Author: Rachel Issac

Facebook Would Soon Allow You to Post Comments Even When Offline

Facebook has announced that they are currently testing an update for its News Feed on Android devices for those with slow internet connection. They plan to enhance their efficiency even on slow connections by taking previously downloaded and unread items and pushing them to the top of all the posts.

The cached items will still be displayed by relevance and will replace the spinning icon that appears at the top of the page when you are waiting for the new posts to load. This will help you view stories that you might have missed, while new posts load in the background.

Furthermore, this update will extend to your interactions with friends on Facebook. Users will now be allowed to post comments on posts even when offline. Obviously, there’s a catch here, your comment will be posted as soon as a connection is detected next. But, you’ll be able to like and share posts without a connection.

Facebook is expected to test and roll out this update soon. It also mentions that users in developed markets will be able to benefit from this especially when they’re stuck in a place with bad connectivity.

Facebook has decided on bringing this update especially to Android devices as stats show that Facebook’s growing user base is emerging in markets within Asia, where the online connectivity in most places is rather slow. Facebook had also previously launched Facebook Lite which is basically a lightweight Android version of the Facebook app to eight countries – Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.

Recently, Facebook seems to be responsibly realising the impact it has made around the world and playing an important part in communication and information access. So, if this successfully works out all we can do is reap the benefits of it.

Source

December 10, 2015
OnePlus 3 Specs Revealed In New Render

While OnePlus is re-strategizing its marketing program, the rumour mills are already churning out leaks about an upcoming OnePlus 3. A new render of the alleged phone reveals key design changes, and that the company might be looking to bring about in its next smartphone.

The images show a brushed metal back instead of the usual sandstone panels that OnePlus has used even for its iPhone 6s/6s Plus cover. However, it’s not like the company hasn’t already abandoned the use of a sandstone type panel, as we have seen that the OnePlus X arrived with a glass and ceramic body.

Since, one can’t see a fingerprint scanner in the render, reports speculate other means of unlocking such as an iris scanner to be incorporated in the upcoming handset. The new OnePlus might also feature a front speaker. The render shows that the handset could possibly come in two different colours.

This render’s source also reveals a little about the hardware and display citing that the handset could arrive with the Snapdragon 820 chipset and a 1080p display resolution. As of now, the company itself has not revealed anything about its upcoming device, so the render along with all the information should not be taken at face value.

December 10, 2015
Twitter Changes Its Timeline Randomly, Angers Users

Twitter is experimenting with a new feature that will make tweets appear randomly, as compared to in a chronological order. This change was noticed when some users started tweeting amidst confusion. Meanwhile, a Twitter spokesperson said:

“We’re continuing to explore ways to surface the best content for people using Twitter.”

However, this is not the first time that Twitter is experimenting with such a feature, and this time they’re not being too subtle about it. This new feature is unlike the “while you were away” feature, that still allowed you to preserve the original order of tweets. The latest change will put them in any random order. Some reports have compared this action to Facebook’s timeline where posts are shown in accordance with how popular they are instead of when they were put up.

PLEASE don't do this, @twitter. Literally everyone hates that Facebook does it. STOP TURNING INTO FACEBOOK. https://t.co/xyBzjMkHGU

— Nicole Eclectic ? (@Nic_Leigh) December 8, 2015

https://twitter.com/AngerMonkey/status/674268509883531264

CEO Jack Dorsey had earlier mentioned that the company would “continue to question our reverse chronological timeline”; so keeping in tune with that, this move should have been expected. Like most things, people will get used to this too.

December 10, 2015
Apple Watch Gets Improved Language Base and Bug Fixes With New Update

Apple has recently issued a version 2.1 software update for the Apple Watch. This update mainly incorporates improved language support and bug fixes. The system now includes several European languages, East Asian languages and Arabic.

Apart from a larger language base in the software, the update also supports a right-to-left UI mode, which is an obvious feature considering the fact that Arabic is read from right to left. Adding to this, Siri has also been upgraded to understand Arabic that is spoke in Saudi Arabia and UAE; while a dictation-only support is added for a number of other languages.

