You can now stream videos on YouTube app for smartphones at their native resolutions. The video streaming platform has removed the 480p (standard definition) limit on video quality that it had imposed in March this year. The cap on video quality was implemented to ease load on the networks, which had seen unprecedented surge across the world due to coronavirus lockdown.

YouTube has removed the standard definition video quality restriction on smartphones, including iOS and Android devices, but not for everyone. While you can now stream videos on YouTube in their native resolutions, it works only if you are connected through Wi-Fi network. On mobile networks, which are still facing stress due to rise in digital services like video conferencing, webinars, et al., there is still a standard definition video limit cap. On other devices like smart televisions, the YouTube app continues to allow streaming videos in native resolution.

  ALSO READ: YouTube sees surge in subscriber base, views due to Covid-19 lockdown

On some devices, the default video streaming quality is 480p, meaning every video starts streaming at standard definition quality even if they support higher definitions. In such cases, follow the below mentioned steps to stream videos on YouTube app in their native resolution:

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Flipkart has launched a new payment method that lets customers pay some amount for a product and the balance on delivery, aiming to reduce returns and cancellations.

The Walmart-owned e-commerce giant, in an email to sellers, said ‘Part-Payment’ would encourage pre-paid transactions. Customers can pay the remaining amount in cash when a product is delivered or either by online transaction. The rate card will remain the same for ‘part payment’ orders.

  E-commerce websites allow customers pre-paid, post-paid (cash on delivery) or EMI (equated monthly instalment) as options to purchase products. Most customers choose cash on delivery (CoD), which results in higher units or GMV (gross merchandise value) but risks companies a higher risk of cancellations.

Flipkart told sellers ‘Part-Payment’ would help them get higher GMV growth and reduce cancellations. The company, which this week received a $1.2-billion investment from Walmart, works with over 200,000 sellers and 250,000 small sellers such as artisans, weavers, and craftsmen.

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Realme on Thursday introduced the next iteration of its wired flash charge technology, the Realme 125W UltraDART flash charging solution. Realme’s new charging tech seems similar to the OPPO’s 125W flash charge tech, which was unveiled a day before. However, it seems to be limited to smartphones and does not support other devices like laptops and other smartphones that OPPO charging tech does.

According to Realme, the 125W UltraDART flash charge technology can charge a 4,000 mAh battery to 33 per cent of its rated capacity in about three minutes, and 100 per cent in about 20 minutes.

  With regard to thermals, Realme claims that the tech keeps the smartphone temperature under 40 degree centigrade to facilitate fast and safe charging speed.“The 125W UltraDART focuses on both efficiency and safety, by adopting direct charging, to avoid any potential charging accidents with multi-layer protection. Not only does it support charging even when the screen is on and games are being played, but 125W UltraDART also makes 5G smartphones charge much faster, more safely, and with added comfort,” Realme said in a statement.

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OPPO on Wednesday introduced the next iteration of its wired and wireless flash charge technology. The Chinese smartphone brand introduced a 125W wired and 65W wireless charge technology dubbed as 125W flash charge and 65W AirVOOC wireless charge, respectively. Besides, the company introduced a 50W mini SuperVOOC charger and a 110W mini flash charger. Unlike the previous iterations of company’s charge technology and chargers, the upcoming charging tech and chargers seem to have compatibility with devices other than OPPO smartphones.

OPPO 125W Flash Charge

The OPPO’s 125W flash charge technology can charge a 4,000 mAh battery to 41 per cent of its rated capacity in about five minutes, and 100 per cent in about 20 minutes, according to the company. From charger to battery and handset, the charge tech brings upgrades on all fronts to enable fast charging. The charger of 125W flash charge has 20V/6.25A output and features Type-C interface on both ends. The Type-C interface is compatible with PD, PPS and QC charge protocols; therefore, it may support charging mobile phones, laptops and other devices in the future.

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Mukesh Ambani-owned Jio Platforms on Wednesday announced its mixed-reality platform Jio Glass at the Reliance Industries annual general meeting 2020. you could connect the Jio Glass with your smartphone using a cable to access internet and app services. It has a built-in display and audio drivers for immersive mixed-reality content experience. It supports over 25 applications and can be used for 3D meetings and video calls. Moreover, it has built-in collaboration tools for online classes and office meetings.

