Dell has today introduced an updated line-up of its acclaimed XPS laptops that is powered by Intel’s 11th Gen Tiger Lake processors. The new Dell XPS 13 (9310) and the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (9310 2n1) get a Thunderbolt 4 upgrade and also faster LPDDR4x RAM that ticks at 4267MHz, compared to the 3733MHz memory fitted inside their predecessors. The new XPS 13 is also the first laptop from Dell that comes with Intel Evo certification, which means faster wake time of less than 1 second, at least 9 hours of battery life, fast charging, WiFi 6 and Thunderbolt 4. Additionally, the XPS 13 2-in-1 also gets an IR camera for the first time to facilitate Windows Hello login.
Dell XPS 13
Starting with the design, Dell is retaining the familiar 4-side bezel-less approach for the display and has used premium machined aluminum for the chassis while the palm rest employs black carbon fiber or white woven glass fiber. Both the new Dell offerings feature a 13.4-inch display that is offered in FHD+ as well as 4K UHD+ resolutions with up to 500 nits of peak brightness and 178-degree viewing angle. Dell says it has managed to fit a 6.8% larger display in a smaller chassis, achieving an impressive 91.5% screen-to-body ratio while the aspect ratio is 16:10 on the new Dell XPS 13.
Dell XPS 13
Talking about the internals, you can start with the 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1115G4 and go all the way up to the Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor. It can be paired with up to 32GB of LDDR4x RAM and up 2TB of PCIe SSD. The Dell XPS 13 duo comes equipped with dual stereo speakers tuned with Waves MaxxAudio Pro. The power button has a fingerprint sensor inside it, while wireless connectivity is handled by the faster Killer Wi-Fi 6 (both Intel and Qualcomm based) and Bluetooth 5.1 standard.
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1
The company has also launched a Linux-based Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition that comes pre-loaded with Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. However, those who purchased the regular XPS 13 will be able to switch from Windows 10 to Ubuntu 20.04 LTS with a free software download or run both of them side-by-side. The new Dell XPS 13 starts at $999, while the base model of XPS 13 2-in-1 will set buyers back by $1,249. Both the laptops will go on sale starting September 30 in US and Canada, however, details about their international availability are still under the wraps.
We start today’s deals with the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, which is getting a $350 discount. This powerful flagship includes 512GB of storage space and a long-lasting battery for $1,100. This is an unlocked version that can be used in the network of your choice; however, if you don’t want that much storage space, you can settle for the 128GB version, which is currently selling for $1 less, meaning $1,099 with $200.99 savings.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is also getting a discount at Amazon right now. The 128GB variant in Oxford Gray with an S Pen is available for just $350 after an $80 discount. This is the WiFi-only version, which also packs 4GB RAM, a battery that will last up to 13 hours, and you can also increase the tablet’s storage space up to 1TB with a micro SD card.
We also find a couple of smart TVs on sale, as the Sony X750 55-inch 4K Ultra HD LED TV is selling for $229.73, leaving it at $570.26, or spend $698 for the 66-inch variant, which lets you save almost $302. There are also options from Toshiba, as the all-new 43-inch Smart HD 1080p TV, Fire TV Edition, is selling for $180 after a $100 discount.
There are several speakers and smart speakers also on sale, as the Amazon Echo Dot is selling for $39.99 after a $10. However, if you’re a Prime member, you get two smart speakers for $39.98 when you enter the code DOTPRIME2PK at checkout. Marshall Kilburn II and the Marshall Tufton portable Bluetooth speakers are both getting a $100 discount, leaving the Kilburn II at $200 and the Tufton at $300.
Finally, we find an LG 32-inch monitor selling for $260, down from its regular $300 price tag. This monitor features QHD, HDR 10 support, AMD FreeSync, and more. Next up, we find the Sony WF-1000XM3 noise-canceling wireless earbuds for $178, down from its regular $230 price tag, meaning you save around $52. And the Skagen Connected Falster 2 is currently available for $99 after a massive $196 discount in its stainless steel variant with heart rate monitor, GPS, NFC, and more.
