Category: Gadget

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Jolla Achieves Crowdfunding Target in a Day for its New Tablet

Jolla, the Sailfish OS-powered company formed by ex-Nokia employees, is ready to launch its first tablet. The company’s phone has been appreciated for its innovative new OS and features and is said to be a good challenger to the predominant market powers of Android and iOS.

The company had launched a crowd funding campaign on indiegogo to fund its latest tablet. The popularity of the company can be assessed by the fact that it has achieved its funding target of $380,000 in just a day. As of now, they have achieved in access of 228% of their original goal and are fast approaching a million dollars.

The tablet in itself looks sexy as hell with its dual tone color scheme. It has a 7.85-inch 2048×1536 pixels display at a density of 330ppi, which would be capable of capturing some stunning visuals. The tablet will run on the upcoming Sailfish 2.0 operating system.

Jolla tablet will be powered by a 1.8GHz quad-core 64 bit processor along with 2 GB RAM. The 32 GB of internal storage comes with an expandable option which will let you use the full potential of the amazing display. It gets its juice from a 4300 mAh battery, which is smaller than most of its competition, so we have to wait till the tablet comes out to judge the battery performance of the device.

The camera on the device is equivalent to the iPad Mini 3. It has a 5MP main camera and a 2MP front camera. Where the device wins, is its price; the company promised a $189 price tag and is $60 cheaper than the upcoming Nokia N1 and almost half of the iPad Mini.

From its first look, the tablet looks great but the fact still remains that the tablet market is in a state of slowdown. In a time when large screen phones have dissuaded people from going tablet, it would be interesting to see if Jolla’s fresh new approach to tablet would be appreciated by the market. We just have to wait till May 2015 when the tablet starts shipping.

November 20, 2014
The Secret’s Out! Nokia Unveils N1, a Tablet that Runs on Android

Hell yeah! That’s what we said when we finally saw what was inside that black box that Nokia teased us with this morning. Having paid a tribute to the company last week we couldn’t have been happier with the launch of a new digital device with the name Nokia branded on it.

The Nokia N1 is the first device from the company in its new era. The 7.9 inch device immediately reminds you of the iPad mini. With a thickness of 6.9 mm, the device is as thin as a tablet can get. It will also be the first device to come with the new reversible c-type USB.

First device to come with the new reversible USB

The N1 also comes strong on the spec sheet. The device is powered by 2.4GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3580 processor along with 2GB of RAM. It has 32GB of storage. It gets its juice from 5300 mAh battery. All these will lead to some amazing performance on the 2048 x 1536 resolution display on the device.

On the camera front, the Nokia N1 flaunts an 8-megapixel camera at the rear, and a 5-megapixel version at the front. The overall design of the device is unapologetically iPad-ish. Looks like Nokia isn’t taking a lot of chances with its first attempt back in consumer electronic business and is taking it safe.

The Z-launcher on the N1 has some unique features.

A feature of the N1 that is unique to it is the Z-launcher that is based on Android 5.0 Lollipop. The Z-launcher lets you write text on the screen, and it can then perform tasks or search the device or the internet. It gives you a list of apps and contacts that change based on where you are and what you’re doing. The launcher is available on Google Play store starting today.

The branding on the device could have been better in terms of placement and design.

From the looks of it, the only thing that we found disappointing was branding on the device. A more prominent engraved or embossed logo would have been more appreciable. The bit that is really appreciable is the fact that this is the first device to hold the c-type USB. It was high time we got over the constant twisting of USB’s to find the ideal moment under the stars when it fits in the port. Who better than Nokia to lead an innovation. The device will be priced at $249 and will be first launched in China by early 2015.

November 18, 2014
A Smart Case That Takes You Back to the Era of Polaroids

Polaroids are one of the best things to happen to photography including cheap DSLRs. They were a revolution when they first rolled out. Polaroids deleted the waiting period, and their hand prints were easy to store and flaunt around. Well, with the advent of camera-induced smartphone age, Polaroids have become an affair of the past. But one company has introduced a unique mobile case that might just bring back the era of printed photos that can be viewed without a battery-powered device.

