Author: Meenakshi Rawat

Here’s How Android Pay Can Pose a Threat to Apple Pay

Along with unveiling the brand new version of Android OS, Android M, at the annual developers conference I/0 2015, Google cleared its vision to help customers buy regular products with utmost ease. The tech powerhouse showed the Android community its recent development on mobile payments that made Android lovers applaud Google. The ace up its sleeves was Android Pay, through which Google was aiming at Apple’s contactless payment service, Apple Pay. However Android Pay came late into the mobile payment battle, it has certain distinctive features that would strengthen its position in this domain. Let’s check out how it works and how it can contribute to making our lives easier.

How to Use it?

Android Pay relieves users from the hassle of carrying cards and the payment is done at merchants’ contactless terminals. Simply unlock the device and as soon as you place it near the machine’s NFC reader, a card interface will pop up automatically. Fingerprint scanning isn’t a must. Pick from the virtual cards to complete your payment. With this, you are done. Payment confirmation and transaction details will be received on your smartphone. There is no need to call up Android Pay and put in a separate PIN or password to authenticate payments. Android Pay deals with all by integrating with the security of the operating system. The feature is much easier to use with Android M as devices equipped with the latest Android OS version supports fingerprint reading just like Apple Pay.

Along with that, Google has thought of another strategy to allure Android users. As the users checkout, the loyalty programs and special offers automatically apply. This way, loyalty programs and offers get received along with payments, which is essential for the contactless payment system.

Here’s the video demonstrating the use of Android Pay:

https://youtu.be/OueObu2aA_M

The technology governing Android Pay is analogous to the one regulating Apple Pay. It makes use of the similar NFC (Near Field Communications) technology, which is regular on most Android smartphones these days. Together with that, current software is all that is needed for Android Pay to run on any Android handset. Google has partnered with top payment processors, mobile carriers, payment networks, banks and retailers to deliver your choice and flexibility. The bank apps also pay a pivotal role of integrating with Google’s platform to add your credit and debit cards directly to Android Pay.

Talking about the security parameters equipped in Android Pay, the tokenization method spotted on Apple Pay dominates Google’s payment system as well. A virtual account number is created for the user so that retailers never come to know your actual card details.

Why it is likely to beat Apple Pay?

Google’s payment system will give a major boost to mobile payment. Users can pay in stores, food courts, buy apps, and at every possible place where Android Pay or an NFC logo is visible. According to the company, the feature arriving this summer will work in 7,00,000 stores in the US and with a 1,000 Android apps.

Though Apple Pay is efficient, its usage is limited to those using iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, Apple Watch and iPad. On the contrary, Android Pay is expected to work with all smartphones with Android 4.4 KitKat and above. Considering the vast user base of Android, Android Pay is likely to take over Apple Pay in the near future. Android users account for more than 80 per cent of the smartphone users. Even if a small per cent of total Android user base utilizes Android Pay, it will easily surpass Apple Pay users.

The second factor that will add to Android Pay’s success is its compatibility with older phones. The feature will allow even the 2013 models to work with Android Pay such as Galaxy S4, HTC One M7, and more. As there will be more users, more retailers would like to install the NFC payment system at their stores. This way, Google will penetrate deep into the mobile payment segment than Apple, in spite of the fact that Apple came in early in October last year.

Meanwhile, there is no detail about it coming to countries outside the US, but we are anticipating it to arrive in India later this year.

June 1, 2015
How to Effectively Block Someone on Facebook

In the physical world, it may be difficult for you to cut some annoying people from your life. And admit it, we’ve all been in that situation where we wish we could ‘block’ that obnoxious boss, a lecherous acquaintance or maybe a spiteful ex, without confrontation. Facebook understands this and makes it super easy to shut someone out, without being harassed. Here is a three-step process to severe ties, instantly. Just virtually, of course.

