BSNL to Give 50 Percent Cashback on Talk Time Vouchers With 'Dussehra Vijay' Offer

 

HIGHLIGHTS

• BSNL talk time cashback offer will be applicable on select recharges
• It will be available on recharges made till October 25
• There is a full talk time offer on recharges made via its app or website

BSNL is offering cashback of 50 percent this Dussehra on voice recharges as part of a new promotional offer. Apart from this, there will be a full talk time offer on recharge transactions carried via the state-owned telecom operator’s mobile app or website for a limited period. Both offers will be applicable for BSNL users across India and will go live on September 25.

As part of the BSNL offer, customers who buy recharge packs between September 25 and October 25 will get 50 percent cashback for the recharge value. The offer is applicable on talk time recharges of Rs. 42, Rs. 44, Rs. 65, Rs. 69, Rs. 88, and Rs. 122, the company said in a statement. The full talk time offer would be applicable on recharges of Rs. 30 only, and the offer will start on September 25 and last till October 2.

R.K. Mittal, Director (CM) BSNL Board said, “We always come up with extra benefits on festive occasion. On this occasion we are offering up to 50 percent more talk value along with many FTT offers for all our prepaid mobile customers.”

This is the latest in a series of BSNL offers released over the past few months. A promotional offer launched earlier this month reduced the tariff for on-net calls to 15p per minute and off-net calls to 35p per minute for 30 days with recharge pack of Rs. 8. Users could get the same call tariff for 90 days with recharge of Rs. 15. For data consumers, the company also has a recharge plan with up to 90GB of data(1GB per day for 90 days) priced at Rs. 429.

BSNL is planning to roll out 4G VoLTE services on pan-India basis, and has asked the government for approval to use 700MHz band for 4G and 5G services. The company has also held discussions with Nokia over 5G field trials.

Xiaomi Diwali With Mi Sale Will See Offers on All Products, Starts September 27

  

HIGHLIGHTS

• Smartphones on offer include Redmi Note 4, Mi A1, and more
• Discounted prices on all Xiaomi accessories
• The Diwali With Mi sale will take place between September 27 to 29

Xiaomi is in a festive mood as it has begun selling its range of products at discounted prices across partner platforms. We reported earlier on Thursday that some of Xiaomi's bestselling products including the Redmi Note 4 and Mi Max 2 are on offer during Amazon and Flipkart's ongoing festive sale. Additionally, Xiaomi will continue the festivities with its own Diwali with Mi sale on Mi.com between September 27 to 29 from 10am.

Xiaomi says the Diwali with Mi sale will see offers on all of its products listed on Mi.com. This includes smartphones like Redmi 4, Redmi Note 4, Mi Max 2, Redmi 4A, as well as the recently launched Mi A1Android One smartphone. The sale will also see offers on accessories like the Mi Band HRX Edition, Mi in-ear headphones, and Mi power banks to name a few. Notably, Xiaomi will also offer a limited sale on Redmi Note 4 Lake Blue Edition that was launched earlier this month.

The company is also offering special rewards for Mi members with discount coupons and F-Codes that can be won daily during the Diwali With Mi sale. Additionally, there will also be a Re. 1 flash sale that will take place at 11am and 5pm during the three-day sale, an app-only Bid to Win contest at 2pm and 6pm, and a Fastest Finger First contest at 4pm. More details can be found by visiting Mi.com.

Notably, some of the offers Xiaomi will offer during the Diwali With Mi sale are similar to what is being offered on Amazon and Flipkart during their respective festive sale. For example, the Redmi Note 4 (4GB + 64GB) will be available on Mi.com for Rs. 10,999, down from Rs. 12,999. Similarly, Mi Max 2 gets a price drop of Rs. 2,000. Users will also be able to purchase accessories like the Mi Router 3C for Rs. 899, the Mi 10000mAh power bank for Rs. 899, and Mi Air Purifier 2 for Rs. 8,499, among other things.

Sony Xperia XZ1 India Launch Set for Today: Specifications, Features

 

techlakhy, 25 September 2017

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sony Xperia XZ1 price in India expected to be higher than Rs. 45,000
• It features a 3D scanning camera
• Another highlight is the Snapdragon 835 SoC on board

Sony Xperia XZ1, the latest flagship smartphone from the Japanese consumer electronics giant, will be launched in India on Monday. The smartphone was first unveiled at IFA 2017 late last month, alongside the Xperia XZ1 Compact and the Xperia XA1 Plus. Notably, the latter smartphone was launched in India last week, and so far, there are no signs of the Xperia XZ1 Compact being brought to India. The Sony Xperia XZ1 India launch is set to take place at an event in New Delhi, and we recommend you stay tuned to Gadgets 360 for the latest updates from the event.

