Category: Hardware News

Latest news from the World of Hardware

Micromax Launches the Canvas Amaze at Rs. 7,999

Micromax has launched the Canvas Amaze in India at a price of Rs. 7,999. The smartphone is available at a variety of online retailers.

The Canvas Amaze features a 5-inch HD (720X1280 pixels) IPS display and comes with dual-SIM support. The smartphone is powered by a quad-core MediaTek MT6580 processor clocked at 1.3GHz clubbed with 2GB of RAM and runs on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.

Other features of the Canvas Amaze include a 13MP primary camera with LED flash and a 5MP front. The device comes with 8GB of internal storage that’s expandable up to 32GB via MicroSD card slot. On the connectivity front the phone includes 3G, Wi-Fi Bluetooth, Micro-USB,and A-GPS, FM, while sensors include Proximity sensor, Accelerometer and Gyroscope, to name a few. The device has a 2000mAh removable battery pack, which will give you about 7 hours of talk time and 260 hours of standby.

Micromax is planning to host an event on November 18 for the launch of a new smartphone. No further details have been revealed as of now.

November 17, 2015
HTC One X9 With 5.5-Inch Display Gets Certified by TENAA

It has been rumoured for a while now that HTC is working on a new device called the One X9. Now the device has been spotted at a telecommunication certification agency,TENAA, revealing features and pictures of the device.

TENAA – the Chinese telecom authority website – has reportedly posted a document of the upcoming device containing images and a spec list. The image shows the One X9 flaunting a horizontally placed oval camera module on top not unlike the Huawei Nexus 6P. The only difference between the two is that the camera module does not protrude with the former while the Nexus 6P has a little bump.

What’s quite surprising is that this is the second device by HTC in the past month that shows strikingly similar design elements to already-existing phones. The HTC One A9 was criticised for blatantly ripping off iPhone’s design, and now the One X9 seems to be ‘borrowing’ from the Nexus 6P. If the images posted by TENAA are true, this will surely invite harsh criticism from the public.

Moving on to the specs, the One X9 will sport a 5.5-inch full HD (1920x1080p) display and run on the Android Lollipop OS powered by 2.2GHz Octa-core processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage (expandable up to 1TB). It will feature a 13MP camera on the rear and a 5MP front.

Nothing is known on the official launch of the device, but the fact that the One X9 has been listed on TENAA means that HTC will likely unveil the device soon. Follow this space for more.

November 16, 2015
Roadmap Shows Upcoming Marshmallow Update for Samsung Devices

It’s been a couple of months to the launch of the latest version of Android 6.0 Marshmallow, and yet the the OS has only been installed on about 0.3% of Android devices so far. The job of rolling out the latest update lies on the OEMs. Today, there’s finally some good news for eager Samsung users.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5

For those who own Samsung devices, a leaked document reveals possible dates for the Marshmallow update. The updates will take place in three phases. Samsung Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ users will likely receive the update in December, though the exact date is not revealed. The Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge will receive the Android update in January 2016. Meanwhile, older models like the Galaxy Note 4 and Note Edge are expected to receive their’s in February.

There’s no word yet on when the Galaxy S5, Alpha and the Galaxy A and E-series will receive the update since it’s still pending approval.

November 16, 2015
AT&T Reportedly Testing Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge

Popular and reliable phone leaker Evan Blass (@evleaks) tweeted last night that AT&T is already testing two new Samsung phones with model numbers SM-G930A and SM-G935A, which presumably refer to the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge.

AT&T already testing both Galaxy S7 variants (SM-G930A and -G935A), adding weight to rumors of an early- to mid-1Q16 release.

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) November 13, 2015

It is already known that Samsung plans an early 2016 launch of its flagship devices. Earlier this month, rumours were afloat that Samsung will launch the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge on February 21, just before the start of MWC 2016.

Not much is revealed in the specs department yet. Rumours have been suggesting that the flagship could sport a 12MP sensor provided by Sony, which will focus on better low-light images. Other details that have been going around suggest an Exynos 8 Octa 8890 processor, a 5.2-inch display on the Galaxy S7 and 5.8-inch dual-curved display on the S7 Edge. However, nothing is confirmed at the moment.

The fact that AT&T is already testing the models means the launch of the device will follow shortly after the unveiling in February. The devices will be widely available after the U.S launch and will be sold by all major carriers around the world.

November 14, 2015
Xiaomi Mi 5 Gets Benchmarked, to Feature Snapdragon 820 Processor

Xiaomi has been teasing the launch of the Mi 5 for a while now. Reports suggested that the upcoming flagship device will see a December 3 launch along with the Mi Pad 2. Yesterday, the Mi Pad 2 was listed on Geekbench benchmark, and now the Mi 5 has been spotted as well.

