Heena Sharma Blog

  TCL might be a new name in India, but this Chinese electronics maker is well recognised globally for its feature-rich and competitively-priced smart televisions. Expanding its product portfolio in India, the company recently launched its Android 11 TV platform based smart QLED TVs. Leading the pack are the TCL C725 QLED TV models with screen size of up to 65-inch, quantum LED display tech supported by high dynamic range formats (Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR, HLG), Onkyo sound system powered by Dolby Atmos, and wide input and connectivity options. Besides, it is one of the few smart televisions in the market that come with USB-powered plug-and-play webcam (mics integrated) for video calls and meeting over Google Duo. On paper, the TCL C725 QLED TV seems to be a wholesome package. But is it worth spending Rs 72,990 over for a 55-inch model (review unit)? Let’s find out: Design The TCL C725 QLED TV boasts a bezel-less front profile for a distraction-free viewing experience. Its 55-inc

  Facebook-owned WhatsApp is reportedly testing the ability to easily migrate chat history between an iPhone and an Android device. According to a 9To5Google report, this feature is part of a strategic change in the WhatsApp app. The company had been exploring the possibility of using WhatsApp on multiple devices at the same time and the ability to migrate chat history between iOS and Android is part of this effort, the report said. When the user tries to link a device having a different operative system to his WhatsApp account, it's always needed to update to the latest WhatsApp update available on the App Store or Test Flight, in order to avoid any compatibility error with the Android version, reports WABetaInfo. The ability to use the same WhatsApp account on multiple devices is one of the most requested features by users, as well as an iPad version of Instagram. Read More

  Twitter has announced it is running a test with select iOS and Android users to give people an accurate preview of how their images will appear when they Tweet a photo. Currently, Twitter algorithms automatically crops images to make them display in a more condensed way in the timeline. Going forward, people in the test will see that most Tweets with a single image in standard aspect ratio will appear uncropped when posted. "People will see exactly what the image will look like in the composer tool before it's posted. Very wide or tall images will be center-cropped," Dantley Davis, Chief Design Officer at Twitter said late on Wednesday. Twitter's automatic image cropping has been a problem for photographers and artists. "With this test, we hope to learn if this new approach is better and what changes we need to make to provide a 'what you see is what you get' experience for Tweets with images," Davis said in a tweet. Read More

  I thought it would not be easy to like any other smart television after my experience with Sony’s flagship A8H OLED TV (review). Now it seems I might have been wrong. Xiaomi’s debutant 55-inch QLED TV is quite a competent smart television. Though not as technology-rich as Sony’s OLED, it delivers a comprehensive experience that few premium smart TVs can match. Important to note that the Xiaomi Mi QLED TV 4K is priced at Rs 54,999 which makes it an entry-level smart TV in the QLED segment. The Mi QLED TV 4K does carry an accessible price tag, but make no mistake: It barely cuts corners on any major features, technology or otherwise. Starting with the design, the Mi QLED TV 4K boasts a metallic frame with a 55-inch screen covering almost the entire front. The edge-to-edge stretched screen leaves negligible borders and the otherwise prominent bottom bezel is also reasonably thin. The TV’s metallic frame has a glossy finish with diamond-cut edges for a smooth profile, and laser cut en

  Like many peers, Chinese smartphone maker OPPO uses a custom-tuned Android operating system on its smartphones. Named ColorOS , this custom OS is built on Android but with a custom skin on top. The OPPO ColorOS has come a long way over the years and its latest iteration, ColorOS 11 , is much improved from the previous one, ColorOS 7. Based on Android 11 operating system, ColorOS 11 brings most of the features that Google operating systems natively support. Besides, it boasts several value-added features and customisation options for a personalised user experience. ColorOS 11 does not look thematically different from ColorOS 7 but it has new features and customisation options that make all the difference. From custom wallpapers to new accent colours, fonts and notification drawer icons, theme customisations are deeply integrated within the OS for a personalised user experience. Moreover, some of the older-generation features have also been enhanced. For example, the fingerprint i

  Google has advised Android smartphone users to update the Chrome browser after it patched a Zero-Day bug in the browser. Google said the bug was exploited to allow attackers to bypass and escape the Chrome security sandbox on Android devices and run code on the underlying OS, reports ZDNet. The tech giant has released security updates for the Chrome for Android browser to fix the Zero-Day vulnerability. This marks the third Chrome Zero-Day discovered by the Google Threat Analysis Group (TAG) team in the past two weeks. The first two Zero-Days affected only Chrome for desktop versions. "Chrome for Android version 86.0.4240.185 was released last night with fixes for the vulnerability dubbed as CVE-2020-16010," the report said on Wednesday. Read More

  Chinese electronics maker Realme recently expanded its smart TV portfolio in India with the launch of the Realme Smart TV SLED 4K, a 55-inch model with a new breed of display technology (SLED) for improved viewing experience. Said to be better than conventional LED TVs, the Realme Smart TV SLED 4K promises enhanced contrast ratio, deep blacks, and a wide colour gamut. But is SLED a real breakthrough in display technology or just another marketing gimmick? Let’s find out: Design The Realme Smart TV SLED 4K is a well-built television for its size – it neither has thick bezels around the screen nor does it protrude too much on the back. Its slim profile makes it convenient to mount on the wall. However, it is best for a table-top set-up as ports on the back are difficult to access in a wall-mount set-up. The TV comes with a premium-looking metal-made side legs for a table-top set-up. Unfortunately, the legs fit on extreme ends and require a wide table for setting up. A centre sta

