Which devices are getting Android 8.0 Oreo?

      Just as the dust settles on the launch of Android Oreo, the immediate query is whether your device will be upgraded to the latest version of Android. Slowly and steadily, smartphone manufacturers are realizing the importance of providing major upgrades to their devices, and the situation has improved a lot since the time when there were zero updates.

      Nowadays, even mid-range phones get at least one major update, while flagships usually get two, albeit delayed ones. Companies, during the launch, try to grab the attention by promising quicker and guaranteed updates. So, here's a list of smartphones that are either technically eligible for Android Oreo, or the manufacturers have promised one. Keep in mind that there have been instances of OEMs not fulfilling their promises, so the list below is prepared keeping in mind the best possible cases.

Which devices are getting Android 8.0 Oreo?

Google's own Pixel and Nexus line-up

      Anything that has come out from the Google stable in the past two years will be automatically eligible. Google Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel C, Nexus 6P, 5X, Nexus Player will receive the Android Oreo in its purest form. These will be the first devices to get the update as well.

[Also Read: Top 9 features of Android 8.0 Oreo ]

Samsung

      All of 2017's flagship will receive this update very soon. This includes the Galaxy S8, S8+ and the upcoming Note 8. Last year's flagships Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are also expected to follow suit.The mid-range devices of 2017, the J and A series, which launched with Nougat will also be getting Oreo, though it may take up to one year from now. Other phones belonging to these series launched in 2016 are yet to receive Nougat, so chances of an upgrade to Android 8 is as good as Pakistan beating India in a Cricket World Cup match.

OnePlus

      OnePlus 5 will be getting the update soon, while upgrades for 3 and 3T are promised by the year end. Recently, OnePlus team confirmed that Android 8 will be the last update for 3 and 3T. None of the phones released before OnePlus 3 will be receiving Android Oreo

HTC

      The trend continues with a guaranteed update for this year's flagship, the U11. HTC U Ultra and U Play are also expected to get the update later. Though there are no official confirmation, we might see HTC 10, 10 Evo, Desire 10 Pro and Desire 10 Lifestyle getting updated to Oreo.

Nokia

      All of Nokia's phones were released this year, with stock Android UI. So, all the phones will be getting upgraded to Android Oreo. HMD Global had promised that Nokia phones will be among the first non-Google phones to receive the update.

Asus

      The recently launched half dozen phones of the Zenfone 4 series will receive Oreo. the company also went ahead and promised Android Oreo update for the entire Zenfone 3 series phones as well.

Sony

      Xperia XZ Premium, Xperia XZs, XZ, X Compact, X Performance, XA1, XA1 Ultra - all are rumored to be in line to receive Android Oreo, though there are no official confirmation as yet.

Lenovo/Moto

      Lenovo's K8 Note was launched with the promise of Android Oreo. The company mentioned that the inclusion of stock Android instead of their own Vibe UI is aimed at providing quick updates. Moto's high end devices like Z2 Play will be receiving Android Oreo and the mid range G5, G5 Plus are also in line for updates. Last year's G4 and G4 Plus may miss the cut this year.

LG

      LG G6, Q6 and last year's G5 and V20 are expected to be upgraded to Android Oreo.The V30, if released with Nougat, will also get Android Oreo

Others

      Coolpad Cool Play 6, which was launched recently, and the Essential PH-1 will also be getting the latest Android upgrades. 

      Almost all the phones mentioned above, with the exception of Google and OnePlus line-up, do not have a fixed timeline as yet. So, these are the smartphones which are expected or rumored to receive Android Oreo sometime in the future. Did you find your smartphone's name in this list? Do let us know which Android version is on your smartphone, in the comments section below.

Top 9 Android 8.0 Oreo Features

      Continuing the legacy of naming Android versions alphabetically and with a dessert's name, Google revealed that Android 8.0 will be called Android Oreo. Though the name is not surprising, recent 'reveals' mentioning that another name, Oatmeal Cookie, is also being discussed, created a hype around the name launch. Now that we know its name, let's jump into it and have a look at the new features it offers.

      While nothing much has changed in terms of looks, there are many subtle yet useful changes under the hood. So, here are the best features, in no particular order.

Top Android 8.0 Oreo Features

Revamped Settings

      Almost all Android OEMs have struggled to organize the Settings app. Since the last couple of years, they've been trying to change and make it more organized, and finally it looks like the best arrangement so far. For e.g, all the connectivity features like Bluetooth, NFC, Cast, Printing etc. comes directly under Connected Devices.

