The annual iPhone launch event hosted by Apple is set to take place at the Steve Jobs Theatre in San Cupertino, California in less than 3 hours and. The event starts at 10 a.m. PDT/10:30 p.m. IST and will stream live on Apple Inc.’s website. The stream can be watched live here. It is worth noting that the live stream uses Apple’s HLS technology. HLS requires an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with Safari on iOS 9.0 or later, a Mac with Safari on macOS v10.11 or later, or a PC with Microsoft Edge on Windows 10. Streaming via Apple TV requires an Apple TV (2nd or 3rd generation) with software 6.2 or later or an Apple TV (4th generation). The American tech giant is expected to unveil a host of products at the event, most notably the iPhone 8.
iPhone 8
The iPhone or the iPhone X Edition, whatever Apple decides to call it, is one of the most anticipated smartphones of 2017. Apple is expected to shed the bezels from its previous generation iPhones and present smartphone which will have a 6 inch OLED display with minimal bezels around it. The smartphone will run iOS 11 and will be powered by a 3000 mAh battery. Apple will also drop the Rose Gold colour variant and introduce the iPhone 8 in Black, White and Blush Gold colours. The cameras at the back will be vertically placed this time around also shoot 4K videos at 60 FPS. Due to the exclusion of bezels, Apple will reportedly also drop the TouchID home button and replace it with a 3D facial recognition system.
The two variants will be an upgrade over the last year’s iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Not a lot has been said about the two ‘S’ models because of all the hype surrounding the iPhone 8. The iPhone 7S and 7S Plus will retain the design language of the previous generation iPhones and have thick bezels around the display. A major upgrade this time around will be the wireless charging capabilities, much like the iPhone 8, meaning the phones will have a glass back instead of metal. The frame around the phone will still be metal to give it a more sturdy look. The iPhone 7S Plus will feature horizontally placed dual-cameras, much like the iPhone 7 Plus. Reports also suggest that Apple will name the two models the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus and the flagship iPhone as the iPhone X Edition.
LTE Enabled Apple Watch
The Apple Watch has dominated the wearable gadgets industry and it looks like Apple is gearing up to launch an LTE enabled Apple Watch which can replace your iPhone for a day if you manage to forget it at home or somewhere else.Intel will be the LTE chip supplier for the new smartwatch. Qualcomm has long been the chip supplier for Apple mobile devices, but since the companies are embroiled in a legal dispute, Apple has chosen Intel for the task at hand. Intel also supplied chips for some of the iPhones last year. Apple is already in talks with network carriers in the US and Europe, such AT&T, T-Mobile etