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Apple’s A11 Chipset Way Ahead Of Its Competition – Geekbench Founder

Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset was the incremental update to 2016’s Snapdragon 821 chipset and has largely been excellent in performance. Smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy Note8, OnePlus 5 and Galaxy S8/S8+ have the latest flagship chipset and their performance has been top-notch. On September 12th 2017, Apple announced its three new iPhones and talked a lot about the new chipset inside the iPhones, the A11 Bionic chipset. The first ever chipset from Apple that has six cores, but, still less than the eight cores found in the Snapdragon 835. The iPhone 8 was launched and the customary benchmark tests were performed in which the A11 chipset blew the Snapdragon 835 out of the park on multi-core results.

Founder of Geekbench John Poole, a popular CPU testing portal in a recent interview said:

At this point, you’ve got desktop-class performance in a handset. There’s no way of looking at it any other way. I wouldn’t have thought to use my first-generation iPhone to edit video. I would’ve thought you were crazy. Everybody looks at the A11 scores and they go, ‘Holy crap, this is . . . what does this mean? Are these even comparable? The thing that I don’t fully understand is why performance has seemed to stagnate on the Android side. Where you don’t see these big leaps forward. I don’t understand what’s happening there.

The disparity of scored between the Snapdragon 835 and A11 Bionic is astonishing, considering the A11 has six cores while its counterpart has eight cores. So much is the dominance of the A11 chip that the benchmark results are close to that of a MacBook.

October 3, 2017
More Images Of The Google Pixel 2 And Pixel 2 XL Leaked

Just a day before the official launch of the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, more images of the two phone have been leaked. Prolific leaker has tweeted images of the two new phones revealing the front, back and home screen launcher.

These are the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL https://t.co/cXCs560jNH pic.twitter.com/f3P47aeZ2I
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) October 2, 2017

The images show three colour variants of the two phones, Black & White, All Black and Light Blue. The design of the smartphones at the back is more or less similar and in line with other recent leaks with a glass window and two-tone colours. Interestingly, both the phones have front-facing stereo speakers. The Pixel 2 has thick bezels and looks more similar to the 2016 Pixel while the Pixel 2 XL, which is being made by LG looks similar to the LG G6. The Pixel 2 XL has a forehead and chin similar to the LG G6 and Google has fit front-firing stereo speakers in the those tiny bezels, which, if true will be quite commendable and appreciated.

You may also like – Everything We Know About The New Pixel 2 Smartphones

As for the specifications, we know both the phones will have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset, and not the eariler rumoured Snapdragon 836 chipset. The Pixel 2 will be powered by a 2700 mAh battery while the Pixel 2 XL will be a powered by a 3520 mAh battery. Both the phones will run Androi 8.0 Oreo out of the box and have 4GB of RAM with two storage options – 64GB or 128GB. Just like the previous gen Pixel phones, there will be no microSD card support for storage expansion. Something unlike the Pixel 2016 will be the absence of a 3.5mm headphone jack which has been revealed in multiple leaks and renders. The Pixel 2 will have 5-inch 1920 x 1080 px display while the Pixel 2 XL will have a 6-inch 2880 x 1440 px display.

The launch event is just a day away and all the rumours will be put to bed when Google raises the curtain and introduces the new Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. And in case you were wondering and hoping against hope, there won’t be an “Ultra Pixel.”

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October 3, 2017
Apple Might Revert To LCD Displays For The iPhone 9

The yet to be released iPhone X was met with great response after it was announced that it will finally sport an OLED display. Apple has been using LCD panels for its iPhones for the longest time and the need for a display with more vibrant colours and deeper blacks was on the rise. Apple satiated those needs with the iPhone X but, it looks like the dream of an OLED display on all iPhones will be short-lived. The Wall Street Journal has reported that Apple is interested in buying LCD display panels from a Japanese manufacturer, Japan Display. But, the LCD panels won’t be any ordinary LCD panels, in fact these LCD displays are called Full Active and are expected to make up 70% of Apple’s display orders for its next lineup of iPhones which will launch in September 2018.

