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Saturday, August 31, 2019

Amazon Sale Offers Up to Rs. 2,000 Discount on OnePlus 7, OnePlus 7 Pro

OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro are listed with an Axis Bank discount till September 6, and no-cost EMI options are also available.

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What's the best Ring security system? android os

Best answer: We recommend Ring's 8-piece Alarm Security Kit for most homes. It includes multiple contact and motion detectors to cover most entry points of the home, and you can get it all for a reasonable price.

Cover all your main doors and points of entry

When shopping for a home security system, you always start with one consideration: the layout of your home. How many doors do you have? How many windows? How much outside ground do you want to monitor? These are essential questions to answer because they will give you an idea of how much equipment you will need for proper coverage. The trick is to get as close as possible to the number of sensors you need without spending too much. If you can get close to the number of items you need in the same bundle, you will save yourself a good chunk of money.

Most average homes have two main points of entry and several windows on the bottom floor. If this is you and you are shopping for a Ring Alarm Security kit, the 8-piece configuration should be enough to get you started.

With this configuration, you get three contact sensors, which are the devices you put on doors to be notified whenever they're opened. This is the perfect number, as you will get enough sensors to cover the front door and backdoor, as well as a third for a patio door or one of your primary windows.

The 8-piece kit also comes with two motion detectors, enough to cover a couple of the main rooms in your home. Where you can't install a motion detector, you can choose to cover a window or door on that part of the house with a contact sensor.

All Ring Alarm Security kits also come standard with a base station, a keypad, and a range extender. You can also use any of them on any of Ring's Protect Plans. It should be noted, however, that while Ring's subscription plans offer you features like video recording and alerts, they can also add more to the overall price tag.

Finally, if you are an Amazon Alexa user, then you can connect your Ring security system to the Alexa Guard service. Alexa Guard is a free service from Amazon that lets you leverage the listening abilities of your existing Echo devices to enhance your home security. When connected to Alexa Guard, you can ask the Amazon smart assistant to arm/disarm your Ring security system. Alexa can also push security alerts to Ring emergency responders through the Ring app if you have a Ring Protect Plan.

You can always add more pieces later

If you've bought one of Ring's Alarm Security Kits and come to the conclusion that you need more, don't fret. You can buy individual pieces of equipment to fill out your home. Ring offers extra contact sensors, motion detectors, keypads, and range extenders on an individual basis.

You can also get a number of extras such as an alarm sound amplifier, as well as add other pieces of equipment from the Ring family such as smoke and CO alarms, flood and freeze sensors, security doorbells, and security cameras. Smart lighting systems will also be available soon. Be sure to explore all of your options over at Ring's website.

A great security package

Ring Alarm Security 8-Piece Kit

$190 at Amazon

Monitor and protect your home.

Ring's suite of home alarm products let you know exactly what's going on around your home, and it's all managed inside one easy app.

All the bells and whistles

Ring Alarm 14-Piece Kit+ Echo Dot (3rd Gen)

$330 at Amazon

Security system with smart assistant

This 14 piece kit comes with additional sensors, a second keypad, and an Echo Dot so you can talk directly to your Ring system.



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Vivo Y15 (2019), Vivo Y17 Price In India Slashed

Vivo Y17 price in India was last cut in May by Rs. 2,000, and now another price cut brings the price of the phone down to Rs. 14,990.

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Air India Asks Passengers Not to Fly With Older 15-Inch MacBook Pro Laptops

Air India on Saturday requested passengers not to carry "15-inch Apple Mac Book Pro (purchased between September 2015 - February 2017) as checked-in or hand baggage."

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Zomato Determined to Add Gold Programme to Its Delivery Menu

Zomato is hellbent to carry on with its plans, to make its contentious Gold programme now available for delivery.

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Does Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ Show Us the Future of Mobile Photography?

Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ price in India starts at Rs. 79,999 but how does its camera perform?

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Redmi Note 8 Pro vs Redmi Note 7 Pro: What's New and Different?

We pit the Redmi Note 8 Pro with its predecessor Redmi Note 7 Pro to see how much of an upgrade the new entrant is, on paper.

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Xiaomi Announces Redmi K20 Pro Android 10 Beta Programme in India

Redmi K20 Pro owners interested to be a part of the Android 10-based MIUI 10 testing can register by filling up a Google form.

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OnePlus 7T Pro, McLaren Edition Renders and Specifications Surface Online

OnePlus 7T Pro key specifications and alleged renders have surfaced online. The phone is reported to be identical to the OnePlus 7 Pro when it comes to the design, but it will come with Snapdragon...

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Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ Camera Review

We put the cameras on the Galaxy Note 10+ to the test to find out if it is the best camera smartphone in the market right now.

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US to Use Fake Social Media to Check People Entering Country

US Citizenship and Immigration Services officers can now create fictitious social media accounts to monitor social media information on foreigners seeking visas, green cards and citizenship.

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YouTube Said to Be Fined Over Children's Privacy Violations

Alphabet's Google will spend up to $200 million to settle a Federal Trade Commission investigation into YouTube's alleged violation of a children's privacy law, a person briefed on the matter told...

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Chandrayaan-2 Closer to Moon With Orbit Change

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Friday said it has successfully performed the fourth lunar bound orbit manoeuvre for the Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft.

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Amazon, Trader Group in Public Spat Over Discounts in India

Amazon.com defended its business strategies in India as it came under fire from a local trader group on Friday over discounted products on the global e-commerce giant's website.

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Telegram Moves to Protect Identity of Hong Kong Protesters

Telegram, a popular encrypted messaging app, will allow users to cloak their telephone numbers to safeguard Hong Kong protesters against monitoring by Chinese authorities, according to a person with...

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Google Contract Workers Vote to Form a Union in the US

A group of contract workers for Google have voted to move forward with an effort to unionize, a potential chink in tech's carefully constructed armor against collective bargaining.

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Telegram Moves to Protect Identity of Hong Kong Protesters *APP_NEWS*

Telegram, a popular encrypted messaging app, will allow users to cloak their telephone numbers to safeguard Hong Kong protesters against monitoring by Chinese authorities, according to a person with direct knowledge of the effort.

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Twitter CEO and Co-Founder Jack Dorsey's Account Was Hacked

The account of Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey was hacked on Friday afternoon, sending public tweets and retweets including racial slurs and curse words to 4 million followers before Twitter secured the...

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Gmail Brings One-Swipe Gesture to Switch Accounts on Android *APP_NEWS*

The latest Gmail version 2019.08.18 also reportedly contains the first signs of Dark Mode as well.

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WPS Office Now Available on the Mac, Company Promises Increased India Focus *APP_NEWS*

WPS Office 2020 is now available to download for Android, Windows, Linux, macOS, and iOS.

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Microsoft Outlook Gets Dark Mode on Android and iOS, Other Office Mobile Apps to Get It Soon *APP_NEWS*

Microsoft has announced that it is rolling out support for a dark mode on Outlook for Android and iOS while other Office mobile apps will receive it in the coming few weeks.

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Facebook Acknowledges Flaw in Messenger Kids App *APP_NEWS*

Facebook acknowledged a flaw in its Messenger Kids app, weeks after two US senators raised privacy concerns about the application.

