Category: Brands and Companies

All Brands and Company Names

Apple Acquires Artificial Intelligence Based Face-Detection Start-Up

Apple recently bought a Sandiego based Artificial Intelligence start-up called Emotient. The firm was established in 2012 to analyse facial expressions and therefore emotions of viewers, helping the company evaluate their response. Needless to say, this move by Apple comes with its own set of doubts and apprehensions. Tech that detects facial expressions has been a topic of debate and dislike for a while now with Australia being one of the latest places to receive flak for incorporating face-detection tech in its administration. A spokesperson of the company confirmed the acquisition leaving us to wonder what Apple plans to do with it. Apple has been pursuing AI and virtual reality actively the last couple of weeks and this comes as the latest development in that sphere.

Facebook and Google are also big on AI and virtual reality and are pushing for it with great zeal. The future of tech, as unclear as it might be, looks quite interesting as of now. AI and virtual reality are definitely going to be the next big thing in 2016. While Zuckerberg works on his home-butler which he likened to Jarvis, let’s see what consumers get out of this race for AI and VR breakthroughs.

January 8, 2016
After Apple Music Apple Working on Video Streaming Service Like Netflix

Apple had busy year with Apple music, launching it on iOS and then on Android. The Apple music service made available globally received raving reviews especially in countries like India where cost of subscription was very little.

“Apple Video” is the company’s next big project with many partners involved, such as ABC, CBS, and Fox. Apple already has a large library of movies and video on its iTunes Store, which can currently be only bought or rented.

Apple has already worked out details with Sony Pictures, Universal and disney and may be negotiation with some other studios. NBCUniversal is reportedly not on board due to a feud between Apple and NBC parent company Comcast.

Apple has been working on a video streaming service, according to the rumour mill, for the past six years. It seems 2016 will be the year of release. With the recent news of Netflix going global and launching in 190 countries worldwide, Apple may have to move fast if it wants to get on with the competition.

With most new Apple devices supporting 4k content, Apple may launch the service with UHD streaming keeping in mind the new line of Apple TV units which have hardware capable of streaming 4k video. It may be a simple matter or turning on the feature via a software update.

Jimmy Lovine, who joined Apple with as part of the Beats acquisition, said:

We all know one thing, we all have different television delivery systems, don’t we all wish that the delivery systems were better, as far as curation and service? They’re all technically good. And Netflix is starting to cross the code because they’re starting to make some original content. It is really good, but still I mean none of us make movies here right, so we’re all punters, or what do you call them in the music business, fans right? We want to watch movies. Sit down with your girlfriend or a bunch of friends and try to find a movie online. That box helps you none — it doesn’t help. You’re on your own. And eventually that will catch them unless somebody digs in and really helps the customer. And entertainment needs that, it needs to live and breathe.

Apple will start the pricing for the video streaming service for US $20 as the base package and It’s claimed that the service will offer around 25 different channels, with the likes of ABC, CBS and Fox being lined up as partners.

Only time will tell if Apple does launch this service which they have, reportedly, been working on since 2009. And if they do will it impact the already wrong hold that Netflix is set to gather in the next few years.

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January 8, 2016
Oppo F1 for Photography Enthusiasts to Launch on 28th Jan

CES 2016 has seen a number of high profile launches, and device confirmations already, and now jumping into the mix is the Chinese Smartphone maker, Oppo, which in its latest official communications has invited the media, and its partners to a launch event on the 28th of this month.
Keeping in mind how Oppo conducts its business, this press event could well see the Chinese company bring to the market its much awaited Oppo F1.

Teasing the media, and fanboys alike, the company tweeted,”Attention photography lovers! Something exciting is coming your way. Stay tuned.”
The phone is rumoured to come equipped with an above par 13 Megapixel snapper, with ‘Phase Detection Autofocus’ technology, and will be the camera centric F series phone that Oppo had previously talked about.

Sadly, there isn’t much clarity about the other specs of the phone, but an 8 Megapixel front camera, backed by 3GB of RAM, and a Snapdragon processor could be expected. On the upside the phone will sport a 5 inch display.

