How to roll back iOS 12 Public Beta to iOS 11.4 on iPhone, iPad

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July 1, 2018

Apple recently released the iOS 12 Public Beta for the compatible devices. Many users, out of excitement decided to upgrade their iPhones or iPads to the latest firmware. However, as the iOS 12 is under Beta, it might not be as stable and will have a few bugs here and there. So, if you regret installing iOS 12 Public Beta, here's how you can roll back to iOS 11.4.

A few points to remember

Make a full backup of your iPhone/iPad before downgrading. Do note that the backups made from iOS 12 cannot be restored on iOS 11.4. So, you have to individually take backups of images, videos and songs
You will need an original lightning cable or at least an MFI-certified one
Make sure that your Laptop/PC/Mac does not shut down during the process. If this happens, your iPhone/iPad will go into DFU mode or Recovery Mode.

Pre-requisites

A Windows/Mac PC
An iPhone/iPad running on iOS 12 Public Beta
Lighting Cable
iOS 11.4 IPSW file for the corresponding Apple device. The IPSW file can be downloaded from here.

Also Read: How to download and install iOS 12 Public Beta on iPhone, iPad

How to downgrade to iOS 11.4

Step 1: On your Apple iPhone/iPad, head over to Settings>(Your Name)>iCloud>Find My iPhone and turn it off

apple, iphone, iphone 5s, ipad, roll back,, downgrade, ios 12 public beta, ios12 beta, ios 11.4

iPhone Settings

Choose iCloud Here

Turn off Find My iPhone

Step 2: Now, connect your iOS device to your Windows or Mac PC

Step 3: Fire up iTunes and click go to the Summary section listed under the Device tab

Step 4: Here, hold Shift (Windows) or Option (Mac) key and click on Restore iPhone

Step 5: A window will pop up where you have to select the downloaded IPSW file and click on open.

Step 6: Let iTunes verify the file and once the verification is complete, click on Restore

Step 7: Once the whole process is complete, your iPhone and iPad will restart and you can then remove the cable.

Now your iPhone/iPad is running on iOS 11.4. You can now follow the on-screen instructions in order to setup your device.

Should you buy a Samsung Galaxy S4 in 2018?

By

Devesh Arora

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July 1, 2018

samsung, galaxy s4, galaxy s4 in 2018, is it worth it, should you buy, galaxy s4 root — Samsung Galaxy S4 also had an IR blaster on the top

Samsung launched the Galaxy S4 back in April 2013. The smartphone is now nearly 5-years and has got multiple successors since its launch. If you already have a Samsung Galaxy S4, can you still use it for another year or if you are planning to buy one in 2018, will it be worth it?

Specifications

Samsung Galaxy S4 is powered by the Exynos 5410 chipset which is an octa-core processor. The smartphone features a 5-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels. The handset packs in 2GB of RAM coupled with 16GB of onboard storage which is further expandable using a microSD card. The smartphone runs on Android 5.0.1 Lollipop and comes with a 2,600mAh battery under the hood.

On the optics front, the Samsung Galaxy S4 sports a 13-megapixel camera at the back with f/2.2 aperture and a LED flash. Up front, there is a 2-megapixel selfie shooter with f/2.4 aperture.

Design

Samsung Galaxy S4, being a 5-year old device, shares a very outdated design. The smartphone comes with a plastic body makes it look cheap as per today's standards. However, the Galaxy S4 had a removable back as well as a removable battery. The back opens up to reveal the micro-SIM slot, the micro-SD card slot and the battery. The Galaxy S4 also features NFC and Wireless Charging. However, you will need to replace the back panel in order to enable the wireless charging.

Up front, the Samsung Galaxy S4 has a 5-inch FullHD display. The phone has huge bezels on the top and bottom making it look dated. The Galaxy S4 has a physical home button sitting between capacitive Menu and Back keys.