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Apple Apologises Over Siri Privacy and Will No Longer Retain Audio Recordings *APP_NEWS*

Apple apologised for privacy mishaps surrounding its Siri voice assistant and said that it would no longer retain audio recordings of Siri interactions.

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Friday, August 30, 2019

OnePlus TV to Receive Android TV Updates for at Least Three Years

OnePlus is set to launch its first TV, which is said to be a unique approach to the idea of a television. OnePlus is also promising at least three years of software updates.

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Redmi Note 8 vs Redmi Note 8 Pro: What's the Difference

Redmi Note 8 and Redmi Note 8 Pro smartphones are finally official. In this article, we take a look at how the Redmi Note 8 Pro and Redmi Note 8 are different from each other.

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Mighty Little Bheem Season 2 Now Streaming on Netflix in India

The second season of Mighty Little Bheem - the non-verbal slapstick adventure comedy series that follows a baby version of the popular mythological-inspired Chhota Bheem - is now streaming on...

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Flipkart to End Single-Use Plastic in Packaging by 2021

Flipkart said that as of August 1, 2019, it has achieved a 25 percent reduction in single-use plastic.

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Realme Q Is a Rebranded Realme 5 Pro, Tip Official Poster and Leaked Live Images

The official Realme Q teaser poster and leaked hands-on images of the phone suggest it is a rebranded version of the Realme 5 Pro.

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You can now get the Google Pixel Slate with a free keyboard for only $549 android os

The special offer ends on September 5 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

What you need to know

  • Google is offering a $250 discount on the entire Pixel Slate lineup.
  • The Intel Core m3 model is now available for just $549.
  • Along with the $250 discount, Google is also offering a Pixel Slate Keyboard or Brydge G-Type keyboard for free.

Unlike Google's Pixel smartphones, the Chrome OS-powered Pixel Slate hasn't received much critical acclaim. To make it slightly more appealing to consumers, the U.S. Google Store is now offering a $250 discount as well as a free Pixel Slate keyboard with the premium tablet.

The current promotion on the Google Store lets you save up to $449 on the Pixel Slate and select accessories. Google is offering $250 off on all Pixel Slate models and is also giving a Pixel Slate or Brydge G-Type keyboard for free as part of the promotion. If you find the deal attractive, make sure you place your order soon, as the promotion is set to end on September 5 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Google Pixel Slate Core m3 model with 8GB RAM and 64GB storage is now available for just $549, down from its $799 list price. The Core i5 model is down to $749, while the top-of-the-line Core i7 version with 16GB RAM and 256GB storage is currently available for $1,349.

As noted by 9To5Google, a similar promotion is currently live in the UK Google Store as well, allowing prospective customers to save £200 on all three Pixel Slate models. However, Google isn't offering a free keyboard to customers in the UK.

Google Pixel Slate

From $549 at Google Store

Google Pixel Slate's impressive 12.3-inch molecular display with 3000 x 2000 resolution and dual front-firing speakers make it a great device for media consumption. It also delivers fast performance, featuring up to an 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM.



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Waymo Urges US to 'Promptly' Remove Barriers to Self-Driving Cars

Automakers must currently meet nearly 75 auto safety standards for self-driving cars, many of them written under the assumption that a licensed driver is in command of the vehicle using traditional...

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Dell Beats Profit Estimates on Higher Desktop Sales

Dell beat Wall Street profit estimates on Thursday, helped by higher demand for desktops, as well as a focus on more profitable contracts within its server unit in China.

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Watch the Trailer for Netflix's Bill Gates Docu-Series, Out in September

Netflix has released a trailer for the three-part Bill Gates documentary series that offers a look at the Microsoft co-founder. It comes across as a part-commercial for his charity Bill & Melinda...

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LG Q70 With Hole-Punch Display, Dedicated Google Assistant Button Launched

LG Q70 is priced at KRW 5,48,900 ( roughly Rs. 32,500), will go on sale in Korea on September 6, and is listed to be available in a single Mirror Black colour option only.

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'Hey, Google! Let Me Talk to My Departed Father.'

For decades, Silicon Valley futurists have sought to unchain humanity from the corporeal life cycle, viewing death as yet another transformational problem in need of a "life-altering" solution.

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Valve Said to Fight EU Antitrust Charges, 5 Videogame Publishers to Settle

Valve plans to fight EU antitrust charges of preventing cross-border trade, unlike five video game publishers which plan to settle the case.

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Motorola One Action Goes on Sale in India Today at 12pm Via Flipkart

The Motorola One Action will go on sale for the first time in India today and will be up for grabs starting at 12pm noon via Flipkart

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India Said to Woo Firms Like Apple to Capitalise on US-China Trade War

India is targeting companies including Apple, Foxconn, and Wistron with a charm offensive aimed at encouraging them to shift business out of trade war-hit China.

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Apple to Supply Parts to Independent Repair Shops for First Time

Apple said on Thursday it will begin selling parts, tools and repair guides to independent shops to fix broken iPhone models.

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Saaho Out Now in India in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam

The most expensive Hindi- and Telugu-language film of all time is here. Produced at a budget of Rs. 350 crores (about $51 million), Saaho is out now in cinemas across India in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu,...

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Redmi Note 8 Pro: Hands-on with Xiaomi's first 64MP phone android os

Xiaomi's latest budget phone has four cameras at the back and a chipset that's optimized for gaming.

The story of the Redmi Note series has been one of continual evolution. Every new model in the last two years brought enticing new updates while retaining the same great value. The Redmi Note 7 Pro that launched just seven months ago was particularly interesting as it had a 48MP Sony IMX586 sensor. And while that device is still going strong — the series picked up 20 million sales — the Redmi Note 8 Pro trounces it.

The Redmi Note 8 Pro is a revolutionary upgrade that offers a smorgasbord of new features. The highlight is obviously the camera: the phone is Xiaomi's first with a 64MP sensor, with the manufacturer teaming up with Samsung for the GW1 imaging module. But there are changes elsewhere — there's a MediaTek Helio G90T powering the device instead of the usual Qualcomm mid-range chipset, and the battery size has been increased to 4500mAh.

Let's start with the design: the Redmi Note 7 Pro had a glass back, and Xiaomi is building on that theme by adding attractive color options. All three available colors — Mineral Grey, Pearl White, and Forest Green — look fantastic, with the green, in particular, standing out. The phone has rounded edges and subtle curves at the back that gives it a better in-hand feel.

There's a traditional fingerprint sensor located at the back, and it sits just below the camera housing. The way it is built into the oblong camera array allows the module to blend seamlessly into the design at the back, and although the sensor area is 30% smaller, it's just as easy to access.

Xiaomi went with a 6.53-inch IPS LCD FHD+ panel on the Redmi Note 8 Pro, and like earlier models, the screen seems perfectly serviceable. You get the usual set of options to customize the color balance and tune the display to your liking, and there's a blue light filter and other features that are standard across MIUI.

IP52 rating, NFC, a Helio G90T chipset that's tuned for gaming, 64MP camera, and 4500mAh battery. All for under $225.