Sony Xperia XZ1 price

In the US, the Sony Xperia XZ1 is priced at $699.99 (roughly Rs. 45,000), and one can expect a fair premium on that price tag when it's brought to India. At the event, the company said that the smartphone will ship with Android 8.0 Oreo starting September, and it remains to be seen if that is the case with its India launch at the end of this month.

Sony Xperia XZ1 specifications, features

The high-end Sony Xperia XZ1 comes with a MotionEye 19-megapixel Exmor RS sensor camera with 3D scanning abilities as its highlighted feature. The rear camera supports 5-axis stabilisation and is capable of doing slow-motion video recording at 960fps, as the one we saw in Xperia XZ Premium, in addition to 4K video recording. It will announced in single-SIM and dual-SIM variants - the latter can be expected to launch in India.

On the front, Sony Xperia XZ1 features a 13-megapixel camera with an aperture of f/2.0 and 22mm wide-angle lens for group selfies. It is also powered by Sony's Exmor RS mobile imaging sensor.

The Sony Xperia XZ1 features a 'flagship loop surface' with a metal unibody. The Sony Xperia XZ1 is powered by a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC coupled with 4GB of RAM and Adreno 540 GPU. It features a 5.2-inch full-HD (1080x1920 pixels) HDR display powered by Sony's Triluminous display and X-Reality technology configured for mobiles. It is also protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 5.

On the storage part, the Sony Xperia XZ1 packs 64GB of inbuilt storage with an option to expand it further using a microSD card (up to 256GB). The connectivity options in the smartphone comprise 4G LTE, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB OTG, USB Type-C, and GPS among others.

The Sony Xperia XZ1 has a fingerprint scanner embedded on the power button (however, Sony says that its availability may not be available in all markets), found at the right side of the smartphone. It packs a 2700mAh battery that supports Quick Charge 3.0 technology. The smartphone is water and dust resistant with an IP68 certification. For audio, the smartphone comes with Hi-Res Audio, digital noise cancellation, S-Force surround sound, stereo recording, and Qualcomm's own aptX audio software.

In the US, the Xperia XZ1 will be available in Moonlit Blue, Venus Pink, Warm Silver, and Black colours. It measures 148x73x7.4mm and weighs 156 grams.

Amazon Sale: iPhone 7 at Rs. 38,999, MacBook Air at Rs. 44,990, and Other Deals From Amazon Great Indian Sale Day 1

 

HIGHLIGHTS

• Amazon is match Flipkart deal on the iPhone 7
• Offers on other popular smartphones and electronic products
• Amazon Great Indian Festival sale runs until September 24

After opening up a day early for Prime members, the Amazon Great Indian Festival sale is finally available to everyone. The festive season sale brings discounts and offers across all product categories. Amazon is also matching top deals from Flipkart’s Big Billion Days sale. The Great Indian Festival sale includes more ways to save money apart from the discounts. You can get an additional 10 percent cash back on making payments using HDFC Bank credit and debit cards during the Amazon sale. The minimum order must be Rs. 5,000 per transaction, while the discount is capped at Rs. 1,500. You can use a single card for multiple transactions and each card’s maximum cashback is capped at Rs. 4,500.

Here are our top picks so far from Amazon Great Indian Festival sale day 1 or check out all deals available during the Amazon sale.

Apple iPhone 7
Amazon is matching Flipkart’s deal on the iPhone 7 32GB. The iPhone 7 32GB is now available for Rs. 38,999 (MRP Rs. 56,200). The 128GB variant is also down to Rs. 49,999 (MRP Rs. 65,200). This is one of the lowest prices we’ve seen on the iPhone 7 this year. If you are looking to upgrade from an iPhone 6 or lower, the iPhone 7 is a great device at this price point. It features a 4.7-inch Retina display and comes with a 12-megapixel primary camera with optical image stabilisation. It is powered by Apple’s A10 SoC and runs iOS 10 out of the box, with iOS 11 update now available.

