Google Tez to Now Be Called Google Pay, Pre-Approved Loans Coming To The Platform

By:- Tech News Team

    Google Tez will now be rebranded to Google Pay, the company announced at the 2018 edition of the Google for India event held in New Delhi on Tuesday. Rich interactions are coming to Google Pay, and Google aims to empower 150,000 retail stores in India to use Google Pay by Diwali 2018. Additionally, businesses and merchants can now pay for Google Ads using Google Pay. Google claims that over 1.2 million small businesses in India are already using Google Tez (now rebranded as Google Pay).

All things you love will remain same," said Caesar Sengupta, GM, Payments and Next Billion Users Initiative at Google, at the event emphasising the fact that this is a mere rebranding exercise and not the dilution of a pre-existing service.

    The many things that you love about the app - the familiar contacts on your homescreen, the one-touch mobile recharges, and of course the fun offers and rewards - are all here to stay. In fact, over time we’ll bring many of these features to Google Pay users in other countries just as we’ll bring features we have launched elsewhere to India," Sengupta added in a blog post.

Google Pay is getting integration for loans in collaboration with Federal Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and others. The loans will be pre-approved and will be given only to bank customers through the banks. Google Pay will essentially work as an intermediary. The pre-approved loans start appearing in the app in the coming weeks.

At the event, the tech giant announced that 22 million people now use Google Tez every month and have made a total of 750 million transactions since launch in September last year. The company also claimed that monthly BHIM UPI transactions have grown 14x since the launch of Google Tez.

    The rebranding rollout will complete in the next couple of weeks. Merchants will get the option to enable payments directly from their app where customers can just swipe the Pay button to make payments to their nearby merchants. There will also be an option to show a QR code to customers to make seamless payments. The merchants will get transaction history on their app along with the picture and name of the customers and the amount they’ve paid as well as the transaction ID for each transaction happened in the past.

Back in March this year, Google Tez had added a simple chat feature allowing users to communicate with their contacts alongside simultaneously sending and receiving money via UPI.

Google Assistant Gets Marathi Language Support, Working With Third-Party Apps For Better Integration

By:- Tech News Team

    At I/O 2016, Google unveiled its own voice assistant Google Assistant, and made it available in Allo chat app and the Google Home smart speaker initially. It is now available on most Android phones out there, and is regularly updated with more features. India has been a priority for Google since the start, and the Assistant supported English and Hinglish (a mixture of English and Hindi) since the initial days, before being made available in Hindi earlier this year. Now, at the Google for India 2018 event held in New Delhi on Tuesday, Google has announced new India-specific features for Google Assistant, with support for Marathi also introduced. The tech giant is also working with several local service providers to bring more functionality to the Google Assistant.

Google also announced that support for seven other Indian languages is in the pipeline. Furthermore, Google Assistant is also getting the ability to talk in regional languages as well. This feature is coming soon, and to activate it, all the user has to say is, "Okay Google, Talk to me in Hindi" or any of the other supported regional languages of their choice. Because of this, Google Home will also be able to talk in Hindi in the future. Asserting its importance of the Indian market, Google says that it has doubled down the localisation on Google Assistant since launch, and its usage has notably tripled in India since 2016.

    Google is also working with several third-party apps to bring more functionality on Google Assistant. It is working with Where Is My Train to introduce the ability to locate trains, and Hello English integration will help Indian users learn English using Hindi through Google Assistant. It is also working with Airtel to allow users to check plan expiry date, new recharge options, existing plan details, and even recharge directly through Google Assistant.

Separately, Google has also launched a new India Builds Actions campaign to get more Indian developers involved in making software to extend the functionality of the Google Assistant. This campaign looks to show Indian developers how to build their Actions on Google in English and Hindi in just 15 minutes. Head to the Actions on Google website to learn more about building software for Google Assistant.

    At the Google for India event, the Mountain View firm also announced it was re branding Google Tez as Google Pay, and also unveiled Project Navlekha to help offline publishers in India get online. There were also several other Search and Android Go based announcements, including the bilingual (English and Hindi) for Google Feed and the new Google Go ability that lets users listen to webpages.

Xiaomi Poco F1 With Snapdragon 845, Up to 8GB RAM Unveiled In India: Live Updates

Xiaomi Poco F1 has been launched in India as the first smartphone from Xiaomi to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC, 8GB of RAM and more. Here are all the details about Xiaomi Poco F1 price and specs

By:- Tech News Team

    Xiaomi Poco F1 has been launched in India after much speculation and while it is the first smartphone from Xiaomi’s new sub-brand Poco, it is also the Chinese smartphone maker’s first smartphone in India to be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC under-the-hood. On the other hand, the Xiaomi Poco F1 is also one of the first smartphones in India to support both 4G+ and dual VoLTE connectivity.

