CTC BLOG

Previously, users could get access to Facebook Messenger without needing to sign up or log in to Facebook. Today, the company has removed the ability, which means those who want to use Facebook Messenger will have to sign up for a Facebook account.

In 2015, Facebook added a functionality that allowed people to download and use Messenger sans Facebook username and password for Venezuela, Peru, Canada, and the United States. Names, photos, and phone numbers were acceptable login forms.

The reason for the change, Facebook claims is making things simpler. The company says that the majority of Facebook Messenger users are already on Facebook. If you’ve gotten in Messenger before, then there’s no need to create a Facebook account.

The change might also mean that the company is unifying all its messenger apps, including Instagram and WhatsApp, but this won’t happen in 2019, as per Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

tech2 News StaffDec 31, 2019 16:39:44 IST

Ahead of the launch of Huawei’s P-series smartphones in March 2020, the camera specifications of the Huawei P40 Pro has leaked.

Reportedly, the Huawei P40 Pro will feature five cameras at the rear, which will include a main wide-angle lens, a cine lens, a ToF sensor, a periscope lens with support for 10x optical zoom and either a telephoto lens with up to 9x optical zoom or an ultrawide lens, as per GizmoChina. The camera module at the back will be shaped rectangular.

Up front, the smartphone will apparently sport a dual-camera setup.

The Huawei P30 Pro. Image Tech2/ Prannoy Palav

The report also claims that the Huawei P40 Pro may come in Breathing Crystal and Black color variants. The black model seems to sport a two-tone color design.

Further, the Huawei P40 Pro will likely feature a screen size between 6.5-inch to 6.7-inch, with quad HD+ resolution and an aspect ratio of 20:9. The screen will reportedly offer 90 Hz refresh rate and it will be integrated with a fingerprint sensor and under-display speaker.

Image: Gizmochina

The Huawei P40 Pro is also reported to be powered by Kirin 990 5G chipset with options of 8 GB and 12 GB of RAM. The base model of the phone may reportedly come with 128 GB of storage. The Android 10 OS could be coupled with EMUI 10.1.

Richard Yu, the head of Huawei’s consumer business had recently also revealed that the P40 series smartphones will run its own HarmonyOS operating system instead of Google’s Android.

Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison.

Still using that clunky 300mbps Wi-Fi router you’ve had for years? It’s definitely time for an upgrade, especially if you’re tired of losing a signal on the far reaches of your house.

The D-Link Covr Tri Band WiFi Mesh System is now just $159.99, down $100 from its original price of $259.99 on Amazon. Combined, these two D-Link mesh system can cover a distance of 6,000 square feet, which should be enough to eliminate dead zones, buffering and other issues.

D-Link Covr Tri Band WiFi Mesh System

Tri Band technology means all the devices you have can now game, play 4K streaming and VR, thanks to the D-Link device’s High Power Amplifier, six antennas and MU MIMO.

Using the D-Link Mesh System is just a matter of plugging it in and using the DLink WiFi app. Smart Roaming gives you the freedom to move around your house in an ‘always connected’ mode.

You may never see a $100 off discount for the D-Link Mesh System again, so go buy it before the promo expires!

tech2 News StaffDec 31, 2019 18:25:27 IST

Google Search keeps added feature to its Knowledge Graph cards and the latest incoming update is a watchlist. Users will be able to create watchlists right after they searched for a film or a TV show.

Google logo.

From a report by Android Police, when you search for a film or TV show, the search result cards will now additionally show a new card with buttons labelled “Watched it?” and “Watchlist”. If you click or tap on the former, it will change to “Watched” and store your result. However, if you select the latter, it will be added to a newly created watchlist.

While the feature of creating lists has been available for quite some time, it has now been expanded to films and TV shows. Earlier, you could create lists for the images you search. For example, if you searched for memes, Google Search would automatically suggest adding the searched image to a ‘Memes’ collection.

All your saved images and content will be available in a separate page called ‘Collections’. Whether it’s your images or films, everything will be listed on this page.

The feature isn’t available for everyone yet. Android Police reported that it’s rolling out in mobile browser search results and in the Google app. We checked the same on our devices across all platforms and it hasn’t arrived yet. However, we could soon see the feature land in our devices.

Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison.

In this article, we at iLounge will be sharing a review of the MoneyBall mobile app for iOS and Android.

Do you like games that give your brain a mental workout? MoneyBall is similar to Brain Age- Training and other titles that exercise your mind with fun and stimulating puzzles.

MoneyBall has several features that make it stand out among other apps at the App Store and Play Store.

Invest in Your Mind

The premise of MoneyBall is simple- play a few memory puzzles whenever you have free time and keep your brain in tip-top shape.

Studies have shown that stimulating activities can help keep your brain ‘young’, and this is what the app is all about. At first you’ll struggle to complete the first stages, but don’t worry as you’ll get the hang of it in the long run.

Like any other muscle in the body, the more you train your brain the better it gets. Soon, you’ll be finishing stages with speed and accuracy as long as you keep playing every day.

Compete with Friends

Multi-player is where things get interesting. Feel the need to compete with friends, family and acquaintances in your social media account? Prove that your mind is the sharpest via mano-a-mano or group matches.

Connecting to the internet gives you this option. You can choose who to play with in the available list; start playing and you can win the memory puzzle matches. When you win, you get a prize in the form of ‘money’, or in-game currency with MoneyBall. It’s an interesting twist to keep you playing for more.

The puzzle games are practical and help you with everyday problem solving skills. Even if you’re not competitive MoneyBall is still a top game to install on your iPhone.

MoneyBall VIP Membership

MoneyBall enthusiasts can get a VIP membership that gives them extra perks such as direct messaging options, full app access, and in-game rewards. You can compete via tournament or head to head mode and climb the leaderboards to become the #1 MoneyBall player.

For a relatively lightweight app, MoneyBall is super beneficial for your mind. Enjoy entertaining brain puzzles and sharpen your mind for real-life applications. You can also compete with friends for bragging rights!

Ameya DalviDec 31, 2019 14:14:24 IST

Earlier this month, we shared with you review snapshots of three budget wireless earphones. Today, we move on to larger things in music — a category that’s still fairly nascent — party speakers. While one of the speakers is an embodiment of the category name and appeals to your eyes more than your ears, the other goes about its job quietly (well, not really) and can rock the floor even more. So let’s take a closer look at these two party animals that are poles apart and may appeal to two completely different sets of buyers.

Zoook Rocker Thunder Plus Review Snapshot

The Zoook Rocker Thunder Plus, as the name suggests, is the more flamboyant of the two with a host of connectivity options, LED beat lighting, backlit volume control, the works.

Despite being almost a couple of feet tall, this Zoook speaker is fairly portable and weighs under 4.5 kg.

