Gardenscapes, Homescapes Advertisements Banned by UK Regulator for Being Misleading

UK’s advertising regulator, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), has put a ban on advertisements for Homescapes and Gardenscapes, two mobile games hugely popular on iOS and Android platforms, for being misleading. Game developer Playrix has been told to not use the advertisements again.

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Sony 65-inch X90H TV Review

The Sony X90H brings with it great picture performance for consuming 4K HDR, SDR and FHD content. It's also a great TV for gaming. It has the smoothest Android TV UI we’ve seen and the changes to picture settings in terms of navigation and information displayed is a welcome change. The TV has good sound output and comes with an ergonomic, easy to use remote control. The only place where it falls short is that only two HDMI ports will be HDMI 2.1 enabled when the TV gets the update later this year.

 

It is that time of the year when we are waiting with bated breath for the launch of the PS5 and Xbox Series X and if you are wondering why I am starting a TV review with the next console generation, then you should know that apart from improved hardware under the hood, the next-gen gaming consoles come with a feature called HDMI 2.1. While breaking down HDMI 2.1 will be an article in itself, know that it brings with it features like 120FPS, Auto Low Latency Mode, Variable Refresh Rate and more to enhance your gaming experience. Since the next-gen consoles boast of these features, it makes sense for you to keep an eye out for them if you plan to purchase a TV in 2020 and want it to be future proof. So, is the Sony X9000H your next entertainment/gaming TV?

Well, before we get into it, a small note. A firmware update will be released to enable HDMI 2.1 on this TV and as of writing this review, the update isn't out. Also, only HDMI ports 3 and 4 will be HDMI 2.1 enabled. More on that later in this review. 

Specs at a glance

Panel Size: 65-inch (available in 55-inch as well) Panel Type: VA LED Panel Resolution: 3840 x 2160 - 4K Panel Refresh Rate: 120Hz HDR 10 support: Yes Dolby Vision Support: Yes Weight (with stand): 23.2kgs HDMI Ports: 4 USB Ports: 2 Bluetooth: Yes Wi-Fi: Yes Ethernet: Yes Speakers: 20W (Full Range (Bass Reflex) x 2, Tweeter x 2) Built-in storage: 16GB Price: 1,69,990 for 65-inch and Rs 1,09,990 for the 55-inch

Display and picture quality

Let’s dive into the thing that matters the most first - display and picture quality. The Sony X90H has a VA panel with support for 4K resolution and HDR 10 along with Dolby Vision support. It also supports Dolby Atmos. It also has a Netflix Mode which we’ve seen on multiple Sony TVs. For Dolby Vision content it has two settings - Dolby Vision Bright and Dolby Vision Dark, again, something we’ve seen on multiple Sony and some Android TVs as well. While the TV has full-array backlighting and local dimming, it does not have Sony's X-Wide Angle technology which helps improve the viewing angles of the TV. We have seen this tech in higher-end Sony TVs and it works quite well. Its absence here is missed, but the viewing angles on the Sony X90H aren't bad by any means. It is only when you get to absolute extremes that you will notice a colour shift. Considering it is a VA panel, the viewing angles are good. Let’s get into some content performance. 

4K and HDR performance

Holy smokes, this panel is bright is the first thing that comes to mind when you start watching the TV. While we do not know the peak brightness of the TV, know that it can get really bright, especially when consuming HDR content. In fact, all our test videos, be it Altered Carbon, Our Planet Grand Tour, looked sublime. There are a lot of TVs available in the 50 to 70K price point, both 55 and 65-inches, and they all have some impressive performance, but one look at the X90H and you know why you are paying a premium. Firstly, with the dimming zones - while it doesn't look to be as many as what we got on the X95G (review) last year, it's still enough to distinguish bright and dark objects right next to each other. So, when watching a show like Our Planet which has some lush environments and some dark corners in a jungle, the content looks very crisp. 

When consuming Dolby Vision content in a bright room, you may want to stick to Dolby Vision Bright and in a dark room, Dolby Vision Dark as those settings work quite well. With standard HDR content, you can stick to standard or vivid, whichever suits your palate. I prefer the standard preset as in some cases Vivid made the colours pop a bit much.  

