Asus has introduced its 2026 editions of the Zenbook and Vivobook laptops in India, focusing on design, portability, and next-generation performance. The announcement includes multiple models across premium and mainstream segments, with pre-orders now open for select devices.

2026 Zenbook and Vivobook lineup’s key features

The new 2026 Zenbook range includes the Zenbook S14, Zenbook Duo, and Zenbook A series, all built using a new Ceraluminum material aimed at improving durability while keeping the devices lightweight. The Zenbook S14 stands out with its slim profile of around 1.1 cm and a weight close to 1.2 kg, making it suitable for users who prefer portability. It also features a 14-inch 3K OLED display and is powered by Intel Core Ultra series processors, offering up to 50 TOPS of AI performance for demanding tasks.

The Zenbook Duo takes a different approach by offering dual 14-inch OLED touch displays with a 144Hz refresh rate. This setup allows better multitasking, especially for users working across multiple apps. It runs on Intel Core Ultra processors and is designed to handle heavier workflows while still maintaining a relatively compact design.

The Zenbook A14 and A16 models focus on lightweight usage, with the A14 weighing under 1 kg. These devices are powered by Snapdragon X2 series processors, enabling AI-driven features and efficient performance for everyday tasks.

On the Vivobook side, Asus has annoced both the Classic and S series models. The Vivobook 14 and 16 come with Intel Core Ultra 5 processors and include AI-based features such as smart search and task assistance. They also feature an AI camera with face unlock support for added security. Meanwhile, the Vivobook S14 and S16 target users looking for a balance between performance and design, offering metallic builds, long battery life, and Intel Core Ultra 7 processors for smoother multitasking.

Price and availability

The 2026 Zenbook series starts at Rs 179,990 (~$1,930), while the Vivobook range begins at Rs 98,990 (~$1,060). Pre-orders for select Zenbook models are open from April 14 to April 20, with general availability starting April 21 across ASUS stores, online platforms, and retail partners.

The Zenbook Duo is priced at Rs 299,990 (~Rs 3,215), while the Zenbook A14 and A16 start at Rs 185,990 (~$1,990) and Rs 199,990 (~$2,145), respectively. Vivobook models are positioned more affordably, with prices ranging between Rs 98,990 and Rs 131,990 depending on the configuration.

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Apple Creator Studio bundles several of Apple’s professional creative apps into a single subscription, covering video editing, music production, image editing and productivity. While the idea sounds convenient, the service is clearly designed for a specific type of creator. For many users, subscribing may not be the most practical decision.

1. You create content only occasionally

Apple Creator Studio is built around professional-grade tools like Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro, which are best suited for regular, sustained creative work. If you only edit videos or create music once in a while, paying a recurring subscription can feel disproportionate to actual usage.

2. You depend on just one main app

Many creators rely heavily on a single application and rarely touch others. If your workflow revolves around only Final Cut Pro or Logic Pro, the bundled model may not offer meaningful savings. In such cases, a one-time purchase of the required app can be more sensible over time.

3. You work exclusively on an iPad

Although Apple Creator Studio includes iPad versions of several apps, not all tools are available on iPad. Motion and Compressor remain Mac-only, and some advanced workflows still assume access to macOS. iPad-only users may end up paying for features they cannot use.

4. You are already invested in another ecosystem

Creators deeply embedded in Adobe Creative Cloud, DaVinci Resolve or specialised audio platforms may find little incentive to switch. Adding Apple Creator Studio on top of existing subscriptions can increase costs without improving productivity.

5. You prefer owning software instead of subscribing

Subscriptions offer flexibility but also introduce long-term payments. Creators who value permanent access to their tools, or who dislike ongoing fees, may prefer one-time purchases that continue working without renewal concerns.

6. Your hardware is relatively old

Many of the newer features in Apple Creator Studio are optimised for Apple silicon. Users on older Macs or iPads may not experience the same performance improvements, reducing the overall value of the subscription.

