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Fix “Unfortunately Google Play Services has Stopped” Error

If you are an Android user, Google play is the one app that you may use on day to day basis and multiple times on other days. But, if Google Play stops working things may get annoying for the most Android users. This is mostly true with the most common Google Play Store message “Unfortunately Google Play Services has stopped” currently affecting thousands of Android users. The error occurs when the user tries to download an app or game from the Play Store.

As I said earlier, the error can get annoying really soon, but fortunately for you, there are working ways to fix “unfortunately Google Play Services has stopped” error in Android. Today, we will be showing the best solutions to troubleshoot this play store error on your smartphone.

Fix Unfortunately Google Play Services has Stopped

There are a couple of ways to fix this issue on Android. We have compiled the best working solutions and have listed them below. Jump to the next solution if the first one doesn’t work.

Fix 1: Restart your Phone

Restarting your Android phone can fix the Google play services error. At times, your phone may fail to start the Google Play service properly and starts throwing the error. An easy fix for this issue is to restart the Android device. After the restart, open Google Play Store and start browsing the app.

Fix 2: Clear the Cache

Android apps by default use cache to store temporary data that allows the apps to connect with the services faster. However, a bad cache can cause a problem with Android apps. Fortunately, Android has the option to clear cache for any installed apps.

Open Settings and go to Installed Apps. Depending on the Android version, you may have an Apps Manager instead.

Search for Google Play Services and open it.

  Tap the Clear Data button at the bottom of the screen. Select Clear Cache option from the pop-up window.

Go back to the Installed Apps / Apps Manager and search for Google Play Store.

Open Google Play Store, tap on Clear Data and select Clear Cache option.

Go back to the home screen and open the Google Play Store. The Google Play Store should be working now without any issues.

Fix 3: Download Play Store / Play Services .apk File

If the above solution doesn’t work, installing Google Play Store apk file can fix the problem as well. The good folks at APKmirror offer clean apk files to download.

Download Play Services APK file

Download Play Store APK file.

Install both the apks one after another. But, before installing the apk files, you need to enable “Unknown sources” option in the Settings.

Go to Settings > Tap on Privacy.

Turn on “Unknown Sources” option.

Go back to the downloads app and tap on Google Play Services .apk file. Tap on the Install button to install the app.

Next, tap on Google Play Store .apk and tap on the Install button.

Once both the apps are installed, launch Google Play store and start downloading your favourite apps.

Fix 4: Uninstall Google Play Store / Services Updates

Most of the time updates for the apps bring bug fixes and improvements, however, the same updates can cause problems due to a new bug or glitch. One way to fix update related issue to uninstall the latest update.

Open Setting.

Open Installed Apps / Apps Manager.

Search for Google Play Services, Tap three-dots and select Uninstall update. Other versions of Android may show Uninstall Update button at the bottom of the Google Play Services page.

Do the same with the Google Play Store app as well. After this, open Google Play Store and check if the error is resolved.

Fix 5: Perform an Android Factory Restore

You should be able to resolve the Google Play service error by now; if not, you may need to perform a complete factory restore of your Android to fix the issue.

Note: Factory Resetting the Android phone deletes all the files, and Apps from the internal memory of the phone. If you have an encrypted SD card, make sure yo decrypt it before restoring your Android phone as the decryption key will be lost during the restoration process.

Open Settings.

Tap on Additional Settings and then tap on Backup & Reset.

Tap on Factory data reset > Reset Phone.

Bottom Line

The Google Play Services has stopped error can be annoying and rightly so as users use the service every day.  However, you should be able to fix the Google play service error by following any of the solutions in this article. Do let us know which solution worked for you in the comments below.

The post Fix “Unfortunately Google Play Services has Stopped” Error appeared first on Telecom Press.

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Vodafone’s Rs 189 Prepaid Plan Offers Unlimited Calling, 2 GB Data & 56-Days Validity

The private service operator Vodafone Idea cellular built an accelerated growth strategy through the introduction of a new prepaid plan to Vodafone subscribers in the circles where it has good footprints with 4G spectrum.

The new plan has no SMS features in it, however, offers a voice and data benefits to the users, which is again priced strategically at an affordable cost of Rs.189. Vodafone Rs.189 prepaid recharge plan is aimed at voice calling users who have limited need for the use of internet and SMS during the period of validity.

Vodafone Rs 189 Prepaid Plan Benefit

The prepaid plan of Rs.189, it allows a subscriber to make unlimited voice calls with a threshold limit of 250 mins a day and 1000 mins per week.  Moreover, subscribers are permitted to make voice calls on 100 distinct numbers throughout the whole period of service validity.

During the period of service, the user should utilize the internet data of 2 GB volume which is available at 4G and 3G speeds where applicable. The unique feature of this prepaid plan is the period of service validity which is about 56 day from the date of recharge. No other service provider has a similar prepaid denomination plan in the market so far.

