Every year, Apple hosts a couple of important events one of which is Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). The event is especially for developers and the company unveils its upcoming updates on various platforms including iOS, watchOS, macOS and tvOS. At the WWDC 2019, the company is most likely to showcase the iOS 13, watchOS 6, macOS 10.15 and tvOS 13.
According to a recent report by MacRumors, the WWDC 2019 will take place at McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California. The report further suggests that the event will be hosted on the evening of June 6 and June 7. As San Jose requires special permissions for such events, the report comes from 2019 events calendar from San Jose’s Office of Cultural Affairs. However, the calendar has now been modified to remove words like WWDC and Apple.
Further, the report claims that around 7000 people have been consistent in attending Apple's yearly Worldwide Developers Conference. The 7000 people include around 5000 developers, 250 WWDC Scholars, hundreds of journalists and Apple employees. The event tickets are usually sold for around USD 1,599 and the price is expected to be more or less the same this year.
Apart from WWDC, Apple is expected to host another big event, which will be hosted on March 25. At the upcoming event, the company is most likely to launch its own video streaming service and will provide developers with some initiatives in order to speed up the whole process. Rumours suggest that Apple might also launch a few hardware products including AirPods 2 and AirPower.
WhatsApp to soon allow users to reject group invitations
WhatsApp is quite popular due to various reasons and one of them is free group chats. As attractive they sound, they can get annoying sometimes. However, in the past few years, anyone could have added you to their group without seeking your permission. Finally, WhatsApp Inc. is working on bringing a change to this.
According to the website WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is working on some sort of solution to this problem. The company has already started making the changes to the iOS version of the app and the website claims that the feature will soon be available on Android as well.
As of now, iOS users can access the new setting by heading over to Settings > Account > Privacy > Groups. Here the user can find an option to specify who is able to add him or her to groups. Currently, it only allows three options, which include Everyone, My Contacts and Nobody. The user can still receive invitations, which will expire within 72 hours.
Meanwhile, the Facebook-owned company recently added an app lock feature to their iOS app where users can use TouchID or FaceID to secure the app. The company is now working on bringing the same feature to the Android version of the application. While Android phones have third party apps to enable such a feature, it is good to see such companies on working on such features for an extra layer of security. WhatsApp has been working on providing better security to its users lately.
Apex Legends is now one of the most popular battle royale games
EA Games recently launched a new battle royale game called Apex Legends. The game is here to make the competition tough for Fortnite and PUBG. It is a free-to-play game and has already reached more than 10 million downloads around the globe. The game available on PC, Xbox One and PS4 for now. Here are the top 5 reasons why you should leave PUBG and start playing this instead.
It's free
One of the major reasons why Fortnite gained a lot of popularity was its price. It is free to play on all platforms and the company generates revenue using in-game purchases. Apex Legends opted in for the same strategy. EA games recently reported that the game got over 10 million active players in just 3 days of official release.
Characters with different skills and abilities
Different characters have different sets of abilities
While PUBG offers various clothing options and skins, Apex Legends takes it one step further by introducing various characters. The game currently has around eight different characters, which have their own set of skills and abilities. The list of currently available characters includes Bangalore, Mirage, Lifeline, Pathfinder and many more.
Better reward system
Players can even get some of the rare skins for free
Apex Legends has an overall better reward system when compared to PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. Unlike PUBG that requires users to buy expensive skins and outfits with their own real money, this game gives away free items to players.
Apex Legends is relatively less demanding when it comes to system requirements. This clearly means that if your system cannot handle PUBG, it will at least run Apex Legends. Though PUBG Corp. is releasing PUBG Lite very soon, the time gap between the official release of the new version is enough to get you addicted to the new EA game instead.
Extra features
Currently, the game has only one map, but it will get more down the line. However, Apex Legends brings tons of extra features that PUBG will probably never get. First, the game even allows players to respawn after they die. This gives them hope on their teammates and winning the game. Other features include rope climbing, jetpack and more.
