The Morning After: Thursday, January 19th, 2017

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

We’ve got a fresh batch of Fujifilm cameras, 12 million declassified CIA files and a new special event for Overwatch.

900p is the new 1080p‘Zelda’ on Nintendo Switch won’t run in native 1080p

Thinking about upgrading your Nintendo console to play The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild? The company tells IGN that this adventure will be rendered in 720p on the Wii U, and 900p on its upcoming Switch. Of course, resolution isn’t everything, and while both versions are locked at 30fps, the Switch version will also feature higher quality environmental sounds.

The truth is probably not in there
12 million declassified CIA files are now available online

The CIA has posted a treasure trove of documents online for the first time. That means you no longer have to actually visit the National Archives to get your fix of UFO reports, intelligence bulletins and more info from between the 1940s and 1990.

Fate has brought two warring kingdoms together in a bitter clash.
Nintendo’s ‘Fire Emblem Heroes’ arrives on Android next month

Fans of tactical RPGs will have a new on-the-go option soon, in the form of Fire Emblem Heroes. The free mobile game is coming to Android first on February 2nd, with an iOS release “soon.” (Also, Android gamers, you should know Super Mario Run is due in March.)

It’s the Year of the Rooster
The next ‘Overwatch’ seasonal event starts January 24th

After the Olympics, Halloween, and Christmas (did we miss any?), the next big Overwatch event has been announced, and it’s celebrating the Chinese New Year. There’s no word on exactly what’s in store, but some new skins, emotes and outfits are a good bet. The fun starts Tuesday.

Cameras, cameras, camerasFujifilm’s new cameras: GFX 50S, X100F and X-T20

Fujifilm announced a slew of new cameras while you were sleeping. They include the $6,500 medium-format GFX 50S that’s arriving in late February, and the latest entry in its X100 line, the $1,300 X100F, which may be its best fixed-lens camera to date. Last but not least, the $900 X-T20 updates its X-T10 with features like 4K video and a 24.3MP sensor.

We liked the earlier versions betterMozilla’s new logo is kinda ://

Firefox’s parent company turned to its users for help on new branding, and this is what they chose.

Good ’til 2020Russia extends Snowden’s residency permit for another three years

Edward Snowden is not receiving clemency (yet, anyway), however his stay in Russia is safe for the time being. The government updated its position on the NSA leaker, extending his residency permit into 2020. He’s been there since 2013, and according to his lawyer, could apply for citizenship after another year.

Product placement wins again‘Final Fantasy XV’ tricked me into buying Cup Noodles

Square-Enix apparently used all that development time to sign up sponsorship deals, since the newest Final Fantasy game is filled with product placement. Sean Buckley caved to temptation and nostalgia, but with Cup Noodles as the result, maybe that’s not a bad thing.

Low PPO
Arctic’s GMO apple slices are about to go on sale

Midwestern grocery customers will see something new on shelves in February and March. That’s because Arctic is ready to sell its Golden Delicious apples that are genetically modified. The tweaked apples can go more than three weeks without oxidizing after they’re cut, bruised or bitten into.

But wait, there’s more…

• Netflix finished 2016 with over 93 million subscribers
• Adoptly’s Tinder-style swiping feels all wrong
• Twitter sells its Fabric developer platform to Google
• Slack adds long-awaited threaded messaging feature
• CBS All Access’ ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ faces an indefinite delay
• Tesla will manufacture Model 3 parts at the Gigafactory

CIA reveals new guidelines for collecting data on Americans

There’s no question that the US government’s approach to handling sensitive data could stand an update to acknowledge the online age, and the CIA is taking a stab at it. The agency has published new procedures that govern how it collects, keeps and shares information on Americans under Executive Order 12333. The guidelines acknowledge that it’s much, much easier to collect large volumes of data than when the Order surfaced in the 1980s, and that the nature of the internet requires restrictions that hadn’t even been considered before.

The updated rules include “specific approval requirements” for any data that can’t be evaluated right away, and limit data collection to the smallest the CIA needs to achieve its goals. Agents can’t just scoop up as much as they can and hoard it for later, in other words. The agency will also limit access to unevaluated data, insist on training for handling that data and require the deletion of that data no more than 5 years after it’s available.