The two months validity period cools down the subscriber’s pain as it does not offer any SMS features with this plan. Users must note charges post daily quota on voice calls charged at 60 paise per minute. Also, users can make voice calls both local and national which is limited as per the pre-paid tariff plan. The plan on the user number will be revoked for any further operations when Vodafone identifies usage of service for any commercial use.

Vodafone Rs 189 Recharge Is The Cheapest Prepaid Plan With 56-Day Validity

Vodafone is establishing standards over the last few days. A few days ago Vodafone came up with a prepaid plan under Rs.300 with a service validity period of 84 days at the moment again the company has another prepaid plan under Rs 200 for 56 days service validity.

Users can expect Airtel to come up with a similar plan to meet the competition in the market. However, neither of the players Reliance Jio or BSNL is offering user service validity under the price tag of under Rs.200 like Vodafone.

The Rs 198 Prepaid Plan by Jio is valid only for 28 Days

The Reliance Jio prepaid plan of Rs 198 is to close the competition with Vodafone’s Rs 189 plan. The 28 days validity service period from Jio users can expect 56 GB of internet data volume at a 4G speed, which brings to the equation a 2 GB data usage per day. Jio provides unlimited voice calls with no restrictions on voice calls and 100 SMS a day just like the Vodafone prepaid plan however the validity of Jio’s plan is only for 28 days from the date of recharge.

The Vodafone Recharge of Rs 189 Can be taken exclusively via Balance Deduction Method

Users must take note that the prepaid recharge with denominations Rs 189 and Rs. 279 from Vodafone works only through the Balance Deduction Mode. Vodafone usually brings prepaid plans through the recharge and Top-Ups. However it’s different in the Rs.189 and Rs.279 prepaid plans.

Vodafone Recently Launched Cheapest Prepaid Plan With 84-Day Validity

The 84-day prepaid validity plan from Vodafone priced at Rs.279 similar to the Rs.189 prepaid plan, which does not provide SMS benefits or unlimited calls and the usage of the internet should be in the 84 days period of service validity. The internet volume of about 4 GB data available to the user for the 84-day validity recharge subscribers. The validity of the 4 GB data is for the whole service validity period where the user can use it at any given point of time.

The post Vodafone’s Rs 189 Prepaid Plan Offers Unlimited Calling, 2 GB Data & 56-Days Validity appeared first on Telecom Press.

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WhatsApp New Updated Brings ‘Swipe to Reply’ Feature To Android Users

The latest WhatsApp beta update brings Andriod users the Swipe to Reply feature. This feature is available in the WhatsApp version number 2.18.300. The Swipe to Reply feature was available in the iOS version when the per-message reply was included. It is only the Andriod users who were left behind with this feature update.  Nevertheless, it’s now feasible for WhatsApp users on Android to just swipe on message and replying to it. Basically, WhatsApp is making it simpler for Android users to respond back to a message.

WhatsApp Swipe To Reply Feature: How it Works?

Last few months through the updates, WhatsApp added the feature to reply to a selected message on both Android and iOS platforms. In order to avoid the confusion in a conversation, user cans selectively reply to a single message in Whatsapp with Swipe to Reply feature.

Before the Swipe to Reply feature was rolled out the Andriod users need to select the message they would like to reply and hit the reply button which is on top of the screen. WhatsApp is now focused on bringing user experience easier to navigate to reply to the messages. As simple as a swipe from the left-hand side the message to reply will be selected.

In order to give a reply to the selected message, the user must type a message and hit the send icon. This swipe to reply feature does exist in the iOS platforms due to its inbuilt user-friendly interface. WhatsApp took about 12 months to prepare Swipe to Reply feature update for Andriod users.

How to get Whatsapp Swipe To Reply feature?

The Andriod Beta users will now be able to enjoy the WhatsApp swipe to reply updated features. After thorough testing, WhatsApp will add the features to the stable version to roll out to all Andriod users.

WhatsApp users who have signed up for WhatsApp Beta for Andriod v.2.18.300 can install the update from Google Play Store to use the Swipe To Reply feature. The new users must note, WhatsApp Beta program is not accepting any new registrations. The users can just uninstall the existing stable version of WhatsApp and install the Beta APK from the APK mirror to bring the Swipe to Reply feature.

Don’t be surprised to see advertisements in WhatsApp.

WhatsApp which is owned by Facebook is formulating plans to bring advertisements in the WhatsApp platform. Users enjoy using WhatsApp as it is completely advertisement free messenger available in the market at this moment. The introduction of advertisements in WhatsApp is definitely bringing some privacy issue, as the ad displays will be of user interest-based ads.

The post WhatsApp New Updated Brings ‘Swipe to Reply’ Feature To Android Users appeared first on Telecom Press.

