Mi Notebook 14, Mi Notebook 14 Horizon Edition With 10th-Gen Intel Core Processors Launched in India

Mi Notebook 14 and Mi Notebook 14 Horizon Edition on Thursday made their debut in India as Xiaomi's first laptops in the country. The Mi Notebook 14 and Mi Notebook 14 Horizon Edition laptops come with 10th-generation Intel Core processors and include optional Nvidia GeForce graphics. The notebooks also have thin bezels and include Silent as well as Performance modes to meet consumer needs. Xiaomi has also provided a Mi Blaze Unlock functionality on its Mi Notebook models that lets you unlock the system by placing a Mi Band 3 or Mi Band 4 near your device, without entering the password. Additionally, there is Mi Quickshare to offer a fast file sharing experience. Xiaomi started its work on launching the Mi Notebook in India back in January 2019, India chief Manu Kumar Jain said during the livestream.

Mi Notebook 14, Mi Notebook 14 Horizon Edition price in India, launch offers

The Mi Notebook 14 price in India has been set at Rs. 41,999 for the base 256GB SSD model and the 512GB SSD model will retail at Rs. 44,999. There is a model with Nvidia GeForce MX250 GPU as well that is priced at Rs. 47,999. It is important to note here that these prices are introductory promotional prices and valid only until July 16. After the date, Xiaomi is likely to increase the pricing of all three models.

The Mi Notebook 14 Horizon Edition on the other hand, carries a starting price of Rs. 54,999 for the Intel Core i5 model. The notebook also has an Intel Core i7 option that is available at Rs. 59,999.

The company will start selling the Mi Notebook 14 and Mi Notebook 14 Horizon Edition in the country starting June 17 through Amazon, Mi.com, Mi Home stores, and Mi Studios. The notebooks will also soon be available for purchase through offline retail stores.

Launch offers on the Mi Notebook 14 and Mi Notebook 14 Horizon Edition include a Rs. 2,000 of an instant discount/ cashback for customers purchasing the laptop using an HDFC Bank card in the next one month. There will also be no-cost EMI options for up to nine months.

Mi Notebook 14 specifications, features

The Mi Notebook 14, based on Windows 10 Home carries a 14-inch full-HD (1,920x1,080 pixels) display with 16:9 aspect ratio. The notebook is powered by a 10th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, coupled with up to Nvidia GeForce MX250 graphics and 8GB of DDR4 RAM and up to 512GB of SATA SSD. There are 3mm of thin bezels on the top and sides of the display panel. This brings the absence of a built-in webcam. However, Xiaomi has bundled a USB webcam.

Xiaomi has provided a built-in battery that is touted to deliver up to 10 hours of usage on a single charge. Besides, the notebook weighs 1.5 kilograms.

Mi Notebook 14 Horizon Edition specifications, features

Just like the Mi Notebook 14, the Mi Notebook 14 Horizon Edition runs Windows 10 Home Edition and features a 14-inch full-HD (1,920x1,080 pixels) anti-glare IPS display with screen-to-body ratio of 91 percent, 60Hz refresh rate, and 178-degree viewing angles. The Mi Notebook 14 Horizon Edition, however, has 10th-generation Intel Core i5-10210U and Intel Core i7-10510U processor options, paired with onboard graphics or Nvidia GeForce MX350 GPU and 8GB of DDR4 RAM. The laptop also has up to 512GB of NVMe M.2 SSD with a bandwidth of 3,000MB/s.

Xiaomi has provided a metallic chassis on the Mi Notebook 14 Horizon Edition that has a framework of aluminium and magnesium alloy. It is also touted to offer a footprint of a 13.3-inch notebook despite including a 14-inch display. Furthermore, you'll get 3mm of bezels on the sides and top of the display panel. There will be a bundled USB webcam with the notebook to enable video conferencing support.

In terms of connectivity, the Mi Notebook 14 Horizon Edition has Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth v5.0, two USB 3.1 ports, a USB 2.0 port, and a USB Type-C port for data transfer and charging. There is a chiclet-style keyboard that has a scissor mechanism and a key travel of 1.3mm. The keyboard is coupled with a multitouch-supporting trackpad.

