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.

Xiaomi Get a Clean Chit from Taiwan in the Data Breach Investigation

Xiaomi has had a fantastic year, but it also had to face several allegations and controversies. One of the prominent embarrassments for the company was the allegation that the company’s smartphones were sending user’s personal data to their servers in China without permission. This was seen as a serious allegation and it prompted a probe in Taiwan for Xiaomi and other smartphone brands.

It was a security agency called F-secure which found that Xiaomi was automatically syncing the files on the cloud. This incident led the Taiwanese authorities to initiate an investigation into handsets from major companies to check whether they are breaching data protection laws. Xiaomi responded by saying that cloud syncing was activated by default, which led to the issue. It then issued a new update which let the users decide whether they wanted to sync their data on the cloud or not.

It is important to know that it wasn’t just Xiaomi which faced the scrutiny from Taiwanese authorities. The National Communications Commission of Taiwan investigated 12 brands in total which also included devices from Apple, Samsung, LG, Sony, along with Chinese brands like Huawei and ZTE. All of these were cleared by the commission.

The investigators did ask the companies to strengthen the transfer of information on their devices and make them more secure. The Xiaomi data breach issue had also led the Indian Air force to issue a directive to its staff to refrain from using Chinese smartphones, especially Xiaomi. The company had then responded by moving its Indian user’s data to servers in India. It even plans to launch a local data center in India in 2015 to serve the needs of (and store data for) their Indian users.

It seems like after a few hurdles, Xiaomi’s ship is now in smoother waters. The company has some big plans for 2015 including a new flagship and more devices coming out of its stable. After this report, you can go ahead and register for the next flash sale with an ease of mind.

December 31, 2014

Unboxing | Micromax Yu Yureka | Hands On

Micromax’s new company was a smart move for the Indian smartphone giant. However, whether or not the company will be able to provide a better consumer experience will be seen overtime. YU Televentures takes departure from traditional business practices of Micromax and relies on a large community driven eco-system as done by the likes of Xiaomi and OnePlus.

Well, it’s practically 2015, and India has been left behind in the race for development ROMs. Almost all launched handsets are either locked, on in the case of Indian Manufacturers, have unsupported systems.

The YU Yureka comes with Cyanogen preloaded, which allows for a lot of development, almost from the moment you open the box.

To take the packaging in the similar fashion, it sits comfortably between Xiaomi and OnePlus style of packaging, while made from recycled materials, we were far from impressed by the presentation or the box contents.

In the Box you Get :

Yu Yureka Handset
EarPhones
Charger + Cable
2500 mAh Battery

The Interface is really snappy and that may be thanks to a mix of the Cyanogen experience along with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 which does 1.5 GHz on octa-cores.

The eureka comes with Android 4.4.4 out of the box and will be quickly updated to Lollipop as soon as you can find a flash-able ROM or when Cyanogen pushes an update. Check out the specs below and a quick comparison with the Redmi Note (4G variant) which comes with a Qualcomm chipset. Also at the bottom is the Unboxing and Hands-On video. Stay tuned for the full review.

Specs	Yu Yureka	Redmi Note 4G
Screen Size	5.5 inches 720×1280 pixels	5.5 inches 720 x 1280 pixels
RAM	2 GB	2 GB
Battery	2500 mAh	3200 mAh
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 615	Qualcomm Snapdragon 400
CPU	1.5GHz Octa-core	1.6 GHz Quad-core
GPU	Adreno 405	Adreno 305
Front Camera	5 MP	5 MP
Rear Camera	13 MP	13 MP
Price (Click for Updated Pricing)	Rs. 8,999	Rs. 9,999
Special Features	Cyanogen OS 11	MIUI 5.0

December 30, 2014

Lenovo to Take on the Redmi 1S with an Affordable 4G device

Xiaomi is fiercely racing ahead in the smartphone race. With the recent influx of capital into the company, Xiaomi has become the most valuable startup in the world. Its products are seriously challenging its competition, and there still hasn’t been a real opponent to the company. Lenovo, the other Chinese electronics giant, plans to take on Xiaomi with a new 4G device which will be priced below the popular Redmi 1S.

