Category: Brands and Companies

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It’s Loud and Clear, Cyanogen Not to Provide OTA Updates for Indian OnePlus One

There has been a lot of confusion amongst Indian buyers about the updates on the One. CyanogenMod was one of the most prominent features of the OnePlus One. The regular updates along with amazing customizability features made the phone everybody’s dream come true. The Indian customers have had to wait a long while for the taste of the One and it got soured by the reports of Indian devices not getting any updates. That fear, unfortunately, became officially confirmed today.

CyanogenMod officially announced that it won’t be sending any OTA updates to the OnePlus devices that are bought in India. The company had previously said in a blog post that it will be providing support to the global devices in India. The keyword was “global devices” and devices sold directly in India won’t be getting the OTA updates. The company made it clear this time around saying in its blog post,“If a user in India purchased a OnePlus One global device in channels outside of India, they will receive our OTA firmware updates. However, this excludes OnePlus One regional devices sold directly in India.”

The company also mentioned loud and clear that the reason behind this discrimination is Cyanogen’s exclusive partnership with Micromax to make the YU devices. If you still want to use CyanogenMod on your device then you can easily flash the CyanogenMod ROM on it. OnePlus still has a global partnership with CyanogenMod, so the global Ones are covered for a considerable period.

But this news shouldn’t get the potential customers of the One disappointed as OnePlus has said that it has better backup plans. The company plans to bring in its own OS based on Android Lollipop. The company says that a production build will be ready by as soon as February. OnePlus says that this OS will be bloat-free and will bring a stock Android experience along with the new Material design.

Though it’s an unfortunate news for the Indian consumers, many have waited for months to get their hands on the flagship killer. Cyanogen’s updates made the phone so flawless; OnePlus has a serious challenge of matching the rapid updates and bug fixes provided by Cyanogen. The company would have to come up with an exceptional OS of its own to keep the device on the high pedestal it sits on.

December 10, 2014
16 MP Handheld HTC RE Camera Rolls Out in India via Snapdeal

Earlier in October, we disclosed that HTC’s RE camera will be coming in India for Rs. 9,990 and now the device has finally arrived in the country via Snapdeal. These handheld cameras are amazing gadgets to click pictures on the go.

The HTC RE features a 16MP sensor with a 146-degree wide-angle lens and is capable of recording full HD videos, 120 fps slow-motion videos, time-lapse videos as well as Zoes. It comes with an inbuilt HD microphone and speaker. The 820mAh battery can record Full HD videos for 1 hour 40 minutes. An 8GB storage card is preloaded in the camera, while it supports a storage capacity of up to 128 GB.

There are just two buttons at the device: click button and the slow-mo button that don’t let you fumble between modes. The RE camera works with both Android and iPhone devices and has connectivity options like Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi. Coming at a price of just Rs. 9,990, this camera is a must-buy. Check out our review of the HTC RE camera here.

December 9, 2014
Google Nexus 6 Out in India Today at Midnight via Flipkart

Earlier we announced that Google Chromecast is landing in India today and now it seems that Google’s flagship device Nexus 6 will be joining in. The device will be exclusively launched at Google’s Great Online Shopping Festival (GOSF) starting midnight. The 32 GB variant comes for Rs. 44,000, while the 64 GB model will cost you Rs. 49,000.

The Nexus 6 boasts a 5.96-inch QHD (2560×1440p) AMOLED display. It is powered by 2.7 GHz Snapdragon 805 quad-core processor coupled with 3 GB of RAM. It runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box. The screen of the device is protected by Corning Glass 3, which means users need not have to worry about scratches.

On the camera front, it sports a 13MP rear and 2MP front snapper. The device gets its juice from a 3,220mAh battery, which the company claims to last for six hours on a 15-minute charge as it comes along with Motorola’s Turbo Charger. Nexus 6 offers wireless charging. It comes in two colour options in the country – midnight blue and cloud white.

The smartphone went up for pre-orders on 18th November and we saw an exciting offer by Flipkart where the e-commerce giant was tempting buyers to ditch their iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. However, the smartphone comes with a ‘Coming Soon’ tag as of now, we suppose the e-commerce website is planning to change the sign at midnight. Meanwhile, Flipkart kept its promise and started shipping the device last night for those who ordered the smartphone in the second week of December itself.

