Author: Shivaank Rana

Screenshots From Windows Phone 8 GDR3 Update Leak

Rumours of Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 GDR3 update have been circulating for much of 2013, claiming that the new software will bring with it a number of new features that include support for larger displays, quad-core processors, screen rotation lock and more. Today is the first time that we’re getting a look at what may be GDR3 in action, though, thanks to a WPCentral forums user that claims to have gotten hold of a Lumia 920 that’s running the update.

User ‘xs2k’ allegedly purchased a Nokia Lumia 920 from Craigslist, the prior owner supposedly a multiplatform app developer. The device appears to be with firmware based from India and there are four screenshots posted so far.

As far as new features are concerned – Driving Mode mutes calls and texts automatically when paired by Bluetooth to a car, or you can choose to mute them manually. You can close apps in the multitasking view too, saving time. There’s screen rotation, so you can orient your display how you like, and custom sounds are coming to text, voicemail, email and reminder alerts. You’ll also be able to restore from back-up over Wi-Fi, which is handy if your device is wiped.

Obviously these leaked screenshots can’t give us a look at some of the bigger features that are coming with Microsoft’s GDR3 update, like support for large 1080p displays and quad-core processors. However, the images do serve as evidence of other new capabilities like closing apps from the multitasking interface and screen rotation lock, two goodies that we’re sure Windows Phone fans are excited to finally be receiving.

September 7, 2013
Alleged iPhone 5S Retail Packaging Leaks, Hints At Fingerprint Sensor

When potential packaging of the iPhone 5C leaked online last week it looked authentic. These pictures of what is believed to be the retail packaging for the upcoming iPhone 5S are definitely questionable. Who knows what camera the photos were captured with as they are all incredibly blurry – almost sore to look at – which leads us to believe they’re fake.

However, the box has a similar design to previous iPhones and clearly shows and iPhone with iOS 7, plus the rumoured 5S branding. In addition, the most notable change is to the home button with a silver ring – this addition could be the heavily rumoured fingerprint sensor.

Fox News anchor Clayton Morris previously claimed that the upcoming iPhone 5S would “have a silver ring around it” in an interview last month, while also noting the button is convex to make way for an embedded fingerprint sensor.

Regardless of what Apple decides to unveil, iGyaan will be in covering the iPhone 5S / iPhone 5C launch event on the 10th at 10AM PT — so tune in on the day of the event so you can follow our live blog for every piece of news as it happens.

[Via]

September 7, 2013
Ex-Nokia Exec Anssi Vanjoki : Acquisition “Shameful, But Unavoidable”

Microsoft had recently acquired Nokia which seemed like a major win for Nokia, but it seems that not everyone feels that way, especially since Microsoft has no plans to keep the Nokia brand around once the deal is complete. Speaking to The Verge, Anssi Vanjoki, the man who would have been Nokia’s CEO, felt that the deal was in his own opinion, “shameful, but unavoidable”.

Vanjoki was apparently being groomed for the CEO post himself, but eventually Microsoft’s Elop was installed as the first non-Finnish CEO of Nokia. He eventually left the company.

“This is a complete failure of chosen strategy and its implementation,” he said. As a true patriot, he added that he hopes Microsoft can make “it work” for the sake of Finland.

Needless to say, there may be some bruised egos involved, but Vanjoki really isn’t saying anything that countless Nokia fans and industry watchers weren’t saying all along. Elop’s and to some extent Ballmer’s Windows Phone strategy did not work very well. But to be fair, Nokia was in a world of trouble a long time before Elop took the helm, as it was focused on Symbian for way too long, without much of an alternative strategy.

September 6, 2013
Apple Testing Six-Inch iPhone For Next Iteration

Apple is reportedly testing iPhones with larger screens than previous models, according to a new report. The Wall Street Journal says Apple is going as large as 6 inches, which would be 2 inches bigger than its current models. The publication cites people familiar with the matter to report that the company is introspecting whether it should offer screens ranging from 4.8-inches to 6-inches on future iPhones.

