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Xiaomi Redmi A1+ Review: Budget phone with fingerprint sensor
The Chinese electronics company Xiaomi’s subsidiary company Redmi was first introduced in July 2013 as a low-cost smartphone line. In 2019 it was separated into a sub-brand of Xiaomi to produce entry-level to mid-range Smartphones and gadgets. A1+ debuts in September 2022 under Redmi's entry-level lineup 'A' series. Let’s take a look at the specs, advantages, and limitations of Redmi A1+.
Key Features of Xiaomi Redmi A1+
Design and Features
The Xiaomi Redmi A1+ has preserved the dimensions of 164.9 x 76.8 x 9.1 mm or 6.49 x 3.02 x 0.36 in. It weighs 192 g. and has two SIM cards. It has a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm jack. The WLAN communications such as Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, hotspots, and so on are also there. It supports Bluetooth 5.0, and NFC. It has GPS, as well as A-GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, and BDS.
The phone bears a fingerprint scanner at the upper mid portion of the backside. It is probably the first smartphone in the international market to offer a fingerprint sensor. The rear side of the phone is made of premium-category plastic. It has a leather texture that gives an utmost elegant look. The back side also rooms a dual camera with a flashlight at the left upper corner of the phone.
Read Morevivo Y22s 4G Review: Will it survive competition?:
There are three color options available for the Redmi A1, including light green, dark black, and light blue. For the purpose of this review, we used the option with the light green color, and we found that the natural hue pairs well with the simple design of the smartphone.
Display
The 6.52-inch IPS screen on the front of the device offers a typical 60 Hz refresh rate and an HD+ resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels. The display has a 120 Hz touch-sampling rate, a 400-nit screen brightness, and glass that resists scratches to safeguard the screen. Additionally, the front of the device sports a notch that houses a 5 MP selfie camera. On the phone, there is no fingerprint reader.
If you want to use it to view SD video, the display is fairly good. The display has a ceiling that it reaches rather early, and there isn't much more you can do with it after that. The outcomes were in line with what one would expect from a budget smartphone when we viewed videos on YouTube, Netflix, and Hotstar. Not really unique, but excellent for the cost.
Read More: Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro Review: Know the Pros and Cons
In addition, the display is capable of reaching a maximum brightness of 400 nits and a refresh rate of 60 Hz. Although the sensation of scrolling is satisfactory, the haptic stimulation has been turned up to a significant degree. It's possible that you'll need to spend some time configuring the phone in order to fix that issue.
Camera
The cameras on the Redmi A1 Plus are similarly more focused on getting the job done than on wowing users with their quality or capabilities. When the lighting conditions are favorable, the 8-megapixel primary sensor on the rear of the device produces shots of satisfactory quality. It even does a respectable job with portrait photos (aided by the secondary 0.3-megapixel snapper on the back).
If you do not go into this situation expecting top-of-the-line colors and detail, you will not be disappointed. Instead, you will end up with snapshots that are excellent enough to post on social media and send in emails and texts.
Read More: Infinix Zero Ultra Review: Worth the hype?
Videos are, at most, suitable for sharing on social media, although there is a useful time-lapse mode available. When there is not enough light, either still or moving images will have worse quality.
Even while the color reproduction of the 5-megapixel front-facing camera is not quite up to grade, if you take your selfies in well-lit environments, you will have photos that are worthy of being shared.
This is not a camera for serious photographers; rather, it is a point-and-shoot model in the traditional sense. If you take enough precautions, you should be able to get passable results. Perhaps even the odd one out that stands out.
Read More: OPPO F21 Pro 4G Review: Special attraction for Shakib fans
Performance and Hardware
The Redmi A1 Plus is driven by a chipset identified as a MediaTek MT6761 Helio A22. The performance of this processor is satisfactory when it comes to carrying out fundamental activities like navigating the internet, making video calls, utilizing navigation, and many other activities. 32 gigabytes (GB) of storage space is provided, and 3 GB of RAM.
The Redmi A1 Plus utilizes Android 12 GO, which is an operating system developed by Google specifically for use in low-cost smartphones. On top of this operating system, you won't find much evidence of MIUI at all. The user interface is rather uncluttered, and with the exception of Facebook Lite, the phone does not have any bloatware applications.
We put the smartphone's graphics processing unit, or GPU, to the test by playing some light games like Subway Surfers, Candy Crush, and Clash Royale. The handset features a PowerVR GE8320 GPU.