Full Active LCD screens apparently make it easy for smartphone manufacturers to make edge-to-edge phones even more compact. As compared to OLED screens, Full Active LCD screens are only 0.5mm thick (or thin), or half the thickness of OLED screens. Apple’s desire to switch Full Active LCD screen suggests that the Cupertino-based tech giant is on the move to make its smartphones even more bezel-less than the iPhone X. It may also be a case of Apple sticking to LCD screens for its non-marquee smartphones. This also makes sense as LCD screens are cheaper to produce than OLED displays.

The fact that the iPhone X doesn’t come out till November is enough for us to believe that its preliminary to hear things about the 2018 iPhone. It is more than possible that Apple is bulk-ordering these screens for its budget-tier iPhones like the iPhone SE.

October 2, 2017
OnePlus 6 To Launch In Early 2018, No OnePlus 5T To be Launched

In a deviation from its previous smartphone launch plans, OnePlus won’t be releasing a OnePlus 5T in late 2017. In fact, reports suggest that the OnePlus 6 will be launched in early 2018. This is a detour from OnePlus’ smartphone launch activity from the recent past. In 2016, OnePlus launched the OnePlus 3 and the OnePlus 3T was launched in late 2016 with a new chipset and a bigger battery.

According to a report, OnePlus 6 might be a major departure from the design language that OnePlus has adopted for its smartphones till now. The OnePlus 6 might have a bezel-less display, which would result in a screen larger and taller than the 5.5 inch display we’re used to seeing on OnePlus smartphones. One thing is certain, whether the company decides to launch the OnePlus 5T or the OnePlus 6, the specifications of the phone will be top notch. It was earlier reported that the OnePlus 5T will be launched in late 2017 or early 2018 and have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 836 chipset. This incremental move would be similar to what OnePlus did with the 3 and 3T in 2016.

But, it was reported that a Snapdragon 836 chipset is not in the works and doesn’t feature in the company’s future plans. This might have impacted OnePlus’ plan of releasing a ‘T’ variant of the 2016 flagship, the OnePlus 5. On the other hand, if the OnePlus is launched in early 2018, it could feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset. Apart from that, the smartphone might have similar variants of 6GB RAM/64GB and 8GB RAM/128GB storage. The dual-camera setup is expected to retain its place and just like the OnePlus 5, the implementation of the dual cameras will be a much discussed point.

OnePlus so far, has been hard at work rolling out updates for its three smartphones and recently launched a limited edition variant of the OnePlus 5 in association with French artist Castelbajac. OnePlus has also tied up with Croma to expand its offline presence.

October 2, 2017
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Renders Suggest Thinner Bezels And Dual Cameras

Xiaomi’s upcoming Redmi Note 5 might have thin bezels and a dual camera setup. Xiaomi recently launched the Redmi Note 5A and the Redmi Note 5 is expected to be the bigger sibling of the two.

According to leaked renders shared by 91Mobiles, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 might have a 5.5inch 1920 x 1080 px display with thin bezels. The Redmi Note 5 may have a dual-camera setup at the back, which is expected to be a combination of a 16MP and 5MP sensors along with dual-tone LED flash. On the front is expected to be a 12MP camera.

The Redmi Note 5 will have a metal unibody design reminiscent of the Redmi Note 3 and Note 4. The fingerprint will found in a similar centrally located placing at the back.The three navigation buttons will be placed below the display as Xiaomi refuses to take the onscreen button route. On the top of the phone will be a 3.5mm headphone jack and an IR blaster. The device is expected to be have either the Snapdragon 630 or Snapdragon 660 chipset based on the 14nm process. The smartphone is also rumoured to be available in three variants, one with 3GB of RAM and 32GB onboard storage, and the one with 4GB RAM and 32GB/64GB storage. The device is said to be powered by a 4000 mAh battery and support quick charge through the USB Type C port placed at the bottom of the device. The Redmi Note 5 will run Android 7.1 Nougat with Xiaomi’s custom skin, MIUI 9 on top.

