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Google Pixel 5 Launches on September 30 Alongside Chromecast and Smart Speaker

Google Pixel 5 Launches on September 30 Alongside Chromecast and Smart Speaker

Google Pixel 5 is on the news for quite some time, but now the wait for its launch is over. Google has now confirmed that it will launch the much-awaited Pixel smartphone in its virtual product launch event on September 30. The tech titanic Google will also unveil a new Chromecast and new Smart speaker alongside the Pixel 5 device. We have been seeing the leaks of the phone for the past few weeks but will now get to see the actual device shortly. Like most phones, Pixel 5 will also feature a punch-hole display with a refresh rate of 90Hz.

Google Pixel 5 Launches on September 30 Alongside Chromecast and Smart Speaker

Google has started inviting members to a special event at the end of this month. The invite reads, “We invite you to learn all about our new Chromecast, our latest smart speaker, and our new Pixel phones.” The US-based tech company is promising new hardware. The Pixel maker had already told about the Pixel 5 launch later this year during the Pixel 4a introduction last month.

Google Pixel 5 Launch Date and Time

Google Pixel 5 Launches on September 30 Alongside Chromecast and Smart Speaker
Image Courtesy: TheVerge

Google announced the date of the upcoming virtual launch event through a tweet yesterday. The event will take place at 11 AM PT (11:30 PM IST) on September 30. It has also has said that the Pixel 5 smartphone will accompany a new Chromecast device and a new smart speaker. The company didn’t reveal more details of the upcoming devices or the launch event. But we expect the products will launch on the said date and time.

Expected Specifications

As per the previous leaks, the upcoming Pixel 5 may run Android 11 and will feature a 6-inch OLED display. In terms of processing power, the device will be powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G SoC. Also, the device is said to come with an internal storage of 128GB and 8GB RAM.

Pixel 5 will sport a dual-camera setup with a 12.2MP primary Sony IMX363 sensor and a secondary 16MP Sony IMX481 shooter placed in a square-shaped module at the back. At the front, it will feature an 8MP selfie camera inside the punch hole cutout. The battery capacity will remain 4,000mAh with 15W wireless charging support. The leaks also suggest that Pixel 5 will have a 5G variant titled Pixel 5s too.

WWE 2K Battlegrounds Takes You Back to WWE All Stars

WWE 2K Battlegrounds
Image Courtesy: 2K Sports

The previous edition of WWE 2K received flak from both gamers and critiques. The game received a 4.3/10 from IGN and 2/10 from GameSpot. If it wasn’t bad enough already, the game has a ‘Mostly Negative’ rating on Steam. This is a developer’s nightmare. But 2K shows that they have learned from their mistakes, as they introduced the WWE 2K Battlegrounds.

The latest title in the WWE 2K series, the game completely flips the realism route 2K took with WWE 2K20. The game is filled with the chaos of WWE in an arcade-style fighting setup. While the new direction grabs a lot of eyes, it has its drawbacks too.

What does WWE 2K Battlegrounds bring?

The game reminds the players of the much-loved WWE All Stars from 2011. The combat style in WWE 2K Battleground combines the grappling-based roots of wrestling with a feel of Smash Bros. That is if Smash Bros were a wrestling game. The game threw away the majority of the traditional WWE moves, replacing them with acrobatic moves coupled with power-ups. We have everything from explosives to environment-based props and crocodiles. Here is the official trailer.

The graphics have taken a new design too. Your favorite WWE stars now look less realistic and more like caricatures. But the graphics lack the feel you expect from a WWE title. Further, the generic entries for all characters appear as a missed opportunity to add a personality to each star.

The game brings 2-5 minute brawls with simple to understand controls. What’s more? The arena is destructible, allowing players to use parts of the broken stage as weapons. The characters are divided into five classes: Brawler, Powerhouse, High-Flyer, Technician, and All-Rounder. With unique battle styles for each class and multiple game modes, WWE 2K Battlegrounds looks like it is set to redefine 2K’s approach with the franchise.

Published by 2K and developed by Visual Concepts, the game is scheduled to release on September 18, 2020. It will launch on PS4, Xbox One, Switch and PC via Steam and Stadia.

Oneplus 8T Rumored To Be Powered by Snapdragon 865

OnePlus 8 with OnePlus Buds
Image Courtesy: OnePlus

Contrary to what mobile enthusiasts were hoping for, the OnePlus 8T will not run on the Snapdragon 865 Plus. Instead, the phone might feature the older Snapdragon 865 SoC. It has come as a shock to customers, as the previous year’s flagship models OnePls 7T and 7T Pro both featured Snapdragon 865 Plus.