Read More: vivo V25, V25e Review: Is the Price Difference Justified?
As soon as we were satisfied with the smartphone's overall performance, we fired up Garena Free Fire Max and got to playing. Even though there were some delays, the phone performed a good job of providing a gaming experience that was excellent.
Battery and Charging
The Redmi A1 Plus features a battery pack with a capacity of 5,000 mAh. As it is combined with the phone's basic hardware and operating system, results in extremely long battery life.
The smartphone's battery was easily able to last for two days with moderate use, which included sending and receiving messages on WhatsApp, browsing the web, listening to music, taking pictures, and watching nearly two hours of content each day. If you use the battery backup system more sparingly, you should have no problem reaching three days.
Read More: Top 10 phones coming to Bangladesh in November 2022
The smartphone can be fully charged using the 10W charger in less than three hours.
Price of Redmi A1+ in Bangladesh
The Xiaomi Redmi A1 Plus is not yet available officially in Bangladesh. In the Indian market, the phone costs INR 7,499 or BDT 9253. The conversion rate here is 1 INR = 1.23 BDT. However, the official price of Redmi A1+ in Bangladesh may vary due to tax and other issues.
Conclusion
In this phone, the manufacturer has included all of the necessary features that consumers anticipate seeing on an affordable smartphone without sacrificing the device's overall performance. A few features like the chin and bezel width and the VGA camera on the rear could be improved for a better experience.
Read More: Xiaomi launches Redmi Note 12 series: Can it hold the legacy?
On the whole, the Redmi A1+ phone provides a standard experience under the budget range. Those who are upgrading from a feature phone may consider Xiaomi Redmi A1+.
'Environment for 5G rollout already in place': Mustafa Jabbar
The environment required for rolling out 5G services in the country is already in place, Post and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar said on Tuesday.
The minister was speaking at a roundtable discussion on '5G Technology: Prospects and Actions' organised by Telecom Reporters' Network, Bangladesh (TRNB) and mobile operator Robi at a city hotel.
“Along with the business purpose of 5G, we all need to work towards solving the problems of the people,” he added.
Read more: '5G can change the face of industry in Bangladesh'
Speaking at the same event, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Chairman Shyam Sunder Sikder said an integrated market survey needs to be conducted to understand how the 5G services can be rolled out commercially.
Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) can play a leading role in this regard, he added.
However, Hossain Sadat, corporate affairs officer of Grameenphone, said the ecosystem needs to be transformed to roll out 5G here. Besides, the towers will need a lot of electricity.
“5G spectrum needs to be rolled out, we have 700 and 3.5 spectrum ready,” said BTRC system and service division director general Brigadier General Md Nasim Parvez
"If necessary the existing policies will be changed for the welfare of all. Even if there is a need to share the spectrum, initiatives will be taken," he added.
Read more: Modi unveils 5G mobile internet services in India
At the event, the managing director of the state-owned Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) Md Rafiqul Matin said, “We are connecting the economic zones. We are trying to use a 5G connection when it rolls out. Working together with all the operators, we will move forward through infrastructure sharing.”
vivo Y22s 4G Review: Will it survive competition?
The smartphone market for entry-level to lower mid-range has always been filled with competition. vivo has been a key player in this market with its range of devices, especially the Y series. The series first debuted in 2019 with the vivo Y3. Over the years there have been several additions to cater to the dynamic needs. vivo’s latest Y series phone Y22s was launched on 23rd August 2022 globally. Now, it is available in Bangladesh. Here’s our detailed take on the key features of the vivo Y22s so that you can decide whether to go for it or not.
Key Specifications of vivo Y22s
Design and Build Quality
The design elements of the vivo Y22s are reminiscent of its previous generation, the Y21s. There is a similar brushed-back design with diffused reflection making it look much more premium than its price class. It also does an excellent job of repelling fingerprint smudges and overall wear and tear.
However, the build is still plastic. The phone features plastic all around with an unrated glass front. At this price point, the choice of a premium design with a plastic build is not surprising. And it shouldn’t bother you much if you put in a case on the device.
Read More: Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro Review: Know the Pros and Cons
The dimensions of vivo Y22s are 164.3 by 76.1 by 8.4 mm. The device weighs about 192g.
Moving on to ports and buttons, the Y22s features all the essentials. The 3.5 mm headphone jack still stays right beside the secondary mic and the bottom-firing speaker. The left of the device features the sim slot along with the dedicated micro SDXC slot. The right side features the volume rocker and the power button which also doubles as the biometric sensor.
