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Facebook partners Sony to bring match highlights from Indian cricket team’s Sri Lanka and England tours

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Facebook announced its partnership with Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) to showcase highlights and videos from the Indian national cricket team’s upcoming tours of Sri Lanka and England. This will kickstart with the first ODI against Sri Lanka on July 18 and will span up till the fifth Test match against England from September 10-14. The partnership includes match highlights and videos across three ODIs, three T20Is, and five Tests, being showcased on Facebook Watch.

Connecting millions of fans with their favorite match moments and sports icons, the wide range of content will include match highlights, in-play moments with best catches, best wickets, and man of the match amongst others. Being featured on the Facebook page of the sports channels of Sony Pictures Networks India, fans will be able to catch up on action they missed and talk about or share the top moments with their friends and family.

Manish Chopra, Director and Head of Partnerships, Facebook India, said, “Sports, including cricket, is an integral part of our efforts towards building and enabling video experiences that connect people and build community on Facebook. And we are delighted to partner with Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) to bring the most exciting moments from the Indian cricket team’s upcoming tours of Sri Lanka and England, to Facebook Watch. We are positive that bringing the action from the matches will further bolster the conversations and engagement amongst cricket fans from across the globe.”

Manish Aggarwal, Head – Growth and Monetisation, Digital Business, Sony Pictures Networks India, said, “We are excited to partner with Facebook to bring highlights and videos from the Indian cricket team’s upcoming tours of Sri Lanka and England. Our association with Facebook will enable us to extend thrilling content to cricket enthusiasts and drive further engagement around what happens on the pitch.”

Facebook Watch is built with the belief that watching video can help people to connect with each other more deeply. It is constantly working towards building and enabling video experiences that connect people, and cricket is an integral part of building the social viewing experience on the platform and bringing the community together.

Cryptocurrency discussions find a new home at Leher App

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Crypto is going through an exciting phase in India today. Although still a rollercoaster ride, the rising number of crypto and blockchain startups in the country is making regulators and consumers think about it as a potential sector. Leveraging on the trend, the Bengaluru-based social networking and video discussion platform as the forum is continuously seeing a surge in cryptocurrency-related discussions.

An Indian alternative to New York-based live discussion platform Clubhouse, Leher offers people with similar interests to come together, discuss ideas, learn, network, and build relationships. “Although a lucrative option, the majority of the Indian audience is still naive when it comes to knowledge and awareness around crypto investments. These discussions on the Leher app are helping people to seek better understanding with experts,” says Vikas Malpani, Co-Founder & CEO, Leher app.

The discussions on the platform are usually around how to invest in crypto, crypto regulations in India, the future of crypto investments, blockchain technology, and more.

Available on both Android and iOS, the platform has a current user base of 2.50 lakh, doubling on a month-on-month basis. Users are spending between 15 minutes to two hours on the app. On Google Play, the app has a 4.3 stars rating out of 5.

One can start using the app by signing up with their Facebook account, Gmail account, or by providing their phone number. After signing up, the user has to give a username and his/her full name.

The app then redirects users to a screen, which has a plethora of interest areas, and users can select the categories of their interest. Similar to social media, the users can follow each other and send direct messages to each other. “Unlike Clubhouse, the app can be used by anyone, and users only need an invite for private clubs. We are also working on multiple monetization models that will allow content creators and curators to monetize their audience and work with brands,” Vikas adds.

The Supreme Court lifted the RBI banking ban on crypto trading in March 2020 stressing upon ‘alternative regulatory measures. Since then, crypto discussions are everywhere. Recently, a Chainalysis report ranked India 11th in the list of global crypto adoption, given its user base of 10 million crypto users trading in volumes reaching up to $350 million on a daily basis.

Paytm offers its Soundbox device to merchants for free

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Paytm announced that it is offering merchants across the country with the opportunity to own a Paytm Soundbox at effectively zero cost. The company is offering the device also popularly known as Paytm Speaker at a massive 40 per cent discount for Rs 299 on buying it using the Paytm for Business (P4B) app. Furthermore, merchants or business owners who register 50 transactions in a month will get an assured cashback of Rs 60 every month for five months, effectively bringing the price of the device down to zero.

Paytm Spokesperson said, “Paytm Soundbox has been one of our most successful devices in empowering merchants across the country with a digital payments instrument. It has helped in building trust on digital payments amongst users. We hope through this offer more merchants will adopt its services.”

