Category: Brands and Companies

All Brands and Company Names

Indian Company Sues Apple for the ‘iPhone’ Trademark

The iPhone has been considered one of the most game-changing products in recent history. It truly began the age of smartphones by giving a clear direction for other companies to follow.It is the most prominent smartphone in the market and has brought a great deal of revenue for the Cupertino-based giant; making its name synonymous with Apple’s. Now, in a surprising turn of events, an Indian company is challenging Apple for the trademark of the “iPhone”.

iVoice Ventures, claims that it owns the trademark for ‘iFon’ and hence is going to challenge the patent application of the iPhone in India. The company has filed four cases against granted and pending rights of the iPhone brand name in India.

iVoice said that the company is planning to bring budget smartphones under the name of iFon. They added that Apple’s original challenge to the company’s brand name had caused it “insurmountable challenges and irrevocable losses in ramping business during 2008/2009.” iVoice stated that it wants to revamp their business and for that it is necessary to secure their intellectual property rights for the iFon brand name.

It seems like Apple’s legal trouble refuse to die down. The tech giant was recently ordered to shell out $532.9 Million in a case involving their iTunes app. Apple has been planning a major expansion drive in India and is planning to open 500 retail stores here. It might be an easy battle for Apple as the company has a barrage of lawyers and resources to win such cases or at least, come to an amicable settlement.

March 4, 2015
WatchAware Previews How Third-Party Apps Would Look on the Apple Watch

Apple Watch, the device which will mark the entry of the Cupertino-based giant in the wearable space, is scheduled to release few days from now. There have been certain disclosures about the Watch that points to the fact that this might just be the smartest wearable in the market. Now, more revelations are unfolding that have gotten us excited about getting our hands on Apple’s first smartwatch.

A site WatchAware has been developed that gives a demo of some of the many features of the new Watch. The website is built by the AppAdvice team that is dedicated to providing the media coverage of Apple Watch. WatchAware depicts some videos that inform us about the inclusion of selected third-party apps on the iWatch. Presently, the site includes 27 previews of applications like Run 5k, Todoist, Deliveries and Infinitweet.

.@_DavidSmith previews an interactive version of @FeedWrangler for Apple Watch: http://t.co/kRdyW1Trqb pic.twitter.com/yMW1cjURZe

— WatchAware (@WatchAware) March 3, 2015

These previews give users a fair idea of how the things are going to work and how Apple is trying to catch up with the present wearable market. The website includes a little description to give clues about its functionality. The features have been embedded on the Apple Watch prototype to showcase how the things would look like on the stainless piece. The touch seems as fluid and smooth as the iPhone screen; one can easily scroll up and down to view the content.

Beautiful jogging coach app 5K Run shares an interactive version of their Apple Watch app: http://t.co/kRdyW1Trqb pic.twitter.com/v5Ug9d6yL8

— WatchAware (@WatchAware) March 3, 2015

The WatchAware is a fresh initiative and an interesting platform that will help developers display their app inventions. It is learnt that the team will add more interactive previews about the apps coming on the Watch. The new proposal gives new developers a chance to exhibit to the world about the functionality of the upcoming apps.

March 4, 2015
Nvidia Unveils the Shield, a 4k Ready Android Gaming Console/Set-Top Box

Nvidia has announced an Android running 4K compatible set top box called Shield. Nvidia CEO and co-founder Jen-Hsun Huang said the hope is for the Nvidia Shield to do for gaming what services like Netflix and Spotify did for music and video.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Jen-Hsun Huang” author_title=”Nvidia CEO and Co-Founder”]

The modern living room is a smorgasbord of technology. These smart devices running applications will increasingly disrupt the dedicated devices around it.

[/quote]

The console gets powered by the company’s Tegra X1 chip, which Hang says has more gaming power and has twice the efficiency compared to the Xbox 360. At launch, the Shield will get 50 games including Doom 3 and the latest Borderlands sequel.

