If you've been looking to stream games to your phone using Google Stadia and the Stadia Controller up until now, you've had to pair your devices using a charging cable. Not any more!
The Google Stadia Controller now finally works wirelessly with Android phones, meaning that you can play your titles on the go without the need for a tethering cable between the two.
You'll need the latest version of the Stadia mobile app for this to work, and you'll have to make sure both controller and handset are on the same Wi-Fi connection. But once that's done, you'll be streaming away wirelessly.
Project xCloud: Microsoft's cloud streaming service explained
Stadia improvements
It's a handy update, not least of all because it frees your phone's charging port during play, letting you hook it up to a wall for extended sessions.
Google Stadia is slowly improving as a service, with the breadth of its gaming catalogue growing, its Pro subscription offering improving, and its hardware getting the features that were promised at launch. As well as a wider array of Android phones being fully supported, all new-ish Android handsets can use Stadia in an 'experimental' mode, while the controller's Google Assistant button finally can be used – if not in the 'get-gaming-tips' way that was initially teased.
It seems like moving to custom chipsets is the next trend to hit the consumer tech space, as now Xiaomi might be looking to bring its own SoCs to upcoming smartphones.
This isn’t the first time we’re hearing of Xiaomi looking to design custom chipsets. In fact, it successfully did so in 2017 with the Surge S1, but it failed to make a mark. The division was eventually shut and no successors were developed. A new report claims that Xiaomi might be at it once again, this time with the help of MediaTek.
(Image credit: Digital Chat Station (via Weibo))
Digital Chat Station, a popular leakster on Weibo, suggests that Xiaomi’s and MediaTek’s partnership goes beyond the current crop of smartphones which are powered by the Dimensity chipsets, and are actually working on a custom chipset for an upcoming product.
This information is yet to be confirmed by either of the parties, so take it with a grain of salt. If it does materialise, the Xiaomi-designed chipset will most likely power an entry-level or a mid-range device. While the process is extremely difficult, it lets OEMs have significantly higher hardware-software synergy. It remains to be seen what Xiaomi will be able to pull off with custom silicon.
MediaTek has shown a great turnaround in recent years, starting with the MediaTek Helio G90 series which brought a great gaming experience to the affordable segment. The new Dimensity series took that a step further by adding 5G capabilities to the mix. The new Redmi 10X was the first smartphone to be powered by the Dimensity 820 chipset, when it launched last month. In fact, Xiaomi is also rumoured to be working on a Dimensity 1000 Plus-powered 5G flagship for later this year.
Along with the aforementioned benefits, moving to custom chipsets also helps smartphone manufacturers reduce their dependency on other suppliers. After looking at Huawei’s plight, it doesn’t come as a surprise that other Chinese companies are also working towards vertical integration.
Samsung could be eyeing to place third-party OLED displays on its budget M series of smartphones to cut overall costs. Latest tip from the CEO of Display Supply Chain consultants suggests that the company will ditch its in-house display technology on the upcoming Galaxy M51.
According to Ross Young, Samsung has already placed orders for the OLED displays to China Star Optoelectronics Technology (CSOT). The reason for the switch could be higher cumulative costs that the company might be bearing on the budget device.
He says the displays will start shipping from this month i.e July 2020. While it is understandable that the company can’t go back to LCD after offering AMOLED on its predecessors. The AMOLED panels of the sister company, the Samsung Display, remain quite expensive till date due to the mass production capacity and unmatched quality they offer.
This deal is a bit surprising as earlier reports said that the rumoured Galaxy M41 was cancelled because the displays for the device from the same company did not meet Samsung's quality control standards. However, going by Ross’s tweets, it seems like CSOT has cleared all the technical hurdles and convinced the South Korean giant for a deal.
He also adds that the company might save a few dollars off the users’ pockets as a result of this historic deal and pricing it aggressively. Regarding the device, early renders in March speculated that device could have a 6.5-inch OLED infinity-O display.
This was followed by a Geekbench listing which hinted that the device could sport Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 675 SoC paired with 8GB of RaM onboard. The model number SM-M515F was similar on the lines of earlier launched Galaxy M31 which had the model number SM-M315F.
Samsung is likely to retain the 64MP sensor found on the M31, while offering a similar quad-camera setup on the back. Additionally, it will have a bigger battery and host storage variants up to 128GB.
We might have to wait a bit more as we approach the rumoured September launch to know about the device.
Bengaluru-based foodtech company Swiggy has unveiled its own digital wallet, named ‘Swiggy Money’, to enable a ‘single-click checkout experience’ on its platform.
In a press release, Swiggy said that it was launching the full-fledged digital wallet in partnership with ICICI Bank and will enable Swiggy customers to store money and use for all food orders on Swiggy.
If the Swiggy customer happens to be existing ICICI Bank customers, they can instantly start using the wallet, the release said.
ICICI Bank’s ‘insta wallet service’ powers this wallet and is built on a cloud platform with API integration – Swiggy can instantly create a wallet for its customers.
In case of non-ICICI Bank customers, they can also start using this immediately by accrediting themselves through a government-approved ID to ICICI Bank.
‘Swiggy Money’ users can top-up their wallet using various banking instruments, the company said and added that users would be allowed a single click purchase without multiple authentications.
In the event of food order value exceeding the wallet balance, users will be given with a ‘split-pay’ option which will enable making payment through a combination of money from their wallet and another payment source/instruments to complete the transaction.
