Poco M2 Pro will go on its first sale today in India. The smartphone comes with a 5,000 mAh battery, 6 GB RAM and a 13 MP quad-camera setup. It is now all set to go on its first-ever sale.
Get an edge in performance everytime with the @MediaTek Helio G80 processor on the #PowerFTW, #POCOM2.
The Poco M2 comes in two variants. It comes with a price tag of Rs. 10,999 for 6GB of RAM – 64GB of storage variant and Rs. 12,499 for 6GB of RAM – 128GB of internal storage model. And then, the sale begins at 12PM on e-commerce platform Flipkart. Customers can avail no-cost EMI options well.
Poco M2 Pro specifications and features
The Poco M2 is touted as India’s most affordable smartphone with 6GB of RAM. The device has a 6.53-inch Full HD+ display with a waterdrop notch. The display is protected by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The smartphone is power by an octa-core MediaTek Helio G80 processor. There is the option of expanding the storage using a micro SD card as well.
For connectivity, the handset comes with dual-SIM capability, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS/ A-GPS, IR blaster, and a USB Type-C port. Above all, the battery is rate at 5,000mAh with 18W fast charging, and runs MIUI 11 based on Android 10.
In the camera department, the device gets quad rear cameras (13MP main camera, 8MP ultra-wide lens, 5MP macro lens, 2MP depth sensor). For selfies and video calling, there is an 8-megapixel camera at the front. There is also a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and the phone is equip with a P2i nano-coating that makes the device splash-proof.
As predicted, the phone comes in new colour options that are different from the Redmi 9 Prime. In addition, customers can buy the Poco M2 in Pitch Black, Slate Blue, and Brick Red colour options.
The 2020 Pixel story took an interesting turn earlier this week, with the emergence of an apparent “Pixel 5s” variant. An apparently turbocharged version of what could be one of the year’s best Android phones. The images, leaked on Twitter, show an EVT Google phone resembling a Pixel 4a with dual cameras and slimmer bezels. EVT means this is a very early device intended to iron out bugs in the Pixel’s hardware before moving onto the later stages of development. A sticker on the back of the device points to a manufacturing date of April 8. We can also tell it’s an older unit because it’s running a pre-beta version of Android 11, which in the photos is still calling itself “Android R.”
*EVT: Engineering Validation Test
Source: Andrew Martonik / Android Central
We’ve seen this kind of pre-production Pixel leaked before, with the Google “G” logo on the back twisted into something from an alien alphabet, and other identifying marks to thwart leakers.
The conventional wisdom when this “Google Pixel 5s” first leaked was that it could be a higher-end version of the Pixel 5, possibly with millimeter-wave 5G tech built-in. But the fact that this is an old unit, clearly running old firmware, gives us clues as to its true origins.
Another clue came to Android Central recently, as news of the Pixel 5 and 4a 5G’s arrival broke. Our sources revealed that, in fact, the names of Google’s 2020 Pixels had changed throughout 2020, as the company grappled with delays to the Pixel 4a’s rollout caused by COVID-19.
Google’s fall 2020 phones started out as Pixel 5 and Pixel 5s.
The original plan, we’re reliably informed, was for the Pixel 4a 5G (codenamed Bramble) to arrive as the Pixel 5; while the second, more premium Pixel (codenamed Redfin) would carry another name to signify its higher status. Based on the timeframe for Redfin entering the EVT stage. And the fact that this device is running old firmware, I’m pretty confident we’ve solved the riddle of the Pixel 5s. At some point the plan was for Redfin to ship as Pixel 5s — a smaller and more premium version of the base model Pixel 5 (Bramble, the phone we now know as Pixel 4a 5G).
We’re told the names for Bramble and Redfin changed multiple times throughout the phones’ development. Indeed, XDA’s Mishaal Rahman found evidence that Bramble at one point was called Pixel 4a XL.
