Author: Meenakshi Rawat

Google Search Results Will Soon Include a List of Relevant Apps to Download

Google, as we all know, is a powerful search engine which has given us the power of endless knowledge on our fingertips. Yesterday, it introduced a super useful new tool called ‘Find My Phone’ which helps locate missing Android smartphones and today, it revealed a feature that suggests apps based on your search.

Through the newly developed feature called App Indexing, users will come across more relevant content on the web, along with applications notification on your Search page. That means, besides other results that usually pop up on your screen, applications suggestion relevant to your search will also be made available on your handset.

For example, if you type ‘Give me instructions to make perfect tea’ then a list of standard search results together with applications recommendations will appear before you. The application suggestions will come with an Install button that will take the users to the App Store for installation. Once installed, the app will take you straight on to the required content within it. The service will start for Android users sometime next week.

The App Indexing program is beneficial to developers and users alike. Users can get app suggestions without browsing through millions of apps on Play Store and for developers, it will make their apps more discoverable. The app makers just need to implement the App Indexing API onto their applications.

Developers can get more information on the App Indexing API here.

April 17, 2015
Xiaomi Announces Mi Note Pro’s Arrival Date and a New Limited Edition Mi Note

The Chinese upstart manufacturer Xiaomi recently launched a special black edition of the Mi Note. The Black version adds to the already released Mi Note Bamboo and Mi Note Pink edition, along with the original white version. The Black Mi Note Edition is currently up for sale in China for $400 (approximately Rs. 25,000).

Other than the change in design, specifications and features of the Mi Note Black Edition are similar to the original version. It holds the identical 5.7-inch display with 386ppi pixel density with 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor providing computing power to the device.

The company hasn’t mass produced the Black Mi Note and only 30,000 units of the special version will be available. Hence, we’re almost certain that this edition will not be arriving in India.

Meanwhile, we have also learnt about the Mi Note Pro is arriving on May 6 in China. The device was announced alongside Mi Note in January. The CEO of Xiaomi Lei Jun announced through his Weibo account about the availability of the Pro edition of the Mi Note.

Recalling the specifications of Xiaomi Mi Note Pro – the smartphone flaunts an enticing 2560×1440 at 515ppi screen (2k display) and is powered by 64-bit Snapdragon 810, along with 4GB of RAM and 64GB version internal memory space. The device has 3000 mAh battery and comes with 13MP rear and 4MP front camera. The handset runs on MIUI 6 based on Android 4.4 KitKat.

The Mi Note Pro is priced for 3,299RMB, which is about $532 dollars or Rs. 32,800.

April 17, 2015
Cyanogen Announces Official Cyanogen OS 12 Update for Yureka Devices

Cyanogen has started pushing its exclusive Cyanogen OS 12 update based on Android Lollipop to Yureka devices. The India-based smartphone firm revealed that the L update is a major design overhaul. Along with better touch and design of the UI, enhanced animation is said to add more depth to the interface. The update lets users personalize application notifications, which are now better integrated with the lock screen.

Cyanogen took to Twitter to announce the same –

Our Lollipop (‘L’) update is rolling out to YUREKA owners today. Treat yourself to OS 12. @YuPlayGod #CyanogenOS http://t.co/vVnnSo0ppW

— Cyanogen (@cyngn) April 16, 2015

The YU Founder Rahul Sharma commented on the update –

The Cyanogen OS 12 update is a product of our passion and dedication towards reinventing and redefining the consumer experience and I am extremely excited to share it with our community.

Many new tools and design options are incorporated in the L update along with two key features, App Themer and Cyanogen email. The App Themer offers extra theming features, down to the granular ability to theme individual apps. The novel Cyanogen email, powered by Boxer, adds Exchange support, multiple account integration, and canned responses for quick replies to the OS. The statement released by YU remarks, “Boxer has also included great customization bells and whistles that lets the consumers select a different LED color for email notifications, and choose what happens when they swipe left or right on a message.” Boxer’s premium version is free to all Cyanogen OS users.

Other features of the L update include improved privacy on the smartphone; users can create guest profiles to effectively control the usage of their device and can also freeze app screens for restricted user actions. The update supports Indian languages like Malayalam, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil and Telugu.

