Author: Tejan Mitra

Details About Upcoming Apple Products Revealed by El Capitan’s Beta Version

A new beta version of OS X El Capitan has revealed a new line of Apple products. According to a report, the beta version references for future products include a 21.5-inch 4K Retina display and a Bluetooth remote control.

Source: 9To5Mac.com

Apple introduced the 27-inch iMac with 5K Retina display last year. It is only logical that if Apple wants to introduce a smaller version of Retina display with 4K resolution, it would upgrade the 21.5 inch Mac for it. The new beta version references Mac support for Apple-made display panel with a 4096 x 2304 resolution.

A new Intel graphics chipset, Iris Pro 600 was referenced in the El Capitan beta version. Along with that, four new AMD Radeon processors – M380, M390, M395 and M395X – were mentioned. It is possible that these chipsets would power the 4K iMac and the new models.

Source: 9To5Mac

A new file inside El Capitan has revealed the possibility of a Bluetooth Remote Control being developed at Apple. The report says that ” this new piece of hardware integrates a dedicated Bluetooth wireless chip, can connect with devices via an infrared sensor, and includes a Multi-Touch trackpad with inertial scrolling support”. The device also seems to support audio, which means it could be integrated with Siri.

The report suggests that the new remote could be a part of an upcoming revamped Apple TV. However, there is no mention of Apple TV and the file doesn’t exist in public versions of OS X and OS X Yosemite Beta release.

June 26, 2015
Apple Plans to Include a Dual-Lens Camera in the iPhone 7 : Report

Apple is famously known for the strict quality measures it employs in all of its products, thanks to the company’s late co-founder Steve Jobs’ desire for top-notch products. Despite all the fun Samsung may make of Apple, one thing it cannot make fun of is the camera quality of the iPhone. The camera is recognized for capturing professional-like photographs and has even been employed as the main camera in some films.

So, how do you improve a cell phone camera famous for being close to a professional camera? By adding another lens. Recently, a report has emerged from Taiwan which claims that Apple is planning to include a dual-lens front camera in the iPhone 7. No, we’re not talking about the iPhone 6s, which is expected to be out in September. The iPhone 7 will be revealed next year, in 2016.

Apple reportedly faced problems, such as blurred images and other performance issues, while testing the dual-lens camera system. It seems the company has found solution with the help of LinX Imaging, an Israeli company specialising in camera-technology, which was bought by Apple in April this year.

The report also mentions that Apple faced manufacturing problems regarding dual-lens camera, which have been solved in a deal with Largan, one of the major suppliers of camera lens modules for smartphones and tablets. Apple has recently placed more orders for the same lens with Largan. It seems that Largan may manufacture the lens required for the iPhone 7.

HTC was the first company to introduce the dual-lens system in the One M8, which received mixed reception from the users. If the report is true, then iPhone 7 may turn out to be a game-changer by setting the standard higher for cameras in smartphones.

June 26, 2015
Dishonored: Definitive Edition is Now Available for Pre-order

Good news for Dishonored fans. Leading game distributor e-xpress has launched the pre-orders for the Dishonored: Definitive Edition in India. Published by Bethesda Games, Dishonored is an action-adventure game which follows Corvo Attano, a bodyguard-turned-assassin who is framed for murdering his employer.

The Definitive Edition was announced by developer Arkane Studios a few days ago during Bethesda’s presentation at the 2015 E3. The edition will contain a remastered version of the original game for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One and all the downloadable content (DLC). The DLC will contain The Knife of Dunwall and The Brigmore Witches, along with Dunwall City Trials and Void Walker’s Arsenal.

Dishonored was released in 2012 to positive reviews and appeared on several “Best Games of 2012” lists.The game has been voiced by known actors such as Susan Sarandon, Carrie Fisher and Lena Heady, who are best known for acting in films and shows like Enchanted, Star Wars and Game of Thrones, respectively.

Dishonored: Definitive Edition is now available for pre-order at Rs. 2,999 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. To order your game copy now, click here.

