Category: Brands and Companies

All Brands and Company Names

Gmail Updates Its Web Interface By Adding New Themes And Emojis

Since 2014, Gmail was the only service of Google that had not received updates or new features. However from March this year, Gmail has been bringing in new updates, slowly and steadily, the latest being the ‘Undo Send’ feature. Google had been working on this feature for the past six years, and the work is now an official setting in the Gmail interface. As the name suggests, Undo Send pauses posting your email for a few seconds after you click Send, so you can take it back and edit it, like for example, spelled someone’s name wrong or entered wrong details.

Today, Gmail has rolled out yet another update for its web users. This new update focuses on fun, in a way we do while sending out emoji. Yes, Google’s updated and wider set of emoji characters, which we recently saw added to its Hangouts service, has now reached the company’s widely used Gmail. Now you can use all the same emoji you are already used to on Hangouts.

Additionally, Gmail has also added hundreds of HD wallpapers and themes to its already stunning bank of themes. But, that’s just not it. If you wish, you can edit the wallpaper according to your wish- there’s vignetting and text backgrounds, blurs, and such for making changes. If nothing else, then you can upload your own image instead.

The update has rolled out today. All the changes are available automatically in Gmail, with no download or opt-in necessary. Don’t worry if you have not received this update yet, as it will take some time to reach its users around the world.

July 1, 2015
John Abraham Becomes HTC’s Brand Evangelist

HTC has been following the brand evangelist story for a couple of years. With Robert Downey Jr. taking the reins of the title globally, the new look and brand direction for HTC was formed. This was also a first step in their “Here’s to Change” campaign.

HTC yesterday unveiled its new jersey in partnership with Northeast United Football Club, which is a team owned by John Abraham. The Partnership goes into its second year as HTC remains the title sponsor for the team.

HTC stands for substance and elegance, it and has a strong connection with the youth; traits which are amply reflected in my own life. We are delighted that HTC will be supporting us again this season and I look forward to further strengthening our relationship over the next two years.

-John Abraham

John will also lead the Taiwanese company’s brand operations in the Indian market. With experience in marketing prior to his stint as a full time celebrity John claims that he has a right balance in and is the correct person for the position.

The Indian Super League kicks off on 3rd October and will last through December 2015. However, HTC and John Abraham will continue building ideas for the brand for the next two years.

July 1, 2015

Xiaomi Lowers Price of Redmi Note 4G by Rs 2,000

Great news for Xiaomi fans. The company has announced a price cut for Redmi Note 4G in an official tweet.

From today, people can buy the Redmi Note 4G at a discounted price of Rs. 7,999 from Xiaomi’s website as well as various leading websites and retail stores. The news is not only exciting for existing Xiaomi fans, but should also excite those who have been looking for a new phone.+

https://twitter.com/MiIndiaOfficial/status/615740349068152832/photo/1

It seems Xiaomi has reduced the price to take on the K3 Note, which was recently launched by Lenovo and has similar specifications. The new price cut makes the Redmi Note 4G more affordable than the K3 Note.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4G is a 4G LTE ready device. It is powered by a 1.6GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 CPU coupled with 2GB of RAM. The Redmi Note 4G sports a 5.5 inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, a 13 MP front camera and has a storage capacity of up to 64 GB. The phone runs on a 3,100 mAh battery, which is often counted as one of the phone’s strongest features. If the price drop doesn’t convince you to buy the phone, maybe these specifications will.

Specs	Redmi Note 4G
Display	5.5 inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen (720×1280 pixels)
Processor	1.6 GHz Qualcomm MSM8928 Snapdragon 400
RAM	2 GB
Storage	8 GB
Expandable Upto	64 GB
Main Camera	13 MP
Front Camera	5 MP
Battery	3100 mAh
Operating System	Android 4.2 upgradable to v4.4.2 (KitKat)
Price	Rs.7,999

The Redmi Note 4G was launched in December last year at a price of Rs. 9,999 through a flash sale on Flipkart.

June 30, 2015

Google Updates Hangouts for iOS Users

Good news for iOS users who still use Hangouts. In a blog post, the company announced “Hangouts 4.0”, an improved version of the messaging app for iOS. The new update includes bugs and performance fixes and a new design.

The most notable improvement in the new Hangouts is the easier access to send photos and stickers. In the previous versions, the option was hidden behind a paperclip button. In the new version, the attachment options are now located on a strip below the text entry field.

