Please disable your adblock and script blockers to view this page
August 2020

HMD Global recently launched a handful of smartphones in India including the Nokia 5.3, Nokia C3, Nokia 125 and Nokia 150. Nokia 5.3 will go on sale today in India at 12 pm on Nokia and Amazon India website. The newly launched Nokia C3 will also be available for pre-booking starting today.

Nokia 5.3, Nokia C3 pricing, availability

Nokia 5.3 comes in two variants: 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage model is priced at Rs 13,999, whereas the 6 GB RAM and 64 GB storage model is priced at Rs 15,499. The smartphone will be available in a Cyan, Sand and Charcoal colour variant.

It will be available for purchase today on Amazon and Nokia’s website.

 Nokia 5.3 to go on sale today on Amazon; Nokia C3 now available for pre-booking

Nokia 5.3. Image: tech2/Nandini Yadav

The Nokia C3 comes in two RAM and storage variants. The 2 GB RAM and 16 GB storage model is priced at Rs 7,499, and the 3 GB RAM and 32 GB storage variant is priced at Rs 8,999. The smartphone comes in Sand and Charcoal colour variants.

The Nokia C3 can be pre-booked starting today and it will be available for purchase starting 17 September.

Nokia 5.3 specifications

The Nokia 5.3 features a 6.55-inch HD+ display with a 20:9 aspect ratio. The smartphone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 chipset and comes with up to 6 GB RAM and 64 GB storage.

The Nokia 6.3 features a quad-camera setup at the back, which includes a 13 MP primary sensor, 5 MP ultra-wide sensor, 2 MP macro lens, and a 2 MP depth sensor. For selfies, it sports an 8 MP camera on the front.

Fueling the Nokia 5.3 is a 4,000 mAh battery.

The smartphone runs Android 10. HMD Global has also promised two software upgrades for the phones, which means, it will guaranteed be upgraded till Android 12 at least.

Nokia C3 specifications

HMD Global touts the Nokia C3 for users who make the switch from features phones to smartphones for the first time. The company has also revealed that all Nokia C3 phones are made in India.

The Nokia C3 features a 6-inch HD display. It is fuelled by a 3,000 mAh battery and is powered by a Qualcomm octa-core processor. The smartphone runs Android 10.

For photography, the Nokia C3 features an 8 MP camera at the back and a 5 MP camera on the front.

The Nokia C3 also comes with a guaranteed 1-year replacement program, under which, if you are not satisfied by the device, Nokia will replace your smartphone.

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.

Scientists from Japan have discovered that there are certain types of bacteria that can survive the harsh conditions of outer space.

The study found that a species of bacteria highly resistant to radiation and other environmental hazards managed to survive outside the International Space Station for three years. The results of the study were published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology.

The Japanese Tanpopo mission, of which the study is a part, is an orbital astrobiology experiment looking into the potential for interplanetary transfer of life, organic compounds, and possible terrestrial particles in low-Earth orbit. The mission was undertaken to test the ‘panspermia’ theory which suggests that microbes can pass from one planet to another and distribute life.

Under the Tanpopo mission umbrella, researchers also included pellets of dried Deinococcus bacteria – a bacterium known to be extremely hardy and resistant to nuclear radiation on Earth – in aluminium plates placed on panels outside the space station that are exposed to space non-stop but also space radiation.

Study author Akihiko Yamagishi and his team used an aircraft and scientific balloons to find Deinococcus bacteria that was actually floating 400 km above Earth’s surface in 2018. This led Yamagashi to wonder if the bacteria could survive in space and even the journey to other planets during extreme temperature fluctuations and harsh radiation conditions.

 Certain bacteria can clump up, survive harsh conditions of space for many years, study suggests

Deinococcus radiodurans. Image Credit: Micropia

For the mission, researchers prepared samples of the bacteria in pellets of various thicknesses and placed them in wells of aluminium plates, collecting data after one, two and three years. The bacteria were then tested to see how they fared.

Study authors found that bacteria that were larger than 0.5 millimetres were able to survive partially, sustaining DNA damage. They saw that although bacteria on the surface of the colony died, a protective layer beneath it survived. As per study authors, collectively the results support the possibility of “microbial cell aggregates (pellets) as an ark for interplanetary transfer of microbes within several years.”

However, Deinococcus bacteria studied inside the space station did not fare so well – moisture and oxygen proved harmful to its survival.

According to researchers, cell pellets with a thickness greater than 0.5 mm are expected to survive between 15 and 45 years of exposure to UV on ISS EF and 48 years exposure to space in the dark.

As per researchers, “Deinococcal cell pellets in the sub-millimeter range would be sufficient to allow survival during an interplanetary journey from Earth to Mars or Mars to Earth.”

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.

Qualcomm has announced a new chipset ― Snapdragon 732G ― that is designed mainly for the high-end mobile gaming experience. This is the successor of the Snapdragon 730G chipset that comes in phones like Poco X2 (Review), Redmi K20 and more.

Qualcomm has confirmed that the first phone to be powered by the new Snapdragon 732G chipset will be a Poco phone.

 Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G gaming chipset announced; first to be featured in a Poco device

Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset.

“We are extremely excited about the upcoming POCO smartphone and our collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies that allowed us to create the first device on the market with the latest Snapdragon 732G Mobile Platform. We believe the device will set a new benchmark in the mid-range category, completely redefining the relationship between a phone’s price and its capabilities,” said Sam Jiang, Products Head, POCO Global.

The new processor comes with Qualcomm Kryo 470 CPU Prime core that has a clock speed at up to 2.3 GHz, backed by Adreno 618 GPU that offers improved graphics rendering.

The chipset enables Snapdragon Elite gaming experiences which allows users to have good gaming experience and see “over a billion shades of colour” in the gameplay. According to Qualcomm, Snapdragon 732G’s intuitive interactions and predictive user experiences with distributed intelligence are twice as powerful as its previous generations. All these factors help in improving the battery efficiency of the handset.

The new chipset will also offer better LTE download and upload speed and good WiFi performance.

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.

Someday I would like to conduct a detailed survey to figure out whether the hype that precedes OnePlus launches actually helps sell more units. For now, I will simply focus on the newest member of their family that has put the hype machine into overdrive ― the OnePlus Nord. Some consider it the successor to the OnePlus X, others believe this is OnePlus returning to their high-value roots. However you slice it, you finally have a OnePlus device in the 25K to 30K range. It’s been years since that happened. But you can’t build to a price without, well, building to a price. Let’s find out if it really is the value-for-money champ we’re all expecting.

 OnePlus Nord Review: Greater than the sum of its parts

OnePlus Nord

OnePlus Nord Design: Been there, seen that

The OnePlus Nord design is not unique, and it looks more like a Realme phone at first glance. Be it the capsule-shaped dual camera cut-out on the screen or the vertical rear camera alignment, we have seen this before in phones like the Realme X3, X3 SuperZoom, Realme 6 Pro etc. There are no “wow!” moments. It is inoffensive. But unlike the Realme phones, the OnePlus Nord is fairly slim (8.2 mm) and noticeably lighter (184 gm).

The phone feels good to hold and is reasonably compact, courtesy of its relatively small 6.44-inch screen. Unlike the OnePlus 8 (Review), this phone does not have a curved display, and that is in no way a bad thing for all practical purposes. The front camera cutout takes up too much screen real estate at the top left, and is probably more intrusive than a notch at the centre. This isn’t a complaint against the Nord alone, but all phones that use this design. The screen is protected against scratches by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 5; the protection extends to the glass back too. There doesn’t seem to be any oleophobic coating though, and the phone is a smudge magnet.