A French startup Pryntcases has introduced a phone case that converts your phone to a Polaroid camera. Presently, the device can only take one polaroid film at a time and takes a minute to print the image, but is still a great case to have. The appeal of physically holding a photograph can’t be matched with the tonnes of electronic images.

The case comes with an accompanying camera app, which has a cool feature. It takes video while you are taking a picture. Then, when you hold the developed picture in front of the case, it will start playing the video.

The developers of the case are working towards making the device faster so that it can deliver an image in half the present time. They will also work towards allowing the case to hold at least ten films at a time. They have expressed their views to set up a Kickstarter page to further develop the device and sell their product. The case is expected to cost $99 and this price makes it a must-have.

Polaroid images have a unique character that just make them visually appealing. It’s great to see that this medium is making a comeback in the digital age. We hope that an improved version arrives soon.

November 17, 2014
Winter is Coming: Gadgets You Need Before the Cold Bites

The winter season is almost here. If you are living in places of higher elevation, you might have already started experiencing the chills. Now winters are the best season to step outside if you live in the tropical side of the planet, but the drippy nose sure spoils the fun. Well, in the age of technology, there is a lot of stuff you can get that can keep you warm while letting you hit that picnic that you’ve been waiting for through the grueling summer months.

We decided to present some tech fixes to battle the chill and make the best of this season.

1.    USB Heated Blanket

You are in an office where the most protection you get from the winter is the layers of clothes you put on yourself. Well, there is a savior for you to get warm and cozy while others shiver around you. The blanket comes with a heating pad which can be removed for washing, you know because all that heat is bound to induce some sweat off you.

2.    USB heated Gloves

With the body taken care of, its time to address the issue of the parts of the body that are mostly exposed, the hands. Here a USB heated gloves will come in handy. The best part of this “device” is that even when it stops working, it would still be a working pair of gloves.

3.    USB heated Mouse pad

If you are not into gloves then, there is a convenient option for you. The mouse pad comes with a heating plate that heats it up to a comfortable temperature. This might literally be the first thing you’ll dip your hands into. And looking at the funky design options that are offered, you’d want to have these babies everywhere.

4.    Earmuff’s with inbuilt headphones

You might be asking right about now, we get that, USB’s are a great source of preserving body heat, but what about the commute to office? Well technology has even got you back here. Headphones are a must for the commute but what if they keep those exposed ears covered while you take the arduous journey to your workspace.

5. Xiaomi 10400mAh Mi Power Bank

Now that we have listed all the cool stuff that you can use to feel warm and cozy, the power source comes into question. Not everyone has an office job so how do you get the juice to your warmer devices when you are away from your computer. The answer lies in power banks. With massive backup and a cheap price tag, Xiaomi’s power bank is ideal for long trips and is a great energy source on the move.

These are some great gadgets to help you beat the chill. If you have some suggestions for some cool gadgets that help you heat up, please feel free to share it with us.

November 15, 2014
Xiaomi Hints at the Arrival of Redmi Note in India

It is been a while since Xiaomi has launched a new product in India. While the Chinese company is busy preparing for occasional flash sales and celebrating the new tag of being the world’s third-largest smartphone maker, it seems like the company is moving forward in the Indian market with new offerings.

In a recent post on Facebook, Hugo Barra (Vice President of International for Xiaomi) mentioned that the Redmi Note is finally ready for India. The device was expected to launch a month back, however, it didn’t happen. In an interview with a popular publication last month, Barra said that the Redmi Note will come to India in late October or early November. It looks like the early November in the Chinese calendar is here.

In the Facebook post, Bara mentioned “Mi Indonesia: 10,000 Redmi Note out of stock in under 40 secs today!” adding that the next in the list will be India. The post further mentioned that the Xiaomi’s Vice President’s may have landed in Bangalore, India for the same reason – launch of Redmi Note. Xiaomi India Head Manu Jain also confirmed that the company is aiming for the end of this month or early next month for the device.

