Author: Meenakshi Rawat

Google Will Soon Add ‘Buy Button’ in Mobile Search

Google kicked off as a search engine, but its hasn’t restricted itself to search only. It is constantly refurbishing itself with the inclusion of fresh features like ‘Find My Phone‘, allowing users send directions from desktop to mobile, providing a list of relevant apps, and many more innovative tools. The tech behemoth is now planning to venture into the online marketing business with the introduction of ‘buy button’. According to a report by Wall Street Journal, the Mountain View-based giant will soon start showing the ‘buy button’ for the searched products on mobile devices.

The source familiar with the matter revealed that only the sponsored search results will come with a buy button within the ‘Shop on Google’ page. The non-sponsored results generated from Google’s search algorithm will be deprived of this feature. As soon as a shopper clicks the buy button, he/she will be directed to the Google product page where they can pick the desired colour, size and payment option.

Google will be investing $1Billion in Satellite Internet initiative of SpaceX

Like many other shopping websites, the products would be provided and sold by the original retailers instead of Google. The move is being considered as a profound shift in Google’s strategy as the company is diving into an entirely different segment. It will not drive the customers to the retail sites, and instead will confine them to Google’s own shopping page. In the Google program, retailers will have access to limited information like e-mail ID and delivery address only if the shoppers opt for it.

The payment credentials will also stay with Google and won’t be sent to the retailers. Once Google gets money from the shopper, it will pass on the payment to the retailer. Users will be offered with a wide array of payment options, as confirmed by the source. The buy option will be available to mobile users as of now, as Google aims to try it with a smaller fraction of an audience.

With this move, Google will be known as a retailer and its role will be much more than just showing results. It will be handling an online transaction business along with managing traffic. The strategic shift will turn Google into a marketplace, pitting it against the thriving e-commerce giants like Amazon, eBay and more. We may come across this new feature in a few weeks.

May 16, 2015
Microsoft Backtracks, Announces Pirated Softwares Will Not Receive Free Windows 10 Upgrade

The arrival of Windows 10 is the next big thing every Windows OS user is looking forward to. Of course, the latest Windows version has many distinctive features, but Microsoft’s promise to provide free Windows 10 upgrade to everyone is another major cause of wait for users running pirated copies.Unexpectedly, Microsoft has pulled back its support for the non-genuine versions of Windows 7 and 8.1.

Microsoft responded to all customer queries regarding how this will work for genuine and non-genuine Windows. The hardware and software giant commented on its blog post stating that Genuine Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 customers will be upgraded to Windows 10 for free and will continue receiving ongoing Windows innovation and security updates for the supported lifetime of that device.

On the other hand, Non-Genuine users are suggested to purchase a licensed copy of the ubiquitous Windows to save their personal data from getting exposed publicly. Microsoft said that the Windows 10 update will not be free for Non-Genuine Windows devices and customers have to pay a certain cost depending on what the offer is. As per the company statement, some offers would be run by Microsoft to shift users from the pirated version to the original. The new version will be accessible on devices running pirated copies, but that will again be a non-genuine version. It will come with a watermark notifying its piracy.

Microsoft hasn’t clarified the pricing scheme and has asked to stay tuned for further announcements. Windows 10 is scheduled to release this summer. It will release in 190 countries and will support 111 languages. The fresh Windows OS will bring major upgrades and innovative features like Cortana, Continuum and many more. Read more about the same here.

May 16, 2015
Here’s What You Can Expect From Samsung Galaxy Note 5

Samsung has carved a niche in the smartphone segment with the unconventional, Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. The firm regained its name and market share because of the latest series and Samsung fans are now waiting for the next high-end product to hit the market. The Korean firm is now gearing up to launch its next flagship, the Note 5 phablet. Considering their launch pattern, the Galaxy Note 4 successor may launch sometime in September this year.

As a fresh round of rumours suggest, the Note 5 will come with a model number SM-N920F. It is likely to feature 5.4-inch or 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with curves on both the edges. Let us remind you that the Note 4 was the first smartphone with which the curved edge display was introduced. Other rumours speak of a 5.9-inch screen with 4K resolution. The company has been planning to venture into the 4K technology and the forthcoming Galaxy Note 5 may be the first to embed it.

Needless to say, the bar of expectations has been raised higher for the next phablet. Users may see a powerful processor fitted for computing tasks and sufficient in-built memory to store content. An upgraded version of Samsung’s Exynos 7422 is speculated to govern the computing operations. If we go by reports, the Note 5 will feature 3GB LPDDR3 DRAM, 32GB of eMMC (embedded multimedia card) along with a controller. Other buzz suggests of a 16MP rear camera, 8MP secondary shooter, 4GB RAM and 16GB internal storage.

