Chinese smartphone manufacturer Vivo has made its latest top-level midranger – the Vivo X21 official in China. It features a Notch on its display just like the iPhone X and its special edition comes with an under display fingerprint scanner which was first seen on its predecessor, the Vivo X20.
The Vivo X21 sports a 6.28-inch FullHD+ (2280 × 1080 pixels) Super AMOLED display with an aspect ratio of 19:9. There’s a notch on the display that sports a 12MP selfie shooter with f/2.0 aperture. The front camera also doubles up as a face recognition thanks to the inclusion of IR fill light that performs 3D mapping of your face for fast unlock.
On the back, the Vivo X21 has a dual camera setup with a 12MP f/1.8 primary shooter and a 5MP f/2.4 secondary lens. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoC with Kryo 260 CPU and Adreno 512 GPU.
There’s 64GB and 128GB storage options with 6GB RAM. There’s also a special edition called X21 UD that includes the under display fingerprint scanner. The normal versions get a rear-facing fingerprint sensor.
The Vivo X21 boasts a 3200 mAh battery with fast-charging support. Its currently running on Android 8.1 Oreo with heavily skinned Funtouch OS 4.0. Connectivity options include dual hybrid SIM slot with 4G VoLTE, Dual-band Wifi ac, 3.5mm headphone jack, Bluetooth 5.0, and GPS.
The 64GB version is priced at CNY 2,898 (Rs. 47500 approx), and the 128GB version costs CNY 3,198 (Rs. 52500 approx). The special edition (X21 UD) is priced at CNY 3,598 (Rs. 59,000 approx).
The Vivo X21 normal versions are available in three colors — Aurora White, Drill Black, and Ruby Red. The Vivo X21 UD version has only two color options — Drill Black and Ruby Red.
All the versions will go on sale in China on March 24. Availability and launch date outside of China has not been revealed yet.
We are all the witnesses of the battle between two of the best Operating Systems (OS), i.e. Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS. Not just the witnesses but we are the part of a crowd where we do not step back from taking sides in this matter.
This battle has forever been an unresolved issue with no substantial outcome. However, there is one thing Android is time and again called out on and that is for being prone to malware. iOS has always gotten one up in this battle up until now.
In the past, Android has been a platform for ‘dangerous malware’ time and again. Some malware such as Stagefright bug (2015), Hummingbad (2016), and Vault 7 (2017) have made headlines for all the wrong reasons.
According to David Kleidermacher, Google’s head of security for Android, “Android is as safe as the competition.” We can easily speculate that iOS is the “competition” he is talking about, considering the neck-to-neck competition these Operating Systems have.
One of the reasons that Google has lagged behind in the security process is, security was never the primary concern. But now, security is gaining importance as Google is constantly criticized in this aspect.
According to Kleidermacher, there are two major areas in which Android is now better than before:
1. Security updates: One of the main problems with the Android devices is; they are not as up to date as the iOS devices are. As for Android, it is a long process. First the development of updates then the distribution to manufacturers and at last the manufacturer’s distribution to the users.
According to a report, “The majority of the deployed devices for over 200 different Android models from over 30 device manufacturers are running a security update from the last 90 days.”
2. Keeping out the bad apps: Google will now push the malicious apps out of the play store and warn users in case such apps are being downloaded. According to Google, it deleted almost 39 million such malicious apps from users’ phones. That is quite a high number.
The Google Play Service also comes into the play to provide a ‘malware free’ Android experience. As it ‘protect scans’ for what it calls “the possibly harmful” apps. Not just that, Google is also paying the bug hunters very high per flaw. Who would not want to find a bug that way?
We can definitely figure out that Android has taken many leaps forward this year around. The Android security scenario now seems strategically well thought of. Other than that, if a new bug affects the devices or not, can only present us with the clearer outcome.
Most of us use smartphones as our primary device to take photos and smartphone companies are putting this information to good use by bringing out camera-centric smartphones which have worked quite well for them. With the efforts of various smartphone companies, innovations regarding smartphone cameras are up and coming. Vivo, a well-known smartphone giant has recently revealed AI-powered super HDR technology that takes HD to a whole different level by adapting to complex lighting environment.
