Page 658 – GadgetByte Nepal

Alcatel 3 now available in Nepal via Daraz

GadgetByte

-

July 15, 2019

Alcatel 3 now available in Nepal via Daraz

Alcatel is a French mobile brand which is not known in the premium leagues of smartphones, but it has its name in the budget ones. Still, this is not a brand that you can find all over. However, there were talks about it coming to Nepal soon. And now, it seems that it’s finally official – with the Alcatel 3 available for purchase in Nepal.

SHTC International Pvt Ltd. is the official distributor of Alcatel mobiles in Nepal. But SHTC is also a well-known distributor of other electronics like Prolink, Fujitsu, etc. However, it was Daraz that is selling the phone right now. And out of the 4 phones rumored to arrive (Alcatel 1S, Alcatel 1x, Alcatel 3 2019, and Alcatel 3L), the Alcatel 3 2019 is already up for grabs on the site.

alcatel 3 launched in Nepal — **Source**: PhoneArena

Alcatel 3 is a new budget phone in the Nepali market now. Its specs are also very similar to that of a budget phone. After all, it runs on the Snapdragon 439 processor, with 4 GB of RAM. The phone also has the trendy notch cut-out up top but with a display of 5.94″, it is small for a phone of 2019. We rarely see new phones with displays under 6″ these days!

Besides that, you get a standard dual camera set up at the back and a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. The dual cameras comprise a primary and a depth sensor, and the display is only HD+. All the characteristics of a typical budget phone. Also, the battery is a 3500 mAh unit, which is okay, actually.

And all this is available for a price of Rs.21,490 in Nepal, from Daraz. We can’t be sure how it is in the offline marketplace. Also, since its very new…it might take time to make its presence in the offline stores.

Alcatel 3 2019 Specifications:

Display: 5.94″ IPS LCD display with HD+ resolution (720 x 1560 pixels)
Rear Camera: Dual, 16 MP with f/2.0 aperture + 5 MP depth sensor
Front Camera: 8 MP with f/2.0
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 439
CPU: Octa-core (2×2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 & 6×1.45 GHz Cortex A53)
GPU: Adreno 505
RAM: 4 GB
Storage: 64 GB (expandable via microSD card)
OS: Android 9 Pie
Battery: 3500 mAh
Price: Rs.21,490

Honor 9X leaks ahead of the official launch

GadgetByte

-

July 15, 2019

0

Honor 9X leaks ahead of the official launch

Honor 9X is most likely launching next week in the Chinese market. However, rumors and speculations are still pouring in about the phone’s specifications. This series of the phone has been gathering a lot of market attention due to their specs and price range.

Honor phones only made their debut recently in Nepal, compared to others. And we can expect a price range of around Rs. 40,000 in the Nepalese market, for these phones, if it lands in Nepal. But since this is the first phone with a Kirin 810, I hope it does.

Regarding the latest development, the phone will be launched in three different variants. Those being HLK-TL00, HLK-AL00, and HLK-AL10. Of course, these are not your official names, just the models. But, I couldn’t find any significant differences in their specs. Nonetheless, here’s what the phones will look like:

Honor 9X specifications:

Display: 6.59-inch TFT display
Resolution: Full-HD+ (2340 x 1080 pixels) @ 19.5:9 aspect ratio
Rear camera: Triple camera, 48MP + 16MP + 2MP
CPU: HiSilicon Kirin 810
GPU: Mali-G52 MP6
RAM: 4GB, 6GB, 8GB
Storage: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
OS: Android 9.0
Battery: 3900 mAh
Colors: Black, Blue, Red, Gradient Violet, Gradient Blue

Some minor changes can be expected on specifications once the device is finally launched. But for the time being, they look fairly similar. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait for long to find out! The device is slated to launch on July 23. So it won’t take us long to figure out how these leaks pan out in real life.

Another app in Google’s graveyard: Blog Compass shutting down!

GadgetByte

-

July 15, 2019

0

Another app in Google’s graveyard: Blog Compass shutting down!

We all know about Google and its huge array of apps, and why shouldn’t we, they have obviously made our lives easier. From Maps to Gmail, we use Google’s services for even the simplest of tasks. But even this silicon valley giant doesn’t have a Midas touch. It was just in April 2019 that Google cut all services of the laughing stock that was Google Plus. Now, there’s a new app that makes its way into the Google graveyard-the Blog Compass.

