Author: Meenakshi Rawat

LG Unveils ‘Watch Urbane’, an All-Metallic Luxury Smartwatch

A while back, the South Korean electronics producer LG raised the bar with the revelation of the G Watch R. Now pushing ahead of its own mark, the company has unveiled yet another smartwatch called the LG Watch Urbane. The new timepiece is a fusion of style and technology with an all-metal body and classic design; keeping its market open for both men and women. The watch follows the footsteps of G Watch R and is tweaked to make it more user-friendly.

The President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Juno Cho said in a statement :

The LG Watch Urbane’s classic design and smart features make it the perfect smartwatch to complement our G Watch and G Watch R, which were designed as more casual and active devices.

Besides the external magnificence, LG Watch Urbane boasts a 1.3-inch circular P-OLED (320x320p resolution) display, just like the G Watch R. Its bezels are narrow, which gives it a more elegant and classy look. The device is driven by 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset paired with 512 MB RAM. The Watch Urbane can hold data in the 4GB inbuilt memory and runs on Android Wear. The 410mAh battery of the smartwatch can be a bit disappointment, and one has to charge it time and again to keep it running. The Watch Urbane packs Gyro, Accelerometer, Compass, Barometer and a heart rate sensor.

The device has a sensitive touch-based UI and is compatible with devices running on Android 4.3 and above. The stainless steel body is beautifully paired up with the leather strap that can be replaced with any 22 mm band.

The dust and water resistant watch is available in gold and silver colour options. There is no word about its price and availability, but users can expect the details once the company showcases the watch in the upcoming MWC 2015 in Barcelona.

February 16, 2015
Xiaomi Prepares to Step into the US market

Chinese electronics manufacturer Xiaomi is slowly trying to take over the world. The company is currently preparing to build a concrete ground for itself in the US market. The Vice President of Xiaomi, yesterday said in a meeting that the company intends to inaugurate an online marketplace Mi.com in the US in the coming months. He also made it clear that the on-sale products will not be smartphones, but other accessories like headphones, smart wristbands, etc.

Barra commented in the press meet –

The amount of effort required to bring those products to the market is an incredible amount of work. We’re accelerating our entering by bringing simpler products.

Barra gave the reason for not bringing out smartphones and tablets in the US saying that there are hardware certification, software testing, infrastructure, and other similar logistical challenges. He said that the company will start trading with those products that don’t have regulatory challenges.

Xiaomi said that they were about to secure a manufacturing partner in Brazil, which will help the company avoid tariffs on imported electronics.

The five-year-old company is doing tremendously well. It kicked off with smartphones and expanded its reach to different segments with Mi Purifiers, power banks, wristbands, etc. It has become one of the biggest smartphone makers in the world in a short span of time. With its first step in the US, if the Xiaomi plays its cards right, it may lead the game soon.

February 13, 2015
Zomato to Start Food Delivery Service in India

Zomato is making headlines every other week. About a month back, Zomato acquired Urbanspoon, a restaurant information and recommendation service in the US and just few days back, it expanded beyond search by debuting its cashless payment system in Dubai. Now, the company is planning to get closer to their customers by reaching their doorstep.

The online restaurant discovery service is geared to launch a delivery service where users can place an order on Zomato, and it will deliver the same to your home. The service will commence in India on 16^th March and will cover 2,000 restaurants initially. The company expects to increase the count to 10,000 within one month of the launch of the service.

The CEO and Co-Founder of Zomato Deepinder Goyal said –

We have a sales team of around 300 in India and 5,000-odd advertisers… these partners know the volume we bring to them so it is quite easy for us to launch this [new service]

The service is presently in testing mode which includes 500 staff and a few restaurants. Goyal drew some light on its workings saying that the company will provide the restaurants with an iPad, which will be fitted with an app. This app will transform the iPad into a hotline and order will be taken through it. After each order, users will be asked for their rating and on the basis of the evaluation, the restaurants’ profile will be displayed.

With Zomato’s reach to millions of people across India, there is a pressure on the restaurants to make timely deliveries. After all, the site is a dominant medium for free advertising.

February 12, 2015
Top Tech Gifts : iGyaan’s Ultimate Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. It’s that time of the year when couples have to put in tremendous amount of thought and patience on gifts that will make the day special.

Well, this time we’d recommend you steer clear of the expected roses and heart-shaped chocolates, and check out the list we’ve compiled. The iGyaan team did a bit of digging around and asked the ladies in our lives, what would they like on Valentine’s day?

