Category: Brands and Companies

All Brands and Company Names

Motorola to Launch Moto G Turbo Edition in India This Week

Motorola will launch the turbo edition of the Moto G in India this week. looking at their social streams it seam that they are ready to push it out sooner than expected.

The Moto G Turbo comes with a different chipset, Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615, with Adreno 405 and a quick charge capability that motorola calls a turbo charge. Everything else remains identical to the 16GB storage variant of the Moto G 3rd Gen which comes with 2GB RAM.

The Moto G turbo edition, prior to this was only available in Mexico for 4699 Pesos (roughly Rs. 18500) but was only slightly higher than the Moto G 3rd gen with 16GB storage at 4299 Pesos (roughly Rs. 17000). Even if we keep the same price difference intact, an increase from the current price of Rs 12999 by Rs. 1500 means that the phone can be expected under the 15k price mark.

We can expect the phone with some launch offers like previous launches of Motorola and possibly will sell as a Flipkart exclusive, again something Motorola has done frequently in the past.

Specifications	Moto G (Gen 3) Turbo Edition
Display	5 inches, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	HD, 1280×720 pixels
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 615
Processor	Quad-core 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 & quad-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A53
GPU	Adreno 405
RAM	2GB
Storage	16GB
Expandable Upto	32 GB
Rear Camera	13MP
Front Camera	5MP
Video	1080p HD video, 30 fps
Battery	2470 man with Turbo charge
Operating System	Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
Connectivity	Bluetooth v4.0, A2DP, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, GPS, AGPS, GLONASS GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 7(2600), 20(800)
Price	TBA for 16 GB (expected Rs. 14499)

December 7, 2015

Add Capacitive Touch Buttons to an iPhone 6s and 6s Plus

There’s a new tempered glass for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus from Quad Glass and unlike others this one is a four dimensional tempered glass. But, that is not even the special feature of this touchscreen guard; it is adds capacitive touch buttons at the bottom of your iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. Before going into details, take a look at our hands on video –

The company explains the introduction of such a feature because of the hassle caused by the huge screen size of the ever growing iPhone. Therefore, instead of continuously having to move your fingers right to the top of the screen, you can just reach the Menu and Back Button by touching the two extra capacitive touch button at the bottom. An added incentive to use this, is that, the button can’t even be felt.

Source

December 7, 2015
Apple iPhone 7c Might See a September Launch

Post the launch of the iPhone 5c, more popularly referred to as the ‘cheaper’ iPhone, most people wanted to see another upgraded ‘c’ version of the iPhone. We waited for an iPhone 6c which didn’t happen, and now rumours have resurfaced about an iPhone 7c.

The information suggests that the iPhone 7c will have a 4 inch display and can be expected to be unveiled in September 2016. Further reports also suggest the price of this device; it will be tagged at around $400-$500.

These rumours are all well placed as we await the arrival of the iPhone 7. Needless to say, Apple hasn’t confirmed any of the above rumours.

December 7, 2015
Google CEO Sundar Pichai to Launch Revamped Android One in India

News has been going around that Google CEO Sundar Pichai will be in India for the first time since his new appointment as CEO. Reports also highlighted that Pichai will be meeting PM Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee. Now, new reports suggest that Pichai will be launching the Android One version 2 in India.

An event is scheduled to be held on December 16 and invites have been sent out already that reads, “At Google, we believe that technology can change people’s lives for the better. Indians are coming online at an astonishing rate with affordable smartphones. These new users have a completely fresh view on what the Internet has to offer. Please block your date for an event with Google as we outline our vision for these users.”

The invite refers to affordable phones that lets new users access to the internet. Google had launched the sub-Rs. 3000 Android One phones last year, but they failed to get noticed due to the onslaught of Chinese makers.

India was the first country to release Android One devices that comprised of four phones – Micromax Canvas A1, Karbonn Sparkle V, Spice Dream UNO, and Lava Pixel V1. All except Spice Dream UNO are now upgradeable to Marshmallow OS.

While the first version failed to make an impact, Google has been talking of a revamped Android One for the Indian market. The company plans to launch the sub-Rs. 3000 Android device as part of Google’s (as well as PM Modi’s) push for a connected India.