So the timelines for both devices might’ve looked something like this:
Bramble: Pixel 5 -> Pixel 4a XL -> Pixel 4a 5G
Redfin: Google Pixel 5s -> Pixel 5
The original naming convention — Pixel 5 and Google Pixel 5s — makes more sense in the alternate-universe good timeline of 2020, where there’s no COVID and the Pixel 4a launched on-time at a jam-packed Google I/O. The 4a could enjoy a solid four months of sales before the premium Pixels arrived. But in our current, bad 2020 timeline, Pixel 4a phones are just now making their way out to customers, only three weeks before the expected arrival of the two new models.
It’s a weird year for Pixels in general, as Google hits the reset switch.
Google, understandably, might have felt that launching two phones with “5” in their name so soon after the Pixel 4a would make the latter seem unnecessarily dated.
What’s more, it’s just a weird year for Pixel hardware in general. As Google hits the reset switch on the traditional “small” plus “XL” dynamic used in every previous Pixel release cycle; and eschews a Snapdragon 800-series chip in its higher-end models. Bramble and Redfin defy Google’s usual Pixel naming conventions.
Although all three 2020 Pixels share design similarities; the internal hardware of Bramble and Redfin are close enough to basically make them two variants of the same phone — we’re expecting both to be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 765G chipset, for instance.
But with its plastic body, 60Hz refresh rate and larger screen borders, Bramble also has quite a lot in common with the Pixel 4a. The naming was always going to be awkward, with Bramble straddling both Pixel 4a and Pixel 5 territory. Hence the slightly clumsy compromise name we ultimately ended up with: Pixel 4a 5G. (And as such, the Pixel 5s reverts back to just plain old Pixel 5.)
As for the Google Pixel 5s name, this week’s leak shows us that Google was, until recently; still grappling with how its new and very different lineup of phones should be presented to the world.
Smartphones offering a wide variety of functions that help to simplify daily life while helping us stay connected to each other. These daily connections and simplifications have become essential to our everyday lives. Being well aware that phone battery life is a major selling point for any device. So, smartphone manufacturers now tout how long a battery could feasibly last given its technical specifications. Despite this type of specificity, how do we know for sure that a phone’s battery will last for as long as the manufacturer claims?
We’ve handpicked some of the phones with the best phone battery life that are currently available. Opt for one of these phones to help avoid suffering the pain of running out of juice midway through an important Zoom call or epic Netflix binge. Or not making it to the end of the working day without having to plug in your phone.
Huawei P40 Pro
If battery life is your be-all and end-all, you’ll find no better option than the Huawei P40 Pro. With its huge 4,200mAh battery, it promises up to two days of battery life. The battery lasting for around 18 hours streaming video and up to 94 hours on standby. Fast wired charging takes the battery from 5% to full in one hour 10 minutes. And it also supports wireless charging and smart charging, which means plugging it in for an overnight charge will see the phone reduce its charging speed to gradually reach full battery by sunrise. The P40 Pro also boasts a dreamy camera and excellent hardware.
If we had to say anything negative, it’s a little chunky at 9mm thick, not to mention heavy at 209 grams. And the phone doesn’t come with the Google Play store.
iPhone 11 Pro
If you’d rather have an iPhone than an Android handset, the iPhone 11 Pro is your best bet for phone battery life. It lasted 12 hours in battery test — streaming a 1080p video over Wi-Fi at maximum screen brightness. So, you’ll easily get a full day of usage, including overnight. And you won’t need to charge your phone until you get to work the next day. If you’re a lighter user, you’ll see around a day and a half of usage before it needs to be charged. The 11 Pro is bundled with an 18-watt charger and reaches full charge from 0% in around two hours. Beside, the 11 Pro has a class-leading camera and offers excellent day-to-day performance.
Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus
Packing a beefy 4,100mAh battery, the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus may be a little unwieldy to hold. But what it lacks in compact size it more than makes up for in battery life and performance. With medium to heavy use, you’ll easily get a full day’s use from this phone. And it lasted for 12 hours 40 minutes in standard playback tests — streaming 1080p video at max brightness on Wi-Fi. Lighter users may be able to stretch the battery use to two days. Where the S10 Plus falls down though, sadly, is its charging speeds. It only supports Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0. Meaning it takes around 1 hour 45 minutes to fully charge from 0% using the cable in the box — although it does support wireless charging. On the plus side though, it has Wireless PowerShare, which lets you wirelessly charge other Qi-enabled products by placing them on the back of the phone. With its excellent battery life, powerful performance, and expansive HDR10+ screen. This is one of the best offerings from Samsung if you don’t want to worry about charging your phone before the day is out.
Google Pixel 3a XL
While you might be tempted to pick up the Pixel 4 or Pixel 4 XL. But the Pixel 3a XL is the clear leader of the pack in terms of phone battery life, packing a hefty 3,700mAh battery. In tests, it managed an impressive 10 hours and 45 minutes before giving up the ghost. And medium use should easily see you through a whole day with plenty of battery life to spare. If you don’t fancy shelling out $479 for the 3a XL. The $399 Pixel 3a boasts similar battery life, clocking in at 9 hours and 12 minutes in tests. The 3a XL comes bundled with an 18W USB-C charger, taking around 90 minutes to reach full charge from 15%. It doesn’t support wireless charging, but if you can overlook this for the sake of impressive battery life and a fantastic camera. This is a great phone for the money.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
Samsung’s lavish S20 Ultra may look the part with its 7-inch display and 120Hz refresh rate. But its battery life won’t fail to impress either. Its huge 5,000mAh battery lasts for around 11 hours 58 minutes in 60Hz mode. But this drops rather dramatically to just over 9 hours in 120Hz mode. In comparison, the S20 Plus will see you through around 10 hours and 30 minutes in 60Hz mode, and just shy of 9 hours with 120Hz mode turned on, while the S20’s 4,000mAh battery lasted for around 9 hours 30 minutes in tests. So the Ultra is still the best of the bunch when it comes to battery life — just stick to 60Hz mode. However tempting that smoother refresh rate may seem. Heavy users should easily get a full day out of the S20 Ultra. While with light usage the battery should last around a day and a half.
When it’s time to recharge, the Galaxy S20 Ultra comes bundled with a 25W charger that fully charges the phone’s battery from empty in an hour. There’s also the option to pick up a 45W charger, although the difference in charging speeds is negligible. The S20 Ultra also supports 15W fast wireless charging 2.0. Despite its extravagant $1,400 price tag. The S20 Ultra’s stunning screen, zoom lens, beefy battery, and 5G compatibility with all the major networks ensure it offers plenty of bang for your buck.
Ubisoft Forward unveils new space VR game AGOS, looks awfully familiar, from Watch Dogs 2. It coming to Steam and Oculus VR on October 28.
At Ubisoft’s digital press conference, Ubisoft Forward, the company announced AGOS: A Game of Space™, a space exploration adventure built for virtual reality. The game will launch on October 28 on Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Valve Index headsets.
Ubisoft Forward VR space game AGOS looks awfully familiar
In the not-too-distant future, you are the last to go. Humanity will rely on advanced AIs to help guide them to their next home where they can rebuild civilization.
Ubisoft Forward VR space game AGOS looks awfully familiar
AGOS will put players in the silicon of an AI overseeing a colony ship, exploring, gathering, trading, and upgrading to complete the mission of finding a new home in the stars. Players will become the AI operating the last ship to leave a condemned Earth. They guiding a group of survivors across eight unique stellar systems to find a new home.
Therefore, through innovative and realistic physics-based gameplay, players will build and pilot their space probes to upgrade their world ship. Along the way, players will scavenge resources, unlock new technologies. And face the perils of space to maintain life on board their ship during this extraordinary voyage to save humankind.
