Category: Tech

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

Fresh Renders Surface of The iPhone 6 And Retina iPad Mini

We have seen a plethora of dummies of the much-awaited iPhone 6 over the span of the past few months. However, it has been reported that the existing iPhone 6 dummy mockups have had major design flaws.

A graphic designer, Martin Hajek, popular for his various dummy mockups, has created beautiful renders of the two upcoming Apple products.

“Based on rumors and images of the purported iPhone 6 all over the internet, I decided to do a concept study of what an iPad mini would look like with this new, soft and round iPhone 6 design ‘language’ slapped all over it,” Hajek wrote on his blog while publishing his most recent work.

For example, a number of reports suggest that the tablet will indeed feature Apple’s Touch ID fingerprint scanner beneath the home button. However, the iPad mini case is not expected to feature any major design changes, so we will most likely have to wait until next year before we see anything that might resemble Hajek’s design.

As far the much anticipated iPhone 6 is concerned, this mockup seems like the closest we got to the real device. It shows a thick black plastic line on the top and bottom at the rear-side of the phone. However, many reports point out that those lines are from the leaked iPhone 6 schematics and they actually designate areas on the back of the phone that contain glass panels, similar to the ones on the back of iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s.

Well, again, we can’t help but point out that these render simply based on rumors and are subject to change.

July 22, 2014
Xiaomi Introduces The Mi 4 With LTE and an 8MP Selfie Cam

After taking India by storm with their Xiaomi Mi 3, the chinese smartphone dragons have released their next “flagship,” the Mi 4. Yesterday Xiaomi did something that nobody thought was possible; they pulled a MOTO. Xiaomi’s first India offering, the Mi 3, flew off the shelves within an hour of launch on Flipkart. Even though the companies had provided a pre-registration option, the phones simply vanished, and also managed to crash the website.

Coming back to the star of the moment, the Mi 4. The phone comes with stainless steel styling elements which sets it apart from the Mi 3. The 5-inch 1080p smartphone gets its processing powers from the 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 SoC. The phone has 3GB of RAM and comes with 16/64 GB internal storage options.

The camera on the phone is a 13 megapixel shooter with a wide f/1.8 aperture, so night shooting is going to get a boost from it. The selfie camera is a massive 8 MP; a major upgrade in the MI series. The phone also gets an LTE radio and is juiced up by a 3080 mAh battery. The phone will be sold at CNY 1999 which in Indian currency is about Rs. 19,000 and CNY 2,499 for the 64 GB model which would come out to Rs. 24,000 in India.

The Phone provides multiple back panel options

The phone also comes with IR blaster so that it can be used as a TV remote, a feature that is available in some of the top-end phones in India. Staying true to its customizable origins, the MI 4 also comes with options for designer back panels.

Xiaomi and MIUI fans will probably wait for the phone to come to India as it is only released in China currently. Considering the massive response the Mi 3 got in India, Xiaomi would want to take maximum advantage of the market. It has also increased the appreciation for Chinese products in India. With the amount of specs packed in the Mi 4, its seems that the ‘Apple of China’ already has the next winner of the smartphone race in their hands.

July 22, 2014

Unboxing The Xiaomi Mi3

The Xiaomi Mi3 goes on sale tonight for the Indian market at a mere Rs. 13,999. Despite the fact that Xiaomi is a Chinese manufacturer the phone has one of the best specs and benchmarks in its price bracket. This device is set to release in India tonight and will be available for purchase exclusively on Flipkart.com.

The Xiaomi Mi3 has a 5-inch screen with a 1080X1980 p display on a Qualcomm MSM8274AB Snapdragon 800 chipset. The CPU is a Quad-core 2.3 GHz Krait 400 and the GPU is an Adreno 330. Presently this phone runs on an Android OS, v4.4 KitKat.

The optics are fitted with a primary 13 MP camera, with a 4128 x 3096p, autofocus and a dual LED flash. It also has a secondary camera of 2 MP capable with 1080p video capabilities. The phone has 16 GB internal Storage. Additionally it has a 2 GB RAM which is sufficient to ensure smooth functionality of the device.

