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Showing posts from October, 2019

Other than junk food, here's another key factor in childhood obesity

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Yes, high calorie and junk food are among the leading causes of obesity; but a new study has presented yet another key reason behind obesity in children. Gut bacteria and its interactions with immune cells and metabolic organs, including fat tissue is found to play a key role in childhood obesity, according to a new study published in the journal Obesity Reviews. Not only the gut, but the mother's health, diet, exercise level, antibiotic use, among others can also pose as a risk factor in a child getting obese. "The medical community used to think that obesity was a result of consuming too many calories. However, a series of studies over the past decade has confirmed that the microbes living in our gut are not only associated with obesity but also are one of the causes," said lead author Hariom Yadav, Ph.D., assistant professor of molecular medicine at Wake Forest School of Medicine, part of Wake Forest Baptist. Obesity is increasing at a 2.3 per cent rat...

Pakistan train fire: Death toll rises to 65, rescue operations underway

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Pakistan Train Incident : At least 65 people were killed and scores injured on Thursday as a massive fire broke out on a moving train after cooking gas stoves carried by some passengers exploded in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province. The train, Tezgam Express, was on its way to Lahore from Karachi when the fire broke out, destroying three bogies at Liaquatpur near Rahim Yar Khan, some 400 kms from Lahore. District Police Officer Amir Taimur said that 65 passengers lost their lives after the fire erupted in three coaches. Railway Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said that most of the victims belonged to the Tableeghi Jamaat (Islamic preachers) who were going to Lahore to attend a major annual congregation at Raiwind. The Railways Minister said gas stoves carried by some passengers blew up when they were preparing breakfast on the speeding train in violation of rules.  Read Complete Article

An athleisure shoe proves to be sneaker-trainer that does surprising things

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The Reebok Sole Fury is a celebratory release to mark the 25th anniversary of a coveted piece of sneaker history, the Reebok InstaPump. Like its predecessor, this one too has something interesting happening around the middle outer sole. The Sole Fury is ridiculously lightweight. No wonder it’s missing a piece. A chunk of the outsole is cut from the arch side, splitting its EVA midsole into two. Not only does the wacky engineering make the Sole Fury among the lightest performance sneakers ever produced — 230 grams for a size 8 – it also increases the flexibility of the midsole. A graphite plate running through the midsole ensures that stability is not compromised. The neoprene upper and asymmetrical eyelets give the pair an edgy look. The bootie construction is not as snug as you would expect from a knit upper, but it’s hardly necessary in a sneaker. Reebok says the Sole Fury is an athleisure pair, but after walking and casually sprinting in the “clover green” colourway, I was ...

Maharashtra Board extends HSC online application deadline to November 15

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MSBSHE HSC application 2020 : The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, Pune, has extended the deadline for filling up online forms for HSC 2019. According to the previous notification, the deadline was ending on October 23, 2019. However, due to technical reasons, the last date has now been revised to November 15, 2019. Late applications for students, which were earlier to be received from November 1 to 8, 2019, will be taken with a fine from November 16 to 25, 2019. The Maharashtra Board class 12 exam will begin on February 18, 2020, with English as the first subject. It will be conducted in the morning session. The exam will conclude on March 18, 2020, with Sanskrit in the morning batch and Russian and Arabic in the evening slot, on the same day.   Read Complete Article

Any idea how to tackle 'deepfake videos'? Twitter wants your suggestion

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Twitter  is working on a new policy to tackle deepfake videos on its platform that will address the content which could threaten someone's physical safety or lead to offline harm. The micro-blogging platform has asked its users how best the synthetic and manipulated videos can be addressed. "Deepfakes" are video forgeries that make people appear to be saying things they never did, like the popular forged videos of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that went viral recently. "We're always updating our rules based on how online behaviours change. We're working on a new policy to address synthetic and manipulated media on Twitter, but first we want to hear from you,' Twitter said on Monday. "We need to consider how synthetic media is shared on Twitter in potentially damaging contexts; we want to listen and consider your perspectives in our policy development process and we want to be transparent about our ap...

