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Samsung Forum 2015 : Super-Slim Galaxy A7 Goes on Sale, Priced at Rs. 30,499

You’ll be hearing a lot of news about Samsung today. The reason is the Samsung Forum 2015 which kicked off today in Bangkok Thailand. The company, today, unveiled the new Galaxy A7, the slimmest Galaxy smartphone, measuring only 6.3 mm. It has been packaged with premium hardware for a superior social experience, claims the company. It aims to provide powerful multi-tasking performance with classy design, the Galaxy A7 vies to expand the popular services provided by the Galaxy A5 and A3.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Mr. Asim Warsi” author_title=”Vice President, Marketing, Mobile and IT at Samsung India.”]

Galaxy A7 is a combination of stylish metallic unibody design with powerful performance and premium user experience. Keeping the modern design philosophy in mind, we have designed Galaxy A7 to empower consumers to enjoy the iconic design and flagship features with an assortment of appealing colors. This is another step towards our efforts to offer premium devices to a broad range of consumers which will further drive our market leadership.

[/quote]

The finely crafted metal handset is equipped with a 5.5 inch, Full HD Super AMOLED display to deliver better viewing experience while watching videos or browsing the internet. The Adaptive Display Technology intelligently optimizes the screen brightness and the color saturation. It is also equipped with a 13 MP primary camera and a 5 MP front camera, along with Advanced Selfie features like Ultra Wide Shot, GIF shooting modes and Auto Selfie modes (Palm and Voice Selfie.) The handset offers Private Mode, which adds extra security for important files and documents. In addition, the A7 also has Multi Screen app function capability.

It runs on Android 4.4 KitKat and comes packed with 2GB of RAM. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon Octa-core processor which allows users to easily perform data intensive tasks. It is backed by a 2,600mAh battery.

The handset is priced at Rs. 30,499 and is available online at the company’s official India e-Store in black, white and gold colors.

February 16, 2015
Samsung Forum 2015: Samsung Brings Out Galaxy J1 4G, Priced at Rs. 9900

Samsung launched the Galaxy J1 at the ongoing Samsung Forum 2015 in Thailand. We’re currently on the ground covering the event, bringing the latest news. The new version is LTE and is different from the one released a few days back. The model will come at Rs. 9,900 and will be available in India from the second week of March 2015.

The Galaxy J1 has a conventional specs sheet. It sports a 4.3-inch WVGA TFT display with 480×800 pixel density. It is equipped with 1.2GHz quad core processor and runs on Android 4.4 KitKat. The inbuilt memory specifications include 768 MB RAM and 4 GB ROM, which can be upgraded up to 128 GB via microSD slot.

Considering the camera, the Galaxy J1 features a 5MP rear shooter with Flash along with 2 MP front snapper. Connectivity options include MicroUSB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, NFC and USB 2.0. The Dual SIM handset gets pepped up from the 1,850mAh battery. The device is available in blue, black and white colour variants.

Hands on coming up soon. Keep checking iGyaan for updates.

February 16, 2015
Samsung Kicks off its 2015 Forum in Thailand

Only a few weeks after CES, and a few before MWC, Samsung is hosting its Samsung Forum 2015 in Bangkok, Thailand. Last year, at the same event which was held in Bali, Indonesia, Samsung had introduced to the world the Neo Series.

To kick off the event, Mr HC Hong, the President and CEO, took the stage to talk about the company – its past, present and most importantly – its future.

“By 2017, All Samsung Devices Will be a Part of the Internet of Things”

He explained that South-East Asia is a big part of Samsung’s future plans with India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka as the key holders. The company currently employees 45,000 people in South Asia. He also claimed that by 2017, all Samsung devices will be a part of the Internet of Things.

Meanwhile, Asim Warsi, Samsung Mobile India Head got on stage to announce that Samsung will be focusing on 4G and that 4g internet in India is expected at the same price bands as of 3G today.

Seems like this is just the beginning, watch this space space for more details. We’ll keep you updated.

February 16, 2015
LG Unveils ‘Watch Urbane’, an All-Metallic Luxury Smartwatch

A while back, the South Korean electronics producer LG raised the bar with the revelation of the G Watch R. Now pushing ahead of its own mark, the company has unveiled yet another smartwatch called the LG Watch Urbane. The new timepiece is a fusion of style and technology with an all-metal body and classic design; keeping its market open for both men and women. The watch follows the footsteps of G Watch R and is tweaked to make it more user-friendly.

The President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Juno Cho said in a statement :

The LG Watch Urbane’s classic design and smart features make it the perfect smartwatch to complement our G Watch and G Watch R, which were designed as more casual and active devices.

