HTC 10 Starts Receiving Android 8.0 Oreo Update

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January 12, 2018

HTC's 2016 flagship, the HTC 10 was regarded one of the biggest comebacks in the history of smartphones.Now, to put cherry at the top of the cake, the HTC 10 has started to receive the Android 8.0 Oreo Update. All the unlocked units of the HTC 10 are eligible for the update. The update has started to roll out in batches. The Taiwanese company promised the release of the latest Android version for its 2016 flagship back in August.

The update bumps up the Sense UI software version to 3.16.617.2. It also includes Android 8.0 Oreo along with default Oreo features such as Instant Apps, new Quick Settings menu, Notification dots, Picture in Picture (PiP) mode, and Smart Autofill, among various others. The update also brings the latest security patch for the device.

How to update your HTC 10

The update is rolling out in phases for all HTC 10 units. You can check whether your device has yet received the update or not by going into Settings --> About --> Software updates. The update is around 1.8GB in size, so we recommend using WiFi. If you haven't yet received the update but can't wait, HTC has provided the software image for its users to flash it into their phone. You can manually install the update by downloading the 1.8GB RUU package that is available on the official HTC site. Do remember, flashing voids your warranty as well as deletes your data. So we recommend waiting for OTA update or at least backing up your data locally before proceeding.

Launched in April 2016, the HTC 10 was originally running Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It got an update to Android 7.0 Nougat in February last year that was around 1.21GB in size.

Also Read: Asus Windows Mixed Reality Headset, ROG Strix Flare Keyboard and More Launched

However, the HTC 10 is not the only HTC smartphone to receive the official Android Oreo update. The company released the Android 8.0 Oreo update for its HTC U11 flagship back in November 2017. The update brought the addition of VoWifi service that is initially available to Chunghwa Telecom subscribers in Taiwan.

Samsung Galaxy S9 retail box spotted online, Specifications and key features revealed

By

Devesh Arora

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January 12, 2018

Samsung, the South Korean giant, is currently working on their next flagship which they are said to launch during the MWC (Mobile World Congress) 2018. The Samsung Galaxy S9 has already been in the leaks and rumours lately while a recent report from Netnews, a Vietnamese website, confirms few of the key features of the upcoming smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy S9 retail box — Source: Netnews

Netnews somehow managed to get their hands-on the retail box of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S9. The box confirms that the S9 will feature a 12-megapixel primary camera with OIS and variable aperture where f/1.5 will be used for low-light shots while f/2.4 will be for brighter environments. We have seen this technology implemented by Samsung before with their recently launched W2018.

The upcoming flagship will also have a feature called "Super Slow-mo" which is most likely to be like we saw in the Sony Xperia XZ Premium. The "Super Slow-mo" feature will be able to shoot videos at 1,000 fps. Up front, there will be an 8-megapixel selfie shooter.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy A8+ Hands-on Review: Is being Selfie Focused enough?

Apart from the camera specs, the box also reveals that the regular S9 will sport a 5.8-inch Super AMOLED display with Quad HD+ resolution. The box also states that the Galaxy S9 will come with stereo speakers and a set of earphones included in the box, both of which will be tuned by AKG. Like its predecessor, the S9 will also have an Iris Scanner, IP68 rating and Wireless Charging support. According to the retail box, the Galaxy S9 will pack 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage.

Airtel offering free Amazon Prime Membership to its customers: Here's how to get it

By

Devesh Arora

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January 12, 2018

Bharti Airtel and Amazon India have collaborated to bring exciting offers for their customers. Now, Airtel users can avail free one-year membership for Amazon's Prime Videos services. Airtel is the first telecom service provider to come up with such offer for its consumers.

Airtel Postpaid users with an Infinity plan of Rs. 499 or above will be eligible to get a one year Amazon Prime membership, worth Rs.999. The Prime membership includes access to over 11 million Prime-eligible products and unlimited access to Prime Videos. Airtel V-Fiber Broadband customers are also eligible for Amazon Prime membership offer.

