Xiaomi Redmi 4A review: One of the best entry-level smartphones, but only if you can get your hands on it

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  Other smartphone players have also caught on to Xiaomi’s strategy, and there has definitely been stiff competition in the last one year, but Xiaomi still has a star product in most of the under Rs 30,000 price segments. The only annoying aspect is actually buying a Xiaomi handset. Its flash sales or open sales are notorious for making you wait weeks before you finally get one handset. After these many years, it is high time Xiaomi got this aspect right. It is a pain for mobile phone buyers to wait for weeks before they get lucky in purchasing one handset off the sales.
  
  
  Recently, Xiaomi released its entry level Redmi device — the Xiaomi Redmi 4A, which is priced at Rs 5,999. Will this be the phone to go for someone thinking of making the switch from a feature phone? Let us find out

Build and Design: 7/10

Xiaomi’s mid-range devices have started to sport metallic builds. The Xiaomi Redmi 4A being an entry level device, comes with a polycarbonate finish. It weighs in at 131 grams and feels quite light, but sturdy to hold.

The volume rocker and power/standby button on the right hand side give good feedback. The SIM card tray is located on the left hand edge. The phone measures around 8.5 mm thick.

Xiaomi Redmi 4A ensures that there are no sharp edges on the phone, thanks to bevelled edges. This also helps in giving a good grip to the phone. On the rear of the phone there are fine grooves at the top and bottom, but it’s just a design element and it is not meant for antenna bands. The 13 MP rear camera is housed inside a metallic ring and is located on the top left hand corner with an LED flash unit beside it. The Mi branding is prominent on the lower half of the rear side. Towards the base there is a speaker grille section, with a minor chin just below it.

The phone comes with an infrared blaster on the top edge, which also houses the 3.5 mm audio jack. At the base, you have a microUSB port for charging and data transfer. On the front there is a 5-inch HD display with thick bezels on the top and bottom.

Overall, the build quality at this price point isn’t bad at all. The design is nothing out of the ordinary. The one-hand fit element will certainly attract a lot of buyers.

Features: 7/10
Xiaomi Redmi 4A comes with a 5-inch HD display and houses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 SoC with a quad-core Cortex A53 processor clocked at 1.4 GHz. The graphics portion is taken care of by an Adreno 308 GPU. The chipset is paired with 2 GB RAM. It comes in 16 GB and 32 GB storage variants. We got the 16 GB model to test, which gives around 10.3 GB of usable space. You can expand the storage using a microSD card by up to 256 GB.

The Xiaomi Redmi 4A comes in a hybrid dual SIM configuration (micro SIM + nano SIM), supports Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS and BDS. It comes with a micro USB port for charging and data transfer, and there is no support for fast charging.

Thankfully it bundles in an FM radio as well. On the camera front, you get a 13 MP rear camera, along with a 5 MP selfie camera. All this is powered by a non-removable 3,120 mAh Li-ion battery.

Publish date: April 25, 2017 12:48 pm| Modified date: April 25, 2017 12:48 pm

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Instagram adds christmas stickers, candy brush and “hands-free” video

  21 Dec 2016 , 17:10

Instagram has rolled out two more features that allows users to add stickers to posts and capture videos “hands-free”. According to a report in the Next Web on Tuesday, users can now add stickers to videos and photo stories through a sticker button that shows up next to the drawingTOOL.

Image Credit: Instagram

The feature includes specific stickers for the weather, current time and location and there are a bunch of holiday stickers like Christmas, Hannukah and all. Instagram has also added a “hands-free” for video recording. Now the users do not have to hold down the video button to record a video anymore.

“Just tap once to start, and tap again to finish — like your regularCAMERA app already does,” the report noted. With the new addition, users can also add more text to their photos and videos by tapping the text button to keep on adding more instances.

With the help of a slider that appears in the Instagram, users can adjust the text size too, including automatic text wrap so that it is not chopped off the sides of screen. iOS users can also save their entire story from the past 24 hours as a single video. The features are available on the latest versions of Instagram (10.3) for iOS and Android.

IANS

Deep dive into ZenFone 3 Max 5.2

  06 Dec 2016 , 15:58

The ZenFone 3 Max (ZC520TL) is part of the new ZenFone 3 series and the model with an incredibly-long-lasting, high-capacity 4100mAh battery that provides up to

• 30 days of standby time
• 20 hours of VoIP talk time on 3G
• 87 hours of music playback
• 15 hours of video playback

The ZenFone 3 Max’s high capacity battery gives owners freedom to use it for extended lengths without the need to charge it and even the ability to act as a fast charging power bank that can charge other devices with a current of up to 1.5A.

