iPhone 9 to launch after OnePlus 8: Should you wait for this budget iPhone?

It's been long since we have been discussing the iPhone 9. Slated to be Apple’s entry-level offering for most developing markets, including India, the iPhone 9 is set to spark some competition in the affordable segments after Apple managed to put on a good show with iPhone 11 in premium flagship space. Apple has kept mum about the iPhone 9 but look over to the world of leaks and rumours and there’s so much that can help you decide which colour iPhone 9 you want to buy this summer.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has cast doubts on the scheduled March launch but luckily, tipsters and analysts have been hard at work passing the updates regarding this. According to analyst Jon Prosser, the iPhone 9 is launching indeed and it may be unveiled soon after the OnePlus 8 series goes live. Yes, we can all expect apple’s website to reflect the iPhone 9 from April 15. If we are lucky enough, we might also see the iPhone 9 Plus at the same time.

This hints at Apple playing it tactfully, given that OnePlus will be taking over the affordable smartphone market with the OnePlus 8 this year. The iPhone 9 has always been expected to launch with a sub-Rs 30,000 pricing and taking into account what Apple has planned, it could be a killer deal for smartphone shoppers this summer. But so will the OnePlus 8 too, based on the leaks so far.

Hence, should you wait for the iPhone 9 and if yes, then what should be the reasons behind it?

iPhone 9: Why OnePlus 8 buyers should hold on

Based on the leaks we have had on the iPhone 9, there’s a lot for the iPhone 9 to offer over the OnePlus 8.

-The iPhone 9 will mark a return for Apple to compact smartphones after a long time. The iPhone 9 will be based on the same design as the iPhone 8 and that means, you will have a compact body that’s easy to use single-handedly. Compared to the OnePlus 8, it will be a boon for those who yearn compact phones.

-A 4.7-inch IPS LCD retina display is supposed to be there on the iPhone 9, surrounded by the classic bezels and a Home button with the TouchID sensor mounted on it. The iPhone 9 Plus is said to get a bigger a 5.5-inch display. These displays won’t be as good as the high refresh rate AMOLED panels on the OnePlus 8 but they will do the job quite well.

-Apple is rumoured to offer support for wireless charging on the iPhone 9 -- something which the standard OnePlus 8 may not offer.

-Performance will be taken care of by the Apple A13 chip that’s said to be paired with 3GB RAM and storage potions of 64GB and 128GB. The A13 is miles ahead in terms of power over the Snapdragon 865 and it can chew through anything for the next three years easily. Moreover, the iOS ecosystem will offer better security and updates for up to five years. This is much better than Android that has its fair share of privacy-related concerns.

-Apple has led the scene when it concerns cameras and it is expected that the iPhone 9 will have a single camera at the back but it will rely on the same 12-megapixel camera from the iPhone 11. This should offer great photography power to users on a budget. The iPhone 9 Plus could even offer the same dual camera setup from the iPhone 11 or have an additional depth camera from the iPhone 8 Plus.

-Price is where Apple could take on OnePlus this time. The OnePlus 8 is speculated to start from Rs 40,000 in India and Apple will be looking to challenge it by possibly having a sub-Rs 30,000 starting price, similar to the iPhone SE from 2016.

WhatsApp Gets Fingerprint Lock Feature on Android, Months After iPhone

WhatsApp on Thursday announced the launch of Fingerprint Lock for Android. With the move, the Facebook-owned company is finally bringing biometric authentication to the Android app, with iPhone users enjoying both Touch ID (fingerprint recognition) and Face ID (facial recognition) since February this year. With the feature, Android users can now have the app lock automatically, and unlock only with their fingerprint. The move comes at a time WhatsApp is making headlines thanks to a recent hack, and its fallout including a lawsuit against spyware-maker NSO Group alleged to have made the hack possible.

WhatsApp Fingerprint Lock for Android

Just like the Touch ID feature enabled for iPhone users, WhatsApp for Android users can now choose to lock the app – with their fingerprints as authentication to unlock it thereafter. Users can also choose how much time the app will automatically lock in, from immediately after closing, to after 1 minute, and after 30 minutes. Users will also be able to choose whether the content of their messages will be visible in notifications, including the sender of the message.

The features are visible clearly in the company provided screenshot above. To turn WhatsApp Fingerprint Lock for Android on, users will have to visit Settings > Account > Privacy > Fingerprint lock. Once they enable the Unlock with fingerprint option, they will have to confirm their fingerprint. The feature should start rolling out soon for Android users across the globe.

WhatsApp for iOS has an additional feature for now – users can also choose to use Face ID as their means of biometric authentication. As we mentioned, both Touch ID and Face ID options were enabled for iPhone users back in February. As for Android, the feature first appeared in beta back in August, and the company has now announced its rollout to users of the stable version.

