Category: Gadget

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Samsung Forum 2016: What to Expect

Samsung is all set to host its annual two-day SEA Forum starting from the 4th of February in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Forum will see the Korean giant launch some new products across various categories from smartphones to televisions to home appliances. The products showcased at the Forum are India-bound, which means that their arrival in India will be shortly expected after.

Last year at the Forum which was held in Bankok, Thailand, Samsung had unveiled a number of 4G-enabed smartphones like the Galaxy J1 along with Galaxy A7 smartphone and Galaxy Tab Active.

Although the products have been kept under wraps, we expect to see the new Galaxy J5 and A8 smartphones to be launched for the Indian market. The new J5 successor that was spotted on GFXBench just today is likely to sport a 5.2-inch screen with 720p resolution, a 12 or 13 MP (most likely 13MP) rear camera with LED flash, a 5 MP front, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of built-in storage. The device is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 410 chipset, which comes with a 1.2 GHz quad-core Cortex-A53 CPU, and will run Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.

Meanwhile, the massive new Galaxy A9 that was launched in China last month is also likely to be launched for the Indian market at the Samsung Forum. The 6-inch device sports a Full HD AMOLED display and a metal frame. Powering the device is a Snapdragon 652 (earlier named 620) chipset with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage.

The new handset also features a fingerprint scanner embedded in its home button, and will run on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. The device features a 13 MP primary camera with a wide f/1.9 aperture and optical image stabilisation, and an 8 MP front. The Galaxy A9 also packs a massive 4,000mAh battery with QuickCharge support.

While these are the likely phone launches expected at the Forum, Samsung may also give an early sneak peek at the upcoming S7 flagship smartphone. Furthermore, the Forum will also see some products that were unveiled at CES 2016 such as the KS9500 series SUHD TV – available in 65-,77-, and 88-inch sizes – that come with the thinnest bezels you’ve ever seen and a smart fridge that comes with a giant 21-inch touchscreen display. The smart fridge is part of Samsung’s ‘Family Hub’ lineup of home appliances.

iGyaan will be on the ground at the Samsung Forum and will bring you all the latest launches that are set to take place.

January 19, 2016

Mi India Announces Price Cut for Mi Pad

Mi India has slashed the price of the Mi Pad. The Chinese electronics major announced today that the 16 GB Mi Pad is now available for Rs 10,999, down Rs 2,000 from the original launch price of Rs 12,999 and can be purchased through its exclusive online partner Flipkart or on Mi.com.

The Mi Pad comes with specifications of a high-end device. The device is thin at 9.4mm and sports a 7.9-inch IPS display with a resolution of 2048×1536. The tablet is powered by a 2.2 GHz Nvidia Tegra K1 SoC ARM Cortex-A15 processor, 2GB RAM and 16GB inbuilt storage space. The Xiaomi tablet runs on Android 4.4 KitKat with MIUI skin on top. The device comes with an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera, and has a powerful battery of 6700mAh.

Brief details about its specs are provided below:

SPECS	Xiaomi Mi Pad
Display	7.9-inch IPS326 PPI
Processor	2.2 GHz Nvidia Tegra K1 SoC ARM Cortex-A15
RAM	2GB
Internal Memory	16GB
Expandability	Up to 128GB
Camera	8MP rear, 5MP front
Battery	6700mAh
Operating System	Android 4.4 KitKat
Price	Rs. 10,999

January 15, 2016

Apple Watch 2 Trial Production to Begin This Month

Apple’s second run at striking gold is expected to start sooner than expected. If leaks coming out of China are anything to go by, Apple has decided to start trial productions of the Apple Watch 2 before this month’s end.

The manufacturing of this much awaited second generation smartwatch will be handled by Quanta, the same company which manufactured the Apple Watch last year, but the Cupertino based company is looking at new partners for handling the manufacturing of Apple Watch 2.

Not much is known about the specs of the Apple Watch 2, but rumours suggest the second generation watch could come equipped with a Face Time Camera, different display, and an improved processor. Addition health related features are also being rumoured for the Apple Watch 2.