Oh, and for the first time for a Redmi phone, Xiaomi is offering IP52 resistance. Earlier models in the Redmi series had P2i coating but no official IP rating, so this is a welcome move considering how much the phone costs. IP52 should be good for protection against rain and sweat, making the Redmi Note 8 Pro just that little bit more durable. The device also has liquid cooling that lowers the temperature by up to six degrees, allowing you to play without having to worry about throttling or overheating issues.

That's where the Helio G90T comes to the fore. MediaTek's first gaming-focused chipset has a combination of Cortex A76 and A55 cores, and the performance is on par with that of the Snapdragon 730. That's a big deal as MediaTek hasn't really offered a decent alternative to Qualcomm in the mid-range. Xiaomi is also adding features that let you leverage the full gaming potential: you'll be able to bridge your 4G and Wi-Fi connections, and there's Game Turbo 2.0.

Another big addition is NFC, which will be a welcome addition once the device hits global markets. The Redmi Note 8 Pro comes with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage in the base version, and you can also get the device with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. All variants have LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.1 storage modules, and there is a MicroSD slot as well. The phone a single speaker at the bottom that's particularly loud, with Xiaomi noting that it is able to blow a candle with the intensity of the air coming out of the grille. Make of that what you will.

The phone comes with a 4500mAh battery, and while it's powered by a MediaTek chipset, Xiaomi has licensed Quick Charge 4.0+ and USB PD, enabling fast charging at 18W.

Two different Chinese brands have launched phones with identical quad-camera arrays in the same week.

The Redmi Note 8 Pro features a 64MP primary camera that's joined by an 8MP wide-angle lens, 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP sensor for portrait shots. If that sounds familiar, that's because it is the same camera configuration as the Realme XT that was announced just two days ago. It's far too coincidental to assume that two brands could come up with the same camera hardware at the same time.

That said, both phones having identical camera hardware makes it easier to pick a winner. Realme, in particular, has been dominating with its camera tuning, with both the Realme 3 Pro and Realme X offering the best cameras in the budget and mid-range segments. I'll have more on how the 64MP camera fares on the Redmi Note 8 Pro and the Realme XT in the coming weeks, but it is interesting just how close both brands are in this particular category.

There wasn't a single mention of MIUI in the two-and-a-half-hour presentation for the Redmi Note 8 series, and the Note 8 Pro is running MIUI 10 based on Pie. There's nothing new in the way of features, so if you've used a device based on MIUI 10, you should be immediately familiar with the software on the Redmi Note 8 Pro. The phone is now on sale in China for just $205, with the 8GB/128GB edition available for $265.

Ultimately, the Redmi Note 8 Pro has enough features that it is the obvious upgrade if you're switching from an older Redmi device. It will be two months before the phone makes its way to other markets, however, so there is a long wait before you can get your hands on it in India or other global regions. What I can tell you right now is that it's worth the wait.



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Tech Firms Struggle to Police Content While Avoiding Bias *APP_NEWS*

For Facebook, Google, Twitter and others, it's a no-win whipsaw, amplified by a drumbeat of accusations.

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Digital Tax Deal in Works but Key Questions 'Outstanding': OECD *APP_NEWS*

For Pascal Saint-Amans, progress is being made but several key issues still need to be hammered out.

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Google Pay Set to Tap Into 12 Million Kirana Stores in India *APP_NEWS*

Google Pay which reported 55 million monthly active users in India in May has set eyes on tapping over 12 million ubiquitous kirana stores.

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Google Assistant Now Lets You Choose Family Members Through the Google App for Easier Interactions *APP_NEWS*

Google has quietly rolled out a small improvement to change the way you can set up family members, now letting you define family relationships through the app.

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Google Hire Online Job Service to Shut Down in 2020 *APP_NEWS*

Google will shut down its job application tracking system "Google Hire" that was launched just two years ago, the company said in a statement.

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Facebook Working on New App to Rival Snapchat, Called Threads: Report *APP_NEWS*

In a fresh assault on Snapchat, Facebook is reportedly developing a new messaging app called Threads.

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Thursday, August 29, 2019

Honor 20S to Launch on September 4, Teaser Poster Reveals Design Details

Honor 20S is seen to sport triple rear cameras aligned vertically, a gradient panel finish, and no rear fingerprint sensor is in sight on the rear panel.

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CamScanner App With Over 100 Million Downloads Removed From Google Play Store Over Advertising Malware *APP_NEWS*

Google Play Store has removed the CamScanner OCR app after Kaspersky researchers discovered malware in the app’s recent versions.

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Fitbit Versa 2 With Amazon Alexa, Fitbit Premium Subscription Launched

Fitbit on Wednesday launched its latest smartwatch, Versa 2, adding Amazon.com's voice assistant Alexa.

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CamScanner App Booted From Google Play After Malware Discovery

Google Play Store has removed the CamScanner OCR app after Kaspersky researchers discovered malware in the app's recent versions.

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How Joker Director Sold Actor, Studio on His Vision for DC Villain

Joker director Todd Phillips had a tough one year selling his mature take on the iconic DC Comics villain to Warner Bros. It also took him several months to convince Joaquin Phoenix to play the role.

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Huawei Said to Plan High-End Phone Launch Under Cloud of Google Ban

Huawei is set to unveil its new Mate 30 line of phones in September in Munich, according to a source familiar with the matter.

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Facebook Acknowledges Flaw in Messenger Kids App

Facebook acknowledged a flaw in its Messenger Kids app, weeks after two US senators raised privacy concerns about the application.

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Apple Apologises Over Siri Privacy and Will No Longer Retain Audio Recordings

Apple apologised for privacy mishaps surrounding its Siri voice assistant and said that it would no longer retain audio recordings of Siri interactions.

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Facebook Acknowledges Flaw in Messenger Kids App *APP_NEWS*

Facebook acknowledged a flaw in its Messenger Kids app, weeks after two US senators raised privacy concerns about the application.

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Apple Apologises Over Siri Privacy and Will No Longer Retain Audio Recordings *APP_NEWS*

Apple apologised for privacy mishaps surrounding its Siri voice assistant and said that it would no longer retain audio recordings of Siri interactions.

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Redmi Note 8 Series, Redmi TV, RedmiBook 14 Refresh Set to Launch Today

Xiaomi is all set to launch its Redmi Note 8 series, Redmi TV, and refreshed RedmiBook 14 laptop today in China.

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Fortnite v10.20 Update Brings a Borderlands 3 Crossover Called FortniteXMayhem *APP_NEWS*

Fortnite is getting a Borderlands 3 crossover with the v10.20 update. 

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PUBG Mobile: IT Ministry Says a Ban Is Difficult, but Is There a Better Way of Dealing With Challenges That Games Present? *APP_NEWS*

During a hearing this month, MeitY informed Bombay High Court that it is technically difficult to ban the game from all the sources unless the creator withdraws the game from circulation or puts some restrictions.

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US, France Reach Agreement on Digital Taxes *APP_NEWS*

Macron admitted that there had been "a lot of nervousness" about France's new tax on tech behemoths such as Google and Facebook.

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Uber Unveils 24x7 Safety Helpline in India, for 'Urgent, Non-Emergency Issues' *APP_NEWS*

This new Uber feature is in addition to the in-app SOS button already available in the safety toolkit.