The Mi 5 is going by the codename ‘Gemini’ and the benchmark listing reveal some juicy details about what’s under the rumoured smartphone’s hood. One noticeable feature spotted was Qualcomm’s recently unveiled Snapdragon 820 processor. This puts the rumoured December launch of the Mi 5 on hold since Qualcomm confirmed that devices featuring the new Snapdragon 820 processor will launch only in 2016.

Other details tipped by the listing include Android 6.0 Marshmallow, 3GB of RAM, and a clock speed of up to 1.59GHz. The Mi 5 also scored a 2,140 on the single-core test and 4,762 on multi-core.

Since the launch of the Snapdragon 820 processor and Mi 5 are widely separated, it looks like the launch date for the flagship will now be pushed to 2016. We’ll keep you posted as we know more on Xiaomi Mi 5’s availability.

November 14, 2015
Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 Gets Benchmarked, Will Have Intel Inside

It looks like the wait for Xiaomi’s Mi Pad 2 will soon be over. Rumours about the tablet began as far back as December last year. In September, the Mi Pad 2 was certified in China and today the tablet has passed the Geekbench benchmark test. According to the test, it looks like the Mi Pad 2 will have Intel inside. The test revealed that the tablet will sport an Intel X5-Z8500 SoC under the hood, with a quad-core 2.24GHz CPU, 2GB RAM and will have Android 5.1 pre-installed.

That’s not all the test revealed. The Mi Pad 2 with Intel chipset scored a 985 on the single-core test and a 3268 on multi-core. The original Xiaomi Mi Pad scored a 1113 (single-core) and 3481 (multi-core) back in 2014.

Not much is know about the upcoming tablet. Rumours suggest that the Mi Pad 2 will sport the same 7.9-inch glass found in the original Mi Pad. It is likely that Xiaomi will unveil the Mi Pad 2 along with the Mi 5 on the 3rd of December.

Source: [tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench3/4084530″]Geekbench[/tw-button]

November 13, 2015
HTC Launches the Desire 728G in India, Priced at Rs. 17,990

Last month we had mentioned HTC is planning to launch the Desire 728G in India. Today, HTC has indeed launched the phone at a price of Rs. 17,990. The smartphone is offered in Purple Myst and White Luxury colour variants and is available at major offline retailers.

“The new HTC Desire 728G Dual SIM brings distinctive design into a feature-rich smartphone, providing you with a great value smartphone which you can truly make your own. We want to provide a powerful, fully customisable experience to our customers, and the HTC Desire 728G Dual SIM brings this in abundance,” said Faisal Siddiqui, President, HTC South Asia during the launch.

The HTC Desire 728G Dual SIM is housed in a stylish, elegant body and boasts a clean yet striking finish. The device features a 5.5-inch HD (729×1280 pixels) display. It is powered by a 1.3GHz MediaTek octa-core processor paired with 1.5 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage expandable up to 2 TB via MicroSD card slot.

The handset also features a 13 MP primary camera with BSI sensor, f/2.2 aperture and LED flash, and a 5 MP front camera with 1080p video recording capabilities, a 2,080 mAh battery, and will run on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. Other connectivity features include dual-SIM card slots, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1 and GPS. The dual SIM, however, does not support 4G.

Online sales of the HTC Desire 728G have yet to begin. We’ll bring word as and when the device becomes available with online retailers in India.

November 9, 2015
Huawei’s G7 Plus is Now Official With 5.5-inch Display, 13MP Camera

Major mobile brands are paying a lot of attention to the mid-range market. Samsung already has a bunch of devices in the mid-range bracket, and so does Motorola and many others others. It is also rumoured that Apple may come out with a cheaper 4-inch iPhone 7. Now Huawei has joined the party as well with its G7 Plus mid-range device.

Huawei has expanded its mid-range G series with the Huawei G7 Plus. The G7 Plus is similar to the G8 which was announced at IFA 2015 and stands as a successor to the G7 that came out last year.

The G7 Plus comes with an upgraded display and processor. It sports a 5.5-inch 1080p touchscreen display with a 2.5D Gorilla Glass on top, a 13 MP rear camera with dual-tone LED flash, a 5 MP selfie snapper. Under the hood you’ll find Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 615 chipset with 1.5 GHz octa-core CPU, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of expandable storage, dual-SIM functionality, 4G LTE, and a 3,000 mAh battery.

Other features include a square fingerprint sensor beneath the rear camera. There’s dual SIM capability and comes with LTE, Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth. The device will run on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.

The Huawei G7 Plus has launched in China and Thailand at a price of 2097 Yuan (approx. $330), but there’s no word yet on when the device will launch in other markets.

