iTechnow: November 2018

Friday, 30 November 2018

Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) Review: Entertaining but Not Worth the Hype https://i1.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/galaxy-a9-9.jpg?resize=640%2C422&ssl=1

Best Phones with Pop-up Cameras and Sliders in 2018 https://i0.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/71YCxLAiL._SL1200_.jpg?resize=272%2C560&ssl=1

In a bid to get as close to a full-screen display as possible, Apple adopted the infamous notch on the iPhone X which housed the front facing camera and Face ID sensors. Taking note from Apple’s design choice, a number of Android manufacturers also jumped on the notch bandwagon, adding notches of different shapes and sizes to their devices in order to get a nearly bezel-less display. Not being a huge fan of the notch, I was glad to see some Android manufacturers come out with creative solutions to house the front facing camera, earpiece and sensors to achieve a completely bezel-less display. The race to achieve a completely bezel-less display introduced a new breed of smartphones with pop-up cameras and brought back the slider design of yesteryear. Here, we’ll be taking a look at the best phones with pop-up cameras and sliders that were released in 2018:

Smartphones with Pop-up Cameras and Sliders

1. Vivo NEX

Lets kick off the list with the smartphone that is, in part, responsible for making pop-up cameras a trend, the Vivo NEX. A flagship device from Chinese smartphone manufacturer Vivo, the Vivo NEX took the bezel-less concept to a whole new level by ditching the notch for a pop-up mechanism that housed the front facing camera. The pop-up camera module on the Vivo NEX has been designed to pop-up on its own as soon as you switch to the front facing camera and it hides back inside the top edge of the device when the front camera is closed.

Vivo NEX

Since there isn’t any room for the front facing sensors on the pop-up module, Vivo neatly tucked them within the minimal top bezel, while adopting a piezo-electric sound system to replace the earpiece. For the price, the Vivo NEX brought a number of innovative features to the market, making it a compelling option for those who were looking for a flagship device with a bezel-less display and no notch. It even housed an in-display fingerprint sensor, a technology that has now become a bit more mainstream with the launch of the OnePlus 6T.

Vivo NEX specifications: Snapdragon 845, 8GB RAM, 128GB storage, 6.59-inch Super AMOLED display, 12MP+5MP primary dual camera setup, 8MP pop-up selfie shooter, 4,000mAh battery, Funtouch OS based on Android 8.1 Oreo

Price: Rs. 44,990

2. Oppo Find X

In a bid to one-up Vivo’s pop-up camera module on the Vivo NEX, Chinese smartphone giant Oppo launched the Oppo Find X – a smartphone in which both the front and rear camera modules are revealed by a motorized pop-up mechanism. Thanks to the mechanism, the smartphone features an almost bezel-less design with a sleek curved glass build, with all its sensors hidden on the slide-out tray. Unlike the Vivo NEX, the Oppo Find X also features a facial recognition feature for face unlock capabilities which also triggers the motorized slider as soon as the device is turned on.

Oppo Find X

The Oppo Find X, however, doesn’t feature an in-display fingerprint scanner like the Vivo NEX. In fact, it doesn’t feature a fingerprint sensor at all, relying completely on its face unlock feature for biometric security. Since the Oppo Find X packs in a larger motorized section, it doesn’t feel as solid as the Vivo NEX, but the mechanism does look a bit more premium and well thought out. On top of that, the fact that the slider opens up every time you try to unlock the device raises some concern regarding the durability and longevity of the smartphone.

Oppo Find X specifications: Snapdragon 845, 8GB RAM, up to 512GB storage, 6.42-inch AMOLED display, 16MP+20MP primary dual camera setup, 25MP selfie shooter, 3,730mAh battery, ColorOS 5.1 based on Android 8.1 Oreo

Price: Starts at Rs. 59,990

3. Xiaomi Mi Mix 3

Compared to the Vivo NEX and the Oppo Find X, both of which rely on motorized pop-up designs, Xiaomi’s Mi Mix 3 resurrects the manual slider mechanism that was all the rage back in the day and does a great job of it. The smartphone’s slider mechanism neatly hides the front facing camera and sensors behind the large bezel-less display and it feels sturdier and more satisfying to use than the aforementioned smartphones. For the earpiece, the Mi Mix 3 has a very ingenious solution – a simple cutout that lets the sound pass through from the actual earpiece packed within the sliding mechanism.

Mi Mix 3

The device also doesn’t include an in-display fingerprint scanner, but thankfully retains a traditional capacitive fingerprint scanner which is placed on the back. Turning on the front-facing camera on the Mi Mix 3 is as simple as sliding the screen down which reveals the camera module and turns on the camera app. Being a fan of slider phones in the past, I personally like Xiaomi’s design a whole lot more than the Vivo NEX and the Oppo Find X.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 specifications: Snapdragon 845, up to 10GB RAM, up to 256GB storage, 6.39-inch Super AMOLED display, 12MP+12MP primary dual camera setup, 24MP+2MP dual selfie shooter, 3,200mAh battery, MIUI 10 based on Android 9.0 Pie

Price: Starts at Rs. 41,216

4. Honor Magic 2

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Huawei’s sub-brand Honor has also released a slider smartphone of its own – the Honor Magic 2 – which features a sliding mechanism much like that of the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3. Packing in flagship specifications, the Honor Magic 2 is also a great alternative if you’re in the market for a smartphone that is almost all screen up front and doesn’t have an ugly notch.

honor magic 2

The old school slider mechanism on the Honor Magic 2 tucks an impressive triple camera setup behind the bezel-less display, along with the front facing sensors, the earpiece, and sensors for Honor’s 3D face recognition technology for faster and more secure face unlock capabilities. Much like the Mi Mix 3, the Magic 2 also has a cutout for the earpiece right above the display, but the device doesn’t automatically open up the front facing camera upon opening the slider.