Software

Samsung Galaxy S4 was launched with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and the last update it got was the Android 5.0.1 Lollipop. Back in the days of Galaxy S4, Samsung had a very bad reputation in terms of software. The company used a heavy skin called TouchWiz and supplied the phones with a lot of bloatware which made the smartphones slowdown even after a few months of usage.

Samsung’s TouchWiz UI

Using an Android phone gives you a lot of customisations options. So, you can change the launcher once and make some tweaks which can make your Galaxy S4 faster. To make it, even more, faster, you always have an option of installing custom ROMs. A list of custom ROMs are available on XDADevelopers.

During my usage, I was not so satisfied with the performance I got from the stock ROM. So, I downloaded and flashed a custom ROM in order to get a boost in the performance.

Camera

Samsung Galaxy S4 features a 13-megapixel camera at the back. The Galaxy S4 surely had one of the best cameras in its time. However, with the advancing technologies and introduction of dual-camera setups, this phone's camera is now leaps and bounds away from even some of the mid-range phones of 2018.

Image stabilization could have been better

However, if you are looking for a decent camera on a really tight budget, you can find a used Galaxy S4 for less than Rs. 3,000 in India. The cameras on the S4 is still far better than the phones selling for around Rs. 7,000.

Verdict

Samsung Galaxy S4 has started to show its age with the much-outdated software as well as hardware. Even the design of the Galaxy S4 has become too old. Moreover, the Indian variant of the Samsung Galaxy S4, the i9500 only supports 3G which means you will sacrifice on Internet speeds.

So, we highly recommend you to go for skip the Galaxy S4 and look out for other smartphones. If you are looking for an old flagship, the Galaxy S5 might make more sense or even the iPhone 5 or 5s will work. In case you already have a Galaxy S4, you should consider changing your smartphone.

Microsoft to soon launch Andromeda: Reviving Windows Phone

By

Devesh Arora

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July 1, 2018

microsoft, windows, microsoft windows, project andromeda, microsoft project andromeda, windows phone, surface, microsoft surface, microsoft surface phone, surface phone, project andromeda laptop — Microsoft might bring back Windows Phones soon

Microsoft is reportedly developing a new Surface device that is said to have a dual-screen setup. The project is currently being referred to as Andromeda within the circles of the company. According to a recent report by The Verge, the upcoming Surface device will have two screens and will also be pocketable.

The reports suggest that Microsoft is actually working on this project for quite some time now. The company is aiming towards creating a totally different category where they will be able to provide the power of a full-fledged PC in a pocketable and foldable dual-screen device.

As per the previous reports, the Andromeda will come with a wraparound display that will help in hiding the hinge and the gap between the two screens. Unlike the dual-screen on the ZTE Axon M, this type of display will give a more immersive experience when the whole device is open.

As far as the internals are concerned, it is being said that the upcoming Microsoft device will be backed by either a Qualcomm or Intel processor. According to the reports, the company is currently testing out both processors and might end up launching multiple variants of the Andromeda.

Also Read: Apple rebuilding its Maps app from ground up

Microsoft, a while ago, discontinued their Windows Phone series. With the Andromeda upcoming, the company might be planning on a comeback against the likes of Android and iOS operating systems in the smartphone industry. Going through the reports, it is a clear indication that Microsoft is trying to bringing PC like performance into a smartphone that can act as a tablet when needed.

Should you buy an Apple iPhone 5s in 2018?

By

Devesh Arora

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June 30, 2018

Apple launched the iPhone 5s back in September 2013. The Apple iPhone 5s is now almost 5 years old and the company recently announced that they will be updating to the latest iOS 12. The update will give the device support for one more year while apps will be supported for at least two more years. So should you go out and get a new iPhone 5s now in 2018?

Specifications

In terms of Specifications, the Apple iPhone 5s features a 4-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 640x1136 pixels. The smartphone is powered by the Apple A7 chipset which is a dual-core processor clocked at 1.3GHz. The device packs in 1GB of RAM paired with 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of onboard storage. All of this is backed by a 1,560mAh battery.