Google has today made a few changes, mostly linguistic, to its Play Store payments policy that clearly defines how it is implemented. Following the policy update, Google says that any app that currently relies on an alternative billing system will need to remove it before September 30, 2021. All such apps are required to adopt the Google Play In-app Billing system as the method of payment. As for the new apps that are submitted after January 20 next year, they will have to rely on Google Play Store’s native billing system for in-app payments. Of course, the policy is there to ensure that Google gets its cut of 30% for purchases made via apps downloaded from the Play Store, just the way Apple mandates for all apps listed on the App Store.
As mentioned above, Google is drawing clear lines for in-app payments that will qualify under the revenue sharing scheme to make it easier for developers to understand the policies. As part of the update, using the Google Play In-app Billing system will be mandatory for in-game products(coins, gems, characters, weapons, special items), additional app content(exclusive features or an ad-free version of the app), subscription services(streaming music, videos, books and other media services) and cloud-based software products.
However, Google Play Store’s native billing system won’t be compulsory for apps where in-app purchases are made to buy physical goods, pay for services (food, transport, tickets), memberships (gym, loyalty programs, clothing, etc.), bill payments and peer-to-peer payments. You can read more about the policy update here.
Talking about third-party app stores, Google says that Android 12 will make it “even easier for people to use other app stores on their devices.” However, this facility will be granted after making sure that safety measures put in place by Android are not overlooked. The search giant notes that work on implementing it is already underway and that more details will be shared in the foreseeable future. Google also added that it gives equal treatment to its in-house and third-party apps on the Play Store.
Fast charging is the latest trend that has smartphone brands fiercely duking it out. OPPO made headlines earlier this year by introducing its insane 125W UltraDART fast charging technology that is claimed to fully juice up a 4,000mAh battery in just 20 minutes. At the same time, the company also unveiled its 65W AirVOOC fast wireless charging technology as well. In addition to OPPO, Realme, iQoo and Xiaomi have either showcased or confirmed their respective 100W+ fast charging solutions too. OnePlus also confirmed last week that the upcoming OnePlus 8T will offer 65W fast charging support. But surprisingly, industry giants such as Samsung and Apple have been late to the party. However, it appears that Samsung is finally taking a leap and will introduce 65W fast charging technology with its next Galaxy S flagship.
A new Samsung charger carrying the model number EP-TA865 has been certified by South Korea’s National Radio Research Agency. The listing, which was first spotted by GalaxyClub, doesn’t explicitly mention the charger’s 65W capacity, but the model number is indicative of it. Take for example the Galaxy Note 10+, which was compatible with Samsung’s own 45W charger carrying model number EP-TA845. Now, we don’t know if Samsung will ship the 65W power brick in the retail package of its next Galaxy S series flagship (Galaxy S21 or Galaxy S30), or if it will be sold separately.
On paper, it looks like a natural upgrade and a desperate move by Samsung to catch up with the competition. However, Samsung’s most recent flagships – the Galaxy Note 20 and its Ultra sibling – are still limited to 25W charging support. So, it would be quite a jump for Samsung to go from 25W to 65W for its next flagship, tentatively the next Galaxy S series smartphones. However, it is still a bit puzzling to see Samsung upping the ante by adding 45W charging support to the Galaxy Note 10+ and then downgrading to 25W for its successor this year.
Samsung has added a new rugged tablet to its portfolio and this one is called the Galaxy Tab Active3. The new Samsung offering rocks a military-grade MIL-STD-810H certified build that is claimed to be capable of handling even the harshest working conditions. The new Samsung tablet also comes with improved shock resistance as it can now handle accidental drops from a height of up to 1.5 meters. Plus it is also IP68-rated, which means it is dustproof and waterproof to a good extent. Notably, Samsung also ships the device with an IP68-rated S Pen, which can also handle its share of liquid and dust exposure. And keeping in mind field workers, Samsung also offers a Touch Sensitivity mode that allows users to interact with the tablet’s screen even while wearing gloves.
Talking about the internals, the Samsung tablet draws power from the in-house octa-core Exynos 9810 processor coupled with 4 gigs of RAM and up to 128GB storage. The Galaxy Tab Active3 offers the flexibility to expand the storage by another 1TB via a microSD card. Over at the front, you get a 5MP selfie camera and a 13MP snapper at the back. Samsung says that the rear camera has been tuned for camera-based barcode scanning using a third-party app. The device runs Android 10 and also comes with the company’s Samsung Knox security solution. Notably, Samsung says that the rugged tablet will receive ‘three generations of Android OS upgrades.’
