Black Shark a Powerful Gaming Phone - Chief Features of Xiaomi-backed Smartphone

 After being in the news for so long Xiaomi-backed Black Shark has today launched its very own gaming smartphone in China. Named the “Black Shark”, the phone is decked up both outside and inside, designed to perfection for gaming with great aesthetics that too with impressive top-of-the-line internals. It boasts of 8GB of RAM and would make your pocket lighter by 3,499 Yuan (~$557).

The Black Shark’s biggest feature is it is mounted on the company’s gaming pad accessory, known as the Shark Gamepad. Outwardly it looks like just any other Bluetooth-enabled controller with a joystick, with trigger powered by a 340mAh battery that offers up to 30 hours of power. The gamepad is compatible with other phones that support Bluetooth 4.0 and Android 4.4 or above that. 

The Black Shark is much like its other gaming phone counterparts with a rugged exterior and it is heavy by two hundred grams. It also has a dedicated hardware key that helps in immediately switching to the gaming mode. On the front, you will notice a 5.99-inch Full HD+ display complete with an 18:9 aspect ratio. The phone is still equipped with a home button which has the fingerprint sensor.

The Black Shark is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 processor, not to forget its RAM 6/8GB along with 128GB of UFS and its internal storage is a neat 2.0.  The phone has a battery backup of 4000mAh battery which is compatible with 18W and it is fast charging via the Quick Charge 3. 

The next most notable feature of the Black Shark is that it has a multi-layer cooling system. What is its cooling system all about? It has a high thermal conductivity courtesy copper alloy substrate and nano-composite graphite. The heat pipe with liquid cooling that helps slashes down the phone’s temperature almost by 8 degrees.

The point of focus is the camera of course! The camera comprises of two rear sensors, one that is a 12-megapixel complete with the f/1.75 lens. It has a pixel size of 1.25micron and the other one is 20-megapixel which has an f/1.75 lens and a pixel size of 1.0micron. That’s not all it also has a 20-megapixel f/2.2 snapper right on the front which can, hold your breadth record at least 4K videos, how cool is that?

In addition to all the above features, the Black Shark has stereo speakers, complete with a USB Type-C port on the bottom, with an Android Oreo-based custom interface. Starting at 2,999 Yuan (~$477) for the 6GB RAM and goes up to 64 GB variant and it is 3,499 Yuan (~$557) for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. The Shark Gamepad will set you back by an additional 179 Yuan (~$29).

Why should you Buy Lenovo Watch 9 - Getting Best of Both Worlds

Along with the three new smartphones, Lenovo has now also launched a new watch in China. Called the Lenovo Watch 9 this smart looking timepiece isn’t a fully functional smartwatch only. In fact, a better name for it will be a hybrid smartwatch. Deemed as an analog watch ergonomically, it does boast of a number of smartphone features. 

At the first look, The Lenovo Watch 9 hybrid smartwatch does not look much different from other similar looking modern day timepieces. The dial looks simple and elegant and the finish is usually done in black or white. The dials twin with the silicone strap in color. The look is sporty and Lenovo has given it a great cover with 9H hardness rated with a premium sapphire glass cover over the dial. What’s more? The smartwatch from Lenovo is also water resistant up to 50 meters.

Now for the cons what Lenovo watch 9 features differs from the other smartwatches, is an OLED display. For some people, it may seem like a con but for some people, it may suit them. Lenovo9 specifically targets consumers who would like to get smartwatch benefit in the framework of an analog timepiece. This watch can easily be paired with any smartphone that runs on Android and iOS, which actually allows users to communicate with the smartwatch with the help of a dedicated app.

The Lenovo Watch 9 is a smartwatch boast of a number of features that you expect from any other fitness band. It helps you to keep a track a number of information such as a number of steps, number of calories burned, and your sleep duration and the distance you cover, it is also water-resistant and hence can be used while swimming. 

Not only that, Lenovo also claims that the new hybrid watch delivers as long as 12 months of battery life and that too, hold your breath on a single charge. Get ready for it as it is going to be released in China starting March 23. But the big question is will other international markets would get to experience the magic of Lenovo 9? Well, there is no concrete answer to the question. The Chinese OEM is presently selling two of its fitness bands namely Lenovo HW01 and Lenovo HW02 in India.  The registrations of all three phones are already on but I guess we Indians will have to wait for it a little longer till we lay our hands on to this beauty!