Launched in 2018, Blog Compass was a blog management tool that could connect to sites running either WordPress or Blogger. It basically provided bloggers an insight into trending topics and a centralized dashboard for analytics. Bloggers could track their site stats, approve comments and get tips on how to make their blogs successful through the app.

Also Read: Huawei to use its trademark OS or is it?

User review might have been a reason for its downfall. It was way back in October 2018 that users started complaining about the app. As per the reviews available for this app in Google Play, users were unable to even sign in using their Google Accounts. Even those who succeeded in signing in were simply greeted by a “Getting Started” message only. According to the Play Store, the app had around 10,000 to 50,000 installs. These numbers were good but not “Google good”!

The abrupt shut down of this app further goes on to show Google’s lack of interest in blogging platforms. Even Blogger, Google’s own blogging platform, has not received any update since 2016. Thus, it’s safe to assume that its interest in this area is dying.

One can never really say why a company of Google’s stature has failed in the ever-growing field of blogging. But I guess its success in other fields makes up for one or two failed ventures.

Huawei to use its trademark OS or is it?

GadgetByte

-

July 15, 2019

0

Huawei to use its trademark OS or is it?

The past two months have most likely been a roller-coaster ride for Huawei. Predominantly, Trump administration’s blacklisting the company, and as a response, Google complying with the order. However, the downward plunge of Huawei in the cellphone market did not hinder its P30 series smashing the P20 series sales record. This indicated that there is still sunshine on the horizon for Huawei. In whatever way, tech enthusiasts and phone lovers are speculating the response of Huawei in the coming days.

Nevertheless, Huawei had supposed such a set of circumstances. That is why the company started introducing some OS prototypes since the past few years. The company made its OS public after the Android ban. First, it was Hongmeng OS, then it was Ark / Oak OS, and there were also rumors of it using the Sailfish OS! And now, Huawei has another OS trademark, with the name Harmony!

There are very few details in this regard, but we know that they did get a trademark for it.

And it is strange, especially, after Huawei’s ban has been partially lifted. This means the upcoming phones will use Android Q as their OS. That being so, many questions, on Huawei’s decisions can be raised. Why is Huawei still developing their own OS if Android is still an option? Are we never using Android on Huawei devices again? Or are they preparing for similar future predicaments?

These questions are pragmatic but, even though the ban has been lifted; the trade war between China and USA is still going on, albeit a bit softer. Therefore, Huawei opting to a plan B is certainly commonsensical.

Be that as it may, the story still hasn’t unfolded properly. According to the recent news and rumors, Huawei is planning to lay off several of their workers in the US. The company will reportedly allow some Chinese employees to relocate back to China. While other employees have already been notified that they will be let go in the near future.

Regardless of the rumors and speculations, all of the tech industry is still waiting to see how the rest of the story unfolds. All we have for now are questions and numerous presuppositions.

Xiomi Mi A3 leaks and rumors surface: Might bring the headphone jack back!

GadgetByte

-

July 15, 2019

0

Xiomi Mi A3 leaks and rumors surface: Might bring the headphone jack back!

If you are a fan of stock Android, and that too, at an affordable price, then, Xiaomi’s Mi A-lineup looks promising. The Mi A2 was such a phone, and now we’re expecting a successor to that – the Xiaomi Mi A3. The phone is still in its rumor stages, and its specs have started making rounds.

With the images currently available, one can safely say that the Xiaomi Mi A3 is inspired by Huawei’s design language. Though a follow-up to Mi A2, the phone in no way looks similar to it. Rather, it seems like a tweaked version of the recently launched Mi CC9.

The phone boasts a triple camera setup on the back and there’s a notch at top of the display. With all the notch-less phones available in the market, the one at the top in this model might put off some users. But hey, it houses the Android one experience! That’s gotta count for something.

The lack of a fingerprint sensor at the back of the phone suggests that there might be on in the display screen itself. This will be an upgrade from what was available in its predecessor. Furthermore, some of the hardware leaks include a 6 inch FHD+ AMOLED display, 4 GB RAM, a Snapdragon 665 processor and a large battery of 4000 mAh. The large battery will depend on a USB-C port for charging.

The mentioned triple camera array on the back will include a 48MP main camera and the secondary cameras of 8 and 2 MP. Also, the phone appears to be made of glass which provides it a premium look.

Reports suggest that the phone will be available in two variants: 64 GB and 128 GB. There’s also a microSD slot that allows storage expansion. And surprise surprise, the Xiaomi Mi A3 brings back the headphone jack which was missing from its predecessor! The missing slot for a headphone was something that put off many buyers from buying the Mi A2. Hopefully, the return of it will help bring back the lost customers. Being an Android One device, it will run on a stock version of Android pie.