The body is made of plastic as opposed to the metal shell that you’ve found on all OnePlus phones over the past few years. To its credit, it doesn’t feel like plastic, except for that extra coat of gloss perhaps. The famous alert slider makes its way onto the Nord. The power button and volume rocker are placed on either side of the screen and are easy to reach. The in-display fingerprint scanner ― unlike the OnePlus 8 ― isn’t placed a bit higher on the screen. It goes back to its usual position, which isn’t as ergonomic as with the 8. The scanner is highly responsive though, and worked well.

The SIM tray is present along the bottom edge of the phone and it can accommodate up to two Nano-SIMs. The OnePlus Nord is 5G compliant, and the benefits can be reaped whenever the service is available in India. Till then, you can use two 4G SIMs. Next to the SIM tray are a USB Type-C port and the phone speaker. No 3.5 mm headphone jack here.

nord-Bottom edge (1)

Next to the SIM tray are a USB Type-C port and the phone speaker. No 3.5 mm headphone jack here.

OnePlus Nord Key specifications

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 SoC
  • Adreno 620 GPU
  • 6 GB, 8 GB, 12 GB RAM options
  • 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB UFS 2.1 internal storage
  • 44-inch Full HD+ (2400 x 1080) Fluid AMOLED HDR10+ display with 90 Hz refresh rate and Corning Gorilla Glass 5
  • Cameras: 48 MP with PDAF and OIS (main) + 8 MP (ultra-wide) + 5 MP (depth sensor) + 2 MP (macro); 32 MP (wide) + 8 MP (ultra-wide) selfie cameras
  • 4,115 mAh battery with 30W fast charger
  • Android 10 with OxygenOS 10.5.4 (at time of testing)
  • 5G compliant; Bluetooth 5.1; Dual band WiFi a/b/g/n/ac

OnePlus Nord Price in India

Rs 24,999 for 6 GB Ram with 64 GB internal storage

Rs 27,999 for 8 GB Ram with 128 GB internal storage

Rs 29,999 for 12 GB Ram with 256 GB internal storage

OnePlus Nord Display: Almost as good as it gets in this segment

The OnePlus Nord has a 6.44-inch Fluid AMOLED display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels and a 90 Hz refresh rate. The display is extremely vibrant and smooth, and it’s great to see the company not skimp on the quality or refresh rate of the screen on an affordable device. That’s not all; the screen is HDR10+ compliant too. The 90 Hz refresh rate makes things flicker-free while scrolling in phone UI and compatible apps. You get an option to switch to 60 Hz to save some battery, but I suggest you leave it at 90 Hz, as the experience is way better and the impact on the battery is minimal.

OnePlus Nord display

OnePlus Nord display

The black levels and contrast are excellent for an AMOLED screen on a midrange phone. In fact, they’re as good as the OnePlus 8 that’s priced over 50 percent higher. Colours pop in ‘Vivid’ mode without going over the top. If you don’t like your colours boosted and want them to be more accurate, there’s a ‘Natural’ mode too, along with a handful of manual calibration options in ‘Advanced’ mode, if you’re interested. The ambient display provides you with basic information such as time, date, battery status and a few notifications by simply lifting the phone or tapping the screen.

OnePlus Nord Performance: Stutter free operation but cannot beat previous generation flagship chips

The OnePlus Nord is powered by Qualcomm’s new midrange Snapdragon 765 SoC, and we received a 12 GB RAM variant for review. There are two big questions that need to be answered here. Firstly, is the Snapdragon 765 chip powerful enough to provide a seamless experience with OxygenOS as on OnePlus’ flagship devices? And secondly, how good is its overall performance in comparison with other phones in this category?

I had very little doubt, and now I am happy to confirm that OxygenOS works perfectly fine on the Nord as it does on any other OnePlus phone. There was absolutely no lag in day-to-day operations, while opening/using an app or when switching between multiple apps. Of course, the generous 12 GB RAM helps too, but I am sure things won’t be any different with less. In performance benchmarks, the scores are clearly higher than those of Snapdragon 720 and 730 SoC, but well short of the more powerful Snapdragon 8xx chips from the past couple of generations. Of course, nobody expected the numbers to be anywhere in the vicinity of the Snapdragon 865, but if you expected the scores to be close to that of 855+ or 855 chipsets, that’s not the case either.

OnePlus Nord benchmark scores.

OnePlus Nord benchmark scores.

Some numbers will put things in perspective: in Geekbench 5, it recorded a single-core score of 613 and a multi-core score of 1942. In comparison, the OnePlus 8 with a Snapdragon 865 scored 919 and 3356 respectively. That’s just a theory lesson to understand how the Snapdragon 765 compares with the fastest chip around. A better comparison would be with a Realme X3 SuperZoom that sells for the same price as the Nord. The Snapdragon 855+ on the Realme managed 772 and 2438 respectively, over 25 percent higher than the Nord. However, there is a definite improvement over the scores of phones with the Snapdragon 720G SoC (like Realme 6 Pro) that managed 571 and 1167 in single and multi-core benchmarks respectively.

In PC Mark Work 2.0, it manages to get a lot closer to the 865, and even beats the 855+, which is quite commendable. The scores were as follows: 9055 (Nord), 10847 (OnePlus 8), 8657 (Realme X3 SuperZoom) . In the 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme – Vulkan benchmark, the Adreno 620 GPU is no match for the Adreno 650 and Adreno 640 GPUs in the OnePlus 8 and Realme X3 respectively. The Nord posted a score of 3092 as opposed to 6719 and 4779 on the OnePlus 8 and Realme X3 Superzoom respectively. In comparison to the 720G (score of 2345), it does offer a solid 32 percent boost in the segment.

Of course, these are synthetic benchmarks and are just meant to be a point of reference, not the final word. Real-world gaming performance is not bad either, despite the relatively lower 3DMark scores. PUBG Mobile as well as Asphalt 9 worked smoothly at medium to high graphics settings. The phone didn’t heat up even after 30 minutes of gaming.

Unlike the OnePlus 8, this phone has a single speaker that does an acceptable job. The OnePlus Nord supports AptX and AptX HD codecs for better throughput over Bluetooth on earphones that support those codecs. You also get a Dirac Audio tuner which is essentially a collection of three audio presets – Dynamic, Movie and Music. The call quality is fine and there is nothing unusual to report in this area.

OnePlus Nord Battery performance: Good battery backup with fast charging

The OnePlus Nord has a 4,115 mAh battery, which is a tad lower than that of the OnePlus 8 (4300 mAh) despite being slightly thicker than the latter. But it manages to last as long, so no complaints. It managed to last close to a day and a half of normal usage that included a generous use of messaging and social media apps, browsing, a decent amount of calling, clicking a few photos, an hour of watching videos and half hour of gaming; all this with a 90 Hz refresh rate throughout. That is a very good number, and goes to show how efficient the Snapdragon 765 chip is.

Despite being a midrange phone, OnePlus hasn’t dialed down on fast charging either. The company bundles the same 30W Warp charger with the Nord that you get with the OnePlus 8. It charges the phone from 0 to 60 percent in half an hour, and goes all the way to 100 percent in under 70 minutes. Not the fastest these days, but still pretty good for the segment.

OnePlus Nord Camera performance: Nice, Ordinary, Redundant, Disappointing

That’s the performance synopsis of the four cameras at its back. The 48 MP main camera is genuinely nice, the 8MP ultra-wide camera is ordinary like most 8 MP ultra-wide cameras. Isn’t a dedicated depth sensor redundant by now? You have a 5 MP camera here to do nothing but that. Lastly, 2 MP macro cameras never fail to disappoint me, and the tradition endures.

