Category: Mobile

Smartphone News and Reviews, Latest Cellphones, Accessories, New Launches, Specifications, Details with Image and Video from Apple, Samsung, Lenovo, Moto, HTC, Xiaomi, Oneplus, Meizu, Sony, Lava, Micromax Yu Mobile and More.

Now Ubuntu Based Phones Attempt to Take on Android Devices

Android is the undoubted top dog of the smartphone operating system. Its closest adversary, the iOS lags behind in terms of market numbers. There is no third party challenger to its dominance either; major operating systems like Windows, Blackberry, Firefox, etc. are still struggling to create a space for themselves. In this situation, some companies are looking at Ubuntu as an alternative to the behemoth called Android.

Ubuntu is one of the most popular Linux-based operating systems in the world. It is a light operating system that is developed by UK-based Canonical Ltd. and is offered free of cost. Canonical had previously announced the smartphone version of Ubuntu back in 2013 and tried unsuccessfully to fund it through crowdfunding. The company later partnered with mobile makers BQ and Meizu and the operating system is now finally seeing the light of day.

BQ’s Aquaris e4.5 Ubuntu Edition

At the MWC 2015, BQ and Meizu showcased their Ubuntu based devices. BQ had already unveiled its Ubuntu device earlier, and it is called the Aquaris E4.5 Ubuntu Edition. It comes with a 4.5-inch qHD display along with a 8MP camera and is powered by a 1.3 GHz quad-core MediaTek processor. This will be an affordable device and will be priced at $195 (Approx. Rs. 12,000).

Meizu’s phone, on the other hand, is based on its MX4 handset. It flaunts a 5.36-inch 1920 x 1152 display with a 20-megapixel camera and is powered by an eight-core MediaTek 6595 processor. This phone will have a better appeal in the market in comparison to the offering by BQ.

Meizu’s MX4 Ubuntu has better features and design amongst the two devices.

The Ubuntu OS is fairly new and would lack the apps that would attract the consumers. To make it easy for developers to easily create apps for the ecosystem, the OS offers categorized home screens called ‘Scopes.’ This scopes can be used to plug in content from apps like Instagram, Grooveshark, Soundcloud, etc. The company says that by using these specific Scopes, developers wouldn’t have to go through the lengthy process of coding apps to optimize them for Ubuntu.

Canonical also has long term plan for the ecosystem, and it intends to bring seamless interconnectivity between the various Ubuntu devices. But it is still unsure as to how this operating system would challenge the dominance of Android and attract consumers to a new user experience. We’ll only know for sure about he prospects of the Ubuntu OS when the devices finally come to the market.

March 5, 2015
‘iPhone 6s’ Likely to Come with 2GB RAM, Force Touch and a Pre-Installed Apple SIM

Apple’s bigger and better iPhone 6 and the Plus versions were a game changer. They successfully reminded the world why the company is the top smartphone maker in the world. They are a major reason for the enhanced demand of iPhones in the past year. The Cupertino-based beast is not lost among the admiration, and is working towards bringing out an even better iPhone 6 successor.

The next iPhone, expected to be called the iPhone 6s, is in works. The information came through a reliable source of Apple Insider who said that the next iPhone will ship with an upgraded 2GB RAM and an Apple SIM. The inclusion of 2GB is long overdue, and with the latest Apple flagships packing so many unique features, this bump up was much required. All iPhones released after iPhone 5 pack 1 GB of RAM.

The concept of Apple SIM debuted last year when it was fitted onto the iPad Air 2. The source says that Apple may pre-install the SIM on the next iPhones so that users can choose from a variety of short-term plans from select carriers in their countries for the devices.

Apple Insider has also stated the possibility of Force Touch on next iPhones. The feature was introduced with Apple Watch, which makes the device a bit brainy. Force Touch uses tiny electrodes around the flexible Retina display to distinguish between a light tap and a deep press, and trigger instant access to a range of contextually specific controls. This feature adds the possibility of embedding more gestures on to the device.