We don’t know any launch dates and prices in Nepal yet. But it is launching on 25th July in India. But as for the rumors, we can only wait and see if all the rumors pan out.

Want to upload pictures in your PC to Instagram? Here’s how you can do it

GadgetByte

-

July 15, 2019

0

Want to upload pictures in your PC to Instagram? Here’s how you can do it

There may be times when you find a beautiful picture on your computer and think of sharing it on your Instagram. But when you log in to your Instagram account from your PC, you see that there is no upload option available! Now you might look around for your USB cable to transfer it to your phone, or, simply leave it be as you don’t want to go through the extensive process of copying the picture on your phone. Then, you lament over the lack of options you have and decide, the picture will never be showcased to the world.

But not anymore. There are some “hacks” – don’t worry, you won’t have to hack your computer – to do this. Here, I have listed some options you can use to upload your pictures on Instagram using your PC.

Using browser developer mode

In my opinion, it is the best way to upload pictures to Instagram on PC. It does not require any kind of extensions and is relatively easy for an average PC user.

The initial step is to log in to your Instagram account using your browser then enter the browser’s developer mode. The steps to access the browser’s development mode may vary according to your browser.

Chrome: F12 or three dot menu > more tools > developer tools Firefox: Three-line menu/hamburger menu > web developer > toggle tools Opera: Menu > developer > developer tools Microsoft edge: F12 and then choosing emulation from the arrow pointing downwards

Now that you have activated developer mode, your browser window along with Instagram should look like the one in your mobile app. As of now, you should also see some familiar signs accompanied by the plus (+) sign, if not press reload button.

Hit the plus sign and the standard File Explorer will pop up. This will allow you to choose an image or video from your PC to upload to Instagram.

Using BlueStacks Android Emulator

An Android emulator is a program that lets you run Android apps on PC. So basically, you are running the actual Instagram app on your computer.

BlueStacks is one of the most popular Android emulators available, so download and install this app on your PC. Now you can download the Instagram app to your PC using the BlueStacks access to Play Store.

Once you’ve installed the Instagram app, open it from BlueStacks home screen. From here you can follow the identical approach to uploading photos from your phone. However, Windows file explorer will pop up instead of your phone’s gallery app.

Using the Windows 10 Instagram app

Windows has an Instagram app available in the Windows store. But apparently, Instagram has restricted uploads to Windows 10 devices with touchscreens only (eg. convertibles and tablets). However, it is still possible to find and use the app’s upload functionality regardless of the screen type.

Upload Images on Instagram from PC

1 of 2

Start by searching for Instagram in the Windows 10 search bar next to the start or Windows Button. Search for Instagram in the search bar then select the new post to open a very rudimentary file picker. This doesn’t activate the Windows file explorer, however, serves up a few folders like Pictures, Downloads, Saved Pictures, Camera Roll.

Nevertheless, if you are not seeing the new post functionality when searching for Instagram in the search bar. Right-click on the app and choose pin to taskbar. Further, right-click the pinned Instagram icon and you should see new post option. Click this and you should see the aforesaid file picker which allows you to start the upload process.

However, you can only upload pictures from the default Pictures folder on C: drive. So, make sure to move your desired picture to that.

So, there you have it. Maybe you don’t really use Instagram on your PC, but hey, if you happen to find that cute photo from your DSLR in your PC, then, this is the way to go!

Facebook fined the largest amount ever for a tech company for privacy breach!

GadgetByte

-

July 15, 2019

0

Facebook fined the largest amount ever for a tech company for privacy breach!

I kinda have a love-hate relationship with Facebook. I love using it but hate how it sells my data without my consent. To be honest, in the past I did not care even a bit about how my data was handled by Facebook. There was this case reported about how the company stores un-encrypted user data in its internal servers. So what? It was after all a protected server. No third-party had access to it.

However, my perspective shifted after I learned about the Cambridge Analytica scandal. It caused an uproar all over the world and Facebook was at the center of it. Turns out, millions of Facebook user’s data were passed on to Cambridge Analytica, an upstart voter-profiling company. It is believed that the data was then used to sway elections results around the world. The most notable of them was the US Presidential election of 2016.

Facebook stayed quiet about all this until a whistleblower brought light to this event to all of us. Now, almost after a year and a half long legal proceedings that included a congressional hearing, Facebook is finally set to face the repercussions of the event. The Federal Trade Commission has levied a hefty fine of $5 billion on the tech giant! The fine is set to be the biggest one to be levied on a tech company. Now it wouldn’t be fair to say that Facebook was the sole reason for how the elections panned out but one cannot deny its role in it.