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Truecaller Crosses 1 Million Paying Subscribers Globally *APP_NEWS*

Truecaller on Tuesday announced that it has crossed one million paying subscribers globally and has added a series of new features to its paid subscription service, Truecaller Premium.

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Google Calendar Spam: How to Stop Being Bombarded by Unwanted Calendar Invites *APP_NEWS*

Google Calendar spam invites could be filled with malicious links, and clicking on them may lead to a potential theft of private data.

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NRAI Goes After 'Deep Discounts' in Delivery Services *APP_NEWS*

National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) has now asked delivery platforms to do away with deep discounts while addressing other issues.

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Mario Kart Tour Release Date Set for September 25, Will Be Available for Android and iOS *APP_NEWS*

Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour mobile game will finally be released for compatible Android and iOS devices on September 25 globally.

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Snapchat's Landmarkers Feature Enters India, Lens Studio 2.1 Released With New Templates *APP_NEWS*

Snapchat received the Landmarkers feature back in April, but it's now expanded to two Indian monuments. Snap has also brought Lens Studio 2.1 to let Lens creators build new AR experiences.

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WhatsApp for iPhone Latest Beta Brings Memoji Stickers Support, ‘WhatsApp From Facebook’ Branding *APP_NEWS*

WhatsApp for iPhone latest beta version 2.19.90.23 brings Memoji Stickers support for users testing the app.

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What are the differences between Visible and Boost Mobile? android os

Max data, domestically

Visible

From $40/mo. at Visible

Pros

  • Unlimited talk, text, and data
  • Unlimited hotspot (5Mbps)
  • Bigger Verizon LTE network

Cons

  • No Canada or Mexico option
  • No international roaming

Visible offers a simple plan with unlimited talk, text, and data in the U.S. With Verizon's robust network providing the backbone, you'll be able to confidently stay connected even on the move. However, you might have some issues internationally.

Max data, even in Mexico

Boost Mobile

From $35/mo. at Boost Mobile

Pros

  • Mexico service
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • Save with more lines

Cons

  • Smaller hotspot
  • More expensive for unlimited
  • Smaller Sprint LTE network

Making use of Sprint's LTE network, Boost mobile offers a lot of data at a great price. If you're covered, this can be a great network. Boost is also a much stronger option for customers that may want to call or travel to Mexico.

Visible offers the strongest overall package between the two, with a stronger domestic network and a simple pricing structure that makes it a great fit for most people. Boost offers more internantional service specializing in Mexico with one of the best offerings for people that often travel between the two countries.

Domestic vs. International coverage

Comparing these two providers is going to always come back to coverage. Boost Mobile uses Sprint's LTE network and Visible uses Verizon's LTE network. Your choice between Visible and Boost Mobile could just come down to where you're located.

There are a few other things you might need to know. For one, a lot of Sprint customers might not realize just how much of Sprint's coverage map is made up of LTE roaming. This LTE roaming looks and acts almost exactly like Sprint's own network, so this wouldn't even be obvious unless you were keeping a close eye on it. Boost doesn't get to take advantage of this roaming. It's paramount that your double check your coverage even if you already know you have good Sprint service.

Visible rules this category even though it is similarly unable to access roaming networks. The main difference is that the Verizon LTE network is more complete than Sprint's, so it has a much larger coverage area. This is going to be important for people that travel within the U.S.

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The tables are turned for international coverage where Visible, true to its simple nature, doesn't have any coverage. Not even an add-on. This makes sense since Verizon works best in the U.S. and can often be expensive or impossible to use internationally.

Boost has a plan that allows 8GB of data in Mexico as well as the ability to call international numbers at a per minute rate or as part of an add-on.

How do they compare?

Visible Boost Mobile
Network Verizon Sprint
Talk and text Unlimited Unlimited
Data 3GB to Unlimited Unlimited
International calling None Yes
Hotspot Included (5Mbps) Available
Starting price $40/mo. $35/mo.
BYOD Yes (check phones) Yes (check phones)

Boost Mobile's plans

Boost Mobile plans start at just $35 per month for 3GB of data and unlimited calling and texting. This can be upgraded to unlimited data with more speed and features going up. Unlimited starts at $50 per month, but with two lines it's only $80 or $40 per line. Actually, one of Boost Mobile's biggest strengths is that you can save more money with more lines on your plan.

3 Gigs Unlimited Gigs Unlimited Plus Ultimate Unlimited
Talk and Text Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited
Tidal service 6 months 6 months 6 months 6 months
Hotspot uses data 12GB 30GB 50GB
Video quality SD SD HD HD
Price 1 Line $35 $50 $60 $80
Lines 2-5 $60, $90, $120, $150 $80, $110, $140, $170 $100, $140, $180, $220 $140. $200, $260, $320

HD video streaming can be added to the plans without it for $10 per month, though this won't be worth it to many people since using Wi-Fi will also result in HD videos. Boost also offers device insurance to give you replacement options if your device is damaged, lost, or stolen. There would be a deductible of $20, $50, $100, or $150 depending on the device in question.

Visible's only plan

Visible has only one plan and it's unlimited. Visible's plan includes unlimited talk, text, and LTE data on the Verizon network. At $40 per month this is a really good value and can only really be compared to Boost at more than one line.

Thanks to the simplicity of this plan and the strength of the underlying Verizon LTE network, knowing if this is the right plan for you is very straightforward. If you need a lot of data and don't need to call or travel outside of the US the Visible will work well for you.

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If you get your phone through Visible, you can sign up for an insurance program called Visible Protect for $10 or $12 per month. Cracked iPhone screens are repaired for $29 and Android screens are $99. You can also get your device replaced for more serious damage or loss. You can see the deductibles here. Finally, device failure is covered for no cost.

What phones are available?

Each carrier offers device sales as well as a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program. Both carriers are a bit restricted in compatible phones but you can check your device IMEI for compatibility online and Boost even has a process for activating Sprint phones.

Both carriers' phones trend towards mid to low range devices such as the Visible R2 but they also have some high-end offering such as the iPhone XS. For Android, Visible offers the entire Pixel 3 series of phones and Boost offers up to the Galaxy S10e.

For either carrier you should be able to find something that suits you.

Which should you get?

Boost Mobile definitely has some features that Visible cannot match such as international calling and service in Mexico. Boost also offers upgrades to customize your plan to suit each person a little more. If you need that international service, there really is no competition.

The fact of the matter is that most Americans will be fine with service in the U.S. only. Not to mention that apps like Facebook or Line offer free calls if your use their apps over Wi-Fi. If that is you then Visible offers the most compelling package with better U.S. coverage and far simpler plan that lets you forget about minutes and megabytes altogether since you know your bill won't change.

Max data, domestically

Visible

Max data, domestically

From $40/mo. at Visible

Visible is as simple as possible. It offers good speeds for browsing and streaming and no surprise fees, accessing Verizon's LTE coverage with no contract.

Max data, even in Mexico

Boost Mobile

Sign up more lines to save

From $35/mo. at Boost Mobile

If you call or travel to Mexico, Boost is one of the best options. With a ton of flexibility and saving for multiple lines, it is a great value.



