Microsoft Windows 10 November 2019 update adds new features, enables third-party assistants on Lock screen

Microsoft has released the November 2019 update for Windows 10, which comes with select performance improvements, enterprise features and quality enhancements. The new update is available for users who are running the most recent version of Windows 10 and they can download it from Windows update. Some notable features being introduced with the new updated include event creation directly from the Calendar flyout on the Taskbar. Managing notifications should be simpler since there is now a new button at the top of the Action Center, along with an option to sort notifications by most recently shown.

In addition, after the update, users will finally be able to search for OneDrive content in the File Explorer search box since OneDrive content online is being integrated with traditional indexed results. To better inform users where they are clicking, the navigation pane on ṭhe Start menu will enlarge the mouse pointer hovers over it. Voice commands can also be used to activate third-party digital assistants from the Lock screen, which is a feature that was supposed to be rolled out with the September Windows 10 update. This option will finally enable users to set Alexa and other digital assistants to activate on the lock screen. 

One can get the new update by heading over to the Update & Security center in Windows Settings and checking for updates from the Windows Update category. Microsoft also reiterates that it wants to give more controls to a user when it comes to updates and that Windows Update will automatically initiate a feature update for devices that are at, or within several months of reaching, end of service. We are just hoping that this new Windows patch solves more problems rather than creating some. 

The Windows update that was pushed out in October caused BSOD errors and broke video drivers for many users. Before this, an update crippled network adapters on some PCs. 

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Disney+ expected to launch in India in the second half of 2020

If you are looking to catch the latest from Disney+, then there is some good news for you. The service is tipped to come to India in the second half of 2020. Hotstar has tweeted, “Hi! We are working on bringing Disney+ to India. The launch date is yet to be announced; stay tuned. Thank you!” Through this tweet, Hotstar has confirmed that Disney+ is coming to India. After the India launch, Hotstar with the Disney+ catalogue is expected to hit Indonesia and Malaysia along with other Southeast Asian nations. Disney+ has gained 10 million subscribers and counting in the regions where it has launched. Hotstar, on the other hand, has 300 million monthly active users. The Hotstar subscription in India is priced at Rs 299 per month or users can opt to pay Rs 999 for the full year. According to TechCrunch, this price could rise to Rs 2160 when Disney+ content appears on the service. 

After the Disney acquisition of 20th Century Fox, which own Hotstar, the service has become a part of Disney family. But the question remains whether HBO and other originals from different production houses which are consumed through Hotstar will continue or will it become an exclusive platform for Disney content. 

Even though Hotstar is an Indian streaming service at heart, it does have an international presence. According to TechCrunch, “The international expansion of Hotstar isn’t a surprise as it has entered the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. in recent years. In an interview with TechCrunch earlier this year, Ipsita Dasgupta, President of Hotstar’s international operations, said so far the platform’s international strategy has been to enter markets with “high density of Indians.”

Currently, Hotstar streams at a maximum resolution of 1080p with no support for HDR or Dolby Vision. Only Prime Videos and Netflix support 4K streaming with HDR support with the latter offering Dolby Vision. Even with the speculated price hike, Hotstar could become a threat for Netflix with its vast content library and 4K HDR support (if the service were upgraded to 4K with HDR support). 4K HDR support isn’t talked about in this case, but it is wishful thinking on our part. 

Currently, heavyweight shows like His Dark Materials, Watchmen (read our review here) and more are streaming on Hotstar after their international release making the service quite lucrative if you are one that wants access to HBO shows illegally in India. 

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Epic Games Launches Battle Breakers, a Tactical Role-Playing Game for Android, iOS, and PC

Epic Games has launched its latest cross-platform role-playing game called Battle Breakers.

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Facebook App Shortcut Bar Settings now allow users to remove icons from the bottom bar

Facebook has updated its iOS and Android app. After the new update, users can now turn off notifications dots for some icons. The latest development was spotted by TechCrunch, and it was later confirmed by Facebook that the Shortcut Bar Settings is now rolling out for everyone. It is already out for the iOS users and it could arrive for the Android users in the coming weeks. Users can turn off notification dots for Watch, Marketplace and Profile. Furthermore, users can also remove these three icons from the bottom bar.

