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Colors Pride 7s launched: Is this the best phone under 10,000?

GadgetByte

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January 29, 2020

Colors Pride 7s launched: Is this the best phone under 10,000?

In a world where almost every smartphone brand is trying to come up with the next big smartphone, Colors try to stick to the basics. It mainly focuses on the lower end of the smartphone market. Though it rules the market for features phones, it also launches Android smartphones targeting the first-time user. Colors’ phones are basic and affordable. They also come with some gimmicky features to lure the customers. Adding to that list, Colors has recently launched Colors Pride 7s, which comes with quite a bit of feature at sub 10K price range. Let’s find out more about the device.

Colors Pride 7S Overview

Display and Design

The new Colors Pride 7S comes with 5.45-inch IPS display panel. It is a Full View Display and has curves at the edges. The company claims you can swipe even on the edge of the smartphone without any hassle. While we can’t confirm that right now, we expect a decent multimedia experience on its screen with an 18:9 aspect ratio.

Even with the tall aspect ratio and the curved edges, the phone is not completely bezel-less, with significant bezels at the top and bottom. The top of the phone houses an earpiece grill, a selfie camera and an additional sensor which I guess is the proximity sensor. On the bottom, we have the navigation bar. The volume rocker and the power button are placed on the right side of the device. Below them lies the side-mounted fingerprint sensor. A side-mounted fingerprint sensor is something unheard of in this price segment. It will surely help the phone stand out from its competitors.

Check out the cheapest Android smartphone in Nepal

Performance

The Colors Pride 7S is powered by an unnamed 1.3 GHz Quad-Core Processor. The processor is supported by 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. Given this configuration, we can expect a smooth experience in normal usage. But don’t think about heavy gaming on this phone.

Camera

The Colors Pride 7S has a dual-camera setup at the rear side. The primary lens is a 13MP sensor. Since we were impressed by the 2MP camera on the Colors Pide 1, we have higher expectations from the 13MP shooter. The company hasn’t disclosed anything about the secondary sensor which makes us believe it has been included to improve the marketing aspect rather than the camera performance. There is a 5MP selfie camera on the front which you can use to fulfill your selfie needs.

Software and Connectivity

The phone comes with Android Pie version 9.0 out of the box. Since its Colors, we expect a near-stock Android experience with some tweaks here and there. Connectivity-wise, Pride 7s comes with support for 4G VoLTE Network. There is a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, and Face Unlock feature for biometrics. Thanks to the gyro-sensor you can enjoy games like Temple Run. The phone also comes with OTG support.

Battery

When we talk about the lower segment of the smartphone market, the size of the battery makes a massive difference in the likeability of the device. Bigger batteries in entry-level phones have become more of a standard these days and Colors Pride 7s is no exception. It comes with a 3,000mAh battery which should last over a full day of normal usage. But we are skeptical about the charging technology. If compromises are made with the charger, charging the 3,000mAh battery might turn into a nightmare.

Check out the best phone under NPR 10,000

Colors Pride 7S Specifications

Display: 5.45-inch IPS Full View display with 2.5D curved Dragontrail glass protection
Processor: 1.3 GHz Quad-Core processor
RAM: 3GB
ROM: 32 GB; expandable up to 256GB
Software: Android Pie(9.0)
Rear Camera: 13MP Dual Rear Camera, LED flash
Front Camera: 5MP
Sim: Dual Sim with 4G VoLTE
Security: Face Unlock, Side-mounted Fingerprint sensor
Battery: 3,000mAh battery

Colors Pride 7S Price in Nepal

The Colors Pride 7s comes with a price tag of just NRs. 8,500 which is quite reasonable considering the specs of the device. Given the offerings, it may just be the best phone under the 10,000 mark. Right now, phones like Samsung Galaxy A2 Core and Redmi Go rule the entry-level market segment.

Check out our favorite budget gaming laptop!

Apple patents a new iMac design with a single curved glass body!

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January 29, 2020

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Apple patents a new iMac design with a single curved glass body!

The iMac line of all-in-one desktop computers that debuted in 1998 is significant for many reasons. It was the first time that Apple adopted the ‘i’ suffix in its product. Since then, the ‘i’ suffix has made its way to almost every Apple product ranging from hardware to software. Even though the suffix represents the internet, individuality, and innovation, the design of the iMac has remained somehow the same over the last decade. But that seems to change now with the new Apple iMac design. The latest patent from the company reveals that the future Apple iMac could come with a single curved glass design.

Check out iPhones prices in Nepal

New Apple iMac Design Patent

The patent titled “Electronic Device with Glass Housing Member” filed by Apple Inc. back in May 2019 is gathering attention since it was first spotted by Patently Apple. The patent reveals Apple’s new design for iMac. The future iMac devices will come with a single curved glass surface with a support system at the back.

Talking about the curved glass design, the glass sheet will have three distinct areas – a display area, an input area, and a transition portion that joins the two areas. There is also a system supporting the single glass configuration.

Learn why Apple may have to ditch the lightning cable

Further design details

Patents reveal that the upper glass surface will be coupled with an OLED screen that is configured to provide an output at the screen. It forms the display area of the device. The input area at the lower end of the glass will come with a keyboard and a touchpad integrated into it. The support system also accommodates the CPU of the device.