1. Go to the profile of the person you wish to block.

2. Click the three dots “…” alongside Message and a list will appear

3. Select ‘Block’ to restrict the person from sharing things with you.

How Does Facebook Blocking Help?

As soon as you confirm, the user will be blocked from receiving any notifications from you. Blocking is not permanent and you may choose to unblock anyone, anytime. It’s extremely efficient and the person will not be notified about the blocking. He/She can’t even find you on the social networking site, even if they try. If that sounds a bit harsh, then there are options to unfriend them or hide the particular post which you don’t want to see on your wall.

Let the blocking begin.

May 29, 2015
Everything You Need to Know About Google I/O 2015 Launches

Google kicked off its annual developers’ conference, the 2015 I/O yesterday in San Francisco, California. As anticipated, the search engine giant threw light on the much-awaited version of Android OS, disclosing functions of Android M in fine detail. Along with some anticipated features like app permissions, Photo app, Android Pay; there are many more additions to the Google ecosystem.

Here are all the important announcements by the company:

1. App Permissions

Google has tweaked Android M to terminate the traditional way of gaining app permissions. Unlike the current practice, users can permit apps to use a particular function and can also revoke its use. Google has defined eight parameters to give apps permission. These include camera, location, contacts, calendar and few more. With Android M, users can now easily understand the different parameters an app is accessing.

2. Resolved Battery Issue

With Android Lollipop, Battery drain was one of the major issues that ticked off Android users to a large extent. The tech giant has introduced a new feature that helps the phone battery run for an extended period of time. Dubbed as Doze, the feature uses motion detection to check if the smartphone is left unattended for a while. The screen then automatically goes to sleep, reducing the background activity; hence giving the phone a longer battery life.

3. Chrome Custom Tabs to Switch Between Apps

Android M comes with an interesting feature called Chrome Custom Tabs that appear like an in-app Chrome browser. It loads pages faster, filling vital information like email and password. Another important function is that it allows developers to add custom features on top of the apps. For example, Twitter can provide a tweet on any app, which will direct the user to the Twitter app loading it automatically. It allows for quick movements between two applications.

4. New Google Photos App

Google Photo app is a refurbished app with an ability to back up photos and videos, and that too free of cost. However, there is a restriction on their size, but you can upload as many as you wish. These images can be segregated on the basis of location, people, time interval and more. Besides the new app, some interface tools were also introduced for the purpose of sharing and making collages and turning them into movies. As per the company, the app is now available on Android, iOS and web.

5. Maps and Chrome Go Offline

This new feature by Google will help internet users access its products in every corner of the world. A dedicated search results page is built for faster loading by showing fewer images. Users will be able to save web pages offline just like YouTube videos. Along with that, Google Maps has been given a push offline where users can access a bunch of features with no internet connectivity like reviews and information, and give turn-by-turn directions offline. The feature will work in areas with poor internet connectivity.

6. Revamped Android Wear

Android Wear has been updated with a slew of new apps and features. There will be a convenient option to call Uber cabs now. Just like the always-on screen, apps will also remain on always showing information in black and white mode, taking care of the battery. Navigating through Google Maps to get constant direction status and many more features that requires the screen to be on, will be a lot easier. A new app launcher is inculcated as well, along with a feature to convert drawings to emojis.

7. Smart Home

Another expected update was the Smart Home launched along with an operating system Project Brillo and a communication system Weave. Brillo is a trimmed down version of Android, while the latter is Google’s IoT that allows devices to communicate with each other. Both the softwares work together to make your homes truly smart homes. Once both Brillo and Weave are installed on the smart devices, Weave can command devices like refrigerators, ovens, lift bulbs, door locks, etc. The system has build-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support.

8. HBO Now on Android

Far from our anticipation, Google announced the arrival of the streaming-only service HBO Now on Android and Chromecast. There is no definite time of its launch on the platform, but speculations are rife about it coming in June this year. Surprisingly, there are no fresh Chromecast or Android TV this time.

9. Redesigned Google Cardboard

Seeing the current trends of bigger phones, the tech major decided to reconstruct its affordable VR headset, Google Cardboard. The new version of Google Cardboard can hold phones with six inch displays. A cardboard button will appear on the new version instead of the original magnet clicker that is said to work with any phone. Google has launched a dedicated Cardboard app, along with a virtual reality education tool Expeditions for educational purpose. The bigger VR headset can be acquired through Google’s partners.

10. Google VR Camera Rig

The company seems to have given a deeper thought to the recently explored virtual reality domain. VR headsets have been available for quite a while, but the content for them was missing. Google in partnership with GoPro has built a VR camera rig, Jump, that is a 16-camera array designed to shoot 3D VR content. The VR camera rig will shoot content and the assembler of Google will weave them together figuring out the depth of different images. It can build content for the VR headsets as well as video-sharing websites like YouTube.

May 29, 2015
Why Windows is Giving Up its Best Card to Android and iOS

Catching up with the ground-breaking innovations of Google and Apple, Microsoft updated its latest Windows OS with the delayed but functional voice assistant Cortana. Windows’ personal virtual companion was rightly named after the fictional character of Halo game series as it had similar personality traits like intelligence and wittiness. But recently, Microsoft made an announcement that dilutes the exclusive rights of Windows Phone users. The Redmond-based tech behemoth launched an app called ‘Phone Companion’ that will make Cortana and many other apps privileged to Windows Phone users across platforms. It means users will soon be able to download Cortana and Music apps on their Android and iOS smartphones.

As soon as a user plugs in the iOS or Android device to a Windows 10 running machine with Phone Companion pre-installed, a slew of apps become available to the user for installation. The list includes Microsoft Office, OneDrive, Skype, OneNote, Outlook, Cortana and Music. Phone Companion will help set up your phone to work seamlessly with Windows 10. Although, the Cortana functionality would be limited on iOS and Android platforms, the most basic feature of questioning Cortana would be there for all operating systems. Along with that, users will receive flight notifications, alerts including geographical ones, pre-set reminders and much more. The apps will be available in late June on Android and later this year, on iOS.

Cortana was one exceptional feature that caught hold of everybody’s attention. Even with the presence of Apple’s Siri and Google’s virtual assistant Google Now, tech critics were compelled to accolade Cortana for its humorous responses, exceptional performance and being an all time companion. With Cortana invading the two major operating systems, it is likely to corner Siri and Google Now to a certain extent. The content on the devices will be more synchronized with the aforementioned set of apps. Photos, files and songs saved on your handset, will automatically transfer to your PC for easy accessibility.

Here’s the video demonstrating how the Phone Companion app will work:

https://youtu.be/lXREpLEwgOY

According to Microsoft, the company “set up with the goal to make Windows 10 for everyone” and this led to the release of the Phone Companion app. But does this move really favour Microsoft? The firm is dropping its unconventional invention in the wide ecosystem of Android and iOS, which it could have cashed in on. The exclusivity of Cortana on a Windows Phone could have given a push to the company in the smartphone segment, which Microsoft is in dire need of. The recent move can further plunge the demand of Windows Phones in the market as users now have the option to activate voice assistance on their handsets.

If you examine Microsoft’s current trend with respect to its apps and softwares, you’ll see that Microsoft is making its distinctive tools, omnipresent. It started with Microsoft Office, earlier exclusively available to Windows Phone users, and Skype and many other apps soon added to the universal apps listing. It’s a plus for Windows’ antagonists, Android and iOS, but it is uncertain if this move turns out to be profitable for Microsoft. The tech firm could have easily tapped on Cortana and Continuum features to convert them into increased market shares. Seems like Microsoft is opting for a different approach to make a higher podium for itself in the flooded smartphone market. But if the strategy fails to work, Microsoft’s smartphone division may soon face a similar situation to Nokia.

