Now you can send messages with stickers, emojis from web: Know how to do it

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Global search engine and technology giant, Google has recently rolled out an update for its Android messaging app enabling WhatsApp-like web operation for sending messages, emojis, stickers and pictures from a computer. The app also gets several other features such as GIF search, smart reply, link preview, etc. that brings it on par with other instant messaging apps.

Dubbed as ‘messages from web’, the WhatsApp-like web-based service allows users to operate Android messages app from notebook or computer. However, the feature is available as a part of the latest update, therefore, will not work in previous versions of the app. Interestingly, the messages app now also supports image attachments, stickers and emojis, which were earlier restricted to only internet-based instant messaging apps.Now, you can send messages with stickers, emojis from web: How to do itHere is how to use web-based Android messages client:

Source : BS

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WhatsApp rolls out new features for group chats, provides power to admin

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Instant messaging platform WhatsApp announced the rollout of a number of new features for group chats, in a bid to make the platform more interactive and engaging.

Among the new features is group descriptions, wherein a short blurb will appear under the group info tab that allows users to set the purpose, guidelines, or topics for the group.

Furthermore, when a new member joins a group, the description will show up at the top of the chat.

In a move to give group administrators more authority, WhatsApp New Feature introduced a new control that will allow the former to restrict who can change the group’s subject, icon, and description. Admins can also remove admin permissions of other group participants, while group creators can no longer be removed from the group they started.

Among other features, WhatsApp also introduced a ‘group catch up’ option, whereby a user, who has been away from a group chat, can quickly catch up on messages that mention or reply to them by tapping on a new @ button that appears at the bottom right corner of the chat.

Group participants can now search for anyone in a group by using the search option on the group info page.

WhatsApp also introduced protection controls so users can’t be repeatedly added to groups they’ve left.

The new features are being rolled out for Android and iPhone users globally.

Oppo F7 review: Notch screen-based smartphone designed for selfie admirers

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Chinese smartphone manufacturer Oppo, known for its selfie-centric devices, has become one of the first companies to introduce a notch screen-based Android device in India by launching the Oppo F7. The smartphone’s key features centre around its ultra-wide notch-based screen, a 25-megapixel selfie camera and artificial intelligence-backed scene optimisation.

The Oppo F7 Specification seems to pack some punch on the specification sheet, especially with its 6GB RAM and 128GB storage in the top-end version. However, this selfie-centric smartphone delivers primarily on the imaging front more than any other aspect.

Business Standard reviewed the Oppo F7 on several parameters to test its overall capabilities, and here are our observations:

The Oppo F7 packs a 6.22-inch fullHD+ screen in a glass-metal-glass sandwiched design. It feels light in hand, and its compact body, measuring almost equal to the conventional 5.5-inch 16:9 aspect ratio screen-based smartphones, is comfortable to hold and operate.

The modern notch-based screen is great for aesthetics, but it doesn’t add much value in terms of utility. The Android ecosystem took ages to refine the notification area by adding some value to it in every iteration. However, with the notch in place, the notification area in the Oppo F7 seems to have gone back in time, and looks unpleasant.

Oppo F7 Talking about the screen, the glass on top of it seems to resist the touch response. The touch response seems like a mixed bag of hits and misses. The glass does register the touch but the screen shows some signs of lag, especially while scrolling a lengthy web page or YouTube videos playlist.

Coming to the imaging part, the Oppo F7 boasts a 16-megapixel sensor with f/1.8 aperture on the rear, and a 25MP sensor with f/2.0 on the front. The selfie camera has several software enhancements that aid the smartphone’s face-unlocking mechanism, and enhance the image output using artificial intelligence-based scene-selection modes.

Oppo F7 Both the rear and front cameras offer satisfactory output. However, the strong post-processing tends to make images look artificial. For millennials and social media enthusiasts, the imaging in the Oppo F7 offers almost a complete package – including beautification, filters, etc. However, serious photographers might not appreciate the image output for its unnatural output.

Verdict

Priced at Rs 21,990 for the base model with 64 GB of internal storage and 4 GB of RAM, the phone seems to be on a pricier side and lacks the overall dynamism. However, if cost is not the constraint, the Oppo F7 could be a modern-day device designed for millennials and social media enthusiasts with a knack for selfies.

Technology giant Google is shutting down its URL shortening service

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Technology giant Google on Sunday announced that it is shutting down its URL shortening service, goo.gl.

According to The Verge, new and anonymous users won’t be able to create links through the goo.gl console after April 13, but existing users will be able to use the service for another year, after which it will be discontinued completely.