Further features also include micro USB port, Bluetooth and Wi-fi and a non-removable Li-Ion 3050 mAh battery.

For a device in its price band it certainly promises to be one of the most dynamic and feature-ful phones. In terms of its functionality and UI it certainly hit all the check boxes. For any person on a fixed budget this flagship introduced by Xiaomi is the phone to order.

Read the Full Specs below:

Size	144 x 73.6 x 8.1 mm (5.67 x 2.90 x 0.32 in)
Weight	145 g (5.11 oz)
Display	5 inch,HD 1080 x 1920 pixels
Android	Android v4.3 (Jellybean)
Sim Card Type	Single Mini Sim
Network	2G Network-GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 19003G network-HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
Memory	Total Storage: 16 GB RAM: 2 GB
GPS	A-GPS, GLONASS
Sensors	Accelerometer,Gyro Sensor,Proximity Sensor,Compass and barometer
Connectivity	3.5 mm sterio audio jack Bluetooth® 4.0 Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Camera	Primary:13 MP, f2.2, 28mm, 4128 x 3096 pixels, autofocus, dual-LED flash Secondary: 2 MP, 1080p@30fps
Price	Rs. 13,999
Battery	Non-removable Li-Ion 3050 mAh batteryStand-by-Up to 500 hrsTalk time-Up to 25 hrsMusic play-Up to 50 h

July 22, 2014

LG G3 Unboxing and Hands On

The LG G3 is finally here and we think it’s priced perfect for market that we are in. We haven’t been this excited for a product in a while and the G3 just makes the cut. The phone is a beautiful amalgamation of specs and design, hardware and looks, brains and brawn, basically however you put it, LG may have the perfect smartphone here.

Let us put everything in perspective, the G3 is packed with a beautiful 5.5 inch 2560 x 1440 px display, giving this bad boy a whopping 534 pixels per inch density on the IPS panel. You also get Gorilla Glass 3 and a highly optimised and fast Snapdragon 801 Qualcomm MSM8975AC chipset with Quad Cores and 2.5 Ghz on the clock.

The beauty of it all is that for a price difference of just a few thousand rupees/ less than 50$ , you can get a higher speced version with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage vs the usual 16GB storage and 2 GB RAM version.

The box is golden in colour and is representative of the LG G series of phones. Like many smartphones before this you will see the usual set of things in the box, a cable a charger, handsfree and documentation. LG has ignored the need of things like NFC tags and such, because frankly there is no need.

Camera and Laser Autofocus

Price wise the lower spec’d variant will be available for Rs. 46999 vs the 3GB + 32 GB variant which has been launched for Rs. 49999. Did we mention that the device is LTE enabled. Watch the Unboxing below.

July 21, 2014
New Launch : The LG G3 Comes to India For Rs. 47,990

LG has officially launched the baddest smartphone till date in India, the LG G3, officially for a smart price of Rs. 47,990 for the 16 GB variant and Rs. 52,990 for the 32 GB variant. The LG G3 is also the first commercially available phone from a big manufacturer to feature a 2K display and what a display it is!

The LG G3 is the third iteration in their flagship line and we have to say, unlike their Korean counter brand, they seem to be innovating on the right side of the brain which is usually the left. The G3 has a 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor and comes in 16 and 32GB internal storage variants with 2GB and 3GB RAM, respectively. Both models support up to 128GB microSD cards.

LG has also made the battery removable along with the back panel which comes of easy to house one micro sim card and one micro SD card. The phone is LTE enabled from the get go so you should be mostly happy with the bands supported.

LG has positioned Amitabh Bachchan as the promotion celeb for this particular product and you will see a lot more of him in the coming days is what LG tells us.

LG has also mastered the focus capabilities of this phone says the company thanks to the new Laser autofocus : which also uses phase detection to get quick and precise focus on your subject so that the 13 MP OIS equipped camera can take a picture for you.

Watch the full Unboxing here, and stay tuned for the Review galore coming right up.

