Category: Latest

All the Latest, News, Reviews, Updates, How To, Mobile Phone news, Global and International News, From Cameras to Automobiles, from TV To PC and a lot more! Constantly updating!

LG G7, G7+ Design And Specifications Leaked

LG unveiled its LG G6 at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017. However, this year the company skipped a major launch and instead, introduced a new variant of the LG V30+. A leaked promotional image of the upcoming LG G7/G7+ flagship smartphones sheds some light on what we can expect from the new flagships. For the first time, LG might launch a standard and a plus variant of its flagship smartphone. In fact, most of the major smartphone OEMs from Sony, Samsung, and Apple already follow this pattern.

According to the leaked image, the company will launch the LG G7 and G7+ in June 2018. However, unlike Apple or Samsung the only difference between these models will be limited to RAM and Storage.

The LG G7 and the G7+ might feature support for modular accessories. Interestingly enough, the LG G5 was the first LG smartphone to support modular accessories with the same tagline ‘life is good when you play more.’ Possibly, the company might re-introduce features like a user-replaceable battery, camera add-ons etc. The LG G7 and G7+ will also have the infamous notch, which is expected to house an iris scanner with additional sensors like an earpiece, proximity sensor etc.

LG G7/G7+ Specs

Both the devices will have 6.1 inch MLCD+ display with a 3120 x 1440 px resolution which translates to a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. The display will support native HDR10 content, similar to the LG G6. Under the hood, the device will have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Octa-core chipset with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage on the G7 and 6GB RAM and 128GB storage on the G7+.

The devices will have a dual primary camera setup similar to the LG V30+. However, the company might go with a telephoto sensor, instead of a wide angle sensor. Both the models will have a 3000 mAh battery with support for fast charging and wireless charging capability. Considering the time of the launch, these smartphones will run on Android 8 Oreo with custom LG UI.

March 22, 2018
Xiaomi Mi MIX 2s To Feature iPhone X-Like Face ID

Xiaomi will soon launch the most anticipated Snapdragon 845-powered smartphone after the Galaxy S9. The Mi MIX 2s will be the third device in the ‘MIX’ series and the first one with the ‘s’ moniker. While earlier renders revealed an unusual notch on the top right corner, recent teasers by Xiaomi tell a different story. The company has continued its campaign of releasing teasers and its latest one talks about Face Unlock.

The teaser has a very similar feel to Apple’s Face ID advertisement. The video has images of famous painters like Van Gogh and a corresponding ‘unlock’ animation. Different artists are seen sporting different looks with beards, hats etc. It essentially signifies that Mi MIX 2s and its new Face Unlock feature will work regardless of what the user’s appearance is. This is similar to Face ID which adapts to user’s looks and works even if they’re wearing sunglasses or a hat.

So far, 2018 has been dominated by iPhone X copycats. Smartphone makers have been criticised for blatantly copying iPhone X’s notch but not really justifying its presence. So far, the Mi MIX 2s teasers have not hinted towards an iPhone X-like notch. However, in order to execute Face ID-like facial recognition, the Mi MIX 2s might have some extra sensors as well. Where those sensors will be fitted is yet to be seen. The best bet, so far, is the bottom bezel, which is expected to be thicker than the other three bezels.

Xiaomi Mi MIX 2s Specs

The smartphone is expected to have a 6 inch IPS LCD display with a 2160 x 1080 px resolution.

Under the hood, the smartphone will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. However, the smartphone will not support memory expansion. The device is expected to have a 3400 mAH Li-ion battery with wireless and fast charging. The phone will run on Android 8 Oreo OS with custom MIUI 9 skin on the top. However, none of the Xiaomi devices, barring the Mi A1, run on Android 8 Oreo as of now.

March 22, 2018
Huawei P20 Pro Could Have A Whopping 512GB Of Storage

Huawei is prepping up for the launch of the Huawei P20 and the Huawei P20 Pro on the 27th of March. Up until now, almost all the specifications of these devices have been leaked. However, a new document suggests that the company might launch a special Huawei P20 Pro edition (maybe Porsche design) with a whopping 512GB of onboard storage.

The device is officially listed on TENAA, with model number NEO-AL00. According to the listing, the device will have 512GB of storage with 6GB of RAM. This could be the first mass-produced smartphone to have half TB of storage.