The patent also reveals some interesting features of the design. The keyboard on the device is detachable. You will also be able to fold the input area in case you want to carry the device around with you.

The Glass

The glass or the housing material as referenced in the patent file will be made with materials that are transparent, coated, painted, or otherwise treated to produce a non-transparent component. A translucent component may also be formed by producing a textured or frosted surface on an otherwise transparent material.

Though Apple might not implement the design right away, it looks to integrate it into future iMacs. There is nothing wrong with the present design but I must admit that the new curved design for the Apple iMac does sound interesting. We are certainly looking forward to it.

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Nokia 9.2 PureView 5G to replace Nokia 9.1

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January 29, 2020

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Nokia 9.2 PureView 5G to replace Nokia 9.1

Nokia 9 Pure View was quite an ambitious project by HMD Global when it was launched in World Mobile Congress 2019. It was first of its kind to have five cameras at back. While the Penta-camera setup was fascinating, Nokia did let us down with the older Snapdragon 845 chipset. People wanted to see the phone with Snapdragon 855 which, at that time, was the latest flagship chipset available. Some reports suggested that HMD was working on Nokia 9.1 PureView powered by Snapdragon 855. But it looks like HMD has dropped the plan in favor of Nokia 9.2 PureView which will be powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 865.

Check out our review of Nokia 2.3

Problems with Nokia 9 PureView

With the Penta-camera setup, Nokia 9 Pureview was an amazing phone to have, especially for those into mobile photography. But it wasn’t perfect though. With the Snapdragon 845 under its hood, many people questioned the performance of the device. The year-old chipset did turn out to be a turn-off for many people.

The Snapdragon 845 can only support up to the triple-camera setup. That was the reason, Nokia included the Light’s Lux Capacitor camera-control chip to make the five camera setup possible. This tweak made it difficult for the company to release future updates for the company.

What happened with Nokia 9.1 PureView?

Nokia 9.1 was supposed to overcome the weakness of Nokia 9 PureView. It was supposed to come with the Snapdragon 855. But things didn’t go as we expected. We would have been happy with an SD 855 variant of the Nokia 9 Pureview in the first few months of its release. But its already 2020, and we are yet to see it.

Nokia 9 PureView Front and Back design — Nokia 9 PureView

2020 is not just another year. 5G smartphones are going to take over the market this year. Almost all the flagship phones will come powered by the latest Snapdragon 865 chipset bundled with a discrete 5G modem. A phone with SD 855 would have had little chance standing against the SD 865. So, in my opinion, Nokia did the right thing by going for the Nokia 9.2 PureView instead of the Nokia 9.1.

Check out our comparison between Dimensity 1000L and Snapdragon 765

Nokia 9.2 PureView

As per Nokia Power User, Nokia 9.2 PureView will not launch Nokia 9.1 PureView in MWC 2020 as expected earlier. Instead, Nokia will introduce Nokia 9.2 PureView inside the next 6 months.

We don’t know what the 9.2 will come packed with expect for the Snapdragon 865 chipset. It confirms the support for 5G connectivity. If the information form Nokiamob.net is to be believed Nokia 9.2 could come with a bezel-less display with a 32MP or 48MP front camera. You may not be able to plug in audio jack in the upcoming 9.2 PureView.

Still, there is no information about the rear camera setup on the device. But we expect the Penta-camera setup at the back. Fortunately, this time around Nokia won’t need to integrate Lux Capacitor camera-control chip in its device. Nokia will turn to other alternatives for a great camera experience in the 9.2 PureView.

New phone in MWC 2020?

At the end of 2019, Nokia announced that it will launch a 5G phone powered by SD 765 in the World Mobile Congress 2020. Company’s Chief Product Officer Juho Sarvikas said in the official press release:

“Our highest priority for 2020 is making 5G more accessible – bringing an affordable yet premium grade, future proof 5G experience for the best possible performance in NSA and SA networks with the Snapdragon 765 Mobile Platform.”

The phone will come with a Pure Display. The triple camera setup, housed inside a round camera module, will use the ZEISS Imaging experience. The fingerprint scanner will be mounted on the side of the device. Other feature includes 4K video recording and all-day battery life.

According to some rumors, Nokia will also unveil a new wearable device alongside the SD 765 powered phone. It is also said that Nokia is working on wireless charger pods as well.

Colors Pride 1 Review: The cheapest Android phone in Nepal!

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January 28, 2020

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Colors Pride 1 Review: The cheapest Android phone in Nepal!

How much does your phone cost? Assuming that you are using an Android or an iPhone, it’s fair enough to say the price could range from a few thousand to a lakh even. It’s logical to think that you will upgrade it with an even more expensive daily driver. Not only do new smartphones hitting the market come at prices higher than their predecessor, but they also come with new flashy features that make the switch even more tempting. While most of the brands work on exploiting this weakness of your, Colors has constantly been working on phones that are cheaper and which everyone can afford. Recently, Colors launched the Pride 1, which is the cheapest Android phone you can find in Nepal right now.