Click here to see the OnePlus Nord camera samples:
OnePlus Nord

The supporting cast may be lacklustre, but the main camera more than makes up for its sub-par entourage. The primary camera captures some crisp shots in bright to average lighting, with good dynamic range. Auto HDR is on by default and it doesn’t overcook the image. Like most OnePlus phones, the colours feel slightly saturated, and occasionally ― in high-contrast images ― objects in shadows exhibit a different shade of colour. Despite this, captured images look sharp with a good amount of detail.

You get a quick toggle to switch between regular, ultra-wide and zoom modes. Mind you, you just get digital zoom here, as there is no telephoto camera at the back. Images captured with up to 2X zoom are suitable for social media, especially those captured in good lighting. Beyond that, things start to pixelate. The 8 MP ultra-wide fixed-focus camera provides you a 119-degree field of view, but the image quality is average at best, and at par with most 8 MP ultra-wide cameras. Again, in good lighting, they look more than decent, but as the light starts to drop, it’s best you let the main camera do the heavy lifting.

Portrait mode works very well on the Nord with good foreground and background separation. There is no option to manually adjust the level of blur, but the camera does a good job on its own, which is a good thing. The images come out pretty good, be it human subjects or other objects, as long as there is sufficient distance between the foreground and background. The macro mode is far from impressive. The 2 MP macro camera does what most 2 MP fixed-focus cameras do. The captured images look soft and colours appear washed out. The OxygenOS 10.5.4 update was expected to make things better, but I did not notice any difference in the macro camera’s performance. It’s best to capture an object from a little further away using the main camera and then crop it. That gives you far better results than the dedicated macro camera on this phone.

OnePlus Nord camera module

OnePlus Nord camera module

Low light photography isn’t a strong point of this phone. The main camera does a decent job in dim conditions as compared to the rest of the cameras, but keep your expectations in check. It tends to gain reasonably well and makes images brighter, but captured shots tend to lack detail as you move away from the centre. There’s also a noticeable amount of noise. ‘Nightscape’ mode helps in keeping the noise in check to an extent, but it takes a good 3 to 5 seconds for the phone to capture and process the shots in that mode. The rest of the modes are pretty snappy.

All in, the performance of the main camera is actually as good as that of OnePlus 8’s. After all, it is supposed to be the same module. While we thought its performance was average for a phone priced between 45K to 50K (OnePlus 8), it is perfectly acceptable for a phone that carries a price tag south of Rs 30,000. Also, OnePlus seems to have fixed the focussing issues that I had encountered in the 8, making the photography experience on the Nord that much better.

Not only does the Nord have one extra camera at the back as compared to the OnePlus 8, there’s an extra shooter at the front too. The 32 MP (wide) + 8 MP (ultra-wide) front cameras do a good job and should please selfie enthusiasts. The captured selfies are sharp and the skin tone looks natural. They do a pretty good job with portrait shots too. They can also record 1080p and 4K videos at 30 or 60 fps. The footage is usable, but not as good as what the rear cameras can manage.

Strangely, the rear cameras on the OnePlus Nord can record 4K videos only at 30 fps. 1080p videos can be recorded at 30 and 60 fps both, and super-slow motion videos at up to 240 fps. Captured 4K footage looks sharp and stabilised, with good colours, courtesy of EIS (electronic image stabilisation).1080p videos are also good. There’s also a 4K ‘Cine’ mode which lets you shoot 4K videos with 21:9 aspect ratio; it basically just trims a bit of the 4K footage.

OS and user interface: OxygenOS remains smooth and awesome as ever

At the time of testing, the OnePlus Nord ran OxygenOS 10.5.4 based on Android 10 with the July 2020 security patch. There was never a doubt about OxygenOS being the best Android UI around; the only question was whether it would run as smoothly on a non-flagship SoC. I already answered the question earlier in the review. It remains as clean and stutter-free as in the flagship devices from OnePlus. It is free of ads, but I noticed a bit of bloatware this time with the likes of Facebook and Netflix apps preinstalled.

OnePlus Nord user interface

OnePlus Nord user interface

There are another couple of minor changes here, with OnePlus opting for the Google dialer and messaging (SMS) app instead of their own. The rest of the stuff is pretty much what you expect from this platform, with a handful of smart add-ons without deviating too far from stock Android UI. Given the company’s impressive track record for software updates, one can expect a few newer versions of Android on the OnePlus Nord too.

Final words: An affordable all-rounder that’s hard to ignore

The OnePlus Nord sells in India for Rs 24,999 for the 6 GB RAM/64 GB storage variant (coming soon), Rs 27,999 for its 8 GB RAM variant with 128 GB storage, which for me is the most practical of the trio. You also have a 12 GB RAM variant with 256 GB internal storage for Rs 29,999 ― the one that we reviewed here. While 12 GB is overkill on a phone with the Snapdragon 765 SoC, a premium of just 2K for the additional 128 GB storage along with 4 GB extra RAM is not a bad deal at all.

Time for the obvious question: is it worth buying? Absolutely, if you want a 5G ready phone under Rs 30,000 with reasonable processing power, good camera and the best Android UI around. If you are looking for an out-and-out gaming phone or one with more versatile rear cameras in this budget, there are better options like the Realme X3 SuperZoom or Redmi K20 Pro. Check out the full list of Nord alternatives here. The OnePlus Nord may not be the best at everything (barring UI), but it does combine a lot of good elements from different worlds in one affordable package that’s hard to overlook.

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.

Just days after a Poco phone was spotted in the certification listing, a company spokesperson has confirmed that Poco X3 is going to come with 64 MP camera and fast charging ability.

Angus Kai Ho Ng, the product marketing manager and global spokesperson of Poco Global has been revealing bits and pieces about the new Poco device for a while now.

According to his latest tweets, the successor of the Poco X2 will have a 64 MP camera.

He tweeted a sample photo taken with a Poco X3 and said that the setup was going to be “more than just a normal 64 MP”.

These pictures are downscaled, said a GSM Arena report. This was because the phone is supposed to take 16 MP photos with pixel binning. The report added that the camera UI was also visible from the pictures.

The camera setup was paired with another interesting teaser. The upcoming Poco flagship is going to get fully charged within 65 minutes. Angus Kai Ho Ng posted a chart that compares Poco X3 with Samsung Galaxy A71, which needs 80 minutes to fill its 4,500 mAh cell using the 25 W charger.

https://twitter.com/anguskhng/status/1299297490403909632?s=20

https://twitter.com/anguskhng/status/1299297490403909632?s=20

Rumours had suggested that the X3 will come with a 33W charger. The Poco X2 comes with a 4,500 mAh battery and 27 W fast charging speed.

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.

Future Apple AirPods might come with different controls with the company trying to shift to a capacitive touch system from the existing force sensor.

A recent patent application, titled ‘Portable Listening Device with Sensors’ that surfaced online, reveals that the Cupertino-based firm is working on introducing a greater number of gesture-based controls. Instead of the usual strong taps or long squeezes, a simple swipe will answer the calls or skip music tracks for you.

The newly teased touch sensors would cover the better part of the exterior of the AirPod, reports GSM Arena and the rest is dependent on the way the data will travel to the device via the sensor.

While most of the device description in the patent application matches with the description of existing AirPods or AirPods Pro, the only novel factor seems to focus on the sensor setup of the earpods, reported Apple Insider.

The application reads that the AirPods will have an “exterior surface that defines a shape of the earbud such that the earbud is sized and shaped to be at least partially inserted into a user’s ear”. It also mentions that the “touch-sensitive sensor” will be placed “within the housing and adjacent to the exterior surface”.

The application has also provided us with a simple definition for the impending setup. The new sensor will define a “touch sensitive region” situated at a “portion of the exterior surface of the housing”. It will be “configured to generate an interaction signal in response to detecting a touch of a user’s finger”.

Although the document does not differentiate between the sensors, it specifies that when a user touches the device, the system “detects the contact via a change in capacitance”.