The Xiaomi Poco F1 has been priced at Rs. 20,999 for the 6GB RAM/64GB storage option, Rs. 23,999 for the 6GB RAM/128GB storage option and Rs. 28,999 for the 8GB RAM/256GB storage option while it will be made available exclusively through Flipkart in India. The Xiaomi Poco F1 will be made available in Rosso Red, Graphite Black, and Steel Blue colour options. On the other hand, there is also a POCO F1 Armoured Edition with 8GBRAM + 256GB storage which is priced at Rs. 29,999.

https://youtu.be/sMWCyRijEkg

    As far as the launch offers are concerned, Xiaomi Poco F1 buyers will get an instant discount of Rs. 1,000 on purchases made through HDFC Credit cards via EMI option. On the other hand, Reliance Jio users will also get Rs. 8,000 worth of benefits and upto 6TB free data. Poco has also launched four new Poco skins for the Xiaomi Poco F1 starting at just Rs. 299.

View image on Twitter

POCO India

✔@IndiaPOCO

To round it all up, #POCOF1 will be made available in premium polycarbonate, a material that's durable and comes in 3 exciting colors. We're also bringing you the Armored edition with real Kevlar for the most premium flagship you've ever experienced! #MasterOfSpeed

1:08 PM - Aug 22, 2018

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The biggest highlights of the Xiaomi Poco F1 include the Dirac HD Sound and dual smart PA for loud and clear audio, a 4000mAh battery with fast charging, up to 8GB RAM + 256GB (UFS 2.1 storage), LiquidCool Technology where copper heat sinks with water vapours inside sits on top of SoC, dual rear cameras backed by AI, a display notch and more.

Xiaomi Poco F1 specifications

    The Xiaomi Poco F1 sports a 6.18-inch FHD+ LCD display with 500 nits brightness, 2.5D curved glass and Corning Gorilla Glass. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC under-the-hood coupled with Adreno 630 GPU for graphics. It includes 6GB/8GB of RAM with 64GB/128GB/256GB inbuilt storage, expandable up to 256GB through a microSD card. The Xiaomi Poco F1 comes with hybrid dual SIM connectivity, it runs Android 8.1 Oreo (upgradable to Android P) with MIUI for Poco on top which offers features such as Poco launcher, turbocharged engine, and fast updates.

View image on Twitter

MIUI India

✔@MIUI_India

To deliver fast & seamless experience, we focused on 3 different components on MIUI for POCO.
1. POCO launcher.
2. Turbocharged engine.
3. Fast updates. #MIUIForPOCO #POCOF1

1:22 PM - Aug 22, 2018

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    For optics, there is a dual rear setup including 12-megapixel (Sony IMX 363) with 1.4um pixels for better low-light photography, f/1.8 aperture, 4-axis OIS, Optical zoom, 4K video recording and 5-megapixel sensors coupled with dual-pixel autofocus, AI scene detection and a dual-LED flash. The front-facing camera includes a 20-megapixel shooter with Pixel binning technology, real-time AI photography. The Poco F1 is backed by a 4000mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 support.

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MIUI India

✔@MIUI_India

We've integrated 20+ deep system optimization to provide a smooth experience. #MIUIForPOCO #POCOF1

1:31 PM - Aug 22, 2018

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Connectivity options include dual 4G VoLTE, USB Type-C, Dual-Band, Wi-Fi Hotspot, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 5.0 LE, GPS + Glonass while for biometrics, the Xiaomi Poco F1 comes with a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner and AI-backed Infrared Face Unlock for biometrics.

Gmail For IOS, Android Gets 'Confidential Mode'

The new Confidential Mode allows users to send emails that expire after a set amount of time and the recipients will not able to forward, copy, print or download them

By:- Tech News Team

    Google has announced that it will be rolling out ‘Confidential Mode’ for Gmail iOS and Android. The new mode lets users send emails that expire after a set amount of time. Further, recipients of these emails will not be able to forward, copy, print or download them. However, they will still be able to take screenshots if they want. Further, recipients who have malicious programs installed on their computer may still be able to copy or download the sent messages or attachments. 

Sender’s also get an option of setting up a SMS Passcode in order to open the message. If selected, the recipient will get a SMS with a passcode that will be needed to open the mail. Senders also get the option of stopping a recipient from reading the email before the time limit expires.