At a media event in China, Vivo introduced its cutting-edge AI-powered HDR that allows auto- scene detection to produce clearer photos, better colors, more details and better tones. Vivo has also made a breakthrough when it introduced backlit photography technology and with this innovation, it is surely taking mobile photography to a newer level.
The super HDR works in a similar fashion as the regular HDR but what it does differently is that it merges more frames to resolve the problems presented by contrasting strong dark and light tones in a photo. Vivo says that super HDR supports an HDR of up to 14 EV (exposure values) that captures up to 12 frames per shot. There more to the technology as it also uses AI to analyze the scene, choose the correct exposure and select frames to merge.
With the new AI super HDR technology, you can now get greater flexibility in terms of frames providing more image options for merging to perfectly light all the aspects of a photo. You can get more optimized details under an extreme light so that shadows and highlights are well balanced. In addition to this, you can also get improved photos at all stages with the advanced AI feature. How this works is, the moment the shutter is pressed, the AI will detect the scene to determine the ideal exposure and accordingly select the frames for merging.
What else you can expect from the super HDR is that it is highly adaptable to a different environment, it selects accurate and smart exposure and has intelligent identification of unique shapes of objects. Through this, you get natural looking results and perfectly lit portraits.
Alex Feng, a senior at Vivo says,
“Vivo continues to push the boundaries and provides the ultimate camera experience for consumers. This goes beyond just adding powerful functions, but to developing innovations that our users can immediately enjoy. Today’s showcase of Super HDR is an example of our continued commitment to mobile photography, to enable our consumers to shoot professional quality photos at the touch of a button.”
Sadly, Vivo has not yet said which phone will feature this technology. We are hoping to know that very soon.
LG, the South Korean electronics giant, has created a name of its own on the global electronics market. Their products are used worldwide. They manufacture quite a variety of electronics one of which are smartphones.
A lot of rumors have been doing rounds from time to time about the new flagship from LG.
If rumors are to be believed, LG is all set to come up with a new smartphone to be released under its ‘G’ series.
The new phone will be a follow-up to the LG G6 which was launched last year. Despite the excellence in performance G6 was overshadowed because of the competition. So, LG is concerned on making it strategically good for the market this year around.
Supposedly, the device will have an OLED display which apparently is brighter than standard IPS LCD screens.
The display will be of 19.5:9 aspect ratio with the screen standing 6-inch tall. The length of the phone might not sound practical enough but the narrower width and minimal bezels will make holding the phone convenient.
A lot has been said as to what the outlook of the G7 will be like. It is said to sport an ‘optional’ notch display. Yes, an optional notch. This time it is the best of both worlds. The notch will be inculcated as its software feature. The user can keep it or just change the settings. That is what we call versatility.
The LG G7 will come with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset, which seems to be a common feature in the smartphones of 2018. LG is said to be working with QUALCOMM for the chipset.
The latest version of Android, the Android P is expected in the handset. One of its features is that it allows moving the icons. This means more screen space as per the user’s convenience.
In the camera department, the LG G7 will have dual rear cameras 16-megapixels each. However, there are still no leaks regarding the front-facing camera of the G7.
We will be able to know how much of it is true only once the phone is out in the market. If the rumors are true, the phone seems pretty promising with the OLED display and the Snapdragon 845 SoC. Let’s wait and see if the LG G7 is what we are expecting it to be. The rumors already have our hopes high!
Neoteric Nepal Pvt. Ltd., the authorized distributor of Dell laptops in Nepal, has officially launched the Dell XPS 13 9365 2-in-1 series in Nepal. It’s the company’s first 2-in-1 ultrabook in the XPS series. You can purchase the XPS 13 9365 in Nepal from Neoteric official retail outlets. And since they are the authorized distributor, the price is definitely higher as compared to the unauthorized grey seller.
Dell XPS 13 9365 Overview
The Dell XPS 13 is the company’s thin and light 13-inch ultrabook. It is one of the most premium Dell laptops you can buy in Nepal. Currently, there are two variants of the Dell XPS 13 9365 launched in Nepal. The cheaper variant costs Rs. 244,990 and features a 13.3-inch FHD touch display, a 7th gen Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB NVMe PCIe SSD. The expensive variant costs Rs. 290,900 and has a 13.3-inch Quad HD+ touch display, a 7th gen Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 512GB NVMe PCIe SSD.