Data searches, meanwhile, have to both be limited to legal activities and include an explanation whenever there’s extra-sensitive information involved, like messages. And spies can’t just inflitrate online social circles at will, either. Operatives have to identify their affiliation unless they’re joining an organization that primarily consists of and is run by non-Americans, and they’ll still have to get approval from the CIA’s Director before diving in.

There will be periodic audits on top of existing oversights, the CIA says.

We can see some potential flaws in the guidelines. While the agency does have a good reason to keep info around for a while, 5 years is a long time to retain internet data that probably won’t be useful. And is a statement of purpose enough for the CIA to look at private conversations in its databases, even if the scope is narrow? Still, the very fact that the CIA is updating its rules (not to mention making the changes public) is important. This theoretically lowers the odds that surveillance teams will grab more data than they’re allowed (ahem, NSA), and increases the chances that abusers will be caught in the act.

Via: Reuters

Source: CIA

Lite-On Semiconductor to Provide Wireless Charging Components for iPhone 8

Lite-On Semiconductor is to provide integrated chip components for the next-generation “iPhone 8” that will support fast wireless charging, according to a new report out today.

According to Chinese-language paper Commercial Times, the Taiwan-based maker of discrete and analog IC components will supply the bridge rectifiers necessary to maintain efficiency in wireless power transmission and reduce thermal issues.

iPhone 8 concept by Handy Abovergleich.

Lite-On Semi has reportedly obtained half of the orders for GPP bridge rectifiers that will be used in the wireless charger for the upcoming iPhones, the report cited industry sources as saying.

The semiconductor company’s share price on the Taiwan Stock Exchange rallied to its daily 10 percent limit on the news. Lite-On Semi responded to the report by saying it does not comment on customers or orders.

Apple is said to be working on long-range wireless charging technology, which is superior to many existing wireless charging methods since it doesn’t require devices to be as close to a charging source or mat.

Apple manufacturing partner Foxconn is reportedly testing wireless charging modules intended for use in this year’s “10th anniversary iPhone”, while recent comments by possible partner Energous suggest Apple could use the company’s over-the-air charging technology in a forthcoming smartphone.

The iPhone 8 is expected to introduce a radical redesign of Apple’s iconic handset, with a glass body and edge-to-edge OLED display that includes an integrated Touch ID fingerprint sensor and front-facing camera. Three models – one OLED, two standard – have also been rumored to feature in Apple’s next-gen flagship range.

(Via DigiTimes.)

Related Roundup: iPhone 8 (2017)
Tag: wireless charging
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Netflix Beats Subscription Rate Predictions By One Third As Shares Reach All-Time High

Netflix added over a third more subscribers than expected in the last quarter of 2016, streaming video service revealed yesterday. According to its latest Q4 letter to shareholders, Netflix signed up 7.1 million new subscribers worldwide, almost two million more than analysts expected, despite price raises during the quarter.

The company put the boost down to the success of original shows like season 3 of Black Mirror and British drama The Crown which have garnered strong global followings. Notably, the company said millions of U.S. subscribers had tuned in to watch dubbed and subtitled versions of Brazilian series 3%, making it the first Portuguese-language TV show to travel meaningfully beyond Latin America and Portugal.

Internet video is a global phenomenon. Amazon Prime Video expanded recently to match our territory footprint, while YouTube remains far larger than either of us in terms of global video enjoyment minutes. Video consumption is growing on Facebook, and Apple is rumored to be adding video to its music service.

…The BBC has become the first major linear network to announce plans to go binge-first with new seasons, favoring internet over linear viewers. We presume HBO is not far behind the BBC. In short, it’s becoming an internet TV world, which presents both challenges and opportunities for Netflix as we strive to earn screen time.

Netflix said it planned to release more than 1,000 hours of original programming this year, up from 600 hours in 2016. It also said it had recently signed a deal with comedian Jerry Seinfeld to stream Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee as well as two new stand-up specials and other shows he will develop.

