MICROSOFT'S WINDOWS 10 OCTOBER UPDATE ROLLOUT COULD BE RESUMED SOON WITH FIXES

Microsoft's Windows 10 October update was halted after several users complainedthat installing the update had been wiping off their data.

A new report now suggests that Microsoft could be planning an update which fixes the issues and it will be out soon.

The news has not been made official but a report by WinFuture reveals that a website named rg-adguard.net, who has a tool for downloading Windows 10 ISOs is certain that the update will start rolling today. The Russian website noticed activityon Microsoft’s servers which suggest Microsoft is preparing to release the software update.

The website also took to Twitter to share the news.

The report also reveals that the revised Windows 10 October Update will be referred to as version 1809, succeeding version 1803 which was the Fall Creators Update. Given Microsoft's issues with the release, the company is likely to offer the update to a handful of users only for now.

Galaxy S9 Android Pie beta program could start on November 15th

Since Microsoft pulled the update back in October, the company shipped several fixes to Windows Insiders enrolled in the Slow and Release Preview rings to ensure that the October update does not create too much of a menace. Microsoft is also expected to re-release the ISOs of Windows 10 October 2018 Update to help those who are planning a clean install.

Realme 2 Pro to go on sale today at 12 noon on Flipkart: Price, specifications, features

While the re-launch of the October Update remains unconfirmed, the November 2018 patch is expected to start rolling out on Tuesday as it happens every month. Patches for Windows 10, Windows Phones and even Windows 7 will be released with security and other basic improvements.

Google Contacts 3.2.4 adds a working dark theme

Android 9 Pie brings a new Material Theme, which has been colloquially referred to as Material Design 2 (MD2). The key points of the new Material Theme are: greater emphasis on white space, the removal of colored backgrounds in favor of white, and prominent use of the Google Sans font. Undoubtedly, the new Material Theme is more minimalist than its predecessor. However, the greater use of white potentially increases the power draw on OLED displays. The power efficiency of OLED displays varies depending on the Average Picture Level (APL). The power draw in OLED displays increases as the APL (the percentage of white content on the display) increases. In light of this, dark themes are gaining a new significance.

Google recently stated that the company would like to see more apps adopting dark themes that could potentially improve power efficiency and battery life. Third-party adoption of dark themes is still in a nascent stage, but Google knows that adoption has to start from first-party apps. To that end, Google Contacts 3.2.4 now adds a working dark theme.

The dark theme can be enabled in Google Contacts by either a) Turn on the dark theme by switching on the toggle in the app’s sidebar, or b) Switch on Night Mode in Developer Options in the user’s device to automatically enable the dark theme in Google Contacts.

It should be noted that the dark theme in Google Contacts is a dark grey theme, not a true black theme. Users can also manually enable a dark theme in the Google Phone app, or download a modded version. It’s also fair to expect other Google apps to receive the option for enabling dark themes soon.

OnePlus’ first 5G smartphone won’t be the OnePlus 7

The newest 5G NR cell technology is set to come to a smartphone near you next year. However, simply deploying the 5G signal to your area is not enough, as your. smartphone needs to be compatible. Luckily, a number of 2019 flagship smartphones are set to be compatible with 5G signals, as the Qualcomm Snapdragon X50 5G modem is set to arrive with next year’s Snapdragon 8150/855. It’ll still require adoption from OEMs, though. OnePlus, for one, has confirmed that they’ll bring a 5G smartphone to the market next year. But it seems like it won’t be the upcoming OnePlus 7.

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In a statement issued to CNET, the company confirmed that their upcoming 5G smartphone would be announced at the beginning of 2019, but it won’t be the OnePlus 7. Instead, the company will launch a device that’s either part of a separate, entirely new line (the only time they’ve done this was with the short-lived OnePlus X budget smartphone), or simply a special edition of the OnePlus 6T or the OnePlus 7 with updated internals and 5G support.

The 5G smartphone is set to be announced near the beginning of 2019, possibly before the OnePlus 7, hinting at a possible announcement during MWC 2019 in Barcelona, Spain, or maybe even CES 2019. OnePlus could also opt for holding their own event, just like they’ve been doing with all their past smartphones.

