<p>If we’re honest, search results shown by Google Assistant on Android smartphones have generally been quite pleasing to the eye. In an effort to make what’s good better, Google is improving the quality of its results some more so they’re visually more sophisticated and informative. The search engine giant reported a list of changes made to Google Assistant for Android in a recent blog post.</p> <p>Search results to questions like, “Events in Mountain View” or “Why is grass green?” now show up as cards with the key information more clearly presented, writes Google in its blog post. In addition, Google has enabled access to a few commonly used online tools on Google Assistant for Android. Examples of these tools include, tip calculator, metronome music pacer, bubble level, colour picker, and mortgage calculator.</p> <p>Google’s updated tools are bound to help users seeking quick reference. For a long time now, an Android user has had the ability to open up a simple calculator by typing “calculator” in their Google Search bar. Google wants to take simple yet useful features like this to the next level on its popular virtual assistant, Google Assistant. In its blog post, Google also shows how cards that previously stacked up horizontally now stack up vertically for better screen space utilisation.</p> <p>“For some questions, the most helpful response might be showing you links to a variety of sources from across the web to learn more. In these cases, you’ll see the full set of search results from the web. When relevant, these results may include the existing ads that you’d see on Search today,” writes Google in its blog post. Sadly, Google hasn’t mentioned whether this visual refresh in Google Assistant will make it to the iOS version or not.</p> <p> </p> <p>Related Read: Google I/O 2019 schedule goes live, covers Android Q, Stadia, Google Assistant</p> 
from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2WVfXcS
<p dir="ltr">WhatsApp has already taken a lot of steps to curb the dissemination of fake news on the platform and it is now testing another feature to fight the circulation of misinformation. According to WABetainfo, the company now plans to give group admins the power to stop the participants from forwarding Frequently Forwarded messages. The feature has already rolled out in the beta version 2.19.97 on the Android platform, and there is no news on the rollout on iOS.</p> <p>“This option will be available in future in Group Settings, and only administrators can see and edit it. When the feature is enabled, nobody will be able to send a frequently forwarded message in the group,” the WhatsApp observer said. Needless to say that people can copy the frequently forwarded message, and send it as a new message in as many individual groups as he/she wants to but then, this action will slow down the process.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"></p> <p>WhatsApp rolled out the Forwarding Info and Frequently Forwarded features in the beta version 2.19.80 for Android. While the Forwarding Info feature will let users know how many times a message has been forwarded, the Frequently Forwarded tag will appear on the top of the text bubble if it has been forwarded more than four times. This feature will help the user to understand when a message is very “popular” on WhatsApp. If it has been forwarded too many times, it might contain incorrect or spam information.</p> <p>Last week, WhatsApp rolled out a new privacy setting and an invite system for the app, which is aimed at giving users more control over who can add them to a group. The new privacy setting will let users select who can add them to a group by selecting from three options, “Nobody,” “My Contacts,” or “Everyone.” Not only this, the instant messaging platform also launched a new tip line in collaboration with PROTO, an India-based media skilling startup. The tip line number +91-9643-000-888 can be added by WhatsApp users and can be used to verify text messages, videos and photos circulating on the platform with regards to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.</p> <p>WhatsApp also rolled out the feature that will restrict forwarding messages to five contacts globally. This was done to curb the spread of fake news and to fight misinformation on the online messaging platform. Reportedly, the app is may soon come with an option that lets users perform a reverse image search on images forwarded to them by others. The new feature is said to use Google’s Search by Image feature to perform the reverse image search.</p> <p>Related Read:</p> <p>WhatsApp Business now available for download on iOS</p> 
