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  • The Five Most Blatant iPhone Knock-Offs

    The Five Most Blatant iPhone Knock-Offs

    Whether we like or not, a few things that Apple has a knack of doing other rivals simply do not. Especially when it comes to design where its attention to detail is just impeccable. There is no denying there are some gorgeous looking Android phones in the market, but none of them can match up to the benchmarks set by Apple.

    Needless to mention, iPhones are one of the best smartphones ever manufactured. Every iPhone launch leaves us in awe that creates a strong desire to own an iPhone. But most of us are not willing to spend our entire hard earned savings to own this beauty.

    Hence, a lot of manufacturers have cashed in on this void by creating iPhone rip-offs. Well, it’s not a bad thing to take inspiration from one of the best phones in the world, of course, we’re not sure if Apple feels that way. Here are some of the recent iPhone knock-offs:

    1. Lenovo Sisely S90

    Lenovo launched an iPhone 6 look-alike in a relatively sneaky way dubbed as the Lenovo Sisely S90. Barring similar looks, Lenovo took it to another level as its promotional images were also uncannily similar to that of the iPhone 6. The 5 inch phone has the exact same dimensions as the iPhone 6 with a thickness of 6.9mm and weight of 129g.

    2. Samsung Galaxy Alpha

    There’s something deceptively familiar about Samsung’s Galaxy Alpha. It’s the company’s first attempt at using metal in its smartphones that annoyingly looks like an iPhone, including the 4.7 inch screen size and the rounded edges. So much for innovation and design.

    img6

     

    3. Micromax Canvas Win 121

    The Canvas 4 Plus will make headlines of its own. However, it may be the iPhone 6 plus’ bendgate that influences this one. It has a similar slim form factor, rounded edges and was also bendable.

    In our unboxing of the phone, just because the phone looks so similar to an iPhone, we lightly attempted a bend test and it bent out of shape which led to some awkward moments in our test lab.

    3. Huawei Honor 6

    The Honor 6 also has striking similarities in terms of its design and form factor. It has similar looking bezels above and on the screen while it also comes in deceptively similar colours to the iPhone. The main difference being the lack of a home button.

    siphone rip-offs

    4. Huawei Ascend P7

    The Ascend P7 is probably the only phone that manages to give that uber iPhone feel. It is reminiscent of the iPhone 5s, with the same flat rounded rectangular form factor. The sides and top of the phone are also garnered with premium anodized aluminium band just like the iPhone.

    Apart from looks, the Ascend P7 has also taken a few obvious cues from iOS. The P7 features no app grid. Instead, it has an iOS style setup where icons for every app are spread across multiple home screens.

    It’s probabaly the best manifestation of an iPhone, though we’re not sure what Apple would think of that.

    4. Lava Iris X1

    Lava Iris X1 has the looks of an iPhone 4S with the same button and camera layouts along with slightly rounded edges. Hats off to Lava, this is a proper iPhone 4S rip-off but obviously you won’t be getting that Apple experience.

    5. Xiaomi Mi4

    The Chinese manufacturer has heavily borrowed features from Apple and has come out with a relatively worthy clone. Barring the phone’s back panel, everything about the phone from the stainless steel band covering the edges along with the glass covering the front resembles the iPhone.

    Xiaomi-Mi4
    Apart from the above-mentioned iPhone look-alikes, there are a couple of other devices which are awfully similar to the iPhone. So, if it’s the design of the iPhone that invigorates you, then maybe some of these options may be worth your money. But obviously it’s not going to get you that authentic Apple experience (no, even installing a launcher won’t help). Alas, what the Cupertino giant says is apparently true — “If you don’t have an iPhone, well you don’t have an iPhone”.

    What’s your favourite iPhone Knock-Off, do let us know in the comments section below.

  • Hands On with the New Tizen-Based Samsung Z1

    Hands On with the New Tizen-Based Samsung Z1

    Android has taken over the market share and is widely available across multiple brands. Companies like Samsung, LG, Motorola and a lot of other companies have greatly benefitted from the Google’s open source operating system. But several electronic giants are attempting to come out of Android’s shadow and set up their own operating systems.

    Samsung is attempting to break free from Android’s dominance with its homegrown Tizen OS. Samsung had already inducted Tizen in its Gear family of smartwatches and now they have launched the first phone based on the OS.

    We got our hands briefly on the new Samsung Z1 which is the first phone based on the new operating system.

    The Samsung Z1 totally looks like something that came out of Samsung’s stable. It has recognizable features including the physical button at the center. The phone has a metal-like casing that along with the polished back panel gives it a premium feel.

    The Z1 is being marketed as a multimedia device and offers multitude of content through its tie-up with hungama.com and live tv options like BoxTv. But it comes with a 4-inch WVGA display that doesn’t feel adequate for a complete multimedia delight. The bit that is appreciated is the expandable storage option which is up to 64 GB; an amount great for multimedia hoarders.

    Tizen OS looks and feels like the TouchWiz UI
    Tizen OS looks and feels like the TouchWiz UI

    Tizen OS looks and feels like the TouchWiz UI on Samsung’s Android devices. The only thing missing is the app drawer. The drop down menu too looks exactly the same as TouchWiz UI with similar setting options. It will be familiar interface for anyone switching from an Android device or upgrading from a feature phone into a smartphone.

    Samsung claims most of the major apps are available on Tizen OS
    Samsung claims most of the major apps are available on Tizen OS

    The company has attempted to bring features from its higher end devices on Z1 like the ultra power saving mode, which up until now has been available on premium handsets like the Galaxy S5 and Note 4. It also offers 500 MB of free data plan with Reliance and Aircel for six months.

    Samsung Tizen Z1 2

    Overall, in the brief amount of time we spent with the device, we were excited to see Samsung trying to bring something new to its consumers. The device still falls short of competing with products like the Redmi 1S and the Moto E but is still a good effort. The company said that they will be refreshing their line-up of devices over the future and we would like to see where the new path leads Samsung.

  • The New Avengers Trailer Warns of Impending Doom

    The New Avengers Trailer Warns of Impending Doom

    Ever since the demise of Shield in Captain America 2, the world of the Avengers is going downhill. The next big movie event from the Marvel’s Cinematic Universe(MCU) is the Avengers 2: Age of Ultron and Marvel has just released a second trailer for the movie.

