Instagram announces new features: video calling, app integration, AR camera effects, and updated Explore page

Today is F8 (pronounced "eff eight"), which is Facebook's annual developer conference where Instagram has just announced a bunch of new features coming to the platform. There's a bunch to cover so let's get into it. Not long ago, we saw further improvements to Instagram Stories which made it easier to upload stories in batches of 10. Today, Instagram announces that more apps will be integrated to upload directly to stories. The first two apps to be integrated into Stories are Spotify and GoPro. Spotify's integration brings song stickers that link to the full song in Spotify so your...

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Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge finally get Android 8.0 Oreo update

After a false start last month on Verizon, Samsung has now finally released the update to Android 8.0 Oreo for the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. It's currently only available to units sold in the UK, both SIM-free and those purchased from Vodafone. That said, it should spread to other countries and carriers soon, now that the ball's rolling. The new firmware version is G930FXXU2ERD5 for the S7 and G935FXXU2ERD5 for the S7 edge. You can get it over-the-air but not through SmartSwitch yet. If you haven't seen the notification yet, you can try to go to Settings > Software update and trigger a manual...

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LG G7 ThinQ hands-on images leak ahead of tomorrow's unveiling

LG is officially presenting the G7 ThinQ at an event tomorrow. Ahead of that, a couple of hands-on images of the phone have surfaced, and you can see them below. There's not much we don't know about the G7 at this point, thanks to an outpouring of leaks that's happened over the past few weeks. LG G7 ThinQ leaked hands-on pictures The phone will have a (hideable) notch and a chin too, though smaller than the G6's, a vertically arranged dual rear camera setup, the fingerprint sensor on the back, glass on both sides with a metal frame in between, and apparently loads of...

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Oreo for Honor 7X begins rolling out in US

As promised by the company, the Honor 7X Oreo update has started rolling out in the United States. Arriving as EMUI 8.0, the update brings along several enhancements (in addition to the usual Oreo goodies, of course). The list includes the face unlock feature, a new floating navigation dock, updated Setting menu and Phone Manager, phone gallery recycle bin, as well as ability to connect with two Bluetooth devices at same time. Project Treble support is included as well. Given that the roll out has just begun, it may take time for the update to reach all units in the country, so you...

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Coolpad Note 6 launched in India with dual selfie camera

Coolpad has launched the Note 6 in India, the company's first selfie phone. It features a dual front camera system comprising of a 8MP primary camera and a 5MP depth sensor along with LED flash. The Note 6 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 processor with a choice of 3GB or 4GB RAM and 32GB or 64GB storage, respectively. On the back of the phone is a 13MP main camera with f2.2 aperture. Other features include a fingerprint sensor, dual SIM support, 4070mAh battery and Android 7.1 Nougat. The Coolpad Note 6 is priced at INR 8,999 ($135) for the 3/32GB variant and INR 9,999...

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US pre-orders for LG V30S ThinQ are now live

The LG V30S ThinQ is now up for pre-order in the US. Retailer B&H has the device listed on its website for $930. Available color options include Glossy Moroccan Blue and Matte Moroccan Blue. The handset is compatible with all major US carriers, including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint. There's currently no shipping date mentioned - the listing just says 'coming soon.' The device was made official back in March this year and has been available in South Korea since then. You can read our review of the device here. Source 1 2

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Samsung Galaxy S9 sales fall short in South Korea

According to a report from South Korea, sales of the Samsung Galaxy S9 duo have disappointed. The report pegs total Galaxy S9 sales in Korea so far at 707,000, down from nearly 1 million units sales figure that Galaxy S8 saw during its first two months in the market. A month-by-month breakdown reveals 476,000 Galaxy S9 series units were sold in March, but the number came crashing down to 231,000 in April. The story was the same for Apple, with the iPhone X also witnessing dip in sales. Around 475,000 units of the device were sold in the country in the first four months after the...

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After Russia, Telegram banned in Iran too

Last month, Russia banned Telegram over the its refusal to provide users' data to government authorities. And now, it's coming to light that Iran has banned the messaging service as well. As per reports, the decision by Iranian authorities is aimed at protecting national security. The country has seen massive anti-government protests in the past few months, and officials have been of the view that Telegram has been extensively used by organizers of these rallies. "Considering various complaints against the Telegram social networking app by Iranian citizens, and based on the demand of...

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Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018) Oreo update incoming

While some of Samsung's Galaxy A series smartphones have already received the Oreo update, reports are now confirming that the newest members of the series (Galaxy A8 (2018) and Galaxy A8+ (2018)) are about to join the party. Sadly, the rollout may take some time as the development work has just begun - reports suggest July-August time-frame for the final release. What's known for now is the firmware version, which is A530FXXU2BRDx. Source

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Deal: Google Clips currently going for $199 ($50 off)

Just a couple of months after it was launched, Google Clips has received a price cut. The AI-powered camera is currently going for $199, which translates into a $50 discount as its launch price was $249. To give you a quick refresher, Google Clips uses AI to act as your personal photographer. You can put it in a suitable location at your home, and whenever it detects anything special happening its viewable area, the device captures it. Coming back to the deal, Google says it's a limited time, US-only promo, but there's no information on when it ends. Presumably, the deal has been...

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