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Everything you get in the Borderlands 3 Collector's Edition android os

Best answer: With the Collector's Edition you get everything in the Super Deluxe Version, like the weapon packs and Season Pass, alongside a Diamond Loot Chest Replic, ten Borderlands 3 character figures, four Vault Key keychains, a cloth map of the galaxy, lithographs for five major characters and even a snap model of Sanctuary 3. Unfortunately, it's sold out and unless you're going to scour a third-party site like eBay, it'll be impossible to get ahold of. For the hardcore, the next best thing will be to grab the Super Deluxe Edition.

What's in the box?

Anything and everything a Borderlands fan could want has been packed into the Borderlands 3 Collector's Edition. It was listed exclusively at GameStop for $250 and is packed with tons of stuff to make that price tag worth it.

Deluxe bonus content pack

  • Retro Cosmetic Pack
  • Neon Cosmetic Pack
  • Gearbox Cosmetic Pack
  • Toy Box Weapon Pack
  • XP & loot drop boost mods

Season Pass

  • Four campaign DLC packs featuring new stories, missions, and challenges
  • Butt Stallion weapon skin
  • Butt Stallion weapon trinket
  • Butt Stallion grenade mod

Collector's Edition exclusive content

  • Diamond Loot Chest Replica
  • 10 Borderlands 3 character figurines
  • Sanctuary 3 snap model
  • Four Vault Key keychains
  • Cloth galaxy map
  • Five Character art lithographs

Basically you get everything that comes with the Super Deluxe Edition plus some exclusive content. There is one strange omission from this massive box, as it appears that the Steelbook in the Super Deluxe Edition isn't actually included in the Collector's Edition. If it is, it's not listed as one of the included items. We don't yet know what the Steelbook will look like but Steelbooks are often sought by collectors as an alternative form of physical media packaging, with different, unique designs compared to the standard box art.

One unfortunate thing

The Collector's Edition was available exclusively at GameStop but, unfortunately, as of this writing it's sold out. It's also unlikely to get restocked.

While you can always go to a third-party website like eBay, be prepared: you'll likely be forced to pay an exhorbitant price for it. It's probably going to be better to simply grab one of the other three editions of Borderlands 3. As we mentioned, the Super Deluxe Edition is the closest you'll get to the Collector's Edition.

For the hardcore fan

Borderlands 3 Super Deluxe Edition

$100 at Amazon

Full mayhem

The Borderlands 3 Super Deluxe Edition comes with everything featured in the Deluxe Edition, alongside a Season Pass and Butt Stallion skins, all in a Steelbook. It's the closest you'll get to the Collector's Edition.

Not going out of stock

Borderlands 3

$60 at Amazon

Prepare for the fight of the galaxy

Pick your new favorite Vault Hunter and get ready to save multiple worlds this time in Borderlands 3. There are pre-order bonuses, but no special edition extras.

Few bonuses

Borderlands 3 Deluxe Edition

$80 at Amazon

Extra mayhem

The Borderlands 3 Deluxe Edition comes with several special weapon packs, with skins and more for Vault Hunters to enjoy.



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Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Samsung Galaxy M30s Renders Leaked, Galaxy A70s Spotted on Wi-Fi Alliance

Samsung Galaxy M30s case renders suggest triple rear camera setup at the back, and a rear fingerprint sensor as well.

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Thor: Ragnarok Director Taika Waititi Said to Join The Suicide Squad

Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi is reportedly in talks to join the cast of The Suicide Squad, writer-director James Gunn's soft reboot / sequel to the original DC Comics film.

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Realme XT First Impressions

Realme continues its aggressive product launch streak with the new Realme XT, which boasts of being the world's first phone with a 64-megapixel camera

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Microsoft Hosting an Event on October 2, New Surface Devices Expected

Microsoft has sent out invites for a press event in October where the company is expected to be talking about its next Surface-branded devices.

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Realme XT hands-on preview: Kicking off the 64MP wars android os

Realme's latest mid-range phone is the first in the world to feature Samsung's 64MP GW1 imaging sensor.

Realme is on a roll. The brand has launched twelve phones in the last fifteen months, managing to steal market share away from Xiaomi. The BBK-owned brand shares a lot of the same values as Xiaomi, and it has paid off: Realme now has a market share of 9% in India, and it has all the momentum in the budget space.

Realme unveiled its quad camera-toting Realme 5 series last week, with the Realme 5 Pro bringing Sony's stellar 48MP IMX586 imaging module to the budget category. It's now following up with the Realme XT, the first phone to feature a 64MP camera.

There's a reason why the Realme XT is launching right on the heels of the Realme 5 series: Xiaomi is set to unveil its Redmi Note 8 series in China later this week, and by launching ahead of its Chinese rival, Realme can stake claim to the first 64MP phone. Xiaomi did the same earlier this month when it pre-empted Realme's announcement of the 64MP module by a day, so Realme sees the XT as retaliation.

As for the device itself, the Realme XT is being touted as a variant of the Realme X with a high-res camera. The brand says it will continue to sell the Realme X alongside the XT, and it's easy to see why: the Realme X debuted just a month ago, and it offers incredible value for ₹16,999 ($240).

The Realme XT has a glass back, with Gorilla Glass 5 covering both front and back panels.

The Realme XT is also going to offer the same great value, and while there's no confirmation around how much it costs, it's likely the device will retail at under ₹20,000 ($285). The 64MP camera is obviously the highlight of the phone, but there's a lot to like in other areas as well. The Realme XT features a 6.4-inch AMOLED panel with an FHD+ resolution, and unlike the Realme X — which has a retractable camera — there's a waterdrop cutout for the front camera module.

But the significant change on the design side of things is the glass back. The Realme XT has a glass back that has a gradient pattern not unlike that of the P30 Pro. The phone is sold in two color options — Pearl White and Pearl Blue — and it has a layer of Gorilla Glass 5 covering both the front and back glass panels. The switch to a glass back immediately makes the Realme XT stand out from its predecessor, and it gives the device a more upmarket look. The gradient effect doesn't hurt either.

The phone charges over USB-C, and you get a 3.5mm jack. The power button is on the right and has a yellow accent, with the volume rocker on the right. The SIM card tray sits above the volume rocker, and it lets you slot two SIM cards in addition to a MicroSD card.

The AMOLED panel itself is unchanged from the Realme X, and that means you're getting one of the best screens in the sub-$300 segment. The phone has LPDDR4X RAM and a UFS 2.1 storage module, and will be sold in three configurations: a base variant with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, a model with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, and a high-end option with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.

Four cameras at the back, with a 64MP camera making its debut on a phone.

Under the hood, the Realme XT is powered by a Snapdragon 712, which is a modest refresh of the Snapdragon 710 in the Realme X. The Snapdragon 712 has two Cortex A75-derived cores at 2.3GHz and six A55-based cores at 1.7GHz.

The Realme XT has four cameras at the back: aside from the 64MP shooter, the rest of the sensors are the same as the Realme 5 Pro. There's an 8MP wide-angle lens with a 119-degree field of view, 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP shooter for portrait shots. Realme says user feedback motivated the switch from a zoom lens to a macro sensor, but the the 2MP module just doesn't feel up to the mark. At the front there's a 16MP Sony IMX471 sensor. Both the front and rear shooters have EIS, but there's no OIS.