The device, model number KB2001, was recently certified by BIS as reported by Twitter user Sudhanshu. Referred to as OnePlus ‘Kebab’, OnePlus 8T appeared in July on Geekbench. However, every leak till now has suggested that it should feature the Snapdragon 865 Plus SoC.

However, a tipster on Twitter named Abhishek Yadav revealed data claiming otherwise. Here is the original tweet.

While his leak can be based on the Geekbench listing from July, the time of this leak might suggest that he has additional information. Another thing mentioned in the tweet which initially leaked on Geekbench was the 8 GB RAM for the device. The tweet also mentions Android 11, which will be an obvious feature in the phone apart from OxygenOS 11.

It doesn’t make sense for the OnePlus 8T to be powered by Snapdragon 865 instead of 865 Plus. The news surrounding 865 Plus has been up ever since the earliest leaks surrounding the mobile. However, with this new, contrasting report, we will have to wait for the truth to surface.

No OnePlus 8T Pro release planned

People waiting for the OnePlus 8T should expect a launch either by September-end or in October. This launch window is similar to OnePlus 7T, which got released in September 2019.

Based on leaked render images, the phone will have a punch-hole camera on the top left of the screen The phone will feature a flat display alongside a metal and glass body. The fingerprint scanner will be under the display for the device.

However, fans will be disappointed to know that there will be no OnePlus 8T Pro. Leaks surrounding the device’s user manual had surfaced on the internet. However, the rumor was quashed by Max J., a reliable source on Twitter.

iPhone Makers Are Among Winners in $6.6 Billion Plan of India

iPhone Makers Are Among Winners in $6.6 Billion Plan of India

The major iPhone assemblers of Apple Inc., among many other companies are expected to get approval by the Government of India to participate in a $6.6 billion stimulus program aimed at bringing manufacturing to India. We saw the report first on Bloomberg that said the information came from people familiar with the matter.

According to the report, the Union Government of India will approve a plan in a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, aimed at bringing $150 billion in mobile phone manufacturing over the next five years. The Govt. has already cleared three companies viz. the Foxconn Group, Pegatron Corp., and Wistron Corp., among many other phone makers. The factories of these companies are currently located mainly in China that makes almost every iPhone on the planet.

GoI Will Manufacturing Incentives

iPhone Makers Are Among Winners in $6.6 Billion Plan of India

The Govt. of India is aiming to make India a manufacturing hub in the coming years. It has initiated a Production Linked Incentive (or PLI) program for the manufacturers to make goods in India. Under this program, the Govt. will raise the incentives each year to lure major smartphone brands to make their products in India. The Govt. has currently offered five slots for the foreign companies to apply for the program. And, Samsung Electronics is the only company to apply for the incentive program besides the iPhone makers.

Amid the rising reluctance towards China due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, the Indian government is in no mood to lose this opportunity and attract manufacturers to India.

Indian Brands Also Apply for Incentives

According to Hari Om, the chairman and founder of Lava Mobiles, the next five years will be dramatic. He said that India could become the new China in phone manufacturing. Talking about the move to woo Apple, he said that the initiative by the government was thoughtful as the entire ecosystem will shift if Apple shifts its production to India.

Lava International Ltd. has also applied for the manufacturing incentives along with Dixon Technologies India Ltd. and Karbonn Mobiles.

Terms for Receiving Incentives

The Govt. has fixed specific investment and production targets for foreign phone makers that they need to comply with to receive the incentives. All foreign companies must commit to the terms of selling for at least $200 (₹15,000). However, there are no such restrictions to the Indian phone makers.

The chairman of India Cellular and Electronics Association, Pankaj Mohindroo, said India’s incentive scheme could be a game-changer. He said that by 20125, it has the potential to make the country No. 1, or at least No. 2 in mobile manufacturing.

Nvidia Eyes Acquisition Deal Worth $40 Billion for Arm

Nvidia Geforce

Based on a report from the Wall Street Journal, Nvidia might be looking at a deal to acquire ARM Holdings. ARM Holdings are the developer of the ARM processors, part of almost every mobile and tablet device in the world. Currently, ARM Holdings is owned by SoftBank, who purchased the company in 2016. 

However, SoftBank has been looking for potential buyers in recent times after struggling to help the venture grow. This search might be over, as Nvidia has expressed interest in purchasing ARM. While the news first arose back in July, the two companies are now closer than ever to agree on a deal. 

Why does Nvidia want ARM?

The deal in question is valued at around $40 billion in a cash plus stock deal. It will see SoftBank making a slight profit on the sale of ARM after its acquisition for $ 32 billion four years ago. The deal is expected to go through within the coming week, barring any unexpected hiccups.

