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Nokia Might Be Planning to Enter the Wearables Business

The whole world is moving towards wearables. So, it’s only right for Nokia to get into the game as well. The company recently amended its Articles of Association to include consumer wearables. This happens to come around the time when rumours are afloat that Nokia is planning on a smartwatch or bracelet that focuses on health and well being.

You may have heard that Nokia was planning to launch a smartwatch last year that was codenamed ‘Moonraker’ that had many of the aesthetics of the modern Windows phone. However, the project was scrapped after Microsoft took over presumably because Microsoft had its own Band in the work.

Nokia Moonraker

Two years ago, Nokia had filed a patent for a smart wearable that looked more like a bracelet than a watch, with multiple screen for different functions. We are not sure whether Nokia plans to begin working on its past projects again or if it’s looking to work on something entirely different. But the change in the corporation papers shows signs that Nokia is ready to bring out its smartwatch or bracelet soon.

Nokia has a tough challenge ahead if it really is working on consumer wearables. Today, smart wearable is what is getting the tech world pumped, and traditional watchmaking brands like Fossil are also getting into the game. The competition is stiff and Nokia will have to come out with something unique if they want to stand a chance.

October 24, 2015
HTC Exec Defends One A9’s Design: “It’s Apple that Copies Us”

HTC unveiled the One A9 a few days ago that brought a whirlwind of criticism for its apparent iPhone rip-off. There is no doubt that the One A9 is basically a slightly cheaper iPhone clone, at least in terms of design. And while HTC knew what it was getting itself into with its newest device, the company’s executive has come out with a statement in defense of the One A9.

A senior HTC executive said that it was in fact Apple who originally copied one of their designs for the iPhone 6. “We’re not copying. We made a unibody metal-clad phone in 2013. It’s Apple that copies us in terms of the antenna design on the back,” said HTC’s North Asia President Jack Tong.

The phone being referred to here is the HTC One M7 that came out a year before the iPhone 6. While it is true that the iPhone 6’s metal unibody design has certain likeliness to the M7, what Apple has done is create a phone that looks uniquely their own, just as HTC did with the M7 to M9 phones. Have a look at 2013’s One M7 below.

The One M7 was truly a beautifully crafted phone. It had a full-metal unibody design with a curved back and dual front-facing speakers. The company continued this design with the M8 and M9 as well, and rightly so. The iPhone 6 did copy some elements from the One M7, there is no denying that. Apple has done it before and will do it again.

It is a fact that companies borrow inspiration from each other almost always. But what doesn’t sit well with the new HTC phone is that the company has not even tried to make something different here. The HTC One A9 looks like the new iPhone 6 and 6s in almost every way.

Source: [tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news/content?id=20151022000093&cid=1102″]WantChinaTimes[/tw-button]

October 24, 2015
This is What Apple Music Could Look Like on Android

Apple haters may hate a lot of things about Apple’s products, but there is one thing that moves beyond hate. Music. And Apple haters and loyalists alike love music. There was a time when Apple revolutionized the way we listen to music with the iPod. But early this year saw the end to the classic iPod. To continue its goal to redefine music, Apple launched the Apple Music.

Apple Music is currently an iOS-only music streaming platform that gives you access to millions of songs from the company’s iTunes library. And for a basic monthly subscription, you can listen to unlimited music. This was Apple’s promise, and this is what they have delivered.

The Apple Music is actually quite brilliant. It gives the most popular music streaming platform today (Spotify) a run for its money. The reason being is that Apple Music is personal. Apple has put a lot of thought in the way the music service works for you. From curated playlists that have about 12-15 songs, which is just right, to Beats Radio, and Connect that lets you see what your favorite artist is up to. There is everything a music lover could ask for. But iOS users already know this. So why are we saying it now? It’s because Apple had promised that its music streaming service will come to Android soon as well.

The company said that Apple Music will be available for Android users this fall, which is any time now. Some screenshots published by Mobile Geeks show what Apple Music could look like for Android, and it’s pretty much what you’d expect. All the main features of Apple Music is present. Users will navigate Apple Music by using a slide-out menu accessible through the hamburger icon or via a swipe from the left side.

