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Xiaomi Slashes the Price of the Mi 4i

Xiaomi is dropping the price of the 16GB variant of the Mi 4i. The new pricing will put the smartphone at Rs. 11,999 starting at 00:00hrs on 18^th November 2015 on Mi.com, as well as across all Mi India partners including Flipkart, Amazon, Snapdeal, The Mobile Store and Airtel.

Xiaomi applied its powerful design and engineering capabilities to create Mi 4i, which was launched globally at a premiere in New Delhi in April this year. The Xiaomi Mi 4i has a 5-inch Full HD OGS IPS display with 441ppi pixel density. The processor powering the phone is a 64-bit octa-core Cortex-A53; the four cores clocked at 1.7 GHz and the other four at 1.1 GHz. It features 2GB of RAM and 16GB of non-expandable storage space. The Mi 4i runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop with the company’s MIUI 6 on top.

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Other features include a 13MP rear and a 5MP shooter. The dual-SIM device is powered by a 3120mAh battery. Connectivity options include Micro-USB 2.0, Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi.

November 17, 2015

Microsoft Begins Pre-Orders For the Lumia 950 XL

We have some good news for all the Lumia users, Microsoft has finally started taking pre-orders for the Lumia 950 XL that will come with the new Windows 10 software installed. This version will not be available at all carriers, so if you are in the US you can purchase an unlocked variant of the smartphone. Just to give you a recap, here are the specifications of the phone:

Feature	Lumia 950 XL
Display	5.7 inches
Resolution	1440 x 2560 pixels
Processor	Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810
RAM	3 GB RAM
Internal Storage	32 GB, microSD, up to 200 GB
Rear Camera	20MP
Front Camera	5MP
Battery	Li-Ion 3340 mAh battery
Connections	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot, Bluetooth v4.1, A2DP, GPS, NFC
USB	v3.1, Type-C reversible connector
Price	$649 (approx. Rs.42,844)

Reports also suggest that you will be eligible to receive a free Microsoft Display Dock through the Lumia Offers app, on purchase of the Lumia 950 XL. The phone is expected to ship by the 25th of November 2015.

Microsoft has priced this smartphone at $650 which rounds up to about Rs.42,844 and is available in two colour variants – black and white. Keep watching this space for more updates.

November 17, 2015

Apple iPad Pro Units Unresponsive and Prone to Freezing While Charging

Tim Cook has been in news lately for making confident comments about Apple devices and calling the recently launched Microsoft Surface Book “deluded“. However, the comments may have come a tad too soon in the day as some users are already complaining of glitches in the recently launched iPad Pro 4.

There have been numerous complaints on Apple Support forums -all playing to the same tune:

“I’m having the same problem. I’ve charged my new iPad Pro twice and both times it required a hard reset to get it working. Very frustrating.” Another complaint: “I have the exact same issue. When I connect my iPad Pro to the charger for more than an hour, it goes dead. It takes multiple hard resets to bring it back to life.”

The device freezes or gets unresponsive during charging. Apple is aware of the problem and has given tips like performing a factory reset and restarting the device using iTunes. Affected users can also hold down both the Sleep/Wake as well as the Home button simultaneously for a few seconds to force a restart on the tablet.

Many iPhone 6, 6s and 6s Plus units have also been facing the same glitches lately. This means it could be an iOS 9 problem which could be fixed with a simple software update. Either way, post all the confidence that surrounds the launch of every Apple device, these problems are a bit of a downer. We’ll hold our breath until Tim Cook has something to say about this as well. Is that the sound of Microsoft giggling behind the curtains?

November 17, 2015
Micromax Launches the Canvas Amaze at Rs. 7,999

Micromax has launched the Canvas Amaze in India at a price of Rs. 7,999. The smartphone is available at a variety of online retailers.

The Canvas Amaze features a 5-inch HD (720X1280 pixels) IPS display and comes with dual-SIM support. The smartphone is powered by a quad-core MediaTek MT6580 processor clocked at 1.3GHz clubbed with 2GB of RAM and runs on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.