April 17, 2015
Xiaomi Mi 4 Faces a Price Drop in India, Ahead of Tentative Mi 4i Launch

The Mi 4 was one of the top-selling products by Xiaomi, and it is still taking a lead with its amazing specifications and reasonable pricing. The Chinese consumer electronics firm has given one more reason to its customers to pick the handset over the 2014 flagship killer OnePlus One. Xiaomi has slashed the price of its Mi 4 handset, making both the 64GB and 16GB variants cheaper by Rs. 2,000.

The official Mi India website speaks about the refreshed price tag of the Mi 4:

The 64GB version will now cost Rs. 21,999 instead of Rs. 23,999, while the 16GB version can be purchased at a price of Rs. 17,999 down from Rs. 19,999. Users can buy it through Flipkart or The Mobile Store, whereas the recent online partners Snapdeal and Amazon will receive it soon. Xiaomi India Head Manu Jain notified about the same via Twitter:

#Mi4PriceDrop – new price is permanent. Mi 4 is available on @Flipkart n @themobilestores. It’ll soon be available on @Snapdeal n @amazonIN

— Manu Kumar Jain (@manukumarjain) April 16, 2015

Unlike the Mi Fan Festival flash sale that offered the Mi 4 at discounted rates, this price cut by Xiaomi is permanent. Also, it should be worth noting that the announcement of the price cut came a week before the Global premier of a mysterious new smartphone. The upcoming smartphone is speculated to be a low-end version of the Mi 4.

Meanwhile, we earlier surfaced the news that the company is working on a bigger sibling of Mi 4, the Mi 5. The smartphone is said to mark the debut of the new interface MIUI 7. According to official AOKP blog, the new interface is codenamed MiKangy, and will be a whole new take on the Android UX, combining the salient features of top ROMs like CM, PA, Omni and AOKP.

The Mi 5 is yet to go official. Till then, you can buy the Mi 4 through the links provided below:

April 16, 2015
Google Adds ‘Find my Phone’ Support to Help Locate Your Missing Android Device

Google has volunteered to lend a hand in searching for our missing devices. The search giant has added a new super-useful feature called ‘Find My Phone’ that helps Android users google their smartphone.

Google hasn’t gone for a tangled tracing process and has kept it straight and simple. Just log in to your Gmail account fro your computer’s browser and type ‘Find my phone’ on a Google omnibox. Make sure that you are logged in to the same account as on the device. You will be directed to a page with a map view, depicting the location of your phone. While the map appears on the screen, and it may ask you to log in again. Once logged in, call your device with the ‘Ring’ option provided below.

Google will call your handset within a few seconds and user can track the location of the handset. The loud ringing bell can be turned off by pressing the power button on the handset.

Though it’s a hassle-free approach to find your phone, one should have the latest version of Google app installed to access the benefits. The latest feature shows the location of your phone on the map, but to erase the content of your phone, one needs to have Android Device Manager installed.

April 16, 2015
Lenovo’s New A6000 Plus Might Arrive in India Soon

The tussle to bring the best in the budget is getting stiff among Chinese smartphone producers. Lenovo recently enticed customers with the launch of the A6000. Now to keep ahead of its competitors, the Beijing-based firm has launched the successor of the previous iteration, Lenovo A6000 Plus.

Lenovo hasn’t reworked on the device from scratch, this one comes with a few modifications missing in the former model. The Plus moniker houses an enhanced 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage space, which can be extended up to 32GB. While the previous iteration, the A6000 holds 1GB of RAM and 8GB of onboard storage.

Other specifications of the device are untouched. The Plus moniker holds the same 5-inch display with 720p resolution. A 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor provides computing power to the device. The device runs on the KitKat version of Android OS.

The dual-SIM phone holds a battery of 2300mAh, which is sufficient for a device of these specifications. An 8MP rear shooter with Autofocus and LED Flash, and a 2MP secondary camera sits on the phone to capture selfies. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, Micro-USB port and audio jack.

The device will come in black, white, yellow and red colour options. The company has not decided its price, but it is speculated to cost a bit higher than the non-Plus variant; somewhere around Rs. 9,000. A final word about its price and availability will be given by the manufacturers soon. Although, according to India Today, the handsets should be arriving in India within the next few weeks.

