from Reuters: Technology News https://reut.rs/2s0LnRs
Monday, December 31, 2018
NASA probe believed to have passed distant space rock on landmark mission
A NASA explorer is believed to have reached the solar system's outermost region early Tuesday morning, flying close to a space rock 20 miles long and billions of miles from Earth on a mission to gather clues about the creation of the solar system.
from Reuters: Technology News https://reut.rs/2s0LnRs
from Reuters: Technology News https://reut.rs/2s0LnRs
Honor Band 4: Is the Honor Fitness Smartwatch the Affordable Rival to Xiaomi’s Mi Band 3? Find Out
The Honor Band 4 is officially available for purchase in India via Amazon and HiHonor store. This fitness tracker from Honor is one of the biggest competitor to the Xiaomi Mi Band 3. Both Xiaomi and Honor have been trying to woo customers with their affordable smartphones and fitness trackers in India. While the Xiaomi Mi Band 3 has been available for a while now, the Honor Band 4 went on sale from December 18, 2018 exclusively on Amazon India.
You can currently buy the Honor Band 4 from Amazon India and the official Honor India site as well at price of INR 2,599. In this post, we are going to gauge if the Honor Band 4 is a better buy than the Xiaomi Mi Band 3. Read on to find out.
Fitness Tracking and Key Features: Honor Band 4 vs Mi Band 3
While both the bands come with the basic fitness tracking features, the Honor Band 4 is slightly superior. The sensors onboard the Band 4 are much more accurate and provide better information. It features a 6-axis gyroscope and accelerometer, which can more accurate count footsteps when compared to the 3-axis sensor on the Mi Band 3. Both fitness bands do feature a heart rate sensor and can monitor sleep. You also get an option to automatically check your heart rate every now and then, but this will cost you battery life.
The sleep monitoring on the Honor Band 4 is better than what you get with the Mi Band 3. Honor has received validation from the Center for Dynamical Biomarkers (DBIOM) at BIDMC, a hospital that’s part of the Harvard Medical School. However, in real-life usage, this won’t really matter to the user. Again, both devices have plenty of fitness tracking features, but the Honor does things a little better.
OLED Touch Display
The Huawei sub-brand, Honor, has included a larger display on the Band 4 compared to its predecessors. It features a 0.95-inch OLED color panel with touch input. The text and colors on this panel is much better than what you get on the Xiaomi Mi Band 3.
The Mi Band 3 has a slightly smaller 0.78-inch OLED display. While this is also a color panel, the text on it isn’t very good. This is because the display on the Band 4 has a resolution of 240 x 120 pixels, compared to the 128 x 80 pixels on the Mi Band 3. Therefore, if you want a better display on your fitness band, then you should get the Honor Band 4.
Battery That Lasts Up To 20 Days
This is one department where Xiaomi’s fitness band outshines the competition. It offers a slightly higher capacity battery in comparison to the Honor Band 4. With automatic heart-rate tracking on, the Mi Band 3 can last around a week, whereas, it will last up to 20 days with the feature off. On the other hand, the Honor Band 4 lasts only about 2 weeks with the feature off, and around 5 days with the continuous tracking on.
If you are looking for something with a longer battery life and don’t particularly care for the better display, more accurate sensors, then the Mi Band 3 is what you need.
Price in India: Honor Band 4 vs Mi Band 3
When it comes to the price, the Xiaomi Mi Band 3 is INR 1,999, whereas, the Honor Band 4 will cost you INR 2,599. Yes, the Honor fitness band is more expensive, but you also get more for the price. Also, you can head over to Amazon India and purchase the Honor Band 4 right now. However, the Mi Band 3 is out of stock everywhere.
To conclude, we believe that the Honor Band 4 is definitely a better pick over the Mi Band 3, especially if you are going to use it with a Huawei or Honor smartphone.