December 7, 2015
Is Samsung Finally Calling A Truce By Paying Apple $548 Million?

It has been almost five years since Apple sued Samsung for infringing smartphone patents. Finally, Samsung has decided to pay up an amount of $548 million before the 14th of December 2015. This decisions was reached up on, after a joint court statement from both companies that agreed on it. However, the statement notes that Samsung “continues to reserve all rights to obtain reimbursement from Apple,” if the invoice is not received before the weekend; while Apple has disputed these rights in the same document.

According to reports, Samsung said that it is only paying the money because an appeals court refused to block a judgement ordering it to pay. They intend to continue pursuing reimbursement if the U.S Patent and Trademark Office invalidates the patents and if the U.S Supreme Court takes up the request for review. Both companies are said to have dropped all the non-US cases while leaving only two main disputes that still have a way to go in courts.

“I don’t think it’s over, but hopefully we’re getting close,” said Robert Stoll, a patent lawyer with Drinker Biddle in Washington

This particular sum of money ($548 million) is allegedly part of a case that dealt with Apple’s “pinch to touch” technology; that the company claims has been copied by Samsung. The patent on this has been invalidated by the PTO, but Apple is still challenging that decision.

Honestly, though we’re all sick of this fight. Both mega tech companies fighting about one copying the other. It is high time they learn to co-exist with one another regardless of who is copying whom. At the end of the day, we all know who is getting the real credit. So, if Samsung is copying Apple, the latter should only feel flattered.

December 5, 2015

Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: Hands On and Unboxing

Specifications	Lumia 950 XL
Display	5.7-inch Quad HD AMOLED
Resolution	2560×1440
Density	518 ppi
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 810, Octa-core 64-bit
RAM	3GB
Storage	32GB
Expandable Upto	200GB and One Drive Storage
Rear Camera	20MP, PureView, Zeiss optics, OIS, triple LED natural flash, and4K video recording
Front Camera	5MP, wide-angle 1080p
Battery	Removable 3340mAh battery, USB-C fast charging, wireless charging
Operating System	Windows 10
Connectivity	Wi-Fi: MIMO, WLAN IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.1, 4G LTE
Price	Rs.49,399

December 5, 2015

Best Tech Gifts for the Holiday Season

It’s December and everyone is looking forward to the holidays. It’s the time to plan out what you’re going to gift your loved ones or yourself. If you’re into the tech sides of things, then we have some ideas on what you could get this season.

PlayStation 4

Here’s why PlayStation 4 should be on your Christmas shopping list. Sony has been slashing the price of the 500GB PS4 globally for the past few months. Recently, India received the price cut as well. The PlayStation 4 is now available for Rs. 31,599, while the new 1TB console is priced at Rs. 36,550. So for those who were waiting for the next-gen console can now get it at a pretty neat price.

 

Samsung Tab A

The Tab A is a simple device worth picking up if you’re not looking toward the high-end range. The tablet is not only affordable but offers many premium apps for free. The design is slim and lightweight, almost comparable to the iPad Mini. The Tab A is powered by a 1.2 GHz Quad Core processor. and runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop.

Those who are looking to get the most bang for their buck should consider the Tab A, which is currently available at a discounted price tag of Rs. 18,000.

 

OnePlus 2

OnePlus recently announced that its ditching the invite system for the OnePlus 2 starting tomorrow. This news comes at the perfect time for OnePlus fans who have been waiting to get their hands on the flagship device. An invite-free OnePlus 2 makes will surely grab fans during the holiday period, if stocks last until then.
 

Moto 360 (2nd Gen)

Smartwatches have yet to catch on in India, but if you’re in the market for wearable technology that is affordable then the Moto 360 (2nd Gen) is the watch for you. The Moto 360 comes in three different sizes – a 42 mm male and female version and a male-only 46 mm model. The bands of the watch can be chosen from metal and leather.

With respect to the processor, Motorola has upgraded its device with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor. The Android Wear smartwatch is also compatible with iOS 8.2 and above and therefore can be coupled with Apple devices.

