Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Redmi Buds 5 Review

Xiaomi's focus may be on the Xiaomi 14 series launch, but recently, its sub-brand, Redmi, unveiled the Redmi Buds 5, budget TWS earbuds priced at just Rs 2,999. Offering compelling features and solid audio performance at an affordable price, they're a steal. Plus, they're even cheaper at Rs. 2,499 when purchased with any Redmi Note 13 series phone or Xiaomi and Redmi Pad. Available from February 20 on Mi.com, Amazon.in, Flipkart, Mi Homes, and Xiaomi retail partners, here's what you should know before buying. The Redmi Buds come in Fusion Purple, Fusion Black, and Fusion White, all visually appealing. The White variant, which we reviewed, impresses with its matte finish and compact design. The earbuds, featuring AirPods-like stems, silicone tips, and IP52 dust and water resistance, offer exceptional comfort. With seamless connectivity, intuitive touch controls, dual device support, and AI-driven noise cancellation, they provide a premium experience. Delivering rich, bass-heavy sound tailored to Indian preferences, they excel in voice calls and offer remarkable battery life, making them a standout choice in the crowded TWS market.

Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Series Laptops Launched In India

Samsung's latest Galaxy Book 4 series laptops have officially launched in India, starting at Rs 1,14,990, with pre-bookings opening on February 20. These laptops offer enhanced performance and intelligent features, boasting Intel's latest Core Ultra 5 and Core Ultra 7 processors. Featuring touch-enabled displays with improved cooling, they are ideal for creative work and multitasking. The Galaxy Book 4 Pro models offer 3K AMOLED panels with a 120Hz refresh rate, while the Galaxy Book 4 360 provides a 15.6-inch 1080p Super AMOLED display with S Pen compatibility. With up to 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB of storage, they cater to diverse user needs. Pre-booking perks include Rs 5,000 worth of goodies, bank cashback up to Rs 10,000, or an upgrade bonus of up to Rs 8,000, along with no-cost EMI options. Additionally, a Live Commerce event on February 20 offers an extra instant cashback of Rs 8,000, making it an enticing opportunity to upgrade your laptop experience.

Realme 12+ 5G Expected Launch Date

Realme 12+ 5G is scheduled to debut in Malaysia on February 29, with an imminent launch in India. A tipster suggests a potential launch date of March 6 for the Indian market, alongside the Realme 12 model. Realme has teased the design and key features of the Realme 12+ 5G, including a MediaTek Dimensity 7050 SoC, a Sony LYT-600 OIS portrait camera, and a 120Hz Smooth AMOLED display, with options for 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Leaked images and retail box renders hint at its impending release. The phone's design features a vegan leather finish similar to the Realme 12 Pro 5G, housing a circular rear camera module. While specifics about the Realme 12 model are scarce, the Realme 12+ 5G is rumored to include a 6.7-inch full-HD+ AMOLED display and a triple rear camera setup with a 50-megapixel primary sensor, an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 2-megapixel macro shooter, with a 5,000mAh battery supporting 67W charging, expected in the global variant.

OnePlus Watch 2 Launch Date

The anticipated launch of the OnePlus Watch 2 is approaching, with recent rumors circulating about its features and design upgrades over its predecessor, the OnePlus Watch, released in April 2021. Teasers from OnePlus on social media platforms hint at the impending arrival of the smartwatch. An image shared by the company portrays a watch dial outline with the caption "It's about time," strongly suggesting the unveiling of the new smartwatch, likely the OnePlus Watch 2. The teaser reveals a circular body with two buttons on the right side, possibly indicating a home button and a rotating crown. Moreover, a community contest encourages users to speculate on the product, hinting at a potential launch date of February 26, coinciding with the claim of tipster Max Jambor. This aligns with earlier suggestions of a Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024 unveiling. Expected features include a 1.43-inch AMOLED display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chipset, and WearOS 3 or WearOS 4 software, with indications of an imminent launch in India according to listings on the BIS website.

Xiaomi 14 confirmed for India launch

Xiaomi has officially confirmed that its flagship Xiaomi 14 smartphone will launch in India on March 7, following its global debut on February 25. The Xiaomi 14 series, comprising the Xiaomi 14, Xiaomi 14 Pro, and Xiaomi 14 Ultra models, initially debuted in China last October. However, Xiaomi India's teaser hints that only the standard Xiaomi 14 variant will be released in India first. The Xiaomi 14 features a triple rear camera system developed with Leica, including a 50MP primary sensor with OIS, a 50MP telephoto lens, and a 50MP ultra-wide-angle sensor. It also sports a 32MP front camera. With a 4610mAh battery, the Xiaomi 14 supports 90W wired fast charging and 50W wireless charging. In China, it's available in Jade Green, Black, White, and Snow Mountain Pink color options, priced from CNY 3,999 to CNY 4,999. In India, the base model with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage is expected to start around Rs 50,000, while the higher-end variant may cost up to Rs 60,000.

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Mozilla Firefox Launches Mozilla Monitor Plus Subscription for Privacy Monitoring

Mozilla Firefox has upgraded its free privacy monitoring service, Firefox Monitor, to Mozilla Monitor Plus, a subscription-based model. This move underscores Firefox's longstanding commitment to user privacy, bolstering its array of protective features like ad blockers and tracking protection. Mozilla Monitor notifies users about potential data exposure on broker sites and data breaches. Users can opt for a one-time scan or subscribe to Mozilla Monitor Plus for continuous monitoring at $8.99 monthly. The premium service not only initiates data removal requests but also conducts monthly scans to ensure personal information remains off broker sites. Mozilla assures users of encrypted data and adherence to its privacy policy. Initially available in the United States, Mozilla Monitor Plus offers users proactive control over their online privacy, reflecting Mozilla's dedication to empowering users amidst growing privacy concerns.

Infinix Smart 8 new variant launched in India

Last month, Infinix introduced its budget-friendly smartphone, the Infinix Smart 8, in India, and now, it has unveiled a new variant with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. Priced at Rs 7,999, this version of the smartphone boasts a 50MP main camera and an HD+ display. Available in Timber Black, Shinny Gold, Galaxy White, and Rainbow Blue color options, it joins the previously released 4GB RAM and 64GB storage model, which costs Rs 7,499. Exclusive to Flipkart, the Smart 8 will be on sale starting February 8, with an additional 10% discount for ICICI Bank credit and debit cardholders. Featuring a 6.6-inch HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate and up to 500 nits peak brightness, the device is powered by a MediaTek Helio G26 chipset, offering smooth performance. Running on Android 13 Go Edition with XOS 13, it also includes a 50MP main camera with Quad LED Ring flash, an 8MP front camera, and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, all supported by a 5000mAh battery for extended usage.

YouTube is experimenting with red, blue, and green video feeds

YouTube is currently experimenting with a new feature that enables users to filter videos on their home feed based on colour preferences, aiming to enhance the browsing experience. Initial reports from 9to5Google and discussions on Lemmy have unveiled this novel functionality. Select users on Android and iOS mobile devices have encountered a prompt within the YouTube app, inviting them to customize their video feed by selecting from various hues like red, blue, or green. However, this feature remains in the experimental phase and has not been widely rolled out. Upon selecting a colour filter, users observe colour-coordinated results as a new feed option atop the YouTube app interface, though the precise filtering mechanism remains opaque. While primarily serving as an aesthetic enhancement, akin to colour coordination techniques in marketing strategies, there's speculation about its potential role in data collection to understand user behaviour and preferences.