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Thursday, October 31, 2019

Apple Posts Record Quarterly Revenue in India as Mac Sales Rise

Apple revealed that it established new Q4 earnings record in India and several other markets, including the US, Brazil, and various South-East Asian countries. With the stellar Q4 showing, Apple seems...

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Twitter to Ban Political Ads in Apparent Swipe at Facebook

Twitter and rival Facebook face growing pressure to stop carrying ads that spread false information that could steer elections.

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Here's everything you need to know about T-Mobile 5G android os

Can T-Mobile take the lead in 5G?

T-Mobile has one of the most ambitious 5G plans of any carrier out there. T-Mobile is banking on a merger with Sprint to complete its full 5G network but hasn't shied away from getting a head start. With new 5G spots in six cities across the U.S. as well as the promise of a nationwide 600Mhz network to come, it's time to start thinking about whether you should consider T-Mobile's 5G network. Here's everything you need to know about this network so you can make that decision with confidence.

The 5G Galaxy

Samsung Galaxy S10 5G

From $32/mo. at T-Mobile

Fast, smooth, and cutting edge

One of the most complete feeling flagship phones only gets better with 5G support and a massive battery. With a great display and cameras, this phone is the perfect tool for anyone that gets things done on the go.

When will my area even get 5G?

Low-band 5G at 600Mhz will be available to 200 million people by the end of the year according to an announcement from T-Mobile. While it remains to be seen just how fast this low-band network will be, the extra coverage available at this frequency will allow T-Mobile to cover many more people with fewer towers. It's worth noting that the only phone currently announced to take advantage od this low-band network is the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren which should be available later this year.

T-Mobile is still building a high-band 5G network in a few cities. The network is off to a strong start with a list of six cities and surprisingly detailed maps. With some coverage in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Dallas, Cleveland, and Atlanta, the number of cities is high compared to other carriers but the actual 5G coverage is still quite low. Some highlighted areas with consistent coverage only encompass a few neighborhoods and many only have it a street intersection.

This deployment is reassuringly honest but it does exemplify the difficulty of deploying high-band 5G in a city.

High-band 5G coverage available now on T-Mobile.

Most of us will need to wait for low-band to be deployed to see 5G daily. There's also the consideration that Sprint is deploying its 5G network on the mid-band at 2.5Ghz. With potential offerings at high-band, mid-band, and low-band, T-Mobile really seems set to be the king of 5G very soon.

Which devices should I get to be 5G ready?

The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G is the only 5G device currently available on T-Mobile. The Galaxy S10 5G is a larger version of the S10+ with a larger battery and display alongside a 5G modem.

Unless you have to buy a phone right now, it would be best to wait for the second wave of 5G devices from T-Mobile starting with the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren. This gorgeous phone will be the most fully-featured 5G device on T-Mobile and will be able to take full advantage of T-Mobile's 600Mhz network.

Best 5G Phones in 2019

Should you buy a 5G phone in 2019?

Samsung Galaxy S10 5G vs. LG V50: Which should you buy?

Which plan do I need for access?

T-Mobile is allowing anyone with a compatible device to access its 5G network. It's important to note that using 5G will likely lead to increased data usage so a plan with plenty of data is recommended. Still, T-Mobile continues to stand out from the crowd in a great way with this 5G approach. And really, it doesn't make sense from a technical perspective to charge more for 5G access.

What tech is T-Mobile using?

T-Mobile started with high-band 5G on a 28Ghz band. With this network, T-Mobile should be competitive with what Verizon and AT&T have been doing once the network has more time to mature. This high-band deployment should be capable of very high speeds but building penetration and coverage is much more limited than we're used to with 4G.

Recently however, T-Mobile has announced plans to deploy a 5G network using it's low-band 600Mhz spectrum through the end of 2019. T-Mobile states that this network should cover more than 200 million people. That would make it the first nationwide 5G network if T-Mobile can pull it off. This deployment should sound familiar to 5G enthusiasts since U.S. Cellular announced similar plans this October.

5G in the U.S.: How each carrier will deploy 5G on phones

Is 5G dangerous or is it safe?

Does 5G use more battery than LTE?

What is 5G Technology?

What's the deal with Sprint and does it matter?

There's another piece of the 5G puzzle that still needs to be placed, and it's yellow. Sprint invested big in sub-6, or mid-band, spectrum early on and has partially used it to drive high LTE speeds thanks to carrier aggregation. Recently, Sprint has been making use of this spectrum to build a 5G network. While speeds aren't as high as high-band 5G networks, it has much better coverage and building penetration.

When and if Sprint and T-Mobile are able to join forces (and it's looking likely), both networks will be able to make free use of this combined 5G network, giving customers access to one of the most technically advanced and widest-reaching networks nationwide. We'll just have to wait and see if it becomes a reality.

Is 5G worth it for most people?

On T-Mobile, it really comes down to if you want the phone because there is no current separation of plans. The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G is quite a good phone with everything you would expect from a modern flagship device. If you just want the advanced speed and improved connection consistency of 5G, the Galaxy S10 5G is a strong phone and T-Mobile has even demonstrated speeds over 1Gbps on it. We've seen similar results on the same phone on another network as well.

However, it's also the only current choice on T-Mobile and won't be as functional as the second wave of 5G devices thanks to its older X50 modem. If this large and expensive device isn't to your taste then you should hold off until a device with a better fit becomes available. 4G LTE will be more than enough for the needs of most users at this time.

It's OK not to be hyped about 5G

The 5G Galaxy

Samsung Galaxy S10 5G

From $32/mo. at T-Mobile

Fast, smooth, and cutting edge

One of the most complete feeling flagship phones only gets better with 5G support and a massive battery. With a great display and cameras, this phone is the perfect tool for anyone that gets things done on the go.



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Facebook Now Has 1.62 Billion Daily Users, Beating Growth Estimates

Facebook reported 2.8 billion monthly users and 2.2 billion daily users across Facebook, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp, both slightly higher than the prior quarter.

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Facebook Now Has 1.62 Billion Daily Users, 2.2 Billion Daily Users Across Services *APP_NEWS*

Facebook reported 2.8 billion monthly users and 2.2 billion daily users across Facebook, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp, both slightly higher than the prior quarter.

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Apple Tunes Out Trade War as New AirPods, Services Lift Holiday Outlook

The results mark the fourth straight quarter of year-over-year declining iPhone sales.

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Apple Tunes Out Trade War as New AirPods, Services Lift Holiday Outlook *APP_NEWS*

The results mark the fourth straight quarter of year-over-year declining iPhone sales.

