Blaupunkt launches Rock & Roll Ibiza party speaker in India: Price, details

Blaupunkt launches Rock & Roll Ibiza party speaker in India: Price, details


Blaupunkt has launched a new party speaker in India, the Rock & Roll Ibiza, with a built-in recording feature. According to the company, the speaker is designed for karaoke and live sessions, allowing users to record performances directly onto a USB drive. It also comes with 180W RMS output, dual 8-inch woofers, and a bundled wireless microphone, positioning it as an all-in-one portable audio system for indoor and outdoor use.


Blaupunkt Rock & Roll Ibiza: Price and availability


  • Price: Rs 18,990

  • Colour: Black


Blaupunkt Rock & Roll Ibiza is available for purchase from the company’s official website, select online platforms, and select offline retail stores across India.

 


Blaupunkt Rock & Roll Ibiza: Details


According to Blaupunkt, the key highlight of the speaker is its integrated recording function, which lets users capture karaoke sessions, voice recordings, or live music by plugging in a USB drive. The company says this feature is aimed at users who want to save performances without needing external recording equipment.

 


The speaker delivers 180W RMS output and features dual 8-inch woofers along with tweeters. Blaupunkt claims this setup is tuned to offer deep bass and clear vocals. It also includes multiple sound modes, EQ controls, and a bass boost function, along with an animated display panel.

 


For karaoke and live use, the speaker ships with a wireless UHF microphone and supports echo and reverb controls, as well as a guitar input. The device also includes RGB lighting for visual effects during playback.

 


In terms of design and usability, the Rock & Roll Ibiza comes with built-in wheels for portability and carries an IPX5 rating for water resistance. It is powered by a 7,000mAh battery and supports connectivity options such as Bluetooth, AUX, and USB.


Blaupunkt Rock & Roll Ibiza: Specifications


  • Output: 180W

  • Woofers: Two (8-inch)

  • Tweeters: Two (2.25-inch)

  • Battery: 7,000mAh

  • Lighting: 4 modes, dynamic

  • Durability: IPX5

  • Portability: Integrated wheels

  • Connectivity and display: Bluetooth 5.4, AUX, USB, Animated display



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WhatsApp is testing a dedicated CarPlay experience for iPhone users: Report

WhatsApp is testing a dedicated CarPlay experience for iPhone users: Report


WhatsApp is reportedly working on a native CarPlay app for iPhone users to make messaging and calling more accessible while driving. According to a report by WABetaInfo, the feature is currently being tested with iOS beta users and brings a proper app interface to CarPlay. Instead of relying only on Siri for voice-based interactions, users can now view recent chats, choose contacts, and initiate messages or calls directly from their car’s display. The update is expected to offer a more structured and controlled experience, while still keeping safety in mind by limiting full chat access.


Native WhatsApp CarPlay app in iOS: What is it


WhatsApp is reportedly introducing early support for a native CarPlay app. This version likely includes light and dark modes and focuses on essential messaging and calling features to avoid distracting drivers. As of now, WhatsApp on CarPlay relied entirely on Siri. Users could listen to incoming messages and reply using voice commands, but they could not access chats or browse conversations.

 
 


One of the key additions is a chat list screen. As reported, the screen shows recent conversations from the past few weeks, helping users quickly identify contacts they’ve interacted with. The list typically covers interactions from the past 20 to 25 days. However, users cannot open full conversations to read chat history, which reportedly aligns with safety considerations while driving.


Instead, they can select a contact to send a message or use the “New Message” option to reach someone not listed. The report added that users can also filter unread messages, which are marked with a blue dot for easier visibility.

 

The app reportedly also includes a call history tab where users can see incoming, outgoing, and missed calls, along with details like contact names and timestamps. Users can return calls directly from this screen. Another tab highlights favourite contacts, allowing quicker access to frequently contacted people. From here, users can start a message or call without searching through the full list. 

 


Limited rollout for now

 


WhatsApp for CarPlay is currently available only to beta testers using the TestFlight app. The report noted that the feature is still under development, meaning it may have bugs or missing elements. A wider public release is expected once the app becomes stable. 

 



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OPPO Find X9 Ultra to get 50MP telephoto with 10x zoom: What to expect

OPPO Find X9 Ultra to get 50MP telephoto with 10x zoom: What to expect


OPPO confirms a 50MP 10x optical telephoto camera for the Find X9 Ultra, aiming to improve long-range photography with reduced reliance on digital zoom. The smartphone will be launched next month

