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Best Paytm Mall gaming Friday deals roundup: Cashback on gaming laptops, consoles, monitors and more

Paytm Mall is hosting a gaming Friday deals sale and is offering a plethora of products at a discounted price. We have rounded up some of the best deals available, which include gaming laptops, consoles, monitors, gaming titles and more.  Acer Nitro 5  Deal Price: Rs 61,999 + Rs 8,500 Cashback  The Acer Nitro 5 laptop is powered by 7th Gen Intel Core i5 processor and comes with 8GB RAM and 1TB of internal storage. It is equipped with a dedicated Nvidia GTX 940MX GPU and features a 15.6-inch display. You can check it out here.  Dell Inspiron Gaming 5577  Deal Price: Rs 68,999 + Rs 8,500 cashback  The Dell Inspiron gaming 5577 laptop is powered by the 7th Gen Core i5 processor and features 8GB DDR4 RAM with 1TB HDD. It is equipped with the Nvidia GTX 1050 GDDR5 GPU and comes with a 15.6-inch display. You can check out the laptop here.  MSI Gaming GL62M 7RDX-2069XIN gaming laptop Deal Price: Rs 73,989 + Rs 5,919 cashback The MSI gaming laptop is powered by the 7th Gen Core i7 processor, coupled with 8GB RAM and 1TB of HDD. It also sports 4GB Nvidia Geforce GTX 1050 GDDR5 GPU and features a 15.6-inch display. You can buy the laptop here. Sony PS4 1TB console Offer Price: Rs 32,199 + Rs 3,220 cashback The 1TB Sony PS4 console comes bundled with two games, The Last Of Us and the latest installation of the first-person RPG, Uncharted 4. The console supports WiFi, 2x USB and 1x HDMI connections as well. You can check it out here.  LG 24MP59G 24-inch gaming monitor  Deal Price: Rs 14,100 + Rs 1,974 cashback The 24-inch LG gaming monitor features a full HD resolution and comes with a 5ms response time. It is an LED display with 27W rated power consumption and comes with a three year warranty. You can buy it here.  Samsung LC27F390FHWXXL curved LED monitor  Offer price: Rs 16,699 + Rs 2,338 cashback The Samsung curved LED monitor features a 26.5-inch display and boasts of a 4ms response time. It features a full HD display resolution and covers 72 percent of the colour gamut. You can buy it here.  LG 24GM79G Gaming Monitor with 144Hz Refresh Rate  Deal Price: Rs 24,299 + Rs 3,402 The 24-inch LG gaming monitor features a 144Hz refresh rate and comes with a 5ms response time and 1ms motion blur response. It supports full HD display resolution and has a three year manufacturer warranty. You can check it out here.  Sony DualShock 4 Wireless Controller for
OnePlus 6 leak based concept video hints at thin-bezel display, wireless charging

It’s nearly every day that fresh information about the OnePlus 6 surfaces online and gives new insights into the flagship smartphone. Consolidating all these leaks and rumours of the device, Phone Industry has created a render video. It gives an idea of the smartphone’s design and also a look at the display, which is confirmed to feature a notch on top. The smartphone is seen with an edge-to-edge thin-bezel design. The video starts by showing the bottom edge of the OnePlus 6, where a USB Type-C port, speaker grille and a 3.5mm audio jack are spotted.  The left side of the smartphone features a red Alert Slider with the volume rockers and the left edge hosts the power button. This is inconsistent with what the company previously teased. OnePlus had earlier posted an image where either the right or the left edge of the OnePlus 6 was partially revealed and only the volume rocker keys were to be seen, and there was no Alert Slider. So, OnePlus has probably relocated the Alert Slider and it might now be placed alongside the power/lock button. Same as what previously leaked images have tipped at, the video shows that on the rear is a dual rear camera setup with an LED flash and the rectangular fingerprint sensor. The speculated wireless charging functionality is also shown in the video, along with a wireless charger, which sports the OnePlus logo. The video creator has played with the smartphone’s colour and it is seen in Black, Red, and White colour variants. A previous report tipped that there might also be a Coral Blue colour variant of the handset.  This is all that was covered in this render video of the OnePlus 6, but in terms of specifications, the smartphone is confirmed to come with 8GB RAM and 256GB of internal storage. When the smartphone manufacturer announced that the device will come with a notch, it faced a major backlash from its community of fans. Soon after, OnePlus announced the inclusion of a compatibility mode which hides the notch. The compatibility mode also works with a majority of apps and is said to have been tested to work “flawlessly” with over 1000 top apps on the Google Play Store. As per a recent teaser by the company, the OnePlus 6 could gain IP67 or IP68 certified waterproofing or water-resistance. OnePlus CEO, Pete Lau also recently posted the first official camera samples captured from the smartphone. Lau showcased the daylight and bokeh performance
Vivo V9 Youth with Full View display, dual rear cameras launched in India at Rs 18,990