The graphics giant has a lot to gain from this deal as well. Apart from their graphics card empire, Nvidia has also worked on products based on ARM. These chips power devices such as the Nintendo Switch, Nvidia Shield and others. 

With ARM expanding its domain to desktops, laptops and servers, Nvidia has an opportunity to make a statement around its domination in the tech industry. The acquisition will propel Nvidia as a contender in the race for mobile devices and tablets as well.

With the ARM deal, the Nvidia will be able to catch up to AMD and Intel with efforts to tie CPU and GPU together in complex ways. The possibilities surrounding where this can lead to are endless. The company can create custom CPU architectures, or use the technology to realize CEO Jensen Huang’s vision for the future for computing.

EA Sports FIFA 21 Ratings: Chelsea, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund

EA Sports FIFA 21
Image Courtesy: EA Sports

Fans are gearing up for EA’s FIFA 21 to hit the stores. And massive clubs are revealing the FIFA ratings of their players. The latest teams to join the list of teams that have released their player ratings are Chelsea, AC Milan, and Borussia Dortmund.

EA has a tradition where fans get to see the top 100 highest-rated players in the buildup to the release of a new FIFA title. This year’s list, topped by Lionel Messi, was released on September 10. But many fans are still awaiting the release of club ratings. These help them know how good the players in their favorite club will be in-game. 

Hence, select clubs have begun revealing the ratings for their players through social media. The latest clubs to join the bandwagon are Chelsea, AC Milan, and Borussia Dortmund. Here are the ratings revealed by the teams.

AC Milan ratings in FIFA 21

We start the rating reveal with AC Milan. The ratings for the Italian club were topped by their goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. He received a rating of 85, reflecting his reputation as one of Serie A’s best goalkeepers. 

The Italian was followed by Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovich and Italian defender Alessio Romagnoli, both rated at 83. Theo Hernandez and Simon Kjaer at 80 rating round up the top five. Here is the list of all the ratings revealed for AC Milan in FIFA 21.

  1. Gianluigi Donnarumma – 85
  2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic – 83
  3. Alessio Romagnoli – 83
  4. Theo Hernandez – 80
  5. Simon Kjaer – 80
  6. Hakan Calhanoglu – 79
  7. Ante Rebic – 79
  8. Mateo Musacchio – 78
  9. Sandro Toanli – 77
  10. Franck Kessie – 77
  11. Conti – 77
  12. Calabria – 76
  13. Lucas Paqueta – 76
  14. Bennacer – 75
  15. Brahim Diaz – 74
  16. Rafael Leao – 74
  17. Saelemaekers – 72
  18. Maldini – 59
AC milan fifa
Image Courtesy: EA Sports

Chelsea ratings in FIFA 21

The next club we have ratings for is the English club Chelsea FC. Their best player in FIFA 21 is French midfielder N’golo Kante, retaining his FIFA 20 rating of 88. However, the club has a whole has received massive upgrades in-game due to their recent transfers. 

It is reflected in the player ratings. Four players who round up the top five have all joined Chelsea in the previous transfer window. The players are Thiago Silva, Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, and Hakim Ziyech. Each of these holds a rating of 85 on the upcoming FIFA title. Here is the list of ratings for Chealsea FC players.

  1. N’Golo Kante – 88
  2. Thiago Silva – 85
  3. Timo Werner – 85
  4. Kai Havertz – 85
  5. Hakim Ziyech – 85
  6. Cesar Azpilicueta – 84
  7. Jorginho – 83
  8. Mateo Kovacic – 83
  9. Christian Pulisic – 81
  10. Marcos Alonso – 81
  11. Toni Rudiger – 81
  12. Ben Chilwell – 81
  13. Kurt Zouma – 80
  14. Mason Mount – 80
  15. Olivier Giroud – 79
  16. Andreas Christensen – 79
  17. Ross Barkley – 78
  18. Ruben Loftus-Cheek – 78
chelsea fifa
Image Courtesy: EA Sports

Dortmund ratings in FIFA 21

Finally, we reach the ratings for Borussia Dortmund. The German team is filled with young talented players, a fact that reflects in their player ratings. From the ratings revealed to the public, English forward and Manchester United target Jadon Sancho leads the rating charts.

The 87 rated Sancho is followed by Norwegian forward Erling Haaland. Haaland shares a rating of 84 with Axel Witsel, Roman Burki, and Thorgan Hazard to round up the top five. Here is a list of ratings for Borussia Dortmund players.