Just from a first glance, it's easy to tell that Samsung's GW1 sensor has a lot of potential. Just like how the Sony IMX586 is ubiquitous in this space, we'll see brands switch to the GW1 sensor over the coming months.

Elsewhere, the Realme XT has a 4000mAH battery with VOOC 3.0 fast charging that goes up to 20W. The phone runs ColorOS 6 based on Android 9 Pie, and Realme's own customizations make the interface more modern.

Right now, that's all there is to the Realme XT. The phone is slated to debut in India sometime next month, but there's no mention of a launch date or how much it'll end up costing. The 64MP sensor is a welcome addition, but Realme is starting to crowd this segment with phones that are too similar in the features they offer. I'll have much more to share about the Realme XT once we're closer to launch, but in the meantime, share your thoughts about the phone in the comments below.



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New Pixel 4 leak shows off the large top bezel and square camera bump android os

Google is expected to launch the Pixel 4 series in the first week of October.

What you need to know

  • Clear real-world images of the upcoming Pixel 4 have surfaced online.
  • The images confirm the presence of a square camera bump on the back with two sensors.
  • Google's Pixel 4 will have a relative thick top bezel housing components for the face unlock feature as well as a Soli radar chip.

Last month, we got our first glimpse at the design of the Google Pixel 4 courtesy of OnLeaks, who shared CAD-based renders of the upcoming Pixel 4 series. New images of the Pixel 4 have now leaked online, giving us a clearer look at the phone. What is unclear, however, is if these images show the Pixel 4 or the larger Pixel 4 XL.

The two images, which were found on Telegram by the folks at XDA Developers, confirm Google's Pixel 4 series will not have the same two-tone back as the Pixel 3 series. Instead, the Pixel 4 series will have a shiny glass back with a single color finish. However, the phone will still have rounded corners like previous Pixel phones.

We can also see a square camera module on the back of the phone, housing two camera sensors and an LED flash. The Pixel 4 series is expected to have a 12MP primary camera sensor and a 16MP secondary telephoto lens for improved zoom capabilities.

On the front, we can see that the Pixel 4 has a bigger top bezel compared to nearly every other flagship Android smartphone released so far in 2019. As confirmed by Google, the top bezel on the Pixel 4 series phones will house several components, including a Soli radar chip for the advanced face unlock and Motion Sense features.

The Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL are rumored to feature Qualcomm's Snapdragon 855 chipset under the hood, paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage. They might also be the first Pixel phones to feature 90Hz refresh rate displays.

Get More Pixel 3a

Google Pixel 3a

Pixel 3a From $399 at Amazon Pixel 3a XL From $479 at Amazon



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Netflix Gives Martin Scorsese's The Irishman Brief Theatre Run

The Irishman will appear in select US theatres for 26 days before its global Netflix release on November 27, the company said.

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Himesh Patel Said to Join Christopher Nolan's Tenet, Ahead of Filming in India

Christopher Nolan's next movie Tenet has reportedly cast Himesh Patel (Yesterday) in an undisclosed role. Patel's casting comes just as Tenet prepares for its reported India filming schedule in...

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Redmi Note 8 Pro Full Specifications Leaked Ahead of Tomorrow's Launch

The table suggests that the Redmi Note 8 Pro will come with Android 9 Pie, Helio G90T SoC, up to 128GB storage, 4,500mAh battery, and weighs 199 grams.

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Oppo Set to Make India a Global Export Hub

Oppo that is currently producing close to 50 million units and aims to double the capacity to 100 million units by 2020 will make India a global export hub, Sumit Walia, Vice President, Product and...

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Realme to Launch New Q Series Phones in China on September 5

Realme has confirmed that an all-new Q-series of phones will debut on September 5 in China.

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Ex-Google Engineer Charged in in Self-Driving Trade Secrets Case

Anthony Levandowski, who worked for Google parent company Alphabet's Waymo unit, downloaded thousands of files from Waymo servers as he was leaving the company in 2015.

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BSNL's New Rs. 96, Rs. 236 Prepaid Plans Offer 10GB of Daily 4G Data: Report

BSNL has reportedly launched two new STVs – priced at Rs. 96 and Rs. 236. Both these plans offer huge data benefit of 10GB per day of 4G data.

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android os

The Note 10+ has a gorgeous new design and several hardware upgrades, but it also misses the mark in a few areas.

Samsung traditionally rolled out its latest features to the Note series, but that has changed in the last two generations as the manufacturer consolidated the design aesthetic and feature-set between its two flagships. The Galaxy S series introduced the exciting new features — such as the Infinity Display and new camera tech — while the Note device that followed included a few tweaks, a larger screen, and a stylus.

With the Note 9 in particular, it was clear that Samsung was positioning its stylus as the main differentiator between the Note series and the Galaxy S line, given the fact that the underlying hardware and the camera modules were unchanged between devices.

The Note 10+ builds on the same ideals as the S10+, but there are more substantial changes this time around. The cutout for the front camera is at the center of the screen, and the back has a gradient finish. Samsung has finally updated its charging standard, with the phone now offering 45W wired charging over USB PD. The screen is obviously larger — the Note 10+ is big in every sense of the word — and the stylus is back, picking up a few new features.

And for the first time on a Samsung flagship, there's no 3.5mm jack. The omission of the analog jack is a divisive move, but the industry has been going in that direction for several years now. Let's see if the Note 10+ is deserving of its hefty price tag.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10+

£1,000 at Samsung UK

All that refinement comes at a price.

The Note 10+ is a more refined version of the Galaxy S10+ with a larger battery, a more efficient chipset, 45W charging, and the S Pen. The gradient design is a welcome change, the centered cutout isn't as annoying anymore, the AMOLED panel is the best you'll find on any phone, and the performance is outstanding. The core experience is largely unchanged between both devices, but there isn't a 3.5mm jack anymore. At the end of the day, picking up the Note 10+ is based on how much you care about the stylus.

The Good

  • Stunning AMOLED display
  • 45W charging with all-day battery life
  • S Pen is a standout feature
  • Top-notch performance
  • Gorgeous design
  • Cutout isn't annoying anymore

The Bad

  • No headphone jack
  • Expensive
  • Unwieldy
  • Power button is on the left

About this review

I am writing this review after using the Exynos 9825 variant of the Galaxy Note 10+ for over a week in Hyderabad, India. The phone was connected to Airtel's 4G network for the duration of the review, and received a single update (N975FXXU1ASH5) containing the August 2019 security update.

Galaxy Note 10+: Hardware

Samsung hasn't altered its design aesthetic for a few generations, but the Note 10+ has a few notable additions. There's the gradient design at the back, which looks stunning. I'm using the Aura Glow option, and it has an iridescent effect that shifts colors wildly in various lighting conditions. Samsung has offered gradient designs on its A series devices this year, but the effect on the Note 10+ is on another level altogether. This is what Samsung needed to do on the design front to meet the likes of the P30 Pro and other Chinese flagships. If you don't care for the gradient design, you can always pick up the Aura White or Aura Black models.

