Googles upcoming Android TV dongle looks a lot different than the Chromecast

Google’s upcoming Android TV dongle, codenamed Sabrina has been a part of the rumour mill for some time. We know that the device will be very similar to the Google Chromecast in design, will come with a dedicated remote control and run on the Android TV platform. Now XDA Developers has shown us what the device could possibly look like. The XDA Developers website reads, “That brings us to today. While I am unfortunately unable to share any details on the branding, pricing, or availability of Google’s Android TV dongle, I can share what are likely official renders of the device. We obtained renders of the device code-named “Sabrina” from a pre-release firmware build”.

From the revealed images it looks like the device will have an oval shape as compared to the round shape of Chromecast we have gotten accustomed to. It will also be available in three colour options - black, pink and white. From the image, it looks like the HDMI end of the dongle will still stick out of the device just like it does on the Chromecast. It isn’t visible in the renders, but we think the device will have a USB-C port for power. The Chromecast has a micro USB port. 

Coming to the remote control, the design is very reminiscent of what we got with the Google Daydream headset. Only half the remote is visible in the image, but it shows a navigation button, an ok button, back, home, play/pause and mute buttons along with a ‘star’ button. It isn’t clear whether it will have a volume rocker or dedicated OTT buttons. There are some images of the UI as well, and it isn’t clear whether Android TV will get a UI overhaul with this new device. According to XDA Developers, the device will support Dolby Vision as well. There is no information about a release date or pricing of the device. 

The Chromecast was one of the first devices to add smart capabilities to a TV. Before that, users had to rely on devices like the WD TV Live. With the Chromecast, the user’s smartphone is the remote control and compatible apps simply “cast” content on the screen. 

We have seen devices like the Nvidia Shield, Mi TV Box 4K (read our review) and many more give an Android TV UI along with the convenience of a remote control. We also have the Fire TV Stick from Amazon that brings with it a fluid UI and an Alexa-enabled remote control.

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Remove China Apps taken down from the Google Play Store for violating policies

Capitalising on the rising anti-China sentiments in the country, Remove China Apps, an app on the Google Play Store quickly garnered over a million downloads in the recent weeks. It did exactly as the name suggests, albeit selectively so. Now, Google has pulled the app from the Play Store.

The app was trending on top in India and was downloaded more than 5 million times since May. The app basically detected apps developed by Chinese firms and gave users an option to delete them, giving the folks rooting for weeding out Chinese products from the Indian economy some catharsis.

However, Google took action against the app for violating Google Play Store’s Deceptive Behaviour Policy, which doesn’t allow an app on the Play Store to make changes to the user’s device settings, or features outside the app, without their explicit consent. It also cannot encourage or incentivise users into deleting third-party apps.

The app was developed by an Indian firm called OneTouch AppLabs and gained traction among citizens boycotting Chinese goods and services on social media, over an ongoing escalation at the Indo-China border. Having said that, this is not the first time Indians are lashing out against China by boycotting apps and phones originating from the country.

The online campaign against Chinese apps and smartphones are also at an all-time high. Recently, popular video social network TikTok also came under fire with Indians going on the Play Store rating the app 1 star to bring down its popularity. There too, Google intervened and removed thousands of fake reviews calling the app out for simply being made in China, and restoring some of the old ratings back to the app.

The Remove China Apps app quickly became the number one free app on the Google Play Store in India. Developed by a Jaipur-based firm, the app did not require any permissions to work. The developers claimed the app was made for educational purposes only and does not promote or force people to uninstall any of the apps it highlights as having originated from China.

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Cyberpunk 2077 Night City Wire livestream postponed due to unrest in the United States

We were all excited for CDProjekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077 Night City Wire livestream but we will have to wait a little bit longer as the company has delayed the virtual event from June 11 to June 25. As per a tweet from the official Cyberpunk 2077 handle, the company is standing with the Black Lives Matter group and protests taking place in the United States right now and have postponed the event. The event was supposed to be a part of the Summer Games fest (which has also been postponed). The event would have given gamers a new look at the much-anticipated game but clearly, we will have to wait a little longer for a fresh look at Cyberpunk 2077. 

We decided to move Night City Wire to Jun 25th. We still look forward to sharing new information about CP’77, but more important discussions are happening right now and we want them to be heard. We wholeheartedly stand against racism, intolerance and violence. Black Lives Matter.

