A new report from the AI Now Institute which is an influential research institute based in New York has just identified facial recognition as a key challenge for society and policymakers. The report calls out for the US government to take general steps to improve the regulation of technology over the privacy implications.
The report further states that the implementation of AI systems is expanding rapidly, without adequate governance, oversight, or accountability. It identifies the strong need for consumer protections against misleading claims regarding AI and urges companies to waive trade-secret claims when the accountability of AI systems is at stake. It asks that they govern themselves more responsibly when it comes to the use of AI.
The report suggests that public should be notified when facial-recognition systems are being used to track them and that they should have the right to reject the use of such technology. Though the technology is not completely exploited, it still comes with issues, for example, some facial-recognition systems have been shown to encode bias. "It’s time to regulate facial recognition and affect recognition. Claiming to ‘see’ into people’s interior states is neither scientific nor ethical," said Kate Crawford, co-founder of AINow and one of the lead authors of the report.
Microsoft too opined that ...
A new report from the AI Now Institute which is an influential research institute based in New York has just identified facial recognition as a key challenge for society and policymakers. The report calls out for the US government to take general steps to improve the regulation of technology over the privacy implications.
The report further states that the implementation of AI systems is expanding rapidly, without adequate governance, oversight, or accountability. It identifies the strong need for consumer protections against misleading claims regarding AI and urges companies to waive trade-secret claims when the accountability of AI systems is at stake. It asks that they govern themselves more responsibly when it comes to the use of AI.
The report suggests that public should be notified when facial-recognition systems are being used to track them and that they should have the right to reject the use of such technology. Though the technology is not completely exploited, it still comes with issues, for example, some facial-recognition systems have been shown to encode bias. "It’s time to regulate facial recognition and affect recognition. Claiming to ‘see’ into people’s interior states is neither scientific nor ethical," said Kate Crawford, co-founder of AINow and one of the lead authors of the report.
Microsoft too opined that ...
Intex has launched 10 feature phones which mainly focuses on high on quality and aggressive on pricing. The series includes 10 feature phones in the ECO-series which includes Eco 102X, Eco 105+, ECO 106X, Eco
107, and 107+, Eco Slimzz, ECO 210x. It falls in the price range of Rs 745 to Rs.1145 and is dedicated to the 'Real India.'
The feature phones sport a 1.8-inch display and come with multi-language Support, 1800mAh battery, Control, Mobile Tracker, Camera and, GPRS, Battery Saver, One Key Auto Call recorder, wireless FM, dedicated music keys, one key, screenshot, vocal dialler.
The company is also launching the new Turbo series which includes Turbo 108, Turbo 210+, Turbo G10+, and Turbo Slimzz that sport a 2.4-inch display. The new Turbo series comes with multi-language support, auto call record, data protection, vocal dialler, wireless FM, one key Screen-shot, one key auto call recorder, smart-divert, blacklist/whitelist, mobile tracker, 1000-1700mAh battery, attractive UI, and more.
Commenting on the launch of the series, Ms.Nidhi Markandey, Director, Intex Technologies said:
To mark the coming new year, we wanted to give a wide choice to feature phone users and give them an impressive range to choose from. With this, feature phone users will get smart features like Wireless FM Support, Menu ...
Xiaomi launched the Redmi Note 6 Pro, successor of the Redmi Note Note 5 Pro in India last month starting at Rs. 13999, and it went on sale starting from November 23rd evey week on Flipkart, Mi.com and Mi Home stores. Today the company has announced that the phone will go on open sale in the country through both the platforms from December 12th.
Mi fans! #RedmiNote6Pro the Quad camera all-rounder is now even more accessible! Get it on open sale starting 12th December, 12 noon on @Flipkart and https://t.co/cwYEXeds6Y.
