Chinese technology company Xiaomi is gearing up to launch in India the third iteration of its Mi A-series smartphone on August 21. Named Xiaomi Mi A3, this smartphone, based on the Android One platform, was earlier unveiled in Spain on July 17. Compared to predecessor Mi A2, the Mi A3 brings several upgrades like an AMOLED screen with in-display fingerprint sensor, a triple-camera set-up with 48-megapixel primary sensor on the back, glass-metal body, etc.

Here is a look at the phone’s key specifications and features:

The Xiaomi Mi A3 has a curved glass body with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection on the front and back, and a metallic chassis sandwiched in between. The phone has a gradient reflective design on the back, and the front is dominated by a 6.088-inch dot-shaped notch screen. The screen is upgraded to AMOLED panel from IPS LCD in the Mi A2, but its resolution is downgraded to HD+ from the predecessor’s fullHD+. The screen has got the in-display fingerprint sensor technology for phone unlock.

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Smartphone brand Vivo, a subsidiary of Chinese electronics manufacturer BKK Electronics, recently launched the Vivo S1 in India. The first product in the company’s style-centric S-series smartphones, the phone boasts an AMOLED screen with a waterdrop-shaped notch on the front, reflective glass-like design and triple camera set-up on the back, a big-capacity battery with fast-charge support, and in-display fingerprint sensor. Based on specifications and features, the phone seems to be a balanced mix of style and substance in its segment. But how does it fare in terms of user experience? Let’s find out:

Design

The reflective gradient design has become a norm among smartphones these days, and the Vivo S1 seems to be following in the footsteps of peers in this respect. It has a curved glass-like cover on the back with a gradient finish, reflecting different colour hues when looked at from an angle. The Blue colour variant that we have reviewed looks dazzling with its bluish-white tone which also reflects a shade of purple. The phone has a triple-camera module on the back, stacked vertically on the top-left side. It bulges out from the body, making the phone unstable when kept on flat surfaces like a table top. The phone’s chassis is made of polycarbonate, which goes well with the phone’s overall design but is not very sturdy. Read Complete Article

If going out for a walk daily in the monsoons is a challenge, try going for a trek. Trekking is perfect in the monsoon season where you burn calories while enjoying the weather.

Trekking is considered to be one of the most challenging outdoor activities, and only someone who has gone for one will know what I am talking about. Climbing uphill, the high altitude, low oxygen levels, and not to forget: the unbearable temperatures, most of us aren’t used to the conditions in the mountainous regions, which makes it more challenging. However, adjusting your diet and nutrition intake will make the climb, ‘not-so-strenuous’! Before I get into what you should eat, and what you shouldn’t, it is important for us to remember that regardless of what your diet is, you have to limit the baggage for the trek. The weight of your bag affects your posture, which can cause further damage during the trek. If the duration of your trek is less than a fortnight, then go for a 40 to 50 litre backpack (in terms of volume). In general, a 50 litre backpack should be sufficient to carry the essentials and a sleeping bag.

Adjusting to a trekking diet from your normal diet is difficult. I would recommend giving yourself at least two weeks to prepare both mentally, and physically, for the climb ahead. For some people, trekking is an addiction. They say that once you reach the top of the mountain, nothing else on Earth can give you that adrenaline rush! Eat healthy, stay fit, and give your mind, body and soul the opportunity to experience that ecstatic moment! Read Complete Article

As many as 43 people died, while three remained missing on Monday in the Pune division as incessant rainfall continued to batter Maharashtra, an official statement said.

A statement from the Divisional Commissioner Office in Pune revealed that over four lakh people were evacuated from as many as 584 villages to safer places due to floods in the five districts of Pune division.

To cater the people who were rescued, 596 temporary shelter camps were also set up, the officials said.

ALSO READ: Death toll nears 200 in four flood-hit states, rescue operations intensify

“Forty-six villages of Pune division are still completely cut off due to floods. 105 units of different agencies along with 164 boats are still deployed in Kolhapur and Sangli district. 66 bridges of five districts are still closed due to floods and waterlogging,” said the officials in a statement.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had, on Saturday, visited the flood-affected Kolhapur and Sangli, to take stock of the situation. Read Complete Article

The Blaupunkt BTW-01 are just what you want in true wireless earphones if you do not wish to spend too much, yet don’t want to settle on an average audio device.

Priced at Rs 5,999, the ear pods are lightweight (5.5 gm each) and comfortable, and come with a mini charging case that easily fits into your pocket.

The Blaupunkt BTW-01 earphones offer touch controls – a feature usually not available in this price range — and you can control music playback, answer calls, and use voice assistant by just tapping the earbuds. I felt the touch response was quick. The earphones have Bluetooth 5.0, which makes the pairing with phone or tablet really quick. You can also activate Siri or Google Assistant on your phone by tapping thrice on the earbuds.

