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  • Sony releases new firmware update 6.20 for the PS4

    Sony releases new firmware update 6.20 for the PS4

    Sony starts rolling out the new firmware update for its PlayStation 4 console, version 6.20. The new update is essentialy aimed at improving the overall performance and stability of the console. However, the update does not seem to bring any new features to the PS4.

    PS4 system software version 6.20 isn’t that big either, weighing in at just around 450MB. Hence, it won’t take long to download and install the update on your PS4 console.

    As always, PlayStation 4 owners are advised to “always update their console to the latest version of the system software,” as Sony suggests it’ll allow you to “enjoy additional features, improved usability and enhanced security.”

    It’s also worth noting that today’s update does not bring name changes for everyone. The feature was being tested with beta for firmware 6.10, though it appears the feature won’t arrive until sometime in 2019.

    In any case, the latest firmware update 6.20 for the PS4 is a mandatory download for everyone. The update weighs in nearly 450MB for the normal version, or 979MB for the recovery version. For more information on how to install the update, Sony has provided step-by-step guide which you can find in the source link below. The update is now available in all regions across the globe.

  • Apple files an appeal to reverse iPhone ban in China

    Apple files an appeal to reverse iPhone ban in China

    Apple has filed an appeal with a Chinese court to reverse the ban imposed on all iPhone models in the country since the iPhone 6s. The ban is essentially a part of the ongoing legal battle between Qualcomm and Apple.

    “Qualcomm’s effort to ban our products is another desperate move by a company whose illegal practices are under investigation by regulators around the world,” Apple said in a statement to CNBC.

    While Qualcomm stated in a press release that a Chinese court has issued two preliminary injunctions against Apple subsidiaries in the country. As per the order, Apple is supposed to halt ‘sale and offers for sale in China of the iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X’.

    “Apple continues to benefit from our intellectual property while refusing to compensate us. These Court orders are further confirmation of the strength of Qualcomm’s vast patent portfolio. The injunctions require Apple to immediately stop infringing on two Qualcomm patents,” said Don Rosenberg, executive vice president and general counsel, Qualcomm Incorporated.

    Apple was found to be infringing upon two patents as per the Chinese court’s ruling.

    These include a patent for changing and reformatting the size and appearance of photographs, and one for managing apps when viewing, navigating and dismissing apps using a touchscreen.

    Despite the court’s order, Apple insists it’ll keep selling iPhones in China. The Cupertino giant says it did not violate these patents and the ban goes beyond the scope of the two injunctions.

    “All iPhone models remain available for our customers in China. Qualcomm is asserting three patents they had never raised before, including one which has already been invalidated. We will pursue all our legal options through the courts,” said Apple.

    Apple and Qualcomm have been engaged in a rather fierce legal battle for the past few years. Both tech giants have sued each other in various courts in several countries across the globe.

  • OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition announced with 10GB RAM, Warp Charge

    OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition announced with 10GB RAM, Warp Charge

    OnePlus has finally unveiled the much-anticipated McLaren Edition of its latest OnePlus 6T flagship. The Chinese manufacturer unwrapped the OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition at a special event in London. Priced at $699, the limited edition variant of the flagship is set to go on sale starting December 13.

    Key highlights of the limited edition include a whopping 10GB of RAM, as well as the new fast charging technology called Warp Charge 30. According to OnePlus, just 20 minutes of charge is enough to juice the handset for the entire day.

    Besides, the limited edition variant also sports McLaren’s signature Papaya Orange Color shade around the the edges. Even the in-screen fingerprint reader gets special orange accents, giving the handset that look and feel of a McLaren.

    OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition Specs

    The OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition remains similar to the standard edition as far as specs are concerned. It features the same 6.41-inch AMOLED teardrop-style notched display which boasts a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels and an aspect ratio of 19:5:9. It also gets Corning Gorilla Glass 6 protection, just like its regular version.

    Under the hood, the smartphone gets powered by Snapdragon 845 processor bundled with 10GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

    oneplus 6t mclaren edition

    In the photography department, the device features 16MP+20MP dual rear cameras with OIS, EIS, and 4K video recording. For selfies, the handset packs a 16MP front-facing shooter with f/2.0 aperture and EIS. The selfie cam is also capable of shooting Full HD videos at 30fps. The OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition will go on sale in the US and Europe from December 13 for $699.

    What are your thoughts about the OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition? Let us know in the comments below!

  • Instagram adds voice messaging to Direct Messages

    Instagram adds voice messaging to Direct Messages

    After rolling out Close Friends, Instagram has added a new voice messaging feature to DMs. As the name suggests, the feature allows users to send and receive 1 minute long audio messages in private as well as group chats. The feature is now rolling out globally for iOS and Android devices.