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From Star Wars to Jack Ryan, TV Shows to Watch in November

Star Wars series The Mandalorian, Jack Ryan season 2, Rick and Morty season 4, The Crown season 3, Little Things season 3, and more - these are the biggest TV shows to look forward to in November...

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Apple Beats Profit Forecasts Amid Growth in Services, Wearables

Chief executive Tim Cook said Apple saw its best-ever revenue gains for the fiscal fourth quarter period.

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Google CEO Sundar Pichai Defends Products as Regulators Kick In *APP_NEWS*

Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Monday said the company consistently wants to work and build products that benefit users and support the ecosystem.

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Facebook, Google, Twitter Urged to Do More to Combat Fake News in EU *APP_NEWS*

Facebook, Google and Twitter must do more to tackle fake news or face regulatory action, the European Commission said on Tuesday.

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YouTube Music for Android Gets Dedicated Widget, iOS Update Brings Siri Support, PWA for Desktops Debuts Too *APP_NEWS*

YouTube Music for Android has been updated with a dedicated 4x1 widget. Its iOS counterpart, on the other hand, has received Siri support.

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Google Messages Expands RCS-Based Chat Experience: Here's How to Get It on Your Android Device *APP_NEWS*

Google Messages app beta version 5.2.051 brings RCS chat experience to users in India and across the globe.

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Google Search to Stop Supporting Flash Content Soon *APP_NEWS*

Google has announced it will stop supporting Flash content in its Search as the Internet prepares to bid a farewell to the multimedia software platform next year.

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Adani Group Partners Digital Realty to Build Data Centres in India *APP_NEWS*

Adani-Digital Realty collaboration would leverage the latter's extensive experience and industry-leading solutions.

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US Kids' Appetite for Online Video Doubled in 4 Years: Survey *APP_NEWS*

The number of young Americans watching online videos every day has more than doubled, according to survey findings released Tuesday.

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PUBG Mobile to Get Upgraded Anti-Cheat System That Targets Hackers Without Collateral Effects *APP_NEWS*

PUBG Mobile's security team is working on an upgraded anti-cheat system to keep cheating behaviour in check.

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TikTok Maker ByteDance Denies Reports It Is Planning Hong Kong Listing *APP_NEWS*

ByteDance, whose globally popular app TikTok has raised US security concerns, on Tuesday denied reports that it was considering an initial public offering in Hong Kong in the first quarter of next year.

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Google Owner Alphabet Said to Be in Bid to Buy Fitbit *APP_NEWS*

There is no certainty that the negotiations between Google and Fitbit will lead to any deal, the sources said.

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Instagram Bans Fictional Snippets Showing Suicide *APP_NEWS*

Instagram early this year clamped down on images of self-injury after a British teen who went online to read about suicide took her own life.

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Google Hit by Australian Regulator Lawsuit Over Data Collection *APP_NEWS*

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said Google had failed for almost two years from January 2017 to tell Android phone customers that they needed to switch off two settings - rather than just one - if they did not want the company to retain their information.

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WhatsApp for iPhone Update Hides Notification Badges for Muted Chats, Takes Group Privacy Settings Globally *APP_NEWS*

WhatsApp has released a new version of its iPhone app in the App Store. Carrying version number 2.19.110, the updated WhatsApp Messenger for iPhone includes two major changes and also takes the Group Privacy Settings globally.

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Spotify Says It Grew Rapidly in India in Q3, Reaches 248 Million Monthly Active Users Globally *APP_NEWS*

Spotify's premium subscribers globally grew 31 percent in the third quarter of this year to 113 million.

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Wednesday, October 30, 2019

HBO Max Streaming Service to Launch in May 2020 at $14.99 per Month, AT&T Says *APP_NEWS*

Some existing subscribers to HBO's cable channel or HBO Now will get free access to HBO Max, AT&T said.

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Apple Pay in EU Antitrust Spotlight as Regulators Seek Details

European Commission said it had information Apple may have restricted online payments for the purchase of goods and services made via merchant apps or websites, in breach of EU antitrust rules.

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Government Said to Form Panel to Address Telecom Woes

India has formed a panel of bureaucrats to suggest ways to alleviate financial pressures on the telecoms sector, a ministry source said on Tuesday.

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Mi CC9 Pro Official Teasers Highlight Curved Display, Camera Zoom

Xiaomi has released a couple of Mi CC9 Pro teasers that showcase the phone's curved display up close and its zooming capabilities in action.

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Apple Pay in EU Antitrust Spotlight as Regulators Seek Details *APP_NEWS*

European Commission said it had information Apple may have restricted online payments for the purchase of goods and services made via merchant apps or websites, in breach of EU antitrust rules.

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Apple Resumes Human Reviews of Siri Audio With iPhone Update

Apple is resuming the use of humans to review Siri commands and dictation with the latest iPhone software update.

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Amazon Drops Grocery Delivery Fee for Prime Members as Rivals Close In

Amazon.com is eliminating its grocery delivery charge for Prime members in the US and making shopping easier by combining AmazonFresh and Whole Foods Market ordering on a single site, as it battles...

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New Game of Thrones Prequel, House of the Dragon, Announced by HBO

HBO has announced a new Game of Thrones prequel called House of the Dragon, based on George R.R. Martin's 2018 book Fire & Blood, which is set 300 years prior to the events of the show and tells the...

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Vivo S5 Teaser Released, Confirms Imminent Arrival

Vivo has teased the arrival of the Vivo S5 via a video, confirming the name of the upcoming Vivo 'S' series phone.

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MakeMyTrip and Oyo Under Investigation by Competition Commission of India

A complaint by Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India alleges agreements between Oyo and MakeMyTrip were restricting market access to hotel chains such as Fab Hotels and Treebo.

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All You Need to Know About BEE Star Labels Before Your Next Purchase

BEE star ratings determine how energy efficient your household appliances are. Here's everything you need to know about these ratings.

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Apple Resumes Human Reviews of Siri Audio With iOS 13.2 Update *APP_NEWS*

Apple is resuming the use of humans to review Siri commands and dictation with the latest iPhone software update.

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Samsung's Next Foldable Phone May Look Like This

Samsung has unveiled a new design for a smartphone that folds into a square, racing ahead in folding devices after it launched its first model in September.

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Boeing CEO Accused of Telling 'Half-Truths' in 737 Max Hearing

Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg faced intense grilling by US lawmakers at a hearing on Tuesday over what the company knew about its MCAS stall-prevention system linked to two deadly crashes.

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Game of Thrones Prequel Series, With Naomi Watts, Is Dead at HBO: Reports

The first Game of Thrones prequel is reportedly dead. Created by Jane Goldman and George R.R. Martin, and starring Naomi Watts in the lead, it had wrapped up filming on the pilot earlier this year,...