The strip makes it easier to select photographs and stickers without exiting the chat window. The camera button will open a mini viewfinder below the text field. The new version features a Quick Compose button that finds the most frequent contacts and starts a new conversation. The dialler gets a new user interface as the standard buttons have been replaced by green floating action buttons – circular buttons that lift and display an ink reaction on a press.

The update also includes many bugs fixes and performance improvements. Hangouts 4.0 is currently available on the App Store. Google will soon announce the Android update for Hangouts.

June 30, 2015
OnePlus Two Will Feature Fingerprint Scanning Technology

With its launch only a month away, OnePlus is slowly giving out hints and details of the highly anticipated OnePlus Two. Just yesterday a new detail emerged about the phone sporting a display ranging between 5.5 and 5.7 inches and having a black matte border. Before this, OnePlus confirmed that the Two will be the first Android handset to feature a USB C-Type charging. Today, the company has revealed that the new handset will have a fingerprint sensor, and it is slated to be better than the Touch ID.

The official blog page of OnePlus reads that the fingerprint sensor is “done right. It’s refined and lightning quick, unlocking your device faster than TouchID.” It also says, “Your smartphone is your most personal device, and its security should be personal, too.”

The company assures that the sensor will not be used as a selling point of the device, but instead be a useful feature. OnePlus says the technology is meant to unlock your device and will be able to store five fingerprint profiles.

OnePlus Two is not the first device to implement fingerprint scanning within it. Samsung has done the same with its devices. However, researchers at Germany’s Security Research Labs showed that the Samsung Galaxy S5’s fingerprint scanner is not at all secure.

OnePlus Two will launch on 27th July through a virtual reality event. Currently not much is known about the spec details of the expected OnePlus handset, but we got some notable information that pointed out to its processing capacity. As per the detail leaked by the company CEO Liu Zuohu, OnePlus Two will run on Snapdragon 810 chipset along with 4GB RAM. A 5.5-inch 2K display will improve the viewing experience of the user.

There is still a little bit of time for the OnePlus Two to come out. In the meantime, you can watch our review on the OnePlus One:

June 30, 2015
Uber Acquires Microsoft’s Mapping Data to Boost its Service

Any successful transportation company in the world relies heavily on maps. Uber’s app is basically a navigation app but with additional features like booking a cab and GPS. Recognizing how crucial maps are for its operations, Uber has acquired the mapping assets from Microsoft, which include data center, cameras, intellectual property, and roughly 100 engineers.

Microsoft has confirmed that it will no longer collect mapping data as it efforts to focus on the company’s core business strategy. Microsoft usually sources mapping data from Nokia and other partners for maps but it also used to collect its own 3D, aerial and street view maps.

Microsoft said in a recent statement

We will no longer collect mapping imagery ourselves, and instead will continue to partner with premium content and imagery providers for underlying data while concentrating our resources on the core user experience. With this decision, we will transfer many of our imagery acquisition operations to Uber.

Uber has been trying to strengthen its own mapping system. The company recently hired former Google Map executive Brian McClendon and with the latest acquisition from Microsoft, Uber aims to make its service better. Uber also wants to reduce its dependency on Google Maps, the go-to map service.

Uber said in a statement

Mapping is at the heart of what makes Uber great. So we will continue to work with partners, as well as invest in our own technology, to build the best possible experience for riders and drivers.

Microsoft will still continue to offer its maps services through Bing Maps using licensed data.

June 30, 2015
Samsung’s New Tech Promises Longer Battery Life

Smartphone users across the world face the same problem regardless of which phone they use – the inevitable dying battery in a short period of time. Our phones run multiple tasks while using bluetooth, wi-fi and cellular networks at the same time. For faster workflow, the processors will use more power, thus resulting in battery drain and the headache of finding ways to charge our phones.

It seems Samsung may have found a solution to our power woes.

Scientists at the company have developed lithium-ion battery technology that promises longer-lasting power. The battery uses a silicon anode, which increases the battery capacity and has layers of graphene on top to improve its density and longevity. Thus, the battery is at least 1.5 times denser than the current battery packs. As a result, the phone, which can previously run on 12 hours of battery, can now function for 21 hours, at least theoretically.

Since the project is still in its research stage, the improved battery will not be expected in the next Galaxy series or any new phones in the coming years. Every year, the phones continue to get better and faster and require a larger battery for the same, which results in an increase in size. That is why Samsung’s breakthrough is important since adding a larger battery won’t be a solution in the future. Plus, as this ad by Samsung shows, we shouldn’t hassle with white cords every time our phone dies.