The price of the Redmi Note 5 is expected to be similar to that of the Redmi Note 4. The 3GB RAM and 32GB storage variant might be priced at 1200 Yuan (Rs. 11800 approx.), 4GB RAM and 32GB storage at ,400 Yuan (Rs. 13700 approx.), and the 4GB RAM and 64GB storage variant at 1500 Yuan (Rs. 14700 approx.).

At the end of the day, these are renders and not actual phone leaks so take them with a pinch of scepticism. There is no rumoured date of launch yet for th Redmi Note 5 but, similar to the Redmi Note 4 the phone might be launched globally early in 2018.

October 2, 2017
There Is No Ultra Pixel!

A recently leaked series of images and video that show glances of what was supposedly the “Ultra Pixel”, claiming that there will be in fact three pixel devices, the Pixel , the Pixel XL and the Ultra Pixel to compete with the iPhone 8 , the iPhone 8 Plus and the iPhone X.

However, the leak has now been put to rest from the designer who designed the concept and made the render video. Youtuber BRECCIA who was the “leaker” of the “Ultra Pixel” has just put out a video on how the world believed his concept, and was also proud that big international Youtubers were considering his designs to be real.

Prolific leakers @evleaks and @Onleaks had denied the possibility of the “Ultra Pixel” and at the end of it all, this ended up being a big troll in the face of today’s online journalism which has become more mainstream than most would expect.

Also, ” Ultrapixel” is an HTC trademark, and even though Google has an Ongoing deal with HTC, that won’t be finalized for many months, and Google will not be able to use HTC’s trademark.

Re: “Ultrapixel”

“Does not exist. Only the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL…on Oct 4.”

– Someone who knows https://t.co/WuHuWH73rH

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) September 28, 2017

Watch the video from BRECCIA below and enjoy your weekend !

October 1, 2017
Apple iPhone 8 And iPhone 8 Plus Receive Underwhelming Response At Launch Across The Globe

When Tim Cook announced the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus and paused for a second before saying, “One more thing,” the anticipation of the iPhone X turned into reality. He went on to unveil the iPhone X with an all-screen design, “superior cameras” and “revolutionary FaceID” technology. The afterthought of the iPhone X announcement was, “What about the iPhone 8?” That thought translated into action as the launch of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus saw an underwhelming turnout across the globe. Over the years, iPhone launch days have seen huge turnouts with people camping outside retail outlets just to get their hands on the new iPhones before it runs of out of stock.

In countries like the UK and Australia, it was heavily reported that there hardly any people waiting to buy the iPhone 8 and that most of the consumers are holding back their credit cards for the new iPhone X. This begs the question, why did Apple release the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus? Why not name them the iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus and keep a sizeable price difference between these phones and the iPhone X to attract consumers? The 256GB variant of the iPhone 8 Plus will cost you Rs 86000 in India and the 64GB variant of the iPhone X will retail at Rs 89000. People who love iPhones have used 16GB variants of their favourite devices for a long time and using a 64GB variant now will anyway be a storage bump for them. So, anyone willing to spend such a large amount of money for an iPhone would rather wait a month and get an iPhone with a new design and cameras.

You may also like : iPhone X vs The Competition

Another point to note here is that even though the new cameras on the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are better than the previous generation and the A11 bionic chipset is destroying the Snapdragon 835 on speed tests. Historically, iPhones have never been slow or have buggy software due to the internals. Apple has been known to optimise the software and hardware in a way that an iPhone 5s after 4 years of its launch still operates better than most of the Android phones launched back in 2013. This begs the question that will an iPhone 7 or even an iPhone 6 user upgrade to an iPhone 8, or wait for the iPhone X? There are reports that the 2018 iPhone will get TouchID back and the fingerprint sensor will be placed under the display. If people are sceptical about FaceID, won’t they rather wait a year and upgrade to the 2018 iPhone?

Apple has definitely put in a lot of though here and wouldn’t have invested so much of money if it didn’t see a return and has targeted the consumer section that will buy the iPhone 8 or the iPhone 8 Plus. Have you bought the iPhone 8 yet or are you waiting for the iPhone X? Let us know in the comments.