It simply shouts ‘Party’. You can play music on it via Bluetooth, Aux input, USB drive, memory card and it has an FM tuner built-in. It also has playback controls and a small display that gives you information about the input mode, volume level and so on. The company has also thrown in wireless remote control and a wireless mic for karaoke parties. 

There are multicoloured LEDs embedded upfront that produce a neat glow on the speaker drivers and flicker to the beats.

Despite being almost a couple of feet tall, this Zoook speaker is fairly portable and weighs under 4.5 kg. The speaker is well-built with good quality plastic, but a small amount of push can topple it over; an issue with its weight distribution, I suppose. It can produce up to 40 Watts RMS output and has a 4,400 mAh battery that lasts a shade under four hours of continuous playback. You can charge it using any standard micro USB charger. There are multicoloured LEDs embedded upfront that produce a neat glow on the speaker drivers and flicker to the beats, thus setting a party ambience. 

While the Zoook Rocker Thunder Plus is loaded with features, the sound output is not as impressive. Probably the rocker and thunder in the name set my expectations higher. The sound quality is strictly average and it is low on bass — something that party animals crave for. It can get quite loud for a small to a mid-sized room but lacks the thump that you expect from a party speaker. But let’s not forget that this is a budget speaker priced under Rs 4,000 and set your expectations accordingly. 

This is by no means an audiophile product or one targeted at those looking for crystal clear sound while playing music. It is more of a fun product meant for a small house party or the odd karaoke session, and one that you can take around with you. On that front, it does a fair job. But a bit more bass would have made it more desirable and done some justice to its name.

Pros:

• Portable speaker with attractive design
• Wide variety of audio inputs
• Wireless remote and mic bundled
• Decent battery life
• Well priced

Cons:

• Average sound quality
• Bass is too low for a party speaker
• Takes almost 4 hours to charge fully

Rating: 3.5/5

Price: Rs 3,940 with one year warranty

Renor BT PowerCab Review Snapshot

The BT PowerCab from a new Indian startup, Renor, is diametrically opposite to the Zoook speaker above in almost every aspect. This is the first speaker from the company and is an interesting product. Though it qualifies as a party speaker on the basis of performance alone, it is targeted more at music enthusiasts looking for high fidelity wireless audio.

The Renor BT PowerCab is a big unit that measures a good 20 inches in width, is almost a foot tall and 10 inches deep.

For starters, it has a very retro look reminiscent of certain Marshall speakers. Audio inputs are limited to 3.5 mm Aux-in and Bluetooth. There’s a power button, volume dial and a Bluetooth pairing button, and that’s that. No flashing light, no USB port, no equaliser presets, nothing! There is nothing about it that says party… till you play something on it, that is.

The Renor BT PowerCab is a big unit that measures a good 20 inches in width, is almost a foot tall and 10 inches deep. Don’t think we can call it portable given that it weighs in excess of 10 kilos. Also, this is not a wireless speaker with an in-built battery; it needs to be plugged into a power socket to function. You get an 8-inch driver and a 1-inch tweeter to handle a frequency range between 36.5 Hz and 20 KHz. The sound output is rated at 100 Watts RMS, and that is not just a marketing number; it actually feels as powerful. The sound quality is also helped by the fact that this speaker supports AptX codecs over Bluetooth.

Before you start playing the audio, turn the volume knob on the speaker down to 25 percent.

The speakers pair smoothly with an Android phone. Just make sure the phone/tablet supports AptX codecs and that they are enabled in the settings. Also, before you start playing the audio, turn the volume knob on the speaker down to 25 percent. The Bluetooth volume on the source device and the master volume on the speaker are independent of each other. So if you have both volumes set on the higher side when you play the audio, you may shatter something in the room, along with somebody’s patience. The optimal way of going about it is to first lower the Bluetooth volume on the phone, then turn the speaker volume knob close to 100 percent and then gradually increase the volume from the phone.

The speakers are pre-tuned and you get absolutely no sound adjustment settings on the device. That’s good and bad in equal measure depending on what you prefer. The first thing you notice when you play something on the Renor BT PowerCab is the thumping bass. In fact, there’s an abundance of it and bass heads will totally dig it. The highs are sharp too and there’s ample clarity in most of the midrange spectrum except the lower mids. They tend to get overpowered by the lows at times, especially in bass-heavy tracks. The instrument separation is more than decent and so is the broadness of the soundstage for a solo speaker. These speakers are ideally meant for a large-sized room because they need to be played at a certain minimum loudness level for a better balance in sound.

You will notice some of the above shortcomings only when you choose to sit back and listen to music. When in party mode, they barely put a foot wrong with loud and powerful sound output and some serious bass to rock the party. I just wish Renor had put a couple more audio inputs on this speaker, especially HDMI, so that one could plug it into the TV using the same for a better TV viewing/streaming experience. This would have worked well as a soundbar/box. Probably they will put it in their next product along with a dedicated midrange driver for a better tonal balance. Either way, I will keenly look forward to Renor’s next release.

Pros:

• Powerful 100W RMS sound output with thumping bass
• Good highs and crisp vocals
• Elegant design
• AptX support over Bluetooth
• Easy to use 

Cons:

• Could have had a few more input options
• Lower midrange frequencies can get overshadowed by excess bass

Rating: 4/5

Price: Rs 14,999 with one year warranty

Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison.

Sony makes camera and smartphone sensors for brands, including the iPhone. Recently, Sony’s semiconductor unit chief Terushi Shimizu says that the company has been having trouble keeping up with demands, even when its production lines are running 24 hours a day.

Sony intends to increase capital spending on semiconductors to 280 billion yen, or roughly $2.6 billion dollars. The company also plans to build a new factory in Nagasaki which should be operational come April 2021.

The demand mostly comes from the trend that more and more cameras are appearing on the back of smartphones. Apple’s iPhone 11 Pro Max and Pro have three while the iPhone 11 has two. Camera sensors are Sony’s primary source of revenue, with the Playstation being second.

It’s speculated that Apple will be adopting Sony’s TOF, or time of flight cameras that can recreate a 3D model of a photo via invisible laser pulses for the next iPhone lineup.

Press Trust of IndiaDec 30, 2019 17:38:56 IST

Scientists at Shiv Nadar University here have developed a low-cost security ink that may help detect counterfeit currency, and could be employed in official documents and medical diagnosis.

The new ink, described in the peer-reviewed Journal of Physical Chemistry C, offers improved security features compared to existing inks that are multi-component and, therefore, more expensive, the researchers said.

These materials can be used in other applications, such as security signs, emergency route signs, traffic signage, in addition to medical diagnosis, and background-independent bio emitting probes, they said.

“Our white security ink is made from cheaper, organic compounds that can be used in daylight as they show white emission with afterglow feature covering visible range of the spectrum (400-700 nanometres) under UV light exposure, Debdas Ray, a professor at Shiv Nadar University, told PTI.