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WhatsApp Sues Israel's NSO for Allegedly Helping Spies Hack Phones Around the World *APP_NEWS*

WhatsApp alleges that NSO helped government agencies deliver malicious software through seemingly harmless WhatsApp video calls, even if the targets never answered their phones.

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WhatsApp Sues Israel's NSO for Allegedly Helping Spies Hack Phones

WhatsApp alleges that NSO helped government agencies deliver malicious software through seemingly harmless WhatsApp video calls, even if the targets never answered their phones.

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Apple Takes Down Clickware Apps Created by India-Based Company *APP_NEWS*

Wandera had released a list of 17 apps for iOS which are infected with clickware meant to increase advertising revenue.

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WhatsApp in the Arab World: An Essential but Controversial Tool *APP_NEWS*

WhatsApp remains the most popular social media programme in terms of usage in the youthful, tech-savvy region.

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Google Pixel 4’s Display Refresh Rate Falls Below 90Hz While Running Four Blacklisted Apps: Reports *APP_NEWS*

Google Pixel 4 users are reporting yet another refresh rate throttling issue caused by four blacklisted apps that include Google Maps and Waze.

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Sony PlayStation Vue TV Streaming Service Being Considered for Sale: Report *APP_NEWS*

Sony is reportedly looking at selling its live TV streaming service PlayStation Vue as it struggles to turn a profit.

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Call of Duty: Activision Set for Another Billion-Dollar Hit With 'Modern Warfare' Launch *APP_NEWS*

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, the reboot of the widely popular first-person shooter game, will launch on Friday and is set to become another billion-dollar hit for publisher Activision.

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HBO announces a number of originals, including Game of Thrones prequel android os

Greg Berlanti, Elizabeth Banks, and more are creating originals for the new streaming service.

WarnerMedia ended its HBO Max investor's call with a bang on Tuesday, announcing the House of the Dragon, a Game of Thrones prequel set 300 years before the events of the hit show. The company also announced a number of other originals from high profile franchises and filmmakers that'll hit the new streaming service next year.

House of the Dragon, as you can tell from the name, will tell the story of House Targaryen. It'll be helmed by Miguel Sapochnik (director of "Battle of the Bastards") and Ryan Condal (co-creator of Colony), who also created the series along with Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin.

"The 'Game of Thrones' universe is so rich with stories," Casey Bloys, president, HBO programming, said during the presentation. "We look forward to exploring the origins of House Targaryen and the earlier days of Westeros."

The Game of Thrones news comes on the same day that the network scrapped another prequel that starred Naomi Watts and was supposedly about the Long Night.

Greg Berlanti, the executive producer behind the CW Arrowverse, will be working on two new DC Universe-based projects. The first is a Strange Adventures anthology series. The other is referred to as a "Green Lantern inspired series" in an official press release.

Related is another series from Elizabeth Banks — DC Super Hero High, which will be a half-hour comedy series that follows the hijinks of teens at a boarding school for gifted kids as they grapple with maybe becoming superheroes one day. It would be X-Men if it didn't take place within the DC Universe.

Another huge name, Ridley Scott, will be helming Raised by Wolves, a 10-episode sci-fi series that'll debut on the streaming service. It follows two androids that are raising human children, who are threatened by a new colony of humans. Scott will be executive producing and directing, with Aaron Guzikowski (Prisoners) writing.

The company also announced two projects from two other big names: Issa Rae (Insecure) and Mindy Kaling (The Mindy Project).

You can check out the full list of HBO Max originals announcements below.

  • DC Super Hero High - A half-hour comedy from Elizabeth Banks that follows students who will one day become "legendary DC Super Heroes."
  • Rap Shit - The half-hour comedy (working title) from Issa Rae is about a female rap group from Florida trying to make it.
  • College Girls - Mindy Kaling is the brains behind this 13-episode sitcom, which follows freshman college roommates in Vermont.
  • Strange Adventures - This DC superhero anthology series will feature characters from across the canon.
  • Untitled Green Lantern Series - Few details were revealed about this series, except that it's a "Green Lantern inspired series." No word if this ties into the movie that's been in the works for years at Warner Bros.
  • Raised by Wolves - This sci-fi series follows two androids that are raising human children and the conflicts they run into with a human colony on a distant planet.
  • Bobbie Sue - This film stars Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin) and is about a lawyer who realizes she's been hired only for the optics and not for her knowledge.
  • Conan O'Brien-presented stand-up specials - Five new specials are set to hit HBO Max, including two hosted by O'Brien and one from comedian James Veitch.

HBO Max will cost $14.99 per month at launch. If you're an existing HBO, AT&T TV or a mobile & broadband bundle subscriber, though, you'll get HBO Max for free. A year after launch, the company plans to add an advertisement-supported tier that lowers the subscription price.



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Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Instagram Bans Fictional Snippets Showing Suicide

Instagram early this year clamped down on images of self-injury after a British teen who went online to read about suicide took her own life.

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iOS 13.2 Brings Deep Fusion to Latest iPhone Models

iOS 13.2 and iPadOS 13.2 are available for download on all iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad models compatible with iOS 13 and iPadOS 13, respectively. Apple has brought the anticipated privacy settings...

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Facebook Employees Sign Letter Opposing Political Ads Policy

The New York Times reported Monday that more than 250 workers have signed the letter urging Facebook leaders to change the policy that they say is a "threat to what FB stands for."

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Instagram Bans Fictional Snippets Showing Suicide *APP_NEWS*

Instagram early this year clamped down on images of self-injury after a British teen who went online to read about suicide took her own life.

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Australian Regulator Files Lawsuit Against Google for Data Collection

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said Google had failed for almost two years from January 2017 to tell Android phone customers that they needed to switch off two settings -...

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WhatsApp for iPhone Update Brings New Features: All You Need to Know

WhatsApp has released a new version of its iPhone app in the App Store. Carrying version number 2.19.110, the updated WhatsApp Messenger for iPhone includes two major changes and also takes the Group...

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Google's Newest Phone Is Literally Just a Piece of Paper

Google's Paper Phone is the latest in a string of offerings attempting to grab the attention of an audience weary of the ever-expanding presence of tech in our lives, as well as the feeling of being...

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Google Hit by Australian Regulator Lawsuit Over Data Collection *APP_NEWS*

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said Google had failed for almost two years from January 2017 to tell Android phone customers that they needed to switch off two settings - rather than just one - if they did not want the company to retain their information.

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WhatsApp for iPhone Update Hides Notification Badges for Muted Chats, Takes Group Privacy Settings Globally *APP_NEWS*

WhatsApp has released a new version of its iPhone app in the App Store. Carrying version number 2.19.110, the updated WhatsApp Messenger for iPhone includes two major changes and also takes the Group Privacy Settings globally.

