Category: Brands and Companies

All Brands and Company Names

BlackBerry 10.3.1 Expected to Arrive on 19th February

BlackBerry launched its latest operating system (OS) 10.3.1 few days back, but it was accessible to the privileged users of Classic only. The users of the previously released devices were eagerly waiting for the upgrade and now the Canadian telecommunication company is rolling out the official OS for their BlackBerry 10 models.

The update will bring the Siri-like BlackBerry Assistant to the handsets. Along with that there are many other features that diminishes the need of app installation. There is reverse contrast mode which is extremely good for viewing at night. It turns the screen from black on white, and to white on black. One can also block contacts from calling or texting. One can hide their private pictures with the new OS for which users need to install save gallery tool. The BlackBerry 10.3.1 also claims to have resolved the persisting battery issue. The Battery Saving mode cuts back the unnecessary features that takes a toll on the battery.

The roll out was scheduled for yesterday, but a bug was spotted early on. BlackBerry seems to have resolved the issue. The company hasn’t made any official announcement about the release, but it is likely to happen on 19th February.

February 9, 2015
After the Epic 5DS, Canon Brings Out the T6i

The Rebel series of Canon is perhaps one of the best tools for a budding photographer. This affordable camera family provides the same specs as the higher end 7D cameras but come at an affordable price tag. Canon understands the volume of sales in the segment and puts active efforts into updating these mid-range DSLRs. Now the company has unveiled the new Rebel T6i and Rebel T6s to take on the market.

In Burst mode the camera shoots at 5 fps.

This time around Canon seems to have given some thought into their product. The last offering known as the T5i (Canon 700D) was just a nominal improvement over its predecessor T4i (Canon 650D). Canon T6i gets 24.2 Megapixel APS-C sensor with 19-point autofocus. It offers an ISO range of 100-12800 which is expandable up to 25600. The camera shoots continuously at 5 frames per second (fps) which is great for shooting action shots.

The Rebel T6i comes with a 24.2 Megapixel APS-C image sensor

The 3 inch swivel display also returns to this device that comes handy while shooting videos. Like the Rebel models before it, the T6i allows you to shoot 1080p videos at 30 fps.

The second launch from Canon is the T6s that offers a few additional features over the T6i. The T6s lets users shoot HDR video and also offers a built-in electronic level meter. The unique bit added to the T6s is the LCD data panel on the top. This feature till now was only available with the models above the 60D.

The Rebel T6s is the first Rebel DSRL with an LCD information display.

The T6i is priced at $749.99 for the body-only, $899.99 with an EF-S 18-55mm STM lens and $1,099 with an EF-S 18-135mm STM lens. The T6s will cost $849.99 the body-only and $1199 with an EF-S 18-135mm STM lens. The cameras are expected to arrive in the market by the end of April.

February 7, 2015
Xiaomi Allowed To Sell Devices Till March 18 Despite Ericsson Complaint

Late last year telecom equipment maker, Ericsson filed a complaint in Delhi High Court that Xioami was violating their patents. This complaint had led to a temporary ban on the Chinese smartphone maker. The ban was later lifted, and Xiaomi was allowed to import and sell their devices in the country till the 5th of February with the condition that these devices only have Qualcomm processors. Now Ericsson is alleging that Xiaomi is violating by selling non-Qualcomm devices through a website.

The lawyers for Ericsson claimed that Xiaomi was selling its non-Qualcomm devices through a website called www.xiaomishop.com. The website at present seems to have been taken down.

Responding to the complaint, Xiaomi’s lawyer said that the company has no stake in the website, and someone else was misusing their name. He also added that the company was complying with the court order, and this is a case of third party sale where Xiaomi has no control.

There was also good news for Xiaomi as a single judge allowed the company to further sell their devices till March 18. The company would have to deposit Rs.100 per imported device to the Registrar General of the Delhi High Court.

Xiaomi is currently selling its last flagship, the Mi4 in India and the extension of the sale period would be a good news for the company’s consumers. The next sale will be held on February 10th where the Mi4 and the Redmi Note 4G will go on sale.