Other features of the Canvas Amaze include a 13MP primary camera with LED flash and a 5MP front. The device comes with 8GB of internal storage that’s expandable up to 32GB via MicroSD card slot. On the connectivity front the phone includes 3G, Wi-Fi Bluetooth, Micro-USB,and A-GPS, FM, while sensors include Proximity sensor, Accelerometer and Gyroscope, to name a few. The device has a 2000mAh removable battery pack, which will give you about 7 hours of talk time and 260 hours of standby.

Micromax is planning to host an event on November 18 for the launch of a new smartphone. No further details have been revealed as of now.

November 17, 2015
Asus Zenfone 2 Series Set to Receive Android 6.0 Marshmallow Updates

There is some good news for Asus owners out there. The Android 6.0 Marshmallow update is going to make its way to the Zenfone 2 series. Google, Samsung, HTC, Motorola, OnePlus and few other companies have already made announcements about Marshmallow updates and today, Asus made an announcement as well.

Asus’ Zenfone 2 series will get the updates in the coming months, but the actual dates have not yet been revealed. The first device on the list will be the Asus Zenfone 2 (ZE550ML / ZE551ML), followed by Zenfone 2 Deluxe / Special Edition (ZE551ML).

The Zenfone 2 Laser (ZE550KG / ZE500KL / ZE550KL / ZE600KL / ZE601KL) and Zenfone Selfie (ZE551KL) will be next in line.

The list is still pretty small and many devices like the Padrone S and Zenfone 5 models have not been mentioned. Furthermore, if you happen to own a version of the Asus Zenfone 2 that hasn’t been included in the list above then you will just have to wait for Asus to make another announcement.

November 17, 2015
OnePlus Android 6.0 Marshmallow Update Cycle Announced for One, Two and X

Users with OnePlus devices, time to rejoice for the company has announced its Marshmallow update schedule. Even though the company has still not revealed exact dates, the announcement mentions updates in early 2016.

This is what the company had to say in an official statement.

“For the OnePlus One, Cyanogen OS will be updating to Marshmallow in the first quarter of 2016. We created a community build of OxygenOS for the OnePlus One, but this isn’t what the product officially ships with. We will be updating the community build of OxygenOS for the OnePlus One when time allows.

The OnePlus 2 will also be updated in Q1, and the update will include the new standard Marshmallow API for the fingerprint sensor… We are working hard to bring Marshmallow as soon as possible to the OnePlus X, and will update you on a time frame at a later time.”

OnePlus has been in news lately after releasing one device after another – OnePlus 2 and OnePlus X respectively, both having wooed customers in their own special ways. And now the Android M update will be here too to provide customers with a smoother, more efficient experience.

November 16, 2015
HTC One X9 With 5.5-Inch Display Gets Certified by TENAA

It has been rumoured for a while now that HTC is working on a new device called the One X9. Now the device has been spotted at a telecommunication certification agency,TENAA, revealing features and pictures of the device.

TENAA – the Chinese telecom authority website – has reportedly posted a document of the upcoming device containing images and a spec list. The image shows the One X9 flaunting a horizontally placed oval camera module on top not unlike the Huawei Nexus 6P. The only difference between the two is that the camera module does not protrude with the former while the Nexus 6P has a little bump.

What’s quite surprising is that this is the second device by HTC in the past month that shows strikingly similar design elements to already-existing phones. The HTC One A9 was criticised for blatantly ripping off iPhone’s design, and now the One X9 seems to be ‘borrowing’ from the Nexus 6P. If the images posted by TENAA are true, this will surely invite harsh criticism from the public.

Moving on to the specs, the One X9 will sport a 5.5-inch full HD (1920x1080p) display and run on the Android Lollipop OS powered by 2.2GHz Octa-core processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage (expandable up to 1TB). It will feature a 13MP camera on the rear and a 5MP front.

Nothing is known on the official launch of the device, but the fact that the One X9 has been listed on TENAA means that HTC will likely unveil the device soon. Follow this space for more.

November 16, 2015
The Mozilla Firefox iOS App Is Finally Available On the App Store

Mozilla had been testing an iOS version of its browser for a while now, and it has finally launched a Firefox version for iOS. This app will now be available on the Apple Store on all iOS run devices ranging from the iPhone to the iPod Touch.

Firefox had previously held a stance against developing software for Apple’s app store, but has clearly moved on since then. The first iOS Mozilla tester had rolled out in May this year, following another one in September, before going live with the final version.

