Spotify entered the Indian market almost a year ago. The premium subscription has been priced at Rs. 119 per month in India. In order to bring a better proposition, the company has announced a family plan. Since competitors like Apple Music and YouTube Premium are already offering it, this became a necessity.
Just like family plans on other services, each member will be able to use the account individually. However, the master account holder will be billed at the end of each month.
Apart from allowing family members to take advantage of the Premium service, the app will also bring some additional features. The family plan will also bring parental control, which will allow them to control the ‘Explicit Content Filter’ on other accounts. Additionally, Spotify will bring ‘Family Mix’ playlist, which will include songs from every member’s account.
Alex Norström, Chief Premium Business Officer, Spotify, said, “At a time where parents are trying to reduce screen time for both themselves and their family, we’re creating more ways for families to bond over music together, while still celebrating individual tastes and giving parents more control if they want it.”
The family plan on Spotify will set you back Rs. 179 every month. In comparison, Apple Music and YouTube Premium family plans cost Rs. 149 and Rs. 189 per month respectively. While Apple Music and Spotify only bring music services, YouTube not only offers YouTube Music but also an ad-free experience on YouTube itself.
Google changed the way we think about technology and AI when it introduced Google Duplex last year. The feature was showcased at last year's Google I/O event. The feature allowed the phone to automatically make reservations on call. Now, the company is integrating the feature to their browser, Google Chrome.
Just like Duplex for calls helps in making reservations over call, Duplex for web will bring a similar functionality for online forms. The feature has been rolled out in the US for popular movie ticket booking websites like AMC and Fandango.
Now, when users search for movie tickets online using Google search in Chrome, they will get an option to buy tickets with Google Assistant. Once tapped on the Assistant button, Duplex will take over and fill the required forms.
Google Duplex does not totally take over and does the full job. It does require some user input in order to select tickets. The feature will bring the user to the ticket website and it will sit as an overlay at all times. Duplex will fill all the required information but user input will be required in times where the website is asking for the number of tickets or selection of rows.
The experience of booking a ticket using Google Duplex will be different each and every time. Google claims that Duplex works on the web as a “live” experience, which means it responds in real-time to what is on the screen.
OnePlus will bring these features to its latest flagship smartphones.
Ahead of the OnePlus 6T launch, OnePlus introduced a couple of exciting features for their OxygenOS. At the OnePlus 7T launch, the company announced that they are finally ready to roll out those features alongside some additional ones. Here is a list of India specific features that will be coming to OxygenOS soon.
Smart SMS Manager
As the name suggests, the comapny is now planning to update their existing messaging application with AI features in order to make it smarter. The app will soon be able to automatically categorize all messages and perform quick actions accordingly. The most interesting part has to be the ability to copy OTPs or calling numbers sent in those messages.
New Gallery App
Alongside the new Messaging app, the company will also be introducing an update for its Gallery app. While most phones now relay on Google Photos, OnePlus wants to stand out of the crowd. The company is bringing smart faces, location or time of the day. Apart from this, OnePlus is also offering 5GB free cloud backup alongside an additional 50GB as an introductory offer for the first year.
OnePlus has just announced something known as OnePlus Roaming. As the name suggests, the feature will allow users to enable International Roaming Service without needing to purchase the SIM of the other country. According to OnePlus, “Travel whenever and wherever without being left stranded. No need to purchase a specific SIM card or worry about data bandwidth and international roaming, access OnePlus Roaming without an internet connection. Let the wanderlust flow.”
LG India has just launched the LG Q60 alongside the flagship LG G8s. The smartphone comes with a MediaTek Helio P22 processor and sports a decent HD display. It features a triple camera setup at the back and comes with a 3,500mAh battery. LG Q60 is priced at Rs. 13,490 and here are some alternatives at that price range.
Redmi Note 7 Pro
Redmi Note 7 Pro features a 48-megapixel camera at the back.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro sports a 6.3-inch fullHD+ display with a waterdrop style notch. It comes with a more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 processor. It also features a 48MP+5MP dual camera setup at the back. The dual-SIM handset comes with up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. It is currently available at a starting price of just Rs. 13,999.
Samsung Galaxy M30
Samsung Galaxy M30 sports a Super AMOLED Infinity U display.
If you are looking for a smartphone from a tier one brand, then the Galaxy M30 is a better option than the LG Q60. It sports a 6.4-inch fullHD+ Super AMOLED display and it is powered by the octa-core Exynos 7904 processor. The device runs on Samsung Experience v9.5 built on top of Google's Android 8.1 Oreo. It is available at a starting price of Rs. 11,999.
