A few years ago, one of the most requested apps by Android users was VLC. The immensely popular video player for Windows finally released on Android, and over the years, besides bringing performance and compatibility updates to the App, not a lot has changed, until now.
Jean-Baptiste Kempf, President and one of the lead developers at Videolan shared some major updates that are on their way to VLC. The team has released VLC Beta 3.3.0 which incorporates a number of new changes. First off, the biggest change to the app comes in terms of its user interface. VLC has finally switched over the cleaner Material Design language defined by Google, bringing the app’s visuals more in line with the current versions of stock Android. Additionally, the navigation bar has moved to the bottom to be easier to use. While Videolan has removed the fully coloured toolbars in VLC 3.3.0, they have retained the orange colour in order to retain the company branding.
The app is currently in beta and users will need to sign up for it through the beta program on Play Store. If you don’t want to go through the process, you can always get the app off of APKMirror and sideload it. We wouldn’t recommend advising using a beta version of any app, due to compatibility or functional issues. There is a whole Reddit thread full of discussions about things that are nice about the new changes and the things that the developers have so far got wrong. There are some options that have been clubbed into unrelated menu items, which can be annoying. There is no expected timeline for when VLC 3.3.0 will come out of beta. Currently, the build still needs plenty of work, so we recommend waiting before upgrading.
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Xiaomi and Vivo have come up with a way for people to buy smartphones amidst the ongoing nation-wide lockdown to curb the spread of Coronavirus in India. Xiaomi has announced it’s Mi Commerce platform will allow it’s offline retail stores to deliver smartphones to users at their doorsteps. Similarly, Vivo has initiated a Smart Retail plan that allows users to order a smartphone and it will be delivered to their home. The Indian government has eased COVID-19 restrictions across the country and allowed activities in green and orange zones.
Xiaomi Mi Commerce: What is it and how to use it?
Xiaomi’s Mi Commerce platform is the company’s first step towards establishing an offline-to-online (O2O) channel for it’s 10,000+ retail partners that will enable their businesses in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak. Previously, the Indian government put a restriction on e-commerce companies to deliver non-essential goods including mobile phones and laptops but the said restriction has been lifted for the districts that fall under the green and orange zones.
Mi Commerce serves as a hyperlocal aggregator of mobile phone stores and the orders will be delivered by the retailers. The user sees an inventory list of the nearest store and also offers a custom URL to retailers to share it on social media platforms to attract customers.
How to order a Xiaomi phone without leaving your home?
Go to Mi Commerce store from a mobile phone. The URL is local.mi.com.
Based on your location, you will see a list of mobile phone shops in your neighbourhood.
Select a shop from the list and you will be able to see the inventory.
Choose the product that you want to purchase.
Sign-in to your Mi account. If not, create one.
Confirm and Submit your order.
The order is recorded by the system and sent to the retail store for confirmation. Xiaomi has recommended that as the last-mile delivery is being done by retailers, customers can ensure contactless delivery by paying via UPI.
The service is being trialled in Kerala for now and is expected to be rolled out in government-identified green and orange zones.
Alternatively, Xiaomi is also accepting orders on its Mi India website for delivering products in green and orange zones.
What is Vivo Smart Retail?
Vivo Smart Retail is the company’s attempt to kickstart it’s offline retail channel that includes more than 20,000 retailers. Vivo says that users can reach out to the company through it’s official Facebook page or send an SMS to order a smartphone.
Vivo is essentially gathering user interest on the products and is relaying the info to its retail channels. The offline stores are then tasked with delivering the product to the customer, though Vivo has offered to help its partners in delivering orders.
How to buy Vivo mobile phone without leaving your house?
Customers can send an SMS about a Vivo product to 8955771110 and talk to a local retail store for buying a phone.
Additionally, Vivo’s official Facebook page will accept product-related requests by mid-May.
Alternatively, you can head to the Vivo India store to place an order.
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Apple has updated the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the new Magic Keyboard. Recently, the company refreshed the MacBook Air bringing the new keyboard to it. We first saw this keyboard in the 16-inch MacBook Pro (read our review here). Coming back to the new 13-inch MacBook Pro, it brings with it the new 10th-generation Intel processors, up to 16GB 3733MHz memory standard, and a 13-inch Retina display, Touch Bar and Touch ID, stereo speakers, claimed all-day battery life and more. “Whether you’re a college student, a developer, or a creative pro, the 13-inch MacBook Pro delivers powerful performance, a stunning Retina display, and all-day battery life in our most portable pro notebook. Today we’re adding the new Magic Keyboard, doubling the standard storage, and boosting performance, making the 13-inch MacBook Pro an even better value for our customers,” said Tom Boger, Apple’s senior director of Mac and iPad Product Marketing. “With these updates, our entire notebook lineup features the Magic Keyboard for the best typing experience ever on a Mac notebook, offers twice the standard storage than before, and delivers even more performance.”
