Category: Tech

Latest Technology News, Alternative, Bio-Tech, Medical, R&D and Innovations

HTC Working on a Smartwatch and Desire Tablet

Today’s HTC news is not about smartphones but smartwatches and tablets. Whispers and rumours have been floating about that HTC is set to join the growing list of brands to have their own smartwatches. That and a new tablet being spotted on GFXBench are what’s trending today.

Talking about the smartwatch first, HTC is said to be working on a proper smartwatch after having partially launched the HC Grip fitness band last year. We say partially because the band was launched as a part of an Under Armour Healthbox package that included a chest strap for heart rate monitoring, a smart scale and smart sneakers. The package was launched at CES earlier this month.

The rumor about a smartwatch in the works was revealed by popular leakster @evleaks. However, not much is known about the smartwatch at this time. Some past rumours have suggested that HTC’s smartwatch would use Android Wear as its platform and that the watch would sport a round display.

On the tablet front there are some concrete facts. The alleged tablet was spotted on GFXBench with some key specs listed. The tablet called Desire T7 will be the first-ever tablet under the Desire series and will likely sport a 6.9-inch display with HD (1280 x 720) resolution.

The Desire T7 comes with a Spreadtrum SC8830 quad-core processor clocked at 1.3GHz. It is supported by a Mali-400 GPU and 1GB of RAM. There is 16GB of internal storage. The tablet is also listed to feature a 5MP primary and secondary camera and will run on Android 5.0 Lollipop.

While a lot of uncertainty looms over the smartwatch, you can expect an unveiling of the tablet at the MWC in February. HTC is also likely to mention the smartwatch at the event or would save it for March where the company will hold a separate event for the launch of the HTC One M10.

January 25, 2016
Samsung Reportedly Working on the Massive Galaxy A9 Pro

According to latest reports coming out of Samsung’s manufacturing and assembly units in China, a new beast of a phone is under works for the coming months. If reports are to be believed, the company is working on a new extra-large smartphone which, according to sources, might be called Galaxy A9 Pro.

There is nothing concrete on the specs of the phone, the A9 Pro bearing the device model number SM-A9100 is expected to be an enhanced version of the Galaxy A9 which was released last month.

The Galaxy A9 that went official last month sports a 6-inch, 1080 x 1920 pixels display, and is powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 652 processor, so it is expected the A9 Pro will come equipped with a higher resolution display. There are faint murmurs about it being equipped with a better processor too. The phone will reportedly also come on board with 4GB RAM and 64GB inbuilt storage. The hardware will interact with the user through Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) out of the box. A battery pack of 4000mAh will power the Pro, similar to the original.

Samsung A9 which has only been launched in China, and there is no news regarding its India launch, so expect the A9 Pro to take some time to find its way across the border and into our market. But when it does, this beast of a phone can be expected to sell for around the Rs 35,000 mark.

January 25, 2016
Apple to Launch 4-Inch iPhone and iPad Air 3 in First Half of 2016

Just a couple of days ago, reports suggested that Apple’s upcoming 4-inch iPhone was going to be called the iPhone 5se, which meant and “enhanced” iPhone modelled on the iPhone 5’s design language. Now, according to KGI analyst and trusted insider Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is likely to unveil the third generation iPad Air along with the iPhone 5se in the first half of 2016.

From what we’ve come to know so far in terms of specs, the iPhone 5se will be powered by the A8 chipset with the M8 motion co-processor as was seen in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

Furthermore, the miniature iPhone will sport an 8MP rear camera and a 1.2MP front, again similar to the iPhone 6. What the iPhone 5se borrows from the current iPhone 6s is the Live Photos feature that records a video of 1.5 seconds before the shutter is snapped and 1.5 seconds after, the result being a GIF-like video that makes it look like the photograph has come alive.

Not much is known about the iPad Air 3 at this time. The reason behind an early launch of the tablet is because a refreshed iPad Air was ignored last year in favour of the iPad Pro and iPad Mini 4. We’ll learn more about the tablet at Apple’s March event.

January 25, 2016
Samsung Wants Smartwatches to be Big in India

Samsung launched the Gear S2 smartwatch in India on Thursday. The launch sees company’s entry into the Indian smartwatch market, which isn’t so hot as of now. One of the reasons Samsung delayed the launch of the Gear S2 in India was due to license and the need for the right content. The Gear S2 comes with a starting price of Rs 24,300.