According to a report, Lenovo would be introducing a new device at CES 2015. The website suspects that this device might be the Lenovo K3. It is said be powered by 4G-LTE compatible Qualcomm’s 1.2 GHz Snapdragon 410 processor. Lenovo is wasting no time in introducing the device in competitive markets. It will be launching the device in India just a week after its CES launch.

The specifications cited for the Lenovo K3 make it look like an effective challenger to the Redmi 1S. It has a 5 inch 720 HD display with a pixel density of 294 PPI. It holds 1 GB RAM with 16 GB of internal memory, which might be advantageous as against the Redmi 1S’s 8 GB storage.

There has been a flux of affordable smartphone companies this year. Companies like Motorola, Xiaomi, Asus have begun the culture of offering good specifications at affordable prices and thus have gained a considerable amount of market share. The winner of this battle, of course, is a budget buyer who gets great functionalities without shelling big bucks.

Considering the price of the Xiaomi Redmi 1s(a mere 5,999); this device could be a game changer if it delivers the specifications mentioned above. It will also be nice to see a healthy rivalry to the Xiaomi 1s, which presently seems to be running away with the ‘Best Budget Phone’ tag.

December 30, 2014
OPPO Launches the Ultra-Thin R5 in India

The slimmest smartphone by the Chinese electronics manufacturer, OPPO R5 was much-awaited by the Indian audience and finally, the wait has come to an end. OPPO India has launched its flagship device in the country today at a price of Rs. 29,990. The company announced that the phone will be available for pre-order from 1^st January, 2015.

The high-end device was unveiled by the company in October at a price tag of $499. The smartphone was the world’s slimmest phone record holder before the launch of Vivo X5 Max. The X5 Max beats OPPO R5 by just .10 mm, with a sleek design measured at 4.75 mm.

In an official announcement, the company highlighted its specifications, “The 4G-enabled R5 is equipped with Octa-core Qualcomm MSM8939 processor and features a 5.2-inch AMOLED screen”. Adding to its specs, the phone has a screen resolution of 1080×1920 pixels. Along with the Qualcomm processors, the device packs 2 GB of RAM and an Adreno 405 GPU. The 13 MP rear camera and 5 MP front shooter are quite impressive and can take amazing pictures. Running on Android 4.4 KitKat, the phone supports a single SIM. The device comes with 16 GB of unexpandable inbuilt storage, which is the only drawback of this model.

OPPO India CEO Tom Lu commented on the launch –

This phone has been developed with the end user in mind. We used cutting edge manufacturing techniques to create a phone that fits perfectly into the users’ hands, and that feels incredible. The frame has been forged nine times and then finished by hand to give a perfect sheen and feel. It has a quality that is not available anywhere else in the industry. The R5, like the rest of the R series delivers a truly stylish, exquisite and distinctive design and will continue to delight our customers with its innovative yet practical functions.

The device is available in other countries like Australia, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and few more except India. The other smartphones by the company were received well by the Indian users. Only time will tell whether this device finds a place in this saturated smartphone market.

December 30, 2014
According to Xiaomi President, Mi5 to Arrive Next Month

Xiaomi looks upbeat and in a mood to surprise. The upcoming device by the Chinese smartphone manufacturer, Mi5, has already created quite a buzz in town and now the Co-Founder and President of the company, Bin Lin has disclosed that their new flagship smartphone would be unveiled in January.

Along with the revelation of a $1.1 billion funding, Bin mentioned in his post,

In January 2015, we will be unveiling our next flagship device.

However, Bin didn’t disclose the exact date of its arrival, GizChina claims that the device will launch by 15th of January, 2015.

Few days back, some pictures of the Mi5 were spotted on the internet, which demonstrated most of its display specifications.

The website also stated that the phone would have a 5.7-inch QHD display with 2560×1440 pixels resolution. It will be powered by a 64-bit Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor along with Adreno 430 GPU and 3 GB of RAM. The Mi5 is said to feature a massive 20.7MP front camera coupled with a fingerprint scanner and Sony Exmor sensor.

