Author: Parul Ritvik Sood

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Camera Specs Leaked

Just a few days ago, Samsung had it hard when the AnTuTu benchmark screenshot of Galaxy Note 4 was leaked online, just weeks before the release. Now, SamMobile has uncovered details about the camera for the Galaxy Note 4.

SamMobile reports that the Galaxy Note 4 will apparently feature a 16-megapixel Sony IMX240 camera sensor with optical image stabilization and UHD video recording, and a 3.7-megapixel front-facing camera with WQHD video recording. These details seem consistent with the earlier report.

A sensor built into the bottom right side of the handset called Side Touch will also be added in the Galaxy Note 4. The sensor is supposed to replace a dedicated camera button, allowing users to simply tap on the side of the handset to take a picture.

The Slide touch sensor is supposed to replace a dedicated camera button, allowing users to simply tap on the side of the handset to take a picture.

The device’s front-facing camera will be a 3.7MP unit, capable of capturing images and video in WQHD resolution (2560 x 1440 pixels). It represents a noticeable bump in resolution and capabilities.

The Galaxy Note 4 camera app is expected to have a gesture-based shortcut; users would be able to access the app while the handset is off by tapping the screen with two fingers and swiping them apart. Gesture-based functions are becoming increasingly popular on smartphones – we seen the Galaxy S5 include a feature called Air Wake up, which allows users to wave their hand over the screen take it off standby.

The Device is also expected to take a departure from the faux leather back panel.

However, the biggest highlight of the Galaxy Note camera will four new camera modes, three of which are dedicated to the art of the selfie: “Selfie” mode, “Wide Selfie,” “Selfie Alarm,” and “Create A GIF File.” Most intriguing of those is Selfie Alarm, which allegedly makes it easier to take selfies with the phone’s superior rear-mounted camera by allowing it to automatically detect your face and snap the photo.

On the hardware side, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is rumored to include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 or Samsung Exynos 5433 chipset, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The device may be water and dust resistant, and may also include a fingerprint scanner like the Samsung Galaxy S5. Other features rumored for the Galaxy Note 4 include an iris scanner, an ultraviolet (UV) sensor and the virtual reality (VR) headset called Samsung Gear VR, which would pair with the Galaxy Note 4.

August 22, 2014
Motorola to Launch 9 More Devices in Next Four Months

Motorola are already offering quite an impressive line up. And now it seems like Motorola, has big plans for the second half of this year. A new report from PhoneArena, citing an insider source, has revealed that Motorola is planning to launch around 9 devices in next 4 months.

One of top highlight will the new Nexus smartphone along with Moto X+1, Moto G2, Moto X Play, Moto S, Droid Turbo, Droid and Droid Maxx. The reports also added that Moto 360 smartwatch will be one these devices.

The company sent out an invite to the media yesterday, mentioning only that it is going to host an event in New Delhi on September 5. It is widely expected that the company will launch the successors of Moto X and Moto G smartphones as well as Moto 360 smartwatch at the event in New Delhi.

The invite reads, “Mark 05 September on your calendar. Motorola will be holding an event in New Delhi.” Though the invite doesn’t reveal much.

The company has also been rumoured to be working on the next Nexus smartphone, with a device, codenamed Shamu recently showing up on benchmarks. According to speculations, this is the new Nexus smartphone, which comes with a Snapdragon 805 chipset and 3 GB of RAM.

The Moto G2 is expected to come with an improved 8MP rear snapper and faster processor, but the display resolution could remain the same at 1280 x 720 pixels. The improved variant of the Moto X, allegedly the Moto X + 1 is likely to come with 25 back variants during its launch.

It is speculated that the upcoming Moto X could work in sync with the Moto 360. Its circular face measures 1.5-inch LCD display and features 320×290 pixels of resolution. It also comes with a heart rate monitor and a pedometer. The Moto 360 is expected to be priced at $249 that translates to Rs. 15,100.

So get set folks, September is going to be a lot of fun.

August 22, 2014
LG Announced Two Affordable Smartphones with G3-Like UI

LG has announced two new affordable smartphones – the L Fino and L Bello in its L Series. According to LG, the devices are aimed at the first-time smartphone users in emerging 3G markets.

The South Korean giant also announced that the new L series handsets will be showcased at the IFA 2014 show in Berlin in early September. LG says the new phones will start rolling out in Latin America, followed by Europe, Asia, and CIS markets. At the moment, India-specific pricing and availability is unknown.

Powered by quad-Core processors, the L Fino and L Bello will continue LG’s signature Rear Key button design and come equipped with an 8-megapixel rear camera. The L Fino will have a 4.5-inch display while the L Bello will come with a 5-inch display.

LG L Bello

LG’s L Bello is more powerful of the two, featuring a 5-inch FWVGA (480×854 pixels) IPS display and a 1.3GHz quad-core processor. It too gets 1GB of RAM and 8GB of inbuilt storage. There’re an 8-megapixel autofocus rear camera and a 1-megapixel front shooter. The 2540mAh battery sounds superb given the non-demanding hardware.

LG L Fino comes with a 4.5-inch WVGA (480×800 pixels) IPS display offering a decent 207 PPI pixel density. That puts it behind much of the competition such as the Moto G and Asus Zenfone 5, but it does have a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM. Internally, there’s 4GB of storage, and a microSD card slot is present as well. There’s an 8-megapixel rear camera, a 0.3-megapixel front camera and a 1900mAh battery, which sounds decent given the other specs. Both the Bello and Fino have G3-like buttons on the back and feature a button-less design on the front.

LG L Fino

On the launch Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO, LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company, said,”With their competitive specs and accessible pricing, we have high hopes for the L Fino and L Bello to continue our successful expansion into emerging markets. Our newest L Series smartphones represent the best of LG in design, hardware and UX as well as our commitment to bringing best smartphone experience to 3G customers as many as possible.”

August 21, 2014

Panasonic Eluga U Unboxing

Launched at the end of last month, Panasonic Eluga U is a slim and stylish smartphone. Its clear that the company has paid a lot of attention to detail to make the Eluga U feel like a premium product. They’ve also managed to make the device look exactly like the Nexus 4.

The back and the front of the device is covered with glass while the sides are made with plastic. The front has a high-quality 5-inch IPS display with three-button capacitive panel at the bottom. The metal-finish logo, also on the front of the device, gives the smartphone a stylish finish. The top has a 3.5mm headphone port, and the bottom has the port for charging and data syncing.

At the side, there is a single flap that opens a dual Sim tray which can hold two 3G micro-SIM cards. On the other side, there are the power and volume controls. The main speaker grille is on the back, which is non-removable.

The Eluga U has the standard Panasonic fit user interface, with bare minimum changes. It uses the Android 4.4 KitKat operating system. Previous Panasonic users would find this extremely easy to get used to.

The User Interface of the device is decently fast and responsive. Panasonic has added funky animations and movements which are quite playful. There are a lot of stock elements, such as the dialer, messaging and the notification panel and it also comes with the stock browser.

On the hardware front, powering the phone is a 1.2Ghz quad core Snapdragon 400 processor. This is paired with 2GB of RAM. The 2,500 mAh battery seems adequate for this device.

On the imaging side, the device sports a 13MP camera module, placed at the rear-top with a single LED flash next to it and 2MP front facing camera. Priced at Rs. 17,990 we would say it is one of the better products available in this price bracket. It only seems costly if compared to the Xiaomi Mi 3.

All in all, this device is stylish, slim, has a good battery and performs decently. However, we would still like to test the device in detail. The full review will be coming up soon.