Honor Magic 2 specifications: Kirin 980, up to 8GB RAM, up to 256GB storage, 6.39-inch AMOLED display, 16MP+16MP+24MP primary triple camera setup, 16MP+2MP+2MP triple selfie shooter, 3,500mAh battery, EMUI 9.0 based on Android 9.0 Pie

Price: Rs. 62,236

5. Lenovo Z5 Pro

The latest addition to the slider party, Lenovo’s Z5 Pro, is a bezel-less mid-ranger which aims to make the innovative sliding mechanism more accessible to a larger number of buyers. Much like the Mi Mix 3 and the Honor Magic 2, the Lenovo Z5 has a smooth sliding mechanism which hides the front facing camera and sensors behind the large display. The earpiece on the device is also located on the slider mechanism, with no visible cutout up front, so we can’t be sure if that will have an effect on the audio quality.

lenovo z5 pro design

The device also packs in an in-display fingerprint scanner which, the company claims, can unlock the device in just 0.2 seconds, making it slightly faster than the fingerprint scanner on the OnePlus 6T which can unlock the device in 0.34 seconds. The Lenovo Z5, however, has a noticeable chin at the bottom of the display, something which isn’t found on wither the Honor Magic 2 or the Mi Mix 3, but considering the device’s price point, I believe that’s something most buyers would overlook.

Lenovo Z5 Pro specifications: Snapdragon 710, 6GB RAM, up to 128GB storage, 6.39-inch Super AMOLED display, 16MP+24MP primary dual camera setup, 16MP+8MP dual selfie shooter, 3,350mAh battery, ZUI 10 based on Android 8.1 Oreo

Price: Starts at 1,998 Yuan (~Rs. 20,400)

Best Phones with Pop-up Cameras and Sliders in 2018

Well, that rounds up our list of the best phones with pop-up cameras and sliders that were released this year. Other than the aforementioned options, there are a couple of smartphone from relatively obscure Chinese brands that have also adopted a pop-up or slider design. The Elephone U2, Elephone U2 Pro, the Elephone PX and the Doogee Mix 4 (concept) are some notable options that you can take a look at, but don’t expect anything spectacular from these phones.

Have you had the chance to try out any of the aforementioned phones? Do you prefer the pop-up cameras or the sliding mechanism? Do you have any concerns regarding the durability of the moving parts? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/best-phones-popup-cameras-sliders/

10 Best Movie Sites to Legally Watch Movies for Free https://i1.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1.-YouTube-Free-to-Watch-Movies.jpg?resize=640%2C370&ssl=1

Availability: India

Price: Free, ₹499/year

The Best Movie Sites for Watching Movies Legally

That ends our article on the best movies sites that are completely free and legal. I love streaming movies as it makes the whole experience so much simpler. Do check these sites out and let us know your favorite ones by writing in the comments section below. Also, if we missed a great service and you want to share that with us, don’t hesitate.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/best-movie-sites-legal/

Meizu 16 Series Set to Launch in India on December 5 https://i1.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Untitled-design-7-3.jpg?resize=640%2C320&ssl=1

Meizu launched its dual-screen Pro 7 smartphone in India earlier this year, but it wasn’t really a success and the company is now looking to make a comeback to India with the launch of its Meizu 16 series, which includes the mid-range Meizu 16 and flagship Meizu 16th (weird name, we know) in the country on December 5.

Meizu started teasing the launch of their flagship 16 series via their Twitter official India handle for the past week, but it is only now that we have caught air of the same.

Wait for the superior experience to unfold, as it's truly worth the wait !
Just 7 days to go #MEIZU #India #Smartphones #Superior @Meizu_India @Technologyfever #News #Android #Android pic.twitter.com/9S2S1tvLXe

— MEIZU India (@Meizu_India) November 28, 2018

The company has since sent been tweeting out a teaser, showing off the silhouette of the device and highlighting its key features like the camera, bezel-less display, under-display fingerprint sensor, and more. You can check them out right here:

The wonder has a name : Design ! #MEIZU #India #Smartphones #Superior @MeizuIndia @Technologynews24x7 #Android #GadgetsNow #Design @Technologyfever pic.twitter.com/hjFrMj7bbK

— MEIZU India (@Meizu_India) November 29, 2018

Meizu 16, Meizu 16th Specifications

Both of these devices sport the same design and features, with the only major difference being the processor powering them.

They sport a 6-inch Full-HD+ S-AMOLED display and feature a 12MP+20MP dual rear-camera setup, with OIS, 3x lossless zoom and laser auto-focus. There’s also a 20MP selfie camera on board, with AI face unlock and Face AE features.

These devices also include a second-gen in-display optical fingerprint, something that is steadily becoming the norm and is currently the hottest feature on the market.

meizu 16th

Similarities aside, Meizu 16th is a flagship and is powered by the Snapdragon 845 chipset, coupled with up to 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. The Meizu 16, on the other hand, is backed by the Snapdragon 710 chipset and packs up to 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage.

While the former is expected to butt heads with the OnePlus 6T in the budget flagship segment, the latter should give the upcoming Nokia 8.1 some competition – though only time will tell if people are ready to place their trust in Meizu smartphones.

Meizu M6T Launch Expected

While all the teasers point to the arrival of the Meizu 16 series in India, the rumor mill is talking about the launch of the company’s budget M6T smartphone as well.

Meizu M6T looks like your everyday budget phone with a polycarbonate body. It sports a 5.7-inch HD+ display (1440 x 720 pixels) and is powered by an octa-core MediaTek MT6750 chipset, coupled with up to 3GB RAM and 32GB storage.

On the optics front, you get a dual rear-camera setup with a 13MP (f/2.2) primary and a 2MP (f/2.8) depth sensor. There’s also an 8MP (f/2.0) selfie camera on board. It packs a 3,300mAh battery, a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, and also runs Android 8.0 Oreo-based Flyme OS.

So, December is going to chock-full of smartphone launches in India. Are you excited for Meizu flagships? Let us know in the comments down below.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/meizu-16-india-launch-december/

Google Assistant Gets Pretty Please, Easy List Creation and Holiday Features https://i0.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/lists.jpg?resize=559%2C500&ssl=1

Google has rolled out a host of new features for the Google Assistant which range from better list management and new smart device controls to one that rewards users for being polite and also tells stories for kids during the holiday season.