“We launched the Google URL Shortener back in 2009 as a way to help people more easily share links and measure traffic online. Since then, many popular URL shortening services have emerged and the ways people find content on the Internet have also changed dramatically, from primarily desktop webpages to apps, mobile devices, home assistants, and more. To refocus our efforts, we’re turning down support for goo.gl over the coming weeks and replacing it with Firebase Dynamic Links (FDL),” Google said on its blog.

FDLs are smart URLs that allow one to send existing and potential users to any location within an iOS, Android or web app.

“Starting May 30, 2018, only projects that have accessed URL Shortener Application Program Interfaces (APIs) before today can create short links,” the statement from Google said in a note for developers.

Firebase software engineer Michael Hermanto told The Verge that since 2009, the ways in which people share information on the web has changed, while additional URL shorteners have grown in popularity.

He noted that Google is refocusing its efforts by replacing it with Firebase Dynamic Links, which allow users to specific locations in iOS, Android or web apps.

Existing users will be able to create shortened URLs and export data from the goo.gl console through March 30, 2019.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S launch set for today at 11:30 AM: Watch live stream here

Technology News

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi is set to unveil the next iteration of bezel-less smartphone, Mi Mix 2S, on March 27 at 11:30AM (IST) in China. The smartphone would sport Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 system-on-chip (SoC) and dual rear cameras, along with a ceramic body and all-screen design patented for the Mi Mix-series.

While not much is known about the Mi Mix 2S, except for its processor, Xiaomi has been teasing features of the upcoming smartphone. Here are a few things to expect from the bezel-less smartphone:

Mi Mix 2S screen

Being a Mi Mix-series smartphone, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S would sport an all-screen bezel-less design. Early leaks suggested that the phone would sport a redesigned screen with a dot-sized notch on top right corner for the front camera. However, the official teaser uploaded on Chinese social media platform Weibo showcased the phone donning a screen format similar to the Mi Mix 2.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S Based on the teaser image, it is safe to assume that the upcoming flagship would have a three-side bezel-less screen, with a minimal bezel on the bottom.

It is, however, still not clear if the phone would feature

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Xiaomi rolls out MIUI 9.5 update; know timeline, list of supported devices

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Chinese technology product maker Xiaomi on March 20 announced the rollout of its next iteration of Android-based operating system MIUI. Dubbed the MIUI 9.5, the Android-based OS global stable ROM would roll out to 30 of Xiaomi’s smartphones, including the recently launched Redmi 5, Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro.

The rollout would take place in three batches, the first of which would get the over-the-air (OTA) update starting from the last week of March.

The supported devices in the first batch include the Redmi Note 3 Special Edition, Redmi Note 3 Qualcomm, Redmi Note 4 Qualcomm/Redmi Note 4X, Mi Max, Mi Max Prime, Redmi 3S, Redmi 4 Prime, Redmi 4A and Redmi Note 4 MTK.

The second batch of devices would get the update in early April and the supported devices are the Redmi Note 5A Prime/Redmi Y1, Redmi Note 5A/Redmi Y1 Lite, Redmi 5A, Redmi 5 Plus, Redmi Note 5, Redmi 5, Mi Max 2, Mi 5, Redmi 4X, Mi 6 and Mi MIX 2.

The last batch of smartphones would get the update in mid-April. The supported devices in the last batch include the Mi Note 2, Mi 5s, Mi MIX, Mi Note 3, Mi 5s Plus, Redmi Note 2, Redmi 3, Redmi 4, Mi 3, Mi 4.

Though the company has charted out a plan for the update, it has so far stated that the dates are estimated and likely to change.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S leak shows all-screen front, dual cameras on back

Technology News

Xiaomi is one of the companies that were the first to venture into the untapped bezel-less screen segment. The first-generation bezel-less smartphone — the Mi Mix – from the stable of the China-based smartphone manufacturer was a concept device. It had a huge screen of 6.4-inch covering the entire front…well, almost.

The second-generation device, however, sees some major improvements in terms of handling, design and aesthetics. And the phone – the Mi Mix 2 – was launched in more countries than its predecessor.

The second-generation device, with edge-to-edge screen on three sides and a limited chin at the bottom to accommodate front camera, also made it close to be actually called an all-screen mobile phone.

The equation might change for Xiaomi this year as the company is reportedly working on an updated unit of Mi Mix 2, with an enhanced screen, which is expected to cover the front completely. Interestingly, an image render found on Chinese social media platform Weibo hints at the changes we could see in the next-generation bezel-less smartphone from Xiaomi.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S Photo: WeiboXiaomi Mi Mix 2S leak Called the Mi Mix 2S, the smartphone is expected to sport a true all-screen front, which might be called a Full Screen Design 3.0 officially. As for the camera, it was placed at the bottom chin on the front in the predecessor. But in the Mi Mix 2S, there might be a small notch on the top right corner just to fit it. The phone is also reported to feature an in-display fingerprint sensor.

