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Sleep Texting – Modern Bad Habits

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Now, I know most of you are on your phones till late at night before you go to sleep. I am too. But I browse memes…but it might not be the same for you. Most people are generally texting others late at night before they go to sleep. And that can actually lead to a modern bad habit – Sleep Texting. 

Most of us who use our phones right until we sleep have another bad habit. Keeping our phones right next to us on the pillow. But that is not as bad as what it can actually lead to. Yes, sleep texting. And it is a “phenomenon” which occurs when an individual sends or responds to a text message electronically while in sleep state. 

Also Read: More than half of the world is connected to the Internet today!

Think about it. You have your phone next to your pillow, and you receive a notification about a text message. Your body is programmed to reach for it even if you’re half asleep! In that state, you reply whatever, but will probably not remember it the next morning. That is purely instinct, but one brought about by our habit of being on our phone most of the time. 

This actually comes from a study conducted at Villanova University. Researchers surveyed about 370 students and found this problem more common than previously thought. Some 25% of the students admitted to sleep texting previously as well. Out of which, over 70% didn’t remember doing it whereas 25% of them did not remember what they texted. 

The lack of memory is not surprising, as people generally don’t remember the last moments before they drift off to sleep. And similar is the case with those who wake up after sleeping for a short while. They are in a half asleep state, but the body instinctively does the texting. So, those who do it have no idea they did it anyway. 

Not a very strange thing, is it? Many tend to fall asleep while talking to someone on the phone late at night. They, too, have no memory of what they say before completely dozing off. A result of smartphone addiction combined with our lifestyle. Yes, human evolution surely knows no bounds!

Things to consider while buying an SSD

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SSDs are great, they help give your old sluggish PC a new life. No matter how much of a RAM or even a processor upgrade you do on your PC, if your hard disk is the bottleneck, it’s just going to perform more or less the same. So, it’s safe to say that an SSD is the best upgrade you can perform on you PC/Laptop if it doesn’t have one already.

However, there are certain cases you won’t see much of a difference. One of which is gaming. Your gameplay or the FPS will remain almost exactly the same although the game loading times will decrease significantly. SSDs only help if your storage device is a bottleneck, which is most of the times.  

If you are in Nepal just like me, SSDs are making a mark. There was a time when you would have to call up your distant uncle or that one guy who is friends with your other friend to bring you the SSD you want at the price you can afford, just because they were returning to Nepal.

But that is changing and these days you can buy an SSD from absolutely anywhere at reasonable prices. But before you do that there are a few things you need to consider first.

Also Read: PC Building Guides

Size of an SSD

The first and foremost is the size of an SSD, or moreover the size your computer supports. SSDs aren’t “plug and play” devices, rather they are to be fitted inside your CPU, never to be taken out unless absolutely necessary. You will also be using a few screws to put them in place too.

If you are planning to use an SSD your system doesn’t support, just don’t. If you absolutely have to maybe try a converter. These days you can find converters for anything to anything and they are pretty cheap as well.  But nothing trumps native support so pick your fight wisely. We will be looking at two of the most popular SSD sizes on the market these days.

1. M.2 SSD

The first is an M.2 which you might have heard. If you have a relatively new PC or laptop, there is a high chance that it will support an M.2 SSD. If it does, you need to figure out its size. The M.2 is just a general form factor, while there are multiple sizes an M.2 SSD comes in.

While the industry has agreed on a standard width size of 22mm, the length is where it just goes bananas. With three different length sizes coming in at 80mm, 60mm, 42mm, and a few others you will need to figure out which one your system supports. You can either open up your PC/Laptop or just check your user manual. 

Samsung 960 EVO PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD

Although there are like 5 different sizes, the most common is the 80mm one. It’s also the most easily available M.2 storage device out there. They aren’t the cheapest, but they are some of the most reliable ones out there. If your system supports this type of SSD you can jump directly to the “Types of SSD”. 

2. 2.5″ SSD

If your system, unfortunately, doesn’t support an M.2 SSD, a 2.5″ SSD will fit in almost any PC or laptop out there. To start with, your laptop is probably already rocking a 2.5″ hard drive, which you can just swap out for an SSD of the same size. 

samsung 2.5-inch SSD

If you are on a PC, it’s even easier, there is almost always room for a 2.5″ storage device on the casing. If by chance, there isn’t, you can get a 2.5″ to 3.5″ adapter bracket to fit your SSD. 

