Natively supported apps

• Discord
• Gitter
• IRC
• Keybase
• Matrix
• Mattermost 4.x, 5.x
• Microsoft Teams
• Nextcloud Talk
• Rocket.chat
• Slack
• Ssh-chat
• Steam
• Telegram
• Twitch
• WhatsApp
• XMPP
• Zulip

The whatsapp linking part is based on go-whatsapp which is a Go version of  whatsapp-web-reveng.

I think that’s enough for the intro, let’s get back to the main point

Install and Run

Download the latest version from here
select the required package. im using linux for this tutorial so i select matterbridge-1.18.3-linux-64bit (this version will change)
then move to the Configuration part

Step 1

Create an empty matterbridge.toml file inside a folder contains downloaded matterbridge binary file.

Step 2

Copy the following contents to the newly created matterbridge.toml file:

[telegram.mytelegram]
#See https://core.telegram.org/bots#6-botfather 
#and https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/telegram-bots-beginners-marco-frau
Token="Yourtokenhere"
RemoteNickFormat="({PROTOCOL}) <{NICK}> "
MessageFormat="HTMLNick"

[whatsapp.mywhatsapp]
# Number you will use as a relay bot. Tip: Get some disposable sim card, don't rely on 
# your own number.
Number="+48111222333"

# First time that you login you will need to scan QR code, then credentials will be saved in 
# a session file. 
# If you won't set SessionFile then you will need to scan QR code on every restart.
# optional (by default the session is stored only in memory, till restarting matterbridge)
SessionFile="session-48111222333.gob"

# If your terminal is white we need to invert QR code in order for it to be scanned properly
# optional (default false)
QrOnWhiteTerminal=false

# Messages will be seen by other WhatsApp contacts as coming from the bridge. 
# Original nick will be part of the message.
RemoteNickFormat="[{PROTOCOL}] @{NICK}: "

Step 3

Change the Token and Server keys above to yours. For more details you may watch this video.

In Telegram, go to botfather and create a bot and paste the token as Token="Yourtokenhere"
Enter your whatsapp number as Number="+48111222333"

Step 4

Add the gateway configuration to your config file.

[[gateway]]
name="gateway1"
enable=true

[[gateway.inout]]
account="whatsapp.mywhatsapp"
channel="[email protected]"

[[gateway.inout]]
account="telegram.mytelegram"
channel="-xxxxx"

Step 5

Now your configuration file should look like this:

[telegram.mytelegram]
#See https://core.telegram.org/bots#6-botfather 
#and https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/telegram-bots-beginners-marco-frau
Token="1279548291:AAFg3s7F-JQlQQlucSBf3PGwyOss2Vog0J4"
RemoteNickFormat="({PROTOCOL}) <{NICK}> "
MessageFormat="HTMLNick"

[whatsapp.mywhatsapp]
# Number you will use as a relay bot. Tip: Get some disposable sim card, don't rely on 
# your own number.
Number="+48111222333"

# First time that you login you will need to scan QR code, then credentials will be saved in 
# a session file. 
# If you won't set SessionFile then you will need to scan QR code on every restart.
# optional (by default the session is stored only in memory, till restarting matterbridge)
SessionFile="session-48111222333.gob"

# If your terminal is white we need to invert QR code in order for it to be scanned properly
# optional (default false)
QrOnWhiteTerminal=false

# Messages will be seen by other WhatsApp contacts as coming from the bridge. 
# Original nick will be part of the message.
RemoteNickFormat="[{PROTOCOL}] @{NICK}: "

[[gateway]]
name="gateway1"
enable=true

[[gateway.inout]]
account="whatsapp.mywhatsapp"
channel="[email protected]"

[[gateway.inout]]
account="telegram.mytelegram"
channel="-xxxx"

Step 6

Find channel ID for Telegram and WhatsApp. Finding Telegram group ID is relatively easy.  You can use the Telegram bot API to get the group ID. But I’m taking a simple shortcut here.  Adding another bot to retrieve group ID, which is @tchncs_bot. This is a bot that bridges Matrix and Telegram groups. Just add the bot and sending the message /id (including the forward slash, which makes the message a command) will return the group ID.

Unlike in Telegram’s case, finding channel name in WhatsApp isn’t that easy. I couldn’t find any easier method from matterbridge documentation as well. So enter your WhatsApp group name there and run the bridge (Warning: you will definitely get an error!)

Step 7

Run it with the following command (change the version number if you are using later version)
./matterbridge-1.18.3-linux-64bit -conf matterbridge.toml

Now you can see a QR code in terminal. If it is too big that you weren’t able to scan it, then zoom in the terminal and try again. Then scan the QR code with WhatsApp web option from your mobile phone. Now your WhatsApp web is connected with the matterbridge. Next step is to identify the channel name for WhatsApp. By checking the terminal output you can see your group name and a number that ends with @g.us. Copy that and paste it in the channel part of WhatsApp and run again. Now your bridge is ready and it will start working. You can also share image, files and audios using this bridge. If you want to bridge multiple groups the gateway part can be changed to

[[gateway]]
name="gateway1"
enable=true

[[gateway.inout]]
account="whatsapp.mywhatsapp"
channel="[email protected]"

[[gateway.inout]]
account="telegram.mytelegram"
channel="-xxxx"

[[gateway]]
name="gateway2"
enable=true

[[gateway.inout]]
account="whatsapp.mywhatsapp"
channel="[email protected]"

[[gateway.inout]]
account="telegram.mytelegram"
channel="-xxxx"

Drawbacks

This brdige reies on WhatsApp web. So if you have to make this solution work, you should be online on both mobile as well as on WhatsApp web all the time. Other solution you could try is to run any emulator on server. Also, the matterbridge should be running all the time. So you have to choose a server for that. Cloudcone provides low cost servers with good quality. You can use this link to using cloudcone.