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Google's Newest Phone Is Literally Just a Piece of Paper *APP_NEWS*

Google's Paper Phone is the latest in a string of offerings attempting to grab the attention of an audience weary of the ever-expanding presence of tech in our lives, as well as the feeling of being chained to your phone.

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Spotify Says Grew Rapidly in India, Hits 248 Million Active Users Globally

Spotify's premium subscribers globally grew 31 percent in the third quarter of this year to 113 million.

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Game of Thrones Creators Quit Star Wars for Netflix Deal

Game of Thrones creators and showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have chosen to quit the Star Wars universe to dedicate themselves to their Netflix deal.

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Microsoft Says Russia-Linked Hackers Target Sports Organizations

The group, also called APT28, has been linked to the Russian government, Microsoft said in a blog post.

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Spotify Says It Grew Rapidly in India in Q3, Reaches 248 Million Monthly Active Users Globally *APP_NEWS*

Spotify's premium subscribers globally grew 31 percent in the third quarter of this year to 113 million.

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Google's Search for Sales in Cloud, Hardware Clip Alphabet Profit

Google parent Alphabet reported quarterly results on Monday that show costs continue to rise faster than revenue as the Web search leader seeks to broaden its business.

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Google's Search for Sales in Cloud, Hardware Clip Alphabet Profit *APP_NEWS*

Google parent Alphabet reported quarterly results on Monday that show costs continue to rise faster than revenue as the Web search leader seeks to broaden its business.

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Everything we know so far about the Sony WH-1000XM4 android os

We can't wait for Sony's fourth try at flagship cans.

In the world of active noise-canceling headphones, Sony has established itself as one of the market leaders. Released in 2018, the Sony WH-1000XM3 may not have the catchiest name, but they are easily some of the best headphones you can buy in this niche.

However, while the company may have proven its ANC prowess with the WH-1000XM3, that doesn't mean we aren't interested to see where it goes from here.

Premature or not, we're eagerly looking forward to what Sony will offer with its inevitable WH-1000XM4. Here's everything we know about the upcoming headphones so far!

Rock on

Sony WH-1000XM3

$348 at Amazon

Sony's current ANC headphones continue to impress.

While we're excited to see what Sony has in store for the WH-1000XM4, the existing 1000XM3 are still a fantastic purchase. With a clean design, powerful noise-cancellation, booming sound, and a long-lasting battery that charges via USB-C, there's a ton being offered.

Here are the features we're looking forward to

As far as wireless headphones go, the WH-1000XM3 are pretty full-featured. They have active noise-canceling, an audio passthrough function, Alexa and Google Assistant are built-in, and you get an impressive 30-hour battery life.

Looking ahead to the WH-1000XM4, what could Sony possibly do to make the successor stand out?

One feature we'd love to see is support for being paired to multiple devices at once. The XM3 can only be connected to one device at a time, meaning that you can't listen to music through your laptop and then take a call on your phone. On the XM4, we'd love to see something like this be made available.

It's also possible that Sony could work some magic and furth extend battery life, or go the Bose route and offer more customizable levels of its noise-cancellation.

This is all pure speculation on our part, but as we learn more, we'll be sure to update this guide accordingly.

What will Sony do with the design?

Sony's last three generations of WH-1000XM headphones have retained a similar design ever since the XM1 debuted in 2016. It's nothing especially noteworthy, but it's a simple, proven design that gets the job done.

For the XM4, Sony could go one of two routes.

On one hand, the company may keep the same general design around for one more year. As the saying goes, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

It's also possible we'll see a drastic revamp in the design, similar to what Bose did with its Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones 700. It would certainly be exciting if Sony was able to bring that big of a refresh to its flagship headphones, too, but we aren't entirely sure what'll happen on this front.

Let's talk price and release date

So, when can we expect Sony to announce the WH-1000XM4?

The XM3 headphones were first unveiled during IFA 2018 and then made available for purchase a few months later in January 2019. Going back to the WH-1000XM2, those headphones went on sale in June 2017.

Right now, we're expecting the XM4 to be released at some point in either mid-to-late 2020 or early 2021.

Don't count out the WH-1000XM3

It's easy to get excited thinking about what we'll get with the WH-1000XM4, but if you're in the market for a new pair of headphones right now, you shouldn't dismiss the existing WH-1000XM3.

The 1000XM3 may not be the newest headphones these days, having been released in January 2019, but they're still an outstanding package. As you'd expect, noise-cancellation and sound quality is top-notch, with the headphones making your music and podcasts sound outstanding while simultaneously blocking out the outside noise around you. Should you find yourself needing to talk to someone or hear an airport announcement, you can quickly cover the right ear cup to briefly enhance ambient noise.

On top of all that, the WH-1000XM3 are also equipped with 30-hour battery life, charge via USB-C, and offer quick access to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

Rock on

Sony WH-1000XM3

$348 at Amazon

Sony's current ANC headphones continue to impress.

While we're excited to see what Sony has in store for the WH-1000XM4, the existing 1000XM3 are still a fantastic purchase. With a clean design, powerful noise-cancellation, booming sound, and a long-lasting battery that charges via USB-C, there's a ton being offered.



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You can pre-register for the EVE Echoes open beta which starts in December android os

Sign up to be among the first to check out the EVE Echoes open beta when it kicks off in December 2019.

What you need to know

  • Developed by NetEase Games and CCP Games, EVE Echoes will be a standalone game that captures the full scale and scope of EVE Online.
  • The open beta for EVE Echoes will begin in December 2019 in Europe and North America ahead of a global soft launch scheduled for Spring 2020.
  • Eve Echoes will deliver a whole galaxy for players to team in an explore and conquer, just like EVE Online, with controls and menus optimized for touchscreen controls.

NetEase Games and CCP Games have announced pre-registration is open for the next round of beta testing for EVE Echoes, a brand new MMORPG being developed by NetEase for both Android and iOS. The game will allow players to pilot and upgrade their own ships and deliver the same scale and scope as EVE Online.

For those unfamiliar with EVE Online, it's an open-ended sci-fi MMORPG for PC with a passionate community that's been the been going strong for 16 years. Unlike most other MMORPG games that offer players quests and scripted narratives, the narrative in EVE Online is created by the players themselves as the game.

EVE Echoes will bring the full scale of EVE Online's MMORPG universe to your mobile phone.

The open-ended game design creates a unique experience for gamers that includes a bustling in-game economy and massive player factions, referred to in-game as Corporations, which allow recruited pilots to contribute to their corporation in whichever role they prefer. You can choose to pilot a mining ship and go around collecting resources from asteroids and planetary systems, or jump into a battle cruiser and take part in massive space battles of epic scale. Or you can just cruise around the galaxy as a rogue space pirate causing chaos wherever you go.