Realme 5 Pro
Realme 5 Pro features a triple camera setup at the back.
Realme 5 Pro is one of the best smartphones under Rs. 15,000. The device is powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 712 processor. It features a 48MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP quad-camera setup at the back and a 25-megapixel camera at the front. It packs in up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. All of this comes at a starting price of Rs. 13,999.
Xiaomi Mi A3
Xiaomi Mi A3 comes in three colour variants.
If you want a pure stock Android experience then you should go with the Mi A3 from Xiaomi. The device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 AIE processor coupled with up to 4GB of RAM. It also sports a 48-megapixel camera at the back and an AMOLED display with an in-display fingerprint scanner at the front. It is currently available for a starting price of Rs. 12,999.
Honor Play comes with flagship-grade hardware at a relatively lower price.
While the Honor Play is almost a year old now, it is the only smartphone that offers flagship-grade specifications at this price. It is powered by the company's in-house Kirin 970 processor coupled with up to 6GB of RAM. The smartphone is currently available at a starting price of Rs. 12,999.
Over the last couple of years, the mobile gaming industry has been growing by a huge margin. People not only play these games to pass their time but also for competitions. A recent survey involving 2000 smartphone users claims that there are more women active mobile gamers in India than men.
According to the survey, almost 95 per cent of women who have smartphone plays mobile games on their phones. Men, on the other hand, are comparatively low at just 86 per cent. Further, the survey claims that 75 per cent of the people play mobile games for at least 2 hours daily.
While 78 per cent of the women agree that they play games for 2 hours or more, men playing games for 2 hours count at just around 72 per cent. The report also suggests that 40% of female gamers play games while they are just sitting ideal whereas 30% of them play games while watching TV.
“Ranging from professionals playing mobile games in between breaks at work, or while on the commute, to women playing games at home amidst breaks from chores, to elderly women keeping up with technology, the demographic profiles of female gamers spans across age groups,” said Satya Mohanty, Head-User Research Practice, CMR.
The main question still remains that which game is mostly prefered by men and women. The majority of women mobile gamers do not enjoy battle-royale games like PUBG Mobile. They are more into casual games like Candy Crush, Word Puzzle and Clash of Clans.
Asus ROG Phone looks more exciting than the other two.
OnePlus has just launched its all-new OnePlus 7T smartphone in India. The device brings a 90Hz display and triple camera setup at the back. The company is still selling the OnePlus 7 and it makes sense to buy that over the new 7T for a lot of reasons. Also, the OnePlus 7T directly competes against the Asus ROG Phone 2. So, here is a specifications comparison between the OnePlus 7T, OnePlus 7 and the ROG Phone 2.
OnePlus 7T vs OnePlus 7 vs ROG Phone 2: Display
All these flagship smartphones come with a fullHD+ AMOLED display. The major difference comes in at the refresh rate. While the OnePlus 7 comes with a traditional 60Hz refresh rate, the new OnePlus 7T gets a 90Hz panel. ROG Phone 2 takes it one step further by including a 120Hz high refresh rate panel, which is buttery smooth. So, here the clear winner is the ROG Phone 2.
OnePlus 7T vs OnePlus 7 vs ROG Phone 2: Design
ROG logo gets RGB lighting on the back.
OnePlus 7 looks quite outdated since it shares the same design language that we have seen on older OnePlus phones like the OnePlus 6 and 6T. However, the new 7T brings a new design at least on the back. It still carries the same old waterdrop style notch upfront. ROG Phone 2, on the other hand, brings an appealing design with RGB logo at the back. It stands out in the crowd and it is surely gonna turn a lot of heads. Hence, this round also goes to ROG Phone 2.
OnePlus 7T vs OnePlus 7 vs ROG Phone 2: Processor, Storage and RAM
OnePlus 7 is the cheapest device in this comparison.
While the OnePlus 7 comes with the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, the ROG Phone 2 and the OnePlus 7T are powered by the all-new Snapdragon 855 Plus chip. All three smartphones come with 8GB RAM and 128GB UFS 3.0 onboard storage. This means that the OnePlus 7 loses this round whereas it is a tie for the OnePlus 7T and the ROG Phone 2.
