Samsung has lowered the price of its high-end Galaxy S8+ variant for the second time in two months. The Galaxy S8+ with 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage was launched in India in early June for a price of Rs. 74,900, and Samsung cut that to Rs. 4,000 in early July to cut the cost to Rs. 70,900. Another Rs. 5,000 has been shaved off the price, bringing it down to Rs. 65,900. Interestingly, the original version of this phone with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage still costs Rs. 64,900, meaning the difference between the two has dropped from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 1,000.
The flagship Galaxy S8+ is available offline, on Flipkart, and in Samsung’s web store. Aside from the improved storage and RAM, it has the same specs as the original Galaxy S8+, including an Exynos 8895 SoC and an 18.5:9 6.2-inch Infinity Display with curved sides.
Samsung also unveiled its brand new Galaxy Note 8 this week, and the company is desperate to put the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco behind it once and for all. The new model has been revealed to have a 3300mAh battery, smaller than the problematic 3500mAh battery that caused so many problems last year. Samsung has now stated that this was a conscious decision to avoid accidents caused by cramming a large battery into a small space with no room to expand when it’s hot. Samsung says the battery life shouldn’t be lower because the new 10nm processors are more energy-efficient.
Now that the Galaxy Note 8 launch is behind us, attention has already shifted to rumors about the Galaxy S9. Early hints suggest that the upcoming phone will have dual cameras on the back, much like the one on Note 8. Samsung is also reportedly working on a fingerprint sensor that can be embedded under a phone’s display glass, but it will most likely not be ready. The Galaxy S9 may be released by the end of next year with the Galaxy Note 9.
Nandan Nilekani Returns to Infosys as Chairman Infosys’ board of directors has appointed co-founder Nandan Nilekani as the company’s new non-executive chairman, replacing R Seshasayee, who resigned under pressure. Vishal Sikka, the former CEO who suddenly stepped down on August 18 but remained on board as executive vice chairman, will leave the company completely. This final move concludes a dramatic series of events, with Sikka co-founder NR Narayana accusing Murthy of defamation and interference and the board issuing a scathing letter against Murthy and supporting Sikka. Murthy and a group of colleagues had campaigned for Nilekani’s nomination. Nilekani was previously CEO of Infosys from 2002 to 2007 and has since led India’s Aadhaar biometric ID program. Interim CEO UB Pravin Rao will continue to fill that role as the search for a replacement continues.
The latest iPhone 8 leaks indicate that Apple will hold a launch event on September 12, and while no invites have yet been sent to confirm this, more details are revealed. The iPhone 8 is rumored to launch on September 12 from $999. The New Yoforimes puts the launch price of the base variant at $999 (about Rs. 64,000 pre-tax), with at least one other variant costing $1099 (about Rs. 70,400), making these Apple’s most expensive iPhones ever. There is consensus that wireless charging and facial recognition will be included. It also seems likely that the base model will have 64GB of storage space, a56GB, and 512GB variants.
Other rumors indicate that Apple is using the same event to launch a new Apple TV model with a more powerful processor, the ability to handle 4K video streams, and the next version of its TV app that will highlight live streaming services. Finally, a new generation Apple Watch with integrated LTE functionality could also be announced during the alleged event.
Samsung heir convicted of corruption, Qualcomm loses its president Samsung Group leader, and Samsung Electronics vice chairman Jay Y. Lee has been sentenced to five years in prison for paying bribes to obtain favors from former president Park Geun-Hye. Lee was accused of donating millions of dollars to a close associate of Park to help resolve the merger of two member companies, which would have helped Lee solidify his control over the Samsung conglomerate. The scandal contributed to the impeachment of Park, who continues to face multiple corruption charges in South Korea.
Qualcomm. Meanwhile, Qualcomm president Derek Aberle announced his resignation after 17 years with the company, effective December 31. Aberle was in charge of the company’s licensing activities for some time and was involved in its legal affairs.
Moto X4 Specifications Confirmed It had been revealed that the Moto X4 would feature a 5.2-inch full-HD AMOLED display, Gorilla Glass 3, dual 12-megapixel rear cameras, a 16-megapixel front-facing camera, and a 3000mAh battery. WIt is powered by a Snapdragon 630 SoC and has 4 GB of RAM with 64 GB of storage plus a microSD card slot. Earlier rumors pointed to a variant with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage space. Will have.
Nokia 3 Survives Torture Tests The affordable Nokia 3 may not have many glamorous features, but it can at least claim to be more durable than most of its ilk. JerryRigEverything put the phone through a series of scratch, burn and bend tests, and the results were surprisingly positive. The plastic housing and rear camera lens were scratched, but the fiberglass front was unscathed. The screen turned back when exposed to fire but managed to recover. The phone could withstand pressure and be only slightly bent during the latest tests.
Netflix UPI Payment Option Coming Soon Netflix has confirmed that it plans to roll out UPI billing integration in India, complete with a monthly recurring mandate that enables automatic billing. This could help the company expand its presence in India as it only accepts credit cards and some debit cards. However, this will have to wait until UPI 2.0 becomes final later this year, as the necessary UPI functionality is not ready yet. Earlier this year, rumors circulated that Paytm integration was in the works. Still, the plans appear to be on hold for now. Netflix doesn’t want to do business with intermediaries. Facebook, Amazon, and Google are reportedly working on enabling UPI transactions, further strengthening the platform.
Delhi Metro Blue Line gets free wifi All 50 stations of the Delhi Metro’s Blue Line now have free wifi for commuters. People can connect to an access point named “Oui DMRC Free wifi”, and a one-time registration is required. Stations on the Yellow Line and trains that run on the airport line will be next to get wifi functionality over the next six to nine months, and eventually, the entire metro network will come on board.
Xiaomi Mijia Action Camera launched, Mi Mix 2 pictured Xiaomi launched its Mijia 4K Compact Action Camera in China at the relatively affordable CNY 699 (about Rs. 6,700). The device promises 4K 30fps and 1080p 60fps video recording with 6-axis stabilization. It weighs only 99 grams and has a battery life of two hours.
Meanwhile, the upcoming Mi Mix 2 has been pictured in China. This phone, expected to launch on September 12 (vs. iPhone 8), could have even thinner bezels around the screen than last year’s Mi Mix. The alleged photos show a glossy white back that is said to be ceramic and two round cutouts, which could mean there are two cameras or one camera and a fingerprint sensor on the back. A USB Type-C port and speaker grilles can be seen on the bottom.
Microsoft patents wall-like AR controllers A patent application by Microsoft indicates that the company is working on wall-like handheld controllers for AR and HoloLens applications. According to reports, the controller could look like a cross between a motion controller and a pen. Microsoft has been known to push AR with its HoloLens and Windows Holographic efforts.