Snooze Individual App Notifications

      Now, you can snooze the notifications from individual applications. If you are receiving a ton of notifications from one particular app, there's no need to turn on the DND mode or block the notifications of that app entirely. With Snooze option, you can block the notifications for a fixed amount of time, like 15 or 30 minutes. All you have to do is swipe the notification halfway across the screen, and select the snooze option. Talking about notifications, let's look at the next feature - Notification Dots.

Notification Dots

      This is not exactly new, since many manufacturers have tried notification badges on their UI, but it's a welcome addition on Android. If you have any unread notifications, the app icon will display a tiny dot at the top corner. There's no number, meaning it'll look the same no matter how many new notifications your receive.

Picture in Picture

      Again something which is not entirely new, Picture-in-Picture lets you use two different apps at a time. For e.g, if you are watching a video or speaking to someone on Duo, hitting the home button will take you to the home screen with a small floating window showing the video/video call, so that you can continue browsing through your phone without actually minimizing the app.

Smart Text Selection

      Google has been making huge in-roads with their AI and machine learning. The ability of Android to realize the context is the highlight of this feature. If you select text like you do for copying it, depending on what the selected text is, Android will provide you contextual options. If you select a number, it will give you the option to dial it immediately. Similarly, if it's an address, an option to locate it on the Google Maps will be available.

Navigation button

      The navigation buttons at the bottom can now be customized from the System UI Tuner. There are options to make it compact, left-leaning or right-leaning. There's even an option to add extra buttons to the left and right of the existing three navigation keys.

Lock Screen Shortcuts

      This resides under the System UI Tuner. The voice control and camera application are the default ones that can be launched by swiping from the left and right respectively. Now you can set the application of your choice, like Chrome or Twitter or Instagram, whichever app you want to open directly without having to unlock the phone first and then launch the app. 

Autofill framework

Android is making it easier for people who have multiple accounts with different passwords. the autofill option which is popular on browsers will be available across the OS, with any application, thereby reducing the hassle of typing in the ID and password on applications.

Adaptive Icons

A subtle visual change, but one that goes long way in maintaining consistency across the UI. App icons are usually of different sizes, and with Adaptive Icons, one can make all the icons look similar with options to make them square or circular.

Other than these, there are usual improvements in security, better battery management, support for new set of emojis and better animations. Which of these features are your personal favorites? Were you expecting more from Android 8.0? Let us know in the comments section below.

Asus launches 6 new smartphones under the Zenfone 4 series!; Here's all you need to know

      Launching a new series of phones can be done it two manners - launch one model, concentrate on its software support or launch different variants so that a customer gets the option to chose according to his/her needs. While companies like Apple and OnePlus belong to the first category, Asus belongs is at the other extreme end. Repeating their strategy, Asus has launched a total of six different variants of its Zenfone 4 series, all in a day.

Asus launches 6 new smartphones under the Zenfone 4 series! Here's all you need to know

      The new series includes Zenfone 4, Zenfone 4 Max, Zenfone 4 Selfie and a Pro version for each of these three smartphones. Let's have a look at all the variants, their specifications and distinguishing features.

Zenfone 4

      The Zenfone 4 features a 5.5 inch IPS LCD display with FHD (1920x1080) resolution and has 2.5D Gorilla Glass on both sides sandwiching the aluminium frame. Depending on the variant you chose or Asus launches in your country, it may have a Snapdragon 630 or 660 and RAM up to 4 GB or 6 GB. Internal memory is 64 GB, which can be expanded via external card.

      A dual camera setup resides at the back of the camera, a 12 MP f/1.8 primary camera with phase detection auto-focus and optical image stabilization is accompanied by an ultra-wide angle 8 MP camera. The front shooter is an 8 MP f/2 sensor.

      Dual front-facing speakers is also included. Other usual pack of features are dual-SIM support, USB Type-C and a fast charging capable 3300 mAh battery. Zenfone 4 will be available in Moonlight White, Mint Green and Midnight black.

Zenfone 4 Pro

      This is the flagship device of the Zenfone 4 family. Though the display resolution remains the same as Zenfone 4 at FHD, the technology used is AMOLED. The 2.5D Gorilla Glass at the front and back and aluminium frame are also similar to the Zenfone 4. Like other flagships released in the second half of 2017, Zenfone 4 Pro also includes Snapdragon 835 processor. Storage capacities are 64 GB or 128 GB with 6 GB RAM.