Price: Rs. 38,999 (MRP Rs. 56,200)

Apple MacBook Air 13.3
The 2017 MacBook Air 13.3-inch is down to Rs. 44,990 (MRP Rs. 77,200). You can exchange your old laptop and get an additional discount up to Rs. 15,520 during the Amazon sale. You can also convert your purchase into a no-cost EMI option. The MacBook Air is powered by Intel Core i5 processor, supported by 8GB of RAM. It comes with a 128GB SSD and runs macOS Sierra. If you’re looking to buy a Mac, this is as affordable as it can get. HDFC Bank credit and debit card users can get an additional 10% cashback.

Price: Rs. 44,990 (MRP Rs. 77,200)

Apple iPad 9.7-inch 32GB WiFi
The iPad 9.7-inch 32GB with WiFi is down to Rs. 19,900 (MRP Rs. 28,900) on Amazon’s Great Indian Festival sale. The iPad features a 9.7-inch Retina display. It comes with an 8MP primary camera at the back and a 1.2MP front-facing camera. The iPad is powered by Apple’s A9 processor and includes 32GB of storage. There’s an additional discount up to Rs. 10,341 if you exchange your old device with your purchase.

Price: Rs. 19,900 (MRP Rs. 28,900)

Apple iPhone 7 Plus 128GB

The iPhone 7 Plus 128GB is currently down to Rs. 59,999 (MRP Rs. 76,300). This is one of the lowest price points we’ve seen on the iPhone 7 Plus, with the last lowest price being Rs. 62,500. This is a good deal if you’re planning on skipping this year’s iPhone 8 or 8 Plus. The iPhone 7 Plus features a 5.5-inch Retina display and comes with dual 12MP camera assembly at the back as primary cameras and a 7MP front-facing camera. It is powered by Apple’s A10 chip and runs iOS 10 out of the box.

Price: Rs. 59,999 (MRP Rs. 76,300)

Samsung 55-inch M-series LED TV
If you’re looking for a big-screen LED TV this festive season, the Samsung 55-inch M-series full HD LED TV is down to Rs. 103,000 (MRP Rs. 129,500) during the Great Indian Festival sale. The TV comes with three HDMI ports and two USB ports. It runs on full HD resolution (1920x1080 pixels). Samsung’s 55-inch M-series LED TV comes with proprietary features like Ultra Clean View, Micro Dimming Pro and a contrast enhancer to ensure customers enjoy a great picture quality. The TV comes with standard 1-year manufacturer warranty.

Price: Rs. 103,000 (MRP Rs. 129,500)

Sony 43-inch Bravia 4K LED TV
The Sony 43-inch Bravia 4K LED TV is available at a discounted price of Rs. 64,990 (MRP Rs. 72,900) as part of the Amazon sale. The TV offers 4K UHD resolution and comes with three HDMI and three USB ports. If you pay using Amazon Pay balance, you can get an additional Rs. 3,500 cashback as Amazon Pay balance. It’s one of the finest 4K LED TVs with HDR support at this price point.

Price: Rs. 64,990 (MRP Rs. 72,900)

Netgear AC3200 X6 Nighthawk wireless router
Say goodbye to all your wireless coverage issues with the Netgear AC3200 X6 Nighthawk wireless router. Amazon is offering the router at a discounted price of Rs. 12,999 (MRP Rs. 21,999) in a Lightning Deal. The tri-band router will help make your home or small office WiFi more reliable and help increase coverage. It is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor with three offload processors. You can control most of its functionality using Netgear’s mobile apps.

Price: Rs. 12,999 (MRP Rs. 21,999)

TCL 65-inch 4K LED TV + free 32-inch TV
Amazon is offering a free 32-inch HD Ready LED TV with a TCL 65-inch 4K LED TV. The combo deal is priced at Rs. 94,990 during the Great Indian Festival sale. Once you buy the TCL 65-inch 4K LED TV you’ll receive a coupon after 30 days from your purchase. You can use this coupon to redeem your free 32-inch Hd Ready LED TV. The 65-inch 4K LED TV from TCL is based on Android TV and includes a built-in Chromecast functionality.