    From the looks of it, Earth mightiest heroes are going to face their most formidable enemy yet in the form of Ultron. Tony Stark created Ultron, an artificial intelligence based peacekeeping program that turns against the Avengers. The trailer also shows Iron Man going against the Hulk in his new Hulkbuster suit. The amount of carnage is disconcerting, and we can’t wait for the movie to come out to see how Earth’s defenders will take on their biggest challenge yet.

  • DIY : iGyaan Hackintosh Build : Parts

    DIY : iGyaan Hackintosh Build : Parts

    We recently decided to build us up a hackintosh, and while the project is slightly time consuming and laborious, the outcome truly makes it worth your while.

    We were highly conflicted between a mac-pro and a hackintosh, and the latter made sense for the kind of ‘on the fly’ upgradability we need.

    Here are the parts that we used, and we are listing both INR and Dollar Prices for the convenience of easy purchase.

    1. Corsair Graphite 600T Cabinet

    2. Motherboard : Gigabyte GAZ97x UD7TH

    The motherboard is one of the few that has thunderbolt ports that can be enabled even though the process of doing so is tedious.

    3. Intel® CoreTM i7-4790K Unlocked 4.0 GHz

    4. EVGA GTX 770 Superclocked with Boost 4 GB DDR 5

    While there are many upped GPUs available, this one works out of the box with a mackintosh and is SLI ready so it works well with a similar card over the bridge. We got two of these so it made sense. Although EVGA cards are slightly difficult to find, you do get similar cards, also 2GB cards are available easily. Linked below.

    5. Kingston HyperX Fury 8 GB DDR3 RAM ( 4 Slots)

    No particular reason we chose this RAM. The Corsair Vengeance is alternative incase you don’t like the Kingston units.

    6. Samsung 850-pro SSD

    We got a 256 GB drive that we will use for a boot up and main app drive, we used a Thunderbolt RAID which was bought separately.

    7. LG Ultrawide 25 inch monitor

    We almost dropped our money for the Samsung 4k Monitor, but with the rumor mill abuzz about a Apple 5k Thunderbolt display, we wanted to wait just a bit longer. This monitor has a great 21:9 aspect ratio for editing and also does screen split, which is useful for better multitasking.

    8. Thunderbolt Raid

    This raid allows for 4 Full-Size Hard-Drives or SSDs and connects via Thunderbolt 2, also has a Thunderbolt out, for convenience of Daisy chaining.

    9. Drives for RAID

    We bought the HGST 7200rpm Deskstar 4TB drives for the Above Raid, and they work really well. They are designed for a commercial desktop NAS systems, so you can expect them to last long.

    10. Bluetooth Dongle

    The Motherboard does not come with Bluetooth, and most of the locally available adapters/dongles don’t work. Here are few that do.

    11. TP-LINK TL-WDN4800 Wi-Fi Card

    This is the most compatible card and it works out of the box.

    12. Corsair RM 750 PSU

    This 750watt PSU is powerful, efficient and easily available.

    13. Corsair H100i CPU Cooler

    This fits perfectly in the cabinet we chose, and is pre sealed with the cooling liquid, radiator and pipes come pre installed. So it’s a complete package ready to install, and it works well.

    14. Apple Magic Mouse

    What the heading says, it’s Apple’s mouse, so it just works, provided you get your bluetooth up and running.

    15. Apple Magic Trackpad

    You learn the importance of this trackpad once you start using it. Improves efficiency during multitasking. This is optional for those who want it. Works like a Charm.

    16. Apple Bluetooth Keyboard

    This final piece of the puzzle is highly recommended. You can also find any alternative Apple compatible keyboard. i.e. one which has a “cmd” key.

    That is basically the list of parts for our Hackintosh build. Our Install guide will be up shortly.

    You will also need a 16 GB USB 3 pen drive to make the install boot disk. It’s great if you have one lying around. Else we recommend :

    What we ended up Spending? A Whopping Rs. 3,13,000!

    Not all Mac-Hackintosh builds are or need to be this expensive. However this one worked the best for us. and we are happy.

  • Get an Organised Facebook Page With These 7 Tips And Tricks

    Get an Organised Facebook Page With These 7 Tips And Tricks

    Social platform Facebook is widely used by people of all groups. Though, it’s an amazing means to share updates, pictures and more with your friends and family, it sometimes pesters users through advertisements, invitations popping up to play games, posts sharing on your behalf and many more.

    Have you ever been in such circumstances where your mum scolded you on Facebook and likes of that post multiplied in minutes with people having a good laugh at it? Well, we all must have come across one or the other issues in the gigantic service, but fret not as the below-listed tips and tricks will keep awkward situations at bay.

    1. Remove Facebook Advertisements

    Advertisements are the most annoying part of any web page and same is the case with Facebook. Whenever we login to our account, a plethora of ads force us to leave the page. However, you would no longer be frustrated opening up your Facebook account as ‘Cleaner’ will keep your page tidy. Download Facebook Cleaner and avoid ads and updates on your account.

    2. Keep parents off Facebook

    facebook album link share

    Many a times it is seen that mums are interested in the activities of their grown-up kids. In spite of your mums’ continuous threats to join Facebook, you can sit back and relax as she would no longer complain. Now show her the pictures of your choice and be at the best of your behaviour. All you need to do is open the desired album, tap settings and copy the link. You can send this album as an email or via ‘Send in Message’ option, as per your liking.

    3. Discontinue auto-playing Facebook videos

    facebook video autoplay

    ‘This video is completely ridiculous. Why the hell people update such stuff.’ You must have said similar lines for disgusting videos auto-playing on your Facebook page as you scroll down the recent activities of your friends. Many a times we don’t bother and pause the videos individually, but seldom when we’re in a hurry to sneak onto our account for a few minutes, the videos automatically start playing. Well, this can be avoided by making some slight changes. Click on Settings -> App settings and choose Off on the Video AutoPlay option on the Android phone. iOS users can turn it off by choosing Settings on the phone and then clicking Facebook>Settings>Off under Video Auto-play option.

    4. Restrict apps’ requests and notifications

    facebook block apps

    With advancements in technology, games are no more the same as they used to be. You can now connect to Facebook and can ask your friends for help in case you’re stuck in the middle of some game and a lot more. Usually, these games send notifications to your friends or ask you to join it, which is quite pestering. However, you can easily get rid of the irritating updates by clicking the downward triangle icon. Then in your Setting options; click to customise your blocking options. Then enter the name of the apps you no longer want to get notifications of.