G Suite users will now have single profile photo for Google, Gmail

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Google has started combining G Suite users'  Gmail photos  with their Google account profile photos. "We are combining the Gmail photo with the Google account profile photo for G Suite users. Now, when you go to change this setting in Gmail, you'll be directed to the 'About me' section of your Google profile settings to set your profile picture," the company said in a statement on Monday. Currently, profile pictures set in Gmail are only displayed in Gmail. This means a profile picture in Gmail may be different than the Google account profile photo, which can make it difficult to know which picture will be displayed where. This new change simplifies things by allowing a user to set a single profile picture in one place and then displaying that single photo across all Google apps. "When you visit Settings > General > My Picture in Gmail on the web, you will be directed to change your picture in the 'About me' section of your Goo...

Deepika Padukone keeps meme game strong; this time becomes 'Ranveer's favourite candy'

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Be it showing love, cracking a joke or sharing memes, Bollywood star  Deepika Padukone  is totally up for it! And this time her Instagram story is proof! Deepika's pink tulle dress which she wore to the 21st Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, was turned into a meme featuring Ranveer Singh. The two have been in limelight for their eccentric fashion choices and this isn't the first meme the 'Om Shanti Om' actor shared on social media. Earlier last month, Deepika turned her hubby into a trashcan when she posted a "relatable" meme on Instagram. In the shared meme, a couple can be seen eating together and the boy says, "I'm done". The girl, who has a tensed look on her face, says, "I can't finish the rest". She then pours the food in her boyfriend's mouth and says, "Open wide, trashcan".   Read Complete Article

Flipkart Big Diwali sale: iPhone 7 to Realme XT, the best smartphone deals

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Home-grown e-commerce platform Flipkart is hosting a five-day festive season sale in which it is offering discounts, deals, exchange offers, bank offers, zero-interest equated monthly instalment schemes, etc, on a wide range of products, including smartphones. Named the  Flipkart Big Diwali sale , the festive-season sale started on October 21 and will continue until October 25. In the sale, the e-commerce platform is offering up to 10 per cent instant discount on SBI cards and credit-card EMI transactions. Additionally, Flipkart is also offering a 10 per cent off on select mobile phones on all debit and credit card transactions. Here is a look at some of the best deals on smartphones: iPhone 7 (32GB) Though three generations old now, the iPhone 7 is still a decent choice for someone who wishes to get into the Apple product ecosystem. This smartphone is currently available at a discounted price of Rs 26,999, nine per cent lower than its prevailing retail price of Rs 29,90...

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro goes on sale on Amazon India: Price, specifications

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Chinese electronics manufacturer Xiaomi’s recently launched Redmi Note-series smartphone Redmi Note 8 Pro went on sale on Monday. This Amazon-exclusive smartphone comes in three RAM and storage configurations — 6GB/64GB, 6GB/128GB and 8GB/128GB — priced at Rs 14,999, Rs 15,999 and Rs 17,999, respectively. A successor to the Redmi Note 7 Pro, the Redmi Note 8 Pro is Xiaomi’s first smartphone with a quad-camera set-up on its back. The phone is also the company’s first to boast a 64-megapixel primary camera and a gaming-centric MediaTek Helio G90T mobile processor. Redmi Note 8 Pro specifications The Redmi Note 8 Pro boasts a glass build with Gorilla Glass 5 protection on the front and back. On the front, the phone has a 6.53-inch dot-shaped notch screen of a fullHD+ (2340 x 1080p) resolution. The HDR-ready screen has anti-oil and anti-fingerprint coating for protection against smudges. Read Complete Article

Dell G3 15 gaming laptop review: The taste of Alienware on a budget

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To many, the name Alienware might invoke beautiful childhood memories of a blue alien logo on laptops that meant serious business for gamers around the world. After a merger between Dell and Alienware in 2006, the gaming laptops coming out of Dell's stable adapted to the Alienware theme, an exciting combination for serious enthusiasts looking for affordable yet powerful machines. The Dell G3 15 laptop is a product of the same marriage. A laptop built on Dell's platform but with the soul of an Alienware. This gaming laptop sheds the gimmicky red and moves on to a new baby-blue themes. While it seems to be an attractive package, can the Dell G3 15 make a lasting mark like the Alienware? Let's have a look: Design and build quality The Dell G3 15 is a laptop built to last. A compact form factor that feels sturdy but lightweight, the laptop comes in matte finish and has a minimalist design stamped with Dell's glossy blue logo in the middle. The laptop comes with ...