Foxconn Looking to Produce High-End iPhone Models in India: Report

Foxconn is reportedly looking towards India as a possible base for assembling the high-end iPhone models, a report claimed Tuesday, citing people familiar with the development. The latest report comes less than a month after two separate reports had claimed the same, indicating that the Taiwanese contract manufacturer is indeed serious about expanding its Indian facilities. The company currently assembles smartphones for firms like Xiaomi in the country. With a trade war between China and United States not close to a proper resolution, more companies with manufacturing facilities in China and customers in the United States are looking to diversify their supply chains.

According to a report in The Wall Street Journal citing people familiar with the matter, Foxconn is mulling producing "higher-end, pricier" iPhone models in India, including models with OLED displays. The contract manufacturer is currently studying whether to include possible India expansion in its budget plans, noted the report citing an unnamed person familiar with Foxconn's plans. The company is also said to be considering Vietnam as it looks to diversify its manufacturing bases, but India has a better chance of seeing a Foxconn factory churning out new iPhone models thanks to its larger growth potential, the report added. A bigger local presence should also allow Apple to better target the market.

If Foxconn goes ahead with its plans to assemble high-end iPhone models in India, it is likely to help Apple in keeping the prices of its smartphones down in the country. Right now, the Indian government charges as much as 20 percent tariff on any phones imported from outside. After the increased tariffs over the last couple of years, several smartphone manufacturers have set up bases in the country to assemble phones. Expanded business in India will certainly help the Cupertino-based company is shedding the reliance over China for growth as the smartphone market has stagnated in most of the western countries.

Another Taiwanese contract manufacturer Wistron was recently reported to be considering expanding its India operations. In a filing on Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE), the company has noted that it has increased the authorised capital of its Indian subsidiary to Rs. 3,000 crores for the same. Apple has been assembling a couple of its low-end iPhone models in India for some time now. Wistron has plant in Peenya industrial area of Bengaluru city, where the contract manufacturer assembles the iPhone SE ₹ 17,199 and iPhone 6S ₹ 27,999 units for the country.

Late last month, a report from Indian daily The Hindu had claimed that a Foxconn unit in Sriperumbudur, a town panchayat in Chennai Metropolitan Area, will start manufacturing iPhone models from 2019. The daily had cited a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami over the matter. Apparently, Foxconn has already created a separate manufacturing unit in its existing Sriperumbudur factory.

A report from news agency Reuters reiterated the Hindu report, citing its own source. It added that Foxconn will invest Rs. 25 billion ($356 million) to expand the Sriperumbudur plant.

Want To Switch From IPhone To Android? New Google Drive Update Will Make It Smooth

Google is pushing aggressively, to make the switch from iPhone to Android as easy as possible. Ever since Google released its Pixel smartphones, they are now a direct, face- to- face competitor with Apple. It is really evident from Google’s Switch to Android guide for iPhone users.

Now, with an upcoming update, Google plan to make the transition as worry free as possible. Google is adding a new feature to Google Drive app for iOS that will back up your important data from iPhone to the Google Drive. And once you switch to an android phone, whether its Pixel or Galaxy, these data will be automatically available as you set your phone up.

The feature will back up your contacts, calendar and camera roll. This is considered to be Google’s answer to a similar effort Apple made with iCloud on Android to help out people make the switch to iPhones. However, Google drive cannot yet back up your text messages or music from iPhones. You can access these feature under the Backup tab in Google Drive for iOS.

IOS 10.2 Is Out With An India Specific SOS Panic Button

Apple released iOS 10.2 update on 13th December with many bug fixes and performance improvements. The update for the first time brings India only SOS button to iPhones and iPads, which was made mandatory for all the phones being sold in India from January 1st, 2017.

The update also brings numerous other features like 100 new emoji, new TV app and improvements to the Photos, Music, Mail, News and Messages apps.

The SOS button was something that has been expected to be rolled out by all the phone manufacturers in India, as Mobile manufacturers have been asked by the Department of Telecommunications to install a software in all existing phones to provide for a panic button like feature at the press of one single number to help users in case of emergency.

Back in May, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said by January 2017, all mobile phones will have a 'panic button' so that if a woman is under some kind of threat, she can use the button and alert the police.

The new SOS button functions via the power button, and the user can change how to activate the SOS call in the settings. By default, the SOS call will go straight to the number 112, which will become the new emergency number from January 1, 2017.
The user can tweak how the SOS key works under Settings > General > Emergency SOS on iPhones 5 and above running iOS 10.2. You can choose whether to activate SOS by pressing the power button three times or five times.