    5. Stop apps posting on your behalf

    facebook

    Some of us involve ourselves in Candy Crush or Subway Surfer to beat the boredom, but at the same time we don’t want our boss or teachers get record of  our gaming achievements. Many apps insist on posting the recent record break or achievements on the wall, but preventing them is much easier than one would have thought. Go to downward triangle and choose Settings and then Apps. Edit the list of offending apps and set ‘Visibility of app field to ‘Only me’. Your achievements will be updated on the wall but only you will be able to see them.

    6. Unfollow People

    facebook unfollow

    You may be friends with some people, but you no longer desire to receive or share News Feeds with them. It can be your ex-boyfriend or an irritating friend. Removing them from your friends’ list may hurt them but there’s a way to ignore them without even letting them know.

    The easiest way to hide the activities is by going to the status of the unwanted person and choose ‘Unfollow [friend’s name]’. You can also remove a particular uninteresting post from appearing on your page. Also, confine status updates to your close friends by choosing a list in the Friends drop-down option before hitting post.

    7. Select Display Pictures Only on Facebook Profile Page

    Facebook Friends box

    On the left-hand corner of the page, there is a Friends box with tiny pictures of your friends. However, you don’t get in touch with them often and they still appear shamelessly on your page (not your friends, but Facebook is to be blamed for this). But there’s a way you can decide what all friends you want to see on your page. Go to the Edit option on your Friends box and list the names of your friends. The chosen friends will now appear in your Friends box.

  • Unboxing | Google Nexus 6 | Hands On

    Unboxing | Google Nexus 6 | Hands On

    The Nexus has been the star of Google’s Android stable, and each year the handsets have become more and more admirable. The new Nexus 6 is a complete overhaul , from what the nexus was intended to be, a developer phone. The Nexus 6 is a premium flagship that is meant to compete and defeat the real flagships and sort of set a precedent for performance and expectations of the users. Built to run the stock version of Android in the best possible way, the Nexus is also the first to get the latest software updates from Google, including the latest version of Android.

    The Box of the Nexus 6 also shows the premium nature of the device. The packaging is high quality and the in box accessories are superior in built as well. In the box you get

    • A Nexus 6 Handset
    • Documentation
    • In Ear Earphones
    • USB Charger
    • USB Cable
    • Sim removal Tool

    The first experience with the Nexus 6 is great, it has a brilliant build that is apparent the minute you hold the device in your hands. The Nexus 6 is a large device, almost too large, sporting a mammoth 5.96 inch super AMOLED display with a massive 2560 x 1440 px resolution. The sides of the Nexus 6, unlike its predecessors, is all metal and rounded-off which translates to a great in hand feel.

    Some users may not get the earphones, but the Indian variant, from flipkart will come with earphones. So it might be a good idea to get from them if you are in India. Amazon US sells the phone for US $ 650 without contract, which translates to roughly the same cost as here.

    Specs

    Google Nexus 6

    Operating System Android 5.0 Lollipop
    Screen Size 5.96 inches
    Super AMOLED
    1440 x 2560 pixels
    RAM 3 GB
    Battery 3220 mAh
    Processor  Qualcomm Snapdragon 805
    CPU Quad-core 2.7 GHz
    GPU Adreno 420
    Front camera  2 MP
    Rear Camera 13 MP
    Price Rs. 44,000 for 32 GB/ Rs. 49,000 for 64 GB

     

     

     

  • Top 10 Games to Watch Out for in 2015

    Top 10 Games to Watch Out for in 2015

    This year saw a slew of some awesome game launches. Along with that, we witnessed the prowess of the Xbox One and PlayStaion 4 and what these high-end consoles are capable of. With 2015 knocking on the door, what better time to explore what’s in store for us gamers in the coming year. A lot of promising new developers along with already established franchises, 2015 is expected to be a game changer for this industry.

    There are some awesome projects in the making, hence lets jump onto our list of the most anticipated games for 2015:

    Bloodborne

    From the developers of Dark Souls and Demon’s Souls, Bloodborne has all the elements of a gripping horror story. Despite having a similar feel to the Souls games, Bloodborne has a persona of its own, with a gripping gothic setting and new game mechanics. The game boasts different weapons that make combat all the more fun. Bloodborne is all geared up to make us face the Darkside and definitely one of the games to watch out for in the coming year.

    The game is slated for a March 24, 2015 release on the PS4.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nHT2RSD5GAM

    Evolve

    This asymmetric shooter has the making of something special, which blends in teamwork and competitive play with real panache. It features some over the top shooting mechanics where co-op teamwork is not just a gimmick, but a necessity. Four players don the role of futuristic hunters, each having their set of skills and weapons.

    Not one of your everyday shooters, the gameplay looks stunning and certainly one of the titles to watch for. Evolve will be coming 2nd February, 2015 for PC, PS4 and the Xbox One.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BNiPQ90iWJ4

     The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

    Stunning vast landscapes, great storytelling, and new combat mechanics await us in this massive open world game. The Witcher 3 has a bit of everything and following on from its predecessor; the game oozes quality and more depth. From everything we’ve seen so far of The Witcher 3, it has immense potential we just can’t wait to see what’s really in store for us.

    The game is scheduled for a release on May 19 for the PC, PS4 and Xbox One.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=901vOVBTF6g

     Batman: Arkham Knight

    Batman: Arkham Knight marks the return of Rocksteady Studios. Last year’s Arkham Origins developed by Warner Bros. was a bit of a disappointment. The game also marks the return of the veteran voice actor Kevin Conroy as Batman with Scarecrow being the Dark Knight’s nemesis. In this explosive finale of the Arkham saga, Batman faces his arch nemesis Scarecrow, who has united Gotham’s top evil geniuses including Penguin, Two-Face and Harley Quinn to destroy the Dark Knight forever. The game will feature the intriguing Batmobile, which apparently will form an integral part of the gameplay, for the first time in the franchise. A deadly combo of Batmobile and new gameplay mechanics should suffice hardcore Batman fanatics who have been longing for that complete Batman experience.

