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Set-Top Boxes to Allow Internet Browsing on Television Sets

Even though this news is of not much consequence for smart-television users, it is an interesting development for those who use standard television sets. Tata Sky and Videocon d2h have announced that their set-top boxes will now also feature web browsing.

DTH (direct-to-home) service providers have experimented with various interactive features which have only been supplemented by things like 4K display support on TV channels. Internet browsing is yet another feather added to the cap. This doesn’t mean, however, that users can use services like video streaming.

Tata Sky offers this new service to all existing customers free of cost, while Videocon d2h is yet to confirm details of its offers. Those using a smart-TV already have access to the Internet along with a pre-loaded app store. Having said that, this is still an interesting tech development for others.

However, with such deep infestation of the virtual space in our daily lives, one wonders if we need another gadget to connect us to the Internet. What do you think -should we be moving closer or away from the Internet in our daily activities? Let us know in the comments below.

February 9, 2016
Moto X Force, Moto G (3rd Gen) and Moto G Turbo go on Sale

Motorola launched the Moto X Force with ‘ShatterShield’ display on the 1st of February. The ‘shatterproof’ device is now on sale on Flipkart priced at Rs 49,999 for the 32GB variant and 53,999 for the 64GB variant.

On the specs front, Moto X Force packs a 5.4 inch Quad HD display with a resolution of 2560×1440 pixels. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core chipset along with 3 GB of RAM. The two internal storage options of 32 GB and 64 GB are expandable up to 2 TB with the help of a microSD card.

The highlight of the device is its super-hardy screen. Motorola claims to have integrated a ‘Moto Shattershield’ technology in the display of Moto Force which, it says, is the first shatterproof screen in a phone ever. The company feels confident enough to affirm the screen would stay intact for up to four years, owing to the multiple layers of different materials used in making it capable of absorbing shock and providing protection against cracking. The phone also boasts of two touchscreen layers, which make sure that the smartphone can be used even if one of the layers is cracked. Check out unboxing and hands-on of the Moto X Force as well as our 1000ft drop test video for all you need to know about the handset.

The Moto G (3rd Gen) and Moto G Turbo smartphones, which were available exclusively on Flipkart, are now available on Amazon India as well. Both the devices are available for order today but will be on stock starting tomorrow, February 10.

The Moto G (3rd Gen) comes with a 5-inch (12.7 centimeters) HD display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, 1280 x 720 pixels resolution and 2470 mAh lithium-ion battery. on the camera front, the device packs a 13MP f2.0 primary camera with CCT dual-LED flash and 4X digital zoom and a 5MP f2.2 front.

The device runs on Android v5.1.1 (Lollipop) OS operating system and is powered by a 1.4 GHz quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 (MSM8916) processor with 2GB of RAM and 16GB internal memory expandable up to 32GB. Check out our review of the Moto G (3rd Gen) for all you need to know.

The Moto G Turbo comes with a different chipset, a Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615, with Adreno 405 GPU and a quick charge capability that Motorola calls ‘Turbo Charge’. Everything else remains identical to the 16GB storage variant of the Moto G 3rd Gen. The Moto G Turbo is availble on Amazon for Rs 12,499 while the Moto G (3rd Gen) is priced at Rs 10,999. Amazon, however, does not offer an exchange option on the devices as Flipkart does.

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February 9, 2016
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Live Shots Leaked

It’s hardly a couple of days wait for the official unveiling of the flagship Samsung Galaxy S series smartphones and the Internet has already gone into meltdown mode with leaks and rumours of the much-awaited phones. The latest comes in the form of very believable live shots of the Galaxy S7 edge directly from Vietnam.

These latest shots of the phone show its curved screen front with an instance of Antutu benchmark test running on it seemingly confirming its specifications. The leaked live shots also confirm the S7 edge’s model number as being SM-G935.

According to reports. the Galax S7 edge will come equipped with a 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED display, and will be powered by a Samsung Exynos 8890/Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC. It will be paired with 4GB of RAM, and a 12 MP rear camera with f/1.7 aperture. A 8 MP selfie camera is expected at the front of the phone. The phone will come in two storage variants, 32GB and 64GB which will be further expandable via a MicroSD card.

Additionaly the phone will come with a larger, 3600 mAh battery, while also being waterproof and dustproof.

