Category: Gadget

All Gadget News on iGyaan, latest gadgets, top new gadgets, cheapest gadgets and expensive gadgets all the latest gadget news , reviews and featured stories

Top Tech Lightning Deals During The Amazon Great Indian Festival Sale

The Amazon Great Indian Festival is on and lightning deals are a great way to save some bank on all the important tech you would need. iGyaan brings you the top tech lightning deals on Amazon right now.

HP Odyssey 15.6 Inch Laptop Backpack

If you are on the lookout for a new laptop backpack and are bored of the monotonous laptop bags, then take a look at this HP Odyssey laptop backpack. It has a green accent and a lot of compartments for all kinds of tech that you might carry. From your earphones to big headphones, thus bag will fit them all.

Sony Extra Bass Bluetooth Speaker

Available in six different bright colours, the Sony bluetooth speaker is ideal for an apartment and people who like that extra bass in their music. If you have NFC in your phone, you won’t have to go through the hassle of Bluetooth pairing as the speaker has NFC support. It has an audio wattage of 20W and a battery back of up to 10 hours of music playback.

Fitbit Charge 2

If you are into fitness or are trying to get serious about fitness, then a fitness tracker always helps. The Fitbit Charge 2 at a price of Rs 9999 is a great deal. The Charge 2 monitors your heart rate, your calorie burn count and notifies you every time your phone rings. It is also available in 4 colours.

Toshiba 2TB USB 3.0 Hard Drive

The Toshiba Canvivo 2TB hard drive is ideal for you if you’re on the lookout for a storage expansion option which is portable. The Toshiba hard drive has high transferring speeds since it is USB 3.0 and weighs about 80 grams more than an iPhone 8 Plus making it easy to carry around.

1More Piston Earphones

The 1iMore earphones are sturdy, look premium for a price of Rs 999 and have tangle-resistant cables. The sound is bass-heavy and the fit comfortably in the ears. If you are looking for a budget-friendly pair of earphones which offer a bass-heavy sound, the 1More earphones are worth a shot.

October 17, 2017
Unboxing The Samsung Galaxy Tab A
Samsung recently launched a new Android-powered tablet for a price of Rs 17990 in India. Samsung, apart from Apple is the only significant smartphone maker to continue making tablets. Let’s unbox the new Galaxy Tab A and see what’s inside the box:
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A
- USB Type C cable for charging and data syncing
- Wall charger
- Documentation
- Sim ejector tool
The tablet has a good form factor with significant bezels around the display.

The Galaxy Tab A (2017) has an 8 inch 1280 x 800 TFT display with a brightness of 480 nits. The tablet is powered by a 5000 mAh battery and runs Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box with Samsung’s custom TouchWiz UI on top. Under the hood, the device has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 chipset, 2GB of RAM, 16GB onboard storage which can be expanded up to 256GB via microSD card.

In terms of optics, the tablet has an 8MP rear-facing camera with an f/1.9 aperture with an LED flash. To the front of the tablet is a 5MP camera.

One of the highlights of the Galaxy Tab A (2017) is the new Bixby Home support that brings Samsung’s AI assistant to the mid-range tablet. Bixby understands and responds to the user’s behaviour and routine to suggest content and apps based on usage and location, among other things.
October 14, 2017
Amazon Kindle Oasis Waterproof Launched

Amazon has launched the first ever waterproof Kindle E-Book reader. The new Kindle is a new version of the Oasis, which was launched last year and it has IPX8 waterproof reading. The Kindle Oasis is up for pre-orders in India, and will start shipping from the week of November 13. The new Kindle Oasis is priced at Rs 21999 for the 8GB variant and Rs 28999 for the 32GB variant (Wi-Fi + free 3G).

The new updated model of the Oasis has a six-week battery life and a slightly larger 7 inch screen with a 300 ppi. Amazon claims that the new display is brighter than the one on last year’s Oasis. Unlike last year’s Kindle Oasis, which used a magnetic case you attached to the tablet to extend its battery life, the new Oasis relies entirely on its built-in battery. It has a similar physical design, with one thicker side that tapers down on the other side, for one-handed reading. There are physical page-turn buttons, and the touchscreen page-turn option. Amazon says it’s worked on both the hardware and software side of things to make page-turning feel faster.

