Apple Airpods Pro Teardown Shows They Are Impossible to Repair https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/AirPods-Pro-Repair-website.jpg

A teardown of the recently-launched AirPods Pro has confirmed that they are just as difficult to repair as their predecessors. Performed by iFixit, the teardown shows that the pods are made partly with recyclable materials, but remain as un-repairable as ever due to size and build process, which includes copious amounts of glue to hold everything together.

Awarding the noise-canceling buds an absolute ‘0 out of 10’ on the repairability scale, iFixit said: “While theoretically semi-serviceable, the “non-modular, glued-together design and lack of replacement parts makes repair both impractical and uneconomical”. Of course, it’s nothing new for the AirPods lineup, given that the original Airpods and AirPods 2 also received identical scores after being judged to be almost impossible to repair.

Interestingly, although all three generations of the device have been found to be equally difficult to repair, the teardown showed that there are several design changes in the latest version as compared to its predecessors. For one, the battery on the new model is glued just under the earpiece. As for the battery case, it uses a button cell unit (like those found in wristwatches) that’s rated at 1.98Whr instead of the 1.52Whr units found on AirPods 2.

Meanwhile, in a surprisingly candid statement, Apple reportedly confirmed to Wired (see embedded tweet below) that the AirPods Pro are not repairable, only replaceable, and are no better in this regard than the earlier versions. According to iFixit though, the latest model is ‘a tiny bit’ more repairable than its predecessor, but apparently not enough to shed off the ignominy of a ‘Zero’ score.

An update to Monday’s report: Apple has confirmed that the new AirPods Pro are no more repairable than previous versions of the wireless earbuds. The pods are made partly with recyclable materials but due to size and build process (i.e glue) it doesn’t repair. Just replace.

— Lauren Goode (@LaurenGoode) October 30, 2019

Featured Image Courtesy: iFixit

from Beebom https://beebom.com/apple-airpods-pro-teardown-repair-report/

Motorola Razr Folding Phone Shown off in Leaked Images https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Motorola-razr-leaked-online-before-official-launch.jpg

Want to go back to simpler times and savor the joy of playing with a flip phone? Well, it seems your wish will soon come true as Motorola is resurrecting its Moto razr flip phone brand with its first-ever foldable smartphone. It will simply be called Motorola razr (yes, RAZR in small caps unlike the old days) and we’ve got a first look at this much-awaited device.

All thanks to Internet’s most reliable tipster Evan Blass (@evleaks), we have received a number of leaked renders for the Motorola razr, which will finally be unveiled on 13th November next month. The images are high-res and give us a good look at numerous important features of the Motorola razr foldable.

In terms of design, the new Motorola razr looks much like the last RAZR V3 phone that launched back in 2004. It includes a lot of similarities, including the outer display (also found on Galaxy Fold), a massive chin (which now seems to be holding some internals, along with a fingerprint scanner that may act as the unlock and shutter button), and a single camera sitting below the outer display.

The Motorola razr foldable will feature a new hinge design, as has already been shown through its launch teaser poster. It’s seen shedding the older V3 RAZR skin for a sleek matte black finish. The display on the outside will most likely be a touchscreen and is probably going to act like your on-the-move selfie or quick notification panel.

The highlight of the Motorola razr will, however, have to be the massive foldable panel that’s sitting on the inside. Another similarity to your Galaxy Fold or the upcoming flip phone concept shown off by Samsung earlier this week. It’s rumored to be a 6.2-inch OLED foldable display with a notch, which will have another selfie camera, and that’s pretty much all we know. We’re still in the dark about other display specs right now.

As for the internal specs, the folks over at XDA Developers have some leads and they suggest that Motorola razr won’t be a flagship. The razr foldable is rumored to be powered by the Snapdragon 710 chipset, paired with up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. There’s also expected to be a 2,730mAh battery under the hood, with 27W TurboPower charging support.

Image Courtesy: Mobielkopen

Well, if you go simply by the looks, I would say the Motorola razr has a more attractive design than the Galaxy Fold. The Lenovo-owned company following its competitor HMD Global (maker of Nokia phones) lead and banking on nostalgia is a great move. But, it’s also a welcome upgrade as it has adopted an innovative new foldable design, instead of carrying forward its old philosophy. What are your thoughts on the Motorola razr? Let us know in the comments below.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/moto-razr-foldable-phone-leaked-images/

Apple TV+ Now Streaming in India: Pricing, Supported Devices and More https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Apple-TV-shutterstock-website.jpg

After being officially unveiled last March, Apple TV+ is finally available to users around the world, including in India. The Cupertino giant has already released trailers for a whole host of shows and original programming across a wide range of genres, and is expected to compete with established streaming services, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Videos and the upcoming Disney+. In case you’re interested to know more about Apple TV+, here’s what you can look forward to:

Apple TV+ Price in India

Generally lampooned for its inexplicably high-priced offerings, Apple sprang a massive surprise last March when it announced that its Apple TV+ will be available at just $4.99 (around Rs. 350) per month in the US, and that too, for the family plan. For a change, Apple has priced it even lower in India, at a throwaway price of only Rs. 99 per month for up to six users.

Of course, if you plan to buy a new Apple device, like a new iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac or Apple TV, you won’t even have to pay that amount, as Apple will bundle a 1-year subscription of Apple TV+ with all its new hardware sales. After that, however, you will have to subscribe to use the service.

Apple TV+ Shows and Original Programs

Apple has already released a slew of trailers for its upcoming programs on Apple TV+, all of which have already gathered combined views in excess of 100 million on YouTube. One of the much talked-about programs is The Morning Show, a drama series about the life and times of a fictional TV host, played by Jennifer Aniston. It also stars Academy Award-winner Reese Witherspoon and comedian Steve Carell in pivotal roles.

Another much-anticipated show is a sci-fi drama called ‘See’ that is reportedly being shot at an eye-popping budget of $15 million per episode. Described as an epic, ‘world-building drama’ set in the future, it stars Jason Momoa from ‘Game of Thrones’, Alfre Woodard from ‘Clemency’, Sylvia Hoeks from ‘Blade Runner 2049’ and others.

Some of the other notable titles piquing the interest of netizens include: Untitled CIA series, Central Park, Time Bandits, Amazing Stories, Dickinson and more. These, and other programs on the platform will feature an array of A-list celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg.

