Youtube Go, Apple iPhone XI !!!, Asus ZenFone Max Plus !!!! , Honor V10 receives ?, Google Search Adds !!!, Bitcoin breaks ??

YouTube Go lightweight app no longer beta in India, you can now watch videos offline too

Google has now taken the YouTube Go application, the lightweight app which lets you save videos to watch offline. The tech major has now taken the beta label off the app.

The app is most suitable for regions which have low-bandwidth and also enables users to transfer the videos to friends over Bluetooth.

With only 9.4 MB in size, YouTube Go promises that it is made to work with less storage and slow speeds as well as work on old Android versions back to Jellybean (Android 4.1).

The app is shown last updated on November 28, 2017.

You can go ahead and download the app from Google's Play store.

Currently, Youtube Go has been made available to only India and Inodesia but chances are that Google will be announcing it for more regions.

The facility to download and save videos from YouTube was already there but you would need a YouTube Red subscription.

Explainer: Beta refers to a product or an application in the early stages of development. Pre-Alpha and Alpha versions are the ones which are released prior to Beta for testing, market research, data collection, analysis etc.

The two stages are called 'testing phases'. The release phase, as in the Youtube Go's case means it is the last step in the development cycle, a much more de-bugged version from the beta release.

Apple iPhone XI S Plus with 6.5-inch display ahead: Rumour

Rumours of a bigger next year have been doing rounds for quite sometime. Now a new forecast from Chuljoong Kim of Jefferies & Co. suggests a model with a 6.5-inch display is very likely.

The analyst believe could launch a bigger screen iPhone referred to as the iPhone XI S in year 2020, which will also amplify the OLED tech production for companies such as LG who is already working with Apple.

The OLED display on the current iPhone X is manufactured by Samsung, but reports indicate Apple is trying to reduce reliance on Samsung and planning major investments in a new LG facility that would exclusively build iPhone displays.

Kim also claims that the 6.5-inch iPhone could use only 180 panels per sheet, as compared to 230 panels in the case of iPhone X, creating new challenges among suppliers.

Besides, the analyst says that investments in foldable OLED screens will also continue and the first models could see the light of day in 2019 after major manufacturers start trying out new designs as soon as the next year.

If the Cupertino giant sticks to its naming ritual for the iPhone X, 2018 model should be called iPhone X S, while the next year model could be named iPhone XI. If the prediction is accurate, the iPhone XI S will be launched in 2020, in line with the rest of the forecast.

Apple is expected to launch three iPhone models next year, with all of them getting the FaceID. At least one of them is rumoured to have the LCD panel and will retail for a lower price.

Asus launched ZenFone Max Plus (M1) smartphone with 18:9 display

Taiwanese Smartphone Maker Company Asus launched bezel-less display smartphone ZenFone Max Plus(M1). The handset involves 18:9 display.

Xiaomi's Desh ka Smartphone may unveil tomorrow

ZenFone Max Plus(M1) boasts 5.7-inch IPS LCD screen and operates on Android 7.0 Nougat with ZenUI 4.0 skin on top. The handset comes in two storage variants including 2GB RAM/16GB storage and 3GB RAM/32GB storage that can be expandable to up to 256GB using microSD card. The cellphone involves octa-core MediaTek 6750T processor.

The ZenFone Max Plus(M1) boasts metal body design and fingerprint sensor placed at the back of handset.

The customer will be able to purchase handset in Deep sea Black, Sunlight Gold and Azure Silver color options,

It will include dual camera set up including 16MP+8MP. On the front, the handset will include 8MP camera to take selfies. The cellphone involves 4130mAh battery that lasts upto 26 days on 4G standby mode.

The ZenFone Max Plus (M1) handset boasts face unlock feature. Max Plus(M1) handset has been unveiled in Russia.

Honor V10 receives over 250,000 registrations in a day

Huawei's sub-brand Honor announced the launch of the Honor V10 smartphone at an event in Beijing on Tuesday. The Honor V10 and Honor 7X are slated to go on sale in China from December 5. And, it is the same date that the V10 is likely to be announced globally.

The same day of its unveiling, the Honor V10 pre-registrations were open in China. From the numbers revealed by a GizChina report, it looks like the company has had a good start with this smartphone. We say so as the Honor V10 appears to have recorded over 250,000 registrations in a matter of after its launch. This shows the intense demand for the device among consumers.

Notably, this is just pre-registration number and not that of pre-booking.

The main highlight of the Honor V10 is that the smartphone features a slim build and a FullView display with an aspect ratio of 18:9. The bezels at the sides reduced drastically while those at the top and bottom are also thin with the selfie camera and the fingerprint sensor.

The screen is a 5.99-inch 18:9 panel with an FHD+ resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels. The smartphone makes use of the latest Kirin 970 SoC and has been launched in three variants - 4GB+64GB, 6GB+64GB and 6GB+128GB. The imaging aspects of the device include a 13MP selfie camera with the company's new facial recognition technology. Also, there is LED flash at the front for perfect selfie shots even in low lighting conditions. There is a physical home button at the bottom and this doubles as the fingerprint sensor as well.