September 30, 2017
Google Hypes Up The Pixel Launch, Posts Multiple #TeamPixel Images

The new Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will be launched on October 4th and the anticipation is increasing every passing day. The Pixel and Pixel XL from 2106 were well received for their camera performance and leaks suggest that the new Pixel smartphones will improve on that performance. There has been a trend of smartphone makers teasing marquee smartphone launches with bits and pieces of information like LG did with the V30. Google, in a new blog post has posted images taken from the Pixel phones and labelled #TeamPixel to remind everyone that the Pixel phones still possess one of the best cameras in the market.

The newly launched Apple iPhone 8 Plus grabbed the headlines when DXOmark rated its cameras as the best smartphone camera in the world. Last year, during the launch of the Pixel and Pixel XL, Google showed off the DXOmark rating of the Pixel phones as the best rated smartphone cameras. The baton was then passed on to the HTC U11 which was launched in early 2017. This carefully timed blog post might be Google’s strategy of reminding everyone about the cameras on last year’s Pixel smartphones and hyping up the launch of the new Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. It is widely assumed that Google will improve the camera performance. Both the phones will have what Google is calling, “Pixel Cameras.” The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will have a Wide Colour Gamut and Google Imaging Chip, as well as Optical Image Stabilisation. Whether OIS will be present in both the cameras is yet to be seen.

You may also like : Everything We Know About The Upcoming Pixel 2 Smartphones

The images in the blog post do look sharp and showcase the image taking ability of the phone in all lighting conditions.

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September 30, 2017
Everything We Know About The New Google Pixel 2 Devices

The launch of the new Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL is scheduled for October 4th. Two of the most anticipated Android smartphones of the year have a lot riding on them after Apple unveiled the iPhone X with a new design and a whole lot of technology crammed into it. With months of leaks and renders finally culminating into the official reveal, let’s take a look at what we know so far about the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL.

Display

The most recent leak by Android Authority sheds light on the display of the two Pixel smartphones and corroborate what we have all been expecting. The Pixel 2 will have a 5 inch 1920 x 1080 px display while the Pixel 2 XL will have a tall 18:9 aspect ratio curved Quad HD screen. The screen size of the Pixel 2 XL is expected to be 6 inches.

Design

The design of the 2016 Pixel smartphones was one of the most polarising features of the phone. The “glass window” at the back bothered some people, while others felt indifferent towards it. The new Pixel 2 lineup is expected to retain the glass window albeit, a smaller size. The fingerprint sensor will be placed outside the window this time around. The thick bezels will be present on the smaller sibling, the Pixel 2. Google will reportedly add front-firing stereo speakers to the thick bezels. The Pixel 2 XL, on the other hand, will have a more 2017 flagship design with thin bezels and a tall display. The stereo speakers will be present but, they won’t be front-firing ones. The phones are expected to be launched in two colour variants, All Black, and Black and White. The front of both the colour variants is expected to be black.

Price

One of the most important aspects of any smartphone is its price. There isn’t any definitive proof or leak that sheds light on the pricing strategy that Google will adopt for the new Pixel lineup. However, there are reports of Google dropping the 32GB variant and launching the new Pixel devices in 64GB and 128GB variants only. This may translate into a higher starting price than the previous generation Pixels. Also, Google may bundle unlimited Google Cloud storage till 2023 for consumers who buy the Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL which the company may use to justify the steep pricing.

The 3.5mm Headphone Jack?

Yes, with each passing day it looks more and more likely that Google will dump the 3.5mm headphone jack on the new Pixel smartphones. The leak is a few weeks old and was corroborated by Android Authority’s credible source. It will be interesting how Google will deal with the news especially after its not-so-subtle dig at Apple last year during the launch of the 2016 Pixel.

Camera

The information about cameras on both the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL is a little hazy. Both the phones will have what Google is calling, “Pixel Cameras.” Unlike a lot of 2017 flagships, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will have a single camera at the back. The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will have a Wide Colour Gamut and Google Imaging Chip, as well as Optical Image Stabilisation. Whether OIS will be present in both the cameras is yet to be seen.

What’s Under The Hood?