The product is expected to launch alongside the 4-inch iPhone 5e that has been doing rounds on the Internet sometime in March. Watch this space for latest updates.

January 14, 2016
Pre-orders for HTC Vive Begin Next Month

HTC has announced the date for pre-order of HTC Vive as 29th February. The company will start shipping the VR-headsets starting April. Pricing and other details of the gadget will be revealed close to the pre-order date.

The HTC Vive was showcased and unveiled at CES 2016. The launch of the consumer version of the VR-headset was delayed due to what chief executive Cher Wang described as a “very, very big technological breakthrough”. This breakthrough was later revealed to be an all new front camera.

The camera allows the wearer to see the physical room around them, which helps to avoid collisions. The wearable also features room-scale technology. You can also read our heads on with the developer edition of the HTC Vive.

One of the main questions surrounding the HTC Vive was always its affordability. Following Occulus’ price tag of $599 (about Rs. 40,000), we can expect the Vive to be priced around somewhere close to this at $600 or slightly higher, if not less.

January 12, 2016
Coolest Tech at CES 2016 So Far

CES 2016 kicked off in the most spectacular way possible. The technological fest had everything a tech junkie could ask for. While drones and hover boards were the ones that stole the spotlight, there were some others that just inspired awe. Here are some of our favorites so far.

Razor Blade Stealth

Razer – maker of the coolest and most badass gadgets around – unveiled its 12.5-inch Razer Blade Stealth with Super HD 2,560×1,440-pixel resolution touchscreen display, a Core i7 processor, 8GB of memory and 128GB of solid-state storage. And since the laptop is a Razer product, the device comes with RGB backlit keyboard that lets you program every key to light up in individual colors.

Saving the best for last, the laptop also features Razer Core, an external graphics docking station which will arrive for an undisclosed price in the first half of this year.

Intel RealSense Technology

Intel reminded everyone that the future is indeed here. The chipmaker showed off its RealSense sensor technology, which allows computers to map an environment in real time and react to it. Intel used this technology in three different products – a helmet, a car, and a robot.

The Daqri is a smart helet that is aimed at construction workers and athletes. The helmet has inbuilt glasses that are AR-ready. The helmet uses RealSense 3D camera to create augmented reality on the screen of the glasses. The RealSense technology was also seen in Segway’s Advanced Personal Robots, which is a hoverboard that doubles into a robot. Finally, the technology was seen in a race car that showed movements on the screen following the driver wherever they turned their head.

Ehang 148 Drone

A Chinese company, Ehang Inc., unveiled what is being touted as the first ever drone capable of carrying a human being, on Wednesday at CES.

The Ehang 184 was unveiled yesterday as an electric-power drone that can carry up to 220 pounds and is capable of flying for 23 minutes. It looks like a small helicopter, but of course, along with the four doubled propellers of a drone. The air-conditioned cabin has room for one person and is capable of being charged fully in only two hours. It also has a reading light and space for a back-pack, just because.

Faraday Future’s FFZero1 Electric Concept

One of the coolest unveiling in the automotive departments comes from Faraday Future. The startup, which is backed by Chinese internet TV provider LeTV, unveiled its first-ever electric concept, the FFZero1 which will be production ready by 2018. The exterior design of the vehicle draws inspiration from the 1960s Batmobile.

The FFZero1 has a smartphone embedded in the steering wheel to give the vehicle a “sixth sense” that understands the driver’s preferences and is also capable of driving itself. The internet-connected FFZero1 has a top speed of 200mph (321 kph) and accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds. Furthermore, the car has what the company calls ‘aero tunnels’ that channels air through the car to reduce drag and cool the batteries.

Faraday Future research chief Nick Sampson said that the company can achieve production of the FFZero1 faster than other automakers thanks to its adoption of “variable production architecture”. “Our lifestyle is becoming very digital and connected, and the car industry isn’t responding to those needs quick enough,” Sampson said. “Our architecture allows us to create different batteries without completely re-engineering the thing each time.”