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YouTube’s ‘Miniplayer’ Allows Browsing While Watching Videos On Desktop

YouTube is probably the most popular video streaming service and the new mini player is going to enhance the popularity. The video multi tasking desktop was tested earlier in 2018 and now the mini player is available officially. However, the feature is not yet available on all web browsers yet. The new icon for mini player is added to bottom-right corner under video tools. If you click it –the video will get into PIP mode.

You can exit the minimized window mode anytime by clicking on the player. Right clicking it opens the options menu.  While it is useful for users who want to watch movies while browsing the websites, the window is not resizable. It is restricted to the web page.

However, as you open other tabs it still keeps playing. It will still take some time before Youtube makes it available to all the users. In a surprising move, Google made it available to edge users. In a few days or a week, it will likely be made available to other third party browsers. So far the player has evoked mostly positive response from the users who have tried it.

The Mini player will also be available for Apple users who use Chrome browser. As of now, only Chrome 69 supports it. The player will have basic controls required to control playback. However, this is the first version to come out and over time, Google may add more features to the player. It is yet to be seen whether it helps in reducing or affecting resource consumption or not.

This is something more Google users will lap up in the coming days. However, on finer analysis this is not exactly a brand new feature for enjoying minimized video playback. Opera has video pop out feature which works more or less in the same way. This can be handy for these users who want to multitask when using the web. However, to enjoy its functionality you will need a device or PC with really large display or else a sizeable part will be taken up by it.

The post YouTube’s ‘Miniplayer’ Allows Browsing While Watching Videos On Desktop appeared first on Telecom Press.

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LG launched One Of The Cheapest 4K HDR Monitors Yet

With continuous progress of new technology, the prices of gadgets are falling down, making it a win-win situation for the customers. The price of HD monitors is also falling down. LG, which is a top contender in PC peripherals, has introduced a gaming oriented 4K HDR monitor. The new 32UK550-B monitor has a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels. It is compliant with AMD’s HDR10 FreeSync tech @ 60 Hz. The monitor can display more than billion colors- as per sRGB spectrum. All these come at a price tag below $500. As of now, it is being sold in Japan but soon the model will be made available in Europe and the USA.

While the price tag and technology used in the LG monitor look appealing, there are some trade-offs. For example, the model has a VA panel than IPS. This will affect the viewing angles. LG also makes IPS enabled 4k HDR monitors at almost double price. It comes factory calibrated. The monitor also features LG’s Super Resolution+ tech for up-scaling content. It comes with Black Stabilizer as well as Dynamic Action Sync technologies. These help optimize PC gaming experience.

There are some other downers too. The monitor has an average brightness of 300 nits. The contrast ratio is 3000:1. This is way below what you find in several monitors in the market. It is pitted against another budget monitor Benq EW3270U. This is going to be good for basic users who do not care much for color calibration issues. However, those into heavy multimedia usage or hardcore gaming may not be happy with the performance of the unit.

As far as input/output capabilities are concerned, the LG 32UK550-B comes with enough ports and connectivity choices. You get a couple of HDMI 2.0a ports. There is also a DisplayPort 1.2 input. The display inputs support HDCP 2.2 format. This is required to enjoy HDR10/ Ultra-HD content. Additionally, the monitor is equipped with two 5 W speakers and a port for audio output through headphones. However, LG has not provided any USB port in the model.

The post LG launched One Of The Cheapest 4K HDR Monitors Yet appeared first on Telecom Press.

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Comparison: Best Postpaid Plans Under Rs 300 by BSNL, Jio & Vodafone

It is a given and well accepted fact that prepaid service offerings by the mobile service providers are highly beneficial to the end user. However, on the flip side, post-paid users bleed through their noses, often paying for services they do not use!

The good news is that, the situation is improving for post-paid subscribers since the last few months. Telecom companies are giving away freebies to attract customers with aptly priced tariffs and plans in the hope to not just retain current customers but also to lure new ones, and thereby expand their user base.

A few of the many attractive offers that postpaid users are offered include Amazon Prime Subscriptions, internet data carry forward on unused data etc. These user-friendly options are bound to come in handy for the many hundred post paid users in the country.

Indian government-owned BSNL too has joined the race by introducing the all-new Rs. 299 postpaid-plan, which is expected to give stiff competition to Vodafone RED basic plan and Jio’s postpaid plan of Rs.199.

BSNL Rs 299 Postpaid Plan

The Rs.299 Postpaid plan is available only to new customers who join the ever-growing BSNL network. This plan will be available across the nation except in the BSNL nonexistent circles such as Delhi and Mumbai. The plan allows users to enjoy unlimited voice calls coupled with roaming at no additional charges. Under this plan, users will get to enjoy a data speed of 2G and 3G capped off at a 31 GB monthly limit.