OnePlus 7T vs OnePlus 7 vs ROG Phone 2: Battery
OnePlus 7, OnePlus 7T and ROG Phone 2 come with 3,700mAh, 3,800mAh and 6,000mAh battery respectively. While the ROG Phone 2 is a clear winner here, the charging speeds are faster on the OnePlus 7T.
OnePlus 7T sports a triple camera setup at the back.
While the OnePlus 7 and the ROG Phone 2 feature a dual-camera setup on the back, the OnePlus 7T gets a triple camera setup. All three phones get a 48-megapixel sensor as a primary camera on the back. However, since the OnePlus 7T comes with an extra lens it takes the lead in this round.
OnePlus 7T vs OnePlus 7 vs ROG Phone 2: Verdict
OnePlus smartphones and the ROG Phone 2 are marketed towards a different kind of audience. However, if you have been confused about your buying decision, let's come down to a verdict.
The OnePlus 7 is the cheapest smartphone of the bunch and for someone on a tight budget, it is a more viable option. Also, if you want a fast performing phone for day-to-day tasks, you should save the extra money and go in for the OnePlus 7, whcih is currently available for Rs. 29,999. The extra 8,000 on the OnePlus 7T or the ROG Phone 2 will get you a high refresh rate display and slightly better camera, but I don't think that will be worth it for everyone.
However, if you are looking to spend a sum like Rs. 37,999, I would highly recommend going in with the ROG Phone 2. The phone comes is simply an overall winner in this comparison and it offers a lot for your money. Also, with the ROG Phone 2, you will be able to stand out of the crowd.
Here are some accessories for your all-new iPhone.
Apple recently announced the new iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and the giant iPhone 11 Pro Max. The smartphones are finally available for purchase now. If you are using an iPhone for the first time or just unboxed you all-new iPhone 11, here are the top five accessories that will make your life much easier.
Cover and Screen Gaurd
Apple iPhones cost a fortune, especially in India. The iPhone 11 series starts at Rs. 64,900, which is a lot. So, you should make sure that your new iPhone stays protected by all means. As soon as you take the phone out of the box, head over to the nearest mobile store and get a tempered glass installed. Also, you should buy a case if you want to save your phone from breaking.
Apple Airpods
Apple Airpods connect seamlessly with Apple devices.
Apple removed the 3.5mm headphone jack back with the launch of the iPhone 7. Even though there are lightning earphones inside the box, one often finds themselves in a situation where they want to charge their phone and listen to music at the same time. So, we recommend getting a pair of wireless earphones that will make your life much easier. Apple Airpods are the best for people using iPhones as they connect seamlessly and they just get the job done.
SanDisk iXpand USB Drive
SanDisk iXpand is a great accessory for people with base model iPhones.
If you have got the base variant of the iPhone 11 that comes with just 64GB of onboard storage, you should get an external drive to backup all your important media. The best option is the SanDisk iXpand drive as it comes with plenty of storage and a lightning port to directly backup your content from your iPhone.
Lightning to 3.5mm Adapter
Apple has stopped including a lightning to 3.5mm Adapter inside the box. So, if you plan on using a pair of good wired earphones, you should get the lightning to 3.5mm Adapter. While there are a lot of them available in the market, we would suggest getting one from Apple as there is no compromise in quality.
Wireless Charger
Since all the new iPhones support wireless charging, we would also recommend getting one for your home. It is much more convenient than wired charging. We would recommend getting one from a reputed brand like Samsung, Belkin or Anker.
Google Chome has been a major part of your Android user experience. The app is not only a browser that comes pre-installed on most of the smartphones, but it is much more than that. Android uses something called WebView for rendering web pages inside applications. WebView was introduced back with Android Lollipop and with Android Nougat, the company made it separate from Chrome. Now, with Android 10, the comapny is again planning to make changes to these apps.
According to a Google engineer, Android 10 has something called as Trichrome. The engineer wrote, "Chrome is no longer used as a WebView implementation in Q+. We’ve moved to a new model for sharing common code between Chrome and WebView (called “Trichrome”) which gives the same benefits of reduced download and install size while having fewer weird special cases and bugs."
The Google engineer came forward with all these explanations after an Android 10 user raised a complaint stating that is is not able to find the Chrome option in the WebView picker anymore. This is usually found inside Developer Options.
While this might mean big news for the developers, the normal users just need to know that the Google Chrome browser will not act as a Web View interface anymore. However, the new WebView will be based on the Chromium project.
Chromium project page states, “Like with Monochrome, users can find each of these four channels of WebView on the Play Store and install them simultaneously on a single device. Also like Monochrome, users can use the “WebView implementation” menu to choose which installed WebView the system should use.”