Huawei P20 Pro Specs

The smartphone is expected to have a 6.1 inch 2240 x 1080 px OLED display with a notch on the top. Under the hood, the smartphone will be powered by the Kirin 970 chipset with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. In fact, the smartphone is expected to support native face unlock algorithm similar to the iPhone X.

The device is also expected to offer a wide range of AI capabilities, which might improve the smartphone photography.

The smartphone is likely to house a triple lens primary camera setup with RGB + wide angle + telephoto lens combination. On to the front, the smartphone is likely to have dual camera setup. In fact, the dual front-facing camera can aid the facial recognition system as well. The device will run on Android Oreo 8.1 with custom EMUI on the top.

March 22, 2018
Apple iPhone X Successor Will Be The Cheapest 2018 iPhone With OLED Display

It is time to now look forward to the iPhone X successor in 2018. Each year, there are a handful of launches that eagerly waited, and the iPhone launch is one of them. So far, we have seen multiple reports corroborating that Apple will launch three iPhones in September. However, we have assumed that the LCD variant will be the cheapest and the iPhone X Plus will be the priciest.

A new report by a senior analyst at Digitimes, Luke Lin says otherwise. Lin has been keeping a keen eye on the supply chain of Apple and believes that the like-for-like iPhone X successor will indeed be the most affordable iPhone in 2018. Although there will be an iPhone with an LCD display, it won’t be the cheapest. As the pricing will largely depend on the display type, RAM, and storage of all the 2018 iPhones.

iPhone X Plus Concept

The successor to the iPhone X will stick to the 5.85 inch screen size with an OLED display panel. However, Apple managed to get the bill of materials down 10% from the US$ 412.75 of the current model. The OLED display accounted for a big chunk of that. Next up will be the 6.1 inch iPhone with an LCD display. The 6.45 inch iPhone X Plus with an OLED panel will be the priciest iPhone in 2018.

Obviously, there will be more than just the display and RAM differences between the three iPhones. Apple will use different camera configurations and maybe, the iPhone X Plus will have a few exclusive features to justify its possible exorbitant price tag.

A couple of months ago, Ming-Chi Kuo, one of the most trusted Apple analysts released some information about the 2018 iPhone lineup. The iPhone X 2018 (tentative name) will have the same 5.85 inch OLED display found on the current iPhone X. It will have a 2,700 to 2,800mAh battery, supplied primarily by Unimicron. The 2018 iPhone X will also be powered by a new chipset and is expected to feature advanced Face ID.

iPhone X

The iPhone X Plus will have a 6.5-inch OLED display in a body that might not be much bigger than the iPhone 8 Plus’. It is expected to have a 3,400 to 3,500 mAh battery supplied Unimicron.

March 22, 2018
#DeleteFacebook Is Trending: Here’s What Has Happened

On the 20th of January, Donal Trump was inaugurated as the United States’ 45th President. Leading up to that day was an excruciating Presidential campaign. Wherein Hillary Clinton lost to Trump on the basis of electoral votes. Even though Clinton was ahead by 2.1% in popular votes, she conceded the election on the 9th of November. Ever since his election, Donal Trump and his Presidential campaign have come under a lot of scrutinies.

[section label=”Background”]

A few weeks ago, the Justice Department indicted 13 Russian nationals and 3 companies for interfering in the 2016 presidential election. The Russians stole the identities of American citizens and posed as political activists to deviate the public opinion against a certain Presidential candidate. However, there was no accusation that President Trump or his associates were knowingly part of the conspiracy.

And now, a British analytics firm, Cambridge Analytica has come under the radar. It has been accused of illegally capturing data of 50 million Facebook users for target-based advertising during the Presidential campaign. Apparently, Cambridge Analytica performed work for the campaign of President Donald Trump and made ads for the Defeat Crooked Hillary Facebook page.

Worth noting that that the page was run by the Make America Number One super PAC (Political Action Committee). Co-incidentally, both the Cambridge Analytica and Make America Number One financed by Robert and Rebekah Mercer, who backed Donald Trump in the general election.

[section label=”Key Events”]

The question arises then, how did a company get hold of personal information of 50 million Facebook users? Illegally, for starters. Apparently, Aleksandr Kogan, a University of Cambridge psychology professor got permission from Facebook to harvest information from users who downloaded his app, thisisyourdigitallife. But, users who downloaded the app gave the professor the permission to collect data on their location, their friends and even the content they had liked. Krogan, then, passed on this data to Cambridge Analytica which violated Facebook’s rules.