Netflix announced earnings of 15 cents per share and revenue of $2.48 billion, beating Wall Street expectations of earnings at 13 cents per share. Netflix rose as much as 8.2 percent in after-hours trading following the earnings report, adding nearly $5 billion to the company’s stock market value.

Tag: Netflix
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ProtonMail Launches Tor Onion Site to Evade State Censorship

Encrypted email provider ProtonMail has launched its own onion address, allowing users to access the service over the Tor anonymizing network (via TechCrunch).

The Swiss-based email account provider, which has more than 2 million users, said the measure was aimed at defending against state-sponsored censorship, and pointed to recent moves around the world to block encrypted communications and expand surveillance.

ProtonMail said it was worried about increased attacks on online privacy, such as encryption messaging app Signal being blocked in Egypt, and the UK passing expansive surveillance legislation which mandates tracking of web activity.

The service also reported a bump in registrations following President-Elect Donald Trump’s election win, with web users said to be seeking a non-U.S. based secure email provider in case of a broad expansion of online surveillance activity.

“Given ProtonMail’s recent growth, we realize that the censorship of ProtonMail in certain countries is inevitable and we are proactively working to prevent this,” said co-founder Andy Yen in a statement on the launch. “Tor provides a way to circumvent certain Internet blocks so improving our compatibility with Tor is a natural first step.”

ProtonMail can now be reached over the Tor network directly using the onion address https://protonirockerxow.onion. The provider has also posted instructions on how to access the site on iOS devices, although it is currently looking into problems with access via the free Onion Browser app.

ProtonMail is a free download for iPad and iPhone on the App Store. [Direct Link]

Tag: Encryption
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Fujifilm X100F Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

Fujifilm

The current generation of Fujifilm’s popular enthusiast “compact” with an APS-C-size sensor, the X100T, has been around for over two years. Even then, the camera only got one significant update since it launched in 2011, when the original X100 graduated to the X100S. Now Fujifilm delivers a relatively major update with the X100F, at the same price as all the X100 models before it.

That price is $1,300, and it’s slated to ship in the US in February 2017. I don’t have regional availability, but given the consistent launch pricing for the series, I’m guessing it will be £999 and AU$1,750; directly converted from the US price, though, that’s £1,060 and AU$1,730 at current exchange rates.

There aren’t a lot of changes, but the few enhancements are important. They include:

• An upgraded sensor to the same 24.3-megapixel X-Trans III CMOS that’s in the X-Pro2 and X-T2
• Improved performance, including an update to the faster and wider-coverage version of the autofocus system that’s in the X-T2
• Wi-Fi support
• Design enhancements, such as streamlining the controls on the back of the camera, integrating the ISO sensitivity settings into the shutter-speed dial and a higher-resolution display

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (India) Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

Xiaomi

Xiaomi continues to bet big on India, this time with an Indian version of its budget Redmi Note 4 phone, which the company previously launched last year in its home market of China.

While it looks almost identical to the earlier Redmi Note 4, the new version does away with antenna lines and improves the 13-megapixel camera with a CMOS sensor boasting pixels sized at 1.12micron for better low-light shots.

Instead of the MediaTek deca-core Helios X20 processor found on the Chinese version, the Indian model uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 625 chip. There’s a new matte black color, too.

Otherwise, the specs aren’t all that different. The Note 4 packs a 5.5-inch full-HD display and comes with a fingerprint scanner and 4G dual-SIM. The non-removable 4,100mAh battery also means you’ll be able to last a full day and then some.

Key specs

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor
• 5.5-inch full HD 1,920×1,080-pixel screen
• 4,100 mAh battery
• 13-megapixel CMOS BSI sensor
• 4G dual-SIM

The phone will retail in India for 9,999 Indian rupees for the 2GB RAM, 32GB onboard storage base model. This converts to about $145, £120 and AU$190 respectively. The 4GB RAM model with 64GB of onboard storage is a tad more expensive at 12,999 Indian rupees, but that converts to just $190, £155 and AU$250, which is quite the deal.