The overall design and the build quality of the Y22s are satisfactory. However, the only drawback might be its front design which has rather thick bezels and chins compared to the 2022 standards.
Read More: Apple iPad, iPad Pro 2022 Review: World’s most advanced tablets
Display
Perhaps the most visible letdown of the Y22s is its display. While it might seem like a stretch, for its price vivo should’ve included better hardware in the display department. Considering this is the primary contact point between the user and the device.
The Y22s features a 6.55-inch 720P IPS LCD panel with 270 PPI density. It has a resolution of 720 by 1612 pixels. The choice of IPS LCD is still understandable, but considering that vivo has priced the device in the mid-range segment, it definitely should’ve included FHD+ resolution or a faster refresh rate.
Many of vivo’s competitors offer the same along with AMOLED at this price point. Speaking of the display itself, it doesn’t have the weird color shift or blue tint like that of other HD+ LCDs. However, that’s the only good thing.
Read More: Top 10 phones coming to Bangladesh in November 2022
The colors on the device look a bit washed out and the lack of vibrancy is even more noticeable because of the lower resolution. The display does get relatively bright in both indoor and outdoor use but it’s no match for direct sunlight as you will notice glares even with max brightness.
Overall, the display could’ve definitely been better on the Y22s. What it brings to the table is passable but it definitely won’t be the key selling point of the device.
Camera
The vivo Y22s features a dual camera system. This might seem like a downgrade from the previous generation which had a triple-camera setup. But there’s more than meets the eyes.
Read More: Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Review: Can it fulfil users’ expectations
The main sensor of the vivo Y22s is a 50 MP ( f/1.8) wide-angle shooter. This is the same main sensor found on the Y21s. the Y21s had an additional 2 MP depth and macro sensors. This Year vivo dropped the depth sensor and kept the 2 MP (f/2.4) macro shooter for a dual camera setup.
Moving on to the performance of the cameras, the main sensor steals the show here. The pictures look great in outdoor condition with decent lighting. For a mid-range smartphone, the camera was surprisingly good at capturing the dynamic range and details.
The portraits however were a hit or a miss. Sometimes it captured great details along with proper edge detection. But other times the subject wasn’t properly exposed.
Read More: vivo V25, V25e Review: Is the Price Difference Justified?
The exposure issues become even more apparent indoors or in dimly lit environments. The Y22s also suffer from grains and noises in any form of artificial light.
The videography of the phone is limited to 1080P at 30 fps.
The front side offers a generic 8 MP (f/2.0) shooter which gets the job done. It can capture 1080p footage at 30fps.
Processor and Performance
Moving on to the processor, the vivo Y22s features a Snapdragon 680 4G chipset based on the 6nm architecture. The 680 chip from snapdragon is the perfect mid-range chipset which has been a reliable choice for a few years now. The processor’s graphic unit is equipped with an Adreno 610 GPU.
Read More: OPPO F21 Pro 4G Review: Special attraction for Shakib fans
Similar reliability is reflected in the performance as well. Although not touted to be a gaming phone, the Y22s can handle gaming pretty well. Especially titles like COD, PUBG, and Asphalt 9 play at the highest settings without any hiccups. The only problem here is that the device does get heated up after quite some time of continued gaming.
For day-to-day task, the Y22s performs like a breeze. The Funtouch OS also came a long way from its initial days to be more streamlined and responsive. Overall, the performance of the Y22s justifies the price it comes at.
Battery and Charge Time
The vivo Y22s comes equipped with a 5000 mAh battery. Combine this with the moderate display and the device can easily last around 8-10 hours of continued usage. The device also supports 18W wired fast charging which vivo claims can go from 0 to 70% in 70 minutes.
Read More: realme C30 Review: An entry-level phone with smooth performance
Official Price of vivo Y22s in Bangladesh
The Y22s is available in two variants – the 6/128 GB one and the 8/128 GB configuration. Currently, the 6/128 GB variant is officially available in Bangladesh. The price of the device is 21,999 BDT and can be currently pre-ordered. However, the price is subject to change.
Verdict
The vivo Y22s checks a lot of the boxes when it comes to affordable mid-range devices. It has got a good camera, a decent battery, and a durable build with stylish looks. However, the one aspect that will bother any user is the display. Other than that, the vivo Y22s smartphone seems to be a standard phone for average day-to-day tasks.
