Author: Sanket Vijay

4 Features We Want to See in the HTC One M10

HTC is just a couple of months away from unveiling its next flagship smartphone, the HTC One M10. A lot is riding on the company to deliver a device that is truly groundbreaking. Indeed, HTC needs to have something great in the One M10 if it still wants to compete in the highly competitive smartphone world. We’ve seen a bunch of leaked images and rumoured specs that haven’t really excited the masses so far. But the final device could be a different case. In order to have a winner on its hands, here are some features that we expect to see in the One M10.

A New HTC Design Language

HTC One M7

For a moment let’s forget about the recent leaked images and renders of the One M10. Let’s forget that HTC has gone with a design language similar to the One A9, which was heavily criticised for being an iPhone 6 rip-off, though HTC would contend that Apple copied them first. Such is the way inspiration works in the tech world. There was a time when HTC had a great design language with its M-series, the One M7 being one of the company’s best in design. It was something that was truly HTC’s own.

Barring the fact that HTC messed up with the One M9, the M lineup (especially the M7 and M8) was praised for its metallic unibody build, BoomSound dual front speakers that were widely appreciated, and a premium feel attached to it. But the company has recently hit a block in terms of design. What the company needs is to rely less on what companies like Apple have achieved with the iPhone and more on coming up with a new design language while still having traces of the old.

Latest render of the One M10

Honestly, fans would still appreciate the BoomSound dual speakers on the front only a little more refined. A curved metallic back for a better hold, a minimalistic and sleek design, and an almost bezel-less screen could together have made for a great-looking phone. If LeEco can manage that with the Le 1s than HTC can too.

HTC’s UltraPixel Technology Needs to Shine this Time

When HTC announced the UltraPixel technology with the One M8, fans were expecting a camera that would deliver some spectacular photographs. But the One M8 failed to deliver. The company went back to the traditional megapixel with the One M9 which again wasn’t well recieved, not when the market is incredibly tough with the likes of Samsung, LG and Apple.

It is now rumoured that HTC will once again use the UP technology in the One M10. This may be a huge gamble on the part of HTC to back its camera technology. But if the company has managed to learn from its mistakes, the UP technology could be exactly what HTC had intended. The rear camera is rumoured to sport a 12UP module with OIS and autofocus while the front still is unknown. If HTC wants to be a contender in the camera department, knowing that Samsung has upped its camera specs in the Galaxy S7, then nothing short of 5UP for the front and some absolutely spectacular images that compliment a Quad HD AMOLED display will be accepted by fans.

At Least One Bumped Up Specification

Let’s be honest, life in today’s world is all about getting there first. This though applies even for technology. People are wowed with a device that manages to beat its competition in bringing out the a first in something. Either that or you try to make an existing technology even better. LeEco took everyone by surprise when it brought out the Le Max Pro – the first smartphone with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 chipset – when everybody was looking towards Samsung’s Galaxy S7.

The rumoured specs of the HTC One M10 aren’t all that special. They’re pretty much what is expected from a flagship device in 2016. You have a Snapdragon 820 chipset in the One M10 which will also be seen in the Galaxy S7, LG G5, Xiaomi Mi5 and many more to come. If HTC wants its device to stand apart, it needs to offer one specification that other OEMs aren’t. Maybe bumping up the RAM to 4GB might do the trick, or maybe it’s just not enough. Even if HTC manages to fit in a battery big enough to handle a Quad HD AMOLED display and gaming without giving up completely by the end of the day, it would be appreciated.

Thinner, Sleeker BoomSound or a Multi-Purpose Fingerprint Sensor (or Both)

One M10 Early Render

It was the BoomSound speakers that gave HTC’s M lineup a new direction. HTC now needs to introduce a new unique feature that will give the M10 purpose. If you’re going to replace the speakers with a physical home button that might also house a fingerprint scanner, then the sensor could do a lot more than simply unlocking the phone. In fact, having the BoomSound front speakers and the fingerprint scanner at the back would have been perfect. Alas, that’s perhaps asking too much.