And it looks familiar because one Watch Dogs 2 mission had us steal the E3 trailer for a fictional game which actually turned out to be real. Previously known as Pioneer, it was in development hell for years, and now it’s due to finally launch in October.
In addition, Ahead of today’s Ubisoft Forward stream, company CEO Yves Guillemot apologised to the people they didn’t protect. Here is Ubisoft’s response to allegations of misconduct within the company:
This week in social media news, Instagram is testing three new designs to accommodate tabs for Reels and shopping; Twitch launches a suite of competitive tools for organizers called Versus; Snapchat’s new study reveals Gen Z has higher ad recall than older age groups; Facebook explains how it’ll enforce ad limits for pages in 2021 and more.
Instagram Tests Three New Designs To Make Room For Reels And Shopping
Instagram is globally testing the insertion of two new tabs on the platform. One for its newly launched TikTok clone, Reels, and one for shopping. Three new designs are in works to accommodate the new tabs; Instagram chief Adam Mosseri confirmed to The Verge.
Why it matters: Mosseri says Instagram’s goal with the addition of two new tabs is to help individual creators “earn their livelihoods on the app, whether by becoming video stars or e-commerce moguls.”
The details: To avoid making the app feel crammed, adding two new tabs will require Instagram to move at least one existing tab—which could prove tricky and fruitless given many have already criticized the app for feeling crowded. For example, writer and investor Eugene Wei described Instagram’s current design as “a jumble of formats.”
Twitch Launches Invite-Only Suite Of Organizer Tools Called Versus
Twitch has debuted an invite-only suite of competitive tools called Versus that enables competitive organizers to “build cutting-edge competitions in just a few steps.”
Why it matters: Versus marks Twitch’s latest attempt to boost its esports presence. In April, it launched an esports directory to keep viewers updated on the most recent tournaments.
The details: In closed beta for now, Versus lets organizers customize their competition with rules, banners and a profile image, plus set up participant registration, all within Twitch. Game developers, Twitch Rivals competitors and collegiate esports leagues will have access to Versus starting today. And for those not invited by Twitch, there’s a waitlist.
Instagram Creates Equity Team, To Hire Director For Diversity And Inclusion
Instagram has convened a dedicated product group that’s tasked with better understanding and addressing bias in its product development and users’ experiences, head of Instagram Adam Mosseri announced in a blog post. In addition, the company is hiring a director for diversity and inclusion.
Why it matters: The news follows Instagram’s commitment in June to review the ways it could be undeserving certain groups of people, which has led the platform to develop and update a variety company-wide policies to support communities around the world. This work includes Instagram’s removal of 23 different banned organizations and the platform’s two-month review process of its verification practices to ensure a fairer process.
The details: Mosseri says the new Instagram Equity team will work to create “fair and equitable products,” by working with Facebook’s Responsible AI team to ensure algorithm fairness.
Instagram’s director for diversity and inclusion will help it find, keep and grow more diverse talent, the post says.
Snapchat: Gen Z Shows Higher Ad Recall Than Millennials And Gen Xers
According to the results of a study Snapchat commissioned Kantar to conduct; Gen Z are more likely to recall advertising than older age groups; even when they spend less time viewing skippable content.
Why it matters: Gen Z’s shorter attention span presents a challenge to marketers who are trying to reach the consumer group that has. According to Snapchat, estimated annual spending power of $1.2 trillion.
The details: The findings show that 59 percent of Gen Z recalled a brand’s skippable video ad, compared with 57 percent of millennials and 47 percent of Gen X. The study also found that 55 percent of Gen Z who watched a skippable ad for less than two seconds correctly recalled it, compared with 46 percent for millennials and 26 percent for Gen X and baby boomers.
Gen Z also has a higher rate of brand preference, as 65 percent of them say brands help them to express themselves; compared with 40 percent for Gen X and baby boomers.
Facebook Outlines New Ad Limits For Pages
Facebook is introducing four limit tiers of advertiser categories that outline how many ads each page can run concurrently to improve ad performance. The platform says it will start enforcing these ad limits from February 2021 through summer 2021.