      The sensors used for the dual camera setup are a 12 MP f/1.7 one with OIS, PDAF and laser autofocus and a 16 MP telephoto lens. The front camera has an 8 MP f/1.9 sensor.

      Zenfone 4 Pro will be powered by a 3600 mAh battery with support for fast charge. Features such as dual stereo speakers, fingerprint scanner, USB Type-C and support for dual-SIM are also included. It will be available in Moonlight White and Pure Black.

Zenfone 4 Max

      Zenfone 4 Max has a 5.5 inch IPS LCD display. Powered by the mid-range chipset Snapdragon 425 or 430, 2/3/4 GB of RAM, 16/32/64 GB expandable storage as options.

      A 13 MP f/2.0 sensor and 12 mm wide angle sensor makes up the dual camera arrangement. Front camera is 8 MP.

      The highlight of Max series is the high capacity battery, at 5000 mAh. Type-C USB is replaced by microUSB, and other features are the same as Zenfone 4/ 4 Pro. Deepsea Black, Sunlight Gold and Rose Pink are the color options.

Zenfone 4 Max Pro

      It's almost similar to Zenfone Max with camera and memory being the only major differences. Dual rear and front cameras have 16 MP sensors, while internal memory is 32 GB with only 2 or 3 GB of RAM.

Zenfone 4 Selfie

      Zenfone 4 Selfie also has a 5,5 inch IPS LCD with 2.5D glass. Under the hood, it will have Snapdragon 430 chip with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB expandable storage.

      Selfie series won't have dual cameras to the rear, so a 16 MP camera is the only sensor present at the back. While there is no dual cam at the rear, the selfie focused Zenfone 4 Selfie has a dual camera setup to the front. A 20 MP f/2.0 sensor is coupled with an 8 MP wide angle sensor. 

      The smartphone has fingerprint scanner, dual SIM support, microUSB port and a 3000 mAh battery. Zenfone 4 Selfie will come in Deepsea Black, Mint Green, Rose Pink and Sunlight Gold.

Zenfone 4 Selfie Pro

      A true Pro version of Zenfone 4 Selfie, the Selfie Pro has a 5.5 inch AMOLED display with FHD resolution. Snapdragon 625 processor will power this device, with RAM options of 3/4 GB and 64 GB of storage.

      The front camera is 24 MP (Actual sensor - 12 MP) and 5 MP combo. Primary camera is 16 MP with dual tone flash.

      All the other set of features present in Zenfone 4 Selfie are present in the Pro variant, while the available color options are Deepsea Black, Sunlight Gold and Rouge Red.

      Pricing and availability details were not announced.

Acer launches Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop in India | Specs, Price and Availability

    Highlights :

• Predator 300 comes with 15.6-inch FHD IPS display, powered by 7th Gen Intel Core i7 or Core i5 processors, overclockable NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050Ti GPU
• Dual AeroBlade 3D fans keep thermal levels under control even during intense usage. Predator Sense software makes controlling the system vitals easy
• Dolby Audio Premium and Acer TrueHarmony gives a unique and enjoyable audio-visual experience

Acer launches Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop in India | Specs, Price and Availability 

      Acer launched their gaming laptop, the Predator Helios 300 in India. The laptop which debuted in New York, will be available with a 15.6 inch display. The Helios 300 is designed in matte black chassis with red accents, giving it an edgy and fun design.

Commenting on the launch, Chandrahas Panigrahi, CMO and Consumer Business Head, Acer India said in a statement, "We are thrilled to bring in the new generation of Predator series to India. Predator Helios 300 combines innovative design and unbeatable features that are sure to delight the gaming enthusiasts. Predator will be a brand to beat in the Indian gaming market."

Specifications and Features

      Under the hood, Helios 300 sports and overclockable NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050Ti GDDR5 with capacity up to 4 GB, and CPU duties handled by Intel Core i7 7th Gen (7700HQ) or an i5 (7300HQ), providing stunning performance. The i5 can be overclocked up to 3.5 GHz and i7 can be boosted up to 3.8 GHz.

      The powerful processors are ably supported by up to 8 GB of DDR4 RAM (upgradable to 32 GB), 128 GB SATA SSD and 1TB HDD. Upgrading these are made easier by an access compartment, which can be opened from the bottom. The gaming laptop will be running on Windows 10 out of the box.

