Category: Brands and Companies

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Microsoft Announces the Sleeker and Lighter Surface 3

Alongside Google, Microsoft too made a few announcements. The brand unveiled the new tablet that is sleeker and lighter than the previous iteration. The device comes with a one-year free subscription to Office 365 and is available in two versions – Surface 3 and Surface 3 (4G LTE).

The Surface 3 holds a thickness of 8.7 mm and weighs a mere 1.37 pounds. Unlike its predecessors, the latest Surface version runs a full version of Windows 8.1 (64-bit), including desktop applications. It has a screen size of 10.8-inch (1920×1280 resolution) with a 3:2 aspect ratio. Powered by a quad-core Intel Atom x7 processor, the Surface 3 features a fanless design with 2GB RAM and 64GB of inbuilt storage.

Type Covers for MIcrosoft Surface 3

There is an 8MP rear camera along with a 3.5MP front shooter to capture photos. Three speakers with Dolby Audio-enhanced sound are fitted onto the tablet, and a three-position kickstand comes within the box for support. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 4.0 low energy and 4G LTE. The Surface 3 has physical connectivity options to connect to other devices like USB 3.0 port, a Mini DisplayPort, a Micro USB, and a microSD card reader.

Surface 3 Docket Station

The conventional version of Surface 3 holds a price tag of $499, while its 4G LTE version will cost you $599. Both these come with 2GB RAM and 64GB storage. If you wish to buy a higher version with 4GB RAM and 128GB storage space, then you have to dig your pockets for some extra bucks. The enhanced model is priced at $599 for 3G model and $699 for LTE version.

Surface Pens for Surface 3

Additionally, Microsoft launched two new accessories. One is the Surface 3 Type Covers featuring an improved trackpad and multi-coloured Surface Pens, and the other is the Docking Station that allows connection to external peripherals and turns the tablet into a full desktop workstation.

The tablet is up for pre-orders in 26 countries through the Microsoft store. The device will go on sale on May 5, while it will be made available in the 26 markets by May 7.

The list of countries to first get Surface 3 is: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Luxembourg, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the U.K., and the U.S.

April 1, 2015
Google Announces New Low-Cost Chromebooks To Take On Microsoft

Microsoft had recently announced its plans for taking on one of its biggest business rivals, Google. The Redmond-based technology giant had announced that they would be bringing low-cost laptops to target the market of Chromebooks. Google decided to reply back in kind and has now unveiled a series of low-cost Chromebooks to capture the space before Microsoft arrives with its offerings.

The first in the series of new launches is the Asus Chromebook Flip, which comes with a touch screen. It has a 10.1 inch display with a resolution of 1280×800 pixels which can be folded backwards so that you can use it as a tablet. This 2-in-1 notebook will be powered by a Rockchip 3288 processor with four ARM Cortex A17 cores. It offers 16 GB of internal storage and promises 10 hours of battery life.

Asus Chromebook-Flip

Along with the Asus Chromebook Flip, Haier and Hisense have also introduced their Chromebook options which have a dirt cheap price tag. Both the offerings feature 11.6-inch displays with a resolution of 1366×768-pixel. They are powered by ARM Cortex-A17 based processors along with 2 GB RAM. They offer 16 GB of storage space and feature two USB 2.0 ports, HDMI output, and a microSD card slot. They differ only in terms of battery life; the Haier model offer 10 hours while the Hisense model offers 8.5 hours of runtime on a single charge.

Asus Chromebook Flip is priced at $249 (approx Rs. 15,525) while the Haier and Hisense versions will be available for $149 (approx Rs. 9,300). They will be available in the US and may find their way to the Indian shores in the future. With such tempting prices, we can only hope they arrive here sooner than later.

April 1, 2015
As Promised OnePlus Unveils its New Drone, the DR-1

Just a few days back we got news from OnePlus that it would be bringing a drone to its line-up of products. Today the company did bring out the drone, and many claim that it is an April Fool’s prank. However, we just placed an order for two.