June 26, 2015
Watch Samsung Take a Dig at Apple in its Latest Galaxy S6 Ad

It seems Samsung will never be tired of poking fun at Apple, whether it is live streaming, bigger displays, or suggesting iPhone users are gradually become “wall-huggers”. In a latest ad to promote the new Galaxy S6, Samsung understands the frustrations a user goes through when the charger has to be untangled to charge a phone.

The ad makes note of the lengths people will go through to connect their phones to a white cable. And as seen in one frame, a bundle of white wires. Samsung points out that they are the source of head-banging, back-ache and anger issues. Then, it shows its wireless charger, which makes the ordinary task of charging a phone, well, ordinary.

So how does Apple figure in this ad? The white cables represent the white charger that comes with every Apple product. To make the point more clear, one frame shows a woman frustratingly trying to connect her phone to a deck.

Samsung’s Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge have buit-in wireless charging. Samsung may have made fun of Apple users, but S6 users will also have to take their charger everywhere they go.

After watching the ad, Taylor Swift will probably write an open letter, asking Apple to include wireless charging in the next iPhone.

June 26, 2015
PC Version of Batman: Arkham Knight Recalled After Negative Reviews

If you’re one of the people who were waiting to play “Batman: Arkham Knight” on a Windows PC, you will have to wait a little bit more. Warner Bros. Games, the publisher of “Arkham Knight” has recalled the PC version of the game from retail outlets after gamers complained about various performance issues with the game.

Our team has posted an update for our PC players over at the official Arkham forums. http://t.co/a6EFqhSD3n

— Batman Arkham (@BatmanArkham) June 24, 2015

Here is the statement given by Warner Bros. Games on a forum post:

Dear Batman: Arkham Knight PC owners,

We want to apologize to those of you who are experiencing performance issues with Batman: Arkham Knight on PC. We take these issues very seriously and have therefore decided to suspend future game sales of the PC version while we work to address these issues to satisfy our quality standards. We greatly value our customers and know that while there are a significant amount of players who are enjoying the game on PC, we want to do whatever we can to make the experience better for PC players overall.

We’re working to deliver an updated version of Batman: Arkham Knight on PC so you can all enjoy the final chapter of the Batman: Arkham series as it was meant to be played.

The game, developed by Rocksteady Studios has received negative reviews on Steam, while the XBox and PlayStation versions have received praise. A few days ago, Warner Bros. Games made some suggestions to improve the user experience for PC version.

Note: At the time of publishing, the PC version of Batman: Arkham Knight is still available on Amazon India while Flipkart is displaying a message addressing its unavailability.

Here’s the link (though we wouldn’t recommend you to pick it up.)

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June 25, 2015

HTC Rolls Out the New Desire 826, Priced at Rs. 26,900

Today, HTC launched Desire 826 in India. This is the 20^th addition to the HTC Desire series, which was first launched in 2010. The Desire 826 runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 octa-core 1.7GHz 64-bit processor and uses Android Lollipop with HTC Sense. The phone comes with 2 GB of RAM and has a storage capacity of 16 GB, which can expand upto an additional 128 GB.

A dual SIM phone, it supports 2G, 3G, CDMA and 4G LTE, which will lure the Indian users towards it. The battery capacity is 2600 mAh, which seems a little less since the phone is supporting four different types of network.

HTC claims that the 5.5-inch display with 1080p resolution will bring “cinematic quality to your mobile world”. To enhance the audio, HTC has used HTC BoomSound with Dolby Audio, just like in the One ME phone, which was launched yesterday.

The Desire 826 sports a 13 MP rear camera and an UltraPixel front camera, both capable of recording video in 1080p resolution.

The phone is available in a variety of colors such as White Birch, Blue Lagoon and Purple Fire. The phone can also be customised with HTC Dot View Case.

HTC Desire 826 will be made available in India by the end of June 2015 and is priced at Rs. 26,900.