“These single component security inks give better stability, colour reproducibility and simple device fabrication over the multi-component security inks that are costly, toxic and work under different background, Ray said.

A low-cost ink that is made from cheaper polymers can help in detecting fake notes.

To prepare an ink, these compounds can be mixed with commercially available cheaper transparent polymers in organic solvent or other glue-like materials, according to the researchers. It takes only 45 minutes to develop this ink which costs around Rs. 1000 per gram, the researchers said.

Any characters of interest, such as symbols, pictures, shapes, bar code, etc. can be written on the document i.e. a white background to provide additional security, they said.

We can think about additional security in the bank note, official documents, defence security, etc, Ray noted.

After writing the characters, the document can be stored in daylight as the written characters will be invisible due to their transparent colour.

In order to view the characters by the naked eye, the document needs to be simply exposed to UV-light.

The researchers, including Harsh Bhatia from the Department of Chemistry, noted that secured storage has attracted increased attention in economic as well as military fields due to the increase in cyber thefts.

Security ink has gained tremendous importance during the past decades, they said. For application as a security ink, the components of that ink must be invisible under daylight.

The researchers noted that white light-emitting materials that show afterglow have become of increasing importance because their behaviour can be changed after switching off the light exposure.

These light-stimuli responsive luminescent materials are promising alternatives for the application of data recording and data security, they said.

To design invisible security ink, there are many strategies developed by chemists which employ organic dyes, conjugated polymer dots, inorganic quantum dots, etc. However, these materials suffer from disadvantages as the characters written with them may be visible to the naked eye under ambient light or they may have absence of afterglow with different colour of the code. Besides, they are expensive and toxic, and make processing difficult, the researchers explained.

The new ink, on the other hand, is made with the help of a commercially available cheaper polymer known as polyvinyl alcohol.

A small portion of polymer is mixed with water. The sample is then dissolved in an organic solvent — either tetrahydrofuran or ethanol.

To write down the characters of interest over the filter paper, a micropipette is partially filled up with this solution mixture. After writing the characters, the paper is allowed to dry at ambient conditions for four hours. Afterwards it can be used directly for practical applications, the researchers said.

The new materials work on the principle of both fluorescence — emission of light immediately (nano second) after light exposure — and phosphorescence, where absorbed radiation is re-emitted for longer timescale (microsecond to second).

When the light is switched on, the character is visible in white background due to the involvement of both fluorescence and phosphorescence, but as soon as the light is switched off, the character is visible in a different colour due to phosphorescence.

Ray said the current security ink used in bank notes in India works on the principle of fluorescence, which makes the hidden symbol or character visible under a UV lamp only. There will be no character visible when the lamp is subsequently switched off under dark environment. Because the materials used in the note lacks phosphorescence property, he said.

If we use the materials having both fluorescence and phosphorescence, then switching on the lamp will show one type of colour of the code used, while same or different colour, depending on the materials used, will be visualised due to the phosphorescence, Ray explained.

The colour may persist from several milliseconds to seconds, providing additional security to the notes or documents, the researchers said. They explained that afterglow or persistent luminescence materials can also be used in bio-imaging of the cells, where they can be attached with different organelles. Since the emission persists for longer time, the imaging event can be detected in longer time scale, the researchers noted.

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A doctor from the New York University is suing Apple over the Apple Watch’s atrial fibrillation technology. Dr. Joseph Wiesel states that the smartwatch has infringed his patent that detects irregular heartbeats.

One of the Apple Watch’s features is its passive heart rate monitoring, which sends a notification when it detects an irregular heartbeat. Newer Apple Watch models utilize the digital crown to take an electrocardiogram.

Wiesel mentioned that his patent, which was awarded March of 2006 marked the steps to detect atrial fibrillation, and that it described how one could monitor irregular rhythms in pulse over a period of time. The lawsuit demands that Apple stops using atrial fibrillation without royalties and permission. He further said that Apple has refused to engage in ‘good faith’ in September 2017 and now contends the afib technology.

Apple hasn’t made any comments on the case and is unlikely to respond to the lawsuit.

tech2 News StaffDec 30, 2019 18:36:43 IST

PC maker Lenovo’s latest smartwatch, called the Carme HW25P, is now available to buy on Amazon India for Rs 3,499. The watch was earlier only available on Flipkart and Croma.

The Lenovo Carme HW25P comes with a 1.3-inch IPS colour display in a square form factor. It is IP68 rated for dust and water resistance. It will be available in two colours, black and green.

Lenovo Carme HW25P

Some of the major features offered by the Lenovo Carme HW25P include:

• Dedicated heart-rate monitor which gives heart rate and health status monitoring.
• Sleep monitor gives you an idea of your sleeping patterns with real-time sleep monitoring.
• Dedicated pedometer to record your activity data in real time.
• Eight sports mode including skipping, badminton, basketball, football, swimming, cycling and more.
• Smart notifications to count your steps, reminding you to stand up regularly, call and SMS notification.
• Search for phone feature.

The Lenovo Carme supports Bluetooth 4.2 and is compatible with both Android and iOS devices.

Lenovo claims that the Carme battery life lasts for seven days with a standby time of 25 days.

Earlier this year, Lenovo had also launched a digital watch called the Lenovo Ego. It weighs 42 g, features a black rubber buckle strap, and has a 42 mm anti-shine reflective display and night light mode.

Lenovo Ego

Lenovo Ego comes with a heart rate monitor, that offers 24 hours real-time monitoring, through different activities like cycling, running and other exercises, in the day. At night too, the smartwatch tracks your sleep and sleeping patterns yo helps you set a sleep schedule. And to wake up in the morning, it also comes with an alarm clock.

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The holidays have passed and now we’re gearing up for the new year. Symbolically speaking, it could be the time to upgrade your iPad into a drawing, writing and note-taking device with the newest Apple Pencil 2.

Apple Pencil 2

Today, the Apple Pencil 2 is priced at just $99, down $30 from its original price of $129 on Amazon. If your work revolves around creating content and artwork, then it’s a must-have. The device has the natural fluidity, responsiveness, and precision inherent in traditional writing instruments.

The Apple Pencil 2 is compatible with the 3rd generation iPad Pro 12.9 inch and the iPad Pro 11 inch models. There are virtually no moving parts, thus making it easy to store.

Turn your iPad into a canvas or a notepad for just $99. You’ll have a top-quality Apple product that’s sure to be useful and last for many years to come. Get the Apple Pencil 2 deal today!

IndiaSpendDec 30, 2019 17:10:35 IST

by Bhaskar Tripathi

As the year 2019 draws to a close, we take a look at how India performed in managing its forests, water and waste.