Anand Agrawal, VP Products, Swiggy, said, “providing the best payment and refunds experience is an integral move in tightening up the ordering experience and maintaining best-in-industry repeat rates on our platform that now offers multiple hyperlocal delivery services."
Bijith Bhaskar, Head- Digital Channels & Partnership, ICICI Bank, said, “We are delighted to bring in the industry-first instant digital wallet ‘Swiggy Money’ in association with Swiggy. It offers the convenience of single-click checkout experience to Swiggy’s large consumer base."
He added that this was their third offering, jointly with Swiggy. "A year ago, we had customised an industry-first UPI led payment solution for Swiggy’s delivery partners to transfer funds. We had also introduced UPI-led instant one-click payment for millions of Swiggy’s customers.”
Pivoting for survival
Ever since the lockdown kicked in, Swiggy, which is in 500 cities across India, has come under enormous pressure. With food orders dwindling due to the closure of and restrictions on restuarants, Swiggy had to fire hundreds of its employees across the country.
Swiggy is forced to look beyond food delivery not just because of the pandemic, but also due to the move by restarants to cut down on their dependence on Swiggy and Zomato.
It had to also quickly pivot across businesses. Its newly launched services include ‘Swiggy Grocery’ and ‘Swiggy Genie’.
Swiggy Grocery hopes to tap into the huge demand for home deliverly of groceries due to the curtailment in mobility owing to the lockdown. Swiggy, on its app, under the ‘Grocery’ tab, allows consumers to directly view available stores in their locality and order and get 'no-contact delivery'.
Swiggy Genie offers pickup and drop-off services of packages within select cities. It also delivers essentials, like OTC drugs, to consumers within the city.
Swiggy believes that its new initiatives will help keep revenue and other business metrics up to compensate for the sharp dip in food delivery orders. It is bravely investing money afresh for positioning itself as a mobile-screen conglomerate.
European retailers are no longer allowed to sell digital download codes for Nintendo first-party titles from today (July 1), which means consumers are at the mercy of the Nintendo Switch eShop’s prices if they want to buy Nintendo’s games digitally.
Previously, retailers could sell digital download codes of first-party Nintendo games such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Super Mario Odyssey, which could then be redeemed on the Nintendo eShop. These digital download codes would often be cheaper than buying a game directly through the Nintendo eShop, which tend to be full price bar the odd 30% discount during a sale.
Historically, Nintendo has been reluctant to discount its games amid fears it reduces the value of its intellectual properties. Similar to Disney's model, which rarely sells its DVDs and Blu-Ray discs for cheap, the company understands that gamers can't find these titles anywhere else, so a price cut is often seen as detrimental long term.
The controversial move was revealed by UK online retailer ShopTo.net, who revealed they were no longer able to offer/sell digital download codes of Nintendo games.
Hi, just to let everyone know, due to a Nintendo decision for all EMEA territories, as from Tomorrow 30/06/20 at 23:00 we are no longer able to offer/sell Nintendo digital full games.We will however, be continuing to offer/sell online membership and add ons, so, with this in… pic.twitter.com/11hrqvEU1mJune 29, 2020
More coins required
So why is Nintendo making it more expensive to buy games digitally in Europe? In a statement provided to Nintendo Life, Nintendo said it has ended digital download code sales for its “own-published software” after “careful examination of the evolving European marketplace in recent years.”
But what about if you buy physical Nintendo Switch games? Well, they’ll still be a lot cheaper than buying digitally, but frustratingly, Nintendo first-party games refuse to drop in price, despite often being many years old. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is still £47.99 on Amazon, for example, which was released in 2007.
Thankfully, Nintendo's decision only applies to first-party titles and won't affect games by third-party publishers, Nintendo eShop funds, Nintendo Switch Online memberships, and DLC add-on content.
The Poco M2 Pro is now confirmed to launch in India next week, on July 7. Just like the Poco X2, it will make its global debut here, this time in the budget segment.
The landing page for the Poco M2 is already live on Flipkart. The teaser shows off a quad-camera setup on the rear with an LED flash. The teaser says “Feel the surge” which is probably referring to the charging speed on the device. Further, the landing page also says “Felt the surge with speed?” which is most likely hinting towards the processor of the device.
The Poco M2 Pro was spotted on Xiaomi’s RF Exposure page back in May but was soon removed from the listing. The device was also spotted on the Wi-Fi Alliance and Bluetooth SIG databases with M2003J6CI model number.
Interestingly, the teaser image looks very similar to the global variant Redmi Note 9 launched recently. This could be an indication that the device will be a rebranded one, but internal specifications could vary.
To make the case even stronger, the declaration ID for the Poco M2 Pro matches that of Redmi Note 9 series on Bluetooth SIG listing. This development has led to the speculation that Redmi M2 Pro might be a rebranded Redmi Note 9 Pro. It is slightly different than the Indian variant that launched in March.
For context, the global version of the Redmi Note 9 Pro comes with a 64MP Samsung GW1 primary camera setup instead of a 48MP quad-camera array. It also comes with a 30W fast charging support instead of 18W on the regular Redmi Note 9 Pro. The global version also gets NFC support. And, lastly, it is powered by Snapdragon 720G chipset and flaunts a 6.67-inch Full HD+ display.
The specifications of the Poco M2 Pro are currently unknown, but it is expected to be priced lower than the Redmi Note 9 Pro and the Poco X2 in India.