The Mi Notebook 14 Horizon Edition comes with stereo speakers and includes DTS Audio processing. Xiaomi has preloaded the laptop with Mi Blaze Unlock and Mi Quickshare. Besides, you'll get a 46Wh battery that is touted to deliver up to 10 hours of usage on a single charge.

How to Remove Password From PDF

If you've ever got a bank statement or a phone bill as a PDF file, you know that most of these are password protected. This is because these PDF files contain private and sensitive information that needs password protection. Remembering every single PDF password is a big hassle, particularly if you just want to save these documents to send to your CA to file tax returns. To save them the trouble you can easily remove password from PDF files. Now you should note that removing password from PDF files requires you to know the password first.

Before we go ahead and tell you the methods for removing the password from a PDF file, we would like to point out that these methods are just meant to help you access PDF files in a much more convenient manner. You can only remove password from PDF file if you already know the password. With that said, follow this guide as we tell you how to remove password from PDF.

How to remove password from PDF in Android

Practically speaking, many of us mostly access PDF files on our computers, but that's not necessarily the case every time. Sometime you might just have your smartphone handy and you'll need to access PDF files on the go. In that case, it could turn out to quite irritating if you have to enter the PDF password again and again. Good news is that there's a way to get rid of that as well. If you're using an Android smartphone, follow these steps to remove password from PDF.

1. Download and install PDF Utilities from Google Play.
2. Make sure that you've already downloaded the PDF file of which you want to remove the password.
3. Open the PDF Utilities app and tap Select next to Select PDF.
4. Once you've located your file, select it and tap Start. You'll get a pop-up asking you enter the PDF password. Enter it and tap OK.
5. That's it, just go back to the same destination where the original PDF file is saved to access the new PDF file without password protection.

How to remove password from PDF in iPhone

You can remove password from PDF on iOS. This requires an app called PDF Expert, which is a free download but the password removal feature is a part of a paid subscription. Thankfully there's a free trial for one week, so you can get the job done with that easily. The PDF Expert Pro subscription costs Rs. 4,099 per year, but if you can remove passwords from all your PDF files within a week, you can cancel the subscription without paying (open the App Store > tap your profile picture > Subscriptions > select PDF Expert and then Cancel). If you're fine with that, go ahead and follow these steps.

1. Download and install PDF expert on your iPhone. From the main menu, open the Files folder and locate the PDF file you want to remove the password from.
2. Tap on the file to open it > enter the password to unlock the document > tap on the three-dots icon present in the top-right corner > select Change Password and tap Remove Password.
3. This will disable the password-protection on the PDF file and the next time you try to open it, you won't require to enter the password.
   If you had bought PDF Expert before the app moved to a subscription model, you will be able to access this feature for free.

How to remove password from PDF via Google Chrome

By far this is the easiest method for removing a password from a PDF file. For this to work, all you need is either a PC or a Mac with the Google Chrome browser installed and you're good to go. Just follow these steps:

1. Open your PDF file on Google Chrome. Doesn't matter where your PDF file is stored — be it in your Gmail, Drive or any other third-party non-Google service such as Dropbox, OneDrive etc., just open it in Chrome.
2. When you open the document for the first time, you'll have to unlock it by entering the password.
3. After entering the password, your PDF file will be unlocked. Now, give the print command on your computer. For Mac users this will be, Command + P; for Windows users this will be, Ctrl + P. Alternatively, you can also click on the Print button which is present in the top-right corner.
4. Next, set the Destination as Save as PDF and click on Save.
5. This will locally save the PDF file on your computer, and you'll now be able to access without the need to enter the password.
6. This method works with other browsers such as Safari, Firefox, Opera, among others.

How to remove password from PDF on Mac

If you have a Mac and don't want to use a browser to remove password from PDF, you can try an alternative. Follow these steps:

1. Download the PDF file on your Mac.
2. Go to Finder > locate your file and double-click it to open it in Preview.
3. Enter the password to unlock the PDF document.
4. Once your PDF file is unlocked, click on File > Export as PDF > enter the file name and set its destination > hit Save.
5. That's all, the new PDF file you just saved will no longer require a password.

