iPhones are delicate and it’s no big secret. But if you are an iPhone user, you are not alone in worrying about the safety of your device. Clearly Apple has been giving it some thought and seems to have come up with a solution. According to reports, Apple is about to launch a program that would allow customers to exchange their broken iPhones in return for credit to but a new one.
The models to be made part of this scheme include iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, as of now. Older models won’t be able to get their devices exchanged. The company would offer $50 against 5s and about $200 and $250. This trade-in program includes broken screens, buttons and cameras.
Additionally, Apple Stores all over the US have also begun rolling out installations of plastic screen-protectors in the coming days, but it won’t be a free of cost service. Installations have already begun in many stores.
In most cases, this upgrade would end up costing more than the actual price of a new iPhone after including all costs of subsidies, financing plans and the credit this program would offer. This, in turn, would simply lead to more iPhone sales for the company, and perhaps a relatively cheaper way to get a new iPhone for a broken one for consumers.
The trade-in program would be rolled out in the US soon, but no news on when it would be made available in India. We can expect it here in the next couple of months though, before the end of 2016.
The Japanese manufacturer of personal computers launched its first smartphone, the VAIO Phone (VA-10J) running on Android last year. This year VAIO has added yet another name to the smartphone industry. Called VAIO Phone Biz, for reasons unknown, the handset marks a switch from Android to Windows in VAIO smartphones. The move is a little surprising after the lack of popularity of Windows as an OS among smartphone users.
However, the device will support Continuum, a Windows feature that allows the phone to be used as a computer once it has been plugged into a television set or a monitor.
In terms of specifications, the Phone Biz has a 5.5-inch FHD display with a resolution of 1920X1810. It is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 octa-core SoC clocked at 1.2GHz, along with 3GB of RAM. Internal storage of 16 GB expandable up to 64 GB makes for the memory specifications of the smartphone. Phone Biz has a 13 MP main camera, 5 MP front camera, 4G LTE support and a 2,800 mAh battery.
The phone comes in a Silver coloured variant and will be priced close to $430 (approximately Rs. 29,000) when it enters the Japanese market in April.
After providing a consistent and reliable range of laptops, VAIO seems to be turning its attention to another aspect of the tech-world. While VAIO laptops have pretty much performed well, let’s see if the computer manufacturer manages to achieve the same results with its smartphones as well. Perhaps only time will tell. There is no word on when Phone Biz will arrive in markets outside Japan. Watch this space for all the latest developments.
Samsung today unveiled the refreshed models of the budget, Galaxy A5 and A7 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Galaxy A5 2016 model is priced at Rs 29,400 and A7 2016 at Rs. 33,400 in India, and will be available through Snapdeal and other offline retailers.
The updated A7 features the glass and metal design found on the Samsung Galaxy S6 and comes with a bunch of new features and specs.The A7 sports a 5.5-inch AMOLED FHD screen with 1920 x 1080p resolution and a 1.6 GHz octa-core processor, 3GB of RAM and 16GB internal storage and 3,300 mAh Fast Charging battery.
On the camera front, the A7 features a 13MP primary camera with f/1.9 aperture and OIS. The front camera also features an f/1.9 aperture. It is further equipped with fingerprint sensor. The phone will be available in three color variants gold, black and white. The dual-SIM A7 is priced at Rs. 33,400.
A7 has 4G LTE support and comes in three colour variants -Gold, Black and White. The phone is definitely more expensive than expected. The device has an extremely premium build and feel, but the specs are not fancy enough for the design. Only FHD display and 3 GB of RAM does not make for an impressive device in a market which already has way too many options to choose from. Find the complete specifications of Samsung Galaxy A7 below and let us know in the comments section if this phone catches your fancy.
Specification
Galaxy A7
Display
5.5″ FHD Super AMOLED
Resolution
1920X1080
Processor
1.6GHz Octa-Core Processor
RAM
3GB
Front Camera
5.0MP(f1.9)
Rear Camera
13MP(f1.9) AF with LED Flash
Storage
16GB
Expandability
128GB
Battery
3,300 mAh, Fast Charging
Connectivity
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth® v 4.1, ANT+, USB 2.0, NFC (UICC, eSE)
After many rumours and leaks, we finally have some concrete news about this LG flagship. The G5 will be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress this month. LG has sent out invitations for an official event on 21st February at MWC in Barcelona.