(Also Read : The thinnest gaming laptop to feature a GTX 1080!)

      Predator 300 also includes a first gen USB Type-C port as well as USB 3.0 port, which supports reverse charging. Other features are a 2-in-1 Card Reader (SD, SDXC) slot, two USB 2.0 and one HDMI 2.0. Fast 2x2 Wi-Fi 802.11ac technology takes care of wireless connectivity, while a Gigabit Ethernet port is also included for wired connection.

      IPS LCD display with FHD (1920x1080) resolution, Dolby Atmos Premium and Acer TrueHarmony deliver a unique enriching audio-visual experience with vibrant colors and crisp audios levels, making the Predator 300 equally good for gaming and media consumption. Skype for Business Certification enables clear and lag-free conversations, while providing a great Cortana with Voice experience. The webcam supports HD resolution.

      To maintain an optimum thermal level, a dual fan system featuring AeroBlade 3D fan with ultra thin blades are included. The thinness of the blades ensure that cooling is done without taking up much space and at the same time remaining quieter than other cooling fans. PredatorSense software, which comes pre-loaded in the laptop, enables the user to control the system's vitals. the 4 cell battery can give up to 9 hours of backup on a single charge.

Price, Availability and Launch Offers

      The Predator 300 is available exclusively via Flipkart. The variant powered by Core i5 is priced at Rs. 1,29,999, while the i7 model is listed for Rs. 1,49,999. 1 year International Travelers Warranty and 10 day replacement is also available. Offers include up to Rs. 15,000 off on exchange, No cost EMI and an Extra 5% off on Axis Bank Buzz Credit Cards. Links are available below.

Links to buy:

Acer Predator 300 (i7)

Acer Predator 300 (i5)

ICICI Lombard releases 'InstaSpect' feature on Insure App for faster claim approvals

      Vehicle insurance has always been an issue for a typical common man in India. In our country, traffic rules are rarely followed, and driving tests do not really check a driver's skills. So, a brush here and there, dents and scratches, smashed bumper or wheel guard is a common sight. The insurance claims process that follows usually move along at snail's pace. In this age of smartphones and cheaper data rates, ICICI has come out with an innovative feature that can potentially reduce the hassle one has to go through after an accident.

ICICI Lombard releases 'InstaSpect' feature on Insure App for faster claim approvals

      ICICI Lombard launched India's first live video inspection feature, called InstaSpect, on their Insure application. This unique feature allows customers to raise an instant claim via the Insure mobile application.

      To avail this feature, the customer simply has to stream a live video via the app to an ICICI claims manager. The manager will assess the damage, and prepare a detailed list of the extent of liability, documentation and inform the customer about the same along with an intimation of further procedures. If the customer accepts this assessment, the claims manager will immediately approve the claim and initiate the repairs.

      The company, which has remained the largest private sector non-life insurance company in the country since the fiscal 2004 by GDPI, highlighted the fact that 92.2% of insurance claims were approved within 30 days, while the industry average is 81.9%. They undertook a survey to understand customers' views on this feature. According to the survey in which more than 810 vehicle users belonging to the age-group of 25-55, 94% of them liked the concept and conveyed that they were keen on such a development. While 34% of respondents appreciated the on-spot assistance for claims, 26% agreed that this will indeed reduce the survey time.

      Speaking at the launch, Sanjeev Mantri, Executive Director, ICICI Lombard General Insurance said, "At ICICI Lombard, we have always strived to challenge the status quo and provide the best in class experience to our customers by using the latest technology solutions. Through this new age moto insurance claims feature 'InstaSpect' on our 'Insure' app, we have made the claim approval process far more efficient and hassle free for the benefit of our customers."

Procedure

      The customer needs to open InstaSpect on the Insure mobile application (download links at the end of this article). Clicking on the InstaSpect option will connect the customer to the claims manager. The customer will be guided via the live video streaming, and the claims manager advises the customer to show the damaged portion and will also ask to upload the policy documents. The customer may be asked to show other parts of the car to ensure no other damage has taken place, along with documents such as driving license of the driver and RC details of the vehicle. The customer can confirm if he needs assistance or if he can drive the vehicle to the workshop. Depending on the nature of the damage, the manager will provide a rough estimate of the liability. Once approved, the details will be forwarded to the workshop by the time the damaged vehicle reaches there. This entire process will require only a few hours, which is very less compared to normal process.

