Samsung announces Galaxy Book Flex Alpha with Intel 10th Gen Core CPUs, QLED touchscreen display

A couple of months ago, Samsung Electronics announced two new Thin and Light laptop models in the US, namely, the Galaxy Book Ion and Galaxy Book Flex. The latter model is now being joined by what appears to be a cheaper cousin called the Galaxy Book Flex Alpha. With no word on availability in India, Samsung’s press release says the Galaxy Book Flex Alpha will go on sale in the US with Intel’s 10th Gen Core series CPUs “in the first half of 2020” at a starting price of $829.99, which translates to about Rs 60,000.

A quick look at the device’s spec sheet reveals that the Galaxy Book Flex Alpha is undoubtedly a Thin and Light Convertible laptop. Weighing in at 1.19 kilogrammes, the laptop is no thicker than 13.9 millimetres. It comes with a 13.3-inch QLED display with Full HD resolution. The display can be pushed all the way back into tablet mode. Powering the laptop is one of Intel’s 10th Gen Core series CPUs along with either 8GB or 12GB of RAM. Internal storage goes all the way from 256GB to 1TB on a PCIe NVMe solid-state drive. Sadly, there’s no discrete graphics option on board.

The Samsung Galaxy Book Flex Alpha features Wi-Fi 6, fingerprint authentication, stereo speakers, and support for the Samsung Active Pen stylus, which is unfortunately not bundled with device. The Galaxy Book Flex Alpha employs an aluminium construction and a 54Wh integrated battery, which Samsung claims is good for up to 17.5 hours of unplugged use. The battery supports fast charging and comes with a number of connectivity options, including USB-C, USB-A 3.0, and HDMI. There’s also a 3.5mm audio jack and a microSD card slot on offer.

According to Samsung, the display on the Galaxy Book Flex Alpha delivers up to 600 nits of brightness and a 100-per cent colour coverage, though it hasn’t mentioned on which colour space. It’s hard to say whether the Samsung Book Flex Alpha will be launched in India at all, given the fact that Samsung has never been too keen on selling PCs in India. If you’re looking for alternatives to this one, consider the recently launched Lenovo IdeaPad C340. It starts at Rs 46,190 and goes all the way up to Rs 89,490. You can read our review of it here.

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New Redmi Note 8 variant with 8GB RAM and 256GB of storage may launch soon

The Redmi Note 8 was launched alongside the Redmi Note 8 Pro in India last year. The smartphone was announced in three variants - the 4GB RAM + 64GB storage, 6GB RAM + 64GB storage and 6GB RAM + 128GB of internal storage. However, the latest rumours claim that a new Redmi Note 8 has appeared on TENAA. The company may be looking forward to launching a more premium version of the Redmi Note 8 soon.

Redmi Note 8 with model number M1908C3JE has shown up on TENAA listing. The smartphone on listing comes equipped with 8GB RAM and 256GB of internal storage. The listing indicates that Redmi Note 8’s premium variant may launch in China soon. 

Redmi Note 8 specifications

The Redmi Note 8 features a 6.3-inch FHD+ screen that has a dot drop notch. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 SoC. The phone comes with 4GB and 6GB RAM, and up to 128GB of internal storage. However, as mentioned, it could soon get an 8GB RAM variant with 256GB of storage. It packs a 4000mAh battery with 18W fast charging support.

In the optics department, Redmi Note 8 sports a quad rear camera setup: a 48MP Samsung GM1 sensor with f/1.79 lens + an 8MP Ultra-Wide lens + a 2MP depth sensor + a 2MP Macro lens. It also has a 13MP selfie shooter. Redmi Note 8 comes with a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, USB Type-C and a headphone jack.

Redmi Note 8 also won our Zero1 Award in the category of Best Performing Budget camera smartphone.

Redmi Note 8 price in India

The smartphone is available in Moonlight White, Neptune Blue, and Space Black colour options. Redmi Note 8 costs Rs 9,999 for the 4GB + 64GB variant and Rs 12,999 for the 6GB RAM + 128GB storage model.

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Dell announces new XPS 13, Latitude 9510 and new Ultrasharp and Alienware monitors ahead of CES 2020

With the Consumer Electronics Show just a few days away, Dell, isn’t waiting around for the expo. The company has announced a number of products today across multiple portfolios including an updated version of the XPS 13, several new displays and even additions to the Latitude lineup of machines.