Fitbit Blaze

Fitbit – the company that’s currently dominating the fitness tracking market – showcased its new wearable that looks more like a smartwatch than any of its previous offerings. The smartwatch was also launched in India yesterday at Rs. 19,999 and is up for pre-orders.

The watch comes equipped with a sleep-tracker, GPS and Bluetooth Smart which notifies the user of calls, texts and calendars notifications. The user can also accept or reject calls using the watch when its connected to a compatible smartphone. On-screen controls also allows the user to navigate and play music from the connected smartphone. PurePulse feature of Blaze tracks the heart-rate of the user and helps make training routines more efficient.

Blaze seems high on design with its interchangeable bands, modular design and a high resolution colour touchscreen. It has a stainless steel display which further has three options to choose from -black, mist grey and camel. There is another option of a Luxe stainless steel band paired with the display frame available in silver.

January 8, 2016
HTC & Under Armour Team Up to Build A Fitness Tracking System

If ever there was need of proof that HTC & the Under Armour team were up to good work together, then the UA HealthBox is it. It feels like ages that HTC & Under Armour announced their partnership together to roll out fitness gear such as the HTC GRIP, which sadly never saw the light of the day.

But fast forward to the first day of CES 2016, and much to the liking of fitness enthusiasts these two giants have finally launched for a measly $400( Approx Rs 26000) an all in one fitness tracking system. This apt named UA HealtBox is a collection of three different, but beautiful looking devices.

UA Band which is a fitness tracker, is designed to be worn 24/7. It tracks the number of steps taken, heart rate, workout, and sleep patterns of the user. It is the first accessory in the box.The UA Band comes in black with a red textured underside to allow for moisture wicking.

The second piece of the HealthBox is the UA Heart Rate. This is a band designed to be strapped to the users chest to provide more accurate reading of the pulse. The UA heart Rate is targeted towards athletes, and advanced users who are on intense workout regimes. It also gives an accurate calculation of calories burned during the workout.

The final piece that completes this fancy jigsaw puzzle is the UA Scale which measures your weight, and body fat ratio. The scale is Wi-Fi enabled, and syncs with the UA Record app to keep a check on things.

Though not physically a part of the UA HealthBox, but still the most critcial element of the system, is the UA Record app. Developed by Under Armour, this app is the element on which hinges the whole experience of using the UA Healthbox system. It brings together these isolated elements of the box together, making them work seamlessly as a single entity. To top it off, this app even has an option where it lets you rate on a scale of 1-10 about how you felt about your workout on a particular day!

January 6, 2016
Fitbit Launches Blaze Smartwatch in India

Fitbit’s Blaze smartwatch arrives in India and is up for preorder today while availability with retailers all over the world starts in March.The watch boasts of features like compatibility with over 200 Android, iOS and Windows devices and a battery that lasts up to 5 days, according to Fitbit.

The watch comes equipped with a sleep-tracker, GPS and Bluetooth Smart which notifies the user of calls, texts and calendars notifications. The user can also accept or reject calls using the watch when its connected to a compatible smartphone. On-screen controls also allows the user to navigate and play music from the connected smartphone. PurePulse feature of Blaze tracks the heart-rate of the user and helps make training routines more efficient.

Blaze seems high on design with its interchangeable bands, modular design and a high resolution colour touchscreen. It has a stainless steel display which further has three options to choose from -black, mist grey and camel. There is another option of a Luxe stainless steel band paired with the display frame available in silver.

The watch is priced at Rs. 19,999 and has three colour variants for the band -black, blue and plum. The company promises additional changeable accessories for the watch soon.

January 6, 2016
Windows Powered Galaxy TabPro S Launches at CES 2016

The long wait is finally over. Samsung, after having ignored the Windows OS platform for sometime now, has come to the market with a Windows 10 based tablet. The Galaxy TabPro S, is a sleek tablet, which at its size is thinner than it’s main competitors, the Apple iPad Pro, and the the Surface Pro. Samsung at CES,2016 gave a sneak peak into this new offering from its stables.