OPPO Find X9 Ultra

Aashish Kumar Shrivastava New Delhi

OPPO has announced that its upcoming OPPO Find X9 Ultra will boast a 50MP 10x optical telephoto camera. In a recent post on X, OPPO Chief Product Officer Pete Lau outlined the working of the smartphone’s imaging system. As per Lau, the new telephoto camera setup will help in preserving more detail in the image and improve long-distance photography. As per Lau, the 10x optical zoom on the Ultra model will offer the same clarity that the Find X9 Pro gets when paired with a teleconverter, which is sold as an additional accessory.  The OPPO Find X9 Ultra will join the Find X9 series, which currently comprises the Find X9 and Find X9 Pro, which were launched last year.  ALSO READ: OnePlus India shifts to online-first model, to exit offline retail: Report


What changes will OPPO Find X9 Ultra’s 50MP 10x optical telephoto camera bring 

As per Lau’s post, the OPPO Find X9 Ultra will use a 50MP sensor with a native 10x optical zoom lens. Most flagship smartphones currently offer optical zoom in the 4x to 5x range, with higher zoom levels typically relying on digital enhancement. This shift to a native 10x setup is aimed at preserving image detail at longer distances, reducing dependence on digital zoom. The post also noted that the high-resolution sensor could allow for further zoom, with up to 20x shots maintaining near-optical quality through cropping.  In practical terms, this could improve long-distance photography use cases such as concerts, events, and wildlife, where maintaining clarity at higher zoom levels is often a challenge.      ALSO READ: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Privacy Display reduces peak brightness: Report 


How did OPPO achieve this

OPPO said the primary challenge in delivering 10x optical zoom in a smartphone lies in accommodating a longer lens system without increasing device thickness. To address this, the company has introduced what it calls a Quintuple Prism Reflection Periscope system.  As described by Pete Lau, this design uses five internal reflections to extend the optical path while reducing the physical length of the module by around 30 per cent. This allows the phone to house a longer focal length lens within a relatively slim form factor.  The company also outlined additional changes to support image quality. These include a redesigned optical path to reduce stray light, sensor-shift stabilisation to manage hand movement at higher zoom levels, and a multi-stage optical alignment process during manufacturing.


OPPO Find X9 Ultra: What to expect

OPPO has confirmed that its camera-focused flagship, the OPPO Find X9 Ultra, will debut next month, although an exact launch date has not yet been announced. The company shared an early teaser on X, revealing a glimpse of the device, including what appears to be a dedicated camera button with an orange accent on the right frame.  As per a report by GSMArena, OPPO’s Find series product manager Zhuo Shijie confirmed on the Chinese social media platform Weibo that both the Find X9 Ultra and the OPPO Find X9s Pro will launch in China in April, with global availability expected at the same time. The company has also opened pre-reservations in China, with teaser images showing a circular camera module on the Ultra and a squarish module on the X9s Pro, which is reportedly expected to support 80W wired charging.  As per earlier reports from GSMArena, the OPPO Find X9 Ultra is expected to sport a 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED panel offering a 144Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 1440 × 3120 pixels. The device is expected to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, paired with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of onboard storage. It could also house a 7,050mAh battery with support for 100W wired and 50W wireless charging.  On the camera front, the smartphone is likely to feature a quad rear setup, reportedly comprising two 200MP sensors, one of which may be a periscope lens, alongside a 50MP ultra-wide shooter and a 50MP periscope telephoto camera offering 10x optical zoom, which has now been confirmed. For selfies, it is expected to include a 50MP front camera, with imaging capabilities tuned in collaboration with Hasselblad.
 

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First Published: Mar 30 2026 | 12:16 PM IST



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Meta is reportedly working on Ray-Ban smart glasses for prescription users

Meta is reportedly working on Ray-Ban smart glasses for prescription users



Meta is reportedly planning to expand its Ray-Ban smart glasses lineup with a focus on users who wear prescription lenses. According to a report by 9To5Google, citing Bloomberg, the company is preparing to launch two new smart glasses designed specifically for vision correction needs. The report said these upcoming models will feature “rectangular and rounded styles” and are being developed with prescription users in mind, rather than adapting existing designs.


Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses: What could change

As of now, users can add prescription lenses to the existing Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses frame design, but the report noted that these new versions would be purpose-built for that use case. While exact differences have not been confirmed, the report suggested that aspects such as frame thickness, comfort, and battery life could see improvements. 

 

 


It also mentioned that the glasses may be sold through “traditional prescription eyewear channels,” indicating that Meta could expand beyond its current retail approach to reach more users who rely on corrective lenses.

 

Another report from The Verge noted that two models, codenamed “Scriber” and “Blazer,” have appeared in the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) filings. These are described as production units, which typically signals that a launch may not be far away. According to the report, the “Blazer” model could be available in a larger size. The filings also reveal support for the Wi-Fi 6 UNII-4 band, which is not present in current models. This could allow faster data transfers, potentially improving features such as livestreaming. 

 


The report also cited comments from Mark Zuckerberg, who said during a recent earnings call that “billions of people wear glasses or contacts for vision correction” and that “it’s hard to imagine a world in several years where most glasses that people wear aren’t AI glasses.” As per the report, Meta suggested prescription smart glasses as a key step in making AI wearables more mainstream.