How to remove password from PDF in Adobe Acrobat DC

If you want to remove password from PDF on Windows 10 or Mac, you can use Google Chrome to do it. In case you want to do this via Adobe Acrobat DC, you'll have to purchase the full version of Adobe Acrobat DC. The service will cost you Rs. 1,014 per month if you commit to an annual contract or if you want to use it for a month or two, you can pay Rs. 1,691 per month. Once that's done, follow these steps:

1. Open the PDF file in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC and enter the password to unlock the file.
2. After the file is open, click on the Lock icon on the left and under Security Settings, click on Permission Details.
3. Once you do that, click on Security > set Security Method to No Security and click OK to remove the password.
4. Next, click File > Save and from the next time you open this PDF file, you won't be asked to enter a password.

By following these simple steps you will be able to remove password from PDF files. We understand that it can quite be frustrating at times when you need to enter your password time and again, but you should know that this is only done to save and protect your personal data from the prying eyes on the internet. However, if this is how you prefer things, now you know what to do.

How to convert PDF to WORD for free

Portable document format or PDF is widely used across the world. The best part about a PDF document is that generally the content it displays looks exactly the same, irrespective of the operating system or device you're using. However, making changes to a PDF file isn't an easy task which is why converting a PDF into a Word document can make everything easier. There are a few methods through which you can convert PDF files into editable Word documents. Besides, we have also included methods that allow you to convert scanned PDF files into Word documents for free. To learn about these methods, read on.

How to convert PDF to WORD

The first method we are suggesting lets you convert PDF files to Word quickly without installing any apps. This method works across all devices, be it your computer or smartphone. With that said, follow these steps.

Visit the website www.hipdf.com

Once the site is loaded, click on the second option from the top that says, PDF to word.

After that, click choose file > select the PDF file from your computer > click Open.

Once the upload is finished, hit Convert > wait for the file to finish the conversion > Download.

That's it, your editable word document will now be downloaded on your computer. This process is similar on smartphones too.

If you want to do this offline, you can get the app for this on your computer as well.

Once the page is loaded, click on Free Download to download.

After the file is downloaded, install and open it.

From the app's homescreen, click on Open File > select the PDF File from your computer > click Open.

After the file is loaded, you simply need to export this PDF file into a Word document.

How to convert scanned PDF files to editable Word documents

The aforementioned method lets you convert most of the PDF files into a Word document. However, this method doesn't let you convert scanned PDF files into Word Docs for free. To do that, there's a different method. Follow these steps.

Download and install Microsoft Word on your computer — Windows 10, macOS.

Open Microsoft Word on your computer and load the scanned PDF file. You'll see that MS Word automatically converts the file into a Word Document. Once the document is loaded, you'll be able to edit it easily.

After the edit is done, you can then simply save the document as a Word file on your computer.

An alternate method involves using Google Docs to convert scanned PDF files into Word documents. To do that, visit drive.google.com on your computer. Make sure that you're logged in to your Google account.

Click New > then click on File Upload > then select the scanned PDF from your computer's storage > click Open. Your upload will now start.

Once the upload is finished, click on Recent and select the file you just now uploaded. You will need to open this file with Google Docs. To do that, click on the file > click the vertical three-dots icon next to the delete button > Open with > Google Docs.

After the file is loaded in Google Docs, click File > Download > Microsoft Word. The file will now be downloaded as a Word document on your computer. You can then open it later and edit it anytime you wish to.

By following these simple methods, you can now easily convert PDF files into editable Word documents. The best part is that these methods are absolutely free and get the job done.

WhatsApp Pay to Launch in India by May-End With 3 Banks on Board: Report

WhatsApp Pay is set to go live as early as by the end of the month, according to a report. The payments service by the instant messaging app, which is currently under beta testing, is said to be launched initially in partnership with three private banks, namely Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank, while public sector State Bank of India (SBI) will join at a later stage. At present, WhatsApp Pay allows transactions based on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) via ICICI Bank.

Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and SBI, all four banks are said to be in the process of integrating with WhatsApp, reports Moneycontrol.com, citing a couple of bankers familiar with the development. However, the messaging app owned by Facebook is said to begin the public rollout of its payments service in the country with the three former private lenders.

The reason behind the delay in bringing SBI on board is mainly due to the requirement of a “robust security architecture” that should be in compliance with regulatory guidelines, the report said.

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) recently made it mandatory for large digital platforms offering UPI-based payments services to opt for a multi-bank model to avoid any delay in transactions. Such a model is also helpful in case one bank is facing issues in allowing payments. The drawbacks of using a single-bank model were seen during the moratorium of Yes Bank earlier this year that halted operations of platforms such as PhonePe and Swiggy for some time.

