With growing technology, online scams and financial frauds are also increasing day by day which has become a major concern for users worldwide as scammers have now been coming up with new ways to conduct these fraudulent activities. In order to safeguard its users, Google introduced its Digikavach initiative to prevent financial fraud.

Other than this initiative, Google has today shared a few tips on the X platform that users can apply to identify a scam.

Scam ke jhaase mein na aayein, apni samajh se baazi jeet jaayein!

Scam lage toh #MaukaGanwao#Digikavach pic.twitter.com/HSNPpAUwW8

— Google India (@GoogleIndia) September 17, 2024

5 Quick Steps To Identify A Scam

• Cross-verify the sender and contact official authorities– On receiving a suspicious message, email, or call you should cross-verify the sender before sharing any details, if you suspect it to be a fraud then you should contact official authorities for the same.
• Look for typos- Whenever a message is sent by a scammer, there are higher chances that the message contains some typo errors, you just need to be observant.
• Notice how often they call/email you– Usually, the scammer will send you multiple emails or make numerous calls to fool you.
• Think whether the offer is too good to be true– If the email or call suggests any offer, just analyze carefully to identify whether it is true or just a honey trap.
• Check if they are demanding your bank details urgently– In most financial frauds, users are asked to share their bank details urgently and are also threatened that if they don’t share the details, then their bank account will freeze

The post Follow These 5 Quick Steps In Order To Identify And Avoid Online Scam appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

Apple recently rolled out the iOS 18 update for eligible iPhone users. This update came with several new features and improvements. This new update is reported to allow users to start the firmware recovery of iPhone 16 if it enters recovery mode by simply placing it next to another iPhone or iPad to start the firmware recovery. In this case, the other Apple device will download a new iOS firmware and will simply transfer it to the bricked device. This simply means that you will not require a Mac or PC to fix the firmware issue of your iPhone 16 models.

This has been reported by 9To5Mac in a report. A user can use any device running on iOS 18 to restore a bricked device, though iPhone 16 models are the first that can be restored wirelessly. Here it’s important to mention that it’s not sure whether the company will be rolling out this capability to other iPhone models or not. This might require new hardware, which means the previous iPhone models may not get this. The wireless recovery and firmware restore was first introduced for Apple Watch with iOS 15.4 and watchOS 8.5 and then later it was expanded to the Apple TV with iOS 17 and tvOS 17.

The post iPhone 16 Models Can Be Wirelessly Recovered Using Another iPhone Says Report appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

In today’s digital age, choosing the right storage solution is crucial for optimising both personal and professional computing experiences. Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) and Solid State Drives (SSDs) are the two primary types of storage devices, each with distinct characteristics that impact performance, reliability, and cost. Understanding these devices can help you out in making better decisions. Let’s get to know in this article about their working, performance, and best option for you based on it.

Origin of SSD and HDD

The Hard Disk Drive and Solid State Drive were developed at different points of time. The HDD was invented by IBM in 1956. The first model was the IBM 350 Disk Storage Unit, part of the IBM 305 RAMAC computer. It used to use 50 spinning disks (24 inches in diameter) to store just 3.75 MB of data. Earlier the HDDs were bulky, slow, and expensive. As time passed and technology developed the size of the hard drive became smaller and it became cheaper for the buyers.

The Solid State Drive dates back to the 1950s and had earlier limited usage because of its high price. During this period there were two similar technologies known as card capacity read-only store and magnetic core memory. Despite a major wave of implementations of SSDs in the 1970s and 1980s, its high price caused limited usage. In 1983, a 128 KB SSD cartridge, Sharp PC-5000, came up and had a bubble memory. After that Tallgrass Technologies Corporation came up with a 20MB solid-state unit that was used in a computer like any hard drive. Then Santa Clara Systems came up with the BatRam, a 4MB mass storage with the capability to expand up to 20MB with the aid of a 4MB module. In the 2000s the first SSDs came in the market during the rise of netbooks.

