Category: Tech

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

Sony Brags About its Upgraded VR Headset, Announces Arrival for Early 2016

Sony today announced a spruced up version of its virtual reality headset, codenamed Project Morpheus, and Sony is already bragging about how better it is compared to the one they showed off last year. The new VR headset was showcased at a GDC presentation in San Francisco and Sony says it’ll start shipping in the first half of 2016.

New features include an OLED display with a Full HD resolution, while Sony says it’ll be able to offer framerates at 60fps and 120 fps. The screen has a 5.7 inch display, while a total of nine LEDs support 360 degree tracking. Sony also claims it has super low latency – 50 percent improved response than its predecessor.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Shuhei Yoshida” author_title=”President of Worldwide Studios for Sony Computer Entertainment.”]

A new dimension of gaming is, at long last, here – and PlayStation is again at the forefront with Project Morpheus.

[/quote]

Meanwhile, Sony also stressed on its user friendly design, featuring a single band design and quick release button. The headband supports the weight of the unit on the top of your head, hence there is no pressure on your face. Other components have also been adjusted and configured to make the headset lighter, so players do not find the headset cumbersome or uncomfortable to use.

Sony says more details on the new Project Morpheus will be revealed at E3 and Beyond, along with more VR games.

March 4, 2015
WatchAware Previews How Third-Party Apps Would Look on the Apple Watch

Apple Watch, the device which will mark the entry of the Cupertino-based giant in the wearable space, is scheduled to release few days from now. There have been certain disclosures about the Watch that points to the fact that this might just be the smartest wearable in the market. Now, more revelations are unfolding that have gotten us excited about getting our hands on Apple’s first smartwatch.

A site WatchAware has been developed that gives a demo of some of the many features of the new Watch. The website is built by the AppAdvice team that is dedicated to providing the media coverage of Apple Watch. WatchAware depicts some videos that inform us about the inclusion of selected third-party apps on the iWatch. Presently, the site includes 27 previews of applications like Run 5k, Todoist, Deliveries and Infinitweet.

.@_DavidSmith previews an interactive version of @FeedWrangler for Apple Watch: http://t.co/kRdyW1Trqb pic.twitter.com/yMW1cjURZe

— WatchAware (@WatchAware) March 3, 2015

These previews give users a fair idea of how the things are going to work and how Apple is trying to catch up with the present wearable market. The website includes a little description to give clues about its functionality. The features have been embedded on the Apple Watch prototype to showcase how the things would look like on the stainless piece. The touch seems as fluid and smooth as the iPhone screen; one can easily scroll up and down to view the content.

Beautiful jogging coach app 5K Run shares an interactive version of their Apple Watch app: http://t.co/kRdyW1Trqb pic.twitter.com/v5Ug9d6yL8

— WatchAware (@WatchAware) March 3, 2015

The WatchAware is a fresh initiative and an interesting platform that will help developers display their app inventions. It is learnt that the team will add more interactive previews about the apps coming on the Watch. The new proposal gives new developers a chance to exhibit to the world about the functionality of the upcoming apps.

March 4, 2015
Visa, Accenture and Pizza Hut Develop a High-Tech Hassle-Free Way to Order Food

Visa, Accenture and Pizza Hut are testing a connected car technology that would allow us to place an order from the car even while driving, negating the need for a smartphone.

Using a feature called Interactive Voice Control (IVR), you will be able to talk to your car and place your order hands free. While Visa Checkout allows you to make hassle free payments.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Visa”]

Just a few clicks, integrated into the dash of a connected car.

[/quote]

Visa says initially the service will focus on food, but the technology behind the partnership can be extended and applied to other everyday purchases like fuel and parking.

Visa will be showcasing the connected car system at the ongoing MWC in Barcelona, while plans for finally rolling out the service begins this Spring after a three month test run, starting with the U.S.

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

Tinder Launches The Paid Version Today In US

Dating app, Tinder has launched a new premium service called the Tinder Plus today in the United States. This is a paid service which will cost anywhere from $9.99 to $19.99, depending on the age of the user. Users older than 30 will have to pay the higher end price tag of $19.99 to use this dating app.

According to TechCrunch, pricing ranges is not only based on age, but the location too. Approximately, Tinder users are spread across 140 countries. Users above the age of 28 in emerging countries have to pay as little as $2.99 per month while the same category in developed nations will have to pay $23 per month.

We’ve priced Tinder Plus based on a combination of factors, including what we’ve learned through our testing, and we’ve found that these price points were adopted very well by certain age demographics. Lots of products offer differentiated price tiers by age, like Spotify does for students, for example. Tinder is no different; during our testing we’ve learned, not surprisingly, that younger users are just as excited about Tinder Plus, but are more budget constrained, and need a lower price to pull the trigger.

New features of Tinder Plus includes a Rewind button, which allows the user to recover a match they might have accidentally swiped left. There is also a Passport feature that allows the user to find matches from anywhere in the world. Tinder Plus is also ad-free. Ads will be introduced on the unpaid version of the app later this month.

March 3, 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
Qualcomm Joins Hands With Cyanogen to Give a Push to Snapdragon-Run Devices

At the Mobile World Congress 2015, Qualcomm Technologies and Cyanogen announced a new surprise collaboration. The two renowned companies are joining hands with each other to facilitate users with more improved features on the unique user interface of Cyanogen OS.

Chipset maker, Qualcomm will work in close coordination with Cyanogen to include features and UI enhancements on Qualcomm Snapdragon processors in the 200, 400 and 600 series. The software maker will make available all its unique features to the Qualcomm Reference Design (QRD) program.

