10 smartphones we're most excited for in 2021

With any luck, 2021 will be a whole lot better than 2020 was, but at the very least there are loads of exciting smartphones to look forward to.

From high-profile handsets like the iPhone 13 to oddities like the LG Rollable, there should be something for everyone. Below, we’ve highlighted ten of the most interesting options that we’re expecting to see before the end of the year.

These are phones that in most cases are likely to be great, and at the very least should be interesting, unusual, or innovative.

Samsung Galaxy S21 range

The Samsung Galaxy S20 (Image credit: Future)

The Samsung Galaxy S21 and its likely siblings – the Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra – are probably the most highly anticipated Android phones. There shouldn’t be long to wait for them either, as it’s rumored that the Samsung Galaxy S21 range could be announced as soon as January 14.

So what should you expect from the three phones? It almost goes without saying that they’ll have cutting-edge power, with rumors suggesting they’ll pack either the Snapdragon 888 chipset (in the US) or the Exynos 2100 (in most other places) – both of which are likely to be among the year’s most powerful.

The most exciting upgrade though might be support for the S Pen stylus on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, a rumored move that could bring the phone a lot closer to the Galaxy Note range. We’re also hearing talk of high-spec cameras, with the S21 Ultra potentially offering 10x optical zoom.

iPhone 13 range

The iPhone 12 (Image credit: TechRadar)

The iPhone 13 range is probably even more highly anticipated than the Samsung Galaxy S21 range, but there’s rather longer to wait for these phones, as they probably won’t land until September.

There could be some big upgrades for these new models, with high refresh rate screens, 1TB of storage, in-screen fingerprint scanners, and a smaller notch all rumored. There’s also talk of a periscope camera being added, which would allow for an increased optical zoom range.

With the phones being a long way off at the time of writing though, we’re not at all confident of these things yet. What you can be sure of is that they’ll be very powerful, and that Apple will probably offer the same assortment of handsets as in the iPhone 12 range – meaning an iPhone 13, an iPhone 13 mini, an iPhone 13 Pro, and an iPhone 13 Pro Max.

OnePlus 9 range

The OnePlus 8T (Image credit: TechRadar)

The OnePlus 9 range is likely to land in March or April and offer a slightly cheaper way to get the sort of cutting-edge tech we’re expecting to see in phones like the Samsung Galaxy S21.

There will probably be a OnePlus 9, a OnePlus 9 Pro, and possibly also a totally new model dubbed the OnePlus 9E.

As for what to expect, all three phones might use the top-end Snapdragon 888 chipset, and they’ll probably also have high refresh rate screens, with the Pro model likely offering at least 120Hz.

We don’t know a huge amount else about them yet, but leaks suggest the standard OnePlus 9 will have a 48MP main camera, a 48MP ultra-wide one, and an unknown third lens, as well as 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, while the OnePlus 9 Pro will probably be the only one of the three to have IP68 certification for water and dust resistance.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 (Image credit: Future)

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 isn’t likely to be as mainstream as most of the phones on this list, but it could be more exciting than most of them, as foldable phones are probably the future, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is likely to be the best one yet.

Beyond having a big, foldable screen, the main Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 rumors so far suggest it might support Samsung’s S Pen stylus, have an in-screen camera, and possibly even have an RGB light strip on its hinge.

We haven’t heard much else at the time of writing, but expect more rumors to roll in ahead of release, which could be in June if leaks are to be believed - though some sources reckon it won't land until the second half of the year.

LG Rollable

An LG rollable phone patent (Image credit: LG / LetsGoDigital)

The LG Rollable is very much a wild card, not least because we’re not at all sure it even exists. But there is some evidence that LG is developing a phone with a rollable screen, and that it might be out sometime in 2021.

Based on a patent, this might be a device that lets you extend the left and right screen edges, but because it rolls rather than folds, and because the mechanism is compactly hidden within the phone, it might look much like a normal smartphone when the screen isn’t extended. According to another leak it might extend from 6.8 inches to 7.4 inches.

A trademark application for the ‘LG Rollable’ name meanwhile includes mention of “electronic touch screen pens”, so as with the Galaxy Z Fold 3, you might be able to get a stylus for it.

The LG Rollable sounds ambitious and we haven’t heard much about it yet, so there’s every chance it won’t land in 2021, and if it does it will probably be very expensive, but it certainly sounds interesting. The only release date rumor for it so far states that it could land in the first half of the year.

Oppo Find X3 range

The Oppo Find X2 Pro (Image credit: Future)

Oppo isn’t as big a name as Samsung or OnePlus, but in recent years it’s been making phones that rival their best, and the Oppo Find X3 range could be the next ones to do that.

In fact, they might actually be more exciting and innovative than most of the big-name flagships, as rumors suggest the Oppo Find X3 Pro will have a macro camera that could function a bit like a microscope, with 25x zoom and lights around the lens.

The phone might additionally have NFC that works on both the front and back of the handset, so you can tap the screen against payment terminals rather than the rear – a small feature perhaps but one we’ve not really seen before.

Beyond that the specs sound top-end through and through, with talk of a 3K resolution, a high refresh rate screen, fast charging, loads of camera lenses, and more. And you shouldn’t have to wait long, as we’re expecting the Oppo Find X3 range to launch early in the year.

Nokia 10

The Nokia 9 PureView (Image credit: TechRadar)

We’ve been waiting for the Nokia 10 for a long time, so much so that it’s gone through a few names since it started being rumored – originally it was thought to be launching as the Nokia 9.1, but as time went on that changed to Nokia 9.2, 9.3, and now Nokia 10.

Whether 2021 will be the year it lands remains to be seen, especially since we still don’t really know much about it yet, but rumors point to an in-screen selfie camera, a sapphire glass display, a stainless steel frame, and a top-end Snapdragon 888 chipset, so this could be a very premium phone.

There’s also talk of it having a very different camera setup to the penta-lens Nokia 9 PureView, though in what ways it will differ is unclear.

iPhone SE 3

The iPhone SE (2020) (Image credit: Future)

While the iPhone 13 range is clearly the most anticipated of Apple’s upcoming phones, the company might also launch a successor to the iPhone SE (2020) in 2021.

We’ve heard very little about the iPhone SE 3 so far and there’s every chance we won’t see it until a later year, but if it does launch in 2021 it will probably have an A14 Bionic chipset (the same as the iPhone 12 range).

There’s also talk of an iPhone SE Plus, which might end up being the iPhone SE 3 in all but name. This is thought to have a larger 5.5 or 6.1-inch screen, but to retain the general affordability of the iPhone SE range. What’s not clear is whether the iPhone SE 3 will keep the physical home button and big bezels – a design that’s becoming increasingly dated.

Samsung Galaxy Note 21 range

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (Image credit: Aakash Jhaveri)

The biggest question about the Samsung Galaxy Note 21 range is whether it will even launch, with rumors swirling that Samsung is looking to add stylus support to the Galaxy S21 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 3 so that it can discontinue the Note range.

At this point it looks likely that the Note range’s days are numbered, but we might still get a Samsung Galaxy Note 21.