New Dell XPS-13

The Dell XPS 13 is the first of the many product announcements Dell is making today. The new XPS 13 fits a 13.4-inch display in a chassis of an 11-inch laptop. Additionally, Dell claims that the XPS 13 houses the world’s first four-sided near-bezelless display. While narrow bezels are always nice, perhaps the most notable change to the long-standing thin-and-light is the 16:10 aspect ratio for the display. The additional horizontal resolution is always great to have and will be appreciated by those who tend to work a lot on spreadsheets. The new XPS 13 also features slightly broader keycaps, placed in the all too familiar carbon fiber keyboard island. The Dell XPS 13 will feature processors from Intel’s 10th generation Ice Lake processors. In addition to the new XPS 13, Dell is also announcing a Developer Version of the XPS 13 which will come with Ubuntu 18.04LTS instead of Windows 10. The new XPS 13 is said to be available January 7 onwards in select countries for a starting retail price of $999. Globally availability to start in February.

Dell Latitude – Now 5G Ready

The Dell Latitude 9510 being announced today comes with a number of impressive features. First off, Dell claims the laptop is 5G-ready, meaning, consumers who live in countries where 5G is already available can pick up a version of the Dell Latitude 9510 that supports 5G as well. The 5G antennas are built into the speakers so as to retain the Infinity Edge display. Dell claims the Latitude 9510 to be the world’s lightest and smallest commercial 15” laptop. Powering the Latitude 95100 will be Intel’s 10th generation processors and will be vPro ready. The Dell Latitude 9510, starting at US $1,799.00, will be available globally starting March 26, 2020.

New displays for everybody

Dell is also taking the time to announce today four new premium monitors. The first is an 85.6-inch monitor interactive touch monitor with a 4K resolution. Designed primarily for commercial use, the Dell 86 4K allows content from up to four machines to be on display, for better collaboration and productivity. The second monitor that’s part of today’s lineup is the Dell Ultrasharp 43 4K USB-C monitor. As the name suggests, the panel has a diagonal length of 43-inches, accommodating a resolution of 4K. The monitor also supports DisplayPort over Type-C, along with power delivery of up to 90W. For those looking for an HDR enabled monitor, Dell is also announcing the Ultrasharp 27 4K USB-C monitor. The panel is VESA DisplayHDR 400 certified, meaning that it supposed a peak brightness of 400-nits, enough for most computer-based HDR content playback. Last, there’s also the Alienware 25 Gaming Monitor featuring a fast IPS panel with 99 percent sRGB coverage. The panel boasts of a 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time (gray-to-gray). The monitor also supports AMD FreeSync and is Nvidia G-Sync compatible. The Dell 86 4K Interactive Touch Monitor will be available globally April 10, although the pricing has not yet been announced. Dell UltraSharp 43 4K USB-C monitor will be starting at US $1,049.99 and will be available globally January 30 onwards. The Dell UltraSharp 27 4K USB-C Monitor is priced starting at US $709.99 with a global availability set for January 30. Finally, the Alienware 25 Gaming Monitor is priced starting at US $499.99 and will hit shelves around the world on March 11.

 

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Call of Duty: Mobile to get Sniper Challenge in Battle Royale mode on Jan 3

Call of Duty: Mobile has tried to keep the multiplayer aspect of its game fresh for players by adding limited time events such as Prop Hunt, Hardpoint and more. However, its Battle Royale mode is pretty much untouched save for the new changes to its one and only map. But from tomorrow onwards, players can expect a new mode added to Battle Royale called Sniper Challenge.

Details about Sniper Challenge are not yet known except for the fact that will will start from January 3 onwards. Most likely the event will see only sniper rifles spawn in the map, making the whole affair about range and changing any preconceived strategies that players may have. It is not yet know if Sniper Challenge will be a permanent addition to Call of Duty: Mobile’s Battle Royale mode, or if it will only be available for a limited time.  

A few months back, Call of Duty: Mobile’s Zombie mode finally became available for everyone This mode sees teams of up to four people battle it out against waves upon waves of the undead, and then face a boss battle at the end. However, there is also a survival mode that sees players battle waves of never ending zombies till they dies. 

We at Digit had pretty mixed reactions to the Zombie mode and felt that it could do with a couple of tweaks to make it even better. You can check that out here. However, if you quite like the Zombie mode and want to improve their skills, they can check some simple tips and tricks here.