Types of SSD

There are a few types of SSD and their own host interfaces. But to make things simple, we will look at two types of logical interfaces most commonly used and readily available right now. They include SATA 3 (6.0 Gbit/s) and PCIe (31.5 Gbit/s) logical interface, which will reflect directly on the speeds you will get and the price you will have to pay.

So, to make things simple, just figure out if your system supports PCI Express. If it doesn’t then you are stuck with the SATA 3 interface. This isn’t actually a bad thing, a SATA3 SSD is still twice as fast as a traditional hard drive. These are also the most common ones out there and are pretty much as cheap as an SSD gets.

While you can buy a SATA 3 SSD, even though you have an empty PCIe lane, the SSD will work as it should but you will be throwing away a lot of potential performance. You can also do the exact opposite and use a PCIe SSD on an mSATA interface, but here you are just wasting you money on a more expensive SSD.

We obviously recommend you get the correct type of SSD for your interface, but if you are on a budget, going with a SATA 3 SSD for your PCIe supported PC should be OK. The other way around however isn’t recommended unless you plan to change your whole system sometime soon.

Pricing

After you have decided on the size and type of SSD you need, you now need to decide how much you are willing to spend on it. SATA SSDs starts at around 5k for 128GB and the prices will go up depending on their capacity and quality.

Comparing prices of both types of SSDs, a normal SATA 3 SSD costs about 8k for 256GB while a PCIe SSD will cost you well over 12k for the same storage. You are paying that extra for more speed and reliability. Here is the official price list of Transcend for the month of September 2018 for reference.

SSDPrice 
SATA III 820 M.2 SSD (120GB)Rs 5,750
SATA III 820 M.2 SSD (240GB)Rs 9,000
SATA III 820 M.2 SSD (480GB)Rs 18,750
PCIe NVMe M.2 110s (256GB)Rs 12,500
PCIe NVMe M.2 110s (512GB)Rs 21,875

Where to buy one?

Online retailers like Daraz or SastoDeal do sell SSDs in both sizes. You can also try local retailers, like that computer shop you actually bought your system in. Or you can also try hamrobazar, which is just filled with brand new and second hand SSDs. 

What next?

After you install your new SSD, the first thing you should do is install a fresh clean copy of windows on that new storage device. Sure you can just use it as a fast file storage but that’s neither optimal nor is it going to make your PC run faster. The only way you can take full advantage of that SSD is if you install your windows on that device.

If you were running on a genuine copy of Windows 10, you do not need to worry about activation, the BIOS takes care of that. If you use a crack, well you don’t have to worry about activation at all. After that, you can just install all your software on your SSD while your hard disk is there if you need cheaper storage space. 

This is obviously what we recommend but if you planned anything else for your SSD, well, you paid for it. 

Conclusion

So, now you know the easiest way to buy an SSD. For PC users, this process should be easy. For laptop owners, however, opening up your computer can be a bit more complicated. There is also a high chance you will void your warranty while doing so.  But it should all be worth it, an SSD is the best thing that can happen to your system and you will feel it right off the start.

Read more: Everything about SSD

More than half of the world is connected to the Internet today!

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It is said that the world is a small place in these modern times. And apparently, it is getting smaller. The internet is connecting more people than ever before, and for the first time, more than half the global population has access to the Internet. 

This is a good news – because connectivity is one of the major points which all international organizations try to achieve as it is now one of the basic needs. At present, some 3.9 billion people are now online. And so, we have passed the 50% milestone for internet connectivity globally. Also, that number could reach up to 51.2% by the end of 2018, according to ITU, the UN agency for Information and communication Technology. 

This may not seem like much, but it is an important step for mankind. Far too many people are waiting to reap the benefits of Digital Economy. The development of such is more rapid in developing countries rather than developed ones. Compared to 2005, the world’s richest countries slowed slow growth from 51.3% to 80.9% at present. Whereas, developing countries showed a more rapid growth from 7.7% to 45.3%. Also, Africa has the strongest growth rate from 2.1% to 24.4%, according to the ITU reports. 

And this is made possible by the expansion of mobile technology. Fixed telephone line subscriptions are dwindling. But cellular users continue to grow, hence, such development. And with 5G technology incoming, this could pick up a more rapid pace.