December 9, 2014
Micromax Takes On HTC with Canvas Selfie, a Smartphone Featuring 13 MP Front and Rear Cameras

Homegrown smartphone maker Micromax yesterday announced a new device that will be quite a deal for selfie lovers. The company has unveiled Canvas Selfie with a 13 MP camera on the front as well as back. The phone is a pleasant surprise for those who love to click pictures at every occasion. The phone launch saw many famed personalities like CEO Vineet Taneja and IPTL stars Sania Mirza, Ana Ivanovic, Kristina Mladenovic and Daniela Hantuchova.

With the launch of Canvas Selfie, Micromax has taken on HTC Desire Eye, the first camera to offer 13 MP camera on both sides. The amazing camera is clearly its USP, but along with that Micromax Canvas Selfie houses in-built beauty tools like eye enhancement, skin smoothening, teeth whitening, remove oil, make-up, fade dark circles etc.

The phone sports a 4.7-inch HD IPS display and boasts 1.7 GHz Tru-octacore processor. It runs on Android KitKat 4.4. The device comes with a 2,300 mAh battery which can last for a day on a single charge. Canvas Selfie is a dual-SIM mobile with common slots for nano SIM and memory card, which is usually not found in many phones. It has 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB ROM (both internal). The memory is expandable up to 32 GB. The smartphone comes with Corning Glass 3, which means that the scratch-resistant quality of the phone is unmatched.

The phone will be available for purchase online in the second week of January 2015. The company has been quite tight-lipped about the pricing of the same.

December 9, 2014
Exclusive: Google Chromecast Arrives in India Tomorrow Exclusively via Snapdeal

A source close to iGyaan has revealed that Google Chromecast is now going to be available for purchase in India. The unique device that helps mirror everything from your tablet and smartphone to your TV is arriving on 9th December i.e. tomorrow. Google Chromecast is the perfect device for those who enjoy the luxuries of big screen viewing.

Sources also revealed that the news will be announced at the Google Online Shopping Festival and the device will be available exclusively on Snapdeal. The company is also building a development platform for Chromecast users for easy viewing on smartphones. Google has partnered with telecommunication giant Airtel to provide customers cost-effective data packs for the same.

A Little About Chromecast

Chromecast is a thumb-sized medium through which you can easily transfer viewing from your laptop, Android phone and tablet to TV. For this, your mobile becomes your personalised remote control. You can browse your favourite movies, videos and more and cast it on your TV. You can pause, play, rewind, make playlists and can even control the volume. Just plug in, connect and enjoy. In short, it’s a whole new way to enjoy video viewing.

December 8, 2014
Apple’s Mobile Security Measures Minimise iPhone Theft by 40%

Mobiles have become an easy target for thieves these days. Their compact size and the fact that their after-sales value is quite good doesn’t hurt the cause. However, it seems like iPhone users need not worry as Apple’s security measures are said to be super helpful in recovering smartphones.

According to a report by American Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Apple has reduced the problem of phone theft by as much as 40 percent. The report stated that the company’s security apps Find My iPhone and Activation Lock have gone a long way to curb iPhone robbery. The commission also appealed all to come together to fight back this situation and become more aware of their surroundings.

The commission commented to treat phone theft as a credit card theft. Your phone is very important as significant information like card details are stored on the device. It is also recommended that iPhone owners note down the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity (IMEI) number of their device. The commission advised the users to lock their screen through lock screen function and secure the device using passwords and pins, and report lost of your smartphone as soon as possible.

According to a report, 59 percent of robberies involved smartphones in San Francisco, while in New York, the figure of smartphone robbery was 46 percent. In London, it reached to 50 percent. However, after the Apple Activation Lock, the burglary saw a turn down by 38 percent in San Francisco, 24 percent in London and 19 percent in New York.

December 8, 2014
Clearance Sale! Xiaomi Redmi 1S Available Registration-Free on Flipkart Today

It’s a great day for the fans of Xiaomi Redmi 1S, as the smartphone is now available on sale on Flipkart without all the flash sale drama. The purchase of the device doesn’t require registration, however this offer is valid only for today.

The smartphone was launched back in July. It has a 4.7-inch 720x1280p display and is powered by 1.6 GHz processor along with 1 GB of RAM. On the camera front, the phone sports 8 MP rear shooter.

Xiaomi has created a storm in the smartphone market by giving high specs in low price. Millions of Redmi 1S handsets have been sold in a matter of months. Lately, the company released its yet another power-packed device, Xiaomi Note phablet. It is a mid-range Android device. The electronics giant has permanently discontinued the Mi3 and this sale might be the last sale of Redmi 1S. So, all those who missed the chance of grabbing this awesome device can now avail the offer.