We have heard a lot about the device the last couple of days. Rumours suggest that the LG G5 may come with a ‘modular’ design. Now before you thing of Google’s Proje ARA here, the G5 is going full modular, and you won’t be able to replace parts as you please. The G5’s modular nature is more to do with design rather than anything else. The design and the ability to still preserve the removable battery is LG’s top priority.
Other than this, it is also rumoured to come equipped with a 5.3-inch QHD display, sporting a Snapdragon 820 processor and 3GB of RAM with 32GB of internal storage. It’s also suggested that LG G5 might include an eye scanner, USB-C connectivity and a fingerprint sensor. Speculation also points to a 21-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel front-facing sensor.
Samsung is back with its updated A-series of devices. Today the Korean giant unveiled its mid-range Galaxy A7 and A5 devices, which feature OIS and fingerprint sensor.
Galaxy A7 (left) and Galaxy A5 (right)Samsung Galaxy A7
Samsung takes the S6 glass and metal design language forward this year and introduces Galaxy A7 and A5. The updated devices come with a bunch of new features and specs.The A7 sports a 5.5-inch AMOLED FHD screen with 1920 x 1080p resolution and a 1.6 GHz octa-core processor, 3GB of RAM and 16GB internal storage and 3,300mAh Fast Charging battery.
On the camera front, the A7 features a 13MP primary camera with f/1.9 aperture and OIS. The front camera also features an f/1.9 aperture. The dual-SIM A7 is priced at Rs. 33,400.
Samsung Galaxy A5
The A5 upgrades to 5.2-inch AMOLED FHD screen with 1080p resolution. 2GB RAM and 16GB storage, octa-core processor and bumps the battery to 2,900mAh as well. A5 packs a 13MP primary camera with OIS and a 5MP front camera. This dual-SIM phone is priced at Rs.29,400.
The devices will be available through Snapdeal and offline partners starting 15th February. Both A5 and A7 will have three colours variants -Gold, Black and White. Follow this space for more on Samsung’s A-series launch.
Specification
Galaxy A7
Galaxy A5
Display
5.5″ FHD Super AMOLED
5.2″ FHD Super AMOLED
Processor
1.6GHz Octa-Core Processor
1.6GHz Octa-Core Processor
RAM
3GB
2GB
Front Camera
5.0MP(f1.9)
5.0MP(f1.9)
Rear Camera
13MP(f1.9) AF with LED Flash
13MP (f1.9) AF with LED Flash
Storage
16GB
16GB
Expandability
128GB
128GB
Battery
3,300 mAh, Fast Charging
2,900 mAh, Fast charging
Connectivity
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth® v 4.1, ANT+, USB 2.0, NFC (UICC, eSE)
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth® v 4.1, ANT+, USB 2.0, NFC (UICC, eSE)
Imagine tinkering a device without even touching it -turning on or off a display, handling volume controls or screen brightness, attending calls, replying to messages -all of it without any physical contact. While this may sound like a futuristic gadget from the last sci-fi movie you watched, let it be known that this is precisely the kind of device Apple is planning to make.
The Cupertino based tech-giant filed a non-contact patent on Tuesday for devices that can be controlled with only gestures, minus any physical contact. The patent is for multi-touch surfaces with touch-free proximity centers, and it describes this new tech as follows, “the no-touch, close proximity hovering of fingers or other objects above a touch-sensitive surface but outside the near-field detection capabilities of touch sensors.”
Apple plans to fulfill these goals with the help of proximity sensors made of infrared LEDs and photodiodes. Electrical currents could be altered by photodiodes depending on how much light falls on them. By detection of infrared light that reaches these sensors after getting reflected or deflected with the user’s hand, the sensors would be able to interpret gestures and commands.
It is unclear at this point in which Apple device this patent would be put to test first. But since the patent includes image of a laptop that is using non-contact input with a standard touchpad maybe we could hope to see it first in a Macbook or an iMac. For all that we know, these plans could be trashed as well before they even see the light of day, as often happens with patents. Either way, there is nothing stopping you or us from keeping our fingers crossed.
