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!

Samsung Galaxy S5 vs Galaxy Alpha: Which Smartphone is Better?

Samsung today launched the Galaxy Alpha in India. The design of the Alpha incorporates a metal frame that encases the phone. This design feature was carried on to the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. The phone comes with almost the same features as the Galaxy S5. So we test the specs of both devices to check out which one would be the better device to buy.

Specs	Galaxy S5	Galaxy Alpha
Display	5.1 inch Full HD (432 ppi)	4.7 inch 720p HD (312 ppi)
Processor	Exynos 5 Octa 5422 (Quad-core 1.9 GHz Cortex-A15 & quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7)	Exynos 5 Octa 5430 (1.8GHz quad-core Cortex A15 + 1.3GHz quad-core Cortex A7)
RAM	2 GB	2 GB
Storage	16/32 GB	32 GB
Expandable up to	128 GB	–
Main Camera	16 MP	12 MP
Back Camera	2 MP	2.1 MP
Battery	2800 mAh	1860 mAh
Operating System	Android Kitkat 4.4.2	Android Kitkat v4.4.4
Price	Rs. 35,489	Rs. 39.990

So overall the only major difference between the Galaxy S5 and the Alpha is the LTE capabilities of the Alpha. The Galaxy S5 starts at Rs. 35,489 on Flipkart and comes cheaper than the Alpha. If you are looking for good value for your money, we suggest you get the S5 itself considering the severe shortage of 4G connectivity in India.

Also the S5 gives you upto 128 GB of expandable storage whereas the Alpha lacks the feature. So if you were looking for a premier device, the S5 is still a valid purchase. The Galaxy Alpha sure gets style points, but that’s never good enough.

September 27, 2014

Consumer Reports Stress Tests Find iPhone 6 Not as Bendable as Believed

This was a bad week for Apple. The technology giant had to face massive social media bashing for news that their new iPhone 6 Plus has the tendency to bend in tight pockets. Apple’s biggest competitors like Samsung, LG and HTC got together with some brutal take downs of Apple’s latest flagship in an event dubbed “bendgate”. Adding to the woes was the faulty iOS 8.0.1 update which caused issues in the new iPhone and had to be withdrawn. But it seems like these dark clouds have a silver lining.

Consumer Reports (CR), an American magazine known for its scientific testing methods and unbiased reporting has put the iPhone 6 Plus to test. The magazine has an extensive testing facility where they test the products.

The magazine had previously tested the Apple iPhone 4 which also garnered negative reception because of its antennae issue. For the iPhone 6 test, CR brought the phone and its competitors for a comparative test. The results seems to be working in favor of Apple.

Through its torture testing CR found that iPhone 6 Plus was actually stronger than what was purported. Apple’s biggest phone yet took 90 pounds of pressure to bend while its smaller sibling, the iPhone 6 and HTC One (M8) gave up at 70 pounds.

	Deformation	Case separation
HTC One (M8)	70 pounds	90 pounds
Apple iPhone 6	70 pounds	100 pounds
Apple iPhone 6 Plus	90 pounds	110 pounds
LG G3	130 pounds	130 pounds
Apple iPhone 5	130 pounds	150 pounds
Samsung Galaxy Note 3	150 pounds	150 pounds

The tests also found the toughest phone in the market and it turns out to be Samsung’s Note 3 which faced 150 pounds of pressure before giving up. CR also said that Apple uses the same techniques to test their phones but their machines only go up to 55 ponds.

Overall, the testing seems pretty genuine based on their testing process. This is a good news for Apple at the end of a terrible week. Though it is also good news for LG G3 which seems to be much stronger than the metallic bodied HTC One (M8.) Now it is up for the market to decide how it is going to approach the new iPhones.

September 27, 2014

Xiaomi Promises to Bring a Larger Stock for the Diwali Season

Just yesterday Xiaomi announced that it will be bringing out the Mi3 again for sale before Diwali. They have now followed it with the news that they will be stocking up big for the festive season.

Xiaomi’s International Vice President, Hugo Barra said that Xiaomi wants to sell 100,000 phones a week in October. The company has chosen the path of flash sales for their smartphones because of short supply and massive demand for their products. The heavy demand for these devices has led to Flipkart’s website crashing down.

Barra said that for the month of October the company will be chartering a plane to bring in the devices to India. The company will be offering the two phones it has already brought in India, the Mi3 and the Redmi 1S.

Xiaomi has now overtaken Samsung to become the biggest smartphone company in China. Starting business in 2010, the company now plans to become the third biggest phone company in the world.