    Arkham Knight is slated for a June 2 release and will be coming to the PS4, Xbox One and PC.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jPXtuCDp47s

     Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

    Creators of the Game of the Year 2013 (The Last of Us), Naughty Dog Studios is now focusing on its other hot property – Uncharted 4. Expected to be an explosive high paced Indiana Jones like adventure, it’ll be interesting to see what the game has in store. Moreover, some of Uncharted’s lead creators not a part of the studio anymore, we’re sure that The Last of Us directors Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley have something special to do with the franchise.

    Expect a well-paced cinematic adventure with some witty characters, certainly one of the titles to watch out for in 2015. No exact launch date has been announced for the game.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Ow2cL-pp6p8

     The Division

    Slated for a release in 2014, Tom Clancy’s The Division was pushed back to 2015 with Ubisoft aiming to deliver something of a spectacle with the game. Three studios are working together on The Division namely Ubisoft Red Storm, Ubisoft Reflections, and Massive Entertainment.

    It’ll be interesting to see how the game redefines the genre, touted as the most technologically advanced game in the making. With so much going on, Tom Clancy’s The Division by Ubisoft is worth the wait. The game will be released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows though an exact launch date has not yet been specified.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=JhBAc6DYiys

     Metal Gear Solid: Phantom Pain

    Boasting a new open world approach, the Phantom Pain is all about a complex plot line, while the core of the game maintains those intense stealth mechanics. With Ground Zeroes already getting rave reviews, laying down a solid base for stealth action game, it’ll be interesting to see how it plays on the large scale Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.

    Long time fans of the franchise will be eager to see how the Big Boss takes the next step to becoming the warlord he’s destined to be. The game will be launched on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows, though an exact launch date hasn’t been announced yet.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Rfn4UBmhfAM

    Rise of the Tomb Raider

    The franchises’ 2013 offering reestablished our faith in the series, while the next installment in the Tom Raider saga shows a Lara Croft, who is broken. However, this is where she is strengthened by the experiences of the first game, and it’ll be interesting to see how her character evolves in the next game. The game is scheduled for a launch sometime in 2015 for the Xbox One, though an exact launch date has not been announced as of now.

    Mortal Kombat X

    One of the oldest franchises in video game history and soon to get its tenth installment – Mortal Kombat X. The game is expected to get bloodier and badder and is set to deliver the most brutal Kombat experience ever. In addition, the massive memory pool of current gen consoles will deliver cutting edge graphics along with new game mechanics which should make it all the more gnarly and brutal.

    Mortal Kombat X is coming on the PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and the PC around the 15th of April next year.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jSi2LDkyKmI

    Star Wars: Battlefront

    DICE’s reboot of the multiplayer shooter series, Battlefront just looks stunning; showing us glimpses of the ice planet Hoth and forests of Endor. But how the game will play, what kind of game modes it will have or if we will have a full-fledged single player campaign as well, still remains a mystery.

    The game is slated for a late 2015 release for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. At around the same time when Episode VII hits cinemas next year, there’re sure to be some epic levels of hype surrounding the game.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2yKv45X_OIo

  • Micromax Yu Yureka : Benchmarks and Gaming

    Micromax Yu Yureka : Benchmarks and Gaming

    Micromax’s new subsidiary Yu has made quite an impact in a short span of time with its new smartphone Yureka running on Cyanogen OS 11. The Yu Televenture has adopted new business practices similar to the likes of OnePlus and Xiaomi, relying on community driven ecosystem of CyanogenMod.

    Check out our full benchmark  and hardware test along with the gaming performance of the Yureka below-

    Considering the price range, Yu Yureka packs quite an impressive combination of Cyanogen experience with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 which does 1.5 GHz on Octa-cores. The Yureka comes with Android 4.4.4 out of the box expected to be updated to the Lollipop soon.

    The device came to our testing lab and we ran a Benchmark Test, the results are as below-

    Test

    Yu Yureka

    Xiaomi Mi3

    Moto G (Gen 2)

    Antutu 28,359 30,537 17,159
    NenaMark  55.0 fps 60.0 fps 57.5 fps

    To test benchmarks, we started by running Antutu on the device. The device performed well up to its hype and got an impressive score of 28,359 . However, the handset lags behind the Xiaomi Mi 3’s score of  30,537.

    We also ran the device through NenaMark 2 and the Yureka scored 55.0 fps. The number is a little low as compared to other competitive devices available in market such as Xiaomi Mi 3 and Moto G (Gen 2).

    All in all considering the price bracket of this device it performs pretty well on the benchmark test and is a great device for gaming. Also check out the Unboxing and Hands On of this device on iGyaan and stay tuned for the full review of this device.

  • Unboxing | Micromax Yu Yureka | Hands On

    Unboxing | Micromax Yu Yureka | Hands On

    Micromax’s new company was a smart move for the Indian smartphone giant. However, whether or not the company will be able to provide a better consumer experience will be seen overtime. YU Televentures takes departure from traditional business practices of Micromax and relies on a large community driven eco-system as done by the likes of Xiaomi and OnePlus.

    Well, it’s practically 2015, and India has been left behind in the race for development ROMs. Almost all launched handsets are either locked, on in the case of Indian Manufacturers, have unsupported systems.

    Yu Yureka iGyaan1

    The YU Yureka comes with Cyanogen preloaded, which allows for a lot of development, almost from the moment you open the box.

    To take the packaging in the similar fashion, it sits comfortably between Xiaomi and OnePlus style of packaging, while made from recycled materials, we were far from impressed by the presentation or the box contents.

    In the Box you Get :

    • Yu Yureka Handset
    • EarPhones
    • Charger + Cable
    • 2500 mAh Battery

    The Interface is really snappy and that may be thanks to a mix of the Cyanogen experience along with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 which does 1.5 GHz on octa-cores.

    Yu Yureka iGyaan0

    The eureka comes with Android 4.4.4 out of the box and will be quickly updated to Lollipop as soon as you can find a flash-able ROM or when Cyanogen pushes an update. Check out the specs below and a quick comparison with the Redmi Note (4G variant) which comes with a Qualcomm chipset. Also at the bottom is the Unboxing and Hands-On video. Stay tuned for the full review.