OnePlus created a fantastic product website for DR-1. It talks about the features of the new drone which includes the ability to fly higher than any other drone in the market and a simple controller.

The website also has a 30 second teaser video for the product with some sexy graphics. At the end of the video, you get a clear indication that the DR-1 is nothing but a toy with OnePlus branding on it.

A few lucky fans of OnePlus will get to own this remote controlled toy. All you need to do is go on Facebook, fill up a simple form and tag two friends. Even though it isn’t a full-fledged drone that some of you must have been hoping for; you still get to own a tiny OnePlus souvenier. This is definitely better than the usual pranks by Google which just end up making you feel embarrassed and sad inside. So go ahead and prank your friend with a link to DR-1’s website.

April 1, 2015
Google’s Chromebit is a $100 Portable Dongle That Converts Any Display Into a PC

Recently Google supplemented a new product to its range of devices that is a compressed form of Chromebook. Labelled as Chromebit, the gadget is a tiny HDMI dongle of a size smaller than a candy bar that can turn any connected display to a full-fledged computer.

The internet search major spoke about Chromebit –

The Chromebit is a full computer that will be available for less than $100. It’s the perfect upgrade for an existing desktop and will be really useful for schools and businesses.

The tiny little package is a powerhouse that runs on Google’s Chrome operating system. It features a Rockchip 3288 SoC, an ARM Mali 760 quad-core GPU, along with 2GB of RAM. A 16GB of internal storage space is provided with Chromebit to store important stuff. The quintessential features are also equipped with the fresh product, Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, together with a Smart Ready controller.

The Chromebit supports connectivity through two ports. One is HDMI that allows you to connect the device to a TV or other external display, and the other is USB port that offers it to be plugged into peripherals like keyboard, mouse or any other mobile devices.

The handy PC is under testing as of now, but the company stated that it will come with an ASUS trademark. The product will retail for less than $100, and will be available later this summer in three colour choices – silver, blue and orange.

Google’s Chromebit reminds us of Intel’s Compute Stick that was designed to perform the similar task; except that it was a straight piece with no bends. Chromebit, on the other hand, is slightly curved at the end that gives it a smooth finish.

Besides Chromebit, the tech firm also disclosed two new laptops – The Hisense Chromebook and Haier 11 Chromebook. Each of them are priced at $149 and are available for pre-orders. The notebooks will be available later this year.

April 1, 2015
Motorola Launches India’s First Moto Care Centre in Bangalore

Motorola has announced officially that the first Moto Care centre has been set up at Jayanagar Road, Bangalore. This is the first of the many service centre that the company has promised, which will soon be up and running all over the country.

This service centre will serve as a walk-in service support location for Motorola customers. The Experience Zone will cater to the needs of prospective buyers who want to experience products like Moto G, Moto X (2nd Gen), Moto Turbo, Moto E, Moto 360 and other Motorola products at the centre. The Zone can also assist online ordering via Flipkart.

It has been added that the centre will not only facilitate customers directly in Jayanagar, but will also benefit customers from neighbouring locations of Bangalore such as MG Road, Koramangala, Indiranagar and Rajendra Nagar. For its customers elsewhere in India, new reaching out options include the Moto Care app and the helpline number. For its customers in Delhi, Motorola has initiated a pilot project which provides Moto vans for servicing the device within few hours. The Moto van service is valid up to 30 days of the purchase.

Motorola recently launched the new version of its Moto E in India, along with the Moto Turbo, their flagship model. The company has seen a lot of success in the country with the Moto G and Moto E smartphones. This move will only help better the company’s position in the market.