<p>It’s been three years since Apple announced the iPhone SE and fans of small-screen smartphones have been waiting for a follow-up. While smartphones are growing bigger in size, there is an audience for small-screen smartphones and currently, the premium segment is limited to devices like the Samsung Galaxy S10, S10e and the Pixel 3 to name a few. The smallest iPhone is the iPhone XR and it hasn’t garnered the attention it deserves. </p> <p>If information circulating the internet is to be believed, then Apple is working on a 4.8-inch smartphone called the iPhone XE. PC Tablet says that “Our source which is closely associated with Foxconn’s manufacturing facility in India has confirmed the iPhone SE 2 is actually iPhone XE, but they are not going to make it”. The report goes on to say that the XE will have an iPhone X-like edge-to-edge 4.8” AMOLED display with the notch. The notch will house the front facing camera, earpiece and all the technical wizardry that goes into making Face ID work. Because of the presence of Face ID, just like the iPhone X and XS devices, there will be no home button on the smartphone. The report goes on to say that the smartphone will come with an aluminium back, so you can forget about wireless charging. At the back, the smartphone is speculated to house a single 12 MP camera with a ƒ/1.8 aperture. This is similar to what we have seen on the iPhone XR. The processor powering the smartphone is speculated to be the same A12 BIONIC chip powering current Apple flagship smartphones. </p> <p>There is no information on storage capacity or battery capacity of the smartphone but the report says that the iPhone XE may start at $600 and the top variant could cost as much as $800. For manufacturing of the smartphone, the report says, “The phone is supposed to be manufactured in India at a manufacturing facility of Apple’s manufacturing partner, Wistron, under Govt. of India’s “Make in India” initiative. Because Foxconn will be busy making the latest ones”</p> <p>Apple has stopped sharing sales numbers for its iPhones and speculations suggest that the next iPhone could have a square camera placement at the back. Since this year we expect Apple to rehaul the iPhone design, we can expect a smaller device to mimic the iPhone X or XS to appeal to those looking for a smaller iPhone.</p> <p>Also Read:</p> <p>Netflix removes AirPlay feature support from iOS app: Report</p> <p>Apple may launch three OLED-based iPhones in 2020: Report</p> <p>Engineering college students reportedly scammed Apple out of about Rs 6 crores</p> 
<p>Highlights:</p> Windows 10 version 1809 and higher no longer requires users to 'safely' eject USB devices Microsoft has switched the default removal policy for external storage media The default policy is now Quick removal <p> </p> <p>For nearly two decades now, the Windows user base has remained divided into two major factions: those who “safely” eject their USB storage drives before unplugging them, and those who don’t. After Microsoft’s recent support article on the matter, the former will get a chance to say, “Oh, thank god!” and the latter, a chance to say, “We told you so!” Windows 10 now uses a new default policy that no longer requires you to use the Safely Remove Hardware process before unplugging a USB storage device.</p> <p>“Windows defines two main policies, Quick removal and Better performance, that control how the system interacts with external storage devices such as USB thumb drives or Thunderbolt-enabled external drives. Beginning in Windows 10 version 1809, the default policy is Quick removal. In earlier versions of Windows the default policy was Better performance,” writes Microsoft in its recent support article. "If you select Better performance, we recommend that you also select Enable write caching on the device," Microsoft adds.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"></p> <p style="text-align: center;">The two removal policies for external storage media</p> <p>The Quick removal policy keeps storage operations going in such a way that USB storage devices can be unplugged at any time without needing the Safely Remove Hardware process. On the other hand, the Better performance policy ensures improved system performance. When in effect, it lets Windows cache write operations to the external USB drive. However, to protect data integrity on the external device, it requires the use of the Safely Remove Hardware process.</p> <p>For those not aware of Safely Remove Hardware, it’s a safety procedure performed by the user before unplugging any USB storage device. It involves finding the Safely Remove Hardware icon on the taskbar, right-clicking it, and selecting the hardware to be unplugged. Windows recommends the use of the safe ejection process to avoid data corruption on flash and external hard drives. However, the procedure has been considered unnecessary or even annoying by many seasoned Windows users in the past, leading to the formation of the faction that doesn’t believe in ejecting devices ‘safely’.</p> <p>Inline image courtesy: Microsoft</p> <p> </p> <p>Related Read: Microsoft will let you defer Windows 10 May Update for up to 35 days</p> 
