Author: Tejan Mitra

Huawei Replaces Microsoft as the Third Largest Smartphone Vendor

Microsoft may be riding high on the Windows 10 rollout but it still feels the sting of the loss caused by the purchase of Nokia a few years back. Microsoft’s acquisition of the Finnish company was speculated to be a sure hit, only it didn’t. The Lumia devices never performed as expected and neither did Nokia’s Android devices. And just last week, Microsoft wrote off Nokia $7.5 billions on Nokia, considering the company brought the once-smartphone major for $9.5 billions. Thus, what was Microsoft’s loss became Huawei’s gain as the Chinese company became the third largest mobile phone vendor, displacing Microsoft without breaking a sweat.

According to Strategy Analytics, Huawei sold 30.6 million mobile phones and gained a record 7 percent market share worldwide. The report notes that Huawei is rising in all regions of the world and it gaining stronger foothold in China, thanks to the 4G handsets such as Mate7.

Microsoft sold 27.8 million units this year, with a 50% drop in sales compared to last year. Microsoft’s plan for cross platform OS never gained major traction, nor did the fact that Apple and Samsung scooped up most of the market share due to iOS and low-budget Android smartphones respectively, helped.

According to the report, Samsung is still the largest mobile phone vendor, with Apple coming in at second position. Here is the twist though: Samsung’s share dropped from last year while the opposite happened for Apple. Apple’s quarterly report shows its growth in China while Samsung’s downfall may have resulted from the increasing popularity of Xiaomi and OnePlus in the past year.

Source: [tw-button size=”small” background=”” color=”” target=”_blank” link=”https://www.strategyanalytics.com/strategy-analytics/news/strategy-analytics-press-releases/strategy-analytics-press-release/2015/07/30/huawei-becomes-world’s-3rd-largest-mobile-phone-vendor-in-q2-2015#.VbtcN26qqkp”]Strategy Analytics[/tw-button]

Via: [tw-button size=”small” background=”” color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://www.engadget.com/2015/07/31/huawei-microsoft-smartphone-sales/”]Engadget[/tw-button]

July 31, 2015
Facebook Reveals Aquila, the Drone That Will Provide Internet

A few months after Facebook declared its plans to provide internet access to the remote areas around the world via drones, the social media giant has revealed its first solar powered drone, Aquila. Developed under Facebook’s Connectivity Lab, the drone is part of Mark Zuckerberg’s ambition to connect the world to the internet through “drones, satellites and lasers”.

The drone, which has a wingspan of a Boeing 737, can fly at an altitude of between 60,000ft (18 km) and 90,000ft (27 km), higher than any commercial airliner. The solar powered drone can fly without landing for a three months at a time. The drone will fly at the highest altitude during the day and at lowest at night to conserve power.

https://www.facebook.com/zuck/videos/10102274951725301/

Mark Zuckerberg also announced that a new breakthrough in laser technology that would allow the company to transmit internet upto a 10 gigabit per second. The drone, combined with the laser technology, will deliver wireless internet over rural areas. The laser technology was mentioned by Zuckerberg a few weeks ago.

Aquila, the mother drone will receive the signal from ground and will then transmit the signal to the other drones in the sky through lasers. It is to be noted that even though Facebook will provide internet access through the drones, it won’t become an ISP. The company is looking for telecom carriers to partner with in providing affordable internet to remote areas.

Facebook is not the only company venturing into wireless internet. Google’s Project Loon aims to provide internet through balloons and Elon Musk is teaming up with Google to put internet beaming satellites in space.

July 31, 2015

One Million People Have Already Registered For the OnePlus 2

OnePlus 2 has been in high demand even before its official launch, given the high-end specifications provided in the phone, at a reasonable price. It’s not surprising that OnePlus 2 got one million reservations within 72 hours of its launch. According to a statement released by OnePlus, the company has received over one million registrations for an invite to purchase the device. The device will go on sale from August 11th in India, starting at a price of Rs. 22,999 for the 16GB variant and Rs. 24,999 for the 64GB variant.