March 31, 2015
Xiaomi Announces a Bunch of Smart Products Along with Redmi 2A and Mi Note Pink Edition

On the grand occasion of completing five years in the market, Xiaomi brought out a slew of products. Earlier today, we mentioned the super cheaper Xiaomi Redmi 2A. And the Mi Note Pink Edition, which is just another Mi Note clad in a pink body. Now we will shift our focus to the other highlights of the day:

55-inch Mi TV 2

Xiaomi expanded its Mi TV 2 lineup today with the release of a newer version of Mi TV 2. The latest addition is the 55-inch 4K model, which is quite bigger than 40-inch variant released last week.

The TV sports a 55-inch Samsung LCD panel of (3840×2160) resolution along with MStar 6A928 processor. The device houses 2GB RAM and 8GB of internal storage capacity. Priced at 4,999 RMB (Rs. 50,380 approx), the TV stuffs aluminum Bluetooth subwoofer and speaker soundbar.

Mi Smart Scale

Another product unveiled today was asmart scale that looks pretty cool with its sleek design and rounded edges. The scale depicts weight by means of 161 white LEDs fitted onto the device and it displays weight between 5Kg to 150Kg. The smart scale connects to the smartphone with Android 4.4 and above and iOS 7 and above via Bluetooth.

The Mi scale can track record of as much as 16 people, which helps it measure the progress of each individual. The weighing scale is lowly priced at $16 (somewhere around Rs. 990).

Mi Smart Plug Board

The last offering of the day, is the Mi Smart Plug Board. It comes with 3 standard ports and 3 USB ports to charge mobile devices. The company claims that the Smart Plug Board is more energy efficient than the standard chargers. Mi plug board comes at a minimal price of $8. It allows users to turn the power on and off via Mi Connected Home App.

Meanwhile, these products have only been launched in China and we’re uncertain about if Xiaomi will release them in other markets.

March 31, 2015
Images of the 4-inch iPhone 6c Surface Online

We’ve barely recovered from the Apple Watch and MacBook hype, and already there are pictures of what the next iPhone might look like, floating online. Pictures of the new ‘iPhone 6c’ have been posted by Future Supplier, which show what possibly could be the successor of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

As seen in the photo, the device sports an approximately 4-inch screen just like the iPhone 5, 5C and 5S. One of the few prominent differences include the cut-out of the camera flash. The cut-out on the 6C is elongated, unlike the round ones on the current iPhone line-up. Only the iPhone 5S has the elongated shape of the camera flash, thanks to the introduction of the True Tone flash. Additionally, the hole for the camera does not appear to be a protruding out.

At the bottom of the handset, the iPhone 6 has six speaker holes on the left side of the lightning connector when faced down, and one microphone opening next to the headphone jack. While most of the design remains the same, the new photos of the assumed 6C, however, show eight speaker holes positioned in two rows on a thicker body.

There is a possibility that the images may be fake. Apple is not expected to unveil the next iPhone for the next few months. Hence, there is a chance that the design of the speculated iPhone 6C may change by the time the arrival date arrives.

March 31, 2015

Xiaomi Unveils the Redmi 2A, Its Cheapest Smartphone Yet

Xiaomi is celebrating its fifth year in business today. The Chinese electronics company has unveiled a bunch of new devices just for this occasion. One device that catches the eye immediately is the new Redmi 2A. Xiaomi has made its already low priced Redmi 2 even cheaper in this latest version.

Xiaomi Redmi 2A differs from its sibling, the Redmi 2 only in terms of its processor. The device is powered by a Leadcore L1860C quad-core Cortex A7 1.5GHz processor. Apart from that, it packs in the same specifications as the Redmi 2 including the 1 GB RAM and 8 GB of internal storage.

The handset is priced at RMB 599 (Rs.6000) which makes it slightly cheaper than the Redmi 2. It is not sure as of yet if the device will come to India, but buyers would have to consider if they want to pay Rs.1000 less for a new processor or get the Snapdragon powered Redmi 2. Well, it’s still good that they now have a choice, something that a consumer always appreciates.