With each new update, Google Assistant has made Google Home speakers a lot more feature-rich, and many of these updates are related to using Google Assistant in the family. Here’s a look at the new Google Assistant features:

Better List Management

Users can now easily create a list with a specific name and add entries to it by just saying the relevant command. For example, you can ask Google Assistant to create a list with a simple voice command like ‘Hey Google, create a grocery list’, followed by the items that should be added to it. Google also plans to add support for Google Keep as well as other third-party services such as Any.do, Bring!, and Todoist for Google Assistant’s new list creation feature.

Pretty Please

Saying thank you and please to an AI assistant sounds unreasonable, after all, it is made to assist users. But there is no harm in being polite, right? Pretty Please is a new feature that will reward users with a heartwarming response every time you add something courteous such as a Thank You or a Please to your voice commands. When it announced this feature at Google I/O 2018, the company said it’s designed to help kids learn manners even in the age of the smart assistant.

Talkback Functionality for Smart Doorbells

Google Assistant-powered smart displays will now feature a ‘Talk’ button that will let users talk with guests standing in front of a Nest Hello video doorbell even before they enter the house.

New Smart Display Features

Instantly set an alarm: You can now swipe up on the home screen of a Google Assistant-powered smart display, such as the Google Home Hub, and tap on the timer button to quickly set an alarm.
Easy photo sharing: While going through images on a smart display, users can easily share a photo with people in their contact list with a voice command like ‘Hey Google, share this photo with George’.
Broadcast Reply: The broadcast feature allows users to broadcast a message on all connected Google Assistant-powered devices. Starting next week, people can also reply to a broadcast message via the Google Assistant on their smartphone or Google Home speakers or smart displays.

Holiday and Family-Oriented Features

Users can now see the lyrics for songs being played via Google Play Music on a smart display. Also, Google has also expanded the library of books for the Google Assistant’s ‘Read Along’ feature which adds sound effects to make a story recitation session more dramatic. Read Along can now be activated for holiday classics like Mickey’s Christmas Carol as well as beloved Disney titles like Frozen, Aladdin and The Lion King.

Also, one can now listen to books from a library of over 50 titles such as Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella, alongside some new holiday content from Nickelodeon such as Albert: The Little Tree with Big Dreams and Blaze and the Monster Machines among others on a Google Assistant-powered smart home device.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/google-assistant-pretty-please-update/

Instagram Now Lets You Share Stories With A Select Close Group of Friends https://i0.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/is-2-1.jpg?resize=633%2C560&ssl=1

Even though Instagram Stories was inspired by Snapchat, it has already garnered more users and has been quickly expanding its feature set to keep Stories fresh and lively for users. Now, Instagram has today added a new “Close Friends” feature to Stories and it works exactly how you imagine it to.

This new feature allows your to share Instagram Stories with only a select few people, privately, instead of all your followers by directly hitting the send button. This feature Instagram states has been designed for occasions when you want to share some inside jokes or memes or filthy secrets with just a few users.

With Close Friends, you have the flexibility to share more personal moments with a smaller group that you choose.

Well, this feature is steadily making its way to each of the billion Instagram users, but if you have already received it then follow the steps listed below to create a ‘Close Friends List’ and share Instagram Stories privately:

How To Create Close Friends List

1. Open the Instagram app, navigate to your profile and tap the ‘three lines’ at the top right corner to find the newly added ‘Close Friends List’ option.

2. Tap on the Close Friends List option and select the users you would like to add to a secret ‘Stories’ group. You can add new users from the suggestions section and remove those Instagram added.

3. Once you’re through, simply tap the ‘Done’ button at the top right and your “Closed Freinds List” is ready.

How to Send Stories Privately

Now that you’ve created a closed group of your buddies, you are ready to share your personal secrets with them. Head back to the home feed and follow the steps below to send Instagram Stories:

1. Tap on the ‘camera’ icon at the top left and snap a picture or select the meme you’re looking to send. Once you’ve edited it, simply tap the green Close Friends ‘star’ icon instead of Your Story before you hit send.

2. Voila, your private story is now posted and will appear with a green circle around the profile picture on other user’s feed. They can tap on the same to view all the stories and ‘Close Friends’ tag at the top right.

The Close Friends feature had been under testing for months but it has finally started rolling out to Android and iOS users. No one on the Beebom team has received the feature as of now but Instagram says that it would reach everyone in the next couple of days.

So, are you ready to share those private secrets or memes you’ve always wanted to send out on Instagram Stories with only your private circle? Let us know your thoughts on this feature in the comments section down below.

Images: Instagram

from Beebom https://beebom.com/instagram-close-group/

Nubia Red Magic Mars Brings 10GB RAM, Air Triggers and Liquid Cooling https://i1.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/nubia-red-magic-mars-variants-840x472.jpg?resize=640%2C360&ssl=1

There’s a lot of hype around gaming smartphones these days, but few gaming-centric phones match up to the Asus ROG Phone, which pushes the envelope in this category with its slew of accessories.

But one of the first phones to kick-off the gaming smartphone craze has now got a successor. Nubia has announced the Red Magic Mars, which is the follow-up to the original, which we reviewed earlier this year.

Nubia Red Magic Mars Specifications

The Nubia Red Magic Mars hopes to one-up the rest of the competition with a massive 10GB RAM, but is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, which will be soon replaced by the Snapdragon 8150 after its announcement next week.

The phone features liquid and air cooling, which is increasingly being seen even in non-gaming smartphones – the Poco F1 being a prime example. The cooling solution is said to increase CPU performance by up to 70 percent thanks to the heat dissipation, which reduces internal temperatures by up to 13.2 degrees, according to Nubia.

Another feature that sets it apart is the supposed 4D gaming experience, which is enabled thanks to the haptic feedback support for some specific games in the Play Store. The phone also comes with two touch-sensitive shoulder buttons, which are similar to the air triggers in the Asus ROG Phone.

In terms of audio, there is a DTS 7.1 channel along with 3D surround sound, which should help in games where locating enemies based on sound is key. And this is a gaming phone, so you get RGB LEDs on the back, just like the original Red Magic.

Nubia has also announced a joy-stick accessory, which snaps to the side of the phone and gives users easier controls on some games.