Elon Musk says will ban impersonators on Twitter
Elon Musk tweeted Sunday that Twitter will permanently suspend any account on the social media platform that impersonates another.
The platform's new owner issued the warning after some celebrities changed their Twitter display names — not their account names — and tweeted as ‘Elon Musk’ in reaction to the billionaire's decision to offer verified accounts to all comers for $8 month as he simultaneously laid off a big chunk of the workforce.
“Going forward, any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying “parody” will be permanently suspended,” Musk wrote. While Twitter previously issued warnings before suspensions, now that it is rolling out “widespread verification, there will be no warning.”
Read more: Musk's takeover keeps Twitterati guessing on future direction
In fact, “any name change at all” would compel the temporary loss of a verified checkmark, the world's richest man said.
Comedian Kathy Griffin had her account suspended Sunday after she switched her screen name to Musk. She told a Bloomberg reporter that she had also used his profile photo.
“I guess not ALL the content moderators were let go? Lol,” Griffin joked afterward on Mastodon, an alternative social media platform where she set up an account last week.
Actor Valerie Bertinelli had similarly appropriated Musk's screen name — posting a series of tweets in support of Democratic candidates on Saturday before switching back to her true name. “Okey-dokey. I've had fun and I think I made my point,” she tweeted afterwards.
Before the stunt, Bertinelli noted the original purpose of the blue verification checkmark. It was granted free of charge to people whose identity Twitter employees had confirmed; with journalists accounting for a big portion of recipients. “It simply meant your identity was verified. Scammers would have a harder time impersonating you,” Bertinelli noted.
“That no longer applies. Good luck out there!” she added.
The $8 verified accounts are Musk's way of democratizing the service, he claims. On Saturday, a Twitter update for iOS devices listed on Apple's app store said users who “sign up now” for the new “Twitter Blue with verification” can get the blue check next to their names “just like the celebrities, companies and politicians you already follow.”
It said the service would first be available in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the U.K. However, it was not available Sunday and there was no indication when it would roll go live. A Twitter employ, Esther Crawford, told The Associated Press it is coming “soon but it hasn’t launched yet.”
Read more: Twitter users will soon be able to purchase Blue Check for $7.99 per month
Twitter did not respond on Sunday to an email seeking comment on the verified accounts issue and Griffin's suspension.
Musk later tweeted, “Twitter needs to become by far the most accurate source of information about the world. That’s our mission.”
If the company were to strip current verified users of blue checks — something that hasn't happened — that could exacerbate disinformation on the platform during Tuesday's midterm elections.
Like Griffin, some Twitter users have already begun migrating from the platform — Counter Social is another popular alternative — following layoffs that began Friday that reportedly affected about half of Twitter's 7,500-employee workforce. They fear a breakdown of moderation and verification could create a disinformation free-for-all on what has been the internet's main conduit for reliable communications from public agencies and other institutions.
Many companies have paused advertising on the platform out of concern it could become more unruly under Musk.
Yoel Roth, Twitter’s head of safety and integrity, sought to assuage such concerns in a tweet Friday. He said the company’s front-line content moderation staff was the group least affected by the job cuts.
Musk tweeted late Friday that there was no choice but to cut jobs “when the company is losing over $4M/day.” He did not provide details on the daily losses at Twitter and said employees who lost their jobs were offered three months’ pay as severance.
Walton laptop packaging design contest begins
Walton Digi-Tech Industries launched a laptop packaging design contest Saturday.
This contest, which is open to all, will run till November 30. The contestants will be able to submit multiple designs. A panel of judges will select 13 winners.
"The top three winners of the 'Walton Laptop Packaging Design Contest' will get Tk2 lakh, Tk50,000 and Tk30,000, respectively. The other 10 winners will get Tk10,000 each," according to a media statement.
Read: vivo announces the visual creator short film contest in Bangladesh
Professor Nisar Hossain, dean of the Faculty of Fine Art of the University of Dhaka, was present as the chief guest at the launching programme in Dhaka.
Professor Sheikh Afzal Hossain, chairman of the Department of Drawing and Painting of the University of Dhaka, Professor Shishir Bhattacharjee of the same department and Walton Digi-Tech Chairman SM Rezaul Alam were also present.
Read: Walton CEO, CMO score Bangladesh C-Suite Awards
Musk's takeover keeps Twitterati guessing on future direction
The discourse was never all that civil on Twitter. The loudest voices have often drowned out softer, more nuanced takes. After all, it’s much easier to rage-tweet at a perceived enemy than to seek common ground, whether the argument is about transgender kids or baseball.
