Samsung India today announced the launch of flight, bus, movies and events ticket booking feature for Samsung Wallet, in partnership with One97 Communications Limited that owns the Paytm brand. The partnership aims to enhance consumers’ convenience by offering a seamless and integrated booking experience directly through the Samsung Wallet, which in turn will give users access to a wide range of services through Paytm.
Galaxy smartphone users will now have access to Paytm’s suite of services, including flights and bus bookings, movie ticket purchases, and event bookings, all integrated within the Samsung Wallet.
Galaxy smartphone users using the Paytm App for flight, bus and movie ticket booking and the Paytm Insider app for event bookings, will be able to add their tickets directly to Samsung Wallet using the ‘Add to Samsung Wallet’ functionality. This will enable them convenient access to enter airports, bus terminals, cinema halls, event venues, etc.
As for the availability, the brand says that Samsung Wallet users can avail the new services by updating their app.
Samsung India and Paytm will soon also introduce discount offers of up to Rs 1,150 on first bookings across the newly launched services. Samsung Wallet will further be launching a Referral Programme soon. Each time you refer a new user, both the referrer and referee will get a gift card from Amazon worth Rs 100 upon successful registration on Samsung Wallet. Users can earn up to Rs 300 via referrals.
Aside from that, Samsung will soon announce Samsung Wallet tap & pay offer. Users can make a payment using their debit or credit card of choice by mobile tap & pay. During the offer period, users will get a gift card of Amazon worth Rs 250 on completing four tap & pay transactions.
HMD is working on a slew of new smartphones and the brand is just getting started. A new leak now hints at another smartphone that’s in the works, dubbed HMD Ridge. Similar to some of its other upcoming devices, the HMD Ridge would be a budget offering with a Snapdragon processor under the hood. Aside from this, the complete portfolio of upcoming smartphone launches from the brand was also revealed.
HMD Ridge: What Do We Know
According to a leak by user @smashx_60on X, the HMD Ridge will sport a 6.64-inch FHD+ IPS LCD display with a full-HD+ resolution, a 90Hz refresh rate and Gorilla Glass 3 protection. The HMD Ridge will draw power from a Snapdragon 480+ 5G processor with Adreno 619 GPU handling the graphics.
The device will get 4GB, 6GB, and 8GB RAM options with 128GB and 256GB storage variants. It will sport dual rear cameras with a 50MP primary sensor and an 8MP sensor on the front. It’ll be backed by a 5000mAh battery. The back of the device will also be made of glass and protected with the same Gorilla Glass 3 as the front. The frame of the device would be made up of plastic. The leaked render suggests that the rear will have a geometrical pattern design.
HMD Future Smartphones’ Portfolio
The same user also posted the complete portfolio of upcoming smartphones from the brand. It includes HMD Aura, Pulse, Pulse+, Pulse Pro and Arrow under the budget segment of devices. HMD Ridge and HMD Waylay will be budget 5G handsets. However, our source contradicts this information, and suggests that Arrow will be a budget 5G handset rather than being a 4G model or a rebrand of the HMD Pulse. while HMD Xenon and HMD Skyline will be higher mid-range 5G handsets. A couple of US-exclusive handsets are also there, including the HMD Vibe and the HMD Atlas.
HMD Xenon is expected to bring back the much awaited Fabula design with a Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 chipset under the hood and a 108MP camera sensor on the back. Finally, it seems like an HMD Aura Pro is also in the works, that’ll feature a Unisoc SC9863A processor paired with 4GB of RAM.
ChromeOS is Google’s competitor for Windows and macOS and with the world rapidly moving towards adopting AI, it’s time Google has to integrate some features into ChromeOS too, apart from the Gemini support. The company has now confirmed that to continue the development of AI in ChromeOS, it needs to adopt and integrate Android technology in the operating system.