July 21, 2014

Hands On With the HTC Desire 616

HTC recently launched a new phone into the Indian market, and despite the fact that many phones exist with similar specs, the price and HTC reassuring name give the new Desire 616 a definite edge.

The HTC desire 616 has a 5 inch display with 1280 x 720 p display an Octa Core MT6592 chipset that has been down-clocked to 1.4 GHz to ensure proper and efficient battery drain along with stability in the OS. Also, even though a lot of people pointed out in our hands on video that the Desire 616 does not have Sense UI, in reality HTC has added Sense 5.5 to the Desire 616, which is on top of Android Jellybean, with a hope of a KitKat upgrade soon.

The optics are fitted with a decent 8 MP camera with 1080p video capture + a 2 MP camera with 720p video capabilities. The main storage is 4GB which can be moved, in-fact is automatically moved to external storage the minute you add a card, seamless downloads for all. 1GB of RAM will suffice and the device promises a great overall functionality.

HTC has hit the right mark with its recent influx of devices in the Indian Market. With the phones like Desire 816 and 516 becoming hot category favourites, the 616 will be an exciting product for India. Stay tuned for the review and watch our hands on below. (please ignore the error in the initial title)

Read the Full Official Specs Below

Size	142 x 71.9 x 9.15 mm
Weight	150 g
Display	5 inch, HD 720p
CPU Speed	1.4 GHz octa-core CPUs
Platform Android	Android™ HTC BlinkFeed 5.5™
SIM Card Type	Dual SIM (Regular SIM + micro SIM)
Network	2G/ 2.5G – GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 (SIM1 & SIM2) 3G – UMTS/ HSPA: 900/2100 MHz with HSPA+ up to 21Mbps
Memory	Total storage: 4 GB, available capacity varies RAM: 1 GB Expansion microSD™ up to 32GB
GPS	Internal GPS antenna
Sensors	Accelerometer Proximity sensor Ambient light sensor
Connectivity	3.5 mm stereo audio jack Bluetooth® 4.0 Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
Camera	8 MP camera with auto focus 1080p Full HD video recording Front Camera: 2MP Front Camera: 720p video recording
Price	Rs – 16999 at launch
Battery	Capacity: 2000 mAh Removable rechargeable Li-polymer battery Talk Time: Up to 14 hours for 3G Standby time: Up to 700 hours for 3G
AC Adapter	Voltage range/frequency: 100 ~ 240 V AC, 50/60 Hz DC output: 5 V and 1 A

July 21, 2014

Smartphones May Soon Have Anti-Glare Waterproof Screens

In a paper, published in the Applied Materials & Interfaces, Professor Valerio Pruneri from the Institute for Photonic Sciences in Barcelona, along with Corning Incorporated have introduced an invention which is going to make your life a lot easier. The glass can is an anti-glare, waterproof screen which can be incorporated as cellphone display.

Glare has been a major issue in appreciating smartphone content when outdoors. Especially in a country like India which has some intense sunlight, outdoor use is troublesome. This revolutionary new display is stated to obliterate that issue.

Glare has been one of the major issues with mobile screens for long

The technology is quite easy to comprehend. The glass is scratched at the Nano molecular level. This helps to deflect the light away from the user’s eyes. These tiny scratches are so efficient that they do not effect the transparency of the screen. The research team has also made 100nm teeth onto the surface of the screen to deflect water, thereby making it hydrophobic. The textured surface looks like a lotus.

In their paper the team has mentioned that they would need to put the display through some more experimentation to make sure it can be used as a touch screen interface. But here is the best part, they have mentioned that large scale manufacturing of these screens will be inexpensive. This display is totally an “about time” kind of invention. This technology will be a boon for the future of smartphones. With screens capable of playing 2K content on mobile phones, a glareless screen is just what the doctor prescribed.

With this glasses the need for expensive anti glare screen filters also comes to an end.

July 19, 2014
Nokia’s MixRadio To Become a Standalone App

After brutally shutting down brand Nokia yesterday, Microsoft has started the process of restructuring the technology that came with the acquisition. The first in line will be Nokia’s MixRadio.

