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MediaTek Applies for ZTE Shipment Permit Under Government Order Taiwanese chip designer  MediaTek  said it will comply with a government order to apply for a permit to export products to  ZTE Corp , a Chinese telecoms equipment maker subjected to restrictions in the United States. The US government this month  banned American firms from sales to ZTE for seven years, saying the company had failed to comply with a settlement related to ZTE shipping US-made goods to Iran in violation of US sanctions. ZTE  said  the ban, imposed as the United States and China spar over import tariffs, threatened its survival. On Monday, a MediaTek representative told Reuters that the order from the Taiwanese economic ministry's foreign trade bureau was more a routine measure to protect Taiwanese firms than about Sino-US trade relations. Our company is actively preparing related documents to apply for an export permit to ZTE," MediaTek said in a stoc...

Airtel Rs. 129 Pack With Free Hello Tunes, Unlimited Calls, 1GB Data for 28 Days Launched to Take on Jio While  Reliance Jio  continues to maintain its position as the top telecom operator in India in terms of affordability of data consumption,  Airtel and the other incumbents have been coming up with plans and offers to match its prices and bundled data. However, Airtel now seems to target a different set of subscribers, who like to set caller tunes on their numbers. Last week, the telecom giant had unveiled a new  recharge pack worth Rs. 219  and it offers free Hello Tunes alongside the data and voice calling benefits. Now, the company has reportedly launched a Rs. 129 plan that also offers free Hello Tunes subscription. As per a TelecomTalk  report , the new Rs. 129 recharge pack comes bundled with Airtel Hello Tunes for free. As of now, the plan appears to be offered to select users in some circles. Apart from the caller tunes subscription, it com...

Google Takes Aim at Engineer Left Untouched by Suit Against Uber Uber Technologies's   settlement  of  Waymo's  trade-secrets lawsuit in February left a key piece unresolved: the role played by Anthony Levandowski, the engineer at the centre of the alleged theft of critical self-driving technology. Starting Monday, Levandowski goes to trial to defend himself - and at least $120 million (roughly Rs. 800 crores) in incentive payments he collected from the search giant before he defected to Uber. He's fighting  Google's  claims that he breached his contract as one of the leaders of its autonomous vehicle unit, now called Waymo, by recruiting from its ranks for his rival company, Otto. The case is in private arbitration, behind closed doors and out of the public eye. It has quietly drawn Uber back into a fight, if indirectly, that the company eagerly put behind it. That's because as part of its deal to acquire Otto, Uber agreed to provide Levandows...

Microsoft Office 2019 Commercial Preview Now Available for Windows 10 Users Microsoft  has rolled out a preview of  Office 2019  to commercial customers, with features that are usually seen in the company's  Office 365  subscription. Microsoft is making test versions of several Office apps available for x86-based  Windows  systems in the Office 2019 preview programme. Office 2019, which Microsoft calls its 'perpetual' Office release, will be released in the second half of 2018 and it will include client apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, Access, Project, and Visio, as well as server apps like Exchange, SharePoint, Project Server, and Skype for Business Server. The Office 2019 is the successor to  Office 2016 . The company is targetting the Windows version of Office 2019 towards enterprises that are not running Office 365. In a support page, Microsoft had detailed  how to participate  in the Office 201...

PS4 Games May Use Blockchain DRM Solution, Sony Patent Filing Hints With the  PS4  surpassing 75 million units sold and  God of War  releasing to critical acclaim, Sony isn't resting on its laurels. A  patent filing  ( via  Finder) from the company suggests it has plans for a blockchain-based digital rights management ( DRM ) solution for PS4 games in addition to music, movies, and other media available via the Sony ecosystem. In the filing the company states that "many current DRM solutions typically require a rights locker or other common storage that is managed by a vendor or a group of vendors. However, these conventional solutions may not be very reliable and rely on one unique point of failure. If the rights locker provider or system goes out of business or otherwise fails, the user loses all the acquired content." If you're wondering what blockchain is and what it can do, we got you covered with this  handy guide . What this means...

Samsung Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge to Receive Android Oreo Update in May, Company Assures Samsung Galaxy S7  and  Galaxy S7 Edge  are likely to get the anticipated  Android Oreo  update in the coming weeks as the South Korean giant is working hard to bring the new software version to all units by the middle of May. The latest development comes days after the US carrier versions as well as the unlocked variants of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge  received Android Oreo certification  from the Wi-Fi Alliance.  Samsung  is also set to release a similar Android Oreo updates for the  Galaxy A5 (2017) ,  Galaxy A7 (2017) , and  Galaxy Tab S3 LTE  and  Wi-Fi  sometime in the first half of 2018. The Galaxy A5 (2017) and Galaxy A7 (2017)  already started receiving the latest updates  in select markets. The new update schedule has been  confirmed  through a public notice posted on the Samsung Membe...

