Category: Tech

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Samsung’s New Galaxy Tab Active is Designed to Boost Business Productivity

At its 2015 Forum in Thailand, the South Korean electronics giant, Samsung, is carefully and slowly taking the veil off its latest innovations. After introducing the Galaxy J1 for Rs. 9,900, the company has now showcased a tablet primarily manufactured for business-oriented customers. The Galaxy Tab Active is designed to boost business productivity.

The Senior Vice President, Enterprise Business, Samsung India Electronics, Mr. Anuj Jain commented about the gadget saying –

Samsung’s latest innovation, Galaxy Tab Active is the first tablet built for enterprise use. The device has been created basis the valuable feedback from top companies across industry verticals and Samsung’s own market insights. Galaxy Tab Active features business enhancing functionality and powerful technological capabilities allowing professionals to work without limitations in and out of the office.

The Galaxy Tab Active is 9.75mm thick and sports a sufficient 8-inch LCD screen. It is infused with 1.2GHz quad-core processor with 1.5 GB RAM, which is powerful enough to carry out routine tasks. The tablet is supported by Samsung KNOX for comprehensive mobile security. The security feature keeps the data safe without the need for a third-party platform and gives the freedom to customize the device with personal apps.

The tablet features a 3.1 MP rear snapper with Auto Focus and LED Flash, and a tough 4,450mAh battery, which can go for 10 hours on a single charge. Connectivity options include Micro USB 2.0, NFC and AllShare Cast. The company has added a built-in C-Pen, a stylus for easy access and note-talking.

There is no detail about the price and availability of the tablet. Keep checking our website for more updates.

February 16, 2015
Vaio Revives its Flagship Z Series with Two New Hybrids

Since parting ways with Sony, Vaio has been hinting that are things are going to change. And they possibly could as Vaio has spruced up its flagship Z series with two new hybrid laptops: the Vaio Z and Vaio Z Canvas.

The 13.3-inch Vaio Z goes up for pre-orin Japan today, with a second generation high speed SSD along with an unspecified fifth gen Core i7 Intel chipset on board, all wrapped up in an aluminium carbon outerbody shell.

Vaio executives have also stressed upon the fact that the ‘Z’ also stands for Zero. Courtesy of its aluminium carbon fibre construction, the Z weighs just a mere 1.34 kgs with a thickness of about 16.8mm. Vaio is claiming it can provide a battery backup of 15.5 hours, making it the longest lasting laptop the company has ever made. In addition, they also claim that the keyboard makes substantially lesser noise. The flagship won’t come cheap, as it is estimated to retail around $1,600.

Meanwhile, the Vaio Z Canvas which launches later in May, sports a detachable keyboard, a 12.1-inch display with a staggering resolution of 2560×1704 pixels. Other details remain sparse but there are indications the Vaio Z Canvas gets a digitized stylus as well. Though Vaio has promised that it’ll cram the Vaio Z Canvas with upto 1TB of storage.

February 16, 2015
Samsung Forum 2015 : Super-Slim Galaxy A7 Goes on Sale, Priced at Rs. 30,499

You’ll be hearing a lot of news about Samsung today. The reason is the Samsung Forum 2015 which kicked off today in Bangkok Thailand. The company, today, unveiled the new Galaxy A7, the slimmest Galaxy smartphone, measuring only 6.3 mm. It has been packaged with premium hardware for a superior social experience, claims the company. It aims to provide powerful multi-tasking performance with classy design, the Galaxy A7 vies to expand the popular services provided by the Galaxy A5 and A3.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Mr. Asim Warsi” author_title=”Vice President, Marketing, Mobile and IT at Samsung India.”]

Galaxy A7 is a combination of stylish metallic unibody design with powerful performance and premium user experience. Keeping the modern design philosophy in mind, we have designed Galaxy A7 to empower consumers to enjoy the iconic design and flagship features with an assortment of appealing colors. This is another step towards our efforts to offer premium devices to a broad range of consumers which will further drive our market leadership.