February 7, 2015
Lava Officially Brings Out a New Budget Smartphone, The Iris X8

Indian mobile phone brand Lava was all ready to unveil its brand new device to take on the likes of the Redmi Note and the Yureka. On its website, it only posted the number 8 with the tagline “Get Ready to do more!” calling it their latest flagship offering. Now the company has officially launched the device and its called the Lava Iris X8.

Earlier Flipkart had mistakenly leaked the specs of the device. The listing was later removed, but it did flaunt off some impressive specs which got folks excited for the device.

The Website listing for the Lava Iris X8

The Iris X8 sports a 5.0 inch, 1280×720 IPS HD display. The display will be protected with Asahi Dragontrail glass. The device is powered by a 1.4GHz octa-core MediaTek processor along with 2 GB RAM. It has 16 GB internal storage that is expandable up to 32 GB.

On the camera front, the Iris X8 packs an 8 MP camera on the back along with dual LED flash, while a 3 MP selfie camera sits on the front. The device is powered by a 2500 mAh battery. It also offers features like Smart Wake-up and Gesture controls.

The Iris X8 comes with Android KitkKat 4.4 out of the box and is apparently upgradeable to Lollipop. Lava has also tied up with Airtel to provide 500 MB of bundled 3G data per month for two months.

By the looks of it, the X8 seems like a great device for anyone who doesn’t want to wait in line for the YU Yureka or the Redmi Note. With a price tag of Rs. 8,999, the device has good enough features to compete efficiently in the sub-Rs.10,000 market. Wait for the hands-on and full review of the Lava Iris X8 on iGyaan, coming up soon.

February 6, 2015
At 50 Megapixel, Canon 5DS is the Highest Resolution Full-Frame DSLR

Canon is one of the top choices for prosumers and professionals when it comes to DSLRs. The company has given a boost to photography with its wide choices of lenses and accessories. It is now trying to take on all its competition in the premium segment with the introduction of the 5DS and 5DS R.

Canon has packed in a mammoth 50 megapixels into the camera that makes it the highest resolution full frame camera ever. The 5DS R is almost the same as the 5DS, but it gives you the option for canceling the anti-aliasing filter which helps give much finer details.

The cameras are powered by dual DIGIC 6 processor and offers 61-point autofocus system that would provide it with snappy autofocus capabilities. The offering of 50 MP also means that the camera allows you to shoot 19 MP images on cropped APS-C sensor, which is fantastic.

What maybe a disappointment to some would be the lack of advanced video features in the camera. Canon DSLRs are seen as a great tool for video production, but this camera doesn’t offer any extra features for video shooting. It does offer the usual 1080p video recording.

Overall, these new products from Canon’s stable seem only for the battle-hardened photographers and will help them create spell bounding images. The Canon 5DS is priced at $3700 while the 5Ds R will be $3900, and they will be available June onwards. For the normal folks going on their Sunday morning photo walks, your 18-20MP DSLR would work just fine, you would be better off investing in quality lenses for your camera instead of these monstrosities.

February 6, 2015
HP Launches New Economical Desktop PCs in India

HP has officially launched its new HP 110 and HP 120 desktops PCs for the Indian market. HP says these affordable desktop PCs are designed specially for everyday use for both small businesses and home users.

The HP 120 is powered by a 4th gen 64-bit Intel Core i3 Processor, with a speed clocked at 3.6Ghz. It runs on Microsoft Windows 8.1 and users can customize the system with additional memory and graphics card. It comes bundled with 2GB of SDRAM which can be upgraded to 4GB. The HP 120 desktop features a 500GB HDD and comes with an included keyboard and a mouse.

Meanwhile, the HP 110 desktop PC is powered by a 64-bit Intel Quad-Core processor bundled with 2GB of DDRL3 RAM along with Intel HD graphics. In terms of storage, the HP 110 comes with a 500GB HDD and comes bundled with a mouse and a keyboard.

The HP 110 Desktop is now available in the market at a starting price of Rs. 23,990 (including taxes). It can also be purchased via the HP online store. However, the exact price of the HP 120 is not yet known though it should start at more or less the same price as the HP 110.

In addition, HP is also offering a 3 year on-site warranty option for Rs.1,499.