The company is working with local companies and start-ups to build services for phones sold in India. They are also contemplating the possibilities of establishing a manufacturing unit in India. This might send shockwaves across the smartphone segment. Till now Xiaomi was seen as a limited time fad but with its plans to establish permanent shop in India, it can become a formidable force in the business. For the consumers though, Xiaomi’s full time entry would mean Diwali every day.

September 27, 2014
Samsung Galaxy Alpha Launched in India for Rs. 39,990

Today at an event held in Delhi, Samsung unveiled its latest offering, the Samsung Galaxy Alpha. The smartphone comes in three colour variants: Black, White and Gold.

The Alpha was the first to get the metal frame and was followed by the Note 4. The back cover on the devices are still plastic, but Samsung claims the metal frame provides enhanced safety to the phone.

Bollywood actress Lara Dutta and Asim Warsi, Vice President, Mobile & IT of Samsung India, on stage launching the Samsung Galaxy Alpha.

The Galaxy Alpha is powered by an Exynos 5 Octa 5430 processor (1.8GHz quad-core Cortex A51 + 1.3GHz quad-core Cortex A7.) It has 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage. The device has a 4.7-inch 1280x 720 Super AMOLED display.

The main camera on the device is a 12 MP shooter while the front camera is a 2.1 MP selfie shooter. The camera has a selective auto focus feature. The Alpha gets its juice from an 1860 mAh battery. The phone runs Android Kitkat 4.4.4 out of the box. The smartphone is priced for Rs. 39.990.

September 27, 2014
Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro to Arrive on 30th September in India

Looks like all the new tech unveiled at the IFA 2014 Berlin is slowly making its way to India. Now Lenovo is preparing for a launch event for the Vibe Z2 Pro in India. The company has sent out media invites for the launch event in Delhi on September 30, titled “Make Way for the Pro, The Pro awaits you.”

The invite also includes a silhouette of the phone showing the rear camera and the textured back. The device comes with a 6-inch QHD (2560×1440 pixels) display and is powered by a 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor paired with Adreno 330 GPU and 3GB of RAM.

Also featured is a 16-megapixel rear camera with dual LED flash and optical image stabilization, 5-megapixel front-facing camera, 32GB internal memory, and a massive 4,000 mAh battery. Connectivity options include dual-SIM card slots, LTE support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and on the software front, it runs on Android 4.4 KitKat.

Few days back, Vibe X2 was also spotted on the official Indian website, which fueled the possibility of the launch. The smartphone features a 5-inch full HD display, MediaTek MT6595m True8Core processor, 2GB of RAM, and 32GB internal storage. Also included is 13-megapixel rear camera, 5-megapixel front-facing camera, 2,300mAh battery.

September 27, 2014
Xiaomi Mi3 Coming Back to Market Close to Diwali

Xiaomi never fails to create a buzz. The company which recently postponed the sales of the Mi3, to put focus on the Redmi 1S, has said the blockbuster handset is about to make a comeback.

The Xiaomi Mi3 didn’t just sell like hot cakes, it overshadowed all other smartphone manufacturers. The entry of the Chinese brand was a giant seismic shake for the populated mobile phone market.

Xiaomi plans to have a comeback flash sale for the MI3 around Diwali

The company has said that it plans to bring back its bestseller to the market close to the festival of Diwali. This was announced at the Global Mobile Internet Conference in Bangalore by Xiaomi India head of operations Manu Kumar.

Reportedly, Xiaomi is also working on a “priority pass” system which will directly send the device to the carts of folks who have tried ordering and failed previously. Flipkart is currently working on the execution of the priority pass. This plan can be used by e-tail giant for future sales too.

Xiaomi will also be bringing its latest flagship and the successor to the Mi3, the Mi4 somewhere around the end of the year. The sale of Xiaomi’s Mi3 saw immense number of registrations. Although most of them had to return disheartened as the limited handsets weren’t enough for all who waited with baited breath to buy the device.

Currently, Xiaomi has been holding flash sales for Redmi 1S on Flipkart. It has held five flash sales, and the maximum amount of time the phone was on offer was 5.2 seconds. Considering the previous cases, one can easily anticipate a massive stampede to get the device. Also, the news of the launch of Mi4 might dissuade some folks from getting the Mi3. But as the Mi4 is expected to be launched starting at Rs. 22,000, the Mi3 might still be a viable option for people looking for the most bang for their buck.