Apple TV+ Supported Devices

Sadly for most Android and Windows users, Apple TV+ will largely be restricted to Apple devices (with some exceptions), unlike Apple Music. That said, it should be compatible with all iPhone, iPad, Mac devices of relatively recent vintage, given that the company hasn’t explicitly published a compatibility list. Also, all upcoming Apple devices will already have the app pre-installed.

Besides Apple devices, the service will also be will also be available on Samsung’s 2019 smart TV lineup and Amazon Fire TV devices. The company has also confirmed that future smart TVs from Sony, LG and Vizio will also get Apple TV+ support.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/apple-tv-india-pricing-devices-supported/

How to Add Custom Glyphs to Shortcuts on iPhone and iPad https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/How-to-add-custom-glyphs-to-Shortcuts-on-iPhone-and-iPad.jpg

Apple offers a handful of default glyphs for Shortcuts. For most users, those predefined goodies are more than enough for basic customization. But those (like me) who love to personalize their stuff with a unique design, may find the collection below par. And this is where the need to add custom glyphs to Shortcuts on iPhone and iPad arises. So, if you would like to give some personal touch to your shortcut icons but don’t know where to begin, let me guide you through.

Add Custom Glyphs to Shortcuts in iOS 13 or iPadOS 13

A Few Things Worth Taking Note of Upfront

Now, the thing that might already be running in your mind is where to get the custom glyphs from? Well, the internet is flooded with tons of options; therefore, you can easily get a variety of icons that can give a nice customized look to your hacks and also represent them vividly. Moreover, some sites even sell beautifully-designed icons. So, getting some cool ones shouldn’t be a big ask. To get a free glyph right now, open Safari (or any of your favorite web browser) and search the type of icons you want to get. Once you have found a better one, touch and hold the icon. Then, choose the “Add to Photos” option to save the icon in your photo library.

Now that you have got a good-looking icon, keep in mind a couple of things. First and foremost, you can not only use glyph and icons but also use any image in your photo library. And the second, the trick works only for changing the Home screen icon of a particular shortcut. While it may not be a full-fledged solution, it’s more than handy to bring in some cool personalization into the mix. With that said, let’s get started with the steps!

1. Launch the Shortcuts app on your iPhone or iPad.

2. Now, head over to the shortcut which icon you would like to change and then tap on the tiny three dots.  Next, tap on the three horizontal dots at the top right of the screen. After that, choose “Add to Home Screen”.

4. Next up, tap on the glyph. Now, a menu will pop up from the bottom of the screen with multiple options:

• Take Photo: Capture a photo using your device camera and then use it as the shortcut icon. 
• Choose Photo: Select the photo/glyph you have saved in your camera roll. 
• Choose File: Select the glyph saved in the Files app.

As I have saved the glyph in the Photos app, I’m going to select the “Choose Photos” option.

5. Up next, you need to choose the custom glyph you had downloaded earlier. Finally, tap on Add at the top right corner and you are ready to go!

SEE ALSO: How to Compress and Extract ZIP Files on iPhone and iPad

Personalize Your Favorite Shortcuts with Custom Icons

So, that’s the way you can make your favorite shortcuts look more personalized and elegant. Though it would have been better had Apple allowed to change the icon in the Shortcuts app as well, I’m pleased with the option to change at least the Home icon. Have any feedback for us? Be sure to put it across.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/how-add-custom-glyphs-shortcuts-iphone-ipad/

New Lithium-ion Battery Will See Electric Vehicles Charging in Just 10 Minutes https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Tesla-Unveiled-The-Roadster-2-The-Fastest-Production-Car-In-History-1.jpg

While some scientists are working on alternatives to lithium-ion batteries, looking for the solution in graphene structures, others are working to improve the existing technology. I recently came across a study in the journal Joule, which talks about a new Li-ion battery design that will enable electric vehicles to add charge equal to 200 miles in just 10 minutes.

Developed by researchers over at The Pennsylvania State University, the new lithium-ion battery design uses elevated temperature to increase reaction rate and quickly charge up the battery. However, if you have read how lithium-ion batteries work, then you might be aware that higher temperatures will degrade the battery life.

Well, we don’t have to worry about the battery life with this design as scientists plan on charging the battery at an elevated 60 degrees Celsius for a few minutes and then discharging it at a lower temperature. Researchers have managed to circumvent lithium plating issues with this design using a self-heating nickel structure, which takes just 30 seconds to heat up.

“In addition to fast charging, this design allows us to limit the battery’s exposure time to the elevated charge temperature, thus generating a very long cycle life,” says Chao-Yang Wang, a mechanical engineer at The Pennsylvania State University. Wang’s team already conducted a number of tests, charging graphite pouch cells at 40-60 degrees Celsius and then using different strategies to cool them. The cells were then fully discharged and it’s observed that lithium plating doesn’t occur ar these temperatures and it lasts up to 1700 cycles.

Wang further added, “In the past, it was universally believed that lithium-ion batteries should avoid operating at high temperatures due to the concern of an accelerated side reaction.” However, the study suggests that lithium plating can be mitigated by using batteries at elevated temperatures for a limited time period.

Since the initial tests have been a major success and the self-heating structure in this equation is working as expected, thus, Wang’s team now aims to not only scale this project but also take a huge step ahead. They now look forward to charging a bigger energy-dense electric vehicle battery in five minutes without damaging it. The team is striving to put an end to the debate around electric vehicles and the lack of sufficient charge to continue driving without waiting hours to charge in between.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/new-lithium-ion-battery-design-fast-charging/

ipstack: The Best Way to Geolocate and Identify Website Visitors https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ipstack-The-Best-Way-to-Geolocate-and-Identify-Website-Visitors.jpg

The internet has turned the world into a global marketplace. Now, not only you can sell your products in your local region, but anywhere in the world. It’s especially true for software products that can be delivered to customers with just a push of the button. While this is great, it also opens a lot of challenges. One of the biggest challenges that come with serving a global market is the inability to identify your customers. If you do not know your customer’s origin, you cannot effectively target them with proper prices and advertisements. For example, the purchasing power capabilities of customers vary widely depending on their country of origin and you might want to offer lower prices to potential customers from lower-income countries. That’s where a tool like ipstack can help you.

ipstack offers a geolocation API and its global IP database services that can help you identify and locate your website visitors based on their IP address. Since IP addresses are unique to each machine, you can bet that you are getting correct data. It can even identify if a visitor is trying to spoof their IP address, so there is no chance of getting corrupted data here. In this article, we are going to take a quick look at ipstack and find out what it has to offer us.

ipstack IP to Geolocation APIs: What Are the Advantages?