Here are the answers:

1. Google Chromecast

Chromecast is a thumb-sized digital media player through which you can easily stream content from your laptop, Android phone and tablet to your high definition TV. Your smartphone becomes your personalized remote control. You can browse your favourite movies, videos and more and cast it on your TV. You can pause, play, rewind, make playlists. Just plug in, connect and enjoy.

<br />

2. Moto G (2nd Gen)

At a price tag of just Rs. 12,999, Moto G (2nd Gen) is a pocket-friendly choice. It has a big 5-inch HD screen and is powered by Android v4.4.4 OS, which can be upgraded to Lollipop. The 1.2GHz quad-core processor churns out some really snappy performance from the device. It has 8 GB of inbuilt memory, 1 GB RAM, and 8MP primary snapper.

3. Skullcandy Knowckout

This pair of headphones has chic floral design that screams femininity. The mix of leather, suede, floral fabric and the gold rim is anything but subtle. The on-ears come with a leather lining, inscribed with the Skullcandy logo. Knockout delivers accurate levels of sound, giving good quality lows. Overall, it doesn’t only hold good looks, but also delivers balanced sound.

4. Beats Pills 2.0

The Beats Pills 2.0 is a portable speaker that can be carried at any place without any hassle of wires. It works through Bluetooth device with 30-foot range and can go for 7 hours on a single charge. The brand has earned an esteem for itself with delivering superior sound quality.

<br />

5. SONY SMARTWATCH 3

The smartwatch by Sony is an amazing gadget to gift your girlfriend. With 1.6-inch transflective display, the watch is fit to make and receive calls and perform other functions on its touch capacitive screen. The device runs on Android v4.3 and above and packs 1.2GHz ARM A7 quad-core processor, 512 MB RAM, and 4 GB internal memory. It will also look new every day as its straps are removable and come in multiple colour options.

<br />

6. HP 14-Q001TU Chromebook

HP Chromebook is sleek and stylish. It’s a 14-inch piece and weighs 1.8 kg. Packed with Intel Celeron 2955U, the chromebook has a dedicated graphic card by Intel. The device has 4 GB of RAM and 16 GB SSD.

7. Google Nexus 9

Nexus 9 is one beast of a tablet that is slim, sleek and sexy. It sports a 9-inch IPS LCD display with 2048x1536p resolution. Running on Android Lollipop, the device is powered by 2.3GHz 64-bit NVIDIA Tegra K1 Dual Denver processor paired with 2 GB RAM and 16 GB internal memory. The tablet has an 8MP rear camera with 1.6MP front snapper. The battery is a mammoth 6700mAh, which can stand heavy usage.

<br />

8. Jawbone UP24

If your partner is a fitness freak, then they would undoubtedly love the Jawbone UP24. This fitness tracker looks like a band and is compatible with devices equipped with Bluetooth 4.0. The UP24 responds to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean or later, and iOS 6.0 or later. It tracks steps, distance, calories burned and works even in sleep. It can also monitor the nutritional information of a food by clicking its picture. This device is functional, portable as well fashionable.

<br />

February 12, 2015
Google Plans to Knock Down Apple Pay With its New Pay Service ‘Plasco’

The battle to bring out an invincible pay system is getting tougher by the day. Google launched a mobile payment assistance app called Google Wallet in 2011 but got overshadowed by Apple Pay, which made a late entry last year in October. The internet search beast is not quietly accepting the competition; according to reports, Google is now planning to roll out a new pay service.

Tentatively titled as ‘Plasco’, Google’s forthcoming service is one step ahead of all the payment services ever emerged. If the rumours are to be believed, then Plasco has been designed in a way that Android users don’t require to take their phones out of their pockets. The new system activates on its own when a user enters a store with Bluetooth on. At the time of paying to the retailers, users just have to utter their initials at the cash counter, and the payment will be made automatically.

Google Wallet

The service runs as an app and is provided to retailers by Google. When users step in a store, the retailers are notified of the Plasco users and can make the payment. Clearly the system seems too easy to be secure. Right now, Google is in the testing phase, seems like there is some time before we know clearer details and features about the service.

February 12, 2015
ASUS Brings Out Zenfone C Priced at Rs. 5,999 in India

The Taiwanese multinational company ASUS today launched a budget device in the sub-Rs. 6,000 category. The new handset titled ASUS Zenfone C (ZC451CG) is dual SIM and comes at a price of Rs. 5,999. The phone is available on Flipkart today onwards and on ASUS exclusive stores starting 18^th February.

