Redmi K20 Series Launch, Samsung M40 India Release Date, OnePlus 7, and More Tech News This Week

Redmi K20 and Redmi K20 Pro launch, Samsung M40 price in India details, Oppo Reno India release, and OnePlus 7 sale date were some of the biggest tech news stories this week.

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Apple iOS 13 with Dark Mode, new image editing tools and more announced: Top Ten features coming for iPhones

As expected, Apple announced its iOS 13 operating system for iPhones at the World Wide Developers Conference 2019 event. While leaks and rumours had given us a fair idea of what to expect, the company made many additional announcements and features for the new OS. The event started off with Apple revealing that iOS 12 has 97 percent customer satisfaction and a high adoption rate of 85 percent. The company also took a jab at Google, whose Android 9 Pie OS was touted to feature only 10 percent adoption rate. However, the session quickly moved on to detailing the new iOS 13 operating system, what new features it brings to the table and more. As this article’s headline reveals, Dark Mode will be officially available on iOS 13. The new dark scheme will be a system-wide implementation with all of Apple’s first-party apps sporting a darker hue. Additionally, there are multiple new features that will be coming in iOS 13 like performance improvements, a new swiping keyboard feature, privacy-centric options and much more. Here are the top ten features that will be rolled out for iPhone 6 Plus and above with iOS 13. iPhone SE and the iPod 7th gen will also be updated to the new OS.  

Performance upgrades 

iOS 13 is touted to deliver improved performance over iOS 12. Face ID is said to work 30 percent faster, which means unlocking iPhones should be faster as well. Additionally, the company is revamping the way apps are packaged so that app packages from the App Store would be up to 50 percent lighter and updates being 60 percent smaller. Apps are also touted to boot twice as fast as compared to iOS 12. All these new performance changes will be rolled out in the fall with iOS 13.

Dark Mode 

Dark Mode is probably one of the most anticipated features to be added with iOS 13. The new system-wide colour scheme will be applied to all of Apple’s apps, along with the notifications and the dock. Apple showed off the News, Notes, Calendar and Photos apps that feature a dark theme, which certainly seems like it will be easier on the eyes. The notifications also feature a slightly glossy background with a translucent texture. 

Privacy enhancements

Apple says it understands how important user privacy is and has made many changes to improve in this aspect with iOS 13. The company is revamping how apps are able to access a user’s location data. With iOS 13, a user will get to share their location data with an app “just once” so that the app is unable to access it repeatedly. Additionally, one can set background tracking alerts if they want to know when an app is using location data after being granted permission. Apps will also be barred from accessing Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth without permission to fetch user location. 

Apple has also made a big announcement in terms of privacy with a “Sign in with Apple” option. This is basically similar to the login option from Facebook and Google we get with most apps. ‘Sign in with Apple’ is touted to be a faster and more secure way to sing into an app or service “without all the tracking.” Developers will be able to integrate the option with their app and users will get to tap it and authenticate with Face ID. This will enable logging in “without revealing any personal information.” 

Additionally, for apps that require additional info, one can give out their name and/or email address. However, they can also choose to hide their email and in this case, Apple will create a random email address that will receive and forward mails it to the user’s Apple ID to prevent spamming. The feature will also work on the web and users will be able to disable these random emails that can be crafted for each app or service anytime they want. 

Apple Maps updates

Apple apparently drove 4 million miles to rebuild maps from the ground up. It was shown off to feature more detailed data than before and there will also be new features added to the recently designed launch screen like pinning favourite places for quick access, and "collections" for organizing favourite places and sharing lists of places with friends, and more. There’s also a Lookaround feature, which is similar to Street View in Google Maps. Moving to Landscape mode will enable zooming down the street and one can tap on labels to learn more about new places. There will also be multiple other additions to Apple Maps that have been only outlined yet like a Junction View, ETA sharing, Real-time transit information and more. The new Apple Maps will roll out in the US in 2019, and for ‘select’ other countries next year. 

Quick Path swiping actions for keyboard 

While multiple third-party keyboard apps already offer the functionality to swipe and type, Apple’s native keyboard was devoid of it, till now. While not a big announcement, swiping actions are making their way to the native Apple keyboard app, which the company calls ‘Quick Path. If you have used SwiftKey, Gboard or Swype keyboard, you pretty much know how the feature works. 