Through a blog post, Google confirmed that to “continue rolling out new Google AI features to users at a faster and even larger scale, we’ll be embracing portions of the Android stack, like the Android Linux kernel and Android frameworks, as part of the foundation of ChromeOS.” It asserts that it already has a strong history of collaboration, with Android apps available on ChromeOS and the start of unifying our Bluetooth stacks as of ChromeOS 122.
Integrating the Android-based tech stack into ChromeOS will essentially allow Google to accelerate AI innovation within ChromeOS, streamline engineering efforts, and enhance compatibility between devices like phones and accessories with Chromebooks. Simultaneously, Google will also maintain security, consistent user experience, and robust management features that are vital for ChromeOS users, enterprises, and schools.
The company further notes that these improvements in the tech stack are now starting but “won’t be ready for consumers for quite some time.” Google will provide a seamless transition to the updated experience once it’s ready.
Google has recently been focusing significant attention on ChromeOS. It recently announced that the company has acquired software virtualization company Cameyo, which will help it integrate virtualized Windows App support into ChromeOS. In addition, it also announced Gemini integration into Chromebook Plus laptops, too. The integration allows for features like “Help me write”, where one can right click to get suggestions or change the tone to fit one’s audience. Help me write will help you generate text from scratch using a prompt or you can rewrite your existing text to make what you wrote more formal, shorter, or rephrase it altogether.
Samsung announced a couple of weeks back that it will be making available a beta for the upcoming One UI 6 Watch update for a trio of its Galaxy Watch series and the first build is initially available in two regions across the world. Here’s what features the beta brings and how you can download and install it on your watch.
As updated on Samsung’s US community page, here’s what the update is touted to bring:
Health and fitness advancements
Monitor your energy levels: Samsung Health’s new energy score shows your physical and mental readiness based on you sleep and physical activity. If your energy score is low, it may be best to take a rest. If your energy score is high, it could be time set a personal best in your favorite exercise. Galaxy AI provides personalized insights and motivation to keep you on the right track.
Get more detailed sleep analysis: Galaxy AI-powered sleep insights give you more detailed and accurate analysis of your sleep quality. Your comprehensive sleep report now includes your heart rate, respiratory rate, and the amount of time it takes you to fall asleep after you lie down.
Make your own workout routines: Combine a series of different exercises together for a custom workout routine. You can set targets for sets, reps, and more.
Enhanced watch control
Do more with double pinch: Take quick action in a variety of situations by pinching your thumb and index finger together twice. You can answer calls, turn off alarms, scroll through notifications, control music, take pictures, and more. A finger icon will appear on buttons that can be controlled with a double pinch.
Faster horizontal scrolling: Flick the screen left or right or to quickly scroll through notifications or tiles.
View ongoing activities all at once: Tap the bottom of your watch face to view a list of ongoing activities such as phone calls, exercises, or music playing. Tap an item in the list to easily switch between them.
Take action quickly with Universal gestures: In situations where a quick action is needed, such as answering a phone call or turning off an alarm, the button for the action will be automatically focused so you can do the action immediately without the need to manually change focus.
Go back without touching the screen: Move your wrist back and forth to go back to the previous screen. You can control this in Universal gestures.
Get only the notifications you want: Choose which apps are allowed to send you notifications directly on your watch without opening the Galaxy Wearable App on your phone.
Control your watch with modes: Modes can now automatically control more of your watch’s settings based on what you’re doing or where you are. Modes can control Do not disturb, Always On Display, Raise wrist to wake, Touch screen to wake, Touch bezel to wake, Sound mode, and Disconnection alerts.
Communication and connectivity
Instantly access your favorite emojis: You can set the emojis you use most as favorites so they’re always available to send as a quick response.
Save image attachments: You can now save images attached to messages on your watch. Saved images can be viewed in the Gallery app, shared with others, or used to create a unique photo watch face.
Additional improvements
Stylish new font: One UI 6 Watch has a new default font with a more stylish and modern feel. You’ll see the new font if the default font is selected in Settings. If you’re using a different font, you’ll still see that font after upgrading to One UI 6 Watch.