Guardian reports, this Nokia music service will now become a standalone app. It will still come pre-installed in the Microsoft Windows based mobile phones. The service will provided curated music to the users taste.

The MixRadio had multiple name changes over the years, from Nokia Music Store to OVI Music Store to Nokia MixRadio and now the app will be just known as MixRadio.

The app worked without any advertisement and will continue to do so. The users though have an purchasing option of Rs.50 for 7 days, Rs.99 for 30 days, Rs.250 for 90 days to download unlimited music.

MixRadio’s chief Jyrki Rosenberg claimed this new app a spin-off of the Nokia MixRadio. The app can now be release on platforms like Android and iOS too as it’s now a standalone app. Rosenberg is also in talks with multiple investors to back his app.

The reasons cited for letting MixRadio go is said to Microsoft’s new strategy of depending on external sources for content instead of running their own. The company recently shut down its production studios; Xbox Entertainment Studios too.

We can surely expect more of bits and pieces of Nokia features either going on their own or going into oblivion soon as Microsoft is restrategizing their entire business model which began with the massive job cuts announced recently.

July 19, 2014
Vertu Contemplates a Luxury Smart Watch

British Luxury Smartphone after making a shift to Android are now contemplating going into the smart watch business. Vertu was established by Nokia as a wholly own subsidiary. The company is known for their ostentatious designs which separate them from all other phone companies. The company uses premium materials in designing their phones for their exclusive clientele.

As the market has slowed down for luxury products, the company now is intending to make a entry into premium wearables. Though it’s still in an exploration phase right now, but it can be a real game changer in the watch business. In a market which is dominated by Rolex and Swiss watch makers, a premium Smart watch will be appreciated by the opulent clientele of Vertu.

The Premium watch decision was inspired by the current Smartwatch boom

Until recently, Vertu was one of the few companies which still used Series 40 Symbian OS as their mobile OS. The company released their Android series under the name Vertu Ti and Constellation, thereby finally keeping up with times.

The part about Vertu that separates it from rest is that it offers an experience that matches to its customer’s opulent taste. The phones are handmade and they use materials like calf leather, alligator skin, lizard skin, ceramic, sapphire glass screens. They also use premium metals like titanium and Gold. As these customers have to deal with privacy concern, a basic Symbian set up helps them to access basic phone functionality while looking good doing it.

With their premium pricing which starts from $6000 and can go higher than $168,000 while just being a basic feature phone. If exclusivity is what the users are looking for, Vertu sits at the top-echelons of feature providers. With this affluent buy, the customer gets access to Vertu’s Concierge service. The service offers offers 24-hour worldwide assistance, recommendations and priority bookings, all with a personal touch. They facilitate users every request, from finding the perfect gift to accessing exclusive events, they do it all.

The company now also plans to make an entry into its “affordable” segment, which will still be far away from the reaches of regular consumers. By accepting Android into its phones, Vertu has brought back the aspirational aspect back but it will still be limited to people with unfathomably deep pockets.

July 19, 2014
A New Round of Rumors Emerge About The iPhone 6

With the release drawing close, rumours about the iPhone 6 are on its peak these day. Recently, a report revealed iPhone 6 battery details, suggesting that Apple’s 2014 models may offer better battery performance than the last iPhone.

Image of the battery leaked by French publication Nowhereelse

The 4.7-inch iPhone 6 was expected to have a battery capacity of 1,800 mAh to 1,900 mAh, while the so-called 5.5-inch ‘iPhone Air’ was said to have a 2,500 mAh battery. Now, French publication Nowhereelse has disclosed an image of the purported 4.7-inch iPhone 6’s battery, which may confirm that the battery has a capacity in line with previous reports.

The image revealed by the publication shows a battery assembled in China by Huizhou Desay Battery, which has 1,810 mAh capacity. What’s interesting about the battery maker is that Desay was mentioned in a recent report as one of Apple’s iPhone 6 battery suppliers. The report mentioned the company that is able to meet the iPhone’s battery size requirements for this component.