Specifications	HTC Desire 826
Display	5.5-inch Full HD 1080p
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 octa-core 1.7GHz
RAM	2GB
Storage	16 GB expandable Upto 128GB
Rear Camera	13MP, f2.2, BSI Sensor, 1080p Video Recording
Front Camera	HTC Ultrapixel, f2.0
Battery	2,600mAh
Operating System	Android Lollipop with HTC Sense
Price	Rs. 26,900

June 25, 2015

Netflix to Enter India Soon; Here are Some of the Challenges it Will Face

A report suggests that Netflix, the US streaming giant, will enter India by 2016. This is great news for us film and TV buffs across India; we have been practically raised on a steady diet of films and TV shows. We recreate the famous train scene from DDLJ at railway stations to Dubsmash-ing the famous “Kitne Aadmi The?“. Even our politicians get filmy sometimes. No one loves films like Indians do.

Netflix has produced shows like House of Cards

Netflix will not be the first company to provide a streaming service in India. In 2015, rival TV Networks STAR and Zee launched Hotstar and Ditto TV respectively. Before that, Sony LIV was launched. Earlier this month, Hooq was launched as a joint venture between Sony, Warner Bros. and SingTel. Then there is Ogle, backed by media-person Pritish Nandy and Spuul. Still, Netflix’ s arrival is interesting because it has been established worldwide and is known for producing popular TV shows such as House of Cards and Orange Is The New Black, which have a cult following in India.

However exciting Netflix’s arrival may seem, the company still faces some hurdles, the major ones being Internet speed, pricing, censorship and piracy. In terms of connectivity, Netflix demands at least 1.5 MBps Internet speed to watch the content. Most high speed Internet plans in India have a data usage limit and thus restrict the very nature of binge-watching, which has helped Netflix grow over the years.

“Sorry, Netflix is not available in your country yet.”

Even if Netflix survives despite slow Internet connections, there will still be some doubts over its commercial viability. In India, the streaming services can be categorized into two parts – free and premium service. Almost every service provides some sort of free service, because it guarantees audience. This goes against the business model of Netflix, which provides a trial period but ultimately charges. While Ditto charges Rs. 49 for a nine day pack, Spuul charges Rs. 150 per month for the Premium catalog. Hooq which has recently entered India, will charge Rs. 199 for unlimited access to Hollywood and Indian content. Combine that with the appropriate Internet package needed for streaming, the total bill for entertainment costs more than a High-Definition cable/DTH connection. Thus, Netflix has to decide a price which can suit the pocket.

Then, there is the issue of censorship. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is responsible for regulation of TV shows and films. CBFC’s power can be estimated by the fact that movies which stream on YouTube carry a CBFC certificate. So, for those who hope to see the uncensored version of Orange Is The New Black may be left disappointed. Even HBO has to censor Game of Thrones, even when it airs exclusively on the paid service.

Last but not the least, Netflix’s biggest worry is piracy. In April, Netflix’s show, Marvel’s Daredevil was downloaded at least 150,000 times in India alone within its first week of premiere. There are mainly two reasons people pirate a popular movie or TV show: they either cannot pay for the service or they want the uncensored version. As a result, Netflix has to carefully consider what it offers in terms of content and pricing.

Still, Netflix’s decision to enter India is a wonderful thing, since it will guarantee quality programming. Moreover, if Netflix decides to produce local content, it will enhance Indian entertainment. As our government puts it, good days have come.

June 25, 2015

Lenovo Launches its Affordable Phablet, the K3 Note in India

The wait is over. Today, Lenovo has finally launched the long awaited K3 Note Phablet in India. Priced at Rs. 9,999, the K3 Note competes against the likes of budget contenders – Yu Yuphoria and Xiaomi Redmi Note. This smartphone will be sold exclusively on Flipkart; registrations for the first sale begin today at 2 p.m.

K3 Note joins a long list of affordable 4G handsets provided by Lenovo, such as A6000, A7000 Plus and S60.