Coming to the specifications of the phone, the Zenfone C sports a 4.5-inch FWVGA (480×854) display. The phone is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core Intel Atom Z2520 processor together with Hyper-Threading Technology. The Zenfone C runs on Android 4.4 KitKat with company’s Zen UI on top.

The internal storage capacity of the device is 8 GB, which can be extended up to 64 GB via MicroSD card. The new Zenfone C features a primary shooter of 5 MP with autofocus and flash, along with a 0.3MP snapper at the front for video calling. Connectivity options comprise of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Micro-USB. With 2100mAh battery, the phone can withstand 260 hours on standby.

In this price bracket, the handset faces a tough battle with devices like Iris Win 1, Redmi 1S and the Moto E.

February 11, 2015
Check Out Flipboard’s Cool New Web Version

Mobile apps are being pushed to the desktop. Lately, WhatsApp made its way to the web and now Flipboard is joining the league. The news-reading app stepped into the desktop world and launched the web version of the digital magazine service. It is functional now and looks brilliant.

Flipboard hopes to attract the broader spectrum of web readers, which don’t prefer to browse on mobile. Flipboard CEO Mike McCue said in a meeting:

There is a whole group of people who don’t do that much browsing on their phones. That’s what they use their computer for.

Mike says that the thing they are doing is very retro, by which he means shifting the app from a handy and anytime access device to a desktop which is not mobile.

Let’s have a look at how the application works and appears on the desktop:

If you are a Flipboard user then sign in to Flipboard, else make a new account. Once you’re in, make your choice and flip the article in your magazine through the + icon at the extreme right corner below the post. You can also like the post, report it as inappropriate, share it via email, Twitter, and Facebook. Then you have the same option to search for your favourite topics as it’s on mobile.

Flipboard has worked extensively on responsive design, which makes it easier and prettier. Also, it has responsive layouts for diverse screen sizes and has a new scrolling interface as well.

By bringing the web version of Flipboard, the 15 million magazines that could only be read through mobile app until now, can now be browsed on desktop. This gives readers the time to read their personalised magazines on their workstations when in office.

February 11, 2015
ZTE Unveils the Affordable N919D with Quad-Core Processor and 8MP Camera

Today, ZTE added another low-budget device to its smartphone portfolio, the ZTE N919D. The handset is designed keeping in mind the requirements of the Indian market and is priced at mere Rs. 6,999. The product is exclusively available at the online retail store ebay.in.

Given the price range, the smartphone has some decent specifications that could make customers go for the device. It has a touch screen display of 5-inch (480x854p resolution) and is powered by a quad-core Snapdragon processor clocked at 1.2 GHz. It comes with 1GB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage capacity which can be expanded up to 32 GB via external memory card. The ZTE N919D runs on Android 4.1 OS.

The phone holds 8MP front snapper with Flash and Auto Focus and a secondary VGA camera. The device houses 2500 mAh battery, which can last for more than 9 hours on a full charge. The connectivity options include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Furthermore, the company has collaborated with Reliance to provide free unlimited internet for 3 months. Some of the features might impress buyers, but the company has tough competition in this segment – namely Xiaomi Redmi 1S and Lava Iris X1 Grand.

February 11, 2015
How AAP Used Social Media to Win Over Delhi

Today, Arvind Kejriwal from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won the Delhi elections with a clear majority, giving little room to the main opposition, the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP).

At the time when Narendra Modi, leader of the BJP, had run the campaign for the 67th Lok Sabha elections, he had made sure to make his presence felt on social media. In fact, it has been considered as one of the important factors that led to him becoming the Prime Minister of India. He had hired an able team which used Twitter and Facebook well and kept his million followers updated about his every move. Even his YouTube channel had all his updated speeches, neatly arranged in playlists. At that time, Aam Aadmi Party’s social media campaign had been considered ill-focused and misguided.

Things have certainly turned in a new direction – it seems like BJP didn’t give the digital world the same importance for the Delhi election, while AAP played the game to win.

It wasn’t only the two, all parties tried out every possible measure to spread their message to the masses. Social media was heavily utilized and major tactics were adopted.-

Here are some examples of how AAP won the social media war:

Twitter

In the past couple of weeks, Twitter was flooded. #DelhiDecides remained the top trend followed by #AapSweeps. #DelhiDecides saw a total of 81,000 comments and it touched the rate of 160 tweets per minute. AAP followed the footsteps of PM Modi and set up a team completely devoted to checking the posts and it clearly worked in favour of the party.