India approved 99 percent of proposals to fell forests for non-forestry uses (until June 2019). It ranked 13th among the most water-stressed nations in 2019. And as the prime minister urged the nation to stop using single-use plastic, states and cities remained underprepared.

Forests

In the first six months of 2019, out of 240 proposals seeking diversion of forest land, the government of India only rejected seven — 98.99 percent of forest land considered for diversion was allowed to be put to non-forestry uses, as per this August 2019 analysis of the Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment (LIFE), a Delhi-based advocacy.

This rate of diversion “is a matter of serious concern”, said the analysis.

The forest area approved for diversion till June 2019 was about 92.20 sq km. This, combined with diversion approvals from 2017 and 2018, amounts to 588.20 sq km — larger than the union territory of Puducherry — according to the analysis. About 43 percent of forest land recommended for diversion in 2019 falls in ecologically sensitive wildlife habitats, the analysis said. Over 500 projects were cleared in India’s Protected Areas and their ‘Eco-Sensitive Zones’ by the National Board of Wildlife over the four years of the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance government between June 2014 and May 2018. In comparison, the preceding United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had cleared 260 projects between 2009 and 2013, as IndiaSpend reported in September 2018.

No more than 1.1 percent of projects were rejected annually, on average, between June 2014 and May 2018, dropping from 11.9 percent under the previous UPA government between 2009 and 2013, according to an analysis by the Delhi-based advocacy, Centre for Science & Environment.

These compensatory plantations, often monoculture adding little value to biodiversity, are further leading to state-approved violation of the rights of forest dwellers, IndiaSpend reported on June 25, 2019.

Water

After two consecutive below-normal monsoons in 2017 and 2018, many parts of India again faced an acute water shortage — with Chennai becoming the face of the crisis when the water level in the city’s reservoir plunged to one percent of capacity. The crisis was exacerbated by the delayed 2019 monsoon, IndiaSpend reported on 5 June 2019.

India — where 600 million people, half the population, face “high-to-extreme” water stress every year — ranked 13 on a global list of water-stressed countries in August 2016. The countries ranking above India are the ones belonging to the arid and semi-arid regions of Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, receiving almost half of India’s annual rainfall and possessing fewer natural water sources, IndiaSpend reported in August 2019.

Groundwater is depleting at an unsustainable rate and India is facing serious water stress. Image credit: REUTERS/Amit Dave

The Narendra Modi government on starting its second term, on 31 May 2019, had declared it would bring piped drinking water to every household by 2024 under a ‘Nal Se Jal’ scheme. The mission would be undertaken by a newly formed Jal Shakti ministry, which amalgamates the ministries of water resources, river development and Ganga Rejuvenation with the ministry of drinking water and sanitation.

The first challenge would be the availability of water, IndiaSpend said in its June report. Groundwater in India is depleting at an unsustainable rate, and 40 percent of India’s population will have no access to drinking water by 2030. By 2050, water stress will cause a six percent loss in its gross domestic product when the demand for water will exceed supply. This scarcity of water will also increase the country’s health burden: Currently, 200,000 Indians die every year due to inadequate access to safe water.

Under the ‘Nal Se Jal’ scheme, the government aims to supply 55 litres of piped water per person per day. Currently, no more than 18.41 percent of rural houses have access to piped water, showing up the scale of infrastructure-building required to connect 16 percent houses to piped water every year until the end of 2024 to reach the target.

In the ‘Nal Se Jal’ scheme, “we are giving more preference to infrastructure” and neglecting the importance of local water bodies, Mahreen Matto, water management expert at the Delhi-based think-tank Centre for Science and Environment, wrote in Down To Earth in July 2019. “…the moot questions are: what will happen if there is no water to supply? What will happen to all the wastewater that gets generated?”

Plastic waste

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on many occasions in 2019 announced plans to rid the country of single-use plastic by 2022.

After this, many states, public and private organisations moved towards plastic-free processes. Most prominent declarations were: Odisha, Goa and Andhra Pradesh banned single-use plastic; Assam government banned it in the secretariat premises; Kolkata municipal corporation banned it in the city; the Airports Authority of India banned it in more than 40 percent of its airports.

India generates 9.46 million tonnes of plastic waste annually — 946,000 truckloads at 10 tonnes a truck — of which 40 percent remains uncollected, as per an August 2019 study by Un-Plastic Collective, a voluntary multi-stakeholder initiative to eliminate plastic pollution and move towards a circular economy.

India generates 9.46 million tonnes of plastic waste annually.

It mostly ends up choking landfills, drains and rivers and flows into the sea where it is ingested by marine animals. It leaches into the soil and water, contaminating the natural environment with poisonous dioxins, as IndiaSpend reported on 2 April 2019.

Accurate data on plastic waste generation, collection and disposal are integral to how a country formulates its policy on waste management, but the country’s official numbers are incomplete, our report said. India is unlikely to be free of single-use plastic by 2022 as the annual plastic consumption is expected to cross 20 million tonnes in 2020.

Despite the notification of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, and amendments made two years later, most cities and towns are not able to efficiently implement the rules, as IndiaSpend reported on 18 April 2019.

Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison.

Apple has shared four new ‘Slofie’ videos that feature the capabilities of its newest iPhone lineup on YouTube.

‘Slofie’ is a term used by Apple to describe ‘slow-motion selfie video’. The iPhone 11 models make this possible with the slow-motion video recording feature, something that the previous iPhone models don’t have.

Each video is less than a minute long and is now available to view on Apple’s official YouTube channel. The first video shows a woman with a hairdryer; the second is a group of party people dancing about; the third is a man enjoying a sprinkler bath, and the fourth is a man whipping his jowls about.

Slofie on iPhone 11

The iPhone 11 model cameras have other features such as Night Mode for low light shooting, Ultra Wide for panoramic shots and the QuickTake for taking videos without exiting Photo Mode. The devices’ Photo app makes it easy for users to edit videos with filters, rotate, crop and more.

tech2 News StaffDec 30, 2019 09:51:44 IST

This article was originally published on 16 December 2019. It has been edited and re-published due to the deadline for linking PAN and Aadhaar tomorrow. 

It is mandatory to link your PAN with Aadhaar by the end of this year, the Income Tax Department said in a public message on 16 December. “Building a better tomorrow! To reap seamless benefits of income tax services, complete the vital link before 31 December 2019,” the department said.

Representational image.

The deadline to link the permanent account number (PAN) with Aadhaar was extended till 31 December by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) through an order issued in September this year. Earlier, the deadline for this linkage was 30 September.

Building a better tomorrow!

To reap seamless benefits of income tax services, complete the vital link before 31st December, 2019.

: https://t.co/psNUjIYyTj pic.twitter.com/KJCIHXjsew

— Income Tax India (@IncomeTaxIndia) December 15, 2019

In case you are unsure if you have or not linked your PAN and Aadhaar yet, you can head to the Link Aadhaar Status page on the I-T website to confirm. All you need to do is put in your PAN and Aadhaar number to check.