Although Apple is expected to unveil two new handsets next week – the iPhone 5S and cheaper iPhone 5C – its research and development boffins never rest, and have long been working and experimenting with plenty of designs for possible future handsets and other iDevices.

Nearly every Apple rival sells phones with screen sizes much larger than the one found on the iPhone 5. In recent years, many top devices have come out with screens larger than 5 inches and, in some cases, 6 inches.

Apple may choose to sell the iPhone with a larger screen, or it could take an approach similar to that of Samsung and HTC by offering multiple versions of the iPhone with different screen sizes.

Either way, such moves would be counter to what late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs said during his final years with the company.

Jobs was known for being adamantly against making an iPhone with a screen larger than 3.5 inches (the first five iPhones had that screen size) and a smaller-sized iPad. Since his death, Apple has released both, and it appears it will continue to follow that strategy.

September 6, 2013
Rumour : Samsung Galaxy Note 3 To Be Priced At Rs. 47,990

Ever since the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 a couple of days ago, people in India have been curious about the price tag which will be associated with the device. While there has been no official confirmation yet, the newly launched Phablet has surfaced on a couple of online shopping portals as “Coming Soon”, with an expected price tag of Rs. 47,990 .

This would seem to be in line with the news that Samsung will be increasing the price of its devices by 20% from now on, given the state of the currency at the moment.

The 5.7-inch Galaxy Note 3 has been upgraded to 1920×1080 pixels, and at 168 grams and 8.3mm thick, it’s actually thinner and lighter than the Note II. It comes with a soft-touch, textured backing in three colours, black, white and pink.

he backside of the Galaxy Note 3 features a 13-megapixel camera which is capable of 4K video recording and a faux leather cover. Sandwiched in-between those parts is a Quad-core 2.3 GHz Krait 400 (for the LTE model) / Quad-core 1.9 GHz Cortex-A15 & quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 (For the 3G model) with 3GB of RAM, 32GB/64GB storage expandable up to 64GB and a 3,200mAh battery. As expected, it runs on Android 4.3 with TouchWIZ.

The new Galaxy Note 3 is slated to begin rolling out to consumers on Sept. 25, and Samsung says that it’ll eventually hit 140 countries around the globe.

Would you be interested in the device if the above mentioned price tag turns out to be official? Let us know below!

September 6, 2013
Facebook Delays Privacy Policy Update

Facebook has said it will not roll out a scheduled update to its privacy policy till next week, after it takes the time to “ensure that user comments are reviewed and taken into consideration to determine whether further updates are necessary”.

Six consumer watchdog groups have asked the Federal Trade Commission to block the Facebook privacy changes that they say would make it far easier for the company to use the names, images and personal information of its nearly 1.2 billion users — including teens — to endorse products in ads without their consent.

“We are taking the time to ensure that user comments are reviewed and taken into consideration to determine whether further updates are necessary and we expect to finalize the process in the coming week,” Facebook said in a statement emailed to the Los Angeles Times. The social networking website is vehement that it isn’t changing its policies but simply clarifying the language they’ve been written in to eliminate all possibility of confusion.

Facebook said it proposed new language in response to a $20-million settlement of a 2011 lawsuit that alleged the company used personal information for commercial purposes without consent or compensation.

The original proposal has drawn tens of thousands of comments from Facebook users, most of them opposed to the changes.

September 6, 2013
Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro Announced With 3200 x 1800 Pixel Display

Lenovo has launched a new version of their Yoga notebook in the form of the Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro which comes supplied running Microsoft’s latest Windows 8 operating system and is fitted with a 13-inch display offering a 3200 x 1800 (QHD+) pixel resolution. Together with 10-point multitouch support and Lenovo Voice Control, to help control your system as you use it using simple voice commands. The 350-nit screen features IPS 178° wide angle viewing for great views from nearly any line of sight.

