Hareem Farooq Plays Oh Chit With Brandsynario

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Nov 6, 2017

Looks like Pakistan is heading towards another change in its advancements, regards to labor policies within the country.

According to the law, employers, who have more than 15 employees will have to pay them via bank transfer. However, due to undocumented economy and statistics, there is no evidence if there are employees who are paid in cash.

According to RS-Tech, Senate Standing Committee on Interior passed the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill 2017. This bill was passed in a bid for regulating the wages system. The bill once put into action would prevent employers from paying their employees in cash.

The bill claims that companies and organisations with over 15 employees need to pay salaries via account transfers or cheques. Payment via banks helps in assisting the government and those officials to make legal claims and keep track of all transactions if needed.

Labors can claim any violation of rights and will have proof that injustice has been done. Senator Rehman Malik—Chairperson Committee said that the employers should be responsible for opening bank accounts of their employees.

The aim is to make laws better for the common man so that their suffering can come to an end.

Fake WhatsApp on Play Store has Fooled More than a Million People!

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Nov 6, 2017

Technology nowadays has become the key-tool for hackers and scammers these days!

Not only is it easy to have someone click on a link to steal their information and hack into their accounts, fake applications have also become a thing.

A fake version of WhatsApp already has over a million downloads and is going by the name ‘Update WhatsApp Messenger’. The copycat resembles the authentic application and was uploaded by a developer who goes by the name ‘WhatsApp Inc.’ to further mislead people.

The developer uses a Unicode to replicate the original application. The Hacker News shared a screenshot to show that the name of the developer is actually “Whatsapp+Inc%C2%A0” the other characters are invisible.

WhatsApp Finally Rolls Out ‘Total Recall’ Feature!

According to a report, once the application is downloaded, the software is then bombarded with ads. This came into light through DexterGenius, a Redditor who wanted to see what it does. He wrote that the app itself has limited internet access, but it is loaded with advertisements and has a code to download one other app “whatsapp.apk.”. He further mentioned that the app itself tries to hide by having no title and a blank icon.

When inquired about the scam app Google said it’s been considered.

The application is no longer available on Google Play Store as it has been removed. However, it is important for everyone to understand that there are fake applications, thousands are uploaded every day, do not fall for these as they expose sensitive material on your phone to a world of people who want to misuse it.

Iqbal Day November 9: To Be a Public Holiday or Not?

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Nov 6, 2017

The important debate that has been happening since last two years resurfaces! The whole of Pakistan is eager to know if Iqbal Day November 9th, 2017 will be a holiday or not!

No official announcement has been made by the government yet. Schools are also awaiting an official notification on the matter.

Last year, a fake notice by Federal Government declared November 9 as a holiday. However, once this news spread like wild-fire all over the social media, Interior Ministery of Pakistan announced that there is no such official notice and that the one being circulated is fake.

November 9, Iqbal Day, has long been declared as a public holiday in Pakistan. With the birthday of the national poet just around the corner, debates are bound to continue whether to make the event a holiday or not.

Iqbal Day November 9 Holiday Restored by Federal Government!

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more updates

Indian Man With ‘Sixth Sense’ Predicts Devastating Earthquake for Pakistan!

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Nov 6, 2017

An uproar has been created on social media after an Indian man’s earthquake warning for Asia went viral on the internet

Claiming to have extrasensory perception, the man, identified as Babu Kalayi, wrote a letter to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and informed him that a disastrous tsunami is about to hit eleven nations by the end of 2017.

The 11 locations include:

Pakistani
China
India
Japan
Nepal
Indonesia
Afghanistan
Thailand
Sri Lanka
Bangladesh
Gulf Nations

Babu Kalayil’s, who is director of the Kerala-based group, wrote:

“This vigorous earthquake can be shared the entire coast of the Asian continental areas. Moreover this the effect will even replaced the boundary of the sea shore.”

While the Indian media has laughed off Babu’s prediction, officials in Pakistan have taken his warning pretty seriously and have kickstarted preparations to combat the calamity, reports BBC Urdu

Following the whole hullabaloo, yet another letter is making rounds on the web, claiming to be from Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (ERRA)’s Acting Deputy Chairman.