      The procedure was demoed live on stage, and a few requirements were highlighted. The smartphone used should have at least 5 MP camera sensor, and enough battery backup to last at least up to 20 minutes. The policy documents should be present and shown to the manager via the video call. The app also allows the customers to schedule the video inspection.

      The company's officials confirmed that this service is available only for private vehicles as of now. Any damage which may cost more than Rs. 50,000 will be approved only after a physical inspection, in accordance with the existing regulatory guidelines. The service will be available on all working days from 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM. 

Download link : Insure App [Android]

Download link : Insure App [iOS]

This is a sponsored post.

Nokia 8 launched | Dual Zeiss Camera | Price, Colors and Availability

      After months and months of anticipation, a flagship from Nokia is finally here! HMD Global, the Finnish start-up, has unveiled the Nokia 8 at an event in London. The company which so far released a few mid-range devices, has finally stepped into the premium market, dominated by the likes of Apple, Samsung and LG.

Nokia 8 launched | Dual Zeiss Camera | Price, Colors and Availability

Build and Design

      The Nokia 8 is made from a single block of 6000 series aluminium, with an average thicknes of 7.3 mm. The smartphone is 7.9 mm at its thickest point and 4.6 mm at its thinnest. Unlike other flagships, the Nokia 8 is not waterproof, but splash-proof nonetheless, with an IP54 rating. Measuring 151.5 x 73.7 x 7.9 mm, the device weighs a decent 160 gm. Nokia has included graphite shielded copper heat pipe to keep thermal levels optimal. The antennas are designed similar to iPhone7, blending to the side curves of the phone.

Display

      Nokia 8 sports a 5.3 inch IPS LCD display with a QuadHD resolution (2560x1440), with brightness levels maxing out at 700 nits. The display is 2.5D, meaning it curves slightly at the edges and it’s protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5.

Camera and OZO Audio

      Ever since Zeiss announced that they intend to bring back their famed lenses on Nokia phones, we were expecting some great optics. Equipping the Nokia 8 with dual 13 MP sensors, they have managed to live up to the hype. The rear camera setup contains two 13 MP sensors, a combination of color and monochrome ones. With a pixel size of 1.12 um, f/2.0 aperture, PDAF and dual LED flash, the cameras look set to produce some great shots. The front-facing camera also sports the same sensors, the only differences being a slightly wider 78.4 degree of FOV and display flash instead of LED ones.

      A unique feature call Bothie, by which both the cameras capture pictures at the same time, is also included. They also called this feature as Dual-Sight. This can be used for live-stream videos to give the audience a better view of what’s happening around you.

      Related to audio, Nokia 8 has OZO, which has the ability to combine the audio from its three microphones using unique algorithms. This means users can record 360 degree spatial surround sound for an immersive experience. Nokia confirmed that such audio codecs will be compatible on phones without OZO, so you can share the recorded videos without losing the amazing high quality audio.

Processing power, Storage and other Specifications

      The smartphone is powered by the latest and greatest from Qualcomm, the Snapdragon 835 processor with a maximum clock-speed of 2.45 GHz. 4 GB of RAM comes with 64 GB of internal storage (6 GB RAM and 128 GB memory on Gloss Blue variant), expandable up to 256 GB via external hybrid microSD card slot. It will be running Android Nougat 7.1.1 with the company hinting at a possibility of Nokia 8 being one of the first phones to receive Android O update. The stock Android also clears the way for faster security patch releases. Unlimited Google Photos storage and support for Google Assistant are also included.

      All these will be backed up by a 3090 mAh integrated battery with Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 (18W). USB Type-C, capable of data sync speeds up to 5 Gbps, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0 are the connectivity features. Sensors included are ambient light, proximity, accelerometer, e-compass, gyroscope, fingerprint, hall sensor, barometer, GPS/AGPS+GLONASS+BDS, NFC, ANT+.

Pricing, Availability and Colors

      Nokia 8 will be available at 599 Euros (~Rs 45,000) from September. It will come in four colors - Polished Blue, Tempered Blue, Steel, Polished Copper.

Source

Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro will feature swim tracking, offline Spotify support

      Samsung is all set to unveil the Note 8 at the Unpacked Event on 23 August, but it won't be the only device to mark its debut. A couple of other devices, the fitness tracker Gear Fit2 Pro and a backwards-compatible GearVR headset will also be unveiled alongside the Note 8.