    “Starting today, you can send voice messages in Direct. Talk the way you want to be heard, whether by whispering what you’re up to or shouting a compliment,” said Instagram on Twitter.

    instagram

    To use the voice messaging feature in DMs, just hold down the microphone button and record your audio message. The message is sent automatically as soon as you release the microphone button. Besides, you also get the option to cancel or re-record the message by sliding your finger over to the trash icon. The message will be automatically deleted if you do so.

    Instagram may be a little late to implement voice messaging to DMs, as Facebook users have been enjoying the feature for years now. That said, the addition of voice-messaging will certainly appeal Instagram users, given the rising popularity of voice-messaging on platforms such as WhatsApp and WeChat.

    Besides, it’ll also appeal to users who aren’t really comfortable typing messages, giving them the option to talk instead of typing.

    Instagram has announced several changes to its network this year. The company has already announced its plans to introduce a redesigned user profile page. Last month, the Facebook-owned social network rolled out a new feature called Close Friends. Not to mention, Instagram is also taking stringent measures to crack down fake followers and likes on its platform.

  • Google Plus suffers another data bug, 52.5 million users affected

    Google Plus suffers another data bug, 52.5 million users affected

    Google Plus has witnessed another data bug, and the company has now decided to close the social network earlier than initially planned. The service will now shut down in April next year instead of August 2019, according to Google.

    The company confirms that the new data leak has affected a whopping 52.5 million users. The bug may have compromised personal user information such as their name, email address, profession, and age, even if they set their profile to ‘private’.

    “With the discovery of this new bug, we have decided to expedite the shut-down of all Google+ APIs; this will occur within the next 90 days. In addition, we have also decided to accelerate the sunsetting of consumer Google Plus from August 2019 to April 2019. While we recognize there are implications for developers, we want to ensure the protection of our users,” said Google in a blog post.

    No misuse so far

    The bug was discovered in Google Plus API, and the company assures that its API will stop functioning within 90 days. Google, however, suggests there’s no evidence of the vulnerability being misused so far. The company also asserts that the bug has been patched now, and users can safely use the service until April.

    To recall, a similar security bug was found in Google Plus back in October, which exposed users private and personal data to developers for as many as three years. The vulnerability was discovered in March this year, though Google did not publicly acknowledge the issue up until October. Following the public reveal, Google announced its plans to shut down Google+ for consumers, which has since struggled to attract users.

    However, with the latest bug, Google states it found the leak by itself which was live only for a period of six days. Google also says it’s begun informing users and business customers who may have been impacted by the latest vulnerability.

  • New McLaren 720S Spider goes official

    New McLaren 720S Spider goes official

    After the Senna and Speedtail, Mclaren has announced the refreshed 720S Spider convertible.  The company has essentially reduced the overall weight of the car, as the newly introduced convertible weighs in at just 2937 lbs (1332 kg). With this weight reduction, the latest iteration of the coupe zips from 0-62 mph (100kph) in just 2.9 seconds.

    Besides, the McLaren 720S Spider needs a time of 7.9 seconds to reach 124 mph (200kph) from standstill. As far as top speed goes, the coupe reaches a maximum speed of 212 mph ( 341 kph) without the roof. And with the roof folded down, it can still attain an impressive top speed of 202 mph ( 325 kph).

    Under the hood, the 2019 McLaren 720S Spider gets powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine that churns out 710 horsepower and 770Nm of torque to the 20-inch rear tyres via a 7-speed SSG transmission. It also offers three driving modes – Comfort, Sport, and Track.

    As expected, McLaren will offer its latest convertible coupe in Performance and Luxury variants. In addition, buyers have a choice to choose from 23 colors, which include Belize Blue, Aztec Gold, as well as a SuperNova Silver color variant ( hommage to the orginal 12C).

    As far as pricing and availabilty goes, McLaren has already started accepting orders for the 720S Spider for $315,000. While shipping for the new convertible is slated to begin in March 2019. The car will rival the likes of Ferrari 488 Spider when it officially hits the road.

  • iPhone users complain of a bug in iOS 12.1.1

    iPhone users complain of a bug in iOS 12.1.1

    The re-released iOS 12.1.1 update has a bug which adversely affects mobile data for a number of users. According to a report by Forbes, the iPhone-maker apparently knew about the bug before its commercial rollout. The report further adds that mobile data doesn’t work properly on iPhones after updating to iOS 12.1.1, and causes several other issues with their device.