Huang also announced a new version of its gaming streaming service called Grid, which will be made available as an added subscription.

The device has been priced at $199 slated to launch in May alongside Grid, which allows users to stream games in full HD at 60 fps from the cloud.

The NVIDIA Shield, the company’s new Android powered set-top box https://t.co/N65aUzewro

— Karissa Bell (@karissabe) March 4, 2015

March 4, 2015

Hands On | ASUS Zenfone 2

Asus Zenfone line of smartphones has done well in the market. These devices offer high-quality specs with unique features at affordable prices. The company has already launched the Zenfone 4, 5 and 6 in the Indian market. This year the company unveiled a new addition to the portfolio with the Zenfone 2. We got to take a look at this device at MWC 2015, and here we bring you our hands-on experience with the device.

Zenfone 2 flaunts a Full HD, 5.5 inch display that is protected with Gorilla Glass 3. It comes in two processor variants; a Quad-core 2.3 GHz, Intel Atom Z3580 processor and a Quad-core 1.8 GHz Intel Atom Z3560 processor along with 2 and 4 GB RAM options. It is available in 6/32/64 GB storage variants that can be further expanded up to 64 GB. It gets its juice from a 3000 mAh battery.

On the camera front, the device has a 13 MP shooter on the back along with the dual-LED flash. On the front sits a 5 MP selfie shooter. The front camera has an 85-degree field of view which will let the users click wider selfies.

Like its other Zenfone siblings, Zenfone 2 has also received some visually appealing design features. The front is dominated by the massive 5.5 inch display. It has a premium look and feel, especially with the brushed metal finish on the back.

The device runs Asus ZenUI based on Android 5.0 out of the box. ZenUI offers multiple customization and scheduling options that can make life easy for the users. It also has a unique option called Share link through which you can share content such as photos, videos, music, apps and APKs without the internet. The UI also has an easy mode that allows users with low technical skills to easily operate the device.

The device looks promising and has a great design. The vast number of options in the specs listing might confuse the consumers. The device is expected to be launched in $199 (approx Rs. 12,400) price bracket that would make it a steal. Keep checking iGyaan for an in-depth review of the new Asus Zenfone 2 and all the latest happenings at MWC 2015.

Specs	Asus Zenfone 2
Display	5.5-inch Full HD 403 PPI
CPU	2.3 GHz,Quad-core Intel Atom Z3580 and 1.8 GHz,Quad-core Intel Atom Z3560
RAM	2 and 4 GB
Internal Storage	16GB/32GB/64GB
Expandable Storage	64 GB
Main Camera	13 MP
Front Camera	5 MP
Battery	3000 mAh

March 4, 2015

Micromax YU Confirms Yureka Successor Coming to India in April

YU Yureka, makes for one of the best smartphone picks in the sub-Rs. 10,000 price bracket. The device has got a great response in the market and the company is ready to introduce its next offering in the coming month. YU Televentures, a subsidiary of Micromax, confirmed that they will release a new smartphone in India in April.

The Co-Founder of the company, Rahul Sharma stated –

Micromax already had tailwind behind it and were growing in numbers month after month, quarter after quarter. We were thinking about what’s next and we wanted to target a different set of users – the tech natives and digital natives – the nerds. They want to customize their phones. What were we doing for them? And with that thought YU was born.

The project has been named ‘Project Caesar’ as for now, and it’s still under development. The company will make use of its exclusive partnership with Cyanogen, the world’s biggest custom ROM maker, and will implant the Android Lollipop version of Cyanogen OS on its new device.

There was also a hint from Mr.Sharma that the company might step into the wearables segment. “YU is not just about smartphones. It is about connected devices t00,” said Sharma. That’s another big news from the company and we hope that their wearables, in case they arrive, will be as good as the Yureka and will arrive with an attractive price tag.

March 3, 2015
BlackBerry Teases Keian, a Slider Touchscreen Smartphone with Curved Dual Edges

Now that was a real surprise! The Canadian smartphone maker BlackBerry showcased Leap, another regular touchscreen smartphone with ordinary features, and then they uncovered Keian that took our breath away.