Key Specs:

Processor	1.2GHz quad-core, Qualcomm Snapdragon 400
Display	5-inch, 720×1280 pixels
RAM	2GB
Battery capacity (mAh)	2500, non-removable
Storage	16GB, expandable upto 32 GB
Camera	13 MP rear with single LED flash2 MP front
Operating System	Android 4.4

August 21, 2014

Samsung Rolls Out 4.4.2 KitKat Update for Galaxy Note 3 Neo in India

Samsung has reportedly rolled out the Android 4.4.2 KitKat for Galaxy Note 3 Neo In India. The smartphone was launched with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, back in February. The update includes the usual KitKat uplifts like performance enhancements, cloud-print support, UI improvements, updated Hangouts app, improved downloads app and more. 495 MB in size,the update will also come with Samsung-specific customisations like lock-screen improvements, new launcher settings, improved stability and more.

The Android 4.4.2 KitKat update is reported to be carrying build number N750XXUCNG6 and rolled-out over-the-air and via Samsung Kies update. Galaxy Note 3 Neo (SM-N750) users can also check for an update by tapping on the Settings> About Phone> Software Update. The update includes a camera option in the lock screen and shows album art while playing music. The status bar strip which contains icons like battery, is now coloured white, while notifications drawer icons have changed as well.

A document leaked last month has reportedly shown the KitKat 4.2 update schedule for 5 Samsung smartphones. The handsets that are more likely to get the update were the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, Galaxy Grand 2 Duos, Galaxy Mega 5.8, Galaxy Mega 6.3, and Galaxy Note 3 Neo. The leaked document had suggested that Samsung has finished testing the Android 4.4.2 KitKat OS for these devices.

The Galaxy Note 3 Neo sports a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED HD display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. The device is powered by a hexa-core processor dual-core 1.7GHz Cortex A15 + quad-core 1.3GHz Cortex A7. It is packed with a 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of inbuilt storage that is expandable up to 64 GB. On the imaging front, it is equipped with an 8 MP primary camera with LED flash and BSI sensor, and a 2 MP secondary camera.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo has preloaded apps like ChatON, WatchON, Screen Mirroring, S Voice, S Health, Group Play, Smart Scroll, Smart Pause, Air View, Story Album and S Translator and more. The S Pen comes with Air Command and Easy Clip feature, and also supports multi-window and S Note.

August 21, 2014
Xiaomi Mi3 Accessories Up for Pre-Order on Flipkart

While Xiaomi continues its Tuesday sale frenzy, the company seems to be now readying itself to make some more money off its Indian operations. It has put up the first batch of its official Mi accessories for pre-order on Flipkart. Back home in China, it is said that the company earns more from accessories than its phone.

The accessories will be available exclusively on Flipkart (no surprise!), and it is said that delivery of the accessories will start at the end of the month.

There are only four accessories right now available for the pre-order right now. Of these, three are flip cases (in white, black and blue colours) for the Xiaomi Mi3 and one is a screen protector for it. The flip cases are priced at Rs. 559 while the screen protector is available for Rs. 179.

The news comes with a bit of a disappointment as Xiaomi displayed a lot of more accessories at its launch event last month. Which includes powerful Xiaomi Mi Power Bank, Mi headphones and Mi Key as well. However, the company made it clear that Mi key, which lets you take a picture without needing to unlock your device, won’t be available in the Indian market anytime soon.

Mi Flip Cover

Mi Key

Mi Power bank

The huge screen will be appreciated by Gamers, readers and multimedia lovers alike.

It is said that, when the Mi power bank will be available in India, the 5200mAh version will cost Rs. 799 and 10,400mAh battery for Rs. 999. The company also pointed out they will be launching Redmi 1S and Redmi Note sometime in August. Based on this statement, we can expect both the devices to be available for pre-order soon.

August 21, 2014
Samsung NX mini Unboxing

There is always some skepticism when a name of a camera is prefixed with ‘mini’. We have seen in the past that many manufacturers failed to deliver a great camera in a small package. The Samsung NX mini is targeted towards young amateur photographers who focus on style and selfies above all.

Well, this camera is not yet launched in India, but it is going to be coming soon with an exclusive partnership with Amazon.in priced at less than Rs. 30,000. NX mini is undoubtedly the slimmest interchangeable-lens camera available in the market. It does have a flip-up touchscreen and a cool selfie mode that lets you click a selfie by just blinking. You also get Adobe Photoshop Lightroom for free inside the box; which is a great software for aspiring photographers.

The biggest selling point here is its super-slim, lightweight body that you can slip into a handbag, or even a pocket. Without the lens attached, the NX mini is no larger than many compact point-and-shoots, but when you stick on the 9-27mm (24.3mm, 35mm equivalent) f/3.5 kit lens, it becomes little thick to carry around. There’s a 1-inch, 20.5-megapixel CMOS sensor that is identical in size to what you’ll get with very high-end compacts. However, quite smaller than the APS-C sensor manufacturers included with mirrorless cameras like the Alpha 6000 or the NX30.

The camera comes with a 16 GB micro-SD card and 2330mAh battery, which means that the camera will last for good 300 shots approximately. The camera is NFC-enabled and can be easily connected with NFC-enabled smartphones. The 20.5 MP BSI sensor, the company claims, is made by them. We’re uncertain about the authenticity of that statement, since these kind of sensors are made by Sony only. The lens included in the box is a 9mm (24.3mm, 35mm equivalent) f/3.5 kit lens and is fairly good for this price range.

On the top of the camera, you have a microphone pinhole, and hot-shoe sort of mount for Samsung external flash that comes with the package, Wi-Fi button, power on/off button and the shutter button. All of these buttons are seem to be made of metal and brushed aluminium, which makes it a high-quality premium looking device.

The camera supports a set of lenses that are called NX-mini lens and are completely different from regular NX lenses. You can use other lenses from Samsung if you have $150 adapter, which is a third party adapter. However, we heard that Samsung is also working on an in-house adapter.

Once you turn on the camera, you have to further twist the lens to unlock it. The shutter release is nearly full-size, and once you launch the menu, you can adjust many settings simply by tapping the 3-inch, 480 x 320 touchscreen, which also flips up 180 degrees for self-portraits, or at any angle in between for shots below eye-level, or overhead if you flip the camera upside-down.

As for the UI, there’s nothing out of the ordinary here. You can control just about everything using the touchscreen, though you can also use the four-way controller on the side to navigate. The menu interface includes all the general options and isnothing new. You get Auto share, ISO setting, image quality, etc. You also get a picture wizard which changes the setting according to the scene.

Its Wi-Fi mode lets you access a variety of wireless sharing options. MobileLink can be used to send photos from the camera to a smartphone or tablet, or Remote Viewfinder, which miraculously lets you access all of the NX mini’s shooting modes, including manual, from another device.

The Samsung NX mini gives access to Samsung Home Monitor, which requires its smartphone app and lets you use the camera to keep an eye on a child, for example, assuming your camera and phone are connected to the same WiFi network.

The camera fairly fast to focus and click the picture. The capacitative touchscreen allows you zoom in and out extremely easily. Apart from the fact that you don’t have a full manual control during video shooting mode, and its inability to use different lenses, the camera itself is very powerful. The look and the feel is also quite amazing.

The price is expected to be around Rs. 27,000 for 9-27mm lens package and Rs. 24,000 for 9mm lens package when launched exclusively on Amazon.in. This is not an official price but if the pricing remains the same, this device will a perfect starter camera for amateurs or a secondary camera for people who use DSLRs on the daily basis.

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August 20, 2014
Sony Unveiled Mid-Range Water-Resistant, The Xperia M2 Aqua

Sony, yesterday, introduced the Xperia M2 Aqua, its first mid-range waterproof smartphone. Expected to launch in the weeks ahead, the handset will be offered in select markets including Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific.

Sony has made water-resistance a sort of trademark for the Xperia line, but that’s a feature usually reserved for the upper class smartphones. However, this device is the only mid-range water resistant smartphone available.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Calum MacDougall” author_title=”Director of Xperia Marketing – Sony Mobile.”]