If your Aadhaar and PAN are not linked, you can head here to do so.

The CBDT frames policy for the Income Tax Department. The SC, in September last year, had declared the Centre’s flagship Aadhaar scheme as constitutionally valid and held the biometric ID would remain mandatory for the filing of I-T returns and allotment of PAN.

(Also read: How to link Aadhaar with PAN card)

Section 139 AA (2) of the Income Tax Act says that every person having PAN as on 1 July 2017, and is eligible to obtain Aadhaar, must intimate his Aadhaar number to tax authorities.

Aadhaar is issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to a resident of India and PAN is a 10-digit alphanumeric number allotted by the I-T Department to a person, firm or entity.

With inputs from PTI. 

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In December, Apple started testing a detailed Apple Maps in Southeast and Central U.S. After several weeks, the content is now available to all Apple Maps users.

The ‘new and improved’ Apple Maps now has features such as updated bodies of water, pedestrian pathways, pools, foliage, parking lots, sports fields, parks, roads and buildings.

Apple employed vehicles that had LIDAR cameras and sensors to gather data and map details of the region. The updated app began life with the release of iOS 12, and at the WWDC 2019 the Cupertino-based company promised that the updated Apple Maps will be available by the end of 2019.

With the release of the mapping terrain Apple has fulfilled its promise. For those who are interested they can check their Apple Maps app for updates on when the feature will go live in their devices.

Apple has also mentioned that it intends to bring detailed Apple Maps to other countries in 2020.

OverdriveDec 27, 2019 19:13:53 IST

2020 Kawasaki Z900 was introduced at EICMA this year. The new motorcycle carries significant changes over the current spec Z900 on sale in India and the manufacturer has now confirmed the new 2020 Z900 will replace the motorcycle in India. Kawasaki India has not announced the price of the motorcycle yet, but have given a ballpark between Rs 8.5-9 lakh ex-showroom.

Kawasaki Z900. Image: Kawasaki

The new motorcycle now sports an angrier fascia which is in line with the Sumogi design philosophy that we recently saw on the Kawasaki Z H2 – showcased at the Tokyo Motor Show 2019. The headlamp assembly is all LED and gets fangs like LED DRLs on the sides as a part of the design. The motorcycle also gets three colour schemes to chose from – Metallic Graphite Gray/Metallic Spark Black, Metallic Spark Black/Metallic Flat Spark Black.

Along with the styling upgrade, the dashboard gets a new 4.3-inch TFT screen for instrumentation. The new screen features smartphone connectivity via ‘RIDEOLOGYTHE APP’. The application logs the riding data that the user/rider can access post-ride.

Mechanically the motorcycle stays the same but the 948cc, inline-four engine is now Euro 5 compliant which i.e means 2020 Z900 also meets the upcoming BSVI norms. The power has not been confirmed yet but internationally, the engine puts out 124PS at 9,500rpm and 98.6Nm at 7,700rpm. The motorcycle’s trellis frame has undergone tweaks, so has the suspension setup. 2020 Z900 uses upside-down forks in the front and the rear gets a horizontally mounted mono-shock absorber. Other cycle parts include twin 300mm disc set up in the front and a 250mm disc setup in the rear. The motorcycle now uses Dunlop Sportmax Roadsport 2 tires.

The dimensions of the new Z900 have been changed as well. The wheelbase is now 1,455mm which is an increase of 5mm and the motorcycle is now taller and longer as well – 1,080mm and 2,070mm respectively. The motorcycle tips the scale at 210kgs which is same as the current ongoing.

Currently, the Z900 on sale in India features only ABS (Antilock Braking System). On the flip side, the 2020 Z900 hosts a bunch load of electronic aids such as three-level of traction control, and two riding modes – Low and Full. On ‘Low’ riding mode the power is limited to 55 per cent.

When on sale, the Z900 will rival the KTM 790 Duke, Suzuki GSX S750 and the upcoming 2020 Triumph Street Triple RS 765.

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In today’s tech- and the device-heavy world, having a lot of cables can mean clutter. Now, you have a chance to eliminate one cord by buying the official Apple Wireless Charging Case for AirPods at just $64.99 from its original price of $79 on Amazon. The 18% discount equates to one less charging cable you have to worry about.

Apple Wireless Charging Case for AirPods

There’s a number of reasons why a wireless charging case is better than a wired one. First, it supports both wired and wireless charging which can be convenient for AirPods owners who are always on the go. If you have a Qi pad, you can just place the case and voila! Charging capability without the mess.

The ‘official’ tag means it should work out of the box and similar to the wired charging case. The Apple Wireless Charging Case works on AirPods 1st gen and later.

There’s no better time than now to get the $14 discounted wireless charging case!

OverdriveDec 27, 2019 19:58:31 IST

It has been rumoured that Kia Motors is currently developing an electric version of the popular Kia Seltos SUV. The EV SUV is expected to debut in Asian markets in late 2020 but is unlikely to be sold in the US or Europe. The Seltos has been a massive success in India, its the largest selling SUV in the country currently and has helped Kia become the fourth-largest carmaker in India.

The Kia Seltos will be available in at least 16 variants.

The electric Seltos could come with the same battery and electric motor setup as seen on the Hyundai Kona EV. Like with the Kona EV, the Indian market could get the smaller of the two battery packs which are a 39.2kWh unit. This is a lithium-ion polymer battery pack and powers a 136PS permanent magnet synchronous electric motor. This allows for a 0-100kmph time of 9.7s. The torque output is identical to the larger battery’s 395Nm. The larger battery pack, available also on cars like the Kia Soul EV, 64kWh battery pack which puts out 204PS.

We also expect slightly different styling with the Seltos EV, the face could see the regular car’s grille be replaced by something a bit more ornamental while more efficient alloys could also be added, aside from certain exterior highlights to denote its eco-credentials. We also think prices could be similar to that of the Kona EV.

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As of now, Seltos comes with three engine and four gearbox options here. The only diesel engine available is a 1.5-litre unit which makes 115PS and 250Nm. The top-spec petrol is the 1.4-litre turbo-petrol, available on the GT-Line trims and makes 140PS and 242Nm. Then there is the 1.-5-litre naturally aspirated petrol with its 115PS and 144Nm, available only on the Tech Line cars. The turbo petrol can be had with a 7-speed DCT, the diesel with a six-speed torque-converter and the N/A petrol with a CVT. All three can be had with a six-speed manual too.

The prices for the Kia Seltos start at Rs 9.69 lakh, ex-showroom Mumbai for the base HTE petrol and go up to Rs 16.99 lakh for the GTX+ auto.