May 28, 2015
Specifications of Mysterious OnePlus Device Revealed

OnePlus Two, the successor of last year’s flagship killer, is anticipated to boast an unprecedented set of specs while maintaining the impressive price scheme. It has already created a buzz with the revelation of it’s price ahead of the launch, i.e. 2499 Yuan or Rs. 25,700, and a fingerprint scanner that is expected to be much better than Apple’s Touch ID. Now, fresh specifications of an unknown OnePlus device have surfaced on Geekbench Test results, that may be the rumoured OnePlus One variant, or the future flagship OnePlus Two.

The benchmarking report speaks of a new device, OnePlus One, with model number A2001. This is different from the model number of the original OnePlus One, which was A0001 running on quad-core Snapdragon 801. The test results confirm that the next smartphone is armed with an octa-core processor, with each core clocked at 1.55 GHz. The device would run on the latest Android 5.1 Lollipop.

Another notable detail of the spotted OnePlus handset includes 3GB RAM, which is a little disappointing for OnePlus fans who were expecting an upgrade. Here are the complete benchmark results.

Earlier this year, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau announced another smartphone release alongside OnePlus Two. There is a possibility that these benchmarks are of the other OnePlus device, which is rumoured to be called OnePlus Lite.

The Chinese smartphone firm hasn’t announced its forthcoming device yet, but there are reports of the OnePlus smartphone coming in the next few weeks. It is still unclear if it would be another flagship or a low-end alternative of OnePlus One, but the coming weeks will unfold many unanswered questions by the company.

May 21, 2015
Apple iPhone 6s Leak Confirms Major Camera Overhaul

Apple hasn’t said anything about the next iPhone 6 iteration, but rumours about Apple’s upcoming flagship are spreading like wild fire. Until now, speculations surfaced about the much-awaited iPhone 6s, but today, 9to5mac has confirmed the improved version under works. The online publication reporting Apple’s developments showed off some pictures of the rumoured iPhone 6s alongside other features that gives us a fair idea of what the device will look like.

The leaked pictures show iPhone 6s in a rose gold colour with a dual-lens camera at its back. It packs the most radical camera in the history of iPhone. Huawei Honor 6 Plus was the first smartphone to boast a parallel dual lens.

Next to the dual lens is a True Tone flash, which would supplement light in low-light conditions. The rose gold variant is in line with the previous rumours, which suggest that the upcoming iPhone will come in colour options to match the Apple Watch Edition. That means, we will soon come across silver and space grey variants as well.

As reported earlier by an analyst from KGI Securities, the forthcoming iPhone 6s will sport a bumped up camera of 12MP. Powered by a next-gen A9 processor, 2GB RAM will equip the device with newfangled features like Force Touch. Some of the changes the ‘iPhone 6s’ is said to include is a new design using an improved casing material and a newly resurrected inner design. One more microphone is said to be added near the new handset’s speakers in an attempt to improve sound quality.

It is highly likely that Apple will release two variants of the iPhone 6s. More leaks will emerge until Apple comes out with an official announcement.

May 20, 2015
This App Replicates Apple’s Continuity Features for Samsung Devices

Apple has an edge over other smartphone brands for its unique Continuity feature that lets iPhone partner with other iOS devices. Samsung is not falling behind to give its users the distinctive tool and has launched a Continuity clone for Samsung devices. Titled Flow, the application integrates all Samsung devices like smartphones, tablets and laptops, allowing applications to seamlessly transit your activities across devices. The application in Beta version is available for download on Play Store.

Just like Continuity, the tool allows transfer of any activity from one device to another. Flow uses Android’s built-in Share feature, which makes it easy for developers to lend support to third-party apps. Since users have to tap on the share button, the feature should work with most apps, according to the company.

According to the promotional video released by Samsung, Flow can send a link from say a mobile to a tablet, so that you can pick up on the tablet where you left. One can also move a call to any of the Samsung devices without any interruption. This includes video chat as well. Flow doesn’t offer transferring activities only, but also allows you to set reminders of a particular activity to resume it later. Just select the right device and tap Remind later for later viewing. You can resume editing of share images, Office files, and can share directions, movies and more.

