Huawei has been working on its own operating system for quite some time now. When the company was banned from doing business with US-based companies, it understood the importance of having its own operating system and it pushed the team to launch it sooner than later. After three years of development, the Huawei HarmonyOS is finally here.
The company made the announcement about the new platform at the annual Huawei Developers Conference in Dongguan, China. CEO Richard Yu also revealed that HarmonyOS has been under development since 2017 and the first product running it will be unveiled on August 10 by Honor.
A modularized #HarmonyOS can be nested to adapt flexibly to any device to create a seamless cross-device experience. Developed via the distributed capability kit, it builds the foundation of a shared developer ecosystem #HDC2019pic.twitter.com/2TD9cgtdG8
According to the keynote, Huawei wants to make its own ecosystem with this new platform. The operating system will be cable of running on multiple devices including smartphones, smart wearables, TVs, tablets, laptops, cars and more. Having such an ecosystem will help the company to compete directly against Apple.
HarmonyOS is based on a microkernel, which means it will use very few resources resulting in fast operating speeds and minimum latency. Also, it is open-source and comes with TEE (Trusted Execution Environment) for improved security across devices. Apart from that, the Arc compiler in Harmony OS supports all the major programming languages like C++, Java, JavaScript and Kotlin.
According to Richard Yu, the operating system has the potential to replace Android right away. However, they will stick with Android for now on most of their devices as currently, Google offers an extensive app portfolio. Also, Yu said that they will soon be providing installation files so that the users can enjoy the new OS on their current Huawei smartphone.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 might still be a better option than the Galaxy Note 10. Here's why
Samsung recently launched the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 line-up. These phones have a lot of new features on offer including the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, Infinity-O display and more. But the question remains is whether it is worth upgrading from your Galaxy Note 9 or not. Here's an answer to that.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 vs Galaxy Note 9: Display
In simple words, upgrading from a Note 9 to a Note 10 will actually be a downgrade in terms of display. The shiny new Note 10 comes with a lower resolution display at 2280x1080 pixels whereas the older generation model gets a 2960x1440 pixel display. However, if you are planning to upgrade to the larger Galaxy Note 10+, then the upgrade might make sense as it brings a larger display and the same resolution as the Note 9.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 vs Galaxy Note 9: Performance
While the Note 10 owners in the US will get the Snapdragon 855 variant, others will get Exynos 9825 variant. Both the variants will be slightly faster than the Galaxy Note 9. However, you might not notice the performance difference post-upgrade as they both run on Samsung's One UI based on Google's Android 9 Pie operating system. They both have flagship chipsets that can handle games like PUBG and Asphalt 9 quite well.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 vs Galaxy Note 9: Cameras
The cameras might be the reason why you would be looking to upgrade your smartphone this fall. However, it is not that big of an upgrade that you shred another Rs. 70,000. Yes, Note 10 does bring an extra lens and better optimisations but we would still recommend waiting another year for the next Note to arrive.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 brings an Infinity O display.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 looks pretty in all those new colours and does bring a lot to the table that might bring the urge in you to throw away your Note 9 and get a Note 10 instead. However, no matter how attractive those new colours and features like reverse wireless charging are, the fact remains that the Note 9 is still a great smartphone and people might even buy them in 2019 after it receives a price cut. Sure the upgrade makes sense if you are coming from a Galaxy Note 8 or an older model. If you are planning to upgrade from a Galaxy S10 or a Note 9, we would really recommend you to wait for the next Note to arrive.
ACT Fibernet now offers additional benefits to its users.
Reliance Jio is all set to launch its GigaFiber broadband service soon. With the fear of Jio coming into the market, competitors have already started offering great deals to maintain the consumer base and rather improve it. ACT Fibernet is now offering extra data benefit on its long-term plans.
In order to counter Jio's upcoming GigaFiber plans, ACT is now offering additional data subscription of up to six months on some of its long-term plans. While these plans differ from region to region, the six months benefit will be available across the nation. However, the plans are currently only available in Hyderabad and Bengaluru and they should start arriving in other cities as well.
ACT Bengaluru users can get the six months of additional subscription with the yearly plan. The monthly subscription rental comes at Rs 5,999. While it might sound expensive, the company does offer 1Gbps speeds with 2500GB data allotment.
As for the Hyderabad consumers, they can get six months free internet with an 18-month advance rental on a few plans, which include A-Max 675, A-Max 1050, A-Max 1299 and Incredible 1999.
