So that makes it a good choice.
OnePlus 6
OnePlus 6 packs as much power for much less price.
The OnePlus 6 packs the same processor, the same ram and slightly less storage then the Note 9. What it offers is all of that for a much less price. While the Note 9 starts $999, the OnePlus 6 starts at Rs. 34,999. That is way cheaper than the Note 9 and you can almost get two of these for the price of one Note 9. This makes it a worthy competitor.