Redmi Note is a 5.5-inch phablet, which comes with a MediaTek MT6592 octa-core SoC, and has a 13MP and 5MP rear back and front cameras respectively. The device also has a 8GB of internal storage, which is expandable up to 32 GB using a micro-SD card. The company has already announced that the Redmi Note in the country during Mi3 launch will be priced at Rs. 9,999. However, it is expected the Redmi Note will be available for Rs. 8,999, once it is launched.

November 13, 2014
New DJI Inspire 1 is a Badass Drone Capable of 4K Videos

Drones are fast becoming their own individual market. By offering an opportunity to capture images that were simply not possible some time back, they are rapidly becoming the darling of professionals and average consumers alike. They are also constantly getting smaller and better at what they do; some models are even available in an affordable consumer price range. DJI, a company that might instantly bring the thought of a drone in your head, is ready to take things further with the new DJI Inspire 1.

The Inspire 1 is one of the coolest drones out there. The drone looks like a vicious predator on the hunt. The quadcopter flaunts its 4K camera and retractable landing gear.

This latest offering by DJI sorts a three-axis gimbal on which the camera is mounted. The camera is capable of shooting 12 megapixel images and 4K video at 30, 25 and 24fps. Talk about options for a filmmaker. The camera also has a wide 94-degree field of view so you can take those sexy fly-bys. Also, as the arms go up during flights, you can also get amazing 360 degree visuals.

Stabilizing this drone isn’t too much trouble either. The device uses a stereoscopic ‘optic flow’ camera to help stabilize the drone. Using the camera, the drone can stabilize without locking on to GPS. Also using the Lightbridge, a wireless HD transmitter, you can get a live feed of what you are shooting. The range of Lightbridge is 1km, which is just fantastic.

Operating the drone is also a breeze. This drone gives you an option for two people to operate the device. One person can direct the drone while the other can control the camera. Though the second remote can set you back $500.

Inspire 1’s awesome features come at a price though. If you are thinking about getting this bad boy be ready for a lighter pocket as the price tag on this device is $2900. The average drone comes in under $1000 mark. But the Inspire One’s amazing new features definitely help justify its price. So if you got the cash and an itch for shooting epic aerial footage, the DJI Inspire One is exactly what you were looking for.

November 13, 2014
LG Brings Out a Sleek and Wireless Headset for Rs. 10,990

LG, the South Korean electronic giant, has launched new wireless neckband ‘LG TONE INFINIM’ based on ergonomic design for better comfort and sound. The new wireless headset is engineered by Harman Kardon and can be paired with smartphones via Bluetooth. The TONE INFINIM is available in India at Rs. 10,990.

INFINIM has essentially a crisp audio rather than a bass-heavy sound. The gadget includes the company’s retractable wire management technology, a metallic finish and an ergonomic curved design. Its ‘Easy Control’ feature includes control with Jog switch to control music with one fluid motion.

It comes with a handful of features such as Current Time Alert, SMS/SNS Replay, Speed Dial, Direct Dial, Favourite Call and Advanced Vibration Alert. During incoming calls, the device alerts the user with its caller ID. The battery status of the headset can be checked on the smartphone at a glance.

The LG Bluetooth Stereo Headset reads out the most recently received SNS or text messages. Users can directly call the previously saved contacts via the headset without taking out their smartphones. Users can designate up to five contacts on their headsets using this USP. This USP can only be used after saving contacts on the application, Tone&Talk. Users can set different vibration patterns for SMS and SNS so that they always know the type of message received in advance. It also informs about the current time on the smartphone with a simple button press.

LG has given these sleek new headsets a classy look which are available in metallic silver and gold colour variants.

November 12, 2014
Xiaomi Gears to Take on GoPro With its Own Action Camera

GoPro has created a unique market for itself. It is almost reminiscent of the time when iPod came out and enjoyed the first-mover advantage. In the past few years, GoPros have gained pop culture prominence. Their cheap price tag and amazing ability to withstand extreme pressure has made it a darling of the adrenaline junkies and self-obsessed selfie-clickers alike. Other companies are trying to create a foothold in the action camera market. Recently, we saw HTC come out with its RE camera. Now, Chinese powerhouse Xiaomi is contemplating a dip into the action camera market.