Xperia M2 Aqua is a significant milestone in our product portfolio as we bring yet another of our signature technologies to a new category of smartphones.The popularity of Xperia M2 showed us that there was a huge demand for premium Sony features at an affordable price-point. Following consumer feedback, we’ve now taken this a step further by bringing our waterproof expertise to a mid-range smartphone for the first time with Xperia M2 Aqua. It is a smartphone that lets customers take the best of Sony technology and entertainment with them wherever they go – come rain or shine – and we are excited to bring it to market.

[/quote]

The main highlight of the M2 Aqua, of course, is its dust-proof and waterproof capabilities. A feature that is quite useful in a country like ours, with its adverse weather conditions. The smartphone can withstand being immersed in 1.5 meters of water for up to a half hour. And, there is a dedicated camera button too, which makes snapping underwater pictures quite possible.

The specifications on Sony Xperia M2 Aqua are same as on the Xperia M2 and Xperia M2 Dual (which was launched at Rs. 21,990 in India), except that Sony has put in its improved waterproof technology. Sony claims is the highest dust-proof and waterproof rating (IP65/68) in a smartphone.

It has a 4.8″ qHD screen and is powered by a Snapdragon 400 chipset (quad Cortex-A7 at 1.2GHz, Adreno 305, 1GB RAM). The battery life is also very promising with a 2,300 mAh battery.

In terms of connectivity, the Xperia M2 Aqua supports 3G, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi Miracast, aGPS and NFC. The Xperia M2 Aqua has an 8MP / 1080p camera with an Exmor RS sensor, HDR and SteadyShot video stabilization. It supports live streaming to Facebook and downloadable in-app features like Vine and Motiongraph. The phone has 8GB of built-in storage and a microSD card slot.

Pricing details were not announced for the Xperia M2 Aqua however we should expect more details to surface in the coming weeks. It is available in two colour variants – black and white. It is expected that the Xperia M2 Aqua will start selling in the next two months or so.

August 20, 2014
Top 5 Websites to Sell Your Old Gadgets Online

Re-commerce i.e. trading old gadgets for a price is not a common practice in India. But with more and more people wanting to buy the latest in technology, dispensing old gadgets safely has become important. And its all the more better if you can make some money while doing it. Even though prices offered depend on the time, market demand and the condition of the gadget, putting your old gizmos on sale is a good idea. There are numerous websites which offer the service of trading old gadgets.

We are listing 5 of these website where you can sell you old gadgets in return of cash.

1.YouRenew

The company offers consumers a profitable and environment-friendly way to dispose of their used smartphones, MP3 players, laptops, digital cameras, tablets and other electronic goods. The site is user friendly and three easy steps let you recycle your old gizmo. You need to type in the name of the device and if it is listed on YouRenew.com, then answer a few questions about the device and you’ll know how much the site would pay you.

2. Karma Recycling

Karma Recycling is one of the leading e-waste management services in India. The website is also quite user-friendly; you have go through 4 steps to sell your mobile. Choose your mobile, its condition and they will offer you a price. You can choose your payment through check , yatra.com or yebi.com gift card.

3. Atteroboy

Atteroboy works similar to Karma Recycling. Website works in a same way, choose you mobile, its condition and they will offer you a price. Though we noticed that they might pay you less than Karma recycling.

4. Cellforcash

The first thing to remember when you decide to sell old mobile phones online is if you send handsets in beat up condition – that do not work or without accessories – then don’t expect a high payoff. Cellforcash.com clearly highlights in its ‘Terms and Condition’ section that it is looking for quality used-items and the better conditioned the phone, the better chances of getting a nice payout.

5. Buymytronics

Buymytronics.com, earlier known as www.BuyMyBrokeniPod.com, lets customers sell used iPods, iPhones and consumer electronics like laptops, game consoles and digital cameras. The process of selling the item is the same as other websites — select the category of the gadget, select it from the list and specify its working condition. The site would then quote a price, and if you think it’s a good bargain, then you need to ship it to the address provided to you by email.