January 8, 2016
Lenovo May Kill the Motorola Brand

It looks like another popular name in the mobile phone industry is set to follow the same fate as Nokia (although the latter might be making a comeback this year). Buzz around the internet is that Motorola will soon be phased out.

Lenovo, which bought Motorola from Google back in 2014, announced at CES 2016 that it will phase out the Motorola brand for its phones. “We’ll slowly phase out Motorola,” said Motorola Chief Operating Officer Rick Osterloh.

The decision is particularly interesting when seen in light of Lenovo’s statement back in 2014 when it said that, “We plan to not only protect the Motorola brand, but make it stronger.”

What this means is that Motorola’s phone business will now come under Lenovo and the Motorola name will disappear from its phones this year. Meanwhile, Lenovo will still use the ‘Motorola Mobility’ name for its phone division, but any upcoming phone or wearable will fall under the brand of ‘Moto’ and ‘Vibe’.

Motorola fans need not despair. The brand name will continue to live on, albeit in a more minimalist way. Future Moto products will continue to sport Motorola’s batwing-like ‘M’ logo along with Lenovo’s blue logo. Indeed, Motorola will be missed, and will always be remembered as one of the earliest, if not first brand to produce a mobile phone.

January 8, 2016
Microsoft Lumia 650 Leak Confirms New Design Language

Not much has been spoken or revealed about Microsoft’s upcoming smartphone, Lumia 650. Indeed, the company has managed to keep a tight lid on the device. That is until now at least. The Lumia 650 handset has been spotted in a live photo that reveal design. The same source has also provided some information on specs.

The obvious design element that we first spot from the picture is the metal frame. The leaked specs of the Lumia 650 are underwhelming to say the least. 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).

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

January 8, 2016
Xiaomi Teaser for Redmi 3 Confirms Launch Date

Xiaomi has released a new teaser for Redmi 3 which confirms its global launch date. The phone will arrive next week on 12th January. The teaser was posted by the company on its official Weibo account.

It was further revealed that the device will have a 5-inch display and an all-metal body which sports a plaid design on the back. There is no word on any other specs of the device yet but speculations place it at 1.5GHz CPU with a resolution of 1280 × 720 for its 5-inch display.

The RAM is marked at 2 GB and the memory is at 16 GB. The cameras would have 13 MP for the main camera and 5 MP for the selfie camera. Furthermore, the device is expected to be powered by Android Lollipop 5.1. Watch this space for all other updates.

January 7, 2016

OnePlus X Ceramic Limited Edition Variant Goes on Sale in India Tomorrow

Once again, a OnePlus device is going to be made available in an invite-free way. On 8th of January, consumers can buy the OnePlus X limited edition Ceramic variant minus an invite. However it will be available only in selected locations.The phone will be available at some French Connection stores in Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad between 7 to 9 PM. Additionally, there will be a 10% discount on the smartphone. The first 50 buyers would also get a gift bag that includes a voucher of Rs. 500 by the retailer.

Starting 9th January, OnePlus X Ceramic variant will exclusively be available on Amazon.in using invites. It’s currently priced at Rs. 22,999. More details can be found on the official OnePlus blog.

Specification	OnePlus X
Display	5-inch full HD AMOLED screen, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	1920×1080 pixels, 441ppi
Dimensions	140 x 69 x 6.9 mm
Weight	138 g (Onyx)/ 160 g (Ceramic)
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 801
CPU	2.3 GHz Quad-core processor
GPU	Adreno 330
RAM	3 GB
Front Camera	8 MP f/2.4
Rear Camera	13 MP f/2.2 ISOCELL
Storage	16 GB eMMC v5.0
Expandability	Up to 128 GB via MicoSD
Battery	2,525 mAh embedded rechargeable battery
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz b/g/n WCN3680 / Bluetooth 4.0
Operating System	Oxygen OS based on Android 5.1.1
Price	Rs. 16,999 (Onyx)/ Rs. 22,999 (limited edition Ceramic)

January 7, 2016

Nikon D5 D-SLR Camera Launches in India

Launched globally two days ago, Nikon D5 arrives in India today. The new Nikon camera was officially unveiled at CES on Tuesday. The camera boasts a new 20.82-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor. This along with a 180,000-pixel RGB metering sensor will deliver more accurate tonal gradations and detail, according to Nikon.