7. You do not need cross-app workflows

Apple Creator Studio makes the most sense when multiple apps are used together. If your creative process does not involve moving between video, audio, image editing and productivity tools, the bundled approach may add complexity rather than efficiency.

That said, for users who genuinely need access to multiple Apple creative apps on a regular basis, Apple Creator Studio can still make practical sense. The subscription provides access to Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro and other tools under one plan, reducing the need to manage separate purchases. Apple Creator Studio is priced at $12.99 per month or $129 per year, with a one-month free trial for new users. Students and educators can subscribe at a reduced rate of $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year, offering a lower entry point for those learning or teaching creative skills.

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Hot on the heels of Apple’s latest iPads launch, the company has now announced the new MacBook Air, powered by the M4 chip. This refresh brings Apple Intelligence, improved battery life, a new 12MP webcam with Center Stage, and 16GB of base RAM—all for a lower price than the previous model.

MacBook Air M4: Specs and Features

Visually, the MacBook Air M4 is nearly identical to its predecessor. It’s still the same sleek, fanless design, but it now comes in a new Sky Blue color alongside Silver, Starlight, and Midnight.

The Air is available in 13.6-inch and 15.3-inch display options, both featuring 500 nits of brightness, 10-bit color depth, P3 wide color gamut, and True Tone technology.

The biggest upgrade is, of course, the new M4 chip. It features a 10-core CPU and up to a 10-core GPU, with support for up to 32GB of unified memory. 

The base model now starts with 16GB of RAM—a bump Apple introduced across the M2 and M3 Air lineup last October. A portion of this memory will also power Apple Intelligence, the company’s suite of AI-powered features.

Apple Intelligence brings AI-driven tools like Smart Replies in Messages, Mail Summaries, Clean Up in Apple Photos, Writing Tools, Genmoji, and Image Playground. As with the iPhone, these AI features primarily run on-device, keeping most tasks private. For more complex cloud requests, Apple’s Private Cloud Compute handles processing securely—without sharing user data with Apple.

The new Air also upgrades to a 12MP front-facing camera housed in the notch, aligning it with the MacBook Pro lineup. It supports Center Stage, which keeps you in frame during video calls, and Desk View, which can simultaneously show your face and a top-down view of your desk—useful for presentations and demonstrations.

The MacBook Air M4 retains two Thunderbolt 4 ports and MagSafe charging. A significant upgrade over the M3 model is its external display support—while the previous Air could only drive a single 6K display, the new model supports two.

Price and Availability

The 13-inch MacBook Air M4 starts at $999 in the US and ₹99,000 in India, while the 15-inch model is priced at $1,199 and ₹124,000, respectively. Pre-orders are live now, with shipping beginning on March 12.

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In a bid to make Play Store free from malware and junk apps, Google keeps scanning potentially dangerous apps and even removes them from the store. The apps that offer fake promises, and distribute malware are always on the radar. But, sometimes genuine apps also have to suffer due to the automated removal mechanism on Google Play Store. In a recent takedown practice, Google has removed several “Cleaner” apps including the popular SD Maid.

Must See: MIUI 13 is coming soon, suggests the latest MIUI Cleaner beta

Play Store Taking down “Cleaner” Apps

The developers of these apps shared their plight on Reddit and informed about the sudden removal and full account termination from the Play Store. Especially for the SD Maid app, the reason for removal is cited as a violation of Google’s “Stalkerware policy.” Considering the developer’s claim, there’s no such feature that enables them to stalk user privacy and data. Even, the SD Maid’s source code is listed on GitHub. Here’s the detailed reason for the removal of the SD Maid app:

Reason for termination: We have identified a pattern of high risk or abuse associated with your Developer Account and are taking this action pursuant to Section 8.3/10.3 of Google Play’s Developer Distribution Agreement.