There are also rumours about the expected launch of Mi Pad 2 and Redmi Note 2 (temporarily titled). The Mi Pad 2 is expected to sport a 7.9-inch screen. Meanwhile the successor of Redmi Note is rumored to have a 5.5-inch display along with a 64-bit Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor, 2 GB of RAM and 8 MP camera.

Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 4G will go on sale on 30th December. The specs quoted for the next generation Mi device seems to put it directly on top of the food chain. Xiaomi has already become the third biggest smartphone company in the world. This flagship may be a direct assault on the big boys; Apple and Samsung. And if Xiaomi prices the device as competitively as it has done in the past, this might again be a big winner for the company. Seems like there’s no force yet which might stop Xiaomi’s roaring momentum.

December 29, 2014
Samsung Finally Brings Out the Note Edge in India for Rs. 64,900

Samsung has brought its edgy new device, the Note Edge to India. The company unveiled the device at the IFA Berlin earlier this year, alongside the Note 4. It was quite a surprise when it was launched as Samsung had done a good job at keeping it a secret. This is a unique device as it has a slightly curved screen on the side that acts a second display and which can be used for viewing notifications without unlocking the main display.

The device carries pretty much the same specs as the Note 4. The device gets its processing might from a quad-core, 2.7 GHz Snapdragon 805 processor which is supported by 3GB RAM. It has 32 GB internal storage that is expandable up to 128 GB.

Just like its un-curved sibling, the Note Edge also sports a Quad HD display. The 5.6 inch primary display is coupled with a curved display also known as the edge display. This display can be used to access frequently used apps, check alerts and notifications, news and more. This display stays on even when the main display is covered, so it’s convenient to catch on with the essentials without disturbing the main screen.

The curved display can be used for accessing alerts, notifications, news and more.

The camera was one of the highlights of the Note 4, and it is true for the Note Edge as well. It carries almost all the features of the Note 4 including wide selfies and OIS. The main camera on the device is a 16 MP shooter that comes with optical image stabilization. The camera on the front has been designed keeping selfies in mind. It gives you the option to shoot 90-degree selfies and an option to take even wider 120-degree selfies by panning the device around.

The S-pen, that separates the Note family from the rest of the smartphones in the market, is incorporated in this device too. Samsung has added improved functionalities to the S-pen this time around. You can use it like a mouse to click and drag multiple files, use smart select to combine multiple files together and it offers better handwriting recognition than previous generation S-pens.

Samsung claims that the Note Edge has improved battery life. The device has a 3000 mAh battery which is 220 mAh less than the Note 4. Samsung claims that using its adaptive charging feature; the device charges 30% faster than conventional methods.

The device is priced at Rs. 64,900 and will go on sale in January 2015. It will be available in ‘Charcoal Black’ and ‘Frost White’ color variants in the India.

December 23, 2014
Xiaomi’s Redmi Note to Go on Sale on 30th December

Xiaomi returned back today with fresh stocks of the Redmi 1S, its blockbuster low-cost smartphone. The sale went on longer than the usual Xiaomi flash sales, but the company did end up selling all of its stock as usual. The company has now revealed the date of the flash sale of the Redmi Note.

Xiaomi will hold a flash sale for the 4G variant of the Redmi Note 0n Tuesday 30th December at 2pm. The device has a price tag of Rs. 9,999. It is powered by a Snapdragon 400 processor clocked at 1.6 GHz. The 5.5-inch 720p HD display will also be appreciated by multimedia enthusiasts.

A 3G variant was also launched by the company and it was priced at Rs. 8,999. This variant of the phone has been banned from sale by Delhi high court following an infringement accusation from Ericsson India.

So if you want to enjoy the big screen goodness of the Redmi Note, make sure you register for the sale on Flipkart by the 29th of December.

December 23, 2014
Xiaomi Redmi 1S Has a Slow Sales Day in its Comeback Flash Sale

Xiaomi fans, who were dejected after the ban on the company’s devices, have a reason to smile today. The Xiaomi Redmi 1S went on sale after a gap of nearly a month. The devices were selling faster than hot cakes before the ban was imposed. At 2pm today, the devices were up again for purchase on Flipkart but the virtual stampede by fans to buy the device was missing. The sale went on for over thirty minutes before going out of stock.

Xiaomi’s VP, Hugo Barra had announced the sale through a Facebook post on 16th December:

The Delhi High court had banned the devices after a patent infringement accusation by Ericcson. Ericcson claimed that Xiaomi infringed on eight of its patents that include features like AMR, EDGE and 3G technologies. Xiaomi later appealed to the court saying that it sold Qualcomm chipset based devices, and Qualcomm had obtained the required licenses from Ericsson. This meant that the Xiaomi phones running on Qualcomm chipset did not infringe on the patents of Ericsson. Thus the Delhi High Court raised the ban on the company allowing them to sell Qualcomm chipset based devices. And hence the Redmi 1S with its Snapdragon 400 chipset went on sale today.

Xiaomi had brought up to 50,000 devices for sale today, which is one of the biggest stocks from the company for a single flash sale. It was a slow sales day at Mi India’s page at Flipkart. During previous sales we saw the devices disappear within seconds but this time around, the window of purchase was open for several minutes before the devices went out of stock.

Xiaomi also said that it will be bringing the 4G variant of the Redmi Note, which runs on a Snapdragon processor to the market. However the date of sale is yet to be specified. We would like to assume that the folks have been saving for the Redmi Note, which carries a bigger display with almost the same specs as the Redmi 1S. The Note also supports 4G so it surely has that advantage over the 1S. But even with a slow sales day, Xiaomi still managed to clear all its stocks which means the love for the company hasn’t ended yet.

If you are one of the many who scored the device, share your joy with us in the comments. We will also keep you updated on the date of sale of the Redmi Note. Keep checking iGyaan for more.

December 23, 2014
Sony Xperia Z4 Teased With an Abstract New Video

January is the month when CES, one of the biggest consumer electronics trade show comes to town. CES 2015 is just a few weeks away, but the buzz around it is already heating up in this excruciating winter. Sony has put its foot forward and posted a new video which might be a teaser for the upcoming Sony Xperia Z4.

Sony hasn’t had a good time with the market in the past couple of years, and they have seen their profits shrink year by year. The company is in a major re-invention period, and it is currently focusing on bringing itself back to profitability even if that means losing 25-30% of their market share in the smartphone business.

The video posted by the company is titled ” Welcome to the New World”. It shows a girl licking a lollipop that seems to signify that the device will run on Android Lollipop. There have also been rumours that the new flagship device from Sony will feature a Snapdragon 810 processor which would make it one of the first devices to feature this latest chipset. The company had previously launched the Xperia Z3 at IFA Berlin last September and keeping with its six months update schedule; the new flagship is ready for the world. The Xperia Z3 was appreciated for its design and features but was berated for being too pricey.

Have a look at the video right here:

December 23, 2014

YU Yureka vs The Rest : Quick Comparison

Newly launched brand YU unveiled its first smartphone, Yureka, a few days back. The new company has been born from a collaboration between Micromax’s Founder Rahul Sharma and custom ROM maker CyanogenMod. The arrival of the high-speced low-budget smartphone has created quite a stir. From day one it was off to a rocky start; it began by banning OnePlus from selling their popular handset in India.

Hence, we decided to check out how the Yureka fares when compared with the rest of the competition. So, away from the court, let the real battle begin.

Specs	Micromax Yu Yureka	Xiaomi Redmi Note	XOLO Omega 5.0	Asus ZenPhone 5	Moto-G (2nd Gen)
Display	5.5-inch HD	5.5-inch HD	5.0-inch HD	5-inch HD	5-inch HD
Processor	1.5GHz Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615	1.7GHz Octa-core MediaTek MT6592	Octa-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A7	Intel Atom Dual-core 2.0 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 at 1.2 GHz
RAM	2 GB	2 GB	1 GB	2 GB	1 GB
Storage	16 GB internal microSD upto 32 GB	8GB internal, microSD upto 32 GB	8 GB internal memory, microSD upto 32 GB	8 GB internal, expandable upto 64GB	8GB internal, expandable upto 32GB
Primary Camera	13MP	13MP	8MP	8MP	8MP
Front Camera	5MP	5MP	2MP	2 MP	2MP
Battery	2,500 mAh	3,100 mAh	2,100 mAh	Non-removable Li-Po 2110 mAh battery	Non-removable Li-Ion 2070 mAh battery
Operating System	Cyanogen OS 11 based on Android v4.4.4	Android OS, v4.3 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to v4.4.2 (KitKat)	Android v4.4 KitKat OS with Hive UI	Android OS, v4.3 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to v4.4.2 (KitKat)	Android v4.4.4 (KitKat)
Price	Rs. 8,999	Rs. 8,999	Rs. 8,499	Rs. 9,999	Rs. 12,999

