YouTubes upcoming original series and specials will be free to watch with ads

YouTube originals and special shows were reserved for YouTube Premium users, until now. The online video sharing platform has announced that all of its upcoming original series and specials will be available for everyone to watch, but with ads. This is not a bad trade-off since the platform gets more viewers for its original shows and users get to enjoy the content with ads, which is standard for non-paid users of the platform. In Addition, YouTube also announced its new and returning original series and specials including seasons Cobra Kai Season 1 and 2. YouTube Chief Business Officer, Robert Kyncl, made the announcement at YouTube’s annual Brandcast event. 

Previously aired series that are returning for a new season include the second season of the shows Impulse and Liza on Demand. These two shows are currently under production and will premier next fall. Cobra Kai season 3 and What The Fit Season 3 will also return next year. The second season of Cobra Kai will be made available for everyone on September 11 in an ad supported format. Additionally, between August 29 till September 11 viewers will also get to catch up on Cobra Kai Season 1 for free.

YouTube also announced that it’s working on new musical specials including expanded live stream coverage of the Lollapalooza music festival and one of them is a “top secret project” with Justin Bieber. YouTube will soon release its first interactive series  "A Heist With Markiplier.” It could be something similar to how Netflix offered viewers to interact and control the protagonist’s decision in Black Mirror: Bandersnatch. 

There will also be new feature-Length documentaries YouTube will create with Dude Perfect, Maluma and Paris Hilton. New Series “BookTube,” “Could You Survive The Movies,” “Retro Tech” with Marques Brownlee is also under production and more. 

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2WkqlLj

Google celebrates Star Wars Day with a May the Fourth sale on Play Store

May the fourth be with you! If you are wondering why May 4 is Star Wars day, then we’d like to tell you that it is so because saying May the fourth sounds just like saying May the force…. Anywho, to celebrate the day that sounds like one of the most iconic statements in fantasy-space travel history, Google is enticing you to spend some of your hard earned money on Star Wars stuff you want, but probably don’t need. So without further ado, here is what’s on offer on the Google Play Store

For books (more like ebooks in this case), audiobooks and more, here is what's on offer. 

The Last Jedi: Expanded Edition

The Last Jedi: Expanded Edition is a book written with input from director Rian Johnson. The book expands upon the universe by including scenes from alternate versions of the script and other additional content. The book which would have cost you Rs 594 can be yours for Rs 297.

Thrawn (Star Wars)

Following the story of Imperial military commander Grand Admiral Thrawn, readers will follow Thrawn’s rise to power—uncovering the events that created one of the most iconic villains in Star Wars history. The ebook which would have cost you Rs 339.15 can be yours for Rs 237.40. The audiobook which would have cost you Rs 2,035.32 can be yours for Rs 1,399.

Aftermath: Star Wars: Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens

The official descriptor of the book reads, “The second Death Star has been destroyed, the Emperor killed, and Darth Vader struck down. Devastating blows against the Empire, and major victories for the Rebel Alliance. But the battle for freedom is far from over”. The book bridges the gap between the original trilogy and the new trilogy. The ebook which would have cost you Rs 339 can be yours for Rs 237.30. The audiobook which would have cost you Rs 1,831.78 can be yours for Rs 1,249.

Catalyst (Star Wars): A Rogue One Novel

Rogue one has to be one of the best star wars movies setting up the plot of the original trilogy. The book pens an intense tale of ambition and betrayal that sets the stage for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.  The ebook which would cost you Rs 424 can be yours for Rs 296.80. The audiobook which would have cost you Rs 1,831.78 can be yours for Rs 1,249.

Star Wars: The New Republic – Dark Empire Trilogy

 Six years after the fall of the Empire in Return of the Jedi, the battle for the galaxy's freedom rages on. The Empire has been mysteriously reborn under an unknown leader, wielding a new weapon of great power. Princess Leia and Han Solo struggle to hold together the New Republic while the galaxy's saviour, Luke Skywalker, fights an inner battle as he is drawn to the dark side, just as his father. The audiobook which would have cost you Rs 2,024.41 can be yours for Rs 1,902.23.