The For You section that shows curated playlists and artists based on your choice of music and genre, along with New, Beats 1 radio. Connect and My Music are all there. Presumably the My Music will link your phone’s music folder so all your songs are in one place. For iOS users the Apple Music was a natural extension to the Music app.

So, Android users in India will soon have the option to jump on to the Apple Music service. There are already a few music streaming platforms in India like Wynk, Saavn, Gaana and Hungama, that are pretty good. It is likely that Apple will provide a 3-months free trial of Apple Music for Android users as well. So once the app is out, give it a whirl and see if this is the service for you. The monthly subscription for iOS users is Rs. 120 for individuals and Rs. 180 for families. For Android users, the cost is likely to be around the same.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1zs0uHHoSw

October 24, 2015

Nexus 5X: Unboxing and Hands On

As you all know, Google’s Nexus 5X was launched in India on October 13, 2015. We managed to get our hands on the 5X and did a quick unboxing and setup of the device.

The Nexus 5X comes with a 5.2-inch FHD display, USB Type-C which allows almost 4 hours of battery post a 10-minute charging routine, and is available in three colours – Carbon black, Quartz white and Ice blue.

It is further packed with a 2 GB RAM, Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 chipset and OS Android Marshmallow 6.0. On the camera front, the device comes equipped with a 12.3 MP rear camera and a 5 MP selfie camera. The smartphone is capable of capturing 4K and slow-motion videos, making this phone the most advanced multimedia Nexus device to date.

The Nexus 5X is priced at Rs, 31,990 for the 16 GB variant and Rs. 35,990 for the 32 GB variant. We will have a full hands on review of the Nexus 5X soon.

Specification	LG Nexus 5X
Display	5.2-inch Full HD IPS (1920 x 1080 / 423ppi)
Resolution	1080 x 1920 pixels (~424 ppi pixel density)
Chipset	1.8 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 808
CPU	Quad-core 1.44 GHz Cortex-A53 & dual-core 1.82 GHz Cortex-A57
GPU	Adreno 418
RAM	2 GB LPDDR3 RAM
Front Camera	5 MP with F/2.0 Aperture
Rear Camera	Up to 12.3 MP with F/2.0 Aperture
Storage	16 or 32 GB eMMC ROM
Expandability	NA
Battery	2,700 mAh (embedded)
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac / Bluetooth 4.2 / NFC / Type-C USB
Operating System	Android OS, v6.0 (Marshmallow)
Price	Rs. 31,990/ Rs. 35,990

October 24, 2015

The Apple Watch is Finally Coming to India

Apple is all set to launch the Apple Watch in India. The company’s India website now features a Watch option on the top along with other Apple products. The smartwatch will hit the stores on November 6th, according to the website.

The Apple Watch was first unveiled in March and began rolling out in April with a few countries at a time. The Watch is available in two variants – 38 mm and 42 mm. The US price of the Apple Watch’s base Sport model is $349 (around Rs. 23,000), which can be expected to cost close to Rs. 30,000 in India. The company has launched close to 34 combinations of the Watch with prices going as high as $10,000 for the Watch edition.

Apple has been mum on how well the Apple Watch has been doing. The company has also refused to disclose how many units it has sold till date. Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the information was privileged and that he didn’t want to “help the competition.” That hasn’t stopped analysts trying to come up with an estimate. Some analysts have said that Apple has managed to ship 4.2 million units in the last three months.

Apple recently unveiled the new watchOS 2, the updated system software for the Apple Watch, which brought features like activation lock, native apps, email reply and more. You can also use Messenger on the Apple Watch.

The biggest challenge is whether the Indian market is ready for wearable technologies like a smartwatch. It may be a while before consumers are ready to have something expensive around their wrists, and initial sales may not be as big as one is used to when an Apple product launches in India. However, the news has already gotten Indian developers building apps for the Watch, and some of the first ones include the likes of Cleartrip, HDFC Bank app, and Avaamo among others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ql0Z8Il73s

October 23, 2015
Samsung Officially Launches the Galaxy On5 and On7 Smartphones

Lately, we’ve been hearing a lot about Samsung’s newest budget phones, the Galaxy On5 and On7. The devices were briefly listed in the companies website a few days ago and we understood some specs of the devices. Samsung has now officially launched the phones and here’s what we know.