Colors Pride 1 Specification:

Body: 6.20 x 2.97 x 0.34 inches; 183 gm
Display: 4.0-inches TN panel
Resolution: HD+ (1520 x 720 pixels); 19:9 aspect ratio
CPU: Quad-core (1.3 GHz)
RAM: 512MB
Storage: 4GB (expandable via a microSD card)
Software & UI: Android Go 8.1.0 (Oreo)
Rear Camera: 2MP camera with Flash
Front Camera: VGA camera with Flash
Audio: 3.5mm headphone jack, FM Radio
Connectivity: Dual-SIM(2G/3G), MicroSD card, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, MicroUSB 2.0
Battery: 1400 mAh lithium battery
Price: Rs. 3,995

What’s in the box?

Talking about the Colors Pride 1, it comes with almost all of the basic accessories except for one. Before we get to that, let’s talk about what Colors has included in the box. The device comes with a user manual a data cable and a power adapter. A screen protector is also included. But Colors has disappointed us by not including an earphone. For the phone, I think an earphone is a must since entertainment options in this device are limited.

Design

The design of the Colors Pride 1 takes us back in time when phones came with rather short displays. The screen comes with bezels on all sides. There is space for an earpiece grill and a selfie camera on the top of the screen. What really surprised me was the presence of front-facing flash. I wasn’t expecting that. Capacitative buttons are present on the bottom. They can be used to navigate back, home and recent. Though the buttons aren’t backlit, they offer haptic feedback.

Ports & Buttons

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On the back, we have a 2MP camera; below which resides the flash. Moving downward further, Colors has included its branding. To the extreme bottom lies a small speaker grill. The volume rocker and the power button lies on the right side. They have a shiny metallic feel to them and can easily be distinguished from the black plastic body. On the top lies the USB-B port and 3.5mm jack for audio output. It is only available in black color.

Display

Colors has been highlighting the 4.0-inch TN screen as a major feature of the device. The screen is just bright enough to be seen. I had to keep the brightness at max all the time. You will likely have problems using the device outdoors. Videos on the device are far from perfect but are fine considering the price tag that comes with the phone. PDFs are readable as long as you are indoors or under a shade.

Camera

The Colors Pride 1 comes with a 2MP camera at the back which comes with a flash. The front-facing VGA camera is also accompanied by a flash. Considering the price of the phone and the sensors included, I didn’t have much expectation from it.

Let’s start with the camera app which comes with all the basic features. It also offers features such as AI detect, Antibinding and color effect. Under the AI detect, you can choose between face detection and smile shutter, both of which aren’t perfect but do what they are supposed to do.

With the anti-binding feature, you can reduce the havoc on the image caused by artificial flickering light. The features are there but don’t get excited by them. You can choose from different modes. Interestingly, it comes with features such as audio pictures and a QR scanner. While the former is gimmicky, the later can be something useful in daily life.

Photos from the rear camera exceeded expectations that I had with the phone. They look great at first and upon zooming it starts to pixelate. Shaky photos are way too common. But for the price, the camera performance is commendable. Photos aren’t that great but I have even seen worse at an even greater price.

Back Camera - Samples

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As far as the front camera goes, photos are okay-ish under ample light. Both cameras fail miserably under dark conditions and the flashes don’t seem to help either.

Selfie Images - Samples

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Performance

Colors Pride 1 comes with an unnamed Quad-core processor (1.3 GHz). It is supported by 512MB RAM and 4GB internal storage. While it may not sound enough, thanks to the Android Go, it handled most of my daily tasks. I experienced no problem while surfing the internet, playing music, using social media. Note that I used the lite apps wherever possible. The speaker on the phone isn’t that loud and comes with a lot of noise so it is better to avoid them. Chatting on Messenger lite and Viber was a no-brainer after you get used to the small keyboard interface. The cellular connectivity is great too; I had no problem using the Ncell 3G on the phone.

The phone comes with a 4GB internal storage which gets filled in no time. So, you would want to buy a MicroSD card to store your photos and music. The limited storage means limited apps. I avoided resource-hungry apps the best I could. I kept clearing their junk data and cache of the apps I required to prolong the smooth experience. Lite games are perfectly playable. Games like Color Switch, 2048 and the public favorite- Ludo Neo-Classic run well with no hiccups.

Entertainment Options

The phones come with a gyro-sensor. So I tried games like Temple Run and Subway Surfers. While these games were playable in the beginning, they occupied so much of the memory that I removed them instantly. Since playing games like Temple Run is practically impossible, I don’t know what we can do with the gyrosensor as we won’t be working with 360 photos on this for sure.

Despite all the highlighted feature, the radio was the best multimedia option for me on the device. The display isn’t perfect. The output from the speaker is also below par. Though I had to buy earphones separately, the radio experience was worth it (for me). The UI of the radio app is simple to use and comes with all the features you would want from it. It will automatically scan stations for you in case you are like me and don’t want to do it yourself. You can choose your favorite stations and you also have the record feature at your disposal.

Battery

The Color Pride 1 comes with 1400mAh battery which by today’s standard isn’t massive. You will feel the need to charge it at least once a day. If you are among those who keep sticking to their phone, you will have to charge it more often. The device comes with a 0.7A charger. And charging is painstakingly slow. It takes the phone over two-and-a-half hours to go from 0 to 100%, which is a lot for a battery capacity of 1400mAh. But it has a good stand-by. For its target consumers, it would have been better if it had a bigger battery.