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.

The next smartphones to be launched by Huawei is expected to be Enjoy 20 and Enjoy 20 Plus. Images and full specifications of both the devices have surfaced online.

According to a report by GSMArena, Huawei Enjoy 20 Plus will have a 6.63-inch full HD+ notchless LCD with 90 Hz refresh rate. The smartphone will be powered by MediaTek’s MT6853 SoC and will run Android 10-based EMUI 10.1.

The Enjoy 20 Plus will come in two variants, one with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB storage, while the other one will have 8 GB of RAM and 128GB internal storage.

The phone will have triple camera setup on the rear. It includes 48 MP, 8 MP and 2 MP lenses. As for selfie, it will come with a 16 MP snapper mounted on a pop-up mechanism.

The Enjoy 20 Plus will get power from a 4,200 mAh battery that will charge with the help of a USB-C port at 40W.

The smartphone will be available in four colour options and will be 8.95 mm thick, weigh 197 grams and support 5G.

As per a report by GizChina, the budget model Huawei Enjoy 20 will have a 6.6-inch HD+ resolution with 60 Hz refresh rate.

It will also be available in two variants 4 GB and 6 GB RAM and 128 GB of internal storage.

The rear camera setup will have 13 MP, 5 MP and 2 MP lenses. The front camera will be 8 MP.

The device will have a 5,000 mAh battery.

There is, however, no information about the price and date of launch of the Huawei smartphones.

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.

Realme India CEO Madhav Sheth has shared the gaming features and capabilities of one of the smartphones from the upcoming Realme 7 series in a video teser on Twitter.

The Realme 7 series smartphones are set to be launched on 3 September at 12.30 pm.

In a 10-second clip, Sheth is seen playing PUBG Mobile on one of the upcoming phones under Realme 7 series.

Though, there is not much information revealed about the model on which Sheth is playing the game, the clip showed the phone having a rear camera setup on the top right corner of the phone and the power button on the right side.

The Realme 7 series will be first launched in India.

Sharing the video, Sheth wrote, “I am happy to bring another World’s First Processor & yes, we are launching it first in India with the #realme7series. We will continue to introduce #TechTrendsetter products to mid-range too and raise the bar for a smoother experience”.

Both the Realme 7 and Realme 7 Pro will come with a punch-hole display and house a battery that supports 65W SuperDart fast charge.

The smartphones will feature a 64 MP quad-camera setup on the rear.

Realme microsite mentions that the “Blind Order” sale has already started for the two smartphones. You just have to pay Rs 1,000 between 27 August to 2 September and give the remaining amount between 3 September to 15 September.

After the complete payment is made, your Realme smartphone will be dispatched.

During the sale, Realme 7 buyers will get a coupon of Rs 100 for Realme AIoT products which will be credited in their accounts on 16 September.

For Realme 7 Pro, buyers will get a coupon of random discount from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 on other phones. It will be credited to their account on 16 September.

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.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has shared an image of “a small section of a Cygnus supernova blast wave,” that has taken the internet by storm. Comparing the imagery to that of magic, the space agency wrote that the image which appears as a delicate and light veil across the sky, reminds every one of the power of imagination.

Captured by the Hubble Space telescope, NASA states, “In reality, it’s a small section of a Cygnus supernova blast wave, located around 2,400 light-years away”.

According to NASA, the original supernova explosion blasted a dying star between 10,000 and 20,000 years ago. After which, the remnant has expanded 60 light-years from its center.

Hubble Space Telescope shared the same image on its Instagram and wrote that the shockwave from the massive explosion is still expanding at a rate of around 350 kilometres per second.

“The interaction of the ejected material and the low-density interstellar material swept up by the shockwave forms the veil-like structure seen in this image,” NASA Hubble said.

According to the NASA website, the name of the supernova remnant comes from its position in the northern constellation of Cygnus (the Swan). It covers an area 36 times larger than the full Moon.

A supernova is a powerful explosion of a star that is extremely bright. One type of such explosion is caused by the ‘last hurrah’ of a dying massive star.

The second type occurs when two stars orbit one another and at least one of those is an Earth-sized white dwarf. If one white dwarf collides with another or pulls too much matter from the nearby star, the white dwarf can explode.

As per astronomers, supernovas are not very common and about two or three of them occur each century in galaxies like our Milky Way.

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.

Now, more will be possible in the Google Pay app. According to some reports, the digital wallet platform in India is set to offer card payment option, using limited debit and credit cards, in addition to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) option.

With the new feature, users will be able to employ near-field communication (NFC) technology and successfully conduct contactless payments.

As of now, no confirmation has come from the authority, but a few support pages have gone live. While one page explains how one can add a card to Google Pay, the other page gives more of a general idea about the ‘tokenisation’ method used to clear such payments.

These pages also tell that the system is currently available only on Axis Bank credit/debit and SBI credit cards. You can use your card to make three kinds of payments — tap and pay (NFC), Bharat QR and in-app merchants.

According to a report on Android Police, you need to set up your card before starting to avail these services. This can be done through a “quick verification process that involves punching in an OTP received from your bank”.

After this, your phone will work as the card and you can tap it and pay at NFC-enabled terminals. It will also be able to scan Bharat QR codes and make online payments.

The portal also found a Reddit thread where users have written that they have seen this feature pop up in their G Pay apps in the last month. This means the feature is a server side roll out and only a set group of users have access to it right now.

In order to maintain security, users will have to register the card every time they change their phone or reset it.

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.

The digital age is well as truly here. We are already living in times where a click here and a preset there is all you need to get the job done. Advanced AI technology is learning quickly and levelling up even faster to improve the quality of our lives. But nowhere is this advancement in tech more evident than with the humble refrigerator.

 AI-Powered Panasonic Refrigerators ensure optimum cooling and maximum savings

Keeping up with the needs of modern households, Japan’s No 1 appliances brand, Panasonic, is bringing trustworthy Japanese technology and high-quality standards of this 100-year old brand to the Indian consumer. Panasonic’s new series of refrigerators come fully equipped to make life far more convenient than ever before. The Intelligent Econavi sensors work hand-in-hand with smart inverter technology to analyze how often you open and close the fridge, optimize cooling accordingly and reduce your power consumption. This allows your fridge to make better decisions of when to increase the cooling inside or slip into energy-saving mode, when the temperature is constant.

This means your new refrigerator provides optimal cooling and maximum energy savings, close to 49%*, on your power bills. That’s more money back in your pocket month on month.

Having the benefit of all this advanced technology means optimum cooling and maximum savings. Along with this, the fridge also offers a lot of storage space, which is a boon since our busy lifestyles sometimes mean we can grocery shop only once or twice a week.

But even after heading back home with bags full of groceries, it’s frustrating trying to cram them all into poorly designed drawers and compartments that end up bruising and spoiling your food before the day is done.

Now, thanks to the double veg case in Panasonic refrigerators, both the upper and lower vegetable cases let you store a lot of vegetables and fruits. You can use the lower case for soft delicate vegetables such as tomatoes and the upper case for large or leafy vegetables. Separating items in this way enables neat and organized storage.

The lower Fresh Safe vegetable case stores vegetables under optimum conditions, with almost 90%* humidity and a constant temperature, to retain the moisture and nutrients, and keep them fresher for longer. The airtight structure doesn’t let moisture escape and cool air is indirectly blown to gently cool the vegetables and prevent them from drying out. There’s even a humidity controller to adjust the humidity levels based on the quantity and type of vegetables stored.

