Apple iPhone X will also be launched on Reliance Jio network later this year.

Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus will be going on sale in India later today. To make them tempting for buyers, Reliance Jio is promising a 70 percent buyback offer and other schemes.

If you buy an Apple iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus from one of the Reliance Digital stores, you will be eligible for a buyback program. As a part of this plan, you will be able to return your smartphone and get back up to 70 percent value of your purchase. However, the catch here is that you will have to make a recharge of Rs 799 plan or above for 12 subsequent months in order to be eligible for the buyback scheme. Under Rs 799 plan, Reliance Jio users on iPhone 8 smartphones will get 3GB data per day for 30 days, that is 90GB data for three billing cycles.

Potential buyers can also choose a higher yearly plan or Rs 9,999 yearly plan to get a total of 780GB data valid for 390 days. Alongside, you can also avail Rs 10,000 cashback on purchases made using Citibank credit or debit card. The cashback will be credited to your bank account after 90 days from purchase. This offer is however only valid if you buy either of the iPhones today.

The partnership between Apple and Reliance Jio was announced by Akash Ambani, Director, Jio. The company also promises that the iPhone X will also be made available when it hits our shores in November.

Commenting on the partnership with Reliance Jio, Apple CEO Tim Cook said, “We’re excited to be building so many new relationships in India, including tens of thousands of developers across the country now writing apps for iOS.” Apple has also added new keyboards for India and extended its support to 11 local languages, while iPhone now can take dictation in Hindi.

Both the Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus will be available later today in India. The first set of devices will be delivered to those who had preordered them last week. As far as pricing is concerned, the iPhone 8 will be available for Rs 64,000, and Rs 77,000 for the 64GB and 256GB variants respectively. The iPhone 8 Plus, on the other hand, is priced at Rs 73,000, and Rs 86,000 for the 64GB and 256GB variants respectively. 

In terms of features and specifications,  Both Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus come with glass sandwich design and are powered by the A11 Bionic chip. While iPhone 8 has a single camera setup, the iPhone 8 Plus boasts a dual-camera setup with portrait mode and portrait lighting feature. The new iPhones are also optimized for ARKit, which paves the way for Augmented Reality experience on the smartphones. Both the iPhone 8 duo support wireless charging and are water and dust resistant.
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Reliance has just begun delivering the JioPhones to customers who had pre-ordered.

The release will include perpetual versions of the Office apps including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook and servers including Exchange, SharePoint and Skype for Business to name a few.

The next version of Microsoft Office — Office 2019 — will be released in the second half of 2018 and its previews will start shipping mid-year. The release will include perpetual versions of the Office apps including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook and servers including Exchange, SharePoint and Skype for Business, Microsoft said in statement late on Tuesday. Office 2019 will add new capabilities for customers, including improved inking features like pressure sensitivity, tilt effects and ink replay.

“New formulas and charts will make data analysis for Excel more powerful. Visual animation features like Morph and Zoom will add polish to PowerPoint presentations,” the company added. The release will bring server enhancements, which will include updates to IT manageability, usability, voice and security. Office 2016 — the current version — was launched two years ago. 

Earlier this month, Microsoft rolled out a feature on its ‘Teams’ service which will allow guest access to all Office 365 commercial and education customers. The feature will allow Office 365 users to add people from outside their company to a team, so the guests can participate in chats, join meetings, collaborate on documents and more.

At IMC 2017, Reliance demonstrated JioPhone TV connectivity.

When we did the live unboxing of Reliance’s JioPhone, one of the questions we got was regarding how exactly the HDMI TV cable works to stream content on any kind of set. At the ongoing India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2017, we got a chance to see the live demonstration of the functionality, and here’s our quick guide on how to enable and use the TV cable.

To start with, the JioPhone does not come with the TV cable in the box. You will be required to pay an additional amount to get the connectors and cables. Now, there are two type of connectors which are compatible with the phone. If you have an LED TV, there’s a connector for the HDMI port, while CRT TV users get a connector for the RCA port. Connecting the cable is fairly simple. You simply plug in the HDMI/RCA cable, and the other to the JioPhone.

Now as your setup is ready, you need to go to the JioTV app on the JioPhone. The app live streams supported channels. There are over 100 channels in the JioTV app. However, access to JioTV will cost you Rs 309 per month, and the plan also includes voice calls and data services. One must understand that the channels are streamed from the phone to the TV, and using the mobile data. If you plan to extensively use this functionality, it is recommended you choose a tariff plan accordingly.

Given that channels are streamed from the phone to the television set, the navigation is also through the phone. Basically, instead of a dedicated remote, you need to use the phone’s navigation buttons to switch between channels. Interestingly, even as you stream TV channels from the phone, you can continue using the phone for other apps. 