September 26, 2014
Image of Nexus Device ‘Moto Shamu’ Leaked

Earlier today, we got some news about Motorola’s upcoming Nexus device codenamed ‘Shamu’. The reports illustrated that the new Nexus 6 or Nexus X will a super-sized, more powerful version of the Moto X.

The exact name of Google’s next Android flagship isn’t yet clear; some expect it to be called the Nexus 6, others claim it will be known as the Nexus X. The reports also added that it’ll have the same aluminum frame, and the company has apparently relocated the phone’s lock and volume buttons down to make them more reachable. In terms of innards, Motorola has packed a QHD display, a Snapdragon 805 processor, and 3GB of RAM into next Nexus device.

Now, a picture posted on the comment section of Android Police, shows off what is allegedly a massive Motorola handset next to a LG G3. The handset showed in the picture has a Motorola logo and there isn’t any NEXUS labeling on it, unless the logo is super-tiny and under the piece of paper with the words “SHAMU” written on it.

Of course, there’s also the possibility the above photo was somehow faked. Either way, we’d take this whole thing with a grain of salt for now. It is also said that the Android L OS upgrade will debut along with this device. Google is making some major design changes to Android’s look and feel, and introducing significant improvements to multitasking and notifications. The reports added that the device is likely to launch in November, with an unveiling coming next month.

September 26, 2014
CyanogenMod’s Camera App to Get Pressy-Like ‘Kate Upton’ Mode

Kate Upton, a name that keeps teenagers drooling will now be a feature in CyanogenMod camera app. The Android-based open source operating system will incorporate a Pressy-like feature on your phone.

With the Kate Upton mode users can use the media button on the phones headset to take images, videos and panoramas along with setting focus. The play button on the headset will act as a shutter while the next and previous button will aid in focusing.

This feature will ease the process of taking selfies. It lets you take the images without stopping your tunes. It will also let users experiment with their images. Your headphones literally become a remote control for the camera. The name of the update would surely change as its still in the developmental phase, but it’s a damn good name to attract attention to your feature.

Experiments like these are great as they devise new uses for the existing peripherals and components of the product. It would also be cool if they bring in features for remotely accessing your camera. Considering not everyone is going to buy a Pressy, bringing software solutions sounds like a great plan. Cyanogen will be bringing out this update soon. Hopefully sooner than later Android will incorporate the feature in its regular updates.

September 26, 2014
iPad Pro to Come with A8X Processor and 2GB RAM

The iPad Pro will be the newest product in Apple’s tablet lineup and it is rumored to release it next year. However, amidst the iPhone 6 launch madness, the news about this new device slowed down. Now, recent reports have revealed a crucial specification about the forthcoming tablet.

According to Taiwanese tech blog TechNews, the iPad Pro will be powered by an A8X processor paired with 2GB of RAM. The A8X chip will be an upgrade to the A8 processor that currently powers the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. The reports added that, TSMC, which is a major manufacturer of the A8 chipsets, will also be making the A8X chip.

Furthermore, the device is also expected to come with 2GB of RAM, which is double when compared to iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina Display, which was launched last year. According to a report from earlier this week, the iPad Pro, as well as the next generation Retina iPad Mini will be released sometime next year.

Other than that, the company is hosting an event on October 21, where it is expected to launch the next-generation iPad Air tablet. The new tablet is expected to be powered by an A8 processor, will come with Touch ID fingerprint sensor, and an improved camera. Some reports also suggested that the new iPad Air could come with 2GB of RAM, an anti-reflective screen coating, and come in different color options, much like the iPhones.

September 26, 2014
Instagram’s Hyperlapse App Introduces the ‘Selfielapse’ Feature
When Instagram first launched its Hyperlase app almost a month ago, it gave your iPhone the ability to shoot high-speed, time-lapse videos. While the app quickly escalated in the Apple’s Apple store, there was one function that was missing from the app: the ability to take a time-lapsed selfie.

However, the company didn’t overlook this feature, the recent update lets you flip your smartphone to using your front-facing camera in order to take a “selfielapse.”

Instagram also gave some instructions about how to get a perfect ‘selfielapse’.
- Stand still and have a moving background (i.e. Times Square foot traffic, riding a roller coaster).
- Capture yourself walking down the street as your surroundings whirl by.
- Document transformations — getting a new haircut, applying makeup or tying a tie — by propping your phone up against a wall.
- Hold up your phone as you spin around in a chair, or jump on a trampoline.
Since Hyperlapse’s launch, it has been used by artists and even the White House. So far, the most liked Hyperlapse shared to Instagram is this video by photographer David Guttenfelder for National Geographic.