Nikon’s newest flagship camera is powered by a new EXPEED 5 image processing engine. Some notable features include 4K/UHD video recording. The Nikon D5 can shoot 4K movies (3840×2160 pixels) at 30p/25p/24p in dot-by-dot native pixel crop, which ensures the highest image quality as well as record Full HD (1080p) videos at frames up to 50p/60p in multiple formats.

Capturing lowlight images will be a cinch as the camera provides a native ISO range from 100 to 102,400, extendable up to a whopping 3,280,000 equivalent at the Hi 5 setting. The D-SLR also comes with what Nikon calls a ‘next-generation AF’ system boasting 153 focus points and 99 cross-type sensors.

“Nikon D5 is a professional’s formidable photography partner, sporting a phenomenal new autofocus system, highest standards of expanded ISO sensitivity, turbocharged workflow, and exceptional durability, for superlative flexibility to shoot both stills and 4K movies. The new-fangled D5 outperforms the expectations by delivering a potent fusion of extensive image capturing power alongside a detailed and immediate acquisition performance, regardless of the environment. Nikon D5 is ‘I AM VISION OUTPERFORMED’.” said, Mr. Sajjan Kumar, Vice President – Imaging Division, Nikon India Pvt. Ltd.

January 7, 2016
Microsoft Surface Pro Range Launches in India

Microsoft fanboys, the day you’ve been waiting for is here. United States based tech giant, Microsoft has launched its highly appreciated laptop killer range, the Surface Pro in India today. The Surface Pro 3 models start at Rs 73,990, while the Surface Pro 4 range starts at Rs 89,990. The country being a make or break market for Microsoft, this over-the-top pricing for the Pro 3, and Pro 4 range could hurt Microsoft in the long run.

The Surface Pro 4 features a 12.3-inch Pixel Sense display, that can output a maximum resolution of 2736 x 1824 (267 PPI). It will run on a 6th Gen Intel Core m3, i5, or i7 processor. The device will have 4GB,8GB,16GB RAM depending on the variant of choice, and will be available in storage options of 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB SSD drives. To add to this, the Surface Pro 4 will also come equipped with Intel HD Graphic chips, or an Intel Iris chip for the top of the line i7 variant.

The hybrid tablet will be powered by Windows 10, and the cool thing about the the device is that it turns into a fully-powered laptop while running a desktop software. Battery life is promised at just over 9 hours on a single charge, and the device will weigh not over 786 grams.A 5MP front, and 8MP camera at the back are also found on the tablet.

Surface Pro 3, on the other hand, has a smaller 12-inch ClearType screen that can output maximum resolution of 2160x1440p and will be available in Core i3 and Core i5 processor options. Further specifications reveal variants with 4GB RAM and 128GB SSD; 8GB RAM and 128GB SSD; and 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD. The tablet comes with the same connectivity options as its newer sibling, but the camera on the front and back have 5MP resolution.

January 7, 2016
iPhone 7 Leaked Parts Reveal Design Change from iPhone 6S

Following the release of the iPhone 6s series, the crowded corridors of internet have already been abuzz with news,and leaks of the next range of phones from the Cupertino based company. Some might call it pre-mature to make predictions about the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, which are not due until September this year, but fresh leaks surfacing on the Internet seem credible enough to be worth taken note of.

According to new leaked pictures of the the backlight screen for the iPhone 7 published by Taiwanese website Apple Club, there are clear suggestions of design changes in the upcoming iPhones. It had been previously claimed that the handset will win the race to dump the headphone socket, relying on the lightning port, or use wireless headphones to do its work. This new leak has only made these rumours grow stronger.

Side-by-side pictures comparing the leaked images with the one used in the Apple iPhone 6s also show flex cables located on the left side of the iPhone 7 backlight while the iPhone 6s backlight has it on the opposite side.