November 7, 2015
Samsung Rumour: The S7 Could Feature ‘BRITECELL’ Camera Sensor

Over the past couple of days there have been tons of rumours regarding the camera of the upcoming Galaxy S7 flagship. Samsung is keen to be the best in the camera department.The S6 received a lot of praise for its camera and the Korean manufacturers now want to make it better.

The initial rumour that was going around was that Samsung might bump up the megapixels to around 20 or 23. The company was looking to Sony’s Xperia Z5, specifically the IMX300 sensor that the device’s camera boasts of. Having Sony’s sensor would certainly give the S7 that edge. Sony would also like to finalise a deal with Samsung so that it can push out its sensors to a wider market. So a 20MP ISOCELL camera could be on the cards.

Galaxy S6

However, the second rumour debunks the first in that Samsung is not looking to enter the megapixel race and will likely go with a 12MP primary camera. However, the sensors will be a large 1/2-inch size. In this case, the camera would have larger pixels and would also improve the camera’s low-light performance.

Finally, the third and certainly not the last rumour of the day is that Samsung has filed a trademark application in which the company has trademarked BRITECELL, which, as of now, confirms rumours that Samsung is indeed going for a large sensor. The name doesn’t suggest much except that the sensor will somehow capture more light than Samsung’s previous attempts. Sony has been leading in the sensor department especially with the recently launched Nexus 6P which features Sony’s ExmorR IMX 377 sensor with 1.55 micron pixels.

Samsung is expected to have a January unveiling of the Galaxy S7. You can expect a lot more rumours about the device as we get closer to the date. We’ll keep you updated as soon as we have more dope.

November 5, 2015
Modular PuzzlePhone Launches Crowdfunding Campaign on Indiegogo

There are smartphones and then there are modular phones. We hear something new about smartphones everyday, but even modular phones need their day in the sun. Last year, the PuzzlePhone was introduced to the masses. The modular phone is made up with multiple pieces that can be upgraded, swapped or replaced as needed. The PuzzlePhone has three pieces: the Brain, the Spine, and the heart.

The ‘brain’ contains the processor, camera, RAM, and storage; the ‘spine’ provides the structure and screen; and the ‘heart’ holds the battery and secondary electronics. Finnish company Circular Devices initially offered multiple size options for the PuzzlePhone, but had to streamline their offer for its initial crowdfunded release.

The team behind the PuzzlePhone has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo seeking to raise $250,000 to kickstart production. So far the site has received $40,234 with 41 days left. The Indiegogo money will be used for manufacturing, shipping, and the product itself.

In terms of features, the PuzzlePhone features a 5-inch 1080p display, an unspecified 64-bit octa-core processor, 3GB RAM, a 2,800mAh battery pack, a 12-megapixel back camera, and Android 6.0 Marshmallow (or higher depending on the release date). The PuzzlePhone will have 16GB, 32GB and 64GB storage options for various backers of the campaign.

We’ll know in a few weeks whether the team behind the PuzzlePhone has everything to go ahead with the production. If you want to be a part of the campaign then head on over to Indiegogo and do your part.

November 4, 2015
Apple Rumour: iPhone 7 to Have OLED Display

iPhone 7 is still a year away, but that has not stopped the rumour mill working day and night to bring you every little piece of speculated news. Earlier, there were rumours that the upcoming flagship device from Apple will lose the home button. Now, we have fresh rumours regarding the screen of the iPhone 7.

According to AppleInsider, the iPhone 7 will sport an OLED display thereby giving up on LCD display that it has relied on so far. Apple followers will know that the Apple watch is the only Apple device to sport an OLED display currently. In 2013, Tim Cook has expressed his distaste for the OLED displays calling them “awful” when it came to colour saturation.

However, it looks like Tim Cook may have changed his opinion now. One reason behind this change could be that OLED displays have improved considerably since they were first introduced. OLED offers a deeper black and can do without a backlight, which means that devices can be slimmed down. It is clear that Apple will look to make it’s upcoming flagship sleeker, slimmer, and perhaps wider than its predecessors, and an OLED display will certainly help with that.

Concept

As of now, LG has been supplying Apple with OLED displays for the Apple Watch and will probably do so for the upcoming iPhone as well. Meanwhile, Samsung is also trying to become a supplier for Apple’s wearable device and reports suggest the Korean manufacturer also wants to supply displays for the iPhone 7 and has already shown some sample OLED display panels for Apple to consider.

Samsung’s OLED displays have been praised over the past few year while Apple’s displays have been wanting. Switching from LCD to OLED will undoubtedly give users a better visual experience with the iPhone 7. Apple has yet to confirm the reports. A concept video of the iPhone 7 was posted by FreeMind. The actual device may be far from it, but the concept does look good. Follow this space for all the latest news on the iPhone 7.

November 2, 2015
HTC Desire 728 to Launch in India Soon

HTC recently launched the One A9, but it will be a while before the phone hits the Indian market. In the meantime, you may be interested in the HTC’s Desire 728G that is set to arrive in Indian stores soon.

The news comes from a Mumbai-based retailer that says that the device will be priced at Rs. 17,990. The HTC Desire 728G is a variant of the 728 that was launched in China recently.

The device comes with expected mid-range specs such as a 1.3GHz MediaTek octa-core processor paired with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage expandable up to 2TB via MicroSD card slot.

The handset will also feature a 13 MP primary camera and a 5 MP front camera with 1080p video recording capabilities, a 2,080 mAh battery, and will run on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. Other connectivity features include dual-SIM card slots, 4G LTE support, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1 and GPS.

No further details on the exact date of launch have been revealed yet. Let us know if you’re interested in the Desire 728 or would rather hold out for the One A9 in the comments below.

October 31, 2015
Here’s What You Can Expect From Samsung’s A5 Successor

Samsung’s ‘A’ series continues to grow. Last year, the company released the Galaxy A5 handset and has since seen the launch of the A6, A7 and A8. Latest rumours going around that Samsung is working on an A5 successor. To back this up, a smartphone carrying model number SM-510F has shown up pn GFXBench.

As the listing suggests, the A5-like model will feature Samsung’s Exynos 7 octa-core processor clocked at 1.6 GHz. The device will sport a 5.2-inch screen with 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution.

Other features include a 2 GB RAM, 16 GB internal storage (11 GB free) expandable via MicroSD card slot, 12 MP primary camera and a 5 MP front. The phone will run on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop while connectivity options include WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC and GPS.

Source: [tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://winfuture.de/news,89628.html”]Winfuture[/tw-button]

October 31, 2015
Retractable Screen For iPhone That Act As Shock Absorbers During Falls

One universal flaw iPhone users all over have had trouble dealing with is the delicateness of their devices. No one is new to cracked or out an out shattered screens of these Apple devices. However, the company might have finally managed to find a solution for this.

In a patent called ‘Active screen protection for electronic device‘, Apple is looking at solving the problem of fragile iPhone screens. The idea is to attach a retractable tab to the screen. If the device senses a fall, the tab would deploy outwards creating a gap between the screen and the surface, reducing impact, and therefore, damage to the device.

Modern iOS devices have various components that are equipped with drop sensing technology. Apple has shown interest in the past as well for active fall protection but the required patented hardware is yet to be incorporated in the company’s lineup. The patent for active screen protection was first filed in April 2014, under Tyson B. Manullang, Stephen B. Lynch and Emery A. Sanford as its inventors.

In the meantime, Apple has been busy working on touch oriented technology like 3D Touch. Consequently, the new iPhones -6s and 6s Plus – come equipped with specialized Corning glass which provides support for this feature, while at the same time providing protection against scratches and breakage.

October 23, 2015
Apple’s Next iPhone May Have Intel Inside

Intel is looking to get a piece of Apple’s booming sales by taking a version of its cellular modem into Apple’s next iPhone, likely to be called iPhone 7, stated reports by VentureBeat. The partnership is yet to be official, though. As of now the two companies have exchanged words and work is already underway. So, you can expect Apple or Intel to come out with an official statement soon.

Intel CEO Brian Krzanich

Apparently, Intel has an ‘army’ already working on the project. Around 1000 people are working to supply Apple’s next iPhone with Intel’s next-gen 7360 LTE modem. VentureBeats also reported that Apple will be sending some of its own crew to work with Intel. Meanwhile, Intel looks to take out Qualcomm from the top position of modem suppliers for Apple.

Currently, Qualcomm’s 9X45 LTE chip has been the modem for Apple’s handset. A few years ago, Infineon used to supply the iPhone with 3G modems before Intel bought the German semiconductor company. Apple then moved to Qualcomm and made it its modem supplier. Like with its A9 chip, Apple may dual-source the LTE modems from both Intel and Qualcomm if Intel comes through. However, nothing has been officially stated on this matter.

The current task ahead for Intel is to scale its 10-nanometer process so that it can work with Apple’s A9 chipset. This is one of the reasons that Apple has been attracted to Intel. Intel has both 14-nanometer and a new 10-nanometer process in the works. A 10-nanometer could yield faster and smaller processors. Apple is currently dual-sourcing its A9 chip from Samsung, which employs 14-nanometer process, and TSMC which uses 16-nanometer process.

The end goal for Apple is to have an SoC that is capable of holding both the processor and LTE modem on a single, small, fast and power efficient component and the fabrication of this can fall into Intel’s hands if all goes well. This is a “must-win for Intel” as it has been struggling to keep pace with Qualcomm, a source told VentureBeat.

October 17, 2015