This latest addition to the ZenFone 3 series also sports a new full-metal, aluminum alloy body that houses its high-definition 5.2in IPS display. The display is surrounded by a slim, 2.25mm bezel that gives it a high 75% screen to body ratio – meaning that the bezel takes up only a quarter of its front facing surface area, giving users as large a screen for as compact a phone size as possible.

Although ZenFone 3 Max has such a high capacity battery, it weighs only 148 grams and is only 8.5mm thick, making it one of the lightest and most compact smartphones with a battery above 4000 mAh in capacity.

It also has a LTE Category 4 radio for fast mobile-download speeds up to 150Mbps.

Achievements

• The ZenFone 3 series model with the highest capacity battery
• At only 148 grams and is only 8.5mm thick, it is one of the lightest and smallest smartphones with a battery that is 4000mAh and above
• Its 75% screen-to-body ratio is also one of the highest among smartphones with a battery that is 4000mAh and above

Specifications

Premium Metal Design

The ZenFone 3 Max features a beautiful new aluminum alloy construction with design elements that add to its good looks and makes it more comfortable to hold.

Aluminum Alloy Body – The ZenFone 3 Max has an aluminum alloy body that is finished with a finely sandblasted matt surface and features gently rounded corners and edges. This premium material not only makes the phone look sophisticated, it is also makes it more durable.

Display glass with 2.5D contoured edges – The ZenFone 3 Max’s display glass has what is known as a “2.5D” contoured edges. Thus every smoothly rounded edges are a result of a highly precise manufacturing technique.The 2.5D contoured edges make the phone look even better, help the display glass fuse seamlessly into the diamond cut metallic chamfered edge, and adds to the comfort of holding the phone.

Diamond-cut Metallic Chamfered Edges – Surrounding the 2.5D contoured display glass edges of the ZenFone 3 Max is a special chamfered edge that was made using a diamond tipped cutting tool, and anodized to give it an attractive, shiny metallic finish. This chamfered edge not only makes the

Many Android 7.1 Nougat features, including Google Assistant, are exclusive to the Pixel

By Rob Thubron on October 6, 2016, 8:30 AM



Google finally unveiled its long-rumored Pixel smartphones earlier this week. They will be the first to launch with Android 7.1 Nougat, but many of the Pixels’ best features, such as the new Google Assistant, won’t appear on other Android devices, including Google’s own Nexus series, when the OS arrives.

An Android 7.1 Nougat changelog leaked to Android Police shows which new features will appear in the upcoming operating system, as well as those that are Pixel-only. Google confirmed that the information is accurate is to TechCrunch.

The absence of the AI-powered helper will come as disappointment to those who expected to see the Siri/Cortana/Alexa rival on every handset receiving Android 7.1 Nougat. Google Assistant is essentially a more advanced version of Google Now, able to engage in two-way conversations with users, perform complex tasks, and learn and recall personal information from previous conversations for context.

Other Pixel exclusives include the free, unlimited photo and video (in their original quality) cloud backup service; the smart storage feature, which automatically removes old, backed up images/videos when the storage is full; and the Pixel Camera and Launcher apps. 24-hour phone/chat support and screen-share functionality will also be limited to the Pixel phones.

There are some interesting new features coming to all devices that receive Android 7.1, though. There’s the Night Light blue filter, which changes the color temperature of a display at night. A Daydream VR mode is also on its way, along with support for sliding down on the fingerprint sensor to open the notification bar.

Google did say that its Assistant would eventually be arriving on other Android devices, just don’t expect it soon. Ultimately, the company will likely replace Google Now with its more advanced version of the assistant.

"Our goal is to make the Google Assistant widely available to users, and we’ll continue to launch new surfaces over the course of the next year," a Google spokesperson told TechCrunch.

The developer preview of Android 7.1 arrives later this month. Google hasn’t said when it will come to phones other than the Pixel.

Karbonn Quattro L52 VR Review: Don’t bother buying this

• By Rehan Hooda /  05 Oct 2016 , 15:13

Karbonn Quattro L52 VR is one of seven phones launched by Karbonn Mobiles in this year and the third phone from the Quattro series. The company launched this phone back in April and wanted to target budget users with the bundled VR headset for its VR content. Not many companies have gone this way in targeting budget segment with VR offering, except Lenovo with Vibe K4 Note. You sure can use third party VR headsets to consume the VR content but bundled VR headset along with the name of the device itself and bundled VR apps go a long way in showing that this isn’t a trial run.