Apple seems to have incorporated the Arabic language rather efficiently into its system as they even added the Islamic and Hebrew calendars in the update.

For more information about this software update, please click here.

December 10, 2015
Apple Reveals a Lightning To SD Card Reader For the iPad Pro

Apple has created yet another accessory and this time it is for the USB 3.0 port on the Apple iPad Pro. This Lightning to SD Card Reader, which is available at Apple’s online store, will allow the user to transfer media directly from their digital camera to the iPad Pro at USB 3 speeds. This device will also allow you to transfer data from other Apple iPad models and iPhones at USB 2 speeds.

The accessory that costs $29 will allow you to transfer data ten times faster than USB 2.0 and supports images using JPEG and RAW. To add to that, it also works on SD and HD video formats. How this works is, once you microSD card from your camera is inserted into the card reader, the Photo app on your iPhone or iPad will automatically open. These Photos are divided into Moments, Collections, and Years that you can store in the iCloud and limit those who can view your data with iCloud Photo sharing.

Apart from this accessory Apple had also just revealed a Smart Battery Case for iPhone’s battery issues and now this. Looks like Apple is recognizing its faults and making amends before anybody else does.

December 9, 2015
Micromax Takes on Samsung ON Phones Launches Canvas Mega

Micromax is taking on Samsung’s budget On series by launching its own Canvas Mega series – the Canvas Mega E353 and the Canvas Mega 4G. The first phone in the series – the Canvas Mega E353 comes with a 5.5 inch vivid HD IPS display, powered by a 1.4GHz Octa Core processor, has a 1GB RAM and 8GB ROM. On the camera front it has a 13MP primary camera and a 5MP FF front camera, to top it off, the entire device runs on a 2,820mAh battery.

The second device is called the canvas Mega 4G and comes with a 5.5. inch vivid HD IPS display, powered by the 1.3GHz quad core processor. On the storage front it comes with a 3 GB RAM and a 16GB ROM. It has a 13MP rear camera and 5MP FF front camera and comes with 4G LTE connection compatibility. The 4G handset is powered by a 2,500mAh battery.

The Canvas Mega E353 will be priced at Rs.7,999 while the Canvas Mega 4G will be priced at Rs.10,999.

December 9, 2015
Oppo Announces High-End Version Of the R7 Plus With 4GB RAM

Oppo recently announced the Oppo R7 and Oppo R7 Plus; and along with it has also announced a high-end version of the R7 Plus. This device will be available in two variants, one for the China Unicom subscribers and the other an international handset. Pre-orders have already begun in China and an official launch is expected to take place sooner or later this month.

This version comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal memory as compared to the regular R7 Plus’ 3GB of RAM space with 32GB of ROM. It also comes with a 6 inch AMOLED display, 2D arc glass and a 1080 x 1920 resolution. It is powered by the Snapdragon 615 chipset is under the hood, carrying an octa-core 1.5GHz CPU, and the Adreno 405 GPU. The China Unicom variant comes with the MediaTek MT6795 SoC, carrying a true octa-core CPU and a fingerprint scanner on board.

The high-end R7 Plus also comes with an impressive 13MP primary camera and an 8MP secondary camera. The device is fueled with a 4,100mAh battery and comes with a VOOC Rapid Charge. On the connectivity side, it comes with a hybrid SIM slot that has an opening to hold a microSD card, 4G LTE, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, and USB OTG.

The Oppo R7 Plus high-end variant is 7.75mm thick, and weighs a strapping 192 grams; it has a metal build and comes in a golden colour. The entire device is run on the Android 5.1 operating system with Color OS 2.1 running on top. The China Unicom version is priced at $470 which is approximately Rs.31,415; and the international model will cost you $515 which is approximately Rs.34,422.

Source: Oppo

December 9, 2015
HTC Perfume To Arrive With Android 6.1 OS

A leak on Twitter by @LlabTooFeR suggests that HTC’s next flagship smartphone will be called Perfume and will run on the yet-to-come Android 6.1 operating system. Apart from this piece of information, he also suggested that the HTC Perfume will be powered by the 8.0 version of the company’s Sense UI.