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Airtel announces new Rs 279, Rs 379 prepaid plans with up to 6GB data and 84 day validity

The telecom sector is currently going through a rough phase, and to increase revenue and drive up profits, telecom companies recently upped the cost of their offerings. Airtel, Vodafone-Idea and Reliance Jio increased their tariffs for prepaid options and while the former two telcos first introduced plans with a cap on calling, they revised them later to remove call limitations. Now, Airtel has silently announced two new plans priced at Rs 279 and Rs 379, which offer varying benefits for users who have differing needs. The Rs 279 prepaid option is aimed at users who need slightly more data for a short period of time, while the Rs 379 plan comes with more data and longer validity. 

Starting with the Rs 279 prepaid option, the recharge credits 1.5GB data per day to a user’s account. It also offers unlimited calling without any capping, along with 100 SMS' per day, and has a 28-day validity. It should also be noted that Airtel is offering Rs 4 lakh term life insurance from HDFC Life with this recharge. Moving to the Rs 379 plan, it comes with 6GB data, which will be credited to a user’s account in a lumpsum. With an 84 day validity, the new recharge option also offers unlimited calling and 900 SMS for the entire duration of the plan’s validity. 

The two new plans were first spotted by TelecomTalk. They also ship with some additional benefits like a four-week free course on Shaw Academy, access to Wynk Music, a premium subscription to Airtel Xstream app and Rs 100 cashback on FASTag. 

As mentioned earlier, Airtel recently announced new revamped prepaid recharge plans. These recharge options start at Rs 19 and go all the way up to Rs 2398. Unlimited plans by Airtel start at Rs 129. You can read more about the new recharge options here. 

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New patent by LG reveals a smartphone case with a flexible display

LG has reportedly filed a patent for a smartphone case that is supposed to pack a large flexible display. When strapped on, the case is said to offer users a screen size that is up to three times larger. The patent is titled ‘case for mobile phones' and it will reportedly give the phone the properties of a foldable device. The company introduced a detachable dual screen with the launch of LG G8 ThinQ.

The patent was spotted by LetsGoDigital. According to the report, LG has filed the new patent with The Hague International Design System and with the WIPO Global Design Database. The image showcases a smartphone case with a flexible display. It appears like a phone can be attached to the case through a small flap on the side. It will allow users to have two displays - one on the case and the other that is the regular screen of the phone. 

The cover seems to be just like a flip cover. However, this one would wrap nearly all the way around the device to accommodate the flexible tablet-sized display. The side flap consists of three connection points to attach the handset. The large screen will give users larger screeb space to watch videos and play games. However, it will also consume a lot of battery - how LG is planning to counter this is yet to be known. 

It is important to note that a patent does not mean the device is under development or ready to be shipped. However, it would be exciting to see LG launching this unique smartphone.

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ISRO and Xiaomi reportedly in final talks for rolling out chips with NaVIC support: All you need to know

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Xiaomi are reportedly in advanced talks to include NavIC chipsets on the latter’s upcoming devices. As per a PTI report, an ISRO official said, "Qualcomm has announced that its chip is going to have NaVIC and they are releasing it. Now almost Xiaomi is in agreement to have it. Xiaomi may launch its mobile phones with NavIC chipsets." Before delving any further, we should mention that the NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) is an Indian version of the Global Positioning System (GPS). The NavIC system is aimed at providing satellite tracking services in India and adjoining regions, in the 1500 km range.

Previously, Qualcomm had announced support for the NavIC satellite navigation system in commercial chipset platform. With the latest report of ISRO and Xiaomi in final stages of discussion to integrated chips that support NavIC, we might soon get to see the new technology in action. "The initiative will help accelerate the adoption of NavIC and enhance the geolocation capabilities of mobile, automotive and the Internet of Things (IoT) solutions – with the backing of engineering talent in India," Qualcomm’s older press statement on the subject reads. 

As per previous official announcements by ISRO and Qualcomm, NavIC support will be available the latter’s select chipset platforms from late 2019. Commercial devices with NavIC support are expected to be available during the first half of 2020. The Qualcomm Location Suite now supports up to seven satellite constellations concurrently, including all of NavIC's operating satellites for more accurate location performance, faster time-to-first-fix (TTFF) position acquisition, and improved robustness of location-based services, as part of the updated platforms.

Currently, most consumer devices make use of GPS and GLONASS for providing location services via satellites. GPS is a U.S.-owned utility, which enables that provides users with positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services. GPS and GLONASS both make use of satellites but the orbital planes where they are placed are of different heights. US has committed to maintain at least 24 operational satellites for enabling GPS for 95 percent of time. GLONASS is considered to be better in terms of accuracy at high latitudes, while GPS can deliver better positional accuracy. 

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