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will have specifications worthy of being 2017 flagships. Both the phones will have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset, even though there were rumours of a Snapdragon 836 debuting. The devices will have 4GB of RAM, 64GB or 128GB of onboard storage but, looks like microSD card slot will still be missing. The Pixel will be powered by a 2700 mAh battery while the Pixel 2 XL will be powered by a 3520 mAh battery. As expected, both the phones will run Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box and will be the first one in line to receive the Android P update in 2018.

Active Edge And Google Assistant

The new Pixel smartphones are also expected to have the Active Edge feature which was first experienced on the HTC U11. This feature allows you to squeeze the frame of your phone to launch an app or trigger an action. It is being said that Active Edge will work closely with Google Assistant this time around to make the experience of using Google’s AI assistant more immersive and interactive.

The launch of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL is just a few days away. The leaks will always be leaks and never tell us the whole picture. Stay tuned to iGyaan as we will bring you the full coverage of the event to your screens.

September 29, 2017
LG V30 To Hit The US Market On October 5th

LG announced the new flagship, the LG V30 at the IFA 2017 in Berlin. The smartphone made headlines for featuring an OLED panel and thin bezels around the display. Now, after releasing the phone in South Korea, LG has announced that the V30 will hit the US market on October 5th. As far as price is concerned, in the US, you can order the phone through AT&T for US$810 or through T-Mobile for US$800.

The LG V30 has a 6 inch 2880 x 1440 px OLED FullVision display, LG’s first, with an 18:9 aspect ratio and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for protection. LG’s nearly edge-to-edge OLED display has HDR 10 format for a high level of colour contrast and as announced, the smartphone will be Daydream compatible.

The LG V30 is powered by a 3300mAh battery with wireless fast charging which supports 3.0 quick charge. The smartphone runs Android 7.1.2 with LG’s UX 6.0+ on top which offers a few customisation options. A big omission from the V30 is the secondary display, which was a signature in the previous V series devices. Instead, LG has introduced a Floating Bar which displays shortcuts and can be disabled when not required. The LG V30 has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset, 2.4GHz octa-core processor, 4 GB RAM and 64GB/128GB onboard storage with up to 2TB of expandable storage via a microSD card. The V30 has IP68 rating for water and dust resistance and MIL-STD 810G rating for durability.

LG has partnered up with Bang & Olufsen this time around to deliver sound quality ideal for media consumption and the B&O logo appears on the rear of the smartphone just below the fingerprint scanner. Thanks, to the partnership, LG V30 incorporates a 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC powered by Bang & Olufsen with few sound presets like enhanced, detailed, bass and live. The smartphone also has support for Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) technology for high-resolution audio streaming. There are reports that the India variant of the LG V30 may not feature the quad DAC.

Aside from the rear-mounted fingerprint scanner which also doubles as a home button, LG has introduced few new security features in the LG V30 such as facial and voice recognition. The voice recognition will even work along with the music playback.

On the camera front, the LG V30 features a dual-camera setup at the back. As LG had announced, this smartphone has the first ever inbuilt camera unit to feature a 16MP crystal clear lens made of glass with an f/1.6 aperture and another 13MP wide angle lens with an f/1.9 aperture. Compared to the f/1.8 aperture cameras on the iPhone 7Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S8+, the camera on the LG V30 will let 25% more light to pass through. The glass lens also delivers greater light-collecting ability than a plastic lens as well as better colour reproduction. The camera will feature laser detection AF, optical image stabilisation and electronic image stabilisation. On the front, the LG V30 sports a 5MP wide-angle camera with an aperture f/2.2.

The price of US$800 seems normal considering the Galaxy Note8 retails for over US$900 and the iPhone X will start at a price of US$999. The price and availability of the LG V30 in India has not been confirmed by the company yet.

September 29, 2017

Battle Of The Flagships Under Rs 40,000: OnePlus 5 Vs Nokia 8 Vs Honor 8 Pro Vs LG G6

Gone are the days when you couldn’t expect premium performance from smartphones that didn’t come with a premium price tag. Nowadays, good phones are getting cheaper, and cheap phones are getting better. Flagship devices from the likes of Samsung and Apple continue to cost over Rs 50,000 in India but, there smartphone makers who bring in high quality at a sort of affordable price. Rs 40,000 is not “affordable” by any means, but if you can get a phone as fast and smooth as a Rs 60,000 phone by almost half of it, you don’t have much to complain.