One of the caveats I see here is that the cable is significantly long but not long enough to allow you to sit at a comfortable distance from the television, and continue navigating through channels or use other apps while the TV is playing. Having said that, the USP of the whole system remains the ability to use phone as a media streaming unit.

If you look at it, the phone mimics the concept of other online streaming dongles such as the Amazon Fire TV stick, except that the access to content is different and limited. With JioPhone, you get access to select television channels, with other media streaming devices, the access is vast. 

The concept behind providing the ability to watch television or online content through the phone is basically to initiate the penetration of affordable internet access to the masses. With the mandatory switch to DTH services, there has been an increase in monthly television subscription bills. Although the change is not palpable in urban regions and cities, it is felt more in smaller towns. By providing such an access, the purpose is to offer an ecosystem of internet, calling, and television experience, bundled at an affordable price.

This minor update comes a week after iOS 11 was globally rolled out.

A week after iOS 11 was released, Apple has quietly rolled out the first incremental update. Instead of introducing new features, this minor update is focused on bug fixes and improvements.

iOS 11.0.1 update is about 280MB in size. While Apple isn’t going into the details of what all has changed, the short update description reads, “iOS 11.0.1 includes bug fixes and improvements for your iPhone or iPad.” Apple’s support documentation claims that one of things addressed in this update is Exchange email server issue. It may not really sound exciting, but it is imperative that you install iOS 11.0.1 nonetheless to ensure that your iOS device is running as smooth as possible.

To install the iOS 11.0.1 OTA update, head over to Settings -> General -> Software Update. It is recommended that you have the device connected to a Wi-Fi network, and the battery is charged to at least 50 percent before initiating the update.

According to a report, around 30 percent Apple devices are already running on iOS 11 within a week of roll out. Using the latest iOS is, however, anything but smooth. While there are a myriad of new features, the OS comes with its share of bugs and issues. The most widespread problem is the battery drain. A study by Wandera shows how the average battery has fallen nearly 60 percent on devices updated to iOS 11.

Quite a few users have also complained about a drop in app performance. Issues range from slow app performance, app crashes, and some even mention instances when apps refused to open. It, however, looks highly unlikely that these issues are being fixed in this update.

Airtel customers will enjoy 2-3 times faster data speeds on their existing 4G handsets without any upgrades.

Bharti Airtel has announced the deployment of the country’s first Massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) technology that is a key enabler for 5G networks. India joins a select group of countries in the world that have deployed this advanced technology. In the first round, the services would be deployed in Bengaluru and Kolkata, and will later extend to other circles. The deployment is part of Airtel’s ongoing network transformation program, Project Leap, in which it has invested Rs 60,000 crore.

It is estimated to increase carrier capacity by more than 5X, thereby making effective use of the current spectrum. Additionally, Airtel customers will enjoy 2-3 times faster data speeds on their existing 4G handsets without any upgrades or plan changes. Data speeds will now be seamless, offering enhanced user experience even indoors, in crowded places and in high-rises. “It would enable multiple users and multiple devices to work simultaneously without facing any congestion or experience issues especially at hotspot locations,” Airtel said in a statement.

Massive MIMO is essentially a pre-5G technology that readies a cellular network to meet the rising data demands. MIMO deployment uses multiple antennas that are located at both the source (transmitter), and destination (receiver). Those antennas are linked in order to minimize error and increase efficiency of a network. It creates 3D beams both on horizontal and vertical planes towards users located within its coverage area. Interestingly, massive MIMO uses green technology, thereby helping reduce carbon footprint. No other telecom operator in India has deployed this technology so far. 

This announcement comes shortly after Airtel tied up with Korea’s SK Telecom to build a high-tech, high-capacity 5G network. “India is fast striding towards exponential and unprecedented data growth.  Our latest deployment of Massive MIMO will help us serve this demand and would also give an impetus to build a future ready network. The deployment gives us a strategic advantage to provide faster speeds and enhanced user experience for our customers, thereby translating into improved spectrum efficiency,” Abhay Savargaonkar, Director – Networks, Bharti Airtel said.

Amazon's latest products are all priced under $150 (approximately Rs 9,900).

Amazon just announced a slew of products, and all of them are priced under $150 (approximately Rs 9,900). The latest product lineup includes second-generation Echo at $99 (approximately Rs 6,600), Echo Plus at $150 (approximately Rs 9,900), Echo Spot alarm clock at $130 (approximately Rs 8,600), a new Fire TV at $70 (approximately Rs 4,700), the Echo Connect at $35 (approximately Rs 2,300), and lastly  Echo Buttons priced at $20 (approximately Rs 1,400). The Echo and Echo Plus will be available on October 31, while the Fire TV will be released on October 25. As for the Echo Connect and Echo Spot, they will be available for sale on December 13 and December 19 respectively.