“We are truly overwhelmed with the positive response from consumers for our 4G portfolio. The K3 Note is certainly a disruptive offering with its future-proof features, superior multi-media experience and extraordinary performance,” said Sudhin Mathur, Director, Smartphones, Lenovo India.

The specifications for the phone are reminiscent of the Xiaomi Mi4i, which is currently in demand and has a dedicated fan base. Like Mi4i, the K3 Note boasts a 5.5-inch full HD display. In addition to that, the K3 Note costs less than the Mi4i.

The K3 Note runs on 1.7GHz MediaTek MT6752 octa-core 64-bit processor with 2GB of RAM. The phone has an internal storage capacity of 16GB which can be expanded upto 32 GB through MicroSD card. The device runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop which has been combined with Lenovo’s Vibe UI.

As far as connectivity is concerned, the phone has Dual SIM card slots and supports both LTE bands in India. The phone sports a 3,000 mAh battery, which is replaceable. The K3 Note sports a 13 MP rear camera with Dual LED flash and a 5 MP front camera.

Here’s a quick look at its specification:

Specs	Lenovo K3 Note
Display	5.5 inches IPS capacitive touchscreen (1080 x 1920 pixels)
Processor	1.7GHz MediaTek MT6752 octa-core 64-bit processor
RAM	2 GB
Storage	16 GB
Expandable Upto	32 GB
Main Camera	13 MP
Front Camera	5 MP
Battery	3,000 mAh
Operating System	Android Lollipop 5.0 out-of-the-box, wrapped under Lenovo Vibe 2.5 UI
Price	Rs. 9,999

June 25, 2015

Windows Phone Users Can Finally Make Calls Via WhatsApp

Windows Phones users were left behind in the race to get WhatsApp’s most coveted feature. They were disappointed when WhatsApp introduced the voice-calling feature for Android and iOS users in April. Today, they can celebrate as the popular messaging app has enabled voice-calling for devices supporting Windows 8 and above.

WhatsApp first introduced the voice-calling feature in March for Android users. In April, the feature was rolled out in an update for iOS users.

Voice-calling will be made available in the version 2.12.60. The feature allows WhatsApp users to call each other for free using the Internet. Users have noticed that the interface is similar to the one used by Android for making regular calls. WhatsApp previously allowed users to make regular calls from the app itself, which has since been replaced by its own call-making feature.

Although smartphone users were thrilled to be able to make VOIP calls through their favourite messaging app, they soon realised it wasn’t that big a deal. The feature is still not popular in India due to slow internet connectivity.

June 25, 2015
Microsoft Office Apps Now Officially Available for Android Smartphones

From today, Android users can create and edit documents on-the-go using the Microsoft Office on their smartphones. Microsoft has released Office for Android smartphones and it is available for free on the Play store. Last year, Microsoft released a version of its popular productive suite for iOS platform and in January, it released a version of Android tablets.

Like the tablet version, Ofiice for Android will only support KitKat and above.The app’s interface is similar to its iOS counterpart, due to the cross-platform approach adopted by Microsoft. Users can make simple edits to documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Unlike Office 365, which requires subscription, Office for Android hasn’t been designed to handle full workload. Microsoft has also introduced full Dropbox and One Drive support for the Android version.

In April this year, CEO Satya Nadella revealed that Microsoft Office for iOS and Android was downloaded approximately more than 100 million times. For the past few months, Microsoft has been ensuring that its products are available across all platforms. Microsoft is trying to retain the MS Office customers by offering them a free version of its popular software on Android, iOS and Windows phone platforms. The move is seen as a counter against the various free productivity suites available on iOS and Android.

June 25, 2015

HTC Brings Out the One ME in India, Priced at Rs. 40,500

HTC had added a new one to its One series – the One ME, a dual SIM phone which the company describes as “a stunning device which reinterprets the HTC way that people can relate to.”