The new e-reader also has Bluetooth and has the Audible app built-in. This means that you can stream audio books to wireless headphones or speakers. Amazon also unveiled a new cover for the new Kindle Oasis, which can be transformed into a stand. Water-safe fabric covers are priced at Rs 2999, and are available in Indigo, Charcoal and Sandstone colours, while premium leather covers are priced at Rs 3999, and available in Black and Merlot colours.

October 12, 2017
Amazon Alexa Can Now Recognise Different Voices And Give Personalised Response

The smart speakers market has seen a constant one-on-one between Amazon’s Echo and Google’s Home. For a while, Amazon had a US$50 alternative, the Echo Dot to the relatively expensive Echo. On 4th October, Google unveiled a smaller and cheaper alternative to the Google Home, called the Home Mini for a price of US$50. In April of 2017, the Google Home got the ability to recognise different voices in the home and have personalised responses. Amazon has announced that Alexa can do the same thing.

This basically means that if there are three people in the house and you ask Alexa to call a friend, Alexa will look through your profile your contacts by recognising the voice. Same thing will happen with calendars and even the playlists. You can set up voice recognition using the Echo, Echo Dot, or Echo Show. Users are asked to read aloud 10 phrases, and Alexa will then use that data to create a voice profile. After that’s done, voice profiles work across other Echo devices and most of the Alexa-powered third party apps.

Amazon says:

Once you set up the feature, Alexa will learn your voice (versus your spouse/partner/roommate’s voice) and be able to deliver a more personalised experience. Today the feature is available for calling/messaging, flash briefing, shopping, and the Amazon Music Unlimited Family Plan, and it’ll be rolling out to additional Alexa features in the future.

Amazon recently announced the entry of the Echo, Echo Dot and Echo Plus in India. The purchase can be done via an invite only as of now. The cheapest of the three is the Echo Dot priced at Rs 4499.

October 12, 2017
Some Google Home Minis Just Won’t Stop Listening To You

Google recently hosted its launch event on October 4th and announced the new Google Home Mini. A US$49 smart speaker to compete with Amazon Echo Dot but, with Google’s own AI Google Assistant. The Home Mini was available for pre-orders from 4th October and some of the early units shipped have a defect that was anticipated due to the “always listening” feature.

Smart home products are a great addition and smart speakers like the Amazon Echo, Google Home do make your life easier with voice commands. But, the fact that these speakers are always listening to you and how much of that is recorded and sent back to the company is a cause for scepticism in the minds of a lot of consumers.

Artem Russakovskii of Android Police had his Google Home Mini delivered a few days ago and started experiencing abnormality in the smart speaker’s behaviour. The speaker won’t respond to most of the commands and the reason turned out to be the fact that it was constantly being triggered to listen to commands.

Google has responded to this defect and acknowledged that some of the Google Home Minis do have this serious issue :

We have learned of an issue impacting a small number of Google Home Minis that could cause the touch mechanism to behave incorrectly. We are rolling out a software update today that should address the issue.

Google says that the long press function, also found on the Google Home is at the centre of this issue. The Home Mini fell prey to a “phantom touch” issue wherein it registered a physical long press and started listening to the users in order to provide an answer. Google however, was quick to work on fixing this major privacy issue. A minor software update has been already pushed to Home Mini which disables that hardware gesture, leaving the Home Mini only accessible via the “OK Google” command. Google has already updated its documentation to reflect that this is temporarily disabled, and it may stay that way once units are fully available on the market.

October 11, 2017
TAGG Launches Sports+ Bluetooth Earphones For Rs 5999

TAGG has launched the new Sports+ bluetooth earphones in India at a price of Rs 3499.

TAGG Sports+ comes with a Nano-coating technology that protects the wire from sweat. The earbuds have a built-in microphone and in-line controls like the play, pause and the volume buttons on the wire itself. The earphones are equipped with Bluetooth 4.1 with a range of about twenty feet and are compatible with both iOS and Android devices.

