Tech NewsWrap: Nokia C30 launched in India… and more

Nokia C30 launched in India with Jio exclusive offer

Nokia C30 was launched in India with exclusive offers from Jio. The phone was unveiled globally in July this year and now has finally arrived in India. It is available in India in Green and White color options and comes in 3/32GB and 4/64GB configurations starting at a price of Rs 10,999 and Rs 11,999 respectively. Customers who choose to avail JioExclusive offer will get an instant price support of 10% or a maximum of Rs 1,000 on the best buy price, and will have to pay Rs 9,999 and Rs 10,999 for the 3GB and 4GB variant respectively.

Google Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro not launching in India

Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro flagship phones were launched officially at the Pixel event. These are the first Google devices to come with the in-house Tensor chipset, Android 12 OS, a 50-megapixel primary camera and up to 120Hz refresh rate. These models feature a brand new design, with a horizontal camera bar at the back, punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera. At launch, the tech giant mentioned the phones will be available in selected markets such as the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, France, Germany, and Taiwan. However, India is missing from the list. Now, it has been confirmed that the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro won’t get launched in India in the foreseeable future.

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Facebook plans name change to reflect metaverse focus

Facebook is reportedly planning to change its name in an effort to reflect its work building the metaverse, an online world where people can move and communicate in a virtual environment. The Facebook name change, which Mark Zuckerberg plans to talk about at the company’s annual Connect conference on October 28 but could unveil sooner, is meant to signal the Menlo Park, California-based firm’s ambition to be known for more than social media. Facebook’s future lies in ‘metaverse’, Zuckerberg had said after an earnings call in July.

YouTube Music to go audio-only for free listeners

YouTube Music is soon going to become audio-only for non-premium users and it will no longer play music videos alongside the audio. The change will initially roll out to users in Canada starting November 3 — alongside the anticipated background play feature for the users who have not subscribed to YouTube Premium or YouTube Music Premium. Free users who aren’t subscribed to either of these plans will also miss out on features like on-demand music selection and unlimited skips.