The iPhone 6 which is said to be launched later this year is expected to be 7mm thin. It was also reported that Apple has placed orders to battery suppliers for 2mm-thick batteries, which are one-third thinner than the batteries found in the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c. Another report illustrates that Apple suppliers encountered challenges mass-producing slimmed-down components for the iPhone 6, including batteries, which could affect their gross margins.

There were images which were previously leaked showing a batch of purported iPhone 6 batteries, although their capacities were not revealed in those leaks. This appears to be the first purported iPhone 6 battery picture that actually lists the capacity of the battery, an important hardware detail, especially considering this year’s models will have significantly bigger displays.

According to Taiwan’s Economic Daily News, the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 will enter mass production starting next week, while the 5.5-inch model will go into mass production almost a month later, during the second week of August. Which means the rumored September release of the device may come true. The publication has also reported that Foxconn will hire 100,000 workers to meet Apple’s iPhone demands this year, which is in line with the unconfirmed reports which said that Apple placed a heavy order. Pegatron, the other iPhone 6 maker, has also hired more than 10,000 additional workers to manufacture the new iPhone, as Apple is rumored to sell up to 70 million iPhone 6 units this year.

July 19, 2014
Samsung Launches 4G-Equipped Galaxy S5 in India
At the very least, we can give credit to Samsung for understanding the need of the hour. With Airtel and Aircel racing to provide India with 4G cover, Samsung has decided to launch a 4G variant of its Flagship Device at the price of Rs 53,500.

While most of its features remain the same as the 3G S5, some of the key features of the new 4G variant include:
- Qualcomm 8974 Pro 2.5 Ghz processor
- Supports Eight 4G LTE bands support
- Advanced Camera (HDR mode, Selective Focus)
- IP67 protection (Dust and Water Resistant)
- Ultra Power Saving Mode (24 hours standby time with 10% battery)
- Download Booster
- Wi-Fi MIMO
For this device, Samsung and Airtel have tied up and are making a special data offer to Samsung S5 customers. All existing and new Airtel 4G subscribers will get 5GB 4G data/month free for 2 months. The device will be available in India from 20th July in Copper Gold, Charcoal Black and Shimmery White colour options.

One of the impressive features of this phone is the Download Booster. It allows users to access 4G and Wi-Fi simultaneously, resulting in super high connectivity.

All this sounds pretty fancy, but we’d advise recommend you not to make a hasty purchase, since the brand is notorious for reducing its prices.
July 18, 2014
Facebook Mentions: An Exclusive App for Celebrities

Celebrities get to live a good life. Once in public view, they get loads of cool stuff or in words of Ricky Gervais, “Once you get rich, people start giving you stuff for free.” Now Facebook is coming out with an exclusive app called “Facebook Mentions” that is accessible only to public figures.

Users can follow others and keep a track of trending topics easily

Twitter has become a medium for prominent personalities to connect with their admirers. From Movie Stars, Musicians, Politicians to even Scientists and Astronauts have used the website to connect to their followers. With this exclusive app, Facebook will try to make itself more attractive to the celebrity clientele.

To get access to this app one needs to have a verified page on Facebook. Currently, the app runs only on iOS 7 or higher versions (well that’s going a bit too exclusive.) The app lets users host Q&A with their followers, discover and join conversations relating to them. It also makes the users follow others and shows them what is trending on Facebook so they can share their thoughts on the matter.

Facebook Mentions makes it easier for these personalities to share multimedia content with their followers. It is speculated that the Beats-Apple deal celebration video will be posted through this application.

This app makes life a lot easier for social media managers of celebrities to keep in touch with the perception of their bosses in the public. Ever since social media came into existence, celebrities have had a direct communication channels with their fans and followers. Facebook Mentions hopes to be the exclusive medium for this interaction.

July 18, 2014
No Signal? Pocket-Sized Device ‘goTenna’ Will Help You Stay Connected

Stuck in the desert or the mountains or even at home with no signal on your smartphone? Here’s the best way to communicate. GoTenna, a Brooklyn-based startup is offering a solution for off-the-grid travelers who need low-cost connectivity for their smartphone – and it doesn’t even rely on satellites.

