WhatsApp’s message deletion and retrieval feature, rumored and leaked for ages, is finally available to users. It works if both parties to a messaging thread have the latest version of WhatsApp and appear to be open to iOS, Android, and Windows Phone users, as well as the web app. Users have reported seeing “Delete for everyone” and “Delete for me” as options when selecting messages and tapping the trash can icon in conversations. It only works for seven minutes after a message is sent, and parties are not notified that others have deleted messages. Users also report that the feature works for text messages, photos, videos, contacts, and other news. Announcements are some time before this functionality is rolled out to all WhatsApp users.
iPhone X Pre-books Opened in IndiaPre-bookings for the iPhone X has opened in India, one of the first countries to launch Apple’s new flagship smartphone. It will officially go on sale on November 3. The device is priced from Rs. 89,000 for the 64GB variant and Rs. 1.02,000 for the 256 GB variant, making it the most expensive smartphone in India. Both Amazon and Flipkart accept online pre-orders, and both offer cash back on purchases with a Citibank card, exchange benefits, a free warranty extension, redemption value guarantees, and carrier-specific plans. If you prefer to buy your iPhone X offline, you can go to an Apple Authorized Reseller.
Google extends the warranty for all Pixel 2 phones after screen burn-in reports. While the company admits there are issues, it has defended its latest smartphone launch, saying there have been only a small number of words. Google will extend the warranty periods of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL to two years to ensure customer satisfaction. Users will soon receive an update allowing them to select a new color profile that is expected to be more saturated.
Airtel, Vodafone launches new packages and offers Airtel is promoting its payment bank by offering 100 percent cashback on purchases of its Rs. 349 charging pack. It is unknown if this is a limited-time offer. The user will receive Rs. 50 in their Airtel Payments Bank accounts for each of the next seven top-ups over seven months if they continue to top up for the same amount. All purchases must be made with the MyAirtel app. Users receive 1 GB of data per day for 28 days and up to 250 free minutes per day, with an additional limit of 1000 free minutes per week.
Vodafone has also rolled out two new plans to attract new customers and keep existing ones happy. The new Vodafone plan with 1 GB of data per day and a validity of 84 days costs Rs. 496, and it comes with unlimited local and STD calls to any network. In addition, with the Vodafone Rs, buyers get free incoming and outgoing calls over roaming. 496 plans. The same benefits – minus roaming – are available for 28 days for Rs. 177.
Oppo F5 launched in the PhilippinesOppo has launched the Oppo F5 smartphone, the latest in its “selfie expert” series, in the Philippines. Its most touted feature is an AI-enhanced beautification mode for selfies. The phone has been heavily leaked in the lead-up to this launch, and as expected, it also sports an 18:9 full HD display with very narrow bezels. It is expected to be released in India on November 2. The Oppo F5 was announced in the Philippines in two variants, one with 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage available in black and gold, and the other with 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB. of storage in red. It also has a 20-megapixel front camera, a 16-megapixel rear camera, and MediaTek MT6763T SoC.
Xiaomi MIUI 9 will be released soon in India Xiaomi has started teasing the latest version of its custom MIUI skin, which is expected to launch in India on November 2. MIUI 9 should speed up the launch of apps and introduce a new split-screen feature, design elements, and shortcuts on the lock screen. The company has also started teasing the launch of a new device, although all that is known now is that it will not be a Note series phone.
Sony Xperia R1 and Xperia R1 Plus launched in IndiaSony have launched two new mid-range smartphones in India, the Xperia R1 and Xperia R1 Plus. Both are ready for Android 8.0, and both feature data compression to make web browsing faster. The Xperia R1 costs Rs. 12,990, while the Xperia R1 Plus is priced at Rs. 14,990. Both have identical specs, except for the amounts of RAM and storage each has. The Xperia R1 has 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage, while the Xperia R1 Plus has 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage. Both phones have 5.2-inch 720×1280 pixel screens and are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 SoC. They are also dual-SIM devices and have 13-megapixel rear cameras as well as 8-megapixel front-facing cameras and 2620 mAh batteries.
Nokia 2 leaked again on Bluetooth certification site Nokia appears to be adding a new low-end model to its first Android lineup, in the form of the upcoming Nokia 2, which has just been leaked thanks to a listing on the Bluetooth SIG certification website. The Nokia 2 is expected to launch in India as early as October 31. The Nokia 2 is rumored to have a 4000 mAh battery, a 5-inch 720×1280 pixel display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 SoC, and 1 GB of RAM. The price is also unknown, but it could be placed below Rs. 7000 when it launches.
Samsung Galaxy A series to get refreshes in early 2018 Samsung could be preparing to launch a revised Galaxy A7 model, the Galaxy A7 (2018), according to a Geekbench database entry. The new model should have an Exynos 7885 SoC and 6 GB of RAM, and Android 7.1. Meanwhile, renders have surfaced on Twitter claiming to be the Galaxy A7 (2018) and Galaxy A5 (2018). According to these images, both phones will have metal bodies, narrow screen bezels, dedicated Bixby buttons on one side, and fingerprint sensors on the back, which would align with Samsung’s new design for its flagship Galaxy models this year. The new phones could be unveiled in January next year.
Amazon announces the last day of its Rs 499 Prime subscription offer Amazon India is all set to finally pull the plug on its year-long introductory price offer for Amazon Prime. After warning users of the impending change in recent weeks, Amazon has announced that Monday, October 30, will be its last day. Users can rush to subscribe for one year for Rs. 499, after which the price will rise to Rs. 999. Amazon Prime gives users discounts on shipping on Prime-eligible products and access to the Prime Video streaming service and its upcoming Prime Music counterpart. Unfortunately, existing members cannot renew or upgrade their subscriptions in advance.