As I mentioned above, the IP to geolocation APIs offered by ipstack can help you identify the location of your visitors. You can use this information to offer location-based prices, discounts, target ads based on location, and much more. You can even customize the whole user experience based on the user location if you wish. The best thing about ipstack and the thing that matters the most is that its data is accurate. Its API covers over 2 million unique locations in more than 200.000 cities around the world. It has partnered with most major ISPs around the world to get you the most accurate results.

And that’s why it caters to more than 100,000 customers around the world. Some of the biggest names in its customer portfolio include Microsoft, Airbnb, Samsung, Activision, and more. But, don’t worry if you are not running an enterprise-level company. In fact, the second biggest advantage of ipstack is that it can serve you irrespective of your size. Whether you are an individual business owner, an enterprise, or anything in between, ipstack has a plan to satisfy your needs.

ipstack API: The Different Modules

The ipstack API consists of multiple modules, all of which serve a specific purpose. Together, they give you a complete picture of your customer so you can deliver a tailored shopping experience. Here are the modules that ipstack brings.

• Location Module

This is the main module of ipstack API. It identifies a visitor’s location thereby giving you access to a set of localization data (country’s flag, language, capital, etc.) to implement geographic restrictions on your site, optimize ad targeting, or deliver user experiences based on the location of your website visitors.

• Currency Module

The currency module gets you an instant and accurate information about the primary currency used in the location along with the currency symbol, currency code, and more. This is quite helpful if you are running an e-commerce website. For example, you can show a currency converter in the checkout page to show how much a product will cost in the customer’s currency.

• Time Zone Module

As the name suggests, the time zone module helps you find out about the time zone your users are located. It consists of information such as such as GMT offset, current user time, time code, and time zone location.

• Connection Module

The connection module can help you log the unique autonomous system number (ASN) of visitors’ ISPs along with their names. You can use this for analytics or setting up filters.

• Security Module

Security Module helps you protect your data. First of all, it identifies any proxy connections which is helpful to filter out junk data. It also identifies IP addresses of crawlers along with the crawler type, threat type, and the threat level. You can use this data to either tighten your security or just outright filter them so they are not able to visit your website.

Other Features

Apart from the above modules, which identify all the major features of ipstack, here are some of the important points that you should know about ipstack.

• It has a robust infrastructure so it can grow as per your needs. It is currently handling between 2 to 3 billion API requests per day. So, you can be sure that your needs can be met.
• All the connections are encrypted with industry-leading 256-bit SSL encryption (HTTPS). So, your data is always safe.
• ipstack supports multiple formats. Based on your choice, the ipstack API can deliver results in JSON or XML format.
• It has a world-class extensive API documentation and a quick start guide that can get you up and running within minutes.
• It can handle both IPv4 and IPv6 data.
• It offers good customer service.

Well, those are the features that you can expect from ipstack. The last thing that is left to discuss is its pricing. And pricing is ipstack’s one of the best selling points as it offers tiered pricing structure which you can choose depending on your needs. That is how ipstack makes sure that even an individual can afford its product. So, without further ado, let’s discuss pricing, shall we?

Pricing and Availability

ipstack’s pricing is one of its biggest strengths. It enables even individuals and small businesses to use the product without breaking the bank. First, there’s a free plan which is a good way to test the service and find out if it’s for you or not. The free plans get you basic features and limit you to 10,000 requests/month. The big missing feature of the free plan is that there is no encryption. So, if you want to safeguard your data, you will have to go for the paid plans. The paid plans start at just $9.99/month ($95.90/year – 20% off). It gives you access to all the features excluding the Bulk Endpoint and the Security Module features. In this plan, you can send 50,000 requests/month. This plan is great for individuals and small businesses.

If you are a big business, you can go for the Professional Plan which costs $49.99/month ($479.90/year – 20% off). It gives you 500,000 requests per month. Excluding the Security Module, you can access all the features in this plan. Finally, there’s the Professional Plus plan which is for enterprise and large businesses that need to handle 2,000,000 requests/month. It will cost you $99.99/month ($959.90/year – 20% off). You get access to all the features in this plan. If your company requires to send even more requests, then you can drop them a line and they will come with tailor-made pricing for your needs.

Check out ipstack

ipstack: Identify Your Users’ Location to Better Serve Them

In this interconnected world, your products and services are not bound by your country’s borders, it becomes essential to identify your users’ location so you can better serve them. Giving users a more personalized experience not only improves your website but also makes your users feel at home. It leads to better conversion and sales. The first step in doing all that is to identify your users’ location and ipstack is the tool for that. Check it out and let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/ipstack-geolocate-identify-website-visitors/

WhatsApp Confirms Indian Journalists, Activists Were Spied on By Israeli Hackers https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/whatsapp-security-flaw.jpg

Just yesterday, WhatsApp revealed that an Israeli cyber-surveillance giant attempted to snoop on Indian journalists and human rights activists. The messaging giant sued NSO Group, the firm for carrying out the cyber-attack but has now confirmed that an Isreali state-of-the-art spyware, called Pegasus, was used in the attack.

WhatsApp has disclosed that Pegasus was used in the snooping attack, only a day after filing a lawsuit in the U.S Federal Court in San Francisco. The alleged attack took place during a 14-day period, ending in mid-May, and NSO Group any denies involvement.

The Pegasus spyware requires you to click an exploit link, enabling the hacker to use known vulnerabilities in WhatsApp to penetrate security features on the phone. You won’t even notice but Pegasus will be installed on your device, opening up access to all confidential information and device functionality.

“Indian journalists and human rights activists have been the target of surveillance and while I cannot reveal their identities and the exact number, I can say that it is not an insignificant number,” a WhatsApp spokesperson revealed to The Indian Express. The report further adds that at least 2 dozen academics, lawyers, Dalit activists and journalists in India were contacted and alerted by WhatsApp about this attack.