April 16, 2015

Spec Battle : Samsung Galaxy S6 Vs Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Vs HTC One M9+

Today, HTC brought out the One M9+ in India, skipping the speculated launch of the original M9 unveiled at MWC 2015. The One M9 might not make its way to the Indian sub-continent, but we’ve got the bigger Plus version to weigh against its competition. The top of the line smartphone packs hefty specifications, which may even manage to put a dent in Samsung’s market.

Let’s check out how the smartphones fare against each other:

Specs	HTC One M9+	Samsung Galaxy S6	Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Display	5.2-inch WQHD (1440x2560p)	5.1-inch QuadHD Super AMOLED (577ppi)	5.1-inch QuadHD Super AMOLED (577ppi)
Processor	2.2GHz octa-core MediaTek MT6795T	2.1 GHz Quad + 1.5 GHz quad Exynos 64-bit	2.1 GHz Quad + 1.5 GHz quad Exynos 64-bit
RAM	3GB	3GB	3GB
Storage	32GB, expandable up to 128GB	32GB, not expandable	32GB, not expandable
Rear Camera	20MP + 2MP Duo Camera	16MP with F1.9 + OIS	16MP with F1.9 + OIS
Front Camera	4MP HTC UltraPixel	5MP	5MP
Battery	2840mAh	2550mAh	2600mAh
Operating System	Android 5.0.2 Lollipop with HTC Sense 7	Android 5.0.2 Lollipop	Android 5.0.2 Lollipop
Price	Rs. 52,500	Rs. 49,900	Rs. 58,900

Clearly, the pricing of the phone might lead the audience to shift focus on the Galaxy S6 rather than HTC One M9+, especially since the smartphone runs on a MediaTek processor. The display size of the phones is similar, and the RAM of the three handsets also stands parallel. The battery and rear camera of the HTC One M9+ are slightly bumped up, but overall the devices hold comparable specifications.

Since we’ve got our hands on both the devices, we have to admit that the HTC One M9+ feels more sturdy in the hand. Another area where HTC One M9+ wins is the fact that it comes with an expandable memory option, a feature that would be appreciated by many. HTC has brought the One M9+ to compete with the big-sized rulers in the Indian market. We’ll have to now wait and watch how this move turns out for the company.

April 14, 2015

Thanks to Massive Demand, Apple Working to Accelerate its Smartwatch Production

Seems like Apple itself was dubious about the success of its first wearable, and ordered production of a limited number of Watch units. The demand of the Apple Watch, as forecasted by the US tracking firm Slice Intelligence, hit almost one million on its first day of pre-order, which outstrips the supply of the watch. As per Reuters, the consumer electronics giant is likely to speed up the production of the Apple Watch to meet the towering demand.

Analysts have predicted that Apple could see a total of 2.3 million to 4 million sales by June end. Meanwhile, Apple didn’t disclose the pre-order details on Monday as part of its usual strategy, and analysts are stating that this may be due to supply shortage.

A demand of 4 million is a great start for a company debuting in the wearables segment. Another Swiss analysis firm USB has revealed that the tech behemoth will sell as much as 16 million watches in FY 2015 ending September and 40 million in FY 2016.

Apple Watch was unveiled at the March 9 event and went up for pre-orders on April 10, and on sale on April 24. World over, the Apple Watch stores saw a huge flock of people patiently waiting to get a closer look at the personal luxury by Apple.

All these speculations point out to the fact that the fate of the Apple Watch was predicted wrongly by critics; they believed the device to be a worthless gadget with aggressive pricing.

April 14, 2015

HTC Announces One E9+ with a 5.5-inch 2K Display in India

As soon as the HTC launch event kicked off, the Taiwanese firm pulled out a whole lot of surprises. The first one was the introduction of the One M9+ instead of the One M9, followed by the release of two new handsets, the One E9+ and Desire 326G. The One M9+ is priced at Rs. 52,500 and will be up for grabs on May 3, while the rest will be available mid-May onwards.

