Android – Techno World

Upcoming WhatsApp updates and features in 2023

The famous messaging app WhatsApp undergoes various updates to keep up with user trends, adding value to the app.

1-Transfer chat without Google drive:

Technology news: Another improvement currently being worked on is the ability to transfer WhatsApp chat history between Android phones without the use of Google Drive. Using this technologically advanced alternative, users will find it much easier to transfer their chat history from one phone to another. When it’s ready, users can transfer their chats to Android by going to WhatsApp Settings > Chats > Chat transfer to Android, scanning the QR code, and then following the on-screen instructions.

2. View once text:

The view once text feature allows users to send a message that will be automatically deleted once read by the receiver. This feature improves the security of confidential information. This feature is only applicable to text-based messages and not to audio, video, or image-based messages.

3. Bookmark feature in disappearing chats:

WhatsApp is working on a bookmark icon. It appears in the message bubble of the disappearing messages, indicating that they will not disappear from the chat. The feature is under development on Android. WhatsApp tracker WABetaInfo said the feature would distinguish saved messages from regular messages that disappear in chat.

4. Multiple chats selection on WhatsApp desktop:

WhatsApp is also working on the desktop version of the app, adding some quality-of-life features. Revealed at the end of 2022, the Company is working on WhatsApp new feature that will allow users to select multiple chats at once on the desktop app, making it easy to mute them or mark them as read or unread. This feature is still being developed and will be released in a future update.

5. Security updates – 6-digit code login:

WhatsApp is testing a new verification option on the Android app with a small group of beta testers. This extra layer of security requires users to enter a code when attempting to log in to WhatsApp on a secondary device via companion mode. Users can expect a public release of this feature.

Google passkeys for password-less future: Know what is it and how it works

Google passkeys are currently available for developers to test via Google Play Services beta

Google passkeys are currently available for developers to test via Google Play Services beta

Ahead of the final rollout, Google has announced the release of its passkey support for developers on Android and Chrome. The American software giant says ‘passkey’ is a safer substitute for passwords and other perishable authentication factors. It will be integrated with the Google Password Manager to simplify sign-ins across devices, websites, and applications — no matter the platform. But what is Google passkey and how does it work? Let’s find out:

Passkeys: What is it

Passkeys are a new type of login credential that replaces passwords. The authentication requires either biometric authentication — such as a fingerprint or facial recognition — or a PIN or swipe pattern used with Androids for access. According to Google, they are built on industry standards and work across different operating systems and browser ecosystems, and can be used for both websites and apps. They follow familiar user experience patterns and build on the existing experience of password autofill.

Passkeys: How it works

Google says its passkeys work similarly to using a saved password in the Google Password Manager. To prevent lockouts in the case of device loss, passkeys are backed-up and synced through the cloud on users’ phones and computers. The passkeys can be used to sign in to apps and websites on other nearby devices via users’ phones.

Users can create and use passkeys on Android devices, which are synced through the Google Password Manager. On Android and other supported platforms, developers can build passkey support on their sites for end-users using Chrome via the WebAuthn API. Currently, developers can use Chrome Canary and sign up for the Google Play Services beta to test this.

How to create passkeys:

Step 1: Through settings on the Android 9 device and later, click on Create a Passkey

Step 2: Confirm the passkey account information

Step 3: Present fingerprint, face, or screen lock when prompted

Earlier, Apple released a similar Passkey feature with its iOS 16 update that allows users to use their Apple devices to log in to websites and services without requiring passwords. Apple, Google, and Microsoft partnered with the FIDO Alliance and the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) earlier this year, for removing passwords for user authentication across the platforms.

Instagram announces new features, expands Reels duration to 90 seconds

With an aim to help creators engage more with their audience, platform Instagram has announced that it is rolling out new features, including 90 seconds Reels

With an aim to help creators engage more with their audience, the photo-sharing platform Instagram has announced that it is rolling out new features, including 90 seconds Reels.

The Meta-owned platform said that it is now extending the length of Reels up to 90 seconds, which will help users express their most authentic selves on Reels.

“You will have more time to share more about yourself, film extra behind-the-scenes clips, dig deeper into the nuances of your content, or whatever else you want to do with that extra time,” the company said in a blogpost.

Instagram also said that users can now import their own audio directly within Instagram Reels.

“Use the import audio feature to add commentary or background noise from any video that is at least five seconds long on your camera roll,” the company said.

“Make sure that you like how your voice sounds in the recording because others might use it in their reels, too!” it added.

A new feature also lets creators poll their audience on what should happen in their next video so that they can help shape the storyline themselves.

The Meta-owned platform said that it has recently launched Templates, which allows users to easily create a reel using another one as a template. It pre-loads the audio and clip placeholders, so all users have to do is add and trim their unique clips.

“We will continue to invest in building new ways for you to connect with your audience and entertain on Reels. We can’t wait to see what you come up with and the creative ways you use these new tools!” the company said.