The earphones have a magnetic lock so that they can sit tightly on your neck without flailing about while you work out. With a 120 mAh battery, the earphones have a battery life of up to 8 hours and a standby time of up to 180 hours. The earphones are charged via micro USB cable and a carrying pouch is included in the retail box.

The earphones are only available in a black colour and can be bought right now for a discounted price of Rs 3499.

October 11, 2017
Samsung Launches The Galaxy Tab A In India For Rs 17990

Samsung has continued to keep refreshing its tablet lineup by launching the Galaxy Tab A in India at a price of Rs 17990. The same tablet was first launched in Vietnam as Galaxy Tab A 8.0.

The Galaxy Tab A (2017) has an 8 inch 1280 x 800 TFT display with a brightness of 480 nits. The tablet is powered by a 5000 mAh battery and runs Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box with Samsung’s custom ToucnWiz UI on top. Under the hood, the device has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 chipset, 2GB of RAM, 16GB onboard storage which can be expanded up to 256GB via microSD card.

In terms of optics, the tablet has an 8MP rear-facing camera with an f/1.9 aperture with an LED flash. To the front of the tablet is a 5MP camera.

One of the highlights of the Galaxy Tab A (2017) is the new Bixby Home support that brings Samsung’s AI assistant to the mid-range tablet. Bixby understands and responds to the user’s behaviour and routine to suggest content and apps based on usage and location, among other things.

The tablet will go on sale on October 10th across retail outlets and will be available in Black and Gold colour variants. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A (2017) is 4G-enabled, and Samsung has announced a data offer for Reliance Jio users, who will get up 180GB additional 4G data over the course of one year. Another launch offer includes a one-time screen replacement offer for those who buy the tablet before November 9.

October 10, 2017
Apple iPad Pro Could Get FaceID Next Year

After unveiling the iPhone X with FaceID, there are reports that the new iPad Pro will have the facial recognition system as well. The frequently reliable KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has issued a note predicting that iPad Pro models released next year will include depth-sensing cameras and Apple’s Face ID tech.

As of now, there is no more information on the subject yet. As always, these rumours need to be taken with a pinch of scepticism as the iPhone X isn’t released yet and Apple has no idea how the consumers will respond to the security system especially since it replaced the beloved TouchID.

The note however, states that the TrueDepth camera could only be offered on the iPad Pro models and not the cheaper priced models. This makes sense as the 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models are the flagships in the iPad lineup and Apple already uses Apple Pencil and Smart Connector as differentiators. Another interesting development will be Apple’s decision as to where to place the cameras and the placement of the home button. The existing frame around the display on the iPad Pro is sufficient to have both the TrueDepth cameras and the home button. KGI notes that part of the goal is unifying the user experience between iPads and the iPhone X.

The report also notes that TrueDepth camera being available on both the iPhone and iPad will increase developer adoption. Touch ID automatically switches to Face ID in apps, but the new camera enables new depth features as well.

Again, all 0f this is far from fruition right now as the iPhone X is yet to be launched. Only once the smartphone is available to the consumers and they start using FaceID as the daily security system is when we will know whether this innovation will be carried on to other Apple products or not.

October 10, 2017
Top Smartphones And Tech Deals On The Last Day Of The Amazon Great Indian Festival Sale

As we approach the festive season and the end of the Amazon Great Indian Festival sale, we bring you the top smartphones and tech accessories deals you can avail right now.

Moto G5S Plus

The G5S Plus has a 5.5 inch 1920 x 1080 px display. The fingerprint sensor sits below the display and can double up as a single-navigation button as well and the screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The highlight of the device is the 13MP dual-camera setup with an f/2.0 aperture. The dual camera captures Bokeh, and selective focus shots, along with other capabilities of background replacement and exposure management. Under the hood, the device has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor with 2.0 GHz octa-core CPU and 650 MHz Adreno 506 GPU, 3GB RAM and 32GB onboard storage which is expandable via microSD card.

LG Q6

The LG Q6 was recently launched in India for a price of Rs 14,990. It sports a 5.5 inch 2160 x 1080 px IPS LCD display. The device is powered by a 3,000mAh non-removable battery and runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat with LG’s custom skin on top of it. The LG Q6 packs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 chipset with a 1.4GHz octa-core processor and Adreno 505 GPU along with 3GB RAM and 32GB onboard storage which is expandable via microSD card up to 2TB. It features a single 13MP rear-facing camera with a single LED flash and on the front is a wide-angle 5MP sensor.