Facebook

Post by Arvind Kejriwal.

Facebook the prime focus of the party during the election. Through Facebook, millions of followers could track Arvind Kejriwal's every move during the campaign. Meetings with dignitaries, selfies with celebrities, were shared. It was used as a mini blog, giving an impression that followers were directly receiving messages from the man himself. Arvind Kejriwal's team ensured they stayed in touch and spread his work through Facebook.

Radio Campaigns

While Radio cannot be considered a social media tool, AAP used it like it was. For weeks before the election, radio was used to reach distinct corners of Delhi that lacks internet access. It became a major medium to connect and speak to the Delhites, and listen to their grievances.

Paanch Saal Kejriwal on YouTube

AAP remained the hot topic on YouTube as well. Vishal and Shekhar composed a song called Paanch Saal Kejriwal which went viral.

February 10, 2015
Qualcomm Deep in Trouble After Near-$1 Billion Loss for Antitrust Violation

A day before, the world’s biggest chip maker Qualcomm was penalized by the Chinese Regulators for antitrust violations. The chip making firm was fined with a record amount of around $1 billion and the company agreed for a settlement with Chinese antitrust authorities. But the trouble for the US-based firm hasn’t ended yet and the reason for the revenue dip this time is the smartphone producers.

Qualcomm gets a major part of its revenue from the royalties based on the handsets’ value and with companies like Xiaomi and Huawei reducing the handset price to set at the top of the competition, the profit margin is slipping for Qualcomm.

Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon made a statement –

You’ve got all these Chinese companies – like Xiaomi, Huawei and Lenovo – that want to go global and take share from Samsung Electronics, HTC and presumably even Apple, but they’re going to do it at much lower price points.

Yesterday, Qualcomm agreed to pay $975 million as fine for settlement with Chinese antitrust authorities. National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) held an anti-monopoly investigation and found Qualcomm guilty. The company underwent changed practices in licensing patents for mobile phones sold in China. Qualcomm did not contest and agreed to pay to the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission.

The chip maker is already under pressure because of increasing competition by Intel, Marvell, MediaTek and HiSilicon. Even major brands are dropping Qualcomm for the next top-tier phones. Qualcomm has to take a step now to sustain the top chip maker position.

February 10, 2015
Samsung Galaxy J1 Arrives in India Tomorrow Priced at Rs. 7,199

Not long ago Samsung launched the Tizen-based Z1 in India, which failed to impress the Indian customers. Now, the South Korean manufacturer is giving another shot to influence the budget segment and is set to launch Galaxy J1 in India. The device will debut tomorrow, i.e. 11^th February, and will cost Rs. 7,199.

#LaunchingTomorrow on Amazon.in! Sign up for updates at: http://t.co/cC217W91Dn pic.twitter.com/AXk3iVawPJ

— Amazon.in (@amazonIN) February 10, 2015

Getting to the specifications of the handset, the Galaxy J1 sports a 4.3-inch WVGA (800×480) display. It packs a 1.2GHz dual-core Cortex A7 CPU and a Mali-400 GPU paired with 512 MB RAM. The handset features 4 GB of internal space which is expandable. The Galaxy J1 will run on Android 4.4 KitKat.

The phone encompasses a 5MP primary camera and 2MP secondary shooter at the top. The device gets its juice from the 1,580mAh battery and the connectivity options include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The dual-SIM phone will come bundled some exciting offers, as informed by Amazon India.

The phone is not exceptional, and at this price point, Xiaomi and Asus are offering much better specifications. Samsung has to throw some free deal to lure more audience and stay in the competition.

February 10, 2015
Nikon Announces D810A, a Full-Frame DSLR to Help Capture Celestial Bodies

Today, Nikon India launched a camera that astrophotographers would like to get their hands on. The imaging technology beast showcased a high-definition D-SLR D810A, which has been designed to shoot stars.

The D810A, a variant of D810 DSLR, is a 36.3 MP camera with a special optical filter. It is sensitive to emissions of the Hydrogen-alpha wavelength and increases its transmission four times. This allows astrophotography enthusiasts to capture detailed shots of nebulae, constellations and other celestial bodies. The unique long exposure on Manual mode allows capturing pictures in the low-light conditions, offering a shutter speed of up to 900 seconds.

Other features that can enthral photographers are longer exposures in low-light conditions (with minimal noise), and a live view preview function.