Colors Pride 1 Price In Nepal

The Colors Pride 1 is available in Nepal for NRP 3,995. This makes the phone the cheapest Android (Go) phone in the Nepalese market.

Verdict

For the cheapest Android phone in the market, it has a lot going in its favor. Performance and cellular connectivity are great for the price. The camera performance isn’t bad too. But there are things which I think Colors could have done better. First, the earphones; I think it is a must for the kind of phone it is. Second, I didn’t find the gyrosensor and front flash of any use. They could have been dropped for improvements in other areas such as the battery. But for the price, it’s a decent device; not perfect but also not horrible.

Overall, Colors Pride 1 is a great phone to have if you are making the transition from bar phones to Android. It could also be a great secondary phone to have at your disposal.

Colors Pride 1 – Pros & Cons

Pros:

Decent camera
Smooth performance
Great radio connectivity
Good build quality

Cons:

Brightness is too low to be used outdoors
Battery charging takes way too long
No earphone inside the box

Apparently, Motorola is working on a new phone with a stylus pen support!

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January 28, 2020

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Apparently, Motorola is working on a new phone with a stylus pen support!

When someone talks about the Stylus Pen, we can’t help but think of the Samsung Note Series. Though people associate the S-pen mostly with the Samsung Note Series, it isn’t the only smartphone lineup to come with a Stylus pen. LG has included the pen in its Stylo series as well. Recent leaks suggest Motorola is also working on a phone with a stylus pen, whose renders have emerged on the internet. We still don’t know if it will be a one-of-its-kind phone by Motorola or will Motorola come up with a new line up like the Note and the Stylo.

New Motorola phone with a stylus pen leaked!

Leakster by the name of Evan Blass is the man behind all the talks about Motorola’s upcoming stylus phone. The leak came via his twitter handle. The leaked image shows a Motorola phone with a stylus pen. The name of the phone hasn’t been disclosed but Evan Blass has clarified that it isn’t the Motorola Edge+.

Talking about the phone, the phone comes with a display that curves at the corner. The punch-hole on located at the top left corner of the device will house the front camera. There is an earpiece grill towards the middle. The bezel on the bottom is quite noticeable. Also, the look at the bottom of the screen makes us believe it will come with gesture navigation. So it will come with Android 10 out of the box. And since it’s from Motorola, we expect a clean near-stock Android experience.

The Stylus Pen

The highlight of the phone is the Stylus pen which, on the picture, is shown inclined against the display of the phone. The grip and the tip of the stylus look to be of a different material than the middle portion which looks to be metallic. The tip looks bulky which makes me believe that it is a capacitive stylus. The Samsung Note series comes with an active stylus.

samsung galaxy note 10 plus s pen — Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus with S pen

The difference between the two? The capacitative stylus works by distorting the electric field on the screen – the same way your hand works on the capacitative touchscreen. The active stylus requires a screen with a special sensor called the digitizer. The active stylus is far more accurate and comes only in premium phones because of the added cost of the digitizer.

Launch and Price

The phone hasn’t been officially confirmed. The complete specification of the phone is still a mystery to us. But we are confident that more information will be available as we move closer to the World Mobile Congress 2020. Keeping the design and the capacitative stylus pen in mind, the phone looks to compete in the mid-range segment of the smartphone market.

Check out our hands-on review of Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite!

Realme X2 finally launched in Nepal: Is it too late to get excited about?

GadgetByte

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January 28, 2020

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Realme X2 finally launched in Nepal: Is it too late to get excited about?

Just a week after unveiling the Realme XT, the company had brought along a new smartphone. Dubbed as the Realme X2, the device is the successor of the original Realme X. However, this phone was unveiled almost 4 months ago and we’re just seeing it launch in Nepal, albeit for a very good price, thanks to exclusive online launch.

Realme X2 Overview

By the look of it, the Realme X2 is somewhat based on the Realme XT. However, this one uses the Snapdragon 730G SoC, unlike XT which features the Snapdragon 712 chipset. Furthermore, the device supports 30W flash charging and also features an NFC chip.

Talking about its display, it has a 6.4-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display panel. And in that regard, it is similar to the XT. As it is with the phones with AMOLED screen these days, the X2 features an in-display fingerprint sensor as well.

On the back, it has a quad-camera setup. The main lens uses a 64 MP Samsung ISOCELL GW1 Sensor. The rest are 8 MP ultra-wide lens, 2 MP macro, and 2 MP depth sensor. As for the front camera, there’s a 32 MP selfie shooter. Moreover, this device can record videos with the 8 MP ultra-wide lens and also includes features like real-time video bokeh.

The device is powered by a 4, 000 mAh battery and as mentioned above, it does support 30W VOOC Flash Charge 4. Furthermore, the device will be available in two RAM variants. A 6GB one and an 8GB one. The internal storage on these variants will be either 64GB, 128GB. Also, there’s a dedicated microSD card slot that allows memory expansion up to 256GB.

Realme X2 Specifications

Display: 6.4″ Super AMOLED display resolution 1080 x 2340pixels
Rear Camera: Quad, 64 MP primary lens with f/1.7 aperture + 8 MP Ultra-wide-angle lens with f/2.3 aperture + 2 MP dedicated macro with f/2.4 aperture + 2 MP depth sensor with f/2.4 aperture
Front Camera: 32 MP with f/2.0 aperture
CPU: Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G
GPU: Adreno 618
RAM: 6 GB and 8GB
Storage: 64/128GB
Battery: 4000 mAh, 30W Fast Charging
Sensors: Fingerprint (in-display), accelerometer, gyro, compass, proximity
Also Read: Realme X2 Long Term Review

Realme X2 Price in Nepal and Availability

Realme Nepal‘s official online partner “Planet Realme” has finally brought the Realme X2 in Nepal. For now, only the 8/128GB of the Realme X2 is available in Nepal for the price of Rs. 35,990 on Daraz.

As for the pricing, I think Realme has done a fair job considering there’s only a difference of about NRs. 4,000 between the price in Nepal and India. I wonder if this is a damage control tactics from the company to shadow the disastrous launch of the new Realme 5i.

Model Name	Price in Nepal
Realme X2 (Pearl White)	Rs. 35,990

Facial Recognition to “FACE” ban in US and EU

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January 28, 2020

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Facial Recognition to “FACE” ban in US and EU

Facial Recognition, like other AI implementations, is now on a rise. The technology draws massive investment in its research and development because of the potential it holds in the future of security. The technology which claimed to be paving way for a safer society is now facing issues of regulation. Lawmakers in the European Union (EU) and the US are thinking of pausing the growth of the facial recognition technology by putting a ban on it until it gets safe and trustable.

What is Facial Recognition?

Facial recognition refers to the technology capable of recognizing a person by completing an analysis of people’s faces and comparing the pattern with the patterns within its database. While it could be used in an array of sectors, it has primarily been used in security. To be more specific, it has been the favorite tool for the police department to detect crime suspects.

The department has its database of past criminals’ faces mapped using its mapping software. Security cameras placed at different public places make use of this database. These camera scan faces that come across them and match them with the existing database. In case of a match, they alert the security personnel on duty.

In China, the government uses this technology to control the sales of psychotropic substances. The people who arrive at pharmacies to buy these drugs have to go through an identity test that involves scanning their faces by mapping software.

Learn about: Deepfake on Facebook and its threats

Facial Recognition: The Problems

The facial recognition isn’t perfect in itself. Different bodies have been highlighting the problems in facial recognition technology time and again. Earlier this year, US lawmakers expressed concerns about the use of this technology. For them, the process by which government and private corporations collect the data is a threat. No-one is controlling the government and private corporations in control of the technology and no-one knows what they are up to. Lawmakers are also questioning the accuracy of the technology. A government report from last year suggested that the facial recognition algorithms fail to recognize African-American and Asian faces more often compared to Caucasian faces.

Even in the UK, there is a campaign going on calling authorities to put a stop on the technology. A letter written for the purpose has been signed by more than 18 politicians and over 25 campaign groups including names such as Amnesty International. They argue that the technology isn’t mature enough for it to be implemented on such a large scale.

Why the EU and the US want to ban facial recognition?

Citing the above reasons, lawmakers in the US are trying to keep the use of the technology in check. Meredith Whittaker, co-directing of AI Now Institute, has suggested that it should be kept for the future in spite of the corporate interest. Rep.

Mark Meadows, a politician, said the following on the topic:

“If we only focus on the fact that they’re not getting it right with facial recognition, we missed the whole argument”

EU is also working on a temporary ban on the use of Facial Recognition technology. The ban will improve existing privacy and data rights and can last between 3 to 5 years. The idea behind the plan is laid out in the 18 pages long whitepaper titled “Structure for White Paper on Artificial intelligence-a European approach.” With the proposals included in the whitepaper, the EU looks to tackle the challenges created by Artificial Intelligence. The EU will likely call-off the ban once it prepares people for the opportunity and the challenges the technology creates.

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Saramonic wireless microphones now Officially available in Nepal!

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January 27, 2020

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Saramonic wireless microphones now Officially available in Nepal!

What makes a good video great? Off the bat, my guess would be the audio quality. And that is what Saramonic strives to achieve.

In this era of rapidly changing technology, new devices pop up every day. One day you were capturing videos with a cam-recorder and boom smartphones came out. These innovations meant that there arose a new challenge for those trying to deliver consistent audio quality to content creators. This is exactly the scenario where Saramonic thrives. And thus, is currently one of the world leaders in terms of providing quality audio equipment.

It has been known for providing everything. From a broad range of microphones to audio adaptors for DSLR, Mirrorless and more, you name it. Not only that, their equipment are designed keeping in mind the level of content creators. They make it possible for creators to produce content with the best possible audio.

And guess what? They have finally brought their product in Nepal. Yes, you read that right. Their products, not all though are available in Nepal. And you can get it from Oliz Store, the official distributor of Saramonic products in Nepal.

Currently, you can purchase three of their products from Oliz Store, namely- Saramonic Blink 500 B2, Saramonic Blink 500 B3 and Saramonic Blink 500 B5. These are affordable and easy-to-use true wireless microphone systems from the company.