HTC could have indeed kept the BoomSound speakers, making the grill thinner and closer to the top and bottom edges so as to save space and deliver on sound at the same time. Some renders (like the one above) also showed the same imagination, but the new images that reveal the One A9-like design show no trace of a speaker at all. It could still be that HTC has moved the speakers to the bottom, and if it manages to get the same quality it just might do the trick. Furthermore, if that indeed is the case then the headphone jack would have to move to the top.

Now while these may still not be groundbreaking changes or additions, it is something that would get fans a lot more excited than they are right now. The One M10 will essentially decide the company’s future in the smartphone market, and perhaps the delay to launch the device is due to some last minute tweaks that could work in their favour. We’ll just have to wait and see if HTC has a winner with the One M10 or not.

Have any particular feature you want to see in the HTC One M10? Let us know in the comments below.

February 16, 2016
Mattel’s New ThinkMaker 3D Printer lets you Create your own Toys

At the recent New York Toy Fair, Mattel unveiled the ThinkMaker, a ’70s toy maker that uses modern 3D printing technology. But the new ThinkMaker is a lot more than an ordinary toy maker that could mould bug-like creatures or Creepy Crawlers as they were popularly called.

The new 3D Printing ThingMaker can design complex objects like figurines, jewellery and accessories using the ThingMaker Design app, which Mattel developed together with Autodesk. The toy maker will start shipping this fall and comes at a very affordable price of $300.

There are so many reasons to love Mattel’s new ThinkMaker. At $300, the toy maker is not only cheap, but it can also train kids in 3D designing from an early age. It also engages the child’s creativity as it allows kids to use the ThinkMaker to create a variety of things. Kids will be able to design toys from scratch and the toys can be customised with different colours and textures.

Instead of having to pour liquid plastic into toy moulds as was the case with Mattel’s original ThinkMaker back in 1960, the new ThinkMaker spits them out like any other 3D printer. And the fact that this is a 3D printer that is easy and safe to use makes it a great purchase for kids and adults alike.

February 16, 2016
Samsung Shows Off Waterproof Galaxy S7, S7 Edge in Leaked Video

Samsung is just days away from unveiling its Galaxy S7 flagship lineup. We’ve already seen a lot of renders, leaked benchmark tests, and more that tell us what we can expect from the devices. Today, we have a video that has been released by Samsung’s Indonesia page that gives and perhaps confirm a bunch of details about the devices.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHaxUZPyomg

The minute-long video doesn’t reveal much on the hardware front, but it does give us some details on some of the features and the look of the devices. First off, the Galaxy S7, S7 Edge do look a lot like their S6 counterparts in terms of looks.

The video shows that the Galaxy S7 can handle rain without frying on the inside, which means both the devices will be IP67 rated. Apart from this, the video also shows that the S7 will come with an improved camera module that can capture better low-light images. The S7 also appears to have a flat back, which tell us that Samsung has ditched the camera hump. We’ll know for sure about these features in just a few days at the MWC ‘Unpacked’ event on February 21.

February 16, 2016
iPhone 7 Concept Renders Show the Device without a Headphone Jack

It’s perhaps inevitable now. We may just see a new era of technology where headphone jacks are a thing of the past. It has been rumoured, among other things, that Apple will ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack in its upcoming iPhone 7. Instead, we may just see Lightning connected headphones and wireless headphones. If you’ve been wondering how the new iPhone could look minus the headphone jack, some new renders have graciously hit the internet to tease your imagination.

These renders are only meant to show an iPhone without the 3.5mm headphone jack and is no indication of the iPhone 7’s final look. indeed, it is still too early for that. The renders focus on the bottom edge of the phone that adds a second speaker grill instead of the headphone jack.

One of the possible reason behind ditching the headphone jack is Apple interest in improving quality of music streaming, since streaming is Apple’s game right now. Furthermore, the loss of a headphone jack means more space for Apple to add a larger battery to the iPhone 7, as well as make the device thinner. We’ll just have to wait and see how this strategy plays out.

Source

February 16, 2016
Mattel to Launch Redesigned VR View-Master this Year

Mattel, the developer behind the View-Master VR headset that was released last year with a version based on the Google Cardboard recently unveiled an updated design at the New York Toy Fair. The new version will come wit better optical lenses, focal adjustment and a headphone connector.