Writing speed of HDD And SSD

The writing speed of an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and an SSD (Solid State Drive) differs significantly due to their different technologies When it comes to HDD writing speed it ranges between 50 MB/s to 150 MB/s. This speed basically depends on the rotation speed of the drive. Common HDDs have speeds of 5400 RPM or 7200 RPM, with higher RPM drives being faster. SDDs are faster than HDDs, with writing speeds ranging from 200 MB/s to over 5000 MB/s, depending on the type of SSD. SSD is faster because of the absence of any moving parts which helps in faster data access and write times compared to HDDs.

Mechanics

When we talk about HDDs (Hard Disk Drives) it basically uses spinning magnetic platters and read/write heads to store and retrieve data. It’s like a retro music player that had a cassette spinning and a head over it reading it. So this means the HDD has to rely on mechanical movement to function, which makes them susceptible to wear and tear over time. This is not the case with the SSDs (Solid State Drives) because they use flash memory to store data, with no moving parts involved. This solid-state technology is more robust and less prone to mechanical failure.

Speed

When it comes to speed data transfer, data access SSD stands ahead of the HDD. The reason being the faster boot times, faster file transfers, and improved overall system responsiveness. HDDs, with their spinning disks and moving read/write heads, are slower because data retrieval in HDD depends on mechanical movement to locate and access data. SSDs can access data almost instantaneously due to their lack of moving parts.

Performance

As far as performance is concerned, SSDs generally outperform HDDs in almost every aspect. SSDs enhance the performance of applications, decrease load times, and provide a more seamless experience for tasks requiring rapid data access. HDDs lag behind in performance because of their mechanical nature, which leads to longer seek times and slower data retrieval. This can be an issue when you want fast data transfer or retrieval.

Best choice to make

You have got to know the best up until now though we still have to say that the best option depends on your needs and budget. SSDs are generally preferred for their superior speed, reliability, and performance, making them ideal for tasks demanding high data access rates or for improving overall system efficiency. However, HDDs can be best when you want to buy a storage device that is affordable and when you are not performing any performance-intensive work.

The post Get To Know All About The Solid State Drives And Hard Disk Drives appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

We want our devices to perform according to our requirements, but that does not always happen. Sometimes it’s a device and sometimes it’s our own mistake that we make while choosing the right device. Something similar happens when we go to buy a laptop. A professional gamer and a student with no such usage cannot pick the same laptop. You might have seen laptop chips that come with different suffixes, and you need to know what it means, to make the right choice. Knowing the difference can make your laptop purchase or break it.

In this article, we will be talking about the U, H, and P processors.

Intel U Processor 

The U stands for “Ultra-low power” which is seen in thin and lightweight laptops mostly used for work and internet browsing purposes. This simply means that you cannot rely on it for performance-intensive work. These chips are not the best in terms of CPU performance though they do give users power efficiency. These chipsets have lower clock speeds, fewer cores, and very low TDP.

Best for students, business professionals, and anyone needing a portable laptop with a long battery life with basic productivity.

Intel P Processors 

The Intel P processor comes with better performance than the Intel U processor. It also sips a little more power than the U processor. This also creates the need for higher thermal requirements for it. This lies between U and H Intel chips which have a higher TDP than the U series but lower than the H series chips thus getting a middle ground. It is suitable for those users who perform video editing or handle multiple tasks at a time.

Best for: Video editors, someone who handles multiple tasks at a time.

Intel H Processor

Intel processors with an “H” suffix such as i7-10750H are designed for high-performance laptops and are often found in gaming laptops and workstations. The chips are built to deliver more processing power and handle demanding tasks like 3D rendering, and high-end gaming. At the same time, it draws more power than the U and P chips.

Best for: Gamers, Content creators, and someone who needs a powerhouse laptop for demanding applications.

The post Understanding Intel Processors Suffixes: How To Pick The Right Laptop That Is Best Suitable To You appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

If you are a Dell laptop user with Windows 10 Pro 64 installed, you might have come across an error that states, “Power surge on the USB port – Unknown USB Device needs more power than the port can supply”. This article will give you a detailed walkthrough of how to solve this error.