The Note 10+ is marginally taller (0.4mm) and wider (0.6mm) than the Note 9, but more importantly, it is 0.9mm thinner and 5g lighter in spite of offering a larger 4,300 mAh battery. Samsung switched to a stacked layout for the mainboard this time around, allowing it to pack the internal components much more efficiently. Considering the Note 10+ comes with a 6.8-inch display that's 0.4 inches larger than the one on the Note 9, it is a pretty significant achievement.

Another commendable design feature is the bezels, or lack thereof. Samsung significantly trimmed the top and bottom bezels on the Note 10+, and when combined with the curved screen and massive 6.8-inch display, the Note 10+ is about as immersive as it gets. The Note 10+ still has a dual curved screen — with symmetrical curves at the back — and there's a metal mid-frame made out of stainless steel. Both the front and back glass panels are protected by Gorilla Glass 6, and like its predecessor, the Note 10+ is a fingerprint magnet.

The thin profile combined with the dual curved design looks stunning, but there isn't much to hold onto at the sides.

Because of the thinner design, there isn't a whole lot of the metal frame on the sides — it's now just a tiny sliver in between the two panes of glass, and Samsung actually had to cut into the curve at the back to accommodate the power and volume buttons. The thinner profile and wider design makes the Note 10+ one of the most unwieldy phones I've used to date.

There just isn't enough hold onto at the sides, and while the overall design is an engineering marvel, it isn't the most conducive for day-to-day usage. You will need to buy a case with this phone; thankfully, there's a clear case bundled in the box, and there are tons of great options available. Samsung also switched the layout of its buttons with the Note 10+, with the power button now located on the left, just below the volume rocker. That was where the Bixby button was last year, and I don't understand why Samsung decided to switch the position of the power button.

Virtually every other phone has the power button on the right, and I essentially had to ignore years of muscle memory and learn to use the button on the left to wake the screen. This is a phenomenally dumb move, and one that still irks me after using the phone for a week. There's no logical reason for Samsung to do this — it could have come up with a better alternative. But as we've seen often enough in the past, it chose to go with the easiest option available. Furthermore, the power button itself isn't nearly tactile enough and feels a bit wobbly at times, which is inexcusable for a phone that costs $1,100.

It was a phenomenally dumb move to get rid of the headphone jack and switch the power button to the left.

Rounding out the design, the USB-C port is at the bottom, with the primary speaker located next to it. Next to that is the housing for the S Pen, and up top you'll find the SIM card tray. A notable omission is the 3.5mm jack — Samsung has been the only major Android player left to still include a headphone jack in its flagship, but that run has now come to an end.

For what it's worth, you do get AKG buds in the box now come with a USB-C connector, and they sound identical to the ones bundled with the S10+. But you're out of luck if you want to use your wired audio gear, as there's no USB-C to 3.5mm dongle in the box.

The lack of a 3.5mm jack goes against the very ethos of the Note line — over the years, the Note series stood out because it was the default choice for power users, offering every single feature possible on a phone. But with the industry as a whole moving away from the 3.5mm jack, it was inevitable that Samsung would one day follow suit.

Four cameras at the back, IP68 dust and water resistance, and 15W wireless charging.

On the subject of change, Samsung also switched the position of the camera cutout, with the module now centered at the top of the display. This is a more welcome change as the cutout no longer interferes with the network or carrier status icons. The cutout means you don't get the same all-screen design as a phone with a pop-up module, but the overall design is a definite improvement over the S10+. At the back, Samsung has opted to stick with the same modules as the Galaxy S10+, but there is a fourth DepthVision sensor that's used for creating 3D models of objects. But more on that later.

Unlike the past few generations of Samsung flagships, the camera sensors are arranged vertically, and they're now located on the top left corner. The camera housing has a slight bump, but it doesn't make the device wobble when laid flat on a surface.

Samsung introduced an ultrasonic fingerprint reader on the S10+, and the Note 10+ features the same module. I didn't have any issues with authentication, but the module itself now sits slightly higher up than it did on the S10+, so it takes a few days to get acclimated to the new position. There's also software-based face unlock that worked just as well as the S10+.

Like the S10+, the Note 10+ features stereo sound, with the tiny grill at the top of the display housing the secondary speaker. There's also a hole next to the SIM card slot at the top of the device that emits sound, and the overall sound quality is fantastic. Other features that have allowed Samsung flagships to stand out over the years are back: there's IP68 dust and water resistance, and 15W wireless charging.

The best display you'll find on any phone today

Samsung continues to push the boundaries for display tech year after year. The company has managed to consistently roll out better panels with every generation, and it's effectively competing against itself at this point. As I said a few times over the last two years, Samsung is the undisputed king of the display market, and that's evident once you start using the Note 10+.

Year after year, Samsung continues to push the boundaries for display tech.

The Note 10+ features a massive 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED with a QHD+ resolution (3040 x 1440), leading to a pixel density of 498ppi. Colors are vibrant, the contrast levels are excellent, and you get HDR10+. In short, this is the best display on any phone today, and combined with the stereo speakers make the Note 10+ a fantastic device for consuming media on the go.

I didn't face any issues with sunlight visibility either. The panel on the Note 10+ gets sufficiently bright in auto mode that it wasn't a problem reading the contents on the screen under harsh sunlight. Furthermore, I don't mind the fact that the display is limited to 60fps. I'd take a higher-quality panel over 90Hz refresh rate any day, and as good as the display is on the OnePlus 7 Pro, you don't get to take advantage of the high refresh rate in most games.

Exynos 9825 is a step in the right direction

With the Note 10+, Samsung has switched to a 7nm chipset for the first time. The Exynos 9820 that was featured in the Galaxy S10+ was on an 8nm node, and while the Exynos 9825 has the same underlying architecture and core arrangement, the node shift to 7nm results in better energy efficiency.

As a refresher, the Exynos 9825 has the same tri-cluster core configuration as its predecessor: there are two Samsung-made custom M4 cores clocked at 2.73GHz that do the heavy lifting, backed by two Cortex A75 cores at 2.4GHz and four energy-efficient Cortex A55 cores that go up to 1.9GHz. Overall, the shift to a 7nm node is a welcome move. Samsung was the outlier in that it was the only foundry to roll out an 8nm chipset, with Qualcomm and HiSilicon switching to 7nm for their flagship designs for 2019. With Samsung also making the switch, all three major mobile chipsets are on the same node.

With 12GB of RAM and a more energy-efficient 7nm Exynos 9825, you're not going to see any slowdowns.

There weren't any performance issues on the Exynos 9820, and that's true of the Exynos 9825 as well. The M4 core in particular provides the best single-core performance you'll find on Android today, but in multi-core tests the Exynos 9825 loses out to the likes of the Snapdragon 855.

The result is that the Note 10+ is just as fast as other flagships like the P30 Pro, and the UI in particular has come a long way in the last 18 months. Sure, Samsung likes to stuff the interface full of features you're not going to end up using, but at least it's very well optimized.

I didn't see any slowdowns whatsoever in the week I used the Note 10+, and while Samsung flagships in the past had a tendency to slow down after a few months of use, that is no longer the case. The Note 9 held up just fine after three months of usage, and it's still a solid option today. Same goes for the Galaxy S10+. Cellular connectivity was also stellar, and I had no issues receiving or making calls. The Note 10+ also had zero issues with Wi-Fi connectivity, and it is only the second phone to come with a Wi-Fi ax modem, making it future-proof.