February 9, 2016
Samsung Galaxy S7 Seen in First Live Image

We’re only a few days away from the unveiling of Samsung’s next flagship smartphone at the MWC ‘unpacked’ event on February 21 and it’s only expected that leaks and rumours will come in plenty until the day. Today, we have the first live image of the Galaxy S7, which puts to rest all the renders we have come to see of the device.

The leaked image comes in from Vietnam and shows the back of the device which tells us a lot of things. Firstly, the rumours that all the S7 models will have an ‘edge’ is true. The image shows the 5.1-inch Galaxy S7 variant having a curved back. We also see that the camera on the back comes without a bump, which again confirms past rumours.

The back seems to be of glass, and indeed, that’s what we’re expecting. The device also comes with a metal frame. This may be a prototype device and the final product will look a lot more polished. On the design front it looks like Samsung has another winner on its hands.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 upon launch is expected to to feature a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with Quad HD resolution, a new 12 MP BRITECELL camera with f/1.7 aperture, and a 5 MP secondary cam. Two SoC configurations are expected. One being a Exynos-based version and the other a Qualcomm-powered model. The battery is expected to be upwards of 3500mAh.

February 9, 2016
Samsung’s New Patent is for a Stylus that Folds and Works as a Stand

Samsung found itself at the centre of controversy last year owing to the whole ‘Pengate’ scandal. Apparently, users of the Galaxy Note 5 did not prove to be as smart with the stylus as their smartphone, or so Samsung claims. The S Pen on the Note 5, when inserted the wrong way, would not only get stuck inside the Note, but would also damage the sensing mechanism of the display. Basically rendering your phone into a regular non-Note Samsung device.

However, now, reports of a new patent suggests Samsung may have found a solution to this problem either way.

The image shows that the S-pen can be fitted at a 90 degree angle and be used as a stand if the device is needed to be kept stable for watching videos. It can also be folded and put back in its position neatly once done serving as a stand.

Whether this tech would be up for usage in the next Samsung device, or in a device which comes later is unclear at this point. Either way, it seems like an interesting development that has got us curious.

February 8, 2016
Google’s Virtual Reality Headset to Launch this Year

Early in January, it was reported that Google is working on its own virtual reality headset. New reports now suggest that the successor to the Google Cardboard will see the light of day sometime this year.

Not much is known at this time as to what and how Google’s VR will look like, but sources close to the development of the device report that the company will attempt to take on Samsung’s Gear VR. This means that the Google VR will need to pair with a smartphone in order to work. However, unlike Samsung which allows only 2015 flagship devices to be compatible with its headset, Google will allow users compatibility with a wider range of devices.

Google will also likely release an Android VR software along with the VR headset that will look to enhance the VR experience by making the software native to the Android operating system.

The details as to when exactly Google plans to launch its headset is still a mystery. There is a possibility that the company will make the announcement or at the least discuss its VR intentions at this year’s Google I/O conference, which begins on May 18.

February 8, 2016
Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro Specifications Revealed

New leaks have surfaced on the internet regarding the Galaxy A9 Pro which not only provide further proof of its existence but also takes the lid off certain important specifications of the phone.

Latest GFXBench entry of the phone has revealed the phone to come with a 5.5-inch display. This is in conflict with earlier reports that the phone will come with a 6-inch display. This news will come as a surprise as the Galaxy A9 (2016) is already available to Chinese markets coming in at a size of 6-inches. Even the A7(2016) which has recently made its way to Indian markets comes in at 5.5 inches so this news of the phone being equipped with a display of the same size does not sound believable.

Coming to the other specs, the benchmark pegs the phone to come in with a Snapdragon 652 CPU running at 1.8GHz inside a Qualcomm chip. The SoC will be coupled with 4GB RAM for smooth performance. Camera at the back is a 15-megapixel shooter, while the front will be a 7- megapixel shooter. Battery is expected to be a massive 3500 mAh.

There is nothing concrete on the handset as of now, but the way these leaks are coming thick and fast expect the phone to be unveiled sometime in the month or so.

February 8, 2016
Microsoft Lumia 650 Dual-SIM Variant Passes FCC

A month ago, the single SIM variant of the Microsoft Lumia 650 had passed the FCC hurdle. The leaked live image of the device also confirmed a metal frame for a more premium finish. Today, the second, dual-SIM variant of the device with the model number RM-1154 was FCC certified and has been approved for sale.