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it makes sense for the company to not implement 5G on their main line of smartphones (OnePlus 7 and 7T) right now: 5G NR will need maturing and adoption before it becomes a viable alternative to 4G LTE. Furthermore, implementing 5G properly on a smartphone is surely going to bring up its price quite a bit. While the tech will eventually make it to their main line of smartphones, it is wise to abstain from it right now.

Are you excited for OnePlus’ upcoming 5G smartphone?

Nokia 8.1 could be Android One challenger to Poco F1 and OnePlus 6T in India

The Nokia 8.1 aka Nokia X7 with Snapdragon 710 chipset could launch in India later this month

MD Global may launch a new Nokia phone in India this month. It wouldn't be surprising seeing as how the company has been on a launch spree this year, releasing one Nokia phone after another. Now, some rumours suggests the company could bring the Nokia 7.1 to India, but even newer reports see the Nokia 8.1 aka Nokia X7 coming to India, which makes more sense as it could also be the perfect upper mid-range Nokia phone from HMD.

Not that the Nokia 7.1 isn't exciting - it looks premium and comes with a lot of the same specs as the Nokia 6.1 Plus. But since the Nokia 6.1 Plus is already in India and has been doing well, I'm not sure whether we need another Nokia phone to fill this sub-Rs 20,000 slot right now. What the market definitely needs is a Nokia phone that fills the Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 segment in the country since the Nokia 7 Plus has been quietly discontinued. And the Nokia 8.1 is the best candidate for this.

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The Nokia 8.1 is widely expected to be the global variant of the China-only Nokia X7. There is the off chance that it may be called the Nokia 7.1 Plus, but for the rest of this article we will be going with Nokia 8.1. The phone has been rumoured to make its global debut for a few weeks now and last week Google added the Nokia 8.1 in its list of ARCore supported phone. Google promptly removed the phone from the list after multiple reports broke out, but it's a pretty clear indication that the phone will be launched soon. Here's why this is the perfect replacement for the Nokia 7 Plus and the best Nokia phone to take on the likes of the Poco F1 and OnePlus 6T.

Replacing one premium design with another

The Nokia 7 Plus was a standout Nokia phone from HMD for the better part of 2018. It brought an extremely attractive Series 6000 aluminium body with a six-layer ceramic coating on top that gave it a rich and smooth feel. In addition to this, the phone got a generous amount of copper accents all around as well as a tall 18:9 display. HMD has paid a lot of attention to design its Nokia phones and the company has made a shift to glass for most of its newer products such as the Nokia 5.1, Nokia 6.1, Nokia 7.1 and the Nokia X7 (Nokia 8.1).

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The Nokia 8.1 also bring a premium design language that's similar to the Nokia 6.1 Plus with an all-glass body and an edge-to-edge notched display. It is definitely a more "current" design as compared to the Nokia 7 Plus, but it also makes it more fragile and susceptible to damage. That being said, the frame of the Nokia 8.1 is the same Series 6000 aluminium with chamfered edges as the Nokia 7 Plus.

The design of the Nokia 8.1 gives it an edge over phones like the Poco F1 which isn't as attractively designed. It also makes the Nokia 8.1 a more affordable premium option compared to the OnePlus 6T which costs well over Rs 30,000.

Thanks to the notch, the Nokia 8.1 also gets a bigger 6.18-inch FHD+ display compared to the Nokia 7 Plus that comes with a 6-inch screen. But what's more notable is that the Nokia 8.1 also comes with a PureDisplay screen technology that was introduced with the Nokia 7.1. This is proprietary technology that HMD says offers a higher contrast and deeper colours. It also supports HDR10 so streaming videos on platforms like YouTube and Netflix will offer a sharper viewing experience.

Nokia 8.1 could be the new mid-range beast

Perhaps the most exciting feature about the Nokia 8.1 is that it will come with a Snapdragon 710 octa-core chipset which is the newest mid-range powerhouse chipset from Qualcomm and part of the new 700-series line. On paper, the chipset comes with a boost in performance and power efficiency compared to the Snapdragon 660 that powers the Nokia 7 Plus. The chipset is based on a 10nm process and aims to offer flagship-level performance for upper mid-range phones.