Unlike One M9+, the One E9+ features a plastic body. It sports a 5.5-inch Quad HD (1440x2560p) display, with a 64-bit 2GHz octa-core MediaTek helio X10 chipset powering the device. 3GB RAM and 16GB internal storage space are just enough for the dual-SIM smartphone. The phone holds a MicroSDXC card support that offers to expand the memory by 2TB. The device runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop with HTC Sense 7 skin atop.

Coming on to camera specifications, HTC One E9+ holds a 20MP rear camera which offers 4K video recording. The upfront has HTC’s UltraPixel shooter that clicks fair quality pictures. The front also houses the company’s trademark BoomSound with Dolby Audio. The phone gets its juice from the 2800mAh embraced at its back.

Connectivity options include NFC, Bluetooth 4.1, Wi-Fi, DLNA, Micro-USB port and an audio jack. The phone will come in three shades – Meteor Grey, Gold Sopia and Rose Gold. Meanwhile, HTC hasn’t revealed the pricing details of the handset, but it is likely to unfold before the official roll out.

Check out the spec table of HTC One E9+:

Specs	HTC One E9+
Display	5.5-inch Quad HD (1440x2560p)
Processor	2GHz octa-core MediaTek helio X10
RAM	3GB
Storage	16GB, expandable up to 2TB
Primary Camera	20MP
Secondary Camera	HTC UltraPixel
Operating System	Android 5.0 Lollipop with HTC Sense 7
Battery	2800mAh

April 14, 2015

HTC Skips One M9, Announces the Bigger One M9+ for India

Today, HTC refreshed its smartphone line-up in India with the launch of three new devices, the Desire 326G, the One E9+ and the One M9+. Surprisingly, there is no One M9 for the Indian market and the Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer has popped up a bigger sibling of its latest flagship. The 326G handset is an addition the Desire series, while the latter two are high-end gadgets. Coming on to the One M9+, the device is priced at Rs. 52,500 and will go on sale starting May 3 in the country.

The latest offering weighs just 168g and sports a 5.2-inch WQHD (1440x2560p) display. The device houses a 2.2GHz octa-core MediaTek MT6795T processor, coupled with 3GB RAM and 32GB inbuilt storage space. The handset comes with MicroSD card slot for expanding the storage volume up to 128GB. The One M9+ runs on Android 5.0.2 Lollipop with HTC Sense 7 UI on top. A 2840mAh battery is attached to the phone to juice it up all day long.

Coming on the optics of the phone, then the handset boasts a 20MP Duo camera setup with F2.2 aperture, along with additional options like the sapphire cover lens, auto-focus, BSI sensor and 4K video recording. The front of the phone features HTC UltraPixel 4MP with F2.0 aperture and 1080p HD video recording to capture selfies.

Connectivity options include NFC, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, DLNA, CIR, Micro-USB port and an audio jack. Customers can choose from Amber Gold and Silver Gold colour options. Along with that, the device will come with one year insurance package that will cover accidental and liquid damages.

Here’s a brief look at its specs:

Specs	HTC One M9+
Display	5.2-inch WQHD (1440x2560p)
Processor	2.2GHz octa-core MediaTek MT6795T
RAM	3GB
Storage	32GB, expandable up to 128GB
Rear Camera	20MP
Front Shooter	HTC UltraPixel 4MP
Battery	2840mAh
Operating Sytem	Android 5.0.2 Lollipop with HTC Sense 7 UI
Price	Rs. 52,500

Wondering what India is missing out on? Check out our hands on with the HTC One M9:

April 14, 2015

Report : Government to Intervene on Airtel’s Net Neutrality Violation

Net Neutrality is currently a heated issue amongst the people of India. Recently, Bharti Airtel has received a lot of flak for its contentious “Airtel Zero” plan from social media users. Following the reports of Airtel’s preferential treatment for websites, the government has reportedly decided to intervene and has said that it plans to keep a close watch on the company’s developments.

According to a report by the Times of India, the Department of Telecom (DoT) is looking into the Airtel’s Zero plan to give special privileges to some websites and confined access to the others. A high-rank official stated about the government will take on the Zero plan, “DoT is looking into finer details and whether it goes against the spirit of net neutrality.”