Philips Digital Photo Frame

Since the holiday season is all about getting together with friends and family, one needs a gadget that can display all the memories. And since traditional photo frames are practically obsolete (thanks to the digital age), here’s a digital photo frame that can store hundreds of digital photos. with its 128GB storage capacity.

The 7-inch screen will display the stored pictures and change them depending on your setting. The frame supports HD pictures as well. The frame is priced at Rs. 3,395 and is a thoughtful gift for a loved one.

 

December 4, 2015
Top 5 Best Looking Phones of 2015

Technology never ceases to surprise us and 2015 just proved this right. The year saw some brilliant smartphones being introduced to the market. Devices with high end specs, snazzy designs and all kinds of technological breakthroughs previously unencountered entered the tech circuit. Some handsets, however, were prettier than others, and we cannot help but talk about them in this top 5 of the most stylish smartphones this year.

1. Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge and S6 Edge+

 

 

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ is the company’s first big S series phone, as an add-on to the Galaxy S line of devices. The Galaxy S6 edge+ was designed to one up the iPhone 6 Plus in terms of specifications and hardware. But it did not simply stop there -the device is not only high on specs but the Galaxy S6 Edge and Edge+ with their curved screen and glass back are both a beauty to behold.

2. iPhone 6s and 6s Plus (Rose Gold Variant):

 

 

With iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, Apple did not make major design changes. In fact the only design change was that the new iPhones were heavier and thicker than their predecessors. Looks like the entire Bendgate-controversy did make Apple sit up and listen. The one design change that Apple did introduce, however, was a new colour variant -the rose gold.

Though the Apple device is not the only device to offer a rose gold variant, another example being that of Huawei’s Mate S, it’s definitely one of the most popular. Before the Apple haters get started -it is not us but the market which affirms this -the rose gold variant was the most pre-ordered version of the new iPhones.

3. Moto X Style and Moto X Pure:

The versions of these two smartphones that launched in India did not fare too well on the looks front. But the Moto Maker available outside India allows you to customise you device in great detail. From the back to the front, to the colour and texture and feel -pretty much all of it can be altered and modified depending on the taste of the user. Moto Maker has not arrived in India yet, but if sources are to be believed, it should be here soon. Looks like the day when you get to lay your hands on a customised Moto X Pure or Style in India is not far.

4. OnePlus X

 

OnePlus X was the company’s second device launched this year, closely preceded by OnePlus 2. OnePlus X was a bit of a downer in terms of performance and user interface, but that did not keep it from becoming one of the best phones in the price bracket. It’s also a very pretty looking phone with its slim and light body, very reminiscent of iPhone 4s. Despite its glitches with SD card and camera software, OnePlus X manages to do well solely based on looks.

5. HTC One A9

This device received a lot of hate and became a topic of great discussion owing to its iPhone-‘inspired’ design. Having said that, One A9 is indeed a very impressive looking smartphone for the metal unibody frame is a winner no matter which brand sports it. The curved edges and glass screen gives the device a premium look. The team behind the design of the One A9 have stated that great amount of time and attention has gone into its design, which does feel true.

December 4, 2015
Yu Announces Cyanogen And Android Updates for Yuphoria

Yuphoria has announced that the 12.1 Cyanogen update would start rolling out starting today, along with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop and software version: YOG4PAS47N. The update will be rolled out in phases over the coming two weeks and include features like app drawers and folders redesigned to enhance accessibility.

LiveDisplay would be able to adjust the screen based on environmental conditions and Calendar Together with Email would let the user share availability and schedule appointments. Additionally, the company also promises an enhanced and smoother user interface, along with substantially increased support of codecs for video and audio playback

December 4, 2015
Xiaomi To Roll Out Marshmallow Update For the Mi 4 and Mi Note Soon

Android 6.0 Marshmallow has been making the rounds pretty efficiently and is now expected to reach Xiaomi’s Mi 4 and Mi Note very soon. This piece of information was revealed in a Weibo post by Xiaomi’s MIUI operations manager.