It’s very light — 3.06 pounds — and comes with a range of new Intel Core processors, up to a 512GB SSD and a nine-hour battery.

The Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro will be available with up to an Intel Core i7 Haswell processor, up to 512GB of solid state storage, and up to 8GB of RAM.

It features WiFi, Bluetooth, Dolby audio, and Intel HD graphics. Lenovo has also moved the antenna to offer better performance with Intel’s WiDi wireless display technology.

The computer runs Windows 8.1, and Lenovo is also pre-loading it with a series of new apps including a Phone Companion for sharing content from your PC to your mobile device, a photo sharing app, and a few other apps. This device works with motion control through its front-facing 720p camera, allowing users to navigate through PowerPoint presentations, browse e-books, and move through photo albums.

The Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro will be launching during October and will be priced at around $1,100. Indian pricing and availability has not been revealed yet.

September 5, 2013
Microsoft Awarded $14.5 Million In Patent Case Against Motorola

A federal jury late Wednesday backed Microsoft Corp. in a dispute over Motorola Mobility’s licensing of so-called standard, essential patents used in Microsoft products.

In the second of two trials in federal court in Seattle, the jury agreed with Microsoft’s claim that phone maker Motorola, owned by Google Inc,, broke agreements with standard-setting bodies to license certain patents at a fair and reasonable rate, according to Microsoft.

The case revolves around patents owned by Motorola on the 802.11 wireless technology standard and the H.264 video compression. These technologies are used in numerous devices, including Microsoft’s Xbox game consoles. It is common business practice to pay patent owners a licensing fee in order to use the said patents, but it seems that the two tech giants couldn’t see eye to eye on just how much money is really involved.

In 2010, Microsoft filed a lawsuit against Motorola, claiming that the now Google-owned company is charging excessive licensing fees that could reach up to $4 billion per year. While Microsoft has no qualms about paying royalty fees, it could not agree to Motorola’s demand to be paid 2.25 percent of profits from Microsoft’s products using the said patents.

The jury awarded Microsoft about $14 million in damages, Microsoft said, about half what the company had asked for. That consisted of $11 million for the costs of relocating a warehouse in Germany due to an injunction on certain Microsoft products brought by Motorola in that country, and about $3 million in legal fees for fighting that injunction.

“This is a landmark win for all who want products that are affordable and work well together,” Microsoft said in a statement.

September 5, 2013
Android 4.3 Update For Galaxy S3, Galaxy S4, Note 2 Coming Next Month

Samsung will be bringing Android 4.3 to some of its older devices in October, according to a company representative. The announcement was made during the unveiling of the Galaxy Gear smart watch, which is only compatible with the Android 4.3-based Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) at launch due to the requirements for Bluetooth 4.0 LE.

The original Galaxy Note was quite late in being updated to Android 4.1 from its shipping version of Ice Cream Sandwich, and doesn’t look to be receiving any future updates. So too will the Galaxy S2 remain on Jelly Bean 4.1, since both devices lack the hardware capable of being used with the Gear (among other resource-intensive reasons).

It was announced in July that the Galaxy S3 and Note II would skip Android 4.2 for a “future Android version,” and now that we know it is Android 4.3, we have to wait to see if Samsung follows through with its promise.

The Galaxy S4, which was launched earlier this year, shipped with Android 4.2.2 and the update to Android 4.3 should be hassle free considering that the Google Play Edition of the Galaxy S4 is already running the latest version.

Android 4.3 is still a variant of Android Jelly Bean (along with 4.1 and 4.2) but it does bring some interesting new features including restricted profiles (a much better way to handle multiple users on the same tablet), Bluetooth 4.0 low-energy support, OpenGL 3.0 support, a T9 dialer and improvements to the notification system.