February 6, 2015
Apple Tests Faster Photos App for OS X to Replace iPhoto

Last year, Apple announced that it would discontinue its consumer photo library, iPhoto, and Aperture, the professional photo editing suite. The company has finally made up its mind. Recently, the firm released a developer version of the iPhoto successor app called Photos for OS X and soon it will be followed by a public Photos beta. The update will be absolutely free and will release for Mac users by spring this year.

The new app is expected to have a cleaner design and a file management system that is more convinent. As per the previous declaration by Apple, the new Photos app will be linked to iCloud, which is Apple’s photo backup.

As per The Verge, the new Photos app is just like iPhoto, so users would not have any problem navigating the app. Photos for OS X has four main tabs – Photos, Shared, Albums, and Projects. It contains all your photos in chronological format. Shared holds images from the shared photo streams, and an activity feed for likes and comments on those streams. Albums simply carries albums created by users and Projects stores slideshows. It’s a storefront for products with printed photos like cards, books, calendars, and so on.

Not just this, Phtotos for OS X can perform many other functions. The Albums section can segregate different kinds of images, e.g. panoramas, slo-mo videos, and time lapses. The app is said to be really fast, no matter how many pictures you stuff in it.

The central feature is its amazing syncronization capabiliy. If someone clicks on a picture from the iCloud-connected iPhone, it will automatically appear on the Photos app on Mac. Overall, the new app sounds quite promising and with this big step, the app should be able to gain some attention.

February 6, 2015
Apple Watch to be Used by Major US Hospitals for Health Report

Smartwatches are built with an aim to use technology to make lives easier for its users. Many manufacturers have now launched smartwatches to keep up with the wearable technology race, but it seems like Apple is working hard to remain at the top of this game. A new report states that Apple’s healthcare gadget is the top choice of major US hospital doctors to monitor patients.

According to a survey conducted by Reuters, top hospitals prefer Apple’s smartwatch rather than the wrist-worn gadgets by Samsung and Google. The hospitals are in talks to start a program of Apple’s HealthKit service that will assist doctors read the recorded health information like blood pressure, weight or heart rate, so that the chronic conditions can be detected.

The Apple Heathkit gathers data such as glucose measurement tools, tracking apps to measure food intake and exercise and Wi-Fi connected scales. The forthcoming watch, set to release in April, is expected to come with some features that would allow doctors to view the heath records of a person just by sending it through the watch.

The Chief Clinical Transformation Officer Dr. Richard Milani clarified the use of Apple Watch saying, “If we had more data, like daily weights, we could give the patient a call before they need to be hospitalized.” An industry advisor John Halamka spoke about the use of Apple Watch commenting, “Can I interface to every possible device that every patient uses? No. But Apple can.”

The health technology is growing at a rapid speed and there are chances that Apple will invest more by 2018 in technology including apps, wearables, virtual care and remote monitoring.

February 6, 2015
Xiaomi Reportedly Setting Up a Manufacturing Unit in India

Xiaomi is doing incredibly well in India as well as overseas. Infact India is one of the most critical markets for Xiaomi both in terms of user base as well as revenue. That’s the reason, the heads at Xiaomi are seeing India as the major market place. A report has arrived which says that the China-based smartphone manufacturer may enter India soon.

The Chinese producer is planning to expand outside China, and India and Brazil are reportedly the possible destinations. With latest updates coming from Digitimes, the Chinese giant has joined hands with Inventec and the former company will be doing its manufacturing business in Chennai, India, through the Inventec. It is said that the smartphone production will commence in second or third quarter of 2015.

A few days ago, Xiaomi said that it would soon retail its devices in India on its official Mi India website, rather than Flipkart. It shows the company’s inclination towards the Indian smartphone market. Additionally if this deal does materialise there would be an even further reduction in the prices on account of savings due to custom duty and octroi.

Meanwhile, there is no official word from the company and these continue to be mere speculations. An event is going to take place on February 12 in San Francisco, in which Xiaomi is expected to make certain announcements including this one.

February 5, 2015
Multiple Angle Viewing Feature For YouTube Is Now Under Trial

Viewing videos on YouTube is now going to be more entertaining and dynamic. YouTube is now working on a feature that allows the viewers to switch between different camera angles while watching a video. This feature is in its experimental mode right now and there is only one video which showcases this feature.