On expanding the above-mentioned error, a new message appears which states, “Powe surge on the USB port – A USB device has malfunctioned and exceeded the power limits of its hub port. You should disconnect this device.”

The cause of this error is the USB device causing a power surge message when plugged into the USB port. The products that are affected by this issue as listed on the official support page of Dell are Inspiron, Latitude, Vostro, XPS, and Latitude E7450.

Now let’s go through the solution for the same.

First of all, you will have to follow the on-screen directions. The on-screen directions initially command:

1. Disconnect all USB peripheral items, then Click the Reset button on the screen using the system touchpad and touchpad buttons.
2. Once reset, it is recommended that you reboot the system then reconnect the USB device and see if the error recurs.

If the issue doesn’t get solved, after following the above-mentioned steps, follow the below-mentioned steps:

• You will have to type cmd in the Windows search bar and then press Enter. This will open a command prompt.
• Next, type exe -id DeviceDiagnostic and press Enter. This will open the Windows Troubleshooter.
• After that click on Hardware and Devices and select
• Next, click on Run the Troubleshooter and choose to run the tool as an Administrator.
• Click Next and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process.

Following that, if no issues are discovered, uninstall and reinstall all the USB controllers by following the below-mentioned steps:

• First of all, disconnect the USB device from your laptop.
• Press the Windows Logo + R keys on your keyboard type msc in the Run Command box and press Enter. Doing this will open the Device Manager.
• Next, expand the Universal Serial Bus Controllers.
• Then, Right-click every device under the Universal Serial Bus Controllers After that, click on Uninstall to remove them one by one.
• After uninstalling, restart your PC and Windows will reinstall the USB controller drivers automatically.
• Then plug in the USB device and check if your issue is solved.

However, if the issue persists with a specific device, even after following the above-mentioned procedures, the device probably requires more power than the USB port on your PC is capable of providing. Thus, you can use a USB Hub which comes with a dedicated power source. You will have to connect the Powered USB Hub to the system USB port and the USB device to the powered USB Hub.

You can run the Diagnostic Test on your USB Ports by browsing the official Dell USB Diagnostics page, and following the prompts mentioned there.

The post Check how to fix “Power surge on the USB port – Unknown USB Device needs more power than the port can supply” error on Dell laptops here appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

OnePlus, a popular smartphone brand known for its feature-rich devices, has recently released a comprehensive guide addressing common questions faced by new users. This article highlights two frequently asked questions: recovering a forgotten lock screen password and using the Clone Phone feature.

Recovering a Forgotten Lock Screen Password

It’s crucial to remember your lock screen password, as it typically cannot be recovered due to stringent privacy measures. If you find yourself locked out of your device, you generally have two options:

1. Visit an official service center with your purchase receipt for a factory reset.
2. Perform a self-reset using the Recovery mode.

For those able to access their home screen via fingerprint or face unlock, it’s crucial to back up all data before attempting a reset. The step-by-step process for resetting via Recovery mode is as follows:

1. Power off the device.
2. Press and hold the power and volume down buttons simultaneously for 5 seconds.
3. In Recovery mode, select “English,” then “Format data.”
4. Enter the on-screen verification code and confirm the reset.

It’s important to note that both methods will result in complete data loss.

Using the Clone Phone Feature

The Clone Phone feature offers a convenient way to transfer data from an old device to a new OnePlus smartphone without using cables or mobile data. The process varies slightly depending on the type of old device:

For OPPO, Realme, or OnePlus devices:

1. Open “Clone Phone” on both devices.
2. Scan the QR code generated on the new device with the old device.
3. Select the data to transfer and begin migration.

For other Android devices:

1. Download the “Clone Phone” app on the old device.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions to connect devices and transfer data.

For iPhones:

1. Select “iPhone” on the new OnePlus device.
2. Sign in to iCloud and choose the data to migrate.

OnePlus provides several important tips for a smooth migration process:

• Ensure both devices have sufficient battery life.
• Keep devices in close proximity during transfer.
• Be aware that some data may be overwritten on the new device.
• Note that certain security-related and hardware-bound data cannot be migrated.