On the optics front, there is an 8-megapixel camera at the back with f/2.2 aperture and a dual-tone LED flash. Up front, there is a 1.2-megapixel selfie shooter.

Design

In my opinion, the design of the iPhone 5s was one of the best Apple could ever make. The smartphone shares a small form factor and looks dated as per today's standards where most smartphones are running towards the bezel-less screens. The iPhone 5s is also quite thick but that is the reason why this is one of a few smartphones that can stand straight on a flat desk.

The Apple iPhone 5s was the first Apple device and one of the first smartphones to get a fingerprint scanner or as Apple likes to call it, TouchID. The iPhone 5s was the second phone from the company, first being the iPhone 5, to come with a Lightning port for charging and data syncing. The phone also had an iPhone jack and it was the last iPhone to have a power button on the top.

Software

The Apple iPhone 5s was launched with iOS 7 and currently runs on the iOS 11.4 which will soon be updated to iOS 12. We installed the iOS 12 Public Beta on our iPhone 5s and witnessed a huge improvement in performance. If the Public Beta can make it fast enough, we can assure that the final build will make the device perform better than iOS 10 and even the iOS 11.

Lock Screen

Home Screen

Settings Page

About Phone

iOS is one of the major reasons why people prefer to get an Apple device. The software is more secure than Android and the apps are much more optimised. Apple provides timely updates and surprisingly the iPhone 5s which was released in 2013 is getting 2018's update. For reference, Samsung Galaxy S4 was launched in 2013 and the last update it received was Android 5.0.1 Lollipop back in 2014.

Though the iOS 12 is the last update for iPhone 5s, the apps will support the device for almost two more years.

Camera

Apple iPhone 5s features an 8-megapixel camera at the back with f/2.2 aperture and a dual-tone dual-LED flash. This was one of the best cameras back in 2013 but as the time passed the cameras on the 5s started to fall behind. The phone can still take some really great shots but lacks bokeh mode or dual-cameras which have become a necessity nowadays.

Outdoor Shot (Rear Camera)

Indoor Shot (Rear Camera)

Selfie Outdoors (Front Camera)

Up front, there is a 1.2-megapixel selfie shooter which might sound a bit weird as most smartphones today come with at least an 8-megapixel selfie snapper. However, the front camera on the iPhone 5s manages to click some really good selfie under good lighting conditions. You might suffer a bit under low lighting conditions.

Conclusion

Apple iPhone 5s, being a 5-year old device, still holds up well. The device has gone through major price drops and now you can find a new one for less than Rs. 15,000. Under the Rs. 15,000 price bracket, the iPhone 5s is still better than a lot of mid-range Android phones. If not better, the 5s gives a premium feel in hand which these mid-range devices fail to give.

If you are planning to get a new iPhone 5s we would highly recommend you o go in for an Android device like Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro or Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1 s they can offer more features and much better performance. However, if you just want an iPhone we would recommend either going in for the iPhone SE or buy a used iPhone 5s. You can easily a get a used 5s in pristine condition for less than Rs. 7,000 which is a steal.

SportsBot 3-in-1 Gaming Combo Review: Gaming on a budget

By

Devesh Arora

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soundbot, sportsbot, keyboard, mouse, headset, headphones with mic, gaming, budget gaming — SportsBot 3-in-1 Combo looks great. Can the performance beat our expectations?

SoundBot, a Southern California based company has recently stepped into India with a wide range of products. SportsBot is a lineup by SoundBot introduced specially for gaming peripherals. The company recently introduced the SportsBot 3-in-1 Gaming Combo that comes with a gaming keyboard, mouse and headset. Is it the best Gaming Combo for budget PC gamers?

SportsBot Gaming Keyboard

The keyboard is one of the best parts about this combo. The keyboard measures in at 480x187x28 mm and weigh in at around 800 grams. It comes with a total of 114 keys which are rated for up to 10 million clicks. The keyboard is backlit and connects to the computer via a USB cable that is around 1.6 meters long.