When it comes to usability, the interiors of the refrigerator feature a simple, transparent design, brightly lit by LED lights for better visibility and it also helps you find items easily, minimizing the chances of leaving food supplies unused. Spacious and well-designed compartments along with a stylish and functional 4-door design make for secure handling and fits everything from milk cartons to jam and sauce bottles easily. Additionally, the doors prevent cold air from escaping and hence contributes towards energy savings. The refrigerator freezes food faster to help retain the structure and nutrients of your food.

Not everything in the fridge needs to be frozen solid. Multiple compartments in the refrigerator allow you to store different food items separately at optimal temperature to retain the nutrients. The Surround cooling airflow indirectly cools the stored items gently and evenly.

Ever used the freezer to store food and realized it wasn’t such a great idea? The food took way too long to soften and even when it did, it just didn’t taste fresh and tasty enough? Prime fresh freeze zone is the solution for all your freezing woes. Conventional freezers freeze food to -18 degrees, which destroys their freshness and the nutrients, Prime Fresh only freezes food to -3 degrees. This creates a thin protective layer of ice over the food which is perfect for preserving it while keeping the nutrients intact within.

But that’s not all we look for in a fridge. Along with impressive cooling and retention of nutrients, we all want interiors that stay hygienic and bacteria-free. That’s where the Ag Clean Technology comes into play. It covers both the fridge and freezer compartments, and deactivates up to 99.9%* of mold and bacteria in the interior of the fridge, while an active enzyme eliminates any unpleasant odours. Now you can say goodbye to that peculiar “fridge” smell and be sure that what you are eating is safe and clean.

article-image

Panasonic refrigerators offer a flat surface design with impressive straight lines and rounded corners for a refined look that adds to your kitchen’s aesthetics. The unique flat handles make it easy to open the door with your left or right hand. Open the fridge and you see a welcome sight – bright, well lit interiors with brilliantly cut door pockets illuminated by wide front LEDs and beautiful glass trays, tough enough to withstand heavy weight.

Finally, with so much technology, design, thought, and purpose, layered with energy-saving capabilities, you’d expect an outrageous price. But, Panasonic offers advanced Japanese technology and high quality standards at a competitive price, which means every purchase gives you more value for your hard-earned money. Convenient and super easy to use, Panasonic’s latest series of refrigerators are available at all retail outlets and you can also buy them on Amazon.

This is a partnered post.

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.

Many of us have heard about inflammatory bowel disease, a debilitating condition that is associated with an abnormal collection of microbes in the human gut – known as the gut microbiome. My lab recently found that, like humans, plants can also develop this condition, known as dysbiosis, with severe consequences.

As part of this study, my colleagues and I discovered that some genes and processes involved in controlling dysbiosis in plants may be similar to those in humans. Discovery of dysbiosis in the plant kingdom opens new possibilities for stimulating innovation in plant health and global food security.

I am a plant microbiologist interested in how plants and microbes interact with each other. Although our research in the past has centered on molecular details of pathogenic infections, this work led my lab into the fascinating world of plant microbiome.

Do plants have microbiomes?

When scientists say that human “gut bacteria” should be well balanced, they are referring to the genetic material of all the microbes living in human digestive systems, or the gut microbiome. Do plants have microbiomes as well? The answer is yes.

In fact, the parts of the plant that grow aboveground, called phyllosphere, and those parts that grow below, called rhizosphere, provide one of the largest habitats for microbe colonization on Earth. Both are vital for human life on Earth.

The phyllosphere takes up carbon dioxide for photosynthesis, which is necessary to build biomass and is a primary source of food, fuels, fibers and medicines. Photosynthesis also releases oxygen for animals and humans to breathe, which is why plants are often considered to be the lungs of our planet. The rhizosphere, on the other hand, takes up water and nutrients from soil.

Numerous studies have shown that plant microbes help plants extract nutrients from the soil and cope with drought, pathogens, insects and other stresses.

Ecological studies have also noted that the greater diversity of microbes living on plant leaves, the more productive the plants seem to be.

Today, most plant scientists believe global strategies to ensure crop productivity and food security must consider plants’ microbiome. The U.N.‘s Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that up to 40% of food crops are lost due to plant pests and diseases annually, and the United Nations General Assembly declared 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health.

Some microbes are associated with the leaves and shoots, while another distinct set live among the roots. Sheng-Yang He, CC BY-SA

How do plants keep microbiota healthy?

Given the importance of microbiota – the specific community of microbes living on or near plants – for plant health, we reasoned that plants must have evolved a sophisticated genetic network to select the right mix of microbes.

If that is true, then knowing which plant genes influence the types of microbes surrounding the plant could guide future research to optimize plant microbiomes to help plants grow better, stronger and to produce more biomass and yield.

Indeed, my group has now identified some of these “microbiota-controlling” genes in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana.

We found that several genes involved in plant immunity and water balance are critical for selecting and maintaining a healthy microbiota inside Arabidopsis plant leaves.

When we removed these identified genes from plants, the Arabidopsis plant mutants could not host the correct mix of microbes and displayed symptoms of dysbiosis, including dead or yellowing leaves. As far as we know, this was the first time the negative effects of dysbiosis have been causally documented in the plant kingdom.

[You need to understand the coronavirus pandemic, and we can help. Read The Conversation’s newsletter.]

Interesting features of ‘sick’ plants

My colleagues and I observed some notable dysbiosis features in our mutant Arabidopsis plants.

First, dysbiosis mutants tend to have an abnormally high level of microbes living inside the leaves.

A leaf from a healthy Arabidopsis plant (left) and a leaf from a dysbiosis mutant plant (right). Sheng-Yang He, CC BY-SA

Second, there is a drastic change in the diversity of microbes. For example, in normal Arabidopsis plant leaves, there are all kinds of bacteria living inside the leaf. In contrast, overall diversity of bacteria is greatly reduced in the dysbiotic mutants, suggesting that healthy plants promote microbial diversity, presumably to increase the benefits to plant health.

Third, while bacteria that belong to the phylum Fermicutes are abundant inside wild-type Arabidopsis leaves, the abundance is significantly reduced in our genetic mutants. In addition, we saw a dramatic increase in the number of harmful bacteria inside the dysbiosis mutant leaves. We find it interesting that some of these microbiota changes are also observed in inflammatory bowel disease human patients, suggesting conceptual parallels in the development of dysbiosis in humans and plants.

What’s next?

We are excited about our identification of several plant genes and processes involved in preventing dysbiosis. The microbiota-controlling genes we identified in Arabidopsis are found in the genomes of many other plants, suggesting our findings may have broad applicability.

In the future, we could experiment with changing these host genes, which may lead to microbiota-based approaches that improve plant health. For example, gene-editing technologies could be used to create a healthy biome in plant leaves by enhancing expression of specific genes. A synthetic healthy microbiome may be formulated as a probiotic to prevent dysbiosis in plants, much as probiotics have been promised to improve human gut microbiome health.

Of note, mutations in genes related to a person’s immune system, are a well-known risk factor for the development of inflammatory bowel disease in humans. Perhaps, future research will find more shared characteristics in how plants and humans interact with their respective microbiota in order to prevent disease.

The ease of genetic studies in plants, such as Arabidopsis, also offers the possibility that researchers will be able to identify more genes involved in preserving microbiota health in people and plants.

Tuberculosis and COVID-19 are infectious diseases, which primarily attack the lungs and present with similar symptoms of cough, fever and difficulty in breathing.

Tuberculosis is associated with a 2.1-fold increased risk of severe COVID-19 disease, the health ministry said on Wednesday, recommending that all newly-diagnosed tuberculosis patients or those currently on treatment should be tested for COVID-19 and vice versa.