Mumbai: FIR registered against six persons for theft of groundwater

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Mumbai Police  on Wednesday registered an FIR against six persons in Azad Maidan police station for allegedly stealing groundwater amounting to more than Rs 70 crores over the past several years. According to the complainant, Suresh Kumar Dhokha, a tenant in Pandya mansion, the owners of the building have dug two illegal wells and sold water amounting to Rs 73.18 crores for the past 11 years. The complainant also alleged negligence by the municipal administration. Speaking to ANI, complainant Suresh Dhoka said, " They (accused) did not have permission for either digging up the well, extracting water or installation of water pipeline." "Secondly, this property is on lease from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and even moving a brick from here is an offence," he added. Read Complete Article

China to remove business restrictions on foreign banks, brokers: Report

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China will remove business restrictions on foreign banks, brokerages and fund management firms, a cabinet meeting chaired by premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday said, according to state television. China has stepped up efforts to open its financial sector amid a festering trade war with the United States, with increased access to its financial sector among a host of demands from Washington. The country caught traders off-guard with a surprise injection into the financial system via loans to banks, ahead of data on Friday which is expected to show a further slowdown in the domestic economy. Read Complete Article

Bajaj Chetak makes a comeback in electric avatar, to be available from Jan

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Two-wheeler major Bajaj on Wednesday announced the comeback of its iconic scooter brand Chetak in an electric avatar. The company plans to start selling  electric scooters  (e-scooter) under the Chetak brand January onwards from Pune and then move to Bengaluru; and after gauging the response, expand operations to other locations. The e-scooter would be rolled out from the company's Chakan plant and would be retailed from the company's Pro-Biking dealerships. The company also plans to export the model to various relevant markets in Europe from next year itself. The e-scooter was unveiled by Transport minister Nitin Gadkari in presence of Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant and Bajaj Auto Managing Director Rajiv Bajaj. Read Complete Article

Tan is the one thing that has been inevitable this summer season

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Tan  is the one thing that has been inevitable this  summer season . While no one minds a healthy, Greek god-tan, excessive tanning is a sign of skin damage. If you are someone who is completely done with layering your body with various products to remove your tan, and are looking for natural alternatives, then we've got you covered. Save the hands: While the amount of tan on your face is most noticeable, the one part of your body which is prey to maximum amount of tan are your arms. Arms tend to be the most exposed part of the body, and yet we tend to do very little to protect them. So here is how you can remove the tan from your arms: Sweet Yogurt mask: Mix 1tbsp of yogurt with ½ tbsp of turmeric powder and 1tbsp of honey. Apply the concoction evenly on your arms before rinsing it with cold water. We are all well aware of turmeric's anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and any itchiness or redness because of the tan is certainly going to reduce. Read C...

4 of 5 Indian children do not survive cancer. What led to this sorry state?

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How long does a  cancer diagnosis  take? Six months, according to Bipin Jana, 45, whose eight-year-old son Parmeshwar has stage-4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma. That is how long it took the family, travelling 2,000 km across West Bengal, New Delhi and finally, Mumbai, to get an effective diagnosis and start treatment. Parmeshwar is currently undergoing chemotherapy at the Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH), Mumbai, India’s foremost cancer treatment centre. Almost half (43.6 per cent) of the children with cancer admitted here had to travel over 1,300 km to reach the hospital, records showed. Up to 10 per cent travelled over 2,200 km and 20 per cent had undergone alternative or incomplete treatments before reaching TMH. With timely diagnosis, children with cancer have a high rate of survival. If he lived in a high-income country, Parmeshwar would have had a 90 per cent chance of recovery. Since he is being treated, his odds are still better than India’s national survival rate for j...