There’s not really any news on what it will offer yet, but as usual for the range you can expect an S Pen stylus, a big screen to make the most of it with, and plenty of power. If the Samsung Galaxy Note 21 does launch we’ll probably see it in or around August.

Sony Xperia 1 III Compact

The Sony Xperia 1 II (Image credit: TechRadar)

As well as the expected Sony Xperia 1 III there are rumors that the company might launch a Sony Xperia 1 III Compact, and it’s this phone that we’re more excited about, as there aren’t many high-end compact phones that days.

Rumors suggest it might have a 5.5-inch screen and an upper mid-range chipset – though we’d hope for a high-end one. We don’t know much else yet about either the Compact or the standard Sony Xperia 1 III, but with the phones possibly launching in the first half of the year we’ll hopefully learn more before long.

• Many of these will likely make our best smartphones list

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The top-5 web series to wait for in 2021 over OTT platforms

The entertainment industry was amongst a few sectors that saw growth even during a pandemic-infested 2020. And in this segment, it was the OTT platform to which the audience flocked as they were struck indoors during the Covid-19 led lockdown. 

Ever since the country went into lockdown, OTT platforms became the first choice for entertainment, a trend that was not limited only to the metro cities. Popular titles such as Sacred Games (Netflix in 2019) and Mirzapur (Amazon Prime Videos in 2020) came out with a second season, reports surfaced of upcoming seasons for some of the other titles that made waves last year. 

We at TechRadar thought it would be a best time to sneak a peak into some of the titles that are getting ready as we speak and could hit the screens in 2021. Of course, we are limiting our research only to web series and will possibly follow it up with one more where we will discuss movie titles slated for launch this year. 

Don't know about the timer here, but we're exploding with excitement 💥@BajpayeeManoj @sharibhashmi @Samanthaprabhu2 @shreya_dhan13 @SharadK7 @SrikantTFM #Priyamani #TheFamilyManOnPrime pic.twitter.com/LQYJTyxWl2December 29, 2020

On top of this list is Family Man Season 2, with Amazon Prime Video sharing a teaser claiming that they were "exploding with excitement" over the web series that takes a look at the life of a secret service agent. 

Directors: Raj Nidimoru & Krishna D.K. 

Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Priyamani, Gul Panag and Shreya Dhanwantry

Platform: Amazon Prime Video

Launch Date: February 2021

Synopsis: The first season, released in July 2019, captured our imagination as we tracked the life of special agent Srikant Tiwari (Manoj Bajpayee), whose work life is not even known to his family, comprising his academician wife (Priyamani) and two kids. The story tracked a potential nuclear attack on Delhi with the first season ending on a razor's edge. The second season was delayed due to the lockdown as shootings got cancelled. Interest in the sequel got heightened as the cast was joined by another southern superstar Samantha Akkinenni. 

Maybe it is just our expectations from the crew or could be the fact that Saif Ali Khan is the biggest Bollywood star to feature in web series (Sacred Games), but there is no denying that Tandav is amongst the most eagerly sought title on OTT in 2021. 

Directors: Ali Abbas Zafar

Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Kumud Mishra, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayub. 

Platform: Amazon Prime Video

Launch Date: January 2021

Synopsis: Not much is known about the plot as the production company has kept a thick veil of secrecy even in the teaser. What we do know is that it is a political thriller with a large cast that also includes Dino Morea, Sunil Grover, Gauhar Khan, Sarah Jane Dias and Sandhya Mridul among others. All that we get to hear in the teaser is "हिंदुस्तान को सिर्फ एक ही चीज़ चलती है - राजनीति। इस देश में जो प्रधान मंत्री है वो ही राजा है"

(Image credit: Netflix)

While we patiently wait for the third season of Netflix's top title Sacred Games, here is another that is garnering interest due to its director's past work. The series is titled "Bombay Begums" and it is already garnering interest around its posters. 

Directors: Alankrita Shrivastava, Bornila Chatterjee

Cast: Pooja Bhatt, Shahana Goswami, Amruta Subhash. 

Platform: Netflix

Launch Date: Not announced

Synopsis: The series tells the stories of five women from different generations as they struggle with societal ethics, their own ambitions and personal crises. Set in the modern contemporary urban India, the stories specifically define how Indian cinema was always about men with women only essaying supporting roles. This series seeks to overturn the narrative by having no men's tales synced to the women. 

The obvious talking point of this series slated to release on Zee5 is Amit Sadh, whose power-packed performance as a Special Forces officer in Sony's "Avrodh" caught our collective fancy last year. 

Directors: Vishal Mangalorkar

Cast: Amit Sadh, Amrita Puri and Sushant Singh

Platform: Zee5

Launch Date: mid-January

Synopsis: Available information suggests that Amit Sadh once again plays a Special Forces officer in this series that is based on the real-life experience of one. The makers suggest that it is based on the life of Kargil hero Major Deepender Singh Sengar, who not only fights the enemy outside but also doubt within to emerge victorious in his pursuits. 

We are making a small exception here and including "Black Widows" on Zee5, which was released on December 18. This is the eighth adaptation of the famous Finnish series with the same title which was first released in 2016 and ran for two seasons. 

Director: Birsa Dasgupta

Cast: Mona Singh, Shamita Shetty, Swastika Mukherjee, Sharad Kelkar, Raima Sen, Parambrata Chattopadhyaya

Platform: Zee5

Launch Date: Released on December 18, 2020

Synopsis: As with the original, this web series too tells the tale of story of three women who are facing marital discord and decide to end their sufferings. They fake mourn the deaths of their husbands while sharing a common secret. Into this milieu comes a cop who is keen on tracking their past lives to see what's actually wrong with their present existence. 

And a few more... 

Of course, these are our choices made on the star cast and the directors who are at the helm. There are several others lined up for release in the early part of 2021 and some of these include:

• Paurashpur featuring Milind Soman
• Nail Polish featuring Arjun Rampal and Manav Gohil
• Mumbai Diaries featuring Konkana Sen Sharma
• Apharan Second Season 
• Asur Second Season
• The Gone Game Second Season

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PlayStation 5 price in India, release date, pre-orders and availability

Sony’s long-awaited next-gen console, the PlayStation 5 has finally been unveiled. We now know almost everything about it: its specs, which games will it support, VR capabilities and how it stacks up to the new Xbox Series X on paper. The last piece of the puzzle was when it will land in India.

The new console was showcased a few weeks ago, after which retailers started confirming if they will be pre-order partners. Most western countries will get it on November 12 followed by many more on November 19 in the second wave. Oddly, Sony India had been silent on the matter, leaving fans disgruntled. 

If you’re looking to get a PS5 in India, here are all the details currently available around its pricing, timelines and if it is worth getting over the corresponding Xbox.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? The next-gen PlayStation console.
• When will it release? February 2, 2021
• What will the PS5 cost? Starting at Rs 39,990

PS5 launch date and price in India

Official Indian pricing of the PlayStation 5

PS5	Rs 49,990
PS5 Digital Edition	Rs 39,990
DualSense Controller	Rs 5,990

Check out the PlayStation 5 on Amazon.in

Rs 49,990 | Digital Edition: Rs 39,990View Deal

The PS5 will be available in India starting February 2. Pre-orders will begin on January 12 at 12 pm, at Amazon, Flipkart, Croma, Reliance Digital, Games The Shop, Vijay Sales, Sony and other retailers.