Nubia has not focused too much on making top-notch cameras here. There’s a single 16-megapixel rear camera with f/1.8 aperture and phase detection autofocus (PDAF). At the front, the smartphone has an 8-megapixel selfie camera with f/2.0 aperture.

One of the highlights of the phone is that it runs Android 9.0 Pie, but there’s a Red Magic OS 1.6 on top. There’s a a 6-inch full HD+ display with 1080×2160 pixels resolution (18:9 aspect ratio), and you can also opt for the lower-end 6GB or 8GB variants, if the 10GB RAM version seems like overkill to you. Along with three RAM variants, you get storage options of 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB. Finally, it has a 3,800mAh battery with fast charging support.

Nubia Red Magic Mars Price and Availability

In China, the smartphone is priced at CNY 2,699 (which comes up to around Rs. 27,000 when converted). That sounds a bit steep considering it is only for the base model with 6GB RAM and a paltry 64GB of storage. The ideal option would be the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant, priced at 3,199 yuan or around roughly Rs. 32,000, while the variant with 10GB RAM and 256GB storage will cost you around 3,999 yuan (around Rs. 40,000 after conversion).

You can only buy the Nubia Red Magic Mars in China right now; it’s available on pre-order on JD.com and will go on sale from December 7.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/nubia-red-magic-mars-announced/

Microsoft’s Foldable Andromeda Device, Surface Pro with USB-C Port to Arrive in 2019 https://i0.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/surface-pro.jpg?resize=640%2C360&ssl=1

The next couple of years are going to witness a ton of new Microsoft Surface announcements, claims Brad Sams citing reliable information from insider sources in his new book ‘Beneath the Surface’.

The book, which documents the journey of Microsoft’s Surface division from being on the cusp of a shutdown to its grand resurgence, also sheds some light on Microsoft’s roadmap for the next couple of years which includes at least six new Surface devices.

Among the notable devices which might be announced in the next two years are the Andromeda foldable device, an AMD-powered Surface Laptop, the next generation Surface Pro with a USB Type-C port and a new Surface Book among others.

Redesigned Surface Pro with USB Type-C Port

The Surface Pro 6 announced by Microsoft back in October is arguably one of the best convertible PCs out there, but disappointingly, it does not have a USB Type-C port. However, that might change with the next generation Surface Pro that will have a USB Type-C port and is expected to be announced in 2019’s fourth quarter.

As per a patent application filed by Microsoft in June this year, the device will come with a thinner Type Cover and will feature slimmer bezels with a more rounded design like the Surface Go.

Microsoft’s Foldable Andromeda Device

Microsoft’s foldable device, codenamed Andromeda, with dual screens and LTE connectivity might finally be announced in the second half of 2019. The Andromeda will reportedly be a pocketable Surface device that will be powered by the Snapdragon 1000 SoC and might feature stylus support, a holographic display and a hinge that’ll be hidden by a wraparound screen.

Sams also claims that a Surface Laptop model powered by an AMD processor is also in the pipeline and might be unveiled in Q4 2019, while an upgraded Surface Book will be announced in 2020’s first half. A modular Surface Studio is expected to arrive in 2020 and a couple of new Xbox One consoles might debut next year, with one of them being an all-digital model lacking an optical drive.

There’s also the mention of a Cortana-powered ‘surface ambient computing device’ that will sense the presence of users in its surrounding and will have a ton of smart features such as automatic transcription, real-time translation and converting speech into actions.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/microsofts-foldable-andromeda-surface-pro-2019/

HMD Global Sends Out Media Invites for December 10 Nokia Event in Mumbai https://i2.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/hmd-global-invite.jpg?resize=640%2C428&ssl=1

HMD Global is looking to end the year with a bang. The company just surprised us with the launch of the Nokia 7.1 in India and it has now started sending out media invites for a launch event on December 10 in Mumbai. Is there a treat waiting for us at the event?

The Finnish giant already has a much-anticipated launch event scheduled for December 5 in Dubai, where is it expected to debut not only the global variant of Nokia X7 – which will most likely be dubbed the Nokia 8.1 (as per recent marketing material leaks) but also the flagship Nokia 9 Pureview and Nokia 2.1 Plus. This event could see the launch of all these devices in India.

hmd global invite

Nokia 8.1 Arrives

Though HMD Global’s upcoming device would be called the Nokia 8.1, it is truly a successor to the impressive Nokia 7 Plus from earlier this year. It boasts of a stunning glass sandwich design and sports a 6.18-inch Full-HD+ screen, with a huge notch and PureDisplay tech for HDR streaming.

The device is powered by the Snapdragon 710 chipset, coupled with up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It includes a 3,500mAh battery and runs Android 9 Pie out-of-the-box under the Android One Program.

Leaked Marketing Material Confirms Nokia X7 to be Called Nokia 8.1 Globally

As for the optics department, the device boasts a dual-rear camera setup with a primary 12MP (with OIS) sensor and a secondary 13MP sensor. There’s also a 20MP selfie camera on board.

Nokia 9 Pureview?

In addition, the ‘Nokia 9 Pureview’ flagship from HMD Global has been leaking online left, right and center, so we can also expect to see it making its way to India at this event. If you’ve been keeping up, it is the same device which is expected to bring a penta-camera module in tow.

There’s no official word from the company on this device, but it’s expected to feature a 5.9-inch Quad-HD+ display (without a notch up top)and be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 chipset or even the Snapdragon 8150 – as it would’ve been announced by then. We also don’t know how the five cameras will play together and what new features the phone would bring for photography.

We’re sure to get some certainty post the Dubai launch next week. Until then stay tuned for more updates and keep guessing which Nokia device could HMD Global be bringing to India. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/december-10-nokia-event-india/

Rajinikanth’s 2.0 Movie Leaked Despite Producers Blocking Over 12,500 Pirate Sites To Stop Leaks https://i1.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Rajinikanth.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1

Netflix Cancels Marvel’s Daredevil, and It Won’t Say Why https://i1.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/daredevil.jpg?resize=640%2C335&ssl=1

In what may shock fans, Netflix has canceled Marvel’s Daredevil after three seasons. Arguably one of the most widely loved and critically acclaimed TV shows in the past few years, the Daredevil cancellation has sent surprised and anger among fans. For a person like me who binge-watched the entire third season of the hit TV series on the very day it released, Netflix’s decision comes as a shock.