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We are yet to test a phone with a Snapdragon 710 chipset so it will be interesting to see how well it performs in real-world usage. This will also give the Nokia 8.1 an advantage over phones from Vivo and Oppo in this price segment that offer either a Helio P60 or a Snapdragon 600-series chipset. In fact, the Nokia smartphone may also stand toe-to-toe with the likes of the Poco F1 and OnePlus 6T that run on a Snapdragon 845 chipset. The Poco F1 and OnePlus 6T may win in terms of raw performance, but the Nokia 8.1 may be smoother in the long run thanks to a stock and optimised Android One operating system.

HMD will want to fill the sub-Rs 30,000 segment with a new Nokia phone and the Nokia 8.1 seems like the perfect candidate right now. The premium all-glass design and a Snapdragon 710 chipset will definitely give the device a unique position in this segment. If HMD continues the kind of competitive pricing that was given to the Nokia 6.1 and 5.1, we could be looking at a price of around Rs 25,000 for the Nokia 8.1 in India.

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 with triple-rear cameras to launch soon: Report

The smartphone could bring triple camera setup to the affordable segment.

Earlier this year, Asus made a grand comeback in the affordable smartphone segment with the Zenfone Max Pro M1. Unlike previous smartphones, the Zenfone Max Pro M1 is sold online only via Flipkart, and comes with interesting specifications at a competitive pricing. Now, the Taiwanese company is reportedly working on the successor, the Zenfone Max Pro M2.

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The piece of information comes from well-known tipster Roland Quandt who shared some interesting details about the smartphone. To being with, it will have a model number ZB634KL. He further revealed, that the smartphone will come with a triple camera setup at the back. Sadly, there are no more details about the camera resolution or lens type.

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There is also no word on the launch date or expected pricing yet. But considering the fact that the Zenfone Max Pro M1 was a budget smartphone, we can expect the successor to be priced under Rs 20,000. This will also mean that the Max Pro M2 could be the first smartphone to bring triple cameras to the affordable segment.

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 specifications and features

The Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 boasts an edge-to-edge 5.99-inch full HD+ IPS display. There’s a dual-camera module placed vertically at the back panel, followed by the LED flash. There’s a dedicated rear-mounted fingerprint sensor as well.

Under the hood, Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 octa-core SoC, 509 Adreno GPU, and it is paired with 3GB/4GB of RAM with 32GB/64GB of internal storage which can be expanded via microSD card. In terms of the camera, there’s a pair of 13-megapixel sensor and a 5-megapixel depth sensor at the back, with support for the iPhone X-like Portrait Mode, PDAF, and auto focus. Up front, there’s an 8-megapixel sensor for selfies and video calling with soft light LED flash support.

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There is also a 6GB RAM with 64GB variant, with a small change in camera module, with the primary sensor of 16-megapixel resolution. On the software front, the Zenfone Max Pro M1 runs stock Android 8.1 Oreo out-of-the-box. Price wise, the smartphone with 3GB RAM + 32GB storage version is priced at Rs 10,999, the 4GB RAM + 64GB storage model costs Rs 12,999, whereas the 6GB RAM with 64GB storage variant is priced at Rs 14,999.

Facebook Refutes Report, Says It Disagrees With Apple but Uses Android Purely on Merit

Dismissing a media report that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg ordered his management team to use only Android phones after his tiff with Apple CEO Tim Cook, the social media network on Thursday said the decision to use Android is because it is the most popular operating system in the world.

The New York Times on Wednesday said that "after Tim Cook, Apple's chief executive, quipped in an interview that his company did not traffic in personal data, Mr. Zuckerberg ordered his management team to use only Android phones".

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In a statement on Thursday, Facebook said Zuckerberg's disagreement with Cook is only over the business model.

"Tim Cook has consistently criticised our business model and Mark has been equally clear he disagrees. So there's been no need to employ anyone else to do this for us," Facebook said.

"And we've long encouraged our employees and executives to use Android because it is the most popular operating system in the world," the social networking giant added.

In an MSNBC interview in March this year, Cook had called for increased regulation of social media, and questioned the practice of monetising user data on free platforms by selling ads that allow advertisers to target specific groups.

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The Apple CEO was asked how he would handle the crisis Facebook is facing.

"I wouldn't be in this situation," he said.

"The truth is, we could make a ton of money if we monetised our customer... If our customer was our product,... We've elected not to do that."