  Google has extended Assistant voice commands to Android apps and the users can now open and search their favourite apps with 'Hey Google wake word and make everyday tasks within an app much easier. Opening and searching within Android apps using "Hey Google" is now available to all Assistant-enabled Android phones. "Starting today, you can try doing more using your voice with more than 30 of the top apps on Google Play available in English globally, with more apps coming," Google said in a statement on Thursday. Google recently released Android 11, the latest version of the operating system. It has now made six new Google features for Android available even on older versions. With Google's Phone app, your Android device will stop spam callers for good and it'll tell you who's calling and why. Read More

  Google Camera Go app has received a dedicated Night Mode for enhanced low-light photography on low-end Android Go-supported devices. "Low light, camera, action! With Night Mode on Camera Go , take high-quality photos on your Android phone, no matter what time of day it is," the company tweeted late on Monday along with a video. The video revealed that the camera app has been built for specific camera modules on affordable phones. So it is not just software but a combination of software and hardware. Night Mode on Camera Go has begun rolling out to the Nokia 1.3, Wiko Y61 and Wiko Y81 smartphones. In addition, Camera Go will get an HDR mode later this year that will increase the quality of photos taken on these budget devices. The evidence of an HDR Mode was found in the Camera Go app as far back as April and it is believed that the pandemic is responsible for the delay in rolling out the feature. Read More

  Realme on Monday launched in India the Narzo 20 Pro, Narzo 20 and Narzo 20A smartphones. From fast charging capability to multi-optic camera set-up, big capacity battery, and screen of enhanced refresh rate, the Realme Narzo 20 series brings several upgrades over predecessor. Alongside the smartphones, the Chinese smartphone maker unveiled its Android 11 operating system based Realme UI 2.0 custom user interface. Let’s look at the Narzo 20 series pricing, availability details and specifications: Realme Narzo 20 Pro: Specifications and pricing The Narzo 20 Pro is a top-end model in the Narzo 20 series. It sports a 6.5-inch IPS LCD screen of fullHD+ resolution, 90Hz refresh rate and 120Hz touch sampling rate. The phone is powered by MediaTek Helio G95 system-on-chip, paired with up to 8GB RAM and 128GB onboard storage. The dualSIM phone has a dedicated microSD card slot for storage expansion. It has a quad-camera set-up on the back, featuring a 48-megapixel primary sensor, an 8MP

  Google on Tuesday rolled out the much-anticipated Android 11 first on Pixel devices, that comes with features like location privacy for employees, Live View with Location Sharing in Google Maps and new Smart Reply on Pixels keyboard. Employees will now see separate tabs for work and personal when they share files, open content or go into their settings menu. "To give employees more information about their location privacy, we've added a new notification whenever their IT admin grants location access to work apps," Google said in a statement. Google Calendar will soon allow people to see personal events in their work calendar, helping to better schedule around commitments across their day. Read More .

  With Google on Tuesday officially releasing the latest version of its mobile operating system, smartphone brand Realme said it will be one of the first phone manufacturers to provide Android 11 to its users. Realme said it was one of the first smartphone manufacturers to bring Android 10 to its users in the form of Realme UI 1.0 last year. Now, the Realme UI will deeply integrate with Android 11 in order to offer a better experience to the users. Android 11 provides users with an easier way to manage conversations, connected devices, privacy, among other things. By taking some additional steps to protect user privacy, and bringing several improvements such as network optimisation and a deeper adaptation to a diverse range of devices, Android 11 is designed to improve the user experience. Read More

  South Korean electronics maker Samsung has announced to roll out three-generation of Android operating system upgrades for its Galaxy devices, including smartphones, foldable screen devices and tablets. Usually, only select original equipment manufacturers on Android One platform deliver three-generation of Android OS upgrades, while most smartphone brands stick to two-year of OS upgrades and three-year of security upgrades from Google. Before the announcement, Samsung also promised to service its Galaxy devices with Android updates for a maximum period of two years. However, the select Galaxy devices will now get up to three-generation of Android OS upgrades from Samsung. Galaxy devices eligible for three-generation of Android OS upgrades: Galaxy S series: Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G, S20 Ultra, S20+ 5G, S20+, S20 5G, S20 in addition to S10 5G, S10+, S10, S10e, S10 Lite and upcoming S series devices Galaxy Note series: Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G, Note20 Ultra, Note20 5G, Note20, Note10

Google has accidentally revealed that it is preparing to release Android 11 to the public on September 8. The date was shown in a slide during a video for the company's "Hey Google" Smart Home Summit, reports Android Police. On the slideshow, titled "checklist for September 8 Android 11 launch," the date was mentioned right at the top of the slide. Google's Michele Turner said that "We are launching everywhere on September 8" while talking about the new Android 11 power menu. However, the video remained live for some time before being set to "private" on YouTube. Google launched Android 10 on September 3 last year. Read More

