Tech with Prakalp

New OnePlus TV coming this year

OnePlus jumped into the smart TV space last year with its OnePlus TV Q1 series and safe to say, it ticked most of boxes right. The Q1 series offered good picture quality as well as audio quality, not to forget decently fast performance. OnePlus said during its launch that it plans to bring more OnePlus TVs to the market and it seems that this September may see the Q2 series of the OnePlus TV this year.

A new OnePlus TV model has been spotted getting certified at Bluetooth SIG by 9To5Google and it gives out a lot of information regarding the new models. The biggest one is that the new model will stick to the 55-inch panel size instead of getting an upgrade to a bigger display or spawning a new smaller size.

The next one pertains to the performance metrics. The report says that OnePlus is going to upgrade the chipset from the Q1 series to a more modern SoC. For the Q1 series, OnePlus used a MediaTek chipset from 2017. Although we found the TV’s performance more than adequate in our review, it seems that OnePlus wants to offer a better user experience with upgraded hardware. The new model is registered with a newer MediaTek chipset from 2019.

The newer model is also going to get a completely new remote controller. The certification states that it is going to be a completely new controller. To recall, OnePlus originally launched the Q1 series with a new controller last year that had a sleek metallic body and used a USB-C port to charge. Later, OnePlus changed the controller to a simpler one with more buttons and a simpler design.

Given that product is getting its certifications, OnePlus could launch by September this year. The next-generation OnePlus TV models could come along with the OnePlus 8T upgrade and could replace the existing Q1 series models. OnePlus could also launch the TV in July, when the rumoured OnePlus Z is also expected to announced along with the OnePlus true wireless earbuds.

The new models could continue to rely on the latest version of Android TV and OnePlus could continue to develop its Hub app that acts as a content aggregator for the TVs. The TVs could also rely on the QLED panels from Samsung and chances of upgrading it to OLED panels are slim. There could be a Pro model this year too with a retracting subwoofer.

Truecaller revamped it’s app with new features

Truecaller on Wednesday announced that it has revamped its app completely for its Android and iOS users across the globe.
Truecaller also introduced a host of new features including a screen caller ID and Smart Sms feature
Truecaller has unified some of the services including calls history, SMS, and Instant Messages conversations under a single tab
Caller-identification service provider, Truecaller on Wednesday announced that it has revamped its app completely for its Android and iOS users across the globe. The company has unified some of the services including calls history, SMS, and Instant Messages conversations under a single tab. Truecaller also introduced a host of new features including a screen caller ID and Smart Sms feature that would help users to sort messages into four groups.

Truecaller is an important app that helps users in identifying a caller by their number. Many times, you get calls from unknown people with nefarious intentions, you can use the true caller app to unmask them and even report the number on the app. The new features will only enhance the overall user experience further.

Talking about the redesigning of the app Sandeep Patil, Managing Director, Truecaller said in a statement, “Communication in 2020 is easier in many ways, but also complicated by the vast amount of ways to connect with people and information. There is a need to streamline this experience, we believe. In recent years we have seen how Truecaller has become your communication hub where all spam – calls, and SMS – is identified and there is no need to switch between different apps for calls and messages. With this update, we want to make it even easier for our users to have streamlined communication.”

“At a time when we should be working to support each other in unity, it is unfortunate to see many scammers and fraudsters trying to capitalize on these difficult times. For over a decade now, Truecaller has been the main line of defense against such activity,” he added.

Google Pixel 5 likely to be cheaper than Pixel 4A

Google’s Pixel 4a series of phones hasn’t even been launched yet, but we already appear to have started to get information about the Pixel 5 phones. Fresh reports claim to reveal important information about the Pixel 5 devices, including the core hardware on the phones.

A new report by XDA Developers and another one by AndroidPolice’s David Raddock have all but confirmed that the Pixel 5 won’t bring a flagship chipset. Instead, it will come packing a Snapdragon 765 chipset under the hood.

This is big news considering that Google in the past has stuck to equipping its flagship phones with only the most powerful flagship processors in the business. The move to the Snapdragon 765 would essentially turn the Pixel 5 into a mid-range flagship, and greatly alter the line-up’s identity.

Another hint that the Pixel 5 may actually sport a mid-range chipset, instead of a flagship one, are the recent Google Opinion Rewards survey, which has hinted that the Pixel 5 may start retail a $699 — $100 cheaper than then Pixel 4.