    To recall, the ‘Confidential Mode’ was added to Gmail on desktop a while back as part of a redesign for Gmail. However, reports suggested that the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued an intelligence note warning users of the “potential emerging threat… for nefarious activity” with the new Gmail redesign. The DHS noted that the Confidential Mode “presents as opportunity for malicious cyber actors to mimic the email message and phis unwary users. Attackers can reportedly send emails using confidential mode and make use of phishing links to get access to a victim’s personal information.

Gmail

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Confidential mode is now available on mobile devices and can help you protect sensitive information from unauthorized access. Learn more about this feature → http://goo.gl/u7VEnL 

11:06 PM - Aug 16, 2018Twitter Ads info and privacy

PUBG Mobile Surpasses 100 Million Downloads

BY :- Tech News Team

    Calling PUBG a popular game would be an understatement. The famed Battle Royale game has achieved an install base of 100 million on smartphones. To recall, PUBG mobile was launched on March 19, 2018. In the 4 months since launch, the game has garnered 14 million daily active users, excluding those in China, Japan and Korea.

“We want to thank our committed development team at Lightspeed and Quantum Studios and especially thank the devoted players around the world that continue to inspire us with their passion and dedication. We will continue to set the bar for mobile gaming and look to deliver even more great content to our players later this year," said Tencent's Vincent Wang.

    If you can’t play PUBG on your current smartphone, then worry not. Tencent Games has announced PUBG Mobile Lite. The game will work the same as it does on Android devices with the change being in the size of the map and the maximum number of active players. The size of the map is considerably smaller and the maximum number of players on a map is limited to 40 instead of 100. The catch is that PUBG Mobile Lite is available in the Philippines only and as of writing this story, there is no information available on when the lightweight version of the game will launch to other markets.

    On the Google Play Store, PUBG Lite’s description reads, “PUBG MOBILE LITE is here! Built with Unreal Engine 4, this version of PUBG MOBILE is compatible with even more devices and optimized for devices with less RAM without compromising the gameplay experience that has attracted millions of fans around the world. PUBG MOBILE LITE features a smaller map made for 40 players, which means a faster-paced game that still keeps the traditional PUBG style of play!”

Speaking of Battle Royale games, Fortnite is finally available on Android devices. The game is in Beta and was exclusive to Samsung devices till August 12. From August 12, those with high end Android devices will be able to play the game on their smartphones. Fortnite will not be available through the Google Play store. Users will have to download the APK from Epic Games.

Asus Launches Three New Zenbook Laptops In India, Prices Start At Rs 66,990

ZenBook Pro 15 (UX580) promises to give users a faster and advanced Windows 10 experience, ZenBook S (UX391) packs powerful features in a thin and portable frame .

By:- Tech News Team

    Taiwanese technology company ASUS on Monday unveiled three new models in its popular ZENBook Series in India. The three laptops -- ZenBook Pro 15 (UX580) with a starting price of Rs 179,990; ZenBook S (UX391) upwards of Rs 129,990 and ZenBook 13 (UX331) priced at Rs 66,990 and above -- will be available on e-commerce platforms and retail stores from August 13, the company said in a statement.

“We aim to empower our users with luxury that strikes the perfect balance of beauty, functionality and performance. The Zenbook series fits perfectly in the said combination at a good price range,” said Arnold Su, Business Development Manager, ASUS India (PC and Gaming).

    ZenBook Pro 15 (UX580) promises to give users a faster and advanced Windows 10 experience, ZenBook S (UX391) packs powerful features in a thin and portable frame and ZenBook 13 (UX331) is a compact, portable laptop.

ZenBook Pro Series (UX580) is a professional-grade laptop with “NanoEdge 4K Touch” display with “ScreenPad” technology.

“ScreenPad” combines high-resolution, full-color auxiliary touchscreen with a touchpad, enhancing workflow and productivity with adaptive functions and context-sensitive tools.

    The laptop has 8th Gen Intel Core i9 processor, 16GB RAM, “GeForce GTX 1050 Ti” and 1TB “PCIe x4 SSD”.

ZenBook S UX391 is 13.3-inch laptop, with military-grade toughness. The device has an “ErgoLift” hinge design with 5.5 degree keyboard tilt for better typing, improved cooling airflow and enhanced audio.

The device has Full-HD NanoEdge display, 8th Gen Intel Core CPUs, 512GB PCIe SSD and up to 13.5 hours battery life.