At the rear, the Honor V10 boasts of a dual camera setup with a primary 16MP RGB sensor and a secondary 20MP monochrome sensor. The smartphone runs on Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box topped with Huawei's EMUI 8.0. The battery capacity of the smartphone is 3750mAh and it comes with a quick charging feature that can charge it from 0% to 50% in just half an hour.

The Honor V10 was launched in four color variants such as Night Black, Charm Red, Beach Gold, and Aurora Blue. The device is priced at 2699 yuan (approx. Rs. 26,000) for the 4GB+64GB variant, 2999 yuan (approx. Rs. 29,000) for the 6GB+64GB variant, and 3499 yuan (approx. Rs. 34,000) for the 6GB+128GB variant.

Google Search adds donate button for nonprofit organisations

To make it easier for people to give money to their favourite organisations this holiday season, Google Search has added a "Donate" button to its knowledge graph.

The button allows users to contribute to the organisations directly when they search for US-based nonprofits. But for the button to appear, the nonprofits need to enroll with Google.

"Starting today, when you search for a growing list of US-based nonprofits, you'll see a new 'Donate' option.

"Tap or click on Donate, and you'll see an easy donation flow that lets you give to your favourite organisation as easily as you can look up its history, phone number, or website," Google's Product Manager Prem Ramaswami wrote in a blog post on Tuesday.

We're starting with organisations in the US across causes and locales who have opted in through Google for Nonprofits, and we hope that more opt in moving forward," Ramaswami said.

Earlier in 2017, Google pledged $1 billion in Google.org grants over five years to nonprofits around the world.

According to some estimates, Google said, nearly 30 per cent of all giving happens during the holiday season.

"This spirit shines in our search trends, too, with many people looking for ways to donate and support nonprofits. We hope this feature makes it easier for nonprofits to reach potential supporters, and for you to donate to important causes, this holiday season and beyond," Ramaswami said.

Unlike Facebook's Charitable Givings feature that has gotten popular with users who "donate" their birthdays to fundraising, Google does not charge a fee when donations are made through its button, The Verge reported.

Mobile data traffic in India to grow 11 times by 2023: Ericsson

The total mobile data traffic in India is set to grow 11 times - from the current 1.3 Exabytes (EB) of data per month to 14 Exabytes (EB) - by 2023, according to the November edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report. The report also estimates that monthly data usage per smartphone in India to increase 5 times, from 3.9 GB currently, to 18 GB per month. By the end of Q3 2017, the report has found 1.185 billion smartphone registrations in India.

Telecom equipment maker Ericsson has estimated that by 2023, the world will have 1 billion 5G mobile broadband subscriptions. The company has planned its first commercial 5G networks to start from 2019.

In the early stages, the broadband service would target markets like the US, South Korea, Japan, and China. By 2023, the company claims that the technology will be used by 20 per cent of the world's population.

The latest statistics released by the company also show that mobile data traffic growth across regions, which is being supported by increased video consumption. Among various audiences, Ericsson says that the 15-24 age group watches 2.5 times more videos than those above 45. Across regions, the highest average data used per smartphone was recorded by North America. By the end of 2017, the continent consumes more than 7GB data per month.

On LTE technology, Ericsson states that it will dominate smartphones by the end of 2017. The company has said that Voice over LTE (VoLTE) services are available in 125 networks across 60 nations. According to estimates, 5.5 billion VoLTE subscriptions are expected by 2023, which would cover more than 80 per cent of the globe's combined LTE and 5G subscriptions. Among VoLTE-enabled devices, the company has also included smartwatches.

Bubble or brave new world? Bitcoin breaks $10,000 barrier for first time

Bitcoin, a digital currency that allows individuals to transfer value to each other and pay for goods and services by-passing banks and mainstream financial system, has broken through the $10,000 barrier for the first time on Wednesday. The growth has delighted investors but at the same time it has sparked fears of a bubble.

The virtual currency hit a high of $10,903 in Asia, which about 14 times its value at the start of the year, Bloomberg News reported.

The breakthrough is the latest in a spectacular run for the online money dubbed "digital gold" by its advocates, which began life in 2009 as a bit of encrypted software supposedly written by an unknown coder with a Japanese-sounding name.

Bitcoin, which was valued at just a few US cents when it was launched, has no legal exchange rate, no central bank backing it and is traded on specialist platforms.

What began as the preserve of computer nerds and financial experts has gained a following among a broader group seeking alternatives to traditional investments, while it has been used to pay for items from a pint in a London pub to a manicure.

The virtual currency has attracted as much anger as praise, however.

The boss of JP Morgan Chase labelled it a fraud, while China has closed down Bitcoin trading platforms and South Korea this week expressed concern it could lead young investors to become embroiled in fraud.

It got a big boost last month when exchange giant CME Group announced it would launch a futures marketplace for Bitcoin, which has not been listed on a major bourse before.