The post Honor Band 4: Is the Honor Fitness Smartwatch the Affordable Rival to Xiaomi’s Mi Band 3? Find Out appeared first on MySmartPrice.
from MySmartPrice http://bit.ly/2Rm2oUF
ASUS Zenfone Max Pro M2 Now on Open Sale Via Flipkart; Oppo A3s 3GB Variant Price Cut by Rs. 1,000
The ASUS Zenfone Max Pro M2 was put up for its first sale in India earlier this month. At the time, however, ASUS was only conducting a flash sale scheme for its new smartphone, a tactic that repeated itself maybe only once since then. Now, the Taiwanese phone maker is finally making its latest budget smartphone offering available on open sale. On the other hand, Oppo’s A3s 3GB RAM variant has received another price cut. Read ahead to know more about both these deals.
Grab An ASUS Zenfone Max Pro M2 Anytime On Flipkart
The Zenfone Max Pro M2 is effectively available for purchase via Flipkart on open sale, which means you won’t have to compete with others in a flash sale for the chance of grabbing one. Perhaps, the reception from consumers was not as good as anticipated, and the company decided to just bite the bullet and begin selling it via the more traditional scheme. Regardless, if you are interested in getting a Max Pro M2 for yourself, here are the pricing and offer details.
First off, let’s take a look at the storage variants and their pricing. There are three storage variants in total that ASUS released for the Zenfone Max Pro M2 – 3GB RAM+32GB storage, 4GB RAM + 64GB storage and 6GB RAM+62GB storage. At the time of writing, only the first two storage variants have been listed. They are priced at INR 12,999 and INR 14,999 respectively, and the listings are live on Flipkart right now.
As for the offers, there doesn’t seem to be any additional perks available right now other than the standard purchase-related options. These include cash on delivery (COD), net banking & ATM card payment options, along with no cost EMI plans. On the other hand, Flipkart is offering its customary mobile protection plan as it provides with all other phones. This plan costs an additional INR 399 and will cover issues including broken screen repair, liquid damage, hardware/software problems and even theft for up to a year.
The Zenfone Max Pro M2 is a compelling offering for those looking for an affordable but capable package. This phone comes with a 6.26-inch IPS LCD which boasts an FHD+ resolution with an impressively high screen-to-body ratio. It has achieved this by providing a reasonably small sized notch at the top of this screen. In this notch, you will find a 13MP selfie camera alongside the earpiece and sensors. The back of the phone houses a 12MP + 5MP primary imaging setup.
The highlighting aspect of this phone, however, is with its powerful processor and large battery. For such a low asking price, ASUS is giving you a Snapdragon 660 SoC along with a massive 5000mAh cell. Furthermore, you get to enjoy stock Android 8.1 Oreo on this phone.
Oppo A3s 3GB Variant Price Slashed by INR 1,000
#OPPO #PriceDrop w.e.f 27/12/2018
Model- A3s 3GB
New MOP -10990Price Drop – Rs 1000/-
— Mahesh Telecom (@MAHESHTELECOM) December 27, 2018
If the Zenfone Max Pro M2 is still out of your budget, then you will be glad to know that there is another alternative. Oppo has yet again brought down the price of its budget device Oppo A3s. According to smartphone retailer Mahesh Telecom, the 3GB RAM + 32GB storage model of the Oppo A3s will now retail for just INR 10,990. This is a further INR 1,000 price cut since Oppo brought down the price of this phone to INR 11,990 just last month. The price cut seems to not only have taken place via offline sellers but was also reflecting at e-retail sites including Amazon when this article was written. So if you are in the market for a highly affordable smartphone that can get the job done, the Oppo A3s certainly deserves some consideration.
The post ASUS Zenfone Max Pro M2 Now on Open Sale Via Flipkart; Oppo A3s 3GB Variant Price Cut by Rs. 1,000 appeared first on MySmartPrice.
from MySmartPrice http://bit.ly/2LHNBhB
Fitbit Charge 3, Charge 3 Special Edition with Swim-proof Design Launched, Sale in India Begins January 1
The sleek Fitbit Charge 3 and Charge 3 Special Edition have finally arrived in India. The fitness and activity trackers sport swim-proof design with a touchscreen display, over 15 goal-based exercise modes, up to 7 days of battery life, and several other appealing features.