The post Setting up WhatsApp Telegram Bridge Using Matterbridge 2020 appeared first on IB Computing.

Moto G Series 2018

Moto G6 Play

Of course there is no argument in the build quality of Moto G6 Play. But the real problem is with the internals and the touchscreen (its a tad slow). The SoC used is snapdragon 430 octacore chipset clocked at 1.4GHz. That chipset is, no doubt, an able performer but when it comes to pricing, OMG, it’s around 12K for that low-end processor, 3GB 32GB version. It could have been a no-brainer if the pricing was around 9K or lower. Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 with SD 625, fingerprint scanner, 4000mAh battery, etc. was priced at 10K for the 3GB variant. Apart from the new trendy look and glossy finish, there is nothing outstanding about this device. If there were no other choices, we could have recommended it. But now for the time being, you are out of this league – Moto G6 Play.

Specifications:

Moto G6

Come come Moto G6, let’s go party – let’s all welcome the second charming boy of the series, the Moto G6. The same scenario as the Moto G6 Play continues here. What’s going on, really… A few gimmicks here and there with display and build quality is not an ordinary customer wants, Moto (Lenovo in fact). Actually it’s the processor I am talking about, i.e. Snapdragon 450 inside this boy which is priced at 16K for the 4GB, 64GB version (And the face unlock feature is really horrible!). That too when Xiaomi, Nokia, Asus, etc. are offering high-end Snapdragon 600 series chipset with breath-taking performance and splendid battery life in this price range. Surely Moto G6, 2018 is not yours anymore. It would’ve been a different story if both of these used another chipset, say Mediatek’s P25 for Moto G6 play and all new Mediatek P60 for the Moto G6. But, now there’s no turning back for the two and that’s unfortunate for them in this year.

Specifications:

Moto G6 Plus

Specifications:

The post Moto G series 2018 – Makes me laugh appeared first on IB Computing.

Now come to 2018, what’s new here? Yes, a lot, including processors, battery life, crispier displays, etc… So, let’s see what these tech giants have to offer for the Best Budget Smartphones in the 30k price bracket. Let’s gooo…

Best Budget Smartphones under 30k

LG G6

The flagship offering from the South Korean giant, LG G6 was one of the earlier devices to offer the recent trend screen size of 18:9 ratio. The device was well-built with all the necessities an average person was looking for. i.e with a good battery, nice dual rear cameras, a capable snapdragon 821 processor, all sensors, etc. The greatest let down was the front facing camera. Other than that, G6 served for all other major purposes and handled almost all of the apps till date. Launched at almost 50K, the LG G6, one of the Best Budget Smartphones, can now be availed at a jaw -dropping price of 28K from amazon.in

Specifications

• 5.7″ full vision display
• 13 MP dual cameras and 5MP selfie
• Snapdragon 821 dual core processor, 4 GB RAM, 64 GB ROM, expandable upto 2 TB
• Dual sim 4G
• 3300 mAh battery
• Water and dust resistant
• Price: 28,000/- (amazon.in)

Honor View 10

Honor, its an honor to have you for an average person to enjoy premium specifications for a budget price. Yes, Huawei ‘s sub brand Honor has been doing a pretty good job in case of smartphones for the past 2 years… Being pocket-friendly doesn’t need to compromise, that’s what their slogan is. And they are exactly doing that with cent percent sincerity. Their latest offering, the Honor View 10 aka V10 is such a device with high end processor, world’s first AI camera, a brilliant screen, awesome battery life and what more an average person need.. That too with not tearing the pockets… Under 30K, Honor View 10 is one of the Best Budget Smartphones out there. Go blindly to pick one of yours now and you won’t regret.

Specifications

• 5.99″ Full HD display
• Android 8 OS, Huawei’s own Kirin 970 octacore AI processor with 6 GB RAM and 128 GB ROM expandable upto 256GB
• Dual nano sim 4G
• 3750 mAh quick charging battery
• 20 +  16 MP dual AI cameras, 13 MP selfie
• Price: 29,990/- (amazon.in)

Nokia 7 Plus

Wow wow wow, look who’s the new kid on the block… Actually its kinda old who came back as a Phoenix. You name it, we give it.. Yes, that’s it, our old finnish giant, Nokia…remember those two hands connecting people? That same old Nokia. Now this time they are in the safe hands of HMD Global and i think its worth it. Because there’s a bunch of Nokias in every price segment now offering stock android experience and some very rugged hardware (both internal and external). Nokia 7 plus is the latest baby of Nokia with the current trend screen ratio. A huge 6″ full HD display and Snapdragon 660 processor and all.. It houses a dual camera setup in the rear and a humongous battery. Nokia was all about well built and this time also the story is not different. If you are looking for a sturdy built rugged yet powerful smartphone, then Nokia 7 plus must be your next smartphone. Go for it and its a bang for the buck.