The video is of a live artist performance by Madilyn Bailey, a popular indie artist. The YouTube team took her performance and turned it to a multi angle video. The views show up with thumbnails and disappear once it commences. Angles can be switched using keyboard shortcuts. Though while switching, it may cause slight lags during playback. YouTube is allowing a selected few users to help in the testing of this feature.

This feature would be very gladly welcomed by sports, entertainment and concert viewers. Multiple angles would enhance the viewing experience. YouTube spokesperson told to Mashable

We want to give artists as many ways to connect with their fans as possible, and this experimental feature brings fans even further into creating the experience they want.

YouTube says the process of making these videos are automatic on the user’s side, though the technology is not yet ready to be scaled by everyone. Making of these kind of videos would involve additional production cost for the video-makers.

YouTube had also announced in January a 360-degree video viewing as well and an offline viewing mode for its mobile app, which would allow users to watch a video without any data plan of Wi-Fi connection for 48 hours.

February 5, 2015
Google Gtalk’s 9-Year-Reign to Come to an End on 16th February

Google’s IM service Gtalk after 9 fulfilling years will come to an end on 16th February. The internet search giant has decided to push its user base to Hangouts, the new app for chat.

The company is shutting down its Gtalk service on February 16, which will be replaced by Hangouts. Google declared the same via chat saying that Google Talk app for Windows will go non-functional on February 16, 2015 and users can download Hangouts Chrome feature to continue chatting.

Hangouts is also very user friendly to use and offers many more features with a convenient interface. It shows when the person was last seen, allows to chat with multiple people at a time, allows video calling and packs many more features than the Gtalk.

This move was obvious and Google is not being unfair by taking down Gtalk. The company gave users ample time to get used to it by announcing it on May 2013. Hangouts is the future of Google, but it is also true that Hangouts is not widely accepted. However, one cannot deny that the instant messaging application is the need of the hour as it provides smooth integration between PC, tablet and mobile.

February 5, 2015

Unboxing | Samsung Galaxy A3 | Hands On

Samsung has been expanding the new metal frame design in its product portfolio. They recently unveiled low-cost Tizen based Z1 also flaunted the new design element. The company has launched two new mid-range devices called the Galaxy A3 and A5 that take the classy metal-based design forward.

On the looks front, the device looks classy and has a pocket-friendly size. The 6.9 mm thickness of the device coupled with metal frame makes it feel robust, slim and outdoorsy. The placement of the headphone jack and the microUSB port on the lower end might feel troublesome to a few users. The main camera has a prominent bulge on the back. The design features do seem reminiscent of iPhone 5S kind of styling.

The display of the device is quite a disappointment for its price. It has a resolution of 540 x 960 pixels with a pixel density of 245 PPI. At a time when sub-Rs.10,000 devices are featuring 720p HD displays, the A3’s display is definitely a downer.

In the box you get:

The Galaxy A3
Earphones
Charger + Cable
SIM Removal Tool
Information Booklet

In terms of performance, you get almost the same output as the Galaxy A5. The TouchWiz UI running on the device is a simplified version so you won’t get the Flipboard application on the left of the home screen. Samsung has also kept away bloatwares from the device which is a plus for the device.

<br />

At the price of Rs.20,500 the low resolution display and low specs does make this device feel overpriced. We’ll delve in deeper into the Galaxy A3 and its bigger sibling the Galaxy A5 in our upcoming full review, keep checking iGyaan for more.

Specs	Samsung Galaxy A3
Operating System	Android 4.4.4
Screen Size	4.5 inches Super AMOLED 540 x 960 pixels
RAM	1.5 GB
Battery	1990 mAh
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 410
CPU	Quad-core 1.2 GHz
GPU	Adreno 306
Front camera	5 MP
Rear Camera	8 MP
Price	Rs. 20,500

At 4.5 inches the Galaxy A3 is pocket friendly.

February 5, 2015

Unboxing | Samsung Galaxy A5 | Hands On

With the launch of the Galaxy Alpha last year, Samsung attempted a new metal frame based design philosophy that also influenced their last major flagship, the Note 4. Samsung recently launched the A3 and A5, which are based on the same design elements, but come with a mid-range price tag. We unbox and take a look at the new Galaxy A5 from Samsung.