The company believes that this offer would help small shopkeepers across the country adopt digital transactions and start accepting and making online transactions. This offer is available for merchants across the country. The company is increasingly witnessing adoption of Paytm Soundbox among merchants, as it easily accepts digital payments and helps them track all transactions, saving them from being duped by customers showing fake screens and false confirmations. The device is available in several regional languages which helps them to get the transaction confirmation in their mother tongue.

boAt launches Immortal 1000D gaming headphones featuring Dolby Atmos

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Indian audio brand boAt is all set to launch their line of gaming headphones, “Immortal”. Their flagship model, called boAt Immortal 1000D, includes Dolby Atmos for a premium gaming and entertainment experience. The headphones also come with 50mm drivers for high fidelity audio, regardless of the content played.

In a recent report released by KPMG, the online gaming segment in India is projected to grow at a CAGR of 21 per cent over FY21-FY25 to reach a size of INR 29,000 crore. Of the total size, online casual gaming accounts for 44 per cent of the total online gaming revenues. Overall growth in digital consumption sophistication has helped online gaming become a mainstream entertainment option.

Asia-Pacific has emerged as one the largest demand drivers for gaming accessories including PCs, consoles, audio and smartphones.

Sameer Mehta, Co-Founder, boAt said, “We are very excited to launch our very first gaming headphone – the Immortal 1000D in India. The Indian gaming industry has grown to become one of the world’s largest e-gaming markets due to the fast and affordable connectivity of the internet and smartphones, and we want to provide specialized audio accessories and peripherals to professional as well as casual gamers and enthusiasts. The pandemic further elevated online gaming as an alternative entertainment option for many people, including a large part of our boAthead community.”

Pankaj Kedia, Managing Director, Emerging Markets, Dolby Laboratories said, “We are delighted to partner with boAt for their first gaming headphone, Immortal 1000D. Consumers are now seeking higher quality and higher precision sound in gaming. Dolby Atmos will add depth and dimension to headphone audio, making it easier for gamers to detect easy-to-miss sounds and improve the accuracy of their gameplay. It will provide impressive clarity and detail to create a more realistic and thrilling experience.”

Akshay Ahuja, Category Leader, Consumer Electronics, Amazon India said, “boAt is very special to Amazon as we partnered to grow this business manifold and learnt things together in this really rewarding journey of working together. boAt is a leader today as its passion, quest for perfection and speed of execution have always been top-notch, helping us provide the latest trends in Consumer electronics to our customers. We strive to learn from the 4 years of our association and look forward to the next decade of partnership together.”

With Dolby Atmos available on the boAt Immortal 1000D, players will be able to unlock incredible immersive audio when playing their favourite PC games. Dolby Atmos works by placing the sounds of the game all around a listener with three-dimensional precision so that gamers can react faster and more accurately. It enables the ability to pinpoint the position and movement of teammates and enemies — even from overhead or behind. Gamers will be immersed in a more intense gaming experience that brings crystal clear, hair-raising realism to even the busiest of battlefields, so they can catch the subtle, potentially game-changing sounds they’ve been missing. These headphones also feature a 7.1 Channel Surround Audio created by the brands very own boAt Plugin Labz which processes high-fidelity sound and is optimized by experts in gaming audio immersion. Users can switch between 7.1 Channel Surround Audio or Dolby Atmos while gaming.

boAt Immortal 1000D comes with Dual mics for crystal clear and distortion-free communication between friends and foes. These also sport a remote to control audio, mic and LEDs for seamless voice and video conversations across YouTube, Discord, Twitch, and other streaming platforms. A long sturdy secure braided cable ensures durability and a USB connector ensures easy connectivity across all laptop and desktop gaming setups. The headphones shut out external noise using special closed earcups that fully cover your ears, aided by plush cushions that form a perfect seal for greater sound isolation. A new breathable weave minimizes sweat and heat build-up generated by skin contact, while the ultra-soft foam’s improved density greatly reduces the headset’s clamping force for unparalleled comfort. The earcups have a built-in automatic breathing RGB LED light effect to complete one’s gaming setup.

boAt Immortal 1000D is available in 2 colours namely Black and White Sabre for INR 2499 on Amazon and the boAt website.

5 best Snapdragon 845 smartphones to buy in 2021

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In 2021, all top-notch flagship smartphones will rely on Snapdragon 865 processor or Snapdragon 888 processor but the Snapdragon 845 continues to be an attractive proposition, especially for a mid-range mobile phone buyer. It is still one of the most advanced processors of Android industries, which has a proven record. If good performance is the trait you value the most in your smartphone, your investment in a Snapdragon 845 powered phone should be worth it. We are here with the list of the best SD 845 options you can choose from.