Well, there are some words in the SD Maid description that could have made it fall under the suspicious category for the automated removal tools. Going through the SD Maid App description, we can spot some keywords that could raise three eyebrows. Here’s a snippet from its description:

• Browse your whole device and manipulate files through a full-fledged file explorer.

• Remove superfluous files from your system.

• Manage installed user and system apps.

• Detect files formerly belonging to uninstalled apps.

• Search for files by name, content or date.

• Obtain a detailed overview of your device’s storage.

• Optimize databases.

• Do actual app cleaning and remove expendable files, which supersedes what others may call ‘cache cleaning’.

• Detect duplicate pictures, music or documents, independent of name or location.

• Run tools automatically on a schedule or via widgets.

Early Warnings

Most of the app developers are saying that Google has cited the same reason behind the suspension of their Cleaner Apps. However, we are not sure what could be the exact reason, but Google has warned this year about the new guidelines related to “Deceptive Behavior” Apps. The apps that don’t explain the exact usage of their respective apps fall under “Deceptive Behaviour”.

Related: Play Store introduces Auto Archive feature to help save storage space

The “Deceptive Behaviour” policy somehow applies to Cleaner Apps that market themselves as speed booster apps. But getting “Stalkerware policy” violations seems difficult to understand as of now. Well, Google knows better which app is violating the Play Store policies in a better way.

(via)

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There are only a few browsers that support full-fledged extensions on an Android smartphone or tablet. Kiwi browser is the name that I fondly remember supporting such a feature in the past, but soon, it will be joined by Firefox for Android. Firefox has published new information for extension developers about the add-ons making a comeback on Android App.

Must See: Mozilla Firefox v102 update removes trackers from URLs automatically

Being among the best browsers around the globe, the change will surely make other competitors think about the same feature. Mozilla is known for its core functionality and true personalization experience, and the browser extension support is like the icing on the cake. The new change will surely reciprocate Mozilla’s success on big-screen devices to small mobile devices.

The Firefox extensions aka add-ons were widely available on Android prior to Fenix redesign in 2020. Since then, the extensions from Android have disappeared. The recent announcement of extensions comeback on Android has put developers on cloud nine.

The support for Extensions on Android is coming in September on at least Beta builds, and the public builds might receive it by the end of this year. Unlike previous times, the Mozilla Extensions’ journey to the Android ecosystem will be bundled will relevant guides, resources, and discussion boards for a better and more stable experience for the users.

Related: Mozilla Acquires Pocket to Make Firefox Popular on Mobile Devices

Will Chrome for Android ever get Extension support?

Till now, there is no official or unofficial talk about Chrome for Android’s Extension support. There are alternate supporting extensions on mobile devices and are based on Chromium code. But, things are missing on Google Chrome for Android. We hope with Mozilla lending support for extensions on small-display devices, Chrome developers get some hint out of it.

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Google has recently rolled out version 36.4.15 of the Google Play Store for Android devices. While no explicit changelogs were provided, visible changes in the update offer valuable insights into the improvements made.

Download Play Store Apk

The new update, compatible with Android devices running Android 5+, is available for download with varying file sizes depending on the device. Although the update will install automatically in the background, users also have the option to manually download it for seamless integration.

One significant visual change in this July update is the introduction of blue accents throughout the Google Play Store, replacing the long-standing green. This shift suggests a potential departure from the partial dynamic color and Material You integration, previously limited to the home screen. The presence of blue accents in a test build from March 2023 indicates Google’s anticipated release of full dynamic color support in the near future.

In the previous June update, Google focused on enhancing three key areas of the Google Play Store. The changes primarily revolved around search results and ad formats, with optimizations tailored to app-specific searches for a more efficient browsing experience. The loading latency of ads on the home page was also reduced, resulting in smoother navigation. Furthermore, user reviews received improvements by highlighting critical information in certain search results, empowering users to make more informed decisions when downloading apps.