Huawei Nova 4 – Shaping up

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The Huawei Nova 4 was just but a rumor a few days ago. Now, we’re seeing some pictures and have an idea about some specs that it is going to pack. The Nova 3 got a great response, and we can expect similar from the Nova 4. But…the Nova 4 is shaping up to be all too familiar. 

What I mean, is based on some leaked specs and photographs, we have a better idea of what the Nova 4 is going to look like. And surprise surprise…it looks like a twin to the Huawei P20 Pro, at least from the back. The dual gradient colors with the triple camera setup, the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and everything. At the front, however, the screen has a hole on the top left corner for the selfie camera as promised. 

The screen is a large 6.41″, but no confirmation on whether it will be an LCD panel or AMOLED. But for a phone such as this, it will most likely have an LCD panel. There are three cameras at the back, arranged just like the P20 Pro. And among them, the primary sensor is a whopping 48 MP camera! 

huawei nova 4 leaked image
Source: Weibo

Yes, higher mega-pixel count generally doesn’t mean it’s all that good, but, Huawei’s AI camera have never disappointed. And needless to say, these cameras will have better AI integration as well. The phone also packs a good sized 3900 mAh battery

Further specs are yet to be revealed, but the phone should pack the latest Kirin 980. Since it has a 48 MP sensor at the back, it will need serious power, especially for image processing, and AI capabilities. And looking at Nova 3, a Kirin 980 is the most likely choice. 

We’ll keep you updated with every bits we receive, so, stay tuned. Are you excited about the Nova 4, or will you let it pass?

Which processor should you choose while buying a computer?

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I feel you, the process of buying a good computer is a tiring work. It can be a very crafty job to find the right computer with the right specifications that will work for you. Because everyone’s different needs. Of course, if you have extra cash to throw around, you could get yourself a very high-end computer and not worry about it. However, most of us have a limited budget to spend on computers.

Choosing the right processor is one of the most important and tricky things because unlike RAM and Hard Disk, you can’t judge a processor by just numbers. There are a lot of other factors like Cache, Hyper-threading, Cores to consider. Plus, money is also another essential element because the processors are expensive. If you don’t need a very powerful processor, why waste your hard earned money on it?

So, how do you choose which processor to buy? Don’t worry, I will guide you thoroughly in this article. After reading this post, even a non-technical person can find choosing the best-fit-for-your-need processor to be an easy-peasy job.

First of all, if you live Nepal, you can choose from two brands: AMD or Intel. However, Intel is more readily available in the market. Therefore, I will be talking about Intel processors only (I don’t want you to be more confused. So, let’s stick with Intel).

Intel has it’s Core I series of processors, with a total of four variants, three of them readily available in Nepal. If you are confused, the Core i3, Core i5, and the Core i7 are the common ones. While the Core i9 is both more powerful and is just the best, they are pretty expensive.

HOW TO IDENTIFY GENERATIONS

Before you know how to identify the generation of a processor, you should note that in today’s age, i.e 2018 you should not buy anything that isn’t 8th Gen or higher. Even when you get a chance to buy a last-gen Core i7 vs a current-gen Core i5, get the latest one. While this seems pretty easy there is a lot of other things you need to consider.

1. Look at the Intel sticker (simple as that!)

Intel Processor Generation

For starters, as long as you are not buying an old processor, the generation is written right on the little sticker that comes with your laptop. If you are a desktop person, the packaging will have the generation written all over it. You will also get a sticker with the packaging for desktops while the sticker on laptops come pre-installed. 

2. Look at the processor serial number.

For this, you need to boot the computer and look at the computer properties. There you will see processor numbers.

intel processor number meaning
PC: Processor Number

The number after i3, i5 or i7 is the generation. For instance, in the picture above, the processor names are “Intel Core i7-7500 U” and “Intel Core i7-7Y75”; the number 7 after i7 means it is a seventh-generation processor. If it was 6th generation, the processor number would be “Intel i7 6XXXX”

Now that the problem of identifying the generation is resolved, let’s look at the difference between i3, i5 and i7.

Difference Between i3, i5 and i7

No, the numbers 3, 5 and 7 don’t represent the number of cores or processing speed (GHz). These numbers just show the relative performance based on the number of cores, clock speed (in GHz), the size of cache memory, Turbo Boost and Hyper-Threading. Well, in short i7 is better than i5, which in turn is better than i3.