Xiaomi Mi 4

If this does happen, then the Mi 4 and Mi Note would be the first of Xiaomi’s devices to receive the Marshmallow update. Further reports also suggest that the update will not bring a change to the company’s interface.

Mi Note Pink Edition

The Xiaomi Mi 4 flaunts a 5 inch 1920 x 1080 pixels IPS display and is powered by a 2.5 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor paired with 3 GB of RAM. The handset gets in juice from a 3,080mAh battery.

The Mi Note flaunts a 5.7-inch 1080p display, is powered by a Snapdragon 801 processor and comes with 3 GB RAM. The phablet is available in 16 and 32 GB variants and is fueled by 3000mAh battery.

December 4, 2015
OnePlus 2 Goes on Sale Without Invite Starting Tomorrow

OnePlus fans rejoice. The much-hated invite system will end starting tomorrow – for the OnePlus 2 smartphone. Yes, you will no longer need an invite to get your hands on the OnePlus 2, the company stated in its forum. The open sale begins on December 5 at midnight with both the OnePlus 2 and the OnePlus X up for grabs. However, the OnePlus X will get to enjoy this freedom until the 7th of December.

We know that the invite system was OnePlus’ way to control demand and supply. This strategy has been employed quite well initially. So much so that the company managed to sell around 30, 000 handsets of the OnePlus 2 in China within 64 seconds of the launch. The numbers for reservation slowly hit millions. Yet the company continued with the invite system even after supply overtook demand.

The decision to rid the invite system for the OnePlus 2 comes at a time when demand for the device is seeing a fall. Certainly, OnePlus has an excess of stock at the moment, which is one of the reasons the company has been keeping a number of open sales lately as well as sending out invites repeatedly. Not only is it trying to push out its handsets, but it’s also trying to sell its accessories as well with heavy discounts.

In a blog post, OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei also stated that the company will be giving discounts on accessories and covers. Owners of a OnePlus smartphone will get 90 percent off on all accessories for their devices.

However, the decision to go invite-free doesn’t mean that it won’t suffer from stock shortage. If demand does pick up, it might just slow down the time it takes to get the phone into your hands. For example, the 16GB OnePlus 2 is currently out of stock and it’s not clear when it will return.

“The invite system has been crucial to letting us scale our operations and has given our fans a unique way to share OnePlus with the people in their lives,” writes Pei. “But we are always trying to enhance the OnePlus experience for you and taking risks to push ourselves and show real improvements. That’s why we’re making the OnePlus 2 invite-free… forever.”

The OnePlus 2 sports a 5.5-inch Full HD display and is powered by a 1.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core SoC, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of internal storage. On the camera front, the device features a 13MP rear and a 5MP front-facing camera. The device runs on Android-powered Oxygen OS 2.0. The device is currently priced at Rs. 24,999 (64GB). So, for those who have been eager to get their hands on the OnePlus 2, the wait ends tomorrow.

Additionally, if you’re in the market for the OnePlus X, you will be able to purchase it without an invite until December 7. The 16GB OnePlus X (Onyx) is currently priced at Rs. 16,999.

Source

December 4, 2015
Google Now Lets You Hear and Reply to Messages With Voice Command

Google Now has come out with yet another feature that will allow you to ask to hear your last messages and then proceed to give them to you.

The voice command “show me my last messages” will lead Google Now to list your newest five SMS messages. It would first ask if you wish to hear them, followed by if you wish to reply to them. However, the user has to word the command either as “show me my last messages” or “show me my latest messages” for Google Now to decipher it correctly. A variation of these two manners might lead Google Now to simply open your Gmail messages and leave it at that.

Additionally, this feature only works with carrier SMS messages. It is pretty much useless for Google Voice for SMS as of now. But if you use carrier SMS, it doesn’t care much for the default SMS app and should work with anything.

December 4, 2015
HP to Work on High-End Tablets Priced Similar to Apple iPad

HP Slate 7 came out in 2013 and since then the tablet-business for the company has not been too smooth. HP had aimed to increase sales by keeping the prices low, but that couldn’t work for the company. The manufacturer decided to modify its tactics this year, the Cyber Monday sale being an example. This year, HP conducted a liquidation sale to sort out the inventory of its low-priced slate-tablets.