As for pricing, the PS5 will retail for Rs 49,990 while the Digital Edition will be available at Rs 39,990. All the accessories and games will also be available in India at launch.

In comparison, the Xbox Series X is priced at Rs 49,990 and the Series S is priced at Rs 34,990. It is already available for pre-ordering on Amazon, Reliance Digital and other retailers. 

• PlayStation 5 price in India officially confirmed; no release date yet though
• Xbox Series S and Series X price in India and availability announced

Specs and features

(Image credit: Sony)

The new PlayStation 5 will be powered by an octa-core AMD Zen 2-based CPU clocked at up to 3.5GHz. Similarly, a custom AMD RDNA 2 will take care of the graphics, capable of 10.28 TFLOPs of throughout. We’re looking at 16GB of GDDR6 memory. As for storage, Sony has opted for a custom 825GB SSD solution. Third-party drives can also be added, but they will need to have a speed of at least 5.5GBps for optimal results. A 4K UHD Blu-ray drive will also be present on the standard variant. 8K and 120fps gaming will also be supported.

The cheaper PS5 Digital Edition will be slightly slimmer and cheaper. Players will have to rely on digital downloads for their games. In case you planning on using your existing PS4 titles or exchanging games with friends, you should opt for the standard edition. 

The new gamepad is called the PS5 DualSense controller and brings a fresh design with a black and white aesthetic. The L2 and R2 shoulder buttons also have adaptive haptic feedback. A microphone will also be built in to allow gamers to communicate without the need of a headset. We might also see new PSVR motion controllers later.

As for games, some of the big names include Horizon Forbidden West, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Demon’s Soul, Resident Evil 8: Village, along with a new Ratchet and Clank game, a new Oddworld title, and a new Gran Turismo title. Most recently, Final Fantasy XVI (a console exclusive to PlayStation), Hogwarts Legacy (a Harry Potter RPG), Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition, Five Nights at Freddy's, and God of War: Ragnarok (coming in 2021) have all been confirmed for PS5.

2021 is already off to a great start #PlayStation5 https://t.co/xVOfzhFmPPJanuary 1, 2021

• PS5 vs Xbox Series X: which console should you pick?
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AmazonBasics Fire TV Edition Ultra-HD TVs Launched in India, Price Starts at Rs. 29,999

Amazon’s in-house brand, AmazonBasics, that is best known for its affordably-priced products spanning various categories, has finally entered the TV segment with its first Fire TV Edition televisions priced at Rs. 29,999 onwards.

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Vodafone Is Cutting 3G Services: Amid a Pandemic, Vi Asks People to Visit Stores for 4G Upgrade

Vodafone Idea, that runs its business under the Vi brand, is upgrading its 3G users to 4G. However, this is a questionable move in the middle of the coronavirus outbreak as the telco asks customers to travel physically to a Vi store to upgrade to 4G services.

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Vybe Together App That Promoted Private Parties During COVID-19 Removed From Apple's App Store

Vybe Together, an iOS app that promoted private parties during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been removed from the App Store. Vybe Together’s deleted FAQ page said that the app was designed to promote ‘small gatherings’ rather than ‘big parties’, although it acknowledged the dangers of the pandemic, as per a report.

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iQoo 7 Alleged Geekbench Listing Suggests 12GB RAM Variant in Tow

iQoo 7 smarpthone, with model number V2049A, has allegedly been spotted on Geekbench website. The listing shows that the phone could sport 12GB of RAM. iQoo has already announced that the iQoo 7 BMW Edition will come with an enhanced version of LPDDR5 RAM, Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC, and an enhanced version of UFS 3.1 storage.

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Sony PlayStation 5 India launch set for February 2; Pre-orders open on January 12

The PlayStation 5 launch date in India is finally out after a tedious wait. Sony is set to launch it’s newest console in the country on February 2 with pre-bookings going live at 12 PM on January 12. 

This comes in a statement directly from Sony India which confirmed that the PS5 consoles will be available on Amazon, Flipkart, Croma, Reliance Digital, Games The Shop, Shop at Sony Center, Vijay Sales and other authorized retailers. The company says that pre-orders will be available until stocks last at these retailers. 

This announcement comes after dramatic events that saw the PlayStation fanbase in India hound Sony India for information on the launch of the PS5. But Sony India has been sporadic and non-responsive at best to all queries up until now. 

Buy PS5 in India

Rs 49,990 | Rs 39,990 (Digital Edition)View Deal

• PS5 price in India, release date and pre-orders
• Sony PS5 units bought from the grey market will not get warranty cover
• PS5 review

Road to the PS5 India launch announcement

(Image credit: Future)

When the Sony PS5 was announced for release on November 19 globally, it was expected that India release would be in line. But it turned out that it was far from so. The Sony India website, controlled by the EMEA team that is based out of Europe, had updated the website on November 19 being the launch date three times. Only that it was even quicker to remove the listings as Sony India stated that there was no concrete date on when the launch will take place.

Initially, it was assumed that a trademark-related issue that sprung up in India could have been the cause for the delay. The issue came to fore when a resident of Delhi, Hitesh Aswani had filed for a trademark on the PS5 name, back on October 29. On its part, Sony had filed the trademark on February 6 this year. 

However, Sony India managed to close the case after Aswani reportedly withdrew his application for the PS5 trademark after Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc opposed it. 

The next issue came to fore when pre-orders of PS5 units were announced by some retailers. However, the company immediately advised against these though some new rumours have taken flight on the web claiming that now the console would be available in January 2021. 

Once again, these rumours have been addressed by Sony India, using words that were monotonously similar to the earlier instances. 

To a query by The Mako Reactor, the company said, "Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) has not yet announced a launch date for PS5 in India,” a Sony spokesperson confirmed to us over email. “We will share an update on launch date for India as soon as more information becomes available; meanwhile please continue to monitor the official PlayStation channels."

Apparently, some retailers sourced informal information from its sources that had indicated a January 2021 launch of the console. Which now seems to have been close to the mark. 

Sony PlayStation 5: India price

The Sony PlayStation 5 will be priced at Rs 49,990 for the disc variant while the Digital Edition has been priced at Rs 39,990. Sony will be launching different accessories with the PS5, primary among which is the new DualSense Controller that has been priced at Rs 5,990.

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PlayStation 5 India Launch Set for February 2, PS5 Pre-Orders Start January 12

PlayStation 5 will launch in India on February 2 with pre-orders starting from January 12 at 12pm IST. It launched in select regions on November 12 and November 19, 2020, and sold 3.4 million units in the first month, as per a report.