Starting with the second-generation Echo, the smart speaker comes in six different colors – Charcoal Fabric, Heather Gray Fabric, Oak Finish, Sandstone Fabric, Silver Finish, and Walnut Finish. Recalling its basic features, the Echo is powered by AI assistant Alexa. You can command Alexa to perform functions like playing music, make calls, set alarms and reminders, among others. The new Echo comes with Dolby-powered speakers, and 360-degree omni-directional audio output. It is also equipped with seven microphones allowing you to launch Alexa even when music is blasting from the speaker. Amazon appears to have borrowed a little from Apple’s HomePod with the fabric body on the Echo.

The smart home hub, Echo Plus is also powered by Alexa, and comes in silver color. With the Echo Plus, you can control smart products at home like lights, thermostats, locks, garage doors, and more. The Echo Plus is available in two variants where one comes with a Philips Hue bulb integrated. The Echo Plus is also equipped with Dolby speakers, and seven microphones like the new Echo.

The Echo Spot comes with a small 2.5-inch screen where you can watch video flash briefings, music lyrics, and weather forecasts. The Echo Spot can also be used to control your smart home products via Alexa. The Echo Spot also comes with a camera located above the display which allows you to make video calls, or use it as a nanny cam. It also doubles as an alarm clock, and is shaped like one. 

Coming to the latest Fire TV, it supports 4K Ultra HD up to 60 frames per second. The Fire TV also comes with support for HDR, and features Dolby ATMOS audio. It is powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core CPU, and Wi-Fi 802.11ac for connectivity. It further comes with an Alexa Voice remote for voice recognition, or you can pair it with an Echo device. 

The Echo Connect is a set-top-box shaped device that connects your landline and Echo products. You can then use Alexa to make phone calls, which would connect through your landline number. It essentially works as a medium for your landline and Echo devices. The Echo Connect also syncs your contacts giving you a pure hands-free experience. 

Echo Buttons are a first of Amazon’s new Alexa Gadgets. Echo Buttons connect with compatible Echo devices, and are meant for playing games like Beat the Intro, Dungeon Escape, Sounds Fun with Mike Epps, among others. Amazon says that Echo Buttons haven’t been certified by the FCC as yet, so its commercial launch may or may not be possible. You can head over to the official website and sign up for the latest updates on the Echo Buttons.

India is geraing up for 5G rollout.

Aiming to keep pace with the global rollout of 5G, the Indian government has set up a High-Level 5G India 2020 Forum, Communications Minister Manoj Sinha said. “We want to keep pace with the global technology adoption. India does not want to stay behind in 5G rollout. That is the reason we have constituted this committee,” Sinha said here at a press meet.

“5G will enhance GDP, create employment and digitise the economy,” he added. The government will create a corpus of Rs 500 crore for 5G rollout.

The High-Level 5G Forum will have on board three secretaries from the Department of Telecommunications, IT and Electronics and Science and Technologies Ministries.

This is the world's first fidget spinner feature phone.

Hong Kong-based mobile technology company Chilli International Holding (HK) Ltd launched what is touted as the world’s first fidget spinner feature phone ‘K188′ in India.

Priced between Rs 1,200-Rs 1,300, the spinner mobile ‘K188′ is a compact gadget which also works as a Bluetooth device for smartphones. Powered by a 2,80mAh battery, the phone comes with an expandable memory up to 8GB and offers multimedia options like images, video and music support along with the Internet.

The company also launched the ‘F05′ feature phone which comes with A-GPS technology and is priced between Rs 1500 to Rs 1700.

“Our focus for the quarter in on strengthening our brand at the Indian soil and with ‘K188′ and ‘F05′, we aim to deliver the industry’s most value-for-price products,” said Michael Feng, India Sales Head, Chilli International Holding (HK), in a statement. 

With a 6.1cm LCD display, ‘F05′ features a 1.3MP camera and dual-sim support. The two phones will be available both online and offline by the end of September.

Reliance Jio sells a JioPhone unit at 40 percent subsidized rates.

Such benchmarks of subsidy are a testimony to company’s ambitions of reaching out to consumers far and wide. Reliance Jio has been overtly expressive about its plans with the disruptive strategies in its one year run till now. As per reports, Reliance Jio is aiming to have a subscriber base of around 250 to 300 million new customers in next two years. The telco has so far logged 128 million subscribers since its launch last year. a JioPhone unit at 40 percent subsidized rates

Nokia 8 is the newest smartphone on the block with a dual-camera setup, and is powered by the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC

The Nokia 8 has finally made its debut in India. The fourth Nokia-branded Android smartphone from HMD Global’s portfolio is priced at Rs 36,999, which is in line with what leaked earlier in the day. The smartphone will be available via Amazon India and offline channels from October 14.

The Nokia 8 is HMD Global‘s latest flagship device in India after having launched the Nokia 6, Nokia 5, and Nokia 3 smartphones. It was first launched in the international markets last month. Being a flagship smartphone, the Nokia 8 comes with premium features such as the Carl Zeiss-powered dual cameras, enhanced display with quad HD resolution, and stock Android Nougat running out-of-the-box.