Summing up all the speculations, the Galaxy Note 5 appears to be a major update from the Note 4. It will have improved features, higher specs and an upgraded S-pen for better user experience. While none of the configurations have been confirmed by the company, interested buyers have to wait for an official announcement.

May 16, 2015
Fresh Round of Rumours Emerge About Google’s Android M

Google is restlessly dispatching the Lollipop version of its Android operating system to maximum number of devices. Some smartphones are enjoying the sweetness of the Android Lollipop, but there is a huge per cent patiently waiting to for an OTA update on their handsets. Google is simultaneously working on bringing out a fresh version of Android OS, temporarily titled as Android M, that is estimated to see a launch in the forthcoming Google I/O conference. Rumours have been rife about Android M for quite a while. Let’s see what they have to say about the upcoming mobile OS.

Much to our surprise, the next Android OS won’t have any special design aspects to wait for, as per a report by Android PIT. It is reported to be a minor upgrade of the present Android version with slight changes in design and features. The report by Android PIT cites that the upcoming version will not be a major overhaul in terms of design. It said to “expect evolutionary change and refinement rather than a gee-whiz new look.”

If we talk about the features, the Android M is speculated to bring a major improvement that will bring Android OS closer to Windows OS and iOS, by a step. If rumours are to be believed, the forthcoming Android M will have a revamped notifications setting where alerts are unified across different platforms. That means, the notifications will appear on your smartphone, the tablet and the PC as well.

Connected devices will be another area of focus on Android M. The Smart Home feature will be tweaked majorly to improve wireless control over connected devices.

Meanwhile, there were reports of the new OS handling over the privacy policy to users, which was needed since quite long. However, there has been no confirmation on any of these reports as yet. Know more about Android M here.

May 15, 2015
Apple Might Release Two Variants of iPhone 6s

Apple’s newest smartphones iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus proved to be the game changers for the company. They successfully reminded the world that the Cupertino-based firm has an edge over other smartphone brands and why it’s the world’s most valuable company. The demand of the latest iPhone 6 iterations are shooting up tremendously and Apple knows where they are falling back. The newest Apple handsets are missing out on some features and the company is sincerely attempting to overcome those minor lags with a new iPhone 6 version.

Earlier we heard of some tools that will be inculcated in the upcoming ‘iPhone 6s’, but now we have a few more details about the much-awaited device. According to the analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from KGI Securities, the forthcoming iPhone 6s will feature the same display size of 4.7 inches and 5.5 inches found on iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, respectively. This means we might see two variants of iPhone 6s sometime this year. The resolution of the upcoming models will be the same as of previous versions.

The next products will show an improvement in the structure. The bending issue will be restored to a large extent by altering different casing materials and internal mechanical design. In order to promote its exclusive Apple Pay service, the recognition rate of Touch ID will be enhanced for effortless payments. Together with that, Gesture control is also said to deploy in the next smartphone.

According to the report, the mass production of the phones will commence in August. A maximum of 90 million smartphones will be shipped out of which 2/3rd will be iPhone 6s and 1/3rd will be the bigger version of the same.

Recent rumours speak of iPhone 6 holding a 2GB RAM and a 12MP camera. Force Touch introduced with Apple Watch and the new MacBook will be the major highlights.

May 15, 2015
Moto G (Gen 3) Spotted on Flipkart’s Smartphone Listing

Seems like Motorola is geared to release another version of Moto G shortly. The Schaumburg-based company hasn’t come out with any such announcement, but we have learnt this from Motorola’s exclusive online partner, Flipkart. Next-gen Moto G smartphone was recently spotted on Flipkart where sparse details of the phone were provided. The Indian e-commerce website might have accidently made the page live, but it stamps the rumours of Moto G (Gen 2) successor in the pipeline.

The Moto G (3rd Gen) page has come up with an early listing of the handset. It does not give away much of the details like display, processor, etc. and discloses just the internal storage capacity of the phone. It does not even have an image of the upcoming smartphone. The only details known are that it will be available in white colour and will have 8GB in-built storage space. The Indian version of Moto G (3rd Gen) will have a model number AP3560AD1K8.

There have been rumours of the Moto G (Gen 3) sporting a 5- or 5.2-inch full-HD display, packing a 64-bit 1.7GHz Snapdragon 610 SoC along with 2GB of RAM and 4G LTE support.