Reacting to Cook's remarks, Zuckerberg in a Recode interview said his remarks about the social networking giant were "extremely glib".

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Zuckerberg said that Facebook remains free to use because it's focused on connecting people and many people can't afford to pay, therefore, "having an advertising-supported model is the only rational model that can support building this service to reach people".

OnePlus 6T Thunder Purple coming to North America and Europe on November 15

OnePlus will be releasing its Thunder Purple variant of the new OnePlus 6T worldwide. The variant was recently launched in China where it got a limited time exclusive release.

The new color variant will be available in North America and Europe starting November 15. In India, the phone will be available starting November 16.

The Thunder Purple variant will only be available in the 8/128GB configuration and priced the same as the other color variants with the same memory. The other color variants available currently include the glossy Mirror Black and the matte Midnight Black.

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The Thunder Purple follows OnePlus tradition of launching all the interesting color variants shortly after the initial product launch. In this case, we are getting the Thunder Purple variant just two weeks after the main launch and one week after the exclusive Chinese launch.

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It's possible OnePlus may have other color variants for the 6T up its sleeve that it may release before the inevitable OnePlus 7 launch that's probably not too far away now given the company's recent schedule.

Redmi Note 6 Pro to Huawei Mate 20 Pro: Top mobiles expected in India in November

Top mobiles expected in India in November 2018: The Redmi Note 6 Pro, Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018), Nokia 8.1, Huawei Mate 20 Pro and ZTE Nubia Red Magic will launch soon

Diwali just ended and New Year has not even arrived, but we are already expecting a slew of big-ticket launches in India from smartphone brands. Xiaomi, Samsung, HMD Global, Huawei, and ZTE are all rumoured to launch new smartphones in November

Samsung is planning to introduce the Galaxy A9 (2018) in the Indian market, which is the world’s first smartphone with four cameras on the rear. Xiaomi which might launch the Redmi Note 6 Pro, an upgrade to the Redmi Note 5 Pro that launched in early 2018.

Nokia 9 Will be The First Smartphone With Penta-Camera Setup; Launch Expected Soon

Huawei plans to introduce the Mate 20 Pro in the country, its answer to the AppleiPhone XS Max and Samsung Galaxy Note 9. HMD Global too plans to launch the global version of Nokia X7 aka Nokia 8.1 in India. Finally, we also expect to see the launch of Nubia Red Magic, ZTE’s comeback phone in the country.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro India launch

Redmi Note 6 Pro could launch in India sooner than expected, although the company is yet to announce any formal launch date. The Redmi Note 6 Pro is highly anticipated, given the massive success of the Redmi Note 5 Pro in India. There’s a lot of chatter about the Redmi Note 6 Pro – after all, it packs four cameras in total.

There’s also a talk about its 6.24-inch FHD+ notched display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor, and a 4,000mAh battery. We expect the Redmi Note 6 Pro to launch in the third week of November at a starting price of Rs 15,999.

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Still, Redmi Note 6 Pro is not much of an upgrade compared to the earlier Redmi Note 5 Pro. The major difference is the dual-front cameras, which is new to this phone. The processor remains the same, though yes the display is bigger and has a notch on the front. Exactly how Xiaomi prices this one will make a crucial difference in terms of user interest.

Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) India launch

Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018), the world’s first smartphone with four cameras, is expected to launch in India in the month of November. While there is no official statement from Samsung about the release of the Galaxy A9 in India, multiple reports suggest the launch is going to take place sometime this month. Samsung already has a pre-registration page live for this phone.

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The marquee feature of the Galaxy A9 is the quad camera setup on the rear that distinguishes it from other mid-end smartphones in the market. Samsung has gone with a 24MP primary cameras paired with a 5MP depth sensor for portrait mode. It also comes with an 8MP ultra-wide camera with 120° field of view and a 10MP telephoto camera with 2X optical zoom. It all starts and end with the camera. It might cost Rs 40,000 when it hits retail shelves later this month.

Huawei Mate 20 Pro India launch

The Mate 20 Pro is the latest attempt by Huawei to challenge Apple and Samsung in the high-end smartphone segment. The Mate 20 Pro has a massive OLED screen, a Kirin 980 processor, an in-display fingerprint scanner, and a huge 4200mAh battery. It also features 3D depth facing camera, similar to that used by Apple for its Face ID in the iPhone X.

