Author: Parul Ritvik Sood

Moto X Makes its Comeback With Better Specs and an Aluminium Frame

Along with the Moto G (Gen 2) and Moto 360, Motorola has just introduced the much-awaited 2nd gen Moto X. The new Moto X is bigger, bulkier and it boasts a number of new features and designs that should definitely increase X’s demand.

The new Moto X is not much bigger than the previous one, with a 5.2 inch AMOLED display and it is still protected by Gorilla Glass. Moto X 2nd gen is about 0.5 inch wider than last year’s X. However, the refreshed model sports a 1080p full HD display instead of a 720p one.

The screen takes almost all the space on the front, leaving the bare minimum for bezels. It measures 72.4mm wide by 140.8mm tall and weighs 144 grams. To give the device a premium feel, the company has added a smooth piece of aluminium wrapping the entire edge of the phone.

Motorola has kept the Moto Maker customization option alive with a new leather option for new Moto X. Additionally, Moto Maker also now lets you add metal accents to power and volume buttons, speaker grills and the Motorola logo on the back.

At the back, it has an updated 13-megapixel camera lens with 4x zoom and a ring flash. The camera has the ability to capture 4K video instead of just 1080p and it’s also got a new feature called Best Shot.

It essentially maintains a rolling photo cache in the background, constantly capturing additional shots before and after a photo is taken. An algorithm then analyzes those photos to find what it thinks is the “best shot,” filtering out blurry shots or pics of people blinking. You can choose the picture selected by the feature or the original one. Another new camera feature is the “Highlight Reel,” which essentially compiles all of your day’s photos and videos into a single video collage much like Google+ photo highlights.

As far as the hardware is concerned you won’t be disappointed. The device runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor with a 2.5GHz quad-core CPU, an Adreno 330 578MHz GPU and 2GB of RAM. It is powered by 2,300 mAh battery which Motorola claims will last a full day. The new Moto X has four microphones to help reduce background noise, and comes in a “splash guard” water repellent coating and will be available in both 16GB and 32GB variants.

One the software side, new Moto X comes with hand full of softwares same as older Moto X including Migration tool and some of the tools like Touchless Control, Active Display and Motorola Assist have been renamed in the new Moto X as Moto Actions, Moto Display and Moto Assist respectively. Another great iteration in the new Moto X is that instead of ‘OK Google’ as a voice prompt, you can customize the voice command prompt to anything you like.

The company said that they have more than 1.6 million devices stocked for Indian market which only means they will have enough stocks this time. Pricing details are not yet revealed by the company. The new Moto X will go on sale in late september along with Moto 360.

September 5, 2014
Moto G (2nd Gen) Goes on Sale Today For Rs. 12,999

Motorola has just announced two of its most anticipated smartphones : Moto X and Moto G. The company decided to stick to the previous names, keeping things simple by calling them 2nd Gen devices. The new Moto G has been launched at the price of Rs. 12,999 for 16 GB and is going on sale later today with special offers on Flipkart. The company said that last time around they sold 1.6 million devices through Flipkart for Indian customers, and this time they’ve made sure they have sufficient stock for prospective buyers.

The 2nd Gen Moto G has a 5.0-inch 720p HD IPS display made out of Corning Gorilla Glass. Other improvements to the G include two front stereo speakers and an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front-facing one.

The new G will also now finally come with a microSD card slot, which is located underneath the back cover. It’ll still come with 16GB built-in storage, but an expandable memory slot is always nice to have. However, underneath is the same 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 processor and 2,070 mAh battery. The new Moto G still shoots in 720p. However, they considered going for 1080p video capability, to compete with the Xiaomi Mi3.

It’ll ship with Android 4.4 KitKat and is upgradeable to Android L as soon as it is released. It does come with a few Motorola apps like Migrate, which helps you transfer old phone contacts to the new one, and Assist, which provides a voice-activated Drive Mode when you’re on the road.

September 5, 2014
IFA 2014 : Garmin’s Fitness Tracker Vivosmart Comes With Smartwatch Capabilities

Fitness trackers have created their own niche market in the tech industry. While they are small, easy to manage and minimalistic than most smartwatches, they are also seem restricted to certain features.

At the ongoing IFA 2014, Garmin, popular in-car navigation systems maker, has introduced a new wearable device that combines the communication features of a smartwatch with the fitness-centric capabilities of an activity tracker. The Vivosmart does what typical activity trackers do best, along with which it borrows some of the key features typically found in smartwatches.

Unlike its predecessor, Vivofit, Vivosmart can also receive notifications from your smartphone for everything from social media updates to emails and text messages, all displayed on the device’s horizontal screen. You can also use the Vivosmart to control your smartphone’s music player.