How to Check Facebook and WhatsApp Messages without Updating the Read Receipts

Have you ever wondered, how you will be able to read all the messages of the other person, without enabling the “read receipt” application? What? Is it even possible? If that’s the question hovering in your mind, then we give the answer right here. There is, in fact, an easy way out and you can achieve that on a couple of major platforms including WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. Find out how exactly you can achieve this seemingly impossible feat.

Check Facebook and WhatsApp Messages minus the Read Receipt Application on Android

If you have an Android phone, search for an app called  “Unseen” which will help you get past the “Seen” check marks, in a number of messaging apps such as Facebook Messenger, Viber, WhatsApp, and Telegram. This will help replicate and log out of your incoming notifications separately. So, for each incoming text, you’ll be notified with double alerts one from the official app and another alert from the Unseen app.

On the Unseen, there will be no alerts on the read receipts. This app works without any hiccups, the only hitch you will be unable to check any media on Unseen, the only time you will be able to check media when you enable auto download. You will also be able to read all unread chats on one place under the “All Messages” tab. And if you want to reply to any of the messages here the unseen app will redirect you to the original app.

The free version of the Unseen app has advertisement banners right on the bottom, however, you will be able to get rid of them just for Rs 70.

Well, as far as Whatsapp is concerned you may be able to work in another way. Look for a widget on Android, which you will find on the home screen and read all the incoming messages minus dabbling with the receipts. So, here you do not need another appendage in the form of another app. But this application is only available on Whatsapp and not on Facebook Messenger.

Read Facebook Messages minus the Read Receipts on iOS

 IOS is a different ball game altogether, here your options are restricted. On Whatsapp, you simply cannot avoid read receipts. On Facebook, the app called NoSeen helps you read Facebook chats without the person on the other end having any clue about it.

Once you download NoSeen it checks all the messages without ticking off the read receipts in the process. When you read the chats on NoSeen it remains unread until of course, you read them on Facebook messenger or view them on the desktop.  The only con is that NoSeen supports only text and not support media or stickers.

The app also lets you know that it will support viewing media, stickers and files very soon, in the near future. So, that’s something to look forward to. Another option to explore is replying to the messages only via the Facebook messenger. As far as the NoSeen app is concerned there is the absence of certain customization options but it is completely free of cost.

Check Facebook Messages on your Computer minus the Read Receipt Application

Yes, you can bypass read and delivery receipts on Facebook Messenger on your computer as well and for that, you have to install this free Chrome extension and you are good to go. “Unseen for Facebook” incongruous with Messenger’s website and you can also hide the typing, indicator.

Some weeks ago, something similar was available on WhatsApp Web as well. But currently, it is not available on Chrome Web Store.

So, now you can see messages on the sly without the other person knowing anything about it and thus you are not forced to answer when you don’t want to. Follow the above tips and tricks and see whether you are able to bypass the blue tick. Like we said, it is very much possible share or do not share this trick with others, whatever you do, your secret is safe with us! 

How to Buy a Laptop: Detailed Guide

Planning to buy a laptop? It isn’t a very easy proposition as there is a host of different laptops to choose from. It may not be a piece of cake to buy a new laptop but we will ensure that you buy the right one. Before going out to buy one, figure out the reasons for you’re buying a laptop and the next question to ask yourself is why are you buying it. This will help you select the right one catering to your needs.

Depending on why you are buying a laptop and for what purpose, laptops are categorised into three entertainment laptops, business laptops, and gaming laptops.

1. Entertainment Laptops

These laptops cater to most users and they are not equipped with any specialized components and gets your job done with ease.

2. Business Laptops

This kind of laptops require more powerful components and they promise a higher performance.

3. Gaming Laptops

One of the most powerful laptops are certainly the gaming laptops. They are one of the most expensive ones around as they require a large number of resources to run games.

How to Buy a Laptop- Keep these Things in Mind

While buying a laptop, ensure that you have the following components in your laptop so that it solves your purpose in more ways than one.

1. Central Processing Unit

The brain of your computer or CPU (Central Processing Unit) is what you need to focus on if you require a faster or better-performing computer.  CPU’s like Intel has three main processors such as the i3, i5, and i7.  For some random browsing, an Intel i3 CPU is more than sufficient but for better performance and faster work, the Intel i7 CPU is what you need. 

 2. Go Big on RAM

The next thing to focus on when buying a computer is the RAM memory or the computer’s short-term memory. Make sure the RAM is as big as possible. Go for the DDR3 as it is the new technology and is better than DDR2 in every way. A laptop with an 8 GB RAM that will be more than enough for you.