Looks like there is some good news in store for Microsoft fans. As new leaked images of Lumia 850 appear online, there seems to be hope for this device making an appearance in 2016. It is expected to be powered by a Snapdragon 617 chipset.
The leaks suggest the screen-size to be marked at 5.4 inches, along with a front facing flash and something that could potentially be an iris scanner for Windows Hello. Images also suggest presence of a micro-USB port, which doesn’t look like Type-C but a 2.0 port. There is also a 3.5mm jack at the bottom.
There are rumours suggesting that the Lumia 850 may have been cancelled, but if it does make it to the market, the device would be available in four colour variants -white, gold, dark silver and black. We’ll keep you updated as more information becomes available.
After successfully launching its 4G services in Kerala, Karnataka and Kolkata, Vodafone has now announced the release of its next-generation 4G network in Gurgaon, soon to be followed by Delhi and the NCR in regular phases.
Running on an 1800 MHz band of the spectrum, the service can be used on all smartphones with 4G support, and will make the overall experience of downloading and streaming media efficient and enjoyable. The 4G Mobile Wi-Fi would support connectivity for up to 10 devices.
The company also has a series of offers up its sleeve that include high-speed 4G SIMs, but also free 4G upgrade for those already using Vodafone SIMs. Users can enjoy up to 3 months of access to free television, movies and music on Vodafone Play as part of their Vodafone 4G subscription. Vodafone Music, HOOQ, an on-demand video service, and Hungama Play, are some of the other services users would be able to avail as part of their subscription.
Currently, Vodafone is offering data packs ranging from 35 MB which costs Rs. 11, going up to Rs. 2,499 for 20 GB. The company is also offering door-step delivery of postpaid 4G SIMs for requests that are received before 4 PM on the day the request is made. Vodafone has also become country’s first network provider to provide 4G international roaming in the UK, Romania, Spain and Netherlands.
Motorola has gone all out with Moto X Force promotion. The company has now released a video for the phone which has Ashton Kutcher in it. Yes, you heard us right. Technology meets this Hollywood sweatheart as they put people’s phones through drop-tests. Check out the video below.
https://youtu.be/EAt0TUCzoWM
The video proposes a theory that people are actually in love with their phones. This theory gets attested as people are put through lie detection tests and asked unease-inducing questions. The reactions were more than just entertaining, to say the least.
Moto X Force, first unveiled globally as Droid Turbo 2 last year, released in India on the 1st of February. The highlight of the phone is its shatter-proof display, which Motorola claims, is the first of its kind in the world for a smartphone. Check out our drop test for the device where we dropped it from a height of 1000 feet and judge for yourself. Click here for a complete review of Moto X Force.
Welcome to the future where computers read your mind and Artificial Intelligence is on the cards. A new computer program developed by a team of researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle can decode your thoughts with the help of electrodes.
This program requires electrodes to be implanted in the mind of the subject. Based on the chemical changes that thoughts lead to, these electrodes would convey electrical signs which can then be read to decipher a person’s thoughts. The entire decoding process takes no more than a few milliseconds after an image is seen by the subject.
“Clinically, you could think of our result as a proof of concept toward building a communication mechanism for patients who are paralyzed or have had a stroke and are completely locked in,”says Rajesh Rao, a neuro-scientist at the University of Washington.
Any development in communication of this kind between a human and a machine is a huge leap -it could be of immense use for people who cannot speak or have any kind of trouble conveying their thoughts. This specific program, however, is not the first of its kind. There have been similar developments in the past where researchers recorded brain waves of viewers in the form of movie clips people were watching at the time.
Professor Xavier uses Cerebro, a computer, to amplify his powers of telepathy in X-Men. Could complex communication between computers and humans be here in the real world as well?
In this experiment conducted by Rajesh Rao’s team, a difference was observed between neural patterns when people saw images of houses and images of faces. Additionally, there were also different kinds of brain signals the computer required to decode the thoughts. Both these sets of patterns work in unison to help researchers understand the responses of the human mind, and decoding them in real time, better. More research in the field can help neuroscientists map the entire brain and its responses one day,
Netflix has made comments which are bound to ruffle some feathers across the country. The company declares that it aims to be a premium service provider, not meant for the average consumer in India.