WhatsApp Inc. recently rolled out an update for their iOS app, where now users can enable TouchID or FaceID verification in order to open the app. The company is now rolling out a new update for Android. Though the update does not bring the app lock feature, it does bring changes to a few UI elements.
It was quite difficult to find certain settings in the old interface
While you will not notice anything as you open the app, the changes are made in the settings menu. The update basically aims to make navigation through settings much easier. It has taken inspiration from Android 9 Pie's settings menu. As of now, the update is only available for beta testers and stable version users will have to wait a little longer.
The new UI elements look cleaner and make navigation much easier
Now with the new update, WhatsApp has included some of the sub-menus right on the main settings page. For example, users will now know that Backup, history, wallpaper settings can be found under Chats menu. They have also added icons alongside the text making everything look way better than before. Also, the new network status menu looks much better and offers more information than before.
Android 9 Pie users will notice that the new WhatsApp settings are more or less inspired by the operating system's settings. It also gives a more minimalistic and cleaner look making navigation throughout the UI quite easier.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 gets the fourth Android 9 Pie beta update
Samsung recently started rolling out the stable version of the Android 9 Pie operating system for its flagship Samsung Galaxy S9, S9+ and Galaxy Note 9. The company soon after rolled out the beta version of the software for its 2017 flagship devices including Samsung Galaxy Note 8, S8 and S8+. Note 8 has now received its fourth beta update and possibly the last one.
If you are already running the beta version of Android 9 Pie based One UI on your Galaxy Note 8, you should receive a notification regarding the update available. The update weighs in at around 577 MB and carries the software version N950FXXU5ZSB2. In case you have not received a notification yet, you can manually check for updates by going to Settings > Software Update > Check for updates.
With the latest update, Samsung has fixed some of the major bugs and issues reported by the beta testers. Alongside the bug fixes, the update also brings in the latest February Android security patch. Also, this new update feels like it is the final beta update and Samsung is ready to push out the stable version.
However, just like every Samsung device, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ users will receive the stable update region by region. The update should hit India by the end of March 2019.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Specifications
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 features a 6.3-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1440x2960 pixels. It is powered by the Exynos 8895 octa-core processor coupled with 6GB of RAM. It comes in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB storage options with support for further expandability using a microSD card. All of this is backed by a 3,300mAh battery.
Smartphones like Xiaomi Mi A1, OnePlus 5T and iPhone 8 cause a lot of radiation
The Internet is currently flooded with articles related to smartphone radiations. Recently, a market research institute Statista shared the research of the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection (Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz). With the help of the research, they have listed out some of the worst smartphones in terms of radiations. Here are some tips and tricks to save yourself from such radiations.
Use headphones
Wireless headsets are becoming quite common these days
Instead of just talking on your phone directly via the phone's earpiece, use a pair of headphones. This is especially recommended for long duration calls. Radiation harms you the most when it gets closer to your brain or your body. So, using a pair of headphones will help you keep some distance from your phone. This will also help you as you can set your hands free for other tasks. Also, we recommend using a good pair of earphones or headphones as cheap ones can harm your ears.
There are plenty of cheap anti-radiation stickers available on online websites like Flipkart and Amazon. They claim to reduce the radiation that is being caused by your mobile network. Instead, they increase radiation. If you already have one installed on your phone, we highly recommend that you remove it right away.
Keep your phone in a bag
Instead of carrying your smartphone in your pocket, it is safer to keep it in a purse or a backpack. Though having a backpack at all times is not possible, you should still try to keep your phone in a tabletop or somewhere away from your pocket.
Avoid calls on a weak network
In case you have less than 3 bars on your network status bar, you should avoid making or receiving calls. When the network signal is weak, the phone will try harder to contact the towers, which results in higher electromagnetic radiation. If you live in an area where network signals are weak, you should ask your cellular provider to install network boosters at your home.
Xiaomi Poco F1 is now available at a starting price of Rs. 19,999
Xiaomi has announced a new three-day sale via the e-commerce giant, Flipkart. The sale is called "I Love Mi days" and it is also available on the company's own website, Mi.com. The sale is set to begin on February 11 and will go on until February 13. The sale offers discounts on smartphones like Redmi Note 6 Pro, Redmi Note 5 Pro and Poco F1. There will be deals on other products including Mi TVs, Mi Band 3, Mi speakers and more.