Revamped Reminders app 

Reminders is being ‘reinvented’ with iOS 13 as the app is said to be rebuilt. Along with a revamped UI, It will feature new filtering options like “Today,” “Scheduled,” “Flagged,” and “All.” There will also be some AI based features that will enable users to simply type and the app will automatically suggest when you’d like to be reminded. Also, users will be able to tag contacts to be reminded while opening their thread in Messages. New additions to camera and image editing tools 

Some new additions are coming for the camera app. The Portrait lighting mode is being updated and it brings new effects that enable adjusting the intensity of lighting effects. Apple says, “With iOS 13, Portrait Lighting adjustments can be made right in the Camera app to virtually move the light closer to sharpen eyes and brighten and smooth facial features, or push the light farther away to create a subtle, refined look. A new High-Key Mono effect creates a beautiful, monochromatic look for Portrait mode photos.”

Photo editing is also touted to become easier as users will be able to tap and drag on an attribute like sharpness or contrast to edit an image. This new editing UI will also be brought to videos and alongside using these new options, one will also be able to rotate, crop or apply filters to a video. 

The new Photos app will use Machine Learning to organise images into different categories. The app is said to automatically hide unwanted images to render a cleaner overall look. There will be a new tab on the bottom and one will be able to Pinch to zoom in and out of an album. Images will be classified on the basis of Days, Months and Years at the bottom. 

Messages and Memoji Stickers 

Users will get to create a Memoji or Animoji and username for iMessages on iOS 13. Memojis will also feature new personalisation options like the ability to add makeup, accessories, hair, hats, AirPods, and more. In addition, there will be a new Memoji sticker pack that will be created automatically and placed alongside emojis in the keyboard app. All device running on A9 chip or later will support this feature.

Siri, AirPods and Radio updates in iOS 13 

Siri is touted to get better with dictation in iOS 13. Using Neural TTS, Apple says the digital assistant will sound more natural. Additionally, the Siri Shortcuts app will be built in and users will be able to create Multistep shortcuts with suggested automations that are apparently based on a user’s habits. Siri will also now be able to read your incoming messages as they arrive when one is using AirPods. Finally, Apple is adding Live radio to iOS and the option is said to feature over 100,000 radio stations from around the world. 

Support for external storage

Apple is finally bringing the option that enables iOS to pull files from USB drives and SD cards into the Files app.

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Apple updates tvOS with PlayStation and Xbox controller support, watchOS 6 gets new faces, health apps

Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is finally here and the company has started the proceedings of this four-day long event by announcing updates to the software that runs its AppleTV product, the tvOS. While talking on the stage at the  San Jose McEnery Convention Center, San Jose, California, company CEO Tim Cook introduced a redesigned Home screen, multi-user support, Apple Music on tvOS, and support for PlayStation and Xbox controllers, among other new features. The company also introduced watchOS with new watch faces, App Store support and new health-related fucntionalities.

tvOS 13:

On the stage, Cook said that the redesigned home screen of the tvOS 13 will now offer full-screen content previews to users. tvOS 13 also adds multi-user support that will let multiple members of a family to watch their favourite shows. There is a redesigned Control Center which is responsible for user-switching duties. The OS will offer personalised recommendations on all the content to each individual user on the basis of their watching trends.

“That’s the new tvOS: it’s more personal and more entertaining than ever. We completely redesigned the home screen, making Apple TV come to life from the moment that you turn it on, with full-screen previews of the best TV shows and newly released movies,” Cook said.

Further, the company has added the Apple Music on tvOS that will come with lyrics support. So, when a song is playing on your TV, you can read the lyrics on the screen and sing along your favourite singer. Apple also made a gaming-related announcement. The company said that when the tvOS 13 launches later this year, it will add support for Xbox One and PlayStation DualShock game controllers. It already supports Bluetooth controllers. Finally, Apple announced that it partnered with BBC’s natural history unit to shoot 4K HDR underwater footage for new screensavers.

