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Best chromebook laptops 2019
Once reserved strictly for students, Chromebooks have evolved into highly capable laptops that are often a better alternative to similarly priced Windows or Mac notebooks. Living with a Chrome OS notebook requires a lot less compromise than it used to. With cloud storage and services slowly taking over our digital lives, these affordable laptops are rapidly growing in popularity, and deservedly so!
Laptops
The addition of support for Android and Linux apps makes Chromebooks an even more attractive proposition. Today's best offerings have 360-degree touch-sensitive displays, which allow you to enjoy Chrome OS and Android apps to the fullest, in tablet- or laptop-style!


With a wide variety of entries to choose from, we've researched and compared more than 20 different offerings from ASUS, HP, and Acer, among others. We scoured the internet, reading reviews from other publications and consumers, and even tested a handful of them to round up the best picks for every size and budget.

BEST OVERALL
1

ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 2-in-1 Laptop
$529.99
The ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is one of the few Chromebooks that’s worthy of being a true laptop replacement. It’s elegant, incredibly versatile, has a premium build, and offers top-notch performance. Compared to other Chromebooks that sport mostly plastic builds, the ASUS flaunts an all-aluminum body that is well-made, polished, and feels solid. Its 14-inch touch-screen display is practically bezel-less and it has a 360-degree hinge, so you can fold it back and use it like a tablet.

The notebook comes with an Intel Core m3 or m5 processor, with the pricier m5 packing 8 GB of RAM compared to the m3’s 4 GB. More RAM means better, less sluggish multitasking. Even if you don’t splurge for the more expensive model, this Chromebook is more than capable of browsing with multiple tabs open, editing several documents simultaneously, and playing music or videos without issue.


Our only complaint was that we wish there was a variant with a 128 GB of storage space. Fortunately, it has a microSD card slot handy for expanding storage when you need to load up on movies before a long flight. Even better, you can average about 10 hours of battery life on a single charge — an impressive feat for a laptop this portable.

BEST BUDGET

Lenovo Chromebook C330 2-in-1 Convertible Laptop
$257.99
The affordably priced Lenovo 2-in-1 Chromebook is a good pick for students. It has a lightweight body, a comfortable full-sized keyboard, and up to 10 hours of battery life. The notebook's processor isn't the fastest around, but it's more than sufficient for basic tasks, and it's equipped with all the ports you need.

The 11.6-inch touch display won't wow you with its HD resolution, either, but its 360-degree hinge allows you to lay it flat on a table to share content with friends or classmates, and stand it up like a tent. The laptop packs a 720p HD webcam for video chats, a microSD card slot to expand its small 32 GB of storage, and an HDMI port for hooking it up to a larger display.

BEST SPLURGE

Acer Chromebook Spin 13 2-in-1 Convertible Laptop
$679.99
Even though this isn't the most expensive Chromebook you can buy, we don't think you should drop that much on one considering you can get a more capable laptop for even cheaper. The Acer Chromebook Spin 13 will stretch your dollar further. It has a sharp-looking, all-metal body, a powerful processor, and a vibrant display on a versatile 360-degree hinge.


It includes a built-in stylus by Wacom, making it a great pick for those who frequently annotate documents or want a laptop that'll let them jot down notes by hand. The computer is powered by one of the latest Intel processors, making it faster and more capable at running graphic-intensive programs without any lag whatsoever.

You'll appreciate its Gorilla Glass screen and touchpad, which don't scratch as easily, and feel more premium and smoother than cheap plastic ones. You can expect around 10 hours of battery life with this laptop. If you want a Chromebook that stands above the rest, this one is worth splurging for if you can afford it.

BEST CHROME OS TABLET

Google Pixel Slate
$871.99
The Google Pixel Slate is without a doubt the best Chrome OS tablet money can buy. We highly recommend that you opt for it over a high-end Android tablet. The elegant-looking Slate has a vibrant 12.3-inch touch screen, a wide selection of Intel processors, a pair of USB-C ports, up to 12 hours of battery life, and fast charging capabilities among its key features.

The base model features an eighth-generation m3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 64 GB of storage. Most should spring for the more expensive option, which gets you a Core i5 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and 128 GB of storage. The Pixel Slate has a full, desktop-class browser and more open hardware than an iPad Pro does.


To make the most out of the Google Slate's productivity capabilities, we suggest that you pair it with an optional backlit keyboard cover. The device is also compatible with the Pixelbook Pen stylus.

BEST LARGE SCREEN OPTION

HP Chromebook 15
$469.00
The Chromebook 15 is our favorite pick for those looking for a large screen. The attractively priced notebook has a bright, easy-to-read 15-inch IPS touch-screen display, an attractive ceramic-like body with a sleek design, slim bezels, and metal accents. The keyboard is full-sized, backlit, and has that beloved number pad for spreadsheet makers.