Specifications

• 6″ full HD display
• Dual 13MP + 12 MP rear cameras, 16MP selfie
• Snapdragon 660 octacore  processor with 4GB RAM and 64 GB ROM expandable upto 256GB
• 3800 mAh battery
• Price: 26,000/-

Samsung A8+

If not for that gorgeous screen and display, I wouldn’t have included a Samsung in this list. But trust me, that display is too good to avoid. Its has the S8 like screen, display ratio and water/dust resistance. The processor is really not match for any other choices in this segment but cameras, battery life and display makes up for that. It really resembles the higher end S8 and the super AMOLED display is really eye catching. And the dual selfie camera is also awesome. If style matters to you rather than performance, then Samsung A8+ is a good choice under 30K.

Specifications

• 6″ Full HD display
• 16MP rear camera and 16+8 MP selfie
• Exynos 7885 octacore processor with 6GB RAM and 64GB ROM expandable upto 256GB
• Dual nano sim 4G
• 3500mAh battery
• Price : 30,000/-

Sony Xperia XA1 Plus

Last but not the least, and at last a capable Sony in the list. That camera and battery life are awesome in this price range. The blocky design may not be appealing to everyone and huge bezels may be annoying in this 18:9 screen era. But the phone is comfortable to hold even though single handed operations are impossible unless if you are a giant. If you are a Sony fan and can live with bezels, this phone must be in your favorite list.

Specifications

• 5.5″ full HD display
• 23 MP primary camera and 8MP selfie camera
• Mediatek Helio P20 octacore processor with 4GB RAM and 32 GB ROM, expandable upto 256GB
• Dual sim 4G
• 3430 mAh battery
• Price: 23,000/-

So, now it’s your turn to select the one that meets your needs from the above mentioned Best Budget Smartphones under 30k. If you ask me, it will be Nokia 7 Plus or the V10 and the rest is your choice. All of them are powerful and capable except the Samsung kid out there but it beats up the rest in terms of display… It’s time for me to sign out, and its me your Arjun Sankar signing out. Catch you later.

The post Best Budget Smartphones under 30k in 2018 First Quarter appeared first on IB Computing.

Now ONLYOFFICE Documents 2.0 on Android is released as Beta. it can be downloaded from playstore . now you can use the co Editing mode in Mobile Too.  Can Easily access and manage files stored in your cloud office and connect third-party storages like Google Drive, Dropbox, and Next cloud.

ONLYOFFICE Documents 2.0 Features

• View and edit online Office documents
With ONLYOFFICE you will be able to create and edit all kinds of office documents – text documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. The basic formats are docx, xlsx ans pptx. All the other popular formats (doc, xls, ppt, odt, ods, odp) supported as well.
Pdf files are available for viewing. You can also save and download files as pdf, txt, сsv, HTML.

• Share & grant different access rights
Choose your collaboration level. ONLYOFFICE allows you to share files to your teammates granting different types of access rights: read-only, review or full access. Provide external access to files via links.

• Co-edit documents in real time
With ONLYOFFICE Documents multiple users can edit the same doc simultaneously. You will see changes appear as your co-authors are typing.

• Connect cloud storages
Create a single space for all your documents to contingently work on them from one place. Connect other cloud storages you use – Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Yandex. Disk, SharePoint, ownCloud, Next cloud and others.

• Easily manage docs on your portal
Upload and download files, sort, filter, rename and delete them. To work with the app you need to have an ONLYOFFICE portal, either a corporate or a free personal one. If you don’t have one, you can easily create it from the app.

The post ONLYOFFICE Documents 2.0 Beta Released on Android, with Co Editing Mode appeared first on IB Computing.

I am choosing the phones which are mostly future proof, i.e. the ones with USB type C port, metal unibody, strong front glass, more storage, RAM, etc… There are phones which boast upon the selfies and all, but underpowered. I am not even mentioning about them because they are just gimmicks and not that much useful. Let’s keep safe both our phone and of course, the pocket too.

Top 5 Best Android Smartphones Under 25,000 INR

Samsung S7

The Samsung S7 is a real steal at this price range. It was the flagship model from the Korean giant released in the year 2016. Now it can be availed at a dream price of 22,990 INR from online retailer Flipkart for a limited period of time. Nothing has to be mentioned about the S7 as we all know what it is capable of. Camera is the USP of this beast. It can do very well under outdoor and indoor conditions. Of course the processor also. Even now it can handle any apps and games in the world regardless of size or graphics. So guys, now is the time to grab one for your before the stock ends. If your budget is under 25,000 INR, then go blindly for Samsung S7.

Specifications:

• Premium dual-glass design, aluminum frame
• 5.1″ Super AMOLED display with QHD (1,440 x 2,560) resolution
• Exynos 8890 octacore processor with 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, microSD up to 200GB
• Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow (upgradable to Oreo)
• 12MP camera, f/1.7 aperture with optical image stabilization
• 5MP front-facing camera, f/1.7 aperture
• 3,000mAh battery, fast wired as well as wireless

Moto X4

Moto X4 has been the recent offering from Lenovo owned Motorola in the last quarter of 2017. The X series was once the Flagship lineups of Motorola phones. But now it has been replaced by the Z series which also has the Moto Mods.  X4 does offer quite a balance in power and performance with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 Octacore chipset with 3/4/6 GB of RAM. It comes with the Android One Project by the tech giant, Google which it introduced in 2014. Software version is stock Android Oreo with promised updates for the coming 2 years along with the Pixel Devices from Google itself. So it’s a future proof device. It also has got the USB type C port with quick charge support. Company says its USP is the dual camera setup, but it misses any kind of stabilization though. Design of the phone is that it looks kinda premium and can match up with any flagship devices of any company, especially the sterling blue model. The software experience is smooth as it has got the vanilla android and there are hardly any glitches. Battery is 3000 mAh which is pretty average and can power up the device for almost a day only with moderate usage. That’s supposed to be the only major con for this device. Otherwise all other specs are good in paper and performance. Moto X4 is definitely one of the best Android smartphones under 25,000 INR which you can get now.