It’s not clear if Motorola purposely leaked its next smartphone to give it hype, or if it was Flipkart who mistakingly slipped the information. Motorola is hopping forward in the smartphone race, where, the competition among the mid-range handsets is at its peak. It would be nice to see how Motorola plays its cards this time and what difference it makes on the present electronic brands.

It is worth noting that both the first-gen and second-gen handsets did really well in the Indian market, and the third phone in the series is likely to continue the trend.

May 15, 2015
Meizu Makes its Grand Debut in India on May 18

India’s booming smartphone market is attracting the attention of many international brands. Chinese labels Xiaomi, Oppo and Gionee have already strengthened their position in the smartphone arena, and now Meizu has decided to try its luck in one of the most lucrative markets of the world. The China-based consumer electronics firm has announced its official debut date in India as May 18.

The Twitter handle of Meizu India states –

We’ve heard you and here is the date. #0518 pic.twitter.com/eOMAVGwNQb

— MEIZU India (@Meizu_India) May 14, 2015

As you can see, the post reads “Are you ok?” and below it has unveiled its arrival date in India. There is no mention of the phone that will make it to India, but Meizu is anticipated to start its journey with two of the popular products in Blue Charm series, the Meizu M1 Note and the Meizu M1 Mini. The former one is priced at $220 (approx. Rs. 14,000), while the later cost $112 i.e. around Rs 7,000.

For now, there is no concrete information about the devices coming to India, and these are just speculations. But seeing its large catalog of low-end and mid-range products, it is certain to put a dent on the significant market share enjoyed by Xiaomi and OnePlus in the country. Initially, Xioami had seized all the attention for its highly specced, low price handsets, but today many Chinese companies have jumped into the Indian battleground and have intensified the competition. It will be interesting to see if Meizu can lure the budget sensitive Indian customers and secure a place for itself.

May 14, 2015
HTC Reportedly Working on an Affordable ‘H7’ Tablet

The Taiwanese electronics manufacturer HTC is hiding a new device up its sleeve, which is expected to see a launch in the second quarter of this year. According to a reliable source called @upleaks, the firm will launch a new tablet titled ‘HTC H7’, whose cost will be lesser than the present high-end offerings.

There are no other details about the upcoming device other than being lowly priced. We are speculating it to boast a screen size of 7 to 8 inches. It is certain to run on Google’s Android operating system, which has built up an ecosystem with its presence on a majority of handsets, tablets and smartwatches.

HTC only has Nexus 9 in its catalogue of tablets. The stock Android tablet was one of the best products and was launched under HTC brand name. There is a high possibility of Google’s involvement in the ongoing HTC H7 device, but nothing can be ascertained until we get an official announcement from either of the companies.

Meanwhile, it is just a leak and we suggest you to take the report with a pinch of salt. We will come up with more information on the same as soon as something comes out. Keep checking back for updates on HTC H7.

May 14, 2015
Google Rolls Out Android 5.1 Lollipop Update for Moto E (Gen 2) Users

Launched a few weeks back with Android 5.0 Lollipop on-board, Motorola’s Moto E second-gen is now receiving the software update. Google is rolling out the latest version of its Android OS, Android 5.1 Lollipop for its newest budget contender worldwide. The update will appear on your screen via an OTA update and may take some time to hit your device.

The new Android 5.1 will occupy 259MB of space on your new Moto E. Although it’s a minor upgrade, but will bring a lot of bug fixes and performance updates that the earlier version was missing out on. The new OS version includes features like multiple SIM slot, Device Protection, HD Voice calling, Quick Settings and few more. Everything about Android 5.1 can be read here.

At a time when more than 75% of the Android devices still don’t have the first version of Android Lollipop 5.0, it is a big announcement for a low-end device like Moto E (Gen 2). A few Motorola devices have already received the update; more handsets are likely to get the notification soon.

May 14, 2015
Samsung to Confront Apple Watch’s Digital Crown with a Rotating Bezel on its Next Smartwatch

Apple’s first wearable Apple Watch was a unique wearable in certain aspects. The device houses the Force Touch feature and an innovative navigation-based Digital Crown that takes users through the watch interface. Samsung has a tough task ahead to bring out a competitive smartwatch in the wearable market, and seems like it is ready to knock out Apple Watch with its entirely distinct tool. Some details have surfaced in the latest release of an SDK for developers, which speaks that the stand-out feature of Samsung’s next Gear will be its display bezel.