— Cyberpunk 2077 (@CyberpunkGame) June 2, 2020

In fact, just yesterday we reported that Sony had also postponed its big reveal event for the PlayStation 5, which was scheduled to take place tomorrow, June 4. The company posted the statement regarding the postponement of the event on its official blog saying “We have decided to postpone the PlayStation 5 event scheduled for June 4. While we understand gamers worldwide are excited to see PS5 games, we do not feel that right now is a time for celebration and for now, we want to stand back and allow more important voices to be heard.” It looks like CDPR are following suit with a very similar message as you can see in the tweet above. Even IGN has pushed its Summer of Gaming events from June 5 to June 8 as well. We will have to wait just a bit longer to check out whatever these companies have to offer. 

The world is going through a really rough time right now with the COVID-19 outbreak, cyclones and locust swarms and such. It seems like 2020 is essentially cancelled, for all intents and purposes. 

In other Cyberpunk news, the Xbox One X Cyberpunk 2077 edition will also be the last unique version of the console and you can read more about that story here. The console was supposed to launch in June but we're not sure how that's going to turn out now. 

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BSNL Rs 365 prepaid plan comes with 1-year validity

BSNL has launched a Rs 365 plan that brings with it validity for 1 year. The plan is available in all circles and brings with it a bunch of benefits. One thing to note is that all the benefits that are available with the plan are applicable for 60 days only. The plan brings with it unlimited calling and data, but with an FUP cap. To recharge with the new plan customers need to visit a BSNL Customer Service Center or retailer or they can recharge online or via the My BSNL App. Customers can also SMS(PLAN (space) BSNL365 to 123) or dial (*444*365#) to recharge with the new plan. 

BSNL Rs 365 Plan Details

As mentioned above, and in the name of the plan, the BSNL Rs 365 plan is priced at Rs 365 and brings with it a one-year validity. It also brings with it a bunch of benefits, but the catch is that the benefits are applicable for a period of 60 days only. The benefits include unlimited voice calls with an FUP of 250 minutes per day to any local, STD, national roaming including Mumbai and Delhi. The plan also brings with it unlimited data with a cap of 2GB per day. After the data cap is reached the speed drops to 80kbps. Users also get access to 100 SMS/day. However, it must be remembered that these benefits are for a period of 60 days only while the validity of the plan is for 365 days. Means if you want more data or more minutes, you will have to top up with other plans. 

Customers looking to recharge with the new plan can simply visit a BSNL Customer Service Center or retailer or they can recharge online or via the My BSNL App. Customers can also SMS(PLAN (space) BSNL365 to 123) or dial (*444*365#) to recharge with the new plan. 

If long validity is something you are looking for, then know that BSNL has a Rs 2399 plan that gives users a validity of 600 days i.e. 1.64 years! With this plan, users get 250 minutes of calling per day i.e., 4.16 hours of calling per day and 100 SMS per day limit. There is, unfortunately, no data as a part of the plan and those that use data will be charged Rs 0.25 per MB used. So users who opt for this plan will have to rely on some data pack for internet usage. You can read more about the plan here.  

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Bulk delete Facebook posts to save you some embarrassment: Heres how

Facebook has launched a new feature that lets you bulk delete all that you’ve shared on your timeline ever since you joined the social media platform. You can also search with filters like date and people, and bulk delete posts. The process helps users weed out unwanted content from their profile.

Facebook came in the early days of the social media movement, and most of us who joined back then were naive and shared content which we may not want to revisit or be dug up by others to troll and defame us. 

The new bulk delete option resides in the “Activity Log” and you can use a filter to bulk delete posts made on a certain date, or shared with people. There’s also the option to archive old posts so only you can see them.

How to bulk delete Facebook posts

The bulk delete option is presently only available in the Android and iOS apps of Facebook, with support for the web version coming in the future. Here’s how to go about deleting old posts from your timeline —

1. Open the Facebook app on your iOS or Android device. 2. Head to the profile page by tapping on your profile photo on the home screen. You’ll find it in the top left corner. 3. Now tap the 3-dot icon and go to Activity Log. 4. Tap on Manage Activity at the top and choose Your Posts. 5. You will now see all the posts you’ve made on your profile ever since you joined. Select the ones you want to delete. 6. If you want to filter it out, tap on the Filters option at the top to sort your posts by category, date or people. 7. Select the posts you want removed and tap on delete or archive.