      Though the hype and excitement related to wearable devices have gone down recently, it seems Samsung isn't going to give it up easily. Samsung had launched Gear Fit in 2014, and two years later, updated the line-up with Gear Fit2. The Fit2 Pro will actually be the third in the series of fitness trackers from Samsung, successor to the Gear Fit2. The latest fitness tracker from Samsung will be a big update to the Tizen-powered Fit2, according to sources.

Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro will feature swim tracking, offline Spotify support

      The South Korean company's new wearable device will have 5 ATM water resistance, which means that users can submerge the device fully without the fear of damage and also enables swim tracking. The Gear Fit2 had IP68 certification, which was waterproof only up to a certain extent.

(Also Read: Samsung releases Note 8 video teaser )

      For extended rough usage like rigorous workouts, the Fit2 Pro will have a watch-style clasp, ensuring a more secure fit compared to Fit2 which only had a snap clasp.

      Another addition is the support for music playback – offline Spotify as well – which will give an extra advantage to the Fit2 Pro over other fitness trackers. This device will also have GPS function, like the Gear Fit2. The Fit2 Pro will sync with Speedo On app.

      It will be compatible with Android as well as iOS devices, and includes one year subscription to Under Armour’s premium digital services. Information about detailed specs and price was not available.

Source: VentureBeat

Asus announces the launch of Zephyrus in India | World's thinnest laptop with GTX 1080

      ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the launch of the world’s slimmest gaming laptop, the Zephyrus. This beast from Asus is powered by a 7th Gen Intel Core i7 processor (Kaby Lake) and the latest NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphics. Zephyrus will come with the Windows 10 Creators Update, which enhances the performance of PC games by means of the all-new Windows Game Mode, thereby enabling easier native game-streaming with Beam, Microsoft’s streaming service.

Asus announces the launch of Zephyrus in India | World's thinnest laptop with GTX 1080

       The gaming laptop will be showcased for the first time in India on 20 August, 2017 at Hotel Lalit Ashoka, Bangalore on the occasion of ROG Masters South Asia finale. The mega event will be attended by at least 1500 gamers.

      Priced at Rs. 2,99,990, the 15.6” display touting Zephyrus is an ultra-slim laptop and also incorporates the Active Aerodynamic System (AAS) — a specially designed ROG-exclusive cooling system. It also features customizable ASUS Aura RGB lighting effects and a super-fast 120Hz panel with wide-view technology, 100 percent sRGB color gamut and NVIDIA G-SYNC for breathtaking gaming visuals.

      Mr. Peter Chang, Regional Head - South Asia & Country Manager - ASUS India said, “ROG aims to create laptops that are slimmer, cooler, quieter & more powerful than ever before — to fully address the needs of today's highly mobile gamers. ROG Zephyrus is the result of this persistent dedication to gaming innovation. Being the first notebook to feature NVidia Max-Q design technology, ‘Zephyrus’ is the thinnest, lightest yet one of the most powerful gaming laptops at the moment.”

      By incorporating Max-Q technology, NVIDIA has enabled the OEMs to build laptops which are 3x thinner while delivering up to 3x more performance compared to previous gen. The better portability of laptops coupled with the powerful performance from NVIDIA ensures that gamers get the highest quality gaming-experience wherever and whenever they want it.  

      Vishal Dhupar, Managing Director, South Asia, NVIDIA said “In line with NVIDIA’s vision of constantly pushing the gaming industry & enhancing choices for customers, we are delighted to introduce NVIDIA Max-Q powered notebooks in India. The Asus ROG Zephyrus marks a new era for gaming notebooks, one where gamers can expect powerful performance without compromising on the aesthetics. Enabling OEMs to build laptops that are 3x thinner with up to 3x more performance, gamers can now experience high-fidelity gaming & high-resolution entertainment whenever & wherever they want it.”

      The ROG-exclusive cooling system called AAS incorporates AeroAccelerator technology for higher speed and efficiency of airflow. A small portion of the bottom chassis flexes each time Zephyrus is opened, increasing the air circulation. This efficient cooling maximizes the performance while keeping the thermal parameters in check, allowing the full utilization of the processing power.

      The design of the keyboard is also unique, which enhances the cooling of internal components. Featuring Aura RGB lighting, gamers can set customizable patterns as well as highlight effects for WASD and QWER key groups.

