T3 India

Spencer Hart

Will the Fitbit Versa make you trade in your Apple Watch?

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The Fitbit Versa is the fitness tracking brand’s most recent attempt at a “smartwatch for all”, with a modern design and affordable price tag, as well as a few new software tricks designed to tempt users away from the Apple Watch.

The Versa is designed to be comfortable enough to wear all day and night. Fitbit promises it’s also durable and versatile, with a thin anodised aluminium case and a variety of stylish accessories.

These include Horween leather, stainless steel, woven, or ‘Classic’ straps, which can be quickly changed to match your outfit or activity. You can see most of the options in the image below.

We think it’s a big improvement over the angular Ionic smartwatch.

There’s also a host of smartwatch features onboard, such as smartphone notifications, Deezer music streaming, Fitbit Pay contactless payment, apps, and downloadable clock faces.

Fitbit will soon be introducing ‘Quick Replies’, which let you send quick pre-populated or customisable replies to text messages and instant messenger apps (Android only).

Fitbit boasts “more than 550 apps”, which doesn’t quite compete with the likes of the Apple Watch, but it does include big names, like Flipboard, Hue Lights, Strava, Weather, etc.

Of course, Fitbit hasn’t forgotten about fitness, and the Versa is the first device to launch with Fitbit OS 2.0.

This includes a new personalised dashboard that provides a more simplified, intuitive and holistic view of your health and fitness data.

You’ll be able to see your daily and weekly health and fitness stats, historical activity, heart rate, and exercise summaries, action-oriented motivational messages, tips and tricks, and daily guidance.

You’ll also receive more personalised fitness guidance, with 24/7 heart rate tracking, on-screen workouts, and more exercise modes. This is designed to become more personalised over time, sending reminders and providing insights based on your previous data (coming later in 2018).

Sleep tracking is, of course, also back.

The biggest addition to Fitbit’s software is the introduction is “female health tracking”, allowing you to track your menstrual cycle, and see how it connects to your overall health.

It’ll let you log your menstrual cycle data, recording symptoms like headaches and cramp. Once it has enough data, it’ll also make cycle predictions.

Fitbit claims this will give users a holistic view of data all in one place “to reveal connections between your cycle and other stats in the Fitbit app, such as activity, sleep and weight trends to better manage your activity and sleep needs during certain times of the month.”

These software updates will debut on the new Versa, but will also be available for Ionic users via a software update.

The Versa has a 4+ days battery life, but doesn’t include GPS, like the more fitness-focused Ionic.

Fitbit Versa will be available in Q2 in black with a black aluminum case, gray with a silver aluminum case, or peach with a rose gold aluminum case for Rs. 19,999. Fitbit Versa Special Edition will also retail for Rs. 21,999 and accessories range from Rs. 2,499 to Rs. 8,999.

MWC 2018: The Samsung Galaxy S9 is here, and it’s exactly what we expected

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Samsung has just launched a new smartphone. You may have read something about it already due to various leaks. Meet the Samsung Galaxy S9.

The Samsung S9 is more of an evolution of the Galaxy S8, rather than a revolution, with a “reimagined” camera, updated chipset, and new software. The Samsung S9 is designed to reimagine the way we communicate, share and experience the world, with an emphasis on images, videos and emojis. It makes sense, then, that Samsung has spent the most effort on upgrading the camera, with improved low-light capability, super slow-motion video camera, AR Emoji, and Bixby built into the camera app.

The improved low light performance is achieved by a new ‘dual aperture’ system, which chooses an aperture between F1.5 and F2.4, depending on the light available. The other headline feature is Samsung’s new slow-motion camera, which is capable of capturing 960 frames per second. This is similar to the feature on the Sony XZ1 Premium. Samsung makes the experience easier with automatic motion detection, which detects movement in the frame and automatically begins to record.

Following Apple’s move, Samsung will also allow you to create your own emoji that follows your facial expressions. The AR Emoji uses a data-based machine learning algorithm, which analyses a 2D image of your face and maps out more than 100 facial features to create a 3D model that reflects and imitates expressions, like winks and nods. These can be saved as standard GIF files, and shared on any third-party messaging apps. A point Samsung is keen to stress, considering Apple’s rivalling system is only compatible with other iPhone Xs.

The Samsung Galaxy S9 also has a big focus on entertainment. The handset features stereo speakers tuned by AKG. These will also support Dolby Atmos, giving the effect of 360-degree sound. The AMOLED Infinity Display from the S8 remains largely unchanged, which is no bad thing.

Samsung DeX is back again, but it’s been redesigned and improved. Now, the design is more portable, allowing the display to double as a touch mouse and keyboard, while a full-screen desktop experience is projected onto a television.

So, clearly, it’s not a massive update over the S8 release last year. But the Samsung S9 is still shaping up to be a very impressive phone. The Samsung Galaxy S9 Indian price is TBA. The Galaxy S9 pre-orders are open today for a token amount of Rs.2,000 before going on sale on at an upcoming date. It will be available in Midnight Black, Coral Blue and a new hue, Lilac Purple.