The On5 and On7 are pretty similar to each other and are equipped with a 1.3 GHz 32-bit quad-core Samsung Exynos 3475 processor paired with a Mali-T720 MP1 GPU and 1.5 GB of RAM. The phones come with a really low 8 GB internal storage, but are expandable up to 128 GB via MicroSD slot.

The Galaxy On7 and the Galaxy On5 feature 5.5-inch and 5.0-inch Super AMOLED display, respectively. Another point of difference between them is the camera. The Galaxy On5 has an 8-megapixel rear camera while the On7 houses a 13-megapixel sensor rear, and they both sport a 5-megapixel front. Meanwhile, the On7 has a bigger 3000mAh battery compared to On5’s 2,600mAh.

Samsung has in all likelihood cut down on bloatware for the two devices seeing as it comes only with an 8 GB internal storage. However, even with reduced bloatware, an 8 GB phone will be a tough sell for buyers. One will have to wait and see how people take to Samsung’s new phones.

As far as pricing is concerned there has been no word on it yet, though the expected prices stand at $150 for the On5 and around $200 for the On7. The phones are expected to launch in markets outside China in the next few months.

October 23, 2015
Retractable Screen For iPhone That Act As Shock Absorbers During Falls

One universal flaw iPhone users all over have had trouble dealing with is the delicateness of their devices. No one is new to cracked or out an out shattered screens of these Apple devices. However, the company might have finally managed to find a solution for this.

In a patent called ‘Active screen protection for electronic device‘, Apple is looking at solving the problem of fragile iPhone screens. The idea is to attach a retractable tab to the screen. If the device senses a fall, the tab would deploy outwards creating a gap between the screen and the surface, reducing impact, and therefore, damage to the device.

Modern iOS devices have various components that are equipped with drop sensing technology. Apple has shown interest in the past as well for active fall protection but the required patented hardware is yet to be incorporated in the company’s lineup. The patent for active screen protection was first filed in April 2014, under Tyson B. Manullang, Stephen B. Lynch and Emery A. Sanford as its inventors.

In the meantime, Apple has been busy working on touch oriented technology like 3D Touch. Consequently, the new iPhones -6s and 6s Plus – come equipped with specialized Corning glass which provides support for this feature, while at the same time providing protection against scratches and breakage.

October 23, 2015
Huawei Replaces Xiaomi as China’s No. 1 Smartphone Manufacturer

Research firm Canalys reports that Huawei has replaced Xiaomi as the number one manufacturer of smartphones in China, a first for Huawei to have topped the ranking. While Xiaomi’s sales declined, Huawei’s increased by an 81% over the last one year. Though Canalys didn’t share the exact details, the firm says other details will be made available by the end of this month.

Both Xiaomi and Huawei have been warmly welcomed in the country as well, providing smartphones with impressive specs and price-tags friendly with the average Indian pocket. Huawei however has been more in news lately primarily because of one of the two latest Google Nexus smartphones. Nexus 6P is the device which is made by Huawei and has provided a high-end gadget to the smartphone industry.

Huawei Nexus 6P

Xiaomi on the other hand grabbed the limelight with its Mi 4c, which has similar specs as the other Nexus device launched recently, Nexus 5X, but at half the price. You can find the entire comparison here. While the two tech giants fight it out in the world, tell us your preference in the comments below.

October 23, 2015
New iOS 9 Update Brings Tons of New Emojis, Live Photos Improvements

It’s about time you got an emoji that lets you ‘flip the bird’. Wait, let’s rephrase that. It’s about time you got some new ways to express while messaging. Apple has released it’s latest iOS 9.1 update that comes with two major features.

The first is related to Live Photos. Live Photos will now be able to sense when you move your hand higher or lower, and will ignore the movements.

The second new feature is a lot more exciting. The latest updates brings over 150 new emoji characters which include taco, burrito, cheese wedge, money eyes, and the middle finger. Yes, you read that right. There is now an emoji that lets you send a middle finger to anyone if you find yourself unable to express your feelings through the word.