OnePlus 5, Nokia 8, Honor 8 Pro and the LG G6 offer flagship performance and features at a price under Rs 40,000. Each phone has its own USP and areas of performance where it excels. So, if you have a budget of around Rs 40,000 and you want a phone with flagship performance, which one would fit the bill? Let’s find out.

Specifications	OnePlus 5	Honor 8 Pro	LG G6	Nokia 8
Price	Starting at Rs 32,999 Click Here To Buy	Rs 29999 Click Here To Buy	Rs 36,900 Click Here To Buy	Rs 36,999 Click Here For Pre-Orders
Display	5.5 inch	5.7 inch	5.7 inch	5.5 inch
Resolution	1920 x 1080 px	2560 x 1440 px	2880 x 1440	2560 x 1440 px
OS	Android 7.1 Nougat Stock Android	Android 7.1 Nougat EMUI 5.1	Android 7.1 Nougat LG UX	Android 7.1 Nougat Stock Android
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835	Kirin 960	Qualcomm Snapdragon 821	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
RAM	6GB/8GB	6GB	4GB	4GB
Storage	64GB/128GB	128GB	64GB	64GB
Expandability	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Water and Dust Resistance	No	No	IP67 Rating	IP54 Rating
Primary Camera	Sony IMX 398 Megapixels: 16 Telephoto Sensor: Sony IMX 350 Megapixels: 20	12MP RGB sensor + 12MP Monochrome (black and white) sensor	Dual 13 MP (f/1.8, OIS, 3-axis) + 13 MP (f/2.4) wide-angle lens	13MP + 13MP with an f/2.0 aperture RGB (colour) primary sensor and monochrome (black and white) secondary sensor Carl Zeiss Optics
Battery	3300 mAh	4000 mAh	3300 mAh	3090 mAh
Video	3840 × 2160p @ 30fps 1920 x 1080p @ 30fps	3840 × 2160p @ 30fps 1920 x 1080p @ 30fps	3840 × 2160p @ 30fps 1920 x 1080p @ 30fps	3840 × 2160p @ 30fps 1920 x 1080p @ 30fps
Front Camera	16MP with an f/2.0 aperture	8MP with an f/2.0 aperture	5MP with an f/2.2	13MP with an f/2.0 aperture
Extra Features	Smooth stock Android with subtle OxygenOS tweaks	VR Capabilities Due to QHD display	Bezel Less Display	Bothie OZO Audio

All these phones have their own pros and cons.

OnePlus 5

What we like:

Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
Stock Android OS experience
Portrait mode in camera.

What we don’t like:

Battery size
No expandable storage
No OIS
No water resistance.

Honor 8 Pro

What we like:

Display
Battery
VR capabilities
Storage expansion via microSD card
Price.

What we don’t like:

Chipset is more comparable to the older Snapdragon 821
No water resistance
EMUI might not hold itself for a long time.

LG G6

What we like:

Display
Design
Camera
Water resistance
Storage expansion via microSD card
Price
Professional video features.

What we don’t like:

Older Snapdragon 821

Front camera is only 5MP with an f/2.2 aperture.

Nokia 8

What we like:

Snapdragon 835
Display
Stock Android OS
Nokia’s build quality
Carl Zeiss optics
Bothie will be practical for people who live stream content
Storage expansion via microSD card.

What we don’t like:

The most expensive of the four.
Nokia’s software is untested as of now.

Buying a smartphone is a big decision and all these phones have their advantages. Choose wisely and let us know if you own any of these phones or are planning to get one.

September 28, 2017

BMW Will Integrate Alexa Into Its Cars In 2018

The Amazon Hardware Show 2017 showcased a lot of tech that revolved around Alexa. There were new variants of the Echo, Amazon’s smart speakers, and a lot of smart home products that integrated Alexa. Amazon is pushing really hard to make sure that everyone talks to its AI assistant in the coming years. Another huge announcement at the hardware show included BMW. BMW announced that Alexa will be integrated into BMWs and selected Mini vehicles starting in mid-2018. “It’s a complete, comprehensive set of internet capabilities that is available inside your vehicle,” a BMW executive said during the Amazon show.