The earbuds pair with each other when you separate them from the charging case and can also be used individually as only one earbud needs to be linked to the phone. Read Complete Article

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani on Monday announced the roll-out of ‘Jio Fiber’ from September 5, promising free voice calls for life from landlines, 100 mbps minimum broadband speed at subscription starting from Rs 700 a month and free HD TV set on a commitment to an annual plan.

Speaking at the 42nd Annual General Meeting (AGM), Reliance Industries’ Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani said Jio will also offer unlimited international calling pack from its landlines to the US and Canada at Rs 500 a month, and that default tariff plans will be one-fifth to one-tenth of existing market tariffs.

“…voice calls from home to any Indian operator – mobile or fixed – will be absolutely free forever. On fixed-line international voice calling, we are today ending the era of high international calling rates on landline by announcing the lowest fixed line rates for international calling…,” he said.

Jio Fiber services would be available on a commercial basis from September 5.

“…the average fixed-line download speed in the US which is the most developed economy is around 90 Mbps. In India even the most basic Jio Fiber plan starts with 100 Mbps speed and we have plans all the way up to 1 Gbps or 1000 Mbps,” he said adding that this would improve the quality of fixed-line data in India. Read Complete Article

Reliance Industries (RIL) Chairman Mukesh Ambani on Monday said the company’s retail arm will soon unveil Reliance New Commerce, an initiative to digitally connect kirana stores across the country.

Speaking to shareholders at RIL’s 42nd Annual General Meeting, Ambani said that the trials of Reliance Retail’s digital commerce venture have delivered positive results.

“This user-friendly digital platform is designed for inventory management, customer relationship management, financial services and other services,” he added.

According to the RIL Chairman, the initiative is aimed at digitally empowering kirana stores, including those in smaller towns.

“Reliance Retail has brought a retail revolution in India,” he said, adding that ‘new commerce’ is meant to revolutionise India’s three crore kirana stores. Read Complete Article

German luxury carmaker Audi is putting its bet on petrol, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles in India, driving away from diesel cars, as the country gears up to adopt strict BS-VI emission norms from April next year, according to a top company official. With the automobile market currently on a downturn, Audi India expects sales to remain muted even next year and pick up only in 2021, stabilising after BS-VI implementation.

The company is gearing up to launch its full electric SUV e-tron in the early part of next year in sync with the government’s push for electric mobility.

“For India we want to launch the e-tron latest by 2020 beginning…We do believe that not only e-tron but even plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and petrol will define the path for Audi in India,” the company’s outgoing India head Rahil Ansari told PTI.

He said the company has witnessed a clear shift in demand from diesel to petrol vehicles here in India. Read Complete Article

Mercedes-Benz India, the luxury car market leader, has launched a slew of aggressive schemes for owning or leasing a vehicle to attract buyers in a dull market.

A ‘Wishbox’ scheme includes a zero and lower down payment plan; also, an aggressive offer that allows customers to own two cars in a span of four years. With the new offers, the India arm of the German entity hopes to ‘financially empower the customer’ and ‘invoke confidence and create additional traction’.

The automobile market in India is currently facing one of its worst slowdowns in two decades. An overall slowing in consumption, exacerbated by a liquidity issue, has weighed on sentiment, pushing auto sales into a slow lane for a year.

Luxury cars — defined as those priced above Rs 2.5 million each and accounting for only 1 per cent of total passenger vehicle sales — haven’t been spared. Mercedes sales in India saw a year-on-year drop of 18.6 per cent to 6,561 units in the first six months of 2019. “We are introducing some industry-first mobility solutions with the aim of bringing back the much-needed customer confidence, by offering them financial flexibility related to their car purchase,” said Martin Schwenk, managing director, Mercedes-Benz India. Read Complete Article

PUBG Corporation on Thursday announced that PUBG LITE, the free-to-play, low-spec adaptation of PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS, will be heading into Open Beta phase on August 8. During the initial eight month long Beta Test period, PUBG LITE expanded to over 80 countries. The start of the Open Beta period will mark the beginning of a new PUBG LITE season, which brings additional in-game content and the inaugural LITE PASS, which gives players the opportunity to complete in-game missions and unlock rewards as they level up the pass.

“It’s been quite a journey since we first launched and we are thankful to our players for the continued support,” said Brady Choi, VP and Head of PUBG LITE at PUBG Corporation. “As we head into the Open Beta phase of PUBG LITE, we will continue to do our best to create engaging new content, and most importantly, a fun gaming experience.”

4 VS 4 Match

A new 4 VS 4 mode will be added to PUBG LITE on August 8. In this mode, the pace of the game is pushed to the limit as two four-man squads battle for survival. The mode takes place in a deserted warehouse surrounded by old shipping containers and vehicles, allowing each of the teams the chance to skillfully outmaneuver each other on their quest to become the first squad with 30 eliminations. Read Complete Article