The announcement sparked a surge in its value -- it has risen 50 percent since October alone. The current market value of Bitcoin is now around $180 billion, according to Coinmarketcap.com, which tracks the market capitalisations of cryptocurrencies. That puts it within touching distance of Coca-Cola, which is worth $195 billion.

But the spectacular rate of growth, which has seen it increase in value from a 2017 low of $752 in mid-January, has also triggered concerns, with critics noting the currency has suffered wild swings in the past.

"This is a bubble and there is a lot of froth. This is going to be the biggest bubble of our lifetimes," warned hedge fund manager Mike Novogratz at a cryptocurrency conference Tuesday in New York.

'Crazy numbers'

Stephen Innes, of forex broker Oanda in Singapore, warned of "crazy numbers" and added: "I'm a little bit fearful that retail traders are jumping in under the false guise of this will run on forever.

"We know things never go in a straight line."

But other commentators were more positive, saying the unit's surging popularity will attract cash from traditional investors, such as hedge funds and asset managers.

"I think the momentum is still very much to the upside," Kay Van-Petersen, macro and crypto strategist with Saxo Bank in Singapore, told AFP.

He said it could still suffer pullbacks, but predicted it would be worth $50,000 to $100,000 in the next six to 18 months.

Transactions happen when heavily encrypted codes are passed across a computer network.

Bitcoin and other virtual currencies use blockchain, which records transactions that are updated in real time on an online ledger and maintained by a network of computers. RELATED: 10 things to know about virtual currency Bitcoin

But it has not been without controversy.

In one of the most high-profile scandals, major Tokyo-based Bitcoin exchange MtGox collapsed in 2014 after admitting that 850,000 coins -- worth around $480 million at the time -- had disappeared from its vaults.

Bitcoin's use on the underground Silk Road website, where users could use it to buy drugs and guns, was also presented as proof it was a bad thing.

While analysts expect the currency to suffer falls, they are betting it will prosper in the long term and see the CME launch as the next big test.

"If it survives the CME, there is no reason why it won't continue to rise higher," Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at AxiTrader, told AFP.

Google makes Android 8.1 preview available for testing

Google has started rolling out an update to the Android 8.1 developer preview, the last before the official launch to consumers in December. Android 8.1 adds targeted enhancements to the Oreo platform, including optimisations for Android Go (for devices with 1GB or less of memory) and a Neural Networks API to accelerate on-device machine intelligence. It also includes a few smaller enhancements to Oreo in response to user and developer feedback.

If you have a device enrolled in the Android Beta Program, you'll receive the update over the next few days. If you haven't enrolled yet, just visit the Android Beta site to enrol and get the update.

The preview update includes near-final Android 8.1 system images for Pixel and Nexus devices, with official APIs (API level 27), the latest optimizations and bug fixes, and the November 2017 security patch updates.

The Neural Networks API provides accelerated computation and inference for on-device machine learning frameworks like TensorFlow Lite -- Google's cross-platform ML library for mobile -- as well as Caffe2 and others. TensorFlow Lite is now available to developers, TensorFlow Lite works with the Neural Networks API to run models like MobileNets, Inception v3, and Smart Reply efficiently on your mobile device.

Developers will be also be able to fully utilise the Pixel Visual Core to offer HDR shots on their apps, using the Android Camera API. This means that third-party apps would be able to deliver an experience close to the default camera app on the Pixel 2 models.

Google promises that official release in December will roll out to all supported Pixel and Nexus devices worldwide -- including Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel C, Nexus 5X, and Nexus 6P.

Moto G6 and Moto E5 likely to get Play variants

Motorola is one of the smartphone brands that follow the pattern of launching toned-down variants of its devices. The company has announced devices with the Play suffix such as Moto Z2 Play and Moto G4 Play.

While Moto Z2 Play is a mid-range smartphone with a semi-modular design supporting Moto Mods, the Moto G4 Play launched in 2016 is a watered-down variant of the Moto G4 and G4 Plus launched last year, This year, the Moto G5 and G5 Plus were announced in February but these did not get the Play variant.

Going by a recent tweet posted by reliable tipster Evan Blass on his Twitter handle @evleaks, it looks like the company is all set to launch two Play smartphones in 2018.

It is believed that the Moto G6 and Moto E5 series of phones will get the Play variants. Last month, he posted a tweet tipping the presence of the Moto G6 Play and now he hints at the existence of the Moto E5 Play.

Notably, the Play variant will be joining the regular and Plus variants of these phones. Having said that, the alleged Moto E5 Play will be the first time that the Play device will be launched for the Moto E series.

As of now, these are the only details those were revealed by the famed tipster. The other details of these smartphones to be launched next year remain scarce.

This year, the brand owned by Lenovo took the wraps off four smartphones in the G series. The first batch comprised of the Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus and was launched at the MWC 2017 tech show in February. The second batch came in the month of August with the Moto G5s and Moto G5s Plus. Interestingly, the Moto G5s Plus was launched with a dual camera setup at its back. We can expect the Moto G6 Plus slated for the next year to also feature such a camera setup but it remains to be seen if the Play variant will also get the same.