Vivosmart has a hidden OLED display which light ups with a double tap. A finger swipe on the display rotates through various customizable display pages, like the fitness-focused ones. The Vivosmart is waterproof up to about 50 meters and is fueled to get up to 7 days of battery life.

It also tracks your sleep, based on movement, and offers daily reports on how much time you spent moving vs being still. In fact, through the Garmin Connect app, all your activity data gets translated into easier-to-understand charts and graphs.

None of the fitness trackers from the likes of Jawbone or Fitbit, two of the biggest names in fitness bands, can do this, giving the Vivosmart a huge advantage over its rivals. The Vivosmart goes on sale in mid-September exclusively at Best Buy for $169 or $199, it is already up for pre-order.

September 5, 2014
IFA 2014 : Samsung Announces its First Waterproof Tablet, The Galaxy Tab Active

It has been raining smartphones at the IFA Berlin 2014, not that we’re complaining. Amidst the madness, Samsung has surprisingly launched a new tablet called Galaxy Tab Active. It is a rugged version of its predecessor and comes with IP67 certification for water resistance and an anti-shock covering that can withstand a 1.2-meter drop.

The Tab Active is the company’s very first dust and water-resistant tablet. However, unlike other water-resistant gadgets in the market, the new Samsung slate isn’t really made for adventure sports, but for businesses.

The Galaxy Tab Active boasts 10 hours of power from a detachable, 4,450mAh battery with POGO pin charging, and a UI designed for tough work. It also comes with the variant of S Pen, named as C Pen. The company has added the digital pen for those who have to wear gloves in their field of work can use as an alternative to standard touch input.

Running Android 4.4 KitKat, the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active features an 8-inch TFT display with 800 x 1200 pixels, LTE connectivity, Samsung KNOX for enhanced security, 1.2 MP front-facing camera, and a 3.1 MP rear camera.

Furthermore, the rugged slate comes with a quad-core 1.2 GHz processor, 1.5 GB of RAM, 16 GB of expandable internal memory, and a 4,450 mAh user replaceable battery (for up to 10 hours of usage). The device weighs 393 grams, and measures 213.1 x 126.2 x 9.75 mm.

The Galaxy Tab Active will be available in both Wi-Fi and LTE variants sometime later this year, and will come with the C-Pen and a Protective Cover right in the box. Samsung is only offering the Titanium Green color option. However, pricing hasn’t been revealed, it is expected to be priced same as the Galaxy Note 4.

September 4, 2014
IFA 2014 : Microsoft Unveils Glowing Wireless Charger and Mirroring Tool for Lumia Devices

In addition to two new smartphone, Lumia 830 and Lumia 730, Microsoft has launch two new tools for the Windows ecosystem at IFA Berlin 2014.

Focusing on the first, Microsoft announced a new screen-sharing tool for Lumia devices which will be compatible with any television or other display with an HDMI port. The compact box is 1080p compatible and is powered by a micro-USB. It lets you mirror the content from your Windows phone. It will ship with an NFC “coaster” that lets you pair your handset without walking over to the box itself. The device will work with Lumia devices that support screen projection, along with WiFi Miracast products.

Also, company has announced a new Qi wireless charger which glows for missed calls and texts, or a low battery below 30 percent. The wireless charger is equipped with bluetooth connectivity and fancy LED lights. You can pair it to your phone when it’s off the charger, and it’ll glow if you get any missed calls or texts.

The colour of lights are matched with the green, orange or white color options, and will light in different patterns depending on the notification. Obviously, it also charges your phone or tablet wirelessly, provided it’s a Qi-enabled Lumia model with Windows Phone 8.1.1 and Bluetooth 4.0

Both the tools are expected to ship later this month and mirroring tool is priced at $79, while the Qi wireless charger is priced at $59.

September 4, 2014
iPhone 6 Price Leaked a Week Before Launch

While techies all over the world are busy keeping tabs on the IFA Berlin 2014, the iPhone 6’s prices have been quietly revealed in a leaked image from Hong Kong. Tech blog TK Tech News has posted an image that shows the alleged prices of the highly anticipated 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 models.

The Apple iPhone 6 with 4.7” display will purportedly cost 6,663 HKD, 7,671 HKD, and 8,679 HKD . The aforementioned prices are for devices with 16, 32, and 64GB of built-in memory respectively. According to the leak listing of prices, the iPhone 6 with 5.5-inch display is unsurprisingly more expensive (it is rumored to have more powerful hardware on board). It is reportedly priced at 7,923 HKD for a 16GB model, 8,931 HKD for a 32GB unit, and 9,687 HKD for a device with 64GB of onboard memory.