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro India launch today at 12 PM: Expected specs, & more

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Chinese electronics manufacturer Xiaomi is set to launch the  Redmi Note 8 Pro in India  on October 16. Successor to the Redmi Note 7 Pro, the phone would bring several new upgrades, including a 64-megapixel sensor-based quad rear camera set-up, MediaTek Helio G90T mobile processor and fast charging support. Apart from the phone, Xiaomi is also expected to announce its next iteration of Android operating system-based user interface, the MIUI 11. Redmi Note 8 Pro specifications The Redmi Note 8 Pro boasts a glass build with Gorilla Glass 5 protection on the front and back. On the front, the phone has a 6.53-inch dot-shaped notch screen of fullHD+ (2340 x 1080p) resolution. The HDR-ready screen has anti-oil and anti-fingerprint coating for protection against smudges. Powering the phone is MediaTek Helio G90T system-on-chip, which is a midrange mobile processor aimed at gaming-centric smartphones. Though the phone’s Chinese version is powered by Android 9 Pie operatin...

Indian Coast Guard Recruitment 2019: Applications open for Navik posts

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Indian Coast Guard Recruitment 2019 : There is good news for those looking to join Indian defence forces. Indian Coast Guard has invited applications for recruitment to the post of Navik. The last date to apply is November 8, 2019. Indian Coast Guard Recruitment 2019: Important information Last date to apply: November 8, 2019 Where to apply: https://www.joinindiancoastguard.gov.in Educational qualification: Candidate must be 10th pass from a recognised Board with 50 per cent marks. Age Limit – 18 to 22 years (Upper age relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST and 3 years for OBC candidates) Pay Scale: 21700/-(Pay Level-3) plus dearness allowance and other allowances According to the Indian Coast Guard Recruitment 2019 notification, selection will take place in three stages - written test, physical fitness test and Initial Medical Examination (Preliminary).  Read Complete Article

Apple iPhone 11 Pro: Finally, an iPhone with Android-like imaging prowess

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American technology giant Apple recently launched three smartphones under its iPhone 11 series — the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and  iPhone 11 Pro Max . Of these, the iPhone 11 seems the most interesting for its ‘affordable’ price tag and the upgrades it has got over predecessor iPhone XR. The most premium upgrades, however, have come to the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone Pro Max — you have to make a difficult choice between them to experience the best from Apple. The iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max are identical twins with variance only in display size, dimensions, and battery. You could expect both devices to offer a similar experience. We reviewed the iPhone 11 Pro, and here are our thoughts on how it fares on smartphone parameters like design, display, imaging and performance: Design The iPhone 11 Pro gives you a déjà vu feeling. And why shouldn’t it — it looks exactly like the iPhone X, Apple’s ten-year anniversary special that came in 2017. Not much has changed in the iP...

Shahid Kapoor to star in Hindi remake of 'Jersey'

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Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor , who is basking in the success of 'Kabir Singh', is all set to treat his fans with yet another Telugu remake. The star will be next seen in the Hindi version of the Telugu hit ' Jersey '. The Hindi remake will be helmed by director Gowtam Tinnanuri, who also directed the original Telugu movie, which starred actor Nani. It will be bankrolled by Allu Aravind, Aman Gill, and Dil Raju. Indian film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared the news on his Twitter handle. Along with making the announcement, Taran also shared the release date of the film. Further details regarding the cast and production of the movie are yet to be announced. 'Jersey' revolves around a father named Arjun (Nani), a talented but failed cricketer, who decides to return to cricket in his late thirties because of his desire to represent the Indian cricket team and fulfill his son's wish of an Indian jersey as a gift. How he makes it big desp...