That’s not all. OnePlus will hold pop-up events around the world on July 31st to demonstrate the OnePlus 2 to fans in person. The fans will also have an opportunity to receive invites and other gifts. In India, the events will be held at New Delhi and Bangalore.

The OnePlus 2 has a 5.5 inch display with 1080p Full HD resolution. The phone is powered by a 1.8GHz octa-core Snapdragon 810 64-bit processor with 4GB of RAM. Featuring a 13MP rear and 5MP front camera, the phone runs on Android 5.1 with OxygenOS and sports a 3,300 mAh battery, It also includes a fingerprint scanner and USB type-C for ultra fast data transfer.

Check out the unboxing and hands on video of OnePlus 2:

Specification	OnePlus 2
Display	5.5-inch TPS LCD in cell, Corning Gorilla Glass
Resolution	1080×1920 pixels, 401 ppi
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 v2.1
Processor	Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 and Quad-core 2 GHz Cortex-A57
GPU	Adreno 430
RAM	3/4 GB LPDDR4 RAM
Storage	16/64 GB
Expandability	N/A
Rear Camera	13 MP with OIS, 1.35 sensor size and fast laser focus and f/ 2.0 aperture
Rear Camera Video	2160p at 30fps, 2160p(DCI) at 24fps, 1080p at 60fps, 720p at 120fps, HDR, stereo sound recording
Front Camera	5 MP
Front Camera Video	1080p at 30fps
Battery	Non-removable Li-Po 3300 mAh battery
Operating System	Android 5.1 Lollipop-based Oxygen OS
Connectivity	SIM: Dual, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot Bluetooth v4.1, A2DPGPS with A-GPS, GLONASS, Radio FM,microUSB v2.0, Type-C reversible connector
Miscellaneous	Fingerprint sensor, Reversible USB Type-C Charger
Price	Rs 22,999/24,999

July 31, 2015

Mozilla Unhappy About Extra Effort to Change Default Browser in Windows 10

If you’re one of the 14 million users around the world who has installed Windows 10, you know what we’re talking about. Windows 10 has made Microsoft Edge as the default browser, and while the reviews have been positive so far, it is far from perfect. So, when users try to make Mozilla or Google Chrome the default browser, they are redirected to the Settings, from where they can then change the default browser. While the procedure is easy, the effort has doubled and Mozilla is not happy at all.

In an open letter penned to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Mozilla’s CEO Chris Beard says that it “now takes more than twice the number of mouse clicks, scrolling through content and some technical sophistication for people to reassert the choices they had previously made in earlier versions of Windows. It’s confusing, hard to navigate and easy to get lost.”

To change your default apps, you have to go to Settings>System>Default Apps.

The default setting not only applies to the web browser but also to video files, music, photos and pretty much everything. In a blog post dated May, 2015, Microsoft explained that the move was made to reduce unwanted noise created by prompts. Not to forget, Microsoft has spent years and resources to develop Edge and has worked very hard to remove the ink stain known as Internet Explorer.

Following the open letter, Microsoft has released a statement saying: “We designed Windows 10 to provide a simple upgrade experience for users and a cohesive experience following the upgrade. During the upgrade, consumers have the choice to set defaults, including for web browsing. Following the upgrade, they can easily choose the default browser of their choice. As with all aspects of the product, we have designed Windows 10 as a service; if we learn from user experience that there are ways to make improvements, we will do so. “

July 31, 2015
Canon’s Latest Can Shoot Full HD Color Footage in Almost Complete Darkness

Never getting tired of delighting its fanbase, Canon has introduced a new camera which should put all the headaches experienced during shooting in low-light situations to rest. The MH20F-SH uses a CMOS sensor with 2.6 megapixels, each pixel being 5.5 times larger than the the pixels found in Canon’s 1Dx or Nikon D810. Thus, every pixel in the MH20F-SH will sense more light than any other camera, delivering a full HD color footage captured in extreme low light situations.