Fitbit launched the Charge 3 and Charge 3 Special Edition fitness bands in July, 2018. Interestingly, only the price and specifications of the devices were announced. The company indicated these fitness bands would start selling sometime around October. However, they never truly arrived. Now, after a few months of delay, the Fitbit Charge 3 and Charge 3 Special Edition are available to purchase. Let’s look at the important aspects including price, availability, specifications and features of the Fitbit Charge 3 and Charge 3 Special Edition fitness and activity tracker wearable.
Fitbit Charge 3 and Charge 3 Special Edition Specifications
The Fitbit Charge 3 fitness and activity tracker succeeds its predecessor, the Fitbit Charge 2. The company behind the wearable has offered an elevated, premium swim-proof design with a touchscreen display. Interestingly, Fitbit claims it is, “the company’s most advanced sensor and algorithm technology in a tracker.”
The latest Fitbit wearable sports a display that is about 40 percent bigger and brighter than its predecessor. Moreover, the company has made some fundamental changes to the design as well. A sleek inductive surface has replaced the physical ‘home button’.
The Fitbit Charge 3 features a 24×7 heart rate sensor. The always-on device can effectively track sleep, calories, real-time pace and distance, and several more health related parameters. Interestingly, the device is smart enough to independently recognize fitness activities like running, swimming, elliptical, sports and many more. The wearable then records the activities and the resultant impact on health in the accompanying Fitbit app that’s installed on a synchronized smartphone. The Fitbit app also allows females to track periods, record symptoms and estimate ovulation and fertility windows.
Fitbit assures the Fitbit Charge 3 is water resistant to up 50 meters. In other words, the Fitbit wearable can be easily worn while swimming or in a shower, without worrying about the performance or functioning of the device.
In addition to the aforementioned features, the Fitbit Charge 3 Special Edition also supports Fitbit Pay for adding Credit Cards. Wearers can make payment through NFC. The device is compatible with iOS and Android devices. Fitbit is promising Windows OS compatibility will arrive soon.
Fitbit Charge 3 and Charge 3 Special Edition Features
The new fitness and activity trackers from Fitbit are the first ones to feature a SpO2 sensor. The sensor will closely monitor the wearer’s blood oxygen levels. Incidentally, the Fitbit Ionic and Versa smartwatches, which recently received the latest Fitbit OS 3.0 update, also pack the same feature.
The creators are promising data from the SpO2 sensor will feed into the upcoming launch of the Fitbit Labs Sleep Score beta. This feature would allow users to better understand metrics like their sleep quality and breathing disturbances. With an FDA approval, Fitbit could use the data to screen and detect more serious health conditions, such as sleep apnea, claimed James Park, co-founder and CEO of Fitbit.
Fitbit Charge 3 and Charge 3 Special Edition Price, Availability
The Fitbit Charge 3 will retail for INR 13,990. It will be available in Black with an aluminum case or Blue Gray with Rose Gold aluminum case. The Fitbit Charge 3 Special Edition will retail at INR 15,999.
The wearable devices will also have a few premium accessories that start at INR 2,990, and go all the way up to INR 4,490. The Fitbit Charge 3 and Charge 3 Special Edition will be available at Reliance Digital, Croma, Helios and other major retailers, offline and online starting today, January 1 2019.
The post Fitbit Charge 3, Charge 3 Special Edition with Swim-proof Design Launched, Sale in India Begins January 1 appeared first on MySmartPrice.
from MySmartPrice http://bit.ly/2RqUI3p
Netflix poaches CFO from Activision Blizzard - source
Netflix Inc is expected to announce in the next few days that it has poached media finance veteran Spencer Neumann from Activision Blizzard to be its chief financial officer, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.
from Reuters: Technology News https://reut.rs/2ArQsH0
from Reuters: Technology News https://reut.rs/2ArQsH0
Happy New Year 2019!