Watch our full review of the Redmi 1S here:

December 8, 2014
Sony Opens World’s First Underwater Xperia Aquatech Store

While most companies pay a premium price to get real estate in popular malls to utilise their high foot fall, Sony is taking a very different approach. Recently, Sony opened its first of a kind underwater store called the Xperia Aquatech store. It is a promotional activity carried out by the Japanese company in Dubai, or rather 4 metre under sea level near the city.

The underwater store is only open to some lucky competition winners, a few people from the media and some special Sony VIPs. The three-day long event aims to demo the marine capabilities of some of Sony’s water-proof devices and most of all, build publicity.

Sony provided scuba training and dive instructor guides to help people reach the store, along with a boat. They also provided waterproof cases for people who owned an Xperia Z3 or Z3 Compact phone, because they are only waterproof up to 1.5 metres for fresh water.

Well, what can we say. Of course, the whole point of this marketing exercise is to underline Sony’s innovation and commitment to making waterproof devices. The whole experience looks extremely pricey and also little risky, but it definitely is very out of the box and should bring about a lot of viral heat.

December 8, 2014
Sony Pictures Employees Receive Threatening E-mails from Alleged Hackers

It seems like troubled times for folks working at Sony Pictures is not going to come to an end anytime soon. The company that faced a massive hack which rendered most of its computers useless also faced release of its movies online. The attack was handled by a hacker group which calls itself Guardians of Peace or #GOP. It is now being reported that the employees of Sony Pictures are now getting threatening e-mails.

Sony has lost a lot of ground in this attack. Not only has there been the loss of business days, but also they are not yet sure of the scale of the theft due to the hack. Four of Sony’s upcoming movies were released online along with the recently released and exceptional Brad Pitt movie, Fury. The hackers also released several documents relating to the company’s financial records, employee details and data relating to several movies.

Sony has hired security firm FireEye Inc and its Mandiant forensics unit to investigate the hacking. FBI spokesman Joshua Campbell has said that the department is aware of the threatening e-mails received by the employees at Sony. It is not yet clear though that if the e-mails were actually sent by the hackers or if it is a work of some prankster who scored the e-mails of the employees through the leaked documents. In either case, this is now a serious issue as this is criminal intimidation. The case has fast escalating from thievery and blackmail to terrorising the production company and the people who work for it.

This leak can lead to pernicious effects on people who work for the company. If the hackers have access to personal information, identification and financial details of people who’ve worked for Sony, they can attempt identity theft and cause harm to individuals. This attack can be easily be called a terrorist attack and maybe we could start seeing more of these in the coming future. The need of the hour is to train a massive workforce dedicated to cyber security just like a standing army. Our economies and identities have shifted from physical to the digital world, so it’s absolutely important to have soldiers online to protect our interests.

December 6, 2014
Microsoft Likely to Push Back Windows 10 Release to Late Next Summer

Well, everyone has been waiting eagerly for the Microsoft’s new OS Windows 10 but unfortunately we might not see it anytime soon. The new version, which is a significant upgrade from Windows 8, is now expected to launch next year in spring. That means, we will have to wait until late summer of next year to get our hands on it.

Mary Jo Foley, an influential ZDNet reporter, has revealed that Microsoft might delay the launch of the new OS to next year’s late summer or early fall. The report also added that the new Technical Preview of Windows 10 will be coming early summer.

Microsoft is also expected to roll out Windows 10 Mobile SKU, which is compatible with Windows Phones, ARM tablets and Intel tablets, late January, along with the consumer preview of Windows 10 which will integrate Cortana into desktop OS. The mobile version of Windows is believed to integrate itself into the desktop OS.

Foley also confirmed that Microsoft will be holding its Build 2015 Conference late april, where it is expected to launch the enterprise version of the Windows 10, which will be constantly updated and tweaked until it gets ready for the public roll out.

Foley further stated that we could expect the touch version of Office 365 to launch with the Windows 10. Microsoft has made a great deal of iterations with the new OS. The company has emphasised on the return of the Start Menu, and the Continuum mode which detects whether the keyboard and mouse are hooked to the desktop or not and provides you suitable UI.

December 6, 2014
8 Recent Google Updates You Might Have Missed

Google is on an update spree. Lately, the company has been rolling out new updates across its Android apps and services frequently, however, it is hard to keep track of all the updates. So, we are rounding up recent Google updates that you might have missed.