Skullcandy JIB+ are neckband style wireless earphones.
World Tourism Day has arrived and it is a day for all the people who love to travel. While the basic needs while travelling includes clothes, tickets and other documents, people nowadays also need a lot of gadget accessories to keep their trip comfortable. So, here are the must-have gadgets while travelling.
Tile Mate Bluetooth Tracker
Tile can be handy in tracking your luggage at the airport.
Tile, the popular Bluetooth tracker brand has recently entered the Indian market. The company brings a product that is not only helpful when you are travelling but also comes in handy in your day to day life. The Tile Mate tracker can be attached to anything and you can find your lost products immediately by just a touch of a button on your Android/iOS smartphone.
Skullcandy JIB+
No matter how long the journey is, if music is there to accompany you, you can be lost in your own world while your destination arrives. Now, to get in such an immersed experience, you will need a great pair of wireless Bluetooth earphones. So, this is where the Skullcandy JIB+ come into the play. They offer great sound quality alongside a decent battery life making them the perfect pair of earphones to carry on your trips.
We always pass our time on our journey by watching a movie on our phone or working on a tablet. So, to stay ensured that you do not run out of juice anytime soon, you should carry a power bank with you at all times. For this, our pick has to be the recently launched Realme Power Bank. It has a 10,000mAh battery, which should be sufficient to fully charge any smartphone more than two times. Also, it has fast charging support alongside a USB Type-C port.
OnePlus 7T features a triple camera setup at the back.
OnePlus has finally launched the much-awaited OnePlus 7T smartphone in India. While the OnePlus 7 was quite disappointing as it was very similar to its predecessor, it is not the same case this time around. The company has finally changed the design after the OnePlus 6. Even though the phone looks the same from the front, it has a lot going under the hood.
Since I was at the launch event, I got a hands-on experience with the OnePlus 7T and here are my first impressions.
OnePlus 7T: Specifications
OnePlus has made significant improvements to the OnePlus 7T over its predecessor. The smartphone now comes with a 6.55-inch AMOLED display with fullHD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. The display sports 20:9 aspect ratio, 1000nits of brightness and supports HDR10+ for a better content consumption experience.
The phone sports a tall 20.5:1 aspect ratio.
The device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ processor coupled with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage. It runs on OxygenOS 10 based on Google’s latest Android 10 operating system. All of this is backed by a 3,800mAh battery, which also supports Warp Charge 30T fast charging.
On the optics front, the OnePlus 7T comes with a triple-camera setup at the back consisting of a 48-megapixel primary, 12-megapixel telephoto and a 16-megapixel ultra-wide sensor. The company has also added Nightscape mode from the previous generations alongside a new Macro mode. Upfront, there is a 16-megapixel selfie shooter.
OnePlus 7T: First Impressions
The back gets matte finish this year.
OnePlus 7T is a direct successor to the recently launched OnePlus 7. While it looks quite similar from the front, there is one thing that you might only notice when you keep both the phones side-by-side and that is the new tall aspect ratio. The OnePlus 7T sports a 6.55-inch AMOLED display with 20:9 aspect ratio. This means that the new flagship is slightly taller and narrower.
Since the OnePlus 6, the company has been using a similar style for the rear camera setup. After almost two years, the company has finally upgraded the look of the device a bit. One can discern between a OnePlus 6/6T/7 and a OnePlus 7T be simply looking at the back, thanks to its huge circular triple camera module.
I personally liked how the back felt in hand due to the longer aspect ratio and the matte finish. I somehow feel that the company could be brought more colours for the people to choose from.
OnePlus 7T comes in two colour variants.
In terms of performance, the device performed well in the time I was able to use it. I personally have liked OnePlus devices for their performance in real life. Using Android 10 based OxygenOS on the OnePlus 7T made me feel comfortable and like I was using a phone which I have been using for a long time.
OxygenOS is the cleanest Android skin I have seen till date. And is one of the only skins I prefer using over stock Android. With the new OxygenOS, the skin feels much better and usable.
Overall, OnePlus 7T is a smartphone that I would recommend you purchase If you are still stuck on a OnePlus 6. But, If you have a later smartphone, I would recommend for the next OnePlus smartphone. But this is not my final decision, I still have to test out a lot of other aspects of the device, after which I will provide you with my final decision if you should purchase the device or not. We will soon be publishing our full review of the OnePlus 7T.