What next?

Facebook pays its fine, then what? How will our data be handled from now onwards? These questions might have popped in your head and well Facebook sort of tried answering them. Ever since the scandal made headlines, Facebook has been trying to sell itself as a privacy-focused platform. Yes, it sounds laughable but it was their prime concern for the F8 developer conference too.

The tech giants announced that they will be using end-to-end encryption on its various platforms such as Messenger and Instagram. This announcement seems much clearer than the one Mark Zuckerberg gave during his congressional hearing. No one can actually say what the future holds but let’s keep occur fingers crossed and hope for the best about our data and Facebook!

Maybe after this, they’ll finally learn the lesson, and be more serious?

Honor 8s: Dual textured design but what else?

GadgetByte

-

July 15, 2019

0

Honor 8s: Dual textured design but what else?

Honor is relatively a new brand for the Nepali smartphone market. And it has just a handful of devices in its lineup. The cheapest Honor phone available in Nepal is the Honor 8s. Let’s find out the specs, updated price, and availability of Honor 8s in Nepal.

Honor 8s Overview:

Entry-level devices usually come with a bland and highly normal design. But Honor, unconventionally, wrapped the Honor 8s with a dual-textured back, due to which the handset looks quite striking. The body is made of plastic however, the phone doesn’t look cheap.

Going by the specs, the handset features a 5.71-inch display with a tiny notch on the top. Maintaining the standards of entry-level devices, the phone comes with HD+ resolution. The display features a notch on the top of the screen to house the 5MP selfie camera. The bezel on the bottom is more evident than on the side and it features the logo of Honor. There’s no fingerprint sensor on the device for biometrics.

On the performance front, there is Helio A22 chipset complemented with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage. On top of that, you get a dedicated slot to let you expand the storage further up to 1TB.

Honor 8s color options

1 of 3

In the lens department, the Honor 8s sports a 13MP camera module on the rear. On the front, a 5MP selfie snapper rests snuggly on the notch. Even if there is no fingerprint scanner on the phone, you can unlock the device via Face Unlock feature. In doing so, this same 5MP camera comes into action.

When it comes to the software, Honor 8s boots on Android 9 Pie out of the box. Honor has also included EMUI 9 Lite software overlay to add some flavors to native software experience. The phone is powered by a 3020mAh battery and gets a Micro USB port for charging.

Honor 8s specifications:

Display: 5.71-inch LCD IPS display
Resolution: HD+ (720 x 1520 pixels), 19:9 aspect ratio @ 295PPI
Chipset: MediaTek Helio A22
CPU: Quad-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53
GPU: PowerVR GE8320
OS & UI: Android Pie (v9.0) with EMUI 9 Lite on the top
RAM: 2GB
Storage: 32GB, up to 1TB expandable storage (Dedicated SD card slot)
Rear Camera: 13MP, f/1.8, LED flash
Front Camera: 5MP, f/2.2
Sensors: Accelerometer, proximity
Battery: 3,020mAh; Uses Micro USB Port
Colors: Blue, Black, Gold

Honor 8s Price in Nepal & Availability

The price of Honor 8s in Nepal is Rs 11,590 for the 2/32GB variant. The device is available through select online and offline retail shops.

Model Name	Price in Nepal	Available stores
Honor 8s	Rs 11,590	Neoteric

At this price, going for Honor 8A Lite makes more sense as it comes with a better processor and more RAM unless you are way tight on budget.

Daraz introduces Dmart: Online shopping destination for all the household products

GadgetByte

-

July 14, 2019

0

Daraz introduces Dmart: Online shopping destination for all the household products

Daraz, the leading eCommerce platform in Nepal, is gearing up to te the absolute online shopping destination. Daraz has almost everything: from electronics like smartphones and laptops to fashion wear. And now, Daraz is adding grocery items on its shelf, with the objective to be the one-stop solution for all items. This led to the introduction of Daraz Dmart section on the website. It encompasses items like rice, dal, cereals, to your favorite snacks, beverages, skin care products, cleaning supplies, etc. So, even your daily basics are easily accessible through your fingertips.

Daraz Dmart also includes some exclusive products, exclusive deals, and certified organic products on the store. And also offers attractive discounts on some selected products, ranging from 3% to 50%. Furthermore, Dmart offers exclusive discounts on baby care products at the end of every month. You can also purchase baby care products like diapers at wholesale prices. So, it somewhat saves the hassle of visiting retail stores to get such products. Similarly, Daraz also claims the availability of STC products like salt, flour, daal, etc. at reasonable prices.

