Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G, Redmi Note 9 5G, and Redmi Note 9 4G

Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G, Redmi Note 9 5G and Redmi Note 9 4G have been launched in China. The anticipated smartphones launched by Xiaomi will be available for purchase in China.

International availability of the three new phones in the Redmi Note 9 series has not been announced yet. The earlier models in the Redmi Note 9 series, which include Redmi Note 9 Pro Max, Redmi Note 9 Pro, and Redmi Note 9, were launched in India earlier this year.

Snapdragon 750G SOC paired with Adreno 619 graphics processor. The Redmi Note 9 Pro has up to 256GB onboard storage, expandable up to 512GB.

In terms of optics, the Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G has a quad rear camera setup featuring a 108MP primary sensor with a 1/1.52inch sensor and an f/1.75 aperture. It also has an 8MP ultra-wideangle lens, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. It can shoot 4k videos at 30fps and 1080p videos up at up to 60fps. The phone also has a Super Night Scene 2.0 mode. For video calls and selfies, the smartphone has a 16MP camera.

The Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G packs a 4,820mah battery with support for 33W fast charging. It has IP53 water and dust resistance, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and dual stereo speakers. Connectivity options includes 5G, Bluetooth v5.1, Wi-fi 802.11a/b/g, NFC, USB Type-c port, and a headphone jack. Sensors on board include ambient light, acceleration sensor, gyroscope, electronic compass, rear light sensor, ultrasonic distance sensor, and more. Lastly, the phone measures 165.38 x 76.8 x 9 mm and weighs 216grams.

Redmi Note 9 5G

The Redmi Note 9 5G, meanwhile, starts at CNY 1299 (roughly Rs 14,600) for the 6GB RAM + 128GB model, CNY 1499 (roughly Rs 16,800) for the 8GB RAM + 128GB, and CNY 1699 (roughly Rs 19,100) for the 8GB RAM + 256GB variant. It

is offered in Cloud Ink Grey, Flowing Shadow

Purple, and Outside the Castle Peak colour variants.

The Redmi Note 9 5G features a 6.53 full-hd (2,340x1,080 pixels) display with 60Hz refresh rate. It runs on Android 10 with MIUI 12 skin on top. It has a punch-hole at the top left of the display with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. It is powered by a Mediatek Dimensity 800U processor and has up to 8GB RAM + 256GB storage.

Coming to the camera, the Redmi Note 9 5G features a triple rear camera setup including a 48MP primary sensor, an 8MP wide-angle lens, and a 2MP macro lens. It can shoot 40k in 30fps and 1080p in up to 60fms. It has a 13MP front camera for selfies and video calls.

The Redmi Note 9 5G packs a 5,000mah battery with 18W fast charging. It has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. Connectivity options include 5G, Bluetooth v5.1, Wi-fi 802.11a/b/g, USB Type-c, and a headphone jack. Sensors on board include ambient light, acceleration sensor, gyroscope, electronic compass, and more. It measures 161.96 x 77.25 x 9.2mm and weighs 199grams.

Redmi Note 9 4G

Redmi Note 9 4G is priced at CNY 999 (roughly Rs 11,200) for the 4GB RAM +128GB model, CNY 1099 (roughly Rs 12,300) for the 6GB RAM + 128GB, CNY 1299 (roughly Rs 15,600) for the 8GB + 128GB, and CNY 1499 (roughly Rs 16,800) for the 8GB RAM + 256GB option. It is available in Smoke Wave Blue, Misty Green, and Feather Black colour options.

The Redmi Note 9 4G features a 6.53-inch (2,340x1,080 pixels) full-hd display. The phone runs on Android 10 with MIUI on board include ambient light, acceleration sensor, gyroscope, distance sensor, electronic compass, and more. It weighs 162.3 x 77.28 x 9.6mm and weighs 198grams. ■

team@mymobile.co.in

The essence of OTT is the unfiltered content which users enjoy and if moral policing by the government itself starts playing with this too, would not it be the end of OTT in India?

In the covid-19 era, we had a lot of fun watching some raw and real content on Netflix, Amazon Prime or any other Over The Top (OTT) platforms. It is quite evident that it gained supremacy replacing both television and mainstream cinemas, and the reason behind that is the quality content, which Tv/cinemas are gradually unable to deliver the way OTT platforms are currently delivering.

While delivering the content that we love to binge on, OTT platforms are now surrounded by controversies. There is some

so-called “socially explosive content” that has created a stir, be it Netflix’s A Suitable boy or Amazon Prime’s mirzapur, and the government has jumped in and is deciding what we should watch on our behalf.

The Union government has brought video streaming platforms under the ambit of the ministry of Information and broadcasting.

And we fear this may lead to a situation which will stifle not just creativity, but freedom of expression.