Specifications:

• Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 3 front and back, IP68 rating (dust resistant and water resistance up to 1.5 meters)
• 5.2″ FHD display
• Main camera: 12MP with f/2.0 aperture, and secondary camera 12MP with f/2.2 aperture
• Selfie camera: 16MP, f/2.0 aperture with LED flash
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 octacore 2.2GHz  CPU
• 3GB/4GB/6GB of RAM; 32GB/64GB of storage, microSD slot
• 3,000mAh Battery, with fast charging
• Front-mounted fingerprint sensor, FM radio, 3.5mm jack
• Price range: 20,999 – 24,999

Moto Z with Moto Mods

Another flagship device from 2016. Now it’s the turn of Moto again in this price range. Moto Z was released in mid 2016 with high end processor and other features. The 13 MP camera with OIS was not up to the mark, but don’t take me wrong. It can snap pretty descent photos in outdoor lighting conditions. The display was one of the best offered from Moto since time. All those excellent features of the phone was let down by the mediocre battery life which was not expected from a brand like Motorola (or Lenovo). Another advantage of this beast is that it can turn into other forms with its own “moto mods”. Attach to its back, and voila, it can do wonders. So guys, after S7, if you want a flagship device without burning your pocket and can sacrifice battery life, then go for Moto Z. it won’t disappoint you.

Specifications:

• 5.5″ AMOLED screen with Gorilla Glass, with water-resistant nano-coating.
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 quad core processor with 4GB of RAM.
• 32 or 64GB of internal storage, microSD expandable up to 2TB.
• Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow upgradable to Oreo.
• 13MP camera o aperture f/1.8 with OIS.
• 5MP selfie with wide angle, front-facing LED flash.
• 2,600 mAh battery with turbo charging.
• Price: 24,000 INR

Huawei Honor 8

Huawei’s sub brand Honor is the one you have to look up to – Samsung, I am telling you. Your cheap tricks wont sale in front of Honor as they are offering high end specs with almost all sensors on earth for half of your devices’ price, in their devices. Again this is also the flagship offering from Honor in the year 2016. It has got one of the best designs of all time from a smartphone company. Dual glossy glass design, easy to hold, flawless design. Mind blowing it is. Dual camera setup in a flagship device for the first time was introduced by Honor. Although a flagship device, this phone misses out OIS but does very well with outdoor shooting and all. But it is still one of the best Android smartphones under 25,000 INR. The processor is Huawei’s own Kirin 950 processor which matches with Snapdragon 820 chipset. It too can handle almost every app on earth right now. Battery section is also excellent. Its price has gone down below 20,000 now and if you are not a brand conscious person, you can grab it right now as Amazon is offering great deals on Honor 8.

Specifications:

• 5.2″ HD display, with dual glass body
• HiSilicon Kirin 950 octacore chipset with 4GB of RAM and 64GB internal storage with micro sd card slot
• Android 6.0 Marshmallow upgradable to Nougat. No news about Oreo
• Dual 12MP rear cameras with, f/2.2 aperture
• 8MP selfie with f/2.4 aperture
• USB Type-C charger
• 3,000mAh Li-Ion battery with rapid charging
• Price: 16,000 INR

LG V20a

Last but not the least, initially launched at 55K+ INR phone from LG’s flagship model LG V20a, is now available at half of its launching price. Released in the fall of 2016, LG’s V20a is still a rugged phone. Powered by the high end Snapdragon 820 processor, LG V20a also handles almost every app released till date. It has got a very capable camera, secondary display on top of the primary display, and OMG believe me it has got the best audio output from a smartphone till date, after its sibling, LG V30. The only let down is its battery as it hardly gets you through a single day. The audio output through a headphone is really mind blowing as it results in a theatre like effect. No other flagship phone, even from the “fruit” phone can beat it in terms of audio output quality. It’s also US Military Standard Drop Test (MIL STD-810G) certified. If you need a smartphone with a gorgeous display and excellent sound quality, then there should not be another go but the LG V20a.

Specifications:

• Aluminum  body, US Military Standard (MIL-STD-810G) shock resistance
• 5.7” Quad HD display with Secondary 2.1″ display
• Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor  with 4GB of RAM with 32GB/64GB built-in storage plus microSD card slot
• Primary 16MP with aperture f/1.8 + 8 MP with aperture f/2.4 main camera with OIS
• 5MP (f/1.9) selfie camera
• Android 7.0. Nougat upgradable to Oreo
• USB Type-C port
• Removable 3,200mAh battery with Quick charge support
• Price: 22,990 INR

Samsung C7 pro, Micromax Dual, Honor 9i, Samsung J7 pro, Infinix Zero 5 Pro are also some of the other best Android smartphones under 25,000 INR you can get now. So, I guess your brain is now playing mind games with yourselves, because all of the above mentioned, except Moto X4, were once the flagship devices from their Mother companies and you are confused with which one should you buy, aren’t you? Don’t be. Because every one of it is unique with their own features, and yes at the end of the day it’s up to you to choose the right one for you. But keep in mind that no smartphone is perfect at any price range. Now, it’s your turn. Hope you got it and it’s me your Arjun Sankar signing out and we can meet with another article, soon. Till then, Ba-Bye.