The camera doesn’t feature a monitor or a recording, so you have to connect the camera to an external recording unit and monitor through HDMI or SD-HDI. The audio can be recorded by connecting the microphone to a 3.5 mm audio jack.

The MH20F-SH can capture only full HD videos at 24, 30, or 60 fps, which is a bit of a disappointment because of the huge demand for footage shot in 4K resolution. Still, due to the compact size and being the first in its line, Canon will find ways to include 4K resolution in the next iteration of the camera.

The MH20F-SH can be fitted with Canon’s EF entire range of lenses, so there is no need to buy any new lenses if you are already using the EF range. The camera will still a burn a hole in your pocket. Canon has priced MH20F-SH at $30,000, thus making it strictly for professional purposes, such as surveillance and wildlife documentaries.

Here’s a test footage from 2013, when the MH20F-SH’s sensor was in development:

July 31, 2015
ASUS to Launch Three New Zen Phones Next Week

While it may not be as high profile as OnePlus or Motorola, Asus will launch three new phones next week at the ZenFestival, an event hosted by the company on August 6. The phones, named ZenFone 2 Deluxe, ZenFone Selfie, and the ZenFone 2 Laser are aimed to take on current hotshots in India – the likes of Xiaomi and Motorola.

The Asus ZenFone2 Deluxe features a 5.5-inch 1080p display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The phone is powered by an Intel Z3580 quad-core 64-bit processor with 4GB of RAM. The storage capacity provided by phone is 64GB, which can be expanded via microSD card. The phone uses a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera. The dual-SIM phone supports 4G LTE and runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop with ZenUI.

The Asus ZenFone Selfie is aimed at selfie lovers, and has a 13MP rear camera dual-LED flash, as well as a 13MP front camera with a similar dual-LED flash. The ZenFone Selfie features a 5.5-inch 1080p IPS LCD display. The phone is powered by a Snapdragon 615 octa-core 64-bit processor with Adreno 405 GPU. It also features 16GB internal storage with 2GB of RAM, and 32GB with 3GB of RAM. Like ZenFone2, the dual-SIM phone supports 4G LTE and runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop with ZenUI.

The ZenFone 2 Laser is aimed at photography enthusiasts, with a 13MP rear camera with laser autofocus and a 5MP front camera. The device has a 5-inch display with a 720p resolution and is powered by a Snapdragon 410 quad-core 64-bit processor paired with 2GB of RAM. The device is available in an 8GB/16GB variant and runs on 2,070mAh battery. The dual-SIM phone supports 4G LTE and runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop with ZenUI.

July 31, 2015
This Android Bug Can Make Your Phone Unresponsive

A security firm has found a bug in Android that can result in the death of your phone – you won’t be able to access it as the bug will make your phone unresponsive to the extent that you won’t be able to receive any notifications or calls. According to Trend Micro, the security firm behind the discovery, the bug is present in phones running on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and above, meaning that even your newly purchased Moto G (Gen 3) is vulnerable.

The new bug causes your phone to crash through Android’s mediaserver service, which indexes all the media files located on your Android device. The service crashes when it processes a distorted Matroska video file (.mkv), thus effectively shutting down the phone. The company notes that the bug can be exploited in two ways – by embedding the corrupted .mkv file in an app or a web page/website.

The glitch was reported by Trend Micro to Google in May this year, which was labelled as low-priority. According to a Google spokesperson (via Engadget), a security flaw will be made available in a “future version of Android.”

Source: [tw-button size=”small” background=”” color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/trend-micro-discovers-vulnerability-that-renders-android-devices-silent/”]Trend Micro[/tw-button]

Via: [tw-button size=”small” background=”” color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://www.engadget.com/2015/07/29/android-matroska-video-security-flaw/”]Engadget[/tw-button]

July 30, 2015
Angry Birds 2 is Finally Out, Available on Google Play, iTunes

Two weeks before, Rovio announced that Angry Birds 2 would be coming soon and today the publisher has launched the game for Android and iOS platforms. The new game is the first official sequel to the bonafide hit game of 2009, despite the fact that Rovio has released numerous spin-offs of the game, namely Star Wars, Seasons, Rio, Transformers and many more.