As of now, no law or autonomous body was governing digital content. In a gazette notification issued and signed by President ram Nath Kovind, online films, digital news and current affairs content now come under the purview of the I&b ministry headed by Prakash Javadekar.

As per the media regulation laws in India, while films in India are required to follow certification rules and broadcasters of programs on television are required to adhere to the Program code and the Advertising code. However, the owners of web series, films and other content exhibited only online or on digital platforms were currently free from the hassle of censorship or any code, subject to provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (the “IT Act“). but, the I&b ministry has found a vast swathe of unregulated content, namely news online and OTT platforms which had escaped any architecture of regulation.

Last month, the Supreme court had sought the centre’s response on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) for regulating OTT platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video by an autonomous body.

The PIL stated that digital content on these platforms is made available to the public at large without any filter or screening. A bench comprising chief Justice S.A. bobde and Justices A.S. bopanna and V. ramasubramanian had issued notices to the central government, the ministry of Information and broadcasting and Internet and mobile Association of India (IAMAI), as per reports.

A notification from the cabinet Secretariat on November 9, said that films and audio-visual programs made available by online content providers and news and current affairs content on the online platform will be under the purview of the Information and broadcasting ministry.

From time to time, the government had indicated the necessity to monitor these platforms. In October 2019, the government had indicated that it will issue the “negative” list of don’ts for the video streaming services like Netflix and Hotstar. It also wanted the platforms to come up with a self-regulatory body on the lines of the News broadcasting Standards Authority.

In July, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal asked the entertainment industry to self-regulate their programs on OTT platforms, claiming that many of them portray India and Indian society poorly. even though streaming platforms had promised to adhere to self-regulation, the Indian government has been unimpressed.

Regulation of news and OTT online

There are no details as of now, but it is said that the Programme code that governs content on TV and which found an outlet in the cable Television Network regulation Act, 1995, may serve as a template to frame rules for online content. The Programme code lists several don’ts that channels are required to observe and follow. currently, the electronic media monitoring centre, which was set-up in 2008, is entrusted with the work of monitoring content on TV. It puts out reports on violations of the Programme code.

At present, the Press council of India regulates the print media, the News broadcasters Association (NBA) represents

the news channels and the Advertising Standards council of India regulates advertising, while the central board of Film certification (cbfc) monitors films.

How filmmakers, content creators reacted to this news?

A lot of artists, filmmakers and content creators have criticized the government’s move and have expressed their displeasure on Twitter as well as on other platforms.

According to a media report, filmmaker Hansal mehta feels this decision wasn’t unexpected, it is still a reason for despair.

“This desperation for control of free speech and expression does not augur well. I am currently very disappointed.” mehta recently saw immense success with his web series Scam 1992 and recently released film chhalaang on Amazon Prime.

Stand-up comedian Azeem banatwalla, referring to the cabinet secretariat notification, expressed his disappointment and tweeted “It was good while it lasted, friends.”

Popular TV actor Kritika Kamra, who has also appeared in a few web series, feels the government’s move will change everything for everyone. She wrote on Twitter, “This changes everything. For all of us.”

Film director rahul dholakia tweeted, “Forget bihar, Arnab, biden, diwali. This is the news that’s going to control the way we think!! It’s like dracula is the president of the blood bank!! RIP creativity.”

Actor Iqbal Khan says OTT platforms create space for stories and experimentation. While content creators should be responsible, self-censorship should not limit storytelling, a media report said.

As the authorities are mulling selfcensorship on OTT platforms, cognisance will be taken of the nature of the content being released by responsible content creators. I believe that such censorship would not come at the cost of creative freedom.”

Screenwriter Aniruddha Guha shared on Twitter, “This is DANGEROUS, and we all need to speak out against it! The OTT and online space is the only medium in India that gives creators *some* freedom and security, and throttling independent voices are going to destroy whatever free speech is left in the country!”

There are a few who are on the other side and feels, it is much needed.

mx Player ceo Karan bedi says he looks forward to working with the government in implementing self-regulation code.

“We look forward to working with the ministry to implement our industry’s selfregulation efforts. As responsible content creators, we want to ensure this act not only takes cognisance of the nature of the content being released but also ensures that we safeguard creativity in this rapidly growing sector,” bedi said.

Conclusion

We enjoyed binging on different OTT platforms, in our private space, but not anymore. It is quite clear that with new regulations, which is yet to come, by the ministry of Information and broadcasting, the experience of OTT platforms will never be the same as before. So, we can say that the increasing popularity of streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hotstar has not gone unnoticed.

censoring the OTT contents will surely make it similar to any other mainstream cinema that is generally cleared after a lot of cuts, which ruins all the fun. And we, as consumers have to again think about the renewing our services. Also, having talked about controlling online content it is expected that an excess of restriction or guideline could influence the innovative freedom of the content essayists or makers and that will influence the viewership of OTT platforms. It is difficult to see precensorship as anything but arbitrary and chilling.n