The transition from the beta version to V1 provides users with a number of new customisations like dimples, freckles, cheek-lines and more.
Hike, the cross-platform instant messaging app has launched its HikeMoji feature for all its users. The company states that this is the country's first hyper-local and personalised avatar.
The company states that it has used machine learning (ML) on the platform scaling 100 trillion combinations in beta to 100 quintillion combinations in V1, which has just been rolled out. Due to which it can create a life-like HikeMoji in under three seconds.
To recall, the feature was launched back in November. From then the company states that it has created over 1 million HikeMojis in its beta stage. It also states that due to HikeMoji being inspired by the diversity of India, it is the country's largest platform for hyper local avatar creation.
With the new HikeMoji feature, users can now play around with over 1,200 components to get a unique look. These components include hairstyles, skin shades, accessories, facial features and expressions. Which according to the company will allow users to create virtual avatars that not only reflect their personality but also their mood.
The transition from the beta version to V1 provides users with a number of new customisations like dimples, freckles, cheek-lines and more.
"The traction is incredible with over 1 million plus HikeMojis created in beta alone. We're excited to officially roll this out in V1 with a lot more detail. You can now also take your HikeMoji with you to other messaging platforms," said Kavin Bharti Mittal, Founder and CEO, Hike, in a press statement.
LG V60 ThinQ 5G carries the model number LGE LM-V600N. Keep in mind, LG V50 ThinQ 5G had the model number LM-V500N. (Representational Image: LG V50 ThinQ 5G)
LG is reportedly going to launch its LG V60 ThinQ 5G smartphone later this month. Ahead of the launch, the device has shown up on the benchmarking website, Geekbench. The Geekbench listing provides us with key specifications of the device.
LG V60 ThinQ 5G will be the successor to the LG V50 ThinQ 5G, which was revealed at last year's Mobile World Congress (MWC). However, due to the cancellation of MWC 2020, due to coronavirus outbreak, the company is now compelled to launch it elsewhere. As of now, we do not know when the company will be launching the device and in which all markets it will be made available.
According to the Geekbench listing, the LG V60 ThinQ 5G carries the model number LGE LM-V600N. Keep in mind, LG V50 ThinQ 5G had the model number LM-V500N.
The device will run Google's Android 10 operating system out of the box and will be powered by a processor with the name 'kona'. Which is believed to be the codename for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor. Furthermore, the listing states that the device will come with 8GB of RAM. The company might unveil more RAM variants at the time of the official launch.
It managed to get a score of 898 in the single core test. Whereas, in the multi-core, the device managed to score 3,266.
According to earlier reports, the LG V60 ThinQ 5G will come with a quad microphone setup. It will be backed by a 5,000mAh battery. The device will sport a metal frame with cut-out slots for a USB Type-C port and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Should you buy the new Xiaomi Mi Band 3i or the original Mi Band 3.
With the launch of Mi Band 3i, Xiaomi has brought to the market almost half a dozen fitness bands within around seven years. Being the pioneers in the fitness tracking wearable devices market and not much competition, the Chinese electronics company is practically competing with its own products. The recently launched Mi Band 3i - a cheaper version of its predecessor Mi Band 3 is the latest addition to the Mi Band family. But is the cheaper version better? Should you be investing on this latest band or go for Mi Band 3, read on to find out
Specifications
The only major difference is the presence of a heart rate sensor.
In terms of features offered, both the devices are almost identical. Both have support a 0.78-inch OLED touchscreen panel. The company also claims to provide water-resistant up to 50 meters in both the devices. Both the fitness trackers can track steps along with calories burned during walking, running, cycling and various other activities. Both of them can be synced with smartphones to keep track of phone calls, weather updates, and other notifications. The only major difference being the heart rate sensor which is present in the Mi Band 3 and not the 3i.
Design & Display
The only visible change is the presence of the heart rate sensor on the back.
The design and display of both smart bands are almost the same. Their chargers and bands, both are interchangeable. The only visible change is the presence of the heart rate sensor on the back. The back of the Mi Band 3i is flat with a brand logo on the center, while the 3 had a little protrusion with the heart rate sensor.
The design and display of both smart bands are almost the same.
The band that comes in the box of the Mi Band 3i looks slimmer and angular than the band of the Mi Band 3. However, the bands are interchangeable and there are a lot of bands available for Mi Band 3 and 3i in the market, so you can buy whatever you like and it will fit without any issue.
Xiaomi Mi Band 3 vs Mi Band 3i: Verdict
The design and display of both smart bands are almost the same.