On the back, you will notice Huawei’s award-winning Leica-branded triple-camera setup with improved image optics. Perhaps what makes the Mate 20 Pro different is the ability to charge other smartphones wirelessly. The good news is that the handset is coming to India towards the end of this month at a “premium” price tag.

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Nokia 8.1 India launch

It seems HMD Global is on a launch spree in India and the company’s next big launch will be the Nokia 8.1. In case you are not aware, Nokia 8.1 will be rebranded version of Nokia X7, which was recently launched in China. Sources close to 91 Mobiles claim the launch will happen on November 28 in India, although the Finnish company is yet to announce a release date. It’s being also said that the phone will cost Rs 23,999, which makes it in direct competition to Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018), a phone with triple rear-facing cameras. Nokia 8.1 will be pitched as a premium mid-end smartphone, similar to that of the Nokia 7 Plus.

Nubia Red Magic

There’s a school of thought which says that to play graphics-intensive games on a mobile you need to buy a gaming-focused smartphone. The Nubia Red Magic is exactly what it promises to offer: gaming on the go. If you’re hunting for a new gaming smartphone, then you should look at Nubia Red Magic. Expected to launch sometime this month, the phone is ergonomically designed for extended gameplay.

It is claimed to be the first smartphone to use the all-new air convection system which is designed to dissipate heat effectively. This is a slick, gaming-ready phone that a distinctive RGB LED strip. Although it packs last year’s Snapdragon 835 processor, it’s still very fast and beefy, thanks to 8GB of RAM. Speculation is rife that the Nubia Red Magic might be priced under Rs 30,000 with the launch expected to happen soon.

Holiday Deal Brings New Samsung Odyssey+ to Just $300

Samsung Odyssey+ is the company’s latest VR headset, and while it launched just a few weeks ago for $500, the Korean tech giant is throwing it on sale this Black Friday at a 40% discount.

The deal is set to start online at Samsung.com on November 18th, slashing the headset to just $300, controllers included.

As a hardware refresh of last year’s Windows VR headset Odyssey HMD, there’s a few notable changes in the latest version.

The biggest change to the Odyssey+ is undoubtedly its new “anti-SDE” display treatment that’s said to visibly reduce screen door effect (SDE) on its dual 3.5″ AMOLED 1,440 × 1,600 panels. SDE is a result of magnifying both the display’s pixels and the unlit spaces between those pixels, which at times can feel like looking through a fine screen door-style mesh.

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There’s also been a number of minor ergonomic changes to the headset though that should render it more comfortable to a wider set of users. Because the first Odyssey headset wasn’t incredible in the ergonomics department, the Odyssey+ now features a larger nose cavity and wider face interface, and a new foam material that the company says should improve comfort and reduce lens fogging. The weight of the headset has also been slightly reduced, from 820 grams to 798 grams, cable included. Check out our analysis of the differences between the new and old here.

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An important distinction: Samsung Odyssey+ boasts the same resolution as HTC Vive Pro, but at a remarkably lower price—HTC Vive Pro costs $800 for just the headset, no basestations or controllers included. Windows VR optical tracking isn’t nearly as robust as Valve’s SteamVR tracking system, although it’s certainly good enough to play Beat Saber (2018), making it a strong PC VR contender against Oculus Rift this holiday season.

Edit photos using AI with Photolemur 3

We’d all love the time to labor over beautifying every image before we post it. You know, adjust lighting, smooth out skin imperfections, generally just make ourselves and our subjects look brilliant in every pic.

Unfortunately, we’ve all got lives to lead, so taking time to edit every image to brilliance isn’t always practical. Fortunately, Photolemur 3 is now looking out for sloppy shooters, unveiling the first automated photo enhancer app that handles all your editing needs for you. It’s not only super simple and time saving, it’s also now on sale, just $19 for a single license or $25 with a family account from TNW Deals.

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As opposed to apps that give you a handful of tools to adjust colors or moderate exposure in your pics, Photolemur 3 uses image recognition, artificial intelligence, and some funky digital mojo to handle photo editing with a click.