The product from the outside looks better than most other Android tablets that Samsung has in the market. With its detachable keyboard case, and stylus input bears, it’s more than a passing resemblance to Microsoft’s very own Surface Pro lineup. Because of its fanless design, it runs at a sleek 6.3 mm.

Inside this frame of it, the Galaxy Tab Pro S houses a dual core 2.2 GHz Intel Core M Processor. This, paired with 4 GBs of Ram, and 128 GB/256GB of storage space, works wonders with the Windows platform to give users a smooth, stutter free experience. The TabPro S also comes equipped with a rear 5 MP camera, and a 5 MP front camera.

On the connectivity front, it comes with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and option of LTE connectivity, but sadly no HDMI, and USB ports are to be found on the TabPro S. A 12 inch Samsung Super Amoled display on the outside running a resolution of 2160×1440 is arguably the star of the show here. It’s bright, colourful, and much like the other displays on Samsung devices, has brilliant viewing angles.

The Tab comes with the much loved USB Type C Port which charges a cool 5,200 mAh battery packed inside the case.

The TabPro S, with it’s sleek looks, under the hood hardware combined with the fact that it’s running the fast growing Windows platform looks to be a sure winner. Pricing, and further details are expected by February.

January 6, 2016
Asus ZenWatch 2 with Android Wear Launched

The long wait is over. It’s been almost 7 months from the date that Asus first announced its plans for this second generation SmartWatch, and finally today the ZenWatch 2 has hit Indian markets.

The successor to the first ZenWatch comes in two sizes, 1.45-inch (WI502Q) and 1.63-inch (WI501Q). They are priced at a cool Rs. 11,999 and Rs. 14,999 only, and considering the price tags with which previous Android wear smartwatches have been released in the country, this at least on paper, looks like a smart buy.

The ZenWatch 2 variants come with Gorilla Glass 3 protection, and are run by the quad-core Snapdragon 400 Soc chipset, paired with 512 MB of Ram. Internal storage as revealed is 4GB, and the smartwatch comes equipped with Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.1 to ensure continued connectivity.

The 1.45-inch variant sports an Amoled 273 ppi 280×280 resolution display, while the 1.63-inch variant comes equipped with a superior 278 ppi, 320×320 display. The smaller of the two siblings comes with 300 mAh battery, while the other model gets the juice it needs from a 400 mAh pack. The smartwatch interestingly is also one of the few Android Wear devices that can be paired with iPhones, and other iOS 6+ devices.

The ZenWatch 2 is currently being sold exculsively via Flipkart, but Asus has informed that it will soon start sales of the smartwatch through its exclusive Asus Stores. It has also informed that another cool looking stainless steel version of the watch will also hit stores some time in the future.

January 5, 2016
BoomStick Boosts the Sound Quality of Any Wired Headphones

Everyone loves listening to music at the highest quality possible. For a long time now, not much has been done to improve the sound quality of music or audio in general. This year could prove otherwise. A company called BoomCloud 360 has created a device that uses algorithms to enhance the sound of anything it’s plugged into.

The BoomStick dongle is one among a suit of products BoomCloud 360 is planning to unveil at CES 2016. At $99, the BoomStick makes for a great purchase . It’s a small and light device that has a battery life of up to 14 hours. Using the dongle is fairly simple. You plug in your headphones to the dongle, and the dongle to the smartphone.

The company promises an improved audio experience likening it to the evolution from black and white to 4K TVs. The device os promising in that it hints at a future where the technology could be fitted within a phone. However, for now, a separate dongle might be a little too cumbersome for people to carry around everywhere.

You can try the BoomStick’s sound quality on the company’s website. There people can choose a handful of pre-selected songs, and a virtual BoomStick will let you toggle on and off to hear the difference. We’ll just have to wait and see all the devices BoomCloud has up its sleeve at CES.