The bad news is that Xiaomi hasn’t said if it will retail this outside of its second biggest market. The company is generally sketchy on its international plans, vaguely hinting at long-term US expansion plans back at CES. The Redmi Note 4 goes on sale in India on 23 January on e-commerce site Flipkart and Xiaomi’s own site.

Xiaomi

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 specs

The latest phone in the Redmi series is a beast.

The Redmi Note 4 has made its debut in India, offering enticing specs and a great all-metal design. The Indian variant is powered by Qualcomm’s 14nm Snapdragon 625, and comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB storage. Here’s a look at the hardware on offer with the Redmi Note 4.

Redmi Note 4 specs

Operating System	MIUI 8 based on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
Display	5.5-inch 1080p (1920×1080) IPS LCD panel 2.5D curved glass 401ppi pixel density
SoC	Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 Eight Cortex A53 cores at 2.0GHz 14nm
GPU	Adreno 506 with Vulkan API, OpenCL 2.0, and OpenGL ES 3.1 650MHz
RAM	2GB/3GB/4GB
Storage	32GB/32GB/64GB microSD slot up to 128GB
Rear camera	13MP with f/2.0 lens PDAF, LED flash 1080p video recording
Front shooter	5MP with f/2.0 lens 1080p video recording
Connectivity	LTE with VoLTE Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, GLONASS Micro-USB, 3.5mm audio jack, IR blaster
Battery	4100mAh battery Fast charging (5V/2A)
Fingerprint	Rear fingerprint sensor
Dimensions	151 x 76 x 8.3mm
Weight	175g
Colors	Gold, Dark Grey, Silver

The phone will be exclusively available on Flipkart. For more on the Indian variant of the Redmi Note 4, be sure to take a look at our review:

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 review

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 lands in India with Snapdragon 625, 4GB RAM, 4100mAh battery

The Redmi Note 4 is here, and it is amazing.

At a media event in New Delhi, Xiaomi launched the Redmi Note 4 for the Indian market. The local variant of the handset is powered by a 14nm Snapdragon 625 SoC, offering a 5.5-inch Full HD display, 4GB of RAM and 64GB storage, a 13MP camera, 5MP front shooter, and a 4100mAh battery. On the software front, the phone runs MIUI 8 based on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, but a Nougat preview is already in testing and will be rolling out shortly.

One of the key improvements in the Redmi Note 4 over last year’s version is the design, which sees Xiaomi switching to an all-metal chassis. The aluminum body and chamfered edges at the back make the device look premium, and there’s 2.5D curved glass at the front. And for the first time, the phone will be available in an all-black color option, which looks incredible. The black option won’t be available at launch, but will make its debut at a later date. For more, be sure to take a look at our extended coverage, including the review of the Indian variant:

• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 specs
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 review

The phone will be available exclusively on Flipkart, and is offered in three variants: a base model with 2GB of RAM and 32GB storage, a version with 3GB of RAM and 32GB storage, and a high-end variant with 4GB of RAM and 64GB storage. All three versions will offer a microSD slot, and here’s the breakdown on the pricing:

• 2GB RAM/32GB storage: ₹9,999
• 3GB RAM/32GB storage: ₹10,999
• 4GB RAM/64GB storage: ₹12,999

What do you guys think of the Redmi Note 4?

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 review: Setting the benchmark for the budget segment

Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 3 was one of the best-selling devices of 2016 in India. With its successor, the company is looking to continue the momentum.

Quick take:

It’s hard to follow up on the Redmi Note 3, but Xiaomi has managed to deliver a great successor in the Redmi Note 4. The phone now comes with more memory and storage, and the design changes make the device feel upmarket. Battery life has also received a boost thanks to the Snapdragon 625 SoC, and the camera is also better than what we saw last year. In short, this is the phone to beat in the budget segment.

The good

• Class-leading performance
• Premium design
• Great battery life

The bad

• MIUI quirks
• Fast charging limited to 5V/2A

Here we go

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Full review

Xiaomi had a great 2016 on the back of the Redmi Note 3. Over 3.6 million units of the phone were sold, allowing Xiaomi to cross $1 billion in revenue from the country for the first time.