Joy to the world, the new year is finally here. We say goodbye to 12 entertaining months and welcome the opportunities 2019 has prepared for us with wide-open arms. We would love you, our readers, to stay beside us as we renew our pursuit for a better tomorrow. Our YouTube channel is doing an impressive job - we passed the half a million subscribers mark in 2018 and we are already nearing 600,000. We put a lot of work and thought to provide interesting and entertaining videos and is so amazing to see how well it is received. Our website team has been busy too - nearly 6,000 articles...
from GSMArena.com - Latest articles http://bit.ly/2Aqiq60
Activision Blizzard plans to terminate CFO Neumann
Activision Blizzard Inc on Monday said it intends to terminate Chief Financial Officer Spencer Neumann for reasons unrelated to the video game publisher's financial reporting or disclosure controls and procedures.
from Reuters: Technology News https://reut.rs/2EZuEqc
from Reuters: Technology News https://reut.rs/2EZuEqc
vivo is working on a NEX Dual Display Edition with Snapdragon 710 at the helm
vivo recently announced the NEX Dual Display Edition, a high-end smartphone that solves the notch problem by forgoing a front-facing camera altogether, instead outfitting the rear of the phone with a screen too - so you can use the main camera system for selfies as well. Now it looks like the company is busy readying a slightly more affordable version of this handset - which feels familiar because that's what it did earlier in the year with the NEX S and NEX A. The "NEX A" variant of the NEX Dual Display Edition will be powered by the Snapdragon 710 chipset, paired with 8GB of...
from GSMArena.com - Latest articles http://bit.ly/2LEVswk
Galaxy Note9 receives another Android Pie beta
As we wait for the final release to go out, possibly on January 15, Samsung has now started sending out a new beta build of Android 9 Pie with One UI on top to the Galaxy Note9 units enrolled in the beta program. It's the fourth build that's making it to the company's flagship phablet, and it comes with a bunch of bug fixes. For example, force touching the Home button when gesture navigation is activated didn't work, but now it does. The Gallery app isn't stopping anymore when you play motion photos, and the Bixby service doesn't stop in two phone mode from this point on. Another fixed bug...
from GSMArena.com - Latest articles http://bit.ly/2GLIpKV
'Workaround systems' help print U.S. newspapers hit by cyber attack - source
Tribune Publishing Co used "workaround systems" to help print major U.S. newspapers including the Los Angeles Times on Sunday and Monday as the company recovers from a cyber attack, a source familiar with the operation said.
from Reuters: Technology News https://reut.rs/2TilZCr
from Reuters: Technology News https://reut.rs/2TilZCr
Samsung Galaxy M10 FCC certification reveals 6-inch display, 3,400 mAh battery
The FCC has put the upcoming Galaxy M10 through the paces of its certification process, a necessary step prior to launch. This has revealed a few more details about the smartphone that will be the entry level model in Samsung's new M series. The M10 will sport a 6-inch display and a 3,400 mAh battery. Its length and width are 155.7mm and 75.8mm, respectively. According to a past outing in a benchmark's online database, the phone is powered by the Exynos 7870 chipset, paired with 3GB of RAM and 16 or 32GB of expandable storage. The new device is probably going to launch running Android...
from GSMArena.com - Latest articles http://bit.ly/2C23VFN
Kerala PSC Recruitment 2019, Notification Issued for Steno, LDC, High School Assistant Posts
Kerala Public Service Commission invited applications for the post of High School Assistant and Other Posts. The eligible candidates can apply to the post through the prescribed format on or before 30 January 2019.
from Jagran Josh http://bit.ly/2BOIuYw
IIM Kozhikode Recruitment 2019 for 11 Junior Assistant and Other Posts
Indian Institute of Management invited applications for the post of Junior Assistant and Other Posts. The eligible candidates can apply to the post through the prescribed format on or before 26 January 2019.