      WhisperMode technology plays with the game’s frame rate and the graphics settings simultaneously to increase the efficiency and reduce the acoustic level, making the gaming experience a lot quieter. The display on the Zephyrus has a very high frame rate of 120 Hz, which gets synchronized with GeForce graphic card’s frame rate as a result of G-SYNC, ensuring smooth visual experience. Wide-viewing angles and 100 percent sRGB gamut allows stunning color reproduction from all angles. With a thickness of just 16.9 mm, the world’s thinnest laptop with a GTX 1080 also features a USB Type-C with Thunderbolt 3, supporting G-SYNC, 4K output and fast data transfers.

Samsung releases a vague teaser of Galaxy Note 8 | Launch on August 23

      Samsung yesterday sent out a video teaser, which points at the Note 8 Launch scheduled on August 23. As it has been the case since a couple of years, such teasers are just ‘official’ confirmations of what we already know, thanks to the infinite number of leaks.

      Even this year it’s the same, with Evan Blass posting a clear picture of Note 8’s front and back on his twitter account. Evan Blass has a good history of leaking accurate details, and unlike others, he often posts high quality pictures.    

Samsung releases a vague teaser of Galaxy Note 8 

      The latest teaser offers some vague insights to the upcoming Note 8. The entire video is filled with just few words, which, according to the teaser, will be replaced by the Note 8. A few words come up in the video, then an S-pen shaped ‘strike-through’ cuts them off and a new word replaces it.

      Talk is replaced by act, step by leap, update by innovate, and so on. There are the usual taunts targeting Apple as well. The words such as closed and open are clearly pointing at Apple. The video ends with a bezel-less mobile figure and an S-pen. Do bigger things is the tag-line for this particular video, probably an indication of a bigger display being included on the Note 8. Right since the Note 3, all the Galaxy Note devices till date have had a 5.7 inch display. This will definitely be changing since the new trend is an 18:9 ratio tall display, meaning a similar sized phone can accommodate a much larger screen.

 (Also Read: LG launches the first mid-range smartphone with 18:9 display)

The Note 8's importance for Samsung

      The Note 8 is a much-awaited phone, more so because of how its predecessor, the Note 7, ended up. It was probably the worst thing to happen to a tech company in recent times, where it had to stop the sale of its flagship at once. A huge fiasco in itself, it could have turned much worse if Samsung had played the waiting game. As much as they deserve the criticism, they should also be applauded for the way they took the hard route and called off the sale. It would have been easy for a company as huge as Samsung to shrug off the reports and carry on with the sale to boost the profits. 100 devices out of a million is still 0.01 percentage, which is too small a figure. They cancelled the entire sale and recalled all the devices too. They were so adamant that they released an update which practically turned the Note 7 useless, forcing users to submit their phones. The chaos cause by the Note 7 last year makes the launch of Note 8 an important milestone for the company.

(specs: https://t.co/Q0BWXVac72) pic.twitter.com/dA0tU8WHIf

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) August 3, 2017

      Note 8 will be launch at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event, scheduled for August 23, 2017, at Park Avenue Armory in New York. The event will be live on Samsung’s website from 11 AM EST (8:30 PM IST).

Source : Samsung

LG just unveiled the world’s largest OLED screen in Dubai

      Display technology has evolved a lot over the last decade or so. The change from monochrome CRT to color CRT and then the first LCDs took more than half a century. CRTs, once the single most display technology, started getting replaced by LCDs at the start of this millennium. In just a decade and a half, two different technologies came up viz. plasma and LED and overtook LCD. Though LCD still has a sizable market share because of its low cost of production, larger TV and display screens are mostly made out of LED. Now it’s shifting to OLED panels, which are known for its vibrant colors and deep blacks. Display manufacturers like LG, Sony and others are focusing on bringing this technology to mainstream large scale production.

LG just unveiled the world’s largest OLED screen in Dubai

       LG Electronics unveiled a video signage in Dubai, which is the largest OLED screen and the largest HD wall in the world. Dubai Mall, adjacent to world’s tallest tower Burj Khalifa, was the chosen venue for the signage which was created using a staggering 820 Open Frame OLED panels. Emaar Entertainment was the partner for LG in this record breaking project.

(Also Read: LG V30 to be the first smartphone camera with an f/1.6 aperture!)

       “LG is revolutionizing the way commercial space is designed and used because its pioneering slim and curved OLED technology is an iconic piece of art itself,” said Kwon Soon-hwang, head of Information Display at the LG Home Entertainment Company. “Our Dubai exhibit is an example of how LG digital signage products add harmony to a space in addition to being an innovative solution that today’s B2B customers demand. It’s fitting that this breakthrough screen is being shown in the largest mall in the world next to the tallest structure in the world.” 