Here is the good news. Whatsapp was able to raise the alarm of hacking and they promptly took measures–Technical & Legal. Having being approached by them, they suggested measures to be safe online.

— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) October 31, 2019

Some of them have even taken to social media to confirm the same, as you can see in tweets attached above. WhatsApp updated its app to patch the vulnerabilities and also launched a probe into the hack to find all those affected by the Israeli hacker – around 1400 users.

As per a report in IANS, the snooping controversy has snowballed into a political attack. Congress is using it to target the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and blaming them for an attempt to snoop on human civil rights activists. Several Congressmen tweeted on this matter, calling out the current ruling party on social media. You can check out some of these tweets right here:

1)BJP Govt wanted Aadhar linked with 📞 2)objected to right to privacy as fundamental right; 3) 20/12/2018 issued Notification authorising data snooping 4) WhatsApp snooping thru Israeli Software;Next-Cameras in our Homes in name of Rashtravaad? tricks of ‘Bhrasht Jasoos Party’?

— Jaiveer Shergill (@JaiveerShergill) October 31, 2019

Big Bro is watching, reading and analysing your #WhatsApp message.

Beware!

— Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) October 31, 2019

In response, BJP has challenged the messaging giant to reveal the names of the users affected by this attack. WhatsApp has, however, declined the request to reveal the identity and “exact number” of those who were targeted. And why would it? It is a Facebook-owned company that values the privacy of its users.

While many are already placing the BJP in its crosshairs, looking for someone to blame without any investigation, the IT Ministry is said to have reached out to WhatsApp and seeks a reply on the spyware attempt by November 4 next week. The messaging giant needs to explain all the details of the Pegasus spyware attack and how it affected some Indian journalists and activists in response.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/whatsapp-confirms-indian-journalists-activists-were-spied-on-by-israeli-hackers/

7 Best AirPods Pro Cases and Skins You Can Buy https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/7-Best-AirPods-Pro-Cases.jpg

AirPods Pro not only warrants a whopping $249 price tag but also a mindboggling repair cost – $89 for each earphone (out-of-warranty). Add to that the $89 servicing cost for the wireless charging case and your wallet might already begin to feel light – if not empty. Jokes aside, when you are dealing with premium earbuds like Apple’s all-new offerings, it’s wise to go for an additional shield upfront. This way, even if your AirPods meet with an accidental fall, they will remain safeguarded and also scratch-free. To save your precious time and also help you find a suitable cover, we have rounded up some of the best AirPods Pro cases and skins available in the market right now. So, be sure to get one before taking the earbuds for a long music spree as unexpected things tend to happen when you expect them the least.

Best AirPods Pro Cases and Skins You Should Buy

Don’t want to go for full-on protection? No problem. Different people have different tastes. Keeping in mind the requirement of minimalists, we have also included some top-notch skins for AirPods Pro. Despite being incredibly thin, these wraps are quite scratch-resistant. Therefore, they can raise the style quotient without exposing the AirPods to random scuffs. That all being said, let’s find out which one of these cases and skins look primed for your new AirPods!

1.ESR Protective Cover

Even before Apple could reveal AirPods Pro, ESR announced a range of eye-catching AirPods Pro cases. And if you want to protect your all-new wireless earbuds from scratches and even random bumps, be sure to take a close look at this protective cover. It has a lightweight and compact design that offers 360-degree defense to the AirPods case. Plus, the silicone material not only endows it a bit more cushion but also offers improved gripping. The keychain design helps you carry your earphones securely. What’s more, this durable AirPods Pro cover also works with wireless charging and comes in multiple attractive color variants including black, red, yellow, light pink and more.

Buy from Amazon: $8.99

2. SLEO Shockproof Case

Featuring a shockproof design, Sleo AirPods Pro case is for the folks who want to go for an additional safeguard to keep the earphones shielded against impact. The combination of PU leather and soft TPU material has armored the case to resist shock. Despite having a rugged appearance, it doesn’t look bulky at all. Thanks to the handy keychain, you can securely carry your AirPods. Furthermore, the cover also supports wireless charging so that there is no need to remove the case from the AirPods before charging. And if you have a liking for colors, the company also offers five color variants including blue, black, red, coffee, and brown so that you can get the right suit for your AirPods.

Buy from Amazon: $8.99

3. Clear Carrying Case from ESR

It indeed feels nice to flaunt something that rules vox pop, doesn’t it? So, if you want to shield your AirPods Pro without covering the design, look no further than this clear case. Made of high-quality rippled TPU material, it has a snug-fit profile with non-slip texture. Being fully dust-resistant, the cover has got the quality to keep the transparency intact. The built-in keychain along with a useful carabiner allows you to carry the AirPods with the needed convenience. As for hue options, ESR clear case isn’t behind either thanks to the three adorable options: clear, black, and green.

Buy from Amazon: $11.99

4. ASKCUT

Sporting a sophisticated profile, ASKCUT seems quite promising. What makes it a nice choice is the soft-textured silicone material that wraps around the AirPods like a form-fitting glove. While the soft finish offers improved grip, the detachable stainless steel carabiner makes sure your earphones stay secure. Though the cover is more about style and less about protection, you can expect it to thwart scratches. Besides, ASKCUT silicone cover also gets along perfectly with the wireless charging case. Not to mention, the low price ($4.39) that makes it one of the most affordable AirPods Pro cases in the market.

Buy from Amazon: $4.39

5.YGoal

Still hunting for the AirPods case that can offer the best bang for your bucks? If yes, this offering from YGoal might just be the answer to your search. Well, it looks spot on from a design perspective. The soft silicone material has given it an elegant appearance. And with a textured finish, the exterior feels pretty comfortable to the touch. Just like all the counterparts mentioned in this coveted lineup, it also works well with the wireless charging case. Given all these notable qualities, the $3.95 price tag makes it easily the best value for money AirPods Pro cases in the market.