If you convert these purported prices into Indian currency and add the standard import duties, iPhone 6’s 4.7 inch variant will come at the starting price at Rs. 61,900 approx and the 5.5 inch variant may come at starting price of Rs. 71,800. These prices are more than the introductory price of the iPhone 5S, which was launched last year for Rs. 53,500. If this is true, then Apple may lose a large segment of prospective buyers. Especially since unlike other companies in the market, Apple is never the one to drop its prices after launch.

It is said that new iPhones will come with new-gen iOS 8 out-of-the-box. Both the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch variants said to feature an iPod touch-inspired design; the Touch ID fingerprint sensor; the new Apple A8 SoC, and the long-awaited NFC connectivity.

Apple is expected to unveil the next iPhone in less than a week, so we won’t have to wait too long for official pricing. In the meantime, take the above numbers with a small pinch of salt.

September 4, 2014
Microsoft’s ‘Affordable Flagship’ Lumia 830 Comes with a PureView Camera

Microsoft, today at IFA Berlin 2014, has launched a new affordable smartphone, the Lumia 830. The company has added a PureView camera feature in the new affordable handset which has typically been associated with Nokia’s premium phones.

The device looks very similar to the Lumia 930, it comes with an aluminum frame and a polycarbonate back. While it uses the PureView name, rumour has it that the rear camera’s 10MP resolution isn’t quite as good as the 930 or 1020.

Further, the company has added a lot of extra software enhancements to improve the experience. The Lumia 830 is essentially a thinner, less bulky, and lighter version of the Lumia 930 on the outside. However, inside there are a ton of differences between the two.

The Lumia 830 is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400, 1GB of RAM, and 16GB of storage. The 830 is also a 5-inch handset, but Microsoft has opted for a 1280×720 resolution instead of the beautiful 1080p display on the Lumia 930.

As for the hardware specifications, the Lumia 830 comes with with a 5-inch 720p display, Gorilla Glass 3, slightly curved (2.25D) glass, a 2,200mAh battery and a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400. The device will ship with the Lumia Denim update, which is Microsoft Device’s specially-packaged version of Windows Phone 8.1.1 (Update 1).

That new ‘affordable flagship’ comes with a new version of Lumia Camera, which comes with faster shot-to-shot and pocket-to-picture times and several other enhancements to the imaging experience. Lumia Denim also includes 4K-quality video recording and general improvements to low light images.

Lumia Denim also includes 4K-quality video recording and general improvements to low light images. Microsoft’s Lumia 830 will be available globally this month. It is priced at 330 euros, which when converted is approximately Rs. 27,000.

September 4, 2014
IFA 2014 : New Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is Just a Smaller Version of the Flagship

Sony has presented a decent Xperia line up at today’s pre-IFA event, with the star attraction being the Xperia Z3. It’s a huge device with a 5.2-inch display. But Sony has provided its consumers another option who aren’t ready to make the leap to 5+ inches – new Xperia Z3 Compact with a 4.6-inch display.

The only difference between the Xperia Z3 and the Z3 Compact is the size of the display — the Z3 Compact features a 720p 4.6-inch screen. Other than that, it’s nearly identical to the flagship. Without compromising on specifications, Sony has built two variations of a single smartphone in order capture wider market base.

September 3, 2014
IFA 2014 : Sony Launches First Android Wear Smartwatch 3 and SmartBand Talk

IFA is expected to go big on the wearable category. Just like Samsung, LG, Motorola and others, Sony has launch two wearable devices – Sony Smartwatch 3 and SmartBand Talk.

Unlike earlier versions, Sony Smartwatch 3 is based on the Google’s Android Wear. The device sports 1.6-inch 320 x 320 LCD display. It runs on 1.2 GHz quad-core processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 and 420mAh battery. And also, following the Sony’s waterproof obsession he SmartWatch 3 comes with IP68 waterproof and dustproof certification.

The company didn’t revealed any pricing details, however, it is expected to be priced around $300 ith an additional watchband priced at $30 per band.

The company announced another wearable, called SmartBand Talk. The company described it as a “powerful lifelogging wearable, with intuitive features” that will cost $200 later this year. The device can run 3 day on a single charge and have built in microphone and loud speaker.

The device lets users record various fitness and health-related activities, while also supporting voice calls when paired with a smartphone. The SmartBand Talk has a 1.4-inch e-ink display, 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4 processor, 2MB of internal flash memory, a 70mAh battery, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 LE and microUSB support. The device is also IP68 certified, and is supposed to work with Android devices running KitKat or later courtesy the special Lifelog Android application.