The 5-inch 720p display device is likely to come bearing the Snapdragon 210 chipset clocking at 1.1GHz. A 2,000mAh battery pack in the 650 is small, especially when compared to the Lumia 640 (2,500mAh) and the Lumia 550 (2,100mAh).

It is also rumoured that there will be a larger Lumia 650 model expected with XL attached to it. The Lumia 650 XL is said to sport a 5.4-inch screen while most of the specs under the hood will remain the same as the Lumia 650.

From what the specs tell us, and this is yet unconfirmed, the Lumia 650 lacks both juice and power, but does well with the exterior design, and a pricing of under Rs. 10,000 (similar to the Lumia 550) will be needed for this device to tempt the masses.

February 8, 2016
GoPro and Microsoft Sign Deal for File Storage Tech

Microsoft and GoPro have announced a deal that would allow the action camera manufacturer to take advantage of the software giant’s file storage and other system technologies.

Both the tech companies have decided to keep the terms of the agreement confidential leaving the media speculating about which patents have been targetted in the deal.

In a statement, president of Microsoft Technology Licensing, Nick Psyhogeos, said, “This agreement with GoPro shows the incredible breadth of technology sharing enabled through patent transactions. Microsoft meets the demand in wearable tech licensing, an area that is continuously growing. Microsoft has a wide array of partnerships with firms from all industries in order to provide optimized solutions for global customers.”

The likely inclusion in the licensing partnership is the exFAT file system. ExFat is particularly interesting due to its capacity to store large media files, and keeping in mind the fact that GoPro cards below 64 GB still have to use in the old FAT format this partnership with Microsoft for licensing of the ExFat file system could be great news for the company.

February 6, 2016
Samsung Galaxy S7 Latest Benchmark Test Show Impressive Results

As MWC 2016 nears, and all sorts of rumours and leaks regarding the Galaxy S7 make way across the Internet, it’s really difficult to not stand up, and be impressed by what could potentially be the best Galaxy lineup of phones in the past few years.

Earlier today we reported that the Galaxy S7 on the back of certain improvements to its internals and the UI will come with a promise of great battery life which if reports are to be believed could even take you through two days on a single charge.

And now, to add to that, new reports suggest that the S7’s performance could be far better than what we had earlier expected. GeekBench scores of what is a unit bound for US with Snapdragon 820 SoC on board has clocked some pretty solid numbers on benchmark tests.

The benchmark results from today are much higher than initial benchmarks of the phone suggesting that the manufacturer has carried out some serious optimization work on the handset. Having said that, single core performance still sees Qualcomm’s 820 lag behind the A9 SoC found on the new iPhones.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 upon launch is expected to to feature a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with Quad HD resolution, a new 12 MP BRITCELL camera with f/1.7 aperture, and a 5 MP secondary cam. Two SoC configurations are expected. One being a Exynos-based version and the other a Qualcomm-powered model. The battery is expected to be upwards of 3500mAh.

February 6, 2016
iPhone 5se to Come in a ‘Hot Pink’ Colour Variant

After witnessing decline in sales of iPhones, Apple looks in no mood to let things get worse in the coming quarters and hence is planning to launch a smaller screen variant of the iPhone for emerging markets where buyers can’t pay as much as their counterparts in western economies. A couple of weeks ago, rumours about a 4-inch iPhone began doing the rounds, and so happened iPhone 5se.

There have been numerous leaks about the design and body of the new iPhone and the latest addition to the lot is a new colour variant. iPhone 5se is expected to come in a ‘hot-pink’ colour variant. This colour has been a topic of discussion since the iPhone 6 ever came out. The rose-gold variant of the 6s can be seen as a culmination of these rumours from the past. But looks like Apple is going to get more interesting with the colour choices it will offer this year.

Report of this new colour variant comes from a Japanese blog Mac Otakara. Interestingly enough, this report doesn’t mention the gold variant. If we are to go by this source, the iPhone 5se would be available in Pink, Space Grey and Silver.

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

The 5se will be offered in two storage options, 16 GB, and 64 GB. Pricing is expected to be around $450 (approximately Rs 30,000). It is expected to be unveiled at the official Apple event on the 15th of March, along with iPad 3.

February 6, 2016
Samsung’s Future Smartwatch to Use Your Veins for Identification

A new patent granted to Samsung hints that the south Korea based tech giant may bring to the wearable-market a concept futuristic enough to put the Terminator to shame. Samsung plans to incorporate a new biometric user authentication system in its smartwatches and other wrist-based wearables of the future.