Number of Cores: i3 has two to four cores, i5 has 2 to 6 cores and i7 has 2 to 8 cores. A higher core count doesn’t mean better performance. If an application is capable of utilizing multiple cores, that is the only way more cores help. Intel has introduced features like Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost that cannot be overlooked. But, the size of cache memory matters as well.

Hyper-threading: Thread is a process in simple term. Usually, one core can perform one task (thread) at a time. But with hyper-threading, Intel can process two tasks in a single core. Which means the two physical cores act as four cores (virtual), thus increasing speed. So, your dual-core i3 will act like it has four cores.

The Intel Core i3 series and the Intel Core i7 series support hyper-threading. The Intel Core i5 series (quad-core) does not support it (But, remember physical cores are better than virtual cores).

Turbo Boost: If you buy i5 or i7, your processor can increase its clock speed (GHz) when needed. This is called Turbo Boost by Intel. For example, if you are playing a game and your system requires some extra power, Intel processor will activate Turbo Boost to make the game run smooth. Unfortunately, i3 doesn’t support Turbo Boost.

Cache Memory: Cache is a memory (like RAM) inside the processor. So, the greater the cache memory size, the better the processor will perform. i3 has 3 to 8MB of cache, i5 has 3-9MB, i7 has 4-12MB cache and the latest Core i9-9900k has 16MB of cache.

I know, this all sounded too techie and you are still confused. You are probably still wondering…which one do I buy?

Alpha Suffix

This is the most important part of your buying decision. You might have noticed a letter or two at the end or somewhere in the middle of your processor’s serial number. That is your processor’s Alpha Suffix, or the product line suffix. This letter or letters represent what your processor is actually capable of.

The last letter in the processor number describes how your processor would perform and the list of features it gets. It also defines the processor’s TDP, which is also pretty important as well. Let’s look at a few common suffixes and what they mean for you. I will keep it as simple as possible.

Alpha SuffixDescription
KDesktop CPU
Unlocked
Overclockable
Performance-oriented
Usually has a TDP of 95W
Targeted towards gamers and Content creation
Eg: i9-9900k
HKLaptop CPU
Unlocked
Overclockable
Performance-oriented for laptops
TDP of 45W
Eg: i9-8950HK
HLaptop CPU
TDP of 45W
Performance Oriented
TDP of 45W
Up-to 6 Cores
Eg: i7-8750H
HQLaptop CPU
Quad-Core Processors
TDP of 45W
Fairly outdated at this point
Eg: i7-7700HQ
GLaptop CPU
Includes descrete Graphics
Eg: i7-8809G
ULaptop CPU
Ultra-low power
TDP of 15W
Ultrabook oriented
Best of usable power and battery efficiency
Eg: i7-8550U
YLaptop CPU
TDP of 4.5W
Fan-less design
Best for ultralight laptops
Battery efficiency at it’s best
Extremely low power
Eg: i7-7Y75

Which processor type is best for you?

First of all, it depends on what you plan to do with your system (laptop/PC). But, worry not! I will tell you more about processor types and the tasks it can do.

i3 – Good for basic tasks with decent multitasking. If all you do on your computer is surf Internet, use Word, Excel etc., play simple games, and make video calls, then i3 is for you. You will get a cheap computer for all your needs.

i5– This is good for someone who is Intermediate and active user (someone who wants to do simple video editing, graphics designing). Good for gaming if it has integrated graphics. Basically, if you want better performance at a cheap price, go for i5. In my opinion, this is the best choice because you never know when your needs might increase.

i7 – This is for the power users. It is similar to the flagship phones. It performs very good but is expensive. If you don’t need to do high-end video rendering, well, don’t waste your money (if you have a limited budget, that is).

i9 – The best processor Intel makes for us consumers. Packed with enough power to do almost anything, this is pretty much as good as it gets. If you have the money to buy one, be prepared to spend more on cooling solution.

TDP (Thermal Design Power)

TDP basically means the power a processor needs to work properly according to Intel’s definition of high-complexity workload. Although the TDP only shows the watt consumption under base frequencies. 

If you see anything less than 25W, it’s oriented towards battery life and portability. Anything around 50W are powerful processors, but not fully committed. Above that is basically all performance performance performance. 