The company posted a picture of the new Keian from its Twitter handle:

What a Surprise! Ron just pulled out a dual-curved, all-touch display with a Keyboard – yes a slider device! #MWC15 pic.twitter.com/8VaPUZHo3j

— BlackBerry (@BlackBerry) March 3, 2015

BlackBerry Keian is a unique handset that holds the edgier elements of the Galaxy S6 Edge and retains the nostalgic QWERTY keypad, but with a difference. Keian embeds a slider keypad for the BlackBerry lovers who still appreciate the physical keypad. It’s an all-in-one device with Bold-like QWERTY keypad and a trackpad, and a touch screen that was seen in the Torch series.

The overall look of the phone is a bit chaotic as they have compiled highlights of multiple high-end phones in one. The effort looks good, but we cannot be sure of the device until the internal specifications are made clear by the company.

For now, BlackBerry has just teased the image of the phone and hasn’t spoken about its features. It can be said that this handset could be a flagship by the company and might pack some top-notch features. After the lukewarm response that the Passport got in the market, the company might be looking to unveil a new form factor to boost sales. A return of the physical keyboard on the new generation devices feels like a positive and we have to wait and see what features Blackberry managed to add to this new handset.

Meanwhile, the company’s other prominent launch is the BlackBerry Leap. It has a 5-inch display, 1.5GHz Qualcomm processor, 2GB RAM and a non-removable 2,800mAh battery. With 8MP rear camera and 5MP snapper, the camera quality is remarkable.

Stay tuned for more updates from MWC 2015.

March 3, 2015
BlackBerry Makes a Comeback in the Touch Segment with the Mid-Range ‘Leap’

BlackBerry made an appearance at the MWC event and dropped two new smartphones – Leap and Keian. The former one is a 5-inch touch device, priced at $275 (Rs. 17,000). The BlackBerry Leap is a mid-range phone with average specifications. It comes in the matte look with textured back cover.

Surprisingly, the Canadian firm didn’t reveal a flagship instead went for another conventional piece.

Talking about the apparatus powering the device, then the BlackBerry Leap is equipped with 1.5GHz Qualcomm processor paired with 2GB of RAM. An 8MP rear shooter along with a 5 MP camera sits comfortably on the device. The Leap is supported by 2,800mAh non-removable battery. The major highlight of the phone, as stated before, is its touch screen. The company has returned to the touch arena with Leap.

The phone is 9.5mm thick and runs on the company’s own BB OS 10.3.5. That means users will have a Siri-like Assistant to help them with their problems. For the time being, there is no information about its price or its availability.

March 3, 2015
ASUS Brings Out the Fonepad 7 and MeMOPad 8 in India

Taiwanese device maker, Asus has unveiled two new tablets in the Indian market. The Fonepad 7 and MeMOPad 8 are the new addition to the company’s tablet portfolio in India. The device made by Asus are appreciated in India, and the company is also known for unique products like the Padfone Mini.

The Asus Fonepad 7 is powered by a Dual Core 1.2 GHz, Intel Clover Trail Plus processor, along with 2 GB RAM. It comes with 16 GB storage that is expandable up to 64 GB. On the camera front, the tablet has an 8 MP shooter on the back and a 2 MP selfie camera in the front. The display on the device is a 7 inch WSVGA (1024×600) IPS display.

On the other hand, the MeMOPad8 sports a 8 inch WUXGA (1920×1200) IPS display protected with Gorilla Glass. It gets its processing power from a quad-core, 1.83 GHz, Intel Atom processor. It comes with 2GB RAM along with 16 GB internal storage. Asus also offers 5 GB lifetime ASUS Web storage space with an additional 11GB for the first year. This tablet has a 5 MP camera on the back and a 1.2 MP camera on the front.