Google Pay and Truecaller are amongst the major platforms allowing transactions via multiple banks at the present stage. Interestingly, Google Pay already has Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI, and SBI as the four acquiring banks to enable UPI-based transactions.

Original plan on hold due to a litigation

In February, non-governmental organisation (NGO) Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC) filed a plea in the Supreme Court claiming that WhatsApp has not fully complied with the data localisation norms set by the Reserve Bank of India. “One million Indians cannot be reduced to guinea pigs. Their sensitive personal data, including financial data cannot be stored outside India in contravention to the RBI circular,” it had said.

Due to that litigation raising security concerns pertaining to WhatsApp Pay, the initial plan to bring its access to 10 million users initially has reportedly been held up.

A report earlier this year claimed that WhatsApp secured a licence from NPCI to begin the phased rollout of its payments service in the country. The service was started in the beta testing in February 2018. WhatsApp tied up with ICICI Bank to start enabling payments through the platform and brought certain updates to the backend to make the system ready for its public launch.

Facebook also has plans to go beyond India with WhatsApp Pay. CEO Mark Zuckerberg at the time of Facebook's earnings in late January mentioned that the company wants to roll out the payments service in several countries in the next six months.

WhatsApp Pay will compete directly against Amazon Pay UPI, Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm. Since the instant messaging app already has over 400 million users in India, its payments service could make things tougher for all the existing players in the market.

Last month, WhatsApp started enabling e-commerce operations for JioMart. That move was concurrent to the Rs. 43,574 crore investment that Facebook announced specifically for RIL's Jio Platforms to further expand in India. JioMart would emerge as one of the early platforms widening WhatsApp Pay in the country as consumers would be able to make purchases on the platform directly using the integrated payments service.

JioMart WhatsApp-Based Online Portal Starts Amid Lockdown, Read story for Whatsapp number and process

Reliance started testing its online shopping portal three days after Facebook said it will invest $5.7 billion (Rs. 43,574 crores) in digital assets controlled by billionaire Mukesh Ambani. JioMart, an e-commerce venture of Reliance Retail, went live in three neighborhoods surrounding Mumbai, leveraging a deal that gives it access to WhatsApp's 400 million users in India currently under the world's most expansive lockdown.

The starting of the portal takes Asia's richest man a step closer to his goal of setting up a digital platform to take on Amazon. and Walmart's Flipkart for a slice of India's e-commerce market that KPMG says is set to grow to $200 billion by 2027. Facebook hopes a partnership with JioMart will help make WhatsApp the primary way small businesses connect with customers.

“The roll out is happening during the toughest of times considering the supply chain constraints,” said Vikraman PN, founder of Finnoviti Consulting. “But Reliance will spread the pilot run in various states following its deal with Facebook. And WhatsApp will play a critical role in JioMart's expansion.”

Customers need to add JioMart's WhatsApp number 8850008000 on their phones. JioMart provides a link to place the order. Once the order is placed, it is shared with a grocery store on WhatsApp. The customer is notified with the order and the store details on his number, according to JioMartLite's website.

In a statement delivered by video on April 22, Ambani said the tie-up with WhatsApp will help almost 30 million Indian mom-and-pop store owners to take digital payments from customers in their neighborhoods.

“This means all of you can order and get faster delivery of day-to-day items from nearby local shops,” he said.

Netflix Says Its Subscribers Won’t Run Out of Content This Year

While coronavirus has brought Hollywood to a halt, Netflix has enjoyed record success. But will the streaming giant's well-stocked slate of future shows be enough to maintain that growth? Netflix announced this week that it has finished filming the majority of movies and series due for release this year, playing down concerns that its flow of hit shows such as "Tiger King" could run dry, or the next "Unorthodox" be delayed.

"Our 2020 slate of series and films are largely shot, and are in post-production remotely in locations all over the world," said content chief Ted Sarandos.

"And we're actually pretty deep into our 2021 slate. So we're not anticipating moving things around."Analysts say Netflix's scale, in terms of its sheer number of ongoing productions and global presence, make it best-placed to weather the pandemic storm.