Apparently, Pakistan’s top intelligence agency has alerted ERRA that a massive earthquake will strike the Indian Ocean by December 2017, setting off a powerful tsunami in the region.

According to the Express Tribune, the letter appears to be fake as ISI has no relation to the prediction of any natural disaster.

However, Met Department chief Dr. Ghulam Rasool also told BBC Urdu that:

“this prediction has no scientific justification, albeit, we are preparing to save ourselves from its effects. ERRA has also started its work by writing the letter.”

The news has created a wave of alarm in Pakistan. Earthquakes are considered one of the biggest natural disasters as they cannot be predicted with available technology.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more updates.

Qmobile & Amazon Goods Wrongfully Smuggled within Pakistan

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Nov 4, 2017

Sometimes, even our heroes need a little help catching the bad guys. With a tip from an unamed source, the men at Model Customs Collectorate of Preventive Karachi were able to catch reputable importers misusing the Green Channel Facility.

The importers were reportedly clearing their goods at Karachi Port through misdeclaring them as QLed products, Amazon tablets, and other various brands and products.

Cheif Director of Customs (Enforcement) South Karachi and Collector of Customs (Preventive) Karachi dispatched a team under the supervision of ADC/DC (ASO) to spoil their attempts of importing goods illegally and wrongly.

Because of the sharp vigilance, a 40-ft container was caught red handed. On the spot inquiry revealed that many products including Qmobile phones were imported into the country without any payment of duty/taxes.

Total value of goods seized rounded up to around Rs 284 million. The breakdown is as following:

SEE 2017 Competition at PAF-KIET is a Must Attend for Engineering Students

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Nov 4, 2017

Love engineering? Have an ability to innovate? Looking for ways to showcase your talent? Well then, there is a massive competition being held in Karachi called ‘Student Engineering Exhibition-SEE’ and you should not miss it at any cost!

It is important to understand that education is not just limited to classrooms and the real talent can only be exhibited via novel competition and contests.

Since last 11 years, PAF-KIET has created a legacy of hosting one of the biggest and most effective engineering competition in Karachi with ‘SEE’

WHAT IS SEE ABOUT!

SEE provides a golden chance to students, hailing from institutes all over Pakistan, to test their analytical skills and unleash their practical abilities via this avant-garde platform. The initiative helps to bring out the best in potential engineers and provide them with a platform to nurture their expertise.

The two-day event is built around design, advanced manufacturing, and robotics technologies. The categories have been planned to enable the rising engineers to expand their knowledge, inspire innovation and mold their classroom concepts in a recreational style.

It boasts an extravaganza of competitions ranging from contests like:

ROBO LINE FOLLOWING

The robot has to follow the path (Line) to reach the goal point taking the shortest pathways.

ROBO MAZE SOLVING:

The Robot has to enter into the maze where it has to trace the right path by taking right turns and avoiding the obstacles.

ROBO JUNIOR:

Students will be asked to program robots in order to meet a challenge designed for the competition. During the two-day event, students will compete in a very dynamic, high energy and exciting environment learning teamwork skills in a recreational atmosphere.

JUNIOR DESIGN PROJECT:

This competition will be a platform to recognize the small-scale Innovative Science and Engineering projects designed during a semester

JUNIOR JUNKIES:

To create the given structures using the pile of scrap and junk. Here the students have to utilize their creative skills to design a strong and stable framework.

PROGRAMMING:

Emerging talented programmers will be given a scenario to code and a pre-written code to debug in a limited span of time.

CIRCUIT TRICKS:

A task-based competition where the participating students will be judged on their skills and capabilities in designing and developing a circuit that produces accurate results.

ENGINEERING QUEST:

A competition where the students will be tested for their knowledge and skills that they have gathered in their professional studies. It will consist of MCQs’ along with rapid fire round.

MIND QUEST:

This competition is for the students who have interest in pursuing engineering in future. They will be examined on their concepts in science, math and general knowledge.