In early 2014 a package landed on my desk. Inside was a phone from a company I admittedly knew little about at the time, which came with the company's bold claim to 'Never Settle', and a self-conferred 'Flagship Killer' tag. The OnePlus One had arrived.
I was skeptical, but using the phone changed my mind. In our review, we said "the OnePlus One's performance-to-price ratio is one of the most impressive we've ever seen in a smartphone […] we can't see a better – or cheaper – alternative."
What followed was a procession of affordable flagships, improving with each generation as OnePlus moved from 2 to 3 to 5 (there was no OnePlus 4); however, not all changes were well received by the company's growing fanbase.
OnePlus began to introduce 'T' models, starting with the OnePlus 3T, which arrived six months after a new flagship generation with minimal upgrades, and each new handset tended to come with a higher price tag than the last.
As the prices of OnePlus' handsets continued to climb, the 'flagship killer' was becoming just another flagship manufacturer. Its latest generation of phones, the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro, are excellent high-end devices, but they're also the firm's most expensive to date.
The vocal OnePlus community began voicing their frustrations at the ever-increasing price tags. OnePlus had started out as an underdog, taking on an industry that was continuously pushing prices up, and fans feared that OnePlus had lost its way.
Now, OnePlus wants to set the record straight. It's launching a new line of affordable phones, the first of which is the OnePlus Nord.
We sat down with Carl Pei, the Assistant Head of OnePlus Nord, for an exclusive chat about the new handset, and what it means for consumers and fans of the brand.
Why now?
This isn't the first time that OnePlus has launched a more affordable device on the heels of a flagship phone. Back in 2015, three months after the arrival of the OnePlus 2, it launched the cheaper OnePlus X.
That handset failed to gain traction however, and was discontinued just seven months later. As Pei admits, "[the OnePlus X] was great in its own right, but not a great product for that target audience of core techies."
The affordable OnePlus X was short-lived(Image credit: TechRadar)
Five years later, and OnePlus is venturing back into mid-range territory. It's seen a growth in its audience (and prices) in that time, and is confident that it's now in the right place, technology-wise, to make its new offering a success.
"We've been looking at the mid-range smartphone market for a while," Pei tells us.
"It's just that we felt like the technology wasn't really there to be able to create a mid-range product that also lives up to our 'Never Settle' philosophy. But we're pretty confident that this time around the OnePlus Nord will do just that."
Comparisons will be drawn between the Nord and the X, and understandably so, but OnePlus is adamant that this is a new chapter for the company, rather than a nostalgia trip.
In a message to the media on June 23, 2020, OnePlus Founder and CEO Pete Lau, said: "To be clear, this is not a reactionary attempt to 'go back to our roots', as some people have speculated.
"And since our 'roots' are actually in creating the best flagship smartphones, I see this part of our strategy as an important extension of the OnePlus value proposition."
Whether or not you agree with Lau's comments, OnePlus is clear that it's looking to continue its flagship offering alongside a more affordable range of new products – starting with the OnePlus Nord.
How much?
With a growing audience, OnePlus now has more people to please, and its current high-end offerings have priced out some fans – something which they haven't been shy about communicating to OnePlus.
"There's a need from other consumers for a more accessibly priced OnePlus product," Pei continues. "I'm sure you've seen the comments online, people have been asking [for a more affordable phone] for the past couple of years."
Lau confirmed separately to TechRadar that the OnePlus Nord price will be €500 in Europe, and OnePlus later confirmed the Nord price would come in "below $500" (about £410 / AU$730), which sees it go head to head with the new iPhone SE as well as devices from Chinese rivals, including the Honor 20 Pro, Oppo Reno 2 and Xiaomi Mi Note 10.
Lau also revealed, in a post on the OnePlus Forum, that the OnePlus Nord would arrive in Europe and India first, while "a select number of users in North America will also get a chance to experience the new device through a highly limited beta program after launch".
What's on offer?
Now that we know the OnePlus Nord name, how much it'll set you back, and where it will be available first, what does this affordable handset actually offer?
The OnePlus Nord boils down to three things; camera, user experience and the OnePlus quality
"For us, this product really boils down to three things," Pei explains. "The first being the camera […] the second thing is our user experience [...] and I think the third part is the OnePlus quality."
One of the main reasons Pei believes the OnePlus Nord will be able to compete in a crowded mid-range market is its flagship camera proposition.
"We've seen that [the] camera is probably the most used feature of a smartphone," he says. "It's the number one use case, so if we wanted to create a great product, the camera had to be great.
"With the OnePlus Nord we're bringing a flagship-level camera to the mid-range price range, which I think consumers are going to be really excited by."
For now, we don't know what the camera hardware will be, but it's not the company's only focus. OnePlus has found that consumers are fans of its Oxygen OS interface, and the range of optimization and customization it allows.
Speaking to the user experience aspect of the OnePlus Nord, Pei notes that "it's not only the hardware, but also how we optimize the software, the animations, to make sure that every part of it flows really seamlessly."
The third point is design, and what Pei describes as 'the OnePlus quality.' OnePlus is banking on its brand power to lure consumers to its affordable handset, with the promise of the same high standards as its flagship line.
"We wanted to bring out a mid-range smartphone that really lives up to the OnePlus quality," he explains. "All the testing is done exactly to the flagship standard, so when consumers buy a OnePlus product at a more reasonable price point, they can expect the exact same rigorous quality testing that all our flagship phones undergo."