“Marvel’s Daredevil will not return for a fourth season on Netflix”, Netflix said in a statement to Deadline. Even more vexing is the fact that Netflix did not give any clear reason behind the show’s cancellation, despite the latest third season setting a new benchmark of ratings for a Marvel TV show.

We are tremendously proud of the show’s last and final season and although it’s painful for the fans, we feel it best to close this chapter on a high note.

The last season of Daredevil received universal acclaim for its storyline, well-choreographed action sequences and the stellar performance of its lead actors, Charlie Cox as Daredevil and Vincent D’Onofrio as the hulking yet equally cunning, Wilson Fisk. Daredevil is the third standalone Marvel TV series canceled by Netflix after Luke Cage and Iron Fist.

But what I can’t wrap my head around is the fact that while Luke Cage and Iron Fist’s ratings continued to drop, Daredevil kept getting better with each season and achieved a new high with the third season. Why Netflix, why?

Nonetheless, there is some good news too. “The Daredevil character will live on in future projects for Marvel,” Netflix said in its sinister statement. That leaves the door open for the ‘Devil of the Hell’s Kitchen’ to appear in the other two Marvel TV shows on Netflix, Jessica Jones and The Punisher – if they are not cancelled in the meantime.

Conspiracy theories abound that Disney is forcing Netflix to pull the Marvel shows off air, the rights to which are owned by Disney. With the entertainment behemoth set to launch the Disney+ streaming service in 2019, many are saying this is protectionism on Disney’s part. Disney has already announced several new original shows around the leading characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it remains to be seen whether any more Marvel TV shows are pulled from Netflix.

For worried fans, Netflix has assured that all three seasons of Daredevil will be available on the streaming platform for years to come.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/netflix-cancels-daredevil/

Google Play Store Now Lets You Follow PUBG Mobile Star Challenge Live Streams https://i1.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PUBG-Stream.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1

Oppo Expected to Share Details of its Foldable Phone at MWC 2019 https://i2.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/foldable-web.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1

Samsung has already given us a sneak peek at its upcoming foldable phone and several patents recently revealed that even LG is working on foldable phones, however, it seems like Oppo is also gearing to talk about its own foldable creation at MWC 2019 in February next year.

As per a new report in Dutch blog Tweakers.net, one of Oppo’s product managers Chuck Wang talked about the company’s foldable phone plans at its headquarters in Shenzhen, China. Though Wang did not reveal any details on the device, he stated that the Chinese giant will be ready to reveal more information on this front at MWC.

You can find Wang’s statement, loosely translated from Dutch, attached below:

We know brands such as Samsung and Sony are working on a foldable phone, you can also expect more news from Oppo on that topic, maybe at MWC.

While this statement doesn’t guarantee that the Chinese giant is ready to showcase their foldable phone, there’s no lack of innovation at Oppo’s camp. We’ve already seen a lot of firsts and crazy implementations (be it the Oppo N3 or Find X) from the company and we are hopeful of its efforts in the foldable direction as well.

During the interaction, Wang has also revealed that the company is working on placing a camera under the display glass instead of making a cutout for the same. However, Oppo hasn’t been successful in doing the same until date because the images taken with an in-display camera were blurred and it’s over the next two years that the technology will be ready for implementation.

We’ve reached out to Oppo for more information on the same and will update this story once we hear back from them.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/oppo-expected-to-share-details-of-its-foldable-phone-at-mwc-2019/

Microsoft Helps Delhi Police Arrest 63 in Crackdown on Fake Call Centers https://i0.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/scam-body.jpg?resize=640%2C367&ssl=1

Back in October, Microsoft helped Delhi police’s cyber cell bust 10 companies that were illegally running call centers whose employees posed as tech support staff and duped Windows users based in the United States. Continuing the crackdown, law enforcement officials from Gurgaon and Noida have now arrested 39 more people after raiding 16 call centers involved in a similar scam, but on a wider scale.

In an official blog post, Microsoft has revealed that Delhi police has so far arrested 63 people and busted a total of 26 call centers engaged in tech support scam after sharing real-time data analytics and other key inputs with the law enforcement officials.

Employees at the 16 additional call centers raided by the police not only scammed Windows users based predominantly in the US and Canada, but also targeted those using Apple, Google, Dell, and HP devices. Microsoft has revealed that it received more than 7,000 reports from affected customers based in over 15 countries, all of which were traced back to the 16 call centers raided by the police recently.

The cybercriminals impersonated tech support staff after they managed to pop up messages on users’ screens that their systems had been affected by malware and it needs immediate tech support. And after the unsuspecting victim granted the scammers remote access to their device in the name of ‘further diagnosis’, the fraudsters would then ask them to pay anywhere between $150 and $499 to fix the problem.

During the crackdown, the law enforcement officials found incriminating evidence at the fake call centers such as call log transcripts, materials used to train the employees for posing as genuine tech support personnel, live chat history detailing the conversation with victims and payment gateway records.

To protect users from such scams, Microsoft has warned against them to be wary of suspicious phone calls or pop-up messages on their device because Microsoft ‘will never proactively reach out to you to provide unsolicited PC or technical support’. In case users get such suspicious calls or notifications, they should immediately report it.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/microsoft-delhi-police-fake-call-centers/

Amazon Is Offering Gift Cards to Customers Affected in Email Data Leak https://i1.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/amazon-web.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1

Last week, Amazon announced that it inadvertently revealed user data due to a ‘technical error’. Now, the e-commerce is reportedly offering gift cards to the users affected by incident, even though it is yet to explain how the leak took place.

Tom Guide yesterday reported that it managed to talk to users who were offered Amazon gift cards of between $5 and $100 as an apology. In addition to that, some Redditors also confirmed that they were offered money in the form of gift cards by Amazon.