AVIONICS WORKSHOP AND COMPETITION:

PAF-KIET is one of the pioneers of Avionics Engineering. This competition will give a flavor to the participants to enjoy the making of ornithopter and rubber band glider.

Other than engineering and science contests, it also a variety of competitions in arts, theater, chess, photography and much more.

WHERE:

PAF KIET (main campus)

WHEN:

6th and 7th of November 2017

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more updates

“Fake News” Coined As Word Of The Year 2017

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Umaima Nadeem

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Nov 3, 2017

The word “Fake news” has now become a true news! These two words have been coined as Word of the Year 2017 by Glasgow-based Collins Dictionary.

“It has been derided by the leader of the free world and accused of influencing elections, but ‘fake news’ is today legitimate news as it is named Collins’ Word of the Year 2017.”

Before 2017, it didn’t event exist, but thanks to the miracles of this year, it emerged everywhere. Collin’s said:

“It has been derided by the leader of the free world and accused of influencing elections, but ‘fake news’ is today legitimate news as it is named Collins’ Word of the Year 2017.”

The runner-up words also listed by site were “Antifa,” “fidget spinner,” “gender-fluid,” “echo chamber” and “gig economy”. Another word that almost made to the list was “Corbynmania” which means “fervent enthusiasm for Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the UK Labor Party.”

Donald Trump is now becoming a trendsetter as majority of the words said by him are on the tongue of millions. Trump has used “Fake news” many times in his speeches. He used it so much that its usage has gone up to 365%. Hence it has been declared as “Word of the year”.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed because you never know what Donald Trump will make popular in the next year. We can just hope for it to be something positive!

Have anything to add to this story? Do let us know in the comments below.

Pakistan’s Historic Court Decision Rules Against 2nd Marriage

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Nov 3, 2017

For the first time, the Lahore High Court ruled against a man who got married for the second time without his first wife’s consent. This ruling has created history in Pakistan and has been applauded by women’s rights activists.

The man charged guilty has been ordered to serve a six-month jail term and has been imposed with a fine of Rs. 200,000.

The case is now being called historical as this has been the first time a court in Pakistan has sided with the woman under a 2015 family law. Ayesha Bibi won the case against her husband, Shahzad Saqib who got married again without asking for her approval.

The defendant, Ayesha Bibi had pleaded with the court stating,

“To get married without your first wife’s permission is breaking the law!”

Ayesha’s husband spoke about religion allowing him to marry four times and he did not need permission from his wife to do so. However, the court did not take his side and rejected his argument.

Romana Bashir, a Women’s Rights Activist and NGO Head spoke on the ruling,

“It is encouraging that a wronged woman has used this law to complain to the court. The decision augurs well for women’s empowerment”

According to the Institute for Policy Studies, a research organization, polygamy was more popular in rural areas as compared to urban cities. Its common in families without a male heir and when the men have extramarital affairs.

The Chair of Punjab Commission on the Status of Women, Fauzia Viqar was happy about the ruling and termed it as a step towards ending polygamy in the country.

“The decision sets an important precedent. It will discourage polygamy and encourage women to take up their case with the courts. It will create awareness among people, in general, and women, in particular. Wronged women using this law will lead to their empowerment.”

Have anything to add to the story? Let us know in the comments below.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for latest news and updates.

PIA to Suspend Flights to Three More Destinations After New York

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Nov 3, 2017

After the closing down of PIA’s iconic route to New York, the airline has announced yet other disappointing news that has shaken the nation. The loss suffered by the airline has been in billions, a continuous decline in service has led to PIA’s dismal conditions.

People were highly saddened and disappointed after PIA ended its New York route, however, it is now planning to close down 3 European destinations after the Big Apple. The decision has been made due to the loss these routes are causing the organization as it cannot compete with foreign airlines.

Pakistan International Airlines has decided to close down the following 3 Europe Routes:

Barcelona (Spain)
Milan (Italy)
Paris (France)

Barcelona, Milan and Paris are popular tourist destinations and part of a lot of Pakistani travel bucket lists.