Star Wars: Darth Vader Vol. 1 – Vader

Following the story of the dark lord showing the Empire's war with the Rebel Alliance from the other side. Follow the adventures of one of the most iconic villains in sci fi history as he works to make the galaxy a darker place. The ebook which would have cost you Rs 1,619.39 can be yours for Rs 323.20.

Star Wars Vol. 7: The Ashes Of Jedha

The possibility of the Death Star changed everything. But its destruction proved that the Empire is not irresistible. Jedha was left in ruins when the Death Star annihilated the Holy City a scene we all remember from Rogue One. Now, as Queen Trios forces move in to strip what’s left, the rebels struggle to preserve the planet for its survivors! This ebook, which is a spiritual continuation to Rogue One’s story was originally priced at Rs 890.36 but can be yours for Rs 323.20.

Star Wars: Journey To Star Wars: The Last Jedi – Captain Phasma

What happened to Captain Phasma after Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens? For those unaware, the iconic character of Captain Phasma is played by none other than Gwendoline Christie AKA Brienne of Tarth from Game of Thrones. This is an expansion of her story. What happened to her after the events of the Force Awakens. The ebook which would cost you Rs 566.34 can be yours for Rs 242.21

When it comes to games, there are a lot of Star Wars based games available for free like Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes, Star Wars: Commander and Star Wars: Force Arena to name a few. If you are playing them, there are discounts on in-app purchases. However, the only star wars gamer you need to have on your smartphone is KOTOR or, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. This RRPG made by developer Bioware long before the debacle known as Anthem puts you in the shows of Jedi Knights. The game which was the glory of PC gaming once upon a time is now available for Android. The game which would have cost you Rs 820 can be yours for Rs 410.

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2VP2iap

Users petition to remove Intelligent cleanup feature from OnePlus 66T for apparently sending data to Tencents Singapore servers

OnePlus recently seeded OxygenOS Open Beta 17 for the OnePlus 6 and the Open Beta 9 for the OnePlus 6T. The two phones received a slew of new features and one of them, called Intelligent cleanup, was added to the phones’ File Manager. This new feature has drawn the irk of OnePlus users as its said to be sending data to a Tencent server located in Singapore. As per a OnePlus forum post, the information of data being sent to a Tencent server in Singapore is displayed in the File Manager app’s privacy policy. Additionally, instead of using Android permission controls, the feature apparently uses local permissions. 

A OnePlus user has raised a petition to get the option removed from the OnePlus 6 and the OnePlus 6T phones. It should be noted that the new Intelligent cleanup feature is only available in India for now. While any data being collected by the Tencent server is said to be protected by GDPR policies, the user who posted the petition reminds others that Tencent isn't exactly stringent when it comes to protecting user data. 

Additionally, as Android already offers storage management options, there’s actually no need for the new option as it would only serve as bloatware, there being no option to remove it. There are also third party apps like Google Files app (previously called Files Go) that offer similar functionality. 

Adding bloatware to the company's existing devices goes against its recent OnePlus 7 Pro advertisement. The phone manufacturer recently takes took a jab at Samsung and its other rivals for including bloatware on their devices. The post where the petition for removing the feature is up also points out that the option to view large files is moved under the Cleanup tab, which could confuse new users to accidentally delete files. 

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2LjNLiC

Huawei Mate 30 Pro might sport four rear cameras, 67-inch display and 55W fast charging tech

Huawei recently launched the P30 Series of phones and it was presumed that the company will now be focussing on the next flagship, the Huawei Mate 30 Series. A report from a Chinese media outlet has now come up with the first lot of information. It claims that the Huawei Mate 30 Pro will come with a quad camera setup on the back, a massive 6.7-inch display, a 55W quick charging tech and may only launch with the support of only 4G and 5G networks.

The report has multiple images embedded showing different designs. While some images show a waterdrop notch, some are seen with a punch-hole design. Moreover, the images which show the phone with a punch-hole design are not exactly the same. In one image, the punch hole is seen in the top left corner, while in other, the cut-out for the front camera is centrally-located.