Weighing at 155 grams, the body is a lightweight polycarbonate with metallic effects on the front and mirror-polished sides to match the black matte panel. The stain-resistant body has integrated multi-directional fingerprint reader that allows the user swift and secure access to the phone. It comes in two colours – Classic Rose Gold and Meteor Grey.

The phone runs on MediaTek Helio X-10 Octa-core processor and uses Android Lollipop with HTC Sense on top. The One ME has 3 GB of RAM and has a storage capacity of 32 GB, expandable upto 2TB, which is more than the One E9+. Also, the battery capacity is 2840 mAh, which is slightly more than E9+.

Like the previous One series phone E9, the One ME boasts a 5.2 inch display with 2K resolution. As far as audio is concerned, the One ME uses HTC BoomSound with Dolby Audio to deliver the Dolby 5.1 surround sound effect.

The One ME will include HTC Connect, which will allow the user to switch music and movies on the phone to the home system seamlessly. HTC Connect lets the user wirelessly stream content on the phone to a compatible TV or stereo with a simple three finger swipe.

The One ME comes with the 20 MP rear camera with LED flash while the front boasts a 4 Ultra Pixel camera. HTC claims that this will allow the user to take photos even in low-light situations.

HTC One ME will be available with select partners from the end of June 2015 and is priced at Rs. 40,500.

Specifications	HTC One ME
Display	5.2-inch WQHD (1440×2560)
Processor	MediaTek helio X10 Octa-Cora 2.2 GHz
RAM	3GB
Storage	32GB expandable Upto 2TB
Rear Camera	20MP, f2.2, BSI Sensor, 4K Video Recording
Front Camera	HTC Ultrapixel, f2.0
Battery	2,840mAh
Operating System	Android Lollipop with HTC Sense
Price	Rs. 40,500

June 24, 2015

Another Useful Hidden Feature of iOS 9 Discovered

At this year’s WWDC, Apple made a string of announcements about its future. Especially Apple iOS 9 was seen to be a major overhaul. The company showed off the software’s multitasking feature, low power mode and Siri’s Proactive mode. However, Apple didn’t disclose many fresh apps and exciting features, which make its OS all the more seamless.

According to a new report, iOS 9 can delete apps temporarily to accommodate software updates. If the operating system is short of storage, it will prompt the user to temporarily delete the apps before installing the updates. After updates have been installed, iOS 9 will automatically re-install those apps.

https://twitter.com/Kaleb_Butt/status/613403921512411136/photo/1

The feature was discovered by developers who installed the new beta version of iOS 9, as per a report by 9to5Mac. According to the report, the data will remain intact.

One of the main criticisms of iOS 8 was the amount of exorbitant space it took for installing updates. To make up for it, Apple announced at 2015 WWDC that the new iOS would only require only 1.35 GB of space, a huge improvement from iOS 8, which used 5.5 GB. The announcement was a relief to the iPhone users who use the 16 GB variant.

With iOS 9, Apple is making efforts to utilize the storage space. At WWDC, Apple mentioned that developers will be able to “thin” their apps, freeing up more storage for media and other content.

June 24, 2015
Google’s Semi-Secret Facility Unveils a Health-Tracking Wristband

Rumour has it that Google X is currently working on an interesting wearable project. Google’s semi-secret workshop is one of the most innovation oriented institutions in the world. The research facility takes on some of the most fundamental questions on transportation, communication and others. Then, it takes an alternative bottom-up effort to understand them. The facility worked on concepts like Teleportation, Space elevators, and it is also the birthplace of projects like Google Glass, Driverless car and the upcoming Project Loon.

It is now developing a medical-grade wristband which will track health vitals such as heart-rate, pulse and skin-temperature on a “minute-by-minute” basis. The wristband will also measure external conditions such as room temperature and noise levels. The surprising thing is that Google won’t sell the device to general consumers, unlike Fitbit, which focuses on consumer wearables.