A separate, dedicated team within OnePlus has been created to solely focus on the new mid-range product line, which Pei says will allow the company to get "every little detail right, as we did on the flagship [phones].
"This attention to detail is going to be something that really sets us apart," he continues, "and there's countless small little stories about the things we've done, the tweaks that we've done.
"I don't think any of them are really worth mentioning or talking about at length, but the hope is when the consumer gets the phone, [while] they might not know every little thing we've done to build this product, they're surely gonna feel it."
The driving force
Pei isn't revealing the specifics of the cameras, software or design just yet, but he did reveal what will be powering the user experience on the OnePlus Nord.
The OnePlus Nord uses Qualcomm's Snapdragon 765G chipset
The phone will come with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 765G chipset, and it's this piece of tech that has unlocked the potential for an affordable OnePlus device without the company making too many compromises – don't forget that 'Nettle Settle' mantra.
While it's not Qualcomm's flagship-tier chip, the 765G sits between the flagship 8 and mid-range 6 series, and packs many of the features of the higher-end chipset. We found the 765G performed well in our LG Velvet review, which should bode well for the OnePlus Nord.
The OnePlus Nord is a 5G phone
The inclusion of the 765G chipset means the Nord will also be 5G-enabled, allowing users to take advantage of the next-generation network if they live in a coverage area.
Pei believes that the inclusion of 5G on the mid-range Nord "is more about ease of mind, it's more about future-proofing," rather than offering bleeding-edge technology to the early adopters who are usually drawn to flagship devices.
It's for consumers who know that 5G is coming, and know it's not fully rolled out yet, but want the security of knowing that if they buy the Nord they'll be ready for when 5G is widely available.
Does OnePlus have the right ingredients for mid-range success? Unsurprisingly, Pei believes so, saying "based on our understanding of what makes a great phone, I think this is it.
"A great camera, a really fast, smooth and fluid experience, and a device made by somebody you trust to make a good phone. That's the entire concept behind the first product, the OnePlus Nord."
OnePlus is talking a good game, and the OnePlus Nord price pitches it at an exciting point in the market; and it also makes it comfortably cheaper than the OnePlus 8 series, providing a clear distinction between the ranges.
Whether or not the Nord takes off remains to be seen. We've seen great interest in our reporting on the OnePlus 8 Lite and OnePlus Z rumors, which suggests that there is consumer interest in an affordable OnePlus smartphone – but that doesn't guarantee sales.
We'll have to wait for more details of the OnePlus Nord to drop, and until we get the handset in for review, before we can properly comment on this new direction for the brand.
OnePlus isn't stopping there though. As we've already mentioned, Lau has hinted at affordable devices destined for North America further down the line, and back in May of this year, during an interview with Fast Company, he also revealed that OnePlus is looking to diversify its product ranges to create its own ecosystem along the lines of Apple's.
The firm already produces its own Bullets earbuds range, it's launched the OnePlus TV in India, and it sounds like there's even more to come from the firm in the near future. The affordable OnePlus Nord is just the start.
Most of the outdoor activities have come to a halt for the past few months due to Covid-19 outbreak and lockdown across the country. In an effort to stay up in the current scenario, BookMyShow has launched its own online streaming platform in India called BookMyShow Online.
The platform will also host live performances and has hosted over 30 events at scale, including the first-ever global virtual tours of Latin musician Willie Gomez, Australian pop band The Buckleys as also American music artist Taylor Castro’s performances.
The platform is also set to host the first-ever virtual music festival in India. The Sunburn Home Festival will be done virtually this time and will be Asia’s biggest dance and music festival. The festival will feature top DJs from across the globe with 3D animations and special effects. The platform will also bring close to real-life experience with the production of stage, lights, LED, lasers, special effects and more. The Sunburn Home Festival is slated for July 11 and 12, with tickets starting at Rs 99.
Furthermore, the platform will also include both paid and free performances across music, comedy, and other performing arts. You can watch your favourite musician or standup comedian straight from your living room. This also gives an opportunity for artists to stream their live performances directly which in turn will help them reach and engage with millions of their fans in India and globally.
The platform will bring all the performance and entertainment into virtual entertainment. It will be more seamless and quality-driven. The BookMyShow Online will be available in India as well as other countries like the USA, North America, UK, Germany, UAE, South East Asia, and West Indies.
The new streaming feature will run across BookMyShow’s app and web platforms. The company has teamed up with Brightcove to stream and deliver videos on the platform.
The India-China jousting, it seems, is shifting to the cyber frontier. Close on the heels of banning 59 Chinese apps, the Indian government has issued an informal warning to companies and its own systems to be on the vigil as it fears "intensified cybersecurity attacks from China."
According to a news report in Economic Times that quotes an unnamed senior government official saying, "among all the sectors, power, telecom and financial services are being monitored even more closely, given their exposure to Chinese infrastructure."
The report further sounded a warning bell that since India had so far permitted the Chinese to invest in critical infrastructure, especially in communications and power, those can get vulnerable as "the Chinese have keys to those networks in the country".
And even more direly, the report noted that the Chinese using that access may also try to weed into the financial sector.
Quite frankly, New Delhi expects China to foment problem from remote locations. It foresees retaliatory attacks for the bans slapped on the apps.