If rumors are to be believed, Xiaomi’s action camera is expected to record 30 fps 4K videos, as well as 120 fps 1080p videos. The camera has a 138-degree wide angle lens. GoPro recently added 4K video recording feature in its new line of products. Xiaomi might use its brand recognition and its business tactics to disrupt GoPro’s market enough to squeeze in.

Xiaomi’s action camera will support micro-SD cards up to 128 GB. The device has pretty much everything to attract an action sports enthusiast. Using the 120 fps capability of the camera, one can take amazing slow motion pictures.

The camera is expected to come out first in China at a price of RMB 999, which translates to around Rs. 10,000, which is again an attractive price for a device of such caliber. It is expected to come out by the year end. We’ll be keeping a vigilant eye on the developments of this device.

November 8, 2014

Lenovo Introduces the New Yoga Tablet 2 With a Convenient Keyboard Option

Lenovo has become a star among the PC lovers with its range of Yoga products. The original Yoga, a 13-inch Ultrabook whose screen could fold all the way back, became a favourite of all be it a professional or a student. Recently the company added a spinoff Yoga tablet into its Yoga collection.

Blurring the lines between the ultrabooks and tablets, the company has now launched new Yoga tablet called the ‘Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2’, which is the same size as the original Yoga Ultrabook. The new tablet has been designed with a kickstand that folds out on the back, and an optional keyboard which works in sync with the tablet with any contact. Now, the tablet line-up includes 8-10 inches tablets both on Android and Windows platform.

The 13-inch tablet, which is as sharp as the Ultrabook with a screen resolution of 2,560×1,440, runs on a Quad-Core Atom processor with 4 GB of RAM. The battery life is rated at 15 hours in a single charge, which is far better than the Ultrabooks available in the market at present.

The tablet is also lighter than the usual Ultrabooks, weighing around 2.27 pounds. It also comes with a premium audio system which includes 5 W subwoofers. However, the new tablet doesn’t include a projector, which was the main highlight of the company’s previous offering.

The new Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 will be available from November at a price of $699, which includes the keyboard and a cover.

Specs	Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2
Processor	Intel Atom Processor Z3745 (2M cache, 4 cores, up to 1.86 GHz)
Display	13-inch IPS, 2,560×1,440
Memory/ storage	4 GB/64 GB
Ports	microHDMI, microUSB, audio in/out, microSD
Camera	1.6 MP (front)
Battery	12,800 mAh, up to 15 hours
Connectivity	Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0
Dimensions	12.8×8.7×0.2-0.6 in; 324.1x221x3.7-14 mm
Weight	2.27 lbs (without keyboard)

October 30, 2014

HP Expected to Unveil a New Form Factor PC Called ‘Sprout’ Next Week

After phones, tablets and smartwatches, seems like the world needs to now get ready for a PC with a new form factor. HP is about to unveil a new device which is expected to be different from anything we’ve seen till now. The product is called ‘Sprout’.

Sprout is expected to bring a whole new way of interacting with computers. Its components are minimal. It is made of one large flat screen which will be similar to HP’s Pavilion Touchsmart line. Apart from the display, there’s a touch-enabled surface and a 3D scanner and projector placed in an overhead device.

Sounds like something interesting is being cooked behind the curtains at HP. Though its functionalities are not clear yet but looking at components, it looks ready for some advanced tasks. Re/code reports that the device might project an image on the surface from the overhead device. Users can manipulate this image with their hands or a stylus. Adding new objects to this image is fairly easy. By just keeping an image on the surface, the 3D projector captures it and introduces it in the image. It seems like a great proposition for at least the graphics industry.

The target consumers for this device are businesses and prosumers so one can expect the price to be on the steeper end. But like every technological innovation, its success will lead to cheaper copies, so there’s no worry in that. For long, Keyboards and Mouse have been our way of interacting with computers, it’s good to see HP bringing a new approach to interface with the digital world.