One major downside of EVE Online's player-driven narrative is that it can be hard for new pilots to get up to speed with not only the game's tedious and dense menu systems for all the tools made availale to players, but also the backstory behind each Corporation and the different roles available. This is somewhat to be expected for an MMORPG that's close to two decades old, but I think that's why the developers are hoping this new mobile EVE experience will allow players new and old to experience the game universe all over again with a fresh start.

The expectations from the EVE Online playerbase are high, and both NetEase and CCP are hoping that the simplified UI and fresh start for a near identical game universe will draw in both the hardcore EVE Online fans as well as newcomers to the franchise. Speaking as someone who has always been fascinated by the EVE Online community but only from the outside looking in, I'm super interested for the opportunity to getting in on the ground floor for a fully authentic recreation of the EVE universe that I can play on my phone.

If you live in North America or Europe and are interested in checking out the EVE Echoes open beta you can pre-register for the Android beta in the Google Play Store.

Pre-register your spot in space

EVE Echoes

Pre-register at Google Play

It's a brand new galaxy to explore and conquer!

EVE Echoes is an ambitious new MMORPG developed for Android will be the same player-driven game as EVE Online that's been developed and optimized for mobile devices.



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MediEvil is an excellent treat for this Halloween android os

This is the way to remake a game.

MediEvil is back! After 20 years one of the PlayStations cult classics is seeing a major remake and re-released on the PlayStation 4.

The game finally launched and people are enjoying it all over the internet! Here's what you need to know if you are looking to pick it up.

Classic remake

MediEvil

$30 at Amazon

Scarily good

This remake of MediEvil looks to be one of the best remakes in recent memory. Everything is built new from the ground while maintaining the look and feel of the original game.

What is MediEvil?

Released back in 1998, MediEvil was a hack and slash game that used the PS1 processing power to give us "Stunning 3D visuals". You play the reanimated corpse of the long-dead Sir Daniel Fortesque, brought back to life accidentally by an evil sorcerer trying to take over the world of Gallowsmere. You defeated the evil sorcerer once and you set out to do it again.

The game was a lot of fun with a unique visual style and plenty of weapons and powers to keep you amused as you battled the demon horde. MediEvil has been something of a cult classic ever since and even got somewhat of a remake for the PlayStation Portable in 2005, though that wasn't as good as perhaps it could have been.

What kind of game is MediEvil?

Like the original, MediEvil is a hack-and-slash-style game that's likely to only be single-player. The basic structure of the game is you move from area to area clearing out all the monsters you can with an assortment of weapons. Each weapon has its own set of animations as well as power moves that will cause more damage.

MediEvil also has a nice amount of puzzles and traps for you to navigate to break up the endless waves of monsters, and all of these will be recreated in glorious 4K for this remake.

4K goodness?

This version of MediEvil is being rebuilt "from the Grave up" (the developers' pun not mine), with all-new 4K visuals. The original was fine for its time, but these new animations look amazing and as long as you have a PS4 Pro and a 4K TV, you will get to enjoy what looks to be a beautiful game.

Of course, it may be 4K-optimized but it will run beautifully on the standard PS4 as well. If you haven't managed to upgrade to the PS4 Pro yet, you may want to consider it as more and more games will be adding 4K visuals to their ensemble.

Is there any new gameplay?

The game is purposely not changing anything mechanically. All elements of gameplay are being translated exactly as they are in the original. There is a scene in the trailer that shows the same green monster on the same piece of the path as it was in the 1998 version.

It looks to me like a straight port of the original game with a better graphics engine running it. Honestly, this is how I want my remakes. Give me the exact game I love, just updated graphically to keep up with 21st-century technology. Are you listening, Square Enix? Final Fantasy VII could be done this way too.

Classic remake

MediEvil

$30 at Amazon

Scarily good

This remake of MediEvil looks to be one of the best remakes in recent memory. Everything is built new from the ground while maintaining the look and feel of the original game.



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Google's revenues increased but earnings declined in Q3 2019 android os

Revenues totalled $40.5 billion.

What you need to know

  • Google's parent company, Alphabet, released its earnings report this Monday.
  • The giant saw revenues of $40.5 billion for Q3 2019, up 20% from the same period last year.
  • However, net income declined from $9.19 billion in the same quarter the previous year to $7.06 billion this year.

Google posted below-expected earnings for Q3 2019. The company's revenues grew 20% year-over-year, but earnings per share were far below analysts' expectations. The company's stock dipped nearly 4% in after-hours trading following the announcement, before stabilizing at a 1.5% decrease later on.

Revenues for the period fared slightly better than expectations and, at $40.5 billion for the quarter, represented a 20% increase YoY compared to $33.7 billion last year.

Net income, on the other hand, took a significant dip from $9.2 billion last year to $7.1 billion in Q3 this year. On a per-share basis, earnings were down from $13.06 to $10.12, far below analysts' expectations of $12.35 per share (via Bloomberg), hence the tumble in stock prices.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai credited the company's advances in mobile search, YouTube and cloud services as behind the increase in revenues:

"I am extremely pleased with the progress we made across the board in the third quarter, from our recent advancements in search and quantum computing to our strong revenue growth driven by mobile search, YouTube and Cloud. We're focused on providing the most helpful services to our users and partners, and we see many opportunities ahead."

As expected, Google accounted for an overwhelming majority of the company's revenues, raking in $40.3 billion this quarter. The company's 'Other Bets' brought in just $155 million during the same period. Also per usual, these other bets are still not paying off for Alphabet, with operating losses on these divisions rising from $727 million last year to $941 million this time around.

Google's own performance was healthy as usual, with advertising revenues of $33.9 billion, up 17.1% year-over-year. The company's other divisions also did well, with 'other revenues' — which includes the company's cloud division, its hardware business and Play Store proceeds — rising an impressive 39% compared to Q3 last year at $6.4 billion.

Google CFO Ruth Porat declined to comment on reports Google was looking to enter the fitness wearable market with an acquistion of Fitbit (via CNBC).

How Google is beating Microsoft in the cross-platform cloud



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See the Mandalorian in action in latest trailer for Disney+ show android os

"Mandalorian, look outside. They're waiting for you."

The Mandalorian is ready to kick some butt and actually say some lines in the latest trailer for the Disney+ show, released Monday.

We could've guessed that the titular Mandalorian (played by Pedro Pascal) was going to be a fighter, but this new trailer shows off some of his moves. Werner Herzog's character hopes that he's talking to one of the best bounty hunters "in the parsec," and if the new footage is any indication, he might be. He also speaks for the first time, which doesn't sound like a huge reveal for a trailer, but it definitely feels like one.