The phone is said to come with a 6.71-inch OLED display supplied by BOE. Reportedly, the display will be curved from all four sides, but its other details like screen resolution are not available yet. Further, the report says that the Huawei Mate 30 Pro is expected to arrive with an in-display fingerprint reader. There is no information on whether the phone will have Face Unlock.

In case of camera setup, the report says that the phone will come with four cameras on the back. These camera are said to be put in the same array as in the Huawei Mate 20 Pro. The square array is said to have a camera in each of the four corner and an LED flash in the centre. The configurations of the four sensors are not known yet, however, the report says that the setup will be equipped with a 3D ToF sensor.

The battery of the Mate 30 Pro is said to hold 4,200mAh capacity and is expected to carry support for 55W SuperCharge technology, that is already available on the Huawei Mate X foldable device. Reportedly, the Mate 30 Pro will also carry support for 10W reverse wireless charging.

Under the hood, the phone is said to feature HiSilicon Kirin 985 processor with Balong 5000 chip. The report says that the phone will only launch with support for 4G and 5G networks. This doesn’t sound correct because Huawei had announced that the Balong 5000 supports 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G on a single chip.

Earlier this year, a report claimed that Huawei has already started to test the phone powered by the flagship SoC. Huawei’s HiSilicon Kirin 985 chipset is said to be manufactured with a 5G modem, using Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's (TSMC's) new 7nm fabrication process. It is expected to go into mass production from the third quarter of this year. TSMC will use 7nm Extreme UltraViolet (EUV) process (called N7+), along with the Flip-Chip Package-on-Package (FC-PoP) process.

A combination of EUV (which increases the accuracy of transistor placement) and FC-PoP (which allows vertical stacking of transistors) manufacturing processes means that the transistor density on the chip will be increased by 20 percent, resulting in better performance and lower energy consumption.

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2VHnkaD

5 TV deals to consider on the Amazon Summer Sale

There’s no better time than a sale to consider purchasing an expensive piece of hardware, especially one like a TV that can last for nearly a decade. With technologies like 4K HDR and smart capabilities now available on a budget, a purchase decision can get quite confusing. So if you are one looking to pick up a TV during the Amazon Summer Sale, here are 5 TVs you can consider.  

Mi LED TV 4 PRO (BUY IT HERE)

The Mi LED TV 4 Pro is a 55-inch 4K HDR TV running on the company’s own PatchWall OS. It is a 4K HDR TV with 3HDMI ports and 2 USB ports for your connectivity needs. The TV has an attractive slim form factor and 16W of sound output. The TV has a 64-bit Quad-Core processor coupled with 2GB RAM and 8GB built-in storage for your app downloading needs. With the TV you get a minimalistic remote control with voice capabilities.

Panasonic TH-55FX650D (BUY IT HERE)

The Panasonic TH-55FX650D is a 4K HDR TV from Panasonic. It has an IPS display and comes with 2 HDMI ports for your connectivity needs. It runs on a custom UI with support for apps like Netflix, Youtube and Amazon Prime. It has 20 Watts audio output, Bluetooth 2-way Audio Link and a host of features. 

TCL L65C2US (BUY IT HERE)

This 65-inch TV can be considered by those looking for a large screen TV and don't want to spend a whole lot of money. The display is 4K with HDR support and comes with 3HDMI and 2 USB ports to cater to your connectivity needs. It has 16W of sound output and runs on the Android TV OS. The phone has a Quad Core processor, Dual Core Mali T860GPU and 16GB Internal Storage.

Shinco S55QHDR10 (BUY IT HERE)

The Shinco S55QHDR10 is a 55-inch 4K HDR TV on a budget. The TV has a 4K HDR panel from Samsung and has 3HDMI and 2 USB ports for your connectivity needs. The remote control that you get with the TV has functions on both sides. It runs on Android 7 AOSP for smart capabilities and has 20W sound output. 

Sony Bravia KD-55X8500F (BUY IT HERE)

If a premium TV is what you are looking for, then you can consider the Sony Bravia KD-55X8500F. The TV has a 55-inch screen, boasts of 4K HDR support and runs on the Android TV OS. It has 4HDMI ports and 3 USB ports for your connectivity needs along with support for all streaming services. It has 20W of sound output and the back of the TV has support for cable management.