Specs	Redmi 2
Display	4.7 inch, 1280×720 pixels 312 ppi
Processor	1.5GHz Quad-core Leadcore L1860C
RAM	1GB
Storage	8GB
Expandable Up to	32GB
Main Camera	8 MP
Front Camera	2 MP
Battery	2200mAh
Operating System	Android 4.4 KitKat with MIUI 6.0

March 31, 2015

LG Sends Out Invites; the G4 Expected to Arrive on 28th April

South Korean company, LG, has started sending out press invites for an event which will be held on April 28th. This event may likely see the launch of the company’s next flagship, the LG G4. The South Korean electronics giant will hold the events on April 28 and April 29 (due to time zones) in six cities: New York, London, Paris, Seoul, Singapore, and Istanbul.

The official invite simply reads ‘See the Great, Feel the Great’. The invite also features a leather background signifying that the new LG G4 may sport a leather rear case. The invite also hints that LG will focus on using high-end materials for the phone.

According to GSMArena, the rumored specifications of this handset include a 3GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage. It is also said to feature Android Lollipop, possibly Android 5.1. Camera specifications include a 8 MP front camera and a 16MP rear camera with optical image stabilization and Laser Auto Focus. The flagship is also rumored to sport a radically new design, including a curved display.

According to reports, the G4 launch was delayed until April to avoid the MWC clash, which took place from 2nd March to 5th March. This was done with the intention of avoiding the hype created by Samsung Galaxy S6 and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. The reports also suggest the LG G4 might be a complete change from the previous generation LG G3.

March 31, 2015
Google Makes the Gmail App an Integrated Inbox for All Your Email Accounts

Google understands the need of users to maintain several accounts at a time, and has found out a hassle-free solution to help bring them all in one place. Google has announced a Gmail update for Android users that makes Inbox a unified place to access emails from your multiple accounts. Which simply means, whether you have a Yahoo account or an Outlook ID, you can add them all to send and receive messages through the consolidated Gmail app.

The Gmail update holds a new option called ‘All Inboxes’. This option comprises of a list of all your added accounts and one can continue the conversation from different handles through ‘All Inboxes’. This upgrade relieves users from the inconvenience of hopping from one tab to another.

Along with providing a combined Inbox, the internet giant has added a slew of other features too. Like Gmail, Google has added a threaded conversation support to other accounts as well, which keeps the emails in an organized manner. The messages remain stacked at a place as one conversation. Also, the upgrade opts for a smarter search tool. Users can find better results with the improved auto-complete feature which makes their search quicker.

Followed by them are a few other inclusions like more responsive animations and larger attachment previews. A button of ‘Save to Drive’ can be spotted in the update where users can save the files with a single tap.

The official blogpost of Gmail states that the upgrade was made available from yesterday onwards, and Android users can update Gmail to find the changes. Meanwhile, the company hasn’t notified about its roll out for iOS users as of now, but it is expected to arrive soon.

March 31, 2015
Microsoft Releases Project Spartan For Testing With Windows 10 Technical Preview

Microsoft is going for a major revamp with its new operating system, Windows 10. The latest OS will also come with an all new browser, known at present as “Project Spartan”. Microsoft has unveiled Spartan during the consumer preview of Windows 10 in January, and it looked competent enough to take on the likes of Chrome, Safari and others. The latest technical preview of the Windows 10 has now been released, and Microsoft is now giving developers the chance to play with the new browser.

Project Spartan comes with a brand new rendering engine. This new engine will be faster and will facilitate the new sharing features. The preview also features the most talked about feature of inking, where users can add annotations to existing pages and share them through various channels.

Cortana, Microsoft’s voice assistant, presently found in Windows Mobile will also be available in Windows 10. Cortana will lead to faster searching capabilities and can be easily conjured up when required. Cortana in Spartan will be available in the US versions of this build, and available more broadly later.

Project Spartan was unveiled at the Windows 10 consumer preview event held in January.