The prevalence of tuberculosis among COVID-19 patients has been found to be 0.37 to 4.47 percent in different studies, the ministry said and highlighted that there has been an overall decline in tuberculosis notification by 26 percent during January to June, as compared to the previous year, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In its “Guidance note on Bi-directional TB-COVID screening and screening of TB among ILI/SARI cases” issued on Wednesday, the ministry said studies have shown that a history of active as well as latent tuberculosis is an important risk factor for the SARS-CoV-2 infection.

“This not only results in increased susceptibility but also rapid and severe symptom development and disease progression with poor outcomes. Tuberculosis is associated with a 2.1-fold increased risk of severe COVID-19 disease,” the document said.

In addition, tuberculosis patients also tend to have comorbidities or living conditions (malnutrition, diabetes, smoking habit, HIV etc.) that increase their vulnerability. In order to address this dual morbidity of tuberculosis and COVID-19, activities such as Bi-directional TB-COVID screening, TB screening for influenza-like illness (ILI) cases and TB screening for severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) cases should be carried out, the ministry said.

Under Bi-directional TB-COVID screening, COVID screening for all diagnosed TB patients and TB screening for all COVID-positive patients should be conducted.

Tuberculosis and COVID-19 are infectious diseases, which primarily attack the lungs. They present with similar symptoms of cough, fever and difficulty in breathing, although tuberculosis has a longer incubation period and a slower onset of disease, the document said.

At a time when experts have come forward to encourage more widespread testing, the CDC’s update appears counterintuitive and “very strange.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention quietly modified its coronavirus testing guidelines this week to exclude people who do not have symptoms of COVID-19 — even if they have been recently exposed to the virus.

Experts questioned the revision, pointing to the importance of identifying infections in the small window immediately before the onset of symptoms when many individuals appear to be most contagious.

Models suggest that about half of transmission events can be traced back to individuals still in this pre-symptomatic stage before they start to feel ill — if they ever feel sick at all.

“This is potentially dangerous,” said Dr Krutika Kuppalli, an infectious disease physician in Palo Alto, California. Restricting testing to only people with obvious symptoms of COVID-19 means “you’re not looking for a lot of people who are potential spreaders of disease,” she added. “I feel like this is going to make things worse.”

At a moment when experts have almost universally come forward to encourage more frequent and widespread testing, especially to reach vulnerable and marginalized sectors of the population, the CDC’s update appears counterintuitive and “very strange,” said Susan Butler-Wu, a clinical microbiologist at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California.

Just weeks ago, the National Institutes of Health announced the first round of grant recipients for its Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics program, or RADx, to scale up coronavirus testing in the coming weeks and months. On the agency’s RADx website, officials underscore the importance of prioritizing tests that can “detect people who are asymptomatic.”

A more lax approach to testing, experts said, could delay crucial treatments, as well as obscure, or even hasten, the coronavirus’s spread in the community.

“I think it’s bizarre,” said Daniel Larremore, a mathematician and infectious diseases modeler at the University of Colorado Boulder. “Any move right now to reduce levels of testing by changing guidelines is a step in the wrong direction.”

Prior iterations of the CDC’s testing guidelines struck a markedly different tone, explicitly stating that “testing is recommended for all close contacts” of people infected with the coronavirus, regardless of symptoms. The agency also specifically emphasized “the potential for asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission” as an important factor in the spread of the virus.

The newest version, which was posted on Monday, amended the agency’s guidance to say that people who have been in close contact with an infected individual — typically defined as being within 6 feet of a person with the coronavirus and for at least 15 minutes — “do not necessarily need a test” if they do not have symptoms. Exceptions, the agency noted, might be made for “vulnerable” individuals, or if health care providers or state or local public health officials recommend testing.

“Wow, that is a walk-back,” Butler-Wu said. “We’re in the middle of a pandemic, and that’s a really big change.”

Butler-Wu said she was concerned that the guidelines would be misinterpreted as implying that people without symptoms were unable to pass the coronavirus on to others — a falsehood that experts had been trying for months to dispel. “If people are getting exposed, and they’re not getting tested, and they’re not isolating, that’s a huge problem,” Kuppalli said.

By the CDC’s own estimates, roughly 40% of people infected with the coronavirus may never go on to develop symptoms, remaining asymptomatic for the duration of their tenure with the virus. These numbers are tentative — and ironically can’t be confirmed without more testing of people who appear entirely healthy.

Although researchers remain unsure how often asymptomatic people unwittingly transmit the coronavirus, studies have shown that the silently infected can carry the virus in high amounts. The evidence is more clear-cut for pre-symptomatic people, in whom virus levels tend to peak just before illness sets in — a period when these individuals might be mingling with their peers, seeding superspreader events. Notably, experts can’t distinguish asymptomatic people from those who are pre-symptomatic until symptoms do or don’t appear.

“It seems backwards to just ignore pre-symptomatic patients,” Butler-Wu said.

David Piegaro, who lives in Trenton, New Jersey, had sought out several tests for the coronavirus in recent months, after events like funerals and those that require travel because of his post in the National Guard. He never experienced symptoms, and his tests have all been negative, bringing him peace of mind, especially because he lives with his parents and grandfather. “I viewed testing as a good thing to do,” he said. “Asymptomatic people could be spreading the virus, so widespread testing seems valuable.”

Tracking asymptomatic cases is also important from the perspective of the infected, Kuppalli said. Less than a year into this pandemic, experts still don’t know the full extent of the long-term consequences of contracting the coronavirus, even if the initial encounter seems benign.

The reasons behind the surprise shift in testing recommendations are unclear. In response to an inquiry from The New York Times, a representative for the CDC directed the questions to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. An HHS spokesperson said that asymptomatic testing could still be warranted “when directed by public health leaders or health care providers,” and noted that testing decisions should be “based on individual circumstances and the status of community spread.”

On Twitter, some people speculated that the Trump administration made the change to try to address continuing supply shortages, which have stymied testing efforts in many parts of the country, stretching turnaround times for results to weeks or more. Many institutions and companies performing testing have prioritized people with symptoms in their lineup as a way to expedite the return of results for those most at risk for falling severely ill.

When asked about this, the HHS spokesperson said that the modification was not a response to sputtering supply chains. “Testing capacity has massively expanded, and we are not utilizing the full capacity that we have developed,” the spokesperson said. “We revised the guidance to reflect current evidence and the best public health interventions.”

Poorly timed testing, if conducted infrequently, could lead to false positives or false negatives, mistaking healthy people as infected or vice versa. That’s a potential risk if someone gets tested too soon after being exposed to the coronavirus, Butler-Wu pointed out.

Even so, anyone with a known exposure should quarantine and consider seeking a test, Kuppalli said, adding, “We still need to be careful.”

Katherine J. Wu c.2020 The New York Times Company

Xiaomi recently launched its Redmi 9 and Redmi 9 Prime in India at a starting price of Rs 8,999 and Rs 9,999 respectively. A report by PriceBaba hints that the company will soon launch Redmi 9i in India. This upcoming smartphone might be rebranded Redmi 9A that has already debuted in Malaysia.

The report referring to tipster Ishan Agarwal revealed that the upcoming smartphone might be powered by MediaTek Helio G25 chipset and offer 2 GB RAM and 32 GB storage. In terms of battery, it is expected to come with a 5,000 mAh battery.

 Redmi 9i likely to launch in India soon, expected to be rebranded Redmi 9A

Redmi 9A.

As for the cameras, Redmi 9i is likely to feature a single 13 MP camera at the back. For selfies, the smartphone is expected to house a 5 MP front camera that sits in the waterdrop notch.

The report reveals that the smartphone is priced at RM 359 (approx Rs 6,300) in Malaysia but it might be a little more expensive here in India. Redmi 9i is expected to be available in Midnight Grey, Twilight Blue and Peacock Green.

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.

Honor launched its pocket-friendly Honor 9S in India last month at a starting price of Rs 6,499. It will go on sale today at 12 pm on Flipkart.