You can download the update by going to Settings > General > Software Updates on your iPhones and iPads.

Facebook’s teenager-only ‘Lifestage’ app comes to Android

Facebook’s teenager-only ‘Lifestage’ app was launched for iPhone users a few months back. The app is now available for Android users as well.

This app is targeted towards high-school goers who can use this app as a form of video diary. Users get to answer biographical questions about themselves and even share a visual profile with their school network.

One simply needs to fill out a profile and sign up with the app. The information is visible to the users’ peers.

iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus Pre-Orders Open on Amazon, Flipkart

Apple's iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus have gone up for pre-orders via Amazon India and Flipkar. The latest iPhone models come in 5 colours including Jet Black and Black, with Apple having revealed the India prices for the entire iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus lineup earlier, alongside the shipping date of October 7. Both Amazon and Flipkart have dedicated pages for pre-orders.

The iPhone 7 will start at Rs. 60,000 for the 32GB variant. The iPhone 7 Plus will start at Rs. 72,000 for the same storage capacity. The 128GB and 256GB variants of the iPhone 7 will be priced at Rs. 70,000 and Rs. 80,000 respectively, while the iPhone 7 Plus will priced at Rs. 82,000 and Rs. 92,000 for the corresponding storage capacities.

Both Amazon India and Flipkart have unveiled pre-order offers for the smartphones. On Amazon, the company has detailed exchange offers along with a full list of eligible phones. Those who use the exchange offer will get additional cashback worth Rs. 4,000 in the form of an Amazon Gift Card. The company has also unveiled a 'no cost EMI' option, and those that opt for this will get cashback up to Rs. 8,000 as an Amazon Gift Card.

Customers who pre-order the smartphones on Amazon and sign-up for a 1-year Amazon Prime membership get a Rs. 500 Amazon Gift Card. Another offer (which lasts till October 14) for iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus buyers who download and sign into the Kindle app will get 80 percent off on Kindle eBooks (up to a maximum of Rs. 1,000 Kindle store credit).  The same offer extends from October 15 to October 30, but the maximum store credit will be reduced to Rs. 300. The company has also detailed that the recently unveiled 1+9GB Vodafone offer for new 4G handsets is applicable as well.

As for Flipkart, the company is detailing an exchange offer that can give a discount of up to Rs. 24,500 on the price of the smartphones. Those who use Citibank credit cards will get cashback up to Rs. 10,000.

The new iPhone 7 series sports a refreshed design and the rear antenna bands have been redesigned to make them less prominent than before. Both the phones feature a brand new home button that uses Taptic vibrations to simulate a physical tap. The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus also come with IP67 water and dust resistance.

Here is the list of countries who can book the iphone 7 today

Here is the list of countries (in alphabetical order) who can book the phone today

Australia

Austria

Belgium

Canada

China

Denmark

Finland

France

Germany

Hong Kong

Ireland

Italy

Japan

Luxembourg

Mexico

Netherlands

New Zealand

Norway

Portugal

Puerto Rico

Singapore

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Taiwan

UAE

UK

US Virgin Islands

US

Apple iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus pre-order begins; these countries can book it

The Pre-orders of iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will open on Friday. The phones will be available in more than 25 countries beginning September 16 and will also be available to customers in India beginning October 7.

Technology giant had launched the highly-anticipated smartphones beginning at USD 649 with advanced technologies like immersive stereo speakers and air pods and the new phones will be available to customers in India beginning October.

Apple CEO Tim Cook took the stage in San Francisco to introduce the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, calling it the "best, most advanced iPhone ever, packed with unique innovations that improve all the ways iPhone is used every day."

The new iPhone features new advanced camera systems, come with more power and performance, more battery life, immersive stereo speakers and is the first water and dust resistant iPhone.

Edward Snowden working on spy-proof smartphone case for cyber-sleuths

Notorious public whistleblower Edward Snowden and famous hacker Andrew “Bunnie” Huang are co-developing a smartphone case that aims to protect users from wireless device snooping.

According to the duo’s paper “Against the Law: Countering Lawful Abuses of Digital Surveillance“, the device will prevent journalists falling foul to their “own tools”.

“Front-line journalists are high-value targets, and their enemies will spare no expense to silence them. Unfortunately, journalists can be betrayed by their own tools. Their smartphones are also the perfect tracking device,” they add.

The device, called the introspection engine, will clip onto a device, and checks if a phone is transmitting radio signals. Snowden and Huang note that this is especially important for when devices are switched to airplane mode, which still leaves them open to tracking.

The introspection engine would act as an oscilloscope, which will attach itself through the SIM slot (your SIM would then reside in the case). The device would then read the signals from your phones antennae which connects to your GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi and cellular device.

Once the engine picks up any form of transmitted signal while your phone is not supposed to be transmitting anything, you’d get a notification or audible alert. The engine could also potentially be fitted with an automatic kill switch to shutdown the source of the signal automatically.

The device is not yet ready for commercial production, but I’m assuming that if it ever gets through the red tape, government will do whatever they can to squash it.

Now a smartphone app to manage your privacy preferences

The privacy assistant app can learn the user's preferences and quickly recommend the most appropriate settings, such as with which app to share the user's location, or contact list.

In the field test, people accepted almost 80 per cent of the recommendations made by the privacy assistant and indicated they were more comfortable with their privacy settings than without it.

Researchers are developing a personalised privacy assistant app that can simplify the task of setting permissions for your smartphone applications.

That is a job that requires well over a hundred decisions, an unmanageable number for the typical user, researchers from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in the US said. The privacy assistant can learn the user’s preferences and quickly recommend the most appropriate settings, such as with which app to share the user’s location, or contact list.

iphone SE stands for Special Edition of a Same Engine on a Small Exterior

What SE really stands for:-

The $400 for this Smartphone Extraordinaire is a Smart Expenditure. On one hand, it still has the Sharp Edges of the iPhone 5s, and its addition to the lineup will remind critics of Samsung’s Excess.

On the other hand, its 1.5-day battery life means that it only Sips Energy. This is a piece of very Solid Equipment, even if it is a Special Edition for people with Small Extremities.

What does SE stand for? Apple says Special Edition, but you could also sum it up this way: Same Engine, Smaller Exterior. Because Apple has crammed the chips, guts, and camera of the iPhone 6s into the crisp-cornered body of the tiny iPhone 5s.

On one hand, Apple now seems to be following the Samsung model of spewing out phones and tablets in every conceivable size, rather than innovating in more substantial ways.

On the other hand, Apple is correct that a certain chunk of the population doesn’t like the jumbo-ification of smartphones, such as the big iPhone 6s and even bigger 6s Plus.

Some people, small of hands, still cling to the three-year-old iPhone 5s (with its 4-inch screen) despite the gigantic improvements in speed, camera power, and wireless abilities in the newer phones.

Three things about the SE are newsworthy: First, the battery life is about 30 percent better than the iPhone 6s’s - a side effect of having a screen the same size as the 5s.

Second, at $400 without a contract (for the 16GB model), the iPhone SE is the least expensive iPhone that Apple has ever offered. Finally, with its 4-inch screen, the SE is now the smallest brand-name smartphone sold in America.

The SE is loaded with features (Apple Pay, Live Photos, fingerprint unlocking, 4K video recording, hands-free voice commands, and more), but not a single one of them is new in the SE.

It actually lacks one modern feature of the iPhone 6s: It doesn’t have 3D Touch, which makes shortcut menus pop up when you apply additional pressure to the iPhone 6s’s screen. (Compared with the 6s, the SE screen isn’t quite as colorful, the front camera not quite as good, and the fingerprint reader isn’t quite as fast, either.)

In other words, a review of the iPhone SE would, for all intents and purposes, be a re-review of the iPhone 6s.

Therefore, to save us both time and effort, here’s what I said about the 6s, in lightly updated form. After all: If Apple can recycle its finest ideas?

New Apple iPhone SE- iPhone 5SE- iPhone 7- iPhone 7Pro- iPad Pro

https://youtu.be/AXOrs9h5yMk

The new iPhone SE — that's Special Edition is out March 31st, and the reviews are rolling on. And they are very positive.

It Looks And Feels Just Like The iPhone 5S.

Really, if you have an iPhone 5S and you like the way it looks and feels has Apple got the phone for you.

The SE looks exactly like the iPhone 5s. The back is smooth and satisfying, as though the phone just shaved. It weighs just four ounces but feels fairly durable, due in part to its hard edges and the fact that it’s just slightly thicker than the newer iPhone 6s.

Apple iphone 7

New smartphone coming on 2016-

Apple iphone 7

Apple iphone 7

The iPhone 7 will be Apple's brand-new flagship phone for 2016, and following tradition should be announced in September. Although the final release date is still many months away, that hasn't stopped the rumour mill going crazy over the upcoming iPhone.

We've already seen rumours that the new iPhone will feature big design changes, with an all-new D-jack headphone jack, waterproofing protection and an eSIM. Loads of rumours are circulating about the screen too - will it get bigger? Will it feature a curved edge? Will it have a Touch ID display, or edge-to-edge glass?

One things for sure, the new iPhone will be faster than ever, with an A10 processor and embedded M10 motion co-processor, plus 2GB of RAM.