Project Spartan will offer a reader friendly view to spare you from the usual distractions of a regular website. The browser can collect all that you read and lets you save any web page or PDF to let you access them in a distraction-free reading space.

If you want to take Project Spartan out for a spin, you need to sign-up for the Microsoft Insiders Program and get started for free. You would need to install the Windows 10 Technical Preview, Build 10049. As Project Spartan gains more prominence, Microsoft’s premier internet browser, the Internet Explorer will be pushed into the background. With Windows 10, Microsoft is attempting to take down its competition, who have got an opportunity to advance, thanks to its own folly called Windows 8. So Microsoft has to offer several unique features in Windows 10 to maintain its dominance in the operating system market.

March 31, 2015
Xiaomi to Bring Out a Sub-Rs. 5,000 Smartphone on April 8 : Report

Xiaomi is known as an electronics firm that offers premium handsets at a reasonable price range. Since long, rumour mill has suggested Xiaomi is planning to release an entry-level smartphone. The same device has now appeared online through a leaked image. The handset is expected to debut on April 8 and will cost 499 Yuan (approximately Rs. 5,000).

From what it appears from the first look of the upcoming phone, it seems to be a cheaper version of Redmi 2. Some reports have also surfaced that throw light on the inner details of the smartphone. According to Chinese blog Mydrives.com, the phone will sport a 4.7-inch (720x1280p) screen. A 1.6GHz Leadcore LC1860 quad core processor, along with 1GB of RAM. The device will run on Android 4.4 KitKat with MIUI skin on top.

Coming to its optics, an 8MP rear camera paired with a 2MP secondary shooter will sit on the device. The storage option includes 8GB of inbuilt space, which at this point of time is unknown if it would be expandable.

Until now, it is not known if the smartphone will make it to countries outside China, but some online publishers are claiming it may arrive in India by April 8. Few days back, Xiaomi teased a picture of a dress that had a NSSJ caption on top. The smartphone is stated to launch today at the occasion of the company’s fifth anniversary.

The launch event can take place anytime soon. We will keep you updated with information on the availability of the latest device as soon as something arrives. Keep checking back.

March 31, 2015
Microsoft Releases Two New Trailers and Reveals the Launch Date for Halo 5: Guardians

Microsoft’s Halo is one of the most popular games in the market. This year, the fifth installment will be up for grabs on October 27. The date of launch was mentioned in the two new trailers released by Microsoft during the season finale of “The Walking Dead.”

Both the trailers are shot in live action and seem like a juxtaposition of each other. It shows the scene, but the two characters are on opposite ends in both videos. According to some decrypters on the internet, it is said that a super soldier named Locke believes Master Chief, the protagonist from the previous “Halo” games, is a traitor, but the reason is unknown.

Halo 5: Guardians is developed by game makers. 343 industries who had also created the previous two offerings under the banner of Halo. It is said that the trailer indicates the possibility of controlling multiple characters in the latest version of the game.

Over the years, Microsoft has seen tremendous appreciation and demand for this game. The fifth edition will come to Xbox consoles on 27th October this year; so you know when to clear up your schedule and warm up your Xbox for unending Halo sessions.

Here are both the new trailers for Halo 5: Guardians.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHQiYPiNVEE#t=61

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rd8FWUCCZk

March 30, 2015

Microsoft Lumia 640 and the Bigger 640 XL Expected to Land in India Next Month

At the recently concluded tech carnival, Mobile World Congress, Microsoft brought to the world two affordable smartphone innovations, Dual SIM Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL. The handsets come preloaded with Windows 8.1 and offer free Office 365 for one year. The Lumia smartphones are now making way to the Indian land and as per reports, both the devices will hit the Indian market in early April.

As per India Today, the company is presently importing the devices from Vietnam, and a total of nine batches have made it to Mumbai. As per the import/export tracker, the Lumia 640 is priced at Rs. 4,683, while the bigger Lumia 640 XL will cost slightly higher at Rs. 6,710. However, it should be noted that these are not the final prices, and the original price could be a tad higher.