In the event, the government is beefing up its monitoring systems. And quite pointedly, the official also said the government would "focus on companies that are funded by Chinese investors, although the degree of surveillance may vary."
But allegations of Chinese State or non-State actors trying to attack cyber systems is not exactly new.
Just last week, the officials in the Indian State of Maharashtra claimed that hackers based in China attempted over 40,000 cyber attacks on India's information technology infrastructure and banking sector over just five days.
The spurt in online attacks from across the border was noticed after tensions rose between the two countries in eastern Ladakh.
India also warned its citizens of possible phishing attacks and issued an advisory on it.
There could be phishing attempts by impersonating, online, government agencies, departments and trade associations overseeing the disbursement of government fiscal aid, officials had said.
One such fraudulent email ID was found to be "ncov2019@gov.in'' which sent bogus information about free Covid-19 testing for residents of Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai and Ahmedabad.
The officials also cited complaints about data on Indian users being transferred abroad without authorisation.
According to one statistics, cyber threats in India had increased six-fold since the lockdown began on March 25.
Some people are asking what will we achieve by banning Chinese apps...1) Prevent a potential cyber attack2) Protect data and privacy of users3) Convey that Indian youth is India's asset; not theirs4) And send warning that this is just a beginning..Don't take us for grantedSome people are asking what will we achieve by banning Chinese apps...1) Prevent a potential cyber attack2) Protect data and privacy of users3) Convey that Indian youth is India's asset; not theirs4) And send warning that this is just a beginning..Don't take us for grantedJune 30, 2020June 30, 2020
Chinese surveillance equipment under surveillance
Meanwhile, in an ironical twist, questions are also being asked about some surveillance equipment of Chinese-make being used by the Indian State to keep tabs on people for purported security purposes.
Experts believe that surveillance devices made in China and are used in government and private offices will be next on the radar.
Cybersecurity experts also warned people to be careful against downloading spurious apps in their eagerness to replace banned Chinese apps. They fear people might end up having even more harmful clones on their phones and other digital systems.
Facebook Avatars have finally made its way to India. As the name suggests, Avatars lets users create a unique virtual persona which can be personalized based on your preference and can be used as a profile image, Stories, Messenger comments and even WhatsApp.
With an aim to increase interactions, Avatars supports a variety of faces, hairstyles and even clothing outfits customized especially for Indian users.
While this is an interesting feature, however, it is not so unique and was first introduced by Snapchat called Bitmoji. Taking a cue from Snapchat several other companies introduced the option to create a personalized animated version including Apple, Xiaomi etc.
Facebook Avatars help users share emotions and expressions with a personal touch. This is the digital version that you can customize as per your mood and preference. The option to create an Avatar is only available on the mobile devices, hence to create your Facebook Avatar:
Go to Menu. Three parallel lines on the bottom right on iOS and Top right on Android devices
Scroll down and tap on “See More”
Select Avatars
Tap Next and then you can customize your avatar based on the skin colour, hairstyle, eyewear, facial hair, outfit, etc
Once done, tap on the checkmark on the top right corner
Tap Next and then Done
Alternate method :
Tap on comment composer text field
Tap on the “Smiley” icon
Swipe left to access the Stickers tab
Click on “Create your Avatar” button
Customise and create your Avatar
To use the Avatar that you’ve just created, you can tap the Smiley icon in the Write a comment section and access the avatar.
Google has finally started rolling out the Nearby sharing feature that Android users have been waiting for so long. And although it's on beta, reports indicate that the company has started testing the new Nearby Sharing feature by rolling it out to a select few Android users now after testing it underground for a while.
Google has even confirmed to Android Police that the limited beta testing for the service has begun and users will have to be on the Beta version of the Google Play services to initially qualify for this. However, the online publication observed that the update also has a server-side component for the test which is why many users won’t be able to spot the feature right away despite opting for the beta program.
Talking about the feature itself, it is probably a better answer for the AirDrop by allowing users to quickly share files, links across the devices with just a tap. The feature on the latest 20.26.12 version of Google Play services beta seems to appear as an app in the Share settings as of now.
Tapping it for the first time in the Share menu opens a page where users can toggle on the service, name and visibility settings. Post this, the future will look for devices near-by and tapping on a contact will pop a small window on the receiver’s phone and after both the user’s consent file gets transferred. The feature can also be accessed via Quick settings menu in the notification panel.
Currently files including documents, images and links like Twitter also seem to be supported and Android Police says that the respective app will automatically open the file on completion.
While the service is rolling out only to a limited number of users currently, Google has said that the feature will be widely available on devices running Android 6.0+ and be supported across platforms like Windows, Mac and Chrome OS when it rolls out to a wider audience.
Headphones have flooded the market, and it’s difficult to know which ones to pick – especially if you’re a first time buyer. Here, we’ll help you weigh up whether you should buy top-of-the-line, or if a cheaper set will suffice.
While it’s tempting to buy a set of super cheap headphones, it’s worth remembering that they are inexpensive for a reason. But as you’ll see below, getting your hands on a decent pair of headphones doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Especially when you have us to do the digging for you.
To save you the time and effort, we’ve put together this dedicated guide to the best bargains on great-sounding headphones. We constantly monitor major Aussie retailers to bring you the most worthwhile deals on a variety of sets – from in-ear buds to noise-cancelling cans from the most popular brands – so check out our continually updated list below to discover the best current headphones deals in Australia.