Nokia 8 specifications, features

The Nokia 8 features a unibody design built using a single block of aluminum, which is similar to the design language chosen for the Nokia 5. It packs a 5.3-inch IPS 2K resolution display with 700nits of brightness. The display is layered with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for added protection.

Under the hood is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 SoC paired with 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of internal storage. The storage can be expanded up to 256GB using a microSD card. 

The USP of the smartphone is its dual-camera setup, which is the result of partnership between HMD Global and Carl ZEISS. The Nokia 8 packs a pair of 13-megapixel sensors (RGB + Monochrome). The setup is similar to what we have seen on the Honor 8 Pro and Huawei P9 smartphones. The primary sensor has Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and PDAF support, f/2.0 aperture, and IR range finder. Up front, there is a 13-megapixel snapper with PDAF support, f/2.0 aperture, and display flash for selfies and video-calling. The cameras support a feature called ‘Bothie’ that allow you to stream from both cameras simultaneously, without the need of a specialized app.

Another highlight of the smartphone is the set of three microphones for audio recording. It uses Nokia’s OZO Audio technology to capture audio with 360-degree spatial surround sound. The smartphone is fueled by a 3,090mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 support. The company claims that the smartphone’s battery can be fully charged in just 30 minutes. 

On the software front, the Nokia 8 runs on stock Android 7.1.1 Nougat out-of-the-box. Other features include a fingerprint sensor and IP54 rating for splash resistance. Connectivity options include dual-SIM card slots (select markets only), 4G LTE, USB Type-C port, 3.5mm audio jack, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.0.

Xiaomi Mi Bluetooth Speaker Basic 2 price slashed in India ahead of Diwali.

Xiaomi will be unveiling a new Mi Bluetooth Speaker Basic 2 tomorrow in India in lieu of Diwali and festivities. Initially priced at Rs 2,699, the Mi Bluetooth Speaker 2 will be available for sale at a discounted price of Rs 1,799. Xiaomi India’s Manu Kumar Jain announced the launch of speakers on Twitter.

“Something amazing launching tomorrow: Mi Bluetooth Speaker Basic 2 at a great price of ₹1,799!” Jain’s tweet read. The new Xiaomi speaker is an upgrade over the Mi Bluetooth Speaker. The second iteration of Mi Bluetooth Speaker boasts Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity, and can connect to devices with 10 meters. The speaker with an impedance of 3ohms supports audio streaming on A2DP, AVRCP, HFP.

In terms of design, the portable speaker has an elongated cubical design with a matte aluminum frame and chamfered edges. The device packs dual speakers within along with a receiving unit. It measures 154.5x60x25.5mm thick, and weighs only 237 grams. Compatible with both Android and iOS, the Basic 2 speaker also allows hands-free calling via CVC-enabled noise reduced communication.

The portable speaker has a 1,200mAh built-in lithium polymer battery rated to deliver 10 hours of playback and micro-USB port. Besides Bluetooth connectivity, the dedicated AUX port on the back of speaker will let you connect to devices such as computers, phones, or MP3 players. 

To put this in perspective, the first generation Mi Bluetooth Speaker is currently available at Rs 2,499. It has 1,500mAh battery and comes with Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity support along with Aux-in port. Xiaomi also has the Mi Bluetooth Speaker Mini available in India for Rs 1,299 that weighs only 58grams and measures 52x52x25mm. The Mini speaker comes with speaker impedance of 4ohms, and is rated to deliver up to four hours of music playback.

The glasses were designed as an experiment to control a wearable device without calling attention to the user in public.

Scientists have designed a new pair of smart eyeglasses that can allow you to control a smartphone or a computer discreetly by rubbing and scratching your nose. The glasses were designed as an experiment by researchers from KAIST University in South Korea and Keio University in Japan to create a way to control a wearable device without calling attention to the user in public.

Three electrooculography (EOG) sensors are embedded in the bridge and nose pads of the frame of the spectacles, which measure the electric potential of the surrounding flesh. These types of sensors are usually used to record eye activity for doctors, or re-creating realistic eye movements in animated movies.

When the wearer touches the nose in different ways, it changes the electric potential of the organ, and the sensors can identify specific signatures of different motions. These include flicking and pushing the nose to one side or the other and rubbing the bottom.

The system, dubbed ItchyNose, could be used to minimise social awkwardness when using wearable computers, Juyoung Lee, from the KAIST University. 

“If an important text from a spouse came in during a business meeting, the user could check it and dismiss it quickly without calling undue attention to the interaction,” Lee was quoted as saying by ‘The Verge’. “Similarly, if the user had a list of names and faces to remind her of who is in the meeting, she could scroll through the list until she found the person whose name she forgot,” he said.