Google’s regular updates for the Google Play Store aim to maintain application safety, user-friendliness, and bug elimination. As part of its commitment to user data privacy, Google introduced a feature two months ago that allows users to erase their data from specific apps.

Overall, the latest Google Play Store update introduces visual changes through blue accents, builds upon previous optimizations, and emphasizes user privacy and security. These updates contribute to an enhanced browsing experience for Android users.

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Stitcher, a popular podcast application and web service, will be shutting down in August this year, as its parent company SiriusXM has announced on its website.

As for the reason behind the shutdown, the company says that it has decided to focus on its own SiriusXM application instead of the dedicated podcast application.

SiriusXM believes that the company can better compete in the market by focusing on its own application, given that the podcasting market has become very crowded and tech giants have entered this space, like Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify, among others.

Users of the Stitcher application may get impacted by the shutdown, especially those who have premium subscriptions. The company says that the users will need to cancel their subscription before 29th August, the day app is shutting down. It will be offering refunds to subscribers who have paid for a subscription that extends beyond August 29.

For those who are unaware, Stitcher was one of the first applications for podcasts that gained popularity, thanks to a number of features that made it easier to discover podcasts and get recommendations and curated lists. The app offered a large library of podcasts and some additional features in the premium version, including the ability to listen to podcasts without any advertisements.

Stitcher was launched in 2008 and was acquired by Deezer in 2014, which later sold the platform to Midroll Media. Finally, the app was acquired by SiriusXM in 2020 for $325 million. The company has said that it plans to continue offering Stitcher’s content on its own SiriusXM app.

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Source

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Google Messages, the popular messaging app, is set to receive an update aimed at improving the visibility of RCS (Rich Communication Services) chats. RCS messaging has been a key feature of Google Messages since its rollout to US customers in late 2019, offering enhanced messaging capabilities and improved security. The latest beta version of the app introduces a visual tweak that highlights RCS-enabled chats with a badge featuring the Messages icon in the bottom right corner of a contact’s profile picture.

Improved Visibility: Identifying RCS Chats Made Easy with Google Messages

This new badge is designed to make it easier for users to identify RCS chats directly from the main list of conversations. An interesting aspect of the update is that the badge can adapt to match the default color scheme of users’ Android phones. However, it is important to note that this feature is currently limited to the beta version of Google Messages, specifically version 20230615_02_RC00.

Previously, users had to enter an individual chat’s text field to determine whether it was an “RCS Message” or a “Text message,” with the latter indicating a standard SMS/MMS. The introduction of the badge indicates that Google may be working towards making RCS chats more prominent within the app, further differentiating them from traditional SMS in terms of features and functionality.

Google Messages has been implementing various enhancements to improve the messaging experience. In a recent update, the navigation drawer was replaced with the Google logo and Messages branding on the app’s home screen. Additionally, users can now see message delivery statuses directly from the conversation list, eliminating the need to manually open chats to check for message delivery.

While RCS offers numerous advantages over conventional texting, including features like Magic Compose, Apple, one of the world’s most profitable smartphone companies, has not yet embraced the standard. Despite Google’s efforts to encourage Apple to enable RCS on iMessage, the company has yet to adopt it.

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• Is Nothing Phone 1 still worth buying?

(Source, Via)

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Google has just unveiled its latest update for the Google Play Store, with version 36.3.12 now available for Android devices. Although the app itself doesn’t include explicit changelogs, the recently released June 2023 Google System Updates provide valuable insights into the changes implemented.

Download Google Play Store Apk

The file size for the new update stands at 21.81 MB, making it readily accessible for all Android devices running Android 10+. While this update will install automatically in the background, users can choose to download it manually, ensuring seamless integration.

The Google Play Store’s June 2023 changelogs reveal three key areas of improvement. First, there are updates to search results and ad formats specifically tailored for app-based search queries. This will offer users more streamlined results, providing them with a more intuitive and efficient browsing experience.