from Jagran Josh http://bit.ly/2R0yNAO
Haryana TET 2018 Syllabus and Exam Pattern
The key to success in any competitive exam depends upon the full understanding of exam pattern and syllabus. Please find the complete syllabus and exam pattern of HTET exam in the below article-
from Jagran Josh http://bit.ly/2SozWyy
Haryana TET exam 2018 tips and strategy
The competition level of HTET exam is getting high every year as lakhs of candidates appear in this exam. Few useful and essential tips for HTET exam 2018 are provided here in detail-
from Jagran Josh http://bit.ly/2Ay2hvF
SAIL Jharkhand Recruitment 2019 for 20 Specialist and GDMO Posts, Walk-In on 16 January
SAIL Jharkhand Jobs Notification: Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), Jharkhand has invited applications for the post of Upper Division Clerk, Lower Division Clerk and Data Entry Operator. The eligible candidates can appear for walk-in-interview on 16 January 2019.
from Jagran Josh http://bit.ly/2BOItUs
Maharashtra Soil Dept Recruitment 2019, 282 Vacancies Notified for Officer Post
Maharashtra Soil Department has invited applications for the recruitment of Officer Post. Eligible candidates can apply for the post in the prescribed format on or before 15 January 2019.
from Jagran Josh http://bit.ly/2R0z9HE
AIIMS Patna Recruitment 2018-19, Apply for 9 Senior Resident Posts
AIIMS Jobs Notification: All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Patna has invited applications for the post of Senior Resident. The eligible candidates can appear for walk-in-interview on 5 January 2019.
from Jagran Josh http://bit.ly/2BOIrfi
Top 5 of the Day – 31 December 2018, Jobs at WBSEDCL, BHEL, OSSSC and Others
Job aspirants need to rejoice with some great job opportunities coming up their way. Noteworthy government organizations have come up today to hire posts like Trade Apprentice, Office Executive, Junior Clerk/Jr Assistant, Steno, Manager and others.
from Jagran Josh http://bit.ly/2R0yLJc
Look at the Moto G7 from all angles thanks to new case renders
The Moto G7 is one of the most anticipated midrangers of 2019 and it looks ready for market launch, judging by the sheer number of leaks we've had of it recently. The latest one is a series of renders of the phone in a clear case. We get to see the upcoming Moto G7 from all sides and so we get a good look at the dual camera and fingerprint scanner on the rear, the screen with a teardrop notch on the front as well as the buttons and ports on the sides. The Moto G7 will have a power button and volume button on the right side, a speaker grille, USB-C port and 3.5mm headphone jack on the...
from GSMArena.com - Latest articles http://bit.ly/2EVmsao
DEI Agra Recruitment 2019 for 46 Guest Faculty and Assistant Professor Posts
Dayalbagh Educational Institute invited applications for the post of Guest Faculty and other Posts. The eligible candidates can apply to the post through the prescribed format and walk in FOR interview on 04, 05, 08, 09, 18 & 19 January 2019.
from Jagran Josh http://bit.ly/2F074ZQ
CBSE Class 10 Social Science Previous Years' Question Papers
Get here the past seven years question papers for CBSE Class 10 Social Science. Students must practice these question papers to revise the huge syllabus of Social Science and prepare effectively for the exam.
from Jagran Josh http://bit.ly/2EZa89h
CBSE Class 9 Exam 2019: Examination pattern and question paper design for all subjects
Here you will get the pattern and expected question paper format for all subject of CBSE class 9 annual exam 2019. You can make a preparation strategy according to the latest exam format to perform well in the annual exams.
from Jagran Josh http://bit.ly/2DjS6tT
HPSC Recruitment 2019: 223 Vacancies Notified for Horticulture Devt Officer and Other Posts
Haryana Public Service Commission invited applications for the post of Horticulture Development Officer, Assistant Architects and Other Posts. The eligible candidates can apply to the post through the prescribed format on or before 05 February 2019.
from Jagran Josh http://bit.ly/2EXdQA5
CBSE Class 9 English Language and Literature Examination Pattern 2019
Here you will get the CBSE Class 9 English Language and Literature examination pattern and question paper format for class 9 English (Language and Literature) annual exam 2019. Knowing the examination pattern will help to make an aligned preparation for the exam and ultimately score high marks.