Users have to set the Flow app on all of their Samsung gizmos once, and then they can continue transporting the activities. It can be activated by using the share button within the app, and some apps also come with a dedicated Flow button. The app compatibility is limited to a handful of devices running on Android 4.4 and above. These include Samsung Galaxy S5, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note Edge, Galaxy Alpha and Galaxy Tab S.

The app is no doubt remarkable, and such efforts will give a push to Samsung’s market. A fraction of people who consider Apple the best for its unconventional features like Continuity, will definitely take a second to switch.

Here’s the video narrating its features:

May 20, 2015
These Newly Developed Contact Lens Can Give You High-Definition Vision

Today is the era of high-definition. From Television sets, camera lenses to phone screens, almost everything now mandatorily has superior viewing quality. Medical technology is also striving to catch up with the rapidly evolving world and is showing signs of achievement. Thus, a bionic contact lens has been invented by a British Columbia optometrist, Dr. Garth Webb that can give its wearer a vision three times better than 20/20.

Titled as Ocumetic Bionic Lens, the custom-made contact lens technology is said to become the holy grail of excellent vision at all ranges. Any adult till the age of 100 or more can implant the bionic lens, and can get impeccable vision without wearing spectacles or lenses. According to Webb, a user wearing specialized lenses will never get cataracts as their natural lens would replace with Ocumetic Bionic Lens. Dr. Garth Webb said in a statement –

This is vision enhancement that the world has never seen before. If you can just barely see the clock at 10 feet, when you get the Bionic Lens you can see the clock at 30 feet away.

The procedure of implanting the bionic lens is similar to cataract surgery. The lens is surgically inserted into the eyes through a syringe. The lens is folded in a saline-filled syringe and placed inside the eyes. The whole process takes 8 minutes in total and the person gets a perfect vision immediately after the operation.

This breakthrough innovation would be extremely beneficial to mankind. At a time when people face different vision-related problems, the Ocumetic Bionic Lens will prove to be a saviour and one-stop solution for all eye complications. The technology is under trial on animals and the visually impaired for now, and is expected to come out in the next two years.

May 19, 2015

LG Brings Out Cheaper Alternatives of the G4

Soon after LG announced the global roll out of LG G4 yesterday, the Korea-based firm came up with yet another announcement that may entice LG followers. The consumer electronics manufacturer made official two new smartphones, G4 Stylus and G4c, expanding the G4 line-up with low-budget devices. Both the handsets borrow some of the features and looks of the newest LG flagship.

Talking about the G4 Stylus first, the device features a bigger 5.7-inch HD IPS display with 258ppi pixel density. As the name suggests, the handset is accompanied by a versatile Rubberdium Stylus, allowing for easy note taking and drawing on the generously-sized screen. The device comes in two variants, LTE and 3G, both embedding different chipsets. The LTE version comes with a 1.2GHz Quad-Core chipset, while a 1.4GHz Octa-Core chipset is stuffed in the other. It has 1GB RAM, 8GB ROM and holds support for a MicroSD card. Google’s latest Android 5.0 Lollipop runs on the device.

Coming to the optics, the rear camera of LTE is 13MP and that of 3G variant is 8MP. The front shooter of both the models are same at 5MP. A 3,000mAh removable battery is fitted at its back. Other features include Laser Auto Focus, Gesture Shot, Glance View, and Knock Code. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, A-GPS, Glonass and USB 2.0. It will be available in two colour choices – Metallic Silver and Floral White.

The second device, LG G4c, is a smaller sibling of the G4. The display size of this model is a 5.0-inch HD IPS with 294ppi pixel density. It is an LTE only model, equipped with a 1.2GHz Quad-Core chipset. Memory specifications include 1GB RAM and 8GM ROM, along with MicroSD card support. Just like the G4 Stylus, it also runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop.