Galaxy Tab Active3 comes equipped with a 5050mAh battery that is user-replaceable. The device comes with a ‘No Battery Mode’ that allows it to run without a battery by connecting it directly to a power source via the USB port or the pogo pins. This mode is useful for scenarios where the tablet needs to be kept still in a fixed position such as a kiosk. The tablet also brings Samsung DeX as well as Google ARCore support for augmented reality applications. There’s also a dedicated Active Key that can be programmed to quickly launch an app, activate the emergency SOS feature, or start the Push to Talk protocol.
Samsung has not revealed the pricing of Galaxy Tab Active3 yet, but says that the tablet will be available in select markets including Asia and Europe.
HONOR Watch GS Pro is now up for sale in Europe. The smartwatch was first announced at 020 IFA Technology Conference, where HONOR unveiled two smartwatches, the GS Pro and the Watch ES. The former comes with MIL-STD-810G certified build alongside offering a built-in dual navigation system (GPS + GLONASS). It is claimed to last 25 days on a single charge. The smartwatch is also getting two new colors – Camo Blue and Camo Grey. These will be made available later this year.
The HONOR Watch GS Pro comes with a rugged design with 316L stainless steel bezel, high-precision metal finishing technology. It offers navigation capabilities including a GPS Route Back Function to guide you safely back to your starting point, as well as weather alerts and sunrise and sunset notifications, ideal for ambitious adventurers on longer treks. Additionally, it supports more than 100 workout modes including mountain climbing, hiking, skiing, indoor and outdoor running and more.
At launch today, the watch is being available in Charcoal Black and Marl White color options with fluoroelastometers. The Fluoroelastometers are highly resistant to heat, sweat and oil, and less likely prone to induce any allergic reaction. The HONOR Watch GS Pro also comes in two colors in nylon materials, Camo Blue edition launching in October and Camo Grey edition in November.
To promote the HONOR Watch GS Pro among adventure seekers and outdoor enthusiasts, the company announced the“100 Hours of Survival” role play game today. With the help of HONOR Watch GS Pro, participants find a way home from the dark forest.
Xiaomi is all set to launch its Mi Band 5 and Mi Watch Revolve in India tomorrow, September 29 at the Smarter Living 2021 virtual event. The alleged Indian pricing of both the devices have leaked online. The Watch Revolve is said to be a rebranded version of the Mi Watch Color launched in China earlier.
Mi Band 5 MRP: INR ₹2,999
What it means: Sale price will be below this. Perhaps ₹2,499e ven?
Mi Watch Revolve MRP: INR ₹10,999
What it means: Sale price will be below this. Perhaps lesser than ₹9,999? What you think?
According to tipster Ishan Agarwal, the Mi Band 5 will have a maximum retail price (MRP) of Rs 2,999, which means it could be priced lower than that. The tipster suggests it will cost Rs 2,499. Coming to the Mi Watch Revolve, it is tipped to come with an MRP of Rs 10,999. Again, it could end up costing lesser than the price mentioned on the box. The smartwatch could cost around Rs 9,999. Further, the company is also rumored to launch the Mi Speaker.
If the Mi Watch Revolve is indeed the Mi Watch Color then it will feature a 1.39-inch (454×454 pixels) display and pack a 420mAh battery that is said to last 14 days on a single charge. It will include Bluetooth 5.0, Glonass, GPS, and come with a 5ATM water resistance rating. It features 24×7 heart rate tracking, stress monitoring, and sleep tracking features. The Mi Watch Color comes with 10 sport modes for tracking workouts like swimming, treadmill, running, and cycling among others.
On the other hand, the Mi Band 5 is teased to offer several watch faces, sleep monitoring, heart rate monitoring, VO2 max (maximal oxygen uptake) monitoring, and more. It will succeed the Mi Band 4 that was launched last year. The device is said to come with several sports modes and magnetic charging pins on the back.
Earlier this year, rumors emerged that HMD Global has delayed the Nokia 9 PureView’s successor. It might launch the phone as the Nokia 9.3 PureView. The smartphone has been in the rumor mill for quite some time now. The Nokia 9.3 PureView alongside the Nokia 7.3 and Nokia 6.3 were rumored to be launched in the third quarter of 2020. However, a new report suggests that the trio could be launched in November.