Price: Rs. 94,990

Jio Slashes Price JioFi M2S 4G Hotspot by 50 Percent in 'Festive Celebration Offer'

 

HIGHLIGHTS

• The JioFi 4G hotspot is now retailing at Rs. 999
• It is normally priced at Rs. 1,999
• The limited period discount is valid until September 30

Jio is best known for its disruptive telecom plans, and lately its Jio Phone. But the company also sells the JioFi range of pocket 4G hotspot router that let users get access to the Internet on a range of devices. And with the festive season about to start, Jio has slashed the price of the JioFi M2S hotspot by 50 percent, down to Rs. 999, to make it a more attractive buy for consumers. The offer is valid on both online and offline stores, with the new price already reflecting on the Jio.com site and Flipkart - which is also currently hosting its Big Billion Days sale. The new JioFi M2S price is valid for a limited period only, from September 20 to September 30.

Called the JioFi Festive Celebration Offer, it is only valid on the JioFi M2S model, which sports a 2300mAh battery. A Jio SIM card will be bundled, and needs to be activated with an Aadhaar card at the time of delivery. A SIM card is required to use the device, as well as a tariff plan from Jio. Users will also be able make and receive phones calls via the Jio4GVoice app, apart from text messages.

This is one of numerous 'festive' offers currently running from a device manufacturer, apart from the Flipkart Big Billion Days sale, Amazon Great Indian Festival sale, and the Paytm Mall Mera Cashback sale.

The latest Indian data card market share report by CyberMedia Research highlighted JioFi's dominant position, with a market share of 91 percent. JioFi, and other MiFi devices are increasingly finding their way to tier-2 and tier-3 cities, resulting in the erosion of Wi-Fi router sales and broadband services in those areas, the report adds.

Reliance Jio has been aggressively pushing the sales of its JioFi 4G hotspot, with an enticing 224GB data plan in July, and a 100 percent cashback offer in May.

Download to the Google Tej app simple and secure payments app by Google .make your first payment and we both get ₹51 and Chance to win ₹100000 or 9000 to year add your bank account and get pay any type of payments easily and fast https://g.co/tez/6f393

WhatsApp Beta for Android Gets Granular Storage Control, Makes It Easier to Manage Storage Consumption

WhatsApp Storage Usage makes it easier to manage data consumption on Android phones now

HIGHLIGHTS

• This feature lets you clear messages right from the Storage Usage screen
• It was available to WhatsApp iOS users since January
• It has now been spotted on WhatsApp Android beta app as well

WhatsApp Beta for Android now gives users granular control to clean up data consuming your phone's storage space. Part of the Storage Usage menu on WhatsApp, the feature has been around on iPhones since January this year, and has finally made it to Android, albeit for beta users only. With this feature, WhatsApp users will be able to see exactly how much data a group/chat is consuming, and which type of files take up the most storage space. Moreover, users will be able to delete the data hogging files from the same interface, which will help them save storage space on the phone.

How WhatsApp Storage Usage granular controls work

To use this feature on Android, you need to be on the latest beta - v2.17.340. Head to Settings -> Storage Usage on your Android beta app and clear all the unwanted space-hoarding files easily. In this menu, WhatsApp will let you choose message types, such as videos, text, images, GIFs, voice messages, etc. from specific chats - here you can delete exactly what you want and keep the rest.

Once you select the chat you want to clear, there will be a 'Manage messages' option at the bottom of the screen. Clicking on it will let you select the content that you want to delete, for example, you can choose to delete all GIFs and videos from a specific chat to free up space, or just delete all the text messages and let the other content remain.

WhatsApp Storage Usage granular control are only in beta stage on Android

Mind you, this feature is still in beta, and hasn't arrived on the stable version yet. Sign up for the Android Beta Program or install the APK Mirror to use the feature right away. With the feature now in beta, it is likely that it will be released for everyone else soon.

New WhatsApp features

It is among the slew of features WhatsApp has introduced this year, while some more are rumoured to be on the way. Among the biggest changes was the debut of the photo/video-based Status, in-app YouTube playback, two-step verification, text-only statuses in colour, photo bundling, video streaming, photo filters, night mode in camera, Quick Reply button, Pinned Chats, live location sharing, and verified profiles for businesses. Integration with UPI is also expected soon, but the most anticipated WhatsApp feature of 2017 will be the 'Delete for Everyone' option that will let you un-send messages.

Google turns phone numbers, contacts and addresses in Gmail and Inbox into clickable links

Posted: 18 Sep 2017, 19:04 , by LAKHY SINGH

Most email clients for Android and iOS allow users to copy/paste contacts, addresses and phone numbers from other apps like Messenger and WhatsApp. Gmail and Inbox are no exceptions, as Google added these features since their release.

However, the Mountain View company announced today that it has improved on that feature to save Gmail and Inbox users a lot of time by skipping the whole copy/paste procedure.