    Specs

    Yu Yureka

    Redmi Note 4G

    Screen Size 5.5 inches
    720×1280 pixels
    5.5 inches
    720 x 1280 pixels
    RAM 2 GB 2 GB
    Battery 2500 mAh 3200 mAh
    Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 Qualcomm Snapdragon 400
    CPU 1.5GHz  Octa-core  1.6 GHz Quad-core
    GPU Adreno 405 Adreno 305
    Front Camera 5 MP 5 MP
    Rear Camera 13 MP 13 MP
    Price (Click for Updated Pricing) Rs. 8,999 Rs. 9,999
    Special Features Cyanogen OS 11 MIUI 5.0

     

  • iGyaan Tech Awards 2014

    iGyaan Tech Awards 2014

    Each year technology changes considerably, and each year there are lots of innovations in technology. Today we honor those who have achieved technological prowess and have delivered on the expectations of those who help them aim higher.

    Presenting the iGyaan Tech Awards 2014, a 100% community driven one of a kind technology awards for saluting those who have made it in the good books of the people who trust them with their money and time.

    You Have Voted and You Have Decided who wons in the iGyaan Tech Awards 2014, and by voting you won, One of the 10 Free Gionee Elife S5.1 slim smartphones. 

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

     

     

    Winners!

    [row cols_nr=”2″]

    [col size=”6″]

    Phones

    1. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/92510/vote-budget-phone-2014/” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best Budget Phone[/button]

    2. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/92792/vote-phablet/” size=”large” text_size=”beta”]Best Phablet[/button]

    3. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/92721/vote-flagship-mini-phone/” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best Flagship Mini Phone[/button]

    4. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/92522/vote-camera-phone-2014″ size=”large” text_size=”beta”]Best Camera Phone[/button]

    5. [button link=” https://www.igyaan.in/92565/vote-battery-life-phone” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best Battery life Phone[/button]

    6. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/92712/vote-waterproof-phone” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best Weatherproof Phone[/button]

    7. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/92548/vote-selfie-camera-phone” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best Selfie Phone[/button]

    8. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/93605/vote-affordable-smartphone/” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best Affordable Smartphone[/button]

    9. [button link=” https://www.igyaan.in/92718/vote-mid-range-phone” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best Mid Range Phone[/button]

    10. [button link=” https://www.igyaan.in/92715/vote-premium-phone-2014″ size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best High End Phone[/button]

    11. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/93608/vote-ultra-high-phone-2014″ size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best Ultra High End Flagship Phone[/button]

    12. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/92744/vote-manufactu…mobile-company” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best Smartphone Manufacturer[/button]

    13. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/93700/vote-slim-phone-2014-2″ size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best Slim Phone[/button]

    Portable Tech

    1. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/92874/vote-premium-headphones/” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best Premium Headphones[/button]

    2. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/92877/vote-mid-range-headphones/” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best Budget Headphone[/button]

    3. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/92880/vote-in-ear-headphones/” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best In-ear earphones[/button]

    4. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/93858/vote-premium-dslr-2014/” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best Premium DSLR[/button]

    5. [button link=” https://www.igyaan.in/93855/vote-budget-dslr-2014/ ?” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best Budget DSLR[/button]

    6. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/92861/vote-portable-speakers/” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best Portable Speaker[/button]

    7. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/92857/vote-smartwatch/” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best Smartwatch[/button]

    8. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/92851/vote-fitness-tracker/” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best Fitness Tracker[/button]

    9. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/92848/vote-power-bank/” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best Power Bank[/button]

    [/col]

    [col size=”6″]

    Tablets and Laptops

    1. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/92796/vote-mid-size-tablet” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best Mid Size Tablet[/button]

    2. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/92798/vote-large-size” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best Large Size Tablet[/button]

    3. [button link=” https://www.igyaan.in/92788/vote-performance-laptop” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best Performance Laptop[/button]

    4. [button link=” https://www.igyaan.in/92790/vote-portable-laptop” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best Portable Laptop[/button]

    5. [button link=” https://www.igyaan.in/92801/vote-desktop/” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best All in one Desktop – Budget[/button]

    6. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/93825/vote-all-in-one-premium-desktop/” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best All in one Desktop – Premium[/button]

    7. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/92842/vote-hybrid-device/” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best Hybrid Laptop[/button]

    Gaming

    1. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/92774/vote-fps-games/” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best FPS Game[/button]

    2. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/92777/vote-game-2014/” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best Game[/button]

    3. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/92780/vote-gaming-console/” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best Gaming Console[/button]

    4. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/92786/vote-gaming-accessory/ ” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best Gaming Accessory[/button]

    Awesome Tech Awards

    1. [button link=” https://www.igyaan.in/92724/vote-uhd-tv/” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best UHD TV[/button]

    2. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/92730/vote-e-commerce-website/” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best E commerce website[/button]

    3. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/92732/vote-tech-debut-comapny/” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best Debut Company- Tech[/button]

    4. [button link=” https://www.igyaan.in/92738/vote-tech-country-head/” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Best India Head -Tech[/button]

    5. [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/92747/vote-innovation-year/” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Innovation of the Year[/button]

    6. [button link=” https://www.igyaan.in/92754/vote-biggest-failures-year/” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Worst Tech-Failure of the Year[/button]

    [/col]

    [/row]

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  • Winner | Best Smartphone Manufacturer | iGyaan Tech Awards 2014

    Winner | Best Smartphone Manufacturer | iGyaan Tech Awards 2014

    There have been a flux of new smartphone manufacturing companies this year. To attract new customers it is important to have a device with the latest technology but also a device that looks good and is easy to use. The company should be active socially and should have excellent Service and support network along with pan-nation availability. This is a list of companies who have managed to think out of the box and comes up with the most inventive smartphone.

    These are those smartphone manufacturer that kept you at the edge of your seat.

    Voting is now Closed! The Winner for the Best Smartphone Manufacturer in the iGyaan Tech Awards 2014 is Motorola.

    The winner of the giveaway is announced HERE.

    [button link=”https://www.igyaan.in/awards/” size=”large” text_size=”beta” newtab=”on”]Back To Awards Categories[/button]


  • Here is Everything You Need to Know About VR Headsets

    Here is Everything You Need to Know About VR Headsets

    In the year 2014 Virtual Reality(VR) took a giant leap. From the hands of a limited few, the technology has now seeped into the consumer market. Oculus can be credited for bringing the technology to the mainstream. Taking cues from Oculus, several new devices have arrived in the market. Sony got its Project Morpheus and Samsung got the Gear VR headsets. There were also some independent attempts into making VR headsets including Google’s Cardboard project. The question remains – is this just a mere fad or is this technology here to stay? We delve into the past, present and future of VR Headsets today.