The current challenge for the team is to enable the system to distinguish between intentional and unintentional nose scratches. The answer is training the system to adapt to each individual’s own mannerisms, researchers said.

The beta version of WhatsApp can be downloaded from Google Play Store

WhatsApp is expected to soon rollout an update with new features. The latest update 2.17.285 is currently in beta mode, and it isn’t confirmed if WhatsApp will make all the features available. This update is currently being tested for WhatsApp on Android, and one of which is already available on iOS and Windows. For those who wish to try out the feature, can do so by becoming a beta tester and downloading the beta version on Google Play Store.

First reported by WABeatInfo, Storage Usage can be found under the Settings menu on WhatsApp. Under this, you can find storage details of your chats like total number of messages, number and size of media files including images, videos, and GIFs. You can also check details of documents, voice messages, locations and contact cards. In addition to displaying your storage details, this feature will also allow you to manage it. You can choose to select the folders and delete according to your choice.

WhatsApp is popularly used as the prime messaging app, but with multiple chats especially group chats the data takes up a huge amount of space. You can still manually clear files on your smartphone, but this feature gives a more organized approach making it easier. 

More features in this beta version include push name in for unknown contacts. When people who are not on your contact list WhatsApp you, their details are hidden. But with this new update, you will be able to see their push name in the contact info. However, WhatsApp allows one to hide their contact details from unknown contacts so this may also come with an option to do so.

WhatsApp could also include switching to video from voice calling with this update. Essentially, video and voice calling option will be integrated into and you can seamlessly switch between the two. Lastly, WhatsApp will possibly allow you to zoom in on profile pictures on WhatsApp. Features tested on beta versions do not necessarily confirm an official release. WhatsApp may or may not eventually roll out these features.

Apple has switched the default provider of its web searches for Siri on iOS and Spotlight on the Mac to Google from Microsoft’s Bing.

Apple has switched the default provider of its web searches for Siri on iOS and Spotlight on the Mac to Google from Microsoft’s Bing. Now if you ask Siri to search something on the internet, you will get Google results instead of Bing on iOS and Spotlight — a system-wide desktop search feature of Apple’s macOS and iOS operating systems.

Apple’s web browser Safari on Mac and iOS already use Google search as the default provider, thanks to a deal worth billions to Apple (and Google) over the last decade, Tech Crunch reported. “Switching to Google as the web search provider for Siri, Search within iOS and Spotlight on Mac will allow these services to have a consistent web search experience with the default in Safari,” Apple said in a statement.

“We have strong relationships with Google and Microsoft and remain committed to delivering the best user experience possible.” The search results would include regular ‘web links’ as well as video results. Web image results from Siri will still come from Bing, for now, the report added.

Meanwhile, a Microsoft spokesperson said that the company value the relationship with Apple and look forward to continuing to partner with the iPhone maker in many ways, including on Bing Image Search in Siri, to provide the best experience possible for our customers.

“Bing has grown every year since its launch, now powering over a third of all the PC search volume in the US, and continues to grow worldwide. It also powers the search experiences of many other partners, including Yahoo (Verizon), AOL and Amazon, as well as the multi-lingual abilities of Twitter,” the spokesperson said. Given Microsoft’s work to advance the field of artificial intelligence, the company was confident that Bing would be at the forefront of providing a more intelligent search experience for its customers and partners.

Xiaomi is expected to launch the Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus smartphones soon.

After launching its flagship smartphones, Xiaomi is now prepping for its new batch of budget smartphones. Xiaomi is expected to launch the Redmi Note 5, and the Redmi 5 smartphones. Multiple leaks and rumors have revealed details on the Redmi Note 5 and Redmi 5 both. Now, a retail packaging of a ‘Plus’ variant of the alleged Redmi 5 has surfaced online.

The retail box is red in color, and has Redmi 5 Plus written on it, GizmoChina reports. So far, there hasn’t been any word on a possible Plus variant of the Redmi 5 smartphone. However, the leak further states that the Redmi 5 could sport a 5-inch display, and cost around RMB 899 (approximately Rs 8,900). There isn’t any known information about the Redmi 5 Plus’s specifications and features. Xiaomi is known to launch different variants of one smartphone, so this possibility seems likely. The Redmi 5 series will be succeeding the Redmi 4 and Redmi 4A.

Speaking about the Redmi Note 5, the smartphone’s details were recently leakedon Weibo. According to the leak, the Redmi Note 5 will feature a 5.5-inch full HD (1080p) display. It will be powered by the MediaTek Helio P25 octa-processor, and possibly a Snapdragon SoC in India. In terms of memory, the smartphone will come in two variants – 3GB RAM plus 32GB storage, and 4GB RAM with 64GB storage.