from Jagran Josh http://bit.ly/2B0X9xn
CBSE Class 9 Social Science Examination Pattern 2019
Here you will get the CBSE Class 9 Social Science examination pattern and expected question paper design for class 9 Social Science annual exam 2019. This examination pattern will help students to make an appropriate preparation strategy for social science exam 2019 and thus score high marks.
from Jagran Josh http://bit.ly/2EZS0en
Most Important Topics for IAS Prelims Exam 2019
Current Affairs though the most important component of IAS preparation but the other subjects are also equally important for the IAS Prelims Exam. Here is the list of most important topics for the IAS Exam 2019.
from Jagran Josh http://bit.ly/2EHmMW7
Lok Nayak Hospital Recruitment 2019: Walk-In for 82 Junior Resident Posts
Lok Nayak Hospital Jobs Notification: Lok Nayak Hospital has invited applications for recruitment to the post of Junior Resident. Interested candidates can appear for walk-in-interview on 3 January 2019.
from Jagran Josh http://bit.ly/2AmJhjE
Xiaomi Mi 9, Mi MIX 4 Rumored Features: Triple-Rear Cameras, Periscope-Style Camera, Snapdragon 855, More
New reports from China predict that upcoming flagship-grade mobile phones by Xiaomi—Mi 9 and Mi MIX 4—will both come equipped with triple-camera setups. This isn’t all that surprising because the trend of triple rear-facing cameras in mobile phones is fresh and exciting, and we can expect to see it catching on big time in the year 2019.
Both the Mi 9 and the Mi MIX 4, successors to the Mi 8 and the Mi MIX 3, respectively, are also speculated to be powered by the all-new Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, which will compete with new 7nm chipsets by rivals such as Apple’s A12 Bionic and Huawei’s Kirin 980. In the Mi MIX 4, we can expect a periscope-style camera lens as part of the triple-rear camera setup.
Mi MIX 4 Could Get Foldable Design
While all this is just in the early leaks and speculation stage, it is not surprising that the upcoming Mi MIX 4 is being rumored to sport a foldable display design. Vivo has already announced its dual display NEX in China, while patent filings show that Samsung and Apple are developing their own foldable or rollable display gadgets.
The Chinese brand Xiaomi could just as well be working on a foldable design for its Mi MIX 4, as the leaked concept render shows. While it remains to be seen whether or not the average smartphone buyer will care about this new technology, it certainly will continue to make headlines in 2019. As handsets become larger for better gaming and entertainment experience, smartphone brands are trying to find creative ways to contain size while providing lots of screen real estate; thus, the foldable smartphone.
Triple-Rear Cameras With Exceptional Zoom
The Mi 9 and the Mi MIX 4, according to Chinese websites, will both have triple-cameras on the rear, with the Mi MIX 4 getting a periscope-style lens in the setup. This lens is expected to equip the phone with exceptional optical zoom abilities and without taking up additional space, which is another important aspect of smartphones that brands might focus on in the new year. As we reported earlier, the upcoming Huawei P30 Pro is expected to flaunt 5x optical zoom and 10x hybrid zoom.
Given that a strong zoom makes a smartphone camera stand out from the crowd of smartphones sporting high megapixel count, it makes good sense for Xiaomi to have at least one handset in its 2019 roster that can compete with the best of zoom cameras. If the speculation is not far off the mark, and both devices will be equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855, then adding strong camera gear should not be any problem.
Snapdragon 855 for Mi MIX 4 and Mi 9
Choosing Snapdragon 855 for the Mi 9 and Mi MIX 4 could be an implication that Xiaomi is ready to make both of these devices 5G ready. After all, Qualcomm has a 5G modem for the new flagship processor, and if 5G is not what Xiaomi is aiming for, then it has more affordable options for flagship-grade chipsets. In any case, since the Mi MIX 3 is reported to be Xiaomi’s first 5G smartphone, it should be rather a matter of course that the Mi MIX 4 will also get 5G, at least in one of its variants. The Mi 9 too, could get a 5G variant, failing which it would be somewhat difficult for Xiaomi to position the flagship device against other 5G ready flagship handsets.