Other specs include 4GB of onboard memory, an integrated Intel HD Graphics 620 GPU, and up to 8 hours of battery life. With speakers tuned by B&O Play, the notebook also offers a surprisingly good audio experience for its price point. By default, it comes with 64 GB of storage space, but you can pay extra for double the space and a faster Intel Core i5 processor.
Laptops
Key Specs:

• 8th Generation Intel Core i3-8130U Processor
• 15.6-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1,920 by 1,080 pixels
• 4 GB of RAM, 64 or 128 GB of built-in storage
• Two USB-C 3.1 ports, USB 3.1 Type-A port, microSD card slot

http://www.techtimes.com.ng/2019/08/chromebooks-are-strong-alternative-to.html?m=1

What is the proper use of “would” or “could” in sentence structure? For example, would you please close the door? Or, could you please close the door?

A. I don’t see much difference. But I would suppose that “would” is more polite, because it expresses the idea of probability, and of willingness, and of the desire that something be done, whereas “could” is more in the realm of ability (yes I can).

And according to the American Heritage Dictionary, “would” is used to make a polite request. But then again, a similar thing is said about “could”: “Used to indicate tentativeness or politeness. I could be wrong. Could you come over here?”

Now, as far as I’m concerned, it becomes then a matter of context and tone. Look at the difference between these two sentences, for example:

Would you do me a favor?

Would you please just shut up.

And even “will” could be used interchangeably with “would” or “could.”

Perhaps “could” and “would” are just both vying for what is a sort of awkward subjunctive mood, trying to put a command into the mode of the hypothetical, to increase the possibilities of expression—toward either politeness or irony (e.g., changing the tenor of “Please close the door”).

Paylater users can now obtain loans of up to N500,000

Get a loan from your phone, anytime within minutes
Paylater makes access to credit easy. No guarantors, no collateral, no wahala. You can apply 24/7 and receive funds in your account in as little as 5 minutes. Unlock higher loan amounts and lower interest rates by repaying on time.




Paylater Plus is the biggest addition to Paylater v2 and is available to salary earners. These group of people can now access Paylater Plus loans of up to N500,000. They would also be required to provide supporting documents to back up their claims of employment. So a regular short term loan, in essence.

The new version also comes with an app redesign, different levels of loyalty badges, a referral system that helps users earn points when they refer other users to the app. Users can now access larger loans with lower interest rates, increased repayment periods, and in-app support with online chat.

The maximum loan request amount has been increased to N100,000 for recurring users, and loan repayment period on amounts over N20,000 have been increased to up to 90 days. Interest rates have also being reduced interest to 4-10%, with the rates depending on your loyalty level.




When Paylater first launched earlier this year, first-time users could only borrow up to N10,000 at an interest rate of 1% per day, and loan repayment period for all users lasted between 15 to 30 days. Recurring users were offered a 0.5% interest rate with maximum loan request amount at N30,000.




Commercial banks are one of the many institutions that offer short term loans, but they would require the some paperwork, and will range from 3 months to a year in repayment time. The interest rates on this type of loans will vary with different banks.

ACCESS YOUR FIRST LOAN HERE ON PAYLATER here http://www.techtimes.com.ng/2019/05/here-is-maximum-loan-amount-you-can-get.html?m=1

WhatsApp is a large forum with over 1.5 billion users and they share a lot of content on the messaging social network. Some of the content shared on the platform is usually false and it is difficult t verify some of it.



One of the ways to fight fake news, especially if it is in picture form is by searching the image on Google. This is easily done on Chrome where you can identify where the photo came from.

It seems now WhatsApp wants to implement such an idea on the platform thanks to a report by WABetaInfo.



According to the site, WhatsApp is developing a new feature that will allow you to search an image on the web that you sent or received in your chats. This is currently being tested and it is not available yet for the beta users or the general public.




In this system, when you select on an image, tap on the options tab and you’ll see search image. When you tap search image, WhatsApp will alert you that the photo will be uploaded to Google. When it is done uploading, WhatsApp will open the browser to show you the results.

This is particularly useful since it will allow people to verify photos that they receive on WhatsApp. The current system of downloading the suspicious photo, then uploading it to images.google.com is tedious. This will be a godsend to those people that want to verify information like photos that have been sent to their chats by other people.

http://www.techtimes.com.ng/2019/03/whatsapp-is-working-on-image-search-to.html?m=1

Conference call providers have the technology to support large conference calling sessions with thousands of participants. With that technology, conference call providers offer businesses hassle-free conference calling and collaboration. In turn, businesses can save money on travel costs and increase productivity. They also offer various value-added features that make outsourcing conferencing services a cost-effective solution for businesses.