Besides the external magnificence, LG Watch Urbane boasts a 1.3-inch circular P-OLED (320x320p resolution) display, just like the G Watch R. Its bezels are narrow, which gives it a more elegant and classy look. The device is driven by 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset paired with 512 MB RAM. The Watch Urbane can hold data in the 4GB inbuilt memory and runs on Android Wear. The 410mAh battery of the smartwatch can be a bit disappointment, and one has to charge it time and again to keep it running. The Watch Urbane packs Gyro, Accelerometer, Compass, Barometer and a heart rate sensor.

The device has a sensitive touch-based UI and is compatible with devices running on Android 4.3 and above. The stainless steel body is beautifully paired up with the leather strap that can be replaced with any 22 mm band.

The dust and water resistant watch is available in gold and silver colour options. There is no word about its price and availability, but users can expect the details once the company showcases the watch in the upcoming MWC 2015 in Barcelona.

February 16, 2015
Here is Samsung’s First Trailer Teasing the Galaxy S6

Samsung’s next in Galaxy S series has already been a subject of a lot of speculation and hype. The prospects of a full metal based device have enticed the audience. Samsung has also said that they have worked from scratch on the device, and the market is looking forward to seeing how Samsung takes on this challenge. The Korean electronic giant has just unveiled the first teaser for this new flagship from its stable.

Samsung will be holding an unpacked event on the 1st of March. The company has posted a brief 17 second teaser video on Twitter with the hashtag The Next Galaxy. The video talks about a great vision and unique view and ends with a graphic of the main camera along with the line I am #thenextgalaxy.

I am #TheNextGalaxy. Be inspired by my vision at #Unpacked. https://t.co/Qu3e4L2DEg

— SamsungMobile (@SamsungMobile) February 13, 2015

The Galaxy S6 is reported to sport a Quad HD(2K) display and will most probably be powered by Samsung’s own 64 bit Exynos processor. It will run Android Lollipop and might have up to 128 GB internal storage options. Samsung is supposedly including a 20 MP, intelligent main camera that might address the focus on the camera in the teaser. There are also talks of payment system called Samsung Pay to be launched along with the device.

Samsung has managed to answer its design critics over the last year with the launch of the Galaxy Alpha and the Note 4. It is yet to be seen if Samsung manages to launch a new cutting edge design that could reach the lower segment of its devices or just a simple rehash with minimal tweaks and bumped up specs. A lot is riding on Samsung, and it needs to get it right this time.

February 14, 2015
Apple Might Be Working on an Electric Car

Electric cars seem to be the future of the way we commute, no wonder it has become a prime area of interest for Silicon Valley giants ranging from Google to NASA. According to several sources, we can add Apple to the list.

A new report suggests that Apple is prepping its own electric car. The report further states that the Cupertino-based giant has a team of up to 1,000 employees working on a secret project codenamed ‘Titan’. Anonymous sources also suggest the possibility of a car that resembles a minivan.

The report also claims that Apple has appointed executive and former Ford engineer Steve Zadesky as the head the project.

Though the journal also mentions that this could be just an R&D effort, and Apple may not complete the project. So, launching the vehicle in the market is still years way.

Meanwhile, a report from Financial Times claims that Apple has also been hiring automotive experts to work on this secret project. A LinkedIn search also suggests that atleast 46 former employees of Tesla are now working for Apple.

February 14, 2015
iPhone 6 Plus Uses Twice as Much Data as the iPhone 6

Apple fans had to wait for a long while before they got a big screen. Their request was finally answered by Apple last year when they finally launched the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus with bigger displays. These displays are great for multimedia consumption, but apparently they will also cause your data bills to skyrocket.

In a research paper submitted by Citrix, it claims that iPhone 6 Plus uses almost twice as much data as the iPhone 6. Interestingly it was also found that the bigger iPhone slurps out ten times more data than the iPhone 3Gs.

One of the major reasons cited for this heavy data usage is the increased multimedia content accessed through the devices. The bigger screen makes it easier for the users to watch heavy data intensive content like streaming videos.

This revelation may not be as worrisome to an Apple user because if you can afford an iPhone, then you might easily handle the additional data charge. iPhone users have got the pleasure of the big screen display just a few months back, so it’s obvious that they are making the most of it.

February 13, 2015
Apple Reveals New Tech Which Will Further Bolster iPhone’s Camera Quality

Apple is filing for a new patent, in an attempt to further bolster the performance of its image quality. The patent has been filed for a technology called “Mirror Tilt Actuation”, that allows users to take high quality pictures even if they aren’t holding their handset steady.

Apple believes this new technology will be a further improvement over the existing OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) technology that the company used in its iPhone 6 Plus for the first time.

So, how would this work?