13-inch MacBook Pro Specifications
The new 13-inch MacBook Pro features a redesigned scissor mechanism with 1mm of key travel, the same we saw on the 16-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air recently. Apple says that the new inverted-“T” arrangement for the arrow keys makes them easier to find, a feature that was there in the laptops in the past, but was then removed and is now back - yay! The Magic Keyboard also features a physical Escape key, along with Touch Bar and Touch ID. The 13.3-inch True Tone display has a resolution of 2560x1600 pixels, 500 nits brightness along with support for a Wide colour (P3) gamut.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro is available in two processor variants - 1.4GHz quad‑core 8th‑generation Intel Core i5 and 2.0GHz quad‑core 10th‑generation Intel Core i5 accompanied by 8GB and 16GB RAM and Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645 and Intel Iris Plus Graphics respectively. The storage on offer is 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro comes with the Apple T2 Security Chip, Apple’s own custom-designed second-generation silicon. The laptop runs on macOS Catalina out of the box.
13-inch Macbook Pro Price
The new 13-inch MacBook Pro will be available soon starting at Rs 122,990 in Silver and Space Grey.
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Microsoft has announced that the Surface Pro X, Surface Pro 7 and Surface Laptop 3 are now available in India. The devices are available both offline and online. “The ways in which we connect, work and learn are changing rapidly; and our devices are helping us stay connected and be productive as we work and learn remotely. The new Surface line-up is created for the modern worker. Each of the devices offers unparalleled versatility, greater performance and multi-tasking capabilities that empower you to work from anywhere, anytime,” said Rajiv Sodhi, COO, Microsoft India.
Microsoft Surface Pro X Specifications
Microsoft claims that the Surface Pro X is its thinnest, lightest, most powerful and most connected 2-in-1 laptop ever. The device measures a mere 7.3mm in thickness and weighs 774g. It has a 13-inch edge-to-edge PixelSense Display with a 3:2 aspect ratio. The device features a custom processor developed in partnership with Qualcomm called the Microsoft SQ1. It also has 8GB RAM and 128GB storage along with dual 4K video output via USB-C.
Users also have access to the new Surface Pro X Signature Keyboard, Surface Slim Pen and Surface Arc Mouse, all of which are sold separately. The Surface Slim Pen is stored and recharged in the Alcantara-covered keyboard. The Surface Pro X has a claimed battery life of up to 13 hours, fast-charging to about 80% within just an hour and also boasts of LTE connectivity. The Microsoft Surface Pro X is available in Matte Black colour only.
Microsoft Surface Pro X Price
The Microsoft Surface Pro X is available in one variant only - 8GB RAM with 128GB Storage and LTE support for Rs 98,999. The device is available online and offline.
Surface Pro 7 Specifications
The Surface Pro 7 comes with a quad-core, 10th Generation Intel Core processor. Intel claims this makes the device 2.3 times faster than previous generations. The Surface Pro 7 now comes in 2 colours - Black and Platinum. The Surface Pro 7 also supports fast charging and claims to have all-day battery life and Instant On. It has a 12.3-inch PixelSense Display and weighs 775g. For connectivity, it has a docking station or charging accessories with USB-A, USB-C and Surface Connect. It also has a built-in kickstand and removable Surface Signature Type Cover (sold separately).
Surface Pro 7 Price
The surface Pro 7 is available in Platinum and Matte Black colour options. It is available in 4 configurations - 10th gen intel i3 processor, 4GB RAM and 128GB storage priced at Rs 72,999. 10th gen i5 processor with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage priced at Rs 88,999. 10th gen i5processor with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage priced at Rs 116,999. And finally the top of the line with a 10th gen intel core i7 processor with 16GB RAM and 256GB built-in storage priced at Rs 141,999.
Surface Laptop 3 Specifications
Last but not least we have the Surface Laptop 3. The Surface Laptop 3 is available in two sizes, 13.5-inch and 15-inches. The Surface Laptop 3 13.5-inch features the 10th Generation Intel Core processor while the Surface Laptop 3 15-inch is powered by an AMD processor.
The 13.5-inch Surface Laptop 3 weighs 1,288grams and 1,265g for its Matte Black and Platinum colour variants respectively, while the 15-inch weighs 1,542g. The Surface Laptop 3 is now available in two durable keyboard styles — rich, warm Alcantara material or a cool, new metal. The Surface Laptop 3 also supports fast charging and can be charged up to 80% in about one hour.
The Surface Laptop 3 features Instant On, USB-C and USB-A ports and dual far-field Studio Mics for great Microsoft Teams calls and dictation in Office.
Surface Laptop 3 Price
The 13.5-inch variant is available in Platinum and Matte Black (metal version only) and boasts of an i5 processor, 8GB RAM and 128GB storage priced at Rs 98,999.
The 15-inch (Available in Matte Black) has an AMD processor, 8GB RAM and 128GB storage priced at Rs 116,999.