As a part of the sale, Xiaomi is selling the Redmi Note 6 Pro for as low as Rs. 12,999, which is originally priced at Rs. 15,999. The higher-end 6GB RAM varaint is now available for Rs. 14,999. One of the best discounts is on the more budget oriented, Xiaomi Redmi Y2. The Redmi Y2 currently priced at for Rs. 8,999 for the base variant. The 4GB RAM variant is selling for around Rs. 10,999.
Even the Redmi 6 is available for a starting price of Rs. 7,999, which was initally priced at Rs. 8,499. The popular Redmi Note 5 Pro is now available at a price of Rs. 12,999 for the 6GB RAM variant. It makes a good deal as the phone was launched at Rs. 16,999 last year. Poco F1 is now available at a starting price of Rs. 19,999.
Further, there are also some good deals on Mi TVs and accessories. The Xiaomi Mi TV 4A Pro (43-inch) is now available in an open sale for a price of Rs. 22,999. Xiaomi's power banks are available at a starting price of Rs. 899 with a minimum capacity of 10,000mAh.
LG G8 ThinQ will come with a notched display just like the G7 ThinQ
LG, the South Korean giant, is planning to launch their new flagship smartphone in MWC (Mobile World Congress) 2019 at Barcelona. The LG G8 ThinQ will be a successor to their last year's LG G7 ThinQ. As the launch date is coming closer, we have a better idea of what the smartphone will look like and how much will it cost.
According to a recent report, the 128GB variant of the LG G7 ThinQ will be available for around CAD 1,199, which roughly converts to USD 900 or Rs. 65,000. Some reports also suggest that the G8 ThinQ will not have the latest X50 modem by Qualcomm, which means it will not support 5G networks. However, the company is saving that for their next flagship, the LG V50 ThinQ.
Specifications
As for the specifications, the LG G8 ThinQ will feature a 6.1-inch IPS LCD display with an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. The smartphone will be powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset. The handset is expected to come with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage, which will be further expandable using a microSD card. It will run on Android 9 Pie out of the box. All of this will be backed by a 3,500mAh battery with support for quick charging.
As of now, there is no information on the camera setup of the LG G8 ThinQ. However, according to the renders, the phone seems to come with a dual-camera setup at the back.
Apex Legends is now one of the most popular battle royale games
EA Games recently launched their new battle royale game called Apex Legends. The game is here to compete against likes of PUBG and Fortnite. It looks like has already started to scare the competition as it has hit 10 million downloads within 3 days of its release. No price tag is what played a major role in helping the game reach such a target.
Electronics Arts Inc also announced that this has driven its shares up by 16 percent on Friday. As the game now has over 10 million players, Apex Legends was the most viewed game on Twitch recently. A game like Fortnite took almost two weeks to hit the 10 million mark, which looks like a piece of cake for Apex Legends.
Apex Legends is currently available on PC, Xbox and PlayStation 4. It is basically a battle royale game where 100 players are thrown inside a map and they have to be the last one or the last team standing in order to win. Currently, the game only supports a party of 3 players, with solo and duo options coming very soon.
Interestingly enough, the game brings in a lot of concepts that neither PUBG nor Fortnite could pull off. One of these features would be that a player, even after death, can still have hope to come back alive. This basically happens by his teammate helping him to respawn. The game also has various characters, which have different powers.
Asus VivoBook S14 is here to compete against the ultrabooks like MacBook Air
Asus has a variety of laptops targeting different types of customers. The VivoBook series concentrates on people looking for a laptop for school or work who need a portable laptop, which they can carry everywhere and with which they can get their work done. However, the Asus VivoBook S14 (S406) is not meant for everyone and here's why we think so.