The post How to Recover a Forgotten Lock Screen Password and Use the Clone Phone Feature for Data Migration appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

Google has brought a number of new features for Google Pay users that make payment convenient, and easy than before. Google announced about these features during the   Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2024 in India. Let’s get to know about these features in detail.

UPI Circle on Google Pay

We all have a few members in the family who are hesitant to use UPI due to various reasons including limited access to banking services. For those Google has announced the Google Circle feature that allows users to pay safely for bills or shop offline and online by delegating to a trusted contact.

Two options are offered to the users

Partial Delegation: In this the the primary user retains full control over each payment request initiated by the secondary user.

Full Delegation: In this, the user can set a monthly limit of up to Rs 15,000 which allows the secondary user to make payments independently.

UPI Vouchers or eRupi

Google Pay has collaborated with the Department of Financial Services to bring the UPI Vouchers functionality to millions of Indians, right from within the Google Pay app. This allows the user to not only issue prepaid UPI vouchers but also use Google Pay.

Clickpay QR scan for Bill Payments

Google Pay in partnership with the NPCI Bharat Billpay has launched support for ClickPay QR on the Google Pay app. This allows users to pay their bills on Google Pay by simply scanning a (ClickPay) QR using the existing QR scanner they are familiar with.

Prepaid Utility payment

Home electricity bill, recharge, and maid salary are a lot of things to remember, isn’t it? Google Pay has brought a Prepaid utilities feature to the list of the supported recurring payments categories in partnership with NPCI Bharat Billpay. This allows users to discover their prepaid utility providers or aggregators (like housing societies), link their energy accounts, and pay seamlessly using UPI.

 Tap & Pay with RuPay Cards

You can now add your RuPay card to Google Pay and can make payments by simply tapping your mobile phone on any card machine. Card information like the 16-digit card number is not stored with Google Pay.

The post Google Pay Unveils New Features At GFF 2024: Enhanced UPI Payments, Prepaid Utilities, And More appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

Finding remotes for various devices like televisions and air conditioners can often be a frustrating experience. Smartphone manufacturers have been striving to introduce new technologies to simplify our lives. The IR Blaster is one such advancement that aims to reduce stress by allowing you to control your smart home appliances with your smartphone.

This article will guide you on how to use the IR Blaster on compatible OnePlus devices.

Firstly you need to check if your home appliance supports IR Blaster or not

• Using Your Phone Camera:
  • Open your phone’s camera app
  • Point it towards the infrared emitter on your appliance’s remote
  • Press any button on the remote
  • If you see a red light through your camera, the appliance supports IR control
• Check the Appliance or Manual:
  • Look for engravings on the appliance such as ‘Infrared Receiver’
  • Check the device manual for mentions of IR or infrared control
  • Locate the infrared receiver on the appliance:
  • Usually found at the top or bottom of the device
  • Typically circular or rectangular in shape
• Contact the Manufacturer: • If still unsure, reach out to the appliance manufacturer’s customer service for confirmation

How to Use the Mobile Infrared Remote Control Function

1. Locate the Infrared Remote Control App:
   • Find it in the “Utilities” or “Widgets” folder on your home screen
   • Alternatively, use the global search feature
2. Add the Widget: a) To add it to your home screen:
   • Pinch the screen with two fingers
   • Tap the “+” icon in the top left corner
   • Find the infrared remote control widget
   • Add it to your desired location b) To add it to the negative-one screen:
   • Swipe right to enter the negative-one screen
   • Tap the “+” icon in the top right corner
   • Find the infrared remote control widget
   • Add it to your desired location c) Via Control Center:
   • Swipe down from the top of the screen to access the Control Center
   • Swipe down again to expand the options
   • Tap the three dots (︙) in the top right corner
   • Select “Edit switches”
   • Add the infrared remote control option
3. Additional Location:
   • The infrared remote control icon may also be found in the top right corner of the Smart Home app