In terms of looks, the new View-Master looks similar to last year’s version. The smartphone bracket in the front, however, get a redesign so as to make the headset compatible with more phones in any size and shape.

The new VR will come with a price bump from $30 to $40, but has the needed updates and features to justify the $10 dollar hike. The View-Master VR headset will go on sale later this year.

New York Toy Fair just got the first look! View-Master® Viewer DLX is launching this Fall with ?features! #VR #AR pic.twitter.com/MSoOqScgpr

— View-Master (@ViewMaster) February 14, 2016

February 15, 2016
Sony Planning to Bring Back Crash Bandicoot

We love being teased from time to time. And if it’s a tease about a game that we have grown up with then the hype is next level. We’ve already been jumping with joy with the trailer for Street Fighter V. Now, another childhood memory ready to jump and spin back into our lives is the much-beloved Crash Bandicoot.

It is possible that we may be jumping to conclusions as Sony has not confirmed a new Crash Bandicoot game. However, there have been some recent rumours and teasers that are just too exciting to be wrong now. NECA Toys’ toy director Randy Falk said Sony is bringing back Crash Bandicoot. Check out the video below to relive your favourite Crash Bandicoot games.

At a recent toy fair in New York, Falk said that Destructoid has “a lot of stuff going on with Sony.” The toy director continues to praise Sony and its titles, saying “I see they’re bringing Crash Bandicoot back, so there’s some great stuff there.”

If that wasn’t enough to tease a new Crash Bandicoot game then how about a tweet from Sony PlayStation’s Middle East account of an image of Crash Bandicoot with the line “Most wanted person….where are you Crash?” Now, a company as big as Sony wouldn’t tease fans like that if they weren’t planning on delivering something exciting in the near future, would they?

???? ??? ?????… ??? ??? ?? ????? pic.twitter.com/aj85Ap018v

— PlayStation Mid East (@PlayStation_ME) February 6, 2016

February 15, 2016
LG X Series Will be Unveiled at MWC

We all know that LG is ready to unveil the G5 flagship smartphone at the MWC one week from today. It has been spoken about quite extensively. But that’s not all LG will be revealing at the event. The company is also ready to bring out its mid-range X series smartphones.

The two models in the LG X series, the X Cam and X Screen, will fall in the mid-range category for those consumers “who do not want or need all the bells and whistles that come with today’s high-end phones.” The devices will have a few high-end specs nonetheless.

The LG X Cam comes with a 5.2-inch screen, with 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution. An octa-core 1.14GHz CPU coupled with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. This model sports two rear-facing cameras. One is 13MP while the other is 5MP, and an 8MP front-facing selfie shooter. Lastly, a 2520mAh battery brings the device to life and Android 6.0 comes pre-installed.

The LG X Screen features a 4.93-inch screen with a 720 x 1280 HD resolution. A 1.76-inch secondary screen is on top which shows notifications, time, weather and battery status without having to turn on the phone, similar to the one found on the LG V10. There are rumors that the G5 flagship will also come with a secondary screen. A quad-core 1.2GHz CPU powers the LG Screen couples with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. The device comes with a 2300mAh battery, and Android 6.0 pre-installed. This model will be offered in Black, White and Pink Gold.

Pricing and availability will likely be revealed at the MWC next week.

February 15, 2016
Video Shows How to Land a Plane in an Emergency

It used to be and still is that travelling by airplanes is one of the safest means of transportation. But there are times when one tends to feel just a little anxious or one has seen too many airplane hijacking movies where the hero, a non-pilot, safely pilots the plane to land.

Tim Morgan, a commercial pilot, claims that anyone can safely pilot and land a Boeing 737 in case of emergency after watching his 10-minute video.

The video was posted on Quora as a response to the question,“What should I do if the pilot passes out and I (with no flight training) have to land the plane?”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqcXstB7UJ0

Now, it should be understood that this is a near-impossible scenario and there are measures that are taken by airlines to make sure that such a scenario never presents itself. There are at least two pilots in every plane and can’t eat the same meal on the flight in an event of food poisoning.