Google Photos rolls out new filters to show skin in natural shade

At Google I/O, the company released the Monk Skin Tone Scale, an open-source library to help make machine learning of images more inclusive by better interpreting tones and shades

Tech giant Google has added new filters in Google Photos that will help users show their skin in its true shade.

According to 9To5Google, with the Pixel 6 series, the tech giant worked to adjust the phone’s camera to more accurately capture the wide variety of human skin tones, so that people can see their true selves in photographs.

At Google I/O, the company released the Monk Skin Tone Scale, an open-source library to help make machine learning of images more inclusive by better interpreting tones and shades.

Vivo X80 Pro review

The Vivo X80 Pro, although not a pro, comes equipped with great camera and features, but is still not in the premium category

What we understand by pro has become so convoluted in tech jargon that everything has just become pro. Any flagship comes with a pro suffix attached, whether it justifies the features or not. And, over the last five or so years, it has become one of the most overused terms. Vivo, like many others, does not do justice to the pro name with its new iteration the X80 pro. The phone does come equipped with more feature than its other categories, but it does not justify the pro tag. But then what you and I understand as pro, can be very subjective.

Design

The first thing which will attract a person towards this device is the camera bump. Occupying nearly a third of the space, the phone has a distinct look to it. The feel of the back panel is good, and the back cover with its textured finish gives it a premium look. Though a bit wobbly, the phone doesn’t skid on surfaces. The volume and power buttons on the side are just about right for easy access and the front has a hole-punch camera. Ergonomically, though, there are problems. The phone weighs too much and isn’t as well balanced as you would like to be.

ALSO READ : Vivo tws 2 anc earbuds review

Screen

This is where Vivo has really outdone itself. With peak brightness at 1,500 nits, Vivo doesn’t disappoint. The 6.8-inch screen offers excellent viewing angles and perfect blacks. Even in the sun, the screen performs well. And, in low light modes, it shines. For movie watching, Vivo would have been ideal, had it not been for its weight. The refresh rate, though 120Hz, was not as smooth as you would expect in a Samsung. The curve edges are also something I am not a big fan of.

The bezels are barely noticeable and like with most phones the hole-punch camera becomes invisible after a while. One problem, which has been very common across platforms, was the night light feature. Even with warm temperatures, it was very luminescent for my comfort.

Camera

Another area where Vivo has done exceedingly well is the camera setup. With high pixel density lenses at the back and the 32-MP lens at the front, the camera setup is one of the best in the category. The telephoto lens worked well and there were hardly any issues with pixelations. Vivo provides a few standard beautification modes, which when switched off provide a vivid and clear picture. The colours are as close to likeness as possible and with Zeiss mode on, the phone performs even better with clearer colours. The video recording feature is still not as good as others in the category. The cinematic mode offered more, but still fell short of expectation.

Battery life

The 4700mAh battery provided enough juice for the phone to survive over 14 hours even with medium to heavy use and GPS, but it was not a two-day battery life one would expect. With light and medium use the battery can run 18 hours, but that would be too much of a stretch. But the battery drain was not as bad as other Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processors.

Performance and UX

Vivo has been able to solve the heating issues related with the Snapdragon chips to a certain extent. The phone does start heating up after 45 minutes of gameplay. Regular functions, though, did not subject it to heating issues. Performance wise, the phone was not up to the mark. The bloatware was a big problem. Despite the 12 GB RAM and extra clocking speed, the phone did not perform well at its peak. The OS is complicated and not an easy one to navigate. Vivo needs better OS at top of the line up.

Price

Imagine purchasing a Rs 80,000 phone and spending a day deleting all the apps you do not need and then having to deal with too much of native apps. When a person is paying that much, they would like a clean interface and that is what Vivo has not been able to provide. To break the premium market, it would need a strong key differentiator.

Micromax In 2C review

With 3GB RAM and 32GB on-board storage, mediocre camera performance, and UNISOC T610 processor, the Micromax’s In 2C can be an option only for light users

Home-grown electronics maker Micromax recently launched in India the Micromax In 2C. Priced at Rs 7,499, the smartphone fares well for basic operations such as calls, messages, web browsing, and streaming multimedia content, but lacks in terms of camera — a major feature for a smartphone buyer.

Camera

The Micromax In 2C sports a dual-camera array on the back — an 8-megapixel primary sensor paired with a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, there is a 5MP camera sensor. Details aside, the cameras’ performance is underwhelming and could have been better, especially for low light shots, which lack clarity. Using flash for indoor shots helped in getting a better shot, but overall imaging in low light was poor. Selfies also have the same issue, as the images appear blurry in dim light conditions.

For the outdoor shots, though better in comparison, the images lack sharpness. The other downsides are that the focus function fails to capture finer details in a frame and the colour contrast is slightly higher making the photos seem filtered.