Sameer Batra, CEO - Wynk said, “This partnership is a major milestone in Airtel’s endeavour to build a world-class content platform. With Airtel TV, we are stepping up the value proposition and offering a complete digital entertainment experience to our Postpaid and Home Broadband users. By making Prime Video available to our customers for a year at no additional cost, Airtel TV is now able to offer one of the largest and most exciting entertainment experiences. We look forward to working with Amazon to delight customers with great benefits backed by a seamless experience.”

Also Read: Airtel, Vodafone offering Rs 1,500 cashback on select Samsung smartphones, Here is how to avail it

Vijay Subramaniam, Director, Content, Amazon Prime Video India, said, “We are delighted to associate with Airtel to bring Prime membership to Airtel’s consumers. At Amazon Prime Video, we are focused on bringing the latest and exclusive content to India. This exclusive offer enables us to reach Airtel’s significant customer base across the country, providing entertainment - anytime, anywhere on a reliable service, with great playback quality and low data usage.”

Here’s how to avail the offer:

If you are an Airtel postpaid user, upgrade to Rs. 499 or above Infinity plans, which offer unlimited Local, STD and National Roaming calls, data rollover (up to 200 GB), and device protection.
Once you get an Infinity plan activated, download the Airtel TV app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
Open the Airtel TV app and click on the special Airtel – Amazon digital card.
Sign up for Amazon Prime by registering a phone number and password.
Download the Prime Video app and enjoy all the Prime benefits.

Smartron t.phone P launched in India: Price, Specifications and Availability

By

Devesh Arora

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January 11, 2018

Smartron, the Indian smartphone manufacturer, expanding its portfolio has launched the t.phone P. The t.phone P is an entry-level device form the company. The highlights of the smartphone include the massive 5,000mAh battery and the 13-megapixel camera at the back.

Commenting on the launch Amit Boni, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Smartron, said, “With a massive 5000mAh battery and an all-metal body, we’ve merged power and beauty into the tphone P."

” To top it, we have layered it with Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 processing might give millions of Indians an enviable device at an exceptional price,” he added.

Specifications

As far as the specifications are concerned, the Smartron t.phone P is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 SoC coupled with Adreno 505 GPU. The smartphone features a 5.2-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels. The device packs 3GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage which is further expandable up to 128GB using a microSD card. The Smartron t.phone P runs on Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box. All of this is backed by a massive 5,000mAh battery for which the company claims 2 days of backup on a single charge.

Also Read: Nokia 1 with Android Oreo Go Edition spotted online ahead of launch: Design, Specifications and more

In the camera department, the Smartron t.phone P sports a 13-megapixel camera on the rear with a LED flash. Up front, there is a 5-megapixel selfie shooter.

Price and Availability

The Smartron t.phone P is launched with a price tag of Rs. 7,999. The smartphone will be exclusively available via Flipkart starting 12:01 pm, January 17.

Asus Windows Mixed Reality Headset, ROG Strix Flare Keyboard and More Launched

By

Lalit Wadhwa

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January 11, 2018

Asus is known for good smartphones and amazing pc gaming hardware and pre-built gaming computers. Today's they showed off their latest product, the Windows Mixed Reality headset at CES. Apart from that, also unveiled by Asus were a few gaming accessories under the ROG brand, including an RGB mechanical keyboard, an RGB controller, a lighting accessory, and the Aura SDK program. In addition to that, Asus showcased numerous gaming laptops, AIO PCs, and more at CES 2018.

Asus at CES 2018 made really good announcements. One of these announcements was the new HC102 Windows Mixed Reality headset. Asus didn't unveil the date of the headset sale but promised that it will be available in Q1 2018. Unlike, the other headsets in the market out there, the best thing about the Asus's solution is that the Asus Windows MR headset does not require any external peripherals or accessories. It has inside-out tracking that makes use of two front-mounted controllers on the headset. A 3D-polygonal pattern gives it one of the most unique designs in the Mixed Reality headset market. Also, it will work with Windows 10 Fall Creators Update.