[/quote]

The finely crafted metal handset is equipped with a 5.5 inch, Full HD Super AMOLED display to deliver better viewing experience while watching videos or browsing the internet. The Adaptive Display Technology intelligently optimizes the screen brightness and the color saturation. It is also equipped with a 13 MP primary camera and a 5 MP front camera, along with Advanced Selfie features like Ultra Wide Shot, GIF shooting modes and Auto Selfie modes (Palm and Voice Selfie.) The handset offers Private Mode, which adds extra security for important files and documents. In addition, the A7 also has Multi Screen app function capability.

It runs on Android 4.4 KitKat and comes packed with 2GB of RAM. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon Octa-core processor which allows users to easily perform data intensive tasks. It is backed by a 2,600mAh battery.

The handset is priced at Rs. 30,499 and is available online at the company’s official India e-Store in black, white and gold colors.

February 16, 2015
Samsung Forum 2015: Samsung Brings Out Galaxy J1 4G, Priced at Rs. 9900

Samsung launched the Galaxy J1 at the ongoing Samsung Forum 2015 in Thailand. We’re currently on the ground covering the event, bringing the latest news. The new version is LTE and is different from the one released a few days back. The model will come at Rs. 9,900 and will be available in India from the second week of March 2015.

The Galaxy J1 has a conventional specs sheet. It sports a 4.3-inch WVGA TFT display with 480×800 pixel density. It is equipped with 1.2GHz quad core processor and runs on Android 4.4 KitKat. The inbuilt memory specifications include 768 MB RAM and 4 GB ROM, which can be upgraded up to 128 GB via microSD slot.

Considering the camera, the Galaxy J1 features a 5MP rear shooter with Flash along with 2 MP front snapper. Connectivity options include MicroUSB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, NFC and USB 2.0. The Dual SIM handset gets pepped up from the 1,850mAh battery. The device is available in blue, black and white colour variants.

Hands on coming up soon. Keep checking iGyaan for updates.

February 16, 2015
LG Unveils ‘Watch Urbane’, an All-Metallic Luxury Smartwatch

A while back, the South Korean electronics producer LG raised the bar with the revelation of the G Watch R. Now pushing ahead of its own mark, the company has unveiled yet another smartwatch called the LG Watch Urbane. The new timepiece is a fusion of style and technology with an all-metal body and classic design; keeping its market open for both men and women. The watch follows the footsteps of G Watch R and is tweaked to make it more user-friendly.

The President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Juno Cho said in a statement :

The LG Watch Urbane’s classic design and smart features make it the perfect smartwatch to complement our G Watch and G Watch R, which were designed as more casual and active devices.

Besides the external magnificence, LG Watch Urbane boasts a 1.3-inch circular P-OLED (320x320p resolution) display, just like the G Watch R. Its bezels are narrow, which gives it a more elegant and classy look. The device is driven by 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset paired with 512 MB RAM. The Watch Urbane can hold data in the 4GB inbuilt memory and runs on Android Wear. The 410mAh battery of the smartwatch can be a bit disappointment, and one has to charge it time and again to keep it running. The Watch Urbane packs Gyro, Accelerometer, Compass, Barometer and a heart rate sensor.

The device has a sensitive touch-based UI and is compatible with devices running on Android 4.3 and above. The stainless steel body is beautifully paired up with the leather strap that can be replaced with any 22 mm band.

The dust and water resistant watch is available in gold and silver colour options. There is no word about its price and availability, but users can expect the details once the company showcases the watch in the upcoming MWC 2015 in Barcelona.

February 16, 2015
Here is Samsung’s First Trailer Teasing the Galaxy S6

Samsung’s next in Galaxy S series has already been a subject of a lot of speculation and hype. The prospects of a full metal based device have enticed the audience. Samsung has also said that they have worked from scratch on the device, and the market is looking forward to seeing how Samsung takes on this challenge. The Korean electronic giant has just unveiled the first teaser for this new flagship from its stable.

Samsung will be holding an unpacked event on the 1st of March. The company has posted a brief 17 second teaser video on Twitter with the hashtag The Next Galaxy. The video talks about a great vision and unique view and ends with a graphic of the main camera along with the line I am #thenextgalaxy.

