Category: Tech

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

HTC Perfume To Arrive With Android 6.1 OS

A leak on Twitter by @LlabTooFeR suggests that HTC’s next flagship smartphone will be called Perfume and will run on the yet-to-come Android 6.1 operating system. Apart from this piece of information, he also suggested that the HTC Perfume will be powered by the 8.0 version of the company’s Sense UI.

Remember reports about next HTC's flagship codename HTC O2? It's dead… HTC Perfume is next flagship. Android 6.1 and Sense 8.0_GP…

— LlabTooFeR (@LlabTooFeR) December 8, 2015

@LlabTooFeR had also earlier in the year, dismissed rumours about a Snapdragon 820 powered HTC O2 flagship smartphone, that was supposed to arrive with a 6-inch QHD display, 4GB RAM, 64GB/128GB internal memory, and a 3,500mAh battery.

As of now HTC has not confirmed any details of their upcoming flagship officially, and so all we know about the alleged Perfume is its OS and UI.

December 9, 2015
Apple To Host Apple Watch Event In March, May Launch 4-Inch iPhone

Reports suggest that Apple is planning to host a product launch event in March 2016 where it might announce the Apple Watch and the 4-inch iPhone 6C.

Kevin Wang from IHS has stated that Apple is working on a budget-oriented iPhone 6 handset. This handset will be a smaller version with a 4-inch display and will come with a plastic body similar to the 5c. The scaled down version of the iPhone 6 will indeed come with a few missing features. As the device was pegged as a cheaper iPhone 7 variant rather than a 6, what’s for certain is that the 6c will not come with 3D Touch.

Other reports also suggest that the iPhone 6C could come with a smaller screen, and thereby making it much easier for users to navigate through the device. After iPhone screens becoming larger and larger most people seem to have faced a rather annoying inconvenience to always move their hand to the top of the screen for the menu or back button. So, many are hoping for a drop in the screen size.

About the second device mentioned – the Apple Watch – unfortunately there’s not much to know about it. However, some rumours have suggested that the tech wear gadget could arrive with a FaceTime camera and Wi-Fi connectivity along with health sensors and sleep tracking. As of now Apple has not confirmed anything officially, but let us hope to see these gadgets soon in March.

December 9, 2015
Cool Things Your Smartphone Can Do

Smartphone is one of the best things to have happened to the realm of technology. With an endless list of features that make it such an amazing gift of technology to mankind, here’s a list of some of our favourite features:

Identifying Songs:
Apps like Shazam and SoundHound have made life so much better for music lovers. Remember that gnawing, annoying feeling of trying to identify a song you happen to hear at a restaurant? Yes, you don’t because your smartphone identifies songs for you and saves you the torture of obsessing over a tune or rhythm.

Navigation:
Any geographically-challenged smartphone user would agree about how wonderful life has been ever since the introduction of apps like Google Maps and Apple Maps. Navigation has never been easier. Whether or not geography has been a source of bother for you, smartphone navigation has come to the rescue of many lost travellers more than once.

Fitness Tracker:
Hello, fitter bodies and healthier minds. Nike+, Daily Yoga and many such apps help users maintain a fitness regime with regular updates about their progress and motivation in the form of points earned or badges won. Water Drink Reminder and Waterlogged are examples of two other fitness-related apps -they remind you to drink water at regular intervals and keep your body hydrated.

Fake Calls:This is by far one of the coolest features of smartphones. Ever tried getting out of an awkward situation by pretending to be busy with your phone? There, there -we have all done that. Fake Call is an app which takes it a step further to help you be a better liar in situations that require an immediate exit. We wonder what awkward situations looked like before smartphones.

December 9, 2015
Apple Launches Its Own Smart Battery Case For iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s

iPhone users, your battery troubles might just be over because Apple just unveiled its own Smart Battery Case for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s. This case will be available on the Apple online store and costs $99 which is approximately Rs.6,619. Apple says that this case can extend the iPhone’s battery life up to 18 hours of internet usage on LTE networks, up to 20 hours of video playback, and as much as 25 hours of increased talk time.