According to Tom’s Guide, “doesn’t seem to be much rhyme or reason to who and who is not receiving gift cards.” The company seems to be offering gift cards to users at random. So, if you happen to spend sometime conversing to Amazon’s customer service, you may end up ending the chat with a gift card to spend.

Amazon user Paul Gagnon, who spoke to Tom’s Guide, said, “after calling Amazon customer service to ask them how my information was disclosed to, and after asking to be bumped up to a supervisor, I was offered $100 as an apology.

I made Amazon give me $10 for the recent security breach… from r/amazon

From what I can understand, the Amazon customer service reps are offering these cards only to avoid the escalation of the issue by the customers. This is a common practice, and even I’ve been offered gift cards as an apology for things like delayed order delivery, misplaced items, etc.

This is, of course, not just a delayed order, and the fact that Amazon has refused to say more about how the data was leaked and who saw the leaked information, makes these coupons seem like hush money.

But I’d like to know your thoughts on this. Have you ever been offered a gift card as apology for any order related issues with Amazon? Let us know by dropping a comment down below.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/amazon-gift-cards-data-leak/

Moto G7 Play, G7 Power Specs Leaked: Can Motorola Bounce Back? https://i0.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Moto-G7-Play-2.jpg?resize=700%2C420&ssl=1

Jio Now Gives Rs. 2,200 Cashback on 4G Phones Bought On Quikr Bazaar https://i1.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/offer-body.jpg?resize=640%2C200&ssl=1

Jio has partnered with Quikr to introduce a new offer which provides an instant cashback of Rs. 2,200 for smartphones bought from Quikr Bazaar which run on Jio’s telecom network. The Jio-Quikr offer is now live on Quikr Bazaar, Quikr’s marketplace platform where one can buy a wide range of pre-owned and refurbished smartphones

How Does the Offer work?

The offer is only valid for refurbished 4G VoLTE smartphones purchased from Quikr Bazaar that are listed under the Certified Mobile category or devices that are a part of the Quikr Assured program. Customers then have to activate a Jio SIM on it and opt for any of the two recharge plans eligible for the cashback. Buyers can either get a new Jio mobile connection or use their existing Jio SIM card on the device to avail the cashback.

Recharge Plans Eligible for the Cashback

Once the buyer has activated a Jio SIM on their smartphone purchased from Quikr Bazaar, they can choose from the Rs. 198 or the Rs. 299 prepaid plan to avail the cashback. The Rs. 198 plan offers benefits such as unlimited calling and 2GB of 4G data per day with a validity of 28 days, while the Rs. 299 plan allows unlimited calling and offers 3GB of daily data for 28 days.

How the Cashback Will Be Credited?

Once the customer has opted for either of the two Jio prepaid plans, they will get a cashback of Rs. 2,200 that will be credited to their account through the MyJio app.

Validity

The Jio-Quikr cashback offer is only valid for devices purchased between November 29th and February 25th.

As for the eligible devices, you can choose from a wide range of refurbished smartphones from brands like Samsung, Xiaomi, Apple and Nokia among others from Quikr Bazaar. You can check out the complete list of eligible smartphones for the Jio-Quikr cashback offer here as well as on the Quikr app.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/jio-quikr-offer/

Google Urges You to Switch to Pixel 3 with New ‘Unswitchables’ Ads http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

It’s been a few months Google launched the Pixel 3 smartphones. And as we mentioned in our full review of the phone, the phone packs a ton of awesome features, making it almost perfect in every sense.

Google is well aware of that, and it has now decided to advertise those features in a series of commercials dubbed “Unswitchables.” But consider yourself warned because the ads are really, really long. The commercials have been posted on ‘Made by Google’ YouTube channel. Here’s the first one –

The ad campaign mainly focuses on showing why most people have a hard time switching to a new phone. Some say they’re too busy, while others are just too loyal to their existing smartphone brand. Yes, you get the idea. Google is indirectly taking a hit on iOS, and you can even see people switching from an iPhone. The videos, however, never explicitly mentions the iPhone.

All videos are hosted by James Davis, but each one shows a different subject with a different reason for not making the switch yet. Will they switch over to the Pixel 3? Of course they will, because these are all ads.

In the first video, for instance, chef and a small business owner Gladys is “Too Busy To Switch”. So, Davis decides to hand over the phone to her and gives her three weeks to make her decision. The video then shows different situations such as photography, getting things done with the Google Assistant, etc., in which, of course, the Pixel 3 excels.

The video titled, “Unswitchables: Too In Love To Switch” shows the story of Layne who’s having a hard time switching to a new phone as her partner is “too loyal to her brand”. But again, she uses a Pixel 3 for three weeks after which she, you guessed it right, decides to break up with her old phone.

The other two videos, “Unswitchables: Too Chill To Switch”, and “Unswitchables: Too Anxious To Switch” paint a similar picture. As I mentioned earlier, they’re too long but they’re very well produced and fun to watch.

You can watch all the ads right here. So, be sure to watch them let us know what do you think about them.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/google-pixel-3-unswitchables-ad/

WhatsApp, Google Asked to Store Payments Data Exclusively in India https://i1.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/data-body.jpg?resize=640%2C394&ssl=1

The Indian government is further strengthening its stance on data privacy and wants companies to store user data exclusively in India. Taking another step forward in that direction, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has sent letters to Google and WhatsApp, asking them to clarify their position on the data localization norms when it comes storing payments data collected by their UPI-based payments platforms.

A senior government official told Economic Times that NPCI, in alignment with RBI, wants all payments data to be stored exclusively in India and has made it abundantly clear in its latest missive to Google and WhatsApp.

“Companies say they store payments data in India, but are keeping a mirror copy abroad. India, however, is looking at keeping everything locally”, the government official was quoted as saying by ET. Back in October, WhatsApp revealed that the company has built a system to store all payments data in India to comply with the government’s regulations and pave the way for WhatsApp Payments’ wider rollout.

A month later, Google also decided to abide by the government’s data storage policy and asked for time to build the necessary infrastructure, but just like WhatsApp, Google too did not reveal whether it will store the payments data exclusively in India.