A recent report on Alexander Nix, CEO of Cambridge Analytica has intensified the allegations on the firm.A British television channel aired a report where he is seen discussing potential bribery and entrapment of politicians. However, Cambridge Analytica has since stated that:

The report was edited and scripted to grossly misrepresent the nature of those conversations.

That stance did not stick for too long as Alexander was suspended by the company on 20th March 2018. It is worth noting that Christopher Wylie, a former contractor of Cambridge Analytica is the whistleblower. He shared this information with the New York Times and The Observer. Facebook has since suspended his account.

Suspended by @facebook. For blowing the whistle. On something they have known privately for 2 years. pic.twitter.com/iSu6VwqUdG

— Christopher Wylie ???? (@chrisinsilico) March 18, 2018

In a nutshell, all of this corruption was fueled by the availability of such damming data. After the recent accusations of Russian nationals using Facebook to sway voters, this new accusation is much bigger. It has been revealed that since the story broke, Facebook has lost about US$ 50 million in market cap. Also, the hashtag #DeleteFacebook has been trending elsewhere.

March 21, 2018
Windows 10 Spring Update Will Get A New ‘Timeline’ Feature

Microsoft is in the final stage of launching the next big software update for Windows 10 called ‘Spring Creators Update’. The company is yet to announce the launch date of the update. However, according to a source, the update will go live on the 10th of April. In fact, this date collides with Windows 10 Creators Edition launch date. There are a lot of changes and new features included in the upcoming major software update from Microsoft.

The update will be first tested with a set of users in the initial wave. Later on, the update will be made available for the rest of the users. In fact, the update might take months to land on your device. If you are an eligible Windows Insider, then you will be able to test the RTM (Release To Manufacturing) build before April.

New features

The spring update will have plenty of new features. The update will improve the user experience on Microsoft Edge browser, new action centre, and a task view feature. Similarly, there are minor UI refinements, which improves the overall user experience. The most interesting feature of this update is the new Timeline feature.

The task view will be renamed as Timeline, which allows a user to go back up to 30 days to edit a document or pick up a task. These apps/tasks will be listed according to time. However, every app will not support this feature. Most of the Microsoft applications like Word, Edge, Powerpoint will support this feature from the beginning.

March 21, 2018
Top Tech And Accessories Under Rs. 500

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9gI9yFnrPw[/embedyt]

It doesn’t take a lot of money to buy really good tech and accessories. iGyaan is back with its Top Tech series and we have a look at the top tech under Rs 500. Please note that the prices may fluctuate time and again.

Portable Light

This is a compact portable light with magnetic properties. The device needs 3 AAA sized batteries to operate, which has an LED light with variable brightness levels. One can hang this to a backpack using a built-in clamp. Similarly, this device can stick to any metal surface. This can also be used as an emergency lamp. There is a stroke flash mechanism, which comes handy in emergency situations. What more can we expect for Rs 325?

Engraving Pen

Don’t try to tattoo yourself using this tool, as it is made for engraving smoother materials like wood. The device operates on two AA sized batteries (sold separately). The company claims that the device can be used to engrave on Wood, Plastic, Glass, and even metal. However, considering the speed of the motor the engraving might not be that effective on materials like metal and glass. It does work well on a wooden surface, as demonstrated in our video. This is a bang for your buck deal for Rs 250 rupees.

Sticky Pad

The two dissimilarly shaped sticky pads will cost Rs 380. These pads can stick to any surface including Glass, Wood, and Plastic. One can easily pop-on a smartphone or a power bank in a second. As these are based on glue, the pads might accommodate dust. However, remove the pad from the surface and rinse it with water to remove debris.

Screwdriver Set

If you are a DIY guy, then this Rs 449 priced device will come in handy in different scenarios. This is a precision screwdriver set with 25 screwdriver heads and a magnetic body. Similarly, the user can adjust the tightness of the bit and the body by screwing mechanism. From outside, the package looks like a pouch. However, inside it houses different screw bits.

Hybrid SIM adapter

If you have a smartphone with dual hybrid SIM slot, then this tool will come handy to use two SIM cards and a micro SD card simultaneously. We tried this on a Xiaomi Redmi 5 and it worked as advertised. However, make sure to get a genuine or you might screw-up your smartphone. For a price of Rs 200, you will get a dedicated micro SD card slot.