Barring the hype about Yureka’s deal with Cyanogen, it seems like it even packs some punch under the hood. The smartphone is going to be available via the infamous flash sale system popularized by Xiaomi, the registrations for which have already begun.

We’d advise you not to get too carried away by the hype. Wait for our full review before investing in the handset!

December 20, 2014

Apple is Reportedly Working on Two New Devices for 2015

Apple is apparently in the process of developing its next flagship device, the iPhone 7. After launching the record breaking iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, which are still going strong, a new report suggests that the Cupertino based giant is prepping two devices for release in the coming year – the iPhone 6s and iPhone 7.

The launch of the iPhone 6s is rumoured to be alongside the Apple Watch in the first half of 2015, while the flagship iPhone 7 is believed to be launched in the third quarter of the year. In addition, some reports also indicate that Apple is planning to cease production of the iPhone 4s and iPhone 5c by the second half of 2015. Although there is no official confirmation from Apple, but grapevine in the tech-world suggest these rumours to be true.

Meanwhile, a few features of the next flagship have apparently been pointing to a DSLR quality camera.

Apple blogger John Gruber made the following statement: “The specific thing I heard is that next year’s camera might be the biggest camera jump ever. I don’t even know what sense this makes, but I’ve heard that it’s some kind of weird two-lens system where the back camera uses two lenses and it somehow takes it up into DSLR quality imagery”.

An update to the iPhone camera is certainly long due. The first iPhone ever launched came with a 2MP camera, which was upgraded to 3.2 MP in the iPhone 3GS, while iPhone 4 had a 5MP camera. In 2011 the camera was significantly enhanced to 8 MP in the iPhone 4S and is still continues to remain the same in its latest device.

Other rumours around the internet suggest the next iPhone would have a 14MP main camera along with a 4MP front snapper; powered by a quad-core A8 processor. It may come packed with 256GB or more internal memory, screen protected by sapphire crystal glass and a chassis made of liquid metal. However nothing has been officially confirmed.

December 19, 2014
Registration for Micromax’s Yu Yureka Begins Today

Yesterday, Micromax unveiled an exciting device for the Indian market. Launched under the new Yu brand, Yureka runs the CyanogenMod 11 OS and has an octa-core 64-bit Snapdraon 615 processor chipset. The smartphone has been priced at Rs. 8,999 and goes on sale 8th January, 2015 onwards.

For those who want to jump the bandwagon and be the first ones to get their hands on the device; Micromax Yureka has begun registrations as of 2pm today exclusively on Amazon India.

Specs of the Yureka include a 13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera and 5.5 inch HD display. It comes with 16 GB of internal storage, expandable up to 32GB. The smartphone runs on a 2,500 mAh battery and has 2GB of RAM.

Interested buyers can directly head over to the registration page here. Meanwhile, the Yureka has come under intense scrutiny off late, courtesy Micromax who has an exclusive agreement to sell CyanogenMod-powered smartphones in India. Resulting in a temporary ban been levied on prominent Chinese manufacturer OnePlus from promoting, selling or importing their phones in India.

Update: Registrations closed soon after 20 minutes

December 19, 2014
Micromax YU Comes to Town, Here is Everything You Need To Know

India’s top phone company, Micromax finally lifted the veils off its new brand ‘YU’. The company claims that the Y stands for the users while the U stands for them signifying the collaborative approach to the new brand. The brand is formed in partnership with famed custom ROM maker CyanogenMod. The first device from the brand is called Yureka, and it’s one revolutionary device. The company also launched a new website for the device with the url yuplaygod.com. It will be the community address for the YU movement.