    What is Virtual Reality?

    According to a popular online encyclopedia, virtual reality is a computer simulated environment that can simulate physical presence in places in the real world or imagined worlds. It, in essence, creates a world that creates the perception of being in a whole new place. Using various other techniques, VR can create sensory perceptions of touch, smell, sounds and even taste.

    The Journey to Now…

    It’s not really a recent phenomenon in any sense of the word. There have been efforts to create an artificial environment for manipulating the senses since the 1800s. In 1860’s there were art installations that used a 360-degree panoramic mural to create an artificial reality. One of the most prominent examples of this is Sala delle Prospettive by Baldassare Peruzzi.

    Since then, there have been multiple efforts to artistically take the audience into a perceived reality. But in 1968 the first computer artificial reality headsets came to become a reality. Dubbed the Sword of Damocles that was created by computer scientists Ivan Sutherland. It was archaic in every sense of the word. It only displayed wire-frame models and was so heavy that it needed to be suspended from the ceiling, thus getting its name.

    Sword of Damocles was the first computer aided VR headset.
    Sword of Damocles was the first computer aided VR headset.

    In 1991, Sega arrived with the first VR headsets for the consumers. Though it got a tepid response from the press, and there were fears that they could spoil the eyesight of children, this prevented it from getting to the shelves.

    Nintendo tried its hand at VR headsets when it came out with the Virtual Boy in 1995. This device too was a commercial failure, and the users faced discomforts like dizziness, nausea, and headaches after extended use. The device was also lamented for the lack of a head tracking feature and color graphics.

    SONY DSC
    Virtual Boy by Nintendo released in 1995

    Fast forward to 2014, and we see a return with a vengeance of the VR technology. Aided by high processing power of modern day devices and the phenomenal breakthroughs in the mobile technology, it seems like VR has finally found its moment in time. The race was intensified with the purchase of Oculus VR by Facebook. Sony and Samsung soon followed with their own designs. Google tried to bring the technology in the grasps of everyone with the cardboard project, a DIY project through which you can create a stereoscopic VR headsets using cheap ingredients which costs just about $20.

    How do VR Headsets work?

    VR headsets pretty much use the concept of 3D glasses. On the displays, there are two images, one for each eye. These images, when viewed through a stereoscopic lens system, gives a perception of depth in the images. The brain brings together the two images as one and that creates the depth that immerses the user into the artificial world. Advanced VR systems like the Oculus have motion tracking system that responds to the user’s movement. Using hardware like the Omni treadmill, you feel like you are really moving around in the virtual environment.

    The emergence of mobile-based portable headsets has made it a lot easier to access the technology. Devices like the Gear VR, Google cardboard, and ANTVR make it a lot easier to use. These even allow you to look at your movies with a perception of watching them on a big screen. This could possibly mean the end of movie theaters and the expensive popcorn that comes with it.

    The other potential uses of the technology

    There are a wide range of uses of VR technology.
    There are a wide range of uses of VR technology.

    Virtual Reality is not just limited to providing quality entertainment and gaming, it has many real world applications too. It can come in handy in multiple fields such as:

    Virtual field Trips

    The best way to learn about a new place is to go there and travel around. It can often be educational to travel. But if you cannot afford the trip, you have virtual reality to your rescue. The virtual tour can show you around the place and using complementary technologies like haptic mediums; you can get to touch and smell your new environment too. It can be a complete immersive experience that you wouldn’t want to come out of.

    Education

    Learning by doing is the best way to acquire knowledge. Using the tools provided by gaming advancements in VR, students can learn to interact with their future workplace. For example, an architect can learn to create buildings and manipulate it in real time, almost like Ariadne in Inception. It can even come handy to school children to bring lessons to them in a more interactive immersive fashion.

    Training

    Several military professionals are trained on VR surfaces. It is a lot more economical than creating real world environments and also decreases the chance of injury while training. It gives the chance to practice their lessons as many times as needed. Pilots are also trained on simulators that actively recreate the flying environment. VR can come handy to train drivers who work in specialized environments such as high terrains or ice roads.

    Medicine

    The technology can be used to train doctors.
    The technology can be used to train doctors.

    Doctors can benefit from some virtual simulations too. Specialized surgeries that require immense precision require constant practice. In an artificially created environment, the surgeon can constantly train on the simulated body to perfect his/her skills that could someday come handy to save real lives.

    Challenges with VR Devices

    VR though has been in development for quite a while, but there are some limitations to the technology to make it more palatable to a mass audience. The confines of graphics and the tracking systems even in the best headsets results in various discomfort for the users. The industry needs to really work on the VR tracking systems.

    The audio too is an important element of an immersive experience. The disconnect between the audio and visuals or low quality audio can also lead to motion sickness and other discomforts. The audio industry is being encouraged to fix the gap to create a more natural environment for the users.

    There are also some issues with the content that can be created for consumption in the virtual world. Some psychologists say that the VR can create a generation of sociopaths who have gotten so used to first person violence that they are desensitized to it. To counter this, there is a need for regulation and codification of content meant for VR headsets. There should also be instruction and education on how to use the technology right so that it benefits all.

    Virtual Reality has come a long way, but there still is long way ahead for the technology to grow.
    Virtual Reality has come a long way, but there still is long way ahead for the technology to grow.

    A Long journey begins now.

    With the processing power up to the mark and graphical interfaces replicating reality better than ever, this is the right time for VR to come out of its cocoon. The smartphone revolution has brought the VR technology in the grasps of everyone. Google’s cardboard project literally makes this technology universal. There is a long way to go with the potential applications of the technology, but its mainstream visibility will speed up its adoption in various fields. There is a lot the technology can offer us, and it’s just the beginning of the access to the virtual world. The immense potential of the technology is still up for unlocking. We’re excited about the prospects of VR, are you?

  • Review : Micromax Canvas 4 Plus

    Review : Micromax Canvas 4 Plus

    Some would say that Micromax is on a roll, touted as one of the dominant force in the Indian smartphone industry. The domestic manufacturer is closing down on Samsung to claim the No.1 spot for the largest smartphone vendor in the Indian subcontinent. There’s no denying that company’s recent products have significantly improved when it comes to build quality.

    Micromax’s latest addition to its lineup is the Micromax Canvas 4 Plus, which surprisingly was launched in a subtle way without creating all the hype the company is known for.