Starting today, Gmail and Inbox by Gmail, on both the Android and iOS platforms, will convert text into hyperlinks whenever they detect phone numbers, addresses, and email addresses in emails.

So, when you click an address link in Gmail or Inbox, the app will take you to Google Maps so that you can see exactly the location of the address. Also, clicking an email address will compose a new email, which will use your default email client.

Finally, clicking a phone number will now start a call request using the default phoneapplication. The new features have been implemented starting today, but it might take up to 3 days to propagate to all compatible Android and iOS devices.

Airtel Postpaid Users Offered Up to 60GB Free Data for Installing Airtel TV App

  

HIGHLIGHTS

• The new plan is similar to Airtel Monsoon offer
• The previous offer was valid for just three months
• Airtel will offer 10GB of free data for six months

Airtel over the weekend announced it is offering its postpaid users up to 60GB of free Internet data, if they install the company's Airtel TV application. To cut the long story short, Airtel is offering 10GB of free data per month for six months, making it 60GB of overall free data to users who install its app. In order to claim this free data, Airtel postpaid users need to download and open the MyAirtel app, which now displays a new banner to claim free data. Users need to click on the banner and follow the instructions provided on the screen.

"The task here is to download the Airtel TV APK and install it on your smartphone. If you're successful in doing that, then your free data will be credited to your account in just 24 hours," the company said in its release. The company offers live television service with the Airtel TV app.

Airtel says that the new offer is similar to the Airtel Monsoon offer, which the company announcedthree months ago. Notably, under the Airtel Monsoon offer, the company offered 10GB free data to Airtel Postpaid customers for downloading the Airtel TV application. However, Airtel Monsoon offer was valid only for three months. The newly announced offer from Airtel, on the other hand, is valid for six months. Airtel says that it will automatically add 10GB free data every month to your postpaid account.

Google Tez App: 8 Things You Should Know About the New Digital Payments App

Google Tez app lets users send money using their Android phones or iPhones via UPI

HIGHLIGHTS

• Google Tez is a UPI app that lets you transfer money, make payments
• You can transfer money using the UPI ID or scanning the QR code
• Cash Mode lets you send money without entering details of the recipient

Google Tez app has joined the ranks of digital payments apps in India with the launch on Monday. With already established players like PayTM, PhonePe, and the official app BHIM, the Google Tez app has its work cut out. This isn’t a digital wallet service like PayTM, but uses your bank account to send and receive money. One of the unique features included in Google Tez app is “Cash Mode” which helps you send money without needing the recipient's number or QR codes, instead using an audio matching system. If you are curious about the app, and considering signing up for it, here are 8 things  you need to know about the Google Tez app:

1. The Google Tez app is available on Android as well as iOS, and supports various local languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Tamil, and Telugu. To register, it asks for your mobile number associated with your bank accounts to set up the app. You are given a list of banks to select from.

1. Once you have entered your phone number, the app sends an SMS from your number to the bank to get UPI access. It creates a fresh UPI ID for you and links it to the Google account. On Android, the Google Account is selected by default as the one used on your phone, but you can change the ID by logging into the other account; the ID will be linked to one Google Account only. On iPhone, users are prompted to sign into their Google Accounts manually.
2. Google Tez app creates a new UPI ID, or VPA, by picking up the name from the Gmail ID. We got a @okaxis UPI account when setting it up with a Kotak account (that's because Google hasn't tied up with Kotak for back-end processing) , but were assigned an @okicici UPI account when setting up with ICICI (it has tied up with ICICI). You can't use your existing VPA with Google Tez app if you have one.
3. If UPI is already enabled on that bank account you will be prompted to enter the UPI PIN. The account will be set up after this step, and is ready to use.
4. To keep the Google Tez app secure you have the option of locking it down with your fingerprint on devices with a fingerprint scanner or using a PIN for the app. While you do have the option to keep the same PIN as screen unlock, we will strongly recommend that you set up a different PIN.
5. Sending money using the app is fairly easy, you can tap in the payments tab. It lists all the contacts in your phone book with Google Tez app in one go. Apart from that you have the option to enter Account Number + IFSC details, UPI ID, Scan QR code, or Tez User Phone Number. You can make and receive payments from businesses as well.
6. A new feature called Cash Mode is available in Google Tez app that lets you transfer money without having the recipient's phone number. To do this, it transmits audio using Google’s QR Technology to identify the recipients phone near you. We tried this feature and it worked as advertised even in a noisy environment, though we must add that it took longer than we expected.
7. To incentivise Tez app, Google is offering users Rs. 51 for referring new users to use the app. After a referral both people will get the money added to their bank accounts. Apart from this, using the app to transfer money (Rs. 50 and above) awards both the sender and the recipient Google Tez Scratch Cards, with one scratch card per week for the sender-recipient. Scratch card gives user the chance to earn up to Rs. 1,000, which is transferred back to bank account. Users can earn a maximum of 10 rewards per week, up to a total of Rs. 9,000 per financial year. There are two types of Google Tez Scratch Cards. The blue ones are awarded to both sender and recipient, while one red ‘Lucky Sundays’ is awarded to the sender only once per week. This red Google Tez Scratch Card is locked until the Sunday, and users will be able to scratch it for a chance to win up to Rs. 1 lakh, Google said.