The icing on the cake is that there shall be no daily data limit! However, once users exhaust their monthly data limit, the speed will dip to 80 Kbps as per the FUP policy. Sadly, the unused data will not be carried forward for the next fresh billing cycle, which is a drawback when compared to its competitors.

Reliance Jio Rs 199 Postpaid Plan

Reliance Jio Subscribers who opt for Rs.199 postpaid get free roaming and unlimited voice calling with 25 GB of 4G data each month. That is not all! Users get to send 100 SMS per day to any local or national number. Free access to popular Jio apps like JioMusic, and JioTV are other enjoyable perks. Once the allotted 25 GB of data is used, users will have to pay Rs. 20 for every GB they use.

Vodafone RED Basic Rs 299 Postpaid Plan

The 299 Vodafone RED is a basic yet popular plan. However, the Vodafone Rs.299 postpaid plan is not available easily; the subscriber must visit the Vodafone store and signup for this plan.  The Rs.299 plan offers 20 GB of internet data with 4G, 2G, 3G speeds. Users also get 100 SMS a day. Voice calls are free across all networks and users also get free roaming facility.

What sets the Rs.299 plan a step above others, is the fact that the service provider allows users to carry forward data of 50 GB to the next billing cycle. Users also get access to Play subscription from Vodafone for a year.

The post Comparison: Best Postpaid Plans Under Rs 300 by BSNL, Jio & Vodafone appeared first on Telecom Press.

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Lenovo Is All Set To Launch The Lenovo Z5 Pro

While Chinese smartphone vendors are gaining foothold in global Smartphone market, Lenovo is not having a great time! Despite having a coveted brand like Motorola in its kitty. The Chinese technology giant is losing market share to rivals Samsung and home turf contenders like Oppo and OnePlus. To fight back, Lenovo is ready with a new flagship device named the Z5 Pro. Like some of its rivals, the Z5 Pro will feature a bezel less full screen display. Liu Jun, the Lenovo VP showcased the phone at the Tech World 2018 event but it will be launched officially today.

The Lenovo Z5 which was launched earlier in 2018 received good review but that failed to see the cash registers ringing-eventually. It was overshadowed by several rivals soon. The Z5 Pro seems a promising contender but it faces stiff competition from the models like upcoming Oneplus 6T and Samsung Galaxy S9.

Lenovo Z5 Pro Specifications & Features

The upcoming Z5 Pro is a bezel less phone but it skips the notch. The phone may also get a hidden in-display fingerprint scanner. It is not clear where the front camera sits. It can have the slider mechanism which is also present on rivals like Oppo Find X. Interestingly the Z5 Pro will be launched on 1st October which is celebrated as the National Day in China.

It is likely that the Z5 Pro from Lenovo will have high end hardware and imaging capabilities will be excellent too. The handset may also come with a large battery with fast charging technology. However, Lenovo has not said anything on the pricing so far. It will also have good storage capacity.

A few things are yet not clear about the Lenovo Z5 pro. For example, Lenovo has not said if the phone will be water or dust resistant and will have some certification or not. It is likely to have gorilla glass protection on front and the body should be made of metal and glass. The phone may also have some unique features but Lenovo is tight lipped on those.

The post Lenovo Is All Set To Launch The Lenovo Z5 Pro appeared first on Telecom Press.

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Idea Introduced Rs. 149 Recharge With 33 GB Data To Take On Jio, Airtel

Idea Cellular (now Vodafone Idea Limited) has introduced a new Rs 149 tariff plan to its prepaid users in circles such as Andhra Pradesh & Telangana, Kerala, Karnataka. Rs 149 plan comes with benefits such as 33 GB data, unlimited voice calling and SMS valid for a period of 28 days from the date of recharge.

The idea Rs.149 plan can be compared to the Reliance Jio prepaid plan of same recharge value, where there is fewer internet data offered and only 250 mins of voice calls offered per day. In comparison with Airtel’s existing prepaid plan, it can be compared to the Rs.149 recharge with 5 GB data. The Idea Rs.149 plan is available to all the prepaid users who are on Vodafone Idea network.

Idea Cellular Rs 149 Prepaid Recharge: Benefits and Validity

Subscribers must note the Rs.149 plan comes with a validity of 28 days and benefits such as

1) 33 GB data which includes 4G, 3G, and 2G speeds

2) limited voice calls of 250 mins per day and 1000 mins in a week..

3) 100 text messages every day to any network the country, which in turn makes the overall SMS benefit of 2800 SMS.

Idea Cellular Rs 149 Prepaid Recharge vs Jio Rs 149 Prepaid Plan

The Rs.149 plan in Reliance Jio is the best plan most Reliance Jio users opt for, which delivers 1.5 GB of data, 100 SMS per day, most importantly unlimited voice calls without any restrictions or FUP. Hence when we have a look at the Idea’s Rs.149 plan it lacks in the data benefit where Reliance offering at 42 GB of data at 4G speed for full validity time without any restrictions, whereas Idea is providing only 33 GB of data with its plan.