I am #TheNextGalaxy. Be inspired by my vision at #Unpacked. https://t.co/Qu3e4L2DEg

— SamsungMobile (@SamsungMobile) February 13, 2015

The Galaxy S6 is reported to sport a Quad HD(2K) display and will most probably be powered by Samsung’s own 64 bit Exynos processor. It will run Android Lollipop and might have up to 128 GB internal storage options. Samsung is supposedly including a 20 MP, intelligent main camera that might address the focus on the camera in the teaser. There are also talks of payment system called Samsung Pay to be launched along with the device.

Samsung has managed to answer its design critics over the last year with the launch of the Galaxy Alpha and the Note 4. It is yet to be seen if Samsung manages to launch a new cutting edge design that could reach the lower segment of its devices or just a simple rehash with minimal tweaks and bumped up specs. A lot is riding on Samsung, and it needs to get it right this time.

February 14, 2015
Tech in 2, Episode 1 : 3D Printing Explained in 2 Minutes

In this fast-paced world, wouldn’t it be great if someone explained complex technology in the time your instant noodles cooked? We took it upon ourselves to bring the best of the information in one easy sized bite.

Welcome to ‘Tech In 2’, iGyaan’s latest show. Here you get everything you want to know about any gizmo or technology you desire. If you want to know about anything in the world of technology, leave a comment below, and we’ll bring out an episode for you.

To begin, we bring you this episode on 3D printing or additive manufacturing(AM). It is a revolutionary technology that will completely revolutionize the way we buy things. We explain how you can create almost anything from a small tool to an entire house using the technology. Feel free to share the video with someone you think needs the info.

Read more about 3D printing technology here.

February 14, 2015
iPhone 6 Plus Uses Twice as Much Data as the iPhone 6

Apple fans had to wait for a long while before they got a big screen. Their request was finally answered by Apple last year when they finally launched the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus with bigger displays. These displays are great for multimedia consumption, but apparently they will also cause your data bills to skyrocket.

In a research paper submitted by Citrix, it claims that iPhone 6 Plus uses almost twice as much data as the iPhone 6. Interestingly it was also found that the bigger iPhone slurps out ten times more data than the iPhone 3Gs.

One of the major reasons cited for this heavy data usage is the increased multimedia content accessed through the devices. The bigger screen makes it easier for the users to watch heavy data intensive content like streaming videos.

This revelation may not be as worrisome to an Apple user because if you can afford an iPhone, then you might easily handle the additional data charge. iPhone users have got the pleasure of the big screen display just a few months back, so it’s obvious that they are making the most of it.

February 13, 2015
Move Over 4G, Finland is Building the First 5G Test Network

The communications age has gained rapid speed over the past decade. From a mere 2G GSM connectivity, we have reached the mobile broadband range of 4G. We now have the fastest wireless access to the internet ever, but the folks at Finland seem to think that it can be much faster. A Finnish research institute is building a 5G network for test purposes.

5G or Fifth generation of mobile telecommunications technology will of course offer increased speeds, but it will also be less draining on resources. It is also known as ‘tactile internet’. 5G is expected to be 100 times faster than the fastest 4G. It would also require smaller antennae and its signals can be bounced off buildings and solid surfaces.

The test network is being constructed in the Finnish city Oulu, which is situated in the Northwestern part of the country. It is being built by the University of Oulu in cooperation with the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. VTT will be working on a closed private network whereas the University will be setting up an open public network.

With the closed network, VTT will test out and access the potentials and challenges of their technology. The public network, on the other hand, will test the network’s ability to handle heavy traffic. The work on the network construction will begin on February 18. The technology is expected to reach mainstream markets by 2020.

February 13, 2015
Microsoft Releases Windows 10 Preview for Phones; Here is How You Can Install it
Redmond giant Microsoft has released the first preview of Windows 10 for phones. Lumia owners can now install the preview and check out what the new OS has to offer. Several prominent Windows 10 features will be available in the preview, including the new UI, new action center, custom background images on the start screen and better voice dictation.

In a blog post, Microsoft’s Gabe Aul says the company is looking for feedback.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Gabe Aul” author_title=”Microsoft”]

This preview is still very much under development and you’re going to see some rough edges. We’re sharing it with you so you can be with us at every step, and provide your feedback to help make this the best release ever.

[/quote]

Though the preview does not get the new universal apps, the new Office apps, the Spartan browser, Xbox integration, Skype in Messaging and Cortana, among other things.

We’ll hear more about Windows 10 for phones at Microsoft’s event at MWC on March 2, while the final OS launch is expected this summer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckzhX1O6Lto

How to Install the Preview
- To get the preview, you’ll need a Lumia 630, Lumia 635, Lumia 636, Lumia 638, Lumia 730, or Lumia 830.
- Make sure you back up your data.
- Go to insider.windows.com and sign up for the Windows Insider program. Then on your PC, go to the this link and click install to send the Windows 10 insider app on your phone.
- When you access the Windows Insider app on your phone, you’ll get two options – ‘fast and ‘slow’ build schedules. Microsoft says the slow schedule has improvements coming less often, hence it’ll be less buggy.
- This will be followed by a series of long downloads and restarts, and you’ll finally be running the Windows 10 Preview for phones.
Users are advised to be patient as the whole process takes a significant amount of time.
February 13, 2015
Facebook Gives Cybersecurity Professionals a New Social Network

Cybersecurity has fast become a major concern for all the nations since last years massive attacks. The biggest one that got everyone scared was the alleged attack by North Korea on Sony Pictures. Governments and corporations are proactively investing in resources towards strengthening the protection of their data and facilities. US President has allocated $14 billion in his 2016 budget to boost cybersecurity efforts. This new age war requires new age soldiers, people who battle with codes instead of guns. To facilitate the exchange of professional data and ideas between these cybersecurity professionals, Facebook has launched a new social network called ThreatExchange.

The website aims to connect experts, professionals and even companies to come together to find solutions to potential threats. At ThreatExchage, they can share information about the threats they see online like a malicious software or bugs that can be used to infiltrate an institution’s security.

Facebook has involved many partners in its beta testing stage. They include names like Yahoo, Twitter, Bitly, Dropbox, Facebook, Pinterest, and Tumblr. Facebook wanted to give space for security professionals where they can interact and can choose with whom to share their information. Facebook hopes that by sharing regular and up-to-date information on various threats, companies can be better equipped to take on the attacks.

This could be a great tool for the betterment of cybersecurity standards. But one major issue is that how can they assess the credentials of people who have access to the information. A bedroom hacker can gain access and get the solutions to threats being shared and use it to their benefit. This new age war will be costly and would take the best and brightest minds to task.

February 13, 2015
Tesla to Unveil Breakthrough Battery Tech to Help Power Your Entire House

Tesla, the market leader in electric vehicles, is all set to deliver a battery pack that powers your entire house. This will give Tesla the ability to take on the hydrogen car market where cars like the Toyota Mirai lets users charge their home through their car’s fuel.

The designs for the new battery pack has already been finalized, and the company might be putting it into production in the coming six months. Tesla head, Elon Musk has said that the company might be unveiling the battery in the coming couple of months.

Elon told Forbes that the batteries will be like the Model S pack: something flat, 5 inches off the wall, wall-mounted, with a beautiful cover, an integrated bi-directional inverter, and plug and play.

Model S Battery

Tesla is one of the most environmentally active companies in the world. It is also building a massive battery manufacturing unit called the Gigafactory. Another of Elon’s venture is the SolarCity, which provides solar energy solutions to residents and businesses. The company wants to be a frontrunner in the energy storage business and encourage off grid living where electricity is produced locally through renewable sources. Battery based living in conjunction with solar or wind energy would be economical as well as ecological.

February 13, 2015
New Tech We Expect to See at the Mobile World Congress 2015

The Mobile World Congress or the MWC is one of the biggest extravaganzas for the mobile world. It brings together mobile operators, device manufacturers, technology providers, vendors and content owners from across the world to discuss the future of mobile telephony. This year the conference will be held from 2-5 March in the Spanish city of Barcelona and iGyaan will be reporting right from the ground.