Adding a Remote Control

1. Manual Addition:
   • Open the infrared remote control function
   • Tap the “+” icon in the bottom right corner
   • On the remote control list page, choose the option to manually add a remote control
   • Select the device type
2. Add by Scanning a QR Code: a) To share a QR code:
   • Go to “Infrared Remote Control APP”
   • Select “Added Remotes”
   • Tap the three dots (︙) in the top right corner
   • Choose “Share” b) To scan a shared QR code:
   • Open the “Infrared Remote Control APP”
   • Tap the “+” icon
   • Select the QR Code Scanner in the top right corner
   • Scan the QR code to add the remote control

Managing Remote Controls

On the remote control list page, long-press any remote control to access these options:

• Delete
• Edit
• Re-match
• Pin/Unpin
• Share
• Add to Home Screen

Tip: The infrared remote control feature utilises the IR emitter on the front of your mobile. For optimal performance, ensure you point this emitter directly at the device you wish to control.

Here is the list of recently launched OnePlus smartphones that support IR Blaster

OnePlus Nord 3 5G

OnePlus Open Apex Edition

OnePlus Nord CE 3 5G

OnePlus 12R

OnePlus 12

OnePlus Nord 4

OnePlus 11R

OnePlus Open

OnePlus Nord CE 4

The post Here is how you can use IR Remote on your Compatible OnePlus Devices appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

Google has introduced a feature for Google Pay users that now not only allows them to check their CIBIL score on the app but also receive tips to improve their credit score. You can play gamified quizzes to understand the credit score on the app.

To check the credit score on the app follow these steps

1. Open the Google Pay app.
2. At the “Manage your money” section, tap Check your CIBIL score for free.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.

If you’re a first-time user, you need to provide your:

• Full name
• Phone number
• Email ID (optional)
• PAN (optional)

This feature is powered by TransUnion CIBIL which helps you get the credit report. A good credit score increases your chance to get better rates on loans and is one way to increase the reliance on you when you are taking a loan.

Based on the score that you get you can check the ranking

• Subprime or poor: Less than or equal to 680
• Near prime or average: 681 to 730
• Prime or above average: 731 to 770
• Prime plus or good: 771 to 790
• Super prime or great: 791 and above

The post Check Your CIBIL Score Directly On Google Pay And Learn The Ways To Improve It appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

You might have found yourself in a condition where you need to find the bill or box of your smartphone just to check if your smartphone is still under warranty or not. Next time you will not have to find the box but you will be able to check this directly through a website. Basically, every smartphone brand has its dedicated site where a user can simply use the IMEI number of their device can check the warranty status of the device.

You can check this IMEI number by going in Setting and then the About Device section. For those who are using iPhones or any other Apple devices, you need to go to the Settings where you will find the General section. As soon as you tap on it you see the About section where you will find the serial number and IMEI number. In case you are unable to check it through the device you should either find it printed on a sticker that comes stuck behind the smartphone or in the box of the smartphone.

There is another way also that you can use to find the IMEI number and that’s by dialing a code in the dial pad. You can dial *#060# in the dial pad and the IMEI number will appear to you.

Here you get a compilation of links from famous brands where you can simply go on the basis of the smartphone you are using and check the warranty status of your phone.

Apple iPhone

https://checkcoverage.apple.com/?locale=en_IN

Samsung

Samsung online warranty checker lets you find the warranty status of your Samsung device. There you will just need to enter the IMEI number along with the location. You can also check the warranty status of your Samsung phone on Samsung Members App where you need to have registered earlier. In Support section of the app you will see the days left of the update. 

Realme

https://realme.com/in/support/phonecheck…

Vivo

https://vivo.com/in/support/IMEI

Oppo

https://support.oppo.com/uk/warranty-check/…

OnePlus

https://service.oneplus.com/in/warranty-check…

iQOO

https://iqoo.com/in/support/IMEI

Xiaomi, Redmi, Poco

https://mi.com/global/verify/#/en/tab/imei…

Nothing, CMF

https://in.nothing.tech/pages/imei

Oppo

https://support.oppo.com/uk/warranty-check/

The post How to Easily Check Your Smartphone Warranty Status Online Using IMEI Number in India appeared first on The Tech Outlook.