      Placed above an aquarium, the curved display complements the undulations of the flowing water beneath it. The ability of Open Frame OLED to form both concave and convex curves in landscape as well as portrait modes aided the project immensely.

(Also Read: LG launches LG Q6, first mid range device to sport an 18:9 FullVision display)

                   

OLED Technology | What's special?

      OLED technology is the preferred premium tech for displays now, and it’s called the next-gen display because of the low-power consumption and great colors. The lower power usage is due to the fact that OLED is emissive in nature, which means that the display has the ability to emit its own light. This eliminates the need for back-lighting, which are often bulky and inefficient. When displaying black color, the panel shuts off the particular pixels, which gives the deepest black levels and insanely high contrast. The viewing angle of OLED is also better when compared to back-lit LCD displays.

Source : LG NewsRoom

Nokia 5 will go on sale in India from 15th August | Specs | Price and Availability

      Once the king of mobile phone devices, the fall of Nokia pained a lot of their fans. Their initial objection to Android, coupled with a stiff competition from Apple and Google hastened the Finland company’s sharp decline. The inability to give a tough fight to the ever-growing popularity of Android and iOS devices, at a time when smartphones were taking over the world resulted in a decision to sell the mobiles’ division to Microsoft. Microsoft, a struggling company with regards to smartphones themselves, removed the Nokia branding from the phones and replaced it with Microsoft. This marked the end of an era, a time during which the company once even accounted for nearly 4% of the total GDP of Finland.

      A couple of years back, Nokia Technologies announced a plan to return to smartphone manufacturing. With a few hiccups here and there, it seems that the company have finalized a strategy to approach the saturated smartphone market.

Nokia 5 will go on sale in India from 15^th August | Specs | Price and Availability

      Nokia 5 will go on sale in India on 15^th August, the country’s Independence Day. It will be available only in offline retailer shops, unlike the Nokia 6 which will be an Amazon exclusive. There are a few additional offers too, which are mentioned below.

      “As a result of the sophistication in smartphone functionality & services, we spend more time than ever before on our phones. People today want something that fits in the palm of their hands and they want something that will go the distance. Nokia 5 is the ultimate pocketable phone at 5.2 inches with a very unique design,” says Mr. Ajey Mehta, Vice President- India, HMD Global.

Nokia 5 Specifications

      The phone will feature a 5.2 inch IPS display with a resolution of 1280x720. The 2.5D screen will be protected by Corning Gorilla Glass. The exterior, measuring 149.7 x 72.5 x 8.05 mm (excluding 0.5 mm camera bump), will be made out of a single block of 6000 series aluminium. The mid-ranger will be powered by Snapdragon 430 chipset. 2 GB of LPPDDR3 RAM will be accompanied by 16 GB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 128 GB via a microSD card slot. Out of the box, Nokia 5 will be running on Android 7.1.1 Nougat. The UI will be stock Android which will help in releasing faster updates and security patches. The 3000 mAh battery is non-removable.

      The primary camera will sport a 13 MP phase detection auto focus sensor, with pixel size of 1.12 um, f/2 aperture and dual tone flash. Secondary camera has an 8 MP auto-focus sensor, with a similar 1.12 um pixel size, f/2 aperture and a field of view of 84 degrees.

      Dual SIM capabilities, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, microUSB 2.0, USB OTG will take care of connectivity while the sensors included are GPS/AGPS+GLONASS+BDS, FM/RDS and NFC, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, fingerprint scanner, e-compass, gyroscope and proximity.

(Also Read: Convert your iPhone 6/6S to a dual SIM Android smartphone using this case! [No Jailbreak required!] )

Nokia 5 Price, Colors and Availability

      Nokia 5 will be available at retail stores across the country at a price of Rs. 12,499 from August 15, 2017. Available colors are – Matte Black, Silver, Tempered Blue and Copper. Initially, only Matte Black will be available. The other three colors - Silver, Tempered Blue and Copper - will be available in the next few weeks.

 Launch offers

      Vodafone subscribers can avail 5GB data per month @ Rs. 149/month for 3 months on their Nokia 5. Users will also receive a discount of Rs. 2500 (Rs. 1800 and Rs.700 off on hotels and domestic flights respectively) on Makemytrip.com

Source : Nokia