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tech2 News StaffDec 28, 2019 14:06:56 IST

Apple is reportedly planning to launch upgrades to its 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro tablets in spring next year. And we already have 3D renders to give us an idea about how they are going to look like.

Apple’s 2019 iPad Pro. Image: tech2

The first renders of the 2020 iPad Pros come from @OnLeaks and iGeeksBlog. It follows the similar thin-bezel design of the iPad Pro 11 on both the models. However, the newest addition is the triple-camera module on the rear that is similar to the iPhone 11 Pro. Until now, all the iPads have had a single camera module on the rear.

The thickness of the upcoming iPad Pros could be more because of the triple cameras will almost the same dimensions overall. There’s no mention of the material being used on them nor any confirmation of the chipset that it will use. However, considering previous cases, new chipsets launched during September or October are carried over to the iPads.

2020 Apple iPad Pros renders. Image: @OnLeaks/iGeeksBlog

If Apple follows tradition, then the 2020 iPads will pack the Apple A13X chip. Since Apple tends to release iPads during the March, it’s likely we will get to see the new iPad Pros in the same month next year.

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The wireless earphones market is booming with innovative products from both old and new entrants. AU Sounds falls in the latter group, a new player based out of New Jersey trying to fight the likes of Apple, Sony, and Beats with its own formula.

Note: We were provided a review unit from AU SOUNDS. However, no other compensations were provided and AU SOUNDS did not receive copy approval rights on this review.

Packaging and Build

Apple has always been known for using quality packaging and that is the case with AU SOUNDS as well or I could say its even better. The packaging gives off a rich feeling and the unboxing experience is just delightful. I thoroughly enjoyed ripping open the box and was intrigued to find multiple tiny separate boxes (inside the main box) for the earphones, USB-C charging cable, a pouch, and some documentation. Mamma mia!

The neckband style AU-Flex ANC earphones feel very premium to hold in the hand. Not just that, they look expensive when you wear them as they are; the company has done everything it could to make the use of these earphones feel “luxurious”.

Sound quality

Oh boy! The earphones feel premium to hold and wear but the sound quality says something else. The AU-Flex ANC Wireless Earphones cost $199 and I found them to be inferior when compared to a $25 pair of wireless earphones in terms of audio quality. I am not an audiophile but I enjoy a certain level of bass and soothing audio output that is required when listening to certain tracks.

The AU-Flex wireless earphones produces sound that is sharp at high notes and is unpleasant in most cases. For example, when listening to Des Rocs’ Give Me The Night, the audio produced from the AU-Flex made me want to disconnect the earphones altogether as it lacks proper bass and the audio is just too sharp for my ears. On the other hand, my $25 Sony WI-C200 wireless earphones sounded better with proper bass, at least for my taste.

Noise Cancellation

The big feature here is Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) which is in the name of the earphones “AU-Flex ANC Wireless Earphones”. However, the earphones do not implement noise cancellation in the best possible manner to reduce the amount of outside noise. It’s not completely bad – I used this feature on the metro and was able to avoid a little bit of the chatter from the people around me but it could have been better.

The earphones also have “Monitor Mode” which essentially pushes sounds from the microphone to your ears. The outside sounds are amplified to give the users an option to pay attention to the outside world without having to remove the buds from their ears.

Battery and control

The battery life is decent, as during my tests, the earphones easily lasted for more or less 10 hours. I would constantly switch between the provided various listening modes i.e ANC off, ANC on, and Monitor Mode. AU says that users can expect the earphones to last 10 hours with ANC turned on and 22 hours with ANC turned off. The company delivers in the battery department and that is to be expected from neckbands as they have more room for battery compared to true wireless earbuds.

The earphones have four buttons – ON/OFF, Volume Control, and ANC trigger. The ANC trigger button has three modes – ANC turned off, ANC turned on and Monitor Mode which can be cycled through by pressing the button once. However, the process of switching is a little slow and the message reading “ANC turned on” pushed through the earphones is a bummer.

The AU-Flex ANC earphones charge through USB-C and the charging speeds are fairly good. A 15 minutes of charge can provide an hour’s worth of operational time. The charging speeds may vary depending on the adapter used or the USB power output if connected to a computer.

Conclusion

The AU-Flex ANC Wireless Earphones are premium feeling but the sound quality is not upto the mark. There are better options available in the market at the same price as the AU-Flex’s retail price of $199. Apple’s AirPods for one are a much better option as they reproduce a wider soundstage at just $159. 

However, if you are strictly looking for neckband style earphones, I still would recommend checking other options before settling on AU-Flex. I honestly do not think these are worth the asking price except for the premium packaging and the build quality.

Kavya NarayananDec 28, 2019 16:00:48 IST

Year after year, we see sports, literature, startups, politics, business and religion take centre stage in the news, on television and on social media. Science, however, is limited to the confines of universities, companies and academia in India. Rarely does science and scientific endeavour get the centre-stage attention.

Those keen to know more about the latest and greatest happenings under the broad umbrella of science, are having to seek them out, through digital resources, old-school conferences and seminars. Rarely has science ever been seen as the relatable, engaging and universally-binding language that it is. India and its youth are engaging in science in schools because they’re obligated to – little engagement follows once their education is behind them.

Many of us are unfamiliar with how science happens, why it’s even necessary or the advances made by brilliant Indian scientists who have put India on the world map. The India Science Festival 2020 is hoping to tackle some of these long-held challenges to science progress in India, says Varun Aggarwal, co-founder of Aspiring Minds, the Festival’s key organiser.

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“We wished to celebrate science, connect scientists and society in a fun, engaging way. Our imagination of the science festival is akin to that for a cricket match, a Bollywood star show or a Diwali Mela…It isn’t a boring talk program in a conference room, it’s a festival of science,” Aggarwal added.

“We are in a time where innovation is happening at an exponential speed – be it artificial intelligence, biotechnology, neuroscience, quantum physics, medicine – the fields are exploding with new knowledge and methods. India, too, needs to participate in this revolution and frame the right policies to bring the benefits of the science to society.”

In his view, mass public engagement in science and science policy is an indispensable means of making this shift.

Tech2: What can we expect at the Science Festival this year?

Varun Aggarwal (VA): The Festival itself will be spread out over many outdoor and indoor spaces. Walking through the front lawn, one might hear conversation on the ethics of artificial intelligence – why some algorithms are biased against a section of society, eg, women, and how this can be addressed. Later, when Nisheeth Vishnoi from Yale University takes the stage, he will tell you whether you should or should not trust an AI system with important tasks when it interprets your medical scan or handles your financial investments.

You can head on over to another space and find yourself levitating balls using your brain waves, with a little band around your head to detect when you’re concentrating. This is just a taste of the infinite possibilities that modern neuroscience opens up. From the future, the festival will also transport you to the past – with fascinating discussions in a Roman-style amphitheatre – where you’ll be asked to consider a range of things: Did ancient Indians really know organ transplantation? What is India’s contribution to global science? What is “evidence”? Are the scientific works of our ancestors relevant today?