Karbonn Quattro L52 VR is one in a sea of mobile devices made by the company, trying to capitalise on being one of the first to target the low-end smartphones with VR content, driving the price lower than Lenovo Vibe K4 Note. Let’s see how it fares.

Build Quality: 7.5/10

The build quality of Karbonn Quattro L52 VR is surprisingly good. I was not expecting a metal frame body and curved glass on the front with

Sony Xperia XZ lands in the US on October 2 for $699.99

Sony announced the Xperia XZ at the beginning of this month. It will replace the Xperia X Performance as the company's flagship smartphone after just a few short months of that device being available.

Speaking of availability, the Xperia XZ will arrive in stock in the US on October 2. It will be sold by retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy, and its recommended price is $699.99. Obviously for that amount you'll get an unlocked unit, which will work with GSM-based networks such as AT&T and T-Mobile (and all MVNOs operating on their infrastructure).

Expect the XZ to go up for pre-order soon, joining the X Compact which was announced alongside it. The smaller handset will be out sooner, though, on September 25. Sadly the Xperia XZ won't have a fingerprint scanner in the US, continuing an unfortunate trend for Sony's smartphones.

Source

Android-powered BlackBerry Passport Silver Edition unit up for grabs

If you recall, last year, before the Priv was made official, a BlackBerry Passport Silver Editionrunning Android OS was spotted in a lengthy video. While the device was never officially launched, you can now purchase a unit if you want... and are lucky enough.

Actually, someone who claims to have got the unit from a BlackBerry employee has put it up for sale on Kijiji (an eBay owned website similar to Craigslist), saying that it's of no use to them as they mostly deal with Apple devices.

The handset, which is claimed to be brand new, has CAD 260 price tag attached to it. Those planning to purchase should keep in mind that there is no information on how well the phone works as well as whether or not the OS is capable of receiving new updates.

Source | Via

“Extreme” version of UMi Plus with Helio P20 and 6GB of RAM, announced

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen an “Extreme” version come from an Chinese smartphone manufacturer. This time its UMi with releasing a new, souped up version of the UMi Plus, which normally has a Helio P10 CPU and 4GB of RAM.

The Extreme UMi Plus will instead have a Helio P20 (octa-core CPU comparable to Snapdragon 820 on paper) with 50% more RAM than the regular UMi Plus. That totals 6GB of RAM. The Extreme version will also come with Android 7.0, now we’re talking!

  
Extreme UMi Plus in Black and Blue

UMi’s official Facebook page made the announcement not too long ago, where the company also mentions that you could win a free (standard) UMi Plus by entering your email address, then picking your favorite features of the UMi Plus, and finally adding a comment about those features.

The UMi Plus comes in gray or gold, while the Exterme UMi Plus will come in either a blue or black finish. As of now, there is no word on a release date for the Extreme version just yet, we’ll have to wait for UMi to release more information as it becomes available.

Other specs for the UMi Plus include a 1080p 5.5 inch screen, 13MP rear camera with a 5MP selfie camera, 4,000 mAh battery, dual SIM, quick charging, all bundled in an “aerospace class” aluminum body.

Source

iOS 10.1 Beta now open to the public, enables Portrait Mode for iPhone 7 Plus

Only a single day after Apple released the iOS 10.1 Beta for developers, the iOS 10.1 Beta is now available for the general public, without the need for a developer account.

The most notable feature of the 10.1 Beta is the addition of “Portrait” mode in the camera interface which is exclusive to the iPhone 7 Plus, since it makes use of the second camera. This mode allows users to make really cool bokeh effects which put focus on the subject, while subtly blurring the background.

9to5Mac has listed a few things about things you should know about Portrait Mode: It doesn’t work well in low light, so the best photos will come from scenes with lots of light and room to play around with. For the best results, you’ll also need to be at least eight feet away from your subject (about 2.4 meters).

Note that this is still in “Beta” mode, which means there could be bugs and inconsistencies, or limited features (such as inability to record video in this mode) when using the iSight Duo camera in Portrait Mode. Although the feature was not ready at launch, Apple is taking its time with the feature instead of rushing it, which is also why it is only available in Beta now.

To sign up for the iOS 10.1 Beta program, you’ll need to go to beta.apple.com on your Apple device, Tap “Sign up”, then log into your Apple ID associated with the iOS device. Next, you’ll be prompted to install a profile that will allow you to download the OTA update. Make sure you fully back up your device before installing the Beta as there is always even a tiny risk of your device becoming a paperweight.