According to a new patent filed by Samsung, the company is toying with the idea of using advanced biometrics in its smartwatches of the future that will recognize you by your veins.

The patent talks about a system in which light sensors work in tandem with the camera sensors trace the user’s vein structure and simultaneously also detect the user’s pulse. Since vein structure and pulse are unique to individuals they will be used for identification when the user puts on the smartwatch.

The patent information indicates that the software could offer custom contact lists and ringtones upon identification of the user. Further uses of a smartwatch equipped with such high-level biometric tech could be the smartwatch being used like a key to open a car door or your house. It also could be used to authenticate a mobile payment, replacing the currently used fingerprint sensor or password sign-in.

The patent filing describes the tech as:

“A wearable device comprising: a sensor configured to capture a vein image of a user;…identify the user by comparing the captured vein image with at least one registered vein image; and in response to determining that the identified user has an execution authority for the selected function or application, execute the function or the application.”

February 6, 2016
Samsung Galaxy S7 to Last Two Days on Single Charge

Samsung S7 launch is right around the corner, and it seems that the rumour mill has decided that its about time it goes into overdrive mode.The last couple of days have seen a number of leaks and rumours about the phone surface, but today’s probably the most interesting we have come across for a while.

Russian blogger Eldar Murtazin has made an interesting revelation about battery life of the S7. He says that the phone might last up to two days of continuous use on a single charge.

Murtazin, who previously claimed in an extensive pre-release review of the handsets that the Galaxy S7’s battery lasts for 17 hours while playing video with the screen at 100% brightness, today posted new screenshots from a dual-SIM version of the Galaxy S7. Murtazin has claimed today that the phone can last upto 2 days with a single charge with the battery draining 4G LTE on, and the phone’s brightness set at 75%.

????? ????????? Samsung ???????? ????? ????? ? ?????? (??????? 75%), lte ?????? (3gb) ? ??? ????? pic.twitter.com/dZBfKhqNdn

— Eldar Murtazin (@eldarmurtazin) February 3, 2016

The new Galaxy S7 phones are said to come in packing bigger battery packs of over 3500 mAh. Along with this, the phone is expected to also come with a better-optimized OS for improving battery life and the switch to Qualcomm 820 with better thermal, and power management is also expected to do well for the Galaxy S7 when it comes to providing good battery life.

February 6, 2016
HTC One M10 Leaked Image Shows Front Design

HTC is ready to out its newest flaship device. However, this won’t happen at the MWC this month where Samsung and LG and ready to unveil their own flagships. HTC is planning to hold a standalone event for the One M10 in March. Today, we have a new leaked image courtesy poplular leakster @evleaks that shows off the front look of the One M10.

As @evleaks had posted a few days earlier, the One M10 indeed looks a lot more like the One A9 and a lot less like the One M9, according to the image. From what we can tell, the most obvious feature missing here is the second front-facing speaker under the display, which means the One M10 will not have BoomSound speakers.

Besides this, the One M10 also sports a rounded home button much like the One A9, and it may also house a fingerprint scanner and a rigged power button on the right side to distinguish it from the volume buttons.You also notice that the bar under the display which had HTC’s logo is nowhere to be found here. This is a welcome sight for HTC fans who were not all too fond of the black bar that simply took up unwanted space on the device.

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

February 6, 2016
iPhone 7 To be The End of Physical Home Button on Apple Phones

Apple for what it’s worth is exploring ways of getting rid of the bulky home button on its future iPhones. Apple’s 3D Touch technology could be at the heart of this change if the Cupertino-based company does end up going ahead with the idea.

A new patent out of Cupertino shows how Apple might combine Touch ID fingerprint recognition and haptic feedback into a single module. The patent which was finally approved this week after 3 long years of talks shows what looks like an idea for a “Force-sensitive fingerprint sensing input.”

This will essentially mean the iPhone’s home button will not remain a physical button if and when Apple decides to implement this tech on their future handsets. Instead, it could simply merge into the rest of the flat touch sensitive surface.

Apart from the fact that it will herald an all new change in the way Apple uses home buttons on its phones, the idea of a button-less display without any capacitative buttons on it sounds pretty cool.

And if that’s not good enough for you, then try this for kicks. Apple details more features in the patent that could be possible with this new technology. The flat button space may recognize various gestures and even “near touches.” So yes, you basically interact with the button without even touching it. Don’t know about you, but we are already excited.

February 5, 2016