The Puzzlebox Orbit is a revolutionary helicopter, which is controlled by brain waves. Image: Kickstarter

After some contemplation, you should treat yourself to some of the food – but careful! Don’t run into the driverless vehicle that’s been finding its own way from one end to the other avoiding all obstacles in its path. It automatically veers around an interactive digital Rangoli that has been laid on the ground. And speaking of Rangoli, there’s an exhibition of AI-generated paintings by Harshit Agarwal that’s certainly worth checking out.

And if you’re there to  hear from the brilliant minds in attendance, there are  40+ scientists from around the world giving super interesting talks and demoing exhibits, including TED-like talks by undergrads and PhD students, our scientists of today and tomorrow. They need to understand the society’s questions/problems and the society needs to understand their innovations and uses. I’m happy to that ISF can provide a platform to make this exchange happen.

Lastly, there are also stimulating policy roundtables planned – on, for example, how to create an MIT in India – that will be a key part of the Festival.

This is how we can bring science to everyone! In a simple, entertaining, immersive way.

Tech2: What do you see in the future of SciTech in India?

VA: Indian science is a sleeping giant! We have the talent, a rich tradition of scientific endeavour and markets that can support innovation. Yet, we follow and don’t lead in this regard. We have been reactive to the internet revolution, the mobile revolution and now the AI revolution. India hasn’t produced the largest global companies or scientific breakthroughs in any of these fields.

India can have a very bright future in science, but that will need our science ecosystem to be liberalised and re-oriented. Let’s recall for just a moment what happened when we liberalised our economy in the early 90’s – our growth rate doubled or more.

The same is possible for science.

Tech2: What about India’s science community makes you proud?

VA: India has a rich tradition of science going back to Panini, who is accepted as the world’s first linguist. I recommend everyone interested to attend the panel at ISF on India’s historic contribution to science.

If you see the period immediately before our independence, there were many science stalwarts in India – CV Raman, JC Bose, Srinivasan Ramanujan, Homi Bhabha among others. JC Bose did exceptional work in electromagnetics and plant sciences out of his lab in Kolkata. Post-independence, we have been massively hit by talented folks not taking up a career in science research – they either joined the industry or went abroad to better opportunities. This needs to change.

Internationally-acclaimed Indian scientists (it just so happens that all of them are men). Image: Manash Kundu Science Blog

Today, there are sporadic bursts of excellence that take the global stage – like the prime number result from IIT Kanpur, Abhay Bang’s work in infant mortality or the Simputer from IISc. They caught the world’s imagination, and yet, there is no critical mass of scientists to make an impact on the Indian society and economy, let alone the global science scene. This, too, is a dream waiting to be realised.

Tech2: What are some key things limiting India’s scientific progress, in your view?

VA: I would recommend attending the ‘How to build an MIT in India?’ panel at ISF, where speakers from around the world are addressing this issue.

Here are my two cents. The first issue is intent. We focus a lot on economic growth and social upliftment – and rightly so. But, neither the government nor the public is actively concerned or working to improve India’s standing in science and technology. China, on the other hand, has focused on world-class, cutting-edge science since the early 90’s, and today, China is only second to the USA in scientific output in many areas.

Countries leading in scientific output in 2018. Image: NSF/Statista

India needs a similar laser focus on science and technology to establish itself as a global leader in the field. Once government shows intent, three simple steps need to follow.

The first is a much-needed liberalisation of the science ecosystem – make our universities and researchers autonomous. Let go gladly of government-ordained salaries for researchers, and bureaucratic hurdles to procure equipment and funds! Only when research institutions and researchers have the freedom to do their jobs will they do so to their full potential.

Second, the government is responsible for creating a market in which science can perform. Resources should be allocated based on performance, and accumulated in the highest-performing institutions. The third step will be to rid us of the socialist mindset to science; government and institutions needs to invest in excellence, rather than spreading the money thin on many low-impact projects and institutions. Simply put, if India can create ten world-class research universities, it would usher in a revolution.

Tech2: What do you hope to accomplish with ISF?

VA: With ISF, we are seeking to break the silos, connect the Indian society with scientists, PhD students, policy makers and the international science community. It will attach a name and face to the ‘scientists’ we read about every now and again, and shed some light on what they work on.

10 of the 30+ speakers at ISF this year. Image: Aspiring Minds

People will experience science through experiments and exhibits. This could be AI-generated art, levitating balls using one’s brain waves or experiencing an autonomous vehicle. This will make science cool for everyone. Scientists will also come closer to the problems and aspirations of our society. This connection will get a lot more people to do science, think scientifically and pursue the scientific career.

ISF seeks to set the narrative for science in India. I am confident that when we bring all these different communities together, they will set the roadmap for India’s scientific future, and how to get over the current challenges.

You can register for India Science Festival 2020 here.

ISF 2020 will take place on 11-12th January 2020

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Looking to bring your Bluetooth speaker to the next level? You can save 20 percent and take home the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3, considered by many audiophiles to be the best in terms of portable Bluetooth speakers. BOOM 3 is now just $120, down $119.96 from its original price of $149.99.

The BOOM 3 touts immersive, 360-degree sound that’s balanced so you can hear all the highs and lows of your favorite music. It has a Magic Button that can skip, pause and play any music with one push. What’s more, you can connect up to a whopping 150 MEGABOOM and BOOM speakers for the ultimate in party audio!

Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

A single full charge lasts up to fifteen hours of playback and may be charged wirelessly via an extra POWER UP dock. The BOOM 3 floats in water and can be submerged up to a meter in 20 minutes without suffering any damage.

If you like what you’ve discovered about the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3, then go ahead and get yours today!

Press Trust of IndiaDec 28, 2019 14:04:14 IST

China on Friday launched its heaviest and most advanced communications satellite on the country’s largest new carrier rocket Long March-5 that will lay the foundation for the development of highly sensitive space probes. Aboard the third Long March-5 rocket, Shijian-20, a new technology test and verification satellite, successfully entered its orbit Friday night, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Centre in south China’s Hainan Province, Shijian-20, weighing more than eight tonnes, is the country’s heaviest and most advanced communications satellite in geosynchronous orbit, according to its maker, the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

China launches third Long March-5 rocket in Hainan province on Friday evening, 27 December 2019. Image: ANI

The Long March-5, China’s most powerful rocket and a critical ingredient in the nation’s ambitious space programme, can carry a maximum payload of 25 tonnes into low Earth orbit and 14 tonnes into geosynchronous orbit. The successful launch is a major step forward for its planned mission to Mars in 2020. The satellite will carry out orbit experiments for a series of key technologies, the CAST said in a press release.