Manu Sharma, Director, Product Marketing, Samsung Electronics India, unveiled the devices at the event and spoke about the importance of the smartwatch trend in the country. Sharma was especially gleeful about the Gear S2 in India which has partnered with Samsung’s R&D Centre, Samsung Research Institute in Bangalore and other third party partners as part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative to cater to the specific needs of Indian customers.

The smartwatch trend in India is still in its early stages. The wave hasn’t really caught on and consumers here aren’t sold on the usability and practicality of a smartwatch. Part of the reason behind this is the lack of any localized applications, tailor-made for the Indian consumer. Smartwatches, after all, is meant as a fitness device, among other things.

Samsung has tried to address this problem in a bid to attract the Indian customers by partnering with apps like Obino Gear Up that monitors and suggests ideal meals based on Indian food preferences along with exercise options. The meal suggestions come from an extensive Indian food database along wth relevant measuring indices like ‘katori’ (a bowl) ensuring enhanced tracking of diet.

Apart from this, the sensors in the watch like accelerometer, gyro sensor, proximity sensor, etc help monitor physical game-play for sports popular in India such as Cricket, Tennis, and Golf, as of now. “We are aiming at providing a differentiated experience altogether with our smartwatches, which consumers can customise as they want. Our main focus is to increase the use cases for Indian consumers,” said Sharma.

The goal as Samsung sees it, according to Manu Sharma, is to make the smartwatch the primary device, something you look at you reach for your smartphone. In order to do that, the smartwatch needs to have enough and more applications to convince users that looking at their wrists is far more practical and efficient than digging into their pockets. Having a smartwatch that has applications customized for the Indian audience is one way to go about it, which Samsung has achieved with the Gear S2. Is it enough for the smartwatch win over the Indian market? Only time will tell.

January 23, 2016
Xiaomi Mi 5 to be Unveiled on February 24

Xiaomi fans have been eagerly awaiting news on the exact day of the launch of the flagship Mi 5. Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen a lot of rumours and alleged renders of the device that have left little imagination of the specs and design of the handset.

Up until a few days ago it was expected to be launched at the MWC, but a Weibo post today from the Chinese company’s co-founder and Senior VP Liwan Jiang confirmed that the device will be launched on the 24th of February at the company’s spring conference.

Xiaomi has made some obvious changes to the Mi 5 compared to its predecessor, according to recent leaked photos. The home button is present now and the device sports a curved look moving away from the box-like design of the Mi 4. Other specs that are hardly a secret now include a Snapdragon 820 chipset with 4GB of RAM. The storage is 16GB, though a 64GB option is very likely. The device will run MIUI 7 (based on Android 5.1).

On the camera front, the Mi 5 is set to sport a 16MP camera on the back with dual-LED flash and an 8MP selfie camera. The device is complete with a 3,600mAh battery. The Mi 5 is also a dual-SIM handset, both 4G LTE-enabled.

January 23, 2016
Apple Watch 2 set for a Possible September Launch

According to latest rumours, it has been claimed that the new redesigned Apple Watch might not be ready before September. According to these reports Apple will talk about the Apple Watch at an event in March, but will only unveil a new range of band color options and other accessories.

Apple will unviel the new bands at this rumored March event and also announce the release of watchOS 2.2, a software update that adds some minor functionality to Maps and lets iPhones sync with multiple Apple Watch devices.

A redesigned new iteration of the Apple Watch isn’t expected to be unveiled by Apple later this September, along with the iPhone 7. It is expected that the second-generation Apple Watch will likely feature new hardware functionality, and come equipped with more health-focused sensors. A front camera is also being expected.

January 23, 2016
Apple’s 4-inch iPhone to be Called iPhone 5se

If rumors about Apple’s flagship device weren’t enough, you have a whole bunch of them for its lesser sibling. We’ve heard a great deal about Apple’s upcoming 4-inch iPhone. But the one things the rumors and speculations just couldn’t settle on was the name. Today, it’s possible that the iPhone 5se is what the 4-inch device is going to be called.

The 5se as the name suggests will be an “enhanced” version of the iPhone 5s. From what we’ve come to know so far in terms of specs, the iPhone 5se will be powered by the A8 chipset with the M8 motion co-processor as was seen in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

Furthermore, the miniature iPhone will sport an 8MP rear camera and a 1.2MP front, again similar to the iPhone 6. What the iPhone 5se borrows from the current iPhone 6s is the Live Photos feature that records a video of 1.5 seconds before the shutter is snapped and 1.5 seconds after, the result being a GIF-like video that makes it look like the photograph has come alive.