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New Year 2021: Our Gadgets Wishlist, From iPhone 12 to PlayStation 5

iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 13 Pro Max, Apple Watch SE, PlayStation 5, MacBook Air M1, iMac, Apple One, Nvidia GeForce 2060, Intel Core i7-10700K, Ikea office chair — the gadgets Gadgets 360 staff is hoping to buy for themselves in 2021.

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Alphabet Unit Wing Blasts New US Drone ID Rules, Citing Privacy

Alphabet's drone delivery unit Wing criticised Trump administration rules issued this week mandating broadcast-based remote identification of drones, saying they should be revised to allow for internet-based tracking.

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Microsoft Says SolarWinds Hackers Viewed Internal Source Code, Were Unable to Modify Software

Microsoft acknowledged that attackers who spearheaded a massive hack of government and private computer networks gained access to its internal source code, a key building block for its software.

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Lockdown Legends Part 5: Tech that got me through the lockdown feat. Sony, SoundMAGIC, Xbox, Samsung, Google

Editor's Note: This story is part of a series about tech gadgets and devices that helped Team tech2 and some of our friends through the pandemic, lockdown, and the year 2020, in general.

If there’s one thing that the lockdown has taught us, it is that we need technology more than we ever thought we would. In 2020, every spare gadget in my house served a purpose, whether it was my raggedy old Motorola Moto G (2012) with a broken camera (that served as a media player for my nephew), or something like a simple Bluetooth speaker that was great for family video calls and Zoom birthday celebrations.

However, technology not only helped with entertainment and work, but also served as a tool to help us overcome the bad stuff that took place during the lockdown. My grandmother passed away (in Karnataka) and my entire family (Mumbai and elsewhere) had no choice but to attend her funeral and burial via a private Facebook Live stream.

My 4-year old nephew now knows the keyboard shortcuts to a Zoom call, because school. And my father and mother now know to use GPay, something they would have never ventured into had it not been for the pandemic.

And while I was stuck at home with my family of 9, I also had to figure out ways of isolating myself from them, because work goes on and you can feel a bit claustrophobic within the 4 walls of your apartment, especially when you’re stuck there for months.

To get work done, I needed to concentrate and focus. And no, I’m not the type of a person who can get work done with music playing in the background. I need my silence!

Living besides a main road in an apartment in Mumbai City means a lot of traffic noise (lockdown or not). That, alongwith the chaos of 3 other family members who are constantly chatting away on their respective work calls and 2 kids, translates to utter chaos in a 2 BHK apartment. In this chaotic household filled with noise, I was glad I had already purchased the Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones. While they did a fine job of letting me sleep peacefully on domestic and international flights (in non-COVID times), they also pumped out some really good audio. I am no audiophile, but I have used better audio gear over the years. Still, nothing quite beats the XM3s when it comes to noise cancellation, and I’m glad I had them with me during the lockdown.

Another audio product that became oddly useful for another purpose were the SoundMAGIC E10C wired earphones. I originally purchased them to plug them into my Xbox controller for basic audio while playing games. But thanks to the lockdown, I found them extremely useful on work-related Zoom calls, as a wired mic beats a Bluetooth headset in terms of clarity and pickup. Apart from the Xbox controller and plugging them into my laptop, they also delivered pretty good audio for something that costs just Rs 1749.

One device I was lucky to have with me during the lockdown was the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. Sent across for review, it was left behind for quite a while, long enough for me to drop it and crack the glass back (it still worked fine after the drop). While it came in for review, I ended up using it to shoot my product photos. I prefer using smartphones because I hate fidgeting with cameras for an image that’s going to be compressed for the web. It’s got a nice 108 MP sensor that really helps bring out the details no matter what you are shooting. The OIS-stabilised 5X optical zoom also came in really handy for the same. While it’s one of the more capable ultra-premium Android smartphones on the market, I’m still waiting for Samsung to introduce a Snapdragon variant of their flagships for the Indian market.

Moving to the lighter side of things, is my Xbox One X. I purchased the Xbox One X around December 2019 solely because I wanted to try it out after sticking to PlayStation and PC gaming during my college days. I decided to get an Xbox after selling off my brand-new Nintendo Switch that was an impromptu purchase, after giving into the hype and watching a lot of colleagues game on it for years. Long story short, I just did not like the fidgety digital sticks on the Switch.

I’m glad I had the Xbox console with me during the lockdown. The games transported me from the four walls of my bedroom to exploring the UK (in Forza Horizon 4), to the marshlands in Russia (with Mudrunner), to the US (The Crew 2) and to any race track I wanted with Assetto Corsa. Yes, I love racing and open-world games. They kept me distracted from the chaotic world around me not just in my home, but also the depressing Corona-related news. In short, it was a good outlet and I am glad I had it with me during those days.

Those who know me, will also know that I’m not a fitness person. But given my deteriorating posture during the lockdown, I had to take up some form of exercise. Once the norms relaxed a bit, I started going for brisk walks (you did not expect me to jog did you?). And given that it was the first time I started an exercise activity, I needed to track it. Since I’m not a normal human being who sticks around with 1 smartphone for a year (I switch between 4 in a month), I needed a tool that could track and save my data across device ecosystems.

So, I chose Google Fit as a way to track my daily activity. Without a WearOS-powered smartwatch, it’s a basic fitness tracking tool that keeps a tab of your activity using location tracking and the phone’s built in sensors. It won’t give you too many details about your activities without a supported fitness band or a watch, but it got me the basic stats I needed (to keep myself motivated) along with a bit of accuracy to keep track of my progress.

In short, tech kept me busy, isolated, motivated and sane during the lockdown. Digital detox can take a walk!

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OnePlus Band price in India, launch date and features

The upcoming OnePlus Watch was supposed to mark the company’s entry into the wearable segment. A new development suggests that we will see a budget fitness tracker launch before the smartwatch, in the form of the OnePlus Band.

In 2020, OnePlus expanded to many new product categories such as mid-range smartphones, affordable smart TVs, true wireless earphones and more. Reports from Android Central state that the connected device ecosystem will continue to grow in 2021. Budget fitness trackers have seen a lot of interest in recent months, and it looks like OnePlus wants a piece of the pie.

Some other OnePlus Band specs and features were leaked by Mukul Sharma in a video, which once again suggests that OnePlus is going after the segment that the Xiaomi Mi Band series pioneered in India. It remains to be seen if it will be a region-exclusive product or not. 

Cut to the chase

• What is it? OnePlus’s first fitness tracker
• When is it out? Early 2021
• How much will it cost? Likely under Rs 3,000/$40

OnePlus Band price in India

(Image credit: Aakash Jhaveri)

According to the source, the OnePlus Band will be available only in India at launch, but could be available in other countries later. This is similar to the strategy it adopted for its affordable TVs and TWS as well, so it isn’t particularly surprising.

With a suggested price of around $40, it is likely to cost under Rs 3,000 in India. For context, the Mi Band 5 is priced at Rs 2,499. Other notable competitors include the Redmi Smart Band, the Realme Band as well as some offerings from Honor and Samsung. OnePlus must be betting on the segment to explode in 2021.