The post Best Android Smartphones Under 25,000 INR appeared first on IB Computing.

But why this time Xiaomi, why? Why you made me do this? Most probably for the first time, my keyboard typing against Xiaomi. But there is no other go this time as far as they are concerned. At the time when Xiaomi announced the successors to its huge fan-oriented Redmi Note 4 series, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro, everyone (yeah don’t stare, me too…) was excited about how will they hold up to the humungous success story of Note 4. But things don’t look so good for them in Q1 of 2018!. Fact it is. The real one. I mean why did they even think about it? Dunno…

They have played safe as far as Note 5 and Note 5 pro are concerned. Note 5 pro can be excused, but not Note 5. It’s the same Note 4 with a new costume… (not from Myntra I guess!). Yeah, it’s exactly the same. 18:9 display might be the only thing with which the customers will find any difference at all, if any. If you still don’t believe, then wait…

So, if you do the ‘autopsy’, you could find only some trivial changes between Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 and the ‘all-new’ Xiaomi Redmi Note 5. One is the camera, and the other is the display – for the hardware section. It’s a shame that they didn’t opt for the Oreo version in the software section. But as far as Xiaomi is concerned, as someone said, “if it’s good, why break it?” tag might save them. They have done justice to the pricing though. But I reckon that the sales graph is gonna go down this time. They need to introduce another one with some really nice specs (and pocket-friendly too).

Xiaomi is claiming that the rear camera performance has been significantly improved this time, but I dunno whether only the camera will save them. The display is sharp and nearly accurate, not washed up, yes, the 18:9 display deserves a warm welcome but that too isn’t good when you are upgrading a mobile from what they gave as the best budget smartphone for the past year. Really they could have omitted the Note 5 pro and gone with the Redmi Note 5 with that 18:9 display, with a Qualcomm SD 630 processor, dual camera setup, selfie with front flash and a more powerful battery, say 4500 mAh to power up that huge 5.99” FHD+ bezel less display, USB type C port with quick charge support, Android Oreo combined with MIUI 9, all the basic sensors, etc. This would be the design, if they ask me.

So Xiaomi, better luck next time. Sony Xperia XA line-up is introducing their 3^rd successors this year, and it seems good in paper (of course not in pricing, as usual). Let’s catch up later with new gadgets next time. So guys, it’s over for this time and it’s me your own Arjun Sankar signing out. Ba-bye.

The post Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Review – Xiaomi disappoints for the first time? appeared first on IB Computing.

Best Android Camera Smartphones Under 15k

Xiaomi Mi A1

No surprises this time too. It’s Xiaomi again on the top list. It’s not embarrassing at all. Not making fun either. Rather it’s cutting edges in between. It’s a lot more than meets the eye. That’s what Xiaomi is been doing for the past couple of years with its pocket-friendly spec-ily in high-end mobile phones. This time its own MIUI has gone and Mi A1 became the first ever stock Android mobile from Xiaomi. I had mentioned its specifications in one of my earlier posts regarding top 5 Android budget phones. So, I am not mentioning its specs again except the camera. Dual camera is being a fashion from last year onwards. But rather than just the number games, most of ’em are pretty much gimmicks. But not in Mi A1. It’s more like the iPhone 7 Plus’ camera!

Xiaomi Mi A1, one of the best Android camera smartphones, comes with a dual camera setup — 12 + 12 MP cameras on the rear and a 5 MP on the front. In the dual camera setup, one is a normal camera and the other is the telephoto lens which helps in taking portrait mode photos with background blur. It has got an aperture of f/2.0. In daylight conditions, the camera is capable of pulling out some excellent results. Selfie camera is just good enough to post on Instagram or other social media. The rear camera is also capable of 4K shooting and slow-motion videos which are good additions in this price segment. No other smartphone has got this much good camera set up under 15K INR. So if you are a camera-centric person and your budget is under 15K, then don’t think too much but Mi A1.

Huawei Honor 6X

Honor 6X has also been mentioned in an earlier post about its specifications. So whats new in this is specifically about its dual camera setup. But unlike in Mi A1, Honor 6X has got a dual camera setup in the rear which comprises of one 12 MP and 2MP camera and an 8 MP shooter at the front. The 2 MP spouse on the rear is actually a wide angle lens which also helps in background blurring while shooting. Wide aperture mode varies from f/16 to f/.95 in order to take wide-angle photos. Outdoor shooting is pretty decent as far as the price is concerned. The 4GB RAM  version is available at a price of 11,999 INR in some online shopping sites. So if your budget is strictly 12,000 INR then Honor 6X is a notable mention for those who need dual rear camera setup under 12,000 INR.