Via

Xiaomi's upcoming smartphone to come with dual-camera setup, teaser reveals

Xiaomi has outed a new teaser for its upcoming smartphone. The teaser image reveals that the phone will feature a dual camera setup.

As you might already know, the Chinese company has scheduled a product launch event on September 27 where the Mi 5S is expected to be unveiled.

If you recall, back in July, there were rumors that the Mi 5S will feature a dual rear-camera setup. But since then, we've been hearing that the handset will sport a 16MP rear unit.

While it's entirely possible for the Mi 5S to sport a dual camera setup, it's worth mentioning that latest rumors out of China are suggesting that the phone that'll be made official on September 27 is not the Mi 5S - reports say it could be the Mi Note S instead.

Needless to say, we'll keep you updated as and when we hear more on the matter.

Via

Samsung Galaxy On7 (2016) launched with Snapdragon 625 SoC, 5.5-inch full HD display

The 2016 edition of the Samsung Galaxy On7 has been officially unveiled. Listed on the company's China website, the device is powered by an octa-core 2GHz processor (Snapdragon 625 SoC), and sports a 5.5-inch full HD TFT display.

RAM is 3GB, while internal memory is 32GB (expandable up to 256GB). In terms of camera, the phone features a 13MP rear unit and an 8MP front shooter.

Measuring 151.7 x 75 x 8mm and weighing in at 167g, the handset runs Android Marshmallow and packs in a 3,300mAh battery that supports fast charging. There's also a home button-embedded fingerprint sensor. Color options include gold, pink, and black.

As for price, the Samsung Galaxy On7 (2016) carries a tag of RMB 1,599, which translates into around $240 at current exchange rates.

The Samsung Galaxy On5 (2016), on the other hand, hasn't been made official yet, but the Galaxy On7 page on Samsung's China website has kind of teased the device, revealing that it's powered by Snapdragon 617 SoC with octa-core 1.5GHz processor.

Source

Read Early iPhone 7 Reviews, Netflix Fights to End Data Caps

Read early reviews of the new iPhone 7, Netflix fights back against data caps, Instagram lets you block certain words, Sony releases a major PS4 update, and people still queue for days for the new iPhone.

An Early iPhone 7 Reviews Roundup

As you’re no doubt aware by now, Apple unveiled the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus last week. To the surprise of no one, the company removed the headphone jack, forcing users to either buy an adapter or buy a pair of AirPods, which almost everyone agrees look ridiculous.Everything You Need to Know About the iPhone 7 & iPhone 7 Plus Everything You Need to Know About the iPhone 7 & iPhone 7 PlusNo headphone port, water and dust resistance, and Apple's best camera yet -- this is the iPhone 7.READ MORE

Still, headphone jack or not, the iPhone 7 deserves some thorough reviews, so we have compiled the highlights from the first four reviews to appear online.

Wired calls the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus the “best, fastest, strongest iPhones yet”. It then praises the new A10 processors and 12-megapixel cameras before admitting that Apple’s recent decisions make “for boring hardware”. Wired closes by suggesting that while “the iPhone 7 won’t blow your mind with its design or features … it’s still a fantastic phone”.

The Verge admits that “the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus look more or less exactly like the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus from 2014”. It then talks up the new Taptic Engine-enabled Home button, the improved display, and the better speakers. However, the decision to remove the headphone jack disappoints, and The Verge concludes that “you won’t actually be missing out on much if you don’t get an iPhone 7”.

Engadget suggests the “big question here is whether a bunch of relatively unexciting changes add up to greatness”. It then praises the battery, the display, the camera, and the chipset, but mourns the loss of the headphone jack and expresses disappointment at the unchanged aesthetics. Engadget concludes that, “while it’s not thrilling enough to warrant an upgrade from last year’s 6s, the iPhone 7 is nonetheless an excellent smartphone”.

Ars Technica reveals its feeling in its header, suggesting the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are “great annual upgrades with one major catch”. There are no prizes for guessing what the catch is, with the fateful decision to force everyone to go wireless costing Apple dear. Still, there’s praise for the processor, battery, display, camera, and added water-resistance, suggesting Ars Technica believes it ultimately depends what matters most to you as a consumer.

To sum all of that information up, most of the reviews are positive to a point. That point being the removal of the headphone jack. If it wasn’t for that, these reviews would be extolling the virtues of an incremental, if not deathly dull, upgrade to what was already a fine piece of hardware.

