Motorola One VS Samsung Galaxy M40

Motorola has officially launched the Motorola One Vision (first impressions) smartphone in India. The phone was first launched in Brazil last month, and is the first from the company to feature a punch-hole display. It is also the first Motorola phone to use a Samsung Exynos chipset. The One Vision is part of the ‘Make In India’ program, which means that all of the components will be manufactured in the country. But it isn’t the only phone with a punch-hole display and as such, goes directly against Samsung’s Galaxy M40 .Considering both are priced similarly, it’s important to pit them against each other to see which one comes out on top. Let’s begin. 

Motorola One Vision vs Samsung Galaxy M40 specifications

Both the One Vision and Galaxy M40 feature a 6.3-inch display with FHD+ resolution and punch-hole on the top-left corner. The Motorola phone has a taller 21:9 aspect ratio compared to the 19.5:9 ratio on the Samsung device. Both feature a fingerprint scanner mounted on the back, alongside a vertical camera setup. Design-wise, Samsung’s offering looks a little better thanks to thinner bezels on the front. 

Internally, the Motorola One Vision packs the octa-core Exynos 9609 processor made by Samsung. This is coupled with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy M40 uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 SoC, which is paired with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. Both devices come with a microSD card slot, allowing customers to add extra storage up to 512GB. It’s apparent that the M40 gets an edge in the performance department. 

Motorola One Vision vs Samsung Galaxy M40 price in India

As mentioned above, the Motorola One Vision is priced almost the same as the Galaxy M40. It is available in a solo variant with 4GB RAM and 128GB storage, priced at Rs 19,999. You will be able to purchase it from Flipkart starting June 27th. The phone will be available in Bronze or Sapphire hues. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy M40 is also priced at Rs 19,990 for the lone variant with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. You can purchase the phone in either Seawater Blue or Midnight Blue colours.

Based in Imaging

For imaging, the Galaxy M40 has a triple rear camera setup, whereas the Motorola One Vision gets dual sensors at the back. The former has a primary 32-megapixel sensor, which is coupled with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a third 5-megapixel depth sensor. Selfies are taken care of by a 16-megapixel sensor. In contrast, you get a primary 48-megapixel sensor, which is paired with a 5-megapixel depth unit on the One Vision. For selfies, a 25-megapixel sensor is available up front. While the Motorola phone might seem to be more powerful with regards to the resolution, it’s worth noting that it’s utilising Samsung’s GM1 sensor, and hence can actually output images with 12MP resolution only. Moreover, if you’re looking for versatility, then the Galaxy M40 wins this round.  Motorola has provided a Night Vision mode that will use AI to click sharper and brighter photos in the dark. Samsung ‘s software also gets some cool features such as Super slow motion. Both phones run Android 9.0 Pie out of the box. The Samsung device gets the new OneUI, whereas Motorola One Vision will run stock Android. You also get Digital Wellbeing and the Google Assistant on both devices.

Both smartphones feature a 3,500mAh battery with support for fast charging. Motorola claims that its TurboCharge feature can provide up to seven hours of charge in just 15 minutes. The One Vision also has a 3.5mm headphone socket, which Samsung has given a miss.  

CONCLUSION:

Both the phones are pretty similar when it comes to the hardware, display, and even battery. If you prefer stock Android over OneUI, then the Motorola One Vision is the one to go for. For those looking for versatile camera capabilities or slightly better performance, the Samsung Galaxy M40 is a clear choice.

25 Million Home Voice Assistants at Enhanced Hacking Risk Globally

"Most notably, the number of fake app detections by McAfee's Global Threat Intelligence increased from around 10,000 in June 2018 to nearly 65,000 in December 2018," said the report.

Cybercriminals are looking for ways to use trusted devices to gain control of IoT devices via password cracking and exploiting other vulnerabilities, such as through the exploitation via voice assistants.