In case you are looking for speeds in Gbps, ACT might sound quite expensive than its rivals but in exchange, it does offer quite a lot of data to the consumers. It can be great for consumers with a huge family or ones who like to binge watch TV series in high quality. However, ACT does offer affordable plans but they come with slower speeds and less data allotment.
Galaxy S10e offers a polished experience of the S10 for a lesser price.
Samsung Galaxy S10e is the company’s latest offering in its ever-growing Galaxy S-lineup. Samsung launched the S10 series earlier this year, which included the Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+ and the Galaxy S10e. The Samsung Galaxy S10e is supposed to be the budget flagship by the company, comparing to the ranks of Apple iPhone XR.
The Galaxy S10e is basically the toned-down version of the S10, offering the same performance and experience, while at the same time shaving off some little bits to get the price down. However, is the shaved price tag low enough to justify those shaved off features? Find out in our review.
Samsung Galaxy S10e
Samsung Galaxy S10e is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 coupled with Adreno 640 or the company's own Exynos 9820 coupled with Mali G72 processor depending on which country you purchased it. We got the Exynos variant for our review. The device comes with 6/8GB RAM and 128/256GB of storage.
The S10e comes with a punch-hole display
The device sports a 5.8-inch (2220 x 1080 pixel) 19:9 aspect ratio Dynamic AMOLED display. For optics, it features a dual-camera setup on the back, consisting of a 12-megapixel, f/1.5-2.4 variable aperture sensor with OIS and a 16-megapixel, f/2.2 aperture ultrawide sensor. For selfies, it sports a 10-megapixel, f/1.9 aperture sensor. All of this is backed by a 3,100mAh non-removable battery.
Samsung Galaxy S10e Review: Design
The Galaxy S10e sports a glass-metal sandwich design with front and rear Gorilla Glass 5 panels with a metal frame in the middle. There is no curved glass on the back or front like in the S10 and the S10+.
Design of the Samsung Galaxy S10e is plain but functional. The back glass panel attracts a lot of fingerprints, but feels great in hand and offers wireless charging. The cutout in the front display for the camera is something I got used to quite easily.
The front has no notch
The speaker grille is located above the display, whereas, the 10-megapixel front camera is housed inside the display cut-out on the top right corner of the display. The bottom of the device also has a small chin.
The rear glass looks and feels good
Coming to the back, Samsung Galaxy S10e sports a dual-camera setup paired with an LED flash aligned horizontally on the top. There is a small camera bump, but not that significant for you to be scared.
Left, Right, Top, Bottom
The right edge consists of an elongated power button with an embedded fingerprint sensor. The volume rockers are located on the left edge with the infamous Bixby button just below them. The smartphone still sports a headphone jack which has gotten pretty rare to see at the price point but is a welcomed feature.
Overall, design-wise, the Samsung Galaxy S10e is nothing we haven't seen in Samsung's lineup before, but at the same time it feels extremely comfortable to use. It looks quite subtle, which according to me is a good thing. The glass back provides a premium look to it and the device is quite sturdy.
Samsung Galaxy S10e Review: Software
The software section is where Samsung has not received much love in the past few years. However, with its new Android Pie based One UI skin the company is hell-bent changing that. The Galaxy S10 series is the company's first devices to come out with One UI pre-installed out of the box.
Samsung Galaxy's OneUI user experience is highly modified
One UI has made single-handed usage much easier, which didn't matter much with the S10e cause of its small form factor but will help a lot with smartphones like the Galaxy S10+. The new night mode and other features have made the smartphone a delight to use. The Notification ring around the front camera cutout is a good way to embrace the camera cutout.
However, not everything is solved yet. It still comes with a lot of bloatware from Samsung and Microsoft which isn't always welcomed. However, during the setup process, Samsung gives you an option not to install Samsung apps, which I feel is a great option to have. Also, all of the bloatware can be removed.
One UI offers a polished user experience, compared to something like the Google Pixel's stock android or OnePlus's Oxygen OS. However, animations are an area that the company should focus on and improve.
Samsung Galaxy S10e Review: Performance
Performance is a major area of concern on any device, the same goes for the Samsung Galaxy S10e. Our review unit came with a Samsung's Exynos 9820 coupled with Mali G76 GPU and 6GB of RAM.
AnTuTu 7 (Right) and Geekbench 4 (Left)
We ran our usual benchmark tests to evaluate how the device performs. On AnTuTu the device was able to score 316979, which is great considering the price and competition. On GeekBench it managed to get a single-core score of 3828 and a multi-core score of 9676. The performance numbers of the device on paper are comparable to the price of the device.