Buy from Amazon: $3.95

6. SLEO Silicone Case

Unlike SLEO’s shockproof case, this one has a bit delicate look courtesy the textured silicone skin. The smooth leather texture enhances the appearance of the AirPods, while also offering a much-improved grip. But is this silicone skin good enough to resist scratches? Though the manufacturer claims that the case can withstand bumps and also ward off scratches, you can fully trust it to keep scuffs away. And if it’s able to also endure minor shock, consider it an added bonus. Lastly, Sleo silicone skin also comes with an anti-lost rope and carabiner so that you are able to carry the AirPods safely.

Note: The company has not updated the picture of their case to reflect new arrivals. The above picture is just to demonstrate the finish and color of the product that you can expect.

Buy from Amazon: $7.99

7: Best AirPods Pro Skins and Wraps from dbrand

Looking at the wide range of dbrand skins and wraps for AirPods Pro, all I can say is that they are worth giving serious consideration, especially if you aren’t a big fan of cases. The company’s offerings from the wireless earbuds seem to be in line with those for iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max. If the textured profile of the dragon skin doesn’t catch your eyeballs, the silky touch of the titanium may be good enough to win you over. Not to underestimate the range of true color variants would be great picks for giving a vibrant look and feel to your earphones.

The use of 3M vinyl has strengthened the structure while also ensuring the skin works perfectly with wireless charging. Better still, unlike cheap skins and wraps, dbrand Signature Skins for AirPods Pro don’t leave any residue behind when removed. At $12.95, the wraps are a little pricey. But the quality that they boast makes them a great choice.

Buy from Dbrand: $12.95

SEE ALSO: 10 Best AirPods and AirPods 2 Leather Cases You Can Buy

Choose the Best Cases, Skins, and Wraps for Your AirPods Pro

Even though it’s too early to derive a full-on verdict as to where AirPods Pro sits in the pecking order, the word of mouth suggests that the latest iteration of AirPods is going to sell well. With the delivery date already delayed several weeks, wireless earphones couldn’t have asked for a better start. Just in case you would like to find out the difference between AirPods and AirPods Pro, make sure to check the detailed guide. Besides, stay tuned with us as we will soon line up the best AirPods Pro alternatives that can not only compete with Apple’s earphones but also topple them on many fronts. By the way, which case or skin is going to pair with your AirPods? We would love to know your picks.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/best-airpods-pro-cases-skins-you-can-buy/

“Unremovable” Android Malware xHelper Has Infected 45,000 Devices https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Malware-shutterstock-website.jpg

Over the past couple of years, reports of malware affecting Android devices have skyrocketed. We’ve had the Agent Smith malware, ZooPark, QR code apps that were actually malware, Skygofree, and just so many others. Now, there’s yet another strain of malware affecting Android devices, and this one, reports suggest, is basically unremovable.

The xHelper malware basically gets installed in situations where users are trying to sideload untrusted apps using fishy websites. The sideloaded app installs the malware on the device, after which it can do whatever the developers want it to do.

So far, it seems that the malware is showing ads and spam notifications to earn revenue by spamming users, but security researchers warn that the malware has the ability to install secondary payloads on infected devices — these payloads can be anything. From DDoS modules, to password stealers.

What’s even more worrying perhaps, is the fact that the malware is nearly unremovable. Affected users are reporting that the malware automatically reinstalls itself after being deleted, and somehow is able to reinstall even after a factory reset. Antivirus software have been mostly unsuccessful at removing the malware as well, with some users reporting that their antivirus was able to remove the malware, but others reporting that it isn’t even detecting the malware on their devices.

Reports about the malware have been doing rounds on the internet for a few months, with people discussing its unremovable state on Reddit, Play Store Help, and other Android forums.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/android-malware-xhelper-45000-devices/

Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Global Launch Set for November 14 https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Mi-Note-10-is-launching-on-November-14-rebranded-Mi-CC9-Pro.jpg

Xiaomi is launching the much-rumored Mi CC9 Pro smartphone in China on November 5 next week, expanding on the youth-focused Mi CC9 lineup that was unveiled earlier this year. However, it will become available in international markets within the next 10 days, rebranded as the Mi Note 10.

Yes, the rumors about the launch of Mi Note 10 were indeed true and Xiaomi Poland has taken to its Facebook page to confirm that the device launches on November 14. We say that it’s going to be a rebranded Mi CC9 Pro because Xiaomi already tweeted that it’s going to be the world’s first 108MP penta-camera smartphone. And you must have heard that Mi CC9 Pro sports a 108MP primary camera (OIS-backed), a 12MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, a 20MP ultra-wide-angle lens with a 117-degree field-of-view, 2MP macro lens, and a depth sensor.

The Mi CC9 Pro is going to compete with the P30 Pro, offering 10x hybrid zoom and 50x digital zoom via its single telephoto lens – not a periscope setup, as per the leaks. We’re excited to see how the device achieves this amazing feat but we are not sure whether it would come to India or not.

Taking a look at all other hardware specs, Mi Note 10 will feature a 6.47-inch curved OLED display (curved on both edges) with a waterdrop notch. It looks exactly like the Huawei P30 Pro on the front, with a 32MP selfie camera sitting in its notch. It will be powered by the latest Snapdragon 730G chipset, paired with up to 8GB RAM and up to 256GB storage.

The official renders posted by Xiaomi on Weibo have further revealed that the Mi Note 10 comes equipped with an enormous 5,260mAh battery with 30W fast charging support. The device also has a 3.5mm headphone jack, dedicated microSD card slot, an in-screen fingerprint sensor, and more.

Apart from the Mi Note 10, which is definitely launching next month, the rumor mill has suggested that Xiaomi could surprise us all by launching another Snapdragon 855 Plus-backed Mi Note 10 Pro as well. We suggest you take this rumor with a grain of salt and return back on November 14 for the price and availability details.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/mi-note-10-global-launch-november-14/

Apex Legends Will Get a Temporary ‘Two-Player’ Format From November 5 https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Apex-Legends-Original-website.jpg

At its quarterly earnings report for Q2 FY2020 on Wednesday, EA announced that its hit battle royale game, Apex Legends, has 70 million players worldwide. As part of its plans to position the game as one of the key growth drivers for the company next year, developer Respawn also announced a new ‘Duos’ game mode that will allow two-people to play as a team instead of having to find a third cog every time.

As can be seen from the tweet below, the two-player mode will go live from Tuesday, November 5th, and will be a departure from the strict three-person format that has been the norm from Day-1. While the game did get occasional, limited-time solo events, this is the first time that two-member teams are being introduced since the game’s launch back in February, largely to satisfy persistent demands from players.