    Some users suggest they can browse the web with Safari, however they can’t access the web while using other apps. Others suggest that a Wi-Fi connecton is required to access the web no matter whether they use the browser, or other apps installed on their iPhones. The issue affects all iPhone models irrespective of the country.

    For now, Apple hasn’t yet rolled out a fix for the bug. Users who are facing this issue are currently advised to get in touch with Apple Support.

    Interestingly, it appears Apple had knowledge about the bug before releasing the update. As several beta testers reported the issue on Twitter while iOS 12.1.1 update was undergoing beta testing. Besides, the official Apple account on Twitter also engaged in the discussion and asked affected users for further details.

    Now, this essentially suggests Apple knew iOS 12.1.1 update could affect cellular data connectivity before re-releasing the update for everyone. The company is yet to acknowledge the issue, so we’re not sure as to when a fix for the bug will roll out. There’s also a possibilty users might have to wait until the next iOS update for the fix to arrive.

    Are you facing data connectivity issues with your iPhone after updating to iOS 12.1.1. Let us know in the comments below.

  • Mortal Kombat 11 to feature a Custom Character Variation System

    Mortal Kombat 11 to feature a Custom Character Variation System

    Mortal Kombat 11 is the next installment in one of the longest running franchises that still exists, and it’s slated for a release on April 23, 2019. The game will be available on the PS4, PS4 Pro, Xbox One family of devices, PC, as well as the Nintendo Switch.

    Fighting game enthusiasts around the world need no introduction to the Mortal Kombat. In fact, we assume many of them have already pre-ordered the upcoming Mortal Kombat 11.

    Last week, head of NetherRealm Studios, Ed Boon, gave us the first cinematic reveal of the game. The trailer shows off an epic battle between two iconic characters, Scorpion and Dark Raiden. Besides, it appears Shao Kahn gets resurrected in MK 11 and has a key role to play in the game’s story.

    New Customer Character Variation System in MK11

    In a press release, Ed Boon stated that Mortal Kombat 11 gets a new Custom Character Variation System, giving players countless ways to customiize their favorite fighter/character.

    “It’s exciting to finally announce Mortal Kombat 11 and showcase what the team has been working on,” said Ed Boon, Creative Director, NetherRealm Studios. “Our Custom Character Variation System opens up an infinite amount of options for players to personalize their favorite fighters. We can’t wait until January when we’ll be showing more of the game.”

    Besides, he also suggests that Mortal Kombat 11 will build upon the story of its predecessor. Hopefully, the publisher does a good job at creating an intriguing story line for gamers, as MKX’s story was a let down for sure.

    That said, we are yet to see an official gameplay, however, the wait won’t be long as NetherRealm has promised a reveal on January 17 during a special event.

    “The Reveal, a highly experiential, community celebration of Mortal Kombat, taking place at 11 a.m. PST on Jan. 17, 2019 in Los Angeles and 7 p.m. UTC in London. Mortal Kombat 11: The Reveal will be livestreamed globally at www.twitch.tv/NetherRealm and will feature a keynote presented by NetherRealm Studios. The event will also include the first opportunity for hands-on with Mortal Kombat 11 gameplay, tournaments and other Mortal Kombat themed activities,” said Netherealm in a press release.

    Mortal Kombat 11 now available for preorder

    Mortal Kombat 11 standrad edition is now available for pre-order for $59.99. The game’s Premium Edition is also available for pre-order at $99.99, which includes the game as well as the Kombat Pack. Besides, all MK11 pre-orders will receive the in-game playable character, Shao Khan. Meanwhile, those who pre-order the game on PS4 and Xbox One via select retailers get access to the game’s beta, which will arrive in March.

    Are you excited about the upcoming Mortal Kombat 11? Do let us know in the comments below.

  • Apple’s next iPhone will look much like the iPhone Xs, says analyst

    Apple’s next iPhone will look much like the iPhone Xs, says analyst

    It appears we can’t expect the next iPhone range to look much different from the current lineup.  As according to Nomuar analyst Anna Lee, Apple’s 2019-iPhone lineup won’t be much of a change from the current lineup. Now, this essentially implies that the next iPhone’s design will remain largely similar to the current iPhone XS.

    “We think the three new iPhones in 2H19F will likely have the same form factors (body size and displays) as the 2H18 iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max, with some added AR [augmented reality]-related features,” said the analyst.

    Apple is widely expected to launch three iPhone models next year as well, a 5.8-inch model, a plus sized Max model, along with a 6.1-inch LCD model.

    “We think 2019 could be the last year the iPhone uses the iPhone X design architecture, in preparation for initial hardware specs for 5G (sub-6GHz) and AR (augmented reality), before greater architecture upgrades in 2020F for 5G and a more comprehensive AR system,”, the analyst further added.