With the Note 10, Samsung is also offering two sizes for the first time. The Note 10 the default option if you're looking for a more compact device, but it has an FHD+ panel, just 8GB of RAM and misses out on the MicroSD slot. The Note 10+, meanwhile, comes with 12GB of RAM, a stunning QHD+ AMOLED display, and a MicroSD slot. While the Note 10 is a better device from a usability point of view, you're getting much better hardware on the Note 10+.

All-day battery life with 45W charging

In addition to switching to a more efficient node, Samsung slotted a larger 4,300 mAh battery in the Note 10+. The last two generations of Exynos-based Samsung flagships had sub-par battery life, and although the Note 9 managed to last a day most of the time, it wasn't on par with its rivals. The Galaxy S10+ fared even worse than the Note 9 even though it had a 4,100 mAh battery.

That's why it's great to see Samsung address these issues with the Note 10+. The larger battery and the node shift to 7nm allow the Note 10+ to deliver all-day battery life without breaking a sweat, and there wasn't a single instance where I had to enable battery saver or worry about the battery running out before the end of the day.

I'm no longer worried about the battery running out before the end of the day, and 45W charging is a welcome addition.

I routinely got over seven hours of screen-on-time spread out over the course of a day. Even on days when I primarily relied on cellular connectivity, the Note 10+ managed to make it through to 11pm with a 15% charge left over. Sure, the battery life isn't on the same level as what you'd get on the P30 Pro, but it is a big improvement from the likes of the Note 9 and S10+.

After stubbornly sticking to 15W fast charging while the rest of the industry has moved on to 50W speeds, Samsung is finally making much-needed changes in this area. The Note 10+ can charge at up to 45W over USB PD, with the charger bundled in the box going up to 25W. The 25W charger is still decent enough to charge the battery from flat to 100% in just over 90 minutes, with a 30-minute charge resulting in a 60% charge.

The Note 10+ also has 15W wireless charging, and the PowerShare feature that debuted on the Galaxy S10+ is back, allowing you to charge other devices — like Samsung's Galaxy Buds and the Watch Active — wirelessly.

S Pen picks up a few new tricks

The S Pen is the standout feature on the Note 10+, and it hasn't lost any of its allure. You still get the ability to doodle on the screen, select a portion of the screen to take a screenshot, and create live messages with various effects, and there's now a new feature called AR Doodle. It basically lets you draw animations on your selfies, and it works with videos shot using the front camera as well. It does a decent job of it too, but I doubt anyone will end up using it more than once.

Air actions is another new feature that lets you assign actions to the stylus' button. You can set it to launch the camera, or select a particular action when you're in an app. For instance, if you're in the gallery, you can use gestures to navigate between photos, or assign the single and double press buttons to show more information about a photo. It is pretty nifty, and highly configurable.

Like last year, you can use the stylus as a remote shutter button, and this is what I ended up using most of the time. I also liked the handwriting recognition feature: it worked astonishingly well, and it was able to transcribe my notes, and do so accurately. All you need to do is jot down a note with the S Pen, and tap anywhere on the handwritten portion for the feature to automatically convert it to text.

Galaxy Note 10+: Camera

When it comes to the camera side of things, little has changed from the Galaxy S10+. Samsung is using the same three sensors, but there's a new DepthVision module for creating 3D scans of objects. There's a 12MP primary camera joined by a 16MP wide-angle lens with 123-degree field of view, and a 12MP telephoto lens with 3x zoom. And aside from better stabilization for videos, the final image quality is largely unchanged from the S10+.

The Note 10+ takes stunning photos in most lighting conditions, but it isn't quite on the same level as the Pixel 3 or the P30 Pro. But the wide-angle and zoom lens continue to be standout additions, and make the camera that much more versatile. Live Focus also does a great job with background blur, and the 10MP front camera takes decent selfies.

It's clear that Samsung is saving its camera innovations for next year's Galaxy S11 series, and that puts the Note 10+ at a disadvantage. Huawei is set to roll out the Mate 30 series later this year, and Google is similarly set to launch the Pixel 4. The Note 10+ isn't as good as current-gen flagships from Google and Huawei, and that gulf will only get wider once we see what either brand has to offer later in the year.

Galaxy Note 10+: Software

Samsung overhauled its software skin last year, with One UI offering a more modern aesthetic with white interface elements and blue accent colors. The Note 10+ is running One UI 1.5 based on Android 9.0 Pie, and it is on the latest security update.

One UI is not laggy anymore, and you get more features than you'll end up using.

Usability is a major area of focus with One UI, with interface elements sliding down to make it easier to access menus one-handed. This is evident in the notification shade: it slides all the way to the bottom of the screen, allowing you to reach the toggles without having to maneuver too much.

While Samsung has polished the user interface, it continues to offer more features than you'll end up using. There honestly is a lot going on here, and it usually takes an hour during initial configuration to set things up the way you want. I like the level of customization on offer, but Samsung doesn't necessarily make it easy to just get started with the phone. In this regard, I like OxygenOS better.

Samsung Pay continues to be a delight to use, and while the feature hasn't necessarily picked up any updates in a while, it excels at mobile payments.

Galaxy Note 10+: Bottom line

The Note series has always been about zero compromise, but that's no longer the case with the Note 10+. The lack of a 3.5mm jack is going to be a deal-breaker for a subset of the community, but if you're willing to look past that, there's a lot to like here.

The display is once again the best on any phone today, and Exynos 9825 can hold its own against the best that Qualcomm and Huawei has to offer. The 4,300 mAh battery finally delivers decent battery life, and the switch to 45W wired charging is a welcome move.

With 12GB of RAM, 256GB of UFS 3.0 storage, that stunning HDR10+ panel with stereo sound and a bezel-less design that is cutting-edge, the Note 10+ should easily last a few years without any issues. The only point of worry is around the camera: Huawei and other Chinese brands are pushing the boundary for camera tech, and it feels like Samsung is languishing in this area. Don't get me wrong; the Note 10+ has a great camera that takes incredible photos, but it isn't the best out there. And that isn't what you'd want from a phone that costs over $1,100.

To sum it up, there's a lot to like in the Note 10+, but it does feel like Samsung's hasn't done enough — particularly on the camera front — to make the phone stand out from what Google and Huawei have to offer.

4 out of 5

There are plenty of other options if you want a flagship phone in 2019. The Galaxy S10+ is still going strong, and is a great alternative to the Note 10+ if you don't care about the stylus. Then there's the Huawei P30 Pro — it is available in most markets where Samsung sells the Exynos Note 10+, and it costs several hundred dollars less while offering a better camera and two-day battery life.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10+

£1,000 at Samsung UK

All that refinement comes at a price.

The Note 10+ is a more refined version of the Galaxy S10+ with a larger battery, a more efficient chipset, 45W charging, and the S Pen. The gradient design is a welcome change, the centered cutout isn't as annoying anymore, the AMOLED panel is the best you'll find on any phone, and the performance is outstanding. The core experience is largely unchanged between both devices, but there isn't a 3.5mm jack anymore. At the end of the day, picking up the Note 10+ is based on how much you care about the stylus.



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