Nevertheless, the video serves as a nice piece of knowledge which is easily explained and gives you just that added bit of assurance before flying. Others will just have to rely on the countless hours of MS Flight Simulator you played as a kid.

February 13, 2016
Apple’s Original TV Show to Star Dr. Dre

Apple is going the Netflix way and is making an original TV series that will star popular rapper and Apple-owned Beats co-founder Dr. Dre. The show is called Vital Signs and is a dark drama which will have six 30-minute episodes showing Dr. Dre responding to different emotions. It is semi-autobiographical in nature and will also start Sam Rockwell and Mo McCrae.

This will be Apple’s debut venture in original content and, like Netflix, the episodes will release all at once for viewers to binge on. The series will debut on Apple Music, according to reports. It is still not clear when and how big the launch of the show will be. One of the reasons behind going with Dr. Dre for its first TV series is due to Dre’s ties with Apple on Beats.

Another reason could be Apple trying to get a piece of the success that followed Straight Outta Compton, which was a story about Dre’s life as a rapper during his time with the N.W.A. According to reports, Dre has already begun filming for the show.

Early in January, we had reported that Apple was working on a project called “Apple Video” and has partnered with ABC, CBS, and Fox. Apple has also worked out details with Sony Pictures, Universal and Disney and may be negotiation with some other studios.

Apple has been working on a video streaming service, according to the rumour mill, for the past six years. It seems 2016 will be the year of release. With the recent news of Netflix going global and launching in 190 countries worldwide, Apple may have to move fast if it wants to get on with the competition.

February 13, 2016
Supreme Court Rules in Favour of Cutting Internet Access when ‘Neccessary’

The Supreme Court of India today ruled that it is ok for districts and states to cut access to mobile internet for a limited time to prevent law and order problems in the country. It basically allows the State to use its curfew powers to block internet access during public agitation that can turn aggressive and disturb the public.

The case was first brought to the court’s notice by student activist Gaurav Sureshbhai Vyas who challenged the police’s right to ban internet services last year for 63 million users in Gujrat during the Patinder agitation as a way to check unfounded rumours.

Vyas’ petition also contended that a complete ban would restrict the citizen’s right to free speech. However, The senior judge who ruled in favour of the ban said that “It becomes very necessary sometimes for law and order.”

The PIL said that while internet services cannot be shut down completely, the access to it can be restricted. The decision to ban internet services when “necessary” puts a serious issue of free speech into question on the one hand. On the other hand, the move is natural for a government that wants to control violent situations from getting worse. The Supreme Court also stated that the ban will only block mobile internet service and not Wi-Fi and broadband services

February 13, 2016
HTC’s Smartwatch Could Launch by April

For a long time now, there have been rumours and speculations regarding HTC’s own version of a smartwatch. Back in July 2014, popular tipster Evan Blass revealed that HTC had ditched the idea of a smartwatch. Back then, the renders available were of a square-shaped Android Wear watch. Last year, Yusuf Catalkaya displayed a render of the HTC One W1 ‘Superwatch’ that had a BoomSound speaker on the front, but nothing much was spoken about it ever since.

However, a recent tweet by Evan Blass stated that the HTC smartwatch will be available for purchase before the end of April. This comes after the mild response towards leaked images of HTC’s upcoming One M10 flagship. Clearly, fans are not all that kicked about the smartphone that looks like it doesn’t bring too much to the table, specification and design wise.

From what we know about the smartwatch so far, the watch will feature a circular design and will be powered by Android Wear. All of this should be taken with a grain of salt until HTC confirms the rumours.

February 13, 2016
iPhone 5se and iPad Air 3 to go on Sale on March 18

A smaller, affordable iPhone is just around the corner and fans are eagerly waiting to see the 4-inch iPhone 5se. In today’s Apple related news, rumours suggest that the iPhone 5se and iPad Air 3 will go on sale starting March 18.

If what the rumours are true, the sale of the devices will fall in the same week as the unveiling event which is scheduled to take place on the 15th. Though there hasn’t been any official confirmation, it looks like there will not be any pre-order period for the two devices.

The iPhone 5se will borrow the design language of the iPhone 5s and is expected to be powered by the A9 chipset, and come equipped with an 8 MP or 12 MP rear-facing camera and Live Photos. The handset will miss out on the 3D Touch feature. The display would be the same as on the last 4-inch iPhone, the 5c.