The Fonepad 7 comes in black and white color option whereas the MeMOPad 8 comes white, pink and blue color variants. MeMOPad also has support for a 1.5 mm tipped stylus pens. Fonepad 7 will be priced at Rs. 10,999, and the MeMOPad 8 will be available for purchase at Rs. 19,999.

March 3, 2015
Heads On With HTC’s First Virtual Reality Headset Vive

Alongside the new HTC One M9, the one gadget that caught our attention at the ongoing MWC 2015 is the company’s first virtual reality headset, HTC Vive. The headset has been built in collaboration with entertainment software technology company Valve.

The developer edition of the Vive looks bigger than the Oculus Rift but promises to pack some unconventional features. The headset has two 1200x1080p resolution displays. These screens leave no space for jitter and refresh at the rate of 90 frames per second. The audio quality of the headset is also impressive.

It is the first virtual reality headset to allow you to walk and explore your virtual space. All this is possible with the infused Steam VR base station. Also, there are sensors like gyrosensor, accelerometer, and laser position that can track your head movement at one-tenth of a degree. The device comes with wireless controllers that make it rather easy to operate and get on with the virtual gaming.

Our experience with HTC Vive was amazing. We haven’t seen anything like this ever before. It’s realistic and doesn’t put a strain on the eyes at all. There is cushion support around the eyes that makes it even more comfortable. Its experience is hard to explain, it’s one of those things that need to be personally experienced.

The headset feels a part of a world that belongs to the future. Seeing this, we can already feel that we have epic things coming up.

HTC has also collaborated with many game developers such as Vertigo Games, Wemo Labs, Google, Owlchemy and others to generate content for the HTC Vive. Beta versions of the games for the Vive Developer Edition have already been produced. HTC is also working with companies like Google, HBO, Lionsgate and the National Palace Museum in Taiwan to create unique content for the new VR device.

The headset looks bulky with extra cables on the top. The company is still developing the same, so there’s a chance that these avoidable cables vanish in the consumer version. The VR headset will be available to the customers by the end of this year, however, the developer version of the same will be out earlier.

March 3, 2015
Spice Android One Devices to Receive Android 5.1 Update

It took a long while, but it is finally here. When the customers of the Android One devices bought their devices, they were promised immediate updates. Those updates have taken a long while now, but they’re finally here. Spice has announced that it will start rolling out Android 5.0 updates for its Android One devices.

Spice has said that it will start rolling out the updates in batches over the next few days. Spice has two Android One devices in its portfolio: Spice Dream Uno and Spice Dream Uno H. Both of them run Android 4.4.4 Kitkat out of the box.

Android 5.1 update takes care of all the bugs that were found in Android 5.0 and adds new features too. The 5.1 update offers a new silent mode; improvements in system stability; improved RAM management; fixes for sudden app closures; improved battery management; excessive consumption of network devices when used Wi-Fi fixed; fixes for issues with wireless connections; fixes for Ok Google function; fixes for notifications problems; some sound problems experienced by certain devices fixed, and changes in the Material Design colour palette.

There is no news yet on the date of arrival of the Lollipop update on other Android One devices. Google has already launched the Android One devices in Indonesia that run Android 5.1 out of the box. So it wouldn’t be long before the other Indian devices get their updates too.

March 3, 2015
Gionee Elife S7 Arrives at MWC 2015 With Amazing Battery Saving Features

The Mobile World Congress 2015(MWC) is attracting attention from world over as it is the spot for big ticket launches. The prominent names in the smartphone industry have all shown off their products at the conference. Chinese smartphone maker, Gionee which is known for some fantastic devices, such as the Elife E7 and the slim and sexy S5, has launched the Elife S7 at MWC.

The Elife S7 flaunts a thin, 5.5 inch body that makes it the thinnest dual SIM device in the world. Gionee knows how to design its products right and the S7 is quite a looker too. The handset has a U-shaped bezel. It has a 5.2 inch, Full HD display with Super AMOLED panel from Samsung and is protected by Gorilla Glass 3.