August 20, 2014
HTC to Launch Butterfly 2 in India Soon

HTC Butterfly 2, which was launched in Japan as J Butterfly, is going to launch in India and some other Asian countries soon. Taiwan-based smartphone maker has just announced that the high-end plastic phone will go on sale in Taiwan on September 2nd which will be followed by the launch in Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand soon after.

It is available in 3 colour variants – blue, white and red. Anyhow, the company haven’t commented on the pricing details of the device. The single-SIM HTC Butterfly 2 smartphone is the successor to the HTC Butterfly which was launched last year at Rs. 49,990 in India.

The Butterfly 2 sports a 5-inch, full-HD (1080×1920 pixels) display. It is powered by a powerful quad-core Snapdragon 801 SoC that clocks at 2.5GHz and coupled with 2GB of RAM. In storage front, Butterfly 2 comes with 16GB and 32GB of inbuilt storage options, with expandable storage via microSD card (up to 128GB).

Also, same as the HTC One (M8), it sports a duo-camera setup with 13 megapixel main sensor, f/2.0, 28mm lens and support for 1080p video recording and a 5-megapixel front shooter with BSI sensor, 1080p full HD video recording too.

HTC Butterfly 2 also comes with a IPX5 / IPX7 for dust and water resistance and Infrared LED for remote control. The device features a Dual front-facing stereo speakers with built-in amplifiers which HTC has been using in all its handsets. It is powered by a 2700 mAh battery. HTC has tied up with HARMAN for JBL LiveStage Signal Processing Technology for better audio output. It comes bundled with exclusively designed JBL in-ear headphones in Japan.

August 19, 2014
Apple May Drop Standard USB in Favor of a New Reversible Connector

It is said that when Apple will launch its new iPhone i.e. iPhone 6 in September, it will also introduce its new Lightning data-power cable—that is, if newly leaked images circulating online are to be believed.

Several leaked photos in recent days have suggested Apple may be looking to move to a reversible USB connector for its next-generation Lightning cables, making it easier for users to plug the cables into their computers, chargers, and other equipment with standard USB ports.

MacRumors reported a leaked picture from iOS leaker, Sonny Dickson, showing the Lightning cable with a reversible USB connector. While the USB connector on the current Lightning cable is attached to the bottom of its metal housing, the connector of the supposedly newer cable is attached to the center.

Reversible USB port on the new Lightning cables! pic.twitter.com/bhVKjK3xKl

— Sonny Dickson (@SonnyDickson) August 17, 2014

“It is also therefore possible that the new Lightning cable could utilize USB 3.0 technology, as current Lightning cables support only USB 2.0. However, no other evidence suggests that the cable could be of the USB 3.0 variety.” the report from MacRumor noted.

However, Apple is not the only one with this technology. A California company by the name of UltraTek already holds a patent for the reversible connector and is selling cables through major online retailers. MacRumors suggested the possibility of the new cables being shipped along with the new iPhone 6 and subsequent iOS devices. Aside from the possible USB 3.0 support, the new Lightning cable could also support high-definition audio playback on “Made for iPhone” accessories.

Apple is rumored to be introducing a brand new proprietary version of the traditional USB connector

That being said, this move may harm the company as all those new Macs would be incompatible with current USB Type A cords — and presumably incompatible with any other newer standards that could be released in the near future, including the expected USB Type C plug. Apple would also charge third-party accessory makers licensing fees to use its patented USB reversible connector.

Also, the new connector would also help Apple effectively ‘own’ both ends of the charging cord, so if an iPhone/iPad user wanted to employ a micro USB cable from another manufacturer, or a future USB Type C cord, they’d have to purchase two adaptors — one for each end of the cord. The word is that Apple has already issued Lightning Cable MFi specifications for headphones last June, letting accessory makers build products that connect to the Lightning port instead of a 3.5-mm jack.

August 19, 2014
According to IDC, Samsung is Still No.1 in India

India being a fast growing smartphone market has become the centre of smartphone wars. Apple and Samsung have been trying hard to keep up with players such as Micromax, Lava, Karbon and the new entrant Xiaomi.

The Indian handset market is currently led by Samsung with Micromax at No. 2, according to an International Data Corporation (IDC) report for India’s mobile market in Q2. The market could experience a shuffle in the rankings amongst the top five vendors in coming quarters, as Chinese and local device makers aggressively tap the entry level segment of smartphones.

The digits in the IDC report showed that in the overall mobile market, Samsung had a 17 per cent share, while Micromax had a 14 per cent share, ahead of Nokia which was the previous number two and which now has a mere 10 percent share. Karbon and Lava are at number four and five respectively and rest is acquired by other phone makers.

In smartphones, Samsung ha held a 29% share, which however was a sharp fall from the 35% it held in the January-March period, as aggressive competitors such as Micromax, Lava and Motorola ate into its share. Micromax remained in second place with 18% share, up from 15% in the previous quarter.

“While Samsung has held on to its leadership position in the market, it is noteworthy that Micromax is growing faster. Samsung needs to continue to address the low-end of the market aggressively, and also needs a blockbuster product at the high end to regain momentum,” said Jaideep Mehta, vice president and general manager, South Asia, IDC.

At the start of the month, another research by Hong Kong-based Counterpoint Technology Market Research showed that, in the April-June period, Micromax’s share of the overall handset market stood at 16.6 per cent, while Samsung’s was 14.4 per cent. The mismatch in numbers may be the result of use different methodology. IDC said it collects data from various sources, including vendors and channels.

The report also pointed out that with the entrance of Chinese vendors and Mozilla in the smartphone category at $50 level, the low-end segment of the smartphone market will become crucial in the coming quarters. It will be really interesting to see what news Q3 and Q4 will bring out in the Indian mobile and smartphone market with the entry of players like Xiaomi, Oppo. Xiaomi in particular has created a stir in market with the launch of a sole device, the samsung Xiaomi Mi3 .

August 19, 2014
Sharp Launches Bezel-Less Smartphones

Sharp is not a company which people usually associate with Smartphones. But, Japanese electronics giant recently introduced a pair of amazing smartphones that barely have bezels.

Sharp has managed to stock a 5.5-inch screen into a body that stops right at the edge of that display. Not only that, the innards of the phone are also impressive. The 5.5-inch Sharp’s Aquos Crystal X is at 1080p resolution and there’s a 2.3GHz Snapdragon 801 ticking away inside its 10mm thick chassis.

The less powerful and slightly smaller Aquos Crystal packs a 1.2 GHz Snapdragon 400 and a 5-inch 720p display. The phone comes with a Harmon Kardon sound effects engine that delivers “Clari-Fi” to restore quality lost in music compression. There’s also “LiveStage” streaming and native compatibility with the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio Bluetooth speaker.

Sharp is said to enter the US smartphone market with these two phones soon. It has been reported that a invite from US Network Sprint that invites guests to “Take the edge off” has been spotted. It’s also decorated with crystals, suggesting the Sharp Aquos Crystal will be launched on 19th August in the US. The Japanese launch of the Sharp Aquos Crystal and Crystal X has already taken place via Sprint’s parent company SoftBank.

Sprint hasn’t officially confirmed it’ll offer the Crystal, the reports strongly suggest that it will happen. Sprint is holding a press conference in New York tonight, and its invitation is rife with crystalline symbolism and a tagline that associated with the Aquos’ bezel-less screen.

However, there is no word on pricing or availability in India right now but we’re hoping it arrives here soon. That or it inspires other phone manufacturers to create an interesting bezel-free design like this.