Otherwise, the trailer doesn't reveal any new, concrete plot points, but it fleshes out the world a bit. The show is set to take place after the fall of the Empire but before the rise of the First Order (so in between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens), and there's a lot we don't know about that time period.

For example, since Empire Strikes Back, carbonite has become a more common technique for transporting prisoners, according to the new trailer. Bounty hunting is also a more complicated profession — or a "difficult profession," as Herzog states.

In other Star Wars news, Lucasfilm released some new character posters on Monday. They give us a good look at the Mandalorian himself, along with Greef Carga (Carl Weathers), Cara Dune (Gina Carano), IG-11, and Kuiil.

The Mandalorian will premiere on Nov. 12 when Disney+ launches. However, that'll only be in the U.S., Canada and Netherlands. It launches in Australia and New Zealand on Nov. 19.

A magical streaming service

Disney+

The wait is almost over

Disney is finally bringing all of its content under one roof for streaming, after years of it being split on half a dozen services. Disney+ will feature original content, including the original Star Wars series The Mandalorian.

$7/mo at Disney+



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Ubisoft addresses player issues in Ghost Recon Breakpoint android os

Ghost Recon Breakpoint should be seeing improvements soon.

What you need to know

  • Ghost Recon Breakpoint released earlier in October.
  • Since launch, players have encountered myriad issues, from problems with the game's design to microtransactions.
  • Ubisoft has outlined a plan to fix several of these issues over the coming weeks.
  • You can grab Ghost Recon Breakpoint for $50 from Amazon.

Ghost Recon Breakpoint launched earlier in October and has had a bit of a rocky start. Despite placing at the #6 spot on the NPD rankings with only two days of tracking, Ubisoft stated in a recent conference call for its earnings that the game had been disappointing financially. Players have reported plentiful issues such as glitches as well as obscene microtransactions.

Fortunately, Ubisoft is taking player feedback and today outlined a plan to improve the game.

We can't stress enough how much we appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts about the game. And while these first weeks have been rougher than expected, we are taking your feedback to heart. We deeply care about this game, the Ghost Recon franchise and you, our community of players, and are committed to improving it.

The first thing coming is Title Update 1.0.3, which will bring Drone deployment fixes, stop issues with NVGs blocking crosshairs and improve the Mission Completion notifications. This update is planned for release in mid-November, while a second update will follow at the end of November with more general fixes. Post-launch content is still coming with the first Raid set to arrive in December.

Ubisoft also states that further changes are coming to the in-game economy. AI teammates are also planned to be added into the game however, there's no timeframe on when they'll be coming. Ubisoft also states that while it is too early to provide specific details, the team understands that players want freedom of choice in missions and mechanical changes are also in the works.

All in all, while it may take time, players who want to enjoy the game should be encouraged by this statement. We'll continue to provide updates on what new features or changes are rolled out for Ghost Recon Breakpoint.

Related: Ghost Recon Breakpoint review: Is this open-world shooter worth buying?

A deadly island

Ghost Recon Breakpoint

A covert ops shooter

Ghost Recon Breakpoint is a military shooter set in a diverse and hostile open world. Players take on the Wolves, elite special ops soldiers just as skilled as any other Ghost. The game can be played solo or with up to four players.

$50 at Amazon

Get More PlayStation

Sony PlayStation

Playstation 4 Pro From $400 at Amazon Playstation 4 Slim From $300 at Amazon



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Moto G8 Plus to Go on Sale for First Time in India Today via Flipkart

Moto G8 Plus will go on sale for the first time in India today via Flipkart starting 12pm with a few offers in tow.

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Monday, October 28, 2019

Redmi Note 8 Pro vs Realme XT: Which One Should You Buy?

Redmi Note 8 Pro vs Realme XT camera, PUBG gaming, performance, battery life, specifications, price in India value for money comparison.

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MTNL 1Gbps Broadband Plans Launched Starting From Rs. 2,990

These new MTNL 1Gbps broadband plan also offers free unlimited voice calling to any network in India, and the after FUP speeds limit is reduced to 5Mbps.

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Redmi Note 8T Leaked in Live Images, NFC Support Tipped

Redmi Note 8T live image leak tips the smartphone's design as well as key specifications.

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iPhone 5 Users Will Lose Key Features If They Don't Update by November 3

Apple has now started warning iPhone 5 users to update their phones to the most recent software update before November 3, 2019, to ensure they don't lose access to key features.

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BSNL Rs. 698 Prepaid Plan Launched, Offers 200GB Data for 180 Days

This new BSNL Rs. 698 prepaid plan is live on the website, and it offers 200GB of data for a validity of 180 days.

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Google Home, Home Mini Get Stereo Speaker Pairing Mode

Google has finally added a feature to the Google Home and Home Mini that users have long been asking for - stereo pairing.

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Google Pixel 4 Users Report Refresh Rate Throttling Issue With Five Apps

Google Pixel 4 users are reporting yet another refresh rate throttling issue caused by four blacklisted apps that include Google Maps and Waze.

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Google Pixel 4’s Display Refresh Rate Falls Below 90Hz While Running Four Blacklisted Apps: Reports *APP_NEWS*

Google Pixel 4 users are reporting yet another refresh rate throttling issue caused by four blacklisted apps that include Google Maps and Waze.

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Best Smartphones Under Rs. 7,000 Right Now

Best phones under 7000: Redmi 8A and Realme C2 feature in our top picks of best mobile phones priced below Rs. 7,000. Other phones include the Infinix Note 5 as well as the Lenovo K9.

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LG W30 Pro With Snapdragon 632 SoC, 4,050mAh Battery Goes on Sale in India

Key features of the LG W30 Pro include AI triple camera setup, waterdrop-style notch display, and a large battery.

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Best Smartphones That You Can Buy Under Rs. 8,000

Best phones under 8000: Here are our top picks for best mobiles phones under Rs. 8,000. These include smartphones from Realme, Asus, Xiaomi, and Infinix.

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Joker Is the Biggest DC Movie of All Time in India, R-Rated Film Worldwide

Joker has become the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time with $849 million at the worldwide box office. Additionally, Joker is now also the highest-grossing film based on a DC Comics property...

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Sony Planning to Sell Off Its PlayStation Vue Streaming Service: Report

Sony is reportedly looking at selling its live TV streaming service PlayStation Vue as it struggles to turn a profit.

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Sony PlayStation Vue TV Streaming Service Being Considered for Sale: Report *APP_NEWS*

Sony is reportedly looking at selling its live TV streaming service PlayStation Vue as it struggles to turn a profit.