The Smart Battery Case is just like a regular case and thereby eliminating the inconvenience caused by a third party solution. It will be available in two colours – Charcoal and White with microfiber lining on the inside and silicone exterior. Looks and sounds very Apple Inc.

This Case will be charged via a standard Lightning port and will therefore be compatible with official docks so that users won’t have to carry around extra cables. You will also be able to charge your iPhone and the Battery Case simultaneously. Apple also further says, that when the Smart Case is in use, an “intelligent battery status” will be displayed on the iPhone’s lock screen and in its notification center. Trust Apple to create something as nuanced for its customers and users. However, as of now, there is no word on whether this device or its kind will be available for the other iPhones.

December 8, 2015

HTC One A9 Price Confirmed To Sell Exclusively on Snapdeal Starting 9th December

New reports suggest that the HTC One A9 will be sold for Rs.29,990 exclusively on Snapdeal. The registration for this will open on the 9th of December 2015 (tomorrow) and end on the 14th of December 2015. It will be available for consumers to purchase from the 15th of December 2015.

The HTC One A9 is the first non-Nexus device to come pre-loaded with the Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Additionally, the company has cut down on pre-loaded apps, opting for a purer Android experience. The One A9 sports a 5-inch Full HD AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass 4 and 1080 x 1920 resolution.

A fingerprint sensor, 13-megapixel rear camera with low light OIS, 4MP Ultrapbixel front camera and a Hyperlapse editing tool are some of its other features.

Here are the complete specs of HTC One A9:

Specs	HTC One A9
Display	5-inch Full HD AMOLED with 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 4
Resolution	1080 x 1920 resolution
Processor	Snapdragon 617 64-bit octa-core processor
GPU	Adreno 405
RAM	2 GB/ 3 GB
Battery	2,150 mAh
Storage	16 GB/ 32 GB
Primary Camera	13MP with low light OIS
Secondary Camera	4MP UltraPixel, f/2.0 aperture
Expandability	MicroSD up to 2 TB
OS	Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Price	Rs.29,990

December 8, 2015

Is Apple Maps a Better Choice Than Google Maps?

The company introduced Apple Maps in 2012 and ushered in a series of glitches which involved the Madison Square Garden, New York being labelled as a ‘park space’ because of the word ‘garden’ in its name. However Apple acted promptly, fixed these goof-ups and now three years later Apple Maps has overtaken Google Maps as the most used navigation app on iPhones.

Even though Apple Maps lacks many features which Google Maps provides, users end up using the former more because it is already installed on their devices. Even if the phone has third party apps, Siri and Mail automatically take the user to Apple Maps. This, along with Apple’s efforts to improve the over-all experience of the app, has helped them get more users to choose Apple Maps over other options.

Google Maps, on the other hand, has not lagged behind either in improving itself. Starting last month, it now allows users to store maps and data on their phones to refer to it even without internet access. It also includes search tools for landmarks and business listings, transit maps that cover more region than Apple and options to exclude highways and toll roads.

As more and more iPhone users switch to Apple Maps, do you think Google Maps could be a better choice?

December 8, 2015
Vodafone’s 4G Finally Gets Launched in the Country

Vodafone is finally giving out an upgrade to 4G connection for its customers, along with a ‘Superfast 4G SIM’. They have also introduced a trial pack of 120MB for Rs.29 along with a 100% extra data for all 4G RED customers for 3 months. Vodafone’s 4G is claiming to support connectivity of WiFi for up to 10 devices and also promises to simplify the customer’s experience with a ‘same day doorstep’ post-paid delivery system and instant activation for those who want to change their SIM.

For a more detailed understanding of what the Vodafone 4G platform entails, we can tell you that the 4G LTE network runs on an 1800Mhz speed and can be accessed via any 4G enabled handsets available across the country. It will be launched in Kochi on the 14th of December 2015, making it the first telecom operator in Kerala to offer 2G/3G/4G services on its own convergent radio technology.