Other specifications might include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, an 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage.

The phone is expected to be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018, to be held in Barcelona starting from February 26.

Is your phone safe? Google detects Tizi app that steals FB, WhatsApp data

Technology News

Google has detected an app ‘Tizi’, which has been stealing information from call records and also from social media apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, and also take pictures from mobile phones without even displaying them on the screen of the device.

 

“Tizi app is a fully featured backdoor that installs spyware to steal sensitive data from popular social media applications. The Google Play Protect security team discovered this family in September 2017 when device scans found an app with rooting capabilities that exploited old vulnerabilities,” a post on Google security blog said.

 

The company has removed the app from Play Store, notified all known affected devices and suspended the account of the app developer, the post dated November 27 said.

 

The post said that earlier variant of Tizi did not have rooting capabilities but it developed later on and thereafter started stealing sensitive information from devices.

 

“The rooting capabilities give an app full control of the device. It can bypass all restriction posted on it by the Android security system. An app with rooting is like a user using the device. Presence of such app on Google Play Store raises concerns about secure apps on the app store,” cybersecurity expert Jiten Jain said.

 

The post said that after gaining rooting capability, Tizi steals sensitive data “from popular social media apps like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Viber, Skype, LinkedIn, and Telegram.”

 

The backdoor capability of Tizi was common to commercial spyware, such as recording calls from WhatsApp, Viber, and Skype, sending and receiving SMS messages, and accessing calendar events, call log, contacts, photos, Wi-Fi encryption keys, and a list of all installed apps

 

“Tizi apps can also record ambient audio and take pictures without displaying the image on the device’s screen,” the post said.

 

The post said that in and after April 2016 vulnerabilities in devices which could have been affected by Tizi were fixed with new software codes.

 

“If a Tizi app is unable to take control of a device because the vulnerabilities it tries to use are all patched, it will still attempt to perform some actions through the high level of permissions it asks the user to grant to it, mainly around reading and sending SMS messages and monitoring, redirecting, and preventing outgoing phone calls,” the post said.

 

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JBL E45BT headphones deliver quality sound wirelessly, at affordable price

 

Technology News

When it comes to premium audio accessories, JBL is considered a trusted name, but the sound quality delivered by its new affordable product – the E45BT on-ear wireless headphones – appears impressive, too, especially for a price of Rs 6,499.

 

Joining the company’s affordable E-Series line-up, the Bluetooth-enabled E45BT promises to deliver amazing sound and comfort at an affordable price point. But does it fully live up to it?

 

Business Standard reviewed the wireless headphones and here are our observations on key parameters:

 

Design: Durable & compact

 

The JBL E45BT is available in matte black, blue, red, teal and white colour options. It has soft ergonomic ear pads, and a less padded but comfortable fabric headband. The design looks neat. The grilles covering the 40mm driver in each ear cup are labelled L and R. The ear cups swing at the connection point to the headband and also fold inwards.

 

headphone ear cups denoting L & R

 

While the E55BT feels comfortable and the ear cups cover the ear perfectly, the band is a bit small and leaves cups on the ear which may feel a little uncomfortable after 2-3 hours of use.

 

Each ear cup extends to 5 levels of fits. Because of the small form factor, the band is felt on the head even at the maximum extension. The lack of padding around the headband can irritate after a while.

 

The power switch, Bluetooth pairing button, a multifunction button for controlling playback, as well as call management and plus-minus buttons for volume controls seem awkwardly placed on the outer panel of the right ear cup.

 

the outer panel of the ear cups

 

On the right panel is a connection for the headphone cable, and a pinhole microphone. Inserting the cable automatically disconnects Bluetooth to save the battery.

 

 

The volume levels work in sync with the playing device’s master levels which can be a problem at times. Also, combining the volume buttons and track navigation is annoying; it may end up skipping the track if you hold the button for a bit too long.

The left ear cup’s outer panel houses a micro USB charging port.

 

Performance: Decent sound with clarity

 

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Tesla launches $45 power bank to charge iPhone, Android devices on the go

Technology News

Electric car maker Tesla has released a power bank that can charge Android phone or iPhone on the go.

 

The Tesla Power Bank, priced at $45, comes with USB, micro USB and Apple lightning connections. It uses a single 18650 cell with 3,350mAh capacity that’s also found in its Model S and X electric vehicles, Engadget.com reported on Saturday.

 

It was designed after Tesla Design Studio’s Supercharger monument and wouldn’t look out of place inside one of the EV-maker’s cars, Engadget.com reported.

 

The portable battery is currently listed as sold out on the company’s website. The company has recently launched an electric semi truck and a new Roadster.