The Mi Band 3 costs Rs 1999 while the 3i costs Rs 1299. So if you are budget constrained, go with the Mi Band 3i. However, if budget is no issue and you want to get the fitness band that is best for you, here's what we think. If you just want to track daily exercise and not are fine with basic metrics, you should go for the Mi Band 3i. However, if you like to keep a close look at your training and how it is affecting your body, a heart rate sensor becomes a necessity, which makes the case to get the Xiaomi Mi Band 3.
Samsung has started rolling out One UI 2.0 based on Android 10 update in India. The update reportedly comes with various optimisations and the February 2020 Android security patch. The update has a total size of 1.5GB.
To recall, the company was supposed to roll out the update back in January. However, it delayed the update for unknown reasons. The device was originally launched with Android 9 Pie based One UI skin back in February 2019.
The One UI 2.0 update for the Galaxy A30 sports the software version number A305FDDU4BTB3 according to SamMobile.
In the report, it has been stated that with the update Samsung has removed a number of preloaded features like the built-in screen recorder. However, at the same time many other features like a system-wide Dark mode and improved Digital Wellbeing.
The update is being rolled out in batches to avoid server congestion. If you have not received the update till now do not worry, Samsung will soon be pushing it to your device. To manually check for the update you can head to Settings > Software Update > Download and install.
Samsung Galaxy A30 specifications
Samsung Galaxy A30 is currently available at Rs. 12,490 on Amazon for the 4GB RAM/64GB storage variant.
The device sports a 6.4-inch full HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity-U display with a resolution of 2340x1080 pixels. It is powered by the company's own Exynos 7904 processor paired with 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage expandable up to 512GB via a microSD card. All of this is backed by a 4,000mAh battery with support for 15W fast charging.
On the camera front, the device sports a dual-camera setup on the back consisting of a 16-megapixel primary sensor with an f/1.7 aperture along with a 5-megapixel secondary sensor with an f/2.2 aperture. On the front, it features a 16-megapixel fixed-focus sensor for taking selfies.
So as we head into a new decade, what can we expect from mobile technology in 2020?
Mobile technology has come a long way in the last few decades. From the first mobile phones that had batteries as big as a briefcase, to the first devices that could fit in our pockets. Then came the first colour screens, the flip phone, the camera phone, and the ability to play music and videos.
At the same time, the development of the personal digital assistant (PDA) was providing executives with the ability to take a copy of their electronic calendar and contact list with them, but little else. PDAs remained a niche product through to the 2000s, with even Apple’s Newton device failing to sell well.
Then in 2007 came the iPhone. A device that combined the PDA and the mobile phone together, while also adding the features of an MP3 player. This sparked a revolution in mobile technology, giving us the modern smartphones we use today.
It also led to the creation of tablets, pioneered by the iPad, and then wearable tech like the Apple Watch, Google Glass and Fitbit. Development seems to have slowed down a little though; at CES a few years ago we were promised “smart windows”, and a rumoured “Apple TV” was going to change the way we thought about that big black box in our living room.
However, Google Glass was pulled, there are no smart windows on the market, and Apple TV continues to just be a streaming box. New releases of devices tend to feature minor incremental changes of previous versions, rather than radical steps forward like we saw in the early 2010s.
So as we head into a new decade, what can we expect from mobile technology in 2020?
Mobile Apps
Mobile apps were one of the biggest revolutions of the 2010s, kick-started by Apple's “there’s an app for that” slogan. Over the last decade, we have seen the mobile experience improve rapidly as websites became responsive, and then brands began launching dedicated mobile apps. This has changed the way we do almost everything in our everyday lives, including banking, communicating, shopping, listening to music, and playing games being completed through apps for both Android and iOS.
Mobile apps will continue to play a major part in the smartphone and tablet experience. No one expects this trend to change, with more and more services being available through mobile apps, although the rate of growth will slow down.
5G
The rollout of 5G technology will continue, despite the unsubstantiated and conspiratorial health concerns. It has been used extensively in South Korea for nearly a year and is being rolled out in the UK and the US.
Some smartphones are already 5G ready but expect the majority of the releases in 2020 to have the new communications standard built-in. Looking forward, the rollout will continue in existing territories, increasing the coverage to include larger numbers of people. Also, expect new countries to put their 5G networks online.
Folding Phones
Samsung launched the first foldable phone in 2019, although it had to quickly pull it from sale as the screen began to break. Some smaller companies have since launched their foldable smartphones, with more promised in 2020.
One of the most anticipated is the Motorola Razr, which brings a foldable touchscreen to a form factor that looks very similar to one of the company’s most popular devices of the mid-2000s.
Reviews of the Samsung foldable phone were positive (before they broke), but it is not clear whether consumers will see these devices as a novelty, or whether they will purchase them in large quantities.
