Amazon Prime Day sale has begun in which the e-commerce giant is offering discounts, deals, exchange offers, bank offers, no interest equated monthly instalment schemes, etc, on a number of products, including smartphone. The two-day sale started on August 6 and will continue until August 7. During the sale, the e-commerce platform is offering up to 10 per cent instant discount on HDFC cards and credit-card EMI transactions, up to Rs 1,500 off on other credit card and EMI transactions and Rs 650 off on debit card transactions – valid on purchased of Rs 5,000 and more.

Amazon Prime Day sale deals on smartphones

From budget to premium smartphones, there are offers and deals on products across brands, including Xiaomi, Samsung, OnePlus and Vivo. Here are some of the deals for quick reference:

Samsung Galaxy M01

Launched in June, the Galaxy M01 is currently available at Rs 8,998 for 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage variant. The Galaxy M01 has a 5.7-inch infinity-V shaped screen of HD+ resolution, stretched in 19.5:9 aspect ratio. It boasts a dual camera set-up on the back, featuring a 13MP primary sensor and 2MP depth sensor. On the front, the phone has a 5MP selfie camera sensor with best beauty mode. The phone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 SoC, paired with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage. It also supports storage expansion by up to 512GB through micro

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Scientists are beginning to untangle one of the most complex biological mysteries of the coronavirus pandemic: Why do some people get severely sick, whereas others quickly recover?

In certain patients, according to a flurry of recent studies, the virus appears to make the immune system go haywire.

Unable to marshal the right cells and molecules to fight off the invader, the bodies of the infected instead launch an entire arsenal of weapons — a misguided barrage that can wreak havoc on healthy tissues, experts said.

“We are seeing some crazy things coming up at various stages of infection,” said Akiko Iwasaki, an immunologist at Yale University who led one of the new studies.

Researchers studying these unusual responses are finding patterns that distinguish patients on the path to recovery from those who fare far worse. Insights gleaned from the data might help tailor treatments to individuals, easing symptoms or perhaps even vanquishing the virus before it has a chance to push the immune system too far.

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OnePlus has postponed the open sale of its affordable smartphone Nord to Friday amid an ‘overwhelming response’ during the pre-order period. The open sale for the Nord was earlier set for Tuesday.

“To ensure sufficient stock for open sale, the new open sale date for the OnePlus Nord in India is August 6. We are working to ensure that the customer experience is seamless and we appreciate your understanding,” the company said in a statement.

  As compensation, OnePlus will offer a one-year warranty extension for customers who are facing any delays. This offer will be valid till August 31.

ALSO READ: OnePlus Nord hands-on, specifications, camera details, pricing, and more

The device will go on sale via Reliance Digital and MyJio Stores from August 7 and other retail partners will sell the device from August 12, the company informed.

The OnePlus Nord starts at Rs 24,999 for 6GB of RAM and 64GB storage.

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Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2020 is set to begin at 7:30 pm (IST) where the South Korean electronics maker Samsung will unveil range of products, including Galaxy Note-series smartphones, foldable screen device, bean-shaped Galaxy Buds-series true wireless stereo earphones, Galaxy Watch-series smartwatch and Galaxy Tab-series big screen tablet.

The virtual event will livestream on Samsung web portal, Samsung Newsroom, and Samsung Facebook page. The Galaxy Unpacked 2020 will also livestream on YouTube.

At the Galaxy Unpacked 2020, Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy Note20-series smartphones, which would succeed its on-going SPen-based Galaxy Note10-series. The company is also expected to announce a new addition in its foldable screen device category under the Galaxy Fold line-up. Touted the Galaxy Z Fold 2, the device is expected to be based on company’s first foldable device with bendable screen, the Galaxy Fold. Apart from smartphones, Samsung is also expected to launch its long rumoured bean-shaped Galaxy Buds Live earphones, and the Galaxy Watch 3 smartwatch. Besides, the company is expected to introduce the Galaxy Tab S7 with LTE connectivity, improved cameras and SPen.

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The astronauts on SpaceX’s first crew flight said Tuesday that their Dragon capsule “came alive” and “sounded like a beast” as it descended through the atmosphere to a smooth splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.

Two days after returning from the International Space Station, NASA’s Bob Behnken described in vivid detail their wild ride home. SpaceX had provided Behnken and Doug Hurley video and audio of previous splashdowns, so they wouldn’t be startled during the test flight.