Make your battery last longer: When Power saving is turned on, you can also choose to limit health features to make your battery last even longer than before.
Automatically connect to Bluetooth audio devices: When you start playing music on your watch, your Bluetooth headphones or speaker will automatically connect for playback. If no Bluetooth audio devices are available to connect, music will play through your watch’s speaker if your music app supports it.
One UI 6 Watch Beta: How To Download?
The One UI 6 Watch Beta is available in only two regions as of now, including the US and South Korea and only for the Galaxy Watch 6 Bluetooth model. The steps we mention to download the beta update to your Galaxy Watch 6 will remain identical for other Galaxy watches too, once the beta program adds support for Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 4 series. The steps are as follows:
Step 1
Open the Samsung Members app on your Galaxy device. If you are using your Galaxy Watch with a non-Samsung phone, you won’t be able to download the beta.
Step 2
Tap on the “Speaker” button at the top-right corner to open the “Inbox.”
Step 3
Now under the “Notices” tab, tap on the topmost option that says “Join One UI 6 Watch Beta program,” and then tap on the blue “Join” button at the bottom.
Step 4
You are now all set. You can update your watch to the latest beta by going into the Software update section on your watch or on your phone via the Galaxy Wearable app to initiate the update.
Also, make sure to download the supplementary apps via the links provided in the Samsung members post, such as the Galaxy Wearable APK and the Galaxy Watch 6 Manager APK files. These will be needed for a successful sync between the watch and your Galaxy smartphone.
Jabra has announced the launch of its last pair of TWS earbuds, including the Elite 8 Active Gen 2 and Elite 10 Gen 2. It’s the last pair because Jabra has decided to wind up its consumer-facing TWS audio products business, which includes its Elite and Talk lineup of earbuds. The brand made such a decision due to changing market dynamics and increased profitability.
In a press release, GN CEO Peter Karlstromer recognized Jabra’s achievements in rivaling top brands and pioneering true wireless earbuds. Nonetheless, he explained that shifting market conditions and challenges in ensuring a profitable return prompted the decision to discontinue the Elite and Talk lines of audio products. Currently, the brand sees greater potential in other areas of its business.
“The decision to gradually wind down the Elite and Talk product lines is part of our commitment to focus on attractive markets where we can deliver profitable growth and strong returns,” said Karlstromer. “It is today our assessment that we cannot generate a fair return on investment compared to the many other opportunities we have within our Hearing, Enterprise, and Gaming businesses,” he added.
Jabra will reduce the inventory of the affected products, of which most are expected to be completed by the end of 2024. It will, however, continue to service and support customers for several years. As a result, the brand announced its last two pairs of TWS earbuds under the Elite line, including the Elite 8 Active Gen 2 and Elite 10 Gen 2. Jabra says these are its “best-ever earbuds.”
Available for $229.99 (approx Rs 19,200), the TWS earbuds will be available later this month in colors such as Coral, Black, Navy Blue, and Olive. They are currently available to pre-order and come with a 2-year warranty.
As for the features, the Elite 8 Active Gen 3 comes packed with the world’s first LE Audio smart case where users can experience spatial sound from their TV or the treadmill at the gym, with easy plug & play to any device using the USB-C/3.5mm cable provided. Jabra claims that the ANC in Elite 8 Gen 2 cancels out twice as much noise than Elite 8 Active’s previous generation.
They come with a 6-mic setup for clearer calls and have physical buttons. They charge via USB-C and support wireless charging, too. The earbuds also support a wireless connection with a smartwatch. They feature a 6nm speaker with Dolby Audio support and features like Auto resume, auto pause, along with AAC & SBC codecs. The earbuds offer a battery life of up to 56 hours.
The earbuds have an IP68 rating while the case has an IP54 rating. The earbuds have also achieved a MIL-STD-810h rating. The connections are handled via Bluetooth v5.3 and they support multipoint connections as well. Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair and voice assistants are also supported.
Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2: Price, Features
Priced at $279.99 (approx Rs 23,400), the Elite 10 Gen 2 are also available for pre-order and will come in Denim, Cocoa, Gloss Black, Soft White, and Titanium Black colour options. These earbuds will also have a 2-year warranty.
These Jabra Elite series earbuds are also packed with the LE Audio smart case where users can experience spatial sound from their TV or the treadmill at the gym, with easy plug & play to any device using the USB-C/3.5mm cable provided. They have support for Spatial Audio with Dolby head tracking. The ANC in these earbuds is touted to cancel out twice as much noise than Elite 10’s previous generation.
They pack a 10mm speaker and can provide a playback time of up to 36 hours with the case and have wireless charging support as well. All the other features on these earbuds remain the same as the Elite 8 Active Gen 2, except for the IP rating, where the case of the Elite 10 Gen 2 doesn’t have one while the earbuds themselves have an IP57 rating.
Nu Republic, an Indian lifestyle technology brand, has announced the launch of Cyberstud Spin – India’s first wireless earbuds in a unique form factor of a fidget spinner. With its charging case designed as a fidget spinner, the brand claims that the Cyberstud Spin “offers a one-of-a-kind experience that keeps users engaged and entertained at the same time.”
Cyberstud Spin: Price
The Cyberstud Spin is available at a price of Rs 2499. The TWS earbuds are available at a variety of stores across the country including the brand’s own online store.
Cyberstud Spin: Features
The TWS earbuds sit in fidget-cased spinner and metal gliders which revolve with a “swoosh sound.” “This unique design caters to restless minds, offering an engaging and functional accessory that enhances both gaming and everyday tech experiences,” says the brand. The buds boast a Frequency range from 20Hz to 20kHz and pack 13mm neodymium drivers with X-Bass technology and ENC mode.
Fidget-Spinner Earbuds come with Bluetooth v5.3 connectivity that allows up to 15 meters of operational range. Users get a playtime of up to 70 hours when paired with the case and up to 100 hours of standby time.
The earbuds also offer touch controls for easy operation, dual mode functionality (Game/Music) to switch between different audio experiences, and a low Latency of 40ms for a lag-free gaming experience. Additionally, the earbuds are splash and sweat-resistant.
Meanwhile, in the audio products space, Jabra has promptly announced its exit from the TWS audio segment due to the changing market dynamics and in a bid to attain increased profitability from other areas of its business. It has also launched the last two pairs of its Elite series earbuds, including the Elite 8 Active Gen 2 and the Elite 10 Gen 2. Both of them offer the world’s first LE Audio Smart Case where users can experience spatial sound from their TV or the treadmill at the gym, with easy plug & play to any device using the USB-C/3.5mm cable provided.
Xiaomi has announced the launch of 14 CIVI mid-range smartphone in India that comes packed with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 Processor under the hood, paired with a quad-curved display and a triple rear camera setup that gets Leica tuning. Here’s what it has to offer.
Xiaomi 14 CIVI: Price, Specs
The Xiaomi 14 CIVI is priced at Rs 42,999 for the base 8GB + 256GB trim and Rs 47,999 for the top-end 12GB + 512GB model. It comes in blue, green, and black colour options and will be available via Flipkart and Xiaomi’s online and offline stores beginning June 20 at 12 PM IST. The device will go on pre-order later today, at 2 PM IST. If you pre-order the device until June 19, you’ll get a free Redmi Watch 3 Active. Bank discount of Rs 2,999 is also available when you order the device using an ICICI Bank credit card or you can apply an exchange offer of Rs 3,000.
The Xiaomi 14 CIVI sports a 6.55-inch AMOLED quad-curved display with a Resolution of 2750 x 1236 pixels. It offers a 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate, 3000 nits peak brightness, 1920Hz High-Frequency PWM Dimming, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection, 12-bit color, and support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision technologies.
The smartphone draws power from the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, paired with up to 12GB LPDDR5x RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage capacity. It operates on the Android 14-based HyperOS operating system.