Moto G5 S Plus

Initially priced at 16,999 INR, the Moto G5 S Plus, an upgraded version of Moto G5 Plus, has come down to 14,999 INR which makes it a competitor in under 15,000 INR price segment. Moto G5 S Plus is undoubtedly one of the best Android camera smartphones you can get in this price range. Specifications include Snapdragon 625 octa-core processor, 3/4 GB RAM, 32/64 GB ROM, dual 13 MP rear cameras, 8 MP selfie shooter, 5.5″ Full HD display, 3000 mAh battery etc. The main attraction is the 13 MP dual camera at the back. It has got an aperture size of f/2.0 which allows more details while indoor shooting. It can also do some decent 4K shooting. Its a win-win situation between Mi A1 and Moto G5S Plus but the former has got the minimum price tag between the two and has a rather slim body and well-balanced design. Moto feels pretty hefty in hand. The golden color is somewhat attractive while in a crowd and it’s not outstanding though. It’s your choice to go between these two as almost all the specs are same but the brand.

Asus Zenfone 4 Selfie Dual Cam

If you are a selfie-centric person, then you should not miss the Asus Zenfone Selfie Dual Camera version. The phone is a 5.5″, Snapdragon 430 octa-core processor, 4GB/64GB version with a 3000 mAh battery. The USP of this phone is the dual camera setup at the front assisted with an led flash. Front selfie cam consists of 13 MP + 8 MP setup with an led flash. Aperture sizes are of f/2.0 and f/2.4 respectively. The primary camera is of 16 MP with an aperture size of f/2.2. The selfie camera setup at the front does a pretty decent job and of course, it has got the selfie portrait and beauty modes. And it has got Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) which is pretty rare in this price segment. EIS helps in taking less shaky pictures if you have got a shaky hand. If selfie camera is your top priority under 15,000 INR, the Asus Zenfone 4 Selfie dual cam must be your prime choice.

Samsung Galaxy On Max

Another Samsung in this price segment? At last, yes. It breaks all the record of having the basic sensors from a Samsung at this price segment! And an able camera too. Samsung Galaxy On Max got 13 MP camera in both front and rear. The rear camera has got an aperture size of f/1.7 (Really? Flagship camera at this price segment?) and an aperture size of f/1.9 at the front. Rear camera does allow more light to pass into the lens thereby making it capable of some nice indoor shooting. The front camera also does some neat selfie capturing. But the size of the phone may feel too big for one hand use because of its 5.7″ body and having some big bezels. Specifications are also nice considering the price segment. MediaTek 6757v octa-core processor, 4GB/32GB version with a pretty decent 3300 mAh all-day battery. Samsung pay mini is an extra addition. So if you a brand conscious person, Samsung On Max can be a good choice considering its decent camera performance.

So that’s it, folks. Now it’s your turn to choose from these. Other than the best Android camera smartphones I mentioned above, there are also some notable mentions like Lenovo K8 Plus, Huawei Honor 7X, Vivo V5, Moto G5 Plus and Coolpad Cool Play 6. I am not mentioning it in detail because the above-mentioned phones are the real people’s choice. Detailed specifications and their comparison can be updated upon requests. So that’s all for now and see you again. Till then bye bye and it’s me, Arjun Sankar, signing out.

The post Best Android Camera Smartphones Under 15k appeared first on IB Computing.

Fairphone produces modular phones and individual parts are available to users for DIY replacement. Fairphone 2 scored 10/10 at iFixit and was the first smartphone to achieve it. As of now, they come with two standard operating system choices, FairphoneOS and Fairphone Open. The former includes Google services and non-free applications and while the latter comes pre-rooted without Google services installed. Which means a BIG YAY for the Free Software fans!

Fairphone was founded in January 2013 by Bas van Abel as a social enterprise company which develops smartphones which are aimed to minimize the impact on environment and society and is a Certified B Corporation. Their campaigns to avoid conflict minerals and to make better labour conditions brought international attention over the years. They have won German Environmental Award, Europian Business Awards for the Environment and UN Momentum for Change. Also, Fairphone 2 was the first phone to recieve Blue Angel Certification. They were the fastest growing tech startup in Europe at The Next Web Conference in April 2015.

What this means to Fairphone users

Till now when Fairphone Open gets an app update, users had to go through crazy amount of repetative tasks like switching on “allow unknown sources” and change security permissions, which can be a security threat itself. Users had to go through all these process repeatedly to update Fairphone Open OS. But at 2017 Chaos Communication Congress, 34C3, Fairphone team and F-Droid team came together and made the dream possible. Thanks to the dedication of these teams, now a Fairphone Open user can have background updates, using F-Droid.

The addition of F-Droid Privileged Extension has many more advantages

• Reduced disk usage
• System updates no longer remove F-Droid
• Installing into system via root is now safer than before

But again background silent updates can be a security threat, but here each update asks for permission when it is executed. Also F-Droid is a Free Software project that has quality methods to audit softwares before an app gets landed in their repo. F-Droid is operated by F-Droid Limited, which is a non profit organisation and it doesn’t track you or sell your private data to third parties. F-Droid strictly follows Free and Open Source policies and consists of strictly Open Source application that complies to those policies. So you can trust F-Droid, if not you can download the source, compile it and cross check it with the binary from F-Droid to make sure nothing suspicious has been added by F-Droid.

Business as a means for social change

We believe business and social impact should go hand-in-hand, and we want to show that commitment by becoming a B Corp-certified social enterprise. Read the B Corp report card on our social and environmental performance.