One of the first notable things in the Angry Birds 2 is that the pigs’ design has been tweaked a little. A shadow is visible under the pigs and their colour is a bit darker. Plus, Rovio has fulfilled what every fan has ever wanted: the ability to choose which bird would go next. It was frustrating when you couldn’t choose Bomb because Red was the first one to go.

According to Rovio, Angry Birds 2 will have multiple stages in a level. While it is a bit confusing to understand since we haven’t played the game, we are guessing that the players have to clear the sub-levels to complete the level. Then there are Spectacular Spells, meaning that when you fling your bird, activate the spells, the bird will do some sort of power attack on the pigs.

Rovio’s latest effort comes in the hope that the brand stays in recognition the way it was in 2009. The original Angry Birds redefined the concept of mobile games and became a billion-dollar franchise. Although Angry Birds has been downloaded almost 3 billion times, counting all versions, Rovio has seen a decline in profit in recent years. To revitalize the franchise, Rovio is also planning to release an Angry Birds movie next year starring Peter Dinklage from Game of Thrones.

Angry Birds 2 is now available on Google Play Store and iTunes.

July 30, 2015
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus to Feature a 16MP Rear Camera

With just a little less than month left for the launch of Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus, Samsung has not released any sort of promotional material so far, leaving us to speculating about the phone. A new detail has emerged about the phone, regarding its rear camera this time.

The Galaxy S6 Edge Plus will sport a 16MP camera, spotted by Zauba, a website which tracks Indian exports and imports. The camera will come with a 1/2.6″ sensor, which is similar to the rear camera in the Galaxy S6 Edge. The website has posted the memo for the import, dated 24th July, 2015. It seems Samsung may have imported the camera unit into India for further research and development.

The memo for Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus’ camera unit. As you can see from the memo, the model is named SM-G928. Source: Zauba

The Galaxy S6 Edge Plus will supposedly run on an Exynos 7420 processor with 3GB, instead of the Snapdragon 808. The display will probably be a 5.5″ or a 5.7″ QHD Super AMOLED curved touchscreen. Samsung is expected to launch the device in mid-August, probably two weeks before it launches the galaxy Note 5.

Keep checking iGyaan for more details about the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus.

Source: [tw-button size=”small” background=”” color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s6_edge_confirmed_to_have_16_mp_camera-news-13299.php”]GSM Arena[/tw-button]

July 30, 2015

Unboxing and Hands On with the OnePlus 2

OnePlus 2 has finally launched and will be made available in India from August 11 at a price of Rs. 22,999 for the 16GB variant and Rs. 24,999 for the 64GB variant.

OnePlus 2 feels lightweight, thanks to the maufacturer’s decision to use an aluminium alloy in the body. It has a 5.5 inch display and comes with the classic Sandstone Black back cover, which feels nice to hold. The back panel can be easily customised using OnePlus’ StyleSwap covers available in four variants – Bamboo, Black Apricot, Rosewood, and Kevlar. The covers can be swapped without any hassle, but it still takes some effort to remove the cover.

The lock screen provides a quick shortcut to the camera and the phone dialler. The screen can be unlocked via the fingerprint scanner located on the home button and it usually takes a second to unlock the phone through the fingerprint. The device can store up to five different fingerprints – which is useful.

The OnePlus 2 is powered by a 1.8GHz octa-core 64-bit processor with 4GB of RAM. The processor is capable of 4K streaming, which is a shame because the display is limited to 1080p resolution. The display is bright though, which makes the 1080p resolution enough for a 5.5 inch display. The device runs on Android 5.1 with OxygenOS. The device has a feature called the ‘shelf’, which is activated when you swipe to the left on the home screen; it opens your preferred contacts and recent apps.