Asus VivoBook S14 (S430U) Review: Specifications
The review unit of the Asus VivoBook S14 we got came with a 14-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. It is powered by the 8th generation Intel Core i5 8250U processor coupled with Intel’s integrated UHD Graphics 620. The device comes with 8GB of RAM, 256GB SSD storage and a 1TB hard drive.
Price: Rs. 69,990
Asus VivoBook S14 (S430U) Review: Design
Asus VivoBook S14 comes with an eye catching design and a variety of colour options to choose from. It is also quite sleek, which makes the laptop extremely portable. The laptop is around 18mm in thickness and weighs in at around 1.4kgs. Most of the body is made out of plastic, which makes it less durable but at the same time offers a lightweight design.
Port selection is quite impressive
A full size SD card reader would have been much appreciated
As soon as you open the laptop, you will be greeted by, what Asus likes to call, a NanoEdge display. It basically has thin bezels on both sides and the top. Just like its predecessor, this has allowed the company to put a 14-inch display in a chassis of a typical 13-inch laptop. The chicklet keyboard is backlit and the brightness levels can be adjusted in 3 different levels. The laptop also features a fingerprint scanner on the trackpad, which is a welcome feature as it makes unlocking the laptop very easy.
In terms of the port selection, Asus has added three USB Type-A ports, a USB Type-C port, an HDMI port, a 3.5-mm headphone jack and a microSD card slot. For the price Asus is asking, they could have included a ThunderBolt port, which would have allowed users to plug-in an external GPU and other accessories to this ultrabook.
Asus VivoBook S14 (S430U) Review: Display
Asus VivoBook S14 features a Full HD display
The Asus S14 sports a 14-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels and has a refresh rate of 60Hz. It is an antiglare panel and offers a 178-degree wide-viewing angle and 84 percent screen-to-body ratio. Watching Netflix was pleasing on this display. It also gets bright enough and should be fine for most use case scenarios.
Asus VivoBook S14 (S430U) Review: Performance
The Asus VivoBook S14 comes with a U-series processor from Intel and lacks a dedicated GPU, which is acceptable considering the company is marketing this as a portable thin and light laptop. Performance from the Intel Core i5-8250U CPU coupled with 8GB of RAM should be sufficient for most day-to-day tasks.
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The laptop scores quite decent at GeekBench and Cinebench
The laptop uses an ErgoLift design where the laptop lifts up slightly to give room to the fans for better cooling. However, it makes using the laptop difficult on uneven surfaces. When it is on a table, it does remain cool.
Asus VivoBook S14 (S430U) Review: Keyboard and Mouse
One of the best things I liked about this laptop is its backlit keyboard. The lighting makes the laptop comfortable to use during night time. Just like most other Asus laptops, the trackpad on this one is also quite good. The trackpad comes integrated with a fingerprint sensor, which when combined with Windows Hello, works very well.
The Keyboard on Asus VivoBook S14 feels quite comfortable even for long typing sessions
Just like its predecessor, the power button is included within the keyboard area. The button is quite close to the backspace key which means you might accidentally hit the power key instead of hitting the backspace key on most occasions.
Asus VivoBook S14 (S430U) Review: Battery
One of the key highlights of the Asus S14 is its long battery life. During the review period, we were able to use the laptop continuously for around 8-9 hours before it required to be plugged in. We got good results with keyboard backlight turned off and Windows Power Mode set to Better Performance. You can suck some more juice from the laptop by Windows performance settings even more. Also, if you do drain the battery, the included charger can charge it back quite quickly.
Asus VivoBook S14 (S430U) Review: Verdict
The build of this laptop could have been better
Asus VivoBook S14 (S430U) is made for people who prefer mobility over performance. The laptop is lightweight meaning you can carry it around with you most of the times. The battery life is quite good, which means you will not need to carry the charger to work or school. However, these perks do come with a tradeoff, which in this case is performance.
The lack of a dedicated graphics card means that you cannot edit your videos or play games on the go. A ThunderBolt 3 port could have made a huge difference here. However, considering the market Asus is targeting with this device, it isn't a huge deal.
In a nutshell, if you need a laptop for work and you travel a lot, picking this one up will never bring regret.