January 4, 2016
Apple Watch 2: What to Expect

According to reports, Apple is holding an official event in March where it is expected to unveil the iPhone 6c along with iPad 3 and the new Apple Watch. Needless to say, the rumour mill is working round the clock. Here’s a look at some of them:

Release Date:

Even if the Apple Watch 2 gets announced in March, it won’t be ready for shipping before April at the earliest, suggests 9to5Mac. Another rumour places May as the probable date for the Watch.

Quant, the Chinese manufacturer of the previous model of the Apple Watch, is expected to manufacture the second generation model as well. Therefore when Bary Lam, the Chairman of Quant comments on this, we sit up and listen. Reportedly, he claims that near the end of Q2 2016, a limited stock of the Apple Watch 2 would be available, followed by more in Q3. Following this, the Apple Watch 2 can be expected to make an appearance in June this year.

Camera:

The Apple Watch 2 is expected to have a front camera to allow for FaceTime; the user would now be able to receive and make video calls from the Watch itself, if this speculation turns out to be true. The front camera will probably be embedded in the top bezel of the face of the Watch.

Wireless Chipset:

Other than some basic features like playing music or tracking activity, the current version of the smartwatch relies almost entirely on an iPhone to perform any other function. However, the new , updated smartwatch is expected to come with a wireless chipset which would make the Watch ‘tether-less’. It would no longer require connection with an iPhone to perform functions, owing to the chipset which would make it more independent of the phone.

Battery:

One of the main drawbacks of the first generation Apple Watch is its battery life. Even though it was initially expected to last an entire day, many users discovered to their disappointment, that this was not so. The Watch would be drained of battery even before the day ended. Additionally, it was a big strain on the battery of the iPhone it was connected to.

However, there are not any big rumours about battery improvement in the second gen. This news is a little disheartening for Apple fans all over.

Apple Watch

Design:

In terms of design, Apple is expected to introduce a new variant priced between the steel Apple Watch at £949 and the Apple Watch Edition at £8,000. We hope for some more variety like a circular watch face as well as a thinner design, along with more strap options to choose from.

Some of its other features we hope Apple would include in the second gen smartwatch are in-built GPS and better durability against water, dust and scratches. We’ll keep you updated as more rumours hit the scene and if anything gets confirmed. Let us know what would you want to see in the Apple Watch 2.

January 2, 2016
Oculus Touch Controllers for Oculus Rift Delayed Till Second Half of 2016

2016 is going to be the year of the virtual reality. People around the world have been eagerly waiting to get their hands on some VR headgears that were demoed last year. One of them is the popular Oculus Rift VR headset. The headgear will start shipping in the first half of 2016. However, there is some bad news as well.

Turns out, you will have to wait a while longer to be able to wave your arms around in the air to control whatever you’re looking at in your giant VR headset. We’re talking about the Oculus Touch – the hand controllers that would allow you to do just that with the Oculus Rift have been delayed and won’t be shipped until the second half of the year.

Oculus VR has stated that pre-order for the Oculus Touch will begin a few months before its official launch (which is still unconfirmed).

“On Touch hardware, we’ve made significant advances in ergonomics, and we’re implementing many changes that make Touch even more comfortable, reliable, and natural. We’re also implementing changes that improve hand pose recognition,” reads Oculus’ blog post.

“The feedback on Touch has been incredibly positive, and we know this new timeline will produce an even better product, one that will set the bar for VR input. We appreciate your patience and promise Touch will be worth the wait.”

Founder and CEO of Oculus Rift, Palmer Luckey recently announced that preorders for the headset would start “soon after new year”. We still don’t now the official pricing of the virtual reality headgear, but Luckey has stated that the price would be low considering all that’s in the device. “Rift will be sold insanely cheap considering complexity – multiple high end OLED monitors+motion tracking+fancy mechanicals in one device,” he tweeted.

So, while you’ll have to wait for the second half of 2016 to fully experience the virtual reality world with the Oculus Touch, you can still embrace the future a little early with the Oculus Rift headset. Follow this space on the official launch and pricing of the Oculus Rift VR.