Our short guide will prepare you to compare conference call providers on cost, integration & collaboration, and ease of use. Here are the 9 best free web conferencing software providers with video and screenshare:



1. ezTalks Meetings
ezTalks Meetings is definitely one of the best free web video conferencing services available right now. ezTalks Meetings not only provides free HD web video conferencing, but also provides powerful online whiteboard collaboration tools, so that team members can all see the notes and sketches of their colleagues on the online whiteboard. ezTalks Meetings can also support up to 100 people on one web conference!

2. Cisco WebEx
Hosted, owned, and developed by networking giant Cisco, WebEx is high on many of the lists that rank the best web conference software. It's one of the first conference solutions, but Cisco created a product that pretty effective. Like most other web conferencing systems; there is a free version of WebEx. WebEx's free version limits the number of conference participants to three. Users can share their screens. Anyone who uses Cisco Spark will appreciate the fact that the platform can be integrated with WebEx.

WebEx is an ideal choice for large enterprises and small businesses that are concerned with security. If there is anything Cisco knows, it's security. Spark has an insane level of encryption. It's important to note that WebEx's best features are limited by the app's paywall.

3. GoToMeeting
GoToMeeting is one of a few highly popular web conferencing services that people recognize by name. Even when using the free plan, this platform provides one of the easiest methods to host conference calls. GotoMeeting also has screen sharing capabilities. The one-click meeting solution makes it easy for beginners to figure out the software. Anyone who uses GoToMeeting can also start meetings using the app. Meetings can also be initiated using Microsoft Office programs, chat links, and email.

Anyone using GoToMeeting's free option is limited to only audio conferencing. Video conferencing is limited to paid plans. However, the web audio conferencing comes with the option for VoIP voice chat. Teams can configure their conference calls to whatever meets their needs. The only other problem with GoToMeeting is the fact that the free plan limits the number of people who can join a conference. This platform only allows three conference call participants. While this may seem limiting and possibly problematic for larger enterprises, it's ideal for smaller ones. Anyone seeking a quick web conferencing solution for a small team should consider this web conferencing software.

4. Skype
Most people have heard of Skype. Skype has a free, web conferencing solution that is also worth using. Even though this feature is not widely-known, Skype does allow screen sharing. What makes this feature even better is the fact that it is free. Skype is not as flexible as other apps that do not force participants to download any software. Anyone who wants to use Skype has to sign up. Users need to create a Skype name and download the program. In order to use the conferencing features, conference participants must be added to the contact list.

Skype for business is possible. However, this feature has different applications and It requires an Office 365 subscription. So, Skype for business may not be a good option for smaller teams looking to upgrade their service to a paid option. Skype allows users to host video and audio conferences that can host up to 25 participants. The number is participants is higher than most other solutions. Skype can also support desktop OS, Android, and iOS phone apps to allow on-the-go conferencing.

5. Zoom
Zoom has a free plan and a paid one. The paid plan is actually cheaper than GoToMeeting. Zoom's free plan only offers 40 minutes of conferencing. It also limits the number of call participants to three people. With an upgraded plan, businesses can have as many users as it wants, unlimited meetings and video conferencing that includes many more features. Some of the advanced features include active speaker view, dual stream for dual screens, and full-screen views. Participants can even call in to join the conference.

The web conferencing feature also includes an MP4 recording of meetings, a personal meeting ID, application or desktop specific sharing, private and group chat, and a virtual whiteboard. Zoom also includes mouse and keyboard sharing free of charge. It is also possible to share the screen of an iPhone or iPad app. The downside to Zoom is that it only allows meetings up to 40 minutes in length. However, users can hold an unlimited number of meetings. 1 on 1 meetings is not limited to any particular time duration.

6. TeamViewer
TeamViewer can compete with Cisco as far as security goes. TeamViewer's home page claims to have 1.3 billion protected devices that are operating using remote support and participate in online meetings. The platform places an emphasis on support and solutions. TeamViewer's features include the ability to run several remote sessions at the same time on Mac operating systems within browser tabs. Another feature is the sticky note feature. Users can leave a message to clients to inform them of any updates or just to leave a friendly message.



TeamViewer also has interesting add-ons, like TeamViewer QuickJoin. TeamViewer QuickJoin lets customers join meetings and presentations fast with little effort. The feature can be used without needing to have administrator rights or going through an installation process. It is also supported by Mac, Linux, Android, Windows, Chrome OS, and iOS. TeamViewer has most devices covered. There is also video and audio conferencing. Users can also use text-based chat. There are other good features, even though they are behind a paywall, includes Remote QuickSteps. Remote QuickSteps adds single-click shortcuts for their remote support actions. Anyone who upgrades to the paid plan will notice that TeamViewer offers great support and IT use.