    Besides, the analyst also notes there’s a good chance iPhone sales would shrink even further during the next fiscal year. The analyst estimates 204 million iPhone units sales is fiscal year 2019, while it’s expected to drop in fiscal year 2020 to 200 million units.

    Apple has already cut production orders for this year’s iPhone lineup. Reports indicate that iPhone XR orders have been massively reduced, by upto 30 percent.  Although, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max have not witnessed such reduced orders.

    Apple’s decision to reduce production orders comes as a result of lower than anticipated demand for new iPhone models as well as overall shrinking of the smartphone-market. Reports further cite that weak demand in China is another reason for cutting down production of newly launched iPhone models.

  • Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon 8cx chipset, world’s first 7nm PC platform

    Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon 8cx chipset, world’s first 7nm PC platform

    Qualcomm has announced its Snapdragon 8cx compute chipset with 8-core Kyro CPU and Adreno 680 GPU. It’s the world’s first 7nm PC platform with support for DrectX 12 API. The company claims that Qualcomm’s Adreno 680 GPU offers 2x performance improvement and 60 percent improved power efficiency over its predecessor.

    “Together with the Qualcomm Kryo 495 CPU, our fastest yet, the Snapdragon 8cx is designed to deliver amazing graphics, powerful productivity, and multi-day battery life,” further added Qualcomm.

    The Snapdragon 8cx chipset also offers support for multi-gigabit LTE thanks to the integrated X24 LTE modem capable of churning out download speeds of up to 2Gbps.

    The chipset also comes with full hypervisor support, along with advanced crypto-security and Windows 10 Enterprise support, which allows users to properly secure sensitive information such as passwords, log-ins, and more.

    Besides, the Snapdragon 8cx also offers immersive graphics performance and HW accelaration for advanced video formats, with support for 4K HDR playback at 120 frames-per-second. In addition, the 8cx also supports high-fidelity and true surround sound using Qualcomm’s Aqstic Audio technology.

    Finally, the new chipset also comes with support for Microsoft’s DirectX 12 API along with advanced location features such as Low Power Geofencing and Tracking, Pedestrian Navigation, as Sensor-aided navigation.

  • Samsung Galaxy S10 benchmarks leaked

    Samsung Galaxy S10 benchmarks leaked

    Samsung is expected to announce its Galaxy S10 flagship series in February. We’ve already come across a barrage of leaks about the upcoming flagship in the second half of 2018. The upcoming Galaxy S10 will likely have two variants when it comes to processors, an Exynos 9820 model and a Snapdragon 855 variant. Qualcomm recently unveiled its next gen flagship mobile processor, the Snapdragon 855, and the Galaxy S10 with this processor will be launched in the United States.

    Today, an Antutu benchmark listing has revealed scores of both processors for the Galaxy S10. As expected, one of them is faster than the other, and it happens to be Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 855 processor. Now, this could be because Qualcomm’s latest chip is built using a 7nm process, while the new Exynos chip is built on an 8nm process.

    Going by the Antutu listing, the Galaxy S10 model with Snapdragon 855 scored 343051, while the one with Exynos 9820 pulled off a score of 325067. With that said, both these scores are significantly higher than last year’s Snapdragon 845 which scored 290455 in the same test. However, readers are reminded that these are preliminary tests, and results may get better as we near the Galaxy S10’s official release.

    galaxy s10

    As per earlier leaks, Samsung is expected to launch three to four variants of the Galaxy S10 flagship. A 5G version of the handset is also in the works, though that could arrive at a later date. Besides, the top-of-the-range model of the upcoming flagship could pack 12GB RAM and 1TB of storage.

    More leaks about the Galaxy S10 are likely to surface as we near its official release. We’ll update you as soon as we hear anything new. Until then, keep checking back for more.

  • Here’s a first look at Mortal Kombat 11

    Here’s a first look at Mortal Kombat 11

    The brainchild of the epic Mortal Kombat franchise, Ed Boon, gave us a first taste of the next instalment in the series with an official announcement trailer of Mortal Kombat 11. As expected, there’s no shortage of blood and gore in the cinematic reveal, as Raiden and Scorpion beat each other to a pulp in an Outworldish backdrop.

    Pre-orders for Mortal Kombat 11 will begin tomorrow, December 7th, for the PS4, Xbox One. and Windows PC. Those who pre-order the title get access to Shao Khan as a playable character shortly after the game’s release. Besides, pre-ordering the game also gets you beta access shortly before the game’s release. Make sure you check out the trailer below:

    A community reveal event is also slated for January 17th, while a full release is currently set for April 23rd, 2019. More details about the game are likely to surface as we near its official release. We’ll update you as soon as we hear anything new. Until then, keep checking back for more.