Another feature that grabs attention is the button on the left side of the phone, called the slider which toggles between three notification profiles – ‘None’, ‘Priority’ and ‘All’. The camera is nice and was fast enough to capture photos.

OnePlus 2 comes with a USB type-C port, a first for any flagship smartphone. Reversible in nature, the USB type-C allows for faster data transfers and is compatible with almost every device with standard USB ports.

Overall, the phone seems to deliver what the company promised. However, we’d advise you to wait for our review.

Check out the unboxing and hands on video of OnePlus 2:

Here are the specifications of the OnePlus 2:

Specification	OnePlus 2
Display	5.5-inch TPS LCD in cell, Corning Gorilla Glass
Resolution	1080×1920 pixels, 401 ppi
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 v2.1
Processor	Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 and Quad-core 2 GHz Cortex-A57
GPU	Adreno 430
RAM	3/4 GB LPDDR4 RAM
Storage	16/64 GB
Expandability	N/A
Rear Camera	13 MP with OIS, 1.35 sensor size and fast laser focus and f/ 2.0 aperture
Rear Camera Video	2160p at 30fps, 2160p(DCI) at 24fps, 1080p at 60fps, 720p at 120fps, HDR, stereo sound recording
Front Camera	5 MP
Front Camera Video	1080p at 30fps
Battery	Non-removable Li-Po 3300 mAh battery
Operating System	Android 5.1 Lollipop-based Oxygen OS
Connectivity	SIM: DualWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot Bluetooth v4.1, A2DPGPS with A-GPS, GLONASS, Radio FM,microUSB v2.0, Type-C reversible connector
Miscellaneous	Fingerprint sensor, Reversible USB Type-C Charger
Price	Rs 22,999/24,999

Full Gallery:

July 28, 2015

Moto G (Gen 3) Vs Moto G (Gen 2): What’s the Difference?

Motorola has finally released the Moto G (Gen 3). The new phone has been in the news for quite a few months, thanks to the leaks made by retailers and sources. The Moto G (Gen 2) was a hit, like its predecessor but will be discontinued from today because the company is confident that the new Moto G (Gen 3) will perform well.

Let’s see how the Moto G (Gen 3) performs against its predecessor, the Moto G (Gen 2)

Specifications	Moto G (Gen 2)	Moto G (Gen 3)
Display	5 inches, Corning Gorilla Glass 3	5 inches, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	HD, 1280 x 720 pixels	HD, 1280×720 pixels
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8226 Snapdragon 400	Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 410
Processor	1.2 GHz Quad-core	1.4 Ghz Quad Core
GPU	Adreno 305	Adreno 306
RAM	1GB	1GB/2GB
Storage	8GB	8GB/16GB
Expandable Upto	32 GB	32 GB
Rear Camera	8MP	13MP
Front Camera	2MP	5MP
Video	720p HD, 30 fps	1080p HD video, 30 fps
Battery	2070 mAh	2470 mAh
Operating System	Android OS, v4.4.4 (KitKat), upgradable to v5.0 (Lollipop)	Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
Connectivity	Bluetooth v4.0, A2DP, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, GPS, AGPS, GLONASS GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100	Bluetooth v4.0, A2DP, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, GPS, AGPS, GLONASS GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 7(2600), 20(800)
Price	Not available on Flipkart	Rs. 11,999 for 8 GB and Rs. 12,999 for 16 GB

Motorola has made some notable improvements in the new Moto G (Gen 3), such as increasing the battery life, upgrading the rear camera and making Android Lollipop the default OS, compatible with 4G networks.

To begin with, the 2015 Moto G comes in two variants – the 8GB storage + 1GB RAM and the 16GB + 2GB – while the former is for casual users, the latter has been aimed towards gamers. The new Moto G has a bigger battery than its predecessor due to the phone supporting 4G network. Given the current 4G scenario in the country, Motorola has made the smart move to include 4G capability.