"Any other studio... might have four or five films in the can, or in post-production that they can still work on. But Netflix has possibly hundreds," said Jeff Bock, senior analyst at Exhibitor Relations.

"There are so many productions that are financed by Netflix, it's almost mind boggling. They're almost putting out as much content as all the studios put together."

The deep-pocketed platform can also turn to its vast network of overseas partners to license content -- often subtitled -- for domestic audiences.

Hurt

But even Netflix's content pipeline has inevitable limits if an unprecedented shutdown nobody could have predicted extends much longer.

"They like to put out a lot of content, each and every week," said Bock. "Maybe as we go along into the fourth or fifth month in terms of lockdowns... they certainly will be ahead of the game, but they'll certainly be hurt."

New, original programming plays a bigger part in Netflix's appeal than rival platforms like Disney+ -- home to the Mouse House's enviable 80-year back catalogue.

"People are, in a sense, distracted by all the archival content -- they can watch shows over and over," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior Comscore analyst. "There's a lot of buffer there."

With the streaming wars heating up, Netflix has lost evergreen hits like "Friends" and "The Office" to upcoming rivals HBO Max and Peacock.

The delay of this summer's entire movie theater blockbuster slate also means those films will arrive later at streamers such as Netflix, according to Steve Nason, research director at Parks Associates.

"Maybe not in the short term, but in the longer term, that hurts Netflix," he said.

Better Shape

But Netflix has another tool at its disposal: its ability to find ways to keep making new content. Thanks to rapid global expansion, Netflix is now ramping up production in countries that are easing restrictions -- namely Iceland and South Korea -- while Hollywood remains closed.

"Certainly the Netflix brand is worldwide -- there's no reason why they can't buy their own island honestly and shoot things there," Bock told AFP.

Its recent successes in reality TV, such as "Love is Blind" and "Too Hot to Handle," point to avenues requiring smaller crews and with rapid turnaround times.

Netflix quickly capitalised on the phenomenal success of surreal zookeeper documentary "Tiger King" with a follow-up episode featuring interviews with show alumni conducted via low-budget video calls.

"A lot of different content distributors are looking into (documentary programming) in the short term, to fill some of those holes," said Nason. "Netflix has already done that."

"If the production halt goes on nine to 12 months, everyone is going to be hurt," he added. "But compared to some of their competitors... (Netflix) are going to be in much better shape."

Paatal Lok Release Date: Anushka Sharma-Produced Series Out in May on Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video has set a May 15 release date for its next original series from India: Paatal Lok. Neeraj Kabi (Taj Mahal 1989), Gul Panag (Dor), and Jaideep Ahlawat (Bard of Blood) lead the cast of the neo-noir series, which has previously been described as “an investigative thriller that also acts as a scathing commentary of modern-day Indian society and politics.” Paatal Lok has been created by Udta Punjab writer Sudip Sharma, and produced by Anushka Sharma's Clean Slate Films.

In a video released alongside that comes with the Paatal Lok logo and release date, an unseen narrator says: “Ancient scriptures describe a world where blood is shed for justice, where cruelty thrives in the garb of humanity, where lawlessness is the only law, wiping out all the hope of life. This inescapable hell that exists beneath our world is called Paatal Lok.”

For those unaware, Paatal Lok is Hindi for the literal underworld. The earth is called dharti lok, and the heaven is swarga look. Of course, for the Amazon series' purpose, it refers to the figurative underworld — as evinced by the voiceover and the visuals in the video — that is India's dark underbelly which influences the four pillars of democracy: legislature, executive, judiciary, and media.

Paatal Lok Tital Announcement Video : watch here

Earlier in the week, Amazon — and Anushka Sharma — had released another video that “announced” Paatal Lok as a new show, even though it was originally announced in February 2019. The show's title was revealed back in January, alongside a first look.

Paatal Lok will be the sixth series from India on Prime Video in 2020, after the Kabir Khan-helmed war drama miniseries The Forgotten Army in January, the black comedy miniseries Afsos from comedian Anirban Dasgupta in February, the second season of comedy-drama Pushpavalli from comedian Sumukhi Suresh in March, and the TVF-created comedy-drama Panchayat and the second season of romantic comedy-drama Four More Shots Please! earlier in April.

All episodes of Paatal Lok are out May 15 on Amazon Prime Video worldwide.