Wearables
In the first few weeks of the new decade, it looks like 2020 is going to be a year that contains big steps forward with the increasing availability of 5G, and more iterative improvements on devices themselves.
Wearable devices like smartwatches have been around for several years now. We’re likely to see more incremental iterations of these to be released, with a focus on the sports sector. Wearables have been less popular for everyday use, but have been a big hit among runners and cyclists who use them to track their physical activity.
There are a lot of devices on the market, with small startups and bigger companies still churning out watches. We’ll likely see more of this, but the market will probably begin to consolidate soon.
In the first few weeks of the new decade, it looks like 2020 is going to be a year that contains big steps forward with the increasing availability of 5G, and more iterative improvements on devices themselves. Foldable phones are an unknown quantity at present; their success will likely depend on the manufacturing process being improved and whether consumers can be persuaded that they’re not just a fad.
Poco X2 sports 6.67-inch full HD+ RealityFlow 120Hz display with a resolution of 2400x1080 pixels along with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection.
Poco has finally launched its much-awaited second smartphone in the Indian market, the Poco X2. This is the first phone that the brand has launched after separating from Xiaomi. However as some of you might have noticed, it is not an altogether new smartphone. It is just a rebranded version of the Redmi K30 4G, which was launched in China last year.
Key features of the device include a hole-punch display with a dual camera module, a 64-megapixel quad-camera setup on the back, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G processor, Android 10 based MIUI 11 and a 4,500mAh battery just to name a few.
Poco X2: Price, availability and offers
The company has launched three RAM/internal storage variants of the device. The 6GB RAM/64GB storage variant will be made available at Rs. 15,999, the 6GB RAM/128GB storage variant is priced at Rs. 16,999 and the 8GB RAM/256 storage variant is priced at Rs. 19,999.
Launch offers include Rs 1,000 instant discount on using ICICI bank EMI service.
The device will be made available via Flipkart starting February 11 at 12 noon. It will be made available in three colour options including Atlantis Blue, Matrix Purple and Pheonix Red.
Launch offers include Rs 1,000 instant discount on using ICICI bank EMI service.
Poco X2 specifications
Poco X2 sports 6.67-inch full HD+ RealityFlow 120Hz display with a resolution of 2400x1080 pixels along with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G processor paired with Adreno 618 GPU. It comes with 6GB RAM/64GB internal storage, 6GB RAM/128GB RAM and 8GB RAM/256GB storage. The internal storage is expandable by up to 512GB via a microSD card.
The device runs Google's Android 10 operating system with the company's own MIUI 11 skin on top. All of this is backed by a 4,500mAh with support 27W fast charging. Apart from this, the device also comes with liquid cooling technology. The device comes with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor integrated inside of the power button.
Poco X2 sports a quad-camera setup on the back.
Now for the cameras, the Poco X2 sports a quad-camera setup on the back, consisting of a 64-megapixel primary Sony IMX686 sensor paired with a 2-megapixel macro lens, a 2-megapixel depth sensor and an 8-megapixel 120-degree wide-angle sensor.
On the front, it features a dual-camera setup placed inside a display cutout on the top-right edge of the device. The front camera module consists of a 20-megapixel primary sensor and a 2-megapixel depth sensor.
"Losing control of our data was unacceptable, as was paying for a tool that was not part of our core offering for the CERN community; therefore, we will end the trial of this platform," said CERN.
The European Organisation for Nuclear Research, which is also known as CERN has announced that it will not use the enterprise connectivity platform, Workplace by Facebook. This is because it has concerns regarding the management of user data by the social media network.
CERN also announced that its presence on Workplace ended on January 31. The decision was taken because of CERN members not using the platform much along with concerns about data privacy.
"Reactions were not always positive. Many people preferred not to use a tool from a company that they did not trust in terms of data privacy. To date, about 1,000 members of the CERN community have created a Workplace account and there are roughly 150 active users of the platform per week," CERN said in a statement.
After Facebook made Workplace available to any company or organisation free of charge, back in 2016. "For CERN, they made the enticing offer of waiving the fees and so we took the opportunity to test the platform. Representatives from HR, IT and IR worked together to carry out dedicated trials within their department/sector to gather feedback," added the company.
After this, in July 2019, the company announced the introduction of new Workplace paid plans. It also managed to convert three million users to paid users by October.
CERN was then provided with an option to pay the fees implemented by the platform to downgrade to the free version of the service.
The free version removes the administrative rights and sign-on access. It also sends all of the data to Facebook.