Sprout would be unveiled at a function in New York on the 29th of October. The device is expected to run on Windows initially but may even run Android OS in the future. We’ll be keeping an eye on the release and will bring you the latest. Keep checking iGyaan for more.

October 24, 2014
These Tiny Autonomous Quadcopters Might be the Builders of Tomorrow

Drones are one of the buzzwords of our times. Although the name became associated with the deadly unmanned aerial vehicles operated by the US armed forces, it has quickly lost that. They are now everywhere. They are being used for shooting professional grade videos at low costs, used for making deliveries and are a boon to action sports. Now a research video released by the University of Pennsylvania shows them doing some amazing things.

The quad copters called the Pico quadrotor are developed at University of Pennsylvania’s General Robotics, Automation, Sensing and Perception (GRASP) Laboratory. It integrates computer science, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering to build autonomous vehicles and robots, develop self-configuring humanoids, and making robot swarms.

It seems that the researchers at the GRASP Lab have already made robot swarms a reality. The quadroter showcased in the video flaunt their strong body, collision aversion systems and flying in a leader-follower formation.

The pico quadrotor weighs just 25 grams and 11 centimeters long. They are capable of flying up to six meters per second, about half the speed of a hummingbird. The demonstrations of the tiny drones are extremely impressive. The copters can collide with walls and poles and still survive.

The leader-follower bit of the demonstration blew our minds. These drones might as well inspire the future fighter planes and planets. Each quadrotor robot has its own set of sensors too, which assist it in making direction decisions in real-time, without the need to be connected to a computer. You can almost imagine a precision flying mechanism from any sci-fi movie. These almost feel like the DWARF drones from Agents of Sheild. Looking at experiments like this, it feels like the future is now.

Yash Mulgaonkar, one of the researchers behind the project told TechCrunch that these drones can assist in search and rescue, first response, law enforcement due to their “ability to fly through unstructured, constrained, 3-D environments.”

Though it does sound fantastic to look at, it does inspire speculation of a future where these devices can overpower humanity. Films like Terminator and Matrix come to mind. Even in the most basic of stages, the pico quadrotor looks capable of doing things better than a human mind. But these speculations are for a distant future, but it’s important to have a fail-safe plan before they are unleashed in the market.

Here is a detailed TED talk about this amazing device and the future applications of the Pico quadrotors.

October 20, 2014

Nexus 9 vs iPad Mini 3: Which One Got it Right?

Apple has finally unveiled the new generation iPads and iMacs. The company had earlier “accidentally” released some information about the new generation products from its stable. Seems like Apple has put some real challenge for Nexus. Both the iPad Mini 3 and the Nexus 9 are priced close to Rs. 24,000 ($400).

Now that we have the knowledge of the juicy bits of these devices that make them tick, we’d like to take them for a spec comparison.

Specs	Nexus 9	iPad Mini Retina
Display	8.9-inch QXGA	7.9?inch Retina display
Processor	2.3GHz, 64-bit NVIDIA Tegra K1 Dual Denver	A7 Chip
RAM	2 GB	1 GB
Storage	16/32GB	16/64/128 GB
Expandable Upto	–	–
Main Camera	8 MP	5 MP
Front Camera	1.6 MP	1.2 MP
Battery	6700 mAh	–
Operating System	Android 5.0	iOS 8.0.1

Overall, on the spec sheet, it looks like the Nexus 9 is beating Apple’s latest offering quite easily; Google and HTC together have formed a good device. Apple’s Handoff features though will be truly appreciated by the fans, and thus the device will find many takers. The features can still be up for debate, and we’ll get you the full story once these devices are available.

October 17, 2014

Lenovo Brings Out Yoga Tablet 2 Series in India

With the big dogs Apple and Google releasing their tablets, Lenovo has also decided to join the bandwagon. The company has brought their Yoga Tablet 2 Series to India. In total, the company has released four new tablets. These tablets are Yoga Tablet 2, Yoga Tablet 2, Yoga Tablet 2 (Windows) and the Yoga Tablet 2 Pro.