The CEO of Cyanogen Inc. Kirt McMaster announced about the collaboration –

We’re delighted to collaborate with Qualcomm on their QRD program. We’re addressing the needs of device makers in developed and developing markets looking for a truly differentiated software experience that matter to consumers.

Jason Bremner, SVP of Product Management, Qualcomm Technologies further elaborated saying that they have chosen to work with Cyanogen because of their deep Android expertise and innovative approach to enhancing smartphone software.

Through the QRD program, the company aims to boost the production of low-cost smartphones. Qualcomm’s Reference Design program helps unrecognized companies to choose smartphone templates and launch them under their brand. Cyanogen’s Android version will replace Qualcomm’s own builds on devices embedded with a Snapdragon 200, 400 or 600 processor.

Through this deal, Qualcomm will be able to revamp its devices running on Snapdragon and Cyanogen and can widen its user base, which is now restricted to limited devices. Cyanogen is the true Android experience for people who prefer to tinker with the user experience. Qualcomm’s active support will help boost the reach of this amazing user interface to a broader user base.

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
ASUS Brings Out the Fonepad 7 and MeMOPad 8 in India

Taiwanese device maker, Asus has unveiled two new tablets in the Indian market. The Fonepad 7 and MeMOPad 8 are the new addition to the company’s tablet portfolio in India. The device made by Asus are appreciated in India, and the company is also known for unique products like the Padfone Mini.

The Asus Fonepad 7 is powered by a Dual Core 1.2 GHz, Intel Clover Trail Plus processor, along with 2 GB RAM. It comes with 16 GB storage that is expandable up to 64 GB. On the camera front, the tablet has an 8 MP shooter on the back and a 2 MP selfie camera in the front. The display on the device is a 7 inch WSVGA (1024×600) IPS display.

On the other hand, the MeMOPad8 sports a 8 inch WUXGA (1920×1200) IPS display protected with Gorilla Glass. It gets its processing power from a quad-core, 1.83 GHz, Intel Atom processor. It comes with 2GB RAM along with 16 GB internal storage. Asus also offers 5 GB lifetime ASUS Web storage space with an additional 11GB for the first year. This tablet has a 5 MP camera on the back and a 1.2 MP camera on the front.

The Fonepad 7 comes in black and white color option whereas the MeMOPad 8 comes white, pink and blue color variants. MeMOPad also has support for a 1.5 mm tipped stylus pens. Fonepad 7 will be priced at Rs. 10,999, and the MeMOPad 8 will be available for purchase at Rs. 19,999.

March 3, 2015
Heads On With HTC’s First Virtual Reality Headset Vive

Alongside the new HTC One M9, the one gadget that caught our attention at the ongoing MWC 2015 is the company’s first virtual reality headset, HTC Vive. The headset has been built in collaboration with entertainment software technology company Valve.

The developer edition of the Vive looks bigger than the Oculus Rift but promises to pack some unconventional features. The headset has two 1200x1080p resolution displays. These screens leave no space for jitter and refresh at the rate of 90 frames per second. The audio quality of the headset is also impressive.

It is the first virtual reality headset to allow you to walk and explore your virtual space. All this is possible with the infused Steam VR base station. Also, there are sensors like gyrosensor, accelerometer, and laser position that can track your head movement at one-tenth of a degree. The device comes with wireless controllers that make it rather easy to operate and get on with the virtual gaming.

Our experience with HTC Vive was amazing. We haven’t seen anything like this ever before. It’s realistic and doesn’t put a strain on the eyes at all. There is cushion support around the eyes that makes it even more comfortable. Its experience is hard to explain, it’s one of those things that need to be personally experienced.

The headset feels a part of a world that belongs to the future. Seeing this, we can already feel that we have epic things coming up.

HTC has also collaborated with many game developers such as Vertigo Games, Wemo Labs, Google, Owlchemy and others to generate content for the HTC Vive. Beta versions of the games for the Vive Developer Edition have already been produced. HTC is also working with companies like Google, HBO, Lionsgate and the National Palace Museum in Taiwan to create unique content for the new VR device.

The headset looks bulky with extra cables on the top. The company is still developing the same, so there’s a chance that these avoidable cables vanish in the consumer version. The VR headset will be available to the customers by the end of this year, however, the developer version of the same will be out earlier.

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
BSNL Planning a 50 Percent Cut in 3G Data Rates

State-run telecom company, BSNL, has some great news for its mobile subscribers. In the next phase of network expansion, BSNL plans to slash 3G network rates by 50 percent.

BSNL is one of the most budget friendly operators in the market. They offer 3G rates that are at par with the 2G rates of the private telecom operators. The officials have said that they cannot reduce the rates at present as they have utilized 90% if their allotted 3G capacity but they will slash it as soon as they finish expansion. A sudden, drastic decrease in 3G rates might lead to an enormous increase in traffic, so the company wants to ascertain its capability to handle the traffic before reducing the rates.

BSNL at present is in its 7th network expansion phase that will cost Rs.4800 crores and is expected to be completed by June of this year. The company has already started working on the 8th phase and will begin the process of issuing tenders at the start of the financial year 2015-16 that begins in April.

Under phase-8 of network expansion, BSNL is planning to integrate 3G network’s with city-wide WiFi hotspots to have a better handle on traffic. With this process, 3G users will be able to switch automatically between 3G and WiFi networks. This will allow for the traffic to shift to WiFi which will help free up the 3G space. This unique approach to handling internet traffic might be good for the company but might lead to massive battery drain for the consumers. But it wouldn’t be much of a concern to folks who would be using the BSNL network at 50 percent of the cost of competing networks. Hopefully, BSNL’s initiative might encourage other telecom companies to give a break to their subscribers from massive 3G data bills.

March 2, 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