OnePlus Band launch date

(Image credit: Aakash Jhaveri)

Based on the multiple reports, we know that OnePlus has quite a few product launches lined up for the first quarter of 2021, with the flagship OnePlus 9 series, an upgraded OnePlus Nord and most interestingly, the OnePlus smartwatch that will run full-fledged Wear OS. However, all of these are slated for a March unveiling.

The OnePlus Band, on the other hand, looks more likely to have its separate smaller event much earlier. Perhaps we will hear more about it at CES 2021, which is scheduled to kick off on January 11 in an online format. 

Specs and features

(Image credit: Aakash Jhaveri)

Information is a little scarce around this point, but just like other affordable fitness trackers, the OnePlus Band is tipped to sport a small rectangular AMOLED touchscreen, proper water resistance with IP rating and multiple days of battery life.

The design is likely to be pretty minimalistic with a user-replaceable strap without being too bulky. Along with the heart-rate sensor, there are also rumours of the OnePlus Band sporting an SpO2 sensor for measuring blood oxygen saturation levels, making it one of the cheapest wearables to do so. 

As for features, there should be quite a few fitness tracking modes, along with the usual slew of notification mirroring, call alerts and music playback control. A companion app will help in the initial setup process and also act as a hub for all the tracked data. Like its other IoT products, we could also see some Oxygen OS-specific features on the wearable.

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T-Mobile data breach sees phone numbers and call records leaked online

T-Mobile has revealed that it suffered a data breach in which customers' proprietary network information (CPNI), including their phone numbers and call records, was exposed online.

Earlier this week, the US telecom began informing its customers via text message that a security incident had occurred that may have impacted some of their account information. 

However, T-Mobile provided further details in a notice of security incident on its website and explained that its security team recently discovered “malicious, unauthorized access” to its systems.

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Following this discovery, an investigation was launched with assistance from leading cybersecurity forensic experts to determine what happened and exactly what customer information was exposed.

Customer proprietary network information

According to T-Mobile, the CPNI accessed by hackers may have included customers' phone numbers, the number of lines on their accounts and in some cases, call-related information.

Thankfully though, the data accessed did not include customers' names, addresses, email addresses, financial data, credit card information, social security numbers, tax IDs, passwords or PINs.

Affected customers have already received text messages from T-Mobile informing them of the situation but they should remain on the lookout for any suspicious texts claiming to be from the company or messages containing links to third-party websites as cybercriminals often use the news of a data breach or security incident to launch phishing attacks to try and steal user credentials.

Although T-Mobile has suffered another data breach, this attack appears to be less severe than the one that occurred in March in which hackers were able to gain access to both customer and employee data.

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Via BleepingComputer

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Gaming industry needs transparent, clearer rules: Octro

The worst year for the world may be the best year for the gaming platforms.

To beat the tedium of being holed up within their homes, many people sought the diversion that online gaming platforms provided.

Like elsewhere, in India, too the gaming industry thrived, and it got further impetus with the ban on a few popular Chinese gaming apps including PUBG Mobile.

Yet, it was not all easy going for the industry as some State governments thought it fit to ban online gaming platforms in their respective States on the grounds that they (online games) encouraged gambling and, in cases, have also led to suicides. 

This ban in one State, and kosher in another, is what is worrying the industry. "We desire clearer and transparent laws that do not have room for ambiguity," says Manav Sethi, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Octro Inc, in an exclusive chat with TechRadar India.

He adds predictable regulatory regime will help the companies to know where they stand and also help in scalable investments in the gaming startup industry. "These investments in gaming startups are good for economy at large and for entire internet universe."

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Octro promises safe gaming ecosystem

Octro's words of commitment

"We are committed to building a safe ecosystem and addressing challenges like irresponsible gaming and fraud".

Octro is of course the largest mobile gaming company in India with games like Teen Patti, Indian Rummy and Tambola being amongst the top ten apps across Apple iOS, Google Play, and Windows Phone 8 platforms.    

Manav Sethi said companies like his are interested in creating an ecosystem that is safe and secure at multiple levels. "We have some stringent guidelines in place at Octro," he said.

But the general feeling in India is through online gaming, innocent people, mainly youngsters, are being cheated. And in a few case, they are also alleged to have been pushed to suicide.

There are many public interest litigations in many Indian courts against online games claiming that "they cause behavioural and mental changes,  prevent other hobbies, lead to poor academic performance, lethargic nature leading to weight gain. Gaming addiction can slow down brain growth and negatively affects eyesight and also results in insomnia."

But Manav countered that by saying: "We are committed to building a safe ecosystem and addressing challenges like irresponsible gaming and fraud." He asserted that legalised online gaming set-up will help encourage improve a reliable revenue channel for governments.

Greys in laws governing gaming platforms

Manav alluded to the greys in the legal framework in India for the gaming industry.

The Indian online gaming industry is projected to become a one billion dollar industry by 2021. It is also becoming an important source of social engagement and revenue generation.

As India is a mobile-first country, more than 90% of online gamers play games on their phones. In 2019, around 5.6 billion mobile gaming apps were downloaded in India – the highest in the world and representing nearly 13% of gaming apps globally.

But the legality of fantasy sports and online card games in India is dependent on whether the game qualifies as a 'game of skill' or a 'game of chance'. Games of chance fall under the ambit of gambling and are thereby restricted by State gambling laws. However, games involving considerable and substantial degree of skill (mathematically, more than 50%) fall outside the scope of gambling laws and hence are legal in India.

But this 'games of skill' argument is what has made courts to allow horse racing and card games such as rummy and poker so far. But when some State governments are banning them in one place, and allowing in other places, there is bound to be confusion. In any case, the geographical restriction for online games is not effective. 

That is what companies like Octro are fighting against.

Manav Sethi, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Octro Inc (Image credit: Octro)

Manav and his company feel that banning the array of opportunities that skill-based games bring to the country is not right. "There is a need to formulate or introduce robust regulations for licensing regime to make sure transparent online activities are monitored," he said. 

Luckily for Octro and other gaming companies, Niti Aayog, Indian government's policy think-tank, has recommended the setting up of a single self-regulatory body for online fantasy sports in India. Its draft report seems to suggest bringing in uniformity in terms of operating standards.

Octro has 200+ million users

It is games like Tambola that Octro hopes to take it across the globe and make it popular worldwide.

Manav Sethi

Octro is enhancing its technology infrastructure, as Manav said, to provide fastest real time scalable game engine and capturing data in high definition. Our aim is to make the game experience better, he added.

With almost 200+ million users, Octro is among the top echelons of the gaming industry in India. Its Teen Patti is a big draw, and has over 150 million users. Rummy is another card game in its stable that has over 35 million user base (both social and real money variations).

Manav said that Octro’s Tambola app is another popular game. It has seen over 50 per cent growth in user base. It has had over a million plus installs.

Soccer battles is another Octro game that is gaining traction now.

It is games like these that Manav hopes to take it across the globe and make it popular worldwide.

"We want to create more global IPs that can be taken to 200 markets and can be localised in 20 languages," he added.