There is a catch, though. The new emojis can be sent only to those who have updated to the iOS 9.1. So, non-iOS users and iOS users still on the older version will not know when you’re giving them the finger. Some would say there is a certain evil joy in that too.

Apart from these changes, iOS 9.1 includes new features and compatibility updates for upcoming Apple products like the fourth-generation Apple TV and the iPad Pro. The new Apple TV requires iOS 9.1 for setting up. The new update also fixes a lot of bugs such as unresponsive Calendar, issues with Game Center and some issues with Mail search, among other things.

In case you haven’t already updated your iPhone to the new iOS 9.1 update, you can do so now. For those who don’t know how to get it done, simply head over to Setting > General > Software Updates and hit on ‘Download and Install’. You can also connect your device to the computer and update via iTunes. Once installed, play around with all the new emojis and show some love to your friends by sending them the finger.

October 22, 2015
Why Apple Limited Functionality of 3D Touch

3D Touch is definitely one of the most talked about features of the new iPhones. This is a highly sensitive touch technology which is able to differentiate between three different kinds of touch. In simpler terms it means easier, quicker shortcuts for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus users.

However, Apple deliberately limited the functionality of this new feature, according to sources. Developer Victor Baro says,

“We need to take into account that, because 3D Touch is only available in iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, no action should be completed just by using this feature,” he said. “The user should be able to achieve any action without using 3D Touch (just like Peek & Pop does), and 3D Touch should only provide an extra level of interaction.”

Similarly, other developers have also pointed out how 3D Touch would allow users an entire range of features likethe ability to apply filters to images only using force on the screen, being an example. Take a look at developer FlexMonkey’s blog post right here to see what else 3D Touch has to offer.

One of the main reasons why Apple didn’t introduce many features with 3D Touch this time is that the company wants users to be more familiar with the technology first. The introduction of 3D Touch to iPhone 6s and 6s Plus is an attempt to familiarise users before they can be introduced to a more complex technological advancement.

Additionally, Apple also wants the same set of core features for all iOS users, irrespective of the device they’re using. Granted, all such devices are different from each other in many ways, but the essential requirements for apps to run is quite similar in all iOS 9 gadgets. Apple has thus made life easier for developers by making sure 3D Touch is only used for shortcuts at the moment.

iPhone 7 is the Apple device which is likely to bring in more 3D Touch features with it. Following from the rumours of getting rid of the home button we talked about yesterday, 3D Touch might be used to take care of tasks by replacing it. It seems like a long wait until iPhone 7 for us to find out more about 3D Force, but waiting is what we shall do for now.

October 22, 2015
Mac Malware Reaches an All-Time High

It’s a myth that your Mac is the most malware-free PC out there. That perhaps used to be the case, and one reason behind it was that hackers were more attracted to Windows due to their larger presence in the market. But not anymore. Over the years there has been a change. Apple’s share of the PC has grown and, of course, hackers are all too aware of that.

There has been an increase in malware specifically targeting Apple’s Mac platform. What’s more is that the malware is a lot more dangerous and sophisticated than one would think. According to reports from BleepingComputer, 2015 was the most malware-ridden year for the Mac. The reports summarised the findings from Bit9 and Carbon Black that state that OS X malware this year was five times more prevalent than the preceding five years combined.

Bit9 and Carbon Black also released a chart that leaves everything quite clear.

According to the chart, there was about 180 instances of malware during the period of 2010-2014, while 2015 saw a whopping 948 instances, and there’s still a couple of months to the end of this year.

BleepingComputer also listed some of the most common OS X malware found this year. This is based on a 10 week study with over 1400 unique malware samples collected and analysed. The common ones are narrowed down were:

Lamadai – backdoor Trojan targeting a Java vulnerability.
Kitm – ran commands on machines for victims at the Oslo Freedom Forum
Hackback – ran commands on machines for victims at the Oslo Freedom Forum
LaoShu – spam via undelivered mail parcels
Appetite – Trojan targeting government organizations
Coin Thief – stole bitcoin login credentials via cracked AngryBird applications.

Another point to note is that while there are a number of malware being floating around these days, not all are dangerous. Apple has protected itself from most. The issue is, however, that there is a rise in the number of malware targeting Macs. The onus is on Apple to take this into serious consideration and work to make its future OS X updates safer.