June 29, 2015
Leaked Image of the OnePlus 2 Confirms its Screen Size

Since the launch of the OnePlus 2 is only a month away, we can expect to see more details being revealed everyday. A few days ago, OnePlus announced the launch date for the OnePlus 2 as 27th July. Today, a new detail has emerged about the phone regarding the display.

A new image of OnePlus 2 has been leaked on popular Chinese microblogging website Weibo,which reveals more details about the phone. As we had earlier suspected, the phone will sport a display ranging between 5.5 and 5.7 inches and will have black matte border. Since the image features a filter, it is difficult to confirm until the official statement comes out.

OnePlus Two will launch on 27th July through a virtual reality event. The phone is priced at around Rs. 25,000 and will support USB-C port, becoming the first flagship phone to do so.

June 29, 2015
Apple iPhone 6s – Everything We Know So Far

The Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus released last year in September. It barely seems any time has passed and we’re already hearing a steady flow of rumours about the next iPhone, temporarily dubbed as the iPhone 6s.

If we took a wild guess at what the smartphone might incorporate, we would include a long list of patents that Apple have issued to the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office). Going by the patents, Apple might have a three-sided wall display, a smart waterproof design and it might be flexible. Like we said, that would be our wild guess.

Coming back to reality, we have a long list of rumours that give us a good idea of what the next iPhone might incorporate.

It is highly unlikely that Apple will be going for a significant design change for the new upcoming iPhone. Since with the iPhone 6, the company’s flagship went through a major makeover. We also read that the next iPhones will include Force Touch and a new casing to make the iPhone 6S wider, taller and stronger.

The new model will run on iOS 9 and have an upgraded processor, as Apple announced at the WWDC this year. We saw in May that Samsung might provide chipsets and displays for Apple’s upcoming products. Ming-Chi Kuo, an Analyst at KGI Securities, says that Apple’s next iPhone 6s models will be powered by a next-gen A9 processor. There are no official confirmations from both the tech powerhouses, but if correct, we may soon see something very different from this alliance. Some sources state that the upcoming handset is expected to arrive with a 2GB RAM.

From the battery perspective, Apple will use a next-gen battery that goes beyond the barrier of the conventional rectangular slab type and can take any shape. This battery consists of thin electrode sheets stacked on one another. This way, developers would be able to utilize the reserved battery space to embed an LTE chip.

According to AppleInsider, Ming-Chi Kuo also said that Apple will be offering an additional Rose Gold option for the upcoming iPhone, to keep its market in momentum. It is entirely possible that Apple may release two variants of the iPhone, the smaller 6s variant, and a larger 6s ‘Plus’ version.

If rumours are to be believed, the upcoming iPhone 6s will be available in stores from 25th September this year. According to the source, pre-orders will start from 18th September and it will go live physically on 25th September.

There is still more than two months left before we see the new iPhone. Until then, we’ll make sure to keep you updated about its (leaked) details.

June 29, 2015

First Back Photo Of The OnePlus Two Leaked

OnePlus, the company that rose to fame with the release of the OnePlus One, will be releasing One’s successor, Two this month. OnePlus has been releasing regular teasers to keep its fans occupied ahead of its official launch on 28th July.

Unfortunately for OnePlus, PhoneArena seems to have got hold of the device way ahead of its launch and posted some photos on their site.

From the above images , we see that the back appears to sport wood, which would be a very nice touch (but could also be a premium wooden cover that won’t come stock with the device). There’s some sort of dimple on the back cover. The OnePlus logo is clearly visible beneath it, so one could surmise that the dimple is the fingerprint scanner rumored to be part of the kit.

We know that OnePlus Two will run on Snapdragon 810 chipset along with 4GB ram. The phone will sport a 5.5-inch Full HD 1920 x1080p display that will improve the viewing experience of the user. The OnePlus Two will also have a USB C-Type, the first in a flagship device by a major manufacturer. Just a few days back, the company revealed that the phone will come with a built-in fingerprint scanner.

The company has confirmed its price will not cross more than Rs 28,500. OnePlus ruled out all the rumors of the temporarily titled OnePlus Two and stated that the much-awaited device will make a debut in the third quarter of this year. Let’s wait and watch!