LG Velvet

LG Velvet

Powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, the LG Velvet comes with 6GB of RAM. It runs Android 10 and is powered by a 4300mAh non-removable battery. The smartphone packs 128GB of inbuilt storage that can be expanded via microSD card (up to 2TBGB). Other highlights include a 48-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel camera and a 5-megapixel camera. Also, it sports a 16-megapixel camera on the front for selfies. LG Velvet price in India starts from Rs 55,000.

OnePlus 6T

OnePlus 6T

This is one of the most affordable SD 845 options you can buy. The OnePlus 6T has a premium glass body and is available in up to 8GB RAM with a minimum of 128GB storage. Powered by 3700mAh battery capacity, the smartphone run Android 10 based Oxygen OS. It comes with dual rear cameras – 16-megapixel and 20-megapixel camera as well as a decent 20-megapixel selfie camera. OnePlus 6T price in India starts from Rs 31,999.

Vivo Nex

VIVO Nex

The Vivo Nex is a smartphone from the future. It entered the Indian market with Snapdragon 845 SoC and 8GB RAM with 128GB internal storage. The mobile phone comes with a notch-less and bezel-less display, piezoelectric earpiece, a motorized pop-up selfie camera, and an under-display fingerprint sensor and more. Powered by 4000mAh battery capacity, the phone runs Android 8.1 Oreo. Vivo Nex price in India starts from Rs 28,500.

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

Samsung flagships – the Galaxy S9 and S9+ rock one of Qualcomm’s most popular chipset to date – the Snapdragon 845. In countries like India, Samsung offers these smartphones with comparable Exynos 9810 chipset. The Galaxy S9 and S9+ all offer one of the best displays and camera in the market today. Both these smartphones are IP68 rated and also feature stereo speakers. Samsung Galaxy S9 price in India starts from Rs 26,999 and Rs 70,000 for Samsung Galaxy S9+.

Xiaomi Poco F1

POCO F1

Poco F1 continues to do well for the Xiaomi. The smartphone is backed by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 and packs an impressive 4000mAh battery. The Poco F1 has a 6.18-inch display screen and comes in different RAM and storage options. The F1 runs on MIUI 9.6 on top of Android 8.1 Oreo. It has dual camera setup on the back consisting of a 12-megapixel primary camera and a 5-megapixel depth sensor. At the front, it has a 20-megapixel selfie camera. Poco F1 price in India starts from Rs 15,990.

UNISOC unveils T610, a chipset for premium smartphone experience

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UNISOC unveiled a new generation processor T610 to give Indian users a superior performance and faster mobile application processing experience. The T610 is a processor designed to be used in smartphones, tablets, and adopts a 12nm process that features two 1.8 GHz Arm Cortex-A75 CPUs and six 1.8 GHz Arm Cortex-A55 CPUs while the GPU uses the 614.4MHz Mali G52.

The UNISOC T610 based on 12nm process boosts the single-core performance by 45% compared to other competing products and the multi-core performance by over 25%. The new 8-core architecture 4G mobile platform uses the flagship DynamIQ design based on the fifth-generation Vivimagic image engine solution for significant performance enhancements. With excellent support from their memory verification laboratory, the UNISOC T610 supports a wide variety of memory particles available on the market while supporting a much more comprehensive memory frequency range up to 1600 MHz.

The UNISOC T610 supports high-end 4-shots for ultra-wide angle, wide-angle and telephoto three-channel to achieve accurate image restoration with no switching delay. T610 also supports applications such as wide colour gamut management, screen brightness adaptive, smart resolution, blue light suppression and so on that results in more robust multimedia performance. Its new 3A synchronization technology ensures that there is no brightness jump on the screen while the sensor is in the process of switching.

Eric Zhou, EVP of UNISOC, said, “It is our absolute pleasure to introduce UNISOC T610 for our users in India. Our T610 chipset offers smartphone users premium features, including optimum performance, enhanced power efficiency, seamless gameplay, and picture perfect photography. We are committed to relentlessly providing the latest chipset technology for the mobile communications industry to expand into newer horizons of technological advancements as a flagbearer of the digital world.

UNISOC is a leading name in the global core chipset market for mobile devices and IoT. It is one of the only four companies that make 5G chips in the global market and one of the very few names that have fully mastered 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, TV FM, satellite communications, and other full-scene communication technology.

Top 5 smartphones to buy with best processor

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A mobile phone’s processor is unarguably one of the most important components. It is like a brain of a smartphone. The performance of the processor directly impacts the speed of your phone, user experience, gamer performance and battery efficiency. Naturally then, the thumb rule is to choose the best of what’s available. However, it is important to pick a mobile phone with a processor that offers the right amount of power and can fit comfortably in your budget. From Xiaomi to OnePlus, we are here to help you pick a smartphone with the right processor.