Remember reports about next HTC's flagship codename HTC O2? It's dead… HTC Perfume is next flagship. Android 6.1 and Sense 8.0_GP…

— LlabTooFeR (@LlabTooFeR) December 8, 2015

@LlabTooFeR had also earlier in the year, dismissed rumours about a Snapdragon 820 powered HTC O2 flagship smartphone, that was supposed to arrive with a 6-inch QHD display, 4GB RAM, 64GB/128GB internal memory, and a 3,500mAh battery.

As of now HTC has not confirmed any details of their upcoming flagship officially, and so all we know about the alleged Perfume is its OS and UI.

December 9, 2015
Apple To Host Apple Watch Event In March, May Launch 4-Inch iPhone

Reports suggest that Apple is planning to host a product launch event in March 2016 where it might announce the Apple Watch and the 4-inch iPhone 6C.

Kevin Wang from IHS has stated that Apple is working on a budget-oriented iPhone 6 handset. This handset will be a smaller version with a 4-inch display and will come with a plastic body similar to the 5c. The scaled down version of the iPhone 6 will indeed come with a few missing features. As the device was pegged as a cheaper iPhone 7 variant rather than a 6, what’s for certain is that the 6c will not come with 3D Touch.

Other reports also suggest that the iPhone 6C could come with a smaller screen, and thereby making it much easier for users to navigate through the device. After iPhone screens becoming larger and larger most people seem to have faced a rather annoying inconvenience to always move their hand to the top of the screen for the menu or back button. So, many are hoping for a drop in the screen size.

About the second device mentioned – the Apple Watch – unfortunately there’s not much to know about it. However, some rumours have suggested that the tech wear gadget could arrive with a FaceTime camera and Wi-Fi connectivity along with health sensors and sleep tracking. As of now Apple has not confirmed anything officially, but let us hope to see these gadgets soon in March.

December 9, 2015
Apple Launches Its Own Smart Battery Case For iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s

iPhone users, your battery troubles might just be over because Apple just unveiled its own Smart Battery Case for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s. This case will be available on the Apple online store and costs $99 which is approximately Rs.6,619. Apple says that this case can extend the iPhone’s battery life up to 18 hours of internet usage on LTE networks, up to 20 hours of video playback, and as much as 25 hours of increased talk time.

The Smart Battery Case is just like a regular case and thereby eliminating the inconvenience caused by a third party solution. It will be available in two colours – Charcoal and White with microfiber lining on the inside and silicone exterior. Looks and sounds very Apple Inc.

This Case will be charged via a standard Lightning port and will therefore be compatible with official docks so that users won’t have to carry around extra cables. You will also be able to charge your iPhone and the Battery Case simultaneously. Apple also further says, that when the Smart Case is in use, an “intelligent battery status” will be displayed on the iPhone’s lock screen and in its notification center. Trust Apple to create something as nuanced for its customers and users. However, as of now, there is no word on whether this device or its kind will be available for the other iPhones.

December 8, 2015

HTC One A9 Price Confirmed To Sell Exclusively on Snapdeal Starting 9th December

New reports suggest that the HTC One A9 will be sold for Rs.29,990 exclusively on Snapdeal. The registration for this will open on the 9th of December 2015 (tomorrow) and end on the 14th of December 2015. It will be available for consumers to purchase from the 15th of December 2015.

The HTC One A9 is the first non-Nexus device to come pre-loaded with the Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Additionally, the company has cut down on pre-loaded apps, opting for a purer Android experience. The One A9 sports a 5-inch Full HD AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass 4 and 1080 x 1920 resolution.

A fingerprint sensor, 13-megapixel rear camera with low light OIS, 4MP Ultrapbixel front camera and a Hyperlapse editing tool are some of its other features.