Card Pocket

This comes in handy for those who forget to carry their wallets and not their smartphone. This is a self-adhesive card pocket for mobiles and tablets. For the price, it has a premium build quality. The card pocket is available in multiple colours, which can stick to a smartphone’s back or a case.

Survival Compass

This is a multi-tool tech package with plenty of features. The kit is priced at Rs 399 and has a temperature sensor, humidity sensor, and a compass. Inside the tool, it has a reflector and a magnifying glass built on a tiny scale. Additionally, there is a flashlight, which will come handy when you are trucking in a jungle. The best of the tool is the survival whistle, which can create a high pitch noise.

Philips SHE3700RD Earphones

In a budget of Rs 500, you’ll be hardpressed to find a better pair of earphones. Philips, especially, is known for its audio devices and the Philips SHE3700RD earphones do not disappoint. The earphones do miss out on aniline microphone which can be a bummer for a few people. However, these earphones are an ideal blend of looks and sound quality at this price.

Outdoor Match Kit

You would’ve have seen n number of matchboxes in your lifetime. But, nothing like these, we bet. The outdoor match kit come in a plastic container, which can light up the fire even in a wet situation. These have a longer burning time compared to a typical matchstick and a great tool for your next trucking. These are priced at Rs 265, which is a bit high compared to other accessories.

S-Biner

Our last top tech pick comes handy for those, who travel a lot. These S-biners can be used to attach your luggage to one another. These S-biners come in a pair and will cost you Rs 475, which can carry load up to 45 KG. Similarly, these biners will be available in different colours and different capacities.

March 21, 2018
This LED Bulb Can Replace Your Wi-Fi

It is astonishing to see how the internet has so quickly become an integral part of this world. Right from professional needs to personal entertainment, it is hard to get by a day without scrambling for 4G or a WiFi connection. It is fair to say that the world of internet has seen a lot of innovation over the years. We are also very close to publically rolling out 5G data network as well. Now, L-Fi (Light Fidelity) was first introduced as a concept at CES 2018 and is almost ready for its real-world.

Li-Fi

Li-Fi-, however, is not a new technology. It has been in the works for years now and has always felt like it is almost ready. The technology uses visible and infrared lights instead of radio signals to create a wireless internet network. In theory, this is a much more stable alternative to crowded Wi-Fi networks.

So, how it works is that internet cables are to run to any light fixture that has to be converted. Inside the fixture, a modem converts data packets and essentially modulates LEDs faster than what the human eye can see. Then, a compatible modem is plugged into a laptop which converts the light signals back to data and uses an infrared LED to send a response to a receiver in the light fixture.

In public spaces especially, Li-Fi has great potential. Since this technology uses light instead of radio signals, the interference between different devices is less. This is because light travels in line-of-sight and doesn’t penetrate any furniture or walls in its line. Essentially, two devices on the same Li-Fi connection use the same bandwidth without interference. Hence, in a crowded public space, this can be extremely useful as people, most of the time, end up scrambling for a working internet connection.

However, Li-Fi works on a double-edged sword. Ironically, the qualities that make it extremely useful (in theory), also cause the main issue with it. Since the technology relies on line-of-sight, a slight hindrance between the light source and the modem can cause a failure. Another issue is portability. Users can’t roam around with a stable connection as well.

March 21, 2018
The New Acer Predator Orion 9 Will Cost Rs. 3,19,000

Acer India has officially launched the Predator Orion 9000 gaming PC. The device costs a whopping Rs 3,19,000. The company claims that the Predator Orion 9 is the first computer to have Intel Core i9 Extreme chipset in India. The computer is currently on sale via Acer exclusive and Chroma stores across the country.

Chandrahas Panigrahi, CMO and Consumer Business Head, Acer India, said:

We are thrilled to welcome to our gaming arsenal the iconic Predator Orion 9000 gaming desktop. The Orion 9000 is a desktop of extreme power designed especially for the demanding professional gamer with advanced cooling and game ready features to easily take on any game out there.

Acer Predator Orion 9 Specs

Acer Predator Orion 9 is a flagship-class computing system, which packs top of the line hardware. The device has Intel Core i9 Extreme processor with 128GB RAM and 2TB hard disc. Similarly, one can easily expand the storage using three M.2 slots, which can support latest SSD standards. The device has dual Nvidia GTX 1080Ti GPU. Similarly, a user can upgrade the GPU in future using additional PCIe slots. The outer shell of the computer looks like a spacecraft with programmable RGB lighting. One can play with the lightning using customisable RGB lights.

