The launch of the Samsung Galaxy S8 stole the spotlight today, with the smartphone finally going official after months of speculation and anticipation. The new Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ have 5.8-inch and 6.2-inch screens, respectively; both smartphones have a curved, borderless Infinity Display design, Gorilla Glass 5, a resolution of 2960 x 1440 pixels, and an aspect ratio of 18.5: 9. The long-standing Home button gives way to on-screen controls, and the AI-based digital assistant Bixby is at the heart of both smartphones.
The new Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, which have a release date of April 21, run on the Android 7.0 Nougat operating system and are powered by the octa-core Snapdragon 835 SoC. The smartphones come with 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of onboard storage, a 12-megapixel Dual Pixel camera with f/1.7 aperture, an 8-megapixel front camera with f/1.7 aperture, USB Type-C, and a fingerprint sensor. The larger model has a 3500mAh battery, while the smaller model has a 3000mAh battery; both Samsung smartphones support fast charging.
While the Samsung Galaxy S8 launch was the dominant force today, here are other top stories of the day:
Micromax Dual 5 with dual rear cameras launched in India Micromax has launched the Dual 5, the first smartphone with a dual camera setup, in India for Rs. 24,999. The new Micromax Dual 5 highlights the dual camera setup with two 13-megapixel Sony IMX258 sensors on the back; dual camera mode is active by default and allows other shooting modes such as Bokeh mode and Low-Light mode. The new smartphone will be available from April 10 in Flipkaon, Micromax E-Store, and off,ine stores.
Other key specs of the smartphone include a 5.5-inch full-HD display, Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow OS, octa-core Snapdragon 652 processor, 4GB RAM, 128GB built-in storage, microSD card support up to 128GB, 4G VoLTE support, 3200mAh battery, fingerprint sensor, 13-megapixel front camera, and USB Type-C port. On the software side, the new Micromax Dual 5 has the fingerprint sensor-based Secure Vault to store user data securely; it uses an independent security chip and adopts military-grade EAAL5+ security technology.
Amazon offers deals and discounts on OnePlus 3T, iPhone 7, and other smartphones. During the ongoing Amazon Mobile Carnival, the e-commerce player provides deals and discounts on several popular smartphones, such as OnePlus 3T, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and Xiaomi Redmi 4A. Those who buy OnePlus 3T from Amazon will get Rs. 1,250 cashback as Amazon Pay balance when choosing the credit card EMI option, plus another Rs. 250 Amazon Pay balance when using the Prime Video app on the smartphone; in addition, they get 14GB of data from Vodafone on 1GB and Rs. 500 as credit for Kindle eBook purchases. Likewise, iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus buyers will get a discount of Rs. 10,000, while those who buy Redmi 4A get 28GB of 4G data and unlimited free calls on the Idea network. There are discounts and deals on Moto X Force, Lenovo Z2 Plus, Moto G4 Plus, Nubia Z11 Mini, Samsung Galaxy On7 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy On5 Pro.
Oppo Noida’s office is agitated after a Chinese executive is said to have torn the Indian flag. A case has been launched based on complaints from Oppo employees for showing disrespect for the national flag. Hundreds of people protested outside the company’s office along with the employees, demanding the arrest of the director, who is a production manager for the smartphone brand.
Google Duo’s Audio-Only Calling Feature Rolling Out Google has announced the worldwide rollout of its Duo app’s audio-only calling feature. Audio-only calls are an interesting addition to the app, as it was initially conceived as a simplified video-calling app. A Google executive said last week that this decision was made because audio calls work well on all connection speeds and are also data efficient.
Microsoft to release Windows 10 Creators Update on April 11. Microsoft announced that the Windows 10 Creators Update would be available starting April 11 as part of a phased rollout. The Microsoft update, which will roll out to more than 400 million users, brings new features such as Night Light, tab previews for Edge, and improvements to Cortana, among others. Other key features of Windows 10 Creators Update include the ability to create, share, and experience in 3D and mixed reality; a new game mode; 3D paint; support for mixed reality headsets; and picture-in-picture mode.
2.5 million wearables were shipped in India in 2016, says IDC market research firm IDC has said 2.5 million wearables were shipped in the Indian market in 2016, with Goqii and Xiaomi dominating the entry-level segment. Shipments increased in the third quarter and declined in the following quarter. In the fourth quarter of 2016, staple wearables (a large portion of shipments) fell 23.9 percent. On the other hand, loads of smart wearables grew 23.6 percent over the period, with products from Apple and Samsung leading the way.
HTC U with ‘Unique’ Edge Sense Feature Reportedly Launching in April The oft-rumored HTC Ocean will reportedly launch in April with the name HTC U; the report says the upcoming HTC U will hit global markets in May. The smartphone’s highlight is the “unique” Edge Sense feature that allows users to control certain functions by tapping the metal edges on the sides. HTC U would feature a 5.5-inch QHD display, Android 7.1 Nougat software, Snapdragon 835 processor, 12-megapixel rear camera, 16-megapixel selfie camera, 64GB and 128GB of internal storage, 4GB or 6GB RAM, Daydream support, Sense Companion AI-based assistant and USB Type-C port.