Live Photos is likely to be the only feature the 4-inch device will borrow from the iPhone 6s. It is unlikely to come with 3D Touch capabilities seeing how the mini version is supposed to be friendly on the pocket.

Apple is rumored to hold an event in March for the unveiling of the iPhone 6se. No word yet on the price but will likely be priced around the same as the iPhone 5s. We’ll know more as we approach the launch.

January 23, 2016
OnePlus Teams Up with Amazon to offer great discounts

As a run-up to celebrating India’s 66th Republic Day, the Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus has announced that it will partner with Amazon to provide amazing deals on all its phones between 21-23 January to honour the momentous occasion of the 66th Republic Day with a truly special treat for its fans.

Spread over three days between January 21 – 23, 2016 and coinciding with Amazon’s Great Indian Sale, OnePlus will be offering special festive prices for the first-ever time on particular smartphones.To add to this, the company has also informed that it will sweeten the deal some more for its loyal fans across the country by keeping these phones invite free for these three days. So for those eager to get their hands on the devices today is the last day to purchase them on discount.

And just to prove to its users that it really cares, OnePlus has also announced it will give great discounts to the tune of 20% on all its Premium Accessories.

OnePlus 2 (Sandstone Black, 64GB): Rs. 22,999.

The OnePlus 2 sports a 5.5-inch Full HD display and is powered by a 1.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core SoC, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of internal storage. On the camera front, the device features a 13MP rear and a 5MP front-facing camera. The device runs on Android-powered Oxygen OS 2.0. So, for those who have been eager to get their hands on the OnePlus 2 there will be no better time.

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OnePlus X (Onyx / Champagne, 16GB): Rs. 14,999

It sports a 5-inch AMOLED display (1920×1080), with a primary camera of 13 MP and a 8 MP front. The device runs on a 2.1 GHz Snapdragon 801 chipset. It features a 3 GB RAM with 16 GB internal storage and is expandable up to 128 via MicroSD card slot. The phone includes an alert slider, like the one found on OnePlus 2. The OnePlus X weighs around 138 gm for the Onyx variant

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OnePlus One (Sandstone Black, 64GB): Rs. 17,999

The phone comes with a 5.50-inch touchscreen display with a maximum resolution output of 1080p.
The OnePlus One is powered by 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor and it comes with 3GB of RAM. The phone packs 64GB of internal storage cannot be expanded. OnePlus One packs a 13-megapixel primary camera on the rear and a 5-megapixel front shooter for selfies.
It is powered by a 3100mAh non removable battery. It measures 152.90 x 75.90 x 8.90 (height x width x thickness) and weighs 162.00 grams.

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January 23, 2016

Asus Launches Zenfone Zoom in India

After recently launching the Zenfone Max, Asus has now released the Zenfone Zoom in India at a price of Rs 37,999. As the name suggests, the Zenfone Zoom is a smartphone whose main USP is its primary camera. But more on that in a bit.

The Zenfone Zoom has a 5.5 inch full HD display with Corning Gorilla Glass on top, and is powered by a 2.5GHz quad-core Intel Atom processor. The smartphone features 4GB RAM and comes with 128 GB internal storage options. A 3,000 mAh battery pack provides for the juice and the device runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop.

The body metal body is crafted with aerospace grade aluminum and liquid metal molding.

Moving over to the main attraction of the device. The company claims to “reinvent smartphone photography” with Zoom which sports a 13 MP camera that has 10-element lens, 3X optical zoom – world’s thinnest, and optical image stabilization. It also comes with Laser Auto Focus that can capture images in .03 seconds. The back of the smartphone is reminiscent of the Nokia Lumia 1020. Yes, this is a phone for the serious photographer.