Conclusion

So, just to summarize everything, always try and buy the latest gen processor rather than going after Intel’s absurd naming schemes. If you are still confused, just look at the processor’s TDP (Thermal Design Power). If you do finally choose a processor, just look at a few reviews before you actually make a purchase.  

Hope this loooong post helped clear your dilemma.

So, which processor will you be choosing while buying a computer? Let us know in the comments below.

Vivo Nex 2 Rumours – What’s Next?

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If you think you’ve seen all the antics to take this whole all-screen display, think again. We did see the Vivo Nex S with a selfie camera slider so that there was no need for a notch or bezels. Then we saw the OPPO Find X, which upped the Nex S with a slider for both the selfie and the rear cameras. Now, Vivo Nex 2 is coming with two displays just like the ZTE Nubia X.

Yes, you heard that right. It seems Vivo has leaked some of its images and renders. Maybe a part of their promotion campaign. But nevertheless, it’s out there. And these rumors are actually turning out to be interesting. Here’s what they look like.

vivo nex 2 rumors

The Vivo Nex 2 features two screens: a main 6.59″ Super AMOLED display and a secondary 5.5″ display at the back. Well yes, this is not exactly new…Nubia actually did it first with the Nubia X. But the secondary screen on this one is a tad bit bigger than Nubia X’s 5.1″ screen. The secondary screen’s display quality will be a thing to be tested.

As for the cameras, there are three cameras in the rear, as there are none at the front. This was the whole point behind the dual screen. You take selfies with your regular cameras via the secondary screen. And the camera seems to be AI integrated, i.e. the AI combines pictures from those three cameras into one, just like the Huawei P20 Pro. And while this may mean better regular images, it means amazing selfies- because not only you’re taking selfies with the primary cameras, you’re also getting this AI thing in it!

Still in the camera department, there is a “Star-Ring” sort of thing on the back camera, which rotates (in software) to provide better adjustment of the 3D Beauty levels. How it works, we don’t know yet…but it will soon be clear.

The internals of the Vivo Nex 2 aren’t exactly crystal. But rumors suggest it’ll have the Snapdragon 845 with up to 10 GB of RAM. That’s actually more power than anyone can use – but with two screens and such, it might be necessary. Also, the phone will have an In-display fingerprint sensor and probably will sport a Liquid Cooling System too.

What do you think of this phone? State-of-the-art? Or too flashy for taste? Whatever it is, seems like phones are going places.

Apple reveals Smart Sleep Technology

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Apple had very recently released a patent on a technology that monitors your sleep. A camera above the bed, a bunch of sensors woven into the blanket and a screen that displays the results. However, there is no date on the release, and we’re not sure if it actually will see the light of day. But here’s something that might actually be coming out soon. Apple has revealed its Apple Smart Sleep Technology.

Also Read: Apple Watch Could increase your life-span

The technology actually comes from Beddit, which manufactures sensors and the app. And earlier this year, Apple purchased Beddit. And so, now, the company has revealed its sleep tracking technology, which comprises of a sensor and an app on your iPhone. The sensor goes under your mattress – which is actually, a 2 mm thin mat with a USB wire you connect to a power adapter.

apple smart sleep technology beddit

The sensor is in sync with the Beddit app on your iPhone, and helps to measure, manage and improve your sleep. With its tracking, it measures your sleep duration, breathing, heart rate, room temperature & humidity, and even snoring. After all the analysis, it even provides tips to help you better your sleep.

You can also set your own bedtime goals and such for every day. And the tech helps you achieve by providing notifications of morning results, reminders and weekly reports.

This app is a great addition for what Apple already offers in terms of Health and Fitness. And this technology will cost you $150. And looking at the history of Apple products prices, this is actually surprising!

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 and Max M2 launched with big battery and dual camera setup

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Asus, the Taiwanese brand, has launched two new phones. They are the much awaited Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 and Asus Zenfone Max 2. Both of these are the successors to the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 and the Asus Zenfone Max M1 respectively. These phones are now available for purchase from Asus’ official website in Russia.

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 Overview

The Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 features a large 6.3″ IPS LCD display Full HD+ on a glass back body. The glass back also features a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. In addition, the display has a Gorilla Glass 6 protection.