“We are after a small base of English-speaking people, who travel abroad, are wealthy and want to watch the latest shows that are being launched in the US,” said a senior Netflix executive.
The company has made sure that payment of its services can only be made through a credit card, already putting a filter for the choice of its users. Netflix launched in India last month with the Basic plan that costs Rs. 500 per month, and the Premium one which is priced at Rs. 800 per month. Users can try the service for free for the first one month by signing up at www.netflix.com/in.
Modeling itself as a premium brand is undoubtedly a tried and tested marketing strategy. At the expense of being dubbed as elitist, brands all over have tried similar tactics, and it has worked wonders for them -Apple being an example. Let’s see how the Indian consumer reacts to this. Let us know what you think of this move by Netflix in the comments below.
LeEco, previously called LeTV, unveiled its devices last month to much self-created hype, and held its first flash sale for the Le 1s “superphone” in India today. All the song and dance around the device clearly worked in the company’s favour as it ended up setting multiple records in the smartphone industry with their first flash sale.
According to reports, LeEco sold 70,000 units in just the first two seconds of the flash sale. It was pretty much a blink and miss it moment for consumers, many of whom were left without available Le 1s units for purchase. The sale took place on 2nd February at 12 PM on Flipkart.
The company set three records with these numbers of sold units -largest number of phones sold in a single flash sale, shortest duration for the sale of so many devices, and the largest number of pre-sale registrations, which by the way was about 600,000.
“I am amazed by the numbers. This sales figure is a new milestone and sets a benchmark for all other brands in the industry”, says Ankit Nagori, Chief Business Officer of Flipkart.
The device is marked at Rs 10,999 and was available in one variant, with pretty impressive specs for the price. The Le 1s comes equipped with a MediaTek X10 Turbo running at 2.2 GHz. It houses a VR6200 GPU, 3GB RAM with 32GB storage.
The ‘SuperPhone’ also supports Dual Sim 4G connectivity, backed by a 3000 mAh battery. It’s a slim device of 7.5 mm, and boasts of a 5.5-Inch Full HD display, with a clarity of 403 ppi. Find all other details of the Le 1s here.
When Artificial Intelligence begins to make some very intelligent people nervous, you know it’s time to sit up and listen. AI triggered enough anxiety during the last couple of months to lead to the birth of OpenAI in December, a project concerned with safe development and sharing of all AI research on a wide scale.
Artificial Intelligence is Giving Tesla’s Elon Musk the Heebie-Jeebies
Needless to say, Elon Musk, an open and well-known critic of AI has invested heavily in the project. A sum of $1 billion has already been committed to the project, which would also keep some of its research private if it seems like a security threat to humanity.
Worth reading Superintelligence by Bostrom. We need to be super careful with AI. Potentially more dangerous than nukes.
Calling AI “our biggest existential threat”, Musk says, “Humanity’s position on this planet depends on its intelligence, so if our intelligence is exceeded, it’s unlikely we will remain in charge of the planet.” He further says that he has invested in AI companies “to keep an eye on them” and likens AI to “summoning the demon”.
Stephen Hawking and Bill Gates Join the Club
Elon Musk is not alone in his apprehensions against AI. Stephen Hawking and Bill Gates both have gone on record accepting that this field of tech could turn out to be as destructive as nuclear warfare if its development and growth is not regulated and monitored.
Bill Gates doesn’t look happy about AI taking over the world.
Stephen Hawking has famously commented on the topic, “…humans, limited by slow biological evolution, couldn’t compete and would be superseded by AI”. Bill Gates, on the other hand, wonders why others are not as concerned about bestowing the immeasurable power of independent thought to robots.
Other famous names to have recently become associated with AI are Mark Zuckerberg and Ashton Kutcher who have, along with Musk, invested in Vicarious – a company working on a computer capable of imitating those parts of the brain that control visual functions, locomotion and speech. Zuckerberg is also working on developing an AI butler for his home a la Jarvis.