“Vodafone’s global expertise and experience of launching 4G across 19 countries gives us a better understanding of this technology and the needs of the 4G customer.” – says Sunil Sood MD & CEO of Vodafone, India.

Vodafone will initially roll out its 4G services in the metropolitan cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Bangaluru and Kolkata. We all know that Vodafone is slightly late in the 4G scene, with Airtel currently in the lead. But, all the hype surrounding its delay and it finally seeing the light of day should be able to get the amount of traffic it is looking for. Let us hope that Vodafone is able to resolve all its issues ranging from call-drops to the late entry of 4G soon.

December 8, 2015
Xiaomi’s Mi 5 Might Arrive With a Home Button In January 2016

A new render of the upcoming Xiaomi Mi 5 has been leaked showcasing a first ever, physical home button. Earlier, there were speculations of the device incorporating Qualcomm’s ultrasound fingerprint scanner. The reason why we don’t see the fingerprint scanner is because, an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner doesn’t require sensors or buttons, and can be embedded under the phone’s screen itself.

The report about the fingerprint scanner was revealed by analyst Pan Jiutang, who further reports that the company has found Qualcomm’s fingerprint scanner to be unstable.Therefore, if Xiaomi decides to use a traditional fingerprint reader, it will most likely be embedded under the home button.

However, this isn’t the only piece of information that the render reveals. It also says that the Xiaomi Mi 5 may be unveiled on the 21st of January 2016, with the actual launch taking place sometime in February. As of now, speculation suggests that the device will be equipped with a 5.2-inch display, powered by the Snapdragon 820 SoC, will offer a version of Force Touch, and Android 6.0 is expected to be pre-installed. The Weibo post also reveals that the smartphone will arrive in two variants, one of which will be priced at $311 and the other at $389. What could the massive price difference mean?

Source: Weibo

December 8, 2015
Android 6.0.1 to Bring Quick Launch to Nexus 5, 6, 7 and 9

Users of Nexus 5, 6, 7 and 9 are going to get the camera quick launch option with the Android 6.0.1 update. Among new emoticons, this is another feature users will now be able to enjoy with the update.

Double pressing the power button would immediately launch the camera, as is possible with devices like 5X and 6P that run on stock Android. This sounds like a cool, short way to get to the camera.

However because the feature is tied down with the power button, it might sometimes cause the device to go to sleep, or ask the user for a security password before launching the camera if there is extra security on the lockscreen.

Google is sure to smoothen out these glitches as the update starts rolling. Let’s see where it goes from there.

December 8, 2015
These Are Five Phone Design failures You Should Know

“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again”, reads a famous proverb; and the mobile phone industry did take this one very seriously. It is only after a series of miscalculations and faux pas has the smartphone now become one of the savviest tech gadgets to carry around. So let’s take a look at our past and see what our ancestors might have thought to be uber cool.

Nokia 7600

Let’s just look at this phone for sometime. Among the various questions that confound us, one of them is just where is the keypad? And that is not even the most important question. What was Nokia thinking by revealing this mobile phone in 2007, just when Apple launched the iPhone? Anyway, to answer the question about the keypad, there’s a 2 inch display and if you look at it hard enough you’ll see that it is surrounded by alphanumeric buttons on the sides and other keys (Menu and navigation keys) below the screen. Oh, and this tear drop Nokia phone was created for ‘fashionistas’. Well, we didn’t see Anna Wintour carrying it. ‘Nuff said.

Nokia 7280

If you thought Nokia would learn from their previous mistakes, you thought wrong. At least previously we only asked about the keyboard; over here? Where is anything? Nokia thought that a lipstick shaped phone would be more fashionable than a tear drop. They were technically right, but this lipstick is making tears drop from our eyes. This phone has a 35 mm x 20 mm display and no keypad. That’s it. Just look at it until it disappears.

Sony Ericsson Jalou F100i

Do you know why this one has a visible keypad? Because it’s not Nokia! Regardless even Sony Ericsson Jalou F100i has its faults. First of all, it’s called ‘jalou’, which means jealousy in French, and unfortunately for them, it arouses none. The Sony Jalou was created especially for women and that is why the display could also double up as a compact mirror. Yes, Sony really understood women, they don’t really want to get any work done, they just want to look at themselves in the mirror. Hopefully, most people stayed away from this futile attempt at fashionable smartphone making.