The report comes from NokiaPowerUser that cites sources who say HMD Global is planning to hold a major launch event in November. At this event, the company might unveil the Nokia 9.3 PureView and Nokia 7.3. While the sources mentioned only these two smartphones, the Nokia 6.3 is long-rumored to tag along the duo. Further, the report goes on to say that the launch event is still in the planning phase and can be postponed as well if there are any roadblocks.
The Nokia 9.3 PureView was imagined in a concept video. At first glance, it resembles the Nokia Lumia 1020 – the cameras are housed in a circular camera module that protrudes from the back, and a sports a similar yellow color. Coming to the front, there’s no notch. Plus, there’s no pop-up module either. The renders are based on rumors that the Nokia 9.3 PureView will sport an in-display camera. It could be a 32MP sensor.
The phone is tipped to feature a 120Hz 6.3-inch OLED display with a QHD + resolution. Moreover, the fingerprint sensor is likely to be present under the display. It is said to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC. Further, it may come with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage expandable with a microSD card. Like its predecessor, the upcoming Nokia flagship is expected to come equipped with a penta camera setup on the back with ZEISS optics.
It is speculated to feature a 108MP primary camera, a 64MP sensor, a wide-angle camera, a telephoto lens, and a macro lens. Further, It may pack a 4,500mAh battery with wireless charging support. Additionally, the Nokia 9.3 PureView could be rated IP68. For reference, the Nokia 9 PureView was dust and water-resistant according to IP67 standard.
On the other hand, the Nokia 6.3 was earlier reported to sport a quad rear camera setup with ZEISS optics. Later, reports claimed that it could come with a 24MP main sensor, 12MP ultra-wide lens, 2MP depth, and macro sensors.
The watchOS 7 brought a host of new features and changes to the existing Apple Watch lineup. However, it seems like Apple needs to address the update on Watch Series 3. The device owners are complaining of random reboots after installing watchOS 7 on their devices. Their watches are performing multiple restarts per day. Further it includes more bugs beyond that.
The latest development comes from Apple and MacRumors forums where Apple Watch Series 3 owners are complaining about random reboots, lockups, complications that fail to load, and sluggish performance. Apple released watchOS 7.0.1 but Engadget reports that it doesn’t appear to have addressed the glitches. The issue persists on Series 3 but other devices including Series 5 remain unaffected. While the experience is not great for the Watch Series 3 owners, it is likely to be patched in an upcoming release.
With watchOS 7, Apple included the ability to enable more than one type of complication. This means you can have the same complication on different watch faces. The company also made it easier to share watch faces with other people. Further, Maps on Apple Watch have also had some improvements. They include cycling directions as well as contextual service recommendations.
Apple Watch now alerts users if they’re spending too much time in a noisy environment. Ideally, you want to spend less than 40 hours per week in an environment that’s louder than 80 decibels. The watchOS 7 also brought improvements to Siri as you it comes with improved dictation which can be used in replying to texts, or searching using your spoken queries. There’s also a handwashing feature that helps you ensure you’re washing your hands regularly and for at least 20 seconds. You can read more about all the new watchOS 7 features here.
COVID-19 pandemic has affected every aspect of our lives. It has delayed or canceled important events including the Amazon Prime Day sales event, which suffered delays. However, we finally have the dates for the two-day sale. The Amazon Prime Day sale will be live on October 13 and 14. The sale kicks off at 12 AM PT on Tuesday, October 13 and will run through till 11:59 PM PT Wednesday, October 14. To recall, the sale took place in India in August but was delayed in the US.
The annual shopping event takes place for Amazon Prime members who can subscribe at the $13 monthly or $120 annual rate after their 30-day free trial ends. The Prime Day sale drives a lot of Amazon sales in a short period of time. The Amazon Prime Day sale has “become a special celebration and time for Prime members to shop incredible deals for themselves and for friends and family – and it’s something we look forward to every year,” says Amazon.
The company has also been expanding Prime Day outside the U.S. In 2019, the sales event was opened for the United Arab Emirates, which then joined other markets, including the U.S., U.K., Spain, Singapore, Netherlands, Mexico, Luxembourg, Japan, Italy, India, Germany, France, China, Canada, Belgium, Austria, and Australia.