Motorola has changed the processor from Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 to Snapdragon 410. Both processors are known to perform in a similar manner, so the users shouldn’t feel any difference between the Moto G (Gen 2) and the new Moto G. With display, Motorola has gone for the “If it ain’t broke, then why fix it” philosophy. The display is the same as Moto G (Gen 2), keeping the same 5 inch HD display with 720p resolution.

The rear and front camera of the Moto G (Gen 3) get an update. The new Moto G has a 13MP rear camera as compared to its predecessor’s 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera, as compared to the Gen 2’s 2MP front snapper.

According to Motorola, the Moto G (Gen 3) will be available for a price of Rs. 11,999 (8GB) and Rs. 12,999 (16GB) at Flipkart from midnight tonight. Although the processor has been upgraded, along with the camera and 4G support has been added, we will only find out when we review the product.

Watch the unboxing and hands on with the new Moto G (Gen 3) here:

July 28, 2015

Unboxing and Hands On: The New Moto G (Gen 3)

After weeks of speculations and leaks, Motorola has finally launched the new Moto G (Gen 3) today. The device will be available on Flipkart from midnight today priced starting at Rs. 11,999. From the first look, Motorola has made some notable improvements in the phone, such as an increased battery life, upgrading the rear camera, and has made Android Lollipop the default OS that will be compatible with 4G network.

The phone comes with a dual USB port charger, a mini USB cable for charging and data transfer purpose and the usual documents containing warranty card and user manual. Similarly designed to the previous generation Moto G, the phone’s back panel has a nice finish. The power and volume button is located on the right side of the phone.

The Moto G (Gen 3) has the same display as its predecessor, a 5 inch HD display with 720p resolution. For a mid-range phone that this was, Motorola could have included a full HD display, but surprisingly didn’t. The processor has been upgraded from Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 to Qualcomm Snapdragon 410. However, the user won’t notice any major difference since it’s a known fact that the two processors perform quite similarly.

Knowing the current 4G scenario in India, Motorola has wisely included 4G support in the Moto G (Gen 3). Perhaps this also explains the need for a bigger battery, which has been upped from 2070 mAh to 2470 mAh. The phone will be available in two variants – the 8GB storage + 1GB RAM and the 16GB storage + 2GB RAM. While the former is meant for casual users, the latter has been aimed towards gamers.

The new Moto G gets a 13MP rear camera and 5MP front camera. The rear camera comes with Dual LED CCT Flash. The flash can be activated and deactivated by chopping the phone twice. The feature has been added after the company noted that people were wasting time by trying to access the flashlight from the camera.

Moving over, the 2015 Moto G has been certified IPx7, which means that the phone can stay submerged under 1m of water for 30 minutes. The IPx7 certification helps in country like India, where people often get frustrated due to rains damaging the inside of their phones. The phone can be customised using shell colours available in 10 different colours and flip colours available in five different colours. These back panels have rubber seals which ensure that the phone’s IPx7 certification stays intact.

Watch the full unboxing and hands on video here:

Check out the specifications for the Moto G (Gen 3):

Specifications	Moto G (Gen 3)
Display	5 inches, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	HD, 1280×720 pixels
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 410
Processor	1.4 Ghz Quad Core
GPU	Adreno 306
RAM	1GB/2GB
Storage	8GB/16GB
Expandable Upto	32 GB
Rear Camera	13MP
Front Camera	2MP
Video	1080p HD video, 30 fps
Battery	2470 mAh
Operating System	Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
Connectivity	Bluetooth v4.0, A2DP, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, GPS, AGPS, GLONASS GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 7(2600), 20(800)
Price	Rs. 11,999/ Rs. 12,999

Picture Gallery:

July 28, 2015

5 Things the OnePlus 2 Should Have Had

The OnePlus 2 officially arrived today, and at first glance, it is worth the price. Still, like many who complain about The Avengers for being incomplete, there are some who wish OnePlus 2 could have been more than it is.