Nikon India Vice President Sajjan Kumar briefed about the Nikon D810A –

The Nikon D810A has been designed keeping in mind the obstacles that astrophotographers face; it is a result of an amalgamation of advanced imaging technology and suite of outstanding features. Nikon D810A is a 36.3 megapixels camera crafted with unique ability to capture subjects with H-alpha wavelengths, ensuring rich vibrant capture for images of the cosmos that are true to the eye.

The Nikon D810A will be available from late May and will cost a hefty $3,799.95. However, there have been cameras like this around, but this is the first full-frame DSLR exclusively designed for photographers. So, astrophotography hobbyists can consider it as an option to go for.

However, there have been cameras like this around, but this is the first full-frame DSLR exclusively designed for photographers. So, astrophotography hobbyists can consider it as an option to go for.

February 10, 2015
LG Showcases Low-Cost, Plastic Version of Google’s Cardboard VR Headset

Virtual Reality headsets are the new tech every firm is betting on. But as it tuns out, none of them are available at a budget price – except one. At a mere $20, Google VR is super economical but it’s made out of cardboard. Quality would be no issue with the new VR headset by LG. The South Korean company has made a plastic version of the Google Cardboard that would be low in price. Called VR for G3, the headset will give virtual reality experience using the phone’s internal hardware.

Based on Google Cardboard VR, the VR for G3 is a mere shell with lenses. The LG VR headset has three pieces which come assembled. A ring magnet like in the Cardboard VR headset sits on the left to select menu. A cutout on the back of the device reaches the volume rockers. Also, there are small cutouts for flash, laser autofocus, and speaker. The two slots are seen at the either ends, which can be used for a head strap.

Just strap your phone in the headset and it will send you right in the virtual world. As its plastic, it will cost low, but it is speculated that it may be available for free. Meanwhile, there is no word about its availability and price, and users have to wait till the next announcement.

Samsung released a Gear VR headset last year, but it costs $199. Not only this, one need to buy a Galaxy Note 4 as it is compatible with the Note 4 only.

The VR for G3 is definitely a good step to encourage the virtual reality concept to come into the mainstream.

February 10, 2015
Report : Motorola is Getting Ready to Launch the Refreshed Version of Moto E

Yesterday we heard that Motorola slashed the price of the Moto E by Rs.1000, reducing the price of the handset to a mere Rs. 5,999. Today, we can tell you why.

Motorola devices are doing well in the smartphone market. Moto G, Moto X and Moto E have made a good name for themselves in the industry. These devices offer specs of a high-end phones at relatively low prices; the fool-proof winning formula. Now, sources close to iGyaan have said that Motorola is working on releasing the successor of the Moto E handset.

Seeing the positive response to the E range, the US-based telecommunication firm is likely to release Moto E (Gen 2) soon. There is no word about the specifications of the rumored phone, but it is likely to flaunt a 4.5-inch qHD display (540x960p resolution). The second gen phone might be powered by 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 processor coupled with 1 GB of RAM. Talking about the camera of the device, the Moto E (Gen 2) may sport a 5MP main camera with LED flash and LTE connectivity, along with 2 MP front snapper.

Moto E was appreciated in its first generation because of its feature and price. But soon the market saw the arrival of the Redmi 1S which offered even more features for a price of Rs.5,999. Like its bigger siblings the Moto G and X, the E needs to offer a little more in terms of features or at least style to beat the competition this time around.

February 10, 2015
Flagship-Killer OnePlus One to Go Invite-Free for a Day in India

All OnePlus One fans, hold your breath. The flagship killer is going on open sale tomorrow on Amazon India. The handset will be available without an invite on 10th February and the sale will kick off at 10am IST.

The company confirmed the same via Twitter saying –

We all have a reason to celebrate. You will too. Visit @amazonIN on February 10: http://t.co/9cFkResGhp pic.twitter.com/HLswzZIUjE

— OnePlus (@oneplus) February 7, 2015

The open sale is to celebrate the 10 brilliantly successful weeks of OnePlus in India. The same can be confirmed through the Amazon India website that reads – No invite needed. Shop the One. There is no announcement about the number of units going up for sale, however, the company has hinted limited stock with the statement ’till stock lasts’.

Amazon India egged the willing customers to hurry with the statement, “The sale would be for limited quantity which is expected to run out quickly given the high demand for the phone.” The flagship One will be available for Rs. 21,999 for the 64 GB model.

OnePlus embarked on similar sales in other countries, but Indians haven’t had the opportunity to buy it without an invite. It’s the first time the One smartphones are going on open sale in our country.

February 9, 2015