September 5, 2013
Jelly Bean Now Installed On 45% Of Active Android Devices

After a couple years of handing on by a small percentage, both Eclair and Donut (Android 1.6 and 2.1) have both jumped ship from Google’s monthly Android distribution chart. The main reason for this is the new version of Google’s new Play Store app, which only supports devices running OS 2.2 or higher. Google does note that Eclair and Donut accounted for “about 1% of devices that checked in to Google servers.”

Digging deeper into the the September numbers reveals Jelly Bean is on 45.1% of active devices, up from 40.5% last month. Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich dipped by one percent to 21.7%. Missing from the list is the newly released Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, but since more devices will become available over the next few weeks we’ll certainly see this flavour make itself known.

Since Honeycomb has all but vanished, with less than 0.1% of devices, it’s safe to say that the remaining festering sore on Android’s record is Gingerbread. Android 2.3 still comprises 30.7% of all active users, with Froyo at a quickly-diminishing 2.4%. Many developers have cut off those pre-ICS Luddites, requiring Android 4.0 and above as a minimum, but until Gingerbread disappears, there will continue to be a division between modern apps — those that take advantage of Android’s newest and most effective APIs, and those that simply cannot. Most devices still running Gingerbread don’t support the newest versions of OpenGL, and lack GPU-based acceleration within apps.

September 5, 2013
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Announced With Improved S-Pen
Samsung has announced the Galaxy Note 3 smartphone, a device that promises to be demonstrably faster than its predecessor while keeping the tradition of being thinner, lighter and more compact than the Note II.

The 5.7-inch device has been upgraded to 1920×1080 pixels, and at 168 grams and 8.3mm thick, it’s actually thinner and lighter than the Note II. It comes with a soft-touch, textured backing in three colours, black, white and pink.

The backside of the Galaxy Note 3 features a 13-megapixel camera which is capable of 4K video recording and a faux leather cover. Sandwiched in-between those parts is a Quad-core 2.3 GHz Krait 400 (for the LTE model) / Quad-core 1.9 GHz Cortex-A15 & quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 (For the 3G model) with 3GB of RAM, 32GB/64GB storage expandable up to 64GB and a 3,200mAh battery. As expected, it runs on Android 4.3 with TouchWIZ.

“We introduced the original Galaxy Note in 2011 and launched a whole new smart device category. The undeniable success of the Galaxy Note strengthened our conviction that consumers want higher quality features for smart devices and they want those new features to make their lives better,” said JK Shin, CEO and President of IT & Mobile Division at Samsung Electronics.

“Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is a powerful, original approach that enables users to tell the stories of their lives through dynamic and seamless expressions of their passions across work, play and life experiences. With a simple click of the S Pen button, users can unlock opportunities for self-expression, features that transform everyday activities into extraordinary events and access to new experiences delivered to them on Note 3’s larger screen”.

The Note 3 also comes with a few interesting software features, including Air Command, an on-screen portal to four specific features:
- Action Memo – Quick handwritten notes that can be converted into actions. For example, you can write out someone’s name, phone number and address and the software will automatically parse the data and add him or her to your address book.
- Scrapbook – Basically a mobile Evernote Web Clipper, this allows you to grab pieces of web page — text or photo — and save it in various notebooks
- Screen Write – Full screen memos with annotations
- S Finder – Finds content online or in the phone just by entering keywords
- Pen Window – Arguably the most interesting piece of the puzzle, it allows users to open a separate app in a window size of your choosing, overlaid on top of another app. For example, if you’re chatting about expenses with your wife or husband in the SMS app, you can overlay a calculator on top and perform the addition without leaving the app.
There’s also a new and improved Multi Window feature, which now allows for data sharing and interaction between apps.

Samsung has also done plenty of work to the S-Pen. The stylus is now more a part of the Galaxy Note 3 than ever before.