"The rapid growth and broad access to connected IoT devices push us to deliver innovations with our partners that go beyond traditional anti-virus. We are creating solutions that address real world digital security challenges," said Gary Davis, Chief Consumer Security Evangelist at McAfee.

"Most IoT devices are being compromised by exploiting rudimentary vulnerabilities, such as easily guessable passwords and insecure default settings" said Raj Samani, McAfee Fellow and Chief Scientist at McAfee.

"From building botnets, to stealing banking credentials, perpetrating click fraud, or threatening reputation damage unless a ransom is paid, money is the ultimate goal for criminals," he added.

McAfee also extended its partnership with Samsung to safeguard consumers from cyber-security threats on Galaxy S10 smartphones.

Foldable Microsoft Surface device with 9-inch screen and Android app compatibility launching next year

According to a Forbes report, Jeff Lin of IHS Markit citing supply chain sources says that the device is nearing production stage. The details of the device include a 9-inch display, which will fold inwards to offer a compact footprint. However, unlike foldable phones released so far, Microsoft may not offer a display outside to offer dedicated phone functionality. Instead, the inward fold and the pivot hinge will divide the screen in two halves, and in turn offer a dual display interface that enables multitasking of various types.

The device is expected to run on the Snapdragon-rivalling Intel Lakefield 10nm hybrid SoC, which itself has been much-hyped and is expected to launch some time later this year. The new processor type will be Intel’s answer to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon SoCs for laptops and the AMD Ryzen 3 range, and targets the blurring of lines between mobiles, tablets and laptops — something that Microsoft itself is possibly aiming with the foldable Surface device.“According to reports, the foldable Surface device will run on a new version of Windows and be compatible with Android apps” The Redmond-based company has opened much of its ecosystem up for cross-platform integration of late, also doing away with the platform-restrictive Universal Windows Platform project.

As such, the foldable Surface device is expected to be based on a new version of Windows 10, dubbed Windows Core OS (WCOS). This is seemingly going to borrow much of the shell code from Windows 10, while offering a different base that will bring compatibility with iCloud and most major Android apps to the system, while retaining support for traditional Windows apps. It will also come with a specialised dual-display user interface, which will be the signature of this device.

Late last year, word regarding the foldable Surface project suggested that Microsoft was struggling to make coherent commercial sense of a foldable device that was not strictly commercial. With recent technology conferences showing dual-display devices in laptop form factors as a new trend, Microsoft may aim to cash in by offering a laptop-like usage experience while keeping a tablet’s display size that can be folded down to the form factor of a smartphone. This would essentially allow Microsoft to offer the utility of a laptop within the compact shell of a smartphone.

After much speculation and rumours, nothing appears to have come out of Microsoft’s secretive foldable phone endeavours, dubbed Project Andromeda, as of now. However, a recent report by Forbes suggests otherwise, stating that the company finally has a more concrete direction to its foldable device project, which will launch in the form of a phone-tablet crossover that opens up to a 9-inch display.

Note 7 Pro sales flashes

Redmi Note 7 Pro Goes Out of Stock 

Redmi Note 7 Pro price in India

The Redmi Note 7 Pro price in India has been set at Rs. 13,999 for the 4GB RAM/ 64GB storage model, while its 6GB RAM/ 128GB storage option is priced at Rs. 16,999. Moreover, it will come in Neptune Blue, Nebula Red, and Space Black colour options.

For photos and videos, the Redmi Note 7 Pro sports a dual rear camera setup that includes a 48-megapixel primary sensor with an f/1.79 lens and a 5-megapixel secondary depth sensor. There is also a 13-megapixel camera sensor at the front.

The rear camera setup supports a list of artificial intelligence (AI) powered features, such as AI scene detection, AI Portrait 2.0, and a Night mode. It also offers 4K video recording.

Connectivity options on the Redmi Note 7 Pro include 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth v5.0, GPS/ A-GPS, USB Type-C port, and 3.5mm headphone jack. There is also a fingerprint sensor at the back. Besides, the phone packs a 4,000mAh battery that supports Quick Charge 4.0.