These moves will possibly help the new range of iPhones achieve between 6.0 mm and 6.5mm thinness, and a design that’s waterproof. The devices may also have a faster TSMC-built A10 chip and non-metallic casing with hidden antenna bands.

January 7, 2016
Xiaomi Mi 5 Running Snapdragon 820 SoC Confirmed for February Launch

Rumours of Xiaomi’s next flagship had been doing rounds on the internet for sometime now, and earlier today Xiaomi Co-Founder and Senior VP Liwan Jiang through a Weibo post put them to rest by confirming to the world the Chinese phone maker’s plans of launching the much anticipated Xiaomi Mi 5 in the coming months.

As revealed by Jiang himself, Xiaomi has already started mass production of its next flagship, Mi 5, and the phone will hit markets shortly after the Chinese Spring festival, which will be February the 8th this year.

The Xiaomi Mi 5 with the latest Snapdragon 820 processor is ready and in volume production. It will be released after the Spring Festival to have enough time for stocking up – Xiaomi Senior VP Liwan Jiang

Though no official word is out on the specifications of this much awaited device, but according to leaks, and the ever churning rumour mills of the Kingdom of Internet, the Mi 5 is slated to feature a 5.2-inch display with Quad HD resolution. 3GB or 4GB RAM, with a minimum of 32GB Internal storage. The camera on the device is expected to be a 16-megapixel at the back, and an equally impressive 13-megapixel snapper at the front.

This power hungry device is set to pack a battery of 3600 mAh with support for Quick Charge 3.0 technology. At the software end, the handset will run MIUI 7 based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

January 6, 2016
Asus Zenfone Zoom to Arrive in India Before US

Asus had announced the Zenfone Zoom at CES last year, and now a year after the announcement there is finally some news on its arrival in India. The phone was launched in Taiwan, the home to the company, last month, and was expected to be made available in the US next month.

Though it was supposed to arrive in India in Q3 2015, but clearly that did not happen. The latest update on this comes in an official statement by Asus,

“Scheduled to hit the Indian market later this month, the new addition to ASUS’ expanding smartphone range, the imaging-masterpiece will truly enable the users to ‘See The World Up Close’!”

The company claims to “reinvent smartphone photography” with Zoom which sports a 13 MP camera that has 10-element lens, 3X optical zoom, and optical image stabilization. The back of the smartphone is reminiscent of the Nokia Lumia 1020. In terms of specs, Zoom has a 5.5 inch, Corning Gorilla Glass display, 3,000 mAh battery and it runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop. There has been no mention of the Indian price of the phone yet, but in the US it is expected to be $399 (about Rs. 27,000).

January 6, 2016
Microsoft to Launch Surface Pro 4 in India Tomorrow

Microsoft’s flagship 12 inch hybrid tablet that promises to put your laptop out of business for good is all set to take up Indian markets by storm in the coming days. Microsoft has started sending invites of the launch event for the Surface Pro in India on the 7th of January, 2016. Microsoft fearing a backlash because of the high price of the series had shied away from introducing the Surface Pro range in India for a long time, but its seems the company has decided to cast those apprehensions aside, and trust its loyal user base in the country.

The Surface Pro 4 whose pricing has not been disclosed by the company yet, looks set to retail in India over the Rs. 60,000 mark. For the hard earned money you spend, Satya Nadela, and Co. present to you a gorgeous piece of consumer hardware that can easily take on all the productivity tasks that you throw at it. This hybrid tablet is a sure-shot upgrade from the Surface Pro 3, but still leaves you wanting more when it comes to battery life.

The Surface Pro 4 features a 12.3-inch Pixel Sense display, that can output a maximum resolution of 2736 x 1824 (267 PPI). It will run on a 6th Gen Intel Core m3, i5, or i7 processor. The device will have 4GB,8GB,16GB RAM depending on the variant of choice, and will be available in storage options of 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB SSD drives. To add to this, the Surface Pro 4 will also come equipped with Intel HD Graphic chips, or an Intel Iris chip for the top of the line i7 variant.