August 19, 2014
Top 5 Apps to Help Boost Your Creativity

Using smartphones and tablets is a big help for every creative person. A quick note of an idea that popped out of no where or to save blueprints that are worth checking out, apps these days not only help you save ideas but also allow you to share them with your friends. Even better, they inspire you to bring your creative insight out in the light.

We are listing top 5 apps to help you inspire and manage your creative endeavours.

1. Evernote

The first recommendation for a creatively inclined person is a cross-device easy-to-use app which stores your notes, photos and to-do lists. Evernote is an easy-to-use, free app that helps you remember everything across all of the devices you use. It lets you stay organized, save your ideas and improve your productivity. Evernote lets you take notes, snap photos, create to-do lists, scan business cards, record voice reminders. Best part? It makes everything searchable, whether you are at home, at work, or on the go.

2. TED

If you are not familiar with TedTalks then, we don’t know which planet you are from. TedTalks believe in power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and, ultimately, the world. The official app as simply as it can be named is called TED. It even sports a button called “Inspire.” Press it and get an earful from the geniuses, mavens, and rule-breakers who are changing the world.

3. Paper Essential

This amazing drawing app has won numerous awards like Apple’s App of the Year award, a Verge interaction-design award, and a Fast Company Crunchy for best design. Furthermore, it’s not all about drawing, you can start with just jotting down ideas, sketching, and outlining. If you want to see all the awesomeness it has to offer, there are loads of tutorials online that are very much worth checking out.

4. Creative Whack Pack

The Whack Pack is a great tool for establishing innovative thinking as a daily habit or for pulling fresh ideas out of one’s subconscious. The app features the 64 cards offered in the physical deck – divided into 4 suits: Explorer, Artist, Judge and Warrior. Each card features a whimsical drawing by Von Oech and a snappy yet detailed explanation of the concept behind the card. For the app, Von Oech has also added 20 cards that illuminate the wisdom of the Greek sage Heraclitus, whom Von Oech refers to as “the world’s first creativity teacher.”

5. Clear

Clear is a nice-looking list-keeping app that is really simple, quick and easy to use, no matter if you are creating notes or to-do lists. Clear’s playful and clutter-free interface makes it easier than ever to stay organized. It’s as easy to use as pen and paper: pull down to add a new item and swipe right to complete a task – it’s that simple.

August 19, 2014
Sony A5100: A Tiny Mirrorless Camera with Super-Fast Autofocus

Adding to its line of mirrorless cameras, Sony is back again with the new A5100. Six months after introducing the A6000, Sony replaces the NEX-5T and dropping the NEX line, unifying all its mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras with Sony Alpha A5100.

It’s also a very minor upgrade over the existing A5000. It has a similar body design, but adds more advanced image sensors. The Sony A5000 is a small size camera with the smallest APS-C interchangeable-lens camera out there. However, before this upgrade, it didn’t have the hybrid autofocus system. The camera is extremely small-sized (4.3 x 2.5 x 1.4 inch) to be packed with so many feature.

The camera does not have an electronic viewfinder, but it does have a NEX-5T-like touchscreen. The ability to tap and focus is quite convenient. It pairs 179 phase-detection AF points with 25 contrast-detection AF points. Sony says it can lock on in as little as 0.07 seconds. Continuous shooting mode supports up to 6fps.

The Sony A5100’s 921k-dot display flips forward 180 degrees for self-portraits. There’s also built-in WiFi, XAVC S video capture and a top sensitivity of ISO 25,600.

If you are a video shooter, then Sony A5100 also stores cool innards for you. There is an option of recording in XAVC S, which allows users to capture footage in 1080p at a bit rate of 50Mbps. Sony says the camera can optionally make two versions of clips: one in AVCHD for easier sharing, and the other in XAVC S with a greater focus on quality. Although, they haven’t provided a mic jack which is disappointing.

But overall, the Sony A5100 seems like a great value. It’ll start shipping in early September, but you can pre-order now. It is available in two color options – white and black.

August 18, 2014