When you hit delete, Facebook will delete the post and the content completely after 30 days from their servers. If you hit the archive option, others won’t be able to see the posts but it will remain on your timeline for you to revisit. If you are also planning to exit Facebook altogether, here's a handy guide to zip up all your data before you hit that delete account button.

The feature is rolling out in phases, and if you haven’t received it, just wait it out and the app will be updated automatically with the new feature.

In other Facebook news, the company launched Facebook Shops as online storefronts gain popularity due to Coronavirus. You can read more about that here. 

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Amazfit Bip S with built-in GPS, 40-day battery life launched at Rs 4,999

Amazfit has launched its new Bip S wearable in India. Priced at Rs 4,999, the new device is available in four colour options. Namely Red Orange, Warm Pink, White Rock and Carbon Black. The device will be available online on Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra and on Amazfit’s own website. Offline, it will be available across stores like Croma, Reliance Digital & Poorvika Mobiles. 

The Amazfit Bip S made its debut at CES 2020 in January and packs a host of notable features like a colour transflective display, 5ATM water resistance and built-in GPS. However, the highlight of the device has to be its impressive battery life. The company claims that the device can offer a battery life of up to 40 days. 

Mark Mao, Vice President of Overseas Business, Huami, said, “Following the huge success and popularity of Amazfit Bip and Amazfit Bip Lite we have now introduced Amazfit Bip S, which debuted at CES 2020. We are elated to launch our latest product Amazfit Bip S in the Indian market. The Bip S is designed for millennials and fitness enthusiasts to track their daily activities & performance while doing sport and adding colours to their lifestyle. The Indian market has always accepted us with great trust and response, and we are looking forward to receiving the same once again.” 

The Bip S comes with PAI, which is touted as an indicator of personal activity. It uses the data it gatherers about the user’s heart and fitness to generate a score. This score should make it easier for users to tracker their daily fitness levels. The device comes with 10 sports modes. This includes Treadmill, Outdoor running, Walking, Indoor Cycling, Outdoor Cycling, Open Water, Pool, Yoga, Elliptical Trainer, and Freestyle. The optical heart rate tracker offers continuous heart rate tracking, and heart rate interval values, The device also comes with GPS and GLONASS, which should offer more accurate tracking of routes and distances. Other features of the device include Bluetooth music control that allows users to control music playback without the need to take out their phones. 

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TCL QLED TVs launching in India on June 18

TCL is all set to launch its QLED TVs in India on June 18, 2020. The event will take place at 12:30 PM IST and will be an online event only. TCL’s India website also has a teaser video highlighting the launch of its QLED TV lineup. The exact models launching in India aren’t known but the company is expected to show off its 4K and 8K lineup. At CES 2020 we got a glimpse of TCL’s 4K and 8K TVs some of which were running on the Android TV UI. It isn’t clear which of these will launch in India. 

TCL’s website also highlights the evolution of QLED displays on their TVs. The website reads, “TCL has been shaping the QLED industry ever since our first Quantum Dot display TV in 2014. TCL's 6 years of investment has created cutting edge technology and other notable milestones: including our first curved QLED TV in 2015, our first ultra-slim QLED TV in 2017, and our first 85" QLED TV in 2018”.

TCL QLED TV 8K X915 Specifications

Back at CES 2020, we had the chance to check out the TCL QLED TV 8K X915. The X915 is TCL’s flagship X series available in 65 and 75-inch sizes. It features an 8K, Quantum Dot Display Technology (QLED panel) along with support for Dolby Vision HDR and IMAX Enhanced. IMAX Enhanced is something we saw on the 2020 Sony and LG TVs at CES and it is great that the two heavyweights in the TV business will see competition from TCL in the premium space. The X915 also boasts of Local Dimming Technology.

As you can see from the video, the TV comes with an external soundbar so there is no compromise on the audio from the TV. The soundbar is designed by Onkyo and boasts of support for Dolby Atmos. The TV also features a retractable built-in camera, which will ascend and descend automatically when prompted. The TV also boasts of 8K upscaling, Far-field Voice Control, and it runs on Android. 

At CES TCL showed off a bunch of 4K TVs as well. Some with HDMI 2.1 and some without. You can catch their details here. The only TVs available in India that support HDMI 2.1 are the flagship TVs from LG such as their OLED and NanoCell TVs. You can check our review of the LG C9 here.

Recently, Sony launched two TVs under its BRAVIA 4K lineup in India. You can read more about it here.

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