September 3, 2014
IFA 2014 : Sony Unveils Xperia E3 and Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact

Sony has launched a long list of devices at it’s pre-IFA event today. In addition to the Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact flagship smartphones, company has also announced affordable Xperia E3 and Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact.

The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is 8-inch tablet will compete against similarly sized devices from Sony’s rivals including the Google Nexus 9 and the 2014 Retina iPad mini later this year when it hits stores. The Compact Z3 Tablet has an ultra-slim 6.4 millimeter profile, weighs 270 grams, and comes with IP65/68 waterproof and dustproof certification.

When it comes to hardware, this compact tablet will offer users an 8-inch Full HD Triluminos display, a 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB of RAM, 8.1-megapixel camera, 2.2-megapixel front-facing camera, up to 16GB memory, microSD support, Android 4.4 KitKat and a 4,500mAh battery capable of delivering up to 13 hours of video playback.

But the most interesting part about this device is PlayStation 4 support., Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact owners will be able to pair their tablet with the console and play PS4 games on the 8-inch display using the DualShock 4 controller with the new Remote Play feature, whenever the TV is being used for other
purposes.

The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact will launch globally in autumn 2014, in both LTE and Wi-Fi versions, although pricing details are not available yet.

The company also launched an affordable Xperia E3, to expand it’s range more budget friendly market. The specs of the Xperia E3 are losses some important specifications in order to accommodate the lower price point, but this is still a perfectly capable device for anyone who aren’t looking for a high-end Android smartphone.

The E3 features a scratch-resistant 4.5-inch display made of durable tempered glass and corners on its body which are designed to stand up to the occasional falls. Other specs include a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 1GB of RAM, up to 4GB of internal storage and a 5-megapixel camera. The phone is expected to launch this fall alongside the Xperia Z3, but there is no set release date yet.

September 3, 2014
IFA 2014 : Sony’s New Flagship Smartphone, The Xperia Z3 is Finally Here
Sony is now here to add to the long list of phones being launched today. We’ve already seen Samsung starting the event right by introducing a revolutionary curved screen smartphone. Now, we have Sony lining up its contenders to fight this year’s flagship war.

The company introduced its new flagship device, the Xperia Z3. This smartphone, will now go on to fight the highly-anticipated iPhone 6 and the newly released Galaxy Note 4.

As expected, Sony has integrated the new Xperia Z3 with the Playstation 4, by adding a new feature called PS4 Remote Play that will let you use the Xperia Z3 as “a remote screen to connect to and control your games on PS4.”

Sony Xperia Z3 will come with a 5.2-inch Full HD display that Sony claims is “the world’s brightest display of all the leading premium smartphones.” Other specs for the device include a 2.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB of RAM, a 20.7-megapixel camera and Android 4.4 KitKat.

Sony hasn’t yet provided a release date for the phone and will only say that it plans to launch the phone this fall. There are no pricing details revealed either.

Key Specs
- Snapdragon 2.5 GHz Qualcomm Quad-core
- Adreno 330 GPU
- 5.2″ Full HD display (1920×1080 pixels)
- TRILUMINOS™ Display for mobile
- 20.7 megapixel camera with auto focus
- 8x digital zoom
- ISO 3200 maximum in manual mode
- Sony Exmor RS for mobile image sensor
- 4K video recording
- Front-facing camera, HD 1080p for video chat and 2.2 MP for camera capture
- Pulsed LED flash
- 3 GB RAM
- Up to 16 GB flash memory
- Up to 128 GB microSD™ (card slot, SDXC supported)
September 3, 2014
IFA 2014 : Lenovo Introduces 17-inch Gaming Laptop, The Y70 Touch

Along with the Tab S8 and the ERAZER X315, Lenovo gave us a good look at another addition to its line-up of laptops, the Y70 Touch. The company claims that the Y70 Touch gaming laptop is its first 17-inch touch device.

The Y70 Touch gaming laptop comes in three variants and is available to buy from Lenovo’s US online store. The three models – 80DU000EUS, 80DU000NUS, and 80DU000HUS – are priced at $1,399.99, $1,499.99 , and $1,689.00 respectively. Lenovo also said that the laptops will be available with major retailers in October.

The only fact that may not go down well with its prospective buyers is its weight; the Lenovo Y70 Touch laptops weigh a hefty 3.4kgs.