The iPad Air 3, on the other hand, is expected to feature a lot of the same features as the iPad Pro such as the Smart Connector, Apple Pencil support, and four speakers. The rear camera is said to come with LED flash – a first for an Apple tablet.

February 13, 2016
Lenovo Vibe K4 Note to Go on Open Sale Starting February 15

At the start of the year, Lenovo launched the Vibe K4 Note in India and held its first flash sale on the 19th of January. The flash sales in January were extremely successful for Lenovo, which claimed to have sold 1 lakh units by the end of last month. The company has now announced that the Vibe K4 Note will be available without registration from February 15. The K4 Note is priced at Rs 11,999.

For all you curious souls, the Lenovo K4 Note comes to the market with impressive specifications. The phone sports Lenovo sports a 5.5-inch Full HD Display(401 ppi). It comes equipped with Corning Gorilla Glass 3. Under the hood, it houses an octa-core 64-bit Mediatek MT6753 processor paired with 3GB RAM. It also comes with internal storage of 16GB which is expandable up to 128GB using a microSD card slot.

The phone on the outside features a curved back, and will be 3.8mm thick. It also includes a fingerprint scanner. The K4 Note is the first smartphone to come with Dolby Atmos sound technology on speakers. It also supports 4G connectivity on both the SIM slots.

For all your photography needs, the device packs a 13MP rear camera with dual-LED flash. It also features a 5MP front facing camera. The connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, USB OTG and A-GPS. The phone gets its juice from a 3300 mAh battery pack.

February 11, 2016
HTC One M10 to Launch in April

There have been so many rumours regarding the launch of HTC’s upcoming flagship that it’s hard to tell the real from not. Initially, it was rumoured that HTC would launch the One M10 at MWC in February, but later we found that HTC wanted to hold an event of its own in March. Now, fresh rumours claim that HTC will hold its standalone event for the One M10 on the 11th of April.

Now, while HTC has yet to confirm these rumours, we’ll just have to wait a little longer to see if HTC has a device that can bring the company back from the brink of death. HTC need to pull something spectacular out of its hat if it wants to compete with the likes of Samsung, LG and Xiaomi’s upcoming flagship. The One M9 and One A9 did little to help HTC in terms of sales and image. While the One M9 was hated for the HTC logo band on the front, the One A9 was criticised for its apparent iPhone 6 rip-off.

From what we know about the One M10, the device looks a lot less like the One M9 and a lot more like the One A9. Renders show that the newest flagship ditches the front facing BoomSound dual speakers and the logo band, while the rest of the phone is pretty One A9-ish.

The rumoured specs of the One M10 suggest a 5.1-inch QHD AMOLED touchscreen, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 chipset powering the device with 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and a microSD card slot. On the camera front lies a 12 MP UltraPixel rear camera with laser autofocus and optical image stabilization. The device will likely run Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with HTC Sense 8 atop.

February 11, 2016
Apple Chooses TSMC Over Samsung as Chip Manufacturer

We love hearing about the love-hate relationship between Apple and Samsung. From lawsuits to manufacturing chipsets, the relationship is as diverse and complicated as it can get. Speaking of complications, Samsung has now been shunned by Apple and will not manufacture processors for the Cupertino-based giant this year.

According to reports, Apple has given TSMC the sole authority to manufacture the next-gen iPhone 7 processors this year, which are most likely the A10. One of the reasons behind this decision is that TSMC uses 10-nanometer processors which would result in smaller and more power efficient chipsets. This is something Apple would gladly fall head over heals for as the company is all about making its iPhone thinner without compromising on battery life.

Although people wouldn’t mind if Apple kept the same thickness of the iPhone if it means better battery life. However, keeping some major rumours in mind, if Apple is indeed ditching the headphone jack for the iPhone 7, it could mean more space for a bigger battery. In other words, we could be looking at an iPhone 7 with a thinner look, faster chipset, and a longer battery life. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet. There’s still a while before Apple unveils its next-gen iPhone. So until then, let’s just speculate with the information we have.

February 11, 2016