Chinese electronics maker Xiaomi’s spin-off smartphone brand POCO on Thursday launched the POCO M2 Pro . The phone boasts side-mounted fingerprint sensor, quad camera array on the back, and 5000 mAh battery with 33W fast-charge support. Moreover, it supports Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) indigenously developed navigation system, the NavIC. "Over the last two years, we have evolved as a brand while maintaining focus on innovation. The launch of POCO M2 Pro is our effort in the same direction; designed and manufactured specifically for the Indian users…We are confident that this new smartphone will also appeal to existing POCO fans and new consumers across alike,” said Manmohan Chandolu, General Manager, POCO India. The POCO M2 Pro will be available in three colour variants -- Out of the Blue, Green and Greener and Two Shades of Black. It will be available in 4GB + 64GB, 6GB + 64GB and 6GB + 128GB variants, priced at Rs 13,999, Rs 14,999 and Rs 16,999, r

OnePlus has launched affordable Y-series and premium U-series smart TVs in India, priced at Rs 12,999 onwards. The OnePlus TV 2020 series includes a 32-inch, 43-inch and 55-inch screen models. The Y-series include the 32-inch (32Y1) and 43-inch (43Y1) models, whereas the 55-inch (55U1) model is part of the U-series. OnePlus TV 2020 price in India The OnePlus TV 55U1, OnePlus TV 43Y1 and OnePlus TV 32Y1 are priced at Rs 49,999, Rs 22,999, and Rs 12,999, respectively. The OnePlus TV 32Y1 will be available on Amazon India from July 5. The OnePlus TV 43Y1 and 55U1 shall go on sale at later dates, which have not been disclosed yet by the company. OnePlus TV Y-series and OnePlus U-series launch offers Up to 12 months no interest equated monthly instalment (no-cost EMI) valid on all major banks’ cards Free Amazon Echo Dot with the OnePlus TV 55U1 and OnePlus TV 43Y1 on Amazon India Amazon Echo Dot at Rs 1,999 with the OnePlus TV 32Y1 on Amazon India. Read More

OnePlus is set to unveil its affordable range of smart televisions in India today. The unveiling shall be done in an online-only event, which will livestream on company’s social media channels and official portal. The OnePlus TV 2020 series would include three models of varied screen sizes. Price of the OnePlus TVs are expected to start from as low as Rs 15,000. OnePlus TV 2020 event livestream The OnePlus TV 2020 series event will livestream on company’s Twitter profile and YouTube channel from 7 pm. OnePlus TV 2020 expected specifications The OnePlus TV 2020 series is expected to cover the entry-level and midrange segments with televisions of at least three different screen sizes – 32-inch, 43-inch and 55-inch. There are chances that all three models would have different set of specifications and features. However, at least one of the smart TVs would have company's burdenless design with bezel-less profile and thin frame. Read More

Wednesday launched its Oath Pro-series smart televisions in India. The Oath Pro-series comes in 43-inch, 55-inch and 65-inch screen sizes priced at Rs 24,999 onwards. The Thomson Oath Pro-series televisions are based on Google’s Android TV platform, featuring HDR, Dolby Vision and Dolby Audio. The televisions in the series boast screen panels of up to 4K ultraHD resolution. The televisions will go on sale through Flipkart from July 5. Thomson Oath Pro-series specifications Powered by Android 9 Pie TV platform, the Thomson Oath Pro series ships with stock Android launcher and features Google Play store for apps. The televisions support some of the commonly used over-the-top (OTT) platforms for content, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube and Hotstar+Disney. The TVs’ remote feature hotkeys to some of these app. The TVs support Google Chromecast for content sharing and Google Assistant for voice commands. Read More

After several delays, Google on Wednesday released the first Beta version of its upcoming Android 11 mobile operating system for developers to test before official rollout that is scheduled for later this year. The Beta version of Android 11 is based on feedback that the technology giant received since February on the Android 11 developer previews. According to Google, the Beta Android 11 is built on three key themes: People, Controls, and Privacy. To make Android 11 people-centric, Google has added different layers of customisations in the OS to help people converse on the phone while prioritising messages from across the apps from contacts that matter. Besides, the Android 11 brings conversation notifications that appear in a dedicated section at the top of the shade, with a people-forward design and conversation specific actions, such as opening the conversation as a bubble, creating a conversation shortcut on the home screen, or setting a reminder. Google has also added ‘Voi

Google has once again postponed the launch of Android 11 operating system’s first beta version. The delay could possibly be due to the on-going internal conflict in the US or due to the coronavirus crisis . However, Google did not specify the reason for the delay. “We are excited to tell you more about Android 11, but now is not the time to celebrate. We are postponing the June 3rd event and beta release. We'll be back with more on Android 11, soon.” said Google in a blogpost. The first beta of the Android 11 was earlier postponed to go official on June 3 through an online event. However, the launch now stands cancelled and Google will come out with a new launch date in future. Read More