Chinese handset maker Vivo on Friday unveiled "Vivo V9 Youth" -- a customised variant of the Vivo V9 flagship smartphone for the youth. Priced at Rs 18,990, "Vivo V9 Youth" comes with a 6.3-inch "Fullview" display 2.0, 16MP and 2MP dual rear camera, 16MP artificial intelligence (AI) selfie camera and 32GB ROM, expandable up to 256GB.  "With the launch of 'Vivo V9 Youth', we are bringing the best features of our flagship V9 in a new avatar for our young and modern consumers," said Kenny Zeng, CMO, Vivo India. The smartphone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 octa-core processor,3260mAh battery and runs on Funtouch OS 4.0 ( based on Android 8.1). "The device is for consumers who want a holistic and powerful smartphone experience at a competitive price," Zeng added. Just like Vivo's flagship device, "Vivo V9 Youth" also comes with "Game Mode" that would allow users to block all messages, calls, and alerts during gaming sessions.
Panasonic launches Eluga I7 smartphone with Big View Display, 4,000 mAh battery at Rs 6,499

Expanding its "Big View" display series, Panasonic India on Friday unveiled an affordable "Eluga I7" smartphone with the 18:9 aspect ratio for an immersive experience. Priced at Rs 6,499, the device with 5.45-inch Big View HD+ 2.5D curved display will be available on Flipkart starting April 24.  The device has 4000mAh battery, 8MP Auto Focus (AF) rear camera with LED flash and 8MP front camera with LED flash and a fingerprint sensor. "The new Eluga I7 with 'Big View' display is designed to target the youth, ensuring that the users get a seamless display experience," Pankaj Rana, Business Head-Mobility Division, Panasonic India, said in a statement. The device has 1.3 GHz quad core processor, 2GB RAM, Android Nougat 7.0 and 16 GB ROM expandable up to 128GB. The features such as "Trusted Face" recognition and "Trusted Voice" lets the user unlock the device with a glance or by speaking into the device.  Panasonic's Artificial Intelligence-enabled "Arbo Hub" will be available on Eluga I7 through an over the air update (FOTA).
Apple iPhone SE 2 spotted in regulatory filing, could be launched at WWDC 2018

Rumours of Apple developing a successor to the iPhone SE have been going around the internet for sometime now and fueling the rumours, a new filing for the iPhone SE 2 has been spotted on the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), which is a Russian regulatory organisation. The listing includes a total of 11 new smartphones, which are registered to apple and according to French website Consomac, not all of these could be new iPhone models as the company sometimes uses different model numbers to represent the same iPhone. The new numbers are A1920, A1921, A1984, A2097, A2098, A2099, A2101, A2103, A2104, A2105 and the A2106.  As per the report, devices appearing on the ECC filings are usually officially announced in a month. In terms of specifications, the iPhone SE 2 could feature a 4.2-inch display and could be powered by the upgraded Apple A10 Fusion processor with 2GB RAM. There are also said to be some changes made to the smartphone’s compact design and it is rumoured to come with a glass back for enabling wireless charging. In the camera department, the iPhone SE 2 might feature a 12MP iSight camera and support 4K video recording. On the front could be a 5MP camera. It is speculated to be backed by a 1700mAh battery. The alleged smartphone was also spotted on a video on Weibo, the Chinese social media website. The smartphone was seen with a notch on top of its display and with faceID support, similar to the iPhone X. As there is no concrete proof that it was the iPhone SE 2, some websites have completely rejected the notion saying it’s a fake video. 
Google to pause investments in messaging mobile app Allo, will shift focus to Android Messages: Report