The Mixed Reality headset sports a 2.89-inch diagonal display, with a resolution of 1440x1440 per eye. The display also comes with 90Hz display rate and 95-degrees field of view. In the terms of Sensors, the Mixed Reality headset includes Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Compass, and Proximity sensor. For connectivity, the Asus HC102 features a 4-meter headset connection cable, an HDMI 2.0 port, a USB 3.0 port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The device only weighs less than 400 grams.

Asus ROG Accessories

Under the company's Republic Of Gamers (ROG) brand, it announced the new Strix Flare RGB mechanical keyboards. The keyboards have Cherry MX RGB switches, dedicated media keys, a volume wheel (located on the upper left end), a USB pass-through port, and a detachable wrist rest. The ROG Strix Flare keyboard comes equipped with Asus's proprietary Aura Sync lighting that lets users individually program RGB keys and LEDs to create a customised RGB experience.

Asus also launched the ROG Spotlight. It is a new RGB accessory that projects the ROG logo on a wall or surface. It also syncs with the Aura Sync on your computer to provide and enhance your gaming experience. This accessory has a matte black finish and can be attached to metallic surfaces with a magnetic base. The Rog spotlight has a 360-degree camera for full flexibility.

Equipped with ROG Halo technology, the new ROG Aura Terminal is a quad-channel addressable ROG controller incorporates lighting effects that are synchronized with the gameplay of your ROG system. Mounting LED strips on the back of the monitor helps the Terminal recognize the colors on the edge of the display. The terminal then matches the color on the LED strips on the monitor to give the user an immersive experience.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy A8+ Hands-on Review: Is being Selfie Focused enough?

Asus to end the presentation showcased their Aura SDK program that enables developers and the company's hardware partners to integrate the synchronized Aura lighting technology on to their products. ROG has added a number of features that help the game developers and their hardware partners to increase the user experience with their products.

Samsung Galaxy A8+ Hands-on Review: Is being Selfie Focused enough?

By

Lalit Wadhwa

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January 11, 2018

Samsung's A series smartphones always have been their mid-segment smartphones with a comparable performance and normal features. With 2018 just set in Samsung wants to change that. The Samsung Galaxy A8+ which was just unveiled today in India is more than just a mid-segment smartphone with okay features and okay build and looks. The Samsung Glaxay A8+ (2018) sports the design of their flagship, the Galaxy S8 with features such that the dual front cameras which even their flagship S8 and Note 8 doesn't have.

The smartphones come with a 6-inch 108p Super AMOLED screen for increased productivity but keep the size down by using an 18.5:9 resolution display. The design language was which was also featured in the S8. It is powered by a 2.2GHz octa-core Exynos 7885 processor along with Mali-G71 GPU coupled with a 6GB of RAM for that extra performance edge. It also has Bluetooth 5.0 and a massive 3,500mAh battery to back it all up. Also, it supports Samsung pay and the fingerprint sensor is below the camera and not at the side of it which is a bit better.

Display

The Samsung Galaxy A8+ boosts the display resolution of their flagship, the S8 and the same glass and metal design as the S8 and Note 8. The phone not only looks premium and also feels premium. There is a 3.5mm headphone jack at the bottom which is becoming a rarity these days. There is also a USB Type-C charging port at the bottom for fast charging. There are dual-front cameras for bokeh effect at the top of the display. The primary loudspeaker is not at the bottom or back but is at the right side of the device.

The device feels durable in hand even with front and back glass panels. Although Samsung didn't mention which variant of Gorilla Glass it was using, it is safe to assume that it will definitely hold up the test of time. Also, the device is IP68 water resistant which we will need to test once we get our hands on it.

Camera

On the optics front, the Samsung Galaxy A8+ sports dual front-facing cameras with a combo of 16-megapixel and 8-megapixel f/1.9 aperture cameras. It is the first Samsung phone to sport dual front cameras. The front cameras as said by Samsung is so that the user can switch between the two to take the type of selfie you want. The use of dual cameras also offers the ability to take selfies with bokeh effect.

