WhatsApp has detailed how users can identify whether a company they communicate with has been verified through the app. On a dedicated FAQ page on its website, WhatsApp says users can go to the company profile and search for a badge; three types of badges indicate that a profile belongs to a company. The green checkmark badge indicates a verified profile and that an authentic brand owns the account, while the gray checkmark badge is for confirmed profiles and demonstrates that the phone number is indeed branded. Then there’s the Business account, characterized by a gray question mark that suggests a business account that has not yet been confirmed or verified. WhatsApp also says users can block business accounts from contacting them through Settings.
Idea offers 84 GB of data and free roaming outgoing calls at Rs. 509Idea Cellular has an Rs. 509 prepaid plan that gives customers 1GB of data per day and free walking outgoing calls for 84 days. Competing directly with the Jio Rs. 459 subscription, this Idea charging pack also provides free local and STD calls and SMS during the validity period. Idea prepaid users are eligible for up to 100 percent cash back on top of Rs. 300 and above in the coming year. These come just a day after the telecom operator upgraded its data allocation from its Rs. 198 plans with 50 percent in two circles.
Nokia smartphones support Google’s Project TrebleHMD Global phones, from the entry-level Nokia 2 to the top-of-the-line Nokia 8, which will not be part of Google’s Project Treble, making it easier to push Android updates. HMD Chief Product Officer Juho Sarvikas said the company had not created a separate partition for Project Treble in the ROM of its smartphones, which is essential to the Google initiative. However, he added that the company is still committed to providing customers with the software updates, pointing out that the end-user experience will not be affected without Treble. Earlier, OnePlus had already confirmed that its smartphones would not support Treble either.
Two thousand eighteen iPhone models are said to have larger batteries KGI Securities Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said Apple will use larger batteries in the three iPhone models it will launch in 2018. It will reuse the L-shaped battery design from this year’s iPhone X in the next models, and the 5.8-inch variant will have a capacity of 2900-3000mAh, higher than the 2716mAh pack of the 2018 flagship. The 6.5-inch model will also feature a large battery.
While no mention is made of the capacity of the 6.1-inch Apple model, it is expected to be a relatively affordable handset. Instead of the OLED panel of the 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch iPhones, it would have an LCD screen. A new report claims it will have a multicolored metal back panel, something else it will have in common with the pre-2017 models. Plus, it won’t have wireless charging, which was introduced with the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and iPhone X, and a glass back is required.
OnePlus 5T receives OxygenOS 4.7.4 update. The OxygenOS 4.7.4 update for OnePlus 5T is being rolled out by the company and weighs 285 MB. The update is based on Android Nougat and brings several camera improvements, including a better Camera UI and modifications to improve image quality. Besides this, OxygenOS 4.7.4 comes with battery usage optimizations on Wi-Fi, enhanced GPS and fingerprint sensor stability, system stability improvements, and general bug fixes for OnePlus 5T.
Bitcoin marketplace NiceHash was hacked and lost more than $60 million NiceHash director Andrej P. Skraba called the hack “very professional” and said about 4,700 Bitcoins were lost. The exchange advised users to change their passwords but gave few details about the attack on the payment system. It remains unclear whether customers have suffered losses from the NiceHash hack.
LG Signature Edition with Ceramic Body Launched for KRW 2,000,000 The LG Signature Edition smartphone has been launched in South Korea for KRW 2,000,000 (approximately Rs. 1.18,000). The smartphone is essentially the LG V30 but has a zirconia ceramic shell that is scratch resistant; buyers can choose to have their name engraved on the back of the handset. Available in black and white color options, the handset will be a Limited Edition model, and only 300 units will be sold. LG also offers buyers a dedicated after-sales service and B&O wired headphones and Bluetooth headsets. As for the key specs, LG Signature Edition has a 6-inch QHD display, Android 8.0 Oreo with LG Pay integration, Snapdragon 835 chipset, 6GB RAM, 256GB storage, and a 3300mAh battery with wireless charging.
YouTube is reportedly planning to launch a paid music subscription. According to a new report, YouTube plans to launch a paid music streaming service as early as March next year. Internally referred to as Remix, the YouTube service already has Warner Music Group record labels on board. In contrast, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and others are still in talks. The subscription service will compete with Apple Music, Spotify, and Google’s Play Music.