The gaming keyboard is designed in such a way that if you turn off the backlight the letters on the keys get almost invisible which gives it a minimalistic look. However, the blue backlight is not too bright but does the job in dark.

The whole keyboard gives a gaming vibe to the user

The lights are helpful when typing or gaming in the dark

In our period of testing the keyboard, we felt that the keys are not so comfortable for long writing seasons. However, gaming on the keyboard is quite comfortable. The one thing we loved about this keyboard is the Win Lock functionality. Pressing the Fn+Win Keys together activate Win lock which basically disables the Window key. Gamers usually tend to press the window key by mistake and the Win Lock feature makes sure that your gaming session is not disturbed because of a mistouch.

In terms of quality, the keyboard was average which is something we can't complain about at this price point.

SportsBot Gaming Mouse

The SportsBot Gaming Mouse comes with a total of 6 buttons including the DPI switch and the scroll wheel button. The mouse has 4 levels of DPI resolutions including 800, 1200, 1600 and 2000. We would have loved to see a software for the mouse in order to customise the DPI levels and also turn off the blue LED light glowing all around the mouse.

The mouse feels comfortable even during long gaming sessions

Extra buttons are always appreciated on gaming mice

The mouse also has two buttons on the side which by default act as the Forward and Backwards key while they can be customised under the in-game settings. Having extra buttons on the mouse is always advantageous in games like CS:GO.

The SportsBot Gaming Mouse has great ergonomics and feels comfortable even after long hours of usage.

SportsBot Gaming Headset

The Gaming Headset is something that we did not like much in the combo. The headset sounds all right but was not very comfortable for long gaming sessions. Also, the mic that comes attached to the headset

Conclusion

For a price of Rs. 2,486, the SportsBot SS301 3-in-1 gaming combo is great deal. The keyboard and mouse are great while the headset could have stayed out of the combo. The whole combo gives a nice Blue and Black theme to your gaming setup. Budget gaming mice and keyboard usually skimp on lighting or providing extra buttons. However, SportsBot did not compromise with the features and making the devices look extraordinary. Where they did compromise a bit was the quality. Though the plastic used was not something remarkable, the combo will deliver at least a year's usage. If you are new to PC gaming, the

How to download and install iOS 12 Public Beta on iPhone, iPad

By

Devesh Arora

-

June 30, 2018

Apple, iPhone, iPhone 5s, iPhone SE, iphone 6, iphone 7, iphone 8, ios, ios 12, ios 12 public beta, how to install — iOS 12 is the last major update for the Apple iPhone 5S

Apple has officially released the Public Beta of the iOS 12. The iOS 12 was first made available as Developer's preview where only the developers were allowed to install it. However, now anyone with a compatible device can install the iOS 12 Public Beta by just following a few simple steps.

A few points to remember

Backup your iPhone or iPad before starting with the process
Your iPhone or iPad should have at least 60% charge
Make sure you have a reliable Wi-Fi or Data connection
As this is a Beta version of iOS, there might be some bugs here and there which is why we recommend not to install it on a smartphone that you use on a daily basis

Download and Install iOS 12

Step 1: Open up the iOS 12 Public Beta profile page on the Safari browser of your iPhone or iPad

Step 2: Log in to your Apple Account (If Prompted)

Step 3: Tap on "Download Profile" on the webpage and click on "Allow"

Step 4: Now an Install Profile page will open under your device's settings menu. Here's tap on Install on the top right corner

Step 5: Accept everything and click on Restart when prompted

Step 6: Once the device is restarted, head over to Settings>General>Software Update and let it check for any available updates

Step 7: It should automatically start downloading the iOS 12 Public Beta. If not, tap on Download & Install

Step 8: Once the Download is finished tap on Install and enter your passcode (if asked) in order to confirm the install.

The installation process will restart your iPhone or iPad and it will take some time. Once the process is complete, go through the finishing process and start using your Apple iOS Device on the latest version of iOS 12 Public Beta.