Why is AI Making Everyone Freak Out?
All the fears and apprehensions stem from the understanding that something as powerful as AI in the wrong hands is capable of wreaking immense havoc on the world. What is worse is that once machines become capable of independent thought -common sense will only be the first step towards eventual super-intelligence. With the right exposure to data and algorithms, we wouldn’t even need humans to threaten mankind; the machines themselves would take care of that.
It may sound like a scene out of a dystopic sci-fi story, but it’s real enough to make thinkers like Hawking, Gates and Musk uneasy. To add more cheer to the party, there are companies like Google and Facebook, on the other hand, doing the exact opposite of OpenAI.
The Other Side of the Story
There might not be entirely altruistic intentions behind the attempts of making a common, shared platform for AI research. Google and Tesla are both building self-driven cars, and thus, both stand to benefit from AI.
In November last year, Google open sourced part of its software that is the main thrust of its AI services. Facebook followed suit and open sourced its own set of AI contributions. OpenAI, however, took this to another level by promising to share all of its research.
Elon Musk, our very own real-life Tony Stark is here to save the day. Or is he?
An open platform for AI research would mean that all companies benefit from each other’s research while at the same time ensuring that no one name becomes a central, controlling authority for this tremendous source of power.
So, while Google and Facebook are working round the clock on developing their own AI-based projects, Elon Musk and his team of AI experts are trying to keep this tech from getting concentrated under a single source which could spell doom for the world. The forward movement in this field is inevitable. The least that can be done is to aim for a path that would jeopardize humanity as little as possible, and this is perhaps what OpenAI hopes to achieve.
If we do end up with a scenario where mankind is pitted against AI, we know our sci-fi enough to be clear about which side to place the stakes on. While Hollywood can continue to make us feel good about the victories of a kind human race over sentient machines devoid of feelings, reality offers a far different picture. Just hold on tight for now and see where the ride lands us.
Moto X Force launches in India with a price tag of Rs.49,999 for the 32 GB variant and Rs 53,999 for the 64 GB variant. It was launched globally last year as Droid Turbo 2 and now it has arrived here with its much talked about ‘shattershield’ display. The device will be available on Flipkart and Amazon as well as offline stores starting 8th of February. It will come in three colour variants – Soft Rubber in White and Ballistic Nylon in Black and Grey.
On the specs front, Moto X Force packs a 5.4 inch Quad HD display with a resolution of 2560×1440 pixels. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core chipset along with 3 GB of RAM. The two internal storage options of 32 GB and 64 GB are expandable up to 2 TB with the help of a microSD card.
The highlight of the device is its super-hardy screen. Motorola claims to have integrated a ‘Moto Shattershield’ technology in the display of Moto Force which, it says, is the first shatterproof screen in a phone ever. The company feels confident enough to affirm the screen would stay intact for up to four years, owing to the multiple layers of different materials used in making it capable of absorbing shock and providing protection against cracking. The phone also boasts of two touchscreen layers, which make sure that the smartphone can be used even if one of the layers is cracked.
Motorola has not stopped talking about the sturdiness of its latest device and one wonders if the company would be able to live up to all the hype. During the last couple of days, Motorola has released a series of teasers taking a dig at companies like Samsung, Apple and HTC and their devices. We’ll soon be uploading the video of our own drop-test for Moto X Force. Check it out on iGyaan.
Find below the complete specifications of the Moto X Force.
Moto X Force, internationally called Droid Turbo 2, is all set to release in India today. The phone is dubbed as “shatter-proof” for what Motorola claims is its unbreakable display.
The company has been coming out with teasers the past couple of days, taking a dig at Apple, Samsung and HTC and performing break tests with their devices. If we are to go by the teasers, Moto X Force does indeed appear to be a tough, unbreakable device.
On the specs front, Moto X Force would be powered by Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor and 3 GB of RAM. The phone is expected to have a 21 MP main camera and a 5 MP front camera and come with a price tag in the Rs. 40,000 range.
Let’s see if the phone is truly as strong as Motorola is making it sound to be or if it would be another downer after all the type. You can catch the live-streaming of the official event which starts by clicking on the link below. Stay tuned for all the latest updates.