Xiaomi Redmi 4

The Xiaomi Redmi 4 has a 5-inch 1280 x 720 px LCD display and a 4100 mAh battery. Under the hood, the device has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 chipset, and 2GB RAM/16GB storage or 3GB RAM/32GB storage variants. On the optics front, the device has a rear facing 13-megapixel sensor with an f/2.0 aperture, PDAF, and LED flash. On the front is a 5MP camera with an f/2.2 aperture.

SanDisk 32GB MicroSD Card

The SanDisk 32GB microSD card is fast, durable and now affordable. It has ultra-fast transfer speeds of up to 80mbps. The memory cars is also waterproof, X-ray proof, temperature proof and shockproof.

JioFi 4G Portable Device

The JioFi 4G portable device has 6 hours of surf time and is perfect for people who like working on the go.

October 8, 2017
Google Launches The AI Powered Pixel Buds For US$159

Google has launched the Pixel Buds, a Google Assistant powered pair of neckbands. The Pixel Buds are priced at US$159 and features tight integration with the Pixel devices such as the new Pixel 2, Pixel 2 Xl and the Pixelbook launched alongside on 4th October.

The Pixel Buds are a direct rival of the Apple AirPods in terms of what it can do. The Google Pixel Buds feature touch controls and you can interact with the earphones via voice using Google Assistant. You can skip songs, ask for directions and call someone without using your phone at all. They are meant to work primarily with the Pixel devices. The cord connecting the two ear plugs is made of cloth. The Pixel Buds come in a little cloth-covered case that can also recharge them when they’re low. Google says they should last about five hours on a charge; the case can charge them four times. The earbuds have a 120mAh battery while the case has a 620mAh battery capacity.

Just like the Pixel 2, the Pixel Buds will retail in three colour variant, White, Blue and Black. The Pixel Buds are up for pre-orders in the US and will start shipping in 6-7 weeks.

October 5, 2017
Google Launches The Google Max For US$399

After the announcement of a small speaker focussed more on AI, Google has launched the Google Max smart speaker. The Google Max will focus a lot on bass and the company claims it is 20 times louder than Google Home.

Google Max will concentrate on “smart sound.” For example, if the speaker is near a wall or on a shelf, it sounds different. Google is automatically tuning it. “This is all done dynamically” and it can change sound automatically. Google Max supports YouTube Music, Spotify and all other major music streaming services. The Google Max is also powered by Google Assistant and can recognise your voice even if the music is playing loudly thanks to a smart mic placed in the speaker. Home Max has two 4.5 inch woofers with tweeters covered by a fabric speaker grill. It features touch controls, supports Bluetooth as well as Google Cast and has a 3.5mm audio jack.

Just like Apple’s HomePod, the Home Max can tune itself for the room it’s placed in using a machine learning feature called Smart Sound. Google says Smart Sound can tune the Home Max for the audio you’re listening to, be it a song, podcast, or a phone call.

The Google Max will be available in the US in December for a price of US$399 and will be available in two colour variants. It will make its way to other countries in early 2018.

October 4, 2017
Google Launches The Google Home Mini For US$49

Sundar Pichai took to stage during the Google launch event on 4th October and talked about the importance of AI in the future of technology. Google has launched a new iteration of Google’s smart speaker, the Home Mini. The Google Home Mini will compete with Amazon Echo Dot in the market of mini smart speakers. The Google Home Mini is designed to fit into the aesthetics of your home with a circular shape. The speaker will be available in Coral, Charcoal and Chalk. To make the competition with Amazon Echo Dot even, the smart speaker will be available for US$49.

The Home Mini has a 360-degree sound stage. For more sound, the Google Home Mini can be connected with a different speaker. Google Home Mini is powered by Google Assistant and has the intelligence to differentiate the voice of different people in the house and perform actions based on the voice.

Google has partnered with Disney to bring Disney originals to the experience of Google Home. This is done in the bid to improve the interaction of Google Assistant with kids.