For optics, the 14 CIVI has a triple-camera setup on the rear, comprising of a 50MP Leica Summilux main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS) support and f/1.63 aperture. Accompanying it is a 12MP ultra-wide camera with an f/2.2 aperture, and a 50MP f/1.98 portrait telephoto Samsung JN1 lens with 2x Optical Zoom support.
On the front, the device sports a pill-shaped cutout housing dual selfie cameras, including primary a 32MP shooter with an f/2.0 Aperture and Autofocus capability. The secondary sensor is also a 32MP one, but is an ultra-wide angle lens with electronic image stabilization (EIS) support and an f/2.4 aperture.
The smartphone is backed by a 4700mAh battery with 67W Fast charging support. For connectivity, you will get Dual-SIM 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.4, GPS, NFC, and a USB-C port for charging the handset. There’s also an under-display fingerprint sensor, Z-Axis linear vibration motor, IR Blaster and stereo speakers as well.
Xiaomi 14 CIVI: Competitors
One of the main competitors of the Xiaomi 14 CIVI is the Realme GT 6T. The Realme handset lacks behind in terms of the processor in use but is still quite a capable device. It gets a brighter display than Xiaomi 14 CIVI’s panel and has a much bigger 5500mAh battery with faster 120W fast charging.
In terms of cameras though, the Xiaomi 14 CIVI leaps forward with a better camera setup on the back as well as the front. However, the GT 6T takes back its lead with its price, where even the top model of the device with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage costs less than Xiaomi’s device, at Rs 39,999.
If you want a camera-centric smartphone and also want to game on it, opt for the Xiaomi 14 CIVI but if you can’t extend your budget beyond Rs 40,000 and want a value-for-money smartphone with a capable display, long-lasting battery, and a decent overall performer, then go for the Realme GT 6T.
If you want even better value, opt for the Poco F6 which has the same Chipset as 14 CIVI, a bigger battery, faster charging, and a decent display. With the Poco F6, though, you’ll be compromising with the cameras as well as the build quality, both of which are superior to the Xiaomi 14 CIVI.
There’s also the Vivo V30 Pro that gives the Xiaomi 14 CIVI a tough competition in terms of optics as it gets an identical rear camera setup but with different sensors. The front camera setup on the Xiaomi 14 CIVI still remains unmatched. The Vivo V30 Pro gets you faster charging and a bigger battery as well. Its display panel is also equally capable as the one we see on Xiaomi’s device.
HTC was once known for its premium and high-end smartphones but things took a turn for worse when the brand’s launches died down. However, HTC still launches a smartphone or two every year and this year, it is the HTC U24 Pro, a new mid-ranger with a 120Hz OLED display, Snapdragon chip and more.
HTC U24 Pro: Price, Availability
HTC U24 Pro has been launched in Taiwan only, where the 12GB + 256GB base model costs TWD 18,990 (approx Rs 47,000) and the top-end 12GB + 512GB edition is priced at TWD 20,990 (approx Rs 54,200). It comes in Space Blue and Twilight White shades.
HTC U24 Pro: Specs
The U24 Pro sports a 6.8-inch (2436 x 1080 pixels) Full HD+ OLED display, 120Hz variable refresh rate, and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection. The handset is powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor paired with up to 12GB LPDDR5 RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage which is expandable up to 2TB via a microSD card.
The handset has triple cameras on the back, including a 50MP primary sensor with f/1.88 aperture, OIS, EIS, plus an 8MP ultra-wide angle lens with f/2.2 Aperture and a 50MP 2x telephoto camera with f/2.2 aperture. It gets a 50MP f/2.45 front-facing camera also. It runs on Android 14 operating system.
The device packs a 4600mAh battery with 60W wired charging, 15W wireless charging and 5W reverse wireless charging support also. For connectivity, it gets Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth v5.3, NFC, 5G, GPS, a USB-C port and a 3.5mm audio jack. The handset is also IP67 rated and has an in-display optical fingerprint sensor.