March 5, 2015
LG to Launch the G4 Along with a Brand New Flagship Later This Year

LG was one of the major company that didn’t bring out any major flagship device at the MWC. LG said that they needed to do work on their new device and hence decided to postpone the launch of this year’s flagship. Instead, the company brought four mid-range devices at the conference. The Korean company though had some big news in its kitty; it announced that it would be bringing a new flagship that will be a step above the G-series.

LG Electronics Mobile chief Cho Juno said that the company is working on a new device that will have higher specs than the G4. This device will be brought to the market in the second half of the year. This means that the LG G4 would be losing its status as the LG flagship. There aren’t any more details about this new device as of yet.

Cho Juno did talk about the upcoming LG G4 and gave away some details about the new device. The new G4 is expected to be radically different from the previous generation G-series devices, both inside and outside. It might feature a new metal body along with an overhaul of the software too. They will be unveiling the new LG UX 4.0 before the announcement of the G4. The phone might be announced in the coming few months.

Mr. Juno also said that the company is working on high-performance processors to break free from the Qualcomm ecosystem. There is an indication that the chipset might also appear in the LG G4, but that doesn’t seem like a possibility as of now. The company plans to bring the new chipsets to all the new handset offerings. Samsung has already powered its new flagship, the Galaxy S6 with its homegrown Exynos processor. It seems the companies are doing everything in their power to establish a unique space for themselves in the brutal terrain of the smartphone market.

March 5, 2015
Motorola Head Confirms Moto Turbo Arrives in India Soon; Says ‘Its Price Will be Worth it’

Motorola released Moto Maxx, a phone with 3,900mAh battery, in November last year and now the phone is arriving in India with a new name ‘Moto Turbo’. The India Head of the company Amit Boni confirmed the same in an interview with Times of India. Boni stated:

We will be launching the Moto Turbo for our consumers, which has the latest Qualcomm processor, high-resolution 21MP camera and long-lasting battery life with a 3900mAh battery, and is built on pure Android for the fastest, most flexible and easiest user experience. The price will be worth it.

The US-based firm claims that Moto Turbo aka Moto Maxx sustains up to 48 hours of mixed usage. Also, there is company’s Turbo Charger support with the phone that powers the device for eight hours of usage in just 15 minutes. Other specifications include a 5.2-inch QHD (2560×1440 pixels) display, 2.7GHz Snapdragon 805 quad-core processor, 3GB RAM, and onboard 64GB memory space.

Seeing the top-notch specs, it can be estimated that the device will fall in the high-end segment. Meanwhile, Motorola is rolling out Moto E (Gen 2) in India on 10th March.

March 4, 2015

Hands On | ASUS Zenfone 2

Asus Zenfone line of smartphones has done well in the market. These devices offer high-quality specs with unique features at affordable prices. The company has already launched the Zenfone 4, 5 and 6 in the Indian market. This year the company unveiled a new addition to the portfolio with the Zenfone 2. We got to take a look at this device at MWC 2015, and here we bring you our hands-on experience with the device.

Zenfone 2 flaunts a Full HD, 5.5 inch display that is protected with Gorilla Glass 3. It comes in two processor variants; a Quad-core 2.3 GHz, Intel Atom Z3580 processor and a Quad-core 1.8 GHz Intel Atom Z3560 processor along with 2 and 4 GB RAM options. It is available in 6/32/64 GB storage variants that can be further expanded up to 64 GB. It gets its juice from a 3000 mAh battery.

On the camera front, the device has a 13 MP shooter on the back along with the dual-LED flash. On the front sits a 5 MP selfie shooter. The front camera has an 85-degree field of view which will let the users click wider selfies.

Like its other Zenfone siblings, Zenfone 2 has also received some visually appealing design features. The front is dominated by the massive 5.5 inch display. It has a premium look and feel, especially with the brushed metal finish on the back.