The Google Home Mini can perform a series of tasks with one command. it can find your phone even if it is on silent by a simple “find my phone” command.

The Google Home Mini will be available to pre-order from 4th October.

October 4, 2017
Alexa Powered Amazon Echo, Echo Dot And Echo Plus Launched In India

Earlier in the month of September, it was reported that Amazon will be launching its Prime Music services and Amazon Echo Dot in India. Now, Amazon has launched three smart speakers from its global lineup in India at a starting price of Rs 4499. In order to purchase any of the devices, customers need to request an invitation on Amazon’s official listing for the three devices namely, the Echo, Echo Dot and Echo Plus. The company also announced that it will soon be launching its Prime Music service in India.

Bringing voice assistants to India is always tricky because of the diversity of accents from one part of the country to another. Amazon claims that Alexa has been customised for the Indian audience, which now supports local pronunciations and intonation. Alexa also supports local music titles, names and places. Amazon claims that it brought in Indian developers to optimise Alexa for the Indian consumers.

During the launch, the company said in a statement:

10,000 skills will be available for customers in India, including skills from Saavn, Times of India, ESPNcricinfo, Ola, Freshmenu, and more. Tens of millions of customers are already using Alexa, and today we’re excited to bring her to India with an all-new experience designed from the ground up for our customers in India,” said Dave Limp, senior vice president, Amazon Devices and Services. The combination of Alexa and Echo provides customers with hands-free access to music, weather, news, information, and more—just ask.

Echo Plus

Priced at Rs 14999, the Echo Plus is the most expensive of the three smart speakers released on Wednesday in India. It is about the same size as the original Echo from 2014 but, also acts as a smart home hub with second-generation far-field voice recognition and enhanced sound. The Echo Plus uses Zigbee as a low-power way to extend its wireless range and can control more than 100 smart home devices in the market via voice, without any apps required. The device measures 83.5 x 83.5 x 32 mm and weighs 163 grams. The Echo Plus will scan the room for smart devices and set it up automatically. There is a new Alexa feature which was demonstrated during the Amazon hardware show which was the series of tasks that can be triggered with a simple phrases. The Echo Plus, once set up and connected to all the smart devices in your home can open the blinders, start the coffee machine and tell the weather by just saying “Good Morning Alexa.”

Amazon Echo

At the Amazon Hardware show, the company also launched a new refreshed version of the Amazon Echo of 2014. In India, it is priced at Rs 9999 and will be available in a host of different finishes like wood and cloth. It is a smart speaker and does things at your (voice) command like book an Uber, place an order on Zomato or play your favourite playlist from Saavn. The device measures 148.5 x 88 x 88 mm and weighs 821 grams. It features 2.5-inch woofer and 0.6-inch bass tweeter.

Amazon Echo Dot

The Amazon Echo Dot is priced at Rs 4499 in India and is also the smallest sibling and has all the functionalities that an Echo possessed but, with a lower sound quality. The device measures 83.5 x 83.5 x 32 mm and weighs 163 grams. A good thing about the Echo Dot is that it can be connected to other speakers for a better soundstage and still retain its core ‘smart’ features.

October 4, 2017
Google Launch Event Is Less Than 10 Hours Away – What To Expect

The 4th October launch event by Google is just a few hours away and the anticipation is increasing with every passing minute. Apart from the new Pixel devices, there are a few other products that might be unveiled by Google today.

Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

The two new smartphones have been leaked for a while now and a lot of information about the phones is more or less clear. The Pixel 2 is expected to have similar thick bezels as the Pixel from 2016. The Pixel 2 XL will have a more 2017 flagship design with thin bezels and the recent leaks reveal a design very similar to the LG G6, which is possible considering LG is making the Pixel 2 XL for Google this time around. There is also an omission of the 3.5mm headphone jack and addition of front firing stereo speakers.

You may also like – Everything we know about the new Pixel smartphones.

Google Home Mini

This has been rumoured as well ever since the Amazon Echo Dot released. The smaller sibling of the Google Home will compete with Amazon Echo Dot and will be powered by the Google Assistant. The smart speaker will be available in Chalk, Charcoal, and Coral colours. The Home Mini will be priced at US$49 (Rs 3200 approx.).