Saramonic Blink 500 B2

It is a lightweight wireless microphone system that can deliver broadcast-quality sound. Compatible with any cameras or smartphone with 3.5mm jack, the Blink 500 B2 can handle two wireless transmitters. It comes with two clip-on wireless transmitters with built-in mics, two lavalier microphones and a dual-channel receiver.

Moreover, this device operates on the 2.4 GHz spectrum (interference-free) and can automatically hop over channels to avoid static noise. Its battery life is 5 hours on a full charge. Also, it works perfectly well with DSLR, mirrorless, smartphones and tablets with headphone jack, and more.

Transmitter Specifications:

Frequency: 4Ghz
RF Frequency Band: 2400 to 2483.5MHz
Voice Delay: <=6ms
Signal to noise ratio: >=70dB
Distortion: <=0.1%
Max number of simultaneous systems: 18
Max operating Range:4’/30m (with obstacles), 164’/50m (Line of Sight)
Battery: 400mAh
Connector: USB Type-C
Input: 3.5mm microphone input

Receiver Specifications:

Frequency: 4Ghz
RF Frequency Band: 2400 to 2483.5MHz
Voice Delay: <=6ms
Signal to noise ratio: >=70dB
Distortion: <=0.1%
Max operating Range:4’/30m (with obstacles), 164’/50m (Line of Sight)
Battery: 400mAh
Connector: USB Type-C
Audio Output Level: 5dB

Price: Rs. 31, 500

Saramonic Blink 500 B3

This is another one of their light-weight wireless microphone system designed for iPhone and iPads. It comes with one clip-on transmitter, however, you can buy an additional transmitter to make it work for 2 people. Furthermore, it also includes RXDi Mfi Certified Lightning dual-channel receiver.

The Blink 500 B3 can be easily used with Apple devices mounted in gimbals. And as said earlier, if you add a Blink 500 TX transmitter to the system, the receiver can accept signals from two microphones too.

Transmitter Specifications:

Frequency: 4Ghz
RF Frequency Band: 2400 to 2483.5MHz
Voice Delay: <=6ms
Signal to noise ratio: >=70dB
Distortion: <=0.1%
Max number of simultaneous systems: 18
Max operating Range:4’/30m (with obstacles), 164’/50m (Line of Sight)
Battery: 400mAh
Connector: USB Type-C
Input: 3.5mm microphone input

Receiver Specifications:

Frequency: 4Ghz
RF Frequency Band: 2400 to 2483.5MHz
Voice Delay: <=6ms
Signal to noise ratio: >=70dB
Distortion: <=0.1%
Max operating Range:4’/30m (with obstacles), 164’/50m (Line of Sight)
Battery: 400mAh
Connector: USB Type-C

Price: Rs. 27, 700

Saramonic Blink 500 B5

This wireless microphone system is compatible with devices with USB-C ports. Basically, that includes a huge list of android smartphones, tablets, and more. It comes with a single wireless transmitter with a built-in mic alongside a clip-on lavalier microphone.

And like the B3, there’s a dual-channel receiver with Type C male port. Likewise, if one ever needs 2 mics if you are shooting with 2 talents (person), a second wireless transmitter can be added easily.

Transmitter Specifications:

Frequency: 4Ghz
RF Frequency Band: 2400 to 2483.5MHz
Voice Delay: <=6ms
Signal to noise ratio: >=70dB
Distortion: <=0.1%
Max number of simultaneous systems: 18
Max operating Range:4’/30m (with obstacles), 164’/50m (Line of Sight)
Battery: 400mAh
Connector: USB Type-C
Input: 3.5mm microphone input

Receiver Specifications:

Frequency: 4Ghz
RF Frequency Band: 2400 to 2483.5MHz
Voice Delay: <=6ms
Signal to noise ratio: >=70dB
Distortion: <=0.1%
Max operating Range:4’/30m (with obstacles), 164’/50m (Line of Sight)
Battery: 400mAh
Connector: USB Type-C

Price: Rs. 27, 700

Conclusion:

Buying a decent audio device has always been a problem in Nepal. If you visit Newroad (tech bazar of Nepal), you are often greeted with fake audio devices from Boya. Although you can buy genuine Boya devices from Oliz Store, it’s not quite there against top brands like Rode, Sennheiser, and Saramonic.

Saramonic is a top brand that has a wide range of audio devices. And although Oliz store has only launched a few wireless microphones, the company is planning to launch audio mixers, handy recorders, Shotgun mics, etc in the coming days.

Also Watch:

This is the Budget Gaming Laptop under 1 Lakh in Nepal

Nikhil Shrestha

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January 27, 2020

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This is the Budget Gaming Laptop under 1 Lakh in Nepal

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind about a gaming laptop? Bulky, heavy, rad, and more importantly expensive! But why does that have to be the case though? Just a couple of years back, gaming enthusiasts had to sacrifice a lot If they opted for a gaming laptop on a tight budget. Constraints on aspects like build quality, hardware, and all meant the experience just wasn’t worthwhile. However, that’s gradually changing.