Specification	OnePlus Two
Display	5.5 inches LTPS LCD Capacitive touch screen
Resolution	1080 x 1920 pixels (401 ppi)
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 v2.1 SoC
Processor	Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & Quad-core 2 GHz Cortex-A57
GPU	Adreno 430
RAM	4 LPDDR4 RAM
Storage	16/64 GB
Expandability	N/A
Rear Camera	13 MP
Rear Camera Video	2160p@30fps, 2160p(DCI)@24fps, 1080p@60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR, stereo sound rec.
Front Camera	8 MP (Not confirmed)
Front Camera Video	1080p@30fps
Battery	Non-removable Li-Po 3300 mAh battery
Operating System	Android 5.1 Lollipop-based Oxygen OS
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot Bluetooth v4.1, A2DPGPS with A-GPS, GLONASS NFC, Radio FM,microUSB v2.0, Type-C reversible connector
Miscellaneous	Fingerprint sensor
Price	Not more than Rs, 28000

Click here to know everything we know about the OnePlus Two.

June 28, 2015

Unboxing : HTC One ME

HTC has a new handset on the block and it is called the One ME. With improvements in terms of hardware and software all around, the One Me also features a matte finish back, 2 TB micro SD support and the latest Sense 7.0.

In the box :

A HTC One ME Handset
USB power Cable
USB Wall Charger
In Ear Phones
Ear Tips
Documentation

HTC has taken the new design philosophy of the One M9 and tricked it down to the One ME. With the Notorious new chipset in there, many will ask why HTC decided to go with Mediatek.

The Helio X10 chipset has promising capabilities, it supports display refresh rates of up to 120Hz and slow-motion video recording at up to 480fps at an undisclosed resolution. The Helio X10, which is a 64-bit chipset with eight Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 2.2GHz also has the PowerVR G6200 GPU.

Hardware wise the One Me packs a good set, a 2K display, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage which can go upto 2TB with the use of an external microSD. However only recently a 200GB card was released, 2TBmight be further away than expected.

Specifications	HTC One ME
Display	5.2-inch Super LCD3
Resolution	WQHD 1440×2560 pixels : 565 ppi pixel density
Chipset	MediaTek Helio X10
Processor	Octa-Cora 2.2 GHz
GPU	PowerVR G6200
RAM	3 GB
Storage	32 GB
MicroSD Support	Yes, Upto 2TB
Rear Camera	20MP, f2.2, BSI Sensor, 4K Video Recording
Front Camera	HTC Ultrapixel, f2.0
Battery	2,840mAh
Operating System	Android Lollipop 5.0.2 with HTC Sense 7.0
Price	Rs. 40,500

The handset feels greta in the hand, this White with gold colour is synonymous with the HTC One E9+, however the One ME has a matte white back as opposed to the glossy white on the E9+ . The accents are polished in a rose gold and look fantastic. Rose gold is also used in the front metal parts and the bezel along with the frame which is one single unit, and again looks elegant.

With our initial usage the phone has not heated up, despite rumours, however we are testing further.

Stay tuned for our full review.

June 27, 2015

This Google Project Will Blow Your Mind Away

Once again, Google impresses us with its world-changing research efforts. The company’s Project Soli, which has been developed at Google’s secretive Advanced Technology and Projects lab in San Francisco, will allow you to interact with gadgets by simple gestures in air.

You may ask, so what is new about controlling your gadgets with hand gestures? For we already have Xbox Kinect, PlayStation Move and of course, JARVIS. What makes Soli unique is that the system can identify subtle finger movements using radar built into tiny microchips.

According to lead researcher Ivan Poupyrev, the team’s breakthrough will be a game changer.

Most sensors are camera-based, such as Kinect and Move. They act only when they capture gestures and require additional hardware. Soli’s microchips can be embedded into anything – from TVs to wearables, and this is the game-changing quality that Poupyrev refers to.

“Using a tiny, microchip-based radar to track hand movements we can now track the minutest movements and twitches of the human hand to interact with computers and wearable devices,” says Poupyrev.

The team has managed to overcome its biggest challenge: to fit a shoe-box sized radar on a tiny microchip. The team worked with German chipmaker Infineon for 10 months, finding new ways to shrink the radar’s components. Now, the chips are ready for mass-production.

‘Soli can pick up hand movements as far as a metre away as in Minority Report. But in reality this is too tiring,’ Poupyrev says. ‘Until now, we lacked the fidelity to capture hand movements in sufficient detail. But now using radar, for the first time in history you can build Minority Report type interfaces.’