Find great bargains and compare Australian prices on the latest tech atGetprice.
Sony’s best known set of headphones are the stellar WH-1000XM3, but they come with a suitably premium price tag. This more affordable offering from Sony has good sound quality and noise-cancelling tech, though they aren’t quite up to scratch with Sony’s top tier offering. That said, if you don’t want to drop AU$350 on a set of headphones, these could make for a worthwhile alternative. Available from The Good Guys with AU$130 saved.View Deal
In-ear headphones
Sony WF-1000XM3| from AU$278 (RRP AU$479.95; save up to AU$201.95)
These are Sony’s true wireless ‘buds and they’re just as exceptional as their over-ear siblings. Sony managed to squeeze active noise cancellation and a great battery into these earbuds – no small feat. If you’re ready to cut the cord, the silver set is discounted on Amazon.View Deal
Jabra Elite 65t| from AU$149 (RRP AU$249; save up to AU$100)
These excellent true wireless 'buds have been discounted on Amazon for a very long time, although they had dropped as low as AU$143 a while back. While this isn't as great a deal at just a few dollars more than its lowest offer, these 'buds are a great bargain for the comfortable fit and brilliant bassy sound quality.View Deal
This is the workout version of the Jabra Elite 65t. With that in mind, these true wireless ‘buds have a built-in motion sensor to track your steps and an IP56 rating which promises to resist sweat while you’re busy getting the blood pumping. These in-ears have great sound quality too, as we’ve come to expect from Jabra.View Deal
These earbuds get a number of upgrades on their predecessors: a whopping 11-hour battery life, a dual-driver design for improved audio and support for iOS users. The Buds Plus don’t have noise cancellation tech, which could be a dealbreaker for some, but instead they’re offering a price point that goes relatively easy on the wallet. Discount only available in blue.View Deal
Looking for active noise cancellation without feeling the weight of a set of cans on your head? Then Bose's QC30 Bluetooth 'buds might be what you're after. You get the brand's signature sound quality and a neckband design that offer more security than true wireless headphones. You'll get up to 10 hours of battery life per charge and save a very decent AU$150 on these premium 'buds when shopping on Amazon.View Deal
The best deals on our favourite headphones
To help you decide which headphones work best for you, we’ve decided to put together a little buying guide with a list of our favourite recommendations.
The headphones you’ll find here have tons of features to help you to get the most out of your music, or any other form of audio-visual entertainment you prefer, however you like to listen to it.
(Image credit: Sony)
Our favourite overall headphones (and noise-cancelling too): Sony WH-1000XM3
The Sony WH-1000XM3 noise-cancelling headphones are the best you can buy – for now, anyway. They’re very much in line with what we’ve seen from Sony in the past two years, and with this model the electronics giant has managed to improve on some already fantastic sets. The noise cancellation these headphones have can beat anything Bose has to offer with ease. That’s because Sony has dedicated time to perfecting audio playback and its noise-cancelling technology. However, their crown could soon be handed over, as rumours of a Sony WH-1000XM4 release date have been circling. We’ll see what 2020 brings.
JBL is a name you’ve probably heard in the affordable audio space. The brand consistently puts out good quality speakers and headphones with an even better price tag to match. Our previous pick on this list was the JBL Live 650BTNC, but there’s now a worthy successor to take their place – the JBL Tune 750BTNC. These noise-cancelling headphones sound great, look great, and they’re comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Maybe some might miss waterproofing and a few minor features but, at this price, it might be foolish to complain.
Our favourite true wireless earbuds: Sony WF-1000XM3
The true wireless headphone jungle has a new noise-cancelling king
Weight: 70g | Frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz | Drivers: 6mm | Driver type: Dome Type | Sensitivity: N/A | Impedance: N/A | Battery life (charging case): 18 hours | Wireless range: 30ft | NFC: Yes
Efficient noise cancellation
Inconspicuous looks
Great fun to listen to
Not suitable for sports
It’s still rather rare to get ANC in wired earbuds at all, yet Sony has managed to squeeze best-in-class noise cancellation tech into these ‘buds that have cut the cord – and that’s no small feat to achieve. And then there’s the battery life – Sony has even managed to pack above-average battery life in here, offering up to six hours of playback on a single charge of the ‘buds alone. And then there’s more to go in the charging case as well. While the WF-1000XM3 won’t offer the same level of noise cancellation that you’ll find in their over-ear counterparts mentioned above, they offer a sleek form factor, and an alternative for those who don’t enjoy carrying around full-sized cans.
If you’re looking to amp up your fitness routine with an energetic soundtrack, our top pick would be the Beats Powerbeats Pro. These true wireless earbuds fit comfortably on and around the ear, thanks to their close-fitting hook design, and they don’t seem to ever fall out – important when you’re in the middle of a workout. They also have an IPX4 sweatproof rating, a long battery life of nine hours on a full charge and sound fantastic whether you’re in the gym or at home. What’s not to love?
Update(July 1): Vivo has started teasing the X50 series on Twitter. The Vivo X50 series is now confirmed to launch in India.
The Vivo X50 series gained a lot of attention earlier this month. The X50 series was unveiled in China on June 2. Now, Vivo X50 series is all set to make its way to India next month.
A report from 91mobiles, citing a retailer confirmed that the new Vivo X50 series will be launching in India in July. This will also make Vivo’s comeback into the premium segment after a long time.