The camera specs of the model stands identical to the 3G model of LG G4 Stylus. The rear camera is 8MP, and the secondary snapper is 5MP. The 2,540mAh battery is sufficient to keep the device running for a full day. Additional features comprise of Gesture Shot, Glance View, and Knock Code. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, A-GPS, Glonass and USB 2.0. Customers can choose from Metallic Gray, Ceramic White, and Shiny Gold colour options.

The company hasn’t spoke about the price and availability of both the handsets as yet. Prices and participating carriers will be announced locally at the time of availability. Both the handsets are scheduled to launch in key strategic markets in weeks to come.

Here’s the spec sheet of the two handsets:

Specifications	LG G4 Stylus	LG G4c
Display	5.7-inch HD IPS, 258ppi	5.0-inch HD IPS, 294ppi
Chipset	1.2GHz Quad-Core (LTE), 1.4GHz Octa-Core (3G)	1.2GHz Quad-Core
RAM	1GB	1GB
Storage	8GB, expandable	8GB, expandable
Rear Camera	13MP (LTE), 8MP (3G)	8MP
Front Camera	5MP	5MP
Battery	3,000mAh	2,540mAh
Operating System	Android 5.0 Lollipop	Android 5.0 Lollipop

May 19, 2015

Meizu Brings iPhone Look-Alike to Indian Market

The Chinese consumer electronics brand Meizu, debuted into the Indian smartphone market, as per schedule. It brought the much-anticipated flagship Meizu M1 Note to India from its long product catalogue. The device will be available from May 20th after 2PM exclusively on Amazon India. The price of the device is still under wraps and is expected to be disclosed on the release date itself.

Meizu India made a formal announcement about the M1 Note on Twitter:

Meizu #m1note will be available exclusively at Amazon.in on 2:00 PM, May 20th. http://t.co/BmhJ04ACMf pic.twitter.com/eiRL4JCfrv

— MEIZU India (@Meizu_India) May 18, 2015

The Meizu M1 Note bears a strong resemblance with the iPhone 5c. Talking about the specification, the device sports a 5.5-inch 1080p display with 403ppi pixel density. Inside is a 64-bit 1.7GHzocta-core MediaTek MT6752 SoC powering the device along with 2GB of RAM. The device comes in two memory options – 16GB and 32GB, which cannot be expanded. The Dual-SIM handset runs on Android KitKat with Flyme 4.0 UI on top.

Optics include a 13MP rear camera along with 5MP snapper upfront. A robust battery of 3,140mAh is fitted at its back to keep it running all day long. There will be four colour options available in M1 Note – green, pink, blue, yellow and white.

The smartphone costs CNY 999 on its home ground, which translates to around Rs. 10,000. The phone has to compete with Yu Yuphoria, Xiaomi Mi 4i and more.

Check out its specifications here:

Specifications	Meizu M1 Note
Display	5.5-inch 1080p, 403ppi
Processor	64-bit 1.7GHz octa-core MediaTek MT6752
RAM	2GB
Storage	16GB/32GB, non-expandable
Rear Camera	13MP
Front Camera	5MP
Battery	3,140mAh
Operating System	Android KitKat with Flyme 4.0 UI on top

May 18, 2015

Indian Mobile Market Plunges for the First Time in 20 Years

India’s mobile market has developed over the past few years. Every global firm is eyeing to set up a manufacturing plant in the country, and many Chinese firms have already taken progressive steps in this direction. Amid all these advancements, the recent report have raised concern over the future of mobiles in the country. According to research firm CyberMedia Research, the mobile phone sales in India has shrinked consecutively for the second time in Q1 2015.

The statistics released by the firm clearly speaks of the dropped sales in Q1 2015 (January – March) and in the last quarter of 2014 (October – December). In the first quarter of this year, the mobile phone sales in total dropped 14.5% that is, from 62 million to 53 million. Out of this, feature phones sale rolled down to 34 million, while that of smartphones remained 20 million.

The Lead Analyst at CyberMedia Faisal Kawoosa spoke on the same –

With major announcements of new handsets and with the entry of some new brands happening in a big way in Q4 2014, there wasn’t really something very exciting in the market for customers that could push up sales in Q1 2015. At the same time, a change in duty structure and the longer continuation of Chinese new year festivities which generally conclude by mid-February each year, affected the supply chain and inventories

India is one of the tremendously booming electronic markets in the world. In 2014, the nation emerged as the fastest growing smartphone market in Asia-Pacific, and was speculated to overtake the US as the second-largest smartphone market across the globe after China.

The slow down of mobile sales in India reportedly depends on a number of factors like unexciting phones, increased tax, mounting competition and the extended Chinese new year festivities. The smartphone brands need to think of innovative device structures that stand out of the pack; immediately enticing the customers to buy one. LG’s G Flex series is one such example of innovation and style, which makes it ahead of the league. The increased tax is another area which is pulling smartphone vendors to offer devices at cheaper rates. Oppo, Xiaomi, and a few more manufacturers have found a solution to this, but there are many more who are yet to find an answer.

May 18, 2015
Samsung’s Smartglass is What Google was Aiming to Build

Samsung enjoys a niche in almost every segment, be it gadgets, home appliances and kitchen appliances. The tech powerhouse is gearing to introduce a new product line in the wearable technology domain that will pit it against the world’s most reputed company in the search arena. The South Korean consumer electronics manufacturer has issued a patent application which discloses that Samsung has developed a smart glass, which is far ahead of Google Glass. The patent application is published by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO).

This has given certification to leaked reports which reiterated that Samsung is looking forward to bringing its own smart glass. According to the patent application of Samsung, the future smart glasses will integrate with almost all devices like gaming consoles, cameras, smartphones, tablets, in-vehicle infotainment systems, medical machines and many others.

Tentatively named Gear Glass, the Glass will come with many exciting features like mirroring live TV or movies running on the connected device. The patent filing suggests another feature that would bring messages and emails right on the smart glass screen, just like Google Glass. Samsung’s upcoming product will be able to capture pictures and record video footage, and will incorporate voice assistant like Siri on iOS and Google Now on Android.

Another impressive highlight would be the support of subtitles while watching movies in foreign languages. Samsung illustrates how the smart glass would work both as a gadget and an accessory, when required. The smart glass will undergo colour change to camouflage as a regular sunglass in sunlight.

The features sound extraordinary. If Samsung succeeds to bring such a product for public use, it would definitely give an edge to Samsung over Google, who scraped its project in January this year. Furthermore, Samsung can get a larger share of the market with the new offering. One needs to take into account that Samsung’s Smart glass is not going to be a reality anytime soon. The patents for the smart glass are still to be granted and it can be delayed for a good 4-5 years. Lets watch how Samsung decides to go about it.

We will update you with more information on Gear Glass. Keep checking here.

May 18, 2015
Samsung Might Launch the Galaxy Note 5 this July

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 release last September was a major overhaul of the previous iteration. It was showered with critical acclaims for its fine screen quality, excellent construction and versatile S pen stylus. However, the sheen was short-lived for Samsung and was soon seized by the latest iPhone 6 series. The Korean smartphone maker is planning to wind up the honeymoon period of the premium smartphone, with the early launch of its Galaxy Note 5. As per Whowired, the next flagship model by Samsung will be unveiled at the end of July, much before the expected time in September.

Galaxy Note 5’s early launch seems to be a strategic plan to eclipse the market of iPhone, who’s sales exceed 50 million per quarter. However, the source claims that it is due to the early development of the handset. Samsung enjoyed a monopoly in the phablet arena with the large screen of its Note series, but the Cupertino-based firm quashed the Note dominance with the iPhone 6 Plus. Samsung is now geared to reacquire the market share with the superior and even bigger Galaxy Note 5.