It will demonstrate in orbit its heat transfer technology based on cryogenic loop heat pipes, an efficient thermal control device for space applications, to lay the foundation for the development of highly sensitive space probes. The satellite will test the controllable deformation of shape memory polymers, a type of smart material that can switch between temporary shapes, to pave the way for the development of large variable space structures.

It will also carry out satellite-ground communication tests using Q/V bands, which lie between 33-75 GHz, within the extremely high frequency (EHF) area of the radio spectrum. These frequencies are used mainly for satellite communications. “The major way to improve satellite communication capacity is to expand the bandwidth of the available frequency bands. If we liken the geostationary orbit to an expressway, which is now the most crowded in space, the use of Q/V bands will help to widen the expressway by four to five times,” said Li Feng, chief designer of the satellite with the CAST. The test is key to the development of the next generation of high throughput satellites capable of delivering 1Tbps bandwidth for ultrafast speeds, he said.

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For long, Apple has taken two years to update its phones with new design. There is always an “S” version after a major overhaul of the iPhone; the “S” version being an incremental upgrade on the inside without any major design changes. 

Apple only skipped the iPhone 7S and the iPhone 8S but continued the trend with the iPhone X by releasing the iPhone XS. The naming of the iPhones changed dramatically when Apple decide to skip the iPhone 9 and introduced the iPhone X (roman number ten) along with the iPhone 8 by skipping the iPhone 7S. The iPhone X (10)  and the iPhone 8 were released at the same time in September 2017.

The question now is whether Apple will release the iPhone 11S or the next version of the device will move onto be named the iPhone 12 or a completely new naming strategy. The iPhone 12 seems to me the very likely choice as the next iPhone, according to top Apple analysts will ditch the old design of the iPhone X in favour of a fresh new take.

The next iPhone will reportedly have a smaller notch compared to the notch found on the iPhone 11. It will be made possible by Apple being able to miniaturize the FaceID components, light sensors and cameras to fit in a small space. The design of the phone will also be slightly or very different but it will definitely not be similar to the current generation iPhones, according to various analysts.

The design changes could very well be enough for Apple to give the next iPhone a completely new number and not call it the iPhone 11S. The next iPhone could very well also support 5G – the new and upcoming network band which will supposedly offer gigabit internet speeds.

We bet on iPhone 12. What do you think Apple will name the next iPhone?

tech2 News StaffDec 28, 2019 15:14:30 IST

Huawei is preparing to announce a refresh of its Mate X foldable smartphone at MWC 2020. The Mate Xs has been given certification, revealing that the device will support 65 W fast charging.

The Huawei Mate X. Image: Reuters

The details come from XDA Developers, reporting that the device has successfully gone through the CCC which is China’s regulatory agency. It displays a model number TAH-AN00m and also shows support for 5G. Another important update to the device is 65 W fast charging support. On the contrary, Mate X supports 55 W charging.

High-wattage fast charging is quickly becoming mainstream via OnePlus’ Warp Charging (formerly known as Dash Charging) and Oppo’s SuperVOOC fast charging. Other manufacturers have also started packing in higher wattages such as Huawei and Xiaomi.

Although Huawei hasn’t confirmed the launch of the Mate Xs, it’s likely that the Chinese manufacturer will reveal the device during MWC 2020 at Barcelona. The next-generation of the company’s foldable smartphone could arrive in the second half of the year, according to XDA.

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For years, tech journalists and customers alike complained about Apple not bundling the fast chargers in the box with the iPhones even though the devices supported fast charging. For comparison, Android manufacturers started bundling fast charging 2-3 years ago. However, Apple finally did start bundling 18W fast charger with the iPhone 11 Pro and the iPhone 11 Pro.

But Apple does not bundle the fast charger with the standard iPhone 11 which sells for $699 compared to the $999 price tag of the iPhone 11 Pro. The price difference between these devices is $300 and maybe it’s fair for Apple to include the fast charger with the $699 iPhone as it can reserve the fast charger for the premium models of the iPhone.

However, it will not be acceptable for long as in the Android world, smartphones as cheap as $200 now ship with 15W or 18W chargers in the box. If Apple wants to keep the love it gets from its customers and tech journalists alike in most cases, it has to ditch the slow 5W adapter and switch to bundling fast chargers in the box.

Battery life is one of the most important aspects of a phone as without any charge, you can do nothing on the phone. Apple has been working on improving the battery life of its phone for the past two years by increasing the size of the battery and removing unnecessary features like 3D Touch which are used by a very small percentage of people and they would happily sacrifice the feature for a battery that lasts longer.

For the next year, one of our important predictions is Apple bundling 18W fast charger with the iPhone 11R or the iPhone 12 (whatever the company ends up naming the next $699 phone). Till then hang onto those slow 5W chargers or shell out extra cash to get the fast chargers separately.

OverdriveDec 27, 2019 20:27:32 IST

Just a day after announcing the launch of the 2020, BSVI-compliant Z900, Kawasaki India has launched the updated and BSVI-compliant 2020 Z650 in India. The manufacturer seems to be on a war-footing to launch its updated motorcycle line-up in India, with many of the motorcycles having broken cover just last month at the 2019 EICMA in Milan. The 2020 Kawasaki Z650 has been priced between Rs 6.25 lakh to Rs 6.50 lakh ex-showroom as per Kawasaki’s official press release. The 2020 Z650 received significant updates over last year’s model including a cosmetic makeover to bring its design in line with the rest of the updated Z family of nakeds, including the 2020 Z900 as also the flagship Kawasaki Z H2, which was also unveiled at the EICMA.

2020 Kawasaki Z650. Image: Kawasaki

Visual changes to the Z650 include a redesigned, all-LED headlamp unit that looks similar to the new Z900’s, redesigned rearview mirrors and a significantly better-looking instrument cluster, which is a 4.3-inch full-TFT display now. More importantly, the Z650 now offers smartphone connectivity via Kawasaki’s own ‘Rideology’ app. Seats for the rider and pillion get minor revisions as well, in the interest of better comfort. Another important change for 2020 is the switch from Dunlop’s Sportmax D214 tyres to a set of grippier Sportmax Roadsport 2 tyres. Overall, the updated Z650 looks more aggressive and sportier now, though it is on offer in just black, with green highlights as of now.

As for the powertrain, the 2020 Z650 is powered by the same 649cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine, which has been updated to meet the stricter Euro V and BSVI emission norms. Interestingly, while the manufacturer has managed to retain the BSIV versions’ power output at 68PS, the torque output on the BSVI-compliant version has gone down from 65.7Nm to 64Nm, which could result in a very slight drop in performance. Peak torque is also produced 200rpm higher now, at 6,700rpm. Despite this extensive makeover, the Z650 does not get rider aids like traction control though, which is a miss in our opinion.

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