On the specs front, the Elife S7 is powered by 64 Bit, 1.7 GHz Mediatek 6752 processor and 2 GB RAM. The device also has a sensor chip from Freescale, which will reduce CPU usage by 20%. The S7 gets its juice from a 2750 mAh battery. The battery is non-removable and has a thickness of 3.2 mm which helps to keep the device slim and light.

On the camera front, the handset flaunts a 13 MP camera on the back. The camera sits flat in the back of the device and doesn’t protrude out.The image sensor and the software on the device are both provided by Sony. It features an intelligent night mode. On the front, the device flaunts an 8 MP selfie shooter.

The phone runs Amigo 3.0 UI, which is based on Android 5.0 Lollipop. Gionee says that the dark theme of the UI reduces power consumption by 30%. The phone offers amazing customization feature such as the “Chameleon” which lets you create a theme by clicking an image. There is a new theme store on the device called “Theme Park” where you can choose from a variety of themes. There is also an “extreme mode” that essentially transforms your smartphone into a feature phone. The extreme mode turns on when your smartphone is entirely drained at 10% battery level and gives 30 more hours of battery life.

The Gionee Elife S7 will be available in Los Angeles Black, North Pole White and Maldives Blue color variants. It will be launched for €399 (approx Rs. 27,700) in Europe. The S7 will be launched in the Indian market on the 3rd of April.

March 2, 2015
HTC’s Active Case for One M9 is Something That Every Phone Needs

HTC yesterday unveiled its brand new flagship, the One M9 at MWC 2015. The device is a bit of an upgrade over the predecessor, the One M8 but comes with its own set of unique features. Much has been said and discussed the M9’s features but not a lot has been said about the amazing cases brought out by HTC with the new flagship launch.

We take a look at the HTC Active Case, the true protective case that every smartphone needs to have. It is rated IP68, which means that it will be waterproof and can also take the jolts of the floor when it is accidentally dropped. The case can withstand a drop of 2 meters, which is great for the butterfingers out there.

The clear case lets your appreciate the metallic back panel while keeping the device safe.

The case looks sturdy and complements the phone to some extent. Also, as it’s a clear case, you will also get to look at the shiny aluminum back cover that sets the One M9 apart from its competition.

Active Headset from HTC is a waterproof pair of earphones for the outdoorsy folks.

Waterproof Earphones

Waterproof Earphones

The Active case by HTC is for those outdoorsy folks whose phones are always at the risk of contact with the natural elements. To give even more peace of mind, HTC has unveiled the Active Headset. This is a pair of waterproof earphones that are rated at IP67. With these in your pocket, you can take that March mountain trek without being concerned for your smart gears.

HTC also unveiled new Dot View II cases for the M9 along with the Active case.

HTC also launched a bouquet of new Dot View II cases with textured backs that will let you add a unique character to your One M9. Just like their previous version.

Rugged Case

Rugged Case back

Rugged Case

These are some great accessory from HTC, and hopefully the company will bring the strengthened cases for its other products. This will make you feel safe about your device in comparison to regular flip cases. The major smartphone maker should work towards introducing strong cases for the smartphones as it would be an accessory that people will see as an investment instead of a mere add-on.

Watch our hands on with HTC One M9 here:

March 2, 2015

Hands On | Sony Xperia M4 Aqua

At the Mobile World Congress today in Barcelona, Sony introduced to the world two fresh devices, Xperia M4 Aqua and Xperia Z4. The former one is a mid-range smartphone, while the Xperia Z4 is a 10-inch robust tablet with top-notch specs. Both the devices run on Google’s Android power and are immune to water till a certain depth.

The newly launched Xperia M4 Aqua is clad in a plastic body and holds an OmniBalance design. Weighing at a mere 136 grams, the smartphone is super light but doesn’t compromise on the build quality. At a thickness of 7.3mm, the M4 Aqua fits comfortably in the hand, making it perfect for single-handed usage.