Starting next week, for a limited time, it takes ✌.

Dive in to Duos 11/5. pic.twitter.com/uJkk7txcNE

— Apex Legends (@PlayApex) October 30, 2019

It will be interesting to see, however, as to how well the developers are able to transition the gameplay to the two-member format, given how the entire game revolves around three-member squads – including how firefights are designed, the way subclass abilities combine together, the ability to provide cover and the ways to heal squad members once they are injured.

Do note that like most of the solo events, the Duos mode is also a time-limited feature, although, there’s no official word about how long it will be available. There’s also no info about when (or if) the two-member format will be introduced in the future again, although, the recurrence of the solo mode would suggest that this might not be the only time the option will be available.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/apex-legends-temporary-duos-mode/

Windows 10 Insider Build 19013 Adds Power Toys, New Kaomoji, and More https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/windows-10-insider-preview-update-microsoft.jpg

Microsoft has already pushed the near-final release version of the Windows 10 November 2019 Update and is now focusing its efforts on the next major 20H1 update. We’ve been keeping track of the new features being tested with Insiders for some time now and well, the latest build, number 19013, brings improvements to the Linux subsystem, emoji tray, and Your Phone features.

The highlights of Insider Build 19013 is the return of Power Toys. They’re special utilities that were made popular in the Windows 95 and Windows XP era, but had been nixed to make way for new features over the past few years. Well, they’ve now made a return to Windows 10 20H1 Insider builds this month, starting with 2 features, PowerRename and FancyZones.

While PowerRename makes it possible for users to rename files in bulk, the FancyZones feature lets you drag apps into defined target positions on your PC. You can take a close look at the FancyZones feature right here.

Apart from this, the Windows subsystem for Linux (WSL) has bagged a major update. It will now free up memory for the system when it’s no longer required by the Linux virtual machine. Earlier, the VM would use more memory if needed, but didn’t shrink back down when its use was met. This feature will offer an overall smoother Windows 10 experience.

Windows 10 lets you access an emoji and symbol pop-up by pressing Win+(period) or Win+(semicolon) on your PC. This is one of my most used features, but it’s getting an upgrade that makes it more fun. You can now also access Kaomoji from the emoji tray, which means sending a shruggie (¯\_(ツ)_/¯) will soon be easier.

Finally, the Insider build overhauls the screen sharing feature in the ‘Your Phone’ app by eliminating its dependency on Bluetooth connectivity. Microsoft and Samsung have now worked closely to expand the Link to Windows feature to more of its Galaxy phones. It’s now working on the following phones –

• Galaxy Fold
• Galaxy S10, S10 Plus, S10e
• Galaxy Note 10, Note 10 Plus
• Galaxy A30s, A50s, and A90

While this is great news for Samsung users, it’s a disappointing move for many others who have been enjoying the Phone Screen feature over Bluetooth. This feature will soon disappear from your PC, as well as mine as I do not own a Samsung device. There are numerous other bug fixes and other known issues in this build, which you can read all about right here.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/windows-10-insider-19013-power-toys-kaomoji/

Google Search Will ‘Soon’ Stop Indexing Flash Content https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Flash-Player-shutterstock-website.jpg

As part of its plans to fully deprecate Flash on the internet, Google says its search crawlers will no longer index Flash content or Shockwave Flash (SWF) files in the coming months. The company also announced plans to stop serving flash ads of all descriptions. According to an announcement on the official support pages for Google Ads, the policy will also be applicable to the Flash ads that were thus far automatically converted to HTML5.

“If you used Flash in your Google Ads campaigns, you’ll need to upgrade to HTML5 … If you already have Flash ads uploaded to Google Ads, we highly recommend that you create new responsive ads instead. Alternatively, you can upload HTML5 ads that you create in Google Web Designer or on your own directly into Google Ads”, said the company to its advertising partners, notifying them of the impending change.

Originally created by a software development firm called FutureWave back in the early nineties, Flash was developed and maintained by a multimedia company called Macromedia from the mid-90s to 2005, when the firm was acquired by American software giant, Adobe. While it was once the default standard for multimedia content on the web, it has since been deprecated by all major browsers, including Chrome (from v76), Firefox (from v69) and the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge. Adobe has also announced plans to end all support for Flash from December 2020.

If the inherent security risks associated with Flash were not a good enough incentive for web designers to ditch Flash and embrace HTML5, Google’s decision to stop indexing all Flash content should be the ultimate impetus that should force the hands of lackadaisical website operators to get with the program.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/google-search-no-index-flash-content/

Apple TV+ to be Bundled With $4.99 Apple Music Student Subscription https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/apple-tv-plus.jpg

Apple unveiled its video streaming service, Apple TV+, back in March, alongside its game-streaming platform, Apple Arcade. The company had already announced plans to bundle a 1-year subscription of the former with any iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and iPod Touch purchase, but the company is now also offering to bundle the service with Apple Music’s student subscription plan, which costs $4.99 a month.

The news is believed to have been first reported by Academy Award-nominated actress, Hailee Steinfeld, on her Instagram page. Subscribed separately, Apple TV+ will cost $4.99 per month, while Apple Music comes with a price-tag of $9.99 a month per device for regular subscribers or $14.99 for the Family Plan. The student plan bundle is only a limited period offer, but Apple is yet to announce a concrete end date.

In case you don’t know it already, Apple TV+ will officially launch in the US tomorrow, November 1st. Contrary to expectations, the Cupertino giant has priced the service at just $4.99 per month for the entire family (multiple devices), which is significantly lower than the plans offered by the biggest name in the industry, Netflix, whose standard plan now starts at $12.99 per month after a price revision earlier this year.