The ‘exclusivity’ condition for storing payments data locally is of prime importance here because WhatsApp recently confirmed that the company shares users’ payments data such as UPI PIN, transaction amount and virtual payments addresses (VPA) with Facebook and third party-party service providers. WhatsApp’s admission was questioned by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

“We are working to increase our data residency capacity in India to support our partners that are regulated by RBI”, a Google spokesperson told EconomicTimes when asked about NPCI’s letter. A WhatsApp spokesperson averted responding to queries regarding NPCI’s letter, but as per a government official, WhatsApp seeks a ‘level playing field’ in India after the company revealed that WhatsApp feels its payments service is being singled out by the government, while its rivals are enjoying an unfair advantage.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/whatsapp-google-store-payments-india/

YouTube Stories Expands to Creators With More than 10,000 Subscribers https://i0.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/youtube-stories-expansion.jpeg?resize=562%2C560&ssl=1

Thursday, 29 November 2018

Nokia 7.1 With PureDisplay Screen Launched in India for Rs 19,999 https://i0.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/nokia-7-new-new.jpg?resize=640%2C315&ssl=1

HMD Global has launched the Nokia 7.1 in India, and it will go on sale in the country starting December 7. The successor to the Nokia 7 from last year, it has a new and modern design, a superior display, and improved camera hardware thanks to dual Zeiss lenses.

Nokia 7.1 Launch Date and Price in India

This time around there’s no e-commerce exclusivity for the Nokia 7.1 smartphone and it will be available at mobile retail outlets in India and on Nokia’s online store. The Nokia 7.1 is priced at Rs 19,999.

Nokia 7.1 Specifications

The Nokia 7.1 follows in the footsteps of the recent Nokia 6.1 Plus and Nokia 5.1 Plus with a glossy glass-sandwich design. The device features a 6000 series aluminum frame, with 84% glass used across the board, which makes the Nokia 7.1 look gorgeous and tempting to pick up.

First, let’s take a look at the specs for the Nokia 7.1 right here, before diving into the special features:

Dimensions	149.7 x 71.18 x 9.14 mm
Weight	160 grams
Display	5.84-inch Full-HD+ w/ HDR 10
Processor	Snapdragon 636
RAM	3GB/ 4GB
Internal Storage	32GB/ 64GB
Rear Cameras	12 MP(f/1.8) + 5MP (f/2.4)
Front Cameras	8MP (f/2.0)
Operating System	Android 8.1 Oreo
Battery	3,060 mAh
Colors	Gloss Midnight Blue, Gloss Steel
Price	starts at 299 euros (approx Rs 25, 299)

Nokia 7.1 Features

The Nokia 7.1 includes a 5.84-inch Full-HD+ screen, with a small notch – quite similar to the Nokia 6.1 Plus, but the key highlight here is the introduction of the PureDisplay screen technology. PureDisplay automatically adjusts brightness and contrast to lighting conditions, increase the sunlight visibility, and up-scales non-HDR content to stream HD content from YouTube, as well as Amazon Prime and Netflix.

Unlike the Nokia 8.1, the Nokia 7.1 is powered by the Snapdragon 636 processor, paired with up to 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage.

In the optics department, the device packs a Zeiss-backed dual rear-camera module, which includes a 12MP primary sensor (f/1.8 aperture) and secondary 5MP depth sensor. There’s also an 8MP selfie shooter, which will come in handy for Nokia’s popular Bothie mode. You get many AI features, Pro camera mode, Live Bokeh and many other features.

This device, like every other Nokia-branded smartphone, is part of Google’s Android One program and it runs Android 8.1 Oreo out-of-the-box. It’s, however, disappointing to see as the company has already released Android Pie stable builds and could have launched Nokia 7.1 with the same. The update will land sometime in November, says HMD Global.

There’s also a modest 3,060mAh battery in tow, along with usual connectivity options including a USB Type-C port and 3.5mm headphone jack. You even get a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.

Ajey Mehta, Vice President and Country Head, India, HMD Global, said, “We know a lot of our fans in India enjoy creating videos and watching content on their smartphones. That’s why it was important for us to bring both ZEISS optics and PureDisplay technology together in a versatile device that offers a superior content experience, regardless of whether you’re taking photos for your social media or watching the latest series on your favourite streaming service.”

Nokia 7.1 Launch Offers in India

The Nokia 7.1 comes in Gloss Midnight Blue and Gloss Steel. Airtel prepaid customers on Nokia 7.1 can enjoy 1TB of 4G data on eligible plans starting Rs. 199 and Airtel postpaid customers can enjoy additional data of 120GB along with three months of Netflix subscription and one year of Amazon Prime subscription on plans starting Rs. 499.

Consumers purchasing Nokia 7.1 using HDFC Bank Credit and Debit cards on EMI transactions done through Pinelabs terminals in offline stores will receive a 10% cashback.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/nokia-7dot1-india-launch-price/

Many OnePlus 6T Users Affected by Weird Pixel Wave Bug in AMOLED Display http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

A few months ago, some OnePlus 6 users started observing a weird screen flickering issue which was later fixed via an OxygenOS update in August. Now, a few OnePlus 6T users have started to notice a pixel wave on the device’s AMOLED display which appears randomly and vanishes quickly.

Multiple affected users have mentioned on the official OnePlus forum that they see random waves of brightly colored pixels moving across the screen, but so far, the cause of the issue is yet to be determined. In the video below, you can see the OnePlus 6T’s pixel wave display issue near the end of the clip:

Multiple users have pointed out that they see a line of red or green pixels going down from the top to bottom or bottom to top, while a few have reported that they’ve just seen a random cluster of brightly colored pixels on the OnePlus 6T’s display. As of now, it is not clear whether the waves are generated by a software bug or they have something to with the hardware, in which case, getting the device repaired at an authorized OnePlus service center would be the only solution.

After having gone through the entire thread about the issue on the OnePlus forum, it seems a majority of users are seeing the rogue pixels while unlocking the device. Could it be related to the under-display fingerprint scanner? We can’t know for sure yet.

Also, the color of random pixels appearing on the display differs, with some users experiencing brightly colored red and green pixels, while a few others have reported seeing grey, pink or purple pixels. It appears that a factory reset fails to fix the issue either.