7. Apache OpenMeetings
OpenMeetings has minimal design and UI. It's also not one of the best-looking solutions, but it's a free web conferencing solution. OpenMeetings solution has video conferencing, whiteboard capabilities, instant messaging, and collaborative document editing. This solution has everything that most of its competitors have. Because this app is an open source app, it's possible for teams to get a developer to customize the platform to suit the needs of the user.

Screen sharing and the ability to record the session's audio are a few of OpenMeetings' features. To make matters even better, users don't have to devote their entire screen to video conferencing. It's possible to select only a portion of the screen. Collaboration is effortless. People can create more than one whiteboard, if necessary, to discuss and edit files. Also, there is a chat feature built into the whiteboard. Again, the UI is not great, but the UX is solid and has drag and drop features.

8. Join.me
This conference software was developed by the team that created the LogMeIN suite of tools for collaboration. Join.Me is easy to use, even for beginners, and its one-click functionality seems to be the motivation behind the tools. Join.Me expands the one-click functionality beyond basic interoffice communications. It adds a layer that extends conferences to prospects, clients, and customers.

The free plan is limited to conferencing and screen sharing. The free trial of the advanced plans includes free audio conferencing that comes with its own dedicated conference call number in the U.S.and more than 40 other countries. There is also video conferencing. The one-click scheduling can be integrated with Google Calendar and Outlook to maintain and organize your invitations. Another feature is the creation of a permanent meeting location. This lets clients save the address to stay in contact with the business. The online whiteboard feature provides an extra level of collaboration, screen sharing, and presentation.

9. Google Hangouts
Google has several solutions and apps, like Google Voice. Google has so many apps that keeping up with everything they offer can be hard. Google Voice and Hangouts have similar functions. However, Google Hangouts is able to do more than place phone calls. Like other Google apps, Hangout can be free to use. This platform allows users to receive and send instant messages, receive and send SMS messages, and video chats. Google Hangouts also hosts VoIP calls.



Many people overlook the fact that Google Hangout gives users the ability to use screen sharing feature. Google itself stated that it wants Hangouts to become the future of the company's telephony products. So, it's not shocking that there would a host of great features. It is similar to WebEx and Skype in that users will need to have a Google account to use it. Also, users must add each other in order to chat or meet online. This fact makes Hangouts and ideal, option for smaller teams that want to use a strong, free platform. There are limits to Hangouts. Users cannot group video chat with more than 10 people at a time.

Which Software Is the Best?
There aren't a lot of options out there for someone who is seeking a free web conferencing app that includes screen sharing. However, the ones that are available do a good job at meeting the needs of most teams. With options like Google Hangouts, Apache's OnlineMeeting, and TeamViewer, most companies may not have to spend any money on web conferencing.

All of these options have their limitations and benefits that make them worth using. The best option for a team really comes down to which product has the features the team needs. Google Hangouts, WebEx, and Join.me are ideal products for teams that don't need to easily video chat with their clients and customers. However, these might not be ideal platforms for people who seek to utilize a web conferencing app to connect and meet people outside of their business. Teams need to do their research and assess what they really need in their video conferencing solution. Again, these apps have a variety of features that may or may not work. Also, it's important to note that some of these free options have paid plans with more features. No matter the case, there are free web conferencing options available that will meet the needs of your team.

Cost


The first thing you should figure out before selecting your conference call provider: how much do you want to spend?

There are three factors that will affect your decision:

How often you want to hold conference calls.
How long the conference calls will be.
How many participants you expect per call.
From there, conference call providers have two payment methods.

Pay-as-you-Go:
Pay only for the minutes your use. If you plan to have only a few meetings a month, this is the best option for you.

Most conference call providers charge between 3 and 18 cents per minute. The call-in numbers they provide are usually toll-free, so there are no long distance charges.

Unlimited Monthly Plan:
Unlimited, reservation-less conference calling for a fixed monthly fee. If you have regular team meetings from remote locations, this is the right option for you.

Conference call providers have different unlimited packages to suit different user and participant requirements. We try to list similar plans to give you a basis for comparison.

Integration and Collaboration
The purpose of a conference call is to make collaboration easier. This is the age of 'real-time' interaction and collaboration.

Most conference call providers offer audio, video, and web conferencing. Select the plan based around how you and your company collaborate best or how you need to collaborate.

Face-to-face:
Video conferencing is your best bet. It is more expensive.
Training and lectures:
Probably web conferencing. Typically works well with one-way conferencing.
Split the difference:
Audio conferencing is good middle ground for collaborative meetings and one-way training. Can be the most economical conferencing option.
Ease of use
What use is technology if no one can use it? Conference call providers understand how important time is for businesses. Don't waste 30 minutes trying to start an Earnings Report conference - again.