OnePlus 9R

OnePlus 9R

The OnePlus 9R is powered by Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G Octa-core and it comes with 6.55 inches Fluid AMOLED. Its processor should keep you happy regardless of what apps or games you are running. Also, you won’t be bothered about the heat issues because it features several gaming-related features, including a 14 temperature sensor to monitor the device’s temperature. The mobile phone comes with 8 GB RAM and 12 GB RAM. OnePlus 9R price in India starts from Rs 39,999.

iQOO 7

iQOO 7

Vivo has packed Iqoo7 with the latest set of hardware, and support for ultra-fast charging technology. This smartphone sports a 6.62-inch AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution at 1080×2376 pixels. Powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chipset, the phone runs on Android 11-based Funtouch OS out of box. Additionally, you will get an 8GB RAM with 128GB onboard storage. The Vivo iQOO7 price in India starts from Rs 31,990.

Realme X7

Realme X7

The Realme X7 boasts of the brand new MediaTek Dimensity 800U processor, plus 5G (dual-SIM, dual-standby) and an eye-catching design. It has a 6.4-inch AMOLED screen with an in-display fingerprint sensor. Powered by 4,310mAh battery, the phone runs Android 10. Realme X7 5G price in India starts from Rs 19,999.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10

REDMI NOTE 10

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 debuts a new ‘Evol’ design language which makes it look quite smart. It comes with 6.43-inch full-HD+ AMOLED screen with good battery life. The smartphone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 678 SoC which is powerful enough for casual gaming as well as everyday tasks. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 price in India starts from Rs 12,999.

Samsung Galaxy M12

Samsung Galaxy M12

The Samsung Galaxy M12 is powered by Samsung’s own octa-core Exynos 850 processor. The mobile phone comes in two variants – 4GB RAM with 64GB internal storage and 6GB RAM with 128GB internal storage. It performs smoothly during routine tasks, such as browsing Internet or social media sites and multitasking. The Samsung Galaxy M12 runs Android 11 operating system topped with the company’s own layer of One UI. It has a clean user interface and it also provides and app drawer where you can save all your apps and prevent your home screen from getting cluttered. Samsung Galaxy M12 price in India starts from Rs 10,999.

Tech NewsWrap: Apple launches MagSafe Battery Pack… and more

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Apple launches MagSafe Battery Pack for iPhone 12 series

Apple has launched MagSafe battery Pack for the iPhone 12 series globally as well as in India. The new MagSafe battery provides on-the-go wireless charging on the latest iPhone models. It simply attaches magnetically to the back of the iPhone and starts charging it. The new product is compatible with all the iPhone 12 models. It has been priced at Rs 10,900 in India and is currently listed on the Apple store.

Netflix plans to offer video games

Beyond TV shows and films, Netflix is planning its expansion into video games and has hired a former Electronic Arts Inc. and Facebook Inc. executive to lead the effort. Mike Verdu will join Netflix as vice president of game development, reporting to Chief Operating Officer Greg Peters, the company said on Wednesday. According to a person familiar with the situation, the idea is to offer video games on Netflix’s streaming platform within the next year.

WhatsApp multi-device support is finally here

WhatsApp multi-device support has been a highly-requested feature. And now, you will be able to use the messaging service on multiple devices even when your mobile phone is not connected to the Internet. According to WABetaInfo., the functionality is currently being rolled out to select few on the beta channel. To check whether you have got it, open Linked Devices and look for a banner that tells you about the multi-device beta. If you see it, you can manually opt in to get started.

Facebook rolls out expert feature to groups’ knowledgeable members

The social media giant is rolling out a new feature that lets the knowledgeable members stand out in groups run by millions of moderators and admins globally. Facebook, on Tuesday, announced a new way to spotlight subject matter experts in its groups. The group admins will be able to recognise knowledgeable members in their group by designating them as “group experts.”

Google Maps releases a new feature

Google Maps has announced a new feature that can be used to get more information about Delhi Transport. This feature will let the Delhites know more about the bus timings and travel time. To be specific, Google Maps will allow the people travelling between the Azadpur terminal and Punjabi Bagh Terminal to know more about which buses to catch and the next bus that is going to reach the stop.

Oppo launches Reno 6 5G, Reno 6 Pro 5G with MediaTek Dimensity chipsets, 65W fast charging in India

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Expanding its Reno series, Oppo today launched Reno 6 5G and Reno 6 Pro 5G in India. Both the smartphones, earlier debuted in China in May, support 65W fast charging and come in two colour options. Oppo Reno 6 claims to be the first smartphone of India to be powered by MediaTek Dimensity 900 chipset, whereas Oppo Reno6 Pro is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 1200 processor.