Redmi Note 7 price in India

The Redmi Note 7 price in India is set at Rs. 9,999 for the 3GB RAM/ 32GB storage configuration, while its 4GB RAM/ 64GB storage model is priced at Rs. 11,999. The phone is available in Onyx Black, Ruby Red, and Sapphire Blue colour options.

Redmi Note 7 Pro, the much-awaited smartphone from Xiaomi, went on sale for the first time in India today and it was quickly sold out. Xiaomi's newest phone is offered via Flipkart, Mi.com, and Mi Home stores in the country. To recall, the Redmi Note 7 Pro was launched in the Indian market earlier this month with a dual rear camera setup and a waterdrop-style display notch. The smartphone is also powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 SoC. Alongside the Redmi Note 7 Pro, Xiaomi will also be offering the Redmi Note 7 that went on sale in the country for the first time last week.

Xiaomi's Manu Kumar Jain revealed on Twitter that Redmi Note 7₹ 12,399 Pro was sold out in a matter of seconds. Redmi Note 7, which was also put on sale alongside the Redmi Note 7 Pro, too went out of stock very soon. The company has stated that the next sales for both smartphones are now scheduled for March 20.

Redmi Note 7 specifications

The dual-SIM (Nano) Redmi Note 7 runs Android 9.0 Pie with MIUI 10 on top and features a 6.3-inch full-HD+ (1080x2340 pixels) display along with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. It is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoC, paired with 3GB and 4GB RAM options.

For photos and videos, the Redmi Note 7 comes with a dual rear camera setup that has a 12-megapixel primary sensor along with an f/2.2 lens and a 2-megapixel secondary sensor. The India variant of the Redmi Note 7 is different from the China variant on the camera aspect as the latter had a 48-megapixel Samsung ISOCELL GM-1 as the primary sensor in its dual rear camera setup, with the other camera being a 5-megapixel sensor
.

upcoming phones get concentrated towards eyes of humans

The stellar growth saw India uprooting the US as the the world's second largest mobile phone market by volume -- ranking behind China but handset prices have been skewed towards lower-end of the market.

"This is likely to change fast. We expect that mid-range smartphones, those with wholesale prices in the range of USD 200-400, will grow 20 percent year-on-year in 2018 and by almost four times during the next five years to make it one of the most important smartphone segments," Counterpoint Research Associate Director Tarun Pathak told PTI.

He said the sales volume sweet spot is moving from sub-USD 150 segment towards mid-tier as many features and capabilities common among flagship models, progressively diffuse through to these lower price bands.

Also, with features like full-screen displays, dual-cameras, biometric security and support for artificial intelligence being made available in more mid-range devices, customers don't seem to mind paying more for the latest technologies.

The 4G feature phones -- designed to bring new users online -- continued to gain traction among users during 2018 with Reliance Jio making a strong push for these devices.

Xiaomi, which held onto the numero uno spot in a hyper-competitive market, said it expects the average selling increasing gradually.

However, exclusive launches and deep discounts on e-commerce platforms like Flipkart and Amazon could become a thing of the past as new rules for online marketplaces with new rules coming into effect in February.

According to experts, 2018 was a vibrant year for smartphone companies in India as shipments grew by an estimated 11 percent to about 150 million units. And the growth streak is expected to get a bit better at 12 percent in 2019.

OPPO, which has recently set up a research and development facility in India, is focussed on localising products and creating consumer centric devices for consumers in the coming year. The Chinese player, much like its peers, expects the premium segment market to grow and shape out well in 2019.

For Transsion -- which operates multiple brands in India including itel, Infinix and Tecno -- the Rs 7,000-15,000 segment of smartphones is expected to contribute highest in 2019.

Globally, new innovations like 5G and even foldable screens are trends that consumers are keenly awaiting. However, it may be some time before new gadgets with these new features make inroads in the Indian market.