We look at 5 things that OnePlus could have included in its flagship killer (their words, not ours):

4K Display

OnePlus went with 1080p display for the OnePlus 2, citing it enough for viewing experience. Although 1080p resolution makes for a good viewing experience, 4K display adds more clarity and livens up the picture. Remember Sony Xperia Z series? If you ever watched the 4K trailer for The Amazing Spider Man 2 on a Xperia Z, the 4K resolution makes the trailer look full of life, not to forget the smoothness with which it plays. OnePlus could’ve used the advantage of Qualcomm Snapdragon 810, but it didn’t. The upside to this is – the 1080p display might’ve helped keep its cost down.

NFC

NFC: While not huge, NFC has become important over the years. NFC could’ve allowed users to pay directly from the phone, connect accessories, transfer files and much more. Seems like a missed opportunity for OnePlus. At the India launch, the company claimed that the product has been made after conducting extensive research from consumers. Apparently, the data collected showed that not many users were inclined on using the NFC feature.

Open Sale System

OnePlus faced criticism for this last time and the company faces it again, this year. Invites are dreadful; they may arrive late, may be expired and above all, it is hard to score one in the first place. For example, the company said that regular visitors on its forums would be favoured. OnePlus has to find a better way for the registration process.

More Storage Options

It’s unfair. OnePlus offers OnePlus 2 in two variants: 16GB/64GB. While those with 64GB may have no problem with storage, those with 16GB will be banging their heads against the wall. The company can introduce an expandable storage option in the lower variants. Or it can do the alternate: make the 32GB the lowest model, just like Apple did. This should satisfy users with storage problems.

Wireless and Quick Charging

Since smartphone companies have failed to provide us with long-lasting batteries, they should be focusing on making sure that charging a device is quick and easy.

Any other feature you wished the OnePlus 2 had? Feel free to leave a comment below.

July 28, 2015
Should You Buy the OnePlus 2?

After months of leaks, speculations, announcement and hype, the OnePlus 2 is here, and like many, we had to watch the launch without the VR Cardboard, which was more like seeing a footage shot with fish-eye lens with motion sensors. Anyway, OnePlus says that the OnePlus 2 is going to be the flagship killer and with the price of Rs. 22,999 for the 16GB variant and Rs. 24,999 for the 64GB variant. To help you decide whether the phone is worth a hole in your pocket, let’s take a look at the main factors made while purchasing a phone – performance, display, camera and notable features.

Beautiful, powerful, and future-proof. Discover the #OnePlus2: http://t.co/nZrfiW0lfG pic.twitter.com/zFHDpHhJiu

— OnePlus (@oneplus) July 28, 2015

OnePlus One was criticised for overheating quickly and this time, the company seems to have taken care of it. The new OnePlus 2 uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810, which combined with thermal gel and graphite in the phone should take care of the overheating problem. The 1.8GHz octa-core 64-bit processor combined with 4GB of RAM is fast enough to run Facebook, Twitter and Clash of Clans simultaneously at the same time.

Although the processor is capable of 4K streaming, you won’t be able to view any 4K in its native resolution. The phone sports a 5.5 inch display with a 1080p resolution. While it is natural to expect a 4K display in this age, it is also important to note that a 1080p display is more than enough at 5.5 inch. Higher resolutions are better experienced on large screens, such as TV or computer displays. The picture may be clearer at 4K but even 1080p provides good viewing experience.

The phone uses the Type-C USB port, which is good because it is a reversible port that can take care of power, data transfers, and display output. Being slim and compatible with almost every device with standard USB ports relieves customers of four or six connecting ports. It reduces the demand of the system’s space and gives manufacturers freedom to trim down the size of machines and, hence, weight. Moreover, OnePlus 2 uses a lightweight aluminium alloy, so the phone should not feel like a clunky device in your hands.