Idea Cellular Rs 149 Prepaid Recharge vs Airtel Rs 149 Prepaid Plan

Airtel Rs. 149 prepaid recharge plan is offering 1 GB of data per day with unlimited voice calls and 100 free SMS per day for a period of 28 days validity from the date of recharge. Idea’s Rs.149 prepaid plan is an advantage on the internet data which is 5 GB more than Airtel is offering on the same plan. however the unlimited national and local voice calls make a difference in Airtel network users.

Consolidation of Prepaid plans in Vodafone Idea Network

Vodafone Idea Limited is in the process of consolidating the prepaid recharge tariff plans to play efficiently among the competitors in the Indian market. The Vodafone Idea cellular services set the Active Recharge prepaid plans varying from Rs.25 to Rs.245 pricing range. These active recharge plans come with benefits of voice calls, internet and validity of 28 days period of time. The plan is currently active only in the few circles and we can expect this to be expanded to other circles in the coming months.

The post Idea Introduced Rs. 149 Recharge With 33 GB Data To Take On Jio, Airtel appeared first on Telecom Press.

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ACT Fibernet Is Now Offering 1.5 TB Additional Data To Its Subscribers

Ever since Reliance Jio GigaFiber came into existence in the market, every other service provider is trying to balance their pricing as well as the VAS. It brings no surprise to the impact now ACT Fibernet who provides the internet broadband service in many of our Indian cities has revised its plan and tariff to counter the challenges by its competitors to 1.5 TB extra data to the ACT Fibernet customers.

The 3 cities are targeted initial phase which are Bengaluru, Coimbatore and Delhi. The users from these locations will benefit 1.5 TB of extra data with 300 GB break down per month. Its mandatory to avail these benefits of extra data into their account, the users are required to subscribe for a period of 6 months to 12 months.

The plan is valid till February next year 2019. The plan is offered more like a prepaid service model, that is when a customer signs for a long term 6 months or 12 months period of broadband service engagement the extra data will be added into the users broadband account and the FUP continues to apply as well.

Additional Data Offer is Applicable on Select Broadband Plans

The use of this plan cease to exist from February 2019, which means customers should complete their quota or use of the 1.5 TB data before the month of February 2019, after which the data does not get carried forward in their accounts. The availability of this benefit of 1.5 TB of data per user is on the following subscription plans of 6 to 12 months period which are ACT Progress, ACT Storm, ACT incredible, ACT Lightning, Act Rapid plus, and ACT advance. Apart from these plans ACT does have new revised offers on these plans which are ACT Swift and the ACT giga plan.

ACT Fibernet Additional Data Offer Valid Only On Six Months or Yearly Rentals

The extra 1.5 TB internet data is only available to customers who sign the agreement for 6 months and 12 months service period. In addition ACT also provides free installation as well as WiFi router to each user who signs up the service contract. All these benefits are only available to customers who will sign up the contract agreement for the said period of 6 months and 12 month committed stay in their networks.

Free Services to Loyal Customers as service commitment.

In the broadband pricing war and competitive quality service assurance only the best stays with the customer to survive in the market. Bringing the customer loyalty to company’s growth strategy is not as easy as one can think. ACT Fibernet now brings broadband service free of cost up to 6 months for customers who selects a plan with 6 months or a year in a stretch. This service is presently offered to customers in Chennai.

The competitive internet data market.

Service providers such as YOU broadband and the Excell Broadband do have similar plans like ACT Fibernet where the service is offered free of cost for a long period of customer contract engagement in addition with the data volume additions in to customer’s account. The intent is to lock customer’s exit as well as attract new customers to get into their network service usage.

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Airtel Has Launched Six New Smart Recharge Plans, Bundles Talk Time, Rate Cutter & Data

The telecom giant Airtel is now in the process to simplify the product and services tariff portfolio with a fantastic new set of plans under the prepaid segment customers called the “Smart Recharge”. The minimum plan under the smart recharge is at Rs.25 and the maximum it ranges up to Rs. 245. These changes in the talk time, data and even rate tariff now extends to a long period validity and with a minimum of 28 days.

It must be noted Vodafone launched the similar plan much before Airtel could bring forward this plan of Smart Recharge. Airtel’s smart Recharge plan is presently applicable for Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and the state of Punjab. It is expected that this Smart Recharge plan will be launched in the other Airtel circles, depending on the customer demand.

The Details and Benefits & Validity Of Airtel’s Smart Recharge.

There are about 6 Smart Recharge Plans in Airtel’s prepaid segment with minimum pricing of Rs.  25 to a maximum of Rs.245 with varied benefits. The basic pack of Rs.25 comes with a user talk time of Rs. 18.69 and a internet data pack of 10 MB which is active for 28 days. The second in the plan group is the Rs. 35 Smart Recharge plan with Rs.26.6 talk time and a 60 paise discount per minute to voice calls, the internet data of 100 MB which stays active for 28 days.