There is a lot of action you can expect from this year’s edition of the MWC. Here it is:

Major Launches

Being the biggest mobile exhibition ground, the MWC attracts some of the biggest releases for the first half of the year. The biggest launches expected from the MWC is the Samsung’s premier Galaxy S6. The Korean electronics giant has promised a reinvention of their device family with this launch, so the expectations are huge with this one.

HTC is also set to unveil its new flagship, the One (M9) at the event that will be a successor to the popular One (M8). This time around it is expected to get a 1440X2560 QHD screen, 3GB of RAM and an Octa-core Snapdragon 810 CPU.

Second-Gen Wearables

The tech industry bet big on wearables last year, and the biggest brands unveiled their offerings throughout the year. The consumers have seen what these devices have to offer and now it’s time for the second-generation wearables to come forward. The devices have shown promise but at the moment they can be best described as glorified remotes for the smartphone. There have been new features added to these devices like the ability to unlock your car and control connected devices in your home. What the consumers are really demanding from them is a longer battery life, something that doesn’t require charging every single day.

Connected Devices

One major trend in electronics market is the focus on interconnected devices. From the announcements at CES 2015 we got an inkling that the companies are proactively pursuing this arena. The smartphone will be at the center of this movement. You can expect to hear about apps and devices that deal with automotive, wearables, and even health.

Keynote Speakers

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and FCC chairman Tom Wheeler will be the top Keynote addresses at the conference. Other major speakers include Brian Krzanich; the CEO of Intel, Sanjay Kapoor; Chairman of Micromax Informatics, Steve Mollenkopf; CEO of Qualcomm. There would also be talks given by heads of other prominent tech companies like Vodafone, Wikipedia, Mozilla, Ericsson and more.

If you love tech and smartphones, you should be getting charged up right about now. In just three weeks, some of the long awaited next generation products will show up, and iGyaan will be right on the ground, so you don’t miss them. Keep checking this spot for all the upcoming excitement.

February 12, 2015
Oppo Mirror 3 Arrives in India, Priced at Rs. 16,990

Oppo today launched its latest smartphone – the Mirror 3 in India. Oppo says that the smartphone is aimed at the mid-range market and is available at a price of Rs. 16,990.

Coming to its specifications, the Oppo Mirror 3 sports a 4.7 inch HD IPS display, and is powered by a 64 bit 1.2Ghz Snapdragon 410 quad-core processor bundled with Adreno 306 GPU. It also included 1 GB of RAM, along with 8 GB of internal storage expandable upto 128 GB via microSD slot.

Other specs on the Mirror 3 include an 8MP rear camera with LED flash, 5 MP selfie cam, a 2000mAh battery, along with connectivity options like 3G support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS. It runs on Android 4.4 KitKat layered with Color UI.

The newly launched Mirror 3 will go head on against the likes of Motorola Moto G (2014), Micromax Canvas Nitro, and HTC Desire 620G.

February 12, 2015
Zomato to Start Food Delivery Service in India

Zomato is making headlines every other week. About a month back, Zomato acquired Urbanspoon, a restaurant information and recommendation service in the US and just few days back, it expanded beyond search by debuting its cashless payment system in Dubai. Now, the company is planning to get closer to their customers by reaching their doorstep.

The online restaurant discovery service is geared to launch a delivery service where users can place an order on Zomato, and it will deliver the same to your home. The service will commence in India on 16^th March and will cover 2,000 restaurants initially. The company expects to increase the count to 10,000 within one month of the launch of the service.

The CEO and Co-Founder of Zomato Deepinder Goyal said –

We have a sales team of around 300 in India and 5,000-odd advertisers… these partners know the volume we bring to them so it is quite easy for us to launch this [new service]

The service is presently in testing mode which includes 500 staff and a few restaurants. Goyal drew some light on its workings saying that the company will provide the restaurants with an iPad, which will be fitted with an app. This app will transform the iPad into a hotline and order will be taken through it. After each order, users will be asked for their rating and on the basis of the evaluation, the restaurants’ profile will be displayed.

With Zomato’s reach to millions of people across India, there is a pressure on the restaurants to make timely deliveries. After all, the site is a dominant medium for free advertising.

February 12, 2015