Like other events this year, the fate of Amazon Prime Day sale was unknown until we received a rumored date for the event recently. The sale usually takes place in August. However, the company reportedly pushed back its annual sale event because of the strain that the pandemic placed on its warehouses as more people began shopping online during the pandemic.
“This year’s Prime Day is the perfect opportunity for Prime members to get their holiday shopping done early from the comfort of their homes – and to have more time to spend with their families and friends throughout the season,” said eff Wilke, Amazon CEO Worldwide Consumer.
Infinix is a brand that is primarily known for making budget smartphones with competitive hardware. But lately, the company has been stepping up its game by going up the price tier and has also diversified its portfolio to launch wearable audio devices as well under the new Snokor sub-brand. The first wearable to debut as part of the Snokor label is the iRocker true wireless earbuds. The iRocker earbuds carry an almost irresistible price tag of Rs. 1,499, cementing their position as one of the most affordable true wireless earbuds out there.
Naturally, a lower price tag comes with lower expectations, but every now and then, an affordable product truly wows us with its quality, user experience and the overall value-for-money quotient. Will the Snokor iRocker true wireless earbuds prove to be a pleasant surprise, or will they turn out to be another run-of-the-mill affordable wireless earbuds? We answer that in our Snokor iRocker review:
Design and build quality
In the words of Infix, the Snokor iRocker earbuds rock a design inspired by goose eggs, and it stands true to some extent. The first thing that draws attention to them is their build quality, which is far from cheap, as the earbuds are actually fairly well-made. The company has used durable polycarbonate with a layer of ‘fluidic titanium’ on top. The surface is smooth to touch and feels quite sturdy. But despite their slightly bigger size, the earbuds are surprisingly light. Each earbud has a circular button for basic controls that provides satisfactory tactile feedback and is not too tight to press either.
As for the design, it is a triple-contact body with a slightly angular protrusion that goes inside the ear canal. The shape is a bit unusual, but a slight adjustment provides a comfortable in-ear experience. I didn’t feel it stretching the ear muscles too much as each earbud fit snugly in my ear. I used them during my early morning runs and exercise, and they never fell out of my ears, which is always a desirable trait. The Snokor iRocker earbuds come in a trio of colors – blue, black, and white – and we have the latter for review.
There is a single mic on the outside that is lined by a metallic mesh and it also has a blue/red LED light underneath. The Snokor iRocker earbuds ship with three silicone ear tips inside the retail package, and you can pick the size which provides a better in-ear fit and noise isolation. I let my siblings try out the earbuds, and the general consensus was that the in-ear fit was comfortable, but the size is on the bigger side of the scale. Thankfully, the earbuds are light and they don’t feel like an irksome burden in the ears.
The pill-shaped charging case is also light and features a matching white paintjob with a glossy finish. The build quality is again above par for the Snokor iRocker’s asking price. It was was easy to carry in my jeans pocket without having to adjust it every now and then. However, the charging case’s hinge felt a little flimsy and showed some sideways movement, so I was a bit careful while opening and closing it. Both the lid and the earbud compartment have magnets, so the earbuds fit in easily while juicing them up, and the charging case’s lid also doesn’t open when lying in my backpack or trousers.
Features and functionality
Snokor’s iRocker true wireless earbuds rely on Bluetooth 5.0 for connectivity, and even though it is not the latest standard, it gets the job done. Starting with features, the button on each earbud can be used for media playback and call controls. A single press is for play/pause command, a double press plays the next songs while pressing it thrice brings back the previous track. Additionally, a single tap and tap-to-hold commands work well for calls. I didn’t notice these buttons failing me during the review period.
The best part is that the physical buttons are way more reliable compared to the finicky touch controls I’ve tested on a handful of budget true-wireless earbuds. I also quite liked the fact that there is no learning curve to mastering these button controls. And this, coupled with the reliability aspect, is something that buyers will certainly appreciate. Additionally, Google Assistant is just a long press away from doing your bidding. Plus, it works with both Google Assistant and Siri.
Another huge relief for me was the iPX4 rating, which means you won’t have to worry about your sweat or an accidental liquid splash damaging the earbuds. So, if you are someone who likes to sweat it out on a daily basis, Infinix’s first Snokor-branded earbuds are a good choice. The company claims that the iRocker earbuds offer a range of 8-10 meters. However, in my personal experience, I noticed that 8 meter was the upper range for music playback without too many intermittent drops.