Although nothing to get too excited about, the survey did ask users what would their choice be if a premium Google Pixel phone was to be made available at $699. While the price may look too aggressive, it has to be noted that the Pixel 5 without a powerful top-end chipset may actually be quite achievable at this price point.

Another reason why the Pixel 5 could actually retail for this low price point is that it may also miss out on the Motion Sense technology. The feature will reportedly be missing from the Google Pixel 5 series which should be launched later this year.

The feature uses Project Soli radar chip which enables a gesture-based control system on the phone. While gesture-based controls are available on other phones too, Googles is the most sophisticated as it depends on a Soli radar chip hardware.

The removal of the chip would also make sense as the presence of the Soli chip also ensured that Google could not make the phone available in a lot of regions. This is because the radar chip uses a certain frequency range, which is reserved for the military in many countries like India, Japan and China.

Apart from this, the Pixel 5 series is said to come with a triple-camera setup on the back and also includes a wide-angle sensor at the back. For now, however, there is little else known about the device. But more should be known in the coming weeks once the Pixel 4a finally becomes reality.

Nokia 5.3 and Nokia 5310 to be launched in June

Nokia 5310 and Nokia 5.3 were among the many phones that came freshly out of HMD Global’s stable in March. Both Nokia-branded phones were confirmed to make it to the Indian market soon after the global launch was announced. While HMD Global has not said anything extra since the confirmation, a new report claims to give an insight into what is happening behind the scene. The Nokia 5310 is said to be on its way to the markets while the Nokia 5.3 could take some time as it has just entered production in India.According to a report by NokiaPowerUser, the Nokia 5310 is likely to be launched in India “soon.” While there is no tentative timeline to this, it can be safely assumed that the feature phone is almost ready for launch in India. The report predicts its India launch could take place by the end of May, citing sources. The arrival of the feature phone may have been delayed due to the disruptions caused by the covid-19 pandemic. However, the readers are advised to take this information with a pinch of salt since HMD Global has not given any official word on it.The Nokia 5310 is a reincarnated avatar of the Nokia 5310 XpressMusic phone from the noughties. The feature phone goes big on music playback feature, which is why it has dedicated physical buttons to control music playback. The phone also has FM radio feature, in addition to a VGA camera at the back.The Nokia 5.3, however, seems to be a late entrant to India’s smartphone market. It was announced alongside the Nokia 8.3 5G and Nokia 1.3 smartphones back in March. The report has said that HMD Global may have started the production of the Nokia 5.3 in India since the company sells locally-manufactured smartphones in the country. The delay is production has also been cited to the covid-19 pandemic that had thrown the company’s plans off the rails. According to the report, the production of the Nokia 5.3 should be commodious enough for shipping within a month. Going by the report, the Nokia 5.3 could be launched sometime around the middle of June.