Realme launched the Narzo 70x 5G in India back in April in two variants, both of which had 128GB RAM but varied in terms of RAM, ranging from 4GB to 6GB. A new variant of the Realme Narzo 70x 5G has been launched in India with 8GB RAM. Here are its pricing details, along with the answer to whether you should consider it or not.
Realme Narzo 70x 5G: Price, Availability
The Realme Narzo 70x 5G 8GB RAM model with 128GB storage is priced at Rs 14,999. It is now available for purchase exclusively via Amazon and Realme’s online store. The price for the 4GB RAM model is set at Rs 11,999 while the 6GB RAM model costs Rs 13,499. The handset is available in Ice Blue and Forest Green colours.
As a part of a launch offer, the company is offering a Rs 2,000 instant discount through a coupon until June 14. Those purchasing the device through the Realme Store can also purchase Realme Buds Wireless 2 Neo at a discounted price of Rs 899 or a Realme Techlife Buds T100 at Rs 1,299.
Realme Narzo 70x 5G: Should You Buy It?
The Narzo 70x 5G 8GB RAM model at Rs 14,999 goes head-to-head with the Moto G64 5G. The Moto G64 5G offers a similar 6.5-inch FHD+ display with a punch-hole cutout, 240Hz touch sampling rate and a 120Hz Refresh Rate as Realme Narzo 70x 5G, but compared to the chipset on the Realme’s device. It is powered by a more powerful and capable MediaTek Dimensity 7025 octa-core processor paired with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB storage that is further expandable up to 1TB. The phone runs on Android 14-based MyUX 5.0 custom skin out of the box.
While we won’t do a camera comparison, we can say the cameras on the Moto G64 5G impressed us during its review, except for under low-light conditions. The device also packs a bigger 6000mAh battery than the 5000mAh on the Narzo 70x 5G. However, the charging speed is slightly lower at 33W compared to Realme’s 45W. Overall, we’d say that the Moto G64 5G is a better pick over Realme’s Narzo 70x 5G at its price point.
Not only that, but even the Galaxy F15 5G beats the Narzo 70x with its FHD+ 90Hz AMOLED display, the same Chipset, storage, and RAM at a slightly higher price tag, an ultra-wide-angle camera on the back, and a bigger battery. However, you do compromise on charging speed, which is 25W. Despite the single drawback, the Galaxy F15 5G at Rs 15,999 is a better smartphone overall because of the longer software support.
BenQ, one of the global leaders in display technology, today announced the launch of its TK710 4K UHD HDR laser projector in India. It not only offers HDR10 support but can also output image in 4KResolution running at a maximum of 60 frames per second. Here’s what all the projector has to offer.
Priced at Rs 3,49,000, the TK710 projector is currently available for purchase via leading systems integrators across India.
BenQ TK710 4K Laser Projector: Features
The TK710 elevates home viewing experience with a 4K ultra-HD resolution, HDR10 support, and 3,200 ANSI lumens of brightness for vivid visuals even in well-lit rooms. The projector comes with BenQ’s laser light source technology, which helps it achieve a 600,000:1 contrast ratio and 95% Rec.709 wide colour gamut for enhanced image depth, clarity and colour accuracy.
The 600,000:1 high contrast ratio combined with DLP technology delivers increased image depth and clarity. Featuring an approximate 10% vertical lens shift, the projector can project 150-inch image from just 3.18 meters away while enabling easy positioning. With its ultra-low input lag of up to 4.16ms, the projector supports high frame rate at up to 4K@60Hz and 1080p@240Hz.
BenQ is providing dedicated HDR game modes tailored for RPGs and FPS titles. The projector is also compatible with all the latest gaming consoles. The projector has a 1.15-1.5 throw ratio for 100″ image from just 2.5m away. Then, it supports 4 corner correction with 3D keystone for easy square alignment along with a zoom ratio of 1.3x for adjustable image sizing.