October 22, 2015
The iPhone May Lose its Home Button

There is no possibility that we’re getting a look at the next iPhone before the second half of next year, but why should that stop us from speculating about that one device everyone loves to hate?

Piper Jaffrey analyst Gene Munster writes in a blog post,

“3D Touch may provide Apple with a way to eliminate the home button on the phone and use the additional space to make the screen bigger or make the device smaller. One barrier to this could be Touch ID, which is integrated into the home button currently. Apple would need to move the Touch ID reader to potentially the side of the phone to remove the home button.”

Could it be possible then? iPhone 7 is also expected to be smaller in design with negligible or no changes to the screen size. Additionally, Apple recently filed a patent which suggests that the company wants to put Touch ID behind the display instead of the side, same as what Munster mentions.

At the same time, there have been other patents as well which have hinted at not only keeping the home button but also adding new features and technology to it. The tech giant recently patented a way to use the Touch ID as type of a track pad. This feature would be able to identify the direction of your fingerprint movement and provide two user interfaces based on the movement of the swipe.

There is a 50% chance of Apple getting rid of its home button, if Munster’s speculations are to be taken into account.. Do you think Apple will actually do away with one of the most characteristic feature of its iPhone? Let us know in the comments below.

October 21, 2015
Specs of Galaxy On5 Accidentally Put Up Online, Reveal 5-inch Display

Images, specs and other details of Samsung Galaxy On5 were accidentally put up on the company’s official website. The On7 variant was revealed too but only with its user manual going up on the site. The listing has now been removed, but the images of the two phones are available online.

Galaxy On5 is an entry-level phone which comes with “an unprecedentedly thin frame and bezel”. It consists of a 5-inch screen with 720p resolution. Its physical measurements are 142.3 x 72.1 x 8.5 mm along with a faux leather back. A Exynos chipset with quad-core processor and 1.5 GB RAM are some of its other specs. Even though the phone comes with 8 GB of total storage, only half of it is available to the user. However, it does include a microSD card slot to ensure expandability to the user. The phone will run on the Android OS, but the Android version remains unclear at the moment.

In terms of the camera, On5 packs an 8 MP main camera capable of 1080p video recording, along with a 5 MP front camera. It’s a dual-SIM phone (microSIMs) with LTE connectivity (TDD and FDD). The phone is equipped with a 2,600 mAh battery which claims up to 13 hours of browsing on Wi-Fi, 11 hours on 3G, and 12 hours of video playback. The price of this smartphone in the country is expected to be Rs. 10,000.

The other smartphone to have been made official briefly on the Samsung website is Galaxy On7. This phone comes with a larger screen of 5.5-inches but the resolution is the same as On5, that is 720p. It packs a more impressive main camera at 13 MP along with faring better on the battery front as well with 3,000 mAh. The site didn’t mention any other specs except for a manual. Galaxy On7 is expected to be priced around Rs. 13,000.

October 21, 2015
Lenovo Launches its Vibe P1 and Vibe P1m Smartphones in India

Lenovo has launched its latest smartphones, the Vibe P1 and Vibe P1m, ahead of Diwali. The company is looking to get some early buyers going into the Diwali sale. And one of the reasons the phone could find potential buyers are the massive batteries that come with the devices. The Vibe P1 and P1m will come with 5000mAh and 4000mAh batteries, respectively.

Priced at Rs. 15, 999 for the Vibe P1 and Rs. 7999 for the Vibe P1m, the smartphones are exclusive to Flipkart. The Vibe P1 will go on sale from Tuesday while the Vibe P1m will see a flash sale from Wednesday. Registrations for the P1m start from today.

Lenovo Vibe P1

The Vibe P1 features a 5.5-inch full-HD (1080×1920 pixels) IPS display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3. It is powered by a Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz with Adreno 405 GPU; 2GB of RAM and 32GB storage with expandable storage via microSD card. The device features a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front; dual-SIM with dual 4G LTE support.

The Vibe P1m, on the other hand, sports a 5-inch HD (1280×720) display. It is powered by a 64-bit quad-core MediaTek MT6735 processor with 2GB RAM and 16GB storage. Like the Vibe P1, the P1m supports expandable storage as well.