In terms of camera, the Max Pro M2 features dual camera setup at the back like any other phone in 2018. The dual camera setup comprises of a 12 MP lens with f/1.8 aperture and a 5 MP depth sensor. The selfie camera is a single camera of 13 MP lens with f/2.0 aperture and LED front flash as well.

asus zenfone max pro m2

A Snapdragon 660 powers the phone with 4 GB of RAM, which means ample performance. It features a 64 GB of storage which is also expandable via microSD card. The phone packs a large 5000 mAh battery, which is the signature feature of these Asus Zenfones. The phone runs on Android 8.1 Oreo. It is priced at 17990 Rubles (Rus. currency), which is equivalent to the US $270.

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 Specifications:

  • Display: 6.3-inch IPS LCD Full HD+ (2280 × 1080 pixels) 19:9 aspect ratio, Corning Gorilla Glass 6 protection
  • Rear Camera: Dual, 12 MP primary Sony IMX486 sensor with f/1.8 aperture and PDAF, EIS, PDAF + 5 MP depth sensor
  • Front Camera: Single 13 MP front camera with f/2.0 aperture, LED flash
  • CPU: Octa-Core Snapdragon 660
  • GPU: Adreno 512 GPU
  • RAM: 4 GB
  • Storage: 64 GB / 128 GB storage, expandable up to 2 TB with microSD (dedicated slot)
  • OS: Android 8.1 (Oreo)
  • Connectivity: Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5, GPS + Glonglass
  • Battery: 5000 mAh

Asus Zenfone Max M2 Overview

The Asus Zenfone Max M2 appears like a toned down version of the Max Pro M2. It also has a large 6.3″ LCD display but with HD+ resolution. Like the Max M2, it also has a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.

Camera wise, it has dual cameras at the back which comprises of a 13 MP primary sensor and a 2 MP depth sensor. In the selfie department, it features an 8 MP selfie shooter.

asus zenfone max m2 display

This phone is powered by a Snapdragon 632, which is a chipset that’s not mostly heard of. It is supported by 3 GB of RAM as well. Also, it has a 64 GB internal storage as well, which is expandable via microSD. This phone houses a slightly lesser battery of 4000 mAh. Running on Android 8.1 Oreo, this phone is priced at 12990 Rubles (US $195).

Asus Zenfone Max M2

  • Display: 6.3-inch IPS LCD HD+ (1520 × 720 pixels) 19:9 aspect ratio
  • Rear Camera: Dual, 12 MP primary lens with f/1.8 aperture and PDAF + 2 MP depth sensor
  • Front Camera: Single 8 MP front camera with f/2.0 aperture
  • CPU: Octa-Core Snapdragon 632
  • GPU: Adreno 506 GPU
  • RAM: 3 GB
  • Storage: 64 GB storage, expandable with microSD (dedicated slot)
  • OS: Android 8.1 (Oreo)
  • Connectivity: Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS + Glonglass
  • Battery: 4000 mAh

Qualcomm announces the Snapdragon 8cx SoC built for Windows 10 devices

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The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx is Qualcomm’s another attempt to power a Windows 10 device. While the SD850 was the SD845 on steroids, its raw performance was just not enough to power Windows 10 and all its Chrome tabs. It did offer a lot in terms of battery life and integrated connectivity, now you also get the performance to rival the likes of Intel and AMD’s solutions.

Built from the ground up with the primary intention to run a Windows 10 PC, the Snapdragon 8cx should deliver on most of its promises. Reviews of the SoC running on its intended platform has been positive so far and we expect nothing less. Let’s start with its specifications to get a brief idea of how it will perform in theory.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Specifications

  • CPU: 8x Qualcomm Kryo 495 CPU
  • Architecture: 64-bit
  • Process: 7nm
  • DSP: Qualcomm Hexagon 690 (Qualcomm Always Aware Technology)
  • Cellular Modem: Qualcomm Snapdragon X24 LTE modem
  • Wi-Fi: 802.11ad Wi-Fi standards
  • Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.0
  • Location: Assisted GPS, OTDOA, GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS, SBAS
  • NFC: Yes
  • RF: Qualcomm RF Front-End solution; Qualcomm Adaptive Antenna Tuning; High-power transmit
  • USB: USB 3.1
  • Camera: Qualcomm Spectra 390; up to 16MP dual camera; up to 32MP single camera
  • Video: Up to 4k video capture; up to 720p@480fps capture; 4k@120fps playback
  • Display: Up to 4k on display, up to two 4k external display support
  • GPU: Qualcomm Adreno 680 GPU; DX12 API support
  • Memory: 2133MHz; LPDDR4x, 8 Channels
  • Storage: NVMe SSD; UFS 3.0

The company does say the Snapdragon 8cx will pack twice the performance as compared to the Snapdragon 850. While the new Adreno 680 GPU will handle a 4k on device display with ease, it can also do two 4k external displays as well. Looking at the specs and it’s predecessor, it should easily beat the likes of selected Intel U series processors.