Conference call providers should offer some of the following services to make your conference call easier:

Online Tutorial:
Conference call providers usually offer free, public-access tutorials on their website. So you can investigate how their service works before you try.
Moderator Controls:
The conference moderator can access an online control panel that lists participants. You can mute, expel, or invite people with a click.
Star Commands:
Conference call providers assign star commands (something like *69 with a traditional phone) for functions like muting, ‘locking’ the conference, or 'raising a hand '.
24/7 Support:


Exceptionally important. Pick a conference call provider that will always be there when you need them. You shouldn't have to postpone your meeting because of technical difficulties with the conference call provider's system.
Operator Assistance:
An operator will facilitate your meeting and make sure everything goes smoothly. The operator schedules the meeting, greets each attendee, handles the Q&A session, and makes your meeting generally worry-free. You may need to pay extra for this service.
Make your conference call more interactive with web conferencing.

Web conferencing is now offered by many conference call providers as an added option to make your meetings more productive.

Many conference call providers offer web conferencing as an option to enhance productivity.

With any conference call, you can conduct live meetings or live training session with several different offices.

With a web conference, you can enhance your meeting with a PowerPoint presentation, an Excel spreadsheet, or something else. You control the enhancements and you control the presentation.

Each participant in a web conference needs to have the following:



An Internet connection
A computer
A web browser (like Internet Explorer or Firefox)
An email address
The URL for the web conference's browser-based portal
The downloadable application (think Skype)
What Web Conferencing can do
Web conferencing can occur simultaneously with audio conferencing. Web conferencing allows for real-time collaboration, in addition to just talking, with the following applications:

Slideshow Presentations: All conference attendees can view the slide show while the presenter discusses and explains it.
Video streaming: The moderator or present can show or share a video or other media file from his computer to everyone else.
Webinars: Conduct a seminar over the web. A presenter conducts a workshop or seminar from his office. The seminar attendees can listen to and view the presentation from their own offices or homes. They can participate in polls and Q&A sessions, too.
File, screen, and application sharing: Attendees gain access to files and use applications shared by the moderator. Attendees can also see what the presenter is looking at and doing during his presentation.
Text chat: Even when attendees are 'muted', they can chat questions for the moderator or comments and questions to other participants.
White board: A virtual (or real) white board allows for public comments, quick diagrams, and instant explanations.
Benefits of Web Conferencing
Web conferencing offers users many benefits, which include the following:

http://www.techtimes.com.ng/2019/03/the-9-best-free-web-video-conferencing.html?m=1

Web conferencing has become the preferred method for distributed teams to do business. However, especially for small businesses and start-ups, the cost of web conferencing tools can be prohibitive, ultimately delaying the adoption of online meetings.

This doesn’t need to happen, though, as there is a variety of free web conferencing software available, and while it’s true that many are missing vital functionality or only have limited trial periods available, there are some tools that are as good as their subscription counterparts. To save you the legwork, here's a list of awesome (and free) web conference tools.​

Uberconference
Uberconference is a useful web conferencing tool that allows for voice conferences, and screen sharing. Uberconference also includes some great features in their free plan including call recording, International conferencing numbers, and up to 10 participants per call.

They also offer an unlimited number of conference calls per month and usually do not require a PIN number to initiate or join a call. The downfall with Uberconference is no video conferencing, but they make up for that with lots of rich features and controls and some pretty awesome hold music.

AnyMeeting
Previously known as Freebinar. AnyMeeting is a fantastic free web conferencing software, with features that easily match those of its paid-for counterparts. As it is ad-based, you will have to put up with some minimum advertising in order to use this tool, but it is not intrusive for the hosts or attendees.

It allows for meetings of up to 200 people and has essential functionality like screen sharing, VoIP and phone conferencing, meeting recording and it even has a follow-up functionality. It’s web-based, so the only download needed is a small plugin that enables screen sharing (on the host’s side). No downloads are necessary from the attendees, so even those behind a firewall should be able to attend meetings on AnyMeeting.​

Mikogo
Mikogo is another great web conferencing software that has a free option. What its interface lacks in looks, it more than makes up for that in functionality. Allowing an unlimited number of meeting participants at a time (with paid subscription), Mikogo has all of the essential features that make for a useful online meeting tool.

Features include meeting recording, switching between presenters and the ability to pause screen sharing (great when you need to open a document in a private folder, for example). But perhaps its most useful feature is the ability to control the quality of the meeting; great for when you want to save bandwidth, for example.​



TokBox Video Chat
If it’s a video conference software you’re after, look no further than TokBox’s Video Chat. Its greatest feature is that it allows for up to 20 participants at a time, and while it’s not specifically made for business (they do have a paid business offering), It's considered reliable and easy to use. It also integrates with social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter, so you can let your business contacts know about your planned video conference easily, without the need for e-mail.