Fairphone 2

Fairphone 2 comes with Snapdragon 801 processor, 2GB LPDDR3 ram and 32GB eMMC5 flash storage. It has a 12MP rear camera with dual flash and a 5MP front cam. The price without export-charges/tax is 529.00 Euro. It is an overpriced medium range phone, even though it is now out of stock till march 2018. We can clearly see the reason behind such high demand, modularity and the principles they follow. If you want to own this modular phone, you can go to their official site, join the waiting list and you will be notfied when they get on stock again.

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Android smartphones started their journey a long way back, i.e. almost 10 years ago. That was the time when single and dual core processors, 128 MB of RAM and 2 GB of internal memory were ruling the segment (It may seem funny when you think about that now. But it’s similar to how the personal computers began their journey small). And applications were developed only according to that specifications. The story has changed a lot when I am writing this blog post now (There may be a smartphone with 12 GB RAM and 12 cores being manufactured now!).

So are those Hulk processors necessary or are those just number games? What’s an ideal phone? There are none till date to be specific about. But we can choose what we need, right? So that’s it, let’s get to the point.

What we need?

Let’s start from the basics:

• Calling
• Messaging/Chatting
• Internet
• Camera
• Music

These are the basics. All Android mobile phones are capable of meeting all the needs listed above. So why there are countless number of companies offering unlimited number of mobile phone models?

People do search for good,  better and the best. But the truth is, nothing is perfect.

Calling, messaging, multimedia and all don’t need that much powerful processors. So what’s the use with these high number of processor cores?

If you are a hardcore gamer, then you need these cores. And if you are a photography enthusiast, then also you need these cores. If you are a multitasking person, then you need these cores. But no one uses a mobile phone 24/7.

What number of processor cores actually suit you?

We can divide the main needs of people into three categories as follows:

• Daily tasks
• Mid-range tasks
• Hardcore tasks

Daily tasks just need a dual core processor (because smartphones nowadays don’t come with single-core processors!) and 1 GB of RAM Android mobile for their needs. That is just for calling, chatting, music and occasional mail checks.

Mid-ranger tasks need a quad core processor, and a decent 3 – 4 GB of RAM. They might be doing occasional gaming, taking photos, social networking, etc.

Now to the hardcore section. This is the part where it gets interesting. There are hexacores, octacores and even decacores these days. But these numbers are just tricky. For example, Snapdragon 820 processor was once the favorite of many flagship mobiles. It only had 4 processor cores, but were clocked at high speed (i.e. above 2GHz). It handled almost all Android applications on the Earth very well! Successors were born and it still continues its journey.

So the fact is that number of processor cores don’t matter sometimes. You just need a processor which is clocked at enough speed to handle the tasks which we throw at it. A dual core processor with high clock speeds will usually outperform a chip with low clock speeds and more number of processor cores. This is because most of the applications are programmed to run only on one processor core at a time, i.e. not optimized to utilize the advantages of multi-threading. So faster the individual core performance, the more better it is. For example, let’s take at two choices you have:

A – Quad core processor clocked at 2.5 GHz

B – Octa core processor clocked at 1.4 GHz for first 4 cores and 1GHz for last four cores

My suggestion for you will be to go for A if you are a hardcore user and go for B if you are a mid-ranger. Yes, you read that right, as I said before clock speed usually matters more than the number of processor cores.

Final words

There are two sides to a coin, right? There are graphic intense applications which are programmed to distribute their workload among different cores. Such apps need a higher number of processor cores.

One more thing. For better battery life, you should also consider the processor’s die size. We all might be familiar with processor’s die size, which says 28nm, 20nm, 16nm and so on, from various sites and online reviews. A processor with small die size will generate only less amount of heat and thus energy wastage will be minimal. So better performance with better battery life will be offered by processors with small die size.

I hope I was able to give a basic idea about the truth regarding the number of processor cores and clock speed. More detailed ideas will be given in the coming posts upon requests. Have a good day folks.

The post Does the number of processor cores actually matter? appeared first on IB Computing.

Going to mobile shop – having a budget in our mind (of course, in our pockets too!) – being flattered by each promoter’s humongous description – confusion – losing the budget – being convinced by the promoter – buy a phone – regretting after a few days of usage – then what?

This is the often scenario. We don’t know what to buy or what satisfies us. We always seem confused, regarding battery life, camera clarity, sound quality and so on. But don’t worry, we are here to help you. Just scroll down and you can find the budget Android phones you need.

Top Five Budget Android Phones

Xiaomi Redmi 4

Of course it is Xiaomi. Why? Simple – Xiaomi devices usually arrive in the markets as an all in one package. And that’s why it’s one of the most trusted brand by Indians for the last 3 years.

Xiaomi Redmi 4 Specifications

• Huge Battery – 4100 mAh
• 5 Inch HD Display
• 13 MP Main Camera
• 5MP Front Camera
• 2GB RAM
• 16 GB Internal Memory
• Snapdragon 435 Octacore Processor
• VoLTE Support
• Fingerprint Scanner
• Hybrid SIM Card Slot (i.e. either 2 SIM cards or 1 SIM card & 1 micro SD memory card at a time)
• Price: Rs. 6,999/-

Redmi 4 is a full metal body smartphone with the features mentioned above. If battery is your top priority and your budget is under Rs.10,000, then you can just blindly go for this. It also has a nice loudspeaker, superb call quality, no heating issues, can handle day-to-day tasks and moderate graphic intense games with ease. It also has dual app function, for example you can use two different WhatsApp or Facebook accounts without switching user. It can also be updated to Android Nougat version. Last but not least, it also has a very good quick fingerprint scanner and has all basic sensors too. Redmi 4, with no doubt, is one of the best budget Android phones available in the market right now.