Gionee M7 Launch Set for September 25, Front Panel Leaked in Live Images

HIGHLIGHTS

• The handset has been tipped to sport 6-inch display
• Gionee M7 is expected to pack 6GB of RAM
• The company might launch Gionee M7 Power at the event as well

Earlier this month, we reported that the Gionee M7smartphone has been confirmed to launch soon and now we have finally received the exact date for unveil. Gioneehas announced that the company will launch its M7 smartphone in China on September 25, which also makes us think that the company might also launch the M7 Power handset, which was earlier said to launch on September 28, on the same date. Separately, the live images of the front panel of the M7 have also surfaced on the Internet.

Talking first about the official information provided by the company, the launch poster from Gionee, shared on Chinese microblogging website Weibo, shows the date clearly as September 25. Apart from the date, the poster also shows the outline of the upcoming Gionee smartphone, which suggests that the handset will come with thin bezels on all sides of the display.

Moving to the leaked live images, again shared on Weibo, the alleged front panel of the Gionee M7 smartphone can be seen in the pictures. Just like the outline on launch poster, the live images also suggest that the phone might feature a near bezel-less display, which has become sort of a trend in smartphone industry this year.

According to the previous leaks, the handset is expected to run on Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box and support for a single-SIM slot. The Gionee M7 has been tipped to feature a 6-inch full-HD (1080x2160 pixels) display with 18:9 aspect ratio. The smartphone is expected to be powered by MediaTek Helio P30 SoC paired with 6GB of RAM and ARM-Mali-G71 GPU.

The internal storage capacity of the Gionee M7 has been tipped to be 64GB. In terms of optics, the smartphone is expected to sport a 16-megapixel rear camera with autofocus and flash support. Some of the camera features include 4K video, face detection, HDR photo, and touch focus. At front, there is tipped to be an 8-megapixel front camera.

Once you enable audio on Instagram, sound now continues until you close the app

A change to Instagram rolled out to the app recently and this is how it works. When you open the picture and video sharing app, videos will autoplay with the sound off. But when you tap on the screen to turn the volume on one video on, all other videos will autoplay with the sound on for the remainder of your Instagramsession. We'd say that makes common sense. And if you tap on the screen again turning the audio off on the current video, all of the subsequent videos will go silent. If you disable the sound on your Instagramvideos, they will remain off when you finish your session and start up the app again.

So you might ask yourself, what is the advantage of this feature? Well, it means that Instagram users won't have to turn the audio on for each individual video, which could be a pain in the you know what. As far as Instagram Stories are concerned, the audio will match the settings on your phone. Which means that as long as your handset is not on mute, Stories will play with the audio on.

The bottom line is the bottom line, which will fatten up with more advertisers. Why? Because now advertisers will see more of their videos play with audio enabled. This will make them more likely to fork over the money to advertise on the app. After all, an add with no volume is most likely to be ineffective. 

Of course, most Instagram users would rather not get startled or embarrassed by audio that they weren't expecting to hear, playing loudly in their ears. On the other hand, with video becoming a larger part of the Instagram experience, keeping the app mute would make it a silent movie in the era of talkies.

mAadhaar App Will Now Work as Valid Identity Proof for Train Journeys

 

HIGHLIGHTS

• mAadhaar will now be acceptable for rail journeys as ID proof
• It is available for Android smartphones currently
• Your mobile number needs to be linked to use the app

The mAadhaar app, launched in July this year, can now be used as an identity proof on train journeys, eliminating the need to carry a physical proof with you while taking a train. This comes as a relief to people who are not very fond of physically carrying other prescribed identity proofs such as voter ID, Aadhaar card, PAN card, and driving licence among others. The mAadhaar app, developed by UIDAI, is a digital platform where Indian citizens can store their demographic details such as name, date of birth, gender, address, and a photograph linked with their respective Aadhaar numbers. The mAadhaar is currently available for Android smartphones, while its iOS counterpart will be out soon.