Secondly, Google has improved the loading latency of ads on the Home Page. Long load times can be an inconvenience, causing users to potentially miss out on app recommendations. This tweak will reduce the waiting time, providing users with a smoother, more seamless browsing experience.

The third improvement targets a key area of user interaction – reviews. Select search results now highlight crucial information from user reviews. This feature enables users to glean key insights about apps and games directly from the reviews of other users. This helps users make more informed decisions about which apps to download and try.

As always, Google continues to prioritize the safety and stability of its applications. Regularly released updates not only introduce new features but also keep Google Play Store secure, bug-free, and more user-friendly.

Google launched a new feature two months back that empowers users to erase their data from specific apps. This new addition is a clear reflection of Google’s ongoing commitment to upholding user data privacy, offering users an easy and efficient way to manage their personal information across various apps.

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Truecaller, the popular caller identification application, has rolled out a new call recording function for its premium subscribers on iOS, adding to a similar feature already available for Android users.

To work around system limitations that typically prevent apps from recording calls, Truecaller has developed a unique workaround. In the case of Android, users can initiate the call recording function directly from within the Truecaller app. If users choose to use another dialer, Truecaller presents a floating recording button for accessibility.

For iOS users, the process involves dialing a specific recording line via the Truecaller application, which then merges both incoming and outgoing calls. To ensure privacy, a beep sound will notify the other party that the call is being recorded.

Truecaller Unveils AI-Enhanced Call Recording Feature

Call recording first made its debut on Truecaller’s Android platform in 2018 for premium users, and by 2021, it was accessible to all Android users. However, following Google’s decision in 2022 to limit access to its Accessibility API, a tool Truecaller and other apps used for call recording, Truecaller was compelled to withdraw this function.

Leveraging Large Language Model (LLM) technology, Truecaller has announced that it will soon introduce a feature that provides users with transcripts of their recorded calls. The company has plans to launch this AI-enhanced calling feature in the coming weeks. Users will be able to search the transcripts for specific information, providing a convenient reference for recorded conversations. Notably, all recordings are stored locally on users’ devices, ensuring privacy and data control.

Truecaller tested the call recording function with a select group of iOS users in the US before officially making it available to all premium subscribers. The company offers three subscription plans in the US: a basic ad-free plan at $1 per month, a premium plan which includes call recording at $3.99 per month, and a top-tier plan at $4.49 per month that offers a call screening assistant.

Truecaller co-founder Nami Zarringhalam has stated that the call recording feature will soon be expanded to other countries, including India, Truecaller’s largest market. The app currently has over 500,000 users in the US, with 10% subscribing to a paid plan, and a total of 350 million users globally. In India alone, Truecaller boasts a user base of 100 million.

Raphael Mimoun, Truecaller’s Cloud Telephony Product Director, expressed the inspiration behind this call recording feature, citing advancements in Language Learning Models (LLMs) that seek to redefine the call recording experience. The company expects this new functionality to significantly transform how users manage, retrieve, and utilize their conversations.

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Google Chat, the successor to Google Hangouts, is receiving an update that aims to improve conversation organization. In a recent announcement on the Workspace blog, Google revealed that inactive chats and Spaces will be hidden from view on the left-hand side of the screen. This change will only apply to direct messages and Spaces that have been inactive for a week. However, users will still be able to access these threads by tapping the More button.

Improved Organization: Google Chat’s Update Hides Inactive Chats and Spaces

This update is triggered when there are more than 10 conversations or Spaces present. If a user has fewer than 10 chats or Spaces, they may not even notice the feature rollout. Pinned conversations will not be affected by this change, ensuring easy access to important chats. The goal is to provide users with a streamlined and uncluttered conversations view, allowing them to focus on the chats that matter most.

The improved conversations view will be gradually rolled out over the next few weeks for all Workspace and personal Google account holders. According to Google, there are no toggles to enable or disable this feature, implying that it will be available to all users once the rollout is complete, expected by mid-June.