The device runs Asus ZenUI based on Android 5.0 out of the box. ZenUI offers multiple customization and scheduling options that can make life easy for the users. It also has a unique option called Share link through which you can share content such as photos, videos, music, apps and APKs without the internet. The UI also has an easy mode that allows users with low technical skills to easily operate the device.

The device looks promising and has a great design. The vast number of options in the specs listing might confuse the consumers. The device is expected to be launched in $199 (approx Rs. 12,400) price bracket that would make it a steal. Keep checking iGyaan for an in-depth review of the new Asus Zenfone 2 and all the latest happenings at MWC 2015.

Specs	Asus Zenfone 2
Display	5.5-inch Full HD 403 PPI
CPU	2.3 GHz,Quad-core Intel Atom Z3580 and 1.8 GHz,Quad-core Intel Atom Z3560
RAM	2 and 4 GB
Internal Storage	16GB/32GB/64GB
Expandable Storage	64 GB
Main Camera	13 MP
Front Camera	5 MP
Battery	3000 mAh

March 4, 2015

Micromax YU Confirms Yureka Successor Coming to India in April

YU Yureka, makes for one of the best smartphone picks in the sub-Rs. 10,000 price bracket. The device has got a great response in the market and the company is ready to introduce its next offering in the coming month. YU Televentures, a subsidiary of Micromax, confirmed that they will release a new smartphone in India in April.

The Co-Founder of the company, Rahul Sharma stated –

Micromax already had tailwind behind it and were growing in numbers month after month, quarter after quarter. We were thinking about what’s next and we wanted to target a different set of users – the tech natives and digital natives – the nerds. They want to customize their phones. What were we doing for them? And with that thought YU was born.

The project has been named ‘Project Caesar’ as for now, and it’s still under development. The company will make use of its exclusive partnership with Cyanogen, the world’s biggest custom ROM maker, and will implant the Android Lollipop version of Cyanogen OS on its new device.

There was also a hint from Mr.Sharma that the company might step into the wearables segment. “YU is not just about smartphones. It is about connected devices t00,” said Sharma. That’s another big news from the company and we hope that their wearables, in case they arrive, will be as good as the Yureka and will arrive with an attractive price tag.

March 3, 2015
BlackBerry Teases Keian, a Slider Touchscreen Smartphone with Curved Dual Edges

Now that was a real surprise! The Canadian smartphone maker BlackBerry showcased Leap, another regular touchscreen smartphone with ordinary features, and then they uncovered Keian that took our breath away.

The company posted a picture of the new Keian from its Twitter handle:

What a Surprise! Ron just pulled out a dual-curved, all-touch display with a Keyboard – yes a slider device! #MWC15 pic.twitter.com/8VaPUZHo3j

— BlackBerry (@BlackBerry) March 3, 2015

BlackBerry Keian is a unique handset that holds the edgier elements of the Galaxy S6 Edge and retains the nostalgic QWERTY keypad, but with a difference. Keian embeds a slider keypad for the BlackBerry lovers who still appreciate the physical keypad. It’s an all-in-one device with Bold-like QWERTY keypad and a trackpad, and a touch screen that was seen in the Torch series.

The overall look of the phone is a bit chaotic as they have compiled highlights of multiple high-end phones in one. The effort looks good, but we cannot be sure of the device until the internal specifications are made clear by the company.

For now, BlackBerry has just teased the image of the phone and hasn’t spoken about its features. It can be said that this handset could be a flagship by the company and might pack some top-notch features. After the lukewarm response that the Passport got in the market, the company might be looking to unveil a new form factor to boost sales. A return of the physical keyboard on the new generation devices feels like a positive and we have to wait and see what features Blackberry managed to add to this new handset.

Meanwhile, the company’s other prominent launch is the BlackBerry Leap. It has a 5-inch display, 1.5GHz Qualcomm processor, 2GB RAM and a non-removable 2,800mAh battery. With 8MP rear camera and 5MP snapper, the camera quality is remarkable.

Stay tuned for more updates from MWC 2015.