According to a report by SamMobile, the next-gen smartwatch will have a circular display of 1.18-inch that will be paired with a rotating bezel. The bezel will be the key to interface navigation on the smartwatch, served by a Digital Crown on Apple Watch. The rotating mechanism will perform a variety of functions such as zooming, scrolling, adjusting volume and numerous other functions. Here are some of the images that show how will it work:

The image above shows how users can toggle between multiple apps like emails, messages, music player and more just by twisting the movable bezel on the Gear smartwatch.

Another picture shows the inclusion of the swipe feature that seems to perform a slew of additional functions.

Few other images reveal further uses of the rotating bezel like zoom in and zoom out photos, controlling volume and scrolling through the contacts list.

To embed rotating bezels on the next-gen Gear smartwatch is certainly an innovative approach by Samsung. It makes the wearable stand out of the pack and pits it directly against the Apple Watch.

Late last month, Korean electronics maker teased the round display of its future smartwatch while sending an open invitation to global developer community members. The pictures said about its partnership with CNN, Baidu, Yelp, Apposter, and FidMe. The next Gear device will run on Tizen OS with Exynos 7420 powering it. The smartwatch may launch in two variants. The company hasn’t come up with an official announcement till now, and we expect to hear it soon.

May 14, 2015
Online Shopping In Bihar Will Attract Upto 12% Entry Tax

The country is enjoying the perks of the commerce boom, all consumers of the online marketplaces have experienced easy shopping and great discounts. However, online shopping as it turns out, is going to become expensive for the residents of Bihar. The Bihar state government has introduced an entry tax of upto 12% for all the products bought online from E commerce Websites. A notification was issued by the state commercial taxes department that brings online business under this tax net.

According to the notification, the products purchased on the web will be charged with additional 12% of entry tax (maximum) and the minimum charges on the products would be 5%. The additional tax will be levied on the products listed under the entry tax list and whose cost is Rs. 1,000 or more.

Here’s how Bihar government has decided to impose entry tax on the online products:

While many believe that this will promote retail growth, the future still looks bleak for retail merchants. The online marketplace has become the home of many products, some which are rarely available offline. The online only model has also attracted the likes of YU, Xiaomi and Oneplus among many other to do business in India.

May 14, 2015
Leaked Photo of Samsung Galaxy S6 Active Suggests Robust Construction

Korean tech powerhouse Samsung carved a niche in the smartphone market with the unveiling of its new-fangled Galaxy S6 series. It is Samsung’s best product in terms of design and, of course, specifications; the design has been considered delicate. But the major flaw in the high-end device is that it’s not waterproof and weatherproof. The South Korean equipment maker is planning to remove that glitch by introducing another version of Galaxy S6, the Galaxy S6 Active, and today a source has authenticated its existence. GSMArena has released a picture of the next iteration of Galaxy S6, which is yet not announced.

The image speaks of a rugged Galaxy S6 Active, immune to accidental drops. The front has three physical buttons, which means fingerprint scanner will be absent in this model. As per the source, the phone will sport the model number SM-G890A and a significantly larger battery of 3,500mAh. Being a variant of the expensive Galaxy S6, the S6 Active is sure to maintain its top-notch specifications.

We earlier reported that the smartphone will boast features like detachable battery and MicroSD card. Besides fingerprint scanner, a heart rate monitor will also be missing in the next S series device. The phone will be water and dust resistance and will launch sometime in mid-summer.

Stay tuned for more updates on the same.

May 13, 2015
PM Modi Calls on Samsung, LG to Help Give ‘Make in India’ Campaign a Push

The Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day speech, shared his vision to make the country a technology hub. He hopes for an India where government services can be delivered through the creation of technological infrastructure. Giving a push to his Make in India campaign, Modi will sit down with top officials of the two leading tech powerhouses, LG and Samsung, to set up a manufacturing unit in India. The establishment of their manufacturing plants will stimulate the production of smartphones in India.

Minister of Communication and IT, Ravi Shankar Prasad, confirmed about the meeting with the South Korean companies, saying, “Earlier, I had personally met senior executives of these companies and we expect something concrete now.” Modi will have a talk with Samsung Electronics’ President and Head, JK Shin and LG’s Global CEO and Vice-Chairman, Bon-Joon Koo. LG India’s Managing Director stamped the ties to some extent stating Modi’s visit will enhance bilateral ties.