In order to use mAadhaar as a valid identity proof during train journeys, passengers will have to show their details via the app after unlocking it with their biometric (for e.g., fingerprint). It also has a 'TOTP (Time-Based One-Time Password) generation' process that can be brought to use in place of the regular SMS-based OTP (one-time password) system. However, to be able to use mAadhaar on your Android smartphone, you need to register your mobile number with UIDAI. Post this, you can link the mAadhaar app with your Aadhaar details.

"mAadhar, when shown by the passenger on his/her mobile after entering the password, should be accepted as proof of identity for undertaking journey in any reserved class over Indian Railways," reads the statement issued by Ministry of Railways via Press Information Bureau.

While this piece of news is something that most train passengers have been looking forward to for quite some time, it comes amid concerns about Aadhaar being raised by industry analysts and biometric stalwarts. UIDAI's Aadhaar initiative has come under scanner for its openness, as the privacy concerns are on the rise. Indian government recently announced to constitute a 10-member committee to recommend a framework for securing personal data in the increasingly digitised economy as it will also address raised concerns and build safeguards against data breaches in future.

Flipkart Big Billion Days Sale: Samsung, Micromax, Panasonic, Infinix Offer Discounts on Budget Smartphones

HIGHLIGHTS

• Samsung On5, On7, and J3 Pro are all priced under Rs. 7,000
• The Infinix Hot 4 Pro is going to priced at Rs. 6,499
• Flipkart's Big Billion Days smartphone sale will begin on September 21

Flipkart's annual Big Billion Days sale will commence on September 20 and go on till September 24 in the country. The smartphone sale will begin from September 21 and Flipkart is offering a variety of budget smartphones in the sale. Brands like Moto, Samsung, Xolo, Swipe, Asus, Micromax, iVoomi and Sansui are offering discounts and deals on their budgeted smartphone range under Rs. 7,000.

Flipkart is offering a Rs. 1,000 discount on the Infinix Hot 4 Pro, pricing it at Rs. 6,499 in the sale. The Panasonic P85 which is priced at Rs. 6,499, will now be priced at Rs. 4,999 in the sale. The Swipe Elite Sense is set to be priced at Rs. 5,999 (original price Rs. 7,499), and the Xolo Era 1X is going to be priced at Rs. 3,999 (original price Rs. 4,999).

Similarly, the Yunique 2 which is priced at Rs. 5,999 will get Rs. 500 discount, and will be made available for Rs. 5,499 during the Big Billion Days sale. The budget iVoomi Me 3 and iVoomi Me 3S will see discounts of Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 1,500 respectively.

Samsung will also offer a host of smartphones under Rs. 7,000 including the Samsung Galaxy On5, Samsung Galaxy On7, and Samsung Galaxy J3 Pro. Other models that will be on sale during the event are iVooMi Me4, Micromax Evok Power, Xolo Era 1X Pro, and many more. In addition to the price cuts, consumers who buy these budgeted smartphones can also avail an extra 10 percent instant discount on SBI debit & credit cards and exchange offers on select models.

Ayyappan Rajagopal, Senior Director - Mobiles at Flipkart said in a statement, "We have lined up never seen before deals and offers for customers during the Big Billion Days across a wide selection of budget smartphones to help them get their hands on the best technology at pocket friendly prices. We look forward to significantly further increasing our market leadership in this category on the back of our wide selection, market reach, and reliable delivery capability and affordability levers."

Flipkart has also announced that the Samsung Galaxy S7 will be available at an 'unbelievable price' hinting at a huge discount. Other smartphones that will get price cuts include the HTC U11, Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie, Yu Yureka 2, and Moto C Plus. Exchange offers will be listed for Oppo smartphones, and Flipkart is also offering a flat 60 percent off on metal earphones with the purchase of any smartphone during the sale period.