While it can do two 4k HDR displays, 4k HDR videos at 120fps are also playable through hardware acceleration. Qualcomm does mention it offer 2X more graphical performance, this seems justifiable enough. It also runs on the new 7nm architecture, with new Kryo 495 cores, and class-leading cellular as well as wireless capabilities.

Also Read: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 announced

The Snapdragon 8cx comes with Qualcomm’s x24, but we would have loved to see the x50 5G modem for obvious reasons. The integrated X24 Cat.20 LTE modem, in theory, has a peak download speed of 2Gbps and upload speeds of 316Mbps. As for local wireless connectivity, 802.11ad Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 are also supported.

snapdragon 8cx chip

Now, Qualcomm calls this the “fastest Snapdragon ever”, which isn’t a surprise as laptops and 2-in-1 devices have a higher tolerance for heat compared to a traditional smartphone. Qualcomm also claims multiday battery life, with Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 4+ for charging. Qualcomm’s 4th generation AI engine is on board too.

While all this seem promising for now, a certification for Windows 10 Enterprises should boost adoption rates. Although we won’t be seeing a laptop or 2 in 1 device with the Snapdragon 8cx before mid-2019.

Source: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Compute Platform

Vivo launches Vivo Y81i in Nepal

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So, we have a new Vivo phone in Nepal as of today. Vivo had already hinted towards its launch in Nepal, about a week or so ago. And now, it is here. The phone is the Vivo Y81i. It is a toned-down version of the Vivo Y81 and costs less than Rs. 20000 in Nepal.

Vivo Y81i Overview

Just like the Vivo Y81, the Y81i also features a 6.22″ IPS LCD display with HD+ resolution. There is also a notch on the screen that houses a selfie shooter, ear-piece, and some sensors.

Even in the camera department, the Y81i is very similar to the Y81. The phone comes with a 13MP camera on the back with aaf/2.2 aperture. Upfront, there is a 5MP camera with the same aperture. This aperture, however, is narrow, which might not make for good image quality in low light settings.

However, as this is a toned-down version, the Y81i is powered by a Quad-core MediaTek Helio A22 chipset. Now that is a strictly low-end chipset. Also, combined with only 2 GB RAM on the phone, we might not get that good of a performance on this phone. Besides that, the phone features only a 16 GB of internal storage, which is expandable with microSD. This phone features a 3260 mAh battery as well.

However, the phone features no fingerprint sensor even for a phone of this price. We can find fingerprint sensors even on the entry-level and budget phones these days. So this absence is absolutely bummer on the phone. Nonetheless, there is a software-based Face Unlock feature.

This phone is priced at Rs.18,990 in Nepal. And personally, I think this is exorbitant pricing on Vivo’s part. There are, of course, better phones in this price range…at least in terms of processing power and memory. And it is really proving the fact that Vivo phones under 30000 are not a good value for money.

Vivo Y81i Specifications:

  • Display: 6.22-inch IPS LCD with Gorilla Glass protection
  • Resolution: HD+ (720 x 1520 pixels), 19:9 aspect ratio, 270 PPI
  • OS & UI: Android 8.1 (Oreo) with FunTouch OS 4.0 on the top
  • Chipset: MediaTek Helio A22, 12nm architecture
  • CPU: Quad-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53
  • GPU: PowerVR GE8320
  • RAM: 2GB
  • Storage: 16GB, expandable up to 256GB
  • Rear Camera: 13 MP with f/2.2, PDAF
  • Front Camera: 5MP with f/2.2
  • Sensors: Accelerometer, proximity, compass
  • Connectivity: Dual SIM (Dual 4G), Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS + GLONASS, Micro USB 2.0, USB-OTG, 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Battery: Non-removable 3260mAh
  • Colors: Black and Red
  • Price: Rs.18,990