The three models of the Y70 Touch gaming laptops are powered by the fourth-generation Intel Core i7-4710HQ Processor (2.50GHz, 4 cores, 8 threads, 6MB cache). The difference between the three variants is in system memory, dedicated GPUs, and in-built storage. All three models of the Lenovo Y70 Touch run Windows 8.1 64-bit OS and sport a 17.3-inch full-HD LED anti-glare multi-touch display. An integrated HD (720p) webcam is also included.

The three Lenovo Y70 Touch laptop variants also share the connectivity features including Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11 ac/b/g/n, as well as the same battery – a 4-cell 54-Watt Hour Li-Po. Sized at 422.9×290.6×25.9mm, the Lenovo Y70 Touch laptops boast stereo speakers powered by JBL alongside a backlit keyboard for easy typing during low light conditions.

September 3, 2014
IFA 2014 : Lenovo Debuts New Gaming Desktop, The ERAZER X315

Along with the Tab S8, Lenovo took the wraps off two new gaming PCs at the IFA trade show in Berlin today – The Y70 Touch and The ERAZER X315.

Talking about the first one, the Erazer X315 comes in two variants, the 3.1GHz quad-core AMD A8-7600 and the 3.7GHz quad-core AMD A10-7850k processors. With the AMD A8-7600, users get a 2GB AMD Radeon R9 255 GPU, 1TB+8GB SSHD in-built storage, and 8GB of RAM. And with the AMD A10-7850k, users get a 2GB AMD Radeon R9 260 GPU; 2TB+8GB SSHD in-built storage, and 12GB of RAM.

The connectivity features of the Erazer X315 include 4x USB 3.0; 2x USB 2.0; HDMI-in; 7-in-1 card reader; 6x audio jack with S/PDIF; and Wi-Fi 802.11ac. Weighing 16.5 pounds, the Erazer X315 gaming desktop measures 375.9×360.6×175.2mm and also features Dolby Advanced Audio technology.

The Erazer X315 will be available in November this year with major retailers with the starting price tag of $599.

September 3, 2014
IFA 2014 : Asus Officially Unveiled its First Android Wear Wearable, The ZenWatch

Asus has been teasing its smartwatch for quite a while, and now it’s finally here. The super sleek ZenWatch runs Android Wear OS and features a version of the ASUS ZenUI developed specifically for the ZenWatch.

Powered with Android Wear, the new ZenWatch will be priced around $250, while the international pricing is yet to be announced. It’s the first Android Wear smartwatch with a customised UI. It is compatible with smartphones running Android 4.3 or above.

The ZenWatch features a gold-colored middle layer and stainless steel top and bottom, with a brushed surface around the face. It has a 1.63-inch 320×320 AMOLED display with a slight curve to its surface, and a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, as well as 512MB or RAM and Bluetooth 4.0.

They’ve provided a heart rate sensor on the bottom, and it uses standard user-replaceable 22mm watchbands. IP55 water and dust-proofing helps it tolerate accidental splashes, and it has a 9-axis sensor for tracking activity and movement.

Asus has also included a number of gesture controls and pre-loaded features, which makes it stand out amongst other Android Wear devices. These features give you options to unlock your phone or tablet by tapping the face of the ZenWatch, auto-opening a function you set with a double-tap, covering the watch to mute and phone finding, remote camera operation and slide deck control apps. However, for these feature to work you are required to install a separate, Asus-created watch manager app in addition to Android Wear on your companion device to work.

The Asus ZenWatch comes in a a soft touch stitched-leather strap and quick-release clasp. The display is curved to give off a 2.5D effect.

September 3, 2014
IFA 2014 : Lenovo Introduces 8-Inch Android-Powered Tab S8

Lenovo, ahead of thursday’s pre-IFA event, has launched a 8-inch Intel Atom-powered Android tablet, called the Tab S8. The tablet has an 8-inch (1920×1200) display and includes the One Glass Solution touch-panel technology. The tablet has a ultra-slim bezel with the dark front panel which gives it a very sleek look.

The Tab S8 has a 8.0-inch, 1920×1200 resolution IPS display, Intel Atom Z3745 SoC with quad-core 1.86GHz CPU, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal memory, 8 megapixel rear camera, 1.6 megapixel front camera, stereo speakers with Dolby sound, 7 hours of battery life and Android 4.4 KitKat.

The Tab S8 will go on sale beginning of September for $199. The company has listed Ebony, Blue, Canary, Yellow, and White colour variants (depending on regional availability) for the Tab S8. The low price is impressive considering its capabilities, and might be worth a look for anyone wanting a mid-sized tablet on a budget. The Company also mention a 3G/LTE version of the Tab S8 without any further details.

September 3, 2014