Of course, you can share Hyperlapse videos to Instagram, Facebook, or to your camera roll. The company wouldn’t elaborate on how soon the app would be coming to Android, but commented, “We hope to bring Hyperlapse to Android in the future. Unfortunately, the requisite APIs are not currently available on Android.”
September 26, 2014
AMD Brings Out FirePro W9100 and W8100 GPUs for 4K Workstations

The Indian entertainment industry is massive. India is known for making the most number of movies in the world, and this industry is constantly updating itself. The buzzword around the industry is currently 4K. Creating content for 4K requires high power components such as storage, processors and GPU’s. As the content creators are making major strides to create more visual content in 4K resolution, the demand for high power equipment is also increasing. To address this demand AMD has launched its flagship AMD FirePro W9100 and W8100 professional graphics card in India.

The prominent global chipmakers introduced the cards targeted for 4K content production. While the FirePro W9100 is the flagship product, the W8100 is a lower variant of the product. The major target of these units is the massive VFX industry in India who often work for big-budget Hollywood blockbusters.

The GPU’s are accelerated by OpenCL. The FirePro W9100 delivers up to 2.62 TFLOPS peak double precision and 5.24 TFLOPS peak single precision in terms of GPU compute power. The W9100 workstations comes with 16 GB GDDR5 memory and users can multi-task across up to six 4K displays.

The FirePro’s are some Heavy duty GPU’s.

AMD FirePro 8100, on the other hand, is aimed at 4K CAD and Media workflows, engineering analysis and supercomputing applications. It offers 8GB of GDDR5 memory and 4.2 TFLOPS peak single precision and 2.1 TFLOPS peak double precision.

Raja Koduri, corporate vice president of visual computing at AMD said, “With an increase in accessibility of 4K displays, there has been a rise in the applications demanding increased memory support while pushing the limits of real-time 4K video production and rendering. The addition of W8100 is a significant step towards expanding our product portfolio for enabling professionals with the best kind of workstation performance for next generation 4K workflows.”

AMD also brought out the Radeon R9 285 graphics card. It features a clock speed of 918 MHz and is capable of delivering 3.29 TFlops of computing performance. AMD also announced they are getting involved with Indian filmmakers in providing them superior visual effects support for their graphics needs in a more cost-effective manner.

The FirePro W9100 has been priced at $4500 or Rs. 2,75,000 INR whereas the FirePro W8100 has been priced at $2499 or about Rs.1,60,00. The technology is here now, and we can only hope that the Indian entertainment industry starts to make content worthy of 4K resolution.

September 26, 2014
Next Nexus Might be a Super-Sized Moto X

It seems like Motorola means business these days. The company recently launched the 2nd gen of their blockbuster smartphones, Moto G and Moto X. Now, according to new reports, the company is rolling up its sleeves for a bigger and better device for Google’s new Nexus device.

Motorola is said to be preparing a device codenamed “Shamu” that will serve as Google’s next Nexus phone. The new device is said to be a super-sized, more powerful version of the Moto X. The exact name of Google’s next Android flagship isn’t yet clear; some expect it to be called the Nexus 6, others claim it will be known as the Nexus X.

While there are a lot photos or videos leaked regarding the new Nexus device, the reports illustrate that the appearance of the device is basically going to be a scaled up 2nd generation Moto X with some minor tweaks to make the larger size easier to use.

It’ll have the same aluminum frame, and the company has apparently relocated the phone’s lock and volume buttons down to make them more reachable. In terms of innards, Motorola has packed a QHD display, a Snapdragon 805 processor, and 3GB of RAM into next Nexus device.

It is also said that the Android L OS upgrade will debut along with this device. Google is making some major design changes to Android’s look and feel, and introducing significant improvements to multitasking and notifications. The reports added that the device is likely to launch in November, with an unveiling coming next month. Along with that, Motorola will also be rolling out the smaller 5.2 inch version as well.

September 26, 2014

Battle of the Compacts: Z3 Compact vs S5 Mini vs HTC One Mini vs LG G3 Beat

A recent trend from the major smartphone companies is to release a mini variant of their popular high-end phones to create a namesake device. These devices come at diminished features and price.

Samsung was one of those who began the trend with the S3 Mini. This year saw the emergence of the Galaxy S5 Mini, HTC One mini, LG G3 Beat. These devices are now joined by Sony’s Z3 compact which comes with some impressive specs.

So we decided to have a spec battle of these mini/compact devices to check out how they stand against each other.