Why it matters: As per Facebook, “When an advertiser runs too many ads at once, each ad delivers less often. This means that fewer ads exit the learning phase; and more budget is spent before the delivery system can optimize performance.”
The details: Facebook’s four tiers to help guide ad volume include 250 ads for small to medium-sized pages; 1,000 ads for medium to large-sized pages; 5,000 ads for larger pages; and 20,000 ads for the largest pages, or those with advertising budgets greater than $10 million in their highest spending month in the last year.
Facebook Watch Has Over 1.25 Billion Visitors Each Month
Two years after Facebook launched Facebook Watch, the network says 1.25 billion people visit Facebook Watch every month; head of video products Paresh Rajwat wrote in a blog post.
Why it matters: The news comes a month after Facebook challenged YouTube’s offerings when it launched official music videos in the US on Facebook Watch. The music destination, where Katy Perry exclusively debuted her music video for “Smile,” lets fans discover music videos through filters like artist, genre and mood.
The details: Facebook Watch’s success coincides with a string of new content partnerships it formed with television and media companies in France, Germany, Italy, the Middle East, North Africa, Spain and the UK.
In the gaming category on Facebook Watch alone, over 200 million people watch live videos each month, with watch time on Facebook Gaming increasing 75 percent from Q1 to Q2 this year.
In addition to music videos, gaming and television programming, live sports has contributed to the rapid growth of Facebook Watch. Just this past weekend, the UEFA Champions League broadcasts in Latin America drew in over 13.7 million viewers; making it the most-watched soccer match in history on Facebook, according to Rajwat.
Facebook also recently launched paid online events to help struggling small businesses and creators. Facebook says it won’t collect any fees from paid online events for at least the next year.
Lastly, Facebook expanded the availability of fan subscriptions and Stars so fans can donate to their favorite creators.
TikTok Announces New Marketing Partners And Stitch Feature
As ByteDance figures out a way to sell TikTok’s US operations, TikTok announced the launch of its new Marketing Partner Program and 20 partners who specialize in areas like campaign management, creative development, branded effects and measurement. In a separate announcement, TikTok said it’s launching a new editing feature called Stitch; which will enable users to clip and integrate scenes from others users’ videos into their own.
Why it matters: TikTok’s Marketing Partner Program is the latest addition to the company’s advertising platform, TikTok for Business.
The details: TikTok’s new marketing initiative comprises partners like Bidalgo, QuickFrame, Bare Tree Media, IgniteXR, Kantar and more. The app says its goal is to “build new opportunities for marketers to be creative storytellers and meaningfully engage with the TikTok community.”
Regarding the new app’s new Stitch feature, TikTok says it’s similar to Duet in that it’ll let users reinterpret and build on another user’s content. Every video created with Stitch credits the original creator in the new video’s caption; which directly links to the original video. Users can decide in their settings whether or not others can “Stitch” their content, according to TikTok’s company post.
Instagram Launches Reels Trend Insights, Adds ‘Suggested Reels’ To Main Feed
A month after launching TikTok clone Reels, Instagram has added ‘Suggested Reels’ in the main feed of some users; as well as launched a monthly Reels Trend Report on the @creators Instagram account.
Why it matters: Despite receiving criticism for its similarities to TikTok, Instagram Reels is gaining traction. Obviously found that Reels was the second most popular short-form video platform in August after TikTok.
The details: As spotted by influencer marketing strategist Lindsey Gamble; Instagram’s ‘Suggested Reels’ display is TikTok’s version of the ‘For You’ page; once again reflecting Instagram’s desire to mimic the Byte Dance-owned company’s success.
The Reels Trend Report will “take a deeper look” at popular monthly trends. The first report, posted to the @creators account, explores the “infotainment” trend; which involves creators teaching a special skill in an entertaining 15-second tutorial.