Google Chat has been making strides to establish its own identity, moving away from its initial similarities to Slack. In October, Google introduced the ability to create custom emoji, a popular feature from Slack. Earlier this year, the Google Chat team also simplified the process of initiating new group chats.

Overall, this update to Google Chat focuses on enhancing conversation organization by hiding inactive chats and Spaces, providing users with a cleaner and more focused interface.

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(Source, Via)

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Google Contacts app gets a new update, which includes a “For you” tab to remind users of birthdays, anniversaries, and significant dates of their contacts. This new feature is a useful addition for people who tend to forget important dates of their loved ones. The app displays a profile card of the contact, including a photo, name, birth date, and a countdown to their next birthday. Users can also add other significant dates by editing the contact’s information.

The update also adds a shortcut to call or text the contact, making it easier for users to reach out and wish their loved ones on their special day. The app’s “Highlights” tab displays the contacts you’ve most recently looked up and those that were just added, making it easier to find the contacts you need.

Google has been continuously improving its apps to enhance the user experience, and this update is a testament to that. The company has a great habit of taking its apps and making them as useful as possible, adding little features that make a big difference in the user’s life. Google Maps is a prime example of how the company has improved its apps over the years, making it one of the most popular navigation apps in the world.

Overall, the new update to Google Contacts app is a welcome addition for people who want to keep track of important dates and stay in touch with their loved ones. The app is available on Android devices (version 4.2), and users can install it from the Play Store listing. With this update, the Google Contacts app is set to become an essential app for anyone who wants to stay organized and never forget an important date again.

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(Via)

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In a bid to expand the Good Lock ecosystem, the Korean giant is pushing another useful app i.e. Dropship App for cross-platform file transfer. The app works flawlessly with any Android smartphone and iPhone. However, it is currently limited for users in South Korea across all Galaxy Phones, tablets, and phones, including iPads, iPhones, and the web also.

Must See: Samsung Galaxy S23 will only feature Snapdragon Chipsets

Dropship app is available via the Galaxy Store as a Good Lock module. It uses an internet connection to transfer files between different devices. The transfer speed directly depends on the internet connection speed, and it does not work like the traditional transfer apps which use Nearby Share, Quick Share or a similar service via Bluetooth or WiFi.

It allows users to create links, set time-limit and share with the desired person. The app supports transfers of up to 5GB in size on a daily basis. However, the process is quite simple, the user needs to select the platform and the sender, and the link will be generated. The link will be shared with the desired person or the receiver can scan the QR code. The Dropship app or a Samsung account is not required on the receiver’s phone, they can directly download the file.

Dropship App is currently available only for devices running Android 13-based OneUI 5.0. The users can get the app from Galaxy Store, and we expect the app to launch across the globe and on more devices in the coming time.

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Apple smartwatches offer a unique functionality tied into the Apple ecosystem called Auto Unlock. Using this feature, Apple users can easily unlock their Macbooks and iPhones without the need for a password or Face ID. This feature was first announced in June 2016 by the company.

Now, according to a Patently Apple report, a company called SmartWatch MobileConcepts LLC is suing the Cupertino giant on grounds of patent infringement regarding the Auto Unlock feature. The patent the company SmartWatch MobileConcepts LLC is referring to is patent 10,362,480 titled “Systems, Methods, and Apparatuses for Enabling Wearable Device user Access to Secured Electronics Systems”. The patent was acquired by the firm from the members of the Ortiz family.

According to the report, this appears to be an instance of patent trolling to make the Cupertino giant cough up some cash via a settlement or a legal dispute. For those unaware, a patent troll is a derogatory term used to describe a business that utilizes patents and the court system to earn money.

However, things might not go as planned for SmartWatch MobileConcepts LLC as the above-mentioned patent was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on August 11, 2016, whereas, Apple announced this feature during WWDC 2016 which ran between June 13 to June 17, almost two months before the patent was filed. It remains to be seen how the court will decide upon this matter, so stay tuned for more updates.