According to earlier reports, Apple is spending generously on content for its new streaming platform. A new sci-fi show in particular, called ‘See’, is reportedly being shot at an eye-popping budget of $15 million per episode. The show has been described by Apple as an epic, ‘world-building drama’ set in the future, and stars Jason Momoa from ‘Game of Thrones’. Some of the other programs on the platform will star celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carell.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/apple-tv-plus-bundled-music-subscription/

AirPods Pro vs AirPods 2: Which One Should You Buy? https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/AirPods-vs-AirPods-Pro.png

With everything from the flagship iPhone, iPad, and MacBook assuming a “Pro” tag, it was only a matter of time before Apple’s most popular wireless earphones joined the bandwagon as well. Days after iOS 13.2 beta gave credence to the rumors of the higher-end AirPods, Apple launched AirPods Pro via a press release. Much to no one’s surprise, the wireless earphones sport an all-new design along with some notable features that make it stand out. But those extra goodies warrant a premium price tag – $249. If you are planning to buy the earphones but aren’t sure which one of the two – AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro – can offer the best bang for your bucks, you have arrived at the right place. Putting AirPods Pro vs AirPods 2, we have taken a close look at what they offer and more significantly; what separates them from each other.

AirPods Pro vs AirPods 2 : What’s the Difference Between the Two?

The first thing that struck my mind when I first heard the release of Apple’s new wireless earphones was – “What is so pro about AirPods Pro?” Maybe the Cupertino-based company is trying to target a new segment of customers who don’t mind spending some additional bucks for high-end features. Or, maybe the company wants to streamline its entire lineup of products that can entice both budget-minded and flagship lovers alike.

The one obvious advantage that regular AirPods have enjoyed ever since they were announced in 2016 is the relatively affordable price (currently sells at $144). With the latest iteration shrugging off the affordable price tag in favor of some top-of-the-line specs, is it worth spending more than $100? Let’s jump right in to find the difference between regular AirPods and AirPods and of course the answer about which one should you buy!

Compatibility

This one is surely going to disappoint many iPhone owners (and some might even end up wondering why their more than capable iPhones have been left out). One of the biggest differences between AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro is compatibility. While the former works seamlessly with even older devices like iPhone 5, the latter supports iPhone 8 or newer, which leaves even capable iPhones like iPhone 7 with A10 chip in the lurch. So, if you are all set to purchase the AirPods Pro, do not forget to check out the compatibility.

AirPods 2 Supported iPhones, iPads, and iPods

• iPhone 5 and later
• 5th-generation iPad and later,
• All iPad Pro models
• 1st-gen iPad Air and later 
• iPad Mini 2 and later 
• 6th and 7th-gen iPod touch 

AirPods Pro Compatible iPhones, iPads, and iPods

• iPhone 8 or later 
• iPad Mini 5 or later 
• 10.5-inch iPad Air 3
• 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2 and 3
• 10.5-inch iPad Pro
• 11-inch iPad Pro
• iPod touch 7

Design

Probably the most striking difference between the AirPods and AirPods Pro is the design. Whereas the former look old-fashioned and lack ergonomic profile, the latter sport a trendy design. The Pro variant looks more compact and feels way more comfortable to wear courtesy the ergonomic form-factor. They also come with three sizes of silicone tips to offer optimal fit to the ear cavity.

Depending on your convenience, you can switch between the silicone tips – small, medium and large – to have a comfortable fit. They are designed to provide a great seal for active noise cancellation (more on this later). And with the vents in the tips, the pressure is equalized on both the sides of the earphones. Unfortunately, that is not the case with the regular AirPods. While they fit most people, they don’t fit everyone. Moreover, there is always a fear of losing them due to their slippery and less ergonomic design.

As against AirPods’ 1.59 height, AirPods Pro have a shorter 1.22 inches height but they measure slightly wider and deeper at 0.86 by 0.94 inches as compared to 0.65 by 0.71 inches of the regular version. The pro version weighs at 0.19 ounces, while the regular variant weighs 0.14 ounces. Another noticeable difference is that the stem of the AirPods Pro is a little shorter than that of the AirPods 2, which makes it look better in your ears. As for the AirPods Pro case, it measures  1.78 inches in height while the width is 2.39 inches and the depth is 0.85 inches. The case of the regular AirPods is a little taller at 2.11 inches. However, it’s just 1.74 inches wide and has 0.84 inches depth. Pro’s case is a little heavier at 1.61 ounces as against 1.41 ounces of the regular version.

Design-wise, the regular AirPods pale in comparison. Even though they are quite popular, one thing that can’t be denied is that they have probably the worst design among all the premium wireless earphones. While I have always loved them due mainly to the seamless music listening experience and fairly impressive sound quality, I have never come to terms with their odd design. And if you ask most users, you may get the same answers.

So, if you wish to be in sync with the trendy design and also would like to have a super comfy tip to wear the earbuds for hours, AirPods Pro should be your pick. That’s as straightforward as it can ever get!

The Core Functionality

This one is a no brainer, is it? As both the AirPods Pro and AirPods 2 come with the H1 (headphone) chip, their basic functionality is the same. So, you can seamlessly connect your wireless earphones with your iPhone or other compatible devices. It also offers a voice-activated Siri for controlling music. H1 chip is said to cut down audio latency for gaming by up to 30% which could be a great deal for gamers. Other goodies include the built-in optical sensor and motion accelerometer that work in sync to offer a much-improved audio experience.

The main thing that has changed is the way you control your music and summon Siri. While the older AirPods 2 had a touch sensitive earbud which you could tap to control music, the new AirPods Pro move the touch sensitive area to the stem. So, now instead of tapping, you will be using tough and hold gestures to control music. The change is neither good nor bad. You just have to adjust to the new gestures and that’s all.

Active Noise Cancellation

What gives AirPods Pro a decisive edge over the cheaper siblings is the active noise cancellation. The wireless earphones detect noise from both outside and inside the ear. Then, they create an equivalent “anti-noise” before you hear the sound. Thus, you can enjoy a peaceful conversation or listen to your favorite podcasts even at a crowdy place.

Furthermore, the earphones come with a transparency mode that can let you hear the outside sound. So, you can comfortably interact with the people around you. To enter transparency mode on AirPods Pro, users need to simply press and hold the force sensor on the AirPods Pro. Do note that the force sensor not only makes it easier to switch between ANC and Transparency modes but also enhances other tapping actions.

AirPods Pro features an extra inward-facing microphone designed to listen towards the ear. Thus, you get clearer audio. Not to mention the Adaptive EQ that automatically fine-tunes the low- and mid-frequencies of the music to the shape of an individual’s ear to enhance music listening experience big time.