In addition to Honor 9S, the company also launched its Honor 9A with a triple rear camera sensor at Rs 9,999.

Honor 9S pricing, availability

Honor 9S comes with 2 GB RAM and 32 GB internal storage and is priced at Rs 6,499. It is also available in blue and black colour options.

 Honor 9S with 32 GB internal storage will go on sale today at 12 pm on Flipkart

Honor 9S

The smartphone will go on sale today at 12 pm on Flipkart.

Honor 9S specifications

Honor 9S comes with 32 GB storage onboard, which can be further expanded to 512 GB. The laptop sports a 5.45-inch (13.84 cm) screen that has a resolution of 1440 x 720 pixels. It is powered by MediaTek MT6762R SoC.

In terms of camera specs, Honor 9S comes with a single 8 MP rear camera with autofocus feature. It sports a 5 MP selfie camera. An LED flash has also found its place at the back.

It is equipped with a  3,020 mAh battery.

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.

LG Electronics has officially announced a portable air purifier that one can wear on their face like a mask. The PuriCare Wearable Air Purifier employs two H13 HEPA filters, similar to the filters used in home air purifier products.

In a statement, the South Korean electronics company said that it will “give new meaning to clean, personal air with the introduction PuriCare Wearable Air Purifier at IFA 2020”.

The company has also stated that the air purifier will be available starting in the fourth quarter in select markets.

LG states that the PuriCare Wearable Air Purifier resolves issues of homemade masks being of inconsistent quality and disposable masks being in short supply.

According to LG, the air purifier has dual fans and patented Respiratory Sensor that allows users to breathe in clean and filtered air while detecting the cycle and volume of the wearer’s breath and adjusting the dual three-speed fans accordingly.

The fans automatically speed up to assist air intake and slow down when exhaling to make breathing easy.

The device sports a lightweight 820mAh battery that offers up to eight hours of function in low mode and two hours on high. It is ergonomically designed to snugly fit the user’s face to minimise air leakage.

 LG Electronics announces battery-powered air purifier mask, to be available in fourth quarter in select markets

A graphical visualisation of the new LG Eletronics’ battery-powerd mask. Image courtesy LG Electronics

Speaking about the device, Dan Song, president of LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution Company stated, “At a time when consumers are seeking ways to make life safer and more convenient, it’s important that we are able to offer solutions that add measureable value.”

The device comes with a case that helps maintain hygiene as well. It is equipped with UV-LED lights that kills harmful germs. The case can even charge the mask and send a notification to the LG ThinQ mobile app on both iOS and Android devices when the filters need to be replaced for optimum performance.

Finally, everything from the filters to the ear straps on the PuriCare Wearable Air Purifier are replaceable and recyclable.

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.

If you’ve been hesitant to dive into the world of photo editing beyond applying simple filters in Instagram, you might want to check out Pixlr. It’s a truly powerful online photo editing software program with loads of options that never overwhelm you with their complexity. The result is that even those new to the world of photo editing can get started fast, greatly improve or change their photos, and have fun doing so. Oh, and the best part? The program is completely free.

Getting started with Pixlr begins with choosing either Pixler X, which is a more basic and easy-to-use version of the software, or Pixler E, which provides more tools, but might be a bit much for those new to photo editing. Both versions are free.

Next, simply open a photo, which you can do by either navigating to one stored on your device, or by entering a URL for a web-based image. Alternatively, you can start from scratch by selecting from one of Pixlr’s many blank templates which include handy specs for items including Icon, Instagram, Facebook Cover, and more. As if that wasn’t enough, Pixlr also integrates with free photo site Unsplash, so you can import any of those images to work on with a simple search and click. 

Once you’ve got a project to work on, navigating your options is as easy as selecting one of the icons on the left. Hovering over each button pulls up a handy box with an illustration to tell you exactly which tools the icon will open. You have all of the usual photo editing tools here including resizing the canvas and photo, creating and working with layers, cropping, adding effects, and applying an impressive number of filters, which are combinable and controlled with slide bars. This all adds up to lots of creative freedom to get exactly the look you want. 

Of particular note is Pixlr’s “Liquify” tool that allows you to swirl, enlarge, or shrink small portions of a photo for an impressive degree of fine tuning. Other options include a cutout tool, that lets you extract elements from the photo into other layers or delete them altogether; a “Retouch” suite that lets you dodge/burn, clone and heal any area of a photo; text insertion; and doodle tools including a variety of brushes, pens, shapes and an eraser. 

Down the right side of the screen you’ll find your layers arranged in an easy-to-navigate strip.

When you’re done working with an image, you have the option to save or download your file in a variety of formats including JPG, PNG, and WEBP. A particularly appealing component of Pixlr is that the images you download are completely watermark free – so you don’t get roped into having to shell out cash after you get your creation just the way you want it.

That being said, Pixlr does offer two upgraded versions of the software – both of which eliminate the banner ads you’ll have to put up with if you use the free version. The Premium level costs $3.99 per month when paid on an annual basis and adds additional editing tools, including what the company calls “AI CutOut,” the ability to use the software’s “eye” to instantly remove backgrounds. On top of that, you get 3,000 additional overlays, 7,000 more stickers and icons, 5,000 decorative fonts and video tutorials. Stepping up to the Professional version, which costs $14.99/year based on an annual membership, increases the number of overlays to 28,000, and provides access to Pixlr’s own “Stock Content” which is a repository of over 10 million images, graphics, fonts, video clips and 3D files. 

Whether or not you’ll need to upgrade really depends on how deep you want to go with photo editing. But signing up for the free version is certainly a smart step, and you just might find that it has all you need to add professional flare to your images. 

Realme has officially confirmed that it will launch Realme 7 and Realme 7 Pro in India on 3 September. The predecessor of the upcoming smartphone series is Realme 6 series that includes Realme 6(Review), Realme 6 Pro (Review).

Realme’s tweet confirms that the launch event will take place at 12.30 on 3 September. In addition to this, the company has also revealed that both the smartphones will come with a punch-hole display and house a battery that supports 65W SuperDart fast charge.

 Realme 7, 7 Pro to launch in India on 3 September: All we know so far

Realme 7 series teaser

Realme 7 and Realme 7 Pro will feature a 64 MP quad-camera setup at the back.

The company microsite reveals that the “Blind Order” sale has already kicked off for the two smartphones. All you need to do is pay Rs 1,000 between 27 August-2 September, then pay the rest of the money between 3 September-15 September. After the full payment is done, your smartphone will be dispatched.

On Realme 7, these buyers will get a coupon of Rs 100 for Realme AIoT products which will be credited in their accounts on 16 September.

If you plan to buy Realme 7 Pro via this blind sale, you will get a coupon of random discount from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 on other phones. It will be credited to your account on 16 September.

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.

Kevin Mayer, the chief executive of the Chinese-owned video app TikTok, said on Wednesday that he was resigning after the company came under sustained pressure from the Trump administration over its ties to China.

In a note to employees, which was reviewed by The New York Times, Mayer said that a series of changes to TikTok’s structure prompted him to leave. He did not address the timing of his departure. The app, which is owned by the Chinese internet company ByteDance, has been ordered by the White House to sell its US operations by mid-September.

 TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer resigns amid ongoing feud with Trump administration

Kevin Mayer. Image: PRNewsfoto/ByteDance Ltd

“In recent weeks, as the political environment has sharply changed, I have done significant reflection on what the corporate structural changes will require, and what it means for the global role I signed up for,” Mayer, 58, wrote in the email. “Against this backdrop, and as we expect to reach a resolution very soon, it is with a heavy heart that I wanted to let you all know that I have decided to leave the company.”

He added that he had signed up for a global role and that leading a global team had been a “big draw” for him.