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Ever since the start of this year, Chinese phone makers have been releasing devices in all segments, whether it be budget, mid-range, or the higher-end flagship segment. The region has seen increased premium phones largely due to the downfall of Huawei. Despite all the flagships and other phones making their way to the market with impressive specs sheets, the smartphone market in China doesn’t seem to show healthy growth. As per a new report, China’s Q1 2022 smartphone sales have dropped by 14% year-on-year.

Counterpoint Research has shared a few numbers that show that the smartphone market in China has been undoing in comparison to previous years. As per the company’s Q1 2022 report for China’s smartphone market share, most of the brands excluding Apple and Honor have shown poor performance as compared to Q1 of last year.

Despite that, in Q1 2022, Vivo stands on the top with a 19.7% market share. Next comes Oppo with an 18% market share and it is followed by the other brands. Honor and Apple are two brands that showed a good increase in Q1 2022 as compared to Q1 2021. Apple’s market share increased from 14.7% to 17.9%, while Honor showed the highest jump from 5.5% to 16.9% market share. That’s an 11.4% increase, the highest on the chart.

This jump by Honor is primarily because of the new Honor 60 and Magic 4 series, as noted by Counterpoint. A part of Apple’s market share increase is likely because Huawei users look at Apple as a premium phone alternative in China.

Coming to Xiaomi, the brand didn’t show any growth, rather it was the opposite with a 0.3% decline. However, Xiaomi is said to pick up the pace with the recent release of its Redmi K50 series. The Redmi 10A is also expected to help the brand in the super-budget segment. That being said, the <$400 segment is expected to show good stability as we move further.

Realme showed a nominal growth with an increase of 0.4%. It appears that Realme’s new models released in Q1 2022 are helping the brand increase its market share.

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In the past couple of years, Work from Home has become mainstream. While this brings convenience, it also adds a new set of challenges like handling important documents at home, and scanning and editing them, which were once done in a secure office environment. Plus, everything is handled online, which means you need the right tools to perform these tasks securely.

This is where iScanner comes into the picture, bringing in a wide set of tools to manage your routine tasks like document scanning, editing, along with a bunch of add-on features based on their OCR technology. One of the highlight features of the iScanner app is its ability to save all the documents locally on your phone instead of syncing them to the cloud.

Let’s take a closer look at how the features work on the app.

iScanner App UI

The iScanner app is available for both Android and iOS and both versions share more or less the same features. However, the iOS app feels a lot more polished, with the app featuring tutorials for each feature as well as a dedicated Actions section. Also, presently, the Area Calculator function is exclusive to the iOS app.

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The iScanner app has a pretty simple UI with a + button at the center allowing you to immediately add a document via your camera, photos (gallery), or import (files or other apps) method.

What I love about the app is that you can simply swipe between different options right inside the camera menu. These functions include a QR Code scanner, Documents scanner, ID Card Scanner, Passport scanner, Area Calculator, Object Counter, and Math Problem solver. The app comes with preset borders for each of these modes, so using them is pretty easy and straightforward.

Once you add the image, you are greeted with options to edit the document. Note that the added documents are available via the Documents folder on the homepage of the app.

Once you are in a document, the scanning and editing tools are available in the bottom row of the app.

Document Scanning Features

iScanner supports a bunch of document scanning and editing features such as adding signatures and text, cropping and straightening a document, and even optical character recognition of written text in 23 languages.

When it comes to editing tools, the app offers pretty decent features like crop, straighten, color (B/W or colors). I tried out all of them, including the straighten tool, and they work without any issues. AI cropping for ID cards and documents is also fairly accurate and if you are unhappy with the final result, you can manually tweak the borders for your desired result in a few seconds. The B/W color tool is especially good, as you can tweak it to enhance the document’s text, giving a real scanned image feel.