Among others, Octro is funded by Sequoia Capital that invested $15 million in 2014. Octro's revenue stream is third-party advertisers and in-app products sales, the company is streamlining it further to improve its bottom-line. 

Manav said our endeavour is to innovate with new games and also improve our existing games and features and provide the best and safest experience to our users.

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Apple AirPods Max Showing Condensation Issues Near Drivers, Some Users Report

Apple AirPods Max owners are reporting condensation issues in normal use, with water droplets forming inside the headset near the drivers. This is of particular concern owing to the high price of the headphones and the expectations attached to it.

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Google Photos Is Rolling Out a ‘Year in Review’ Feature, 2020 Photo Book: Report

Google is letting Android and iOS users look back at 2020 through a ‘Year in Review’ feature in the Memories carousel in Google Photos. You can also create a 2020 photo book from the pictures of the year gone by.

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Mi 11 Pro Launch Tipped for February, May Come With ‘Same’ Display Specifications as Mi 11

Mi 11 Pro could still be in development and may come with the same display as Mi 11. The new phone could debut as early as February.

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iPhone 13 Pro Models May Come With 120Hz Displays, All Models May Have Smaller Notches, Wi-Fi 6E Support

iPhone 13 series rumours suggest that the Pro models will come with 120Hz displays and all models in the series may come with smaller notches and Wi-Fi 6E support.

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Vivo V2035 Spotted on US FCC With 5,000mAh Battery

The US FCC listing of Vivo V2035 has leaked some details about the phone. The Vivo V2035 should be called something else when it goes official, but its marketing name is still a mystery. The FCC documents leak that the Vivo V2035 may support 4G LTE and come with a dual-SIM slot. Connectivity options on the Vivo phone are listed to include Bluetooth, dual-band Wi-Fi, a...

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LG Wing Update Makes Dual Screens Easier to Use; Report Claims Less Than 50,000 Units Sold in South Korea

LG Wing has sold less than 50,000 units in South Korea, as per a report. The dual-screen phone, however, is getting a new software update that will make its two screens easier to use. Users can now send apps quickly from one display to the other through a ‘Send’ or ‘Fetch’ button.

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PlayStation Plus Free Games announced for January: Maneater, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Greedfall

PlayStation Plus subscribers can get their hand on three free games in January 2021 – Maneater, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and Greedfall. Take a quick look at the titles on offer.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip Receiving Android 11-Based One UI 3.0 Update: Report

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip smartphones in Europe and Nigeria have reportedly started receiving the Android 11-based One UI 3.0 update. The updates include a tweaked UI design and the latest December 2020 Android security patch.

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2020 in smartphones: from 5G to foldables, iPhone 12 mini to Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

It is a little known fact that 2020 has been the longest year in recorded human history. Quite how a sum total of over sixty months managed to take place across the same period filled by a mere twelve the year prior will no doubt perplex all concerned for some time to come.

Of course, we know what happened in 2020 - and how do you sum up a year like this? COVID-19 has rewritten the rules of engagement for society at large, something which it continues to do with aplomb, and the world of smartphones has not escaped.

Whether delayed phone releases, cancelled phone shows or otherwise, going forwards in 2021 we can likely expect that many of the trends of 2020 will have long shadows.

But with the new year just around the corner, what better opportunity to take stock of the year being left behind?

January to March - early rumblings

The super premium S20 Ultra was an early 2020 highlight (Image credit: Future)

CES 2020 went ahead full steam in January, with manufacturers from across the world flocking for their moment to shine. The usual stream of TVs, home tech and more were paraded out, though a few smartphones were teased.

Samsung showed off a few mid-range efforts such as the Galaxy S10 Lite, while TCL chose to showcase its TCL 10 5G. The latter was part of a concerted effort to gain a little foothold in Western markets, and a very on-trend 2020 example of 5G being used as a selling point in itself.

The Las Vegas show doesn’t usually attract many smartphone manufacturers, as they typically choose to put all of their eggs in one basket and attend MWC instead. That is unless they are large enough to have their own event.

Of course, things were different in 2020, as MWC 2020 became the first phone show casualty to COVID-19. Cancelled due to ongoing concerns about the virus, it was a shock across the smartphone world, for which it served as a tentpole event. With eyes off MWC, it was up to Samsung to make a splash.

It did so with ‘Space Zoom’. Such was the improbable moniker branded on the rear of its new $1,399 / £1,199 / AU$1,999 smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra. Designed to represent engineering excess in every way possible, it was among the first in a new class of smartphone we can call ‘super premium’ - or something along those lines.

The Huawei P series of handsets added one such option to its line-up in 2020, the Huawei P40 Pro Plus. A step above the regular Huawei P40 and P40 Pro, the main differentiation was its absolute focus on long range zoom, something which would also become a trend across the year.

Of course the other notable fact about the P series was quite significant, these being the first ‘popular’ premium smartphones from the manufacturer to be released sans Google and its eponymous services.

Following the bust-up with the Trump administration in 2019, Huawei was forced to go it alone - and though its western sales figures have slumped somewhat, the firm is doing famously in its homeland.

April to June - full swing

The iPhone SE 2020 was a pleasant mid-year release (Image credit: Future)

By April, lockdown had come about with a vengeance. Across the world, our ways of life began to change as we had to distance, stay indoors and sanitize.

This coincided with the launch of a long-rumored Apple handset, the successor to the much-loved iPhone SE (2016). The new iPhone SE arrived in April with its own launch event, sporting a top of the line processor in the body of an iPhone 8, all for a price which didn’t break the bank.

The iPhone SE (2020) launch was among the first major tech events to be held entirely online. Where journalists and influencers used to gather together from across the world in glitzy venues, now they were at home, in pajamas.

OnePlus also chose this time to launch arguably its first ‘super premium’ handset, the OnePlus 8 Pro. Starting at $899/£799, this chose to take on the big guns at their own game, emphasizing build and camera quality above all else.

It was quite successful in doing so, but arguably at the cost of its ‘flagship killer’ moniker, having played the game for so long it was in danger of becoming part of the establishment.

This was evident in the junior offering, the OnePlus 8. Though this handset was perfectly competent, it was produced without a clear demographic in mind, ending up as a decent device for everyone, but perfect for no one.

Beyond smartphone launch news, one further development was of particular significance, as this period was the first point where Xiaomi received over half of its revenue from markets outside of China.

This showed it was well on its way to take over from Huawei in the quest for western dominance, with the likes of Oppo, Realme and Vivo hot on its heels.

July to September - things begin to stabilize

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 is the best foldable phone yet (Image credit: Future)

Although it had launched an impressive slate of smartphones earlier in the year, Samsung was in no mood to rest.

It next impressed with the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 2, its successor to the device of the same name released in 2019. But where the latter was a byword for over-engineered over-ambition, its successor was a refined product ready for anyone with $1,999 / £1,799 / AU$2,999 burning a hole in their pocket.

This was the most expensive ‘super premium’ handset to date, as well as one of the most impressive examples of folding screen tech then seen.