GoTenna is a pocket-size communication tool that lets smartphones talk to one another without cell service.

This device connects to your phone via Bluetooth and turns it into a low-frequency radio with a range of several miles (up to 50 miles). Using an iOS or Android app, that’ll let you text or share GPS locations (no voice calls) over an unlimited, free ad hoc network with other goTenna users.

GoTenna is 5.8 inches in length and weighs 2 ounces. This pocket size device is easily portable and allows easy communication in the times of need

The team behind it says that everything is encoded, and the app will automatically retry until your message goes through. goTenna, however, doesn’t give your smartphone LTE-style data, so no Twitter scrolling or Facebook browsing.

The device is a little too big for your pocket, but it clips easily to a belt or a backpack. The company’s planning on selling a limited number for $150 per pair on their site to raise $50,000 in funding, after that, it’ll sell for $300.

July 18, 2014
Android Wear to Release API For Watch Faces

Smart watches are a buzzing product ecosystem right now. It’s a great new device and almost all major tech companies are trying their hands with this gizmo. Google’s Android Wear OS based devices are particular generating a lot of interest.

With Google providing development opportunities for apps for the Wear devices, there has been a boom in the apps for such smart watches. Android customizability has been its strength from the beginning. Now they are providing API to 3rd party developers to create new watch faces. With the options for square and circle shapes, the options can be endless.

Multiple watch face options will give versatile looks to the watches

Wayne Piekarski, Senior Developer Advocate at Google, announced through a Google+ post that the new API make it easy for developers to make all round watch faces. Think of the convenience of having multiple clock faces in one watch, you can literally have a new watch to flaunt every day.

Earlier, the process of making watch faces was a bit slow as a developer needed to integrate several tweaks for the watch faces but this API will simplify that process. He stated “Customization has helped Android thrive, and the same will be true for Android Wear.”

July 18, 2014
Finnish Smartphone Company Jolla Enters India With Snapdeal

Today began with a sad news. The last remnants of Nokia will be shredded in the coming months with Microsoft pulling the plug on Nokia X. This Finnish giant had ruled the mobile market during its formative years, and now it is a chapter for the history books. But if you thought that it was the end of Finland’s involvement in the Indian mobile market then you have to think twice. Another Finnish company, Jolla is all set to make an entry into India.

Jolla Phones run on Sailfish OS which wont take long to get used to.

Jolla markets phones running on the Sailfish OS. Jolla (Ok, it’s actually pronounced as Yolla), has signed an exclusive partnership with Snapdeal.com to market their products in India.

The Sailfish OS has evolved from Nokia backed OS, Meego. Guess some legacy of Nokia will still be around apart from, of course, the Nokia 3310 which is known to survive stellar supernovas. The Sailfish OS is unique in the sense of its gesture heavy interface. Multiple functions on the phone can be targeted through interactive gestures. The learning curve is minimal if you have some smartphone experience. The best part, Sailfish is compatible with Android applications which will definitely make it desirable for many enthusiasts.

The sharp design features looks good on the phones.

Jolla’s co-founder and CEO Sami Pienimäki said that there had been a lot of interest in India concerning Jolla phones, and that’s why they landed here. It is a good alternative for people looking for a different user experience in comparison to devices flooded in the market.

Meanwhile the co-founder and CEO of Snapdeal, Kunal Bahl commented on the deal saying “The market in India offers few choices in terms of mobile operating systems. Jolla with its innovative Sailfish OS introduces an entirely new user experience to consumers. Jolla offers a unique smartphone experience both in terms of hardware and software. We look forward to a long-term and mutually beneficial relationship.”

There are multiple back panel options too.

India’s mobile market is currently bustling with some youthful energy with multiple companies trying to impress Indians with their products. In the past few months some major international manufacturers like Asus, Xiaomi and some smaller ones like Obi have entered India.

With Jolla also coming into the fray, Indian consumers will have a good number of option to choose. In times of heavy price rises, a healthy competition in the mobile segment can be in favor of the consumers. The phones will be available for purchase within a month.

July 18, 2014