HTC G1

The HTC G1 was ironically called the “Dream”. Now, compared to the last few phones we mentioned, it probably is a dream. But it still falls short in design with his rather chunky and bulky looking keypad and screen. However, this seems to be its only fault, so it does look like we were getting closer to the “dream” of owning a modern and sleek cellphone.

Vertu Boucheron Cobra

Just when you thought things were getting better, Vertu brought to us the Boucheron Cobra. Yes, a snake is one of the sleekest reptiles we have around, but putting them on a mobile phone will not make it look sleek, even if it is embedded with the costliest Swarovski diamonds. Yes, those are real diamonds on a rather ugly looking snake, which has been dumped on a rather small and expensive (Rs 1.75 crore approx) phone. This snake doesn’t look powerful or sleek and neither does the gadget. Luckily for us, Vertu has learnt from its mistakes and now creates better looking phones with a similar if not higher price tag.

December 8, 2015
Best Tech Deals on the Flipkart ‘Power Packed Festival’

Flipkart is having its ‘Power Packed Festival’ starting today; and we bring to you a short list of the best deals.

1. iPad Air 2

Apple’s iPad Air 2 comes with a 16GB of internal memory along with Wi-Fi connection. It has a 1.2 MP secondary camera and an 8MP primary camera with a 9.7 inch display. The tablet is run on the iOS 8 operating system. Originally priced at Rs.35,900; it is now priced at Rs.32,065 on the Flipkart smartphone app.

2. iPhone 6s

Apple’s iPhone 6s will be available on Flipkart at Rs.49,290 rather than its original MRP of Rs.54,490. What’s more is that this is the fashionable Rose Gold version with a 16GB of internal memory. Furthermore, this iPhone runs on the iOS 9 and has a 4.7 inch display along with a 12MP primary camera and 3D Touch & Live photos feature.

3. HTC Desire 820S

The HTC Desire 820S will be sold on Flipkart at Rs.15,999 instead of Rs.17,199. The version that is on sale is the Santorini White 16GB version.This handset is run on the Android v4.4.4 (KitKat) operating system and comes with a 5.5 inch display and 720 x 1280 pixels resolution. It has a 13MP primary camera and a 8MP secondary camera.

4. Mi Pad White

The Mi Pad 16 GB, white coloured Wi-Fi only variant will be available on the Flipkart app at Rs.11,999 instead of Rs.12,999. It comes with a 7.9 inch display with 2048×1536 pixels resolution and a 2GB RAM and memory that is expandable up to 128GB.

5. Nikon D3200

The Nikon D3200 is available on Flipkart at a ridiculously low price of Rs.18,990. The particular variant is the Nikon D3200 with an AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II Lens. It has a 24.2 MP camera with CMOS and a 3 inch LCD display.

6. Samsung On5

The Samsung On5 is being sold at Rs.8,900 on Flipkart. This phone comes with a dual SIM connection with 4G and a 5 inch HD TFT display, an 8MP rear camera and 5MP front camera. The entire device is fueled by a 2600mAh battery.

Samsung Galaxy On5

7. iPhone 5s

Apple’s iPhone 5s comes with an 8MP iSight Camera along with full HD recording and an HD FaceTime Camera. The device is run on the iOS 7 operating system. The 16GB Gold version is being sold on Flipkart at Rs.30,453.

8. Micromax Canvas Xpress 2

Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 is run on the Android v4.4.2 OS. It comes with a 13MP primary camera and 2MP secondary camera. This phone also has a dual SIM connection and will be priced at Rs.5,799 on Flipkart.

December 7, 2015

Motorola to Launch Moto G Turbo Edition in India This Week

Motorola will launch the turbo edition of the Moto G in India this week. looking at their social streams it seam that they are ready to push it out sooner than expected.