  1. Jadon Sancho – 87
  2. Erling Haaland – 84
  3. Axel Witsel – 84
  4. Roman Burki – 84
  5. Julian Brandt – 84
  6. Thorgan Hazard – 83
  7. Emre Can – 82
  8. Thomas Meunier – 81
  9. Thomas Delaney – 81
  10. Lukasz Piszczek – 80
  11. Nico Schulz – 80
  12. Dan-Axel Zagadou – 79
  13. Marwin Hitz – 78
  14. Manuel Akjani – 78
  15. Mahmoud Dahoud – 76
  16. Marius Wolf – 76
  17. Marcel Schmelzer – 74
  18. Jude Bellingham – 69
  19. Gio Reyna – 68
Dortmund Sancho
Image Courtesy: EA Sports

While these ratings aren’t an exhaustive list, it gives fans an idea regarding what they can expect for their team in the upcoming game. With more release scheduled soon, the hype for FIFA 21 will continue to rise.

Bentley Installs Living Green Wall at The Heart of Its Operations in Crewe

Bentley Installs Living Green Wall at The Heart of Its Operations in Crewe
Image Courtesy: Bentley Media

Bentley Motors, the British luxury car manufacturer, has installed a living wall at its headquarters and production facility in Crewe, United Kingdom. According to Bentley Media, the wall is designed to increase biodiversity, and it is its latest step in becoming the “world’s most sustainable luxury car manufacturer.”

The living wall lies on the side of the main production hall of Bentley Motors in South Cheshire. It contains over 2,600 plants of various species grown locally in the UK. The company boasts it to be the first of its kind wall in the entire South Cheshire.

Types of Plants in Bentley Green Wall

Bentley Installs Living Green Wall at The Heart of Its Operations in Crewe
Image courtesy: Bentley Media

The living green wall installed by Bentley Motors at its headquarters includes 28 species of ferns, grasses, and evergreens. All the species are grown locally in the United Kingdom. The plants grown are selected in such a way that the walls will thrive and remain green throughout the year. Also, the company has used the smart systems to prevent unnecessary losses of water.

According to the company, each plant is individually potted, and the whole installation uses a ‘special’ automated watering system. It will ensure the plants receive the right amount of water, preventing unnecessary water usage irrespective of the outside weather.

Benefits of Green Wall Installation

According to Bentley, the installation of the living wall will benefit the company’s headquarters and production facility in many ways. It says that the living wall is a demonstration of the company’s commitment to sustainability. Not just this, the whole installation will also contribute to its aim to reduce the environmental impact.

In fact, the company’s factory site had also received the carbon-neutral certificate from the Carbon Trust an year ago. The living wall setup will further help the company reduce carbon from the atmosphere. As per the company’s estimates, the living wall will produce around 40 kg of oxygen in a year. Moreover, it will absorb heat, filter toxins, and dust, and provide natural insulation to the company’s headquarters.

Binge Watching Netflix, Amazon Prime and Other OTT Sessions Lead to Global Warming, Says Study

Binge Watching Netflix, Amazon Prime and Other OTT Sessions Lead to Global Warming, Says Study

As per the recent research conducted by the German central environment agency, it has been found that streaming an HD video emits different levels of carbon dioxide that depend on the technology used in transmission. The government agency also found that HD videos, when streamed over the fiber optics connection, the carbon emissions are least. The numerical value of the emitted carbon level was found to be two grams for an hour of HD video streaming. It means binge-watching your favourite Netflix episodes lead to global warming depending upon the amount of data you consume.

The same HD-quality video, when streamed for an hour over a copper cable, the carbon emissions were double. The study found the amount of CO2 produced was equal to four grams in an hour. Also, the highest carbon emissions are in 3G or UTMS data transmission technology. The amount of CO2 emissions are as high as 90 grams an hour. However, if the data transfer takes place over the 5G network, the release of carbon dioxide is significantly lower as compared to the 3G transmission. Data transfer for an hour over the 5G network produced five grams of carbon dioxide.

Fiber Optics May Reduce Global Warming

Binge Watching Netflix, Amazon Prime and Other OTT Sessions Lead to Global Warming, Says Study
Image credits: ElProCus

Svenja Schulze, the German Environment Minister, said that streaming data without harming the environment was possible if we do the things right. She focused more on the use of the ‘right’ data transmission methods that could minimize the carbon emissions. She also said that setting up of more public WiFi hotspots would be a better alternative to mobile networks.

The president of the German Environment Agency, Dirk Messner, also reminded the increase in data consumption in the future. He also suggested to work on more efficient and environment-friendly transmission channels. More countries should expand the fiber optic networks or 5G transmission technology and seem more promising.