In 2019, we saw so many great budget and midrange gaming laptops, and I was fortunate enough to review some of them as well. Now, 2020 is looking to be a revolutionary year for laptops because of all the exciting announcements that we saw during CES 2020 a couple of weeks ago. Though the folding and dual displays sure sound exciting, the thing I’m hyped for the most is AMD’s new Ryzen 4000 series mobile CPUs.

And while it’s going to take some time for a Ryzen 4000 powered laptop to arrive in Nepal, today I am going to talk about the best budget laptop under 1 lakh in Nepal — the Asus TUF FX505GT laptop. It is powered by a 9^th gen Intel Core processor alongside the NVIDIA GTX 1650 graphics. It has been my primary device for a month or so now and I genuinely think this is one of the best in its class. But of course, Asus has made some compromises for cost reduction. Let’s find out all about this device in our review!

ASUS TUF FX505GT Specifications:

Operating System: Windows 10 Home
Display: 15.6″ (16:9) LED-backlit FHD (1920×1080) 60Hz Anti-Glare IPS-level Panel
Processor: Intel Core i5-9300H
Graphic: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, with 4GB GDDR5 VRAM
RAM: 8GB DDR4 2400MHz
Storage: 512GB PCIe Gen3 SSD
WebCam: HD 720p CMOS module
Wi-Fi: Integrated Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 ac)
Bluetooth: Bluetooth® 5.0
Battery: 3-Cell 48 Wh Battery
Dimensions: 360.4 x 262.0 x 25.8 ~26.8 mm (WxDxH)
Weight: 2.2 kg ~ 2.3 kg

Design & Build:

Starting with the build material, the FX505GT comes in an all-plastic body from front lid to hinge, to the back of the laptop, with an aluminum “Future Tank” lid cover. There’s definitely some flex to it, but it’s not terrible in any way. Having said that, it is definitely not as sturdy as other costlier options, so durability could be an area of concern.

But take some solace on the fact that it has passed a series of military-grade “MIL-STD-810G” tests, which ensures that this laptop can withstand high altitudes, solar radiation exposure, including a couple of accidental knocks or drops as well.

On to the design, the lid has this converging speed lines with the ASUS logo in the middle, which I think gives off a fairly aggressive gaming aesthetics. And for a gaming laptop, its thickness is on-par with others at around 1-inch. Moreover, thanks to the plastic build, the FX505GT is fairly light at 4.9 pounds (or 2.2kg).

The other thing that I liked about its design is the placement of the LED indicators for charging, battery level, and stuff.

It is located right above the power button and is visible even when the lid is closed all the way. That’s a nifty little design choice which I admire nevertheless.

Interfaces & Networking

Moving on to interfaces and ports placement, all of them are located on the left side. You get one COMBO audio jack, two Type-A USB 3.2 (Gen 1), one Type-A USB 2.0, an HDMI port (which supports HDMI 2.0), an RJ45 LAN port, and the charging port.

So, if you’re someone who makes use of most of these ports at the same time, you might fall victim to a few tangled wires. Talking about wires, the wireless options on the other hand on the FX505GT include integrated Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity.

Thermals

Now let’s get into the fan placement, which is crucial for any gaming laptop. The ASUS FX505GT has two rear-facing vents for the dual HyperFan. Its anti-dust cooling mechanism releases any dust particles accumulated.

Additionally, you can also tweak the performance of these fans through the function buttons between “Silent”, “Performance” or the “Turbo” option. And as you might’ve guessed it, the Turbo mode gets efficiently loud.

Audio

The audio output from the speakers on this laptop, as expected, is strictly average. You get 2W stereo speakers aligned at 45º. You’d certainly benefit from using headphones especially while gaming in Turbo mode because like I mentioned before, the fan noise is very loud.

But that’s not all the reason for plugging in a stereo headphone. The FX505GT also supports DTS Headphone: X technology for immersive sound quality, with optimized audio profiles for games, movies, and sports.

Keyboard & Trackpad

The keyboard here is really impressive as well, which is a full-sized keyboard with single-zone RGB lighting. Here, you can customize the lighting from the TUF Aura Core panel. And I do have to give a special mention to the “WASD” keys for their transparent and highlighted design. Since I’m a content writer myself, I really enjoyed the keyboard on this thing with its good travel distance, satisfying soft tap sound, and an overall satisfactory typing experience.

But on the contrary, the trackpad on the FX505GT is just about average. It is made of plastic and therefore is not as good as a glass trackpad.

This could’ve been better but I understand that ASUS had to cut costs any way possible without hampering anything critical.

Display

When it comes to the display, the ASUS TUF FX505GT sports a standard 15.6-inches LED-backlit FHD IPS panel but with varying refresh rates. The unit I have with me has a 60Hz display with a 45% NTSC color gamut, though you can also find one with up to 144Hz and 72% NTSC.

The bezels are adequately small as well, though they are a bit more pronounced on the top and especially on the bottom of the display. Here, you’ll find a 720p webcam at the top, whose quality is just sub-par. Despite the inferior refresh rate and color accuracy, I’m fond of this display panel – at least for its price range.

Contrast, colors, and viewing angles were all fine by my standard. And though this is not the most color-accurate panel, it still manages to outperform other similarly priced budget laptops like the HP Pavilion Power 15, or the Acer Nitro 5.