The surprising thing is that the “Netflix Calibrated Mode” was off by default and I had to go into the settings to switch it on. What this mostly does is switch off motion flow and tweak some settings, but I prefer the standard presets with motion flow off. Again, that's just a personal preference. 

FHD performance

We played a lot of FHD content from the TV like Spider-Man: Homecoming, Young Sheldon, Mission: Impossible, and more, and FHD content is presented beautifully as well. The scenes in Young Sheldon look bright, and the facial features of the characters are visible with a lot of details. Even Spider-Man in FHD and not HDR looks Vivid. In some cases, you’d be forgiven for thinking the TV was producing content in a higher resolution. So, if SDR and FHD content is what you will consume, the TV will work fine. 

Gaming performance

Since this is the “ready for PS5” TV and we sadly don't have access to the new console yet, we hooked up both the Xbox One X and the PS4 Pro to the TV. For the PS4 Pro, we played some God of War and Ghost of Tsushima. The former has a sequence where you are in a mine and in most budget 4K HDR TVs, it is a bit harder to see the details in the dark unless you shine your light source to it. Here, you could see the details in the dark corners, which is great. Even in Ghost of Tsushima or Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, which lets you play in a nighttime setting, which is what we did and under a moonlit sky the games looked quite breathtaking with the visuals. The performance of the Sony TV with these game's sequences surpassed the performance of TVs we’ve reviewed like the Hisense 55A71F (review) and the Realme SLED TV (review) with ease.   

Even bright action sequences in a game like Gears 5 (review) which is an HDR game looked absolutely gorgeous on this TV. 

So, let's address the elephant in the room - HDMI 2.1. The sad thing is that the TV will only have 2 ports supporting HDMI 2.1 (port 3 and 4) which is a bummer when you consider that 1 of them is the ARC port. So, if you have a home theatre hooked up to this TV via ARC, you only have one HDMI 2.1 enabled port for a console. If you only get one next-gen machine, you should be good. But if you want to connect more than two HDMI 2.1 enabled devices, this will be a problem. Especially when you consider that LG with its high-end NanoCell and OLED TVs offers all four HDMI 2.1 ports. In fact, LG has been doing this since 2019. 

Audio performance

For audio, the Sony X90H has two full-range (Bass Reflex) drivers and two tweeters in the 65-inch TV, which we have here for review. In the 55-inch variant, you only get two full range (Bass Reflex) drivers only. The output from the TV is 20W but it definitely feels louder. For starters, to enjoy the content, you don't need to go beyond the 40% mark and you can hear the bangs and thuds quite well. Even in mixed performance with multiple characters talking on screen, it does feel like the sound is coming from different points on the screen. This effect isn't as pronounced as we’ve seen on Sony’s OLED TVs, but its presence here is noticeable. 

With Sony’s Bass Reflex speakers, you do get decent low end considering these are TV speakers, but to have a truly immersive experience, you should invest in a soundbar.  

UI

Sony has been helming Android TV OS since the beginning of Smart TVs. With the X95G in 2019, we saw some subtle changes to the UI which made it easier to change the picture settings when consuming content. If you want to change picture or audio settings, you don't need to pull up the right-side navigation menu to hamper the viewing experience. For basic setting changes like picture mode, audio, source, and more, a small strip comes up at the bottom of the display and it is easy to navigate. You can add certain settings you'd like to change to this bar at the bottom making it easier for you to change your most frequently used settings. 

In addition to this, with the X90H, we also now have a graphically heavier and more detailed side navigation UI. When you enter the motion settings, for example, you get a small description explaining what the setting does and the effect it will have on the picture. This adds a layer of explanation to each setting, making it easier for people to navigate and know the settings they are changing. 

Overall, the Android TV UI is the same we’ve known for years and the improvements in picture setting and navigation are a welcome change.