Snokor’s earbuds pair over Bluetooth without a hitch, and they also come with the Take Out Auto-Connection feature. So, if you take the earbuds out of the charging case, they’ll automatically pair with your smartphone or a previously connected device. Needless to say, this is a convenient feature and worked well for me.
However, I noticed that occasionally only one of the earbuds would play music through it after auto-pairing, while the other one remained mute and only accepted button taps to control the media playback. In such instances, I had to manually power them off and reconnect with my phone to resume music playback on both earbuds. This was an annoyance and might prove to be a red flag for some.
Performance
Now, coming over to the most crucial part – audio playback. The Snokor iRocker earbuds come equipped with 6mm driversthat are backed by a titanium diaphragm. On a general note, I was impressed with the overall sound quality, especially given the dirt-cheap price. The soundstage is not too wide, but the audio output was well-balanced. And even at peak volume, there was minimal distortion and the vocals did not tear.
These are not bass-heavy earbuds, so if you are looking for a bombastic bass line, you’re out of luck. However, the slightly subdued bass while listening Above and Beyond by Bassnectar and Boom Boom Pow by Black Eyed Peas was not a terrible experience at all. I also tried some vocal-rich tracks from the likes of Frank Sinatra, Adele, Whitney Houston and Ben Howard, and I liked how the vocal clarity was retained. The highs sound a bit shrill at anything above the 80% volume mark and the treble was just average, but that didn’t ruin the experience.
I also tried some classic as well as modern Indian music. I listened to vintage songs from Talat Mahmud and Lata Mangeshkar as well as contemporary artists such as Sonu Nigam and Jubin Nautiyal, and I was pleased with the experience. The vocals were rich, which is what you most desire while listening to the work of crooners mentioned above, but the background elements do feel a tad underwhelming and flat.
As for instrumental music, the range is wide but the output is slightly muddled. However, the experience won’t dissuade you from indulging in the discography of your favorite artists, and that works for me. To sum it up, my impressions are positive when it comes to the overall quality of music playback, especially after taking into consideration the almost unbeatable price of the earbuds.
The shape of the earbuds helps with noise isolation, but the experience is nowhere close to what you get with proper noise cancellation. The maximum you can do is boost the volume to suppress the external disturbances coming from automobiles and appliances. Also, latency and echoing proved to be problematic while playing multi-player co-op mobile games.
As you might have guessed by now, these are not for music purists and also those who take their team-based mobile games very seriously.
But if you want a pair of affordable true wireless earbuds to energize you with music during your workouts or keep you focused while working on a project, the Snokor iRocker earbuds won’t disappoint you.
Talking about the calling experience, it was a mixed bag. On my end, I experienced no major issue with the voice coming out of the earbuds. There was no crackling, and the other person was clearly audible. However, people on the other end did complain about occasional stutters and unclear voice. It is apparently due to mic quality issues, which is something you’ll have to live with when it comes to TWS earbuds in this price bracket.
Battery life
Infinix touts a playtime of 4 hours on a single charge, but the maximum I could clock was approximately 3.5 hours, which is not too shabby. Each earbud comes with a 40mAh battery that takes a little more than an hour to charge. The 300mAh battery fitted inside the charging case is claimed to provide an additional 16 hours of playtime.
In real life usage, the battery endurance figures didn’t quite touch the numbers claimed by the company, but the Snokor iRocker earbuds reached quite close, and that is definitely commendable. Another issue that I noticed is that when the earbuds are running out of juice and you hear a low battery warning, the battery level drops directly from 20% to 10% in just a few minutes. This happened a few times with me. Although it is not an alarming issue, it might prove to be an inconvenience if you’re in the middle of an important call or don’t have the charging case with you at that time.
Verdict
The Snokor iRocker earbuds from Infinix are among the few wireless earbuds under the Rs. 1,500 price ceiling that comes from a renowned brand. They are surprisingly well-built for their asking price and offer reliable button controls for handling calls and media playback. Audio output during music playback hits above its price category, which is definitely a plus.