The Moto G Turbo comes with a different chipset, Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615, with Adreno 405 and a quick charge capability that motorola calls a turbo charge. Everything else remains identical to the 16GB storage variant of the Moto G 3rd Gen which comes with 2GB RAM.

The Moto G turbo edition, prior to this was only available in Mexico for 4699 Pesos (roughly Rs. 18500) but was only slightly higher than the Moto G 3rd gen with 16GB storage at 4299 Pesos (roughly Rs. 17000). Even if we keep the same price difference intact, an increase from the current price of Rs 12999 by Rs. 1500 means that the phone can be expected under the 15k price mark.

We can expect the phone with some launch offers like previous launches of Motorola and possibly will sell as a Flipkart exclusive, again something Motorola has done frequently in the past.

Specifications	Moto G (Gen 3) Turbo Edition
Display	5 inches, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	HD, 1280×720 pixels
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 615
Processor	Quad-core 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 & quad-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A53
GPU	Adreno 405
RAM	2GB
Storage	16GB
Expandable Upto	32 GB
Rear Camera	13MP
Front Camera	5MP
Video	1080p HD video, 30 fps
Battery	2470 man with Turbo charge
Operating System	Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
Connectivity	Bluetooth v4.0, A2DP, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, GPS, AGPS, GLONASS GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 7(2600), 20(800)
Price	TBA for 16 GB (expected Rs. 14499)

December 7, 2015

Scientists Create 3D Printed Blood Vessels Using ‘Bio-Ink’

The ability to one day print organs is what medical 3D printing industry is after. However, it’ll still be a while for that to become a reality. Human vasculature is incredibly complex and difficult to print accurately, but a team from the Lawrence Livermore National Library (LLNL) seem to have found a way to 3D print blood vessels.

The California-based team used special 3D bioprinters to print an initial structure out of cells and other organic materials and then to augment it using ‘bio-ink’ – a material designed to be compatible with living human tissue.

As the video above shows, the researches printed two small blood vessels out of bio-ink before injecting blood and other essential nutrients through the vessels. Eventually, the capillaries grew and connected the two vessels. This brings us one step closer to actually seeing almost realistic artificial tissue samples and even transplants.

December 7, 2015
Apple iPhone 7c Might See a September Launch

Post the launch of the iPhone 5c, more popularly referred to as the ‘cheaper’ iPhone, most people wanted to see another upgraded ‘c’ version of the iPhone. We waited for an iPhone 6c which didn’t happen, and now rumours have resurfaced about an iPhone 7c.

The information suggests that the iPhone 7c will have a 4 inch display and can be expected to be unveiled in September 2016. Further reports also suggest the price of this device; it will be tagged at around $400-$500.

These rumours are all well placed as we await the arrival of the iPhone 7. Needless to say, Apple hasn’t confirmed any of the above rumours.

December 7, 2015
Google CEO Sundar Pichai to Launch Revamped Android One in India

News has been going around that Google CEO Sundar Pichai will be in India for the first time since his new appointment as CEO. Reports also highlighted that Pichai will be meeting PM Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee. Now, new reports suggest that Pichai will be launching the Android One version 2 in India.

An event is scheduled to be held on December 16 and invites have been sent out already that reads, “At Google, we believe that technology can change people’s lives for the better. Indians are coming online at an astonishing rate with affordable smartphones. These new users have a completely fresh view on what the Internet has to offer. Please block your date for an event with Google as we outline our vision for these users.”

The invite refers to affordable phones that lets new users access to the internet. Google had launched the sub-Rs. 3000 Android One phones last year, but they failed to get noticed due to the onslaught of Chinese makers.

India was the first country to release Android One devices that comprised of four phones – Micromax Canvas A1, Karbonn Sparkle V, Spice Dream UNO, and Lava Pixel V1. All except Spice Dream UNO are now upgradeable to Marshmallow OS.

While the first version failed to make an impact, Google has been talking of a revamped Android One for the Indian market. The company plans to launch the sub-Rs. 3000 Android device as part of Google’s (as well as PM Modi’s) push for a connected India.

December 7, 2015