While playing light games such as Temple Run and Crossy Chicken, the phone runs flawlessly. Heavy games like Asphalt 9: Legends and PUBG Mobile cause a little bit of hiccup on the phone, probably due to outside temperatures touch 45-degrees celsius.
Overall, the performance of the Galaxy S10e is above average considering the price paid for the smartphone.
Samsung Galaxy S10e Review: Display
The AMOLED display is amazing
Samsung Galaxy S10e sports a 5.8-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2220×1080 pixels and comes with an aspect ratio of 19:9. The brightness levels are able to get super low and immensely high depending on the situation. The colours are more vibrant and the blacks are great thanks to the AMOLED panel. The camera cutout is something people can get easily used to.
Samsung Galaxy S10e Review: Cameras
Samsung Galaxy S10e features a dual camera setup on the back, consisting of a 12-megapixel, f/1.5-2.4 variable aperture sensor with OIS and a 16-megapixel, f/2.2 aperture ultrawide sensor. For selfies, it packs a 10-megapixel, f/1.9 aperture sensor.
1 of 7
Normal (Right) vs WideAngle (Left)
Normal (Right) vs WideAngle (Left)
Outdoor
Outdoor
Indoor NormalLight
Indoor Low Light
Indoor Low Light
The images I took with the rear camera came out quite good and were quite detailed and with great colour accuracy. Its portrait mode is also able to do a very good job. Super slo-mo is a great feature, which can be used to create some amazing recordings. The second ultrawide sensor is a great choice and gives a fish-eye effect.
Front with Normal (Right) vs WideAngle (Left)
Coming to the front camera, the story is pretty much the same. There is a beauty mode, which comes turned on by default. It also has a wide-angle effect, which they achieve by cropping the normal photo mode.
Overall, the camera quality is good enough. Devices like the Google Pixel offer a way better camera experience, but software features like super slo-mo are something that will hook any user up.
Samsung Galaxy S10e Review: Battery
The device is backed by a 3,100mAh battery, which easily lasts almost a whole day on a single charge. Charging time with the included charger is around 120 minutes, which is great. If you are not a heavy user, you can easily make it work till the end of the workday without the need to plug it in.
The included case is nice
We ran PCMark’s Work 2.0 Battery Life test, which subjects the phone to heavy usage and finds out how the battery performs in those conditions. The device yielded a result of 10 hours and 3 minutes, which is adequate in comparison to similar battery capacity smartphones.
Samsung Galaxy S10e Review: Verdict
Overall, the S10e offers a nice polished experience.
Samsung Galaxy S10e costs Rs. 55,990 at the time of writing this review. For that price, smartphones like the OnePlus 7 Pro offer a lot more and are having better value for money, but comparing how polished the Galaxy S10e is, makes you wonder what to buy. The refinement of the smartphone along with the convenience of wireless charging and Samsung Pay really makes you want to buy the S10e.
If you want a polished experience and not raw power, the Samsung Galaxy S10e is a great option for you to check out.
Investing Rs. 6,000-7,000 more will get you a Galaxy S10, however, for many people the S10e is just perfect. It has a small form factor which is rare to find in this day and age. It has the same software and performance as its big brothers. But at the same time, it also lacks a bit in some areas like the camera.
So the point still remains, that is the Galaxy S10e a better option over the S10 or the S10+. It all boils down to the user. If you don't mind the smaller screen and a smaller battery or smaller cameras, or you don't absolutely want the in-display fingerprint sensor, you might wanna save some cash and go for the Samsung Galaxy S10e.
Google has been suspending a few of its services lately. First Google+ and Inbox by Gmail, and now its time for Google Trips to say goodbye to the Google Play Store. Trips was a travel planning app launched by Google back in 2016. The important features of the app have now been implemented on Google Maps as well as the Search app.
Google wrote on its support page, "Support for the Google Trips app will end on August 5, 2019. At this time, you'll no longer be able to use the app.Until then, you’ll still be able to access and email all of your trip reservations and notes as normal."
Now that the Google Trips service has been shut down, users will be able to do things like find places and trip reservations in the Google Maps app itself. Some of the Google Trips features like finding places, as well as booking flight tickets, has already been available via Google's website or the Maps application. Most people have these two things on their smartphones and they prefer not to bring the hassle of installing a whole different program.
Since the support for Trips app has been ended today, the important piece of information like notes and saved places will be available in the Search app. In order to find attractions, events and popular places, users can search for “my trips” or go to the new-and-improved Google Travel page.