How LG and Samsung’s Participation will Make a Difference

LG and Samsung are the two front runners in the smartphone race whose products are appreciated worldwide. Not to forget, these firms have a strong foothold in the smartphones domain as well as the semi-conductors arena. Samsung manufactures Exynos chips equipped on the Galaxy S6 series, and if the company sets up a plant on the Indian soil, smartphones will become a lot cheaper than their current launch price.

For now, only 74% of the Indians own a mobile and considering the large size of the Indian population, there is still a massive number of people who are yet to own mobiles. Modi aims to reach that 26% residing in the rural area with cheaper phones produced on our homeland. He aims to connect India through its length and width by 2019. The Prime Minister has sanctioned Rs. 113,000 crore fund for the Digital India project.

Investment in technological infrastructure will lead to a speedy growth in the economy. It will also help in bringing better, technology-aided education to the children of India, thereby forging a promising future of the country.

May 13, 2015
YU Yuphoria | Benchmarks | Questions Answered

Micromax’s subsidiary Yu Televentures recently updated its smartphone lineup with the new Yuphoria. The firm was striving to carve a niche in the developers community and has succeeded to a large extent. At a price of Rs. 6,999, the device has some exceptional features like its all-metal body and speakers that produce loud and clear sound. We put the device to test and checked its hardware and graphic capabilities.

Have a look at our full benchmark and hardware test along:

The smartphone boasts an impressive 5-inch display and is powered by a 64-bit 1.2GHz Quad-Core Snapdragon 410. The Adreno 306 GPU takes care of the graphics quality of the phone, making the videos run quite well. The next device by YU packs the latest Cyanogen OS 12 based on Android Lollipop. The company has made use of its partnership with Cyanogen, which will surely give an edge to Yuphoria over other contenders.

We ran AnTuTu and NenaMark 2 on our device and here are its scores along with Redmi 2, and Moto E (Gen 2):

Test

Yuphoria

Xiaomi Redmi 2

Moto E (Gen 2)

AnTuTu 23,779 21,155 15,362

NenaMark 2 54.4fps 54fps 51.2fps

So, as you can see above, Yuphoria scored 23,779 in the AnTuTu test and 54.4fps in the NenaMark 2 test. It has left behind Xiaomi’s Redmi 2 and the latest low-budget Motorola product, Moto E (Gen 2). Although the device doesn’t deliver the best performance, given its economical price tag, it certainly is the best pick among other contenders.

Questions Answered:

There have been several queries regarding the OTG support on the device. We checked out this aspect and found that Yuphoria doesn’t support OTG. The smartphone doesn’t have a Notification LED light either.

Yuphoria sports a ‘Double Tap to Wake Up’ feature, which enables you to lock and unlock the screen with a double tap. Enable the option, and the screen will wake up when tapped twice. To lock the screen, do the same again on the status bar and nowhere else; your device will lock instantly.

As we’ve mentioned before, the YU Yuphoria is the first smartphone to integrate Truecaller. It is optional, and can be disabled easily.

We will soon come up with a full review of the blockbuster smartphone. Meanwhile, you can click here to watch our exclusive Unboxing and Hands-on video.

May 13, 2015
Xiaomi Launches Internet Finance Unit to Compete with Alibaba and Tencent

The widely popular Chinese electronics manufacturer Xioami is making headway into the finance sector with the launch of a new product service. Termed as ‘Huoqi Bao’, the newly launched personal finance service will offer deposit rates higher than the traditional Chinese banks. The recently inaugurated financial unit by Xiaomi pits it against the big players in the online finance arena like Alibaba, Tencent and Baidu.

The China’s Apple has collaborated with a fund management company called E Fund Management that, as per Xiaomi, will expand into offering personal lending and security brokerage in the near future. The Huoqi Bao service will be accessible via an app bundled with Xiaomi’s operating system.

Xiaomi Co-Founder Hong Feng said in a statement –

We’re aiming to build a smart platform to help financial partners find high quality clients, while helping our users earn money and borrow money.

China’s two biggest internet companies, Tencent and Alibaba, have established themselves in such a short span of time. Xiaomi aims to follow the footprints of the firms and provide investors with higher growth rates and cash-on-demand service. As per Reuters report, the world’s third largest smartphone brand has recently “generated annualized returns on deposits of 4.5 percent.”

Alibaba’s financial arm Yu’E Bao was reported to have assets of worth 578 billion yuan ($93 billion) by end 2014. The E Fund Management is not exclusive to Xiaomi only and will also provide services to the Tencent’s Licaitong.

May 13, 2015