<p dir="ltr">A couple of days after the Google Pixel 3a appeared as a link on Google’s own Play Store, a famous tipster has claimed that both the mid-range offerings from the search giant are being tested in India. Roland Quandt also says that the price of these two devices will be very low in the country when compared to the pricing in Europe and the US. However, he clears that he is not sure whether the prices are the retail value of the handsets.</p> <p>Quandt says that the Pixel 3a was valued at $300 (approx Rs 21,000) and the Pixel 3a XL was $350 (approx Rs 24,300) when they were imported for testing in India. It could be possible that these prices are only the import values and when the phones launch, they could be priced more than $300 and $350 respectively. Recently, a report claimed that the Pixel 3a could be priced at Euro 450 (approx Rs 34,977 approx) for the 4GB RAM and 64GB storage model.</p> <p>The alleged specs of the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL, which were earlier thought to be called the Pixel 3 Lite and Pixel 3 Lite XL, have already been leaked in previous reports. The smaller mid-range Pixel is claimed to have a 5.6-inch display and the Pixel 3a XL may sport a 6-inch panel. Contrary to previous reports which said that the mid-range Pixel devices will have LCD panels, it was recently reported that both these phones will feature OLED displays. The Pixel 3a’s display is said to come with a resolution of 2220×1080 pixels at 440dpi.</p> <p>The phones are speculated to be offered in both Clearly White and Just Black colours, but Google may also launch a third colour with an aim to sell more units. Additionally, both the phones are said to have Active Edge feature that lets users squeeze the phone to summon the Google Assistant, the Titan M security chip, eSIM support, and 64GB of local storage. In the camera department, both the phones are expected to have 12MP camera on the back and an 8MP wide-angle front shooter.</p> <p>Under the hood, the smaller variant is claimed to have Snapdragon 670 SoC and 4GB of RAM, and it may draw power from a 3,000mAh battery. The larger variant may ship with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 mobile platform with 4GB of RAM. There is no information on the battery capacity of the Pixel 3a XL. Both the handsets are slated to run on Android 9 Pie, sport USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.</p> <p>Related Read:</p> <p>Google employee reveals Pixel 4 is undergoing testing</p> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Google has been testing Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL in India lately. .in might get these at very "low" prices (when compared to pricing in EU/US). 3a valued at 300 USD, 3a XL at 350 USD when imported for testing. No clue if this was based on estimated retail or value of shipment</p> — Roland Quandt (@rquandt) 6 April 2019 
<p>Samsung recently announced its new Galaxy A20 smartphone in India and it goes on sale today. The new handset sits between the already announced Samsung Galaxy A10 and the Galaxy A30. Highlights of the phone include a large 4000mAh battery and an Infinity-V display design, which is Samsung’s moniker for a waterdrop notch display. The new handset by the South Korean smartphone maker features a dual-rear camera setup and runs on the company’s One UI that is based on Android 9 Pie. Let’s take a look at the phone’s specifications and its pricing and availability. </p> Samsung Galaxy A20 specs <p>The new Galaxy A20 is a mid-range handset by Samsung that runs on the Exynos 7884 octa-core SoC. It comes with 3GB RAM, which is coupled with 64GB of onboard storage that can be expanded by up to 512GB via a microSD card. It sports a 6.4-inch HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity-V display with a 720x1560 pixels resolution. As mentioned, the device runs on Samsung’s One UI, which is based on Android 9 Pie and features a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. </p> <p>In terms of optics, the Galaxy A20 comes equipped with a dual-rear camera setup. It sports a 13MP + 5MP sensor configuration on the back with the 5MP sensor fitted with an ultra-wide lens. On the front, it gets an 8MP sensor. The handset runs on a 4000mAh battery that supports 15W fast charging with USB Type-C connectivity. </p> Samsung Galaxy A20 price, availability and launch offers <p>The Samsung Galaxy A20 is priced at Rs 12,490 and will be available in Red, Black and Blue colours. While the phone is supposed to go on sale via Samsung Opera House, the Samsung online store, major e-commerce sites, as well as retail stores, the company has not revealed the exact time when it will be made available. As of writing this article, the phone is not listed on any major ecommerce platforms or the Samsung online store. </p> 