The integration uses microphones embedded inside the car. With Alexa inside the vehicle, drivers can use voice commands to use basic Alexa commands like asking for news and weather, in addition to third-party apps like Starbucks. Previously, Amazon and BMW had worked together on an Alexa Skill that allows car owners to talk to their apps or Echo to check things like remaining fuel in the car. This integration of Alexa and BMW will also take the level of involvement of AI in an average consumer’s life a notch higher. Whether you are a supporter or a cynic of voice controlled tech, the future seems to be tilting towards a voice controlled environment.

However, this is not the first time that Alexa has been integrated into a car, at CES this year, Ford introduced a line of cars that allows users to sync their Alexa devices so they can remotely unlock or start their car with voice commands.

Tech companies have been working towards adding software in cars and the likes of Apple and Samsung are even testing self-driving cars in the United States. Amazon’s recent push puts them at par with other tech giants looking to hold their own in the space of car technology.

Alexa will be available in all BMW vehicles for the 2018 model year, and mid-2017 Mini models in the US, Germany, and UK.

September 28, 2017
Google Pixel 2 And Google Pixel 2 XL Specifications Leaked

The launch of the new Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL is scheduled for October 4th. Android Authority has reported that new leaks reveal the full specifications of the next generation Pixel smartphones and have corroborated the leaks with an internal document.

Google Pixel 2 will have a 5-inch 1920 x 1080 px display with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on top of the display for protection. The smartphone will be powered by a 2700 mAh battery and run Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box. One new addition will be IP67 rating for water and dust resistance and the 3.5mm headphone jack will be a miss on the new Pixel. Making use of the chin and forehead, Google will add dual front firing stereo speakers to the Pixel 2. Another new feature which was rumoured for a while is Active Edge. First experienced in the HTC U11, this feature allows you to squeeze the frame of your phone to launch an app or trigger an action. The device will have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset, and 64GB or 128GB onboard storage options.

Purchasing either the Google Pixel 2 or the Pixel 2 XL will give the consumer unlimited Google Cloud storage until 2023, which might be what Google meant in the launch teaser video where it talked about phones running out of storage. The information about cameras on both the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL is a little hazy. Both the phones will have what Google is calling, “Pixel Cameras.” Unlike a lot of 2017 flagships, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will have single camera at the back. The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will have a Wide Colour Gamut and Google Imaging Chip, as well as Optical Image Stabilisation. Whether OIS will be present in both the cameras is yet to be seen.

The GooglePixel 2 XL on the other hand will see a design shift from the other three Pixel models and feature a curved Quad HD screen with thin bezels. The smartphone will be powered by a 3520 mAh battery which is considerably larger than the 2700 mAh battery on the Pixel 2. Just like the 2016 Pixel and Pixel XL, both the phone will have the same internals and cameras. This means a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset, same 64GB or 128GB onboard storage variants and Android 8.0 Oreo operating system. Active Edge will also be present in the Pixel 2 XL and stereo speakers, albeit not front firing ones.

There is no word on the pricing of both the phones but previous leaks have suggested that the new Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will be priced higher than their predecessors due to a bump in the storage. These are leaks at the end of the day and although the source claims them to be legitimate, you can’t be 100 percent sure until Google lifts the curtain on the new Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL on October 4th.

September 28, 2017
Amazon Announces New Alexa-Powered Smart Home Devices

Amazon has announced a host of new devices powered by Amazon’s AI assistant Alexa during the Amazon Hardware Event 2017. Amazon’s efforts to push Alexa into every aspect of your home or office was evident during the hardware event. Here are the top products announced at the event:

Echo Plus

Priced at US$149, the Echo Plus is about the same size as the original Echo from 2014 but, also acts as a smart home hub with second-generation far-field voice recognition and enhanced sound. The Echo Plus uses Zigbee as a low-power way to extend its wireless range and can control more than 100 smart home devices in the market via voice, without any apps required. The Echo Plus will scan the room for smart devices and set it up automatically. In a demo shown during the event, the Echo Plus scanned a Philips Hue smart bulb and was able to control it within 15 seconds. The Echo Plus will come bundled with a Philips Hue smart bulb and will be available black, white and silver colour variants. The Philips Hue bulb bundle shows that Amazon really want consumers to get into the smart home tech game.