To keep the system cool at the time, the company has incorporated liquid cooling technology. In fact, the company has specially engineered a dedicated Acer IceTunnel 2.0 to keep it cool even in extreme gaming situations. IceTunnel 2.0 helps to keep the temperature down by using advanced airflow management solution. The cooling system separates the device into different zones to makes them stay cool using individual pipelines.

The computer has plenty of ports as well. To begin with, the device has 2 USB 3.1-second generation ports and 8 USB 3.1 first generation ports. Similarly, the device also has X16 PCIe slots to add additional graphics cards. The system comes pre-installed with 64-bit Windows 10 OS.

March 21, 2018
MIUI 9.5 Is Coming To These 30 Smartphones

Xiaomi only recently rolled out MIUI 9 for almost all of its smartphones here in India. The Chinese smartphone maker was commended for not leaving old devices in the dark and even the Redmi 1s, launched over three years ago, received the MIUI 9 update. However, the support will end there for a lot of these smartphones. Xiaomi has announced that the new MIUI 9.5 update will start seeding in late-March. It will gradually reach about 30 Xiaomi devices by the end of April 2018.

MIUI 9.5 Update Timeline

Late-March: Redmi Note 3 Special Edition, Redmi Note 3 Qualcomm, Redmi Note 4 Qualcomm/Redmi Note 4X, Mi Max, Mi Max Prime, Redmi 3S, Redmi 4 Prime, Redmi 4A and Redmi Note 4 MTK.

Early-April: Redmi Note 5A Prime/Redmi Y1, Redmi Note 5A/Redmi Y1 Lite, Redmi 5A, Redmi 5 Plus, Redmi Note 5/Pro, Redmi 5, Mi Max 2, Mi 5/Pro, Redmi 4X, Mi 6 and Mi MIX 2

Mid-April: Mi Note 2, Mi 5s, Mi MIX, Mi Note 3, Mi 5s Plus, Redmi Note 2, Redmi 3, Redmi 4, Mi 3, Mi 4

The company has not announced any new features that will be a part of the new MIUI update. However, there are a few users who have been using a stable build of MIUI 9.5 on Redmi Note 4 units. The new update will bring in features like Notification Shade, Quick Reply and the February security patch.

Despite the latest MIUI update, none of the Xiaomi smartphones barring the Mi MIX 2 run on Android 8 Oreo. However, after Xiaomi launched the Redmi Note 5 in China running Android 8 Oreo, it looks like at least the 2018 Xiaomi lineup will get a software upgrade.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5, Note 5 Pro and Redmi 5 have an 18:9 aspect ratio, like the Mi MIX 2. There is a possibility of these devices also getting support for gesture-based navigation with a future Android 8 Oreo update.

March 21, 2018
OnePlus 6 Could Be The Costliest OnePlus Smartphone Yet
OnePlus is known for introducing flagship smartphones at an affordable price. All this started with the OnePlus One, which was priced at US$ 350 or Rs 24999. Until now, the company has done a commendable job by launching latest hardware at a cheaper price than its competition. However, this might change soon. A leaked photo of a presentation suggests that the OnePlus 6 will retail for $749. It isn’t clear yet what currency the figures are in.

The presentation slide has listed the Apple iPhone X, Samsung Galaxy S9+, Huawei P20 and the OnePlus 6. Do note that, the models listed on the presentation represent the costliest model of the respective devices. According to the presentation, the iPhone X retails for US$ 1517, Galaxy S9+ retails for US$ 1200, and the price of the Huawei P20 is yet to be revealed. The last product in the slide is the OnePlus 6, which is listed to be powered by the Snapdragon 845 Octa-core chipset with 8GB RAM and 256GB onboard storage. In fact, this could be the first OnePlus device to have 256GB storage.

The listing also reveals that the phone will have a dual camera setup (20MP + 16MP) similar to the one found on the OnePlus 5T. Finally, the last column talks about the pricing of the device. According to the listing, the OnePlus 6 with 256GB storage will retail for $749. However, similar to the iPhone X and Galaxy S9+, we might also see different RAM and storage models, priced near the US$ 500 mark.