Specs	Xperia Z3 Compact	Galaxy S5 Mini	HTC One Mini	LG G3 Beat.
Display	4.6 inch, 720p HD (319 ppi)	4.5-inch, 720p (328 ppi)	4.3 inch, 720p (342 ppi)	5.0 inches, 720p (294 ppi)
Processor	2.5 GHz Quad Core Snapdragon 801	1.4 GHz, quad core	1.4 GHz Dual-core Snapdragon 400	1.2 GHz quad core, Snapdragon 400
RAM	2GB	1.5GB	1 GB	1 GB
Internal Storage	16 GB	16GB	16 GB	8 GB
Expandable up to	128 GB	64 GB	–	64 GB
Main Camera	20.7 MP	8.0 MP	4 MP	8 MP
Front Camera	2.2 MP	2.1MP	1.6 MP	1.3 MP
Battery	Non-removable 2600 mAh	Removable 2100mAh	Non-removable 1800 mAh	removable 2540 mAh
Operating System	Android Kitkat v4.4.4	Android Kitkat 4.4.2	Android Kitkat 4.4.2	Android Kitkat 4.4.2
Price	Rs. 44,999	Rs 26,499	Rs. 29,500	Rs. 25000

Well as we can see, Sony’s Z3 Compact clearly washes all others in the battle. But, of course, this wasn’t a level playing field. The Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact are rather like the new iPhones where the only major difference lies in screen sizes. Sony seems to have a great device and by losing some of that bulky price tag the device will be able to find a lot of new customers.

September 25, 2014

Sony Xperia Z3 vs Sony Xperia Z3 Compact

After a less than satisfactory year, Sony recently launched the Xperia Z3, the Z3 Compact and the Z3 Compact Tablet at IFA in Berlin. Today, Sony launched these devices in India.

The Japanese consumer electronics giant had recently brought the Xperia E3 for India. It was a budget device priced at Rs. 11,990 for the single-SIM version and Rs. 12,990 for the dual-SIM variant. Now it is bringing in its big guns.

The Xperia Z3 is a bumped up successor of the Z2, that was launched in February this year. This is the first time a company has brought the mini variant of their high-end phone along with the flagship.

Specs	Xperia Z3	Xperia Z3 Compact
Display	5.2 inch Full HD (424 ppi)	4.6 inch 720p HD (319 ppi)
Processor	2.5 GHz Quad Core Snapdragon 801	2.5 GHz Quad Core Snapdragon 801
RAM	3 GB	2GB
Storage	16/32 GB	16 GB
Expandable up to	128 GB	128 GB
Main Camera	20.7 MP	20.7 MP
Back Camera	2.2 MP	2.2 MP
Battery	Non-removable 3100 mAh	Non-removable 2600 mAh
Operating System	Android Kitkat 4.4.4	Android Kitkat v4.4.4
Miscellaneous	Great Battery Backup, Waterproof	Waterproof

The phones don’t come cheap. The Xperia Z3 is priced at Rs. 51,999 while the Xperia Z3 Compact at Rs. 44,999. These are sone of the best devices from Sony and might just give them the ground it was trying to regain.

September 25, 2014

Sony Brings Out the Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact, We Unbox Them!

Today Sony launched its latest flagship, the Xperia Z3 and its mini version, the Xperia Z3 Compact in India. The handsets were recently unveiled at IFA 2014, held in Berlin. The Sony Xperia z3 is priced for Rs. 51,990, while the smaller variant is available for Rs. 44,990.

This time Sony has focused on design, with the new smartphones being thinner and lighter than its predecessors. The smartphone comes in two stylish colour options. They have a curvier aluminium frame, which makes it easier to hold and use.

Sony Xperia Z3 comes with a 5.2-inch Full HD display which Sony claims is the world’s brightest display of all the leading premium smartphones. Other specs for the devices include a 2.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB of RAM and Android 4.4 KitKat.

The main difference between the Xperia Z3 and the Z3 Compact is the size of the display — the Z3 Compact features a 720p 4.6-inch screen. Other than minute differences, it’s nearly identical to the flagship. Both smartphones also have the same 20.7 MP front camera, and the 2.2 MP frontal camera.

Also, in terms of battery, the Xperia Z3 is packed with a non-removable 3,100 mAh whereas the Xperia Z3 Compact comes with a non-removable 2,600 mAh capacity. Without compromising on specifications, Sony has built two variations of a single smartphone in order capture a wider market base.

Stay tuned for our Full Review out shortly. Watch the Unboxing video below.

September 25, 2014