Netflix Wants Data Caps to be Illegal

Netflix is fighting for some data caps to be made illegal. According to Gizmodo, the streaming service wants the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) to ban all data caps on wired internet connections, and “low” data caps on mobile internet connections. It essentially argues that these are just ways of gouging customers.

In a letter sent to the FCC last week, Netflix states:

“Data caps (especially low data caps) and usage based pricing discourage a consumer’s consumption of broadband and may impede the ability of some households to watch internet television in a manner and amount that they would like.”

So, Netflix’s motives aren’t exactly pure here; the company is primarily looking out for itself and its ability to keep streaming movies and TV shows to its customers. However, in arguing that data caps “do not appear to serve a legitimate purpose,” it’s opening an important debate that needs to be had at a time when everybody is cutting the cord.Everyone Else Is Cutting the Cord, So Why Aren't You? Everyone Else Is Cutting the Cord, So Why Aren't You?I cut the cord back in 2013 and more and more people are following suit, completely ditching their cable service. But not everyone is cutting the cord, and we decided to find out why...READ MORE

Data caps are, at best, pointless, and at worst, a way for ISPs to maintain control over exactly what is travelling through their tubes. Netflix’s business is wholly reliant on consumers being able to watch what they want when they want, so it’s no surprise to see the company taking such a tough stance against data caps.

Instagram Lets You Filter Nasty Words

Instagram is taking a novel approach to tackling online abuse: allowing users to filter out particular words, and block comments which contain them. The photo-sharing app has provided a list of default words it recommends you filter, or you can create your own list of words you consider harmful or offensive.5 Most Effective Ways To Deal With Arrogant Internet Trolls 5 Most Effective Ways To Deal With Arrogant Internet TrollsThe Internet is without doubt a great invention. Unfortunately, no one so far has been able to develop and anti-troll device that will help to make it a more civilized place. You might have come...READ MORE

You can now filter out specific "offensive" words out of your Instagram comments. Goodbye losers

— lil juju (@offlinebabe) September 13, 2016

Instagram’s keyword moderation tool is being provided in addition to, rather than instead of, the existing tools designed to keep Instagram free of spam and abuse. The difference is that while the existing tools allow you to delete, report, and/or block after the event, the keyword moderation tool should prevent you ever seeing the comments in the first place.

All you need to do to enable the filtering is click Options, then Comments, and flick the Hide Inappropriate Comments slider. Underneath this you can add more keywords you deem to be harmful; which may become necessary if trolls quickly cotton on to what words and phrases can bypass the filter unchecked.

The PS4 Gets a New HDR-Friendly Update

Your PlayStation 4 is due to get a major firmware update today (September 13). The PS4 System Software Update 4.00 (codenamed Shingen) refreshes the UI, adds folders, changes to the Quick Menu and Share Menu, and HDR (High Dynamic Range) capabilities, amongst others.

The latter is especially interesting, as it means your existing PS4 will be capable of displaying improved visuals on compatible games, just like the new PS4 Pro. Not all games will look better, but there’s an easy way to determine which PS4 games support HDR.PS4 Pro & PS4 Slim: Are They Worth the Money? PS4 Pro & PS4 Slim: Are They Worth the Money?Sony has announced their new PS4 Pro and PS4 Slim! But are either of them worth the money? Here are all the details you need to know!READ MORE

People Are Queuing for the iPhone 7

And finally, people are already queuing up outside Apple Stores waiting for the iPhone 7 to be released. There have been lines outside flagship stores around the world since Saturday (September 10) even though the iPhone 7 isn’t released until Friday (September 16).

Long lines of people queuing for the latest gadgets are nothing new, of course, having been a thing since the original iPhone was released in 2007. However, it’s now 2016, and you can pre-order the latest iPhone online for delivery in-store or at home. Which means these people are literally allWASTING THEIR TIME!Why You Should Never Queue For New Gadgets [Opinion] Why You Should Never Queue For New Gadgets [Opinion]I personally cannot fathom the mindset of people who queue for the latest gadget on launch day. I've tried, I really have, but I think it's a bizarre choice to queue up for hours or...READ MORE

Your Views on Today’s Tech News

After reading the reviews, will you be buying an iPhone 7? Do you agree with Netflix that data caps should no longer be a thing? Will you be filtering any words from Instagram? Will you be taking advantage of the PS4’s new HDR capabilities? What was the last piece of technology you queued up for?

Let us know your thoughts on the Tech News of the day by posting to the comments section below. Because a healthy discussion is always welcome. Tech News Digest is a daily column paring the technology news of the day down into bite-sized chunks that are easy to read and perfect for sharing.