Meanwhile, Google also suspended its social media platform Google+ service recently. Soon after shutting down Google+, the company also gave up on Inbox by Gmail app.
Flybot Beat are truly-wireless earphones for just Rs. 2,999.
A couple of years ago when truly wireless earphones were just entering the market with the likes of Apple Airpods and Samsung Galaxy Gear IconX, they were too overpriced for most people out there. Since then the technology has improved and now, one can grab truly wireless earphones for under Rs. 5,000. One such option is the Flybot Beat priced at Rs. 2,999. Here's our full review of the entry-level truly wireless Bluetooth earphones.
As soon as you unbox the Flybot Beat earphones, you see a compact sized case, which looks quite premium. However, once you hold it in your hand and open the lid, you realise the product is made out of plastic, which at this price point is acceptable. Also, the lid of the case is translucent, which allows the light on the earbuds to pass through thus indicating that they are charging.
Speaking of the earbuds, they are rectangular in design and both of them have a control button as well as an LED indicator on top. They fit nice and snug, giving users a feeling of confidence that they will not pop-out easily. I even went for multiple runs while wearing these and they never disappointed me by falling out. The company has also thrown in a few extra ear tips making sure it fits all types of ears.
Pairing Flybot Beat's was pretty easy. I paired them with a couple of devices including an iPhone X, Google Pixel 3a as well as the OnePlus 7. To pair them with your smartphone, you just need to pull out the right earbud from the case. Then press and hold the control button until the earbud switches off. Now again hold it until it turns on and starts blinking red. Once that is done, they are in pairing mode and you just need to head over to the Bluetooth section of your smartphone's settings.
After pairing them once, you can just pull out the earphones from the case and start using them. It is worth noting that these earphones don't support Bluetooth 5.0, which means you will miss out on features like simultaneously connecting two devices.
As far as the audio quality is concerned, the FlyBot Beat's bring a surprisingly great audio output. I watched Suits on Netflix and enjoyed listening to the dialogues. Even when I had the urge to listen to some music, the vocals are great and it also brings a decent level of bass, which is least expected on such budget earphones. The Flybot Beat's also managed to handle the lower mid-range frequency as well as the higher mid-range quite well. However, the treble is the section where we felt the earbuds needed a little more attention.
The case gets a matte finish giving it a premium look.
Apart from listening to music and watching movies, people use their earphones for one more thing and that is for making voice calls. During my time with the device, I never enjoyed talking over the phone using the Flybot Beat wireless earphones. People complained of unclear voice and I sounded as if I am using my car's Bluetooth system to talk. They often requested me to speak a little louder.
Coming to the battery life, the company claims that the Beat's can deliver a battery life of up to 4 hours on a single charge. I took that to the test and watched a couple of episodes of Suits and managed to binge-watch 5-6 episodes (3-3.5 hours) until the earphones gave up. The case was able to fully charge the earphones fully almost 6-7 times before dying.
In a nutshell, Flybot Beat's are a great option for those looking for a budget-friendly truly wireless earphones. People who watch a lot of movies or listen to different types of music will enjoy this pair of earphones. However, if you make a lot of voice calls then this might not be the right option for you.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 will come with gradient design back.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 launch is just around the corner and as the launch date is nearing we get to see more and more leaks of the device. According to a recent leak by popular tipster, Ishan Agarwal in collaboration with MySmartPrice, the details of the Indian Galaxy Note 10 variant is out.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 will be available in two storage options, 256GB and 512GB. The Note 10+ is said to come with 512GB and 1TB storage options. The tweet further claims that the 256GB Galaxy Note 10 will be available in Aura Black, Aura Red and Aura Glow colour options. The 512GB storage variant, on the other hand, will come only in Aura White colour variant.
Exclusively for @mysmartprice: Finally have some info about Galaxy Note10 Series in India! These are the Galaxy Note10 and Note10+ variants that will be launching in India! Like the range? Will tell if more variants like Note10+ 256GB are coming.
Link: https://t.co/vK0ED802Gkpic.twitter.com/sQb17FPi0v
As for the bigger Galaxy Note 10+, it will come in Aura Black and Aura Glow for the 512GB whereas the 1TB variant will also get an Aura White option. In separate news, Winfuture has leaked image renders of the Galaxy Note 10+ in Aura Blue and Galaxy Note 10 in Aura Red colour.