Recalling the key specifications of the handsets, the Lumia 640 sports a 5-inch HD display which is protected by Gorilla Glass 3. The company has equipped the device with 1.2GHz Qualcomm 400 quad-core processor paired with 1GB RAM and 8GB storage. It comes in four colour options – cyan, orange white and black.

The rear camera is 8MP and comes bundled with LED flash. A 1MP snapper with wide angle lens sits at the upfront. For now, the handsets will ship with Windows 8.1, but it will soon upgrade to Windows 10.

On the other hand, Lumia 640 XL is the bigger sibling of the Lumia 640. It has a 5.7-inch screen and packs the same processor as that of Lumia 640. It comes with a 13-megapixel camera with LED flash and Carl Zeiss optics, and the front has a 5MP shooter with wide angle lens. A bigger battery of 3,000mAh is fitted onto the phone which keeps the device running for a full day usage.

Both the devices come in two variants – 3G and LTE. As always, the LTE variants will cost slightly higher than the 3G version.

Have a look at their spec sheet:

SPECS	MICROSOFT LUMIA 640	MICROSOFT LUMIA 640 XL
Display	5-inch IPS (294ppi)Gorilla Glass 3	5.7-inch IPS LCD (259ppi)Gorilla Glass 3
Processor	1.2GHz Qualcomm 400 quad-core	1.2GHz Qualcomm 400 quad-core
RAM	1GB	1GB
Storage	8GB	8GB
Expandable Upto	128GB	128GB
Main Camera	8MP	13MP
Front Camera	1MP	5MP
Battery	2500mAh	3000mAh
Operating System	Windows 8.1	Windows 8.1
Price	€160 (near Rs. 11,000)	€220 (near Rs. 15,000)

In case you missed our hands-on video, do watch the clip below:

March 30, 2015

LG Quietly Releases Spirit with Android Lollipop in India, Priced at Rs. 14,250

Earlier today, LG announced the global roll out of its four mid-range smartphones – Magna, Spirit, Leon, and Joy; all these devices were officially launched in February this year, ahead of MWC. Just a few hours after the announcement, one of the four models made an appearance on LG India’s official website. It is listed on the company’s India-specific website with a price tag of Rs. 14,250. The device comes in two different colour options.

Throwing light on the specifications of LG Spirit, the device holds an HD 720p touchscreen display of 4.7-inch. It features a 1.3GHz quad-core processor bundled with 1GB of RAM. The onboard storage space of the phone is 8GB, which can be extended via MicroSD card up to 32GB. LG Spirit runs on default Android 5.0.1 Lollipop with the company’s UI on top.

The phone features an 8MP camera at the back with LED Flash and autofocus, while the front holds an average 1MP shooter. The device comes with connectivity options like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS/ A-GPS, and Micro-USB. A battery of 2100mAh is equipped with the device along with the key feature ‘Knock Code’.

The dual-SIM handset is slightly curved to fit in the palm of the user. At a price of Rs. 14,250, the phone will get a tough competition from lowly priced Yu Yureka and Xiaomi Redmi 2.

Below are the specifications of LG Spirit:

SPECS	LG SPIRIT
Display	4.7-inch 720p
Processor	1.3GHz quad-core
RAM	1GB
Internal Memory	8GB
Expandable up to	32GB
Camera	8MP rear, 1MP front
Battery	2100mAh
Operating System	Android 5.0.1 Lollipop
Price	Rs. 14, 250

March 30, 2015

Category: Brands and Companies

55-inch Mi TV 2

Mi Smart Scale

Mi Smart Plug Board

Specs

Redmi 2

SPECS

MICROSOFT LUMIA 640

MICROSOFT LUMIA 640 XL

SPECS

LG SPIRIT