The phone supports 1080p resolution video recording but the output comes out pixelated and seems to be an artificially upscaled version of 720p. Moreover, the cameras struggle in fixing focus several. The overall experience with the camera does not fare well compared to other budget phones in the same category.

Also read: Realme GT Neo 3 5G review

Design

The phone has a simple design with the power button and volume rocker placed on the right side of the frame. The positioning of the buttons is such that it is convenient for single-handed operation. The phone weighs 198 grams, though seen as heavy for some users it feels well balanced. It lacks a fingerprint scanner, so there is no sensor placed at the back like its predecessor In 2B. Though the camera bump on the back makes the phone wobble when placed on a flat surface, it does not slip. The phone has a mono speaker on the back. On the left side of the phone are the SIM and microSD card slots. It is a dualSIM phone with a dedicated slot for a microSD card for storage expansion.

Display

The Micromax In 2C sports a 6.52-inch HD+ display. The display is supported by an ambient light sensor, which auto sets the brightness based on lighting conditions. The adaptive brightness setting allows one to comfortably read in both sunlight and dimly lit indoor spaces. To minimise eye fatigue, especially during nighttime use, the phone has a night light mode that reduces the blue glare and gives the screen a neat tint, making it easier to read. The colours on the screen even when viewed from different angles remained clear. The screen is good but seems wanting for multimedia experience.

Performance

The Micromax In 2C is powered by UNISOC T610 processor, paired with 3GB RAM and 32GB on-board storage. It boots vanilla Android 11 operating system. Though the phone performs smoothly for day-to-day activities such as calls or texts, it picks up temperature and becomes warm after extended usage. There was also a lag issue while using 4-5 apps simultaneously and switching between them.

Battery

This is one area where the In 2C impresses, and for better. The phone’s 5,000 mAh battery keeps the show going for more than a day on regular usage. The phone has a USB-C port for charging and it takes the device over two hours to charge from zero to 100 per cent – through the 10W charger that comes with it.

Verdict

With 3GB RAM and 32GB on-board storage, mediocre camera quality and UNISOC T610 processor, the Micromax’s In 2C can be an option for light users. But for gaming, multitasking or long hours of usage, it is not the best phone in the budget range.

Apple likely to launch iPhone SE

Tech giant Apple has announced it will be holding a spring special event on March 8 that will focus on a 5G-equipped iPhone SE and an update to the Mac mini

The event will start at 10 a.m. Pacific Time and will be viewable through the normal video streaming venues. This will be Apple’s first special event of 2022, following after the Unleashed event from October 18, reports AppleInsider.

The tech giant has a large raft of rumoured products set to launch throughout 2022.

While some are expected to arrive later in the year, such as the usual fall “iPhone 14” refresh, there’s a collection of products that…read more

Amazon launches Echo Buds 2nd Gen with ANC, hands-free Alexa at Rs 11,999

The Amazon Echo Buds 2nd Gen will be available with wired and wireless charging case, priced at Rs 11,999 and Rs 13,999, respectively

Amazon on Thursday launched in India its second-generation Echo Buds wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation and hands-free Alexa at Rs 11,999. Compatible with Android and iOS phones with support for Google Assistant and Siri through customisable tap controls, the Echo Buds 2nd Gen will be available with wireless charging case at Rs 13,999. Important to note, prices of both the models include limited-period discount of Rs 1,000.

The Echo Buds 2nd Gen boasts a high-performance audio driver for balanced sound with extended dynamic range. According to Amazon, the audio drivers are…read more

Asus 8z launched in India: Know price, specs of compact flagship smartphone

Priced at Rs 42,999, the Asus 8z will be available on home-grown e-commerce platform Flipkart on March 7

Taiwanese smartphone maker Asus on Monday launched in India the Asuz 8z. The smartphone boasts compact design, top-notch specifications, and premium features. Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 system-on-chip, the smartphone will be available in 8GB RAM and 128GB on-board storage configuration. Priced at Rs 42,999, the smartphone will be available on home-grown e-commerce platform Flipkart from March 7.

Asus 8z: Specifications

The Asus 8z boasts 5.9-inch fullHD+ AMOLED screen (Samsung E4) of 120Hz refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling rate. The screen supports HDR10+ and is rated to hit…read more

Ukraine creates ‘IT army’ to hack Russian websites amid military operations

Facing massive cyber-attacks from Russia-sponsored threat actors, Ukraine has now assembled an ‘IT army’ tasked with specific cyber challenges

Facing massive cyber-attacks from Russia-sponsored threat actors, Ukraine has now assembled an ‘IT army‘ tasked with specific cyber challenges, which reached nearly 2 lakh users on Telegram on Monday.

Called the ‘IT Army of Ukraine’, it is also using the Telegram account to reach out to technology leaders to help the country fight Russian cyber-attacks and shut down Russian sites and their agents.

“A call out on the channel to shut down the API for Sberbank, one of Russia’s major banks, appears to have come into…read more