Apart from the storage options and colour variants, the recent leak also gives us a sneak peek at the official Samsung accessories that will be launching alongside the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 devices. These include flip cases, LED covers, 3.5 mm dongle, as well as a 25W power adapter. The devices are also expected to get different types of protective cases, leather and silicone covers.
OnePlus ambassador was caught using a Huawei phone.
OnePlus, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer recently announced its brand ambassador, Robert Downey Jr. The company not always spent a lot on marketing but when they do shred some cash it goes to poplar celebrities like Amitabh Bachan and Robert Downey Jr. As a part of promoting the brand, the ambassadors are also expected to use the product in their daily life.
According to a recent report, Robert Downey Jr was caught using a Huawei smartphone. This soon became a controversy about him using the Huawei P30 Pro while being a OnePlus brand ambassador. He was caught while replying to a OnePlus post on the popular Chinese micro-blogging site, Weibo.
Since people took it to other social media platforms, the Hollywood actor felt that he owes the fans an explanation. So he took Weibo as a platform to explain what exactly happened. The earlier Weibo post by him was actually not published by him. His assistant, who uses a Huawei P30 Pro, replied for the OnePlus post.
In his recent Weibo post, the actor said, "Well, I guess it’s time to upgrade my assistant to a new OnePlus 7 Pro so mistakes don’t happen again. @一加手机 - up for a quick delivery run?"
This is not the first time an actor has been caught using a different brand while promoting the other. Recently, Gal Gadot was caught posting a Huawei promotion from an Apple iPhone. Also, Anushka Sharma was also caught using an iPhone to tweet about the Google Pixel smartphone.
Although there have been controversies like this before, Robert Downey Jr was one of the very few people to actually come forward and give an explanation to the media as well as the fans.
Honor View 20 will be available for a starting price of Rs. 24,999.
While Amazon and Flipkart have already made their announcements regarding their upcoming sale, Honor has also come forward to announce its Independence Day sale 2019. During the sale, the company will be offering huge discounts on its wide range of devices. These offers will be exclusively available on Amazon India website.
Speaking on Independence Day celebration offers, Mr. Suhail Tariq, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at HONOR India said, “This independence day, we want to empower our consumers and give them the liberty to choose from our most desirable smartphones. Staying true to our motto – You Deserve Better, we aim to satisfy our consumers by delivering the best of technology, value and quality.”
As a part of the sale, Honor will be selling flagship Honor View 20 for a price of Rs. 24,999 and Rs. 29,999 for the 6GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB variants respectively. One of the most attractive offers has to be on the Honor Play, the company's mid-range flagship offering. The device was launched with a starting price tag of Rs. 19,999. During the sale, Honor will be selling the 6GB RAM and 8GB RAM variants of the Honor Play for Rs. 12,999 and Rs. 14,999 respectively.
As for the budget options, the Honor 8X will be available for a starting price of just Rs. 10,999. The 64GB and 128GB variants of the Honor 9N will be available for Rs. 8,999 and Rs. 9,999 respectively. Honor 9 Lite and 10 Lite will come with a discounted price of Rs. 8,499 and Rs. 8,999 respectively.
All the offers will be available on Amazon.in starting August 7.
Flipkart National Shopping Days to kick off starting August 8
Soon after Amazon announced its upcoming sale, Flipkart also has come up with its next sale called National Shopping Days sale. The sale is set to begin on August 8 and will go on until August 10. Just like Amazon Prime members, Flipkart Plus members will also get early access to the sale starting 8PM on August 7.
The e-commerce giant has released a few details about the upcoming sale to keep the excitement level up in the customers. As far as the mobile deals are concerned, the Redmi Note 7 Pro will be available with an extra Rs. 1,000 discount using the exchange offer. Flipkart also promises "lowest price ever" on Redmi Note 7S as well as the Realme 3 Pro.
Apart from that, Honor 20i, which usually sells for Rs. 16,990, will be available for just Rs. 12,999. Oppo K1 and Honor 8C smartphones will be available for Rs. 12,990 and Rs. 7,999 respectively. The recently launched Vivo Z1 Pro will also receive a discount of Rs. 1,000.
Flipkart's National Shopping Days sale will also bring offers on Honor 9N, Honor 9i, Asus 5Z, Oppo R17 Pro, Oppo Reno 10x Zoom, Oppo F11 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S10 series and the Galaxy A-series. The e-commerce giant also promises to bring deals on Apple iPhones.
Alongside discounts and offers on various products, the company will be offering 10 percent instant discount to the ICICI Bank credit and debit card users during the National Shopping Days 2019 sale. There will also be no-cost EMI payment options on some of the products.