Not to rest on its laurels, we also saw the release of the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, which took everything notable about the Galaxy S20 Ultra and added the note ‘more’. More battery, more camera power, just more, this device featured it all, far outshining its less expensive peers in the Note line and proving itself as an exceptional package overall.

As time went by however, more rumors have begun to swirl, and it now appears the Note range - a stalwart in the scene since 2011 - may be on the way out with rumors the Galaxy Note 21 won't follow the Samsung Galaxy S21.

This was a time of many developments in the mid-range also. OnePlus sought to capture some of the punk magic it has lost with the launch of the Nord handset, and Google at last launched the mysterious Pixel 4a.

Quite refined for its price point, this handset had been delayed and delayed, and its eventual release came as something of a surprise. On the subject of delays, the Microsoft Surface Duo finally emerged from the shadows and into a commercial product. Though it sported some interesting design concepts, the drawbacks in its execution meant its price felt high.

October to December - race to normality

Without the software restrictions, the Mate 40 Pro could have been big (Image credit: TechRadar)

While much of 2020 has been relatively muted when compared to the same points in the past, some things never change - and especially new iPhone launches.

Typically the part of the tech year outside of sales season with the highest internet traffic, 2020 was no different. October brought four new iPhones, each with a new design and a different demographic. Representing extremes, the iPhone 12 mini and the iPhone 12 Pro Max were certainly the most interesting.

The former is now the best phone for those with small hands, while the latter showed camera improvements that Apple has been hesitant to make for years now. With a large sensor, improved zoom range, and sensor-shift stabilization (a first for a smartphone), it is undoubtedly one of the best camera phones currently available.

Google also chose this point to launch one of the most curious phones of the year, the Pixel 5. This shunned the high-end chipset of its predecessor in order to focus on affordability, while swapping a telephoto snapper for an ultra-wide one.

The balancing act chosen was certainly a difficult one, and opinions were mixed as to whether it managed to achieve its goals.

Huawei on the other hand went all out. The Huawei Mate 40 Pro was launched with an array of cameras to make even the most skeptical tech fan swoon, but lacking Google apps it missed the limelight once more.

And so the end of 2020 has arrived. It has been a year of surprises, and not least the pandemic. Having been planned as a year of 5G advancement, the roll out in many places has been slow, and the tech has entered notoriety among conspiracy theorists globally.

Dual-screen and foldable devices didn’t appear in their droves, and aside from the likes of the LG Wing 5G, experimentation in hardware design was arguably minimal. Whatever 2021 will bring, it certainly cannot come soon enough.

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Asus Adolbook 13 (2021) With 11th-Gen Intel Core i5 CPU, Full-HD Display Launched

Asus Adolbook 13 (2021) has been launched in China. It comes with a 13.3-inch display and is powered by the latest Intel 11th-Gen Tiger Lake CPU. It comes with slim bezels and is offered in a single RAM and storage configuration.

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OnePlus Band Rumoured to Be in the Works, May Initially Launch in India in Q1 2021

OnePlus Band could be in the works and may launch in India sometime in the first quarter of 2021. The fitness band could carry specifications similar to those of Xiaomi’s Mi Smart Band 5.

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Redmi Note 9T Spotted on Geekbench With MediaTek Dimensity 800U SoC, 4GB RAM

Redmi Note 9T has been spotted on Geekbench with the model number M2007J22G. It’s the same model number that was spotted recently on Thailand’s NBTC certification site. Furthermore, the Redmi Note 9 5G that launched in China recently has the model number M2007J22C, and its global variant, expected to called Redmi Note 9T, is likely to carry the model number M2007J...

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Japan plans to create wooden satellites which they hope will cut down on space junk

A Japanese startup called Sumitomo Forestry has teamed up with researchers from the Kyoto University, to work on a wooden satellite, reported BBC. While the entire plan is in a nascent stage, the project aims at tackling the increasing threat of space debris. Sumitomo Forestry is currently working on testing the use of wood materials in space and soon they will be experimenting with wood in extreme locations on Earth. Going ahead with their research, the two teams plan to launch the world's first satellite made out of wood in 2023.

The report says that wooden satellites were a better alternative to the existing ones as these would burn up after entering the atmosphere without releasing any harmful substances. No waste will be created and the risk of space junk falling back on Earth can be lessened.

Takao Doi, a professor at Kyoto University and Japanese astronaut, was quoted by BBC to state that all the satellites that re-enter Earth’s atmosphere at present “burn and create tiny alumina particles which will float in the upper atmosphere for many years”. This can prove to be harmful in the long run, something they aspire to prevent by using wood as their material.

Although the company has not revealed the name of the wood for R& D purposes, they are working on developing wooden materials that are “highly resistant to temperature changes and sunlight”. The report also drew attention to the threat the space junk poses. It mentions that in the coming years, more and more countries are going to send more satellites. But already of the total number of satellites circling our planet, about 60 per cent of them are defunct according to the World Economic Forum (WEF).

A report by ARS Technica however pointed out that just using wood for satellites is not really going to make a difference. The article cites figures to suggest a huge amount of space junk consists of the booster or the equipment used to propel the satellites into space. Even if wood is incorporated, this number is not going to be affected. Although if the satellite de-orbits, the wood will completely burn down, but this will not stop some tiny bits of aluminium from getting into the mix as many of them can come from the rockets.

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EU still holds out on granting approval to Oxford-AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine

The coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, which was approved Wednesday in Britain, is unlikely to get a green light in the European Union in the next month, according to the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The regulator, charged with overseeing vaccines' authorisation in the EU before they can be marketed, approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on December 21. It is expected to rule on Moderna's vaccine on January 6. But an EU ruling on the AstraZeneca-Oxford jab will take some time.

"Additional scientific information on issues related to quality, safety and efficacy of the vaccine is deemed necessary to support the rigour required for a conditional marketing authorisation (CMA) and this has been requested from the company," the EMA said in a statement. "Further information from the ongoing clinical trials is also expected from January."

The Amsterdam-based agency earlier told AFP that it had not yet received any formal marketing authorisation and that it had set no timetable for approving the vaccine.

The regulator's deputy executive director Noel Walthion told Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad on Tuesday that a possible approval in January is "unlikely".

The AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine is currently undergoing a "rolling review" which allows the EMA to examine safety and efficacy data as they are released, even before a formal application for authorisation is filed by the manufacturer.

This procedure speeds up the evaluation of a marketing authorisation application once it is made, the EMA said.

The agency said Wednesday it is "aware that the UK MHRA has granted a temporary authorisation of supply of the vaccine in the emergency use setting, which is distinct from a marketing authorisation."

An AstraZeneca spokesperson told AFP it "has submitted a full data package to support an application for conditional marketing authorisation for the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine to the European Medicines Agency."

The spokesperson added: "AstraZeneca has been submitting data on a rolling basis and will continue to work closely with the EMA to support the start of a formal CMA application process."

Britain is the first country in the world to approve the vaccine, which is cheaper to produce and easier to store and transport than the Pfizer-BioNTech jab.