Oppo Reno 6 5G comes in an 8GB RAM + 128GB storage configuration and is priced at Rs 29,990. It will be available from July 29. On the other hand, Oppo Reno 6 Pro 5G is offered in a 12GB RAM + 256GB storage model which comes with a price tag of Rs. 39,990. It will be available from July 20.

Both the smartphones come in two colour options — Aurora and Stellar Black. They will be available for purchase via Flipkart, Reliance Digital, Vijay Sales, Croma, Oppo online store, and other retailers.

In addition to this, Oppo also unveiled a new blue colour for the Oppo Enco X true wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds. The company also announced the MyOppo app that will allow Oppo users to get online customer care service and interact with product managers.

Oppo Reno 6 Pro 5G specs:

The smartphone sports a 6.55-inch full-HD+ OLED display that offers a 90 Hz refresh rate. It is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 1200 chipset and offers 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage. It runs on Android 11 based ColorOS 11.3. In terms of camera, the handset features a quad rear camera setup that houses a 64MP primary sensor, an 8MP secondary sensor and two 2MP sensors. It has a 32MP selfie camera. The smartphone is backed by a 4,500mAh battery that supports 65W fast charging.

Oppo Reno 6 5G specs:

The Oppo Reno 6 features a 6.43-inch full-HD+ AMOLED display that also offers a 90 Hz refresh rate display. It is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 900 processor. It also offers 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It runs on Android 11 based ColorOS 11.3. On the camera front, the Oppo Reno 6 comes with a triple rear camera setup that includes a 64MP main camera, an 8MP secondary camera and a 2MP sensor. The smartphone packs a 4,300mAh battery that supports 65W fast charging.

Most reliable SSD storage brands in Indian market

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Solid-State Drive aka SSD is one among the new generation of storage devices that is engineered to replace the traditional mechanical hard disks. What’s better about SSDs is that they make use of flash-based memory, which is not just faster but also more reliable. The virtues of fast throughputs and low read-access times result in the SSDs making computers or laptops faster than ever. Measured in nanoseconds, the SSDs store files in different grids so that any information sought is readily obtained, thanks to the smart segregation of information. While a number of SSD storage brands have come in the recent past, there are just a few names that can be relied completely for the purpose.

Acer

The Taiwanese multinational hardware and electronic corporation is a global leader in storage products, offering a bouquet of memory and storage solutions for professional as well as home users. Acer SSDs are designed to support S.M.A.R.T and GC & TRIM features that maintain maximum performance of systems and LDPC ECC technology for data integrity. Acer has introduced an SSD portfolio that includes 2.5-inch SATA, M.2 SATA, and M.2 PCIe NVMe drives. While the entry-level 2.5? SA100 SATA SSD is available in capacities from 120 GB to 1.92 TB, the RE100 is available in 2.5” SATA and smaller M.2 form factor.

Intel

Another global giant in the segment, Intel has over the time offered multiple SSDs that cater to varied needs and purposes. Recently, the brand introduced P5800X SSD that is touted by many experts as the fastest SSD ever. The SSDs offered by Intel are known to possess better consistency, enhanced latency characteristics and a more predictable performance. However, considering the higher price range, most of Intel SSDs are considered best for big enterprise-level customers. The brand has conventionally focused on upping the sequential speeds dramatically.

Western Digital

Western Digital, also referred to as WD, is a key player in the segment offering Solid State Hard Drives ranging from 250 MB to a whopping 32 TB. Innovation has been at the core of the brand, as besides being one of the first manufacturers of hard drives, it has made some significant advancement in 3D NAND in the recent past. One of the flagship offerings by the brand is zoned storage that functions on a unified software framework that places data intelligently to maximize storage capability, lower TCO and improve QoS.

Samsung

South Korean multinational conglomerate Samsung is a major global manufacturer of electronic appliances as well as components, including SSDs. While Samsung SSDs such as 970 Pro are engineered to handle intensive workloads on personal computers, there are gaming SSDs for full gaming immersion and Terabyte SSDs to enhance the overall computing process. The Samsung SATA interface SSDs promise to readily and dramatically improve the overall computing experience.

Crucial

Crucial SSDs vow to deliver superior performance and proven Micron quality. One of the flagship offerings, NVMe SSDs boasts of being the latest and fastest in performance SSD technology. While Crucial P5 and P2 drives ensure speed and reliability, its SATA SSDs come with affordable and efficient storage for day-to-day use. These SSDs load files quicker, boot up faster and enhance the overall system responsiveness, thanks to MX500 and BX500 drives. Besides, there are external SSDs that deliver compact performance for on-the-go storage needs.