Microsoft Surface Due to support Snapdragon 855 SoC, other specifications leaked

Microsoft Surface Duo foldable smartphone is hotly anticipated to release into eligible markets after it was unveiled last year. The Redmond-based giant has been silent about most specifications of the upcoming foldable device, lest it wants it ready for consumers. According to a new report, the Surface Duo is in “take-home” status, which means it is ready for testers to use in real-world hinting at an imminent launch. Microsoft is reportedly planning to launch the Surface Duo ahead of the original timeline of spring this year. Besides, the specifications of the Surface Duo have also been leaked in the report.According to a report by Windows Central, the Surface Duo is “almost ready” for launch, but there is no tentative timeline available at this point. Microsoft had previously said the Surface Duo will be available in markets towards the end of this year. For now, there is nothing concrete about Microsoft’s plans to launch the Surface Duo since the supply chain is disrupted owing to the covid-19 pandemic worldwide. Microsoft had also confirmed the specifications of the Surface Duo by only so much, but the report claims to give an insight of the unknown innards of the upcoming foldable device.The Surface Duo, the report suggests, will be powered by the year-old Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor. While this may not be a wise decision from a consumer’s standpoint, Microsoft may have begun materialising the Surface Duo much before the Snapdragon 865 SoC came into the markets. Since the Snapdragon 865 processor requires extra space for its X55 5G modem, Surface Duo would have been distorted footprint-wise. The foldable smartphone will have 6GB of RAM and two storage options – 64GB and 256GB. It is already known that the Microsoft Surface Duo will come with two 5.6-inch AMOLED displays with a resolution of 1800×1350 pixels and a pixel density of 401 PPI. It will run Android 10-based UI, along with eligibility to run Android 11 soon.Recently, Microsoft’s hardware chief Panos Panay had shared an image of his son, clicked using the Surface Duo’s rear camera. He did not, however, divulge the graphic resolution of the camera. The report tries to debunk the mystery by claiming the Surface Duo will have a single 11-megapixel camera with an aperture of f/2.0 and 1.12-micron pixel size. This camera will be located above the right display and used for front- and rear-facing photos and videos. For rear-camera photography, the device may need to be folded outwardly. Moreover, the Surface Duo will feature a USB-C port and a 3460mAh battery with some fast charging technology.The Surface Duo will likely not have 5G support and would settle for regular 4G LTE speeds. While even Apple is expected to jump on the 5G bandwagon, Microsoft may end up trailing behind for its ambitious Surface Duo foldable smartphone. The Surface Duo will also lack NFC support, which might hinder payment functionalities when using apps such as Google Pay in supported countries.For what it is worth, Microsoft’s Surface Duo will arrive in markets with some dated innards, which might make it difficult for the company to take a stand against the rivals. Samsung is already reportedly working on its third foldable smartphone while other brands such as Motorola are also optimistically selling theirs.

MIUI 12 to go

A couple of weeks ago, Xiaomi revealed its MIUI 12 for the Chinese market, with lots of visual changes and mega feature upgrades. With a few tweaks, Xiaomi has now released MIUI 12 for the global markets and that also includes India. MIUI 12 for global markets is almost identical to the Chinese version, complete with the improved UI elements and those popular Super Wallpapers. Xiaomi plans to start releasing the update to its phone by the end of June.
The best part about MIUI 12 is that it is coming to phone as old as the Redmi Note 5 as well as to the latest flagship models. Last year’s Redmi K20 and Redmi K20 Pro, which were also sold as the Mi 9T and Mi 9T Pro in Europe, will be the first to get the update. Xiaomi says users can expect to see the update rollout by end of June as part of the Phase 1.
Rest of all the phones eligible for the update are part of the phase 2 and there’s no assigned timeline to it. The phase 2 includes the latest models such as Mi 10 5G, Redmi Note 9 series, Redmi Note 8 series and all other Mi series flagships from the last two years. The Poco X2, which is essentially a rebranded Redmi K30 5G, is also scheduled to get the update in phase 2. Many of the budget phones under the Redmi series are also eligible, such as the Redmi Note 5, Redmi Note 5 Pro, Redmi 6A, Redmi 6 and all newer models from Redmi.List of all Xiaomi phones getting MIUI 12.As for MIUI 12, the custom OS from Xiaomi is based on Android 10 and carries a lot of features from stock Android and presents them in a better way. The animations have been vastly improved with new physics engine and improved graphics. The Settings app has received a couple of changes, especially in the Storage and My Device sections.
MIUI 12 gets massive upgrades in the privacy section. The OS will now notify everytime an app is accessing a sensitive feature such as the cameras, microphone, contacts, location and more. Users can now block access to such apps with a single tap. Sadly, the virtual ID feature from the Chinese ROM did not make it to the global ROM.
MIUI 12 will also bring new multitasking features. You can apps running floating windows while you use another. This is quite similar to what we have seen on Samsung phones before. Thankfully, the Super Wallpapers make it to the global variant, including both the Mars and Earth wallpapers. Xiaomi has baked-in a new Privacy Cast feature that lets you cast your screen to Miracast supported TVs without showing notifications.
There’s also a new Ultra Battery Saver mode that brings a minimalist homescreen with just the essential apps. This mode activates only when the battery drops below five per cent. There’s also a new dark mode that implements the dark theme on third-party apps. This means you can even have Facebook and other apps completely in a dark mode.
It now remains to be seen how soon does Xiaomi India bring the MIUI 12 update to the Indian models.