The Redmi Note 5 will succeed the Redmi Note 4 with the biggest upgrade so far – a dual-camera setup. The dual-camera module is rumored to include a pair of 16-megapixel and 5-megapixel sensors. Up front, it will sport a 12-megapixel camera for selfies and video calling. Armed with a 4,000mAh battery, the Redmi Note 5 will possibly run on Android 7.1 Nougat-based MIUI 9. Another upgrade expected is a USB Type-C port on the Redmi Note 5 for connectivity.

Reliance Jio clarifies the security refund that you can get before completing the three-year term.

The Nokia 2 is expected to be HMD Global cheapest smartphone yet.

HMD Global‘s upcoming smartphone, the Nokia 2, has been in the rumor bank for quite sometime now. It is likely to trump the Nokia 3 as the cheapest Nokia Android smartphone. While its specifications and design have been leaked quite often, the Nokia 2′s potential release date is still unknown. A possible timeframe may however have just been revealed. According to the latest leak, the Nokia 2 will launch sometime in November.

A screenshot captured of a message conversation between a Nokia representative from Myanmar and a local fan reveals the launch timeframe. Obtained by AndroidHits (via Android Headlines), the rep from Nokia is asked when the Nokia 2 will be launched. The answer reads, “Nokia 2 is expected to be available in the month of November 2017.” Even if this information does turn out to be true, it doesn’t confirm the official launch timeframe, as it could be for the Myanmar market only. HMD Global could possibly launch the smartphone earlier. Nonetheless, it does hint on an imminent launch for the Nokia 2.

According to past leaks, the Nokia 2′s supposed design reveals a similar look to the Nokia 3, but with curved edges. There’s no home button on the Nokia 2, and instead it houses three on-screen buttons. The volume rocker and power buttons are placed at the right side. Similar to the other Nokia smartphones, the rear camera and LED flash are vertically aligned with the Nokia logo sitting below. 

In terms of specifications, the Nokia 2 is expected to feature a 5-inch HD display. It could be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 210 SoC clocked at 1.27GHz paired with either 1GB or 2GB of RAM. There is no word on internal storage for the Nokia 2 yet.

The smartphone is rumored to pack a massive 4,000mAh battery. Although, there are other reports that hint at a 2,800mAh battery as well. For photography, the Nokia 2 could sport an 8-megapixel rear camera, and a 5-megapixel front camera. On the software front, the Nokia 2 will possibly run on Android 7.1 Nougat out-of-the-box, or may be even Android Oreo depending on the time of its launch.

The girl was born at Osmanabad district.

Bhavna Santosh Jadhav is just a few minutes old, but she already has in place her vital identity proof – the Aadhaar number. The girl’s parents enrolled for her Aadhaar number, which they received in just six minutes after her birth today, in one of the rare cases of getting the vital identity proof within minutes of being born. The child was born at the Osmanabad district women’s hospital at 12.03PM on Sunday.

At 12.09PM, her parents got her online birth certificate, and the Aadhaar number from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), district collector Radhakrushna Game said. “Its a proud moment for Osmanabad. We will soon register all children for Aadhaar and link them with their parents Aadhaar cards,” he said. 

The newborn and her mother were doing fine, the hospitals civil surgeon, Dr Eknath Male, said. Around 1,300 children born at the Osmanabad district women hospital in the last one year have got their Aadhaar numbers, he claimed.

India Mobile Congress kick starts on September 27 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.

India will host its very-own mobile congress between September 27 and 29 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. In its first edition, the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2017 will feature a three-day exhibition where prominent mobile manufacturers, internet solution providers, and telecom operators will showcase their technologies and products. With as many as 300 exhibitors lined up for the IMC, here’s a look at the top expected things.

Nokia

Akin to Mobile World Congress in Barcelona edition, the India Mobile Congress is also expected to see Nokia as one of the key exhibitors. At the preview conference, Nokia’s Head of Marketing and Communication (CMO) Amit Marwah said that there will be up to 20 technology demonstrations at the event. This will also include the company’s OZO 360-degree virtual reality camera. In addition to the tech demos, all of Nokia’s latest phones will be on display. While Marwah did not explicitly mention, but we can expect the Nokia 8 to make its presence felt, along with the Nokia 5, Nokia 6, and Nokia 3.

Nokia won’t be the only brand at IMC 2017. A range of other manufacturers – local and foreign – will also be present at the event. These include Micromax, Lava, and LG among others. 

5G

India is rapidly pacing towards the adoption of 4G services, and now the time befits to start the chatter around the next-gen 5G services. IMC is said to be the platform facilitating talks, and showcasing of 5G solutions for consumers and enterprises. Recently, Airtel partnered South Korea’s SK Telecom to build 5G network for India. As Airtel is also one of the exhibitors at the event, we might see how the alliance is shaping up.

ISRO

In line with Make in India, ISRO’s indigenous navigation satellite is under development. At IMC, the space agency will showcase the technology and detail the working of NavIC. The ‘desi’ navigation system is poised to compete with other navigation systems, including GPS (Global Positioning System), which is built by the US.