    Are you excited about Mortal Kombat 11? Do let us know in the comments below.

  • Google retiring its chat app Allo for good

    Google retiring its chat app Allo for good

    Google has officially announced plans to shut down its chat app, Allo. That said, the news shouldn’t come as a surprise given the fact that Google stopped investing in the app since April. Back then, Google revealed that Allo couldn’t garner the level of popularity the company thought it would.

    Google has always struggled to create a chat app to rival the likes of WhatsApp or Messenger, despite owning Android, the world’s most adopted smartphone OS.
    Allo was launched nearly two years ago with much fanfare. Though, Google has now announced plans to retire the chat app, adding that Allo will continue to work only till March next year, and users will be able to download or export their conversations until then.

    Google will now put its focus on creating ‘Messages’, another chat app the company is prepping for Android phones. The company announced earlier this year that it has joined hands with mobile carriers on the new RCS (Rich Communication Services) standard. It’s essentially an upgrade to old-school SMS texting, which according to Google, should make messaging and group chats more seamless across Android devices.

    The company has also announced its plans to kill off ‘Hangouts Classic, which will be replaced by two enterprise-focussed apps, Hangouts Chat and Meet. Both of them will launch for all consumers next year, as right now, Chat and Meet are only available to G Suite users.

    Well, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard Google deciding to shut down its chat apps. The serach engine giant has become rather infamous for killing off several chat apps and social networks. In the past, the company has axed multiple apps such as the original GChat, Google Plus, Buzz, as well as Wave.

  • Apple Watch Series 4 starts getting ECG functionality

    Apple Watch Series 4 starts getting ECG functionality

    The Apple Watch Series 4 was officially unveiled during the company’s annual keynote event in September. The company’s latest smartwatch practically stole the show thanks to its built-in Electrocardigram (ECG) feature. As the name suggests, this feature gives users a heart sensor on their wrists as it can detect unusual heartbeats.

    Apple touts its latest smartwatch as the first consumer device to come with this functionality. Now, key sources indicate that the feature has finally arrived on Apple Watch Series 4 thanks to the latest watchOS 5.1.2 update. Besides, the update also brings the irregular heart rate notification for all generations of the Apple Watch, going back to Apple Watch Series 1. Both features will be available as a part of watch0S 5.1.2 update.

    With that being said, FDA had earlier warned users that the feature is for informational purpose only and shouldn’t be used by anyone below the age of 22. The federal body also suggests that users shouldn’t consult doctors solely on the basis of the app’s data readings.

    In addition, several medical experts have also indicated that users may arrive at false inferences from the app, which may lead to unnecessary trips to doctors. Apple has also issued a statement in this regard, stating that these features shouldn’t be taken as diagnostic tools.

    The ECG functinlaity, for now, is rolling out in the US, and will be available via the WatchOS 5.1.2 update. Besides, Apple has also extended the return period for Apple Watch from two weeks to 45 days, though only for heart rate issues.

  • Leak shows Samsung’s first smartphone with a notch

    Leak shows Samsung’s first smartphone with a notch

    While Samsung promised not to offer a notch on its smartphones, well, beaucse, everyone does it. However, it appears the South Korean giant is prepping its first phone with a notch. According to a report by 91mobiles, the company’s first phone with a notch is purportedly called the Galaxy M20.

    That said, the leak suggests the handset will a have a rather tiny notch, something similar to a tear-drop styled notch as oppsed to the rather chunky notch found on the iPhone X or Google Pixel 3 XL.

    So what is Samsung’s reason to add a notch? The report suggests the company is trying to make the notch as tiny as possible on the Galaxy M20. The notch would essentially hide the front-facing camera. Besides, it would allow the company to reduce the handset’s top and bottom bezels, essentially giving users more screen real estate to fiddle with.

    In terms of specs, the Galaxy M20 is rumored to feature a 6-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080×2340 pixels. Under the hood, the smartphone is expected to get powered by Exynos 7 octa-core processor bundled with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of built-in storage.

    More details about the Galaxy M20 are expected to surface in the coming weeks as we near its official release. Key sources indicate that the handset is likley to release early next year, possibly a month before Samsung unveils the Galaxy S10 series.

    Samsung is apparently trying its hand at all kinds of design elements for its upcoming handsets. The Korean giant also plans to release the Galaxy F foldable phone next year, alongside a 5G variant of its upcoming flagship.