In the chaos that has enveloped Twitter the platform — and Twitter the company — since Elon Musk took over, it has become clear this isn’t changing anytime soon. In fact, it’s likely to get much worse before it gets better — if it gets better at all.
Musk, with his band of tech industry loyalists, arrived at Twitter just over a week ago ready to tear down the blue bird’s nest and rebuild it in his vision with breakneck speed. He quickly fired top executives and the board of directors, installed himself as the company’s sole director (for now) and declared himself “Chief Twit,” then “Twitter Complaint Hotline Operator” on his bio.
Read: Influencers debate leaving Twitter, but where would they go?
On Friday, he began mass layoffs at the San Francisco-based company, letting go about half of of its workers via email to return it to staffing levels not seen since 2014.
All the while, he’s continued to tweet a mix of crude memes, half-jokes, SpaceX rocket launches and maybe-maybe not plans for Twitter that he seems to be workshopping on the site in real time. After floating the idea of charging users $20 a month for the “blue check” and some extra features, for instance, he appeared to quickly scale it back in a Twitter exchange with author Stephen King, who posted, “If that gets instituted, I’m gone like Enron.”
“We need to pay the bills somehow! Twitter cannot rely entirely on advertisers. How about $8?” Musk replied. On Saturday, the company announced a subscription service for $7.99 monthly that allows anyone on Twitter to pay a fee for the check mark “just like the celebrities, companies and politicians you already follow” as well as some premium features — not yet available — like getting their tweets boosted above those coming from accounts without the blue check.
The billionaire Tesla CEO also has repeatedly engaged with right-wing figures appealing for looser restrictions on hate and misinformation, received congratulations from Dimitry Medvedev, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s top associate and tweeted — then deleted — a baseless conspiracy theory about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, who was attacked in his home.
More than three dozen advocacy organizations wrote an open letter to Twitter’s top 20 advertisers, calling on them to commit to halting advertising on the platform if Twitter under Musk undermines “brand safety” and guts content moderation.
“Not only are extremists celebrating Musk’s takeover of Twitter, they are seeing it as a new opportunity to post the most abusive, harassing, and racist language and imagery. This includes clear threats of violence against people with whom they disagree,” the letter said.
One of Musk’s first moves was to fire the woman in charge of trust and safety at the platform, Vijaya Gadde. But he has kept on Yoel Roth, Twitter’s head of safety and integrity, and has taken steps to reassure users and advertisers that the site won’t turn into a “free-for-all hellscape” that some fear it might.
Read: Musk fires Twitter's board of directors becomes board's sole member
On Friday, he tweeted that “Twitter’s strong commitment to content moderation remains absolutely unchanged. In fact, we have actually seen hateful speech at times this week decline (asterisk)below(asterisk) our prior norms, contrary to what you may read in the press.” A growing number of advertisers are nevertheless pausing spending on Twitter while they reassess how Musk’s changes might increase objectionable material on the platform.
Musk also met with some civil rights leaders “about how Twitter will continue to combat hate & harassment & enforce its election integrity policies,” according to a tweet he sent Nov. 1.
But representatives of the LGBTQ community were notably absent from the meeting, even though its members are far more likely to be victims of violent crime than those outside of such communities. Twitter did not respond to a message for comment on whether Musk plans to meet with LGBTQ groups.
The mercurial billionaire has said he won’t make major decisions about content or restoring banned accounts — such as that of former President Donald Trump — before setting up a “content moderation council” with diverse viewpoints. The council, he later added, will include “the civil rights community and groups who face hate-fueled violence.” But experts have pointed out that Twitter already has a trust and safety advisory council to address moderation questions.
“Truly I can’t imagine how it would differ,” said Danielle Citron, a University of Virginia law professor who sits on the council and has been working with Twitter since its infancy in 2009 to tackle online harms, such as threats and stalking. “Our council has the full spectrum of views on free speech.”
Some amount of chaos is expected after a corporate takeover, as are layoffs and firings. But Musk’s murky plans for Twitter — especially its content moderation, misinformation and hate speech policies — are raising alarms about where one of the world’s most high-profile information ecosystems is headed. All that seems certain is that for now, at least, as Elon Musk goes, so goes Twitter.