Remote control

The remote control is the same as what we saw last year of the X95G and that's a good thing as well really liked that remote. While we have seen a lot of TV makers go for a more minimalistic approach, this is a full-sized remote control with rubbery and clicky keys and a textured back adding to the grip. If you grip the remote in the center, you will have access to most of the functions in the reach of your thumb. Unlike the LG TV UI, Sony’s TV remote still doesn't have a mouse feature and typing is still manually navigating the onscreen keyboard, but you can use the Android TV app on your smartphone to make the typing process easier. Since passwords for apps like Netflix, and more can be saved in your Google log-in, logging into the TV once ensures other services are logged in as well. Overall, the remote control feels premium and is quite ergonomic. 

Build and design

Finally, let's talk about the build and design of the TV. The TV isn't the slimmest there and considering this is a Full Array backlit TV with local dimming, the thickness is justified. The placement of the ports is pretty standard. They are all on the right side of the TV facing outwards. We have two USB ports, optical audio out, headphones port, an AV port, 4 HDMI ports, an ethernet port, and a good old antenna. 

The thickness of the TV makes it convenient to reach the ports on the side when the TV is wall mounted. 

Coming to the bezel, the TV has really slim bezels that do not interfere with the viewing experience. One thing to note is that the TV has silver borders all around it, giving it a premium finish. A special mention to the feet that hold the TV in place. The feet have a really slim design, reminding me of the blades on ice skating shoes. Despite how slim they are, they hold the TV in place quite well. One more thing to note is that the feet aren't screwed into the TV. They have more of a slot in design. One more thing to note is that the feet aren't at the extreme ends of the TV. but a little on the inside ensuring they fit most home entertainment tables that can house a 55-inch TV. 

Bottom Line

While the Sony X9000H isn't Sony’s top of the line 2020 LED TV, it is at the sweet spot catering to those that want a flagship TV for next-gen gaming and along with enjoying content consumption. It is a very well-built TV bringing with it a premium design. It has great picture quality for gaming and content consumption and I don't think I've ever seen a smoother Android TV. The subtle changes to the Android TV UI, with respect to picture quality settings, is a welcome change as well. If there is a problem I have with this TV, it's the fact that only 2 ports will get HDMI 2.1 and that is a bummer.

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OnePlus 8T camera details and Power Bank leaked ahead of launch on October 14

OnePlus 8T camera details and the rumoured OnePlus Power Bank has leaked online as the company prepares to launch the successor to the OnePlus 7T in India on October 14. OnePlus itself has been revealing key features of the upcoming OnePlus 8T and has also confirmed that we are going to get a OnePlus Nord Special Edition and new TWS earphones alongside.

According to a tweet by popular tipster Mukul Sharma that corroborated previous leaks, the OnePlus 8T is set to feature a 48MP primary camera that uses Sony IMX586 sensor followed by a 16MP wide-angle camera, a 5MP macro camera and a 2MP black and white camera. The tweet goes on to state that the phone has a 16MP selfie camera up front, the same as the OnePlus 8 series.

OnePlus 8T camera specs: Rear: 48MP Sony IMX586, 16MP wide-angle, 5MP macro, 2MP b/w Front: 16MP Sony IMX471#oneplus #oneplus8t

— Mukul Sharma (@stufflistings) October 12, 2020

Another leak by popular leakster Ishan Agarwal, reveals that much-rumoured OnePlus Power Bank that has a 10,000mAh battery capacity. The tweet states that this power bank supports 18W fast charging and has two USB Type-A ports and a single USB Type-C port. From the pictures shared online, the OnePlus Power Bank looks likely to be available in two colours, Black with textured finish and Green. The leak hints at a price tag between Rs 1,200-Rs1,400.

OnePlus Power Bank 10,000mAH -18W Fast Charging -3 Ports -2 USB-A Out Ports -1 USB-C Input/Output Port -Lightweight -Black & Green Color Options -INR ₹1,200-1,400 Uh not much, just kind of a budget product. Thoughts?#OnePlus #OnePlus8T #OnePlus8T5G pic.twitter.com/1YuZclUspY

— Ishan Agarwal (@ishanagarwal24) October 12, 2020 OnePlus 8T leaked specifications

OnePlus 8T is confirmed to feature a 6.55-inch Full HD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels) resolution display with a 120Hz high refresh rate. There is a punch-hole cutout in the top-left corner for the selfie camera and the screen is relatively flatter than the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro.