The smartphone flaunts a 5.2-inch 720p IPS display, which is protected by a tempered glass. The handset runs on the latest Android OS, Lollipop. The Material Design interface is super impressive and makes the phone more quick and fluid. A 64-bit octa-core Snapdragon 615 processor, Adreno 405 GPU and 2GB of RAM is equipped to the M4 Aqua.

Optics of the handset includes a 13MP Exmor RS primary camera and a 5 MP selfie cam in the front. The phone comes in two storage variants – 8GB and 16GB, both of them are expandable up to 32GB via MicroSD support. The smartphone derives juice from the 2,400mAh cell. One of the strong points of the M4 Aqua is its aforementioned waterproof feature. It has got IP65 and IP68 certification, which prevents it from any damage until 1.5m underwater for up to 30 minutes. Also, it doesn’t feature a rubberized cap for the microUSB port.

The handset comes at an introductory price of €299, which roughly translates to Rs. 23,000. For now, take a look at its specifications:

Specs	Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
Display	5.2-inch IPS display (720p)
Processor	64-bit octa-core Snapdragon 615Adreno 405 GPU
RAM	2GB
Onboard Memory	8GB/16GB
Expandable Up to	32GB
Primary Camera	13MP Exmor RS
Secondary Camera	5MP
Battery	2,400mAh
Price	€299 (approx Rs. 23,000)

Here’s our hands on with the smartphone at launch:

March 2, 2015

MWC 2015 : Lenovo Presents the Affordable A7000 with Dolby Sound

Lenovo brought out A6000 at CES this year to take on the likes of Redmi Note, and Yu Yureka. The company is already ready with the A7000. The device has a pocket-friendly price tag and offers some amazing features at the same time.

The Lenovo A7000 sports a 5.5 inch HD display. It is powered by a 1.5 GHz MediaTek True8Core processor with 4G LTE. It flaunts 2 GB RAM and 8 GB internal storage which is expandable through MicroSD. The device is 7.9 mm thick and weighs just 140g. The smartphone runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop.

On the camera front, this budget device offers an 8 MP shooter on the back and a 5 MP selfie camera on the front. It gets its juice from a 2900 mAh battery that might just cut it for its massive display.

The USP of the device, apart from its price, is the Dolby Atmos sound. This technology will tweak the audio of the content to make it sound like it is coming from all directions. You will, of course, require a pair of headphones to get the true Atmos experience.

Lenovo A7000 will be priced at $169 (about Rs.10,500). The device will come to the market this month itself. It seems like Redmi and Yureka now have some real competition in the market and luckily for the consumers, it will be available very soon.

March 2, 2015
Hands on With the New Super Slim Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet

Today, at the Mobile World Congress 2015, Sony officially announced the successor of its Xperia Z2 tablet, the Xperia Z4. The new iteration stands true to the definition of sleek and gives a tough competition to Apple’s iPad Air 2 with only 6.1mm thickness.

The company has considered business enterprises by adding a keyboard to the device. The Android tablet is attached with a Bluetooth-enabled keypad and comes with built-in Microsoft Office Productivity suite. With the keypad on, the Xperia Z4 gives a laptop-like experience. The tablet weighs a mere 393g, which makes it convenient for people constantly on the go.

The waterproof tablet features a bigger display at 10-inch with 2K resolution. The latest octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor, together with 3GB RAM, is embedded onto the tablet to boost its processing speed. The tablet holds onboard storage space of 32GB, which is expandable through a MicroSD slot.

Sony hasn’t compromised on the build quality and the tablet holds a very solid and pleasing construction. The devices comes with a 6,000mAh battery that is just enough to go for a day of heavy usage. Running on Android Lollipop, a 13MP rear shooter is placed at the back of the device, along with a 5MP camera up front.

The device will work with PlayStation 4 Remote Play, allowing users to stream the games straight on the console. The tablet will launch in two variants – LTE and Wi-Fi-only. For now, the Japanese firm hasn’t disclosed the prices of any of the models.

Stay tuned, video hands on coming up shortly.

March 2, 2015