According to Apple Insider, the camera would include a ‘folded optics arrangement,’ in which light would enter the lens and mirror assembly through a first lens. The light would then be redirected with a mirror at a right angle, where it would be sent to the remaining movable lens elements. To compensate for a user’s hand movement and any jitters in picture taking, Apple’s camera would include an actuator for tilting the mirror according to movement of the iPhone.

Put simply, Apple wants to pull-off a mechanism in the camera that will sync the camera’s mirror with the movement of your hands to make sure the picture quality is maintained even if your hand is shaky.

February 13, 2015
After Internet.org, Google Plans to Bring Project Loon to India for Affordable Internet

Facebook recently launched Internet.org initiative in India which offers affordable Internet connectivity and basic services on the Rcom network. It is one of the major initiatives to connect the folks who still don’t have access to the information superhighway. Google’s Project Loon is also one of the major connectivity initiatives, and the company is bringing it to India.

Google has said that it is working with the Government of India to bring its balloon and kite powered internet initiative to India. The company plans to provide the entire planet with internet coverage by the year 2016. This is the brainchild of Google X, the companies secretive research wing.

Project Loon balloons travel 20 kilometers above the surface of the planet and use wind to pilot themselves. From there they offer access to communications at 3G-like speeds. It will be beneficial to empower users in rural parts of the country. This network will also be a boon during emergency situations such as natural disasters.

The communication age demands a population to be connected with the world, in order to grow. Currently, a massive population of 3 Billion people around the world are oblivious to the benefits (and the few misgivings) of the internet. Initiatives like Project Loon, Internet.Org and proposed satellite-based space internet will allow the entire humanity to interconnect.

February 13, 2015
Microsoft Releases Windows 10 Preview for Phones; Here is How You Can Install it
Redmond giant Microsoft has released the first preview of Windows 10 for phones. Lumia owners can now install the preview and check out what the new OS has to offer. Several prominent Windows 10 features will be available in the preview, including the new UI, new action center, custom background images on the start screen and better voice dictation.

In a blog post, Microsoft’s Gabe Aul says the company is looking for feedback.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Gabe Aul” author_title=”Microsoft”]

This preview is still very much under development and you’re going to see some rough edges. We’re sharing it with you so you can be with us at every step, and provide your feedback to help make this the best release ever.

[/quote]

Though the preview does not get the new universal apps, the new Office apps, the Spartan browser, Xbox integration, Skype in Messaging and Cortana, among other things.

We’ll hear more about Windows 10 for phones at Microsoft’s event at MWC on March 2, while the final OS launch is expected this summer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckzhX1O6Lto

How to Install the Preview
- To get the preview, you’ll need a Lumia 630, Lumia 635, Lumia 636, Lumia 638, Lumia 730, or Lumia 830.
- Make sure you back up your data.
- Go to insider.windows.com and sign up for the Windows Insider program. Then on your PC, go to the this link and click install to send the Windows 10 insider app on your phone.
- When you access the Windows Insider app on your phone, you’ll get two options – ‘fast and ‘slow’ build schedules. Microsoft says the slow schedule has improvements coming less often, hence it’ll be less buggy.
- This will be followed by a series of long downloads and restarts, and you’ll finally be running the Windows 10 Preview for phones.
Users are advised to be patient as the whole process takes a significant amount of time.
February 13, 2015
Xiaomi Prepares to Step into the US market

Chinese electronics manufacturer Xiaomi is slowly trying to take over the world. The company is currently preparing to build a concrete ground for itself in the US market. The Vice President of Xiaomi, yesterday said in a meeting that the company intends to inaugurate an online marketplace Mi.com in the US in the coming months. He also made it clear that the on-sale products will not be smartphones, but other accessories like headphones, smart wristbands, etc.

Barra commented in the press meet –

The amount of effort required to bring those products to the market is an incredible amount of work. We’re accelerating our entering by bringing simpler products.

Barra gave the reason for not bringing out smartphones and tablets in the US saying that there are hardware certification, software testing, infrastructure, and other similar logistical challenges. He said that the company will start trading with those products that don’t have regulatory challenges.

Xiaomi said that they were about to secure a manufacturing partner in Brazil, which will help the company avoid tariffs on imported electronics.

The five-year-old company is doing tremendously well. It kicked off with smartphones and expanded its reach to different segments with Mi Purifiers, power banks, wristbands, etc. It has become one of the biggest smartphone makers in the world in a short span of time. With its first step in the US, if the Xiaomi plays its cards right, it may lead the game soon.

February 13, 2015
Oppo Mirror 3 Arrives in India, Priced at Rs. 16,990

Oppo today launched its latest smartphone – the Mirror 3 in India. Oppo says that the smartphone is aimed at the mid-range market and is available at a price of Rs. 16,990.