Samsung Galaxy S9 Specs
OS: Android 8.0 (Oreo)
Display: 5.8-inch Quad HD, AMOLED, 570ppi
Size: 147.7mm x 68.7mm x 8.5mm
Weight: 163g
Waterproof: IP68
Rear camera: Super Speed Dual Pixel 12MP with OIS (F1.5/F2.4)
Front camera: 8MP (F1.7)
Chipset: 10nm, 64-bit, Octa-core processor (2.8 GHz Quad + 1.7 GHz Quad)
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64GB + Micro SD Slot (upto 400 GB)
Battery: 3,000mAh
Charging: Fast Wired Charging compatible with QC 2.0, Fast Wireless Charging compatible with WPC and PMA

MWC 2018: Nokia is bringing back the 8110, you know, the one from The Matrix

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Today at MWC 2018, Nokia has brought back the legendary 8110. Hidden underneath that iconic curved design, the 8110 is packing modern necessities, like 4G. The Nokia 8110 gives you the perfect chance to switch off and relax with the knowledge that all your smartphone essentials, like Google apps, are there when you need them.

Nokia 8110 comes with the build quality you’d expect from a Nokia phone, delivering durability and reliability as standard. The handset delivers VoLTE calling, and a familiar and easy to use interface, such as slide to answer and end calls, as well as an addictive helicopter style spin on its axis.

The 8110 also has an app store, which gives access to favourites like Google Assistant, Google Search, Google Maps, Facebook and Twitter. You’ll also be able to send and receive emails or import your contacts and sync your calendar with Outlook and Gmail.

To keep it running flawlessly, the Nokia 8110 features the Qualcomm 205 Mobile Platform. And yes, before you ask, it comes with a revamped version of Snake. The handset is available in Traditional Black and Banana Yellow. It will be available from May and will retail for a global average retail price of €79, excluding taxes and subsidies.

The OnePlus 5T gives you an “all-screen” experience and face unlock

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OnePlus has finally unveiled the 5T and in doing so, joined in on the hottest smartphone trend of 2017, banishing the bezels.

The new OnePlus flagship features a 6-inch display in a handset roughly the same size as its predecessor (which only had a 5.5-inch display).

The 5T features a few design tweaks, such as a refined camera bump, but largely, remains the same beautiful smartphone.

The new OLED display has a now familiar 18:9 aspect ratio, and a resolution of 1080×2160.

The new display also features a new Sunlight mode which adapts automatically to harsh light to facilitate a great viewing experience.

To make room for the larger screen, OnePlus has moved the fingerprint sensor to the rear of the device. It’s coated in ceramic and is just as lightning fast as its front-facing predecessor.

Facial Recognition has also been added to the mix, although, this system simply uses the camera, and is therefore not as advanced as Apple’s system.

Still, it’s nice to have options.

Moving on from the new display, OnePlus’ next biggest update is a new camera system.

The OnePlus 5T features a dual camera setup with one main sensor and one “low-light” sensor, replacing the more traditional wide and tele combo.

The secondary camera is equipped with a large f/1.7 aperture and Intelligent Pixel Technology which merges four pixels into one, reducing noise in low-light environments and enhancing clarity.

It’s an interesting take on the dual camera set up, so we’ll have to see how this fares in our review.

Additional improvements have been made to Portrait Mode to improve noise reduction.

Elsewhere not much else has changed. The OnePlus 5T still packs the Snapdragon 835, 8GB RAM, 64/128GB storage, and Dash Charge for speedy battery replenishment.

Another key element that hasn’t changed is the price, with the OnePlus 5T going on sale with prices starting at Rs. 32,999.

You’ll be able to purchase the handset on the 21st of November from OnePlus’ website, Amazon India or OnePlus experience stores. Open sales begin from November 28

The Apple Watch Series 3 is even less reliant on your iPhone

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As well as the iPhone X, Apple has announced the new Apple Watch Series 3.

If you were hoping for a major redesign, you’ll be a tad disappointed. The biggest update coming to the Apple Watch Series 3 is a cellular connection, allowing you to use the smart watch free from an iPhone or WiFi network.

You’ll even be able to make voice calls over cellular, again, without an iPhone present. However, the cellular variant won’t be available in India.

This is really useful for people who use their Apple Watch for running, and hate taking their iPhones with them, but you’ll be able to use apps such as Whatsapp, and even stream from Apple Music.

Inside is a new dual core processor, making it faster than ever, and an altimeter, which allows you to track your altitude.

The Apple Watch Series 3 is exactly the same size as the original, but you’ll notice a minor redesign, in that the digital crown is now coloured red (for Cellular models only).

There’s also a new Rose Gold colour, as well as a host of new Apple Watch Bands (including a few beautiful Hermés ones).

The Apple Watch Series 3 will come running watchOS 4, which brings with it an updated UI, new watch faces, and better activity tracking.

The GPS variant of the Series 3 is priced at Rs. 29,900 whereas the Series 1 is priced at Rs. 21,900.

The Series 3 Watch will go on sale from September 29.