Data Transmission in Other Resolutions

The study also says that the volume of data consumption is different for different resolutions of streaming. For example, the video streamed in an Ultra-HD resolution on a TV transfers ten times more data than an HD-quality video. So watching your favorite episodes in low resolution would significantly reduce the CO2 emissions. Luckily, you may not even notice the change in video quality on the devices with a smaller screen. Hence it gives you an option to watch your favorite shows in low resolution without even compromising with your watching experience. It’d indeed be a small contribution from your side in reducing the global warming by watching low-resolution episodes on Netflix.

Google Starts Rolling Out Stable Android 11 Updates, Check Your Device’s Eligibility

Google Starts Rolling Out Stable Android 11 Updates, Check Your Device's Eligibility

The stable version of Android 11 is finally out. Google has already started rolling out the Android 11 update on its Pixel devices. Most of the major smartphone manufacturers use a custom Android skin and not the stock Android software. So every phone may not receive the latest OS update immediately. However, a few companies may also roll out the update soon. Here we shall brief you on what smartphone brands and devices are eligible for the Android 11 update.

Brands & Phones to Receive Android 11 Update

Google Starts Rolling Out Stable Android 11 Updates, Check Your Device's Eligibility

Google / Google Pixel Smartphones

The fact that Android belongs to Google, it is the first to roll out the first update on its devices. Google Pixel devices are the first ones to receive the latest OS update, and Google has already rolled out the stable version for its eligible Pixel phones. The Pixel devices include Pixel 2, 2 XL, 3, 3 XL, 3a, 3a XL, 4, 4XL, and 4a.

OnePlus Smartphones

OnePlus is probably the first company other than Google to bring the last Android updates almost immediately. The company hasn’t released the stable version of Android 11 yet but, its OnePlus 8-series smartphones are eligible for the Android 11 Open Beta program. The devices include OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro and will receive OxygenOS 11 based on the Android 11 Open Beta program.

Xiaomi Smartphones

Xiaomi is said to roll out the latest Android 11 update through MIUI 12 for the premium Mi lineup first. The company has made the Android 11 Preview available for the Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro smartphones. Users of Poco F2 Pro can also apply for the Android R Pilot Tester.

Oppo Mobiles

Oppo has already made ColorOS 7.2 Beta available for some devices. ColorOS 7.2 Beta is based on Android 11 but is currently limited to a few phones only. The Chinese company will unveil the ColorOS 11 that will be powered by Android 11, on 14 September. The devices that are currently eligible for the ColorOS 7.2 Beta update are Find X2, X2 Pro, Ace2, Reno3 4G, and Reno3 Pro 4G.

Realme Phones

Currently, only Realme X50 Pro is receiving the update for Android 11 Preview. There is no word on the stable version of the OS update as of now.

Samsung Smartphones

Samsung is currently offering the One UI 3 update on the Galaxy S20 series only. The company has announced the Beta program for developers for users in the US and South Korea too. The smartphone brand may roll out the Public Beta program for other regions soon. However, there is no information on the stable update yet.

Apex Legends Receives Fixes to Gamer-Breaking Bugs

Apex Legends Season 6
Image Courtesy: Respawn

Respawn, developers of Apex Legends, have released a new patch today on 10th September. This patch comes after a huge uproar by the Apex Legends players. The uproar rose as the game’s previous update brought massive game-breaking glitches, severely impacting the gameplay experience.

Apex Legends’ quick update was massively appreciated by the fanbase. The studio released an emergency update for the issues rather than waiting for scheduled maintenance. Here is the tweet announcing the update along with the improvements to the game.

Everything new about Apex Legends

With the latest patch, Respawn has addressed the bug that caused KnockDown Shields in the game to become ineffective. The bug in question led to players being unable to deploy their last-ditch efforts to survive while they waited to get revived.

The game received improvements to the reconnect option in the game. Another bug addressed in the patch was the disappearance of Wraith portals when placed in specific areas. Further, Respawn resolved a glitch that caused beacons to appear on the mini-map but not in-world.

Finally, the patch brought improvements to the Ring Logic system, while addressing several game logic errors. With this patch, players hope the major issues in the game that have plagued the game recently will get resolved.

In other news surrounding Apex Legends, Respawn has implied that the popular FPS will make an appearance on next-gen consoles.

Last October, Chief Executive Andrew Wilson revealed, “Apex Legends is a major long-term franchise for us, and since launch, we’ve significantly expanded the team working on the game and it continues to grow. Our pipeline of future content is packed with really fun experiences that will be delivered through upcoming seasons and a regular cadence of updates for the community.”

No one from the studio has explicitly confirmed a release on the upcoming consoles. But seems extremely likely that Apex Legends will take advantage of the superior specs.