Xiaomi Mi Band HRX Edition With 23-Day Battery Life Launched in India: Price, Specifications

 

HIGHLIGHTS

• Mi Band HRX Edition is an adaptation of the Mi Band 2
• It comes with an improved tracking algorithm
• It will be available first on Mi.com on September 18

After teasing the arrival of a new fitness product in the country, Xiaomi on Friday launched the Mi Band HRX Edition. The Chinese conglomerate has partnered with HRX by Hrithik Roshan to offer this new fitness band, and it essentially is an adaptation of the Mi Band 2. The Mi Band HRX Edition will be available from September 18 on Mi.com,and Mi Home offline stores. It will also be sold on Myntra, Flipkart, and Amazon starting September 20.

The Mi Band HRX Edition is priced at Rs. 1,299, slightly less expensive than the Mi Band 2. It sports an OLED display that shows the time, and also shows the steps, distance covered, and calories burnt. It has an improved pedometer for more accuracy in steps and exercise measurement, and also alerts you if you have been idle for too long. The Mi Band HRX Edition will remind you to take short walks and water breaks at regular intervals. Furthermore, it also calculates your sleep, is splash resistant, sends calls and notification alerts, and unlocks your paired Android smartphone without the need to put in a passcode or fingerprint as well.

The Mi Band HRX Edition has support for Bluetooth 4.0 and is rated to offer 23 days of battery life as well. Just to compare, the Mi Band 2 is rated to offer 20 days of battery life, and is priced at Rs. 1,999. The Mi Band HRX Edition looks similar to the Mi Band 2 with respect to design, except for the additional HRX logo now embedded on the strap. Its important to note that the HRX Edition does not have a heart rate monitor though - something the Mi Band 2 does.

Xiaomi Vice President and India Managing Director Manu Jain told PTI, "Indians are becoming more fitness conscious and this category is at an extremely dynamic stage. The Mi Band is a great fit in the category as reflected by the great response received for the Mi Band 2. This is not an endorsement deal, it's a partnership for a new device. Hrithik provided inputs on features can be incorporated to make the product more relevant."

INFORMATION & TECHNOLOGY,ENTERTAINMENT

INFORMATION & TECHNOLOGY,ENTERTAINMENT: Pixel

Google Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL to Be Launched on October 4, Google Teases

HIGHLIGHTS

• Google says it will launch new smartphones on October 4
• The company is widely expected to launch Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL
• Google is also expected to launch AirPods-like earphones

Google on Thursday said it will be launching new smartphones on October 4, without sharing any more details. In a teaser on its Made by Google site, the company asks "Thinking about changing phones? Stay tuned for more on October 4." The company is widely expected to launch Pixel 2, and Pixel 2 XLsmartphones, the upgrade to its last year's Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones.

The Android-maker's teaser comes two days after its stark rival Apple announced three new iPhone models - the iPhone 8, the iPhone 8 Plus, the iPhone X. Google's Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are also expected to be top-of-the-line flagship smartphones. The company also began to put up billboards in Boston this week. The search giant is also making sure no-one misses the teaser, by placing a teaser (seen below) on the Search home page as well, saying "Ask more of your phone. Oct. 4"

If one clicks through the Search home page's teaser, the URL (web address) mentions the word Pixel, corroborating the obvious - that the new smartphones from Google will be Pixel smartphones. The company has separately published a video teaser, which can be seen below. The video teaser imagines users typing in several questions about their smartphones into the search engine, lamenting poor battery life, blurry photos, lack of storage, dumbness, inability to auto-update, and bad performance, indicating the Pixel 2 series will not be affected by any of these common problems.

Not much is known about the Google Pixel 2 and Google Pixel 2 supposed smartphones, but according to recent reports, the Pixel 2 - said to be made by HTC - could have a "squeezable frame" like the HTC U11. This would allow users to perform a range of actions by just how tightly they hold the phones.The supposed Google Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL smartphones are expected to be powered by Snapdragon 835 SoC, the best-in-class offering from Qualcomm, which recently said Android smartphones are always first to get new features, taking a jab at Apple. There has been some chatter that Google's upcoming Android smartphones might house Snapdragon 836, with some doubting that the said mobile processor doesn't exist.

At least the Pixel 2 XL is expected to be made by LG and feature a 6-inch bezel-less display, similar to what we have seen in LG's own G6 and V30 smartphones, as well as the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and the iPhone X.The teaser notably doesn't mention anything about a new variant of Google Home and Google Assistant-powered earphones, two products the company is reportedly planning to launch soon, too. Google is also expected to refresh its Chrome Pixel laptop lineup.