This app is being introduced amongst much competition in the sphere of web browsing, especially with iOS owned Safari already in the picture. This new app will allow Firefox loyalists to continue using the web browser even on their Apple products. Let’s all hope that Firefox is able to gain some new customers whilst keeping its old ones too.

Here is a link for you to download Mozilla Firefox on to your Apple devices. Just make sure your device runs the iOS 8.2 or above.

November 16, 2015
Roadmap Shows Upcoming Marshmallow Update for Samsung Devices

It’s been a couple of months to the launch of the latest version of Android 6.0 Marshmallow, and yet the the OS has only been installed on about 0.3% of Android devices so far. The job of rolling out the latest update lies on the OEMs. Today, there’s finally some good news for eager Samsung users.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5

For those who own Samsung devices, a leaked document reveals possible dates for the Marshmallow update. The updates will take place in three phases. Samsung Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ users will likely receive the update in December, though the exact date is not revealed. The Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge will receive the Android update in January 2016. Meanwhile, older models like the Galaxy Note 4 and Note Edge are expected to receive their’s in February.

There’s no word yet on when the Galaxy S5, Alpha and the Galaxy A and E-series will receive the update since it’s still pending approval.

November 16, 2015
There Will Not Be a Macbook/iPad Hybrid, Says CEO Tim Cook

Just a couple of days after his comment on the Microsoft Surface Book where he called it “deluded”, Tim Cook has rubbished any rumours and speculations of a Macbook and iPad hybrid. This comment follows what Apple marketing head Phil Schiller said about the hybrid market. He sees it as a nascent realm unlikely to grow into anything significant.

Elaborating further, while talking to an Irish newspaper, Cook said any hybrid device would mean an inefficient product that would satisfy neither the iPad user nor the Macbook user.

“We feel strongly that customers are not really looking for a converged Mac and iPad. Because what that would wind up doing, or what we’re worried would happen, is that neither experience would be as good as the customer wants. So we want to make the best tablet in the world and the best Mac in the world. And putting those two together would not achieve either. You’d begin to compromise in different ways,” said Tim Cook, CEO, Apple

November 16, 2015
Is Microsoft Late in Launching Cortana in India?

Cortana, the voice-based virtual assistant, was launched in India for Windows 10 users yesterday, with the Indian accent and voice support. It is part of the November update which the company announced on Thursday.

Thanks to leaks, some Indian users managed to get to lay their hands on this new addition by Microsoft weeks ago. But now it’s finally here officially and how. Microsoft says it took time in launching it in the country because it was working on an Indian voice and accent.

Cortana for India is complete with India-specific knowledge as well. Not only will it be able to understand the Indian accent but you can also talk to the voice assistant about golgappas and cricket, says Microsoft. Indian festivals and customs are two other things Cortana now recognises.

When asked about Diwali, Cortana says, “in the courtyard of AI imagination, I would light up a thousand diyas.”

The virtual assistant was first introduced in the country in September as part of Microsoft’s Insider Preview program with the promise of an update to be rolled out later. Microsoft claimed it was still working on improving voice support.

Users can now use Cortana to book tickets using Book My Show app. However, what is perhaps the most interesting feature that Microsoft cannot stop talking about is clicking selfies using simply voice commands. The virtual assistant with its added features is also capable of looking into your emails and reminding you of appointments and events, or reschedule meetings if need be.

But after its global launch months ago, is Microsoft a little too late in bringing it in India? Whether or not the delay is a disadvantage, Cortana definitely has an edge over its Apple counterpart, Siri, with its knowledge of Indian customs and accent. Let us know which voice assistant would you rather prefer in the comments below.

November 14, 2015
Apple To Discontinue Beats Music By the End Of November

Recent reports suggest that Apple will shut down Beats Music on the 30th of November 2015. Even though all the Beats subscriptions will end on that day, Apple is still encouraging subscribers to migrate their user profiles to Apple Music by saying that:

“…on Apple Music, you’ll get even better recommendations based on music you already listen to and love, 24/7 global radio with Beats 1, exciting material from your favorite artist, and more.”