 



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OnePlus India shifts to online-first model, to exit offline retail: Report

OnePlus India shifts to online-first model, to exit offline retail: Report



OnePlus India is reportedly moving toward an online-first sales strategy while scaling back its offline retail presence, even as it expands its after-sales service network by leveraging parent company Oppo’s infrastructure. According to a Moneycontrol report, the company has initiated a strategic shift that could see most of its offline sales channels phased out in the coming weeks.

 

The report said OnePlus has asked partner-run exclusive stores across India to shut down operations, with only three company-owned outlets—in Hyderabad, Chennai and Bengaluru—expected to remain operational. Distributors in the general trade channel have also reportedly been given a March 31 deadline as their final billing date, with instructions to clear remaining inventory without any transition period.

 
 

According to the Moneycontrol report, modern retail partners have also been informed that billing will pause for several weeks after March 31, and upcoming launches, including the OnePlus Nord 6, are expected to be sold exclusively through online platforms such as the e-commerce platform Amazon. 


Shift to an online-first strategy


In a separate statement, OnePlus said that the D2C shift is aimed at “deepening engagement with its core base of digital-first consumers” while enabling “sharper pricing and more India-focused innovation,” according to the Moneycontrol report.

 


Retail bodies have raised concerns over the move. According to the report, Kailash Lakhyani, president of the Organised Retail Association (ORA) and chairman of All India Mobile Retailers Association (AIMRA), said in a communication to retailers that OnePlus is effectively returning to an online-centric model similar to its earlier strategy.

 

He added that such a shift could impact offline retailers and may lead to issues such as “grey market” activity and pricing inconsistencies. Both ORA and AIMRA have indicated they are monitoring the situation and may explore legal options as the transition unfolds. 
ALSO READ: OnePlus India CEO exits amid restructuring buzz: All you need to know


Service expansion via Oppo’s network


Alongside the retail shift, OnePlus has announced an expansion of its after-sales service infrastructure. According to a statement cited by Android Authority, the company plans to increase its service network by 50 per cent starting April 2026 by integrating with Oppo’s service centres.

 


This would take the number of authorised service centres from around 400 to over 600, improving access to repairs and support. The move also allows OnePlus to meet regulatory requirements, which mandate service support for several years even if operations are scaled back.

 


The reliance on Oppo’s infrastructure points to deeper operational alignment between the two brands, which already share resources across product development and supply chains.


Part of a broader restructuring


The latest developments come shortly after the exit of OnePlus India CEO Robin Liu and reports of ongoing global restructuring. A report by The Economic Times had earlier indicated that the company is reviewing its business across markets.


Separately, a report by Android Headlines noted that OnePlus shipments declined by over 20 per cent in 2024, while operations have increasingly been centralised under Oppo. Reports from Android Authority and 9To5Google have also pointed to the possibility of OnePlus scaling back in select global markets, with India remaining a key region.

 


The shift to an online-first model, combined with service integration through Oppo, suggests a consolidation of operations rather than an expansion of retail presence.



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Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra's Privacy Display reduces peak brightness: Report

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra's Privacy Display reduces peak brightness: Report



Samsung has confirmed to TechRadar that the Galaxy S26 Ultra features slightly lower brightness when compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The South Korean consumer electronics maker indicated that this trade-off in brightness is linked to the new Privacy Display, which prevents people from looking at your screen from a side angle.


Samsung compromises brightness for Privacy Display


As per the report, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra was showing slightly lower brightness levels compared to its predecessor when viewed from certain angles. Benchmark tests and side-by-side comparisons suggested that the newer model’s 6.9-inch display appears dimmer than the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra under specific conditions, when both devices are set to maximum brightness and viewed from a side angle. Minor variations in peak brightness and colour density have also been noticed. When TechRadar reached out to Samsung regarding this, the company did not respond initially.

 


After the publication of the report, here’s what Samsung said: “Privacy Display is designed to protect users’ privacy by providing a vivid visual experience for using the phone in normal use cases. Some variation will be seen when the phone is held at certain angles and when set to maximum brightness; however, any impact on actual usage when holding the phone should be negligible.”


Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has an 8-bit display


In related news, when the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra launched, it was communicated that the latest flagship sports a 10-bit display panel, as compared to the 8-bit panel present in its predecessor. However, as per a report by SamMobile, later, the South Korean consumer electronics maker confirmed that the display features an 8-bit display panel. It added that the “10-bit” referred to 10-bit mDNIe colour processing, not the panel’s native bit depth. For the uninitiated, a display with 10-bit colour depth offers 1.07 billion colours, as opposed to a display with 8-bit colour depth, which offers 16.7 million colours. This results in reduced banding and better colour accuracy.

 

First Published: Mar 30 2026 | 10:47 AM IST



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