New Daydream VR

The Daydream VR headset will be the second iteration of the wearable product by Google. Just like the Pixebook, no specific details have been revealed by the website. The colour variants, however, have been revealed and the Daydream VR will be available in Charcoal, Fog, and Coral colours. Just like the previous generation, a remote controller can be seen alongside the new generation VR headset in leaked images. The new wearable will reportedly cost US$99 (Rs. 6,400 approx.).

Pixelbook

The Google Pixelbook succeeds last year’s Chromebook Pixel. The laptop will be another high-end offering by Google and will be the first iteration that can be folded into a tablet. the Pixelbook will be accompanied by a pressure-sensitive stylus called the Pixebook Pen. No other details about the laptop have been revealed other than the storage variants and their prices. The 128GB base variant will be priced at US$1199 (Rs. 77,200 approx.), while the 256GB and 512GB variants are expected to be priced at US$1399 (Rs. 90,000 approx.), and US$1749 (Rs. 1.12 lakhs approx.) respectively.

You may also like – Google Assistant Might Be Heading To Chromebooks

October 4, 2017
Top Tech Under Rs 500

A new month means a new addition to our top tech series. We bring you top ten tech and accessories under Rs 500 for a budget shopping spree this festive season!

Portronics Phoni Retro Handset

The Portronics Phoni is a cool accessory to replace your traditional earphones with something more retro. The handset has a nice matte finish and a grey colour that screams old school. The inline button to end or receive calls is a nice addition and the coiled cable just adds to the whole “landline” look.

Philips ActionFit Earphones

The Philips ActionFit Earphones are an adequate replacement to the default earphones you get with your smartphone. The earphones get really loud and even at the highest volume, the sound doesn’t shriek or get tinny, which happens with a lot of earphones in the price point however, there is no inline mic for calls. There is an included carrying pouch which is a nice touch by Philips.

Kodak Power Bank

This red coloured small power bank can come in handy when your phone is at 2% and you still have a long commute left. The capacity is only 2500 mAh and that makes it possible for the power bank to be compact. The main purpose of this power bank isn’t to power your device during a long hike but, to charge it during these small commutes or when a meeting gets extended and you need to keep the battery percentage in your phone intact.

Live Technology USB Hub

The LT USB hub has 4 USB 2.0 hubs that work simultaneously. The hub is well built and is very compact. It serves its purpose well and at the price point of under Rs 500, you really can’t go wrong with this one.

Taslar cable Winder

If you hate the sight of cables dangling about on your desk, then these cable winders are an easy solution which won’t break the bank. Three wires can be organised with one winders and it retails in a pair. Simply attach it to the back of your desk or wherever your plug points are, put the cables through it and have an organised desk.

Portronics USB Speaker

If you’re on the hunt for a speaker which is better than what you get on your laptop but, won’t cost a lot as well then these USB speaker is a safe bet. The speaker gets adequately loud and the inline volume scroller controls the volume of the speaker instead of the source it’s connected to. Unlike a lot of speakers in the price, the sound reproduction isn’t tinny and the sound stage is balanced instead of being heavy bass, which a lot of times results in shaky sound.

iVoltaa Smart Car Charger

The iVoltaa car charger has two USB ports to charge your devices. The charger automatically adjusts the voltage received from the vehicle so that your connected device always charges at a constant rate.

MoArmouz AUX cable

The company claims that this 3.5mm AUX cable can take up to 10000 bends. The cable is tangle free and the 3.5mm pins are gold plated which results in better sound reproduction.

Aeoss Waterproof Sport Armband

If you work out with your headphones on, you need to carry your phone with you. Running or jogging with a phone flailing about in your pocket can be annoying and that is where this armband comes in. It is waterproof to keep your phone safe from sweat or rain. The armband is light and spacious enough to keep two phones together. The bright colours make it useful for people who like outdoor running in the dark.

Photron Universal Travel Charger

If you travel abroad a lot and struggle with the different output pins, the this one stop solution is ideal for you. The Photron Travel Charger has three detachable compartments for you to choose from and and they all attach back to form a small adaptor that is easy to carry and can be thrown into the luggage without worrying about breaking it.

October 4, 2017