Google is reportedly "pausing investments" in its "Allo" mobile messaging app that was launched with much fanfare in 2016. The app will continue to function For existing "Allo" users, but according to Anil Sabharwal, the new head of the communications group at Google, the company will move the team over to focus on Android Messages, The Verge reported late on Thursday. Launched in September 2016, Allo is an instant messaging mobile app for the Android and iOS mobile Operating Systems (OS), with a web client available on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Opera browsers.  "The product as a whole has not achieved the level of traction we'd hoped for," The Verge quoted Sabharwal as saying. "We set out to build this thing, that it (would be) a product that we would get hundreds of millions of people to get excited about and use. And where we are, we're not feeling like we're on that trajectory," the Google executive said. The move is necessary, said the report, because Google is going all in on Rich Communication Services (RCS). "The service will be branded 'Chat' once carriers launch it, and Google wants to apply as many resources as possible to make sure that this time, finally, Android has a successful messaging app," the report added. RCS is a communication protocol between mobile-telephone carriers and between phone and carrier, aiming at replacing SMS messages with a text-message system that is more rich, provide phonebook polling and transmit in-call multimedia. Google is reportedly planning to introduce a web interface for its SMS application "Android Messages" that would let users pair their smartphones with a computer for all of their texting needs. Google, however, is bullish on its video mobile app "Duo". The company recently introduced a new video messaging feature for "Duo" that would let users capture and share video messages when their friends cannot answer their call.
Intel kills Vaunt smart glasses project

Global chip-maker Intel has shut down its "New Devices Group" (NDG) and ceased the development of "Vaunt" smart glasses who were like the eye-mounted wearables like Google Glass, the media reported. "Despite an investment of several hundred million dollars by Intel, including through acquisitions of other companies, the group never made much of an impact in the wearables market," a report in The Information said on Thursday. The closure is probably to result in "some layoffs from the team, around 200 people", the report noted. "Intel is continuously working on new technologies and experiences. Not all of these develop into a product we choose to take to market. The Superlight [the codename for Vaunt] project is a great example where Intel developed truly differentiated, consumer augmented reality glasses," The Verge quoted an Intel statement as saying. "We are going to take a disciplined approach as we keep inventing and exploring new technologies, which will sometimes require tough choices when market dynamics don't support further investment," the statement added. Jerry Bautista, the lead for "Vaunt," had mentioned earlier that Intel was working with key ecosystem hardware providers like frames and lenses. Google Glass was introduced with much fanfare in 2014. At $1,500, it promised a new, bold era for information. People, however, realised the device was not yet ready to be part of their lives. There were safety and health concerns.  Google later withdrew the device from the market in 2015.
Google to finally bring iMessage-like service called Chat to Android

Google has a mobile operating system that powers almost 85% of the smartphones in the market today, a number that can be attributed to the wide price bracket Android devices are available in. For the price, Android devices offer excellent value for money, with the flagships offering features and experiences that, some would say, leave Apple far behind. However, there is one critical problem with Android that exists in every device, regardless of its price, and that is its messaging service. Many Apple loyalists swear by iMessage and refuse to switch to Android solely because of this one feature. Many attempts have been made to port iMessage to Android, but Apple has swiftly shut them down. The Verge is now reporting that Google is now solely focused on bringing a similar feature to Android, under the name of Chat. Chat will not be a new app from Google, instead, the company decided to rely on a standard called Rich Communication Services (RCS) for SMS/MMS and work with multiple carriers and OEMs around the world to enable a better, unified texting experience. RCS allows customers to send messages, full resolution photos and videos over their data connection. However, the difference between what Google is trying to do and how iMessage works is that the latter uses their own servers to route iMessage, while Google is trying to implement the same at the carrier level. Google has brought 55 carriers from around the world on-board to turn on the RCS services on their network in order to ensure interoperability. As per GSMA’s latest listing, Airtel and Reliance Jio have adopted the new standard, but Reliance Jio has already enabled the feature on its network. While Vodafone has also adopted the new protocol, India is not listed as one of its rollout regions. Chat is not a new app from Google, but instead, will be the baked into the default SMS app that ships on most Android phones. Samsung phones use Samsung’s own messaging app, which will also support Chat. The feature will automatically be enabled within Android messages, but the feature will only work once carriers decide to flip the switch on it, which Google hopes will be later this year. Users who have Chat will receive messages over the data network, while those who have smartphones that don’t support chat, will receive the message over SMS/MMS. Chat would finally bring a number of much-desired features to the standard messagin
Music streaming drives 27 growth in Indian music industry