The 13.9mm thin ZenBook 13 (UX331) has “Full HD NanoEdge” slim-bezel display, Up to 8th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU with 512GB SSD and 16GB RAM.

Honor View 10 8GB RAM, 128GB Variant Launch Set For August 14

BY:-Tech News Team 

    After launching an enhanced version of the Honor 10, Huawei sub-brand Honor is looking to give the same treatment to its popular Honor View 10 phone. The Honor View10 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant will officially be launched in China on August 14. The Honor View 10, to recall, is available in 4GB RAM and 6GB RAM variants. In India, the 6GB RAM version of the View 10 was launched in January for Rs 29,999 and it is currently selling for Rs 24,999 on Amazon India as part of the online retail website's Freedom Sale.

The Honor View 10 has a full-metal body and a 5.99-inch FHD+ display. The phone is powered by Huawei's Kirin 970 processor and comes with dual rear cameras -- 16MP primary RGB (colour) sensor paired with a 20MP monochrome sensor -- and a 13MP front camera.

    It is yet to be seen if Honor name's the 8GB RAM variant of the View 10 differently. The company recently launched the 8GB RAM variant of the Honor 10 in China and called it the Honor 10 GT. The Honor 10 GT shares everything with the regular Honor 10, but, ships with more RAM, Huawei's brand new GPU Turbo tech and Night mode update out-of-the-box. It is quite possible that Honor may do something similar with the View 10 as well, although GPU Turbo tech is yet to make it way to the View 10. It would in the days to come, through a software update, Honor has confirmed.

    GPU Turbo technology is said to be a graphics processing acceleration technology achieved through hardware and software integration resulting in "smoother and faster mobile gaming experience." Games will apparently play with up to 60 per cent more graphics processing efficiency, while consuming up to 30 per cent less energy thanks to GPU Turbo, claims Honor, adding that the technology will allow even standard games to render in HDR. The company only recently launched the Honor Play in India which is also the first Honor phone to ship with GPU Turbo straight out-of-the-box. GPU Turbo will benefit mobile games that demand high graphics processing efficiency, according to Honor.

Jio GigaFiber Subscription Starts From August 15: Everything You Need To Know

By:-Tech News Team

    Moving out of the beta version, Jio's fiber-based broadband service aka Jio GigaFiber is now all set for the final roll out. The company has not given out the exact date on which the roll out begins but we know that the registration for the service starts from August 15. Also, area with the highest number of registrations will be given first preference by the company when the service is pushed out.

Jio GigaFiber is the new fiber-based broadband connection from Jio. The service is going to be the next disruptor from Jio competing against companies like Airtel, BSNL, MTNL, ACT Fibernet, Spectra, Hathway and similar more.

The beta trials of the GigaFiber are already going in select cities. The company says that JioGigaFiber will be the largest greenfield fixed-line broadband rollout anywhere in the world, with rollout to take place in 1,100 cities of India simultaneously.

    Jio GigaFiber will offer two services. One is Jio GigaFiber router and the other one is Jio Giga TV Set-top box. The GigaFiber router can be used for running internet services on multiple devices at 1Gbps speed, the set-top box is for your television services. Jio at the 41st Annual General meeting had also announced that its broadband service will also allow users to make video calls through television.

People are riding high on anticipations regarding various facets of the Jio's broadband service ahead of the registrations. The internet is full of rumours and speculations about the possible plans and rollout schemes. And so here is everything you need to know about Jio's GigaFiber broadband service. Take a peek:

-- When does the Jio GigaFiber subscription start?

August 15

-- How to register for Jio GigaFiber?

You can register for Jio GigaFiber via two ways- MyJio app or Jio.com.

-- Is there a registration fee?

No, the registration for Jio GigaFiber is free.

-- What is the price of Jio GigaFiber connection?

Jio has not announced anything on the price yet but past reports suggest that it could for a deposit of Rs 4500 at the time of installation. It will be refunded in case you want to discontinue the service.

-- What are the Jio GigaFiber plan?

Jio has not revealed the broadband plans yet but there was a recent report that said Jio broadband plans could come in three categories- Jio GigaFiber Speed-based plans, Jio GigaFiber volume-based plans, and Jio GigaFiber special broadband plan.

Jio GigaFiber speed-based plans could start at as low Rs 500 and go all the way up to Rs 5500. The Jio GigaFiber volume-based plans could start from 5GB to 60GB daily. The Jio GigaFiber special broadband plans are for those who want to enjoy Jio GigaFiber broadband internet at lowest possible cost. It will be available in Rs 500, Rs 800 and Rs 1000 recharge options.