Coming to its specifications, the Oppo Mirror 3 sports a 4.7 inch HD IPS display, and is powered by a 64 bit 1.2Ghz Snapdragon 410 quad-core processor bundled with Adreno 306 GPU. It also included 1 GB of RAM, along with 8 GB of internal storage expandable upto 128 GB via microSD slot.

Other specs on the Mirror 3 include an 8MP rear camera with LED flash, 5 MP selfie cam, a 2000mAh battery, along with connectivity options like 3G support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS. It runs on Android 4.4 KitKat layered with Color UI.

The newly launched Mirror 3 will go head on against the likes of Motorola Moto G (2014), Micromax Canvas Nitro, and HTC Desire 620G.

February 12, 2015
Samsung’s Galaxy S6 Camera Will Be Super Intelligent, Claims Senior VP

The countdown to the MWC is already in full swing, with prominent manufacturers sending out teasers as to what we can expect from one of the biggest mobile conferences of the year.

Much has already been leaked about Samsung’s upcoming 2015 flagship model. Now, in a blog post on Wednesday, Samsung’s Senior VP and Head of Camera R&D Group talked about how they have been constantly working on improving the cameras used on the Galaxy Series. While talking about the camera on Galaxy smartphones, Senior VP DongHoon Jang admitted that a lot of passion and effort has been put for the release of the 2015 flagship model.

[quote text_size=”small” author=” DongHoon Jang” author_title=” Senior VP and Head of Camera R&D Group, Samsung”]

It will be intelligent and do all the thinking for users, allowing them to take amazing pictures under any conditions, without having to worry about anything more than just pressing the shutter button. It will demonstrate just how far Samsung has advanced smartphone cameras, and once again will open the creative side of our users for new ideas and new possibilities.

[/quote]

In the blog, there’s also a chart that shows camera progress over the years on the flagship Galaxy smartphones including the Galaxy S, Galaxy S II, Galaxy S III, Galaxy S4, and Galaxy S5.

In addition, Jang also stressed on the importance of the selfie cam, and duly noted that it forms an essential part of the whole eco-system. Meanwhile, a recent report suggested a 20 MP camera sensor along with OIS and a 5 MP front facing shooter on the Galaxy S6 prototype. Both cameras are likely to include sensors from Samsung.

The Korean giant is expected to launch the Samsung Galaxy S6 flagship along with the anticipated curved-display variant, rumoured to be called Galaxy S6 Edge at the Galaxy Unpacked 2015 event scheduled for March 1 in Barcelona.

February 12, 2015
Google Plans to Knock Down Apple Pay With its New Pay Service ‘Plasco’

The battle to bring out an invincible pay system is getting tougher by the day. Google launched a mobile payment assistance app called Google Wallet in 2011 but got overshadowed by Apple Pay, which made a late entry last year in October. The internet search beast is not quietly accepting the competition; according to reports, Google is now planning to roll out a new pay service.

Tentatively titled as ‘Plasco’, Google’s forthcoming service is one step ahead of all the payment services ever emerged. If the rumours are to be believed, then Plasco has been designed in a way that Android users don’t require to take their phones out of their pockets. The new system activates on its own when a user enters a store with Bluetooth on. At the time of paying to the retailers, users just have to utter their initials at the cash counter, and the payment will be made automatically.

Google Wallet

The service runs as an app and is provided to retailers by Google. When users step in a store, the retailers are notified of the Plasco users and can make the payment. Clearly the system seems too easy to be secure. Right now, Google is in the testing phase, seems like there is some time before we know clearer details and features about the service.

February 12, 2015
Samsung Might be Working on a Three-Sided Display Smartphone

Samsung in the recent past has been unanimously berated for the dull design elements of its smartphones. The company responded to complaints by introducing a new line of metal frame based designs that began with the Galaxy Alpha and the Note 4. Samsung also brought an innovative device called the Galaxy Edge with a secondary display on the right side of the main display. Now Bloomberg is reporting that Samsung might be working on a device with three displays.

According to the report the Korean company is expected to release two top tier smartphones soon, one of which most probably is the Galaxy S6. The second device is expected to have a display on three sides. Both these devices will have all-metal bodies as reported by many rumor reports and will be powered by Samsung’s most powerful Exynos chipset.

The devices are being developed under Samsung’s “Project Zero” initiative that intends to recreate the Galaxy S6 from ground up. With these new launches, Samsung would try to take on its biggest adversary, Apple, which is a market leader in terms of designs. Apple’s designs have “inspired” multiple clones in the Android market.

The new device sounds interesting, but we would have to wait and see if it’s an innovative new display or just two-sided edge screen, which could be pretty impractical. Samsung also needs to bring a major design upgrade to its products in the lower segment of the market. Other phone brands are fast capturing Samsung’s share in this segment, and the company needs to buck up its efforts in this arena.

February 11, 2015