RT to spread the word! pic.twitter.com/9ZoNFiLhxT
— Redmi India (@RedmiIndia) December 10, 2018
This is the first time, a Redmi Note series smartphone is going on open sale within weeks of launch. This might be due to the launch of Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 smartphone in the country this week and the recently-launched Realme U1 smartphone. In the first sale last month, Xiaomi claimed that it sold 6 lakh units of Redmi Note 6 Pro smartphones.
To Remind you, the phone packs a 6.26-inch Full HD+ screen with a notch, 19:9 aspect ratio, 12-megapixel camera with f/1.9 aperture, 1.4μm pixel size secondary 5-megapixel camera, AI features including AI portrait and AI scene recognition, 20-megapixel front camera with 4-in-1 ...
Last week we reported that Xiaomi started rolling out Android Pie beta update for closed beta tester. The update was also rolled out as stable update in some countries such as Netherlands. In addition to Android Pie 9.0 features including Adaptive Battery that uses machine learning to prioritize system resources for the apps, Adaptive Brightness, new Pill based navigation gestures and recommended Apps and Actions based on user context using machine learning, the update also finally brings Dual 4G VoLTE support in as well support for FM Radio.
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We tested it both on Jio and Airtel, and Dual 4G VoLTE worked fine, but it doesn't work on Idea. However, some users in Netherlands are reporting that Band 8 and Band 20 are not supported after the update so 4G doesn't work on Vodafone.
The Mi A1 Android 9.0 (Pie) update has the build number PKQ1.180917.001.V10.0.2.0.PDHMIFK, brings December security patch and is 1074.9MB in size. Since we couldn't install this build from the direct link, we managed to flash another build from here which is 1.3GB in size. According to Xiaomi, this is a nightly build, which Xiaomi calls beta Stable release before the final update. Check out the changelog below.
Your Mi A1 will ...
Xiaomi rolled out MIUI 10 Stable OTA update for the Redmi 5 smartphone last month bringing Full-screen gestures, Redesigned Notification Panel, Redesigned Volume Sliders, Improved multitasking management, natural sound system, and a lot more in MIUI 10. The phone got Android 8.1 Oreo beta update about 10 days back.
Now the company pushed out a new Global Beta update for the phone that brings support for Dual 4G VoLTE finally, making it one of the affordable smartphones in India with Dual 4G VoLTE support. You can enable this from the SIM settings.
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The new update has the build number 8.1.0 OPM1.171019.026. You can download recovery ROM here and flash it using the recovery method, or download the fastboot ROM here and flash it using the fastboot method.It has November Android security patch, same as previous beta. We can expect the stable Android Oreo update with Dual 4G VoLTE for the Redmi 5 soon.
Update - December 10, 2018 - After Global Open Beta ROM, POCO has released new 8.12.7 Global Public Beta update for the phone. You can download the recovery ROM here and flash using updater method.
Update - November 19, 2018: After closed beta, Xiaomi has released Global Open Beta ROM for the POCO F1 users to gather feedback ahead of stable roll out in the next few weeks. It has version number 8.11.15 and is about 1.7GB in size. You can download the recovery ROM here and flash using updater method or download the fastboot ROM here and flash it using the fastboot method.
Earlier: Android Pie is yet to make it to Android distribution chart, OEMs have slowly started rolling out Android 9.0 Pie for their flagship devices. Xiaomi’s sub-brand POCO launched POCO F1 running on Android 8.1 (Oreo) with a skin on top, called MIUI For POCO. At the event, the company promised to roll out Android 9.0 Pie in Q4. Today, it has started rolling out MIUI Global Beta 8.10.30 based on Android 9.0 Pie to closed MIUI Beta testers.
Company spokesperson Jai Mani has already confirmed that the device will receive Android Q update as well.
We'll do at least P and Q
— Jai Mani (@jaimani) October 28, 2018
Android 9.0 Pie based MIUI ...
Xiaomi's POCO launched the F1, the company’s first smartphone in India back in August starting at Rs. 20,999. After offering discounts during sales, Xiaomi has announced Rs. 1000 permanent price cut for the smartphone in the country to celebrate 700,000 unit sales globally. The base variant now starts at Rs. 19,999. The POCO F1 is available from both Flipkart and Mi.com at new rates.