Personalization

YU is claimed to be an ecosystem where people create, add and manipulate the device in whatever way they want. Cyanogen’s Vik Natarajan explained the features of the device. The custom ROM gives immense personalization options of the device. You can choose from various custom themes; the company will provide two free themes and more will be added with time. You can change the functions of the buttons on the device. You can select the appearance of almost anything on your device. Cyanogen gives you options to tweak everything until it feels just right.

Security

YU devices also offer many security and convenience features. The devices will be dual sim and will have a blacklist feature through which you can block unwanted numbers. It also empowers the users to protect their data and control what they share with the apps. The ‘Privacy guard’ feature shows you on a per-app basis what permissions have been provided to it. Through this, you can select the limits of the access of these apps to your data. In case of a theft of the device, you can find and wipe the device; the data from the device is encrypted. The feature that will improve your sense of security is the jumbled up pin entry where the numbers jumble up and only you know the perfect combination to unlock your device. App lock is installed by default on the system, so you don’t need an extra app for the purpose.

Quality Sound and Pictures

For the shutterbugs, the camera on YU devices will be a treat. It is intuitive and really easy to use. The devices support multiple burst mode and 60fps slow motion video, they are also working on an update to bring 120fps, that would be a real treat.

Music lovers would appreciate the 24-bit high-res loss-less audio on the device. The music app consumes a lot less energy in comparison to others so you can enjoy your tunes longer. Along with these are multiple audio effects options.

Ease of use with multiple devices

Cyanogen has also partnered with a Silicon Valley company called Nexbit for a product called ‘Baton’ that will make your life a lot easier. Through this, you can start your apps from exactly the spot you left in the last device instead of starting from the beginning. It also saves all your app settings and logins so you can get on with your task as if you’d been on the device since the beginning. Using another feature from nexbit called ‘Sync’, you can have the same app settings across all your devices. With the support of another feature called ‘Pass’, you can send an app from one device to another with ease.

YUREKA!

Coming back to Yureka, the device of the hour. It runs on Cyanogen OS 11 which is based on Android 4.4.4. It is powered by the 64-bit octa-core Snapdragon 615 processor clocking at 1.5 GHz along with 2 GB DDR3 RAM. The internal storage is 16 GB, which is expandable up to 32 GB. It supports LTE Cat 4 with upto 150 Mbps downloads. The device gets its juice from a 2500 mAh battery. The company claims the battery performs 25% better thanks to Cyanogen’s customization.

The display on the device is a 5.5 inch 720p HD screen protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The device is not weak on the camera front either. It features a 13 MP shooter at the back with Sony Exmor sensor with an iris of f/2.2. On the front, you get a 5 MP fixed focus front camera for selfie shooter. The device presently shoots slow motion at 60 fps but after an update it will be capable of shooting at 120 fps. It is also capable of shooting time lapses. This device has the potential to become the darling of amateur camera-persons.

Getting ‘inspired’ by OnePlus One’s amazing Sandstone back panel, Yu gets a ‘Moonstone grey’ back cover which looks great. The specs on the device look fantastic, at the same time it’s quite a looker. The brand offers suave leather back panels and a tempered screen guard as additional accessories for the device.

Revenge of the Nerds

Cyanogen has always been the playground of nerds and hence the company is giving them comforts quite unheard of in the industry. Not only is the bootloader unlockable and kernel source opened up, the company’s warranty too won’t be void if you root the device. You will also get OTA updates every month, so the device will always be up to date as well as future-proof for a considerable amount of time.

Revolutionary Service Centre

Micromax also did something in terms of service that can only be described by the term ‘legendary’. It will provide free service to anyone who buys the device right at their doorstep. Once you have an issue with the device, you send a ticket, and the engineer will come to your place to fix the device. Service was the biggest bone of contention against Micromax devices, and it seems to have addressed it in the best possible manner.

The Indian mobile market disrupter

The biggest surprise of the day was the price of this formidable device. The Yureka is priced at Rs.8,999 which is phenomenal. The device will be available exclusively on Amazon.in, and the registrations will start on 19th of December at 2pm. It will be up for sale in the second week of January. The folks buying the device in the first sale will also get a free leather case worth Rs. 999 – the deal is simply unbelievable.

Today was definitely the beginning of a grand new chapter in the Indian mobile market. There was a lot of hate brewing against Micromax following the ban of OnePlus One, but this might help it gain some serious goodwill. Yu is a game-changer in every sense of the word, and we can proudly say that we have a Xiaomi-killer in the making. The pricing is simply mind blowing, and Cyanogen’s immense convenience will certainly win hearts all around. In the end, all we can say is good job Micromax, more power to YU.

December 18, 2014
OnePlus Now Temporarily Banned from Selling Phones in India

It seems that trending smartphones aren’t easy to get their grasp on for Indian consumers. After Xiaomi, now its the Chinese device manufacturer OnePlus who has been banned by the Delhi High Court from selling, promoting or for that matter, even importing its devices on Indian soil. Thanks to Micromax, the order has come a day after the Indian manufacturer appealed to the Delhi High Court that OnePlus infringed on their India exclusive agreement with Cyanogen.

Micromax said-

We incurred major expenses for creation of a brand exclusivity for providing to Indian customers mobile phones with Cyanogen operating systems it would suffer irreparable harm and loss if the defendants (OnePlus) are permitted to continue with their illegal acts in violation of the agreement between Micromax and Cyanogen

Cyanogen had apparently signed a deal with Micromax for exclusively offering CyanogenMod OS devices in India. Owing to this exclusive agreement with Micromax, Cyanogen stated that OnePlus devices in India would not be receiving CyanogenMod updates from the company either. In addition, OnePlus One units sold in India would also be deprived of Cyanogen branding as well.

Micromax also has an exclusive license for the whole of South Asia, while OnePlus has a non-exclusive license for the entire world except China. Meanwhile, OnePlus argues that CyanogenMod informed them of the termination of their collaboration, just a fortnight before their launch in India. Cyanogen, on the other hand states that their agreement with Micromax technically cancels all prior agreements.

It will be interesting to observe whether OnePlus follows the same path of their Chinese compatriot Xiaomi, who face a similar ban.

December 18, 2014
Back to the Basics : BlackBerry Goes Retro with the Launch of ‘The Classic’

Struggling phone manufacturer Blackberry today officially announced ‘The Classic’, probably a last throw of the dice to save the company going into complete oblivion. The company has high hopes from the newly launched Blackberry classic, which sports a full QWERTY keypad mirroring the design which made Blackberry a market leader during its heyday. Notably, the Classic is significantly smaller than the BlackBerry Passport, which the company launched earlier this year . The Classic is aimed at customers looking for that original BlackBerry experience.

The phone sports a 3.5 inch square touchscreen with a resolution of 720×720 pixels, unlike the 4.5 inch screen of the Passport. Thus, it makes for easy one handed usage with the physical QWERTY on-board. On the inside, the phone will be powered by a dual-core Qualcomm processor bundled with 2GB of RAM. Hence, the phone is not meant for running those high-end gaming titles, but more for browsing and surfing.

In addition, the phone also sports an 8MP primary camera along with a 2 MP front cam. The Classic runs on the BlackBerry 10 OS, though it can also run Android apps which are accessible via Amazon’s Appstore which come pre-loaded on the device. Along with that, the Canadian manufacturer has added the BrickBreaker game on the Classic, which should encourage the BlackBerry fans.

Though, the Classic may not appeal to today’s digital savvy generation; as it’s made for people who long for the retro BlackBerry experience. The company says ‘The Classic’ is available starting today “through local carriers around the world,” and AT&T and Verizon have confirmed they will sell the device in 2015, though carrier pricing has yet to be announced. The Classic is also available unlocked through BlackBerry and Amazon’s online stores for $449.

As of now, there’s no information regarding The Classic’s price and availability in India, stay tuned with iGyaan to know when and at what price this device will enter Indian soil.

December 18, 2014