OnePlus is yet to issue an official response regarding the OnePlus 6T’s pixel wave problem. We’ve reached out to the OnePlus 6T support team and will update you regarding the OnePlus 6T’s display issue once we get an official response.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/oneplus-6t-pixel-wave-bug/

Nvidia Launches ‘GeForce Fortnite Bundle’ With Special Items, V-Bucks https://i1.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/fortnite-bundle-e1543554077856.jpg?resize=640%2C357&ssl=1

The Fortnite fever is still going strong and if you are looking to upgrade your gaming PC to enjoy this battle royale title with friends, then the holiday season sales may be the perfect time for it. Nvidia and Epic Games have now teamed up to bring you the ‘GeForce Fortnite Bundle’ in time for the game’s seventh season and it offers you a ton of goodies.

As per an official press release, Nvidia has decided to sweeten the deal for the upcoming season for those buying the GeForce GTX 1070 Ti, GTX 1070, or GTX 1060 GPUs, desktop PC, or laptop. The company is offering them the GeForce Fortnite Bundle with rare outfit items and in-game currency V-Bucks, so they can pick up new emotes and outfits in the future.

As you can see in the photo attached above, Nvidia and Epic are offering you the following in this bundle:

2,000 V-Bucks
The Fortnite Counterattack Set, consisting of:
- Reflex Outfit (Rare)
- Pivot Glider (Rare)
- Angular Axe Pickaxe (Uncommon)
- Response Unit Back Bling

For those interested, it’s important to note that ‘GeForce Fortnite Bundle’ is available for a limited time. You can grab this offer, starting today through January 29 or until stocks last.

Well, if Fortnite isn’t your cup of tea, then the Monster Hunter:World bundle could attract your attention, where you’ll receive a copy of the game and all the goodies in the Fortnite bundle. Nvidia also has a Battlefield V Bundle, where you will get a copy of the game title on purchasing a GeForce RTX 2080 Ti, GeForce RTX 2080, or a GeForce RTX 2070-based graphics card or desktop PC.

So, are you hyped for Fortnite’s seventh season? What dazzling stunt is Epic going to do grab our attention this time? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/nvidia-geforce-fortnite-bundle/

MediaTek Helio P90 Launch Teased; Expected to Debut on December 13 http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

The first smartphone powered by MediaTek’s latest chipset, the Helio P70, just made its debut earlier this week but the company is now teasing the unveiling of its next flagship chipset – the Helio P90. It is expected to be made official at a launch event in Shenzhen, China on December 13.

Though it’s too soon for MediaTek to be launching another flagship-grade chipset for mid-range devices, the company has taken to Twitter to tease the launch of its upcoming Helio P90 chipset, which it says will be powerful, efficient and feature “groundbreaking AI” applications.

Coming Soon! The MediaTek Helio P90. Powerful. Efficient. Groundbreaking AI. #MediaTekHelioP90 #thischipchangeseverything pic.twitter.com/HiALFuRWHZ

— MediaTek (@MediaTek) November 29, 2018

The teaser falls in line with recent rumors and sightings of Helio P80’s benchmark scores (which were only a tad bit behind the upcoming Snapdragon 8150 chipset), however, it’s interesting to see the company jump straight to P90 and totally skip the P80 moniker.

TL Lee, MediaTek’s General Manager of Wireless Communication, told 91mobiles that the chip maker is taking a step up in the naming classification to show off that Helio P90 is not just an iterative upgrade and that it’s significantly better than their Helio P70 SoC that was unveiled earlier in October this year.

Lee further confirmed that the Helio P90 chipset will be unveiled on December 13 at an event in China. The chipset will soon become available to OEMs for testing after the launch, however, devices powered by the same won’t make it to the market until later in 2019.

MediaTek expects the first batch of devices backed by the Helio P90 chipset to find their way to the market in the second quarter of 2019. Maybe the Realme U2 could be the first phone to be powered by this chipset, wouldn’t that be awesome? The rumor mill also hints that the Oppo R19 could be the

from Beebom https://beebom.com/mediatek-helio-p90-launch-expected-december-13/

Top Google Maps Local Guides Get Free 100GB Google One Cloud Storage https://i2.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/google-one-drive.jpg?resize=640%2C371&ssl=1

As internet connections get faster and affordable, cloud storages are rapidly replacing physical storage drives. Apart from its benefits of mobility and access from many different devices – even simultaneously, online storage is almost becoming a necessity with major services like WhatsApp using it to back up yout data.

If you’re a Google user, you already get 15GB of free storage via Google Drive. But there’s a high chance that you might be already running out of available space, especially if you’re tied apps like Google Photos, Docs, Keep Notes etc. To solve this, Google recently began offering paid Drive storage, just like iCloud, to consumers under the banner of Google One.

Google One

Back in September, Google announced that Google One would be coming to India soon and a month later, those using paid Google Drive plans in India received an invitation to join the Google One. Over time, the service has been made publically accessible and in order to subscibe, you can start by visiting this link and choose any of the plans starting at Rs 130 per month for 100GB storage to Rs 19,500 per month for 30TB, depending upon your utility. You can also add your family memebers to share this storage.

Besides these paid benefits, Google also appears to be offering the basic plan to many of its patrons. As a reward to its cherished contributors under the Local Guide program, it is offering 100GB of Google One storage for free for a period of six months. This stoarge can be utilized for services such as Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. Further, it can be shared with 5 other Google users.

Google One

Not only is this a good tactic to promote Local Guide rewards program, it should also attract more users to Google One. Once they cross the threshold of complimentary 15GB, users are more likely to pay for the subscription once the free trial of six months expires instead of freeing up space by willingly letting go of important files.

So, if you’re at Local Guide level 5 (that’s what out tipster is at) or above, you are also likely to receive the promotional access to Google One’s 100GB storage. If you haven’t already, dig through your Gmail inbox to see if you are eligible for the offer.

Thanks, Veera Brahmaji Vadlapud, for the tip!

from Beebom https://beebom.com/top-google-maps-local-guides-get-free-100gb-google-one-cloud-storage/