Snokor’s true wireless earbuds, despite being on the larger side, are not heavy – and they are well built too. The pairing experience is smooth most of the time, and the battery life figures are also satisfactory. There are a few drawbacks too, such as sub-par call quality, a sudden drop in battery level, and occasional earbud syncing issues.
To sum it up, the Snokor iRocker true wireless earbuds offer good value and are definitely worth recommending if you are finally making the switch from wired to wireless earbuds without spending too much. If you look at the competition, the Redmi Earbuds S and Realme Buds Q are the few options from trusted brands, but you’ll have to shell out a few hundred bucks more.
Once in a while, we see a usual product with a set of unusual features. The WatchOut Wearables Madgaze is one such Wear OS running device that comes with a couple of unique features adding flavor to the Android smartwatch space. The Indian startup WatchOut Wearables isn’t following or copying a product but leading its way with innovation. The Madgaze smartwatch is a unique device. I used it for about a week, and here are my first impressions of the product.
WatchOut Wearables Madgaze first impressions
The Madgaze smartwatch is WatchOut Wearables’ fourth product. It is fully assembled in India. It is not one of those smartwatches that you wear and forget about. The first thing you’ll notice about it when you take it out from the box is its big size. However, it weighs just 73 grams. The smartwatch is comfortable on the wrist, thanks to the silicone band. Additionally, in the box, you get a proprietary charger and a separate cable for data transfer.
The WatchOut Wearables Madgaze sports a 1.39-inch touch display that comes with a 400×400 pixel resolution. It is sharp and easily visible under direct sunlight. There is an always-on mode as well, which can be toggled on/off. I had it switched on. Notably, you don’t get options to customize it, and there is only one default watch face for the always-on display. Moreover, it doesn’t have a high screen-to-body ratio as there is bezel, which is separate from the chrome ring around it. It can be minimized to reduce the bulky-design.
The WatchOut Wearables Madgaze comes equipped with two buttons on the right side for home and return. However, it is easier to use touch controls for navigation. On the rear side, it has a heart rate sensor, a small flap for data transfer, and a nano-SIM slot.
The device runs Android 7.1 that features a UI similar to Wear OS, which is reasonably easy to use. I preferred the touch controls but you can also interact with it using the two physical buttons. It also comes with a speaker and because of the SIM slot, you can directly make and receive calls on the watch. In several apps, you get an option to type on a full-fledged keyboard, which is uncomfortable on the form factor despite the big display.
All of this aside, let’s talk about the unique feature, gesture control. Basically, you can use taps on different parts of your arm to interact with the smartwatch. You can assign apps and actions for each tap from the knuckles to the forearm. However, it is not available as soon as you switch on the watch. All of this is accessed on the Mad Gaze controller app, which is needed to be switched on. Once set up, you can snap your fingers to hand up the call or trigger other actions like volume controls with taps on arms. The gesture control on WatchOut Wearables Madgaze works surprisingly well! It is not there for the sake of it. It’s present, and it can actually be used. Furthermore, there is a Zello app that lets you communicate with other contacts who have the same app on other Android devices. It is like a walke-talkie.
With more features comes more power, which in turn consumes a lot of battery. While using all of these features and switching between apps, the watch died within 10 hours of use. However, you can expect it to power you through the day.
Talking about the downsides, it doesn’t get the basics right at times. With my initial use, the smartwatch showed that I had over 100,000 steps, while all I did was sit at my work desk and type throughout the day. It also shows a heart-rate count when the watch is sitting idle on the desk.
If WatchOut Wearables see their Madgaze smartwatch going a long way, they need to fix the basics of fitness features. There is no point in offering a fitness feature if it doesn’t get the measurements right.
That said, WatchOut Wearables Madgaze is a unique product with a host of additional features. It is priced at Rs 28,999, but you can get it for between Rs 15,999 and Rs 17,999 if you pre-order it on Fueladream.com. It is up for funding right now.
OnePlus introduced Zen Mode – aimed at helping users put down their phones to focus on important tasks – last year with the launch of its OnePlus 7 series. The meditation-focused app was updated with new changes in OxygenOS 11, which is in open beta phase as of now. The latest version of the app was available only on OnePlus 8 series running the Android 11 version of its OxygenOS. Now, the company is bringing the latest Zen-Mode update to the phones running Android 10.