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Tesla Unveils New Easier to Install Solar Roof

Musk recently unveiled the third version of Tesla's solar roof product - called the Solar Glass Roof - and the company hopes to install the first one in large numbers.

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Redmi Note 7 Pro Starts Receiving MIUI 11 Update in India: Reports

Xiaomi had earlier announced that the Redmi Note 7 Pro will receive the MIUI 11 update between October 22 to October 31.

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No Time to Die: Next James Bond Movie Wraps Filming With New On-Set Photo

Filming has been completed on No Time to Die, the next James Bond movie - the twenty-fifth overall - that will also serve as the fifth and final entry for Daniel Craig.

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Wall Mount or on a Stand? What You Need to Know Before Setting Up Your New TV

Positioning your new TV is an important step in optimising your viewing experience - you can either wall mount or stand mount. We help you figure out which is best for you.

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Streaming TV War Kicks Into Gear With Apple, Disney Launches

The streaming television war is set to enter a new phase as titans Apple and Disney take direct aim at market leader Netflix, vying for consumers abandoning their cable TV bundles for on-demand...

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China Passes Cryptography Law as It Gears Up for Digital Currency

China's central bank set up a research team in 2014 to explore launching its own digital currency to cut the costs of circulating traditional paper money and boost policymakers' control of money...

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Redmi 8 Set to Go on Sale Today via Flipkart, Mi.com, Mi Home Stores

Redmi 8 is all set go on sale once again via Flipkart, Mi.com, and Mi Home Stores today. Redmi 8 price is set at Rs. 7,999 for the 4GB RAM variant, as a part of a promotional offer.

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Netflix for Android Spotted With Variable Playback Speed Option in New Test *APP_NEWS*

Netflix for Android has been spotted adding variable playback speed option to let you adjust the playback speed of your favourite TV show or movie.

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Mi Pay UPI-Based Payments App Now Available via Google Play for Non-Xiaomi Phones *APP_NEWS*

Mi Pay app that Xiaomi launched in India back in March this year for its users is available for download through Google Play to reach the masses.

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What is RCS messaging, and why is it important to Android? android os

We all want a better way to do messaging and calls on our Androids, and RCS is the best way to make it happen.

RCS, or Rich Communication Services, is the latest supposed savior or the disjointed and frustrating world of cross-device messaging. RCS is being pushed heavily by Google, but adopted sparingly by carriers around the world.

But like all things, it helps when you have a basic understanding of what people are talking about. There's plenty of information about RCS out there on the internet, but let's try to sort it all out in one place and talk about what RCS is and why it matters to everyone.

What is RCS?

In a nutshell, RCS is a set of communication standards for SMS, MMS and calling that will make text messages look and feel more like dedicated messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook Messenger, Google Hangouts and so many others. Basically, it aims to bring "texting" up to the modern standards with features we expect from messaging apps.

In 2007 a group of telecommunication industry companies founded the Rich Communication Suite industry initiative to use new technologies to create inter-operator communication services based on IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem). Text messages and phone calls generally work well, but they're pretty bland and don't make use of the full capabilities of the network they're being sent on. They had three primary goals:

  • Use a better contacts list that included things like more information about your people, if they were available and if they have seen the message you've sent.
  • Build a better messaging system that enables extras like instant chat, emojis and sharing data between the people participating.
  • Support enhanced calls with features like video calling and data sharing in real time.

That sounds like things your phone already does (and does well) without any new communications standard, but the secret sauce here is that this is all part of your phone service and will work the same way on any phone that can call or send texts, without downloading and signing up for some separate app system.

RCS makes your texting better with rich messages and a great real-time experience with the person you're texting.

The GSM Association (the same folks who run Mobile World Congress every year) thought it was a great idea, too, and formed the RCS Steering committee a year later to push the idea of supporting this to phone carriers all over the world. They've since refined and expanded the standards and have been releasing them under the RCS blanket (RCS now stands for Rich Communication Services) for a while. The technical parts of the standards have adapted and changed, but the core goals remain the same: making phone service have a better way to communicate without adding anything additional from any app stores or carrier download sections.

Unfortunately, there has been a mixed response from carriers and companies making things that connect to them like phones, tablets, and computers.

Which carriers and apps use RCS?

A lot of carriers all over the world use RCS, but not all of them use all of it and provide a service you can use with everyone else. For this to work the way it was designed, all of the carriers involved and all of the devices being used have to support all of the standards. Of course, companies usually only support what makes them money or what they are forced to support, and RCS is no exception.

The U.S. carriers are mostly on board, but the branding and implementation still varies.

The GSMA maintains a list of carriers using RCS around the world. It's impressive when you see some of the biggest carriers in the world listed, but it's also an incredibly short list considering the scale of the entire world of carriers. Remember, this is a tool to make others see how popular RCS is in order to entice them to support it. That means it doesn't tell the whole story. So we're going to.

For starters, since we're based in the U.S., let's talk about our carriers. Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, US Cellular, Google Fi and some prepaid/regional carriers support RCS. They all have slightly different branding for it, though — some call it RCS, use the "Universal Profile" moniker, or call it "Advanced Messaging" or just "Chat." That makes it a bit confusing ... but once you know your carrier supports it, the rest is (mostly) in your hands.

Carrier support is more important than device level support, but you still need both. Android and iOS both support what you need.

On the device side, Android, iOS, and Windows 10 all can support the full RCS standards when using a compatible app. Chrome and macOS don't offer the same support, which puts another hurdle in front of RCS — Apple would rather keep using iMessage because it works on MacBooks, too. But honestly, device support isn't as big of a problem as network support and even Apple would quickly offer an iMessage replacement that uses RCS if people wanted it and were using it.

On Android, your best shot at making sure your phone is using RCS for messaging is to use Google's own Messages app and force it to use RCS. If you have a popular modern phone from one of the supported carriers, its built-in messaging app probably works with RCS, but those apps aren't always great. Samsung's latest messaging app supports RCS, though, which is the default for a lot of people — and of course, you can always download Messages from the Play Store on any phone.

That means worldwide, a whole lot of people have access to RCS. And a whole lot of people don't have access. For things to work the way the Rich Communication Suite industry initiative intended, everyone needs to support it.

Why is this important for Android?

This is the easy part. RCS is important to Google (and all of its partners) because Apple's iMessage exists.

RCS can make all your texting as good as iMessage.

It's cool to hate on Apple, but if you've ever used iMessage you know what I mean here. Combined with FaceTime, iMessage already offers exactly the things RCS is trying to achieve. Voice and video calls are simple, group chats can be large, and messages are rich with great media sharing, read receipts, typing indicators and everything else. And it uses SMS in tandem with regular data to do it. It's the best SMS app you'll ever use until RCS becomes ubiquitous (if it ever does).

iMessage is probably never coming to Android, so RCS is Google's best hope to bring a great experience to every phone.