POCO F1 6GB + 64GB – Rs. 19,999 (Rs. 1000 off)
POCO F1 6GB + 128GB – Rs. 22,999 (Rs. 1000 off)
POCO F1 8GB + 256GB – Rs. 27,999 (Rs. 1000 off)
POCO F1 8GB + 256GB Kevlar Armored Edition – Rs. 28,999 (Rs. 1000 off)
The smartphone got Android 9.0 Pie Global Open Beta update recently, another update enabled 960fps slow-motion video recording in addition to 120fps and 240fps, Super low-light mode in the camera settings for improved low-light performance.
HMD Global just launched Nokia 8.1, the company's latest mid-range Android One smartphone The successor of the most popular Nokia 7 Plus was introduced last month and packs a 6.18-inch Full HD+ 18.7:9 aspect ratio Puredisplay, DCI-P3 wide color gamut and HDR10 video playback, 86.5% screen to body ratio, is powered by Snapdragon 710 10nm Mobile Platform and runs Android 9.0 (Pie). It has a 12-megapixel rear camera rear camera with ZEISS optics, Sony IMX363 sensor, f/1.8 aperture, OIS along with a 13-megapixel secondary camera for portrait shots and zoom.
The camera has AI scene detection to automatically detect 18 scenes. There is a 20-megapixel front camera with f/2.0 aperture and pixel binding that can combine four pixels to form 1.8μm large pixel. It also has AI beauty and AI portrait Mode, 6 AI studio lights, AI expressions and new dual-view mode. It has a 6 series aluminum-magnesium alloy frame, glass back, rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, and packs a 3500mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging.
Nokia 8.1 specifications
6.18-inch (2246 × 1080 pixels) Full HD+ Puredisplay with 18.7:9 aspect ratio, 500 nits brightness, 96% NTSC Color gamut, DCI-P3, 1500:1 Contrast ratio, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection
Octa Core Snapdragon 710 10nm Mobile Platform (Dual 2.2GHz Kryo 360 + Hexa 1.7GHz Kryo 360 ...
Ending the year on a high note, the Nokia 8.1 focusses on the fundamentals and makes improvements on the essentials. From the HDR capable display to the more than adequate processor, the phone combines great internals with a classic design language. What's not to like? Let's dive into our review of the Nokia 8.1 to see what makes it tick.
Nokia 8.1 specifications
6.18-inch (2246 × 1080 pixels) Full HD+ Puredisplay with 18.7:9 aspect ratio, 500 nits brightness, 96% NTSC Color gamut, DCI-P3, 1500:1 Contrast ratio, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection
Octa Core Snapdragon 710 10nm Mobile Platform (Dual 2.2GHz Kryo 360 + Hexa 1.7GHz Kryo 360 CPUs) with Adreno 616 GPU
4GB (LPPDDR4x) RAM, 64GB (eMMC 5.1) storage, expandable memory up to 400GB with microSD
Hybrid Dual SIM (nano + nano / microSD)
Android 9.0 (Pie)
12MP rear camera with dual-tone LED flash, 1/2.55″ Sony IMX363 sensor, f/1.8 aperture, 1.4μm pixels, OIS, 13MP secondary rear camera with f/2.2 aperture, ZEISS optics
20MP front-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture
Fingerprint sensor
Dimensions: 154.8 x 75.76 x 7.97 mm; Weight: 180g
3.5mm audio jack, Nokia OZO Stereo Audio recording
Dual 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5, GPS + GLONASS, USB Type-C
3500mAh (typical) / 3400mAh (minimum) battery ...
We already know about the ongoing battle between Qualcomm and Apple. Qualcomm today announced that Fuzhou Intermediate People’s Court in China has granted two preliminary injunctions against four Chinese subsidiaries of Apple Inc., ordering them to immediately cease infringing upon two Qualcomm patents through the unlicensed importation, sale and offers for sale in China of the iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X. This doesn't apply to new iPhone XS, XS Max and XR.