This decision to shut Beats Music down has come less than six months after the company unveiled Apple Music. The appearance of Apple Music is said to have marked a departure from Apple’s stance on resisting the adoption of any music subscription model for its users. This service offers users recommendations based on purchases made over Apple’s iTunes Store or chosen on-demand from an online catalog. Apple Music also includes Beats 1, which is a 24X7 radio station. Apart from this the service also offers something called ‘Connect’ where artists can interact with their well-wisher or fans to share songs directly to their iPhones.

Since its launch, Apple Music has gathered 6.5 million subscribers, however this number still does not beat Spotify’s 25 million paid members and 50 million unpaid members. Furthermore, Apple has even released the service for Android users. Therefore, with the reach of Apple Music extending to more than just its customers, the discontinuation of Beats Music should not make much of a difference to the tech mogul.

November 14, 2015
Samsung Galaxy S7 To Sport a 4K Display and 14 Cores

Samsung is creating a buzz about its next rumoured smartphone, the Galaxy S7 Premium Edition. According to rumours, this phone will only be offered in South Korea and could feature a 4K display with a dual-lens camera module made by Sony.

This phone is expected to run on the new Exynos 8890 chipset, which is expected to come with a 14 nm FinFET process chip, an integrated CP and modem chip and is the first custom core design chip that the company has created. This chip is expected to arrive with Samsung’s next flagship phone, the Galaxy S7 in all markets except for USA and China. In those two countries, the phone will be powered by the Snapdragon 820 SoC.

The original Exynos 8890 Soc is expected to come with the Mali-T880 and 12 cores, however new reports suggest that the Exynos 8890 for the Galaxy S7 Special Edition will come with the Mali-T880 and 14 cores.

As lovely as all this sounds, Samsung has not confirmed any of the above rumours. So, let’s just wait and see what Samsung has to offer us, until the next Samsung Unpacked event.

November 14, 2015
AT&T Reportedly Testing Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge

Popular and reliable phone leaker Evan Blass (@evleaks) tweeted last night that AT&T is already testing two new Samsung phones with model numbers SM-G930A and SM-G935A, which presumably refer to the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge.

AT&T already testing both Galaxy S7 variants (SM-G930A and -G935A), adding weight to rumors of an early- to mid-1Q16 release.

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) November 13, 2015

It is already known that Samsung plans an early 2016 launch of its flagship devices. Earlier this month, rumours were afloat that Samsung will launch the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge on February 21, just before the start of MWC 2016.

Not much is revealed in the specs department yet. Rumours have been suggesting that the flagship could sport a 12MP sensor provided by Sony, which will focus on better low-light images. Other details that have been going around suggest an Exynos 8 Octa 8890 processor, a 5.2-inch display on the Galaxy S7 and 5.8-inch dual-curved display on the S7 Edge. However, nothing is confirmed at the moment.

The fact that AT&T is already testing the models means the launch of the device will follow shortly after the unveiling in February. The devices will be widely available after the U.S launch and will be sold by all major carriers around the world.

November 14, 2015
Xiaomi Mi 5 Gets Benchmarked, to Feature Snapdragon 820 Processor

Xiaomi has been teasing the launch of the Mi 5 for a while now. Reports suggested that the upcoming flagship device will see a December 3 launch along with the Mi Pad 2. Yesterday, the Mi Pad 2 was listed on Geekbench benchmark, and now the Mi 5 has been spotted as well.

The Mi 5 is going by the codename ‘Gemini’ and the benchmark listing reveal some juicy details about what’s under the rumoured smartphone’s hood. One noticeable feature spotted was Qualcomm’s recently unveiled Snapdragon 820 processor. This puts the rumoured December launch of the Mi 5 on hold since Qualcomm confirmed that devices featuring the new Snapdragon 820 processor will launch only in 2016.

Other details tipped by the listing include Android 6.0 Marshmallow, 3GB of RAM, and a clock speed of up to 1.59GHz. The Mi 5 also scored a 2,140 on the single-core test and 4,762 on multi-core.

Since the launch of the Snapdragon 820 processor and Mi 5 are widely separated, it looks like the launch date for the flagship will now be pushed to 2016. We’ll keep you posted as we know more on Xiaomi Mi 5’s availability.

November 14, 2015