Meanwhile, the Telecomm Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has also started an online protest against net neutrality, which has received a tremendous response from users. Last Saturday, government uploaded a consultation paper called “Regulatory Framework for Over-the-Top (OTT) Services” where stakeholders were asked to comment. Within two days, the government received over 1.5 lakh e-mails asking to protect network neutrality in the country. A vast group of people are in support of net neutrality and want Internet to be a free space – where everyone can access anything at the same speed.

The inspection by DoT will be in conjunction with TRAI’s OTT program and will also bring to light Airtel’s previous attempts to assault net neutrality. The national telecom operator tried to induce differential charges for various online services like Skype, Viber, WhatsApp, but received an aggressive backlash resulting it to withdraw the proposed plan.

The source also stated that the government might not take any immediate action against Airtel and will scrutinize the matter initially. Meanwhile, Airtel has denied allegations and said that the Zero plan is “non-discriminatory” and doesn’t give undue preference to any company.

The net neutrality campaign has gained momentum over social media, and people of diverse streams are joining hands to make Internet a free and fair space. Various campaigns are trending on Facebook and Twitter like #SavetheInternet, #NetNeutrality in an attempt to make sure that the internet doesn’t get dragged into a class system.

April 13, 2015
LG’s New Design Patent Shows a Futuristic Smartphone-Watch Hybrid

We can all agree that the modern day design of smartphones have reached a standstill. Slowly tech industry giants are looking to develop futuristic devices with dual-bending display. Case in point – the bendable LG G Flex 2 and the dual-edge Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. Another significant advancement that the firms are now aiming at is a bendable phone that can be wrapped around the wrist. Seems like LG may have overcome a major hurdle in making the hybrid wrist-phone concept a reality.

The Korean consumer electronics manufacturer has been granted a patent by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that speaks of a phone and watch combination. The design patent gives a perspective view of a smartphone that can be bent at the ends to wrap around the band. It turns the band into a smart device that has the smartphone as a screen. Such a smart band would be nothing but a huge bracelet with an enormous screen.

Other images suggest that the smartphone can be docked onto the band or bracelet, transforming your hand into a portable phone holder. The patent doesn’t mention the mechanism behind securing a giant screen onto a wristband, but surely there has to be a locking system to keep it fixed.

LG has two bendable devices in its catalogue, G Flex and G Flex 2. At this point of time, it would be too early to say if this model is feasible as there are many hurdles building such a prototype. First of all the SoC (system-on-chip) has to be extremely thin and compact to fit in the thin band, then there are many other primary issues like paper-thin battery, which is a dream yet to achieve.

April 13, 2015

4G Variant of Moto E (Gen 2) Finally Out in India, Priced at Rs. 7,999

Motorola has introduced the 4G version of the 2^nd generation Moto E for the India market, almost a month after the standard 3G variant released. The handset is up for pre-orders exclusively on the online retail store Flipkart and comes at a price of Rs. 7,999.

The LTE variant of the new Moto E is priced Rs. 1,000 higher than the base version. While customers can order it today, Moto E (Gen 2) 4G is estimated to deliver by April 23, as mentioned on the Flipkart page.

The device touts a bigger 4.5-inch qHD (540×960p) screen and a 1.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor as compared to the Snapdragon 200 processor of the 3G model. The handset features 1GB of RAM and 8GB of inbuilt storage capacity, expandable up to 32GB.

A rear camera of 5MP is fitted onto Moto E (Gen 2) LTE, while the front has a 0.3MP shooter. Running on Android 5.0 Lollipop, the device comes with a 2390mAh battery.

Unlike the Moto E, users can now personalize their devices. The new interchangeable, colourful bands and grip shells have been introduced that give the phone an appealing look. The bands come in six different shades (Golden Yellow, Turquoise, Blue, Raspberry, Purple, and Red) and for back plates any colour can be chosen from Golden Yellow, Charcoal, Turquoise, Blue, and Raspberry.