OnePlus 8T is expected to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor and could be paired with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage or 12GB+256GB storage options to choose from. The phone is expected to run on OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11, out-of-the-box.

OnePlus 8T comes with a 48MP primary camera, a 16MP ultra-wide-angle camera, a 5MP macro lens and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, there could be a 16MP selfie camera that is housed in the punch-hole cutout.

OnePlus 8T is confirmed to come fitted with a 4,500mAh battery with support for 65W fast charging out-of-the-box courtesy of Warp Charge 65.

 

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The Snapdragon 875 will be announced on December 1 as Qualcomm sends out invites for a virtual event

Not surprisingly, the annual Snapdragon Tech Summit, which sees the launch of the flagship Snapdragon chipsets for smartphones and laptops, will be held digitally this year on December 1 and December 2, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, Qualcomm is expected to announce the Snapdragon 875 along with other products for laptops, XR and more. The company reserves the date in December every year for an annual gathering in Maui in Hawaii to launch the flagship chipsets. At its fourth year, the summit will be held in a virtual avatar.

Most of the announcements Qualcomm is expected to make at the Snapdragon Tech Summit this year, are under wraps, save for a few leaks here and there indicating what’s in store. The most obvious is of course the successor to the Snapdragon 865 and the 865+, likely to be named the Snapdragon 875. What do we know about it so far? Here’s a quick roundup —

Qualcomm Snapdragon 875: Everything we know about it (so far)

Qualcomm stuck with the 7nm manufacturing node for two years, but this year we’re expecting the company to go even smaller. The Snapdragon 875 is expected to be manufactured on a 5nm process, which should result in far more power savings than the previous generation, along with the expected bumps in CPU, GPU and AI performance.

Qualcomm is expected to design the Snapdragon 875 around the powerful ARM Cortex-X1 Super Cores and the Cortex-A78 cores, which should offer a clear advantage in speed. Reports suggest TSMC is manufacturing the Snapdragon 875 on the same node as the Apple A14 Bionic chips, with Qualcomm investing in around 6,000 to 10,000 5nm wafers per month for the chip.

What else is in store?

Last year’s Tech Summit saw the launch of two 5G chips for laptops, along with a new chip for XR devices. There was also the Snapdragon 765 and 765G 5G chips for affordable phones, and all these are expected to get their respective annual refreshes. Qualcomm also likes to drop a few surprises here and here. There are talks about a Qualcomm gaming smartphone being made in collaboration with Asus, with the Snapdragon 875 on board. Well, if that indeed comes out at the Tech Summit, at least the debate on who gets to be the first to use the new chip will be settled.

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Call of Duty: Mobile Season 11 Releasing on October 14: Here's What to Expect

Call of Duty: Mobile Season 11 will be released on October 14 and the developers have shared an update for what to expect from the new season. The official Reddit post details content that is coming to the game later in October or early November.

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Vivo V20 with 44MP selfie camera launched in India: Price, specifications and availability

Vivo V20 has officially launched in India after its debut in Indonesia last month. As a part of the V20 series, the company has announced the V20 and teased the launch of the V20 SE in India soon. There’s currently no word on the launch of the V20 Pro in India. The V20 succeeds the Vivo V19 in India and is equipped with a 44MP selfie camera on the front. 

The Vivo V20 is a mid-range smartphone that packs in a 44MP selfie camera and is thin and lightweight at 7.38 millimetres. It has a triple camera setup on the back and supports fast charging out-of-the-box. The V20 goes up against the likes of the OnePlus Nord in the sub-Rs 25,000 price range. Let’s take a look at the pricing, specifications and availability of the Vivo V20 in India.

Vivo V20 price and availability

Vivo V20 is priced starting at Rs 24,990 for the base variant with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage and Rs 27,990 for the 256GB storage variant. The phone is up for pre-booking starting from October 13 and goes on sale for the first time from October 20. 

The V20 is available to purchase from Vivo India website, Flipkart and offline retailers including Croma, Reliance Digital and more. 