“Our intended use is for this to become a medical device that’s prescribed to patients or used for clinical trials,” said Andy Conrad, head of the life sciences team at Google, in an interview to Bloomberg. The device will allow doctors and medical researchers to keep track of a patient’s vitals outside the laboratory. Google wants the device to record accurate data, a function which can’t be expected from consumer-grade fitness wearables. The wristwatch can also make the research process more efficient, since the data collected from the patients can be easily organised and analysed.

Google X, the secret research wing of Google, is developing the wristwatch. The company will invite researchers and drug companies to test the device’s accuracy. The trial will start over summer, the company’s spokeswoman said.

June 24, 2015
We Now Have a New Spider Man

Actor Tom Holland has a great responsibility. Today, Marvel announced that Holland will play the next “Spider Man” in Marvel Cinematic Universe. The 19 year old Brit is the third actor to portray the web-slinging superhero, after Tobey Maguire (2002-2007) and Andrew Garfield (2012-2014).

Holland was chosen after a rigorous audition process and was on the shortlist for a long time. According to reports, he was chosen among 1,500 boys from all around the world.

Holland will portray the superhero in Captain America : Civil War next year before starring in the new Spider Man movie in 2017. The new movie will be directed by Jon Watts. Tom Holland was previously seen in the Oscar-nominated film The Impossible.

If Marvel’s decision doesn’t convince you, maybe you should check out these Instagram videos:

https://instagram.com/p/4Md9H0Mdp0/?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=embed&utm_campaign=video

https://instagram.com/p/4MeUrXMdqo/?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=embed&utm_campaign=video

June 24, 2015
Fitbit is Bringing its Family of Fitness Wearables to India

Fitbit, the world’s largest tech wearable brand, is entering the Indian market through a partnership with Amazon India. The company is popularly known for selling wearable technology, which helps monitor fitness.

It will offer its range of wearables on Amazon, which include Zip, Flex, Charge HR and Surge. The prices will range from Rs. 4,000 – Rs. 19,990. It will also sell Aria, a weight scale for Rs. 9,990.

Here is a list of products the company is bringing to India:

FitBit Zip

Zip is the entry-level addition to FitBit’s range of health wearables. A clip-based activity tracker, it tracks only steps taken, distance travelled, and calories burned. Zip runs on a disposable battery and can track 7 days of detailed motion data, minute by minute. It will be priced for Rs. 3.990 for India.

FitBit One

FitBit One, like Zip, is a clip-based activity tracker, but with a longer battery life than Zip. It will be priced at Rs. 6,990 for India.

FitBit Flex

Flex is a wrist band, with a LED display consisting of white indicator lights. It tracks movement, including sleep patterns and also acts as an alarm. Flex can be customized into a fashion accessory by simply removing the tracker and swapping it with a Flex collection piece. It will be priced for Rs. 6, 990 for India.

FitBit Charge HR

FitBit Charge is a wristband that keeps track of your fitness. The watch, when synced with the FitBit app, will display time, heart-rate, calls and more. The Record Mode records workouts and displays statistics in real time. The Exercise Mode records workouts and displays statistics in real time. It will be priced for Rs. 9, 990. for India.

Charge HR, like Charge, is a smartwatch that keeps track of your fitness. The watch uses FitBit’s proprietary PurePulse optical heart rate technology to deliver continuous, automatic wrist-based heart rate tracking all-day, even when you sleep. It will be priced for Rs. 12, 990. for India.

FitBit Surge

Surge is another smart watch that keeps track of your fitness. It records every aspect of exercise like running, cycling and cardio. Moreover, Surge allows you to keep track of your calls, texts and music activity. Built-in GPS delivers stats like real-time pace and distance along with elevation and shows history, speed, elevation and workout summaries on device. It is expected to cost Rs. 19.990.

FitBit Aria

Aria is a smart scale that tracks weight, lean mass, body fat % and BMI. Aria can also recognize up to eight individual users wearing FitBit wearables. It will upload the data directly into the user’s FitBit account through Wi-Fi. Price: Rs. 9,990.

June 23, 2015