Here are the complete specs of HTC One A9:

Specs	HTC One A9
Display	5-inch Full HD AMOLED with 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 4
Resolution	1080 x 1920 resolution
Processor	Snapdragon 617 64-bit octa-core processor
GPU	Adreno 405
RAM	2 GB/ 3 GB
Battery	2,150 mAh
Storage	16 GB/ 32 GB
Primary Camera	13MP with low light OIS
Secondary Camera	4MP UltraPixel, f/2.0 aperture
Expandability	MicroSD up to 2 TB
OS	Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Price	Rs.29,990

December 8, 2015

Vodafone’s 4G Finally Gets Launched in the Country

Vodafone is finally giving out an upgrade to 4G connection for its customers, along with a ‘Superfast 4G SIM’. They have also introduced a trial pack of 120MB for Rs.29 along with a 100% extra data for all 4G RED customers for 3 months. Vodafone’s 4G is claiming to support connectivity of WiFi for up to 10 devices and also promises to simplify the customer’s experience with a ‘same day doorstep’ post-paid delivery system and instant activation for those who want to change their SIM.

For a more detailed understanding of what the Vodafone 4G platform entails, we can tell you that the 4G LTE network runs on an 1800Mhz speed and can be accessed via any 4G enabled handsets available across the country. It will be launched in Kochi on the 14th of December 2015, making it the first telecom operator in Kerala to offer 2G/3G/4G services on its own convergent radio technology.

“Vodafone’s global expertise and experience of launching 4G across 19 countries gives us a better understanding of this technology and the needs of the 4G customer.” – says Sunil Sood MD & CEO of Vodafone, India.

Vodafone will initially roll out its 4G services in the metropolitan cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Bangaluru and Kolkata. We all know that Vodafone is slightly late in the 4G scene, with Airtel currently in the lead. But, all the hype surrounding its delay and it finally seeing the light of day should be able to get the amount of traffic it is looking for. Let us hope that Vodafone is able to resolve all its issues ranging from call-drops to the late entry of 4G soon.

December 8, 2015
Xiaomi’s Mi 5 Might Arrive With a Home Button In January 2016

A new render of the upcoming Xiaomi Mi 5 has been leaked showcasing a first ever, physical home button. Earlier, there were speculations of the device incorporating Qualcomm’s ultrasound fingerprint scanner. The reason why we don’t see the fingerprint scanner is because, an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner doesn’t require sensors or buttons, and can be embedded under the phone’s screen itself.

The report about the fingerprint scanner was revealed by analyst Pan Jiutang, who further reports that the company has found Qualcomm’s fingerprint scanner to be unstable.Therefore, if Xiaomi decides to use a traditional fingerprint reader, it will most likely be embedded under the home button.

However, this isn’t the only piece of information that the render reveals. It also says that the Xiaomi Mi 5 may be unveiled on the 21st of January 2016, with the actual launch taking place sometime in February. As of now, speculation suggests that the device will be equipped with a 5.2-inch display, powered by the Snapdragon 820 SoC, will offer a version of Force Touch, and Android 6.0 is expected to be pre-installed. The Weibo post also reveals that the smartphone will arrive in two variants, one of which will be priced at $311 and the other at $389. What could the massive price difference mean?

Source: Weibo

December 8, 2015
These Are Five Phone Design failures You Should Know

“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again”, reads a famous proverb; and the mobile phone industry did take this one very seriously. It is only after a series of miscalculations and faux pas has the smartphone now become one of the savviest tech gadgets to carry around. So let’s take a look at our past and see what our ancestors might have thought to be uber cool.

Nokia 7600

Let’s just look at this phone for sometime. Among the various questions that confound us, one of them is just where is the keypad? And that is not even the most important question. What was Nokia thinking by revealing this mobile phone in 2007, just when Apple launched the iPhone? Anyway, to answer the question about the keypad, there’s a 2 inch display and if you look at it hard enough you’ll see that it is surrounded by alphanumeric buttons on the sides and other keys (Menu and navigation keys) below the screen. Oh, and this tear drop Nokia phone was created for ‘fashionistas’. Well, we didn’t see Anna Wintour carrying it. ‘Nuff said.

Nokia 7280

If you thought Nokia would learn from their previous mistakes, you thought wrong. At least previously we only asked about the keyboard; over here? Where is anything? Nokia thought that a lipstick shaped phone would be more fashionable than a tear drop. They were technically right, but this lipstick is making tears drop from our eyes. This phone has a 35 mm x 20 mm display and no keypad. That’s it. Just look at it until it disappears.

Sony Ericsson Jalou F100i

Do you know why this one has a visible keypad? Because it’s not Nokia! Regardless even Sony Ericsson Jalou F100i has its faults. First of all, it’s called ‘jalou’, which means jealousy in French, and unfortunately for them, it arouses none. The Sony Jalou was created especially for women and that is why the display could also double up as a compact mirror. Yes, Sony really understood women, they don’t really want to get any work done, they just want to look at themselves in the mirror. Hopefully, most people stayed away from this futile attempt at fashionable smartphone making.

HTC G1

The HTC G1 was ironically called the “Dream”. Now, compared to the last few phones we mentioned, it probably is a dream. But it still falls short in design with his rather chunky and bulky looking keypad and screen. However, this seems to be its only fault, so it does look like we were getting closer to the “dream” of owning a modern and sleek cellphone.

Vertu Boucheron Cobra

Just when you thought things were getting better, Vertu brought to us the Boucheron Cobra. Yes, a snake is one of the sleekest reptiles we have around, but putting them on a mobile phone will not make it look sleek, even if it is embedded with the costliest Swarovski diamonds. Yes, those are real diamonds on a rather ugly looking snake, which has been dumped on a rather small and expensive (Rs 1.75 crore approx) phone. This snake doesn’t look powerful or sleek and neither does the gadget. Luckily for us, Vertu has learnt from its mistakes and now creates better looking phones with a similar if not higher price tag.

December 8, 2015
Best Tech Deals on the Flipkart ‘Power Packed Festival’

Flipkart is having its ‘Power Packed Festival’ starting today; and we bring to you a short list of the best deals.

1. iPad Air 2

Apple’s iPad Air 2 comes with a 16GB of internal memory along with Wi-Fi connection. It has a 1.2 MP secondary camera and an 8MP primary camera with a 9.7 inch display. The tablet is run on the iOS 8 operating system. Originally priced at Rs.35,900; it is now priced at Rs.32,065 on the Flipkart smartphone app.

2. iPhone 6s

Apple’s iPhone 6s will be available on Flipkart at Rs.49,290 rather than its original MRP of Rs.54,490. What’s more is that this is the fashionable Rose Gold version with a 16GB of internal memory. Furthermore, this iPhone runs on the iOS 9 and has a 4.7 inch display along with a 12MP primary camera and 3D Touch & Live photos feature.

3. HTC Desire 820S

The HTC Desire 820S will be sold on Flipkart at Rs.15,999 instead of Rs.17,199. The version that is on sale is the Santorini White 16GB version.This handset is run on the Android v4.4.4 (KitKat) operating system and comes with a 5.5 inch display and 720 x 1280 pixels resolution. It has a 13MP primary camera and a 8MP secondary camera.

4. Mi Pad White

The Mi Pad 16 GB, white coloured Wi-Fi only variant will be available on the Flipkart app at Rs.11,999 instead of Rs.12,999. It comes with a 7.9 inch display with 2048×1536 pixels resolution and a 2GB RAM and memory that is expandable up to 128GB.

5. Nikon D3200

The Nikon D3200 is available on Flipkart at a ridiculously low price of Rs.18,990. The particular variant is the Nikon D3200 with an AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II Lens. It has a 24.2 MP camera with CMOS and a 3 inch LCD display.

6. Samsung On5

The Samsung On5 is being sold at Rs.8,900 on Flipkart. This phone comes with a dual SIM connection with 4G and a 5 inch HD TFT display, an 8MP rear camera and 5MP front camera. The entire device is fueled by a 2600mAh battery.

Samsung Galaxy On5

7. iPhone 5s

Apple’s iPhone 5s comes with an 8MP iSight Camera along with full HD recording and an HD FaceTime Camera. The device is run on the iOS 7 operating system. The 16GB Gold version is being sold on Flipkart at Rs.30,453.

8. Micromax Canvas Xpress 2

Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 is run on the Android v4.4.2 OS. It comes with a 13MP primary camera and 2MP secondary camera. This phone also has a dual SIM connection and will be priced at Rs.5,799 on Flipkart.

December 7, 2015