Zoom
Zoom, like many of the other options here, is a web conferencing tool that offers free and paid plans. The free account with Zoom has some pretty great features, including conferences that allow up to 100 participants, unlimited one-on-one conferences, video and audio conferencing, and even group collaboration features such as whiteboarding and screen sharing. The one pitfall with Zoom is that conferences with multiple participants are limited to a 40-minute window.

http://www.techtimes.com.ng/2019/03/top-5-free-web-conference-call-tools.html?m=1

Earlier today, Techweez caught a glimpse of Huawei’s bending device that has been leaked for the better part of 2019. Christened Mate X, the device has now officially been released and marks the second handheld that can be folded, albeit in limited ways after the Galaxy Fold.



The Mate X arrives at a time when other phone makers are figuring new ways of avoiding the notch or innovating around it to achieve an all-display device.

It is worth noting that we started seeing foldable concepts from as early as 2011, and the dream is finally here.



When folded, the Mate X is a dual-display phone but transforms into a tablet once opened. It unfolds up like a book and can be held in a variety of ways. Its usability can take advantage of three different screen sizes: the primary smartphone mode is a 6.6” with a resolution of 2480 by 1148; right behind it is a 6.38” screen served by 2480 by 892pixels; and lastly is an 8-inch screen on the backside of the device with 2480 by 2200 pixels (the highest of the three) that also functions as a tablet. When stretched, the unfolded piece of technology is actually very thin at 5.4 mm.
Mate X



Mate XThe Mate X has also successfully avoided a notch or camera cut-out that is present on the Galaxy Fold.

The backside of the device (when held in tablet mode) has a strip that holds the triple camera setup that has been developed in partnership with Leica. The strip is also instrumental in improving the ergonomics of the device (it looks like the Kindle Oasis).

Mate X OpeningThe Mate X is equipped with 5G radios and is powered by Huawei’s in-house and latest SoC, the Kirin 980. The handheld is juiced by a 4500 mAh cell, with additional improvements in charging (Supercharging) that fills up the battery from 0-85 percent in half an hour.




The foldable handheld will hit stores by mid-2019 and will start from Euro 2,299 or an equivalent of NGN920,000.

“The HUAWEI Mate X’s revolutionary form factor is achieved by Huawei’s relentless effort in R&. It represents a voyage into the uncharted. As a new breed of smartphones, HUAWEI Mate X combines 5G, foldable screen, AI and an all-new mode of interfacing to provide consumers with unprecedented user experience. The HUAWEI Mate X will be the first key for consumers to open the door to 5G smart living,” says Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei CBG.

http://www.techtimes.com.ng/2019/03/huawei-announces-foldable-5g-equipped.html?m=1

Nokia has churned out lots of devices in the course of 2018, and while we are a bit set off by its naming scheme and relentless announcement of new devices every other month, we can agree that most of its offerings are excellent phones by large margin, particularly if you put them side by side to their competitors in the same price bracket, especially in the Kenyan market. One of HMD’s Q4 releases is in the form of Nokia 6.1 Plus (or X6 in other markets).

In the last one month or so, I have had a chance to play with the 6.1 Plus immediately after I was done checking out Android 9 Pie on the 7 Plus, whose successor is confusingly the Nokia 8.1 that went live a couple of days ago. On the whole, the 6.1 Plus stacks up well in practically all aspects, including better ergonomics, battery life and runs cooler than the 7 Plus (I will be drawing comparisons to the 7 Plus because it’s the closest Nokia device I have used that rivals or builds on the 6.1 Plus’s offerings).
Nokia 6.1 Plus Back
Before we dive deeper into this review, it should be noted that the 6.1 Plus is not a successor to a former Nokia device. The ordinary 6.1 exists to take over the services of Nokia 6, and the 6.1 builds on that trend with a larger, notched screen, with a glass backplate that feels premium – as well as dual cam sensors to ooze a modern smartphone aura. It also uses USB Type-C for charging, and data transfer functions. Unlike the similarly priced and immediate competitor from China, the Xiaomi Mi A2, the 6.1 Plus has a 3.5 mm headphone socket

Remarkable hardware, although a tad fragile

Every time I use a Nokia device, a wave of nostalgia hits me to remind me of the time when the Finnish manufacturer commanded the lion’s share of the mobile phone market, which is before the likes of Apple and Android-powered devices claimed the crown. I’m also overwhelmed by the fact that HMD raised the bar to what a mid-range device should constitute because the 6.1 Plus is constructed very well, and I continue to enjoy using the glass-backed handheld that you would think costs more than KES 40,000 (it 10-15K cheaper).