Running any image through a program like Photoshop always takes forever, which is why Photolemur analyzes and adjusts stuff like color recovery, sky enhancement, exposure compensation, smart de-haze all by itself. Photolemur allows you to drag in your image, then sit back as the app does your heavy lifting.

Nice surprise: Photolemur also supports ever-elusive batch processing, allowing you to crank out loads of pics with the same set of enhancements all at once.

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This latest version also includes a Styles feature, offering six different pre-sets chosen by AI to automatically recontextualize your image in one swift stroke.

It works for both Mac and Windows operating systems, so try it out. A single use account is only $19 or save more than half by knocking $30 off the price of a family license.

Amazon, Cisco Partner to Help Businesses Run Apps in the Cloud

Networking gear maker Cisco Systems said on Thursday it is teaming with Amazon.com's Amazon Web Servicesto offer software tools that would make it easier for Cisco's customers to use Amazon's data centres to run their business applications.

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The move is part of a push at Cisco, one of the biggest suppliers of the routers and switches that send data across computer networks, to derive more revenue from software and stay current with longtime business customers that are seeking to do more work with cloud computing companies like Amazon, Alphabet's Google Cloud unit or Microsoft Corp's Azure.

Cisco began making that push under Chief Executive Chuck Robbins after sales declines in its core network hardware business - declines that were largely driven by big businesses' deciding not to build out their own data centres in favour of moving to public computing clouds like AWS.

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But now those clouds are part of Cisco's growth plans, Kip Compton, Cisco's senior vice president of cloud platform, told Reuters.

Cisco is offering new software tools, based on a technology called containers, that let developers slice up applications to run them either in their own data centres, where they might use a lot of Cisco gear, or a cloud data centre like the ones offered by AWS. Developers can also use a mix of both.

Cisco's new tools use the technology to let businesses move their software applications back and forth between Amazon and their own data centre without interruptions. Compton said the tools will work for companies that do not currently use any Cisco hardware in their data centres, though extra security features will be available to those that do.

"The way we like to think about it at Cisco is, we're growing and adding a software business to a very important hardware business," Compton said in an interview.

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Cisco last year inked a similar deal with Google's cloud offering. The strategy of using a mix of a business's own data centres and the cloud, sometimes called "hybrid cloud," has become a prominent piece of the growth plans at companies such as Microsoft and International Business Machines.

IBM's $34 billion acquisition of software maker Red Hat also centres on making it easier to move software applications around among clouds more easily.

Redmi 6 Pro to Nokia 5.1 Plus: Top phones under Rs 13,000 for November 2018

Top budget phones under Rs 13,000 for November 2018: From Nokia 5.1 Plus, Xiaomi Redmi 6 Pro to Honor 9N, here are the best smartphones that you can pick at an affordable price.

Smartphone manufacturers this year brought a host of devices in the budget price segment in India. Leading brands like Xiaomi, Honor, Nokia introduced smartphones with impressive design and good features at a reasonable price. With so many options available in the market, users now do not need to spend a fortune to get a good Android phone.

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But one might end up confused as to which one to pick that best suit their needs. Here is a comprehensive list of budget smartphones that you can consider. The smartphones in this list are priced well under Rs 13,000.

Nokia 5.1 Plus

HMD Global changed the game in the budget segment with its affordable smartphone, Nokia 5.1 Plus. The smartphone flaunts a sophisticated design and features a USB Type-C port which is hard to find in this price range. Encased in a glass body, Nokia 5.1 Plus is compact which makes it easy to operate with one hand. Nokia 5.1 Plus is powered by MediaTek Helio P60 processor, which is capable enough to handle day-to-day tasks.

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The phone features dual 13MP+5MP cameras that deliver decent shots under the right lighting condition. Besides an elegant design and capable performance, the phone offers clean and uncluttered Android experience, courtesy of the Android One initiative. Nokia 5.1 Plus promises two years of regular software updates and three years of security updates as well.

Nokia 5.1 Plus price in India: Rs 10,499 for the 3GB RAM and 32GB storage model.

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1

While Asus is trying to undercut OnePlus presence in the mid-range segment with Asus Zenfone 5Z, the Taiwanese tech company has brought a decent phone in the budget segment as well. Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 managed to capture a good spot in the affordable price range with its stock Android UI and capable Snapdragon 636 processor.