OnePlus 7T Pro launch at 8:30 PM today: Livestream, likely specs & features

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Chinese electronics manufacturer OnePlus is set to launch the  OnePlus 7T Pro  at a global event in London that would be livestreamed simultaneously on the company’s social media and YouTube channels. In India, the event’s livestream on YouTube will start at 8:30 PM. At the launch event, the company is also expected to unveil the OnePlus 7T Pro’s McLaren edition, teased recently on OnePlus' official Twitter account. A successor to the OnePlus 7 Pro, the OnePlus 7T Pro is expected to be a premium flagship. It could be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ mobile processor, which also powers the company’s recently launched OnePlus 7T. The phone might come in multiple variants; with up to 12 GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. However, the OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren edition is expected to come only with 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage. The OnePlus 7T Pro is expected to get the matte frosted glass design, which the company introduced in the OnePlus 7T. Other than cos...

Motorola One Macro with dedicated close-up camera lens launched at Rs 9,999

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Lenovo-owned smartphone brand  Motorola  on Wednesday launched the Motorola One Macro, with a dedicated macro camera lens for close-up shots. Priced at Rs 9,999, the phone is the third camera-centric smartphone to launch this year as part of the Motorola One-series. The two previous ones were the Motorola One Vision (review) and Motorola One Action (review). A Flipkart-exclusive smartphone, Motorola One Macro will be available on the platform of the home-grown e-commerce company starting October 12. Lenovo One Macro specifications The Lenovo One Macro has a 6.2-inch LCD screen of an HD+ (1520 x 720) resolution. While the One Action and One Vision boast a punch-hole screen of cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio, the One Macro has a U-shaped notch screen stretched in a tall 19:9 aspect ratio. The notch at the screen’s top accommodates phone’s 8-megapixel selfie camera, which has an f/2.2 aperture and supports screen flash, auto HDR, timer, face beauty, auto smile capture, cinem...

Samsung Galaxy Fold pre-orders begin today: Hands-on, specs, price, & more

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Launched in India on October 1, the  Samsung Galaxy Fold  is now available for pre-orders on Samsung online store, Samsung shop, and select retail outlets, including the Samsung Opera House in Bengaluru. The pre-orders will continue for a couple of weeks from now and the delivers for pre-orders will start from October 20. Priced at Rs 1,64,999, the Galaxy Fold is India’s first smartphone with a bendable screen. First unveiled in February, the phone’s first iteration received a negative feedback from early reviewers over durability of its bendable screen and longevity of the hinge mechanism. Following a backlash, the phone’s initial pre-orders were cancelled and the device went back to the labs for testing and improvements. Thankfully, the model coming to India is the second iteration, which seems to have an improved bendable screen and folding mechanism. Read Complete Article

After FB, Netflix, more US tech giants turn to India for new apps release

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India is emerging as the testing and acquisition playground for global consumer  technology companies , especially the so-called FAANGs, according to a veteran internet analyst. RBC Capital Markets’ Mark Mahaney, who calls himself Wall Street’s “oldest internet analyst” after covering the sector for more than two decades, said India is now more popular than markets like China because it has the same growth dynamics but with fewer regulations. As one of the largest economies and most populous countries in the world, India has turned into a testing ground for companies such as Facebook Inc., which has used it to beta-test a payments feature for WhatsApp. Netflix Inc. rolled out a mobile plan in India at 199 rupees ($2.80), much cheaper than what it charges for a basic plan elsewhere, and has created original content to capture more market share. “ India does have regulations but it doesn’t seem to be as protectionist as China,” said Mahaney. India has been considering a ne...

Alcatel 3T10 review: Easy on pocket, but gives only an average performance

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Unlike in case of  smartphones , deciding whether to go for a budget device or shell out heavily on a safe premium one is not always easy when you are out in the market for a tablet. But there have come a few promising but inexpensive tablets in recent times, making the choice somewhat easier for users. The Alcatel 3T10 is one such tablet. Priced at Rs 11,999, this 10-inch tablet comes with a Bluetooth speaker that also acts as the charging stand. When used separately, the tablet's dual speakers with 5W drivers give a considerable output. Also, the speaker has a 2000mAh battery that lasts 4-5 hours on full charge. This tablet runs on Android 9.0 and has Google Assistant pre-installed on it. Its 10-inch IPS display with an 800 x 1200 resolution leaves thick bezels around it. We found the display to be a bit dull, but that did not cause much hassle while reading mails, social media posts, or even streaming videos from Netflix or Amazon Prime. But we would advise you not to ex...