Read: Musk says Twitter blue tick being revamped
“I hope that responsibility and maturity will win the day,” said Eddie Perez, a former Twitter civic integrity team leader who left the company before Musk took over. “It’s one thing to be a billionaire troll on Twitter and to try to get laughs with memes and to yuk it up. You are now the owner of Twitter and there’s a new level of responsibility.”
For now, though, the memes appear to be winning. This concerns experts like Perez, who worry Musk is moving too fast without listening to people who have been working to improve civility on the platform and instead using his own insular experience as one of the platform’s most popular users with millions of fawning fans who hail his every move.
“You have a single billionaire that is controlling something as influential as a social media platform like Twitter. And you have entire nation states (whose) political goals are inimical to our own, and they are trying to create chaos and they are directly courting favor” with Musk, Perez said.
“There’s just no world in which all of that is normal,” he added. “That should absolutely concern us.”
Twitter didn’t start out as a cesspool. And even now there are pockets of funny, weird, nerdy subgroups on the platform that remain somewhat insulated from the messy and confrontational place it can appear to be if one follows too many hotheaded agitators. But as with Facebook, Twitter’s rise also coincided with growing polarization and a measurable decline in online civility in the United States and beyond.
“The big understanding that occurred between 2008 and 2012 is that the way to get traction, the way to get attention on any social media, Twitter included, was to use incendiary language — to challenge the basic humanity of the opposition,” said Lee Rainie, director of internet and technology research at the Pew Research Center.
Things continued to devolve as the 2016 U.S. presidential election approached and passed, and the new president cemented his reputation as one of Twitter’s most incendiary users. After it was revealed that Russia used social media platforms to try to influence elections in the U.S. and other countries, the platforms found themselves became central figures in the political debate.
“Do they have too much power? Do their content moderation policies privilege one side or another?” Rainie said. “The companies themselves found themselves in the thick of the most intense arguments in the culture. And so that’s the environment that Elon Musk is entering now.”
And beyond the bluster and the outsized personality, Musk’s own description of his new job — “Twitter Complaint Hotline Operator” — may turn out to be his biggest challenge yet.
Entry-level smartphone realme C33 to hit market Tuesday
Youth-centric brand realme will bring the entry-level smartphone C33 with a stylish design and powerful camera Tuesday.
Available in Aqua Blue and Night Sea colours, this phone has a slim body of just 8.3mm and right-angle bezels.
Read: realme brings C30 to Bangladesh
Made with micron-level processing and lithography, one of the aspects of C33's design is its dynamic visual light effect, which makes the phone look trendier and visually appealing from different angles.
Also, the device has a 50MP camera setup with CHDR algorithm technology for youngsters who love to take pictures.
Read: realme launches 9 Pro+, 9 Pro, Pad Mini
To eliminate the drawbacks of HDR technology and ensure a good photography experience for the users, the phone has incorporated the CHDR algorithm technology, which accounts for brighter and more attractive photos.
Read: Top 10 phones coming to Bangladesh in November 2022
C33 also features a 5,000mAh large battery, an ultra-fast side fingerprint sensor and a powerful processor with UFS 2.2 storage facility.
On the occasion of launching the new phone on November 8, there will be different offers for realme users.
Mustafa Jabbar wants fixed rate for internet packages across operators
Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar on Sunday urged mobile operators to come up with a fixed rate for the internet packages they provide.
Currently, the package rate is not acceptable and mobile data should be provided at a fixed rate, he said after inaugurating the latest benchmarking system at the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to monitor the quality of service of mobile operators in the city.
Read more: 5G internet within December: BTRC
“Operators introduce and sell packages as they wish, there must be an acceptance when you sell the package,” Jabbar said.
The minister also said the operators are unable to meet customer demand because 2018 spectrum and 2022 spectrum purchases are yet to be rolled out, he added.
“And so, the customer service has to be questioned. We have put the operators under pressure. They have never before been under such pressure,” he added.
Read more: Palak calls for Global Internet Governance Council & Frontier Technology Guidelines under UN
The minister urged the BTRC to take steps to resolve the data package rate issue.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro Review: Know the Pros and Cons
Xiaomi's sub-brand Redmi launched four new phones, Redmi Note 12, Note 12 Pro, Note 12 Pro+, and Note 12 Explorer, under its latest Redmi Note 12 series on November 1 in China. The phones are expected to be launched in Bangladesh and other Asian countries by the end of November. Let’s take a look at the key specs of the Redmi Note 12 Pro.