Huawei Honor 6X

Huawei has been doing a good job in the recent times with its sub-brand Honor by launching a series of mid-range phones which offer great specs for a budget price. Like Samsung, Honor also uses its own kirin processor as its heart and brain. It comes in par with Snapdragon processors of the same price range. Let’s see what Honor has to offer with its new 6X model.

Honor 6X Specifications

• 3340 mAh Battery
• 5.5 inch Full HD Display
• 12 + 2 MP Dual Rear Cameras
• 8 MP Front Camera
• 3 GB RAM
• 32 GB Internal Memory
• Huawei Kirin 655 Octacore Processor
• VoLTE Support
• Fingerprint Scanner
• Price: Rs. 9,999/-

Honor has once again done a good job by releasing its midrange superstar, the all new 6X. Camera department is its USP. An all-day battery and full metallic body are its plus. It comes with EMUI 4.1 based on Android 6.0.1. Benchmarks are on par with Snapdragon 600 series processors which means it can do mid-level gaming and day-to-day multitasking with ease. If camera is your top priority in this price segment, you can easily choose Honor 6X.

Samsung Galaxy On Nxt

To be honest Samsung was not in my list of the top five budget Android phones out there. But it seems like there are a lot of brand-conscious people. It’s not a bad phone. But it skips all the basic sensors. I don’t know why Samsung is doing that. Even light sensor is missing! That’s what the awkward part is. But build quality and performance are really good considering the price.

Samsung Galaxy On Nxt Specifications

• 5.5 Inch Full HD Display
• 3300 mAh Battery
• 13 MP Main Camera
• 8MP Front camera
• Exynos 7870 Octacore Processor
• 3 GB RAM
• 64 GB Internal Memory (Expandable upto 256 GB via micro SD memory card)
• VoLTE Support
• Fingerprint Scanner
• Price: Rs.12,990/-

Samsung Galaxy On Nxt is not a bad phone at all. Like other budget Android phones in this range it comes with a good processor, nice camera, an all-day battery, fingerprint scanner, etc. Thanks to its dedicated micro SD card slot apart from the dual SIM card slot, this might be the only extra feature of this phone when compared with the other phones mentioned here. But the lack of even the basic sensors is what pulls back this good phone. It handles day-to-day multitasking with ease and there are no heating issues reported till date. If you are a brand conscious person and you can live without basic sensors then you can choose this phone.

Motorola Moto G5S

Voila! Motorola Moto G5S comes with vanilla Android with a pinch of Moto (now Lenovo-owned) exclusive features. That’s what Moto G series have been throughout its journey which started from 2013. G series was the most voted mid-range series from Moto till its launch date so far.

Moto G5S Specifications

• 3000 mAh Battery
• 5.2 Inch Full HD Screen
• 16 MP Main Camera
• 5 MP Front Camera
• 4GB RAM
• 32GB Internal Memory (Expandable up to 256 GB via micro SD memory card)
• Snapdragon 430 Octacore Processor
• VoLTE Support
• Fingerprint Scanner
• Hybrid SIM Card Slot
• Price: Rs. 12,999/-

Moto G5S is the successor of Moto G5 with a few upgrades in camera, battery and screen. It delivers an appreciable performance especially with its camera. If your budget is around 12K, and stock android is your ideal preference, then you can go for this. It also offers a quick fingerprint scanner, basic sensors and all-day battery-life.

Xiaomi Mi A1

Really, another Xiaomi in this segment again? Yes, of course. But this time the lovely MIUI has been ditched by Xiaomi and it chose Google as its new platform. Confused? Remember Google’s Android One program? Yes, it’s Android One’s renaissance and this time its Xiaomi’s turn to implement it. And the badass has done it right in every segment. Hardware – , Software – , Design – , Pricing – . So what else? A perfect midrange phone? Yes, it is one of the best budget Android phones, period.

Xiaomi Mi A1 Specifications

• 5.5 Inch Full HD Display
• 3080 mAh Battery
• 12 + 12 MP Dual Rear Cameras with Portrait Mode
• 8 MP Front Camera
• 4GB RAM
• 64 GB Internal Memory (Expandable upto 128 GB via micro SD memoy card)
• Snapdragon 625 Octacore Processor
• VoLTE Support
• Fingerprint Scanner
• Hybrid SIM Card Slot
• Fast-charging Support
• Price: Rs.13,999/-

Mi A1 has been Xiaomi’s new offering with stock Android for the first time. Gone is the super fine MIUI. Android One has been evolved like anything this time. From a larva to a beautiful butterfly, that’s what it is this time. A strong hardware, a capable battery, full HD screen and the best camera in this price segment. Fingerprint scanner might be a bit slow but you may not even notice it. Design might be confusing if kept with an iPhone 7 Plus near to it. Probably for pleasing a part of the crowd out there. Portrait mode works flawlessly in day light and might be noisy in indoor conditions. Battery can last up to one day but no longer which might be a contradiction to the Xiaomi’s line up till date but its compensated by the quick charging facility. If camera, stock android and good performance are your top priorities then Xiaomi Mi A1 is for you.

So, that’s all folks. This is my first post in this blog. Hope this helps you to choose what is best for you among the top budget Android phones. Detailed reviews of each phone will be updated upon special request.

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