However, competition in the budget segment has intensified, with Lenovo launching a bevy of models in the country last year. The Moto G4 series continues to sell in huge numbers, and the Z2 Plus picked up a discount recently, bringing the cost of the phone down to ₹14,999. For that amount, you get a handset powered by the Snapdragon 820. The Honor 6X — which has a dual camera setup — is slated to make its debut in India next week, and Samsung’s Galaxy J7 and Galaxy On Nxt offer a lot of value for their asking price.

To counter the threat, Xiaomi is selling three variants of the Redmi Note 4 in India: the base model has 2GB of RAM and 32GB storage and retails for ₹9,999 ($145), then there’s a variant with 3GB of RAM and 32GB storage for ₹10,999 ($160), and the most interesting model is the one with 4GB of RAM and 64GB storage, which is available for just ₹12,999 ($190).

Can the Redmi Note 4 fend off its rivals and solidify its place in this category? Let’s find out.

Everything you need to know

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Specs

Operating System	MIUI 8 based on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
Display	5.5-inch 1080p (1920×1080) IPS LCD panel 2.5D curved glass 401ppi pixel density
SoC	Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 Eight Cortex A53 cores at 2.0GHz 14nm
GPU	Adreno 506 with Vulkan API, OpenCL 2.0, and OpenGL ES 3.1 650MHz
RAM	2GB/3GB/4GB
Storage	32GB/32GB/64GB microSD slot up to 128GB
Rear camera	13MP with f/2.0 lens PDAF, LED flash 1080p video recording
Front shooter	5MP with f/2.0 lens 7200 video recording
Connectivity	LTE with VoLTE Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, GLONASS Micro-USB, 3.5mm audio jack, IR blaster
Battery	4100mAh battery Fast charging (5V/2A)
Fingerprint	Rear fingerprint sensor
Dimensions	151 x 76 x 8.3mm
Weight	175g
Colors	Gold, Dark Grey, Matte Black

About this review

I (Harish Jonnalagadda) am writing this review after using the Redmi Note 4 variant with 4GB of RAM and 64GB storage for two weeks in Hyderabad, India. The phone was connected to Airtel’s 4G network for the first week, and Jio’s VoLTE-enabled network for the rest of the review period. The phone was on the MIUI 8 beta channel, and received three updates with stability fixes.

Exquisite

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Design and screen

The Redmi Note 4 is roughly the same size as its predecessor, but the design has been significantly altered. The phone now sports an all-metal chassis, with Xiaomi stating that it takes over 30 steps to turn the aluminum block into a finished piece. The phone is slightly heavier than the Redmi Note 3, but the added heft makes a huge difference in day-to-day usage. It’s weighted perfectly, and Xiaomi managed to trim the overall thickness by 0.3mm, bringing the phone down to 8.4mm.

The Redmi Note 3 featured ungainly plastic at the top and bottom, but the Note 4 is entirely made out of aluminum. It instead has antenna lines at the back, which provide signal reception while also serving to break up the design. The phone isn’t as curved at the back, with the chamfered edges making for better ergonomics.

These are all subtle changes, but they culminate to produce a phone that’s vastly different. The end result is that the Redmi Note 4 feels great to hold and use. The overall fit and finish is one that befits a high-end device, and shows how far companies that cater to the budget segment have come.

Rounding off the design, the Redmi Note 4 has a speaker grille at the bottom, and although it is a single speaker, there are two sets of grills for the sake of symmetry. They’re joined in the middle by a microUSB port, an odd choice in 2017 considering the industry is moving to USB-C. The Redmi Pro offers the newer USB-C port, and it is likely Xiaomi will switch to the standard from the next generation. At the top, you’ll find the 3.5mm jack and an IR blaster.

The Redmi Note 4’s design wouldn’t look out of place on a high-end phone.

The power and volume buttons are on the right, and they offer decent tactile feedback. The SIM card slot is on the left, and you can either slot in two SIM cards (microSIM + nanoSIM) or a SIM card along with a microSD card. Round the back, the camera sensor and lens module are aligned with the fingerprint sensor, which is slightly recessed.