Apart from the 3 cities, PIA has already stopped going to various European tourist hotspots such as:

Amsterdam
Frankfurt
Bradford
Glasgow
Chicago
Moscow
Istanbul

It is definitely a sad state of affairs, Istanbul (Turkey) has now become one of the most visited holiday spot by Pakistanis. The country is a cusp between Asia and Europe and comparatively affordable from other European countries. The same reason of facing losses had been cited for the closure of these routes.

The Pakistan Airline Pilot Association (PALPA) has mentioned this as a big blunder showing a lack of commercial aviation experience on part of the airline management. PALPA will approach the Senate and National Assembly to brief them on the disaster and the decrease in the network of PIA.

PIA In Massive Loss!

According to latest reports, PIA is facing a loss worth 4 Billion. The country’s flagship carrier is akin to a sinking Titanic with no superhero to save it.

Advisor to Prime Minister on Aviation, Sardar Mehtab Abbasi told Geo News:

NEITHER THE GOVERNMENT NOR THE AIRLINE’S MANAGEMENT OR ITS EMPLOYEES ARE READY TO OWN IT.

However, he believes that the airline has a lot of potentials to recover itself and rise from the ashes all over again.

“THERE IS A LOT OF TALENT, A LOT OF POTENTIAL, IF THEY [PIA] UTILISE THEIR POTENTIAL TO THE MAXIMUM THEN THINGS CAN CHANGE”

PIA’s Last Flight to New York Today!

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for latest news and updates.

Chevening Scholarship Program in the UK: Last Chance to Apply

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Nov 3, 2017

We all know how much UK qualifications are honored and recognized worldwide by organizations, governments, and top universities cause of its academic strength.

All those who are eager to study in top varsities of U.K are in great luck! There are some major openings for the prestigious Chevening scholarship programme and you better not miss this ah-may-zing chance to apply for it.

The UK government’s global scholarship programme, Chevening Scholarship programme offers awards to outstanding scholars with leadership potential from around the world. It provides learns with a golden chance to study for a master’s degree in any subject at any UK university.

Host Institution(s)

Any university in the UK

Level/Field(s) of study

Full-time taught Masters Degree Programme in any subject at any UK university

Number of Awards

1500 scholarships globally are offered under the programme

Scholarship value/inclusions

The programme covers:

university tuition fees,
a monthly stipend,
travel costs to and from the UK,
an arrival allowance,
a homeward departure allowance,
the cost of one visa application
a travel grant to attend Chevening events in the UK

Eligibility

To be eligible for a Chevening Scholarship you must:

Be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country.
Return to your country of citizenship for a minimum of two years after your scholarship has ended
Have an undergraduate degree that will enable you to gain entry to a post-graduate programme at a UK university.
Have at least two years’ work experience
Apply to three different eligible UK university courses and have received an unconditional offer from one of these choices by 12 July 2018
Meet the Chevening English language requirement by 12 July 2018

Deadline

Applications close on 7 November 2017 at 12:00 GMT (midday UK time).

How to Apply

Apply online at http://www.chevening.org/

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more updates.

Summit Bank Merges Into Sindh Bank

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Nov 3, 2017

The management of Summit Bank has now finalized the merger with Sindh Bank. The closing date of Summit Bank’s banking operations has been set to December 29th for Karachi, subject to the approval of the State Bank of Pakistan.

From the 29th of December, the banking license for Summit Bank issued by the SBP will be canceled and the branches would be changed into Sindh Bank.

Summit Bank’s board of directors had approved the merger with Sindh Bank and set a share value of bank at par with 3.85 shares as part of the amalgamation scheme between the two banks.

The share swap ratio of 1 new ordinary share of Summit Bank for every 3.85 ordinary shares of Sindh Bank for the merger to take place. The set-up of the share price of the bank is likely to be dependent on the merger of the two banks with a share swap just as it was previously done in the case of MCB Bank and NIB Bank.

However, sponsors and shareholders will have their stakes in the combined or merged bank.

Summit Bank Ltd’s, Company Secretary Syed Muhammad Talib Raza mentioned:

“At a meeting of the Board of Directors of Summit Bank Limited, held on 04 August 2017, the Board of Directors passed the resolution that subject to all applicable regulatory approvals including approval of the State Bank of Pakistan and approval of the shareholders of the bank in a general meeting.”