The front camera works as explained with exceptionally good bokeh effect shots. The rear camera is a 16-megapixel sensor with f/1.7 aperture, phase detection autofocus, LED flash and 1080p video recording.

The photos taken by the rear camera were also great. With great focal distances and great colour capture, the back camera is also as advertised, brilliant.

Price

The device is available for purchase at the price of Rs 32,990 with the sale starting on January 20th with pre-orders already started. The device is available in Black and Gold colours. The phone is great but with the OnePlus 5T also available at the same price tag, there are many things left to be wished with this smartphone.

OnePlus 5T now available in an attractive new Lava Red colour: Price, Specifications

By

Devesh Arora

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January 11, 2018

OnePlus, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer has launched another colour variant for their flagship OnePlus 5T. The company has launched various variants of the smartphone since it was officially launched. OnePlus 5T recently go a fresh look with the Star Wars Limited Edition while the OnePlus fans warm-heartedly welcomed the Sandstone White variant of the smartphone. Now, the flagship smartphone gets a refreshed and more attractive look with the Lava Red variant.

Speaking on the new launch, Vikas Agarwal, General Manager, OnePlus India, said, “We are thrilled by the overwhelming response to the OnePlus 5T Star Wars Limited Edition. This phenomenal excitement reinforces the trust that our fans have instilled in us, making us determined to continue to bring fresh experiences. We are happy to kickstart 2018 with the much requested OnePlus 5T Lava Red edition, our first ever red smartphone, that will certainly appeal to those looking for the perfect balance of beautiful design and powerful features.”

Also Read: OnePlus 5T Sandstone White variant launched: Price and Availibilty

The Lava Red variant of the 5T is only available with the top specs as it comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. The specifications remain the same where the 5T is powered by the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC.

The OnePlus 5T Lava Red is priced at Rs. 37,999 which is same as the price of the higher end variant of the smartphone. The Lava Red variant of the smartphone will go on sale starting 12 noon, January 20 exclusively via Amazon India.

Nokia 1 with Android Oreo Go Edition spotted online ahead of launch: Design, Specifications and more

By

Devesh Arora

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January 11, 2018

HMD Global has been in the news lately due to the leaks and rumours of the upcoming Nokia 1. Reports suggest that HMD Global is working on an ultra-budget smartphone that is said to run on Android Oreo (Go Edition). As of now, there have been no official announcements. However, thanks to the leaks that we now have an idea of how the device will look and what will it carry under the hood.

The leaks are coming via Baidu where a user has shared two photos of a smartphone which he claims to be the Nokia 1. The images show off the back of the upcoming smartphone in two different designs. As of now, it is unclear as to why these back panels look a bit different when closely looked towards the camera module. However, this gives us a glance on what the device will look like from the back and it confirms that it will carry a single camera lens at the back which is quite obvious for an entry-level device.

To recall, previous leaks suggested that the Nokia 1 will feature an HD IPS display. The smartphone is expected to carry an 8GB of internal storage and will come with 1GB of RAM. Speculations suggest that the device will be powered by a Qualcomm or a MediaTek processor. The Nokia 1 is expected to run on Android Oreo (Go Edition) as it will give a smooth software experience to users even with such entry-level hardware.

Also Read: iVoomi i1 Hands-On Review: An 18:9 aspect ratio display at just Rs. 5,999

Another leak suggests that the Nokia 1 will launch in Russia at a starting price of RUB 5,999 which roughly converts to Rs. 6,500. If the prices are to be believed, the Nokia 1 will set a direct competition for the Xiaomi Redmi 5A, 10.or D and the recently launched iVoomi i1

Samsung Galaxy A8+(2018) launched in India: Price, specifications and availability

By

Lalit Wadhwa

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January 10, 2018

The South Korean giant Samsung just launched the Samsung Galaxy A8+ in India. The Galaxy A8+ is the spiritual successor to the Samsung Galaxy A7 from the last year with major improvements. The biggest one being the 18.5:9 resolution display from the S8. The Galaxy A8+, in fact, borrows a lot from the Galaxy S8 like the IP68-certification, micro-SD card slot, always-on functionality to name a few. This doesn't mean that the Galaxy A8+ is just a cheap rip-off of the S8. With features like a dual front camera and 3,500mAh battery, it is a different phone altogether.