The OnePlus 6 is expected to have a glass back and a display notch, similar to the recently launched Oppo R15. The use of a display with a notch and a glass panel will increase the manufacturing cost. Hence, this could explain the price surging.

OnePlus 6 Leaked Image

OnePlus 6 Specs
- 6.28 inch Optic AMOLED display
- 19:9 aspect ratio, 2280 x 1080 px resolution
- Snapdragon 845
- 6GB/8GB RAM, 64GB/128GB/256GB storage
- 20MP + 16MP primary camera setup
- IP67 rating
March 21, 2018
How To Delete Personal Data On Facebook Without Deleting Your Account

Facebook is getting a lot of undesired attention. The company is accused of harvesting millions of Facebook user’s personal information to Cambridge Analytica. Even WhatsApp co-founder has tweeted with a hashtag #DeleteFacebook, asking people to delete their Facebook accounts. However, deleting a Facebook account once in for all might not be a feasible solution, as most of the day to day activities are directly connected with it. Instead, remove the private data stored on Facebook.

Methods to delete personal data

There are two methods to remove already existing data on Facebook. The first method helps to prevent Facebook from collecting additional data from other platforms like Instagram. Go to Settings>Apps>Websites and plugins then click on disable platform. This action will prevent you from signing-in to other applications or platforms that use your Facebook details. After doing this, you might not be able to play games or access applications. However, the already signed-in applications will still collect your data, until you sign-out of that application individually.

The second method gives a more refined control over the information that you can share with other platforms. Go to Websites and plugins>Apps Others Use and undo the required checkboxes. The list includes options like your birthday, relation status, interests etc. However, this method might kill some of the app functionality to the third-party apps, which need this information. The page also lists the apps, that you have shared your information with. Remove the apps, that you feel insecure to share your personal data.

The last option is to go to Ads section in settings to turn-off data collection from other websites, that you visit on a daily basis. Edit your information section from to not to share your personal information with advertisers. If you want to be a pro-private person on Facebook, use a virtual proxy network (VPN) with an add-on which can block cookies.

March 21, 2018
Reliance JioFi Hotspot Launched In India For Rs 999

Reliance Jio has launched a new JioFi Hospot in India with the model number JMR815. This is the fourth iteration of the JioFi, which comes with a new shape and a bigger battery. The JioFi JMR815 Hotspot is available exclusively on Flipkart for Rs 999. Just like every other JioFi device, this one is also network locked. Which means, it works only with Jio network.

JioFi JMR815 Hotspot Features

The JioFi JMR815 Hotspot has a tag “designed in India”, which means the research and development (R&D) has been done locally. Besides, the device now supports a maximum theoretical download speed of 150Mbps and upload speed of 50Mbps. The device has two physical buttons with an LED indicator for battery, signal and Wi-Fi strength.

The JioFi Hotspot supports a maximum of 32 connections at a time with 31 wireless networks and one over USB. However, considering the maximum speed, we do not recommend connecting more than two devices at a time. The connected users can make voice or video calls using Jio 4G apps. In fact, one can initiate a voice call even on a non-SIM supported tablet. Under the hood, the device is powered by the ALT3800 chipset, which supports Band-40, Band-5, and Band-3.

The JioFi Hotspot also comes with a dedicated micro SD card slot, which can read micro SD cards up to 64GB. The connected users can access the files stored on the micro SD card instantaneously.

The JioFi JMR815 has a 3000 mAh battery. In fact, this is the biggest battery on any JioFi device. The battery takes 3 and a half hour to charge and can last up to an entire day with 8+ hours of active time.

March 21, 2018
Samsung Launches The Rugged Galaxy Tab Active 2

Samsung has launched the Galaxy Tab Active 2 in the US, which is the successor of the Samsung Galaxy Active. There aren’t a lot of rugged tablets on the market, and this one from Samsung tried to fill that gaping hole. However, it doesn’t possess the best specifications out there by any stretch of the imagination. The rubber-like material will absorb the shock keeping the internal hardware and display intact. The tablet is priced at US$ 450 for the Wi-Fi version and is available on Samsung’s official website. Similarly, there is an LTE version, but the price is yet to be known.