The 6.1 Plus has a screen cut-out on its 5.8-inch, a small chin at the bottom that also houses the Nokia logo. The notch is also home for the 16 MP front snapper and an earpiece. It should be noted that the groove is not that wide to evoke your distaste for cutouts. It is also not as annoying or jarring as those we have seen on competing devices.

Nokia 6.1 Plus NotchNokia has also done an okay job in terms of display quality for the 6.1 Plus. It is a good screen that gets plenty bright outdoors. It is capped at 1080+ (I can count two or three similarly priced phones with 720p screens), and that resolution is perfect and acceptable for me because high-res displays have not improved my media consumption and viewing experiences. Also, a modest and functional resolution is key to great battery life (more of that in a minute). Unlike some even low-tier Samsung devices such as the J6 2018 that have Super AMOLED screens, the 6.1 Plus ships with LCD display – but as we have mentioned, it looks great for my daily operations.

Nokia 6.1 Plus TopThe volume rocker and power keys are placed on the upper right side of the device. The right side is equipped with a hybrid SIM tray that can either take two SIMs or a SIM card and an SD card. All other bells and whistles, including mics, USB-C charging port, a headphone socket, and single bottom-firing speaker are at their right place – although I would have preferred the jack at the bottom. Lastly, the back-glass panel houses a dual camera setup vertically positioned right above a reliable fingerprint scanner.



Impressive cameras… for most applications

As we noted, the 6.1 Plus has a dual camera setup that is packed with tens of megapixels: 16 MP for the main sensor and 5 MP depth sensor for portrait shots because that is what modern phones do. The front snapper is an impressive 16 MP, which, without digging further into the details, is pretty good (see attached selfie in the gallery below).

On the whole, the Nokia 6.1 Plus’s camera prowess is good, although it falls short of the 7 Plus’s capabilities. Its updated interface (that was packed with a December security patch), packs all the features we have come to expect: a pro-mode (that is pretty basic), live bokeh for portrait images, white balance presets and even a slow-motion mode for video. The Snapdragon 636 chip is also capable of shooting 4K video, which Nokia generously includes in the camera settings. In fact, you can even shoot using front and back cameras (Boothie) and access Google Lens right from the app feature set. Those who love streaming material can do so too, but the options are limited to YouTube and Facebook.



These features, while appealing to a lot of people, mean nothing if the quality of the images snapped is not good, but that is mostly not the case. I have had a good experience with it (although I dedicated my shots using a Google Cam port from XDA Developers), and I can confidently report that its colour processing is good, with more than average daylight image samples that feature impressive colour reproduction.

However, folks with a keen eye, especially the lion’s share of current and potential buyers that will use the stock camera app will notice a fair amount of noise even in images captured in bright surroundings. Dynamic range is subjectively average too, which is not a good thing to say in a world where smartphone photography has grown so much. On the bright side of things, the Google Cam Mode fixes HRD mode by a significant margin that brings out more details that I appreciate. Lastly, and similar to most cameras, low-light photography is outright mediocre. Shots captured are serviceable if you fire up the flash, but they are nothing to write home about.


Functional and barebones software

Most of Nokia devices fall under the Android One Program, and the 6.1 Plus is a beneficiary to that experience that was primarily made to ensure that several budget-friendly devices are updated to the latest software versions without necessarily purchasing Pixel phones. Currently, the 6.1 Plus runs Android 9 Pie, which was available as an over-the-air update as soon as we unboxed it.



Nokia 6.1 Plus DisplayThe general look and feel are stock-ish, although Nokia has customized the camera slightly. Also, HMD has added a Support app in a mostly clean and bloat-less app drawer. Customization options are familiar too, and we captured most of Pie features in our Nokia 7 Plus overview that I encourage you to read because the experience is identical but as a recap, your wallpaper of choice will determine whether your notification shade is dark or white – although the Settings panel and other parts of the interface will be white – as well as additions such as gesture-based navigation (you can also double-tap the display to wake (no double-tap to sleep that is more convenient according to me)) and Digital Wellbeing that takes note of the number of unlocks/notification received in order to push you towards productivity.

There is a setting that disables the notch that I discovered today (although the LCD panel does not turn to die black to hide it entirely – but I’m glad the option exists), but you cannot whitelist some apps to access the notch area owing to limited customization options packed in the device. This implies that some transitions will be jarred, particularly when pictures shift to and from full-screen mode. It is an eyesore once you notice it.

Some of these software issues are nit-picky, and most people are not going to notice them if they just leave the notch activated. To this end, I’m certain users are and will enjoy the Android One experience in the Nokia 6.1 Plus. Yes, you will miss some customization options available in other skins, but the minimalist approach to Android will also be welcome to groups that appreciate a smooth experience and relatively timely updates.