‘The S-Pen is now the key that unlocks all the power, functionality and features of the Galaxy Note 3.’ Samsung detailed the following new attributes of its S-Pen at launch:
- Action Memo allows users to handwrite a note and automatically execute a function or convert that handwritten information into formatted content. Action Memo can instantly initiate a call, add to contacts, look up an address on a map, search the web, save a task to a to-do list, and more
- Air Command – hold the S-Pen on the Galaxy Note 3’s display and it brings up five Quick Commands in a circular menu. The idea here is to allow for quick note taking from anywhere in the Galaxy Note 3’s UX.
- Scrapbook enables users to organise or track down content and information from various sources including the web, YouTube and Gallery in one place so that users can easily look back at collected content all at once. When consumers save content for future use, Scrapbook also collects source material or URLs allowing them to easily refer back to the original source
- The Screen Write feature captures the full screen image of the current page on the device and allows users to write comments or additional information onto the captured image
- S Finder allows users to expansively search for content on their device regardless of the type. By putting in keywords or filters such as date, location and content type, users can search related documents, events, communication threads, and even the Help page – all in one place. In addition, users can also search for hand-written content in their Notes and memo applications, as well as symbols and formulas
- Pen Window allows users to use the S Pen not only for drawing sketches or writing notes, but now also for opening a small application window for a true multitasking experience. Simply by drawing a window of any size, anywhere on the screen, users can easily and quickly open another application window such as YouTube, calculator or Browser without pausing current activity on the screen
The new Galaxy Note 3 is slated to begin rolling out to consumers on Sept. 25, and Samsung says that it’ll eventually hit 140 countries around the globe. This new Note is expected to be available worldwide in October. Stay tuned for pricing information!

Expect an iGyaan style review soon!
September 4, 2013
Sony Xperia Z1 Announced : 5″ Full-HD Display, 20.7MP Camera

As expected, Sony has unveiled the follow-up to its Xperia Z smartphone today, the aptly-named Sony Xperia Z1. The device looks visually similar to its all-glass predecessor, but comes in a bit taller, wider, thicker and heavier. It has a unibody aluminum chassis.

The Sony Xperia Z1 will boast modern specs worthy of a flagship smartphone, including a 5-inch full HD 1080p display (441ppi) sporting Sony’s TRILUMINOS screen tech and X-Reality for mobile that debuted on the Xperia Z Ultra 6.4-inch phablet. There is a 2.2Ghz Snapdragon 800 SoC inside, along with 2GB of RAM. 16GB of storage (expandable via MicroSD) and a 3000mAh battery.

The 5-inch Sony Xperia Z1 sports a 20.7MP Exmor RS sensor with an unprecedented size of 1/2.3″, along with a G Lens from its higher-end cameras. Its F2.0 aperture and 27mm wide-angle lens means that photos should be sharper, faster and more detailed than most of its rivals, though we will wait until a review unit for a verdict on its efficacy.

There’s a new social feature, Social Live to broadcast “precious moments” directly to Facebook. The time Shift Burst takes about 61 images in two seconds, all photos that you take are stored online in a cloud based library.

Running Android 4.2.2 with Sony’s slight but pleasing customizations, the experience should be familiar to anyone running an updated Xpera device.

The Sony Xperia Z1 is also rated at IP55 and IP58 for water and dust resistance, similar to the Xperia Z and will come in black, white and purple variants.

Expect an iGyaan style review soon!

September 4, 2013
iPhone 5C Revealed In Entirety By Case Manufacturer

If one needed any more proof of the iPhone 5C existence, here’s some: case manufacturer CaseMate has actual renders of the device adorned with its glitzy cases on its website.

The company cites a sell-before date of September 20th at 8am, likely aligning with the availability of the phone in stores.

The first case, pictured above, shows a foldable flip cover for the iPhone 5c, which reminds us a lot of Apple’s Smart Cover for the iPad.

Another render, seen above, shows the iPhone 5C as it will look inside a couple of different cases: a bumper-style case, and a hardshell case. More intriguingly, the leak specifies a very particular launch window for Case-Mate’s cases: “EST. SHIP DATE 9/20/2013 08:00:00 AM.”