March 3, 2015
BlackBerry Makes a Comeback in the Touch Segment with the Mid-Range ‘Leap’

BlackBerry made an appearance at the MWC event and dropped two new smartphones – Leap and Keian. The former one is a 5-inch touch device, priced at $275 (Rs. 17,000). The BlackBerry Leap is a mid-range phone with average specifications. It comes in the matte look with textured back cover.

Surprisingly, the Canadian firm didn’t reveal a flagship instead went for another conventional piece.

Talking about the apparatus powering the device, then the BlackBerry Leap is equipped with 1.5GHz Qualcomm processor paired with 2GB of RAM. An 8MP rear shooter along with a 5 MP camera sits comfortably on the device. The Leap is supported by 2,800mAh non-removable battery. The major highlight of the phone, as stated before, is its touch screen. The company has returned to the touch arena with Leap.

The phone is 9.5mm thick and runs on the company’s own BB OS 10.3.5. That means users will have a Siri-like Assistant to help them with their problems. For the time being, there is no information about its price or its availability.

March 3, 2015
Spice Android One Devices to Receive Android 5.1 Update

It took a long while, but it is finally here. When the customers of the Android One devices bought their devices, they were promised immediate updates. Those updates have taken a long while now, but they’re finally here. Spice has announced that it will start rolling out Android 5.0 updates for its Android One devices.

Spice has said that it will start rolling out the updates in batches over the next few days. Spice has two Android One devices in its portfolio: Spice Dream Uno and Spice Dream Uno H. Both of them run Android 4.4.4 Kitkat out of the box.

Android 5.1 update takes care of all the bugs that were found in Android 5.0 and adds new features too. The 5.1 update offers a new silent mode; improvements in system stability; improved RAM management; fixes for sudden app closures; improved battery management; excessive consumption of network devices when used Wi-Fi fixed; fixes for issues with wireless connections; fixes for Ok Google function; fixes for notifications problems; some sound problems experienced by certain devices fixed, and changes in the Material Design colour palette.

There is no news yet on the date of arrival of the Lollipop update on other Android One devices. Google has already launched the Android One devices in Indonesia that run Android 5.1 out of the box. So it wouldn’t be long before the other Indian devices get their updates too.

March 3, 2015
With BlackPhone 2, Silent Circle Vows to Eliminate BlackBerry from the Mobile World

According to Silent Circle, it is not hard to dominate a company that has an estimated 0.4% of the market share. Silent Circle Security was extremely positive at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2015 about the new Blackphone 2 and stated it would end the Blackberry era once and for all.

We’re replacing BlackBerry, we don’t care that BlackBerry’s CEO is throwing nasty things about us onto Twitter. We’re going to dominate them.

Silent Circle made similar claims when they released the first version of the BlackPhone last year. The security hype did not live quite much up to expectations. In August 2014, N4BB pointed out that hacker @TeamAndIRC managed to root the Blackphone in just five minutes by enabling the Android Debugging Bridge (ADB) without unlocking the bootloader.

The new Blackphone claims that they have added quite a few more security features to its new device. Other than that, there is no available information right now. But in order to win over loyal BlackBerry fans, Blackphone 2 must produce something really unique to grab their attention.

The Blackphone 2 has a more premium look and feel than the original device, with an all-glass front and rear along with a larger full HD display, at 5.5 inches across; a faster 64-bit processor and more RAM. It will go on sale later this year.

March 3, 2015
Gionee Elife S7 Arrives at MWC 2015 With Amazing Battery Saving Features

The Mobile World Congress 2015(MWC) is attracting attention from world over as it is the spot for big ticket launches. The prominent names in the smartphone industry have all shown off their products at the conference. Chinese smartphone maker, Gionee which is known for some fantastic devices, such as the Elife E7 and the slim and sexy S5, has launched the Elife S7 at MWC.