BSNL, Idea Cellular

Among telecom operators, the PSU telecom operator will showcase its network services at the event. BSNL is also likely to detail its plans for 5G deployment in the country. VK Sharma at the preview conference said that by end of 2018, BSNL will also provide 5G services in the country. Idea Cellular, on the other hand, will be showcasing enterprise solutions that are built for India. 

Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence

Other than Nokia’s OZO, Qualcomm will also focus on the emerging virtual reality technology. The chipmaker, one of the key exhibitors at IMC, is likely to showcase technology or solutions built to accelerate the development, and adoption of VR in the consumer space.

Artificial intelligence, another technology which is fast expanding, will be demonstrated by IBM. The company is expected to detail its work in the field, and demo solutions for consumers and enterprises.

Internet of Things

As COAI Chairman Rajan Mathews pointed during the media briefing, IoT is one of the immediate technological needs for India. At IMC, Internet of Things or IoT is said to hog plenty of limelight driven by the need and interest in the Indian context. From industry automation to consumer space, we might be able to witness companies showcasing their internet connected products and services. Some of these solutions will be targeted at the agricultural space in the country, and how to better it.

{BGR}

The new processors are built on updated 14nm++ architecture. Intel claims that the 8th gen Core i7 CPU is its best gaming chip ever.

Intel has unveiled its 8th generation desktop CPUs that feature more cores than the earlier generation chipsets. Carrying a code name ‘Coffee Lake,’ Intel has announced six new processors, and they are built on the new 14nm++ architecture. With the new processors, Intel is aiming at gamers and content creators who demand high performance. The new processors will be available in India starting October 5. However, branded desktops powered by the new chipsets could only be expected towards the end of 2017.

“We are laser-focused on giving the enthusiast community the ultimate desktop experience, from chart-topping performance to a platform that can flex with their needs. Our 8th Gen Intel Core desktop processors deliver tremendous improvements across the board and – for gamers, in particular– offer an unbeatable experience,” said Anand Srivatsa, general manager of the Desktop Platform Group at Intel.

Among the six processors, Intel is calling the Core i7-8700K as its best desktop gaming processor ever. The ‘K’ here is the one that is capable of delivering maximum tuning flexibility. The processor runs at 3.7GHz, and is capable of reaching single-core frequency of 4.7GHz, which is also the highest ever frequency for any desktop processor from Intel. The other processor, Core i7-8700 runs at 3.2GHz, and is capable of achieving maximum frequency of 4.6GHz. Both processors feature six cores and twelve threads.

Intel says, gamers can gain up to 25 percent fluid and powerful performance with more frames per second compared to 7th gen Intel Core processors. Also, compared to a 3-year-old machine, gamers can now game, stream and record up to two times faster. Intel also mentioned that content creators can now edit 4K 360-degree videos up to 32 times faster compared to previous generation processors, and up to 65 percent faster compared to a 3-year-old PC. 

The Core i5-8600K is clocked at 3.6GHz, and can attain maximum turbo frequency of 4.3GHz, whereas the Core i5-8400 runs at 2.8GHz, and can notch up to 4GHz. The Core i3 processors don’t feature Turbo Boost, and the clock speed is constant at 4GHz for Core i3-8350K, and 3.6GHz for Core i3-8100. 

Along with the Coffee Lake CPUs, Intel has also announced a new Z370 motherboard with support for DDR4-2666 RAM when paired with the new Core i7 CPU. In terms of cache, the Core i7 models have 12MB, whereas the Core i5 and Core i3 models come with 9MB and 6MB cache, respectively. In terms of pricing, the lower end Core i3 model starts at $117, which is approximately Rs 7,600, whereas the top end Core i7 model is priced at $359, which roughly translates to Rs 23,700, plus taxes extra.

Nokia 9 is likely to be the next flagship smartphone featuring a dual-camera setup.

Even as HMD Global is set to launch the Nokia 8 in India this week, the company is reportedly already working on the next set of Nokia-branded smartphones. Of this, the Nokia 9 has been spotted time and again. A new set of leaks detail the upcoming smartphone’s display, and overall design.

Spotted on Baidu, the front and back panel design of the Nokia 9 showcases three key elements – an edge-to-edge display on the front, vertically placed dual-camera module at the back with the LED flash, and a dedicated fingerprint sensor. Based on the renders, the Nokia 9 will continue to feature the symmetric boxy appearance, albeit with a 3D bezel-less display design. Pictured in what looks like a copper color, the purported smartphone will not feature any physical buttons on the front, and instead use virtual controllers. However, the power button and volume rockers are positioned on the right side.

According to NPU, the Nokia 9 could pack a 5.7-inch quad HD display. The 3D glass design at the back could possibly support wireless charging, while the dual camera module will feature Carl Zeiss lens. It is further speculated that the Nokia 9 will bundle 6GB or 8GB of RAM with 128GB of default storage. For improved resistance against dust and water, the smartphone may be IP68 certified. As for biometric authentication, in addition to the fingerprint scanner, there is a possibility of an iris scanner. 

The Nokia 9 will be HMD Global’s fifth phone after the Nokia 5, Nokia 6, Nokia 3, and the Nokia 8. It is expected that the Nokia 9 will be priced somewhere around 749 Euros (approximately Rs 58,000). It is worth mentioning that the company is yet to officially announce the existence or development of a new smartphone.

Meanwhile, the Nokia 8 is set to make its debut in India on September 26. It features a a 5.3-inch IPS 2K resolution display, and is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable internal storage. For optics, there is Carl ZEISS-powered dual-camera setup that includes a pair of 13-megapixel sensors for capturing in RGB and monochrome. There’s a 13-megapixel sensor up front as well.

Keeping the smartphone ticking is a 3,090mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 support. Its connectivity options include dual-SIM support, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The Nokia 8 also features a fingerprint sensor, IP54 rating for protection against accidental splashes of water, and three microphones for audio recording. On the software front, it runs on stock Android 7.1.1 Nougat out-of-the-box. The Nokia 8 has already received Android 8.0 Oreo beta, with the stable version expected to release soon. In India, it is expected to be priced somewhere around Rs 45,000.

{BGR}

The new macOS is coming today. Here’s a look at compatible Macs, and the operating system’s features.

After rolling out iOS 11 and watchOS 4 last week, Apple will be rolling out macOS High Sierra later tonight. The new Mac OS comes with iterative updates, and a focus on under the hood upgrades. Here’s a look at a list of compatible Macs that can be updated to High Sierra, and a list of features worth looking forward to.

macOS High Sierra compatibility

For updating to High Sierra, you will need to have one of the following Macs. MacBook (2009 or later), MacBook Air (2010 or later), MacBook Pro (2010 or later), Mac mini (2010 or later), Mac Pro (2010 or later) or iMac (Late 2009 or later).

macOS High Sierra: Top-10 features

With High Sierra, Apple is focusing more on boosting Mac’s performance, as well as overall productivity. As the Apple website claims, “New technologies at the heart of the system make your Mac more reliable, capable and responsive — and lay the foundation for future innovations. macOS High Sierra also refines the features and apps you use every day. It’s macOS at its highest level yet.”

Here are the top features on the new macOS High Sierra:

Apple File System: Among the biggest changes on High Sierra is a new file system, called Apple File System or APFS. This file system is optimized for SSDs and flash storage on the new Macs, and according to Apple, it is ‘faster, efficient and focuses on both security and encryption’.

HEVC video codec: Apple has introduced a new codec for high-res videos, called HEVC or H.265. This codec can basically compress videos by up to 40 percent when compared to current standards. Apple also claims that the compression is done without loss in video quality.

Powerful photo editor: Apple has improved its Photos app with the inclusion of new editing tools. These include the ability to tweaking a photo’s color, contrast, curves, and more. There is also a compare button for easy reference of before and after photos.

FaceTime Live Photos: Apple has added a new interactive element to FaceTime. So if your friend is doing something crazy, you can record it as a Live Photo. You can use the Photos app to turn these live photos into loop clips, bounce clips, or long exposure-style shots.

Safari reading mode: Apple’s native browser has been given quite a boost in its performance. Some of the new features include a new reading mode. In this mode, which removes all the annoying elements from a web page, and only leaves the text and multimedia to give a nice reading experience.

Blocking auto-playing videos: Another welcome feature on Safari is its ability to block auto-playing videos. This is really helpful, as quite a few websites have small videos embedded somewhere deep in the page that automatically start playing. While helpful, Safari does allow you to choose what websites can auto-play videos.

Mail search and split view: The Mail app on macOS will now consume up to 35 percent less space. Other improvements include a Top Hits panel in search. Powered by Spotlight, this analyzes your mails based on your interactions and makes them more visible in search. There’s also a new split view mode in Mail. This essentially lets you open a compose window on one side, while checking mails simultaneously.

Enhanced iMessage: iMessage on iOS 11 has been given a big upgrade. On macOS, the messaging app gets a much-awaited feature. On High Sierra, iMessage is more in sync with its iOS counterpart. In other words, when you delete a message on your iPhone, it disappears from the Mac app as well.

Improved Universal Clipboard: While copy-pasting stuff across iOS and macOS is not new, Apple has improved its universal clipboard feature. High Sierra allows users to copy stuff between two Macs running on the latest OS – as long as they are using the same Apple iCloud account.

DJ Siri: Siri has also massively improved on High Sierra. For one, the voice assistant can now work as your personal DJ. In essence, you can ask Siri to ‘play some music’. You can also ask it to play a song from some specific genre. Needless to say, you need an Apple Music subscription for this to work.