The update builds on tvOS 12.3 that Apple released last month. The redesigned Apple TV app enabled users to see the new app on their iPhones and iPads as well. In the US, the app includes access to Apple TV channels like HBO, Starz, SHOWTIME, Smithsonian Channel, EPIX, Tastemade and new services like MTV Hits. In India, the Apple TV app features films from Hollywood, Bollywood, and other regional languages for rent and purchase.

watchOS 6:

At WWDC 2019, Apple introduced watchOS 6 update that takes a step forward in making the Apple Watch an independent device. The company has brought functionalities like App Store, voice memos, Books app for listening to audio books and Calculator with tip calculator on the wearable. The update also brings a bunch of new watch faces which include a sundial-styled Solar analog watch, an analog option called Modular Compact, an analog mix of Roman and Arabic numerals called California, new extra-large digital options, and Gradient.

As mentioned, users can now install App Store app directly on the watch. In addition, users will be able to download Watch software without relying on an iPhone. Apple also added Activity Trends to the watch that will enable users to keep a tab on their activity and workouts. In case, the regular activity trend falls below average, the app will provide coaching to normalise the activity. There is an all new Noise app that will let users check ambient noise levels. In the health department, the watchOS6 offers a bunch of additions, including a Dose feature to provide pill reminders and Cycle Tracking, which will let women track menstrual cycles. The app is introduced on both watchOS and iOS. The company also announced “summer” bands, including a Pride watch band that matches a Pride watch face.

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PUBG Mobile: Where to find the Godzilla-themed easter eggs

By now, each and every PUBG Mobile players may know that the developers have announced a partnership with the movie Godzilla: King of the Monsters. The partnership suggests that there might be some Godzilla-themed event coming to the game. As with the partnership of Resident Evil, the developers have started teasing the event in the form of little nods and easter eggs scattered through the various maps. These include murals as well as signs of Godzilla himself. 

 

A giant monster is coming to take over the battlefield!#PUBGM #GodzillaMovie pic.twitter.com/Bise6df1kb

— PUBG MOBILE (@PUBGMOBILE) June 3, 2019

 

If you haven’t got a chance to check these out yet, here’s a quick guide on how you can see them for yourself. 

Erangel

Erangel has two sets of Godzilla easter eggs. The first is on the spawn island itself. Head over to the eastern section of the map and look off into the horizon on the left side of the crashed aeroplane. You should see Godzilla’s spikes looking in the water. You can jump into the water and dive just below the water to get a better look at them.

The second easter egg is located just south of the Sosnovka Military Base, just where the beach begins. Towards the eastern side of the beach, you’ll come across something which resembles the ground being dug up. However, clamber to the top and you’ll realise that its actually a giant footprint. Possibly that of Godzilla himself. 

Miramar

Miramar is packed with as many as four easter eggs. The first is located smack-dab in the middle of Los Leones. Head over to the construction site and you should come across a fairly large mural. The three heads suggest that it is possibly of King Ghidorah, Godzilla’s arch nemesis.

Two murals are found pretty close to each other. Both are located East of Impala, on the southern island. The first is located on the side of a building and appears to be of Mothra, a monster who is usually allied to Godzilla. The second is located northeast of this,  just around the corner. This one depicts Godzilla himself.

The final mural is located on the starting island, on the Prison itself and is located on the roof of the largest structure. However, in order to see this mural, you will have to parachute into the roof as there is no direct access and it is painted on the ground. It is the second Mothra mural, which you can also investigate. 

It is not yet known how exactly Godzilla would feature in PUBG Mobile. Back in January this year, PUBG Mobile players in China got to fight monsters as part of a Chinese New Year event. It is possible that we will get to see something along the same lines. However, we should have more information about the event tomorrow.

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Asus TUF Gaming FX705DT, TUF Gaming FX505DT Laptops Launched in India

ASUS has unveiled its new TUF gaming laptops FX505DT and FX705DT with the latest AMD Ryzen processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX GPUs with up to 120Hz IPS-level NanoEdge display.

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Exclusive: Paytm will launch SIM-card enabled Soundbox to allow app-less transactions

Paytm is now synonymous with digital transactions in India. The fintech app rose to popularity during the demonetisation phase in 2016 and since then, it has grown into becoming a full-fledged digital payments bank along with offering a host of services to merchants, consumers and more. For instance, the company integrated BHIM UPI in its platform as another way of paying for things via Paytm. Then there’s the postpaid service called Paytm Money which allows you to borrow funds from the company to buy groceries, order food, etc. However, the system of digital payments is still far from perfect.

Often when you’re trying to pay via your smartphone, there is a long, elaborate conversation with the retailer to share the QR code which you first scan and then wait till the payment is confirmed and the retailer gets a message. The SMS often doesn’t come instantly and there’s an awkward silence in the time between.