Apart from tailoring the Snapdragon 855 for a 5G experience with its X50 5G modem, Qualcomm has equipped the new flagship chipset with next-level gaming, AI, photography and videography abilities, such as 4K HDR video recording in portrait mode, and HDR10+ video recording.
The post Xiaomi Mi 9, Mi MIX 4 Rumored Features: Triple-Rear Cameras, Periscope-Style Camera, Snapdragon 855, More appeared first on MySmartPrice.
from MySmartPrice http://bit.ly/2EVrl2m
WhatsApp kills support for Nokia S40 devices today
Key Highlights: WhatsApp will cease to work on S40 devices This includes Asha devices that were launched around 2011 If you're using a Nokia S40 device, we've got bad news for you. WhatsApp will stop working on your device by the end of the day. WhatsApp announced over a couple of years ago on its blog that it would kill support for a list of operating systems by the end of 2018 and S40 is part of it. This includes Nokia Asha devices introduced in the market over five years ago, like Asha 201, Asha 205, Asha, 206, Asha 208, Asha 210, Asha 230, Asha 301, Asha 500, Asha 501, Asha 502, Asha 503, and Asha 505. In a June update to the original blog, WhatsApp wrote, "You won't be able to use WhatsApp on the following platforms for: Nokia S40 after December 31, 2018, Android versions 2.3.7 and older after February 1, 2020, iPhone iOS 7 and older after February 1, 2020". If you own and use a Nokia S40 device, you will have to switch to a newer device to continue using WhatsApp. WhatsApp is currently supported on Android devices running Gingerbread (v2.3.3) or above and on iOS devices running version 8 or later. Series 40 (or S40) is a software platform developed by Nokia back in the late 90s. It was used in several Asha models that were sold in India around 2011. With WhatsApp introducing a new feature every other month these days, S40 could not have caught up. When WhatsApp was launched for S40 phones, it was solely a messaging application. Today, it supports voice and video calling too, along with more recently introduced features like stickers. On a modern Android device like say, the Nokia 3.1 (which costs below Rs 10,000), one can enjoy the latest features of WhatsApp without having to worry about deadlines for app support. WhatsApp only last week introduced picture-in-picture (PiP) mode for Android devices. What this means is that users can watch forwarded WhatsApp videos in a smaller separate window while continuing to text in the chat window. Related Read: Picture in Picture now available for WhatsApp Web
from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2Apq7ta
Sony to ramp up 3D sensor production amid high demand from phone makers: Report
Highlights: Sony to boost camera 3D sensors’ production The sensors are said to power the front as well as the rear 3D cameras They will go into mass production in the summer of 2019 Japanese multinational company Sony will boost the production of its next-generation of 3D sensors amid high demand of the product from phone makers, including Apple, a Bloomberg report has said. These sensors are said to power the front as well as the rear 3D cameras of models from customers in 2019. Sony will commence the mass production in late summer to meet demand, Satoshi Yoshihara, Head of Sony’s sensor division, was quoted as saying. The executive, however, declined to provide sales or production targets, but said the 3D business is already operating profitably and will make an impact on earnings from the fiscal year starting in April. Bloomberg says that Sony’s technology “provides much needed optimism to the global smartphone industry, which is suffering a slowdown as consumers find fewer reasons to upgrade devices.” The company has reportedly started providing software toolkits to third-party developers to let them experiment with the chips and create supported apps. “Cameras revolutionized phones, and based on what I’ve seen, I have the same expectation for 3D. The pace will vary by field, but we’re definitely going to see adoption of 3D. I’m certain of it,” Yoshihara was quoted as saying. According to the executive, Sony’s technology differs from the ‘structured light’ approach of existing chips, which have limitations in terms of accuracy and distance. Sony uses ‘time of flight’ method that sends out invisible laser pulses and measures how long they take to bounce back, which, he claimed, creates more detailed 3D models and works at distances of five meters. Bloomberg says that Sony controls about half of the camera chip market and supplies chips to Apple, Alphabet, Samsung, and Huawei, among others, although Yoshihara declined to identify them by name, citing confidentiality agreements. Related read: 38MP Sony IMX607 sensor Image Courtesy: Bloomberg