Next to the edit function, you’ll find the Add Page button, which is a simple tool to add more pages to the same document file.

Then you get an option to add an e-Signature to the document. You can use a freehand tool to draw your signature, add a text on the document, or even add it via the camera or photo option. The app auto aligns the signature in the bottom right corner of the document, but you can move it around to anywhere you want.

Next up is the OCR button, which works really well if it’s a printed document. However, handwritten docs (unsurprisingly) don’t fare so well, unless you have perfect handwriting. The app supports nearly 23 languages for OCR (the app downloads the selected language files separately).

Then we have another useful tool called Markup which allows you to add highlights to the document. It works as advertised and is pretty useful, especially if you have to mark certain sections of the document for work.

If you want to hide certain parts of the document, you can use the Hide button. Under this button, you get options to blur out certain sections, or you can simply cover certain areas of the document.

Finally, there’s also an Insert button that allows you to insert shapes or photos into the document.

Overall, when it comes to document scanning and editing, the iScanner app comes with a good set of practical and useful options. The UI as well as the number of features make it one of the best document scanning apps in the market right now.

But apart from document editing tools, iScanner has also added a couple of interesting features that are worth checking out.

Area Calculator

The app comes with an Area calculator function that can calculate the dimensions of a surface (flat) with approximate measurements.

This feature can be very handy to find the length or breadth of a surface quickly. I personally found it to be pretty accurate. Note that the accuracy depends on your selected start and endpoints of the surface. And if you can pinpoint the borders properly, the resulting measurement will be very close to the real one.

You can even find out the area of the room by pointing the app to one corner and connecting the other corners of the room to find its dimensions. Again, the results were surprisingly accurate, and if you set the dimensions properly, you’ll get results very close to the real figure.

Math Problem Solver

This is another useful feature wherein the app will use OCR to recognize the math problem and then solve it for you. iScanner supports a bunch of arithmetic problems like the root of a number, decimals, factorials, simple, square, and cubic equations, and logarithms. However, complicated equations like systems of equations (simultaneous equations) can’t be solved by the app, at least not yet.

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That said, most of the basic equations and arithmetic problems were recognized accurately when I tested the app. The results were accurate too! The app even recognized my handwritten equations, which was a pleasant surprise.

Overall, I can say that the math problem-solving feature of the iScanner app is not a gimmick and can be very useful for students as well as professionals.

Object Counter

Unfortunately, the object counter feature failed to work properly in my testing. I tried the counter with different objects, but clearly, the app struggled to give me an accurate figure.

Whether it was a bunch of objects with identical designs or slightly dissimilar ones, the app failed to accurately count all the objects in the image. So for most purposes, you may not be able to rely on this counter feature for an accurate reading. The company did say that they are working on improving this feature but right now, I personally can’t recommend users to rely on it to get an accurate object count.

iScanner App Pricing

To conclude, BP Mobile’s iScanner is an excellent app with a user-friendly interface and features that work really well. However, these features don’t come cheap, especially considering the free version has a lot of limitations. If you need the above features only for a couple of days, you can get their trial version, but again, it’s available only for 3 days, which is quite limited.

But for those who require a professional document editing and scanning app for regular use, the iScanner app can be a good choice, especially if you can get their yearly subscription.

The subscription to the app costs 9.99 USD per month or 19.99 USD per year. Note that your documents are stored within your smartphone itself and do not sync to the cloud. While this makes transferring the app and its docs to another smartphone a bit of a hassle, it’s something you have to accept for better security.

So, if you want a powerful document editor and scanner for personal or professional use or even an app with an excellent OCR feature, the iScanner app is a fantastic option.

You can check out their official website here or download the app from the Play Store or Apple App Store.

The post iScanner App Review: An Excellent Document Scanner that’s also a Math Problem Solver and Area Calculator appeared first on Gizmochina.