The full talk time is offered in the Rs. 65 and 95 segments of Smart Recharge, with 200 MB of data and 500 MB of data in the respective plans. The recharge discounts bring voice calls at 30 paise per minute in the Rs. 95 and 60 paise per minute in voice call in Rs.65 plan.

There are 2 other pricing tarrifs in Smart Recharge above Rs.100. The Rs 145 and the Rs.245 plan on Smart Recharge. 1 GB total internet data with full voice talk time with 30 paise per minute. The Rs.245 plan offers discount on voice calls with 30 ps per minute and with 2GB of internet data, valid for 84 days.

Airtel’s Smart Recharge, Available Locations and Validity Periods.

The Smart Recharge plan is available to the customers in Chennai. The remaining circle where Airtel has presence it is expected these plans will be added soon, just like the competitors Vodafone and Idea cellular service providers.

Airtel’s intent in bringing these Smart Recharge is to make voice calls affordable to the customers. Thus presently the talk time prepaid plans of Rs.30, 20 and 10 were the only options made available to Airtel customers. Now in coming days users will only be able to recharge through the Smart Recharge Tariffs.

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LG V40 ThinQ Teaser Confirmed Five Cameras & Silky Matte Finish Glass

In the last few years, its share in global Smartphone market has decreased and pressure of competition from arch rival Samsung and new Chinese brands like Oneplus is taking toll on its business. Not willing to call it quits, LG has focused on mid to high end Smartphone segment of late. Its last few flagships failed to live up to the pre release buzz but the company is now ready to unveil the V40 ThinQ – a mid range premium handset. The teasers of the upcoming handset hint at impressive hardware spec and enticing design.

The most noteworthy feature of the upcoming LG V40 ThinQ is a 5 camera setup, as is clear from the teasers. Of late, Samsung has unveiled a camera with 3 lenses at the rear and more companies are expected to follow suit. The company is keen on wooing the imaging conscious buyers who want a mid range premium handset.

Not all details of the LG V40 ThinQ are confirmed but the company says it will have a 6.4-inch display with reinforced glass frame. The front camera and its laser depth sensors are hidden inside a notch. The phone looks a lot like the flagship G7 ThinQ and the notch is mostly hidden. There is a bottom chin but it’s very thin.

The fingerprint sensor sits at the backside and so LG is not hopping on the bandwagon of in-display sensor. The device has an additional button at side which may be user to summon Google Assistant. Not much is known about the hardware sued inside but industry sources say it will be powered by the Snapdragon 845 processor and 4 to 6 GB of RAM. Most likely it will ship with Android Pie but LG is tight lipped on the software. The pricing and availability in various markets is still not clear. It may get a late 2018 release.

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HP Tango Printer Is The World’s First Smart Home Printer That Supports Alexa, Cortana

With time and progress of technology, computer and accessories have kept pace and have become more powerful and sleek looking than ever. The desktops have become slimmer and laptops have become lighter and compact than the past. Same can be said about the accessories. Only the PC Printer has not kept pace with the technological evolution much.

However, HP is set to change that with its new designed Tango printer. HP is a leading name in PC accessory sector and the Tango is unlike most printers you have seen in shops and homes. It is not- bulky or heavy! In fact, with properly designed covers you can make others feel it is a thick book.

The HP Tango has a nice fabric cover that is designed to make it resemble a large book and at first look, many will be deceived! The printer is made in a way that it can be operated by your Smartphone. Well, there are several printers in market that are Smartphone compatible but Tango takes things one step ahead. Using Tango mobile apps and the device, you can print even when you are away from home and that is pretty cool. Beyond doubt, the new HP Tango is a very app-centric printer.

Unlike most printers that rely mostly on a PC to get data from, the Tango derives data from Smartphone or tablets. Getting freedom from clutter of wire is a nice thing and if the printer can be included in the list of wireless devices, its bliss. The Tango can also send notifications to your Smartphone and alerts too.

The best part about the Tango is its excellent compatibility with digital voice assistants! It can work with Google Assistant, Microsoft Cortana and Amazon Alexa. However, Apple users are out of luck as it lacks Siri support. The Tango has a nice LED illuminated paper tray which is handy to figure out if it is running out of paper. The device costs $169 and with cover, $235. There are 3 color choices for cover- Charcoal Linen, Cork Currant and Indigo Linen.

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BSNL’s Rs. 299 Postpaid Plan Offers 31GB Data, Unlimited Voice Calls To New Users

BSNL – Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited has launched a new postpaid plan of Rs.299 to challenge its competitors like Vodafone, Reliance and Airtel. It must be noted the government owned BSNL has introduced this Rs.299 plan for the customers who are new to join in the BSNL network. The Rs.299 plan brings users the benefits of unlimited voice calls, and SMS. The internet data is capped at 31 GB per month as FUP and 2G speed after FUP. The existing customer on BSNL postpaid platform are not eligible to avail this plan. The motive to bring this plan is to attract more customer and increase BSNL customer base.