Syed Raza further added details on the section under which the merger was approved,

“The Board of Directors of the bank approved the amalgamation with and into Sindh Bank Limited under section 48 of’ the Banking Companies Ordinance 1962”

The bank will offer its revised share value to shareholders of the bank once it has been given a go ahead by the authorities. Money will also be offered to those shareholders who wish to offload shares of the bank in future.

Summit Bank has been a struggling entity which closed the calendar year of 2016 with a loss of Rs. 2.17 billion. However, a profit of Rs 106 million was posted in the first quarter of 2017. The newly merged bank could now be named as Sindh Summit Bank.

Summit Bank which was planning to convert its operations into Sharia based Islamic banking has now revoked its decision. Whereas, Sindh Bank was to list itself with the Pakistan Stock Exchange and have decided against doing so.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for latest news and updates.

Bitcoin is Now Worth 5 Times More Than Gold!

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Nov 3, 2017

The cryptocurrency Bitcoin has astonished us once again. The currency which is deemed as illegal in Pakistan has now reached a new benchmark!

Its new of value $7444 is 5 and a half times more than the current value of gold!

In terms on PKR, 1 Bitcoin is valued at a little over 780,000. Bitcoin prices surged as high as $7,350 in trading Thursday likely thanks to traders in Asia noticing the CME’s announcement.

The currency has broken 3-records setting new milestones in the course of just 30 days!

Earlier, the value of the cryptocurrency Bitcoin had crossed over $6000 with a sudden rise in value. For almost 8 days, the value remained at $6,183 but then saw a decline and hit $5,800.

However, the currency is facing challenges due to the crackdown in China and it being illegal in many countries around the world, including Pakistan.

Although the currency is not recognised by State Bank of Pakistan and is termed as ‘illegal’, a massive number of investors are still willing to dive into the currency’s potential, and even potential Altcoin investors as well!

Bitcoin Once Again Surges Sky-High Breaking Previous Record of $6000!

Careem Driver Discovered Dead in Karachi

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Nov 3, 2017

Karachites have found Ride-hailing services like Careem and Uber to be a huge blessing, the affordable rates have garnered quite a customer base in a short time. The issue of safe and secure transport on our fingertips was solved with the introduction of these services in Pakistan.

However, there have been various complaints about misconduct by drivers, but this time around it has been a Careem driver that has faced the worst fate anyone could.

According to reports, the body of a Careem captain was found from a car in Karachi’s Korangi area yesterday.

The victim was a father of three, Obaid who had claimed to have had a heated argument in Landhi with a motorcyclist after a collision. It has been reported that the motorcyclist is to be blamed for the murder of Obaid. He was shot while on the way to pick up a ride and had been working with the online cab-hailing service for the past year.

This is the first time such a tragedy has occurred with a Careem captain in Karachi.

Police have mentioned that the driver has been shot to death from within the car, and the investigation has been speeded up by involving CCTV footage from the area. The authorities have also tracked the location of the murder through his phone’s GPS which was active and registered with Careem.

Careem Pakistan has shared their condolences with the family of the deceased and has mentioned that they are working with the authorities in every capacity.

Careem Pakistan Released this Statement Yesterday.

This does make one wonder, how safe are you on Karachi streets? We do hope justice is served and the culprits are caught in time.

Careem & Uber Fares Likely to Increase in Punjab!

Have anything to add to the story? Let us know in the comments below.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for latest news and updates.

Honda Blames Leading Petrol Brands for Fire-Breakouts in Engine!

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Nov 3, 2017

Recently, Honda came under the spotlight for having faulty engines in their cars which were resulting in mishaps.

However, a twist has now come across. The leading manufacturer is blaming gas stations for their engine blowouts.

According to Honda, the fuel being provided at Shell, PSO and Total petrol pumps is harmful to the engine and is not all at suitable, resulting in fire breakouts. The company claims that these petrol pumps are adding manganese to their gasoline.