Jio Subscriber Base Rises to 186.6 Million, Average User Consumes 9.7GB Data Per Month Jio  has revealed its user base increased to 186.6 million in Q1 2018, up from 160.1 million it had  announced in the previous quarter , with 26.5 million new users added in the period. Announcing its results for the quarter, the  Mukesh Ambani -promoted Jio also said its average revenue per user (ARPU) stood at Rs. 137.1 in the January-March period, lower than the Rs. 154 ARPU it reported for the preceding three months; chief rival  Airtel  also  announced  a drop in ARPU this quarter, from Rs. 123 to Rs. 116. Jio also claims that at 0.25 percent, its customer churn is the lowest in the telecom industry. Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) said about the Q1 2018 results, “A full-blown social, mobile and digital revolution is underway across the world, and I am glad that India is not being left behind in any way with...

Paytm Tap Card Launched, Allows Offline Payments in Less Than a Second Paytm has launched a new payment mode, Tap Card, that it is promoting as India's first "truly offline payments solution." It is a card that uses  NFC  to transfer money on company-authorised Point of Sale (PoS) terminals, and is aimed at non-Internet users. The Paytm Tap Card uses enables safe and convenient digital payments with the help of NFC, completely offline at  Paytm -issued PoS terminals in under a second, the company says. To make payments, users can add money from their Paytm account by scanning the QR code on the Tap Card and by authenticating it at any of the add value machines (AVM). It also addresses any network-related concerns at the consumers' or merchants' end. Paytm is partnering with events, educational institutes and corporates in the first phase to enable quick digital payments using the Tap Card. The customer has to simply tap the card at a merchan...

Apple Reportedly Working on AR/ VR Wireless Headset With Dual 8K  Displays Apple , the world's most valued corporation, reportedly has plans to launch an  AR  ( Augmented Reality )/  VR ( Virtual Reality ) compatible wireless headset in 2020. Rumoured to sport dual 8K displays and powerful in-house chips, the headset will expectedly take on the likes of  Oculus VR ,  HTC Vive , and Microsoft's  HoloLens . Codenamed T288, the project is said to be in the early stages and could be cancelled or altered anytime before launch. CEO Tim Cook  has time and again emphasised the company's focus on augmented reality as a major project,  reports  CNET. The report goes on to state that the headset might be Apple's next big thing as it looks to garner revenue from sources other than the  iPhone  in a slowing mobile market. The wireless headset will reportedly connect to a dedicated "box" with the help of a short-range, high-speed...

Jio Launches Exchange Offer for JioFi With Rs. 2,200 Cashback Jio  has announced a new exchange offer for customers looking to buy a WI-Fi dongle. Under this offer, customers will get the  JioFi  4G hotspot device at Rs. 999 upon exchanging their old non-Jio modem or dongle. The offer is only available in offline stores and will continue for a limited period only; however, the last date of the offer is not decided yet. Jio users will get cashback worth Rs. 2,200 as part of the offer. Going by the promo image, the JioFi M2S hotspot device will be provided as part of the offer. This device is available at Rs. 1,999 on the company’s official website and can connect up to 10 devices at the same time. Buyers who bring their old dongle or modem for exchange in a Jio Store or a Reliance Digital store will get the Jio hotspot at Rs. 999. They will have to provide the old device’s serial number, and will be provided the JioFi MSISDN number, along with the new JioFi unit. ...

Scientists Find New Way to Produce Hydrogen Fuel From Sunlight The energy provided by sunlight in an hour is equivalent to mankind's total energy consumption for one year, but the development of devices to turn this abundant natural gift into a feasible energy source for mankind had remained a challenge. A new research, led by Govinder Singh Pawar - an Indian origin scientist at the University of Exeter in the UK - has given a ray of hope for the solar fuel. According to a report, published in the journal Scientific Reports, the team of researchers developed an innovative method to split water into its constituent parts - hydrogen and oxygen - using sunlight. The hydrogen can then be used as a fuel, with the potential to power everyday items such as homes and vehicles. Hydrogen is considered to be a promising alternative fuel source that is clean - its only by-product is water - and is capable of replacing fossil fuels. "The hydrogen fuel that can be creat...