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A few weeks ago, reports had surfaced on the OnePlus forums that the OnePlus 8 and the OnePlus 8 Pro had a green tint issue, similar to the ones seen on other recent AMOLED display equipped smartphones. However, buried in the same forum posts were reports of a black-crush issue. The back-crush problem is characterized by blocks of different shades of black when a pure black image is displayed on the screen. OnePlus has made a statement regarding this issue and it does not look good.
OnePlus has issued an official statement on the OnePlus Reddit forums, confirming that the black crush issue is a hardware problem and cannot be fixed via a software update. The company is giving consumers three options in case they notice this issue on their devices; repair, refund or replacement. OnePlus has issued two software updates since the problems came to light, but the black crush issue still persists. The green tint appearing on the OnePlus 8 and the OnePlus 8 Pro also has its roots in hardware issues, but OnePlus seems to think it can be fixed via software fixes.
Lately, there have been a number of reports of not just OnePlus’s flagship devices, but also with Samsung’s latest crop of flagships. There has been a trend of smartphones launching without proper QA testing, which results in faulty devices being shipped to users. Ideally, once the issues with Samsung’s S20 series displays started cropping up, OnePlus should have started looking into their own devices for the same issues, given that the company making the AMOLED panels was the same.
OnePlus is yet to start shipping their devices in India, with the OnePlus 8 and the OnePlus 8 Pro both being available for pre-order on Amazon. Both the smartphones feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 processor. Both devices also come with LPDDR5 memory, high refresh rate displays (120Hz on the Pro and 90Hz on the regular OnePlus 8) capable of HDR video playback. The OnePlus 8 starts at Rs 41,999 while the OnePlus 8 Pro starts at Rs 54,999. Both the devices will be available for purchase through Amazon and OnePlus India’s own website.
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Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro was announced back in March alongside the Redmi Note 9 Pro Max but due to the Coronavirus outbreak, the sales of the phones have been deferred until now. The Redmi Note 9 Pro is going on sale from May 5 in India and will be sold on Amazon India and the Mi India store.
Additionally, the company has revealed that it is offering an extra discount of Rs 1,000 for ICICI bank credit cardholders and for orders placed under the EMI option. As for the Redmi Note 9 Pro Max, Xiaomi hasn’t revealed when it’s going to start selling the maxed-out version of the Redmi Note 9 Pro in the country.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro price and availability
The Note 9 Pro starts at Rs 13,999 for the base variant with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage and the other variant with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage is priced at Rs 16,999.
The phone comes in three colours-- Aurora Blue, Glacier White and Interstellar Black. It goes on sale from May 5 on Amazon India and Mi India Store.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 specifications
Redmi Note 9 Pro features a 6.67-inch Full HD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels) resolution display topped with a layer of Gorilla Glass 5 and a punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera.
It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G chipset with an octa-core CPU and Adreno 618 GPU. This is paired with upto 6GB RAM and 128GB of storage options to choose from. The phone also comes with a dedicated slot for microSD cards for further memory expansion.
The Note 9 Pro has a quad-camera setup that consists of a primary 48MP camera with an f/1.8 aperture, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera, a 5MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, there is a 16MP selfie camera housed within the punch-hole cutout.
The phone’s power button on the right edge doubles up as a fingerprint sensor and it has a 5,020mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging.
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The Google Pixel 4 when it was launched, kicked up controversy because one of its most novel features was also the reason why it wasn’t launched in various countries like India. However, Indian consumers and many others around the world have been holding out for the Google Pixel 4a, hoping that it would launch with more of the desirable features of the Pixel 4, minus the Soli radar and the massive price tag. We finally know the Pixel 4a is real, given the numerous leaks around it and now, we have the first set of camera samples from a pre-production Google Pixel 4a.
YouTuber Julio Lusson, who runs the channel TecnoLike Plus has published an entire camera review of the Google Pixel 4a, complete with camera samples. A few things that are confirmed through his post is that the Pixel 4a features the same primary camera as the Pixel 4. This means we get the Sony IMX 363 sensor with a resolution of 12.2 megapixels, paired with a lens that offers an aperture of f/1.7 and optical image stabilization. The single front-facing camera has a resolution of 8 megapixels and an aperture of f/2.0, the same sensor found on the front camera of the Pixel 3 (Review) and Pixel 3a.
The samples posted by the YouTuber show a very capable camera, something we’ve come to expect from the Pixel lineup of smartphones. In fact, the Google Pixel 4a also sports the Astrophotography mode which allows users to shoot photos of the night sky using just their smartphone. As long as there’s no light pollution and you’re pointing the phone at the right part of the sky, you can expect some amazing photos of the stars in the night sky or even a view of the Milky Way’s arms. You can see all the samples on Julio's website.
The Google Pixel 4a is rumoured to come sporting a Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 SoC paired with 6GB of RAM. The phone is expected to only come in a single size, with a 5.81-inch display and a resolution of 2340x1080 and a 60Hz refresh rate. The phone is also expected to sport a 3080mAh battery. The phone is expected to be announced on May 22 for an expected price of $400.
Do note that the camera samples are all from the Pixel 4a running pre-production software
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