The week has been dominated by smartphone leaks and launches. Today was more of a mixed bag in the tech world. The day started with the sale of the Google Pixel 2 in India. Apple also started rolling out the stable versions of iOS 11.1, watchOS 4.1, macOS High Sierra 10.13.1, and tvOS 11.1. Moving on, a hands-on video of the HTC U11 Plus and U11 Life emerged online giving a close look at the upcoming smartphones. Google also introduced a new Bluetooth pairing feature for Android users. Lastly, the iPhone X, which will commercially launch on November 3 has an exciting Airtel offer.

Google Pixel 2 goes on sale

Google’s latest flagship smartphone, the Pixel 2, went on sale today. The smartphone is priced at Rs 61,000 for the 64GB variant, and Rs 70,000 for the 128GB model. You can purchase the Pixel 2 through Flipkart or via offline stores like Reliance Digital and Croma. Recapping its specifications, the Pixel 2 features a 5-inch full HD OLED display, with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 SoC and 4GB of RAM under its hood. For photography, the Pixel 2 sports a 12.2-megapixel rear camera of f/1.8 aperture, and OIS. Up front, it houses an 8-megapixel front camera.

Apple OS updates

Apple has released the latest updates for its devices with iOS 11.1, macOS High Sierra 10.13.1, watchOS 4.1, and tvOS 11.1. The iOS 11.1 brings a few important bug fixes, 70 new emoji, and the return of the 3D app switcher for iPhone 6s and above. watchOS 4.1 brings the long rumored Apple Music or iCloud Music Library streaming for the Apple Watch 3. The update also brings the option to toggle automatic Wi-Fi connections on and off. With macOS High Sierra 10.13.1, users get a new emoji, KRACK Wi-Fi vulnerability fix, among others. Lastly, tvOS 11.1 update brings some bug fixes and performance enhancements for the Apple TV.

HTC U11 Plus, U11 Life hands-on video leaked

HTC is expected to launch the U11 Plus and U11 Life tomorrow. The smartphones were spotted today in a hands-on video revealing the design and look. The HTC U11 Plus has a large display with thin bezels on each side, and sports a glossy back panel. The smartphone also has five on-screen buttons. The HTC U11 Life, on the other hand, is an Android One smartphone and was seen running stock Android. It has a decent design with a home button and capacitive buttons on each side.

Fast Pair feature rolled out for Android users

For effortless Bluetooth pairing, Google has rolled out Fast Pair for devices running Android 6.0 Marshmallow and above. Using Bluetooth LE (Low Energy) and the Android smartphone’s location, Fast Pair discovers Bluetooth accessories nearby. Once you receive a pop-up notification you need to tap on it to start pairing. In addition to locating accessories, Fast Pair will also show the product name and image if it exists on the Google server.

Airtel cashback offer for iPhone X

On November 3, the iPhone X will be available for purchase in various places including Airtel’s new Online Store. Airtel postpaid customers will be able to purchase the iPhone X as an unlocked device on a first-come-first-serve basis if full payment is made. Airtel is also offering cashback of Rs 10,000 for Citibank Credit card users between 6:00PM November 3 and 7:00AM November 3. The iPhone X is priced at Rs 89,000 for the 64GB variant, while the 256GB model will be available at Rs 102,000.