Apple AirPort Wireless Routers Discontinued, Available Until Stocks Last Apple  on Thursday announced that it is discontinuing its lineup of  AirPort wireless routers including the AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and two variants of the AirPort Time Capsule. This development comes months after Apple had  reportedly abandoned development on its AirPort division and had shifted the entire team to other departments including  iPhone ,  iPad , and  Apple TV . In a statement to 9To5Mac, the Cupertino giant  said , "We're discontinuing the Apple AirPort base station products. They will be available through Apple.com, Apple's retail stores, and Apple Authorized Resellers while supplies last." After AirPort stocks run out, Apple will continue to sell third-party routers from makes like Linksys. Apple has not updated the AirPort lineup  since 2013 . Currently Apple sells the AirPort Express for $99 (roughly Rs. 6,600), AirPort Extreme for...

Nubia Red Magic Gaming Smartphone to Be Globally Available via IndieGoGo Nubia Red Magic  smartphone was  launched last week  as the first gaming smartphone by  ZTE . Now, the handset has been made  available  through the crowdfunding site IndieGoGo. Early backers can get the smartphone for $399 (roughly Rs. 26,700), and the smartphone will start shipping in May. The company has stated that it will ship the Red Magic smartphone to India, Europe, the UK, and a host of other countries. However, interested buyers in the US and Canada will have to wait for the smartphone. The handset is currently listed on IndieGoGo for a month-long campaign to raise $50,000 (roughly Rs. 33,41,800). It already has raised over $30,000 (roughly Rs. 20,05,500) from more than 100 backers, reaching 61 percent of its goal with a month left for the fundraising campaign. The IndieGoGo campaign has several offers on the Nubia Red Magic smartphone. As per the first deal, you c...

iPhone 2018 LCD Variant to Get Stronger Display Without 3D Touch: KGI's Ming-Chi Kuo Apple's  ambitious plans of releasing three variants in its  2018 iPhone  lineup are reportedly getting updated as the launch date nears. As per previous rumours, Apple is set to unveil two new models with OLED displays, and a cheaper one with an LCD panel at its  iPhone  event later this year. A new report, with information sourced from the trusted KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, suggests that the lower-end LCD iPhone will sport a stronger display glass with the CGS (Cover Glass Sensor) technology. A report by Chinese publication Feng on Wednesday  reveals  says the new CGS display - while making the smartphone more impact resistant and lighter overall - won't support 3D Touch. The lack of 3D Touch on the cheaper 6.1-inch iPhone has been  tipped before . The report adds that the cost of the 6.1-inch LCD iPhone's touch panel will increase 15 percent tha...

Netflix, Amazon Prime Video May Be Forced to Fund European Content Under New EU Rules Online streaming services including  Netflix  and  Amazon Prime Video  could be required by countries to help fund European films and TV shows under a preliminary deal struck by EU lawmakers and member states on Thursday. The new law extends the European Union's broadcasting rules to online video services and includes a quota of at least 30 percent for European works on video-on-demand platforms. Video-sharing platforms like Google's  YouTube  and  Facebook  will also have to take measures against content "inciting violence, hatred and terrorism." Online platforms will need to create a "transparent, easy-to-use and effective mechanism to allow users to report or flag content." They (the new rules) encourage innovative services and promote European films - but also protect children and tackle hate speech in a better way," said Andrus Ansip, Euro...

iPhone SE 2 to Have Glass Back and Headphone Jack, Leaked Images Tip iPhone SE 2  is expected to be launched as  Apple's  first smartphone in 2018 and the handset has already been subjected to several leaks and rumours. The smartphone supposed to be the successor to the  iPhone SE , is  possibly going to launch  in May or at Apple's WWDC this year. Meanwhile, there have been many conflicting reports surrounding the design of the handset. Now, fresh images of an alleged iPhone SE 2 units have leaked showcasing a fully built phone. Shared  by letemsvetemapplem.eu, the leaked photos show a smartphone that looks similar to the iPhone SE. However, the alleged iPhone SE 2 appears to have a glossy back panel, suggesting that it could be made of glass instead of the aluminium construction of its predecessor. This information is in line with  previous reports  that suggested that the handset may come with wireless charging support like the ...

China Smartphone Shipments Decline 21 Percent, Xiaomi Sees Growth: Canalys Smartphone shipments in China have dropped by 21 percent in Q1 2018 compared to the same quarter in 2017, as per the latest data shared by market analyst firm  Canalys . According to the report, the total number of smartphone shipments in the country in the first quarter totalled 91 million - a number that the market had passed back in Q4 2013. In Q1 last year, the number was reported to be 114 million units. The year-on-year drop is being called the biggest ever decline in smartphone shipments in China. As per the Canalys  report , eight out of the top 10 smartphone vendors in China were hit by annual declines. Companies like  Gionee ,  Meizu , and  Samsung  have declined to less than half of their respective Q1 2017 numbers. Meanwhile,  Huawei , including sub-brand  Honor , has seen a minor 2 percent growth in shipment. However, it is still maintaining its position ...