Have a look at its specs below:

Specs	Moto E (Gen 2) LTE
Display	4.5-inch qHD (540×960p)
Processor	1.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 410
RAM	1GB
Storage	8GB, expandable up to 32GB
Camera	5MP rear, 0.3MP front
Operating System	Android 5.0 Lollipop
Battery	2390mAh
Price	Rs. 7,999

Grab the new budget hero here:

April 13, 2015

LG Mistakenly Reveals All There is to Know About the G4

The Korean smartphone manufacturer LG has scheduled the official unveiling of its next flagship for April 28. But after this leak, we don’t think there’s much left to wait for. The reliable leaker, Evan Blass (@evleaks), discovered a yet unannounced LG G4 microsite that uncovers most of the concealed details about the handset. The site (now removed by LG) gives sufficient official renders of the handset from almost all angles and many other details of the upcoming flagship.

The site suggests that the unannounced LG flagship will have swappable leather back, which will come in multiple shades and styles. The image speaks of nine different back panels, out of which three are standard, and six are crafted back panels made of real leather. The shades of the leather back plates would be subtle brown, dark blue, maroon, silver, yellow and sky blue, while the textured traditional backs would come in white, grey and silver colour options. The leather back plates have a fine detailing of fiber weave running down the middle.

Evan added the fact that the G4 was under works with the codename LG P1.

Meanwhile, the Korean firm has been slipping details of LG G4 in bits and pieces. The past week, the electronics firm made public two teasers revealing crucial details about the forthcoming device. The teaser videos conveyed LG G4 will boast an all-new user interface UX 4.0 and feature a camera of aperture f/1.8. The leak unfolds more about its features and mentions that UX 4.0 sports a lot of features like Quick Shot, Smart Board and Smart Notice 2.0 along with Smart Calendar app and Super Fast Gallery.

Before this, LG’s display manufacturing department claimed that the next LG flagship will have an enhanced 5.5-inch Quad HD (2560×1440) display. The leaks confirm that the fourth smartphone is G series will have a 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and will come with 2GB and 3GB RAM options. The 2GB variant will have 16GB storage space, while the 3GB RAM model will come with 32GB onboard storage capacity, both expandable up to 128GB. The device will have 3000mAh battery and will run on Android 4.4.4 KitKat.

The camera specifications include a 13MP rear shooter with Optical Image Stabilization and Laser Auto Focus Dual Flash. The front will boast a 2.1MP snapper.

April 28 is approaching, and as always, we will be bringing the latest from the launch event. Meanwhile, you can check the speculated spec sheet below:

Specs	LG G4
Display	5.5-inch Quad HD (2560x1440p)
Processor	2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon
RAM	2GB/3GB
Internal Memory	16GB/32GB, expandable up to 128GB
Rear Camera	13MP
Secondary Camera	2.1MP
Operating System	Android 4.4.4 KitKat
Battery	3000mAh

April 13, 2015

Xiaomi Might Launch a Low-End Version of Mi 4 at the Global Mi Phone Premier in India

A couple of days back Xioami sent out media invites for the launch of their next smartphone. The company disclosed that it will be holding a global premier of the next Mi phone, and both fans and press were invited. The Chinese startup updated its official Mi India page with a teaser that reads “i IS COMING”, and it seems like we now have an idea what they meant by the “i”.

According to the Chinese tech online daily GizmoChina, a new variant of Mi 4 has been spotted on the GeekBench3 website and Singapore IDA database. The device is possibly the low-end version of the company’s latest flagship, Mi 4. The reason it is considered to be launching on April 23, is its name. As per the source, the handset has been titled as “Xiaomi Mi 4i”, the last alphabet compelling us to consider it as the upcoming offering.

As the device is listed on the GeekBench3, we have some details of the handset. The Mi 4i will come with a 1.65GHz Qualcomm processor with 8 cores, along with 2GB of RAM and Android 5.0.2 Lollipop.

Being a low-end version of Xiaomi Mi 4, the device is likely to be priced less than the Mi 4 (possibly around Rs. 16,000). As always, we expect Xiaomi to come up with something that gives a cut-through competition to the present offerings in the market.

April 13, 2015

Author: Meenakshi Rawat

Specs

HTC One M9+

Samsung Galaxy S6

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge

Specs

HTC One E9+

Specs

HTC One M9+

Specs

Moto E (Gen 2) LTE

Specs

LG G4