from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2Sv9bbG
Popular Android apps are sharing sensitive data with Facebook: Report
Key Highlights: "At least" 20 out of 34 popular Android apps found sharing sensitive data with Facebook without user consent. The apps are reportedly using an older version of Facebook Developer Kit Some app developers weren't even aware the apps have been sharing user data It was found earlier that health and dating apps routinely violated user privacy by sharing data with Facebook. According to a study by Privacy International, “at least” 20 out of 34 popular Android apps are sending sensitive data to Facebook without explicit user permission. The apps include Kayak, Skyscanner, MyFitnessPal and TripAdvisor. The report states that the data includes the analytics data that is sent during the app launch, as well as the unique Android ID. Later, the apps were found to send more sensitive data. Kayak, the popular flight-booking app, was found to be sending destination and flight search data, travel dates and whether or not someone is traveling with kids. It can be argued that the data shared cannot directly be used to identify a specific user. The data can, theoretically, be used to recognise someone through indirect means. One can easily see who has the app installed or whether they are traveling with the same person. There is also a concern that the apps may be violating European Union’s stringent privacy-focused GDPR regulations by collecting data without taking explicit consent from the users. In fact, Facebook’s developer kit didn’t have the option to ask for permission until the GDPR laws took effect. Once the rules were put into effect, Facebook did offer a way to let apps ask for user permission, but it’s not clear how many developers went ahead and implemented it. There are many apps that are using older versions of the developer kit, as claimed by the study. The report claims that Skyscanner was “not aware” it was sending data without user permission. Facebook is reportedly working a “clear history” option and has stressed that developers have the choice to turn off automatic data collection. Nevertheless, it is yet another instance of Facebook failing to protect the interests of its users. In this case, app developers are equally at fault by not keeping up to date with changing regulations and failing to adapt newly rolled out rules about user privacy. Related Links: Facebook stops third-party apps from stealing user data Report claims Facebook allowed device-makers to access users' data, company denies wrongdoing Here's how Facebook uses information from WhatsApp to show you advertisements
from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2Aomjs9
China approves release of 80 new games but leaves out PUBG Mobile developer Tencent: Report
Key highlights: China has approved the release of 80 new games However, games from PUBG Mobile developer, Tencent have not been included China reportedly banned nine games last year After imposing a ban on online video games, Reuters reports that China has now approved the release of 80 games. The report notes that the list of approved titles were listed on the website of the State Administration of Press Publication, Radio, Film and Television. One notable omission was Tencent Holdings, the publisher behind popular games like PUBG Mobile. It was reported that 20 games were assessed by China’s Online Gaming Ethics Review Committee, and 9 out of the 20 were banned. This included PUBG, as well as Fortnite. According to the report, PUBG was banned due to “blood and gore,” whereas Fortnite was banned for “blood and gore, vulgar content.” The remaining 11 games on the list required corrective actions. For example, Blizzard’s Overwatch reportedly required corrective action and the cause given was that the “game visuals promote incorrect values, inharmonious chatroom.” Diablo on the other hand has “inharmonious chat, game missions include fraud” and hence needs corrective action. PUBG Mobile has become quite the moneymaker for Tencent, with the game seeing a revenue boost of 166 percent during Black Friday week, surpassing Fortnite on iOS. Tencent recently noted that the month of November garnered $32.5 million in revenue. This was the game’s highest total revenue for a single month. This also marked a 44 percent increase from the previous month, during which it raked in $25.7 million. This was the previous best for the mobile game. Recommended read: PUBG Mobile Beginner’s guide PUBG Mobile Advanced tactics
from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2Ss45gv
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