For EU countries, it is up to the European Commission in Brussels to issue the final green light after EMA approval.

Inoculations with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine began in the 27-member bloc over the weekend.

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Vivo Y20A with triple rear cameras, 5000mAh battery launched in India

Vivo has added a new budget phone in the Y series at teh end of the year. The company has launched Vivo Y20A in India which is a Waterdown version of Vivo Y20 which was launched back in August in India. 

The device comes with a big battery and triple AI rear camera which are the highlight of the device. Apart from that most of the specs remain the same as seen on the Vivo Y20 except for fast charging which is missing on the Vivo Y20A. The device just like many other Vivo smartphones is manufactured at Vivo’s Greater Noida facility as Vivo’s commitment to ‘Make in India’ initiative.

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Vivo Y20A price in India and availability

The Vivo Y20 is priced at Rs 11,490 and is available in sole 3GB + 64GB configuration. It will be available across offline stores, Vivo e-store, and other major online retailers starting January 2, 2021. The device will be available in Nebula Blue and Dawn White colour option.  

Vivo Y20A specs

(Image credit: Vivo)

The Vivo Y20A features a 6.51-inch HD+ Halo iView display with a resolution of 1,600 by 720 pixels and 20:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, the phone is powered by Snapdragon 439 chipset clocked at 1.95GHz. As said earlier, the only differentiator comes in terms of memory, the Vivo Y20A comes with 3GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. You also get a dedicated microSD card slot on board. 

As for the optics, the Vivo Y20A sports a triple rear camera setup with a 13MP primary snapper with f/2.2 aperture with PDAF followed by a 2MP depth and macro shooters with an aperture of f/2.4. To the front, you get an 8MP selfie camera that’s housed inside the dew-drop notch. The device features a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.

Further, the Vivo Y20A is packed with a massive 5000mAh battery with support for 10W fast charging. However, it uses a micro USB port for charging. Other features include FunTouch OS 11 based on Android 10, Dual SIM, dual-band Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5. The device weigh 192 grams and is thick at 8.41mm. 

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Ticketmaster to Pay $10-Million Fine Over Hacking Charges

Ticketmaster agreed to pay a $10-million (roughly Rs. 73 crores) fine to escape prosecution over criminal charges accusing the company of hacking into the computer system of a startup rival.

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Amazon Signs Deal to Acquire Popular Podcast Producer Wondery

Amazon said it signed a deal to acquire the hit podcast production firm Wondery, in a move which boosts the US tech giant's efforts to round out its offerings from its music platform.

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OnePlus Nord, Nord N100 start receiving OxygenOS update with December 2020 security patch

OnePlus Nord and OnePlus Nord N100 have started receiving the December 2020 security patches through the OxygenOS update 10.5.10 and Oxygen 10.5.5. This comes a week after the OnePlus Nord N10 5G received the update OxygenOS 10.5.8 and along with it, the security patch was taken up to December 2020. According to a company forum post, the roll-out of OxygenOS 10.5.10 for OnePlus Nord is incremental and hence it will take a few weeks time for every user to receive the update.

On the other hand, the OnePlus Nord N100 received an Oxygen 10.5.5 update for Europe and 10.5.4 for North America.

The forum post said that the software update will be tagged as 10.5.10.AC01DA for India, 10.5.10.AC01BA for Europe and 10.5.10.AC01AA for the global release. Apart from the updated Android Security Patch, the system of Nord received an updated GMS package and general bug fixes. One enhancement has been introduced only for the Indian market where users will be able to manage their OnePlus accounts, get “easy-to-access support, discover exciting members-only benefits, and shop for OnePlus products” from the OnePlus Store. The post mentioned that this can be uninstalled also.

According to another forum post, OnePlus has also released the software update for the Nord N100. along with the security patch, power consumption, updated GMS package, camera’s shooting experience, the stability of communication functions and Bluetooth device compatibility have been improved.

Further, a quick setting has been added in the system so that users can easily switch to adjust from the mute mode, ringtone mode or vibration. a low probability call noise issue has been fixed as well. Released on 28 December, the OTA will take a few days to be rolled out widely by the company.

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Solar Orbiter approaches Venus in a flyby, conducts some planetary observations

The joint US-European Solar Orbiter spacecraft reached its closest approach to Venus on 27 December, at 6.09 pm IST (27 December at  7:39 am EST). The spacecraft managed to go as close as 7,500 kilometres from the top of the planet's cloud tops, reported Space.com. Speaking at the press briefing, Daniel Müller, project scientist for the mission at the European Space Agency said that the Solar Orbiter is a mission not designed specifically to take Venus observations, but since they are always looking for bonus opportunities to do science, they will be doing observations when they approach Venus.

During the flyby, scientists were able to gather data using the spacecraft's magnetometer, radio and plasma waves instrument and some of the sensors available on the energetic particle detector.

Tim Horbury, a physicist at Imperial College London and principal investigator of one of Solar Orbiter's instruments had stated that at the distance the Space Orbiter is able to reach, one of the key things that they will be looking at is how Venus interacts with the solar wind that is flowing past it.

Since 27 December's flyby was the Solar Orbiter's first tryst with Venus, the team was not sure what to expect from it and will take a few days to dig into the data the instruments gathered.

The Solar Orbiter's main objective is to perform close-up, high-resolution studies of the Sun and inner heliosphere. It is intended to brave the fierce heat and carry its telescopes to just one-quarter of Earth's distance from the Sun. At that distance, the Solar Orbiter will be exposed to sunlight 13 times more intense than what we feel on Earth.

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Apple is currently working on a foldable iPhone that is likely to launch in 2022-23: Report

Apple is working on a foldable phone and it is going to be similar to Samsung Galaxy Z Flip and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G in terms of design, revealed a recent leak. The tip added that the Cupertino-based firm is looking at a 2022-23 timeframe to launch the product, if it actually does. Youtuber Jon Prosser said in a recent YouTube video of Front Page Tech channel that Apple was currently in the early stages of development and was testing the outer shell of the future iPhone at a factory in Shenzhen, China.

Testing the hinge mechanism is important as many foldable phones have failed to withstand continuous flips upon use.

The product will fold down like a clamshell, revealing a wider screen once unfolded. Like Samsung flip phones, this device will also have a smaller screen on the outer panel. The video clip also shared a concept image of the folding iPhone for making it easier to visualize. He cited his sources to state that Apple was working on two devices and was going to select one after preliminary tests to move ahead with.

Prosser made sure that Apple was not planning to introduce the device just next year, maybe in 2022 or even 2023. This gives the company to fully test the limits and release a strong foldable phone. Also, such a wide time period gives the smartphone brand the scope to go ahead with a completely different design in the long run.

Apple has been working on multiple concepts for bendable displays for many years now. In 2019, an Apple patent application had come to surface which hinted at a three-fold form factor. The illustrations found on the patent application showed that the potential iPhone might come with both an inward as well as an outward bend. While many other firms have been reported to work on foldable phone designs, Samsung, Microsoft, Huawei and Motorola are some of the names that currently have models out in the market.

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