Apple TV+ Gets Into Licensing to Better Compete With Netflix, Amazon, Disney: Report

Apple has finally realised that Apple TV+ originals aren’t enough. The iPhone maker is reportedly getting into the back-catalogue business, in a bid to compete with the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. It is in talks with Hollywood studios to license their “older” content for Apple TV+ and has already purchased some TV shows and movies. There’s no word on what those are, but they aren’t “huge franchises or blockbusters”. This comes on the heels of Apple picking up the Tom Hanks-starrer World War II drama movie Greyhound. Unclear if the two are related.

Bloomberg [paywall] brings word of the evolving strategy at Apple TV+, which launched in November last year with the sole target of original series, movies, and documentaries. Its decision to forego licensed content was seen as bemusing then, given it was going up against competitors with huge libraries. In India, Netflix has over 5,000 titles, Prime Video is around 3,800, and Disney+ Hotstar is at the 2,400 mark, according to streaming content aggregator JustWatch. Apple TV+? 23, that’s it. Moreover, many of its shows have received mediocre reviews.

And while Apple TV+ is cheaper than most streaming services in other countries, in India (at Rs. 99 a month), it costs more than Disney+ Hotstar VIP (Rs. 399 a year), which offers local originals, live sports, cable TV programmes, and local-language versions of Hollywood movies; and Prime Video (Rs. 999 a year), which has a strong mix of licensed TV shows and movies, from studios such as Sony Pictures and Warner Bros., paired with local and international originals. Apple TV+ also has a limited app offering, with nothing for Android / Android TV, Windows 10, and gaming consoles.

Naturally, that shows in subscription numbers. About 10 million had subscribed to Apple TV+ by February, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke to Bloomberg, but only half — 5 million — are active users. That pales in comparison to Disney+, which also launched in November and has amassed over 50 million subscribers, despite being in fewer territories than Apple TV+. Some of that is thanks to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that is keeping most at home.

Huawei Y8p With Triple Rear Cameras, 4,000mAh Battery Launched: Price, Specifications

Huawei Y8p has launched globally as the latest smartphone offering from the company. The phone seems to be a rebranded version of the Huawei Enjoy 10s launched in China last year. The Huawei Y8p comes with a triple rear camera setup at the back and has a 4,000mAh battery. The new Huawei model is listed to be powered by the Kirin 710F SoC and there’s a waterdrop-style notch on top of the display that houses a 16-megapixel selfie camera.

Huawei Y8p price, availability
The Huawei Y8p has been listed on the global website but its pricing and availability details haven’t been announced yet. Gadgets 360 spotted it for pre-order on the company’s Belarus site for BYN 549 (roughly Rs. 17,100). Sale in Belarus is listed to begin on May 29. Pricing and availability should be announced in other regions soon. It will be available in Breathing Crystal and Midnight Black colour options.
The Huawei Enjoy 10s was launched in China last October, and its price is set at CNY 1,599 (roughly Rs. 16,000) for the sole 6GB RAM + 64GB storage configuration. Huawei notes that there may be a 4GB RAM option in few international markets, and internal storage has been amped up to 128GB.

Huawei Y8p specifications
The Huawei Y8p runs on Android 10 based on EMUI 10.1 on top. It features a 6.3-inch full-HD+ (1080×2400 pixels) OLED display. The phone is powered by the HiSilicon Kirin 710F octa-core SoC, paired with 4GB and 6GB of RAM options. The Huawei Y8p has 128GB of onboard storage that is expandable via Nano Memory card (up to 256GB).

As for camera, the triple rear camera setup of the Huawei Y8p includes a 48-megapixel primary sensor with an f/1.8 lens, 8-megapixel secondary ultra-wide sensor with an f/2.4 lens, and a 2-megapixel tertiary sensor with an f/2.4 lens. Up front,
Huawei has provided a 4,000mAh battery on the Y8p. Connectivity options include 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, NFC, Bluetooth v5.0, GPS/ A-GPS, USB Type-C, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. There is also an in-display fingerprint sensor on board. Other sensors include an ambient light sensor, gravity sensor and compass. Lastly, the phone measures 157.4×73.2×7.75mm and weighs 163 grams.