“Jio Glass is a cutting-edge technology that provides best-in-class mixed reality services to users for a truly meaningful immersive experience,” said Reliance Industries President Kiran Thomas. “With Jio Glass, the traditional way of learning geography will now be history,” Thomas added during a demo of the Jio Glass.

The Jio Glass supports interactive 3D space, holographic content and 2D video conferencing features. It weighs 75 g and supports all audio formats, according to the company.

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Mukesh Ambani surged past Silicon Valley tech titan Elon Musk as well as Alphabet co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page to become the world’s sixth-richest person.

The chairman of Reliance Industries, whose wealth surpassed Warren Buffett’s last week, is now worth $72.4 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Shares of the conglomerate have more than doubled from a low in March as its digital unit got billions in investments from companies including Facebook, Silver Lake and, most recently, Qualcomm.

  Ambani’s energy empire is slowly shifting to e-commerce, with tech giants seeking to take a piece of India’s fast-growing digital business. The world’s second most-populous nation has seen a spike of foreign interest in its economy, especially from Silicon Valley, and Google said on Monday it will spend $10 billion in the coming years to help accelerate the adoption of digital technologies in the country.

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The country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) on Wednesday said it is recalling 1,34,885 units of WagonR and Baleno models to inspect and replace faulty fuel pumps.

The company is voluntarily undertaking a recall for WagonR (1 litre) manufactured between November 15, 2018, and October 15, 2019, and Baleno (petrol) manufactured between January 8, 2019, and November 4, 2019, MSI said in a regulatory filing.

  The recall will cover 1,34,885 vehicles of both these models, it added.
 

ALSO READ: Maruti transports 12% of its cars via Indian Railways in four years

“The company will inspect 56,663 units of WagonR and 78,222 units of Baleno for a possible issue with the fuel pump. Faulty part will be replaced, free of cost,” the auto major said.

Owners of the suspected vehicles under this recall campaign will be contacted by the company authorised dealers in due course of time, it added.

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In an ambitious bid to take on Google-owned YouTube, Facebook is readying itself to launch officially-licensed music videos for artists on its platform in the US next month.

In an email sent to Facebook Page owners linked to artists, the social network informed that they will need to toggle on a new setting to add their music videos to their page ahead of an August 1 deadline, TechCrunch reported on Wednesday.

 Facebook would automatically create a page of their videos titled ‘(Artist Name) Official Music’ if there is no action from the artists.

Artists will not need to manually upload their videos or links.

Facebook will control this page, accessible via Facebook Watch and “a new music video destination” on the platform.

By enabling the new setting, “artists are giving Facebook permission to add music videos to their Page,” where they can be seen by their fans under a Videos tab.

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The number of undernourished people in India has declined by 60 million in over a decade, according to a UN report which said that there were less stunted children but more obese adults in the country.

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report, released on Monday, estimated that almost 690 million people globally were undernourished (or hungry) in 2019, up by 10 million from 2018.

The report — considered the most authoritative global study tracking progress towards ending hunger and malnutrition — said that the number of undernourished people in India declined from 249.4 million in 200406 to 189.2 million in 201719.

In percentage terms, the prevalence of undernourishment in the total population in India declined from 21.7 per cent in 2004-06 to 14 per cent in 2017-19, it said.

The two subregions showing reductions in undernourishment — eastern and southern Asia — are dominated by the two largest economies of the continent — China and India.

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Hyundai Motor India today strengthened its SUV portfolio with the launch of Tucson, a new premium vehicle in this space. The starting price of the car is Rs 22.3 lakh, ex-showroom.

The SUV comes in five variants and the top-end trim is priced at Rs 27.03 lakh (all ex-showroom India).

  The new Tucson comes with a choice of BS-VI-compliant 152bhp 2.0-litre petrol and 185bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine options.

The product, Tucson 2020, was first showcased at Auto Expo in February.

Company officials said the key pillars of the product include style, comfort, technology, performance, and safety.

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