    OVERVIEW

    Since the launch of the Canvas Knight earlier this year along with the recently launched Yu Yureka, Micormax is constantly striving to offer high-end specs at mid-range prices. The recently launched Micromax Canvas 4 Plus does boast off a fairly appealing outer demeanor along with a decent set of specs. This device is priced on major e-commerce websites at approximately Rs. 14,000.

    The smartphone arrived in our test lab, hence without any more delay, let’s check out how the Micromax Canvas 4 Plus performs in our grilling review.

    Micromax Canvas 4+P1070745

    HARDWARE

    The Micromax Canvas 4 Plus is by no means a slouch when it comes to specs. It sports a MediaTek Octa core chipset, 1 GB of RAM with 16GB expandable storage. The Canvas 4 Plus runs on a 2000 mAh battery with Android Kitkat OS on board.

    Check out the key specs below:

    Specifications Micromax Canvas 4 Plus
    Display 5 inch AMOLED HD screen
    Processor 1.7 GHz  Octa-core MediaTek
    Storage 16GB Internal Storage expandable upto 32GB
    RAM 1GB
    CAMERA 13 MP rear camera with flash, 5MP front selfie cam
    BATTERY 2000mAh
    Operating System Android 4.4.2

    BUILD QUALITY AND DESIGN

    There no denying that the Canvas 4 Plus appears to be a makeshift version of the iPhone, with a similar slim form factor, rounded edges and also bendable. Yes! You read that right; we were fiddling around with the phone to test its durability and it led to some awkward moments in our test lab. The phone did bend and the golden bezel running across the sides are now slightly off their normal position.

    Moving on, there’s a gold a backplate that covers most of the back. The front houses the display along with the three physical capacitive buttons rearranged right below the display. Meanwhile, the back houses the primary camera on the top right while the phone’s loudspeaker is placed bang in the center below the metallic strip.

    Placed on top of the phone, are the micro-USB port along with the 3.5mm jack. The right edge houses the power button and a tray for the micro-SIM card, while the left side houses the volume rockers along with a flap for a regular sized SIM card. Opening the rear is quite task, as one needs to be dexterous to pull out the flap and then get a hold of it with a fingernail. In addition, the tray on the right also makes it  mandatory to use a pin to pop it up.

     That being said; the overall design of the phone is quite ergonomic, it feels pretty light and provides a really good grip. The slim form factor of the phone fits in the hand rather well making it rather good for one handed usage.

    The Canvas 4 Plus is not quite robust as one would like though the overall build quality and design of the Canvas Plus are rather satisfactory, unless you have a problem carrying an iPhone look alike.

    CAMERA

    The phone comes equipped with a 13 MP primary camera bundled with LED flash along with a 5 MP front camera for selfies, which is pretty decent, though does not justify the megapixel count.

    The rear snapper can take some fairly good shots in well lit conditions. Colour reproduction is pretty decent though images don’t come across quite as sharp given 13 MP camera, especially while taking macro shots. While taking long shots, the camera again had issues getting the exposure right. In addition, the camera couldn’t take quality shots in low light as they appeared a tad grainy.

    Here are a few samples taken from the primary camera-

    Meanwhile, the front 5MP cam can take pretty decent selfies, though going by the number of megapixel count, it does not justify the image quality. Hence, it’s safe to say the overall camera performance is just about average, given the specs of the camera unit.

    PERFORMANCE AND OS

    The Micromax Canvas 4 Plus is quite a beast in terms of performance; it just zips through day to day tasks without a twitch. The phone’s benchmark scores say it all, scoring a whopping 31,649 in Antutu, a Quadrant score of 16,122 while it racked a Nena Mark II score of 68.3 FPS. The phone can handle anything thrown at it, from high-end games to HD videos. It won’t fetter while multitasking, perfect for heavy users.

    DEVICE NAME Antutu Benchmark Nena Mark II Quadrant Standard
    Micromax Canvas 4 Plus 31,649 68.3 fps 16,122
    Huawei Honor 6 41900 59.1 fps 10,939

    Coming to the OS, the Micromax Canvas 4 Plus runs the Android 4.4.2 (KitKat) apart from a few minor functional tweaks. The UI is very similar to the Canvas Nitro. The pitch black screen displays only notifications on multi coloured strips which is rather refreshing. It displays quick notifications and updates and works well with QuickLook (aka Blinkfeed for non HTC devices).

    Micromax has also added Air-shuffle which enables users to wave their hands over the ambient light sensor to shuffle music and radio stations, along with taking pictures via the camera app. Something we saw in Samsung’s pricier smartphones and also works seamlessly on the Canvas 4 Plus. In addition, Micromax has also bundled the Swift Key keyboard which is rather delightful. Also crammed in are quite a few apps which cannot be uninstalled, while the OS also comes pre-loaded with a few trial games including Smash It.

    Overall, the UI is rather swift and responsive and works really well with the set of pre-loaded apps.

    DISPLAY AND MULTIMEDIA

    The Canvas 4 Plus sports a 5 inch HD AMOLED display, which is pretty satisfactory, it works well indoors and outdoors. Texts appear nice and sharp, though viewing angles aren’t that great. In addition, colours do appear quite over saturated and overblown. That being said, the overall display is rather satisfactory. You will totally appreciate media consumption on the display, despite the 720p screen.

    Micromax Canvas 4+P1070738The audio quality is pretty good, there’s an Audio enhancer when you plug in the headset, along with a feature called ‘BestLoudness’ to further bolster the volume.

    PHONES, NETWORKS, AND BATTERY

    The call quality of the phone is pretty top notch, both indoors as well as outdoors and we didn’t experience any call drops either. Meanwhile, Wi-Fi connectivity is pretty good as the phone latches onto available networks at ease.

    In terms of battery performance, the phone is better than many of the phones in the given price range. It can easily last a day of usage, with an average 4-5 hours of talktime.

    CONCLUSION

    The Canvas 4 Plus is a great phone for its price but has its own limitations. As we already mentioned, if you don’t have any qualms over flaunting this iPhone look alike infront of your peers, the Canvas 4 Plus is a good all round performer.