Air Tamer A-310 review: Great idea, but not yet an answer to air pollution

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Air purifiers have become integral to people’s needs these days, especially in major cities, thanks to the scourge of high pollution levels in recent times. The situation in Delhi during winters is particularly alarming and people earlier were forced to turn to air purifiers, which did not come cheap and you could not carry them with you. But that was earlier; technology is now moving towards what is called ‘personal air purifiers’, and that might change things for good. We came across the  Air Tamer A-310 , a personal air purifier launched recently, and reviewed it to see if these devices could substitute the traditional air purifiers and answer the issue of air pollution in cities with an equal effectiveness. Here’s what we found: The Air Tamer A-310 is completely portable — it fits in your pocket, so you can carry it with ease. It is a lightweight device and has a panel that looks like a display but is not. At the bottom, it has a regular USB jack to charge the device...

GoPro Hero8 Black, Max action cameras launched; price starts at Rs 36,500

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GoPro on Tuesday launched its HERO8 Black and Max action cameras in India for Rs 36,500, and Rs 47,000, respectively. Both the devices are available for pre-order at GoPro.com beginning October 1. Shipments of HERO8 Black begin October 15 and it will be available at select retail partners globally starting October 20. GoPro Max can be pre-ordered via GoPro.com with shipments beginning October 24. It will be available at select retailers globally on October 24 and in the US on October 25. Its Mods, which comprise the 'Media Mod', the 'Display Mod' and the 'Light Mod' cost $79.99, $79.99 and $49.99, respectively. They will be available in India starting December. GoPro MaxGoPro Max "It's been 15 years since the first GoPro camera, and from the start, we've been about enabling people to share their passions whether they're fueled by adrenaline or artistry," Nick Woodman, Founder and CEO, GoPro, said in a statement.  Read Compl...

Samsung launches Galaxy Fold at Rs 164,999; pre-orders begin from October 4

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South Korean electronics manufacturer  Samsung  on Tuesday launched its first foldable device, the Galaxy Fold, in India, at Rs 1,64,999. With this launch, the company became the first smartphone brand in the country to foray into the new product category of bendable screen devices. The device, a foldable smartphone, comes with 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB of internal storage. Its pre-orders will start from October 4, and the deliveries for pre-orders from October 20. The Galaxy Fold pre-orders could be done on the Samsung online store, Samsung shop, and select retail outlets, including the Samsung Opera House in Bengaluru. The Galaxy Fold, introduced before the Mobile World Congress earlier this year, was upgraded recently to address the build and longevity issues reported by early reviewers. The reported issues were mostly related to the device’s bendable screen and hinge mechanism — key components of the company’s first foldable device. The upgraded version showcased by t...

Microsoft unveils foldable Android phone, earbuds, ARM-based Surface laptop

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Microsoft's October 2019 Event  saw the company unveiling a large range of new Surface devices. Some other big announcements include Surface Laptop 3, Surface Pro 7, Surface Earbuds, Surface Neo, Surface Pro X and Surface Duo. The 13-inch Surface Laptop 3 comes with the latest 10th-generation quad-core processors from Intel, while the 15-inch model comes with a custom AMD Ryzen 7 processor, or as Microsoft calls it, "Ryzen 7 Surface Edition". The 13-inch Surface Laptop 3 will start at $999 and will go up to $1,199 for the 15-inch model. Microsoft has updated its Surface Pro 6 tablet with the Surface Pro 7. Like the Surface Laptop 3, it finally gets a much-requested USB-C connection. Inside, there is an option of tenth-generation Intel Core CPUs, and storage options that run from a 128GB SSD through to 1TB.  Read Complete Article