 “Once we descended a little bit into the atmosphere, the Dragon really, it came alive, ” Behnken said from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The thrusters that keep the capsule on track were firing almost continuously, he said.

“It doesn’t sound like a machine, it sounds like an animal coming through the atmosphere, with all the puffs that are happening from the thrusters and the atmospheric noise,” Behnken said.

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Japanese technology major Sony recently launched the WF-1000XM3 Truly Wireless Stereo (TWS) earphones, with noise cancellation as one of its key highlights. It’s interesting to see Sony bringing variety in the TWS space as earbuds catch people’s fancy.

Priced at Rs 19,990, it’s a premium offering from which might make one apprehensive whether this would be a competetive product inundated with inexpensive challengers. We used the device for a few days and tried to find the answer. Here’s our review:

Design and built

First things first, the charging box and earbuds deviate from the usual design and size that we see in most TWS earbuds. You get a big charging case for the earbuds — the large size is on account of a big battery. The charging case comes with a matte finish, and the lid has a copper finish with the Sony branding on top.

When you open the lid, a red LED glows along with LEDs inside the earphones. As the earphones are taken out, the red LEDs change colour to blue.Read Complete Article

The OPPO Enco W11 is a pair of true wireless stereo (TWS) earphones that Chinese smartphone maker OPPO recently launched in India. Priced at Rs 2,499, it is an entry-level TWS product with USB type-C charging port, lightweight design, IP55 water- and dust-resistant rating, and touch controls.

The Enco W11 seems to be a pair of go-to earphones in the budget TWS earphones segment. But how is it as a complete product? Let’s find out

 OPPO Enco W11: Design

The Enco W11’s earbuds and charging case have a plastic body with a glossy texture, which looks cheap. Its overall build is nothing to write home about. Though these earphones do not have great looks, they do have a functional design, which might sway your interest in their favour if you choose utility over looks.  

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Google has started selling a long-delayed budget smartphone boasting the same high-quality camera and several other features available in fancier Pixel models that cost hundreds of dollars more.

The Pixel 4a unveiled Monday will be available Aug. 20 after months of delay caused by supply problems triggered by the pandemic.

  It will cost USD 349, a USD 50 discount from a cheap Pixel released last year. It’s also a major markdown from other higher-end models in the existing product line-up that start at USD 799. The next versions of Google’s top-of-the-line Pixel phones will be released sometime this fall, Google said, without revealing their their price.

The budget-minded Pixel 4a is coming out four months after Apple released a discount iPhone, the SE, priced at USD 399. The low price helped spur iPhone sales at a time of soaring unemployment, as the economy plunged into a deep recession that is causing millions of households to curb their spending so they can pay rent and buy food.

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In what seems to be a common occurrence, Chinese video-sharing app TikTok is once again in the headlines.

After months of speculation about national security risks and users’ data being harvested by the Chinese Communist Party, US President Donald Trump has announced plans to ban TikTok in the United States any day now.

 In response, a deal is being negotiated between TikTok’s parent company ByteDance and US software giant Microsoft. If successful, Microsoft will take over the app’s operations in the US and potentially also in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

A US ban would not be unprecedented. India barred TikTok last month, alongside dozens of other Chinese-owned apps and websites.

The Microsoft deal

According to reports, ByteDance has agreed to sell some of its TikTok operations to Microsoft. The deal, which is unlikely to progress before mid-September, would appease US regulators and could be seen as a way forward for TikTok in Australia.

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Samsung is hosting its biannual Galaxy Unpacked event on August 5 where the South Korean electronics maker is expected to unveil a range of products, including smartphones, foldable screen device, true wireless stereo earphones, smart watch and tablet. The event is scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm (IST).

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2020: How to watch the announcements live

The Galaxy Unpacked 2020 is going to be a virtual event, which will livestream on company’s digital properties and social media channels. According to a blogpost on Samsung Newsroom, the event livestream will be available on Samsung web portal, Samsung Global Newsroom, and Samsung Global Facebook page. The Galaxy Unpacked 2020 will also livestream on YouTube.

  ALSO READ: Samsung crafts India comeback in smartphone market as anti-China wave grows

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2020: What to expect

The Galaxy Unpacked biannual event usually includes announcements with regard to company’s premium smartphone portfolio. This year, however, Samsung is set to launch at least five products in different categories.

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