Additionally, HP has split itself into two companies -one aims at enterprises, the other at consumers. Tablets for “business mobility” will now be part of production of the company. President of Personal Systems at HP, David Coughlin says the tablets will now aim at retail, education and health care.

“We are going to focus where there is profitability and growth and will not chase the low-end tablet market. We are focusing on business mobility to deliver tablets built for field service, education, retail and healthcare,” says David Coughlin

As HP got rid of pretty much most of it low-range tablets, the tablets still on the website have similar price tags as iPads. HP Envy 8 Note are two consumer tablets available on the website. They feature an Intel Atom chipset and are priced at $329 and $429 respectively. These tablets are further equipped with a stylus controlled interface.

iPad Pro with the Apple Pencil

The lowest price tablets by HP are two variants of the HP Slate 8 which include an 8-inch device powered by Snapdragon 801 along with Android 5.0 pre-installed. These tablets are priced at $469 and $499.

December 4, 2015
Motorola Spotlight is How Google Revolutionised Art and Technology

Back in 2013, Motorola and Google together came out with Spotlight Stories – a interactive medium to tell stories which puts users inside an animated featurette. The user would have to turn and tilt their phone in all directions and angles to let the story unfold, and follow the character on its journey.

The first Spotlight Story was Windy Day in October, 2013, followed by Buggy Night in 2014, for Moto X phones.

https://youtu.be/Fa0so7mjS_s

Google got on-board the most talented and brilliant team for the first two installments of Spotlight. The director for the films was Jan Pinkava, creator and co-director of Ratatouille, and veteran animator Mark Oftedal -the animator of films like Toy Story and A Bug’s Life.

The third Spotlight Story, Duet, which came out in 2014, completely outdid the previous Stories as French animator Glen Keane provided the most breathtaking film so far.

With these three films Google had revolutionised story-telling and art by fusing it with technology. Mobile graphics processors now not only rivaled the capabilities of video game consoles such as that of PS3 and Xbox 360, but also put the tech to a very interactive use for the average smartphone owner. Gone were the days of the primitive world of Candy Crush and Angry Birds.

Don’t believe us? Take a look at the Glen Keane film below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qnQqXr838E

“…with Duet we learned to coax rather than control. Because of the nature of this virtual world technology there were no individual shots cut together. It is all one continuous living moment. I think of it less as a traditional film and more as a visual poem,” explains Keane.

The Story can be viewed in its interactive form on the Moto X, Moto X (1st Gen.), Moto G (2nd Gen.) and Moto G 4G LTE. Take a quick look at what it’s like to follow a Spotlight Story.

https://youtu.be/VAJXkZ0WB_o

The interactive element of the Stories makes sure they last for as long as the user desires. The amount of time they want to spend exploring the world of Spotlight Stories directly determines how long the film will run for. The more the camera is moved, the longer the story will last. Thus, there is not only an element of physicality, but also direct involvement on the part of the viewer, who is now also the story-teller.

This mobile-specific story-telling experience however did not go down too well with all users. The internet saw its own set of frantic questions about disabling Spotlight Stories. But there will always be haters now, isn’t it?

December 4, 2015
YU Yutopia Launch Pushed Back to December 17

Those eagerly awaiting the new YU Yutopia launch will have to wait a little more. Micromax’s YU Televentures was originally planning to launch the phone on December 7, but has now pushed the date back. YU Televentures’ Rahul Sharma tweeted that the ‘most powerful phone’ will now launch on December 17.

.@YUplaygod Hold your excitement, as we plan to announce something special with YUTOPIA. The most powerful phone now launches on 17th Dec

— Rahul Sharma (@rahulsharma) December 2, 2015

The company has been teasing the device’s capabilities on social media for a while now, posting images taken by Yutopia’s camera. The reason behind the delay, according to the company’s spokesperson, is that they have two smartphones lined up for release and decided to hold a single event for it. No word yet on what the mysterious second device will be.

Follow this space for more on the upcoming launch event.

December 3, 2015