Key Features of Redmi Note 12 Pro
Design
The Note 12 Pro represents a continuation of the previous generation’s design. The front screen with a flat back panel and a straight-back frame basically resembles the design of the Note 11T Pro. But 12 Pro has a larger, more powerful camera module. It comes in four colors, black, blue, white, violet or purple.
The side still includes a power button that functions as a fingerprint too. On the top, you will get an IR emitter, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, and NFC. However, the SIM card slot does not function with TF cards.
Read More: Apple iPad, iPad Pro 2022 Review: World’s most advanced tablets
The 187g weight, as well as the 7.9 mm width, contributes to the Note 12 Pro feeling like a lightweight device despite its 162.9 by 76 height and length. Note 12 Pro should get a very high score for its form factor at a mid-range.
Display
The Note 12 screen looks the same as the one on the 11 Pro, but there are some small upgrades. A larger 6.67-inch OLED display uses a smaller bezel, which yields the most noticeable difference between those two devices. It looks more beautiful than average mid-range phones do from the front. The quality of the screen is excellent and creates a diamond-quality pixel.
The display’s resolution is 1080 × 2400 pixels with a 120Hz refresh rate. It uses a 1920Hz pulse-width modulation dimming in low brightness and supports Dolby Vision (900 nits peak brightness). The quality of this screen is best in the same price range.
Read More: Top 10 phones coming to Bangladesh in November 2022
Hardware
Performance on the Note 12 Pro’s weaker side comes from using the Dimensity 1080 chip, a 6nm mid-range MediaTek chip. Both AnTuTu and 3DMark are showing very similar ratings to the prior Generation Dimensity 920 with a 968,607 AnTuTu score.
The graphic unit is enriched with Mali-G68 MC4 GPU. The phone runs on MIUI 13 OS on top of Android 12.
Ultimately, you can evaluate the level of performance of a chip when you visit the framerate information for each video game. Of course, it’s no problem for PUBG on a mobile device. As per Genshin Impact, its average fps was less than 40, which is not an excellent performance.
Read More: vivo V25, V25e Review: Is the Price Difference Justified?
So, it is better to buy Dimensity 8100 phone if you prefer a better chip. So, Note 12 Pro falls behind the Note 11T pro in hardware comparison.
Storage
Although you cannot add an external memory card, the four memory variation should be good enough for you. Note 12 Pro comes with 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, and 256GB 12GB RAM version. But you might not get all the versions in Bangladesh.
Here you get UFS 2.2 data transfer technology.
Read More: realme C30 Review: An entry-level phone with smooth performance
Camera
Redmi focuses on the camera of Note 12 Pro. However, it does not use the latest 200MP main camera. But Redmi emphasizes filters and Art frames. Seven new filters have been added to the Note 12 series, all of which make photos appear grainy while altering the color.
Moreover, some scenes may look excellent on these filters, making them great for film photography. So, this phone is recommended for people who enjoy photography.
Rear Camera Series
The back camera includes a 50 MP wide-angle main camera that features an f/1.9 aperture, 24mm lens width, and 1/1.56-lens size. This sensor has introduced a new optical image stabilizer this time.
Read More: Infinix Zero Ultra Review: Worth the hype?
The sensor part has also become larger, so the video recordings or photos in dim light have improved over the previous context. In particular, the 2x magnification is just fine with handshakes, even as the recent 5x magnification has no shaking in the dark as it was before with previous models.
Now the night vision setting is even more fun. It does not improve the dynamic range but just lowers the highlights and darkens the dark portions. Consequently, it makes night scenes more enjoyable and relaxing without noise. Some scenes demand stronger highlights, and it can cause unwanted exposure, just like a neon box, which doesn’t look as good as the automatic mode.
And oftentimes, the color temperature is too cool, so it can be difficult to take a good photo at night with the Note 12 Pro if you lack expertise and skill.
Read More: Tecno Pova 4 Pro Review: Budget gaming phone with a massive battery
Besides, Note 12 Pro’s rear camera series includes an 8 MP ultrawide camera featuring an aperture of f/1.9, 119˚ (ultrawide) field-of-view, and 1/4" lens size. It also has a 2 MP macro sensor with an f/2.4 aperture. However, the macro camera performance is not the best. It is not recommended for frequent use.
Front Camera
On the front side, Redmi Note 12 Pro sports a 16 MP (wide) selfie sensor. Its sensor size is 1/3.06-inch and 1.0µm.