It is no surprise that the device is coming to India. In fact, Vivo India's CEO had already confirmed that the Vivo X50 series will launch in India on his Facebook page. The report has posted a 10-second short video which says the device is “coming soon”. But, it doesn’t mention the region or the launch date yet.
(Image credit: Vivo)
Vivo X50 Series
The launch will mark the return of Vivo’s X series to India after over two years, with the last one being the Vivo X21 in 2018. The Vivo X50 series consists of three smartphones: Vivo X50, X50 Pro, and X50 Pro Plus.
The Vivo X50 Pro is a camera-centric premium mid-ranger which will be powered by the Snapdragon 765G with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. If the same specifications make it to India, it will be one of the first phones in the country to sport this chipset.
All three X50 series device sport a 6.56-inch display. The X50 and X50 Pro feature 90Hz refresh rate while the X50 Pro Plus features a 120Hz refresh rate. Also, the Plus model is powered by the flagship Snapdragon 865 chipset with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage.
The X50 Pro features 48MP + 13MP + 8MP + 8MP quad-camera setup with gimbal camera system on the primary sensor. X50 Pro's built-in gimbal module moves in the opposite direction of shaking motions, providing increased stability for the main camera.
Pricing
The Vivo X50 starts at 3498 Yuan in China which is around Rs 37,400. We should hear more on the launch date from Vivo India in the coming days.
Even when we're out camping or going off the grid, we're surrounded by countless gadgets and devices. And when those devices lose power, we notice. Unfortunately, we're usually left with little alternative but to tough it out.
To wait out power outages, and to leave all our electronics behind while we're on the road. Sure, that may be appealing to some people. But most of us wouldn't kill for a few creature comforts even while roughing it in the woods.
That's where Bluetti comes in. A brand founded on over a decade of industry experience in clean power generation, they've just kicked off an IndieGoGo campaign for an exciting new eco-friendly backup power system. Known as the Bluetti AC200, it's clean, quiet, and packs an incredible punch, with the capacity to power up to 17 devices simultaneously with a total output of 2000 Watts and a capacity of 1700Wh.
That's enough to power your entire kitchen, or charge up a Tesla for an eleven-mile drive.
(Image credit: Bluetti)
The Bluetti AC200 is armed with an intelligent temperature-controlled cooling fan and features a built-in touchscreen interface that lets you both configure and monitor the generator. It's chargeable in just a few hours via AC, solar, car, gas generator, or lead-acid battery. It's all about which is the easiest option for you.
That said, solar is the recommended route. You can charge the AC200 to full in just three and a half hours via its 700 W (35-150V) solar input. And if you absolutely need to top up fast, you can even charge the power station via both solar and AC power simultaneously, which takes approximately two hours.
If specs alone aren't enough to convince you of this product's merits, however, here are a few reasons we're excited about it ourselves - and why you should be too.
Slash your electric bill
(Image credit: Bluetti)
Some of our most important appliances and devices are also some of the most notorious power hogs. Have you ever thought about how much a portable air conditioner, a refrigerator, a desktop PC, or even a laptop can jack up your electric bill? You might be surprised.
The Bluetti AC200 lets you worry less about those numbers. Its small form factor makes it ideal for use around the house, and it's capable of powering a 150W refrigerator for approximately 13-26 hours or lighting for more than two days. In other words, put it wherever you're using the most electricity - whether that's your kitchen, den, or office.
Provided you're using solar power to recharge your power station, you can cut a considerable chunk off your monthly bill.
Go green
(Image credit: Bluetti)
Many portable or emergency power generators either rely on diesel fuel or offer very little in the way of battery capacity. The AC200 has no such shortcomings. Rather than having to maintain a noisy, high-maintenance machine that belches out pollutants with abandon, you'll instead be able to rely upon solar energy.
You won't be sacrificing efficiency in doing so, either. The AC200 takes only three and a half hours to charge fully via a 700W solar panel. In other words, if you're looking to reduce your environmental footprint, this is the way to do so.
Take the party on the road
(Image credit: Bluetti)
Because of its flexibility and portability, the AC200 makes for an incredible companion on camping trips, road trips, and festivals. You might bust out a sound system to spice up a tailgating party, spin up a portable air conditioner to keep your campsite cool in the summer, or set up your TV and PS4 for some gaming while you're getting back to nature.
Either way, it's easy to bring with you wherever you go. This also makes it ideal for tradespeople, who may be going to sites where there's not always a readily-available power hookup. Rather than having to fiddle around with extension cords or bulky generators, you can simply pop out the AC200 and hookup whatever tools you need to run.
It's also a great option for people living off the grid in a motor home or camper van thanks to a 12V 25A RV DC port. Rated at 12V/10 amps, it's capable of charging car appliances such as tire pumps and car fridges for all your DIY needs.
Count on quality
(Image credit: Bluetti)
Bluetti prides itself on excellence. That's why the AC200 has a top-grade LG auto battery cell. Coupled with the power station's built-in battery management system, this allows the power station to both maximize its battery life and protect your devices against overloading and overcharging.
Beyond that, All AC200 Portable Power Stations are subjected to an incredibly strict quality control process. Before it's released, each system undergoes more than 1,000 different tests and inspections to ensure they're of the utmost quality. These tests include vibration, hot and cold shock, prolonged temperature, impact testing, accessory wire bending, and more.