If we go by speculations, the next Samsung phablet will sport a 5.9-inch Super AMOLED 784ppi display. The battery capacity is speculated to be robust at 4100mAh. The device might come in two variants with 64GB and 128GB internal storage space, which can be extended as much as 256GB. A powerful Exynos chipset is reported to power the device, besides Qualcomm Snapdragon. The latest Android operating system will be preloaded in the device. Know more about the device here.

With Galaxy Note 5, Samsung will break the traditional practice of introducing the Note flagship before the IFA opening. The Korean firm hasn’t stated anything about the same, and things about the gadget will be clear with an official announcement soon. Stay tuned for more updates on Samsung Galaxy Note 5.

May 18, 2015
Apple Watch May Hit the Indian Market Sooner than Expected

The first smartwatch to mark the debut of Apple in the wearable segment was struck by manufacturing hiccups at the time of its release. The elusive Apple Watch which was to go up for sale from April 24 onwards, was missing from the Apple retail stores. Only customers of a few countries have access to order the same via the Apple online store. But it looks like Apple has sorted the initial issues. A supplier responsible for producing the Apple Watch hinted that there are no more production issues and that supplies will improve in the coming time.

The online tech publication Digitimes quoted the Vice Chairman CC Leung of Quanta Computer saying, “its client’s wearable device is no longer a challenge to Quanta in both technology and quality.” He also clarified that labour problem during Lunar New Year holidays forced them to borrow manpower from other manufacturers, which led to the shortage of the product. The provider now has sufficient supplies and is said to make a “giant contribution from its wearable device business in the second quarter.”

However, Leung didn’t name the Apple Watch but pointed towards it saying the “wearable device is unlike the smartwatches it produced before and has a lot of functions in it and its client is satisfied with the product.”

This means that the innovative gadget will land in India ahead of the speculated date. People might walk into the Apple Store to own a Watch later this month or in the beginning of June. The device is otherwise speculated to hit the Indian wearables market in July.

May 16, 2015
Exclusive: Nubia Expected to Bring Z9 Mini to India on May 19

A while back, the news of ZTE Nubia gearing to penetrate into the Indian market came to light. It is the newest Chinese smartphone entrant trying to secure a space in the lucrative market after Xiaomi, OnePlus, Oppo and a few more. The company has now confirmed its Indian debut for May 19 and is sending media invites for the mega event. The company is tight lipped about its first smartphone in India, but the speculations are riff about the Nubia Z9 mini.

iGyaan had a word with the representative of the company. Although the person concerned declined to comment on the upcoming phone launch, he confirmed their exclusive partnership with Amazon India. He said that Nubia smartphones will be sold through Amazon.in; however, the sale scheme is not specified yet. The e-commerce website has pushed a special Nubia page where users can register themselves. Many more phones are said to follow in the coming months and it’s quite possible that Nubia might bring its whole product catalogue after a period of time.

A new box you may soon see on the market shelves #iGyaanLife #iGyaan #Nubia

A photo posted by iGyaan Network (@igyaan) on May 15, 2015 at 4:02am PDT

Talking about what Nubia Z9 mini had to offer, the phone sports a 5-inch screen with 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution and 441 ppi pixel density. It features a Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 chipset along with quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & quad-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU and Adreno 405 GPU. The device runs on Android Lollipop with Nubia UI 2.8 on top. A 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage space is provided with the device, the latter can be extended up to 128GB.

As far as camera specifications are concerned, a 16MP rear shooter with autofocus, LED flash is fitted to the phone, while the secondary camera is 8MP. Connectivity options include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Micro-USB port and an audio jack. A sufficient 2900mAh battery fuels the device. The phone comes in two colours, black and white, and is expected to come at a price of Rs. 15,000.

Fortunately, Nubia fans don’t have to wait for long; May 19 is just 3 days from now. Things will be clear at the launch itself.

May 16, 2015