Stellar battery life, few accessories



The 6.1 Plus packs a 3060 mAh cell that may appear small by today’s standards, but don’t let the number fool you. It lasts a full day of light to moderate usage, perhaps thanks to the handheld’s relatively small display and under-the-hood optimizations in Android 9 Pie. It also packs a midrange chipset that is modest in power requirements. What’s more, the device supports Qualcomm’s Quick Charge (number not specified) that charges it relatively fast. The included power charger and USB Type-C cable are serviceable.
Nokia 6.1 Plus Bottom
Nokia 6.1 Plus BottomBtw, the last update bunched the battery indicator and battery percentage to make some room on the notification bar to make room for other icons. We are fans.

Battery stats aside, the retail package only include some muddy earphones, charger, and cable, a SIM ejection tool, warranty and user guide materials. No case is in sight (the 7 Plus packed one), and Nokia loses some points here owing to its fragility. Nevertheless, you can always pick a case from retailers if you want to keep the device safe and pristine.

Miscellaneous

There aren’t many small phones out there no more. The 6.1 Plus fills that space just fine, especially for the 25-30K bracket. It also makes a case for itself for what it offers and appeals to a broader target customer base that probably associates Nokia with quality.
Nokia continues to nail user experience with a clean version of Android that has allowed them to push big updates faster than the competition. Locally, no other manufacturer does better, and that is a win in my books.


Part of not packing lots of features in a device is that it cuts down on time and resources used to customize the Android experience. While that may sound like a letdown for some people because more is sometimes better, having an uncluttered experience is refreshing – and the experience is the same across modern Nokia smartphones.
You might have realized that I did not mention anything about general performance. Well, it is mostly insignificant and trivial because modern chipsets have gotten so much better. Unless you really need the power offered by high-end SoCs, the Nokia 6.1 Plus’s performance is admirable for most of you. This, however, does not imply a smooth experience at all time: apps like Candy Crush Saga lag and general slowdowns are seen from time to time, but not often.
Nokia should think about shipping new, better-looking and good-sounding earphones in the future. The ones included in the box are what the manufacturer used to pack with its Symbian-powered phones more than a decade ago. It is not fair because they sound terrible.
Can we have a case in a device that as fragile as the 6.1 Plus?
The fingerprint scanner is accurate at all times. I’m a fan.
The competition and conclusion



The 75K price range just got more competitive with the launch of the OPPO A7 and TECNO Camon 11 Pro, Xiaomi Mi A2, among other options such as the Samsung Galaxy J series. The devices have a lot to offer: the A7 has a huge battery and lots of nifty ColorOS features; the Camon 11 Pro has a cult fanbase, although it falls short in terms of software and display resolution at only 720p (same case with the OPPO A7); and lastly, the Xiaomi Mi A2 has stellar battery life, packs a clean Android version based on Pie (thanks to Android One), has a more powerful chipset but lacks a headphone jack. All these are excellent options, which makes the picking process a challenge for customers who are too picky.

http://www.techtimes.com.ng/2019/01/nokia-61-plus-review-battling-with-mid.html?m=1

We have seen weird folding smartphones at MWC and pretty tame ones too, but this one takes the cake for being the weirdest of them all.



Energizer is known for their batteries and they teased that they will launch a number of phones at MWC and sure they delivered.

The Energizer Power Max P18K Pop (what a name) is the star of the show and it is because of one thing only: Its giant battery.



The P18K Pop has an 18,000mAh battery which is absolutely ridiculous considering the fact that we such capacities on dedicated power banks. Thanks to this huge battery, the phone defines how thick a phone can be, and it looks almost comical.

To put into context, that 18,000 mAh battery is 10 times bigger than the one on the iPhone 8 or 6 times bigger than the ones you see on regular smartphones and 4.5 bigger than the 4000 mAh units we see on smartphones. You can even use it to charge other phones, which can come in handy.



According to Trusted Reviews, the company says you will be able to watch videos for around 2 days on a single charge or make 90 hours of calls or listen to 100 hours of music or in standby mode, it can last for 50 days.

energizer powermax p18k pop
energizer powermax p18k pop

The Enegrizer P18K Pop has some pretty decent specs too. It has a 6.2 inch 1080 x 2280 IPS display, 128GB of internal storage, 6GB of RAM, triple primary camera (12MP, 5MP, 2MP), pop up dual selfie cameras (16MP, 2MP) and runs on Android Pie. It is powered by the Mediatek Helio P70 which is an octacore processor.



Energizer has not revealed its price which is quite weird. There will be a market for this, which will include a person that would want a relatively good midrange phone with a massive battery and will not mind how bulky it is.

http://www.techtimes.com.ng/2019/02/energizers-smartphone-with-18000-mah.html?m=1