Mayer’s departure underscores the difficulties facing TikTok as it has become a geopolitical piñata amid worsening US-China tensions. As part of a campaign of being tough on China, President Trump and other White House officials have said that TikTok poses a national security threat because of its Chinese ownership.

That led to Trump’s signing an executive order on 6 August to block TikTok if ByteDance did not sell the app’s US operations within 45 days. A week later, he issued another executive order giving ByteDance 90 days to close such a deal.

The White House’s moves have pushed ByteDance and TikTok to seek a buyer for the app’s US operations. Microsoft, Oracle and other bidders have been discussing a potential deal, with prices ranging from $20 billion to $50 billion, though talks are fluid and no deal may be reached.

At the same time, TikTok has pushed back against the Trump administration. On Monday, the company sued the US government, accusing it of depriving it of due process by forcing a sale using an executive order.

In a statement on Wednesday, TikTok said, “We appreciate that the political dynamics of the last few months have significantly changed what the scope of Kevin’s role would be going forward, and fully respect his decision.”

Vanessa Pappas, general manager of TikTok in North America, will take over as the interim global head of the company.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mayer, who was the top streaming executive at Walt Disney Company, joined TikTok in May as its chief executive. He also gained the title of chief operating officer of ByteDance.

His hiring was part of a shift by TikTok to bring on more American executives as Washington’s scrutiny of the app’s Chinese ownership grew. TikTok also hired more employees in Los Angeles, New York and more than a dozen other places in the United States with plans to add over 10,000 new jobs in the country.

But things changed drastically shortly after Mayer joined the company, with White House pressure ramping up and the signing of the executive orders this month.

Officials at TikTok were shocked by the orders, people with knowledge of the situation have said. For months, the company had worked to satisfy the White House by holdings talks to reduce its Chinese ownership and to find a way to store data on its American users in the United States. TikTok has said it currently stores US user data on servers in Virginia and Singapore.

c.2020 The New York Times Company

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.

Vivo has announced two new smartphones in the Y series – Y20 and Y20i. The highlight of the Y20 series is a 5,000 mAh battery.

Vivo Y20 and Y20i pricing and availability

The Vivo Y20 comes in a sole variant with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage, priced at Rs 12,990. The smartphone will be available for purchase starting 28 August.

The Vivo Y20i is priced at Rs 11,490 and will go on sale starting 3 September.

Both Vivo Y20 and Y20i will be available for purchase on all partner retail stores, Vivo India e-store, and other e-commerce websites.

 Vivo Y20, Y20i with 5,000 mAh battery launched in India, priced at Rs 12,990, Rs 11,490 respectively

Vivo Y20 series.

Vivo Y20 and Y20i specifications and features

The Vivo Y20 features a 6.51-inch Halo iView HD+ display with a 20:9 aspect ratio. The Vivo Y20 features a “side-mounted” fingerprint scanner. It is fueled by a 5,000 mAh battery that comes with an 18 W FlashCharge technology.

Vivo Y20 sports a triple-camera setup at the rear which includes a 13 MP main camera, a 2 MP bokeh camera and a macro camera. For selfies, the phone features an 8 MP front camera.

Both the Y20 and Y20i are powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 Mobile Platform processor.

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.

Most people are aware that testing for antibodies in a person’s blood can show if someone has had a specific disease, such as COVID-19. Those antibodies provide protection from getting the disease again.

But in a paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers found that antibody levels decline in individuals who have recovered from COVID-19, dropping by half every 36 days. Does that mean people who have recovered from COVID-19 have lost their immunity?

I am a geneticist interested in innate immune response – the part of the immune system that we have at birth – and how the innate immune cells “educate” antibody-producing cells about a pathogen and how to identify and destroy it. As I’ll explain, antibodies are important for immunity, but they aren’t the only factor that counts.

Two arms of the immune system

The immune system is made up of two parts: innate immunity and adaptive – or acquired – immunity.

The innate immune system, which includes white blood cells called dendritic cells, monocytes and neutrophils, is present at birth and responds instantly to invaders. This group of white blood cells bombard pathogens with destructive chemicals and swallow and destroy viruses and bacteria. The innate immune system provides an instantaneous reaction to a pathogen. The problem is that it’s a blunt instrument – it responds the same way to all perceived threats.

The adaptive immune system, which is made up of B cells and T cells, must learn about a pathogen and its characteristics from the innate immune cells. This system takes longer to kick in, but the up side is that it is very specific and in many cases lasts a lifetime.

The immune system’s memory

The history of pathogen exposure is carried in so-called memory T cells and memory B cells. When an infection is defeated and gone, these cells reside in the peripheral tissues of the body such as lymph nodes or spleen and serve as a memory of the disease-causing virus. This immunological memory is responsible for the host defense and kicks into action in case of the second wave or attack of the pathogen.

It is normal for antibody levels to decline after a person has recovered from a disease. But the New England Journal of Medicine paper raised concerns because it suggests that we are losing our immunological memory – which is as bad as losing a real memory.

Basophils, Neurophils, Eosinophils and Monocytes (left) make up the innate immune system. B cells and T cells are part of the adaptive immune system. Vitalii Dumma / Getty Images, CC BY-SA

What role do T cells play in immunity?

B cells and antibodies are only part of the immune response. T cells help B cells produce antibodies – which are proteins that can bind to a specific pathogen and destroy it.

The way this happens is that first the B cells swallow the virus and start producing antibodies.

T cells cannot swallow the virus. But a type of white blood cell called an antigen-presenting cell can. After it does, it “shows” different parts of the virus to the T cells. The T cells then learn about the virus which they can now seek and destroy.

T cells also stick to the B cells and send them the activation signals that help B cells ramp up antibody production.

If antibodies decline, what does this mean for COVID-19 immunity?

It suggests that when there are fewer antibodies in the blood, there is a greater chance that a number of individual virus particles, called virions, will survive and escape destruction. Therefore, the remaining virions will continue to proliferate and cause disease.

[Deep knowledge, daily. Sign up for The Conversation’s newsletter.]

What do declining antibody levels mean for establishing herd immunity?

Herd immunity refers to a population and occurs when a sufficiently high number of people within a community are immune to the virus and incapable of transmitting it. That provides protection for those who are still vulnerable. For example, if 60% of people are protected against COVID – because they have survived the infection and carry antibodies – it might protect (via less frequent interactions) the remaining 40% from getting sick.

But the results in the New England Journal of Medicine suggest that people with lower levels of antibody may still have the virus and may not have symptoms of the disease.

That means that if these people with low antibody levels hang around healthy, uninfected people, they present a danger to them because they can transmit the virus.

When antibody levels fall, does immunity disappear?

In general, the answer is no. If the virus attempts to cause a second infection, the memory B and T cells are able to recognize it, multiply million of times and defend the body against the virus, preventing it from triggering another full-blown infection.

The protection provided by memory T and B cells is the reason that vaccine-based protection works.

However, there are exceptions. A lifelong vaccine against the flu does not work because flu’s genetic code changes rapidly, altering the appearance of the flu, and therefore requires a new vaccine every season.

But with SARS-CoV-2, the problem as I see it, seems to be that those memory T cells and B cells seem to be wiped out.

Antibodies are proteins and last for only between three and four weeks in the blood circulation. To keep antibody levels high, B cells need to replenish them with a fresh supply. But in COVID-19, the declining antibody levels suggest that the cells that produce these antibodies are not present in sufficient numbers, which would explain the drop in antibody levels. Studies of how long immunity from COVID-19 last may shed more light, but for now we do not know the reason why.

Contact Form

Name

Email *

Message *

Powered by Blogger.
Javascript DisablePlease Enable Javascript To See All Widget