"Losing control of our data was unacceptable, as was paying for a tool that was not part of our core offering for the CERN community; therefore, we will end the trial of this platform," said CERN.
In a statement, they also stated that to replace all of the Workplace functionalities, they have introduced a suite of alternative solutions inside of the organisation.
India is the second-biggest smartphone market in the world
On Saturday, during the budget 2020 announcement Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed the world that there is a scheme in the pipeline to encourage the manufacturing of mobile phones, semiconductor packaging, and electronic equipment. Adding to the statement, she said that there is a cost advantage for electronics manufacturing in India. The details of this scheme will be made public later as said in her statement.
According to our sources, a Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (MSIPS) to promote aggressively a 20-odd component manufacturing ecosystem in the country. This system will go beyond making mobile phones and may also help to manufacture medical instruments and lower down costs. M-SIPS originally ran from 2012 to 2018 and it promised an incentive of 20 percent in special economic zones (SEZs) and 25 percent in non-SEZs, and reimbursements of duties and taxes on the equipment for the non-SEZs.
Many companies reacted positively to this announcement. Many of the companies came forward to provide an official statement on the same expressing their views.
Nipun Marya, Director of Brand Strategy, Vivo India said that "It is heartening to see that the Government has time and again recognized the significance of electronics manufacturing in today's economy. The Union Budget's significant focus on local production of mobile phones, electronics, and semiconductor packaging is going to propel the Make in India vision further. We are excited about the detailed scheme, which will follow soon.”
Prakash Mallya, VP, and MD – Sales and Marketing Group, Intel India said that The Union Budget highlights the role technology-enabled innovation can play in leapfrogging the nation. He also said, "With the government’s target of a $5 trillion economy by 2024, Intel believes that technologies like AI, Internet of Things (IoT), and ML will continue to play a pivotal part in this journey". Mr. Vikas Garg, Deputy CFO, Paytm has the same opinion and says that the company with the help of the government hopes to build data centers all over the country.
The JioTVCamera can be simply plugged into the Jio Fiber set-top box and be placed on the top of your TV to make video calls.
Reliance Jio has just launched its new JioTVCamera accessory for its Jio Fiber customers. With the JioTVCamera, customers will be able to make video calls via the Jio Fiber set-top box. The company has not stated if third party cameras work with its set-top box or not.
JioTVCamera price in India
It is priced at Rs. 2,999 and is currently available on the company's website. The company claims to have the device delivered to you within three to five business days. It comes with a one year warranty along with a replacement warranty of seven days in case of damages or defect. The company is offering customers EMI options on the purchase.
JioTVCamera: Features
The JioTVCamera can be simply plugged into the Jio Fiber set-top box and be placed on the top of your TV to make video calls. The set-top box is being provided to all Jio Fiber customers free of cost.
The camera enables video calls to only Jio numbers, whereas, it allows the customers to make audio calls to all mobile numbers.
To setup the device you just need to plug it in, reboot the set-top box and set up your landline number using the JioCall app.
The JioTV Camera comes with a 120-degree field of view. It sports a 1/2.7-inch CMOS sensor with a focal length of 3.1mm. It weighs in at 93 grams and has an input voltage of 5V.
The Jio Fiber set-top box is an Android-based streaming media player, which can run various OTT apps like Hotstar, YouTube, Voot, JioSaavn, JioTV Plus, SonyLIV and JioCinema.
The brand might also launch the Realme C3s alongside the C3 in India. The C3s was recently spotted on US FCC and Thailand's NBTC certification sites.
Realme C3 to launch on February 6 in India. The company has sent out press invites for the same. According to the invite, the event will take place at 12:30 PM IST on February 6.
Realme India CEO, Madhav Sheth has teased the launch of a new ‘C' series smartphone in India. In the tweet, he has promised to reveal more details about the device today.
To recall, the company launched the Realme C2 in India back in April. The device was priced at Rs. 5,999 for the 2GB RAM/16GB storage variant and at Rs. 7,999 for the 3GB RAM/32GB storage variant.
As of now, not much has been revealed by the company about the Realme C3. However, according to various reports the Realme RMX1941 that showed up on Singapore's IMDA site earlier is the Realme C3. The listing did not reveal much about the device.
The brand might also launch the Realme C3s alongside the C3 in India. The C3s was recently spotted on US FCC and Thailand's NBTC certification sites. It will reportedly come with a fingerprint scanner at the back along with an oblong camera module to house multiple cameras.
The Realme C3s is expected to run Realmi UI based on Google's Android 10 operating system. It will come with 4G support and support for Wi-Fi 2.4GHz. On both the US FCC and Thailand's NBTC, the said device is listed as the Realme RMX2020.