It’s unknown whether CaseMate is using its own renders (likely) or an official one (unlikely) for this mockup, but the delineated plastic volume buttons shown through the small side gap indicate that this is indeed different from the iPhone 5.

Additionally, 9to5Mac has posted photos of promo shots for a number of new Switcheasy cases — new cases from the company’s Numbers, Colors, Nude, and Tones lines. Most of the cases are for the iPhone 5C, but the Odyssey case is notably listed as compatible with the iPhone 5 and 5S, according to the post.

We’ll know more in the coming days — Apple is likely sending its invite for the September 10 event this week — but for now, enjoy the bedazzlement.

[Via, Via]

September 3, 2013
HTC BoomBass : A Bluetooth Subwoofer With NFC

With its dual front-facing speakers, the HTC One smartphone already provides some of the best noise you’ll get from a phone. If that’s not quite enough for you then check out the BoomBass.

The HTC BoomBass is a little device that measures 64mm³ but can supercharge the sound coming from your aluminium-shod phone.

It’s a rubberised unit, with the bottom layer a natty orange/red colour, sitting underneath a grey section. The lower area actually slides out to provide a dock for your HTC One, finally giving a proper area to watch your visualisations and sing along with the lyrics if you’re that way inclined.

It does as its name suggests and only delivers the low bass frequencies to help give a better overall sound when used in conjunction with the aforementioned dual speakers.

It has a built-in battery, so won’t drain your phone’s, and has been designed to slide out so that the phone can be popped on top, making it a sort of mini dock.

Pairing is simple enough, achieved via NFC, and the low frequencies are sent from your phone to the BoomBass using Bluetooth 3.0.

Supplying a discrete subwoofer and nothing more is a bit interesting, since HTC already has the Beats Pill accessory which works well. Pricing and availability are yet to be revealed.

[toggle title=”Press Release”]Boosting the bass for HTC One
In the HTC One, HTC redefined the smartphone sound experience with HTC BoomSound and has now raised the bar again with the introduction of a new accessory for the HTC One family. HTC BoomBass, a compact, Bluetooth-enabled subwoofer with a dedicated amplifier, provides clearer, more powerful bass when combined with the HTC Onefamily’s BoomSound. The subwoofer enables HTC BoomSound’s speakers to produce enhanced quality of lower range frequencies so, no matter what music you’re playing or video you’re watching, you are guaranteed immense and exceptional sound that can travel with you.[/toggle]

Featured image via TheNextWeb.

September 3, 2013
Apple Patents New iOS Unlocking Features

A patent just awarded to Apple allows for a user of an iOS to lock or unlock a device based on a gesture — perhaps the equivalent of a child-proof cap.

The patent, as spotted by AppleInsider and reported by TechCrunch, would allow access to one set of apps — let’s say games for instance — with the drawing of a letter with a fingertip, and then another set, say email, with another, separate gesture.

Apple’s U.S. Patent No. 8,528,072 for a “Method, apparatus and system for access mode control of a device,” describes a system that creates user access modes guarded by predetermined gesture inputs.

Currently, as Apple Insider reports, Apple’s iOS offers passcode unlocking as a means of access control. Under this method, users must input a simple code or password to gain complete access to the device. Apple also provides a certain level of user configuration, allowing access to Siri, Passbook and Reply with Message even when a device is locked.

Such unlocking methods are definitely not new and various Android devices in the past along with custom ROMs have allowed similar functions, whereby a user can “draw” a letter or a shape to launch a specific app, such as the drawing of an envelope that would launch the email app.

This patent by Apple is also accompanied with the effective feature of “Guest Mode”. In this feature Apple will build a lock screen launcher that will easily be accessed by the user through gestures, voice, keyboard, mouse or stylus, already covered in the Apple patent.

September 3, 2013