BSNL Rs 299 Postpaid Recharge Plan: Benefits & Validity

The data plan has a FUP of about 31 GB of internet data billed monthly once. After the FUP the speeds will drop to 2G speed of 80kps and below. The voice calls features are unlimited to any service providers in the BSNL servicing areas or circles. The voice service is not available in the circles such as Mumbai and Delhi. The SMS service is free and is included in this Rs.299 pack. In addition with the Rs.299 charge a service charge of 18% will be levied on the final bill as GST charges with the monthly postpaid billing.

BSNL is Yet to Introduce Data Carry Forward Feature

In the competitive telecom environment, the service providers like Airtel and Vodafone are providing the customers with data carry forward facility with the postpaid plan, which means users will be able to carry forward the unused internet data volumes to the new month. Airtel has the carry forward plan on data with 500 GB for an user under the Rs.349 postpaid plan, which includes the 30 GB monthly data quota, this is in addition to the unlimited SMS and voice calls during the rental period.

BSNL Rs.299 postpaid plan vs Vodafone Rs.299 plan

The service providers in the market are trying to match with the plans and tariffs that their competitors are driving in the market. Airtel on the other hand has not yet launched the Rs.299 postpaid plan, however providers like Vodafone has the Basic RED plan of Rs.299 with data, voice calls and SMS benefits to its customers.

The Vodafone plan has a data volume of 20 GB a month with unlimited voice calls and without any Fair usage plan limits bundled with 100 SMS a month.

Which plan is better BSNL Rs.299 or Jio Postpaid Rs.199?

BSNL has more data with its plan which is about 6GB data compared to the Jio plan, however the 6 GB more data the BSNL plan is Rs.100 more to Jio. All other features such as unlimited voice calls, 100 SMS per day is the same. However on the Jio network users can make calls even to the Mumbai and Delhi Circles.

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In the selected cities in India Bharti’s Airtel has launched a prepaid plan with 1.25 GB of data and unlimited telephone calls for just Rs.195 only. The period of the plan is valid for 28 days from the date of recharge. It must be noted Airtel already has plans on its Mobile prepaid services platform with varying denominations from Rs.168 to Rs.249 per month and customer customized plans as well. Though the plan of Rs.195 brings in the data 1.25 GB and voice calls for free, the plan does not host the SMS service in it.

The plan of Rs.195 is only available in selected locations or eligible circles however the benefit pf this plan is the same for all Airtel mobile phone users. Customers must wait and watch when similar plan will be rolled out to other locations.

Airtel Rs 195 Prepaid Recharge: Benefits and Validity

In depth focus about the plan is interesting, plan provides the service with unlimited STD, long distance calls, and Local calls made in the same circle of operations and free roaming without any restrictions. The total data on internet transfers are a big 35 GB per month valid for 28 days, which is far cheaper than the broadband internet tariffs available today in the market. From the customers point of view it’s a turn down for the fact there is no SMS feature included in this plan.

Airtel Rs 195 Prepaid Plan Availability & Locations

The following states in India have the plan enabled, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Telangana. In coming days can expect to cover more telecom circles where Airtel has foot print. The plan Rs/195 is available only through the company’s website and yet not been released to the recharge dealers or My Airtel App.

A check on the Karnataka and Delhi circle where the Airtel telecom has foot print does not have this plan yet. Feel free to let us know should you notice this plan is active in your circle or state where Airtel service is available.

Airtel Rs.195 Prepaid Recharge vs Airtel Rs.168 Prepaid Recharge Plans.

The recharge plan of 168 gives users 100 sms per day and 1 GB data for 28 days with unlimited voice calls all over India, both STD and local. The newly designed plan of Rs.195 is much better except for the fact that there are no 100 SMS pack available with this plan. If the customer need is on SMS it’s better to use the 168 plan which is segmented only for selected prepaid users. There is another plan of Rs.199 which brings in the features of 100 SMS a day with 1.4GB data and unlimited voice calls both local and STD.

In other news, the competitor Vodafone has removed the recharge of Rs.20, Rs.50 and Rs.30 talk time in its service offering and bundled the active recharges which has the similar features like Airtel and valid for 28 day period. We should expect to see Airtel’s counter reactions to this move in the future weeks to come.

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Toyota Is Finally Adding Android Auto Support To Its Vehicles

In the last few years, more and more companies have included support for Android Auto in their car infotainment systems. This includes both regular and luxury car brands and the infusion of Android auto have been found in all sorts of vehicles- sedans, hatchbacks, SUVs and trucks. One major car maker that refused to use Android Auto in its lineup of vehicles is Toyota.