The latest development was first reported by our friends at XDA-Developers. Basically, Zen Mode is to bring the company’s proprietary digital detox and meditation solution. It is OnePlus’ take on Google’s Digital Wellbeing initiative.
For reference, the updated Zen Mode app enables the option to create a virtual room and invite friends to join and start a focus challenge together. It also introduced a variety of themes to enhance the user’s immersive meditation experience. It also comes with the ability to let you record your daily Zen moments and review your progress towards concentration and focus.
The new Zen Mode was first showcased by the company with HydrogenOS 11, which is a Chinese version of OxygenOS 11. It is also available globally for the users testing OxygenOS 11. You can read about all the new features in OxygenOS 11 here.
Boost Mobile recently announced the new Coolpad Legacy Brisa is the latest addition to its portfolio of devices. It features a sleek design, supports HDR audio and will be available free for customers who switch to Boost Mobile, and for $79.99 to new customers at any authorized Boost Mobile retail store.
The Coolpad Legacy Brisa comes equipped with a 6.53-inch FHD+ display. It is protected by Gorilla Glass 3. The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 SoC, paired with 3GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage. It packs a 4,000mAh battery and sports a 16MP + 5MP dual rear camera setup. On the front lies a 16MP selfie shooter.
Boost Mobile recently launched its new “$hrink-It!” plan, which starts at $45 per month for 15 GB and includes unlimited talk and text. $hrink-It! reduces customers’ monthly rates by $5 after three on-time payments, and by an additional $5 after six total on-time payments. In addition to $hrink-It! and other popular Boost plans, the company also recently launched “5 under $50” affordable prepaid wireless plans starting at $10 per month, including unlimited talk and text.
Boost Mobile service plans include mobile hotspot and 99% nationwide coverage with voice roaming. New Boost Mobile customers with a compatible device will activate on the new T-Mobile network, where they will receive a stronger signal, faster speeds and more coverage.
Facebook introduced a new feature last month that would allow businesses to host paid online events and announced that it won’t charge any fee as a goodwill gesture to support them during the pandemic. However, Apple charged its standard 30% App Store fee for transactions made during such online events, which led to some ugly back-and-forth. Facebook even accused Apple of robbing small businesses of their hard-earned revenue and also claimed that it was blocked from telling users that Apple took a 30% fee for online events. Now, in a surprising turn of events, Apple has announced that it will grant a temporary exemption to Facebook’s paid online events.
What this means is Apple won’t take its 30% fee and 100% of the money raised by these events will go to businesses. “This is a difficult time for small businesses and creators, which is why we are not collecting any fees from paid online events while communities remain closed for the pandemic,” Facebook spokesperson Joe Osborne was quoted as saying by CNBC. “Apple has agreed to provide a brief, three-month respite after which struggling businesses will have to, yet again, pay Apple the full 30% App Store tax.”
An Apple spokesperson reportedly told CNBC that it is making a reversal to temporarily waive off the App Store fee for paid online events on Facebook “due to the pressures businesses are facing from the pandemic.” The Apple spokesperson added that the company seeks to give businesses some more time so that they can adapt to digital business models.
However, Apple is not waiving off the App Store tax for gaming-related events, because the company thinks that the gaming industry has not been affected by the ongoing global health crisis. Facebook, on the other hand, has announced that it won’t charge any fee for paid online events by game creators on its Facebook Gaming platform until August 2021, but only on desktop. Facebook is apparently not happy with Apple excluding gaming events from its App Store fee exemption for paid online events.
“Apple’s decision to not collect its 30% tax on paid online events comes with a catch: gaming creators are excluded from using Facebook Pay in paid online events on iOS. We, unfortunately, had to make this concession to get the temporary reprieve for other businesses,” Facebook Gaming VP, Rajat Sharma, was quoted as saying by Variety. To recall, Apple rejected the Facebook Gaming app from getting listed on the App Store.
Apple has lately been involved in another war with the likes of Microsoft and Google over allowing cloud gaming services such as xCloud and Stadia on the App Store. The tussle is over Apple’s 30% App Store fee and app review policies, something that has been called anti-competitive by many stakeholders in the gaming industry. Apple recently claimed that cloud gaming services violate App Store policies. However, Apple eventually budged earlier this month and said it will allow these apps on the App Store, but laid out some conditions that are still deemed unacceptable by publishers and developers.