In addition to the regular grocery items, Daraz also promises to deliver a wide range of household products. Not only common ones but also those which are not usually available in local stores. In the diverse inventory of its products, users can browse through and select products from sanitary napkins, pet care items and diapers to chocolate bars. Moreover, Dmart constantly brings in new arrivals every second week of the month adding to its already diverse range of items.

After the introduction of Daraz Dmart, Jai Kavi, Managing Director of Daraz Nepal, says “The cheaper price, the great offers, along with competitive prices and delivery service are the major factors that make Dmart stand out from the rest. With new features and even greater assortments, we continue to establish Dmart as a better alternative approach to traditional grocery shopping.”

In addition, Daraz is also offering a free delivery service on the purchase of Rs. 1,500 or above. Since the household items are often bought in bulk, the service sounds reasonable. Daraz also promises to deliver the products in 24 to 48 hours for the customers inside Kathmandu valley. And for the outside valley customers, Daraz will deliver in 2-4 days .

Visit Daraz Dmart Here

OnePlus 7 Launched in Nepal: True Flagship Killer?

GadgetByte

-

July 11, 2019

0

OnePlus 7 Launched in Nepal: True Flagship Killer?

OnePlus’s strategy, this time around, focused mostly on the OnePlus 7 Pro. The phone launched first, before the actual OnePlus 7, and made a name for itself. But it’s price had people talking about whether it was still a flagship killer… And frankly, I thought it was not one now, either. However, maybe the OnePlus 7 is the true flagship killer? Anyways, let’s learn more about Oneplus 7 and its price in Nepal.

Oneplus 7 Overview:

OnePlus 7 is the toned-down variant of the Pro. While most of the internals remain the same, a lot of the features fall short. This makes it look like an upgraded version of the Oneplus 6T actually.

Starting off with the aesthetics, the OnePlus 7 is smaller, at 6.41″ display, with Full HD+ resolution compared to QHD of the Pro. Also, it doesn’t get the 90 Hz Fluid display of the Pro but the regular 60 Hz. However, it still features the Gorilla Glass 6 protection.

Another compromise is the camera and it’s a major one! While flagships these days have a triple camera, the OnePlus 7 doesn’t. On top, its dual-camera setup comprises a primary lens and a depth sensor, which, you find on almost all kinds of smartphones these days. So, I’m not sure you can even call this a flagship phone now. In addition, it doesn’t have the fancy pop-up cameras, either. And it’s notch houses the 16 MP selfie camera, which is the same on the pop-up module, as well.

However, it doesn’t compromise on power. It rocks the Snapdragon 855 processor with two RAM variants – a 6 GB and an 8 GB model. However, you only get the 8 GB model in Nepal. Also, it features the in-display fingerprint sensor on it.

In terms of battery, it again has a smaller 3700 mAh battery and the slightly slower 20-Watt Fast Charging. OnePlus still calls it Warp Charging, but it’s not as fast as the one on OnePlus 7 Pro.

So, OnePlus 7 is a mixed bag of emotions. I’m not sure if we can call it a flagship even, and while it is a value for money device, it’s just not all the way up there.

OnePlus 7 Specifications:

Design: Glass body, Aluminum frame
Display: 6.41-inch Optic AMOLED panel with Full-HD+ resolution (1080 x 2340 pixels), 19.5:9 aspect ratio, Corning Gorilla Glass 6, water-drop notch
Rear Camera: Dual, 48 MP (f/1.7, PDAF, OIS), NightScape 2.0 + 5 MP depth sensor
Front Camera: 16 MP with f/2.0, Auto-HDR
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
CPU: Octa-core (1×2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3×2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4×1.80 GHz Kryo 485)
GPU: Adreno 640
RAM: 8 GB
Storage: 256 GB
OS: Android Pie (v9.0) with OxygenOS 9.5 on top
Sensors: In-display Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Gyro, proximity, compass
Color Variant(s): Mirror Gray, Red
Battery: 3700 mAh with 20-Watt Warp Charge

OnePlus 7 Price in Nepal & Availability [Updated]

The OnePlus 7 is available in Nepal for the price of Rs.67,000. This price is for the 8GB RAM, 256GB storage variant.

Model Name	Price in Nepal
Oneplus 7 (8GB,256GB)	NPR 67,000