The Elife S7 flaunts a thin, 5.5 inch body that makes it the thinnest dual SIM device in the world. Gionee knows how to design its products right and the S7 is quite a looker too. The handset has a U-shaped bezel. It has a 5.2 inch, Full HD display with Super AMOLED panel from Samsung and is protected by Gorilla Glass 3.

On the specs front, the Elife S7 is powered by 64 Bit, 1.7 GHz Mediatek 6752 processor and 2 GB RAM. The device also has a sensor chip from Freescale, which will reduce CPU usage by 20%. The S7 gets its juice from a 2750 mAh battery. The battery is non-removable and has a thickness of 3.2 mm which helps to keep the device slim and light.

On the camera front, the handset flaunts a 13 MP camera on the back. The camera sits flat in the back of the device and doesn’t protrude out.The image sensor and the software on the device are both provided by Sony. It features an intelligent night mode. On the front, the device flaunts an 8 MP selfie shooter.

The phone runs Amigo 3.0 UI, which is based on Android 5.0 Lollipop. Gionee says that the dark theme of the UI reduces power consumption by 30%. The phone offers amazing customization feature such as the “Chameleon” which lets you create a theme by clicking an image. There is a new theme store on the device called “Theme Park” where you can choose from a variety of themes. There is also an “extreme mode” that essentially transforms your smartphone into a feature phone. The extreme mode turns on when your smartphone is entirely drained at 10% battery level and gives 30 more hours of battery life.

The Gionee Elife S7 will be available in Los Angeles Black, North Pole White and Maldives Blue color variants. It will be launched for €399 (approx Rs. 27,700) in Europe. The S7 will be launched in the Indian market on the 3rd of April.

March 2, 2015
HTC’s Active Case for One M9 is Something That Every Phone Needs

HTC yesterday unveiled its brand new flagship, the One M9 at MWC 2015. The device is a bit of an upgrade over the predecessor, the One M8 but comes with its own set of unique features. Much has been said and discussed the M9’s features but not a lot has been said about the amazing cases brought out by HTC with the new flagship launch.

We take a look at the HTC Active Case, the true protective case that every smartphone needs to have. It is rated IP68, which means that it will be waterproof and can also take the jolts of the floor when it is accidentally dropped. The case can withstand a drop of 2 meters, which is great for the butterfingers out there.

The clear case lets your appreciate the metallic back panel while keeping the device safe.

The case looks sturdy and complements the phone to some extent. Also, as it’s a clear case, you will also get to look at the shiny aluminum back cover that sets the One M9 apart from its competition.

Active Headset from HTC is a waterproof pair of earphones for the outdoorsy folks.

Waterproof Earphones

Waterproof Earphones

The Active case by HTC is for those outdoorsy folks whose phones are always at the risk of contact with the natural elements. To give even more peace of mind, HTC has unveiled the Active Headset. This is a pair of waterproof earphones that are rated at IP67. With these in your pocket, you can take that March mountain trek without being concerned for your smart gears.

HTC also unveiled new Dot View II cases for the M9 along with the Active case.

HTC also launched a bouquet of new Dot View II cases with textured backs that will let you add a unique character to your One M9. Just like their previous version.

Rugged Case

Rugged Case back

Rugged Case

These are some great accessory from HTC, and hopefully the company will bring the strengthened cases for its other products. This will make you feel safe about your device in comparison to regular flip cases. The major smartphone maker should work towards introducing strong cases for the smartphones as it would be an accessory that people will see as an investment instead of a mere add-on.

Watch our hands on with HTC One M9 here:

March 2, 2015

Hands On | Sony Xperia M4 Aqua

At the Mobile World Congress today in Barcelona, Sony introduced to the world two fresh devices, Xperia M4 Aqua and Xperia Z4. The former one is a mid-range smartphone, while the Xperia Z4 is a 10-inch robust tablet with top-notch specs. Both the devices run on Google’s Android power and are immune to water till a certain depth.

The newly launched Xperia M4 Aqua is clad in a plastic body and holds an OmniBalance design. Weighing at a mere 136 grams, the smartphone is super light but doesn’t compromise on the build quality. At a thickness of 7.3mm, the M4 Aqua fits comfortably in the hand, making it perfect for single-handed usage.