    Sporting an octa-core chipset, the phone does not compromise on its performance. Notably, its performance is at par with the cheaper Micromax Canvas Nitro (A310). There are however, other worthy alternatives in a similar price bracket, the evergreen and dependable Moto G (IInd Gen) or for that matter the Huawei Honor 6, which have more to offer than the Canvas 4 Plus, if you’re willing to spend an extra couple of thousand.

  • Editor’s Pick : The Week in a Video

    Editor’s Pick : The Week in a Video

    This week we saw a lot of excitement along with many highs and lows. Here are the past seven days summed up in a video:

    The biggest news of the week was the launch of the new brand by Micromax called YU. The brand is a result of a collaboration between Micromax’s founder Rahul Sharma and custom ROM maker Cyanogen. The first phone from the brand is called Yureka and it has an impressive spec sheet and comes at a mind-blowing price.

    Micromax was also in news for its infringement case against the Chinese phone manufacturer, OnePlus. This led to a temporary ban on the sale of OnePlus devices in India.

    OnePlus also launched a powerbank this week. Known as the OnePlus Power Bank, it supplies 10,000 mAh of power, enough to provide three full charges for your smartphone.

    The other major Chinese smartphone maker, Xiaomi had a better week than the last month. After banning the company from selling its devices in India, the court gave respite to the company to sell its Qualcomm chipset based devices. The first flash sale is scheduled for 23rd December.

    Xiaomi also had a good week globally as it reached the fourth spot on the points tally of phone makers and ended up kicking out LG from the fifth spot. In just a span of one year the company has raised its market share from 1.5 percent to 5.2 percent. It stands just 0.1 percent behind No.3 spot holder Huawei. Samsung managed to hold on to the first spot with 24.4 percent market share while Apple managed to keep a steady hold on the market with 12.7 percent share.

    Yet another Chinese manufacturer was in news. Gionee India head said that his company is ready to set up a manufacturing unit in India subjected to government clearance.

    World’s thinnest phone also arrived in India this week. With only 4.75 mm thickness, the Vivo X5 Max is priced at Rs. 32,980.

    Skype also brought good news for Indians when it offered free calling to US and Canada. Although this facility will last till 1st March 2015.

    It was reported that WhatsApp may soon be available online. A leaked screen shot shows the HTML coding for a potential online avatar of the popular messaging app.

  • iGyaan Holiday Gift Guide

    iGyaan Holiday Gift Guide

    It’s that time of the year when all stores are stocked, everyone is shopping for their loved ones and cribbing about long queues. The stores can be a bit chaotic, but you can easily skip the headache of visiting them by checking out some of these great deals and ordering online. However, it can be hard to go through all the websites and blogs to find the perfect gift.

    Well, don’t worry, we’ve put together a handful of great gifts for any ‘techie’ in your life:

    [row cols_nr=”3″]

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    10. Chromecast

    IMG_2758

    Streaming media around your home isn’t a new idea, but the rise of internet-based on-demand services have made it popular. Chromecast is an inexpensive media streaming adapter that turns any HDMI-equipped television into an app-driven smart TV when paired with a phone, tablet or computer. This is a must-have for people who have their media content saved on different devices.

    [/col]

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    9.  Brunton Power Knife

    brunton-power-knife

    A tangle of cords. A broken cable. A missing adapter. Does this sound like your friend’s problem? If yes, then Brunton power knife is the perfect gift for him/her. This knife is just as important as a pocket knife. It is a gadget that combines adapter ends from some of the most widely used outdoor gadgets into a form factor any adventurer can recognise. Order on here.

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    8. DUBS Earplugs

    810ZPf1fb8L._SL1500_

    Well, this one is our favourite. The DUBS are advanced tech earplugs that reduce volume without sacrificing the clarity of sound. Whether you’re on a noisy road, at a concert, on a plane or playing a game, the DUBS earplugs go louder, longer. Order yourself a pair here.

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    7. Kinivo BTC455 Bluetooth car kit

    kinivo-btc-455

    For drivers who just want to add Bluetooth without major modifications to their car, this tiny dongle by Kinivo is the best gift. It sends hands-free call audio and wirelessly streamed stereo music through a car’s speakers via the auxiliary input present on most modern cars’ stereos. Simple controls let you accept incoming calls and skip tracks.

    [/col]

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    6. Lego AT-AT

    5711155351_9b4f10cb7c

    If someone tells you LEGOs are for kids, hit the person squarely in the kneecap. Then get back to building your AT-AT, the 1137-piece vehicle that puts to shame all the Star Wars’ figures you tried to build when you were a kid.

    [/col]

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    5. Lumu

    3618-1280

    For advanced photographers, a light metre is always an important purchase. What if your friend is an iPhone photographer? Well, Lumu is a perfect gift for such friends as it integrates light metre with the iPhone and requires no power to operate. For more details, click here.

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    4. Moto 360

    moto360_metal_1920x1080_0

    Let’s just say whoever you are going to gift Moto 360, will never be able to match it with any other gifts. The beautiful, interactive, round watchface brings all the wonders of the internet to your wrist. With no news regarding the release of the Apple Watch, we recommend the Moto 360.

    [button link=”http://dl.flipkart.com/dl/motorola-moto-360-smartwatch/p/itmdzrf56agybrvt?pid=SMWDZRF4FGYP9KXE&srno=t_1&query=moto+360&affid=bhnagpalgm” size=”large” text_size=”beta”]Buy it Here[/button]

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    3. Skullcandy Knockout

    skullcandy-knockout-headphones-women-s-quilted-black-black-gold-detail-1

    Skullcandy has this amazing headset range called Knockout specifically designed for women. They come in an amazingly beautiful floral designs and a leather finish. It will be your loved one’s favourite accessory apart from her expensive jewellery.

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    2. Withings WS-50 Smart Body Analyzer

    110103

    While working out, it is always encouraging to see your hard work paying off on the scale. The Withings WS-50 Smart Body Analyzer measures  weight, body fat percentage, BMI and heart rate. It can also keep a track of up to seven other users. It even monitors indoor air quality.

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    1. Logitech UE Boom

    Logitech-UE_BOOM-3

    The UE Boom is a compact, durable wireless Bluetooth speaker that plays super loud sound for its size and is water and stain resistant. It offers up to 15 hours of battery life, has speaker phone capabilities and is well-suited for outdoor use. Also, if you buy a second speaker, you can create a completely wireless pair of true stereo speakers using the UE Boom mobile app for iOS and Android devices.

     

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