Like most of the rugged devices, this is made to withstand various environmental conditions. Subsequently, the device is MIL-STD-810 certified with IP68 water and dust resistance rating. The retail package also includes a rugged S-Pen, which works even in wet conditions. The Galaxy Tab Active 2 can be mounted to a professional grade vehicle, which can charge via pogo pins. The pogo pins connect with the device magnetically to give a firm grip. In fact, the pogo pin looks similar to Apple’s MagSafe charger.

Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 2 Specs

The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 2 has an 8 inch 1280 x 800 px resolution display with a 19:10 aspect ratio. Under the hood, the device is powered by the Exynos 7870 Octa-core chipset with 3GB RAM and 16GB storage which is expandable up 256GB using a micro SD card.

The Galaxy Tab Active 2 runs on Android 7 Nougat with Samsung Experience UI on the top. It is powered by a 4450 mAh user replaceable battery with fast charging capabilities via USB type C port.

The tablet has an 8MP primary camera with a single tone LED flash, which can record 1080p video @ 30fps. Similarly, the device has a 5MP front-facing camera.

March 21, 2018
OnePlus 6: Everything We Know So Far

OnePlus has been actively promoting its upcoming launch of the OnePlus 6. The company has already struck a deal Sony to release an exclusive OnePlus 6 Avengers Edition. On social media, OnePlus has slowly teased a few features of the OnePlus 6 which are a first for the company. The buzz around the OnePlus 6 is certainly palpable as we move closer to the official launch. So, with the launch a couple of weeks away, what do we know about it so far?

Price

The OnePlus 5, at the time of its launch, was criticised for its price tag. The smartphone was priced higher than the OnePlus 3T and still didn’t offer features like wireless charging or water resistance. However, with a revamped design, the OnePlus 5T sort of justified the price tag. Looking at the recent leaks, it appears that the OnePlus 6 might cost up to a whopping Rs 48999. The base variant, however, could be priced between Rs 34999 to Rs 36999.

Design

The design is where the OnePlus 6 is expected to take things a “notch” further. OnePlus has confirmed that the OnePlus 6 will have a notch on the display while maintaining a thick chin at the bottom. Carl Pei, co-founder of OnePlus has revealed that getting rid of the chin meant that the company had to curve the display from the bottom, which Apple did. However, that would have increased the manufacturing of the smartphone a lot.

The company also confirmed that the OnePlus 6 will have an all-glass design, something the company has shied away from since the OnePlus X. Whether this means the device will also have wireless charging has not been confirmed yet. iGyaan received an exclusive image of the OnePlus 6 in a test case. The test case hides the bezels of the device but, the notch is visible in the image. If you zoom in on the top left corner of the image, the date on the desktop shows 23rd April, which is when our source sent this photo to us. A few people on Twitter thought the notch was photoshopped, but, if you zoom in, you can see the front camera and the earpiece, despite the image being clicked in dark.

Display

The OnePlus 6 will have a 6.28 inch Optic AMOLED display with a 2280 x 1080 px resolution. This weird resolution is a result of the notch. OnePlus is expected to retain the Optic AMOLED display. The company has been adamant about its use of a 1080P panel over 1440P and it doesn’t seem like the stance will change anytime soon.

Under The Hood

As has been OnePlus’s strategy with the OnePlus 6, it has confirmed a few specifications of the smartphone as well. The OnePlus 6 will run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset and have up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. This is the first time that a OnePlus device will have 256GB of storage. The limited edition OnePlus Avengers Edition will only be available in the 256GB storage model. As has been the history, the storage will not be expandable via a microSD card.

The OnePlus 6, again, as confirmed by the company, will be water resistant. This also a first for OnePlus. The exact ceritifcation of the smartphone has not been confirmed right now.

OnePlus 5

Camera

The device will have a dual-camera setup on the back and a single camera on the front. While the leaked image of the OnePlus 6 revealed a vertically placed setup, the OPPO R15 has a setup similar to the OnePlus 5T. Apart from that, the 6 is expected to retain the OnePlus 5T camera implementation. Going by the industry trend, it could have a few “AI capabilities,” similar to the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2s.

Conclusion

The OnePlus 6 will launch on the 16th of May in London followed by its India launch in Mumbai on the 17th of May. The smartphone will subsequently go on sale in India on the 21st of May via Amazon exclusively. If the price of the OnePlus 6 is not too expansive and is closer to the launch price of the OnePlus 5T, the 6 could be one of the best smartphones of 2018. However, a lot will depend on how the smartphone performs since specifications are not the only thing that matters.

March 21, 2018