Poupyrev recently demonstrated Project Soli in front of developers in California. The project’s open source technology will be handed over to developers later this year.

Google deserves credit for envisioning this project. The company has always pushed the boundaries of knowledge. They need to be appreciated for taking on resource intensive projects without compromising with their quarterly results.

Watch the video below to help understand the project better:

June 27, 2015
New Leak Gives a Glimpse at What Samsung Note 5 Might Look Like

Samsung’s next flagship phablet is one of the most talked-about topic right now. Many speculations and rumours about the device’s features and launch date have been uncovered till now. But, the main cloud of mystery is related to the appearance of the device.

Thanks to a French blog, NoWhereElse, we can now somewhat draw up an image of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 in our minds.

The blog shows the rendered images of a case that is designed for the Galaxy Note 5. From the case, we can somewhat deduce that the Note 5 could have almost the same body design as the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. There is also a cut-out for an S Pen stylus at the bottom and a speaker positioned in the same area. It is a notable change since the previous Note devices had its speaker at the back. It is likely that the Note 5 will come with a semi-protuding camera unit, again, like the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. The rendered image also shows a microUSB port, so the device may not feature USB Type C charging.

Although there is some time before the smartphone is unveiled, we already have a vague picture of what’s ahead. As far as the spec rumours go, it is said that the Note 5 will be featuring a 5.9-inch Super AMOLED display with curves on both the edges. An improved version of Samsung’s Exynos 7422 is speculated to administer the computing operations. It is said to have a mammoth battery of 4100mAh, which is necessary for a phablet with these specifications.

Amid rumours and reports, we brought to you the arrival date of the Note 5, i.e. September 4, and we also learnt that the 32GB Galaxy Note 5 variant will launch at Rs. 64,999 in India. With the iPhone 6s launch scheduled for the same month, we’re now impatiently waiting for September to arrive.

June 27, 2015
Apple Begins Manufacturing the New iPhone With ‘Force Touch’

According to a new report, Apple has started the manufacturing process for the new iPhone. We’re talking about the iPhone 6s which will be arriving this September. The Force Touch feature, first introduced in the Apple Watch and the new 13-inch MacBook, has been expected to be included in the new iPhone for a few months now.

‘Force Touch’ is a feature that detects the level of force in a tap and responds accordingly. For example, a light tap on the screen will perform another task than a hard tap. Tiny electrodes surrounding the Retina display sense the difference in the amount of pressure applied on screen. Thus, a user can perform simple tasks such as fast-forwarding a movie or using pressure to zoom in on a map with ease.

Apple begins production from the first of July. The company expects the production to go smoothly due to the similarities in design between the new and existing iPhone 6. Apple has spent more than two years trying to perfect ‘Force Touch’, which will enhance the user experience when using pressure-sensitive displays.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the next-gen iPhone would be thicker than the existing iPhone due to the integration of ‘Force Touch’ feature. Also, Apple is reportedly integrating support for the feature in the beta versions of iOS 9, which will allow developers to make use of ‘Force Touch’ in navigation and media controls.

Source : [tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-26/apple-suppliers-said-to-start-making-iphones-with-force-touch”]Bloomberg[/tw-button]

June 27, 2015
iOS 9’s ‘Low Power Mode’ to Reduce iPhone’s Performance by 40%

While iPhone users have a lot to boast about, battery life of their smartphones is not something that is easily discussed. Apple acknowledged the problem, and at WWDC this year, it was one of the most important issues addressed. At the event, we learned that iOS 9 would feature a “low power mode” that would extend the battery life upto three hours. The mode will allow for devices to reduce power consumption and restrict to only phone call capability.

Now, a new report has revealed that the mode will reduce the performance of the iPhone in exchange for improving the battery life.

The guys at MacRumors ran a benchmark test on iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 5s to test the device’s processor power. They discovered that the single and multi-core scores for the processors dropped by 40% when iOS 9’s “Low Power Mode” was turned on.

When turned on, the mode reduces the CPU speed, which results in the shutting down of background activities like mail fetch, background app refresh, motion effects and brightness. Nothing has been mentioned about activities such as browsing web, making calls after iOS 9 activates the energy saving mode.

Source : [tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://www.macrumors.com/2015/06/25/ios-9-low-power-mode-benchmarks/”]MacRumors [/tw-button]

June 27, 2015