Sound Quality

Without an iota of doubt, AirPods Pro deliver better sound quality than their cheaper siblings. With the Adaptive EQ and a custom high dynamic range amplifier, the earphones provide crisp and clear sound. It also powers a custom high-excursion, low-distortion speaker driver that refines audio quality by removing the background noise. According to Apple, the driver offers consistent, rich bass down to 20Hz and crisp mid- and high-frequency audio.

Considering the regular AirPods have never received high praise for their sound quality, the battle of sound quality seems to be a lop-sided affair at least on the paper. But there are a couple of things that need to be reiterated before making a sure-fire conclusion. First and foremost, the regular AirPods with the charging case are more than $100 cheaper (currently priced at $144 on Amazon). And second, the price that AirPods Pro warrants puts them in the elite league where it’s up against the premium earphones like Powerbeats Pro (currently priced at $199.95 on Amazon) which is known to have excellent sound quality.

Sweat And Water Resistance

AirPods Pro are sweat and water-resistant with a rating of IPX4 under IEC standard 60529. While they are more than good enough to survive sweat and even take on rains (to a good extent), they are definitely not meant for water sports and swimming. Also, bear in mind that the charging case isn’t sweat and water-resistant. So, handle it with care.

Comparatively, the regular AirPods are not water-resistant. However, the second-generation model has a water repellent coating around the circuit board. So, whether you are a fitness freak or want to have the earbuds that can accompany you to the gym or even during fun-filled adventures, AirPods Pro are the right way to go.

Battery Life

In terms of battery life, the battle between the regular AirPods and AirPods Pro seems to be quite even-steven. According to Apple, the Pro variant delivers the same battery life as the standard model with up to five hours of listening time. But when the active noise cancellation mode is on, the Pro version provides up to four and a half hours of listening time and up to three and a half hours of talk time on a single charge. And with the wireless charging case at the disposal, they also deliver up to 24 hours of listening and around 18 hours of talk time.

Comparatively, Powerbeats Pro offers up to 9 hours of listening time (more than 24 hours with the included charging case). While AirPods Pro are able to hold the fort against the standard AirPods, they look pale in comparison to Powerbeats Pro when it comes to battery life.

Repair Cost

Expectedly, the AirPods Pro earbuds also demand higher repair costs. Without AppleCare+, you will have to pay $20/$30 more than what you had to pay for the standard AirPods. The out-of-warranty servicing cost for each AirPod Pro is $89 as against $69 for the AirPod. The repair cost of the wireless charging case for AirPods Pro is $89 vs $69 for the wireless charging case of the regular earbuds. Given the high servicing cost, it seems apt to go for the $29 AppleCare+ so that you can get your earbuds repaired at less amount (up to $60).

Price-to-Value Proposition

Let’s put it straight to make it a tad easier for you! If you were willing to get the AirPods 2 with a wireless charging case that launched at $199, I would recommend you to to pay extra $50 in favor of a trendy design, active noise cancellation, transparency mode, impressive sound quality (as per what Apple claims) and much-improved sweat and water-resistance. Given the range of notable features, you will be quite happy with the deal.

However, if you are craving to have the same core features that the AirPods Pro deliver without having to dole out a lot of bucks, then go for the AirPods 2 as you can get it for just $140 right now. As for whether AirPods Pro offers the best price-to-value proposition or not, check out our best AirPods alternatives to find out for yourself.

SEE ALSO: 10 Best AirPods and AirPods 2 Leather Cases You Can Buy

AirPods Pro vs AirPods 2: Which One Did You Get?

Putting the premium pricing aside, the latest iteration of AirPods seems to be a step in the right direction. If the impressive design feels nice to the ear cavity and for style quotient, the active noise cancellation with transparent mode along with clear and crisp sound quality further enhances the reputation of Apple’s wireless earphones that are already among Fortune 500 companies. By the way, which one of the two earphones have you chosen: the standard earphones or the premium earbuds? We would indeed be glad to have your feedback in the comments down below.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/airpods-pro-vs-airpods-2/

WhatsApp Pay Will Soon Launch in India, Says Mark Zuckerberg https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/whatsapp-payments-2.jpg

Facebook is inching closer to launch much-anticipated WhatsApp Pay in India and will soon have a positive news to share, the company’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg has said. Data compliance issues and regulations have kept WhatsApp Pay launch in abeyance for quite some time, despite a successful test run of the payments service with one million users in the country.

“We have our test going in India. The test really shows that a lot of people are going to want to use this product. We”re very optimistic that we”re going to be able to launch to everyone in India soon, but of course will share more news when we have that”, Zuckerberg told analysts on an earnings call on Wednesday.

The peer-to-peer, UPI-based WhatsApp Pay service will reach over 400 million users – especially the small and medium businesses (SMBs) – to boost digital inclusion in the country. The government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have expressed concerns over some of WhatsApp’s features in complying with the regulations.

WhatsApp had earlier said it had built a local system to store payments-related data to comply with the RBI’s data localization requirement, but later in an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, the RBI said WhatsApp’s Pay is yet to comply with its data localization norms.

“We differentiate between payment systems that are built on top of the existing financial infrastructure like what we”re trying to do with WhatsApp payments or when we make payments in Instagram Shopping, and our work with something like Libra that is trying to build some new technological infrastructure for financial services”, Zuckerberg elaborated.

Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has said if WhatsApp meets the regulatory norms from RBI and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), then it should be allowed to start digital payment operations in the country.

It is nearly a necessity for WhatsApp to launch the payment service as it is in direct competition with giants like Alphabet”s Google Pay, Walmart-owned PhonePe, Amazon Pay and Alibaba-backed Paytm. These companies are in a fierce competition to dominate the digital payments industry in the country which is estimated to hit $1 trillion by 2023.

According to a report by Omidyar Network and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), nearly half of MSME owners with annual business revenue between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 75 crore would use WhatsApp Payments once it is fully rolled out.

During the earnings call, Dave Wehner, Chief Financial Officer at Facebook, said daily active users reached 1.62 billion, up 9 per cent compared to last year, led by growth in India, Indonesia and the Philippines. “This represents approximately 66 per cent of the 2.45 billion monthly active users in September”, Wehner informed.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/whatsapp-pay-india-launch-soon-zuckerberg/