Specifications

The Samsung Galaxy A8+ sports a 6-inch phone with a 1080p+ Super AMOLED screen and an 18.5:9 display resolution borrowed from the Galaxy S8. It is powered by a 2.2GHz octa-core Exynos 7885 processor along with Mali-G71 GPU coupled with a 6GB of RAM. In terms of storage, it has a 64GB internal storage which is expandable by up to 256GB via a micro-sd card. The device is a dual sim with a hybrid sim slot. The smartphone runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat with Samsung Experience UI skin on top. It has standard connectivity like 4G LTE, NFC and Bluetooth 5.0. All of this is backed up by a 3,500mAh battery, with support for fast charging.

On the optics front, the Galaxy A8+ is the first Samsung phone to sport a dual-front camera setup for live-focus photos or the bokeh effect we all have come to love. The cameras are 16-megapixel + 8-megapixel f/1.9 aperture cameras. Samsung justifies the use of two different camera's is so that the user can switch between the two to take the type of selfie you want. One of the close-ups with the background to portrait shots with a clear and crisp background. The dual front camera system, in addition, also brings facial recognition to the Galaxy A8+.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy J2 Pro (2018) finally goes official: Price, Specifications and Availability

For the rear cameras, the Galaxy A8+ comes with a 16-megapixel sensor with f/1.7 aperture, phase detection autofocus, LED flash and 1080p video recording. The rear camera has a digital Image stabilization instead of an Optical image stabilization and includes a hyper-lapse feature for enhanced time-lapse videos.

The smartphone also comes with Samsung Pay, Bixby support and all the Samsung features and services like most of the Samsung phone these days.

Pricing and Availability

The Samsung Galaxy A8+ will go on sale starting January 20th as an Amazon Exclusive. The pre-orders start today and the phone will cost Rs 32,990. There are only two color options as of now namely Black and Gold.

Samsung Galaxy J2 Pro (2018) finally goes official: Price, Specifications and Availability

By

Devesh Arora

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January 10, 2018

Samsung, the South Korean giant, has finally made the Galaxy J2 Pro (2018) official. The smartphone adds up to the popular J-series by Samsung which offer a wide range of mid-range smartphones. The Galaxy J2 Pro (2018) has been in the leaks and rumours lately and it is finally here. Though the company did not host a launch event for the product, the Galaxy J2 Pro (2018) was silently put up on the company's Vietnamese official website.

Specifications

Samsung Galaxy J2 Pro (2018) features a 5-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 960x540 pixels. The smartphone is powered by a quad-core processor clocked at 1.4 GHz. The device packs in 1.5GB of RAM and comes with 16GB of onboard storage which is further expandable up to 256GB using a microSD card. The Galaxy J2 Pro (2018) runs on Android 7.0 Nougat with Samsung's own UI layered on top of it. Under the hood, there is a 2,600mAh battery powering up the internals.

Also Read: iVOOMi i1 and i1s with 18:9 displays launched: Price, Specifications and Availability

In terms of optics, the Galaxy J2 Pro (2018) sports an 8-megapixel camera at the back with a LED flash. Up front, there is a 5-megapixel selfie shooter with a selfie flash for better low light images.

Price and Availability

The Samsung Galaxy J2 Pro (2018) is currently available in Vietnam for a price of VND 32,90,000 which roughly converts to Rs. 9,200. The phone is available in Black, Green and Gold colour variants. The smartphone should soon make its way to other markets as well. However, there is no official confirmation on when will the device be available in other regions.

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How to update your HTC 10

Here’s how to avail the offer:

Specifications

Price and Availability

Asus ROG Accessories

Display

Camera

Price

Specifications

Pricing and Availability

Specifications

Price and Availability