The front is dominated by a 5.5-inch display, and the addition of 2.5D curved glass makes a substantial difference when using the screen. The hardware navigation buttons are backlit, allowing for easy access at night. The display itself is brighter and has better color accuracy than the Redmi Note 3, and is easily one of the best panels in this segment.

You get the usual Xiaomi additions as well — there’s Reading Mode, a blue light filter that makes it easier to read text at night. The mode lets you create a schedule to automatically enable it, and there’s also the option of enabling it for selected apps. You can also adjust the color temperature to your liking, and toggle double tap to wake the screen.

All the details

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Hardware

Xiaomi has excelled at offering great hardware in its budget phones, and that hasn’t changed with the Redmi Note 4. The Chinese variant of the Redmi Note 4 is powered by MediaTek’s Helio X20 SoC, but as Xiaomi isn’t allowed to launch phones powered by MediaTek processors in India, the local variant is powered by a Snapdragon 625. Although the naming convention may lead one to believe that it is a downgrade from the Snapdragon 650 used in the Redmi Note 3, that isn’t the case.

Unlike the 28nm Snapdragon 650, the Snapdragon 625 is built on the 14nm node, resulting in greater energy efficiency. The mid-range chip powers through everyday tasks with ease, and there wasn’t any lag or slowdown in the two weeks I’ve used the phone. The 4GB of RAM also makes a difference when multitasking. The Snapdragon 625 can also handle visually-intensive games Modern Combat 5: Blackout or Asphalt 8 without breaking a sweat.

The Redmi Note 4 handles everything you throw at it with aplomb.

Even though the base model of the handset comes with 2GB of RAM, it is great to see Xiaomi moving away from 16GB internal memory and instead offering 32GB as the base storage. The phone comes with the usual range of connectivity options, including dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, LTE with VoLTE, and an IR blaster that lets you control a variety of appliances.

There’s no NFC on the phone, but that isn’t as major an omission as it is in Western markets. Android Pay is yet to make its debut in India, and it doesn’t look like it will do so anytime soon.

The fingerprint sensor at the back is slightly recessed, making it easy to locate it with your finger. Its position beneath the camera module makes it easy to access, and the sensor itself is quick to authenticate. It is an always-on sensor, so you’ll be able to unlock the device even when the display is off.

The speaker on the Redmi Note 4 is significantly better than its predecessor, and that’s mainly due to its placement. Moving the speaker to the bottom means that it is no longer muffled when lying flat on a surface. The quality from the speaker is average — with sound getting distorted at high volumes — but at least you won’t miss any incoming calls or notifications.

MIUI saga continues

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Software

MIUI 8 is Xiaomi’s biggest release in a long time, introducing much-needed visual flair along with new customization options. The skin is based on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, and the phone is currently on the December security patch. Xiaomi is testing a Nougat preview of MIUI, and will be rolling it out widely in the coming months.

Setting up the Redmi Note 4 is a hassle, as MIUI still doesn’t offer a way to restore apps and settings. So you’ll have to individually install apps from the Play Store after booting into the phone. Another issue is with the phone’s settings, which is a jumbled mess in its current iteration. Settings you’d normally find on other Android phones are inexplicably missing, and the ones that are available aren’t located where you’d expect. For instance, if you want to enable installation of apps from outside the Play Store (useful for installing apps like Spotify), you’ll have to go to Settings -> Additional settings -> Privacy ->Unknown sources. On most other phones, it is at Settings -> Security -> Unknown sources.

MIUI is frustrating to use at times, but it is packed with features.

Xiaomi is like the Alfa Romeo of phone brands. Its designs are evocative, and its customers are very passionate about the brand. And like all Alfas, Xiaomi’s phones end up being quirky and frustrating to use. With the Redmi Note 4, that shows up in the form of annoying lock screen issues.

Lock screen notifications are a hit and miss in MIUI 8. While I receive all Gmail notifications, I’m yet to see one for Google’s Messenger or Facebook Messenger. On the subject of notifications, MIUI 8 has a retooled notification shade that shows quick toggles and incoming messages in the same place. You can expand notifications, but doing so requires a zoom in gesture, not the best solution when you’re using the phone one-handed.