Apple rebuilding its Maps app from ground up

By

Tech Desk

-

June 30, 2018

Apple iPhone, Apple, iPhone, iPhones, Apple Maps, Google Maps, Apple iPhone Maps — Apple to revamp its maps application within the next year and make it much more usable.

Apple Maps might not have been perfect till date, however, considering the fact that the company has come a long way from the joke that Apple Maps was in the first place it is commendable. A report from TechCrunch suggests that the company is now planning to completely revamp its maps application over the next year with the data Apple has gathered on its own.

The report mentions that this new overhauled map data will start rolling out in the coming weeks. However, the rollout will be extremely limited. The people who are enrolled in the iOS 12 beta program will be the first ones to get this update. But that will also be limited considering the fact that the only people to get it will have to be residents of the San Francisco Bay Area. The report further states that by fall Apple will cover all of the Nothern California areas and the update will be released to all versions of the Apple iOS operating system.

Also Read: Here’s a list of all the Apple iPhones and iPads that will get updated to iOS 12

Over the next year, the rest of the US will be receiving new maps section by section, told Apple services leader, Eddy Cue to Tech Crunch. He further said that the company has done a huge investment in getting the map up to par with the competition.

The report also mentioned that Apple will yet again eschew all third-party mapping data, which is what has made up the vast majority of Apple Maps since its launch back in 2012. Instead, they will rely on the data they get from sensor-packed vans and iPhones in a similar way to how Google Maps gathers its data.

Also Read: How to officially downgrade your Apple iPhone 4s to iOS 6.1.3

Alongside all this new data being added to the Apple Maps app, the company is also redesigning it. We are yet to find out if the app will get any better with this data or not.

Airtel now offers 90GB data at Rs. 649: Here's what you need to know

By

Devesh Arora

-

June 29, 2018

Airtel Banner — Airtel revises its pre-paid and postpaid plans time-to-time in order to stay ahead of the competition

Bharti Airtel has revamped its much popular Rs. 649 postpaid plan in order to compete against the likes of Jio and Vodafone. The new postpaid plan offers up 80 per cent more 3G/4G data. The Rs. 649 was earlier counted as "Best Selling Postpaid Plans" from Airtel and it has now become even better.

Airtel is now offering 90GB of 3G/4G data which can be rolled over to the next billing cycle if not used completely. The plan also brings unlimited call Local/STD and Roaming Incoming/Outgoing calls.

Additionally, customers will also one year of Amazon Prime subscription with the plan. Users can also take advantage of apps like AirtelTV, Wynk Music and much more. Moreover, customers can also get a free addon connection with unlimited calls for their family members.

For comparison, Vodafone has Rs. 499 RED postpaid plan that offers 75GB of 4G data with data rollover up to 200GB. The plan also offers unlimited calls with national roaming. Additionally, users will get one year of Amazon Prime membership and complimentary mobile insurance which includes damage repair, extended warranty and antivirus.

Also Read: Airtel now offers 2GB data per day with the Rs. 149 recharge plan: Report

On the other hand, Jio currently has only one postpaid plan that costs Rs. 199 a month. Under the Rs. 199 plan, Reliance Jio is offering 25GB of data and unlimited calling. The data will be chargeable after exceeding 25GB at Rs. 20 per GB.

Here's how you can get the Google Pixel 2 XL for just Rs. 15,599

By

Devesh Arora

-

June 29, 2018

Airtel Online store is offering a massive discount on the Google Pixel 2 XL which was rated as one of the best smartphones of 2017. Available at just Rs. 15,599, the Pixel 2 XL on the Airtel store is just a steal. However, there is a catch here.

Google Pixel 2 XL was originally priced at Rs. 56,999 for the 64GB variant. Airtel is offering a massive discount of Rs. 41,400. However, the customers will need to make payments of Rs 2,799 per month for 18 months in order to avail the offer.