3.  Focus on the Big Hard Drive

The Hard Drive (HDD) is the next component you need to focus on. The Hard Drive is the long-term memory. The computer stores all the important information such as Operating System, files, and folders with all the data you store in your laptops such as the movies, music, photos. Opt for HDD’s with sizes such as 250 GB, 320 GB, and 500 GB and so on.

4. Screen Resolution and Dimension

Screen Resolution and Dimension should be your next focus point while buying a laptop. It is mostly about how large your laptop screen is and what kind of technology your screen has: LED backlight, LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) OLED or WLED. Opt for the LED screen as it is one of the best.

5. Battery – One of the Most Important Components

The next important component that influences your buy, is the battery. They come in standard sizes and you should certainly select the bigger one as then it will last for a longer time.  The battery is measured in cells such as 6 cells, 9 cells, and 12 cells and so on. The battery is made up of 6,9,12 of smaller batteries.

6. Additional Components – The Things You Cannot Forget

USB 3.0

Besides the above-mentioned crucial pointers, you would require USB 3.0, the latest USB technology, so look for a laptop that has one.

Web Camera

The WEB Camera or card readers are the additional features that you must take into your account if you are buying a laptop. A web camera of 2 Mpx to 5 Mpx can give you great quality videos.

Card Reader

The Card Reader is a pretty handy feature as it has memory cards, pretty similar to your camera or phone.

Operating System

Get an Operating System (or OS) to put it all together and make it all work. OS’s largely depend on individualized preferences so install a Windows 7 or a Linux distribution, whichever suits your purpose more.

These are all the major components of any laptop. So if you are trying to buy the right one, first focus on why you need it along with your budget. There are way too many brands out there enticing you with their innumerable claims. Think practically, so that you can select the one which fulfills most of your requirements and at the same time can do so without burning a hole in your pocket. 

How to Control PC from Your Android Device Using Chrome

Imagine a situation where you are far away from your computer and you are in urgent need of a file stored in your home computer! Sounds familiar? This happens to the best of us and now instead of returning home and getting it, Google has devised an innovative solution for this problem.

Google is undoubtedly one of the most innovative tech companies in the world as it provides latest technologies to make things easier for its users, and Google's Chrome Remote Desktop service is no different. This app makes it easier for your Android Smartphones to remotely control your PC from just about anywhere.

Remote desktops are not something completely new on the block, but Google has planned to now release an important app that makes the process a really interesting one. So what is about this new software that makes it tower over other similar apps? Good question! And the answer is the new software helps you control your PC from any Android device.

Chrome Remote Desktop app for Android is actually an extension of the already existing Google software that can control your desktop remotely from within Chrome. This is especially helpful for people on the go. You can easily make it work by downloading the helper app for your computer from the Chrome Web Store and you can install the remote desktop app on your Android from Google Play with ease. Then, accessing and opening the app will be really easy and connect to the computer of your choice and just complete your work.

The official Chrome Remote Desktop Android app is now available on Google Play for you to download.

In 2011 Google had released Chrome Remote Desktop (CRD), which is actually an app which enables users to access a computer in a secure way, from other computers. This tool failed to live up to its hype as it got lost in a crowd of similar apps back then.

Google is again planning to expand the functionality and may soon let the users access the desktop with the convenience of their Android-powered smartphones and tablets. The company has recently released Chrome Remote Desktop for Android. It’s a great application and helps you access the system with ease. Do you want to know how this application works? Check it out right here.

Steps to Control your Desktop from your Android Using Chrome

The very first step for you to follow is to establish a connection between your PC and your Android smartphone. This is easily done, once you download two apps.

Chrome Remote Desktop on the Chrome browser (It’s a big file almost 23 MB in size, so it will take time to download)

Chrome Remote Desktop on your Android device. ( Android devices running 4.0 and up can easily download it)

Once downloading is complete, move to the Apps section on your Chrome. (if you’re using the latest version of Chrome, click on the “Apps” option right on the bookmark manager. Or a simpler way of doing it is just, type chrome://apps in your chrome browser.

Once the extension checks into your system, accessing the remote connections will be a breeze. Password- protect it and activate the Chrome Desktop Remote access app on your Android phone or gadget. The app will detect your system if you happen to use the same Gmail ID on your system and Android device.