OnePlus 2 sports a 13MP rear camera with sensor pixel size of 1.3 micron pixels. While OnePlus has retained the same megapixels, by increasing the sensor size it has improved the quality of the image. Put it this way, iPhone 5S used a sensor with 1.5 micron pixels and most standard phones use a sensor with 1.12 micron pixels. Thus, your images will be captured faster, will be less blurred and even if you capture a photo in a dark environment, it won’t be a monstrosity. For selfie lovers, there is a 5MP front camera.

The phone can be customised using OnePlus’ StyleSwap covers available in four variants – Bamboo, Black Apricot, Rosewood, and Kevlar. According to reviews so far, the covers can be swapped without any hassle. Also, there is a new feature called the ‘alert slider’. It is a button on the side of the phone that toggles between three notification profiles – ‘None’, ‘Priority’ and ‘All’. The button was added on the suggestion of a Reddit user. The phone has a 3,300 mAh non-removable battery and runs on Android 5.1 with OxygenOS.

For those disappointed with the display, do not worry. Adding 4K resolution would’ve only added to its cost and moreover, streaming 4K content consumes a lot of data. Given that OnePlus has improved the overall design of OnePlus 2, it is worth its value.

The OnePlus 2 will be available in India from August 11.

July 28, 2015

Introducing the Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 | iGyaan Launchpad Exclusive

A few days back, iGyaan leaked the news about an upcoming budget smartphone by Micromax. We reported that the new device included a sleek gold and black design, Snapdragon 615, and a 13MP rear camera.

While we were wrong about the chipset, we got the rest of the details right. In an iGyaan Launchpad episode, iGyaan’s Founder, Bharat Nagpal sat down with Shubhajit Sen, CMO of Micromax to discuss the new Canvas Xpress 2.

Watch the whole conversation here:

In December 2014, Micromax launched Canvas Xpress to compete with Motorola’s bonafide hit, the Moto E. Today, the company has launched its successor, the Canvas Xpress 2, which feels more of a jab at Xiaomi, based on the specs and its jaw-dropping price tag of Rs. 5,999. The pricing is surprising because the Canvas Xpress was launched at a price of Rs. 6,999.

The phone is superior to its predecessor in all aspects – display, camera, processor, battery and pricing. The Canvas Xpress 2 has a 5-inch HD display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, a huge improvement considering its predecessor had a 4.5 inch FWVGA(854×480) display. The phone has a 13MP rear and 2MP front camera, which is at par with what the Redmi 2 offers. Micromax also upgraded the processor by using a 1.4Ghz Octa-Core MediaTek 6592 processor. The phone offers 8GB of internal storage, which can be expanded upto 32GB, with 1GB of RAM.

Micromax has made a huge improvement in the Canvas Xpress 2 by increasing the battery from 1,950 mAh to 2,500 mAh. The device comes with Android KitKat 4.4 and supports 2G and 3G network.

Although this latest offering by Micromax should attract buyers, it will be a tough sell because of the Redmi 2, which lags a bit in the display size and camera section, offers value-for-money at the same price of Rs.5,999.

Micromax will sell the Canvas Xpress 2 exclusively at Flipkart. The registrations will start today and the device will go on sale from 4th August. The company has also announced exclusive deals for Vodafone users.

Specification	Micromax Canvas Xpress 2
Display	5 “(12.7 cm) IPS, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	1280 x 720 HD
Chipset	MediaTek 6592
Processor	1.4 Ghz Quadcore
GPU	NA
RAM	1 GB
Storage	8 GB
Expandability	32 GB
Rear Camera	13 MP
Rear Camera Video	1080p
Front Camera	2MP
Front Camera Video	NA
Battery	2,500 mAh battery
Operating System	Android 4.4 KitKat
Connectivity	GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, WCDMA 900/2100 MHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS
Miscellaneous	NA
Price	Rs. 5,999

July 27, 2015

Author: Tejan Mitra

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