Vivo V20 specifications

Vivo V20 features a 6.44-inch Full HD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels) resolution display that uses an AMOLED panel with a waterdrop notch cutout that houses the selfie camera. The phone measures 7.4 millimetres and weighs 171 grams. The rear panel is also topped with a layer of anti-glare Matte glass that enhances the look of the phone, especially the Sunset Melody colour tone. The phone is being offered in three colours-- Midnight Jazz, Moonlight Sonata and Sunset Melody to choose from.

The V20 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G processor that comes with an octa-core CPU and Adreno 618 GPU. This is paired with upto 8GB RAM and 12GB storage with an option to expand the storage by using microSD card. The phone runs on FunTouchOS 11 that is based on Android 11 out-of-the-box.

Vivo V20 has a triple camera setup on the back that consists of a primary 64MP camera with an f/1.9 aperture, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera with a 120-degree field-of-view and a 2MP depth sensor. The rear cameras can record in 4K UHD at 30FPS and in 1080p at 60FPS, supported by gyro-EIS. On the front, there’s a 44MP selfie camera housed within the notch cutout and it also supports 4K UHD video recording.

The V20 has an in-screen fingerprint reader and comes equipped with a 4,000mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging out-of-the-box.

 

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Heres how you can buy the OnePlus 8 starting at Rs 35,999 during Amazon Great Indian Festival sale 2020

The OnePlus 8 is receiving a price drop ahead in India ahead of the launch of the OnePlus 8T on October 14 as part of Amazon’s Great Indian Festival Sale 2020 that starts from October 16. The OnePlus 8 was announced back in April alongside the OnePlus 8 Pro starting at Rs 41,999 but during the sale, the phone has received a discount and will be available to buy starting at Rs 35,999.

OnePlus 8 is powered by a powerful Snapdragon 865 processor, has a high refresh rate display, multi-camera setup and runs on OxygenOS out-of-the-box. The phone is also first in line to receive the Android 11 based OxygenOS 11 update along with the OnePlus 8 Pro.

OnePlus 8 price drop details

During the Amazon Great Indian Festival sale, the OnePlus 8 is set to get discounts that bring down its price to under Rs 40,000. The base variant of the OnePlus 8 with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage that is originally priced at Rs 41,999 will be available at Rs 39,999. This is a flat discount of Rs 2,000 and after adding the HDFC Bank cashback offer, buyers get an additional 10% off on the phone. This brings down the price to Rs 35,999, giving buyers a total discount of Rs 6,000 on the base variant. 

Similarly, the 8GB+128GB variant of the OnePlus 8 is receiving a flat discount of Rs 3,000 on its original retail price of Rs 44,999. This brings the price down to Rs 41,999 and if you add in the HDFC Bank 10% cashback offer, the price goes down further to Rs 37,799. In total, you get a discount of Rs 7,200 by adding the bank cashback.

As for the maxed-out 12GB+256GB variant, it is receiving a discount of Rs 5,000 on its original selling price of Rs 49,999 during the Great Indian Festival sale 2020. This brings down the price to Rs 44,999 and HDFC Bank credit or debit cardholders are eligible to get an additional 10% discount on the OnePlus 8 that reduces the price to Rs 40,000. 

Amazon will also be running an exchange offer on the OnePlus 8 during its Great Indian Festival sale. Currently, the e-commerce platform is offering up to Rs 10,700 off on exchange of old smartphones for the OnePlus 8. So, if you’re an owner of previous OnePlus phones, such as the OnePlus 6T, you can exchange your phone for the OnePlus 8 and receive a discount of Rs 8,950. Likewise, if you own a OnePlus 7T and want to get your hands on the OnePlus 8, Amazon is offering an additional Rs 10,700 off under its exchange offer.

OnePlus 8 specifications

OnePlus 8 is powered by the Snapdragon 865 SoC with 5G support. It rocks a 6.5-inch FHD+ 90Hz AMOLED display with HDR10+ certification and in-display fingerprint sensor and punch-hole 16MP selfie camera.

There's a triple camera setup at the back of the OnePlus 8 including a 48MP Sony IMX586 sensor, a 16MP ultrawide lens and a 2MP macro.

The OnePlus 8 is powered by a 4,300mAh battery while the OnePlus 8 Pro is powered by a 4510mAh battery. Both smartphones get charged via a 30W Warp Charge 30T charger.

 

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