Mi Smart Band 4 Now Available via Flipkart in India: All Details

Mi Smart Band 4 that was so far available for purchase on Amazon and Mi.com has now been made available via Flipkart as well, Xiaomi India announced on Monday. The smart band features colour AMOLED panel and six-axis accelerometer sensor. It also offers with 20 days of battery life. It was originally launched in June last year as Mi Band 4 by Xiaomi after which it came to India in September with the Mi Smart Band 4 branding.Mi Smart Band 4 price in India
As we’ve mentioned, customers can now buy the Mi Smart Band 4 online from Flipkart as well. The smart band can also be purchased via Amazon and Mi.com. Offline customers will have to visit their nearby Mi Home stores to purchase the product. However, they will also have to be careful about the lockdown guidelines in their respective states. The price of the Mi Smart Band 4 has remained unchanged at Rs. 2,299 ever since it launched in India.
Mi Smart Band 4 specifications, features
With the Mi Smart Band 4, you get a 0.95-inch colour AMOLED display with 120×240 pixels resolution. It offers a maximum of 400 nits of brightness. It also comes with 2.5D curved glass protection and anti-fingerprint coating.It has got a 3-axis accelerometer that enables monitoring of physical activities. Inside, there is a 3-axis gyroscope and a PPG heart rate sensor as well. In terms of compatibilities, you can use the Mi Smart Band 4 with phones running Android 4.4 or later and iOS 9.0 or later operating system versions. It packs a 135mAh battery with up to 20 days of battery life. The smart band supports workout modes like outdoor running, treadmill, swimming, and cycling. It can also track sleep patterns and send health alerts.According to a report, Xiaomi added new functionality to the smart band. The smart band users can unlock their Windows 10 laptops straight from their fitness band. Earlier it was possible only by using third-party apps.

Redmi 10X With MediaTek Dimensity 820 SoC, 5G Support to Launch on May 26

Redmi 10X smartphone will launch on May 26. According to the company, the phone will be powered by the latest MediaTek Dimensity 820 SoC and support 5G connectivity. Meanwhile, a report has claimed that Redmi 10X will get a 4G variant as well as a Pro model. The Redmi 10X 4G was reportedly spotted on Google Play Console last week. Moreover, the Redmi 10X is tipped to come with quad rear cameras and 5,020mAh battery.
Redmi 10X specifications (rumoured)
Redmi General Manager Lu Weibing via Weibo on Monday revealed that the Redmi 10X will be powered by the newly unveiled MediaTek Dimensity 820 SoC. In a separate Weibo post, Weibing boasted about the phone’s processor capabilities with an image highlighting the AnTuTu score of 4,15,672. Additionally, the executive added that the Redmi 10X will support 5G connectivity. Lastly, Weibing revealed that the phone will be launched on May 26 at 2pm CST Asia (11:30am IST).
Meanwhile, a report by 91 Mobiles in collaboration with tipster Ishan Agarwal claims that the Redmi 10X will come with a 4G variant that further will be offered in 4GB + 128GB and 6GB + 128GB storage options. The 4G variant is tipped to come in Green, Sky Blue, and White colour options.

Redmi 10X 4G Specifications Tipped by Google Play Listing: Report
In contrast, the report further adds that the Redmi 10X 5G will be offered in in four configurations namely, 6GB + 64GB, 6GB + 128GB, 8GB + 128GB, and 8GB + 256GB. All the variants of Redmi 10X 5G are said to come in Dark Blue, Gold, Silver, and Violet colour options.
Last week, Redmi 10X was reportedly spotted in a Google Play Console listing. It was highlighted that the Redmi phone allegedly features a full-HD+ (1,080×2,340 pixels) display along with 4GB RAM. Similarly, a Redmi phone rumoured to be the Redmi 10X 4G was spotted on Chinese regulator TENAA’s website with the model number M2003J15SC earlier in April. As per the listing, it was speculated that the phone will carry a 13-megapixel front camera and 5,020mAh battery. It was also rumoured that the quad-camera setup at the back of the phone will house a 48-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel secondary camera, and two 2-megapixel cameras. It is expected that the Redmi 10X 4G price will start at CNY 1,499 (roughly Rs. 16,000) in China.

Redmi 10X Price and Specifications Tipped Ahead of Launch
Redmi 10X Pro 5G specifications (rumoured)
Lastly, the latest report by 91Mobiles also tipped that the Redmi 10X has a sibling dubbed as Redmi 10X Pro. The phone will be reportedly offered in 8GB + 128GB and 8GB + 256GB options and both the variants will come in Dark Blue, Gold, Silver / White, and Violet colour options. The report claims that the Pro variant of Redmi 10X will support 5G.