Dell XPS 13 9635 Specifications:
Display: 13.3-inch Quad HD+ (3200×1800) or FHD (1920 x 1080) InfinityEdge touch
Neoteric has priced these two new laptops exorbitantly compared to international pricing. It’s twice as expensive than the US pricing, and you will get a better offer from unauthorized resellers.
With the launch of Xiaomi latest midrange Redmi Note 5 Pro imminent in Nepal, clearing the remaining stock of Mi A1 has been the topmost priority for Vatsal Impex who is the sole authorized distributor of Mi Products in Nepal. To do so, they have just slashed the price of Mi A1 (32GB) variant. The Mi A1 (32GB) is now available for just Rs. 23,999 (previously priced at Rs. 26,999).
Well, that’s a good news for someone looking for an excellent phone on a budget. The Mi A1 still is one of the best budget phones as it comes with all the latest hardware and is by no means an outdated phone. The Mi A1 being an Android One device gets the latest stock Oreo 8.0 OS out of the box and will also get the recently announced Android 9.0.
The Mi A1, however, has a 5.5-inch 16:9 FHD display, when the latest trend is a bigger display with 18:9 aspect ratio. Yes, that’s by no means a deal breaker, but even Xiaomi’s own Redmi 5 Plus has got one and costs Rs. 22,499.
In terms of performance, the Mi A1 excels the competition by a huge margin. The Snapdragon 625 SoC coupled with 4GB of RAM and stock UI ensures smooth performance and edges midrangers like Oppo F5 Youth, J7 Max, and Huawei Nova 2i.
The camera performance is, however, a mixed bag. The dual 12MP rear camera takes excellent portraits and daylight images but fails to effectuate during low light conditions. The 5MP front camera is also subpar for the price.
The 3080mAh battery is good enough to provide you a backup for a day. Overall, with the recent price drop, the Mi A1 is a perfect deal if you are on a tight budget.
Xiaomi MI A1 key specs
5.5 inches FHD IPS LCD display with Gorilla Glass 3 protection @401 PPI
Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chipset
Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU
Adreno 506 GPU
Stock Android Nougat (v7.1.1); planned upgrade for Oreo (v8.0)
Dual-SIM
4 GB RAM
32 GB internal storage, expandable up to 128GB (uses SIM 2 slot)
Facebook and Warner Music Group have teamed up for what they call “add music to your moments and memories”. Facebook, on the 9th of March, announced a ‘holistic partnership with licensing agreement’ with WMG.
How does this partnership change the way we use Facebook?
Well, it is going to be a bit different than before but in a better way. Warner Music Group currently represents music stars like Madonna and Ed Sheeran and bands like Metallica and Linkin Park. Facebook is a guardian company to other social media apps like Instagram and Whatsapp and there is no doubt that the deal is something that will change our experiences.
Now that the agreement is made, users can use WMG’s music which includes audios from the artists and bands affiliated with the company. The videos that consist of Warner’s licensed music will not be taken down by Facebook.
The agreement not only includes Facebook but also Instagram and Oculus. We have heard well enough of Instagram but what’s Oculus?
Oculus is the Virtual Reality based sister company on Facebook. This means the virtual reality experience will also get some musical merit.
Social media has emerged out as the most prominent one among the forms of media. no other form of media is able to provide the exposure social media is able to provide. The number of daily users is also vast. There is also a chance for the new artists to shine and take one step forward to fame.
Ole Oberman, the chief digital manager for Warner’s said, “Our partnership withFacebook will help expand the universe of music streaming and create supplementary revenue for artists. Fan-created video is one of the most personal, social and often viral ways that music is enjoyed, but its commercial potential is largely untapped. This collaboration will lead to new possibilities for our artists while enhancing the user experience across Facebook, Instagram and Oculus, and enabling people to communicate and express themselves using the music they love.”
This agreement will pay royalties as per the popularity of the musician’s creations. Fair enough right? Facebook and the musicians both will be deriving profits from the agreement. Us users also benefit from the agreement, of course.