Protect what matters most
(Image credit: Bluetti)
Most personal medical devices such as CPAP machines have at least some built-in protections against power surges and power interruptions. With that said, it's always better to be safe than sorry, especially if you're planning to travel. Whether you're treating sleep apnea or utilizing a home dialysis machine, you can rest assured that the AC200 will keep you powered up and online via a battery backup - and better yet, the quiet nature of the power system means you won't need to worry about interrupting your sleep to do it.
Enjoy an unbeatable price
Whether you're a tailgater looking to add some excitement to their next party, a camper who wants some more creature comforts on their next trip, or simply a homeowner who wants to have power during a blackout, the AC200 Portable Power Station is a perfect choice.
As you might expect, something like this doesn't come cheap, retailing at approximately $1,800. We've saved the best for last, in that regard. If you back the product on IndieGoGo now, you can score a pretty cool discount while supplies last.
Early Bird Discount
Back the product on IndieGoGo to get a great discount (while supplies last.)View Deal
In short, not only are you getting a revolutionary solar power system that's quiet, clean, and efficient, you're getting it at an incredible discount – what's not to love?
Realme Buds Q is the company’s third and most affordable pair of TWS which was launched in India recently along with Realme X3 series. Today, the Realme Buds Q will go on sale for the first time.
The Realme Buds Q will go on sale via Amazon today for the first time at 12 noon. It is priced at Rs 1,999. Since this is the first sale, the product might sell out soon. So, it’s better if you are on the site a few minutes before.
On paper, the Realme Buds Q looks pretty impressive and is targeted at the affordable segment. It will take on the Redmi Earbuds S which is priced slightly lower than the Buds Q. The Realme Buds Q was unveiled in China last month along with the other seven products.
The Realme Buds Q has an in-ear design without a stem. It has a circular shape design for the buds and the carry case which doubles up as a battery pack comes in pebble shape. It houses a 10mm bass boost drivers, with support for 119ms low latency, aka gaming mode.
It harnesses Bluetooth 5.0 along with R1Q chipset that brings instant pairing option. The battery life is rated for 4.5 hours on a single charge, with the case providing an additional four charges taking the total tally to 20 hours. The buds also offer capacitive touch controls. Colour options include black, white and yellow.
Apart from the Buds Q, Realme also sells Realme Buds Air and Realme Buds Air Neo which are priced at Rs 3,999 and Rs 2,999 respectively.
The Realme X3 series consisting of Realme X3 and X3 Super Zoom went on sale in India yesterday for the first time on Flipkart and it was sold out quickly. It is expected to go on sale again next week.
Sony and Fujifilm are locked in a battle for tape supremacy, with the latter revealing it's preparing for tape media with an areal density of 224Gbit per square inch, which translates to a real life capacity of around 400TB.
Fujifilm - which has just announced its first Tape-as-a-Service offering - is betting on Strontium Ferrite (SrFe) as opposed to the popular Barium Ferrite, which is used in most LTO tapes, the capacity of which currently top 12TB (uncompressed) or 30TB (compressed using an industry ratio of 2.5:1).
LTO-8 will make way for LTO-9 later this year and, with the last four LTO generations shipped over the past six years, one can expect the next four (LTO-10, LTO-11, LTO-12 and LTO-13) to be available by 2026 (depending on market conditions).
At 384TB, a single LTO-13 tape is likely to be the single biggest unit of storage in the world, far outclassing hard disk drives (with capacities stalling, having grown by only 2TB per generation) and solid state drives, which reached 100TB in 2018 and then stopped growing.
It would take a very bold person indeed to bet against LTO being the first media to reach 1PB (that’s one million Gigabyte).
The biggest issue with tape has to do with accessing the right file, which is why it is seen as an archiving media above all. Transfer rates are unlikely to be an issue, with LTO-13 likely to surpass 16Gbps, but that still means you will need at least a day to fill one up, especially if the tape length surpasses 1,000m.
After being targeted by a large scale state-based cyberattack, Australia has announced that it will spend $926.1m over the next 10 years to boost its cybersecurity defenses.
The country's prime minister Scott Morrison said earlier this month that the threats against Australia are not only sophisticated but are directed towards “all levels of government, industry, political organisations, education, health, essential service providers and operators of other critical infrastructure”.
As of yet, Australia has not revealed who it believed was responsible for the recent attacks. However, three sources briefed on the matter informed Reuters that China is believed to be the country responsible though Beijing has rejected these claims. In a statement, Morrison explained why Australia is investing heavily into its cybersecurity defenses, saying:
“The federal government’s top priority is protecting our nation’s economy, national security and sovereignty. Malicious cyber activity undermines that.”
Cybersecurity investment
Of the funds that Australia will invest to improve its cybersecurity posture, $324m will be used to hire an additional 500 security experts to bolster the country's cyber intelligence agency, the Australian Directorate.
According to the country's Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds, the funding is part of a $10bn investment in cyber warfare capabilities and part of plan that was expedited following a cyberattack on Australia's parliament and three of the country's largest political parties last year.
While Australia did not publicly disclose who was responsible for the hack that occurred just months before its election, the country's intelligence agencies were able to determine that China was responsible for the cyberattack. Once again, Beijing denied that it was responsible for the attack.
Cyberattacks and other online threats continue to disrupt businesses as well as governments and it makes a great deal of sense that Australia wants to double down on its cyber defenses before it faces yet another attack.
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