Specs	Asus Zenfone Zoom
Display	5.5-inch Full HD
Resolution	1080 x 1920 pixels (403 ppi)
Processor	2.5GHz quad-core Intel Atom
GPU	PowerVR G6430
RAM	4GB
Storage	128 GB
Rear Camera	13 MP 10-element lens, 3X optical zoom, and optical image stabilization
Front Camera	5 MP, f/2.0
Expandability	Up to 64 GB via MicroSD
Battery	3000mAh battery
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot, Bluetooth v4.0, GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, microUSB v2.0
OS	Android 5.0 Lollipop
Price	Rs 37,990

January 22, 2016

Lenovo Vibe X3 to Launch in India on 27 Jan

The successor to last year’s Vibe X2 will make its way to Indian markets very soon. The company has revealed its plans to launch the X3 smartphone in India on January 27th. With this launch the company will have launched two products this year. First being the Lenovo K4 Note.

The Vibe X3 was first unveiled in China last year. At the time Lenovo had introduced three variants of the Vibe X3 including two Qualcomm-based models and one MediaTek powered versions called the Vibe X3 Lite.

The smartphone that makes its way to India will come with a 5.5-inch full HD display with Gorilla Glass 3 protection. It will be run by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor and 3GB of RAM. It is also believed that the company will only bring 32GB storage to the Indian variant. The smartphone will also support expandable storage via microSD.

On the photography front, the Vibe X3 will come equipped a 23-megapixel rear camera featuring Sony IMX230 sensor, phase detection autofocus and 4K video recording. On the front would be an 8-megapixel camera. The Vibe X3 will also feature dual-sim technology and have LTE, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi among others connectivity options. It will get a massive 3,600mAh battery with Quick Charge 2.0 to keep it going through the day.

The smartphone will also come with Dolby ATMOS integration for sound and fingerprint scanner at the back. So far there’s no word on the India pricing of the smartphone. The Vibe X3 could launch in India around the Rs 20,000 mark.

January 22, 2016
Microsoft’s New Alarm App Will Have You Clicking Selfies at Dawn

The desire to innovate and come up with new things is pretty much making everyone lose their marbles in the tech world, and we are definitely not complaining. Some of these innovations are useful, some redundant and some plain bizarre. We’ll let you decide which category this new Microsoft app should fall under.

The company has developed an alarm app called Mimicker Alarm which includes games and tongue twisters for the user to complete before the alarm can be turned off. The activities are divided into three categories -Express Yourself, Color Capture, and Tongue Twister.

https://youtu.be/VWJyCYkMc3Y

Once the alarm goes off, the user has thirty seconds to click a selfie or complete a tongue twister or find the right coloured object before the alarm goes off again. While answer to existence for some, the app has the potential of being super-annoying for others. Microsoft, however, has left no loose ends. The app is user-friendly enough to allow you to customize these games. You can still look for a red coloured object within the confines of your warm room without having to brave the cold.

“We’re a lot nicer than other alarms. You start with dismiss or snooze. If you snooze, the default is five minutes to delay the game. If you dismiss, we mute the alarm – but then you have 30 seconds to complete this challenge. And if you don’t complete that game in time, we assume you’ve fallen back asleep and then the alarm will start ringing again. You only need to complete one game to shut off the alarm. You can choose the sounds and which games you want to play,” says Allison Light, a program manager on the team.

Once you’re done looking pretty for your morning alarm, the app also allows you to share the “mimics” on various social media platforms. Share it around and get phones buzzing all over. Why should others sleep when you’re up, right?

Mimicker Alarm is up for free download on Google Play.

Source

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January 22, 2016
Asus Zenfone 3 Spotted on Benchmarks

In what could be the successor to the Zenfone 2, two potential Zenfone 3 models have been listed on GFXBench benchmarks. We say Zenfone 3 because the model numbers are close to the Zenfone 2. Mid-range devices are turning out to be the new premium. Cheaper phones are being brought out with good specs and great design language.

The listing shows two possible Zenfone 3 variants – one sporting a 5.5-inch display and the other a 5.9-inch display. The former looks to be the bigger of the two, in terms of specs. The 5.5-inch device is shown featuring a 1920x1080p pixel resolution with a hexa core 1.7GHz Snapdragon 615 SoC under the hood and Adreno 510.

Meanwhile, the 5.9-inch version comes with a lower resolution at 1080x720p pixels. This version also sports a Snapdragon 615 chipset but with Adreno 405 GPU. Both the versions feature 3GB of RAM, 12MP primary shooter and 5MP selfie snapper.

Looks like Asus has ditched Intel for Qualcomm to provide for the chipsets. Going by the specs of the devices, one would expect the pricing to be around Rs 13, 000 – Rs 15,000. No word yet on when the phones will be launched.