The patents enable consumers to adjust and reformat the size and appearance of photographs, and to manage applications using a touch screen when viewing, navigating and dismissing applications on their phones, said Qualcomm.
It added that actions seeking similar relief for Apple’s infringement of other Qualcomm patents are pending in China and other jurisdictions around the world.
Don Rosenberg, executive vice president and general counsel, Qualcomm Incorporated, said:
We deeply value our relationships with customers, rarely resorting to the courts for assistance, but we also have an abiding belief in the need to protect intellectual property rights. Apple continues to benefit from our intellectual property while refusing to compensate us. These Court orders are further confirmation of the strength ...
OPPO launched the A7, a mid-range smartphone with Waterdrop Screen in India recently. Here we have the unboxing of the smartphone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0hIopGpPto
Box Contents
OPPO A7 in Glaring Gold color
2-pin charger (5V-2A)
Micro USB Cable
SIM Ejector tool
Clear Protective Case
Quick Guide and Warranty information
The smartphone has a tiny notch in the display for the 16-megapixel camera, and the earpiece is present on the edge of the top bezel, so the screen to body ratio is high at about 88.3%. Even though the phone has a large 6.2-inch screen with a minimal notch, it has HD+ 1520 x 720 pixel resolution, compared to Full HD+ in other smartphones in the price range, also this is powered by Snapdragon 450 SoC.
It has dedicated dual SIM and microSD card slots, 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash along with a secondary 2-megapixel camera for portrait shots. There is also a fingerprint sensor.
It has a glossy finish on the back with unique patterns. It packs a huge 4230mAh battery, so it is a bit heavy which is 168 grams. Priced at Rs. 16,990, the phone is a bit costly for the specifications. It is available from Flipkart.
Video and Photography by Bharadwaj
ASUS launched launched the Zenfone Max Pro M1 in April and its flagship Zenfone 5Z (ZS620KL) smartphone back in July in India running Android Oreo with ZenUI 5.0. Last month already confirmed that the 5Z will get the update by the end of January 2019. Today at the Zenfone Max Pro M2 and Max M2 launch event, the company confirmed that the Max Pro M2 will get the Pie update in January, and the Max Pro M1 will get the update in February.
Users will get a notification when the update is available. They can also check for the update manually by going to Settings > System > System Updates > Check for Updates.
The latest Android Pie update brings several new features, including Adaptive Battery that uses machine learning to prioritize system resources for the apps, App Actions that helps you raise the visibility of your app and help drive engagement using machine learning, Slices are a new way to surface rich, templated content in places like Google Search and Assistant, all-new contextual pop-up volume bar, new Magnifier feature for easier copy-and-paste and lots more.
We will let you know once the the update starts rolling out for these smartphones.
Asus, along with the Zenfone Max Pro M2, also launched the Max M2 in India. It packs a 6.26-inch HD+ 19:9 aspect ratio display with a notch, is powered by Snapdragon 632 SoC with up to 4GB of RAM, has a 13-megapixel rear camera along with a secondary 2-megapixel camera for capturing depth information in portrait shots and an 8-megapixel camera on the front, both the LED flash.
It has a metal back with plastic finish on the top and the bottom, comes with dedicated dual SIM and microSD slots, Dual 4G VoLTE, rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and a 4000mAh battery.
ASUS Zenfone Max M2 (ZB633KL) specifications
6.26-inch (1520×720 pixels) HD+ 19:9 2.5D curved glass display
1.8GHz Octa-Core Snapdragon 632 14nm Mobile Platform with Adreno 506 GPU
3GB LPDDR3 RAM with 32GB storage / 4GB LPDDR3 RAM with 64GB storage, expandable memory upto 2TB with microSD
Android 8.1 (Oreo)
Dual SIM (nano + nano + microSD)
13MP rear camera with LED flash, f/1.8 aperture, EIS, Pro mode, secondary 2MP camera
8MP front camera with f/2.0 aperture, LED flash
Fingerprint sensor
3.5mm audio jack, NXP Smart Amp, 5-magent speaker, FM radio
Dimensions: 158.41×76.28×7.70mm; Weight: 160g
Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS + GLONASS
4000mAh battery
The ASUS ...
ASUS just launched Zenfone Max Pro M2, successor of Max Pro M1 in India, as it had promised. The Max Pro M2 has a 6.26-inch FHD+ display with Corning Gorilla Glass 6 protection, is powered by Snapdragon 660 with 4GB of RAM, runs stock Android 8.1 (Oreo), which is upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie) in January, has a 12-megapixel rear camera along with a 5-megapixel secondary camera and a 13-megapixel front camera, both with LED flash. It also has support for fast unlock. The company said that it will get AI features and EIS for front camera with an update soon.
It has a 3D glass-like rear panel with a wave design, rear mounted fingerprint sensor, dedicated dual SIM and microSD slots, Dual 4G VoLTE support and a 5000mAh battery, but it still has micro USB port without fast charging.
ASUS Zenfone Max Pro M2 (ZB31KL) specifications
6.26-inch (2280 × 1080 pixels) Full HD+ 19:9 display with 94% NTSC Color Gamut, 450 cd/m2 brightness, 1500: 1 contast ratio, Corning Gorilla Glass 6 protection
Octa Core Snapdragon 660 14nm Mobile Platform (Quad 2.2GHz Kryo 260 + Quad 1.8GHz Kryo 260 CPUs) with Adreno 512 GPU
3GB LPDDR4X RAM with 32GB Storage, 4GB / 6GB LPDDR4X RAM, ...
Asus just launched the most expected Zenfone Max Pro M2, successor of Max Pro M1 in India. Here we have the unboxing and first impressions of the phone.
https://youtu.be/ugZHnFk2hkg
Box Contents
ASUS Zenfone Max Pro M2 smartphone in Blue color
2-pin charger (5V-2A)
Micro USB cable
Clear Protective case
SIM Ejector tool
User manual and warranty information
Unlike the Max Pro M1, the Max Pro M2 has a slightly larger 6.26-inch Full HD+ display with a notch. This is also the first smartphone in this price range to offer Corning Gorilla Glass 6 protection. The earpice is present on the top edge of the bezel. It has a 13-megapixel camera on the front with f/2.0 aperture and LED flash.
Even though the phone uses on-screen buttons, it has a small chin, similar to most other smartphones with a notch. The phone runs on Android 8.1 (Oreo), however the company has promised that it will get the Android 9.0 (Pie) update in January. It is powered by Snapdragon 660, which is more powerful compared to the Snapdragon 636 in the predecessor, as well as other competitors like the Redmi Note 6 Pro, Nokia 6.1 Plus and Motorola One Power.
There is a 12-megapixel camera on the back with Sony IMX486 sensor, ...
After Enjoy 9 Plus announcement in October, Huawei has introduced Enjoy 9, a new mid-range smartphone in China. It ha sa 6.26-inch HD+ display with Waterdrop notch Screen, is powered by Octa-Core Snapdragon 450 SoC with 4GB of RAM, 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash with support for AI scene detection, secondary 2MP camera for portait shots and a 8-megapixel front camera.
It comes with a glass back, dedicated dual SIM and microSD slots and a 4000mAh battery.
Huawei Enjoy 9 specifications
6.26-inch (1520 × 720 pixels) Full HD+ 19:5:9 2.5D curved glass display
1.8GHz Octa-Core Snapdragon 450 14nm Mobile Platform with Adreno 506 GPU
3GB RAM with 32GB storage / 4GB RAM with 64GB internal storage, expandable memory up to 512GB with microSD
Android 8.1 (Oreo) with EMUI 8.2
Dual SIM (nano + nano + microSD)
13MP rear camera with LED flash, f/1.8 aperture, 2MP secondary camera, f/2.4 aperture
8MP front-facing camera, f/2.0 aperture
Dimensions: 158.92×76.91×8.1mm; Weight: 168g
4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS + GLONASS
4000mAh (Typical) / 3900mAh (Minimum) battery
The Huawei Enjoy 9 comes in Midnight Black, Aurora Blue, Coral red and Aurora violet colors. Both the Aurora versions have a gradient design. It starts at 999 yuan (US$ 144 / Rs. 10,470 approx.) for the 3GB ...