Then there’s the aggressive memory management. I use Minima for live wallpapers, and to get it to work, the app needs to be running in the background. Every time I closed the Minima app, the wallpaper switched back to the system default.

That said, MIUI 8 has a ton of new features and customizability. There’s Dual Apps, which lets you run two instances of the same apps, allowing you to run two WhatsApp or Facebook accounts on the same phone. With Second Space, you can set up two profiles on the phone, with each featuring a different home screen. The profiles are sandboxed and use their own distinct data, but you do get the option to move data between profiles.

MIUI 8 also offers video editing tools in the gallery app, there’s a new power-saving mode that lets you conserve the battery, and there’s a Quick Ball feature that lets you access shortcuts with ease. You can also take scrolling screenshots, convert currency and other units on the fly, and much more.

Eight new features in MIUI 8

There’s also a one-handed mode, which is accessible with a left-to-right (or vice versa) swipe gesture across the navigation keys. You can shrink the screen size down to 4.0 inches, 4.5 inches, or 3.5 inches, making it more convenient to use the phone one-handed. Xiaomi also offers several features for the Indian market. The dialer includes caller ID information for the delivery staff of Amazon, Domino’s, Zomato, and other brands, making it easier for you to identify incoming calls.

Better than before

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Camera

The Redmi Note 4 has a 13MP camera with f/2.0 lens and PDAF. There’s a 5MP camera up front that also sports an f/2.0 lens. The camera app is easy to use and comes with a wealth of options, including filters, beautify effects, and a manual mode that lets you tweak the ISO, white balance, and exposure settings. You can also take tilt-shift photos, set a countdown timer, shoot panoramas, and select from various scenes.

The camera does a great job of taking photos in well-lit conditions, and the resulting images are full of detail and offer saturated colors. You get more detail when shooting in HDR, but doing so takes slightly longer to shoot images. Images at low-light turned out decent, but you’ll have to put in a lot of effort to get passable shots.

Incredible

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Battery life

The 4100mAh battery on the Redmi Note 4 is slightly larger than its predecessor, but the shift to 14nm has led to vastly increased battery life. The phone easily lasts a day on a full charge if you’re a heavy user, and more often than not, you’ll get a day and a half worth of usage out of the phone.

You can eke out two days’ worth of battery from the phone with medium usage that involves a few hours of streaming music, watching videos, and browsing the web. The one downside with the battery is that the Redmi Note 4’s fast charging is limited to 5V/2A. That’s equivalent to Quick Charge 2.0 speeds, and correspondingly the phone takes nearly two hours to fully charge.

Can’t go wrong

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Bottom line

Xiaomi didn’t try to re-invent the wheel with the Redmi Note 4. Instead, it focused its attention on fixing the few flaws the Redmi Note 3 had — camera and design. In doing so, it created a well-rounded device that offers excellent value for money. The fact that the phone is now available with 4GB of RAM and 64GB storage is an added bonus.

The design of the phone makes it look much more premium than its predecessor, and the chamfers at the back result in better ergonomics. Same goes for the addition of 2.5D curved glass at the front, which ensures that the phone doesn’t dig into your palm when you’re using it.

If you want a phone with excellent battery life, just get the Redmi Note 4.

MIUI is still resource-heavy and buggy at times, but the latest iteration has fixed several problems from MIUI 7, and the interface in general looks much better. Battery life has also increased, making the Redmi Note 4 one of the best devices in this segment when it comes to battery longevity.

Like its predecessor, the Redmi Note 4 sets the bar for what phones can achieve in the budget segment. This is the phone to beat in 2017.

Get it already

Should you buy it? Absolutely

If you’re looking for a budget handset, then the Redmi Note 4 should be high on your list. For just ₹9,999 — ₹12,999 for 4GB of RAM and 64GB storage — you get a phone with a great design and internal hardware, decent camera, and amazing battery life. There’s no doubt that Xiaomi will sell millions of Redmi Note 4 units in India. The only question is if the manufacturer will be able to meet the initial demand. For now, the phone is up for sale exclusively on Flipkart.

See at Flipkart