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2XXJ3J0

Pixel 3a XL with 6-inch display, 64GB storage spotted at Best Buy Store ahead of May 7 official launch

Google is all set to announce its Pixel 3a and 3a XL smartphones on May 7. The upcoming phones are being teased via Flipkart and multiple reports have given us a fair idea of what to expect from the phones, both in terms of design and specifications. Ahead of the official unveiling, the Pixel 3a XL smartphone has been spotted at Best Buy in Springfield, Ohio, in its retail packaging. Android Police posted an image of the phone’s retail box, which was spotted behind a glass cabinet. The image reiterates some of the Pixel 3a XL's leaked specifications like it being launched in a purple colour variant, which the retail box suggests might be called “Not Violet.” Additionally, the phone is tipped to come in a "Just Black" colour variant as well.

The packaging also reveals that the Pixel 3a XL might feature G020C as its model number and could be equipped with a 6.0-inch display. The handset’s 64GB model was spotted on the Best Buy shelves, but it is also speculated to be launched in a 128GB storage variant. An earlier report suggests that Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL might feature 5.6-inch and 6-inch OLED displays, respectively. While the larger Pixel 3a XL is expected to run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 SoC, the Pixel 3a might be backed by the Snapdragon 670 platform. Both phones are rumoured to come equipped with 4GB RAM. 

Just recently, the retail box of the Pixel 3a had also leaked on a YouTube channel. The leak also tips at the phone’s pricing. The Pixel 3a could be priced at $399 (Rs 28,000 approx) and the 3a XL could be announced for $479 (Rs 33,500 approx) in the US. Canadian prices of the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL were also leaked, as per which, the Google Pixel 3a might cost CAD $649 (Rs 34,000 approx), while the bigger Pixel 3a XL could be priced at CAD $799 (Rs 41,500 approx). 

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2VfnSoX

Realme X India launch imminent as phone gets BIS certification

Realme will soon launch its first phone in China, and now it seems that the same device will cross borders and make its way to India as well. Just 2 days after a Realme phone with model number RMX1901 appeared on TENAA listing, the same device has appeared in the database of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The company’s Chief Marketing Officer, Xu Qi Chase, has already confirmed via a Weibo post that this phone will debut as the Realme X.

The BIS listing does not delve out any information about the features and specifications of the phone. The TENAA listing, however, featured an image of the phone that was later confirmed by a promo video that teased its upcoming smartphone that it is expected to launch in China. In the video, a phone with near bezel-less display and a pop-up selfie camera was seen. This means that Realme will now join a bunch of companies adopting this design to give users maximum viewing space.

The TENAA image shows that the phone does not have a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, which suggests that the phone could come equipped with an in-display fingerprint sensor. Further, the phone is rumoured to be a flagship device, so it is possible that it will come with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 mobile platform. Moreover, a separate leak claimed that Realme will launch two models: Realme X and Realme X Pro, with one being the flagship variant and other powered by Snapdragon 730 SoC.

As far as the specifications go, the Realme X which is tipped to have Snapdragon 730 SoC under the hood, and might be announced in 6GB RAM + 64GB storage base version, which could be priced at CNY 1,599 (approx Rs 16,500). It could also be announced in a 6GB RAM + 128GB version and an 8GB RAM + 128GB storage version, which are said to be priced at CNY 1,799 (approx Rs 18,500) and CNY 1,999 (approx Rs 20,600) respectively. Both the phones are said to come with a pop-up front camera, and 6.5-inch display OLED display with Full HD+ resolution.

The Realme X Pro, however, could have its display protected by Gorilla Glass 5 and come equipped with a sixth-gen optical in-display fingerprint sensor. The phone is expected to come with a dual-camera setup with 48MP + 5MP sensor. TENAA listing suggested that the front camera may have a 16MP sensor. The Pro variant is said to be the flagship variant and may come with 6GB RAM and 8GB RAM models and 128GB storage. They could be priced at CNY 2,299 (approx Rs 23,700) and CNY 2,599 (approx Rs 26,800) respectively.

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2vBWLoK