The Japanese car giant did not use Google’s infotainment software while rivals continued the adoption-around the world. However, that is going to change in near future. As per the new reports, Toyota has signed an agreement with the internet search giant to introduce Android Auto in its cars.

The main reason Toyota shied away from using Android Auto is the personal information to be collected by Google. Toyota was worried about the privacy woes that may affect its customers. However, the company integrated Apple’s CarPlay in its models. The models like RAV4, Corolla and Avalon were the first to get Apple Carplay in the infotainment setup. Google has not made any comment on the issue so far.

It is not yet clear which Toyota vehicles will get Android Auto and whether it will make foray across entire lineup. The Luxury wing of the brand Lexus may or may not get it. As of now, Toyota has not made any official announcement on the topic but industry buzz is the company may do so soon. An announcement from Google is also expected. Earlier the car maker said it is aware of the growing demand for Android Auto and it will also think of including direct support.

If Android Auto is incorporated into Toyota vehicles it will benefit both the companies. Toyota will be able to catch up with its rivals like Nissan, Ford and Mitsubishi who already offer android Auto in their various models. Google will be able to get even with arch rival Apple in auto technology sector.

The users will also be benefited and it will no longer be necessary to rely on Apple devices to control several car features on the move.

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The New iPhone XS & iPhone XS Max Just Fared Poorly In A New Drop Test

The iPhone, hailed as the flagship that redefines the concept of premium high end smartphones is always tested extensively after each release for performance and features. The recently released iPhone Xs and XS Max are no exceptions. While the Apple fanboys are going gaga over their stunning design and enhancements, the devices are also being tested for durability. The durability tests conducted on the two devices however have thrown up mixed results.

A warranty service provider Square Trade has carried out a number of durability tests on both devices. The tests were carried out to corroborate claims made by Apple of the IP68 water resistance rating and enhanced durability of new iPhones.

Apple says the two new iPhone models are equipped with most durable glass ever used on smartphones. The devices have IP68 water resistance and can survive water for 30 mins when dipped in 2 meters of water. In SquareTrade’s tests, both devices survived the water test but in terms of glass durability, did not perform as well.

iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max Drop Test

While drop from pocket height will not cause much damage to the iPhone XS and XS Max, dropping them from a height of 6 feet onto a hard surface can cause significant damage, as was revealed by the drop tests. The iPhone XS shattered entirely. The iPhone XS Max got its back glass broken in this durability test.

Incidentally, both device feature glass on back and front for enabling wireless charging. The stainless steel frames used in both devices prevented breakage from side drop tests though. The damage is severe when the new iPhones are dropped face down, leading to malfunctioning display and scratches. The iPhone XS Max however still functioned but the Sibling stopped working totally.

A one minute tumble test both devices got scratches and hairline cracks. The pressure-based bend test led to the iPhone XS cracking at 250 pounds.

iPhone XS & XS Max Water Resistance Test

The water resistance of both devices was also tested by SquareTrade. The iPhone XS and XS Max both survived being submerged in a tank filled with beer for 5.30 minutes. Both the devices could be used after the test and they functioned perfectly well.

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Apple Watch Series 4 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch: Smartwatches Face Off

The smartwatches are evolving and while the adoption rate is not as high as smartphone, that does not stop manufacturers from introducing new versions every few months! As is the case in Smartphone sector, the two giants engaged in battle for supremacy in smart watch segment are Apple and Samsung. The latest version of Apple watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch are out. Both the devices have their pros and cons and users should choose as per their usage needs and budget.

The new Samsung’s Galaxy Watch resembles a premium watch and has an always-on display with oodles of watch faces for absolute personalization. It also lasts for several days with normal usage. Apple’s Watch looks like a true iPhone accessory and scores owing to its array of apps. The new Apple Watch will appeal more to health aware users and it is less heavy and thick. However, it loses out in battery life. The fact is both are excellent smart watch devices but target different user groups.

Design– The Apple watch looks like a tech masterpiece with high aesthetic appeal. It will fit most wrists easily. The same cannot be said about Samsung’s Galaxy Watch which is heavier. However, it does look like a premium watch.

Health apps– The Apple watch has inbuilt health apps and there are huge number of third party apps. Samsung does pack in some such apps in galaxy watch but the range is not as extensive. The USP of Apple watch is the ECG feature which is soon going to be available.

Battery life– When properly set up and used normally, you can expect the new Samsung’s Galaxy Watch to last for 4 days. Apple users can get close to 2 days of battery life if the device is used lightly. So, here Samsung gets the lead clearly!

Display– Both devices sport bright Amoled displays but the Apple watch races ahead with a resolution of 326 ppi while the Galaxy watch has a resolution of 278ppi.

The common features include wireless charging, voice calls and Heart-rate Monitor.