Next, provide the passcode you had set earlier, and page of your system will immediately appear on your Android device. Yes, the scrolling isn’t so easy at the first glance and you do need the hang of it. When using it, consider the mirror on your Android-powered device as an app. So do not try to click on the screen or the system’s mirror icons. Rather, you can use a mouse pointer which will enable you to control by doing some easy swiping on your handset’s screen. Zooming on the screen to view something, in particular, is also easy.

Find an “X” key to make the screen, full screen. Once you toggle on the dotted toggle, you will find shortcuts to close the session and again open the task manager and that reads as (Ctrl + Alt + Del). The keyboard icon on the screen will help unravel the keyboard on your Android device, enabling you to type. This may not prove to be one of the easiest of experiences.

The beauty of the app is that it can help you do just about anything, for example right from playing video on your media player to making some changes in the settings on your Control Panel and writing on a word pad, the app covers you back in more than one way. 

How to connect your TV to the internet without built-in WiFi

Who likes to binge watch Netflix on your idiot box? I do, especially on those days that I prefer to sit it out at my home with a large tub of popcorn and cups of piping hot java. Do you want to do that too? But do not have a built-in Wi-Fi? Don’t worry here we will tell you exactly how to binge on Netflix box sets just by connecting your Smart TV to the internet, Just three easy steps and you are done, and it is as easy as that, all you have to really do is connect to the internet. There are both wireless and wired options for you to try and you can enable connection in the following ways.

1. Try the wireless option – connect to your home Wi-Fi

Most of the Smart TVs available nowadays are Wi-Fi-enabled. Now, what do we mean by Wi-Fi enabled? It means that they have an inbuilt wireless adapter. If you want to connect to the web you require just a couple of minutes to do it. But this option works only when your TV is in the same room as the router.

Let’s explore the reasons why you need a wireless connection and why it works for you.

· It requires no trailing wires and hence you can live a clutter-free existence.

· You can try various options on how to keep your TV in different positions in your living room. The best option is mounting it on the wall.

· The best part, it is easy to set it up – Click on a few buttons and you are good to go. Now, the most important part how will you connect to your TV?

· Click on the menu button on your TV remote.

· Next, go the Network Settings options, then set up a wireless connection.

· Select an appropriate wireless network name for your Wi-Fi.

· The next step should be a breeze, just punch on the Wi-Fi password on the remote.

2. For a wired experience plug it directly into your router

If you are looking for the stablest and strongest connection? Plug it into your TV directly into the internet router through an Ethernet cable. The only requirement, bring your TV close to your router.

When you are trying to connect to more than one device, ensure that your connection stays super strong. You can do that by selecting the effective beam forming router.

Here is why you should go for a wired connection

· It is easy to set up – all you need to do is just plug in.

· It provides a reliable connection, ensures that your streaming should be buffering-free.

· The speed is simply amazing, even faster than Wi-Fi.

 Get to know here how you can connect to your TV?

· Locate the Ethernet port found right on the back of your TV.

· Next, enable the connecting of the Ethernet cable from your router to the port of your TV.

· Click on the Menu button on your TV’s remote and find the Network Settings.

· Enable the wired internet by selecting the option.

· Click on the remote’s button to type your Wi-Fi password.

3. Use a powerline to connect to the internet when your TV is stationed upstairs

So are you unable to connect the internet to your TV as the router and the TV are in separate rooms? Don’t you worry, your problem can be solved in a jiffy!

Sometimes the router located far away from your device may mean your signal goes weak. Don’t worry you can extend the reach of your home network with the powerline kit. What does a powerline kit contain? It contains 2 Ethernet cables and 2 adaptors. As soon as the adapters are plugged into power sockets and the router, the internet signal is transferred down the electrical cables.

Why should you go for powerline?

· It delivers a strong internet connection to a room which is far away from the router.

· The internet can be availed of to the furthest corner of your home.

· It is really easy to set up.

How would you connect the Smart TV with an internet connection using only a powerline adapter?

· Plug the first powerline adapter into a socket in the router’s room.

· Connect the adapter to your broadband router with an Ethernet cable.

· Next, plug in the second powerline adapter into a socket in the Smart TV room.

· Find the Ethernet port on your Smart TV and plug an Ethernet cable there.

· Next, take the other end of the Ethernet cable and connect it to your powerline adapter,

So now you know how exactly can you enjoy a seamless watch on the idiot box by connecting to the internet! All the processes are pretty easy to follow. Go ahead and try the methods and let us know whether it worked for you.