Except for their display sizes, both the A3 and A5 look identical. There is nothing on the top as both the microUSB slot and 3.5 mm jack are placed on the lower end. On the right, you have the power button along with two SIM slots out of which the bigger slot can be used as a microSD card slot. On the left, you have the volume rockers and staying true its, ‘Samsungness’, the main button sits at the center below the display along with the capacitive touch buttons. The pearl white color of the device is fantastic.

In the box you get:

The Galaxy A3
Earphones
Charger + Cable
SIM Removal Tool
Information Booklet

The devices are marketed as selfie and camera friendly and hence provide instant access to the camera from the lock screen. The touch felt responsive, and there were minimal lags in the time of use. The Galaxy A5 has a 1280×720 display which is a dissapointment as Samsung could have easily provided a Full HD display at the price.

The Galaxy A5 comes for a price of Rs. 25,500 and has more to offer than its younger sibling; the Galaxy A3. Stay tuned for the full review of the devices only on iGyaan.in.

Specs	Samsung Galaxy A5
Operating System	Android 4.4.4
Screen Size	5.0 inch HD Super AMOLED 1280×720 pixels
RAM	2 GB
Battery	2300 mAh
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 410
CPU	Quad-core 1.2 GHz
GPU	Adreno 306
Front camera	5 MP
Rear Camera	13 MP
Price	Rs. 25,500

Samsung Galaxy A3 and A5 1 — The A3 and the A5 Compared : The A5 being the larger variant

February 5, 2015

Apple’s New Beats Music Streaming Service is Reportedly Coming to Android

Some six months back, Apple bought the popular audio equipment brand Beats and at that time it wasn’t clear how and where the company going to use it. But now, Apple has started revamping the popular Beats Music streaming service and according to a report, the company will launch the new paid streaming service on the Android platform.

The recent service is entirely designed by Apple and infuses Beat technology and music content under the hood. Based on cloud streaming, the yet unnamed service is centered around the user’s music library. A new search feature is embedded within the app that helps locate songs in the iTunes/Beats catalog. Along with that users will be able to stream music and add songs to their personal library from the catalog itself.

Not only this, but also it is thinking of integrating Beats Music’s Playlist, Activities, and other features to let users access an already prepared music library. There is also news that the company will update Beats’ social networking feature so that people can follow other users and artists.

The service, expected to be priced $7.99 per month, will compete with the already popular apps like Spotify and Rdio, which cost $9.99 per month each.

A Beats Music app is already available for download on the Google Play Store, but it is not the tweaked version. The company has no plans to develop a new app for Microsoft’s platform.

The new service will mark Apple’s first-time effort to build an in-house Android application. It’s not astonishing, and the company could have focused on Android-based apps as Android audience is far widespread than the iOS.

There is no notification about when and on which platform (iOS or Android) it is going to release, but rumours have surfaced that it will release in March this year. There is a possibility that the new Beats Music app may release alongside Apple watch, but these are mere speculations as of now.

February 5, 2015
Apple’s Next Step to Web-Based TV Service Could Revolutionize Ongoing Programmes

Previously, it was rumoured that Apple is likely to work together with cable providers, but we heard nothing other than a Steve Jobs movie and an Apple TV set-top box. However, the Cupertino-based giant plans to penetrate more into the Television segment. Earlier today, some reports surfaced that Apple is in talks with content producers to start its own web-based TV service.

Additional rumours state that the forthcoming service would not be a full offering like the current television programming, but would rather be subscription-based that would telecast select shows. As the content would be web-based, it would be distributed on the internet only.

Apple never commented directly to enter into the Television market, however Eddy Cue, Senior Vice President of Apple, expressed his views on the ongoing TV broadcasts saying that the current TV-watching experience “sucks and needs to be reformed”.

Meanwhile, it is further learnt that the company has already started testing the prototype service at its base in Cupertino.

There is still no confirmation as to when or how this will launch or even how much will it cost; for this, viewers have to wait for an official announcement. However looking back at the success of the Apple TV ;this could be quite a revolutionary step by Apple.

February 5, 2015

Category: Brands and Companies

Specs

Samsung Galaxy A3

Specs

Samsung Galaxy A5