A new Alexa feature demonstrated during the event was the series of tasks that can be triggered with a simple phrases. The Echo Plus, once set up and connected to all the smart devices in your home can open the blinders, start the coffee machine and tell the weather by just saying “Good Morning Alexa.”

Echo Spot

The Echo Spot is a smart alarm clock powered by Alexa which also has a screen for video calling and can be connected to external Bluetooth speakers. The Echo Spot has a 2.5 inch screen and display lyrics of the songs playing or used for video calling as well. The Echo Spot looks like a crossover of Echo Dot and Echo Show with compact size and a display. The new Echo Spot will run you US$130 and will go on sale on December 19th.

Echo Buttons

Ever felt like playing a trivia game with your friends but never had a buzzer to get the whole TV feel? The Echo Buttons fill that hole. The Echo Buttons will retail in a pack of two and act as buzzers for game nights with family and friends. Priced at US$20, Echo Buttons are hockey puck-shaped devices and will work alongside an Alexa-enabled device.

New Cheaper Echo

Amazon also announced a refreshed verson of the original Echo from 2014. The new Echo is about half the size of the original one and costs US$99. In order to push the new Echo as multi-room audio device and compete with Sonos, Amazon is offering a bundle of three Amazon Echo’s for US$249. The new Echo also has a dedicated bass tweeter. The new Echo will also make 911 calls now and in order to push Amazon Alexa as a phone replacement, the company announced a separate US$35 device called Connect. Connect connects to your landline and makes free calls for you. Your number will still be attached to Connect so that the receiver can identify your number. The Echo will be available in a host of different finishes like wood and cloth.

Fire TV

The Amazon Fire TV will now support 4K HDR video playback at 60fps. It has Dolby Atmos integration and an Alexa voice remote, and will cost US$69.99. The price places it far below its direct rival, the Apple TV 4K which costs US$179. The size of the Fire TV is also much smaller and can be attached to the back of a television unlike its predecessor which looked like a set top box. Amazon has opened it for pre order and will start shipping the Fire TV on October 25th.

All these devices will be available in the United States right now and it’s global availability has not been announced yet. There were reports of Amazon Echo Dot launching in India during the festive season, and with a host of festivals round the corner, it might happen anytime now.

September 28, 2017
LG Just Added A Mosquito Repellent To Their Smartphone

LG has announced a budget oriented smartphone, the K7i in India at a price of Rs 7990. The South Korean tech giant, LG made the announcement during the ongoing Indian Mobile Congress in New Delhi.

The riding feature of this phone is something quite unique, a mosquito repellent mode. To remove all your doubts, LG has confirmed that this technology is completely safe and harmless for human beings. LG explains that the smartphone uses an ultra-sonic technology, which once activated will keep the mosquitoes away. LG also clarified that its proprietary technology is silent and odourless. “An LG K7i a day, keeps mosquitoes at bay?”

LG K7i has a 5-inch display and the resolution of the screen has not been disclosed by the company. Judging by the price, it might be a 1280 x 720 px display but, this is just speculation. The device is powered by a 2500 mAh battery which is surprisingly user removable and runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box. It has an unknown quad-core processor with 2GB RAM, 16GB onboard storage and microSD card support. The smart phone also has WiFi, Bluetooth 4.1, FM radio and dual-SIM support. The new mosquito repelling smartphone will be available in a brown colour variant.

On the camera front, the LG K7i features an 8MP rear-facing camera and a 5MP front-facing camera.

LG launched a lineup of Televisions with similar mosquito repelling proprietary technology and has followed it up with a smartphone. The date of availability of the smartphone in India has not been announced yet.

September 27, 2017