The Yoga tablets are quite innovative and come in two operating system options. They will all be available exclusively on Flipkart. The Yoga Tablet 2 (8-inch, Android) and Yoga Tablet 2 (10-inch, Android) will come to Flipkart from Friday, October 17th. Yoga Tablet 2 (10-inch, Windows) and the Yoga Tablet 2 Pro will be available around November-end.

The tablets have been made in collaboration with Product Engineer Ashton Kutcher.

All Android tablet are working on Android 4.4.4 whereas the Windows tablets are working on Windows 8.1 with Bing 32-bit. All tablets in the Yoga Tablet 2 series feature 1920×1200 display resolution. The Yoga 2 Tablets come with an Accutype keyboard dock that is powered by Bluetooth. It also doubles up as a cover for the device.

The devices have identical specifications; they are powered by a 1.3GHz intel Atom Z3745 Processor and come with a 2GB of RAM. They come in 16GB or 32GB storage options which are expandable up to 64 GB.

Camera wise the devices have an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 1.6-megapixel front-facing selfie shooter. The 8 inch tablets have a battery capacity of 6400mAh whereas the 10 inch models come with a 3-cell 9600mAh battery.

With a 13 inch display the Yoga Tablet 2 Pro is a monster of a portable device.

The tablet that will be a multimedia maniac’s dream come true is the Yoga Tablet 2 Pro. The tablet has an in-built Pico projector that can project an image of up to 50-inches. It also has an 8-watt sound system with a subwoofer.

The tablet has been developed with Ashton Kutcher. No wonder the specifications on the device simply rock. The device has a 13-inch QHD (2560×1440 pixels) display. It is powered by the same 1.3 GHz Intel Atom Z3745 Processor like its younger siblings, which seems less for the massive display on the device.

The projector on the device sets it apart from all other tablets.

Yoga Tablet 2 Pro comes with 32GB internal storage with microSD card which is expandable up to 64GB, It gets its juice from a 3-cell 9600mAh Li-Cylindrical battery. This seems like a device meant for the professionals, and hence has a steep price tag of Rs. 47,990.

The price of the other devices are: the Yoga Tablet 2 (8-inch, Android) for Rs. 20,990, Yoga Tablet 2 (10-inch, Android) for Rs. 28,990 and the Yoga Tablet 2 (10-inch, Windows) for Rs. 34,990.

October 16, 2014
Apple Leaks the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 just ahead of Tomorrows Launch

Call it a co-incidence, a mistake or a planned move, but just after Google’s hot Nexus 9 announcement, Apple’s updated User Guide for iOS 8.1 has leaked and in it are details of the next iPads. Yes the new iPad Air 2 and the iPad Mini 3, but no, you do not get any juicy information except the fact that both the new tablets will get a tTouchID sensor in place of the home button and thats about all the information you get in this leak.

Everything else is just a bunch of screenshots showing of the OS, and the new improved features. However you put it, in an attempt to out do each other, Google announced the Nexus line up a day earlier to the big Apple announcement, and Apple leaked the documents right after the launches. The tech giants need to curb their enthusiasm if they want our brains to rest easy.

The Book has been pulled from the App Store (See source link), but not before some folks downloaded it, and the website link below still has the screens.

October 15, 2014
Google’s Nexus Player , Plays Games and Runs Apps for US $99

Google has announced the Nexus player along with its launch of the Nexus 6, the Nexus 9 and Android 5.0 Lollipop. The Apple TV-esque box is a lot more. It handles streaming, games and run Android apps all for US $99 as the price tag.

The gaming controller however, is an extra $39 at the time of purchase, and a must for any and all gaming fans. Just like the chrome cast , the Nexus Player can stream and function with Android devices, however you can also load apps and the player will natively work with Google’s Android TV. For options you get Netflix, Hulu, Food Network, Travel Channel and few more, however Sports Packages and HBO Go have been left out. What this also means is that most con tries apart from the US and UK may not get the Android Player.

The device goes for pre-order on the 17th of OCT, however will not be available until November 3rd. Stay tuned for India bound news.

October 15, 2014