The phone has sturdy build quality and offers a vibrant 5.99-inch FHD+ display. Another highlight of the phone is its huge 5000mAh battery that delivers more than a day’s worth of usage.

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 price in India: Rs 12,999 for the 4GB RAM and 64GB storage model.

Xiaomi Redmi 6 Pro

Xiaomi Redmi 6 Pro is the first budget device from the company’s smartphone shelf to offer a notched display for users in India. The phone offers a tall body in a compact form factor. It has solid build quality and the compact chassis provide a better grip on the phone.

Redmi 6 Pro features a 5.84-inch full HD+ display which is bright enough and renders good viewing angles.

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The dual 12MP+5MP rear cameras on the phone yield good images with plenty of details and sharpness in bright light. Another sweet add-on in the Redmi 6 Pro is a dedicated microSD slot that allows inserting two SIM cards and a microSD card simultaneously. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor promises good overall performance.

Xiaomi Redmi 6 Pro price in India: Rs 10,999 for the base 3GB RAM and 32GB option, Rs 12,999 for the 4GB RAM and 64GB variant.

Honor 9N

If you are looking for a smartphone that offers a classic design and impressive display for a budget price then Honor 9N can be an ideal option for you. The handset clad with metal and glass looks elegant and the rounded edges offer a better grip.

Honor 9N features a 5.84-inch full HD+ 19:9 display that renders good colour reproduction and viewing angles. The dual 13MP+2MP dual rear cameras deliver good portraits and daylight shots with rich colour and details. The handset carries a 3000mAh battery that provides a day’s worth of usage.

Honor 9N price in India: Rs 11,999 for the 3GB RAM and 32GB storage variant.

Realme 1

Realme 1 is another good phone worth considering for a price under Rs 13,000. The phone’s elegant diamond cut effect on the rear panel does capture one’s attention. Along with an eye-catching design, Realme 1 offers some impressive specifications. It comes with a bright 6-inch full HD+ 18:9 display with narrow bezels. The 13MP camera at the back manages to handle good outdoor shots in bright light. The native camera app offers Portrait mode and a Pro mode as well.

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Similar to the Nokia 5.1 Plus, the phone accommodates a MediaTek Helio P60 processor. Realme 1 does not have a fingerprint sensor, but it supports facial recognition which is fast enough to unlock the phone. Further, the 3410mAh battery keeps the budget Realme phone powered for a day.

Realme 1 price in India: Rs 10,990 for the 4GB RAM and 64GB storage model.

Apple Confirms T2 Security Chip Blocks Unauthorised Repairs of New Mac Models

Apple at its October hardware event last month announced the launch of the new
MacBook Air and Mac mini models in its PC lineup. Much like the current MacBook
 Pro and iMac Pro range, these two devices also sport the company's T2 Security
Chip on the MacBook Air helps in hands-free Siri control as well as prevents the
microphone from recording audio when the lid of the laptop is closed. Apple has
 now confirmed that it blocks certain third-party repairs on these newer Mac
devices with the T2 Security Chip, forcing the user to get them repaired from
an Apple Store or an Apple Authorised Service Provider.

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In a confirmation to The Verge, Apple stated that it blocks certain unauthorised,
 third-party repairs for the newer Mac models, launched in October 2018, publicly
 acknowledging the issue for the first time since the developments emerged last month.
 However, the tech giant did not say which parts would be rendered unserviceable.
 Additionally, it did not specify as to whether the current MacBook Pro and iMac Pro
 (with T2 chip) are also affected by this change.

To recall, a report in October, before the hardware launch, had claimed that the T2
Security Chip prevents the repair of the logic board, Touch ID, keyboard, battery,
 trackpad, and speakers on the latest MacBook Pro models. On the iMac Pro,
this is limited to only the logic board and flash storage. This was reportedly put in
place to eliminate independent repair stores from replacing these parts.

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The claims were, however, soon refuted by yet another report which claimed that the
 display on the MacBook Pro 2018 could be replaced independently without the need
of visiting an Apple Store or any of the Apple Authorised Service Providers. Thus,
Apple has not made it clear yet as to whether the block applies to previous models,
 however it could simply be done via a software update in the near future.