Video Capacity
The video recording quality has improved significantly than Note 11 Pro. Because its ability to stabilize video recordings is improved by the addition of OIS. But additionally, by taking into consideration other smartphones with EIS, Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro’s recording is not superior.
Read More: Xiaomi 12T Pro Review: Is the hype real?
The highest camera shooting parameters on the Note 11 Pro are 4K 30fps for the main camera and 1080P 30fps for the ultra-wide camera, which are the same in the Note 11 Pro.
With the front camera, you can shoot 1080p footage at 30 or 60fps.
Battery and Charging
The Note 12 Pro comes with 67w charging power for a 5000mAh battery. However, it is 20g lighter than Note 11 Pro, and the battery is 160mAh smaller. Since the phone might give you a reduced performance, the battery life should be long-lasting. Therefore, it is a good improvement over 11 Pro+.
Read More: Google Pixel 7 Series Review: What’s New
Redmi Note 12 Pro’s Price
The Redmi Note 12 Pro’s 128GB 6GB RAM version will cost $299 in China, which is equivalent to Tk30,688 ($1= BDT. 102.64). However, the official price of Redmi Note 12 Pro in Bangladesh may vary due to tax and other issues.
Final Words
While the four models of Xiaomi’s latest Redmi Note 12 series are different, they share some identical features, such as a 6.67-inch flat AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, FHD+ resolution, and 900 nits peak brightness. The display also supports Dolby Vision, HDR 10, 10-bit color, and HDR 10+. All these models are powered by Dimensity 1080 chipset. But there are some significant differences too, but Note 12 Pro seems promising.
Note 12 Pro is great for photographers and regular gamers. So, if you want the play regular games rather than 3D games, this phone is for you as you are getting a long-lasting massive battery. Redmi Note 12 should also be great for fashion enthusiasts as the back colors are fascinating.
Read More: OnePlus Ace Pro Review: Premium phone with flagship chipset
On the whole, if you are looking for a mid-range smartphone with standard looks, a reliable battery, good camera performance, and efficient hardware, you can consider the Redmi Note 12 Pro.
Influencers debate leaving Twitter, but where would they go?
Pariss Chandler built a community for Black tech workers on Twitter that eventually became the foundation for her own recruitment company.
Now she’s afraid it could all fall apart if Twitter becomes a haven for racist and toxic speech under the control of Elon Musk, a serial provocateur who has indicated he could loosen content rules.
With Twitter driving most of her business, Chandler sees no good alternative as she watches the uncertainty play out.
“Before Elon took over, I felt like the team was working to make Twitter a safer platform, and now they are kind of not there. I don’t know what’s going on internally. I have lost hope in that,” said Chandler, 31, founder of Black Tech Pipeline, a jobs board and recruitment website. “I’m both sad and terrified for Twitter, both for the employees and also the users.”
Those qualms are weighing on many people who have come to rely on Twitter, a relatively small but mighty platform that has become a digital public square of sorts for influencers, policy makers, journalists and other thought leaders.
Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, took over Twitter last week in a $44 billion deal, immediately making his unpredictable style felt.
Read: Musk fires Twitter's board of directors becomes board's sole member
Just days later, he had tweeted a link to a story from a little-known news outlet that made a dubious claim about the violent attack on Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband at their California home. He soon deleted it, but it was a worrying start to his tenure for those concerned about the spread of disinformation online.
Musk has also signaled his intent to loosen the guardrails on hate speech, and perhaps allow former President Donald Trump and other banned commentators to return. He tempered the thought after the deal closed, however, pledging to form a “content moderation council” and not allow anyone who has been kicked off the site to return until it sets up procedures on how to do that.
Yet the use of racial slurs quickly exploded in an apparent test of his tolerance level.
“Folks, it’s getting ugly here. I am not really sure what my plan is. Stay or go?” Jennifer Taub, a law professor and author with about a quarter million followers, said Sunday, as she tweeted out a link to her Facebook page in case she leaves Twitter.
For now, Taub plans to stay, given the opportunity it provides to “laugh, learn and commiserate” with people from across the world. But she’ll leave if it becomes “a cesspool of racism and antisemitism,” she said in a phone call.
“The numbers are going down and down and down,” said Taub, who has lost 5,000 followers since Musk officially took over. “The tipping point might be if I’m just not having fun there. There are too many people to block.”
The debate is especially fraught for people of color who have used Twitter to network and elevate their voices, while also confronting toxicity on the platform.