OnePlus just announced the OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition at an event in UK, as it had promised. The main hightlight of the smartphone is 10GB RAM and 30 watt Warp Charge 30, OnePlus’ new charging standard that promises 50% charge in just 20 minutes of charge for a day's use. That company has used new Integrated Circuits in both the charger and the phone, as well as finely tuned power management software without generating excessive heat.
It has Papaya Orange finish that races around the bottom edge of the device before fading into the black. The pattern underneath the glass back of the phone is based on McLaren’s groundbreaking carbon fiber. Light streaks across the McLaren logo, illuminating and disappearing in an instant.
In the box there is a book celebrating the history of both companies, Papaya Orange braided cord cable, McLaren’s logo, the iconic Speedmark, recreated in McLaren-designed F1 AA grade carbon fiber – the same material used in the McLaren MCL33 2018 Formula 1 car. OnePlus says that over six F1 cars' worth of carbon fiber were used in the production of the Speedmarks. The phone has exclusive software animations, tuned to McLaren’s unique style and history.
OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition specifications
6.41-inch (2340 ...
Vivo just introduced its flagship NEX series smartphone with dual displays as it had promised. The main highlight of the smartphone is its 6.39-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED screen and a secondary display on the back with 5.49-inch FHD resolution. It is powered by Snapdragon 845 with 10GB of RAM and runs Android 9.0 (Pie) with Funtouch OS 4.5 on top. It has a 12-megapixel rear camera with Sony IMX363 sensor, 4-axis OIS, similar to the first-gen NEX, but this uses a 2-megapixel secondary night vision camera with 2.9μm pixel size, as well as additional TOF 3D Sensing camera for high-precision 3D depth information using 300,000 infrared points.
The 3D TOF camera can be used for face lock as well as payments. There is 16 RGB lights at 24.6mm diameter arranged circularly that can be used as a notification LED or when capturing selfies. The phone has an in-display fingerprint sensor which promises 17% better unlocking compared to the predecessor at just 0.29 seconds. It packs a 3500mAh battery with 22.5W fast charging.
Vivo NEX Dual Screen specifications
6.39-inch (2340×1080 pixels) Full HD+ Super AMOLED 19:5:9 aspect ratio display, DCI-P3 color gamut
5.49-inch (1920×1080 pixels) Full HD Super AMOLED display
2.8GHz Octa-Core Snapdragon 845 64-bit 10nm Mobile Platform with ...
After Nokia 7.1 Plus Stable Pie update in last month, HMD Global is now pushing out Pie beta update for the Nokia 8 before stable roll out. The company already announced that Nokia 8 and Nokia 8 Sirocco would get Pie update in November, but there was a slight delay in pushing out the update.
Thankyou!!! pic.twitter.com/aRP6TmqupH
— Aditya Babar (@AdityaBabar6) December 11, 2018
Since it is beta OS, there might be bugs and might not be ready as a daily driver, so it is suggested you be prepared. Android P includes Adaptive Battery that uses machine learning to prioritize system resources for the apps, App Actions that helps you raise the visibility of your app and help drive engagement using machine learning, and Slices are a new way to surface rich, templated content in places like Google Search and Assistant.
The update has V5.110 version number, is 1.5GB in size and also includes Android security patch for December 2018. Since it is a beta testing, you will have to register at the Nokia beta labs and agree to the terms and conditions. Once it is done, you will receive the update via OTP directly on your phone. To share the feedback, users can use the pre-installed Feedback app or ...