Therefore, this is definitely not for the professional content creators out there, but occasional photo editing requirements are well within its reach. The brightness is decent as well, but not anything extraordinary. Due to this, I definitely had some trouble using this laptop outdoors.

Performance

The performance is undeniably the biggest plus point in this laptop. The ASUS TUF FX505DD that I reviewed a couple of months ago came with 3^rd gen AMD Ryzen 5 CPU, which was not quite there against its Intel counterpart. As a significant upgrade, the FX505GT comes with a 9^th Gen Intel Core processor. My unit is powered by the Intel Core i5 9300H, while one with i7 9750H is also available on the global market. Complementing this CPU is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card with 4GB of GDDR5 VRAM.

With a decent setup at the helm, I was able to play all of the latest games in 60fps or more in the highest settings. And for the optimum performance, I turned on the “Turbo” mode with the fans maxing out on their capacity.

For instance, I played FIFA 20 in the highest settings with the MSAA option at 4X and it ran flawlessly. Battlefield V with max settings ran at around 55fps with no performance hiccups at all. Similarly, I also played Apex Legends Season 3, and it ran at 60fps under max settings void of any trouble.

On top of that, there were no signs of extreme heating either. Apart from the “Turbo” mode doing its job, that may partially have been a result of the cold weather this time around here in Kathmandu.

And with such a commendable gaming performance, needless to say, that the ASUS TUF FX505GT handles other normal usage or general editing tasks with ease as well. Simultaneously using Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator with numerous tabs opened on the memory-hungry Chrome yielded no issues.

Memory

On the subject of memory, my unit came with 8GB of DDR4 RAM running at a frequency of 2666MHz. That could be enough for general usage, but since this machine is targeted towards gaming, I’d advise on adding another 8GB stick on its vacant slot for enhanced performance. Furthermore, this one supports up to 32GB of RAM in dual-channel, so there’s always an option for expansion.

Similarly, the FX505GT that I have with me comes with 512GB of PCIe Gen3 SSD storage. It was refreshing for me to see a budget gaming laptop with such a big SSD storage. It has decent sequential read-and-write speeds as well, so I got no complaints on the storage-front.

Battery

The battery life, however, isn’t that great and falls under the below-average rating. It has a small 3-cell 48Wh battery, which can last for about 4-5 hours in the most basic of usage like web browsing or watching movies under “Silent” mode.

Verdict

ASUS TUF FX505GT is an excellent budget gaming laptop under Rs. 1 lakh in Nepal. It has a powerful processor and graphics card, and a sizeable SSD storage. It does fall behind on aspects like build material, but that is to be expected. Overall, it ticks all the boxes for an inexpensive gaming laptop or just a regular laptop on that matter. Therefore, I highly recommend it to those looking for a decent gaming setup on a budget.

The new Alcatel 3T 10 Tablet now available in Nepal

GadgetByte

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January 24, 2020

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The new Alcatel 3T 10 Tablet now available in Nepal

Alcatel is a brand best known for its OneTouch range of Android smartphones. It has been designing and developing a huge range of smartphones and internet devices for well over a decade. And the latest Alcatel device to make its way into our market is the new Alcatel 3T 10 tablet.

Alcatel 3T 10 overview

An older variant of the Alcatel 3T 10 had actually launched last year. However, despite having the same name, this new tablet has received a considerable upgrade. For starter, it offers 3GB of RAM instead of 2GB in the previous iteration. Moreover, this time around the device comes with a bigger battery of 5500mAh.

Significant improvement has been made in the camera department too. You now get a 5MP primary camera and a 5MP camera on the front too. In addition to that, the storage has been upped to 32GB.

The processor on this device is the MediaTek Quad-Core MT8765B. Other than that there’s the same 10-inch screen with HD display. Furthermore, the device supports Voice Call (Single Sim, 4G VoLTE).

Alcatel 3T 10 also features a far-field DSP voice recognition. The maximum distance up to which it can recognize is of 3 meters. That means you can activate Google Assistant hands-free. You can pair it with other smart devices in your home and control them through your voice.

Moreover, the device can connect with up to two Bluetooth devices at once within a ten-meter range. Additionally, there’s also a 3.5mm headphone port ( a must for me at least!).

The other thing that really intrigued me with this tablet is its charging dock. It is sort of a charging dock-stand combo. It charges the tablet while simultaneously keeping its Fast-Access Display within a quick reach.

Also Read: Alcatel Mobile Prices in Nepal

Alcatel 3T 10 Specifications:

Display: 10-inch IPS LCD screen with HD display
Operating System: Android 9.0 (Pie)
Processor: MediaTek Quad Core (MT8765B)
RAM: 3GB
Storage: 32GB (expandable up to 128GB)
Front Camera: 5MP
Back Camera: 5MP
Battery: 5500mAH Li-ion

The specs certainly are not alluring, but this is what you get on an entry-level tablet.

Alcatel 3T 10 Price in Nepal

So, how much does this device cost? Well, this entry-level tablet is available for purchase for Rs. 24, 490. Now, there are very few tablets that are available in this price range thus, I feel that the Alcatel 3T 10 will be a good choice for anyone looking for an entry-level tablet at a reasonable price.