The Rs. 2,799 payments will include 50GB of 4G data per month. The pack will also bring unlimited calling including free national roaming. Additionally, the plan gives users one year of Amazon Prime subscription which is worth Rs. 999. Airtel is also offering Free Handset Damage Protection for 12 months.

In terms of specifications, the Google Pixel 2 XL features a 6-inch P-OLED display with a resolution of 1440x2880 pixels and an 18:9 aspect ratio. The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC. The device packs in 4GB of RAM paired with 64GB or 128GB of onboard storage. The phone runs on Android 8.1 Oreo and will soon be updated to Android P. Under the hood, there is a 3,520mAh battery powering up the internals.

Also Read: Google Pixelbook users can soon install Windows 10: Report

On the optics front, the Google Pixel 2 XL sports a 12-megapixel camera at the back with f/1.8 aperture, OIS, Dual Pixel PDAF and Laser Auto Focus and a dual-LED flash. Up front, there is an 8-megapixel selfie shooter with f/2.4 aperture.

In our analysation, the customers who purchase the Google Pixel 2 XL via the Airtel Online Store will end up paying more than they should. Here's a summary:

Google Pixel 2 XL from the Airtel Store: Rs. 15,599 (Down Payment) + Rs. 50,382 (Rs. 2,799 x 18 months) = Rs. 65,981

Google Pixel 2 XL from Flipkart or any other channel: Rs. 56,999 (Phone's price) + Rs. 2,036 (Carrier Plan) + Rs. 999 (Amazon Prime) = Rs. 60,034

Considering you are getting calls, data and Amazon Prime membership, we have added all that also if you purchase the phone from outside. Under Rs. 60,000 you can get the Google Pixel 2 XL, around 40GB data per month, unlimited calls and Amazon Prime Membership. Whereas, you will end up paying around Rs. 6,000 extra for the same when buying from the Airtel Online Store.

OnePlus to now support their devices for more than 2 years

By

Devesh Arora

-

June 29, 2018

OnePlus has now officially confirmed that they will be supporting their devices for up to three years. The company will now make sure that the devices receive at least two major updates and one more year of support for the software.

OnePlus has now rolled out a whole Maintenance Schedule where they promise to provide at least two major Android updates to the OnePlus 3, 3T, 5, 5T, 6 and the upcoming smartphones. With the guaranteed two major updates comes Android support for two years since the day of release. Additionally, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer is providing one more year of support where they will keep updating the Android Security patches on these smartphones. Essentially, this will make sure that users can safely use their Android devices for up to 3 years without making any sacrifices on the security.

For example, the latest flagship by OnePlus, the OnePlus 6 comes with Android Oreo out of the box. The phone will now receive the Android P as well as the Android Q update. Also, after the Android Q update, the smartphone will keep on receiving Android Security updates for a year.

Also Read: TWRP recovery now officially available for the OnePlus 6 and Huawei P20 Pro

As the OnePlus 3 and 3T have already received two major updates including Android Nougat and Android Oreo, the devices will now get Android Security updates for one year. The security updates are usually rolled out by Google on the 1st of every month and then different OEMs take a few days before sending them to their devices.

The company's whole decision of promising two-major updates has a little backstory to it. The OnePlus 2 was shipped with Android 5.1 Lolipop onboard. Almost a year later, the company updated the smartphone to Android Marshmallow. To keep its customers satisfied, the company rolled an official announcement stating that the Android Nougat update will be rolled out shortly. However, the update never made its way to the smartphone disappointing a lot of users as well as fans. The company is now making up for its mistakes by making a proper Maintenance Schedule.

Beetel BiteTech News, Reviews, PC Mobile Phones, Tablets and more

A few points to remember

Pre-requisites

How to downgrade to iOS 11.4

Specifications

Design

Software

Camera

Verdict

Specifications

Design

Software

Camera

Conclusion

SportsBot Gaming Keyboard

SportsBot Gaming Mouse

SportsBot Gaming Headset

Conclusion

A few points to remember

Download and Install iOS 12