The smartphone flaunts a 5.2-inch 720p IPS display, which is protected by a tempered glass. The handset runs on the latest Android OS, Lollipop. The Material Design interface is super impressive and makes the phone more quick and fluid. A 64-bit octa-core Snapdragon 615 processor, Adreno 405 GPU and 2GB of RAM is equipped to the M4 Aqua.

Optics of the handset includes a 13MP Exmor RS primary camera and a 5 MP selfie cam in the front. The phone comes in two storage variants – 8GB and 16GB, both of them are expandable up to 32GB via MicroSD support. The smartphone derives juice from the 2,400mAh cell. One of the strong points of the M4 Aqua is its aforementioned waterproof feature. It has got IP65 and IP68 certification, which prevents it from any damage until 1.5m underwater for up to 30 minutes. Also, it doesn’t feature a rubberized cap for the microUSB port.

The handset comes at an introductory price of €299, which roughly translates to Rs. 23,000. For now, take a look at its specifications:

Specs	Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
Display	5.2-inch IPS display (720p)
Processor	64-bit octa-core Snapdragon 615Adreno 405 GPU
RAM	2GB
Onboard Memory	8GB/16GB
Expandable Up to	32GB
Primary Camera	13MP Exmor RS
Secondary Camera	5MP
Battery	2,400mAh
Price	€299 (approx Rs. 23,000)

Here’s our hands on with the smartphone at launch:

March 2, 2015

Qualcomm Teases its Next Snapdragon 820 Self Learning Chipset

Chipset maker Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 810 SoC marked the beginning of a new era, deployed in latest devices like the HTC One M9. However, it seems the company has something more in store. At the ongoing Mobile World Congress, it offered a brief teaser of their next iteration of chipsets.

Expected by the end of the year, the Snapdragon 820 will use a custom 64-bit architecture, the Qualcomm Kyro, and will be built using the FinFET process, similar to Intel’s tri-gate ‘3D’ fabrication method. These 64-bit processors will be based on Qualcomm’s own Kro design replacing ARM’s.

Moreover, the Snapdragon 820 will be the first SoC designed and integrated with the company’s own Zeroth platform, a cognitive self learning module. This allows devices to have an AI of their own, making them more personal and adaptive to external factors.

The 820 SoC is expected to arrive by end of the year and may show up devices by next year. In addition, Qualcomm also announced that it’ll be rolling out new modems named X5, X7, X8 and X10 and X12 depending upon their capabilities.

Do check out the teaser video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF8ecUmo8hI

March 2, 2015
MWC 2015 : Lenovo Presents the Affordable A7000 with Dolby Sound

Lenovo brought out A6000 at CES this year to take on the likes of Redmi Note, and Yu Yureka. The company is already ready with the A7000. The device has a pocket-friendly price tag and offers some amazing features at the same time.

The Lenovo A7000 sports a 5.5 inch HD display. It is powered by a 1.5 GHz MediaTek True8Core processor with 4G LTE. It flaunts 2 GB RAM and 8 GB internal storage which is expandable through MicroSD. The device is 7.9 mm thick and weighs just 140g. The smartphone runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop.

On the camera front, this budget device offers an 8 MP shooter on the back and a 5 MP selfie camera on the front. It gets its juice from a 2900 mAh battery that might just cut it for its massive display.

The USP of the device, apart from its price, is the Dolby Atmos sound. This technology will tweak the audio of the content to make it sound like it is coming from all directions. You will, of course, require a pair of headphones to get the true Atmos experience.

Lenovo A7000 will be priced at $169 (about Rs.10,500). The device will come to the market this month itself. It seems like Redmi and Yureka now have some real competition in the market and luckily for the consumers, it will be available very soon.

March 2, 2015

Category: Mobile

Specs

Asus Zenfone 2

Specs

Sony Xperia M4 Aqua