Google knows this and it's doing everything it can to get carriers to adopt RCS. Google bought a company called Jibe in February 2016, which is a service that carriers and phone makers and everyone else involved can use that brings everything RCS offers in one compliant package. AT&T or O2 or any other carrier can use Jibe to make phones on their network send and receive messages and calls that offer the same features as iMessage does with anyone else on a carrier that supports RCS. Since about 80% of the phones in the world use Android and can't use iMessage, this is a big deal.

Apple has almost no incentive to bring iMessage to Android. And Google has repeatedly tried and failed to launch its own over-the-top messaging system to compete with it. RCS, when implemented properly, is the best shot Google has at having a proper cross-device iMessage competitor that is as seamless and powerful as Apple's solution.



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Take a look at the gameplay demo for Marvel's Avengers android os

Play as your favorite Marvel heroes and save the world from horrific evil.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe brought to life our favorite comic book heroes like never before. Due to its success, we've seen the team grace nearly every form of media recently. Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics, along with several other studios lending a hand, were tasked with creating a new video game to do the Earth's Mightiest Heroes justice.

Avengers, reassemble!

Save the planet

Marvel's Avengers

$60 at Amazon

An ever-expanding online game

After a horrific event leaves San Francisco in ruins, the Avengers have been disbanded. However, an even bigger evil threatens the planet five years later, and it's up to you to assemble the crew and save the world once again.

What is Marvel's Avengers?

It's unclear whether Marvel's Avengers will be open world or have linear levels, but whatever the case, it's an action/adventure game that throws us into the roles of our favorite team of superheroes. It combines a story campaign—that can be played either in single-player or with up to four friends— and thrilling gameplay to make for an experience Marvel fans hopefully won't forget.

Marvel's Avengers Characters

From what we've seen so far, our Avengers team will be comprised of Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, and Black Widow. If they look or act a bit different than what you're used to, that's because they don't feature the likenesses of the MCU actors from the films and they are Crystal Dynamics' own interpretation of these iconic characters. More characters will be added post-release, all of which will be free to players. The trailer also shows Hank Pym at one point shrinking a large enemy tank, so we can expect our team to meet a few friendly faces along the way.

As for our villains, we don't know who will be taking that distinction of big bad yet, though we do get a glimpse of Taskmaster. Many of the enemies the Avengers are seen fighting in the trailer are generic military-type thugs. Or as Thor calls them, "small angry men with guns." There's obviously a larger threat looming, but it's unclear what, or who, that threat is.

The obvious absence in all of this? Hawkeye, once again. Press F to pay respects.

Marvel's Avengers Story

This is not an adapted story from any comic book storyline or film. It's entirely original. Marvel's Avengers begins with the team setting up a headquarters on the West Coast in San Francisco. On the day they are planning to unveil it, dubbed A-Day, a series of tragic events kick off that shift society's views on superheroes. The Golden Gate Bridge along with the Avenger's own helicarrier, powered by an experimental energy source, come under attack and explode in an attempt to steal it, seemingly killing Captain America—and the explosion is blamed on the Avengers themselves.

Fast forward 5 years, the Avengers have disbanded after society deemed them dangerous murderers. But the world faces a grave threat, and Earth's Mightiest Heroes must reassemble to save it.

Marvel promises that it will have the authentic heroism and humanity that you've come to expect from a Marvel story.

Marvel's Avengers Gameplay

Our first look at the gameplay for Avengers features this pre-alpha build of the Incredible Hulk having some fun. Square Enix has confirmed that it will be an action/adventure game that supports both single-player and cooperative play.

Because of this online aspect, new content will be released on a regular basis over multiple years. People will be able to assemble into teams of up to four players online, and customize a "growing roster of characters." These characters will have their own skill trees, gear, and you'll be able to customize them for either ranged or melee combat.

Everything you earn, wherever you do it, is feeding into that character progression. In an online context you can replay missions but you can also just take on new objectives. It's kind of the sense that there is play-once content and content that is fun to replay together as a group as well.

If you choose to play with a group of friends, you'll all have to play as different characters. You can't have two Iron Mans on one team, for example. Certain online levels will cater towards a particular hero's playstyle, but they can be completed by any character. In the story campaign, however, you won't get a choice of what hero you play as.

Players will also be able to take on endgame content together. "It is important that what you're earning through these stories and these objectives all are feeding into taking on bigger threats, and co-op challenges as well," Creative Director Noah Hughes told Mashable. "One of our assumptions is that you can play the entire campaign single player but that some of the higher end content, once you're all leveled up, might be specific to challenging four players to work best together."

Marvel's Avengers isn't open world, but it will have various regions that you can go out and explore as the Avengers set out on missions from the main hub area.

Marvel's Avengers Will it be connected Spider-Man on PS4?

Fans have been quick to point out that Peter Parker comments in Spider-Man on PS4 that the Avengers are never around Avengers Tower anymore, and that they must be busy "on the West Coast." This is interesting as Marvel's Avengers starts with the team attempting to set up a new West Coast facility in San Francisco. When asked whether the two games were connected, Marvel's Bill Rosemann gave a bit of a non-answer to IGN.

"Last time we were here, a year ago, discussing Spider-Man, the roof caught on fire," he said. "And if I was to comment on that character now, I think the roof would fall on my head! So I will just say, right now we're just focused on creating the best Avengers game."

Marvel's Avengers Beta and platform exclusive content

Everyone who pre-orders will get access to its beta whenever it's available, but those who pre-order on PlayStation 4 get 7-day early access to the beta before it comes to other platforms. PS4 users will also get "unique benefits" that will be revealed in the future. People are already speculating that these bonuses may be cosmetic items, but Square Enix is staying tight-lipped right now.

Marvel's Avengers No loot boxes

Do you hate loot boxes like everyone else on this planet? You'll be glad to hear that Marvel's Avengers will feature "no random loot boxes or play-to-win scenarios." This was confirmed on Square Enix's E3 2019 press conference stage.

If the publisher happens to go back on that promise, you can point them to their own quote.

Marvel's Avengers When can I play it?

Marvel's Avengers is set to launch on May 15, 2020, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, and PC. You can pre-order it today for beta access.

Save the planet

Marvel's Avengers

$50 at Amazon

An ever-expanding online game

After a horrific event leaves San Francisco in ruins, the Avengers have been disbanded. However, an even bigger evil threatens the planet five years later, and it's up to you to assemble the crew and save the world once again.



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