The new Shortcut Bar Settings on Facebook can be found on version 246.0 on iOS. The process to turn off or remove notification dots from the Facebook app is fairly simple. If you want to turn off notification dots for profile, you need to tap and long-press on its icon > tap on Turn off notification dots. Similarly, if you want to remove the Profile icon from the bottom bar, you need to tap and long-press on its icon > tap on, Remove from shortcuts bar. The same steps can be followed for Videos to Watch and Marketplace. 

Furthermore, if you want to have the icons back, you need to go to Facebook App’s Settings & Privacy menu > Settings > Shortcuts bar and simply turn on the toggles for the menus you wish to put back in the bottom bar. The new Settings is for those who do not like to be get bothered by the notification dots. 

As for the latest developments of Facebook, the company has announced a new service called Facebook Pay that will allow users to send, receive and keep track of transactions across  Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook. The service will be made live in US for Facebook and Messenger first. You can read more about it here.

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PUBG Labs Goes Lives as Dedicated Space for Testing Experimental Features, First One is Skill Based Rating System

PUBG now has a dedicated space called PUBG Labs for testing experimental features and other content, with the first one being a Skill Based Rating system.

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Alleged Poco F2 gets 3C certification in China

The Poco F2 may be in works. A new Xiaomi device has received approval from the 3C authority of China. It carries a model number M1912G7BE / BC. While there is no information on what the phone might be called, it may well be the much-awaited Poco F2 smartphone. A phone with the same model number was certified by the National Radio Agency of China in October. According to the 3C certification, the Xiaomi M1912G7BE / BC could be shipped with a 27W rapid charger.

It is not confirmed that Xiaomi M1912G7BE / BC is the Poco F2, but the certification suggests flagship-level specifications of the device. The handset does not have 5G support. Furthermore, Xiaomi could launch a couple of flagship phones before the end of 2019. One could be the Mi Mix 4, while the other one could be a 5G smartphone. It may launch a Redmi K30 with 5G. However, the Xiaomi M1912G7BE / BC is not a 5G device and it is expected to show up on TENAA in the upcoming days.

Recently, a case for the Poco F2 was spotted on the Spigen website. From the Spigen listing, it is evident that the Poco F2 looks a lot like the Redmi K20 and the Redmi K20 Pro. The website briefly listed Liquid Crystal and Rugged Armor cases for the unreleased Poco F2.  The renders suggested that the upcoming Poco phone could feature a notch-less display and a pop-up selfie camera. It may have a triple rear camera support and an in-display fingerprint scanner. The smartphone is tipped to sport a polycarbonate body like the original Poco F1. The case maker has pulled the Poco F2 case listing already.

It is suggested to take the information with a grain of salt as nothing  has been confirmed yet.

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Call of Duty: Mobile teases its upcoming Zombie Mode

If there is one group of enemies that all games love killing, it has to be zombies. Call of Duty: Mobile has been teasing the launch of a new ‘Zombie Mode’ for a while now. While the mode is still not available, the developers have released a teaser image for the game. “From above ground to below, hold back the undead.” the tweet says, while the image shows a character (possibly the player) fighting off a horde of zombies in a swamp-like setting. This seems to suggest that the new Zombie mode will feature a new map, which will be unlike any of the other maps currently available in the game.

From above ground to below, hold back the undead. #CODMobile pic.twitter.com/8H0gww7gD3

— Call of Duty: Mobile (@PlayCODMobile) November 13, 2019

While no other information about the mode is known, it should be pretty similar to the version we have seen in the PC and console versions of the game. In this mode, teams of around four players fight off waves upon waves of zombies. However, we will have to wait till the mode officially launches in order to know more.

Currently, Call of Duty: Mobile offer two gameplay modes, Multiplayer and Battle Royale. Multiplayer consists of traditional 5v5 matches in different modes like Frontline, Domination, and more. Battle Royale is exactly what it sounds like. 100 players land on an island and find weapons and other items that they can use to be the last one standing, similar to PUBG. However, Call of Duty: Mobile’s Battle Royale mode also includes helicopters and players have the ability to revive fallen teammates. PUBG Mobile now offers these features in its new Payload Mode.

Of course, Call of Duty: Mobile and PUBG Mobile will have some competition in the form of Apex Legends. EA plans to launch a mobile version of the game sometime in 2021. So both these titles have over a year to establish themselves before another AAA-level game comes to challenge them.

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