“We have received a complaint from Honda, and the relevant department will look into the issue,” said Imran Ghaznavi, a spokesman for the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to The Nation.

According to Honda’s complaint, dangerous levels of manganese has been discovered in fuel samples taken from all 3 stations. Results showed levels of manganese of up to 53 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), while the additive is deemed at a “danger level” at 24 mg/kg, the Honda complaint claimed.

“Now that Honda has formally complained they may also follow suit,” the official who asked not to be identified told Reuters. The accused companies have not yet made any official statements to counter Honda’s claims and to clarify things from their end.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.

Government Warns Officials About Risk Associated With WhatsApp !

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Nov 3, 2017

Whatsapp is amongst the world’s most popular messaging applications in the world. There will be hardly any smartphone user who won’t have the magic app installed. Consequently, it has become really hard to operate our daily lives without it.

However, a warning has been released by Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior, refraining government employees from using Whatsapp.

The app was deemed risky as it sends users’ information without their intervention to servers abroad and reportedly leak data, sending information from device’s address to remote server.

The notification, classified as confidential, rates Whatsapp as the most blacklisted Andriod and IOS app by organizations.

The official communication recommended:

“a) Use of social media applications especially “WhatsApp” should be avoided as they send user information without their intervention to abroad servers

b) Install and UPDATE well-reputed antiviruses such as Kaspersky, Bitdefender, Nod32, Avast, etc

c) Install and regularly update software firewall such as Comodo Firewall of Zonealarm

d) Don’t download attachments from emails unless sure about the source.”

Government’s warning clearly indicates that everybody should take caution against probable dangers of Whatsapp. While it boasts over a billion users, it also has a danger looming of potential data leaks.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more updates.

Razer Launches its First Smartphone for Gamers!

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Nov 3, 2017

Gaming company Razer has debuted its first Smartphone dedicated towards gamers! Earlier in the year, the company had purchased a Smartphone company called Nextbit.

Now the question which arises in our minds is that how can a gaming company design a Smartphone that caters to their needs, keeping in mind that games take up a lot of storage space, RAM needs to be plenty, no hanging issues, quality display, and much more.

Well, Razer has tried to make the impossible happen with Razer Smartphone aka Project Cheryl.

Razer Specifications

Razer Phone, aka ‘Project Cheryl’
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
RAM	8GB dual-channel LPDDR4-1600
Storage	Internal: 64GB UFS External microSD class 10 2TB max
Display	5.7″ IGZO LCD 2560×1440 120 Hz Ultramotion Wide Color Gamut Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Rear Cameras	12MP AF f/1.75 Wide 12MP AF f/2.6 Zoom Dual PDAF Dual-tone, dual-LED Flash
Front Camera	8MP f/2.0
Sound	Stereo front facing speakers Dual amplifiers USB-C Audio Adapter with THX certified DAC
Power	4000 mAh battery Qualcomm QuickCharge 4.0+
Wireless	802.11ac Bluetooth 4.2 NFC
Bands	GSM: Quad-band GSM UMTS: B1/2/3/4/5/8 LTE:B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/17/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/66 TDD LTE: B38/39/40/41 TD-SCDMA: B34/39
Dimensions	158.5 x 77.7 x 8 mm 6.24 x 3.06 x 0.31 in
Weight	197 grams
OS	Android Nougat 7.1.1
Price	$699
Availability	Pre-orders on Nov-1 Shipping from 17-Nov

According to AnandTech, the Razer Phone is the first smartphone to bear the THX certification. In this case, Razer is offering a THX certified DAC for external audio, which will be available as a USB-C adapter since the Razer phone doesn’t offer a headset jack. Apparently, this is the new normal now, so RIP 3.5mm on phones.

Razer has chosen to ape the camera hardware from the iPhone, with dual 12 MP rear cameras. One offers a f/1.75 wide angle, and the other offers a f/2.6 zoom lens. It offers phase-detection auto-focus and a dual-tone dual-LED flash. The front camera is an 8 MP f/2.0 camera.

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Atif Aslam Makes World Record For Pakistan!

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