1. Google Lollipop 5.0.1

After the roll out of Android Lollipop, Google has begun the process of getting Lollipop 5.0.1 out the door. The company quietly updated its Factory Images page to reveal a 5.0.1 built for the Nexus 9, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10. Installing images from this page does require the flashing of devices in order to update them, and does not carry user data across in the process, unless backed up and restored by the user.

2. Gmail

With the new update, Gmail inbox allows users to edit Microsoft Office documents sent as email attachments. The new feature adds a Google Drive edit icon to Gmail attachments that says ‘Edit with Google Docs’. By clicking on this, the Office files get automatically converted into Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides.

3. reCAPTCHA

Google has announced that it is dropping Captcha, its anti-bot system that asks users to identify a deconstructed word or two in order to avoid spamming. The company has admitted that 98 percent of bots can now correctly answer a Captcha and so they are switching to a simple ‘tick the box if you’re not a robot’ system, with all the clever stuff behind the scenes rooting out impostors instead.

4. News & Weather app

Google has released an updated version of its News & Weather app on Google Play, which brings brand new dark themes and other changes. The company will roll out the update globally soon. In addition to the dark themes, which can be activated from overflow menu, the updated News & Weather app includes search option, new UI tweaks and bug fixes.

5. Device Assist

Google has rolled a new troubleshooting app called Device Assist that offers specific tips and access to support Nexus, Google Play edition, and Android One running on Lollipop. Device Assist will alert you about any settings that could give you trouble, such as battery drain from cranking up the brightness too high. The app also includes a list of common tasks and how to perform them, such as taking screenshots and customising notifications. There is also an option of contacting to the Google Play support via call. Apart from requesting a call, you can also submit your smartphone statistics for more elaborate troubleshooting.

6. Chrome Beta

Chrome Beta for Android has been updated by the company with minor design changes. The address bar has been redesigned for Lollipop users with Merge Tabs and Apps option enabled to go all the way across the display. Google has also added several new flags to the app, allowing users to enable a new bookmark manager and password generator.

7. Google +

Google+ has also received an update, debuting the app version 4.8. This update makes a few minor design enhancements too, like Chrome Beta. The ‘new post’ page has been slightly reworked with the publish button moving from bottom to the top and swapping places with the menu button.

8. Google Play Games (version 2.2)

This update adds a new interface for picking an account to use. The interface also now appears for all users, even those that have added only one account, with a new prompt to easily add another email. Finally, the game detail page has been enhanced with new ‘View in Play Store’ and ‘Share’ options.

December 6, 2014
Here’s the First Look at Cortana Running on Windows 10

Well, it has been a month since the technical preview of Windows 10 is out; although, it doesn’t run Cortana as for now. Cortana is Microsoft’s obvious response to Apple’s Siri, and with Apple looking to integrate Siri into OS X, Microsoft desperately needs to do it right. Right now, Cortana doesn’t have much of a personality in Windows 10, but we expect that it will be there by the time the company rolls it out to the public.

Anyway, it is pretty much clear and evident that Cortana be will coming to desktops once Windows 10 is available commercially. We are still waiting to see Cortana in action on desktops.

In a recent video post, WinBeta got access to Cortana on Windows 10. The early version of the Microsoft’s virtual assistant isn’t pretty, however, we can expect Microsoft to tweak it before the roll out of public version.

This early version, which the popular publication got hold off, got most of the basic stuff in place, such as calling Skype contacts, reading out your calendar and setting reminders just like on Windows Phone. The hard truth is, there are not many Windows Phone users out there and so, this might be the golden chance for the company to push out Cortana to a larger user base.

Google Now has been available on Chrome and other platforms for some time now. These companies’ devotion towards virtual assistants shows how important they have become. The mere fact that all the big names have come up with their virtual assistants and are looking out to integrate them into desktops defines the future of personal computing.

December 6, 2014
Micromax to Launch Moto E Competitor Canvas Xpress Exclusively on Flipkart

Micromax has had a good year. It has seen a comfortable rise in its market share as Samsung has steadily dropped down. In Q2 of this year, the company outsold Samsung according to market research consulting firm, CounterPoint Research. It has also partnered with CyanogenMod and will be bringing the custom ROM based device under the brand name ‘Yu’ in the Indian market soon. While everybody waits for the Yu phones to come out, Micromax has gone ahead and pulled a Motorola. The company will be launching its phone in the same price segment as the Moto E and that too exclusively on Flipkart.