According to our sources, Paytm is looking to smoothen the payment process with a new smart device. Called the ‘Soundbox’, it’s a speaker with a SIM card slot attached that will act as a voice-activated POS (point-of-sale) machine for the retailer. The SoundBox will basically alert the retailer the payment is complete, instead of the retailer having to wait for an SMS on their smartphone. There could be more features to it, but as of now, it will only be used for accepting payments. A user will still have to scan the QR code on this device to make the payment. 

Furthermore, the device will only come with a speaker and there won’t be a camera on it. It is powered by the MediaTek MT6261 SoC that’s made specially for IoT devices. It will have 4G connectivity and will be connected to the internet to coordinate online payments on behalf of the retailer.

“Paytm has been working on a solution which will be the Paytm SoundBox. This device is a smart device to make transactions easier. If today we are doing a Paytm transaction, probably it’s easy to see the confirmation message, but when we go to the retail outlets, it becomes difficult for the retailer to keep a track of all incoming transactions,” the source told us.

Essentially, with the box installed, retailers will not require another smartphone to accept Paytm transactions. Now we don’t know the exact release date of the device, but Paytm has already showcased the use-case scenario and the final design of the box in a video on YouTube. We have reached out to Paytm to confirm the launch. The story will be updated as and when the company responds.

Whether the device will have a big impact on the way digital transactions are made is unknown, but we do expect to see these boxes rolling out to shops soon. The device will be issued to retailers for a subscription fee, just like how Paytm gives retailers card-swiping machines for a premium. It will be interesting to see how the device functions in reality. Do we really want the amount paid announced on a speaker for all to hear? 

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Redmi K20 to retain its name in India, will not be re-branded as Poco F2

Xiaomi has put the rumours regarding the name of the Redmi K20 in India to rest. Previously, it was reported that company’s sub-brand Redmi might launch the phone as Poco F2 in the country, but now, Manu Kumar Jain, Managing Director Xiaomi India and Global Vice President, has confirmed that the phone will be called the Redmi K20 in India as well. He shared a bunch of images on Twitter to confirm the development.

The images shared by Jain not only confirmed that the phone will be called the Redmi K20, but they also took a dig at the recently-launched OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro smartphones. All the Redmi K20 hoardings were placed alongside the OnePlus 7 Pro ads at various locations in India. The promos have a neat wordplay, claiming the phone to be “Starkly Superior To The Latest One.”

"Starkly superior to the latest one!" +1 if you liked these punny ads! #RedmiK20 and #RedmiK20Pro coming soon! The #FlagshipKiller 2.0 Have you noticed it yet? If yes, take a selfie and share it with me. #Xiaomi #Redmi pic.twitter.com/eFeQbw2uIq

— Manu Kumar Jain (@manukumarjain) 2 June 2019

If you don’t know, OnePlus has roped-in Robert Downey Jr. as the brand ambassador and he has been seen promoting the OnePlus 7 Pro. The wordplay in Redmi K20 ads makes the dig obvious as it uses “Starkly” to highlight Downey’s role as Tony Stark in Marvel movies. The font of the word “One” is the same as the one in the OnePlus logo. Also, there is a mention of “+1” where the top executive is asking to like and share his tweet.

Redmi K20 Pro Specifications:

The Redmi K20 Pro features a Full HD+ 6.39-inch Super AMOLED display which is protected by Gorilla Glass 6. Redmi says that the display offers a 91.6 percent screen-to-body-ratio, and 19.5:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, the phone features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset, with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. The Redmi K20 Pro ships with Game Turbo 2.0 which is claimed to deliver an enhanced gaming experience. The phone draws power from a 4000mAh battery, which supports 27W fast charging.

In terms of camera, the phone sports a vertically stacked triple camera setup on the back. There is a 48MP Sony IMX586 primary shooter with an aperture of f/1.75, a 13MP secondary sensor with a wide-angle lens having an aperture of f/2.4 and a field-of-view of 124.89 degrees. The telephoto lens comes along with an 8MP sensor with an aperture of f/2.4. The phone’s camera can record slow-motion video at up to 960fps videos. The pop-up selfie camera with a 20MP sensor and comes with a feature that will let users take a wide-angle selfie by just tilting the phone on either side.

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