The hybrid tablet will be powered by Windows 10, and the cool thing about the the device is that it turns into a fully-powered laptop while running a desktop software. Battery life is promised at just over 9 hours on a single charge, and the device will weigh not over 786 grams. Not bad we say.

The Surface Pro 4 on paper looks like a device which if priced right could easily make deep inroads into the Indian consumer market, and keeping in mind how carefully Microsoft has been looking at India in the past year or so, come 7th of January, 2016 Indian consumers could well expect this game changer from the tech giant to be priced reasonably, and make way into their homes.

January 6, 2016
Asus Launches New EeeBook Series in India

Asus has expanded its portfolio with the launch of the Asus EeeBook E402 and Asus EeeBook E205SA in India today. The former is a 14-inch compact and lightweight notebook with HDD expansion slot up to 3 TB, while the later is an entry level convertible notebook with a sensitive and accurate touch display and up to 8 hours of battery life.

Asus has launched the two notebooks seeing the growing demand for affordable, compact and ultra-portable computing devices in the country. The company claims that their EeeBook series are pocket-friendly notebooks that are “elegantly crafted for high mobility and style”.

Asus EeeBook E402

Both the notebooks run on the latest Windows 10 64-bit OS. The 14-inch EeeBook E402 measures at 2.19 cm in thickness and weighs 1.65 kg. The device is powered by Intel Dual-Core Celeron N2840 processor and has an on-board memory of 2GB. The notebook also comes with Intel HD Graphics 4000, VGA web camera, and a 2-Cell Li-ion prismatic battery pack. Asus also claims that the E402 offers a large display, upgradable storage option and comes packed with technology aimed at improving user experience, all at an affordable price tag of Rs. 23,990.

The notebook features SonicMaster technology for audio, Splendid technology for the demanding viewing standards, and the company’s own Smart Gesture technology for multiple Windows gesture on the large touchpad.

Asus E2055A

Meanwhile, the entry-level 11.6-inch EeeBook E205SA comes with a metallic finish that gives it a premium look. The 360 degree convertible notebook weighs 1.20 kg and is being offered in two colour options – Dark Blue and Crystal Silver. Furthermore, the notebook promises 8 hours of battery life on a single charge, powered by a reversible USB-Type C port, and is priced at Rs. 18,999.

January 6, 2016
HTC & Under Armour Team Up to Build A Fitness Tracking System

If ever there was need of proof that HTC & the Under Armour team were up to good work together, then the UA HealthBox is it. It feels like ages that HTC & Under Armour announced their partnership together to roll out fitness gear such as the HTC GRIP, which sadly never saw the light of the day.

But fast forward to the first day of CES 2016, and much to the liking of fitness enthusiasts these two giants have finally launched for a measly $400( Approx Rs 26000) an all in one fitness tracking system. This apt named UA HealtBox is a collection of three different, but beautiful looking devices.

UA Band which is a fitness tracker, is designed to be worn 24/7. It tracks the number of steps taken, heart rate, workout, and sleep patterns of the user. It is the first accessory in the box.The UA Band comes in black with a red textured underside to allow for moisture wicking.

The second piece of the HealthBox is the UA Heart Rate. This is a band designed to be strapped to the users chest to provide more accurate reading of the pulse. The UA heart Rate is targeted towards athletes, and advanced users who are on intense workout regimes. It also gives an accurate calculation of calories burned during the workout.

The final piece that completes this fancy jigsaw puzzle is the UA Scale which measures your weight, and body fat ratio. The scale is Wi-Fi enabled, and syncs with the UA Record app to keep a check on things.

Though not physically a part of the UA HealthBox, but still the most critcial element of the system, is the UA Record app. Developed by Under Armour, this app is the element on which hinges the whole experience of using the UA Healthbox system. It brings together these isolated elements of the box together, making them work seamlessly as a single entity. To top it off, this app even has an option where it lets you rate on a scale of 1-10 about how you felt about your workout on a particular day!

January 6, 2016