As per the information going around, Facebook is shifting its focus from news to entertainment in order to avoid controversies and to engage more users.
This is not the first time that Facebook has made such an agreement but this definitely seems like a win-win situation for all the parties involved.
We will not be surprised if the tech community declares 2018 a ‘notch’ year. After all, it is what comes to our notice these days when a manufacturer releases a new smartphone. But, it seems like that’s all we will get this year, be it a flagship or a budget device.
Now, OPPO also looks geared up to join the ‘notch’ league and continues the legacy. First, it was the leak of the R15 and now the teaser for OPPO F7 selfie camera hints to it.
Oppo India confirmed the F7 by tweeting, “Make way for the all-new #OPPOF7 now with an awesome notch screen. Can you guess who the Indian cricketer is behind the phone?” The notch might have dragged a few people away, but it is here to stay.
Oppo India has also started sending media invites for the launch of Oppo F7 which is scheduled for March 26. The company has stated that the phone will offer the best selfie AI camera. The event will also be launched by 3 crickets rumored to be Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin.
The Oppo F7 is already being touted as a “selfie expert” with rumors stating it will house a whopping 25-megapixel selfie camera. For all the selfie lovers right there, this is definitely an exciting news. The enhanced beauty mode has always been an integral part of any OPPO smartphone, and the F7 will be no different. Likewise, real-time HDR and AR stickers are some other features the camera could be consisting of.
There is no concrete news regarding the rear camera setup of the device, but we can expect a dual rear camera and a fingerprint sensor right underneath as it is with most of the smartphones this year.
Other than that, we can also expect a 6.2-inch Full HD+ display and a 19:9 aspect ratio screen with a notch. If we are to go by R15 as a reference, the OPPO F7 will be powered by either Snapdragon 670 chipset or a MediaTek Helio P60.
Let us wait till OPPO teases us with some other information of the OPPO F7 ‘selfie-expert’. The 25 MP selfie camera does excite us but the notch? But OPPO is indeed stating it as an ‘awesome notch screen’.
After only a short time of its international launch at MWC 2018, Samsung has introduced the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ at an event here in Nepal. The introduction follows the devices’ India release, which happened only a few days ago.
[Samsung Galaxy S9+ Latest Price: Rs. 87,900 (64GB) | Rs. 92,900 (128GB)] [Last updated on July 24, 2019]
The Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ are the flagship devices of the Korean giant for the first half of 2018. The smartphones share its similarities with their predecessors – the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus but differ in various departments.
Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ Specifications
The Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ are more smooth and sleek as ever with a glass back and a top-notch display sandwiching an aluminum frame. One of the main changes on the devices is the fingerprint scanner which is now placed right below the camera setup.
And the major change is the camera itself as the Samsung Galaxy S9+ has become the first member of the S-series to house dual cameras at the back. On top of that, one of the lenses has an adjustable aperture (f/1.5 or f/2.4), which is why Samsung is cashing so much on the cameras of the device.
While the Galaxy S8 and S8+ didn’t really have much of a difference, the S9 and S9+ differ in a couple of areas, one of them is the camera department and the other in terms of the battery as the S9 comes with a 3,000 mAh battery and the S9+ has a 3,500 mAh battery.
Likewise, there have also been a few changes in the display front as the bezels have shrunken, providing a much better “Infinity experience” to the users. The Galaxy S9 is 5.8-inch tall whereas the plus variant has a 6.2-inch display. Both the displays are protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and have a Super AMOLED panel.
The new flagships from Samsung pack the company’s very own new-and-improved Exynos 9810 chipset which is supported by 4 GB of RAM in the normal variant and 6 GB of RAM in the plus variant.
The Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ include the new Intelligent Scan feature which has combined the Iris Scanner and facial recognition to provide a better security option. There are also other features like AR Emoji – Samsung’s answer to Apple’s Animoji, Stereo Speakers that are tuned with AKG, and an improved Bixby Assistant 2.0.
Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ Price in Nepal and Availability
[Samsung Galaxy S9+ Latest Price: Rs. 87,900 (64GB) | Rs. 92,900 (128GB)] [Last updated on July 24, 2019]
The Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ are priced competitively compared to the international market. The MRP of the devices has been set at Rs. 92,900 and Rs. 104,900, respectively. However, Samsung Nepal is providing an instant cashback offer of Rs. 5,000 on both the devices, which simply means that the smartphones will be available for Rs. 87,900 and Rs. 99,900.
For pre-bookers, there is even a better deal. You get Rs. 5000 discount coupon (to be used on any Samsung devices or accessories purchase) or you can get a Wireless Charger for free.
On each purchase of the devices, buyers will also receive the following benefits:
Breakage insurance for a year from Sikhar Insurance.
12000 MB free data with 1000 MB data for 12 weeks of activating the Ncell SIM card available when buying the smartphone.
According to Samsung Nepal, the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+are now available for pre-booking via s9prebooking.com and the smartphones can be bought from the offline channel starting March 23, 2018. One lucky winner among the pre-bookers will get a chance to win a free trip to a country of their choice as long as it is in Turkish Airlines’ domain. Two pre-bookers will win two nights free stay at either Himalayan Front Resort or Water Front Resort while two will receive the Samsung Gear Fit 2 Pro for free.
Vivo V9 is creating a buzz in the smartphone market these days. The Chinese smartphone brand had scheduled to launch its upcoming handset in India on 27th March. However, ahead of the launch, the anticipated device leaked in images revealing the design language used and some of the features packed inside.
The upcoming Vivo V9 is the successor of the Vivo V7, which was launched last year. And as suggested by the leaked images, the newbie will be following the design of its predecessor. Looking at the images, it can be seen that the smartphone looks seamless with a near bezel-less display. Alike its predecessor, the Vivo V9 will get along with the 18:9 aspect ratio. However, one major change in the V9’s design would be the notch on the top. These days, smartphone makers seem to be quite obsessed with the notch on the top like the iPhone X. And Vivo V9 chose to follow the bandwagon.
Furthermore, the rear camera on the device gives the glimpse of the iPhone X. The vertically aligned dual cameras at the back have a close resemblance. But despite being so impressed with the iPhone X design, the handset has not quite obliterated the 3.5mm headphone jack. There is still a port for the 3.5mm headphone jack on the bottom, which lies meticulously on the left of the Micro-USB charging port. For the audio output, the device has placed the mono speaker grill, which also lies on the bottom.
Another leaked image shows that the device has a slot for the two SIM cards. There is also an SDcard slot for the memory expansion but it takes the SIM2 slot. Talking about the OS, Vivo V9 will have Android Oreo on its system with an extra flavor from the company’s home-baked FunTouch OS on the top. And keeping the track of the rumors, there are speculations that the smartphone will come with the Snapdragon 660 chipset paired with 4GB or 6GB of RAM.
Vivo being the selfie-centric smartphone, it often comes with the catchy taglines like the Moonlight selfies, Clearer selfies, etc. This time too, with 24MP selfie camera, Vivo V9’s intentions can be predicted. If the rumors and leaked images come true, it might pose a threat to the other selfie-centric smartphones like the Oppo F5.
Update: Vivo has listed the company’s upcoming smartphone on its Indian website which contradicts some of the rumors that were flying around on the internet.
According to the listing on Vivo’s website, the Vivo V9 will sport a 6.3-inch AMOLED display that might will have a 19:9 aspect ratio. This device will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 chipset, which is surprising, as most rumors had hinted towards Snapdragon 660 chipset. In terms of storage, the device will have 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal memory which can expand up to 256 GB via a dedicated microSD card slot.
The Vivo V9 will feature a vertical camera setup with dual camera lenses (16-megapixel and 5-megapixel). It will run on Android v8.1 Oreo out of the box which the listing confirms. This OS will be the basis for Vivo’s own Funtouch OS 4.0.
Vivo V9 Specifications
Near bezel-less display, 19:9 aspect ratio, notch on the top
Dual camera at the back
24MP selfie camera
16 MP + 5 MP dual rear cameras
Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 chipset
4GB of RAM
Fingerprint sensor on the back
Dual SIM cards; SD card uses SIM2 slot
Android Oreo with FunTouch OS on the top
5mm headphone jack and Micro USB 2.0 port on the bottom