The Flipkart Big Billion Day offer helped Lenovo sell over 600,000 Lenovo and Motorolla phones in 3 days. The company will look to get some more numbers in with their newest devices during the expected Diwali sale. Another point in favour of Lenovo is that despite having such gigantic batteries, the devices are still slim and light.

October 21, 2015

Hands On | Sony Xperia Z5 and Z5 Premium

Sony might have been getting flak for being slow on innovation for the past few years. However, with the launch of the new Sony Xperia Z5 Premium along side the more mainstream Xperia Z5 and Xperia Z5 compact, the Japanese giant is ready to set the record straight.

The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium is the worlds first 4k display equipped smartphone. Sony has also included a new fingerprint scanner at an innovative location, right on the power button. The fingerprint scanner makes it easy to unlock the device efficiently, its quick and very accurate, making it a pleasure to use.

Sony has not done much about the design apart from adding a matte finish on the Z5 and a ultra glossy finish on the Z5 Premium which will be available in Gold or Chrome. The remaining design is based on the use of metal as a structure and Gorilla Glass 4 on the front and back of all the devices.

The premium with its 5.5 inch display is just a bit bigger and comfortable for most and also sits in the same size dimensions as the iPhone 6 Plus. Th rounded metal frame feels great and easy to hold.

The 23MP camera is an immense pleasure to use, with the dedicated shutter button. Images are captured quickly and look sharp, especially thanks to the 4k display. The in body image stabalization that we were able to test also looks fantastic.

While most of the interface is still designed like olden Sony Timescape, the UI is fast and responsive and looks glorious on the UHD display. Android 5.1.1 is pre-installed and will be updated frequently and promptly promises Sony.

The front of the device also houses- boom sound style dual stereo speakers which is nice and loud. The audio is crisp and well balanced.

Sony has been able to truly capture our attention with the launch of these new handsets, but do we really need a 4k display smartphone and how will it affect the battery life? These are almost the same questions we asked at the time of QHD display. Stay tuned for our Review on the Xperia Z5 and Z5 premium soon and check out the spec sheet below:

Specification	Sony Xperia Z5	Sony Xperia Z5 Premium	Sony Xperia Z5 Compact
Display	5.2 inch display	5.5 inch 4K Ultra HD	4.6 inch display
Resolution	1920 x 1080p	4k – 806ppi	1920 x 1080p
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 810	Qualcomm Snapdragon 810	Qualcomm Snapdragon 810
Processor	Octa Core – 64 bit	Octa Core – 64 bit	Octa Core – 64 bit
GPU	Adreno 430	Adreno 430	Adreno 430
RAM	3GB	3GB	3GB
Storage	32GB internal memory	32GB internal memory	32GB internal memory
Expandability	–	200 GB	–
Rear Camera	23MP sensor, F2.0 G Lens, 1/2.3 Exmor RS	23MP sensor, F2.0 G Lens, 1/2.3 Exmor RS	23MP sensor, F2.0 G Lens, 1/2.3 Exmor RS
Rear Camera Video	4k	4k	4k
Front Camera	5MP	5MP	5MP
Front Camera Video	1080p	1080p	1080p
Battery	2 days stamina with Qualcomm Quick Charger	3430 mAh battery lasting for up to two days, with quick charge	2 days stamina with Qualcomm Quick Charger
Operating System	Android 5.1	Android 5.1	Android 5.1
Connectivity	4G LTE, Single SIM and Dual SIM	Single SIM and Dual SIM	4G LTE
Miscellaneous	Fingerprint sensor, Colours: White, Graphite Black, Gold and Green	Fingerprint sensor	Yellow and Coral
Price	–	–	–

October 21, 2015

Category: Brands and Companies

Specification

Sony Xperia Z5

Sony Xperia Z5 Premium

Sony Xperia Z5 Compact

Display

Resolution

Chipset

Processor

GPU

RAM

Storage

Expandability

Rear Camera

Rear Camera Video

Front Camera

Front Camera Video

Battery

Operating System

Connectivity

Miscellaneous

Price