Interestingly, high demand -- coupled with increased customs duties -- prompted many vendors to ramp up production in the country.

From being entirely dependent on imports to meeting almost 100 percent of the domestic requirement, India has come a long way.

According to India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), the mobile handset manufacturing in terms of value for 2018-19 is expected to touch a whopping Rs 1.65 lakh crore with a volume turnover of about 29 crore units.

"The resurgent mobile handset manufacturing eco-system in India has saved the country of approximately Rs 3 lakh crore through replacement of complete build unit imports and the growing domestic assembling or manufacturing of handsets," ICEA Chairman Pankaj Mohindroo said.

He added that India's mobile handset and components manufacturing industry has successfully established 268 manufacturing units, generating employment for over 6.7 lakh across the nation.

The company has already expanded its product range to include televisions and said it will continue to focus on bringing more categories and more innovative products to India. Premium players like OnePlus and Apple also expect strong growth in sales in 2019.

New Delhi: Snazzier phones with premium price tags are set to vie for Indian customers' wallets in 2019, but it would be entry-level and affordable smartphones driving sales volume in the world's second largest smartphone market.

An ICEA-McKinsey report said if India extends its ambitions to the export market, it could manufacture around 1,250 million handsets by 2025 and create an industry worth around USD 230 billion.

The onslaught of the Chinese giants like Xiaomi, Vivo and Oppo continued during the year with these three players alone accounting for over 44 percent of the shipment in the July-September quarter.

Despite the intense competition, domestic players like Micromax and Lava remain upbeat. Lava International Head (Product) Tejinder Singh said brands engaged in short-term strategies in India would fail.

"...Brands like Lava, which have invested heavily in R&D will deliver products rich in quality and provide the best consumer experience to its customers. We feel that this cut throat competition is actually good for the industry as it pushes everyone to improve consistently, rethink strategies and optimise costs for the consumers," he explained.

According to Micromax co-founder Vikas Jain, further 'consolidation' could be seen in the industry that has seen exit of players like Comio and HTC this year.

"Consolidation is likely to be seen in the market with some smaller players exiting. Quality of products and services, across price bands, are important factors for customers. It's not cheap phones, but value for money that they seek," he said.

The industry also saw the entry of new players like Realme in the country. Realme India CEO Madhav Sheth believes competition will continue to be intense, especially in the mid-range.

While smartphone launches may hog limelight through the year, the PC industry remains also remains upbeat on 2019. HP India Senior Director (Personal Systems) Vickram Bedi said the PC market in India is going through a transformative phase wherein the premium and gaming segment are leading the growth momentum of the entire category.

Arnold Su, PC and ROG Head at Asus India shared similar views. "The 'thin and light' segment is expected to dominate 2019. The objective is to build powerful laptops which are easy to carry at an affordable price point," he said.

New chatting techniques implemented in beta version at google maps

When one boots up the Maps app, they might see an option to access all Messages and conversations that had with businesses. This option is nested under the hamburger menu and tapping on it will show all the chats they had with a business listing and it makes it easier for users to revisit the chat without needing to find individual businesses on Maps. We noted that the Message option does not show up when one simply taps on a business listing and only when one swipes up to get more information about it. 

Google is testing a new feature that might make it easier

for users to connect with businesses on Google Maps. One will find a ‘Message’ tab for some businesses, alongside the Directions, Call and Save options. Tapping on it brings up a chat window where one can send their queries to the business and hopefully, receive a reply soon. There is also an option to delete the chat or block/report the business chat as spam.

Google had announced this feature back in November 2018 and said that it will soon roll out for users on Android and iOS. The company didn’t confirm whether the feature will make its way to India but it is seemingly being tested. So, it might be safe to assume that we could soon see a broad rollout of this feature. The feature will work if the establishment has agreed to accept messages and signed up for a Business profile. Businesses that want to accept messages from customers can install the new Google My Business app from Google Play or the App Store to sign up and enable messages.