The total music industry revenues in India grew from Rs 570.7 crore in 2016 to Rs 725.6 crore in 2017. This increase in revenue by Rs 154.9 crore is the largest since 2011, according to data from IFPI, a not-for-profit international organisation which represents the interests of 1,300 record companies from across the globe. The revenues from music streaming grew at a rate of 37.26 per cent and revenues from digital music now amount to over 91 per cent of the Indian recorded music industry revenue.  There were two primary factors driving this positive growth in digital music consumption, i.e. increased data consumption in the advent of cheaper data rates and greater smartphone penetration. The digital revenue alone in 2017 was Rs 665.6 crore which is greater than the combined industry revenue of Rs 570.7 crore in 2016 by almost Rs 95 crore.  "Last year's figures were phenomenal and we were expecting the market to do well this year as well, but a 27 per cent growth in 2017 has exceeded our forecasts. Going into 2018, our aim is to make music even more accessible, affordable and unlimited." "To sustain this growth, the industry will start laying the groundwork for a subscription eco-system," Shridhar Subramaniam, President India and Middle East - Sony Music, said in a statement to IANS. Blaise Fernandes, President and CEO, IMI, feels glad that digital music is claiming a larger part of the pie in line with the global trends. "Various initiatives undertaken by the government like Digital India and Bharat Net programmes will enable the Indian music industry to out-perform most evolved recorded music industries in the digital domain and climb up in rankings in the coming years." But music listeners are still consuming music from pirated websites. Stream-ripping remains a major threat to the music industry in India. According to a 2017 study by IPSOS for Indian Music Industry (IMI), an IFPI affiliate, the apex body that represents music companies operating in India both internationally and domestically, 94 per cent of the 900 surveyed music consumers in India admitted to using some form of piracy to access music. "While the 2017 figures may paint a pretty picture, Indian Music Industry is still greatly impacted by digital piracy and value gap," said Vikram Mehra, Managing Director of Saregama India Limited. "We must work together in curbing piracy through a multi-pronged approach in
Motorola unveils Moto G6 and Moto E5 series of smartphones: All you need to know

After months of leaks and speculation, Motorola has finally unveiled its new range of smartphones under its G-series and the E-series, with 3 devices each. Under the G lineup, the company has launched the Moto G6 , G6 Plus and G6 Play, while the E lineup features the Moto E5, E5 Plus, E5 Play. All smartphones come with Android Oreo v8.0. Here's what you need to know about the newly launhced Moto devices. Moto G6 Plus The standard Moto G6 Plus features a 5.9-inch Full HD+ display with an aspect ratio of 18:9. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 SoC and is available in two variants, 4GB RAM and 6GB RAM, both with 64GB of onboard storage. At the back of the phone is a dual-rear camera setup with 12MP+5MP cameras with f/1.7 aperture lens and DualPixel autofocus. At the front is an 8MP camera. The device is equipped with a 3200mAh battery with the company’s TurboPower fast charging technology. The phone features p2i-rated water-repellent coating protects it from splashes and light rain. The Moto G6 Plus will initially be available in Brazil and Mexico, followed by launches in Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America with a starting MSRP of €299 (approx Rs 24,300). Moto G6 The standard Moto G6 features a 5.7-inch Full HD+ display with an aspect ratio of 18:9. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 SoC and is available in two variants, 3GB RAM/32GB storage and 4GB RAM/64GB ROM. At the back of the phone is a dual-rear camera setup with 12MP+5MP cameras with f/1.8 aperture lens. At the front is an 8MP camera. The device is equipped with a 3000mAh battery with the company’s TurboPower fast charging technology.Like the Moot G6 Plus, it too features p2i-rated water-repellent coating protects it from splashes and light rain. The Moto G6 will initially be available in Brazil and Mexico, followed by launches in Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America with a starting MSRP of $249 (approx Rs 16,400). Moto G6 Play  The Moto G6 Play also features a 5.7-inch display with a HD+ display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. It is powered by a Snapdragon 427 SoC and is available in two variants, 2GB RAM/16GB storage and 3GB RAM/32GB ROM. At the back of the phone is a single 13MP camera with PDAF and a f/2.0 aperture lens. At the front is an 5MP camera. The device is equipped with a 4000mAh battery with 10W fast charger. Just like its brethren, the Mot