The company will be launching the new Canvas Xpress.. The device has a 4.5 inch FWVGA(854×480) display, which is bigger than Moto E, but falls behind the Moto E’s qHD (960×540) resolution. The device runs on Android 4.4.2 KitKat.

MIcromax Canvas Xpress

It is powered by 1.3 GHz quad core processor along with 1GB RAM. The storage on the device is expandable up to 32 GB. The main camera on the device is a 5 MP shooter, while on the front is a 0.3 MP camera. The device gets its juice from a 1950 mAh battery.

It offers features like HotKnot with which you can transfer data by just tapping the compatible phones together. It also offers Smart Wake using which users can open their favorite apps through customized gestures and access apps directly from the locked screen.

The device will be available exclusively on Flipkart from 8th December. It is priced at Rs. 6,999. The pricing irks a bit as Micromax’s own Android One powered devices come cheaper. They also have the benefit of being related with Google, so they might get one thing that Micromax has always lagged behind in i.e updates.

It is weird that Micromax has launched a device so close to the launch of the Yu brand of devices. Maybe it’s a way to assert the existence of the original Canvas line of devices before the launch of the Yu brand. It may be a good thing for Micromax not to have a plethora of devices with different names. Instead, it’s time it went into making its own devices and bringing new versions of it every year, especially if it wants to set its place permanently in the mobile markets podium. The features on the device sound good, but the specs could have been better. Come on Micromax, we are waiting for a flauntable Indian brand, impress us already.

December 5, 2014
Google Play Store Update Adds Attractive Visuals and Full-Height Navigation

Time to bid farewell to the Hamburger menu, as Google Play Store has been updated with its latest version 5.1.11. This version brings along a few changes, the most important of which is the useful full-height navigation.

The new version is being rolled out in phases and does not sport a lot of changes, though is filled with slight tweaks and minor improvements that should make the overall experience of the Play Store much better. In addition, there are a plethora of Android 5.0 tweaks which include various new animations.

Other changes include real time card shadows for Android 5.0 and onwards, visuals and scrolling optimisations in the My Apps menu along with a brand new look on the My Account screen.

You can download the updated version of the Play Store here or here. Though users need to be reminded that some features might only work on devices with Android 5.0 and onwards.

December 5, 2014
Apple Finally Gives India the Attention it Deserves, Plans to Set Up More Than 500 Stores

India is fast becoming the go-to market for technology-based companies to try out their luck. A growing middle class with its increased purchasing power is growing more comfortable with experimenting with offerings of various companies. Almost every global company sees India as a potential market for their product. Every company is trying to impress the Indian consumer with better features and improved updates. Apple too understands the importance of this market and hence is pushing for an aggressive growth in the number of stores across the country.

The Cupertino-based technology superpower is planning to set up over 500 stores across the length and breadth of India. The company seems to have finally recognized the importance of our country to increase their hold on the international market. The company is already a major player in next door China and actively competes against the big brands there.

Meanwhile, India has mostly been Android dominated. A mass variety of offerings based on everyone’s preferences and budgets are available in the Android ecosystem. iPhones and other Apple offerings are seen as aspirational, as well as often berated for their high price values. But there is still a large Apple fan base which is almost as fanatical in support of the products from the company.

The stores will be set up in smaller towns and cities such as Amritsar, Pathankot, Moga, Coimbatore, Trichy, Nagpur and Nasik as the company sees a big number of potential consumers there. These stores are going to be small though, about 300-600 sq ft as opposed to the ones in bigger cities with a size of 2,000 sq ft. Apple will also be increasing its investments in direct advertising in the country.

Apple has been in India since 2011 but has till now operated with two distributors, Redington and Ingram. It is not sure as of yet how the business plan will incorporate the distributors as of yet. It is anticipated though that the company might adopt a franchise model to bring its products to the consumers. Reliance is also one of the reseller for Apple and had a 5 year contract with the company. But Apple might drop this partnership as they feel the service offered by Reliance is not up to their standards.

It sure is a great thing that Apple is putting its focus on the Indian soil. The setting up of 500 stores also means that any release by Apple will immediately come to India. This will surely increase competition amongst other brands to counter the giant. In the end, the winner will be the Indian consumer, who is already getting giddy with all the amazing options to choose from.

December 5, 2014