January 2, 2016
US Aviation Association: Over 45,000 Drones Registered in Two Days

America clearly loves its drones. The Federal Aviation Association (FAA) has revealed that over 45,000 drones have been registered just two days after the Federal Drone Registration website went live.

The deluge of registrations has led the FAA to take the website down for a few hours starting Wednesday, 9 PM ET. This move is to prepare the website better for the unexpected response. It will be available again on Thursday morning at 6 AM ET.

Close to 400,000 drones are expected to be sold this holiday season. Strict penalties will be imposed on those who fail to register their drones in time. Drones which are bought post 21st of December must be registered before their first flight. Those purchased before that have till February 19th, 2016 for registration.

The registration is expected to help the FAA trace the owners in case of accidents or injuries caused by drones. The administration has further announced formidable penalties that include fines up to $27,500 and fines which can go as high as $250,000 and/or imprisonment up to 3 years. Drones clearly have taken the tech world by storm. It would be interesting to see how this new piece of technology is incorporated in the contemporary lifestyle.

December 24, 2015
OnePlus Power Bank is Back in Stock on Amazon

There’s good news for OnePlus fans out there. OnePlus is offering a limited stock of the OnePlus Power Bank starting today exclusively on Amazon India. The Power Bank is being offered at a price of Rs. 1,399.

The OnePlus Power Bank is curved and has a delicately crafted design that feels comfortable in the hand. The current limited stock of the OnePlus Power Bank is available in Sandstone Black. The device requires only 5-6 hours for power bank to charge to full capacity. It also contains 2 USB ports, 5V/2A, allowing fast, simultaneous charging of two devices. You’ll also receive a one-year manufacturing warranty along with the device.

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So, if you’ve been eagerly waiting for the OnePlus Power Bank, now is the time to get it before the stock runs out. Head on over to Amazon India and shop away.

December 18, 2015
Top 5 Power Banks of 2015

2015 is coming to an end and tradition tells us to cap it off by looking back at some of the best gadgets of the year. So, today we look at some of the best power banks that came out this year.

Xiaomi Mi Power Bank (10,400 mAh)

Xiaomi’s power banks have changed the way consumers in India look at power banks. They did exist before Xiaomi came into the picture, but one needs to credit the Chinese company for coming out with great looking power banks at a very reasonable price. The Mi Power Bank balances portability with capacity.

Asus Zen Power (10,050 mAh)

The Asus Zen Power is pricier than the Xiaomi Mi Power Bank and has a lower capacity compared to the latter. Light Weight aluminum outer casing gives a smooth and premium finish to the gadget and stays true to the Zen aesthetics. It also features fast charging capabilities with up to 2.4 A output which is the USP of the device. However, the cost remains a dampener here at Rs. 1,670.

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Honor Powerbank (13,000 mAh)

The Honor Powerbank has enough juice to charge your device up to four times. Not only is this power bank big on capacity but it also comes with two ports which means you can simultaneously charge two devices like your phone and tablet. It has an aluminium unibody construction that is resistant to dust, can withstand light splashes of water and is protected from sweat corrosion. The device is priced at Rs. 1,399.

OnePlus Power Bank (10,000 mAh)

Chinese makers love to create beautiful devices. The OnePlus Power Bank is curved and has a delicately crafted design that feels comfortable in the hand. You get two OnePlus signatures textures to choose from: Silk White & Sandstone Black. The device requires only 5-6 hours for power bank to charge to full capacity. It also contains 2 USB ports, 5V/2A, allowing fast charging of more than one device at the same time. The Power Bank is currently sold out but keep your eyes open for when it comes back.

Sony CP-V10A Power Bank (10,000 mAh)

Not only does this power bank charge your smartphone and tablets, but it’s also compatible with other devices including XperiaTM, Cyber-shotTM, Handycam and Walkman players which can be charged via computer’s USB port or AC-USB adapter. The device is priced at Rs. 2,328.

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December 17, 2015