January 22, 2016
Titan Launches First Smartwatch in India

The smartwatch category seems to be heating up some more with every passing day. For the past couple of months, we have seen a number of manufacturers jump into this space, and sell to us wristwear for the future. While

While yestreday Samsung launched its much-awaited Samsung Gear S2 smartwatch to much fanfare, there was another launch which being equally as big for Indian customers still went under the radar a bit. Enter the Juxt.

Juxt is Indian watchmaker Titan’s foray into this growing market of smartwatches in India. This smartwatch will be sold in India and other markets as well at a starting price of Rs 15,995. The company also has plans of bringing different two more variants of the smartwatch to the market. The first will be Rose Gold Stainless Steel which will retail at Rs 17,995 and the other Titanium on sale for Rs 19,995.

The watch comes equipped with a Three piece body in stainless steel material and a beautiful OLED display, and is water resistant to 50m. It can connect both to your Android, and iOS devices. The watch can track your steps, connect to your social media apps and also gives you alerts on your watch for calls.

At the launch Titan’s CEO, S. Ravi Kant said, “JUXT is India’s most stylish smartwatch. It has been designed for those who are appreciative of classic watches, yet want smart capabilities in their timepiece.”

Juxt is launched in collaboration with HP, and it is expected this collaboration will help Titan to make an international presence in the markets like the United States, U.K and Canada. Titan will use HP’s distribution network to sell its smartwatches outside the country, starting with the above three, but later plans to expand to six-seven more countries.

January 22, 2016
Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge Screen Size Confirmed in Zauba Listing

Post some hardware news about the new Samsung devices, Galaxy S7 ad Galaxy S7 Edge, now we have some more confirmed information to get to you. Latest Zauba listings, a website which records the imports and exports to and from India, have confirmed the screen-size of two Samsung smartphones that have been imported to the country.

These Samsung smartphones have model numbers indicating they are Galaxy S7 (SM-G930R4) and S7 Edge (SM-G935R4). While the S7 has a screen size of 5.1 inches, the S7 Edge is marked at 5.5 inches. Both screens will be QHD with 1440 x 2560 resolution.

The curved screen Edge is expected to sport a Snapdragon processor along with 4 GB of RAM. The Galaxy S7 (SM-G930F), apart from sporting the new Exynos 8890, will come with 12 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera, 4 GB of RAM, and 64 GB of internal storage.

The devices are expected to be unveiled next month at the Samsung Unpacked event on the 21st, a day before the Mobile World Congress kicks off. Watch this space for latest developments.

January 22, 2016

Google Nexus 5X Undergoes Huge Price Cut on Amazon

For those of you who loved the Google Nexus 5X but held back because of its price; we have good news for you.The phone that was originally priced at Rs. 31,990 for its 16GB version is now priced at Rs. 20,990. However, we need to first take note, that this price change is available not on the official store but on Amazon.in and only until the 24th of January.

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This is the second major price-cut Nexus 5X has undergone. Just a couple of weeks ago, close after its launch, the price had fallen down to about Rs. 25,000, and now it has dipped again. This definitely doesn’t sound like good news for the Google device which failed to fare well with customers.

Check out our hands-on video of the device below.

Here are the specs :

Specification	LG Nexus 5X
Display	5.2-inch Full HD IPS (1920 x 1080 / 423ppi)
Resolution	1080 x 1920 pixels (~424 ppi pixel density)
Chipset	1.8 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 808
CPU	Quad-core 1.44 GHz Cortex-A53 & dual-core 1.82 GHz Cortex-A57
GPU	Adreno 418
RAM	2 GB LPDDR3 RAM
Front Camera	5 MP with F/2.0 Aperture
Rear Camera	Up to 12.3 MP with F/2.0 Aperture
Storage	16 or 32 GB eMMC ROM
Expandability	NA
Battery	2,700 mAh (embedded)
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac / Bluetooth 4.2 / NFC / Type-C USB
Operating System	Android OS, v6.0 (Marshmallow)
Price	Rs. 31,990/ Rs. 35,990

January 21, 2016

Category: Tech

OnePlus 2 (Sandstone Black, 64GB): Rs. 22,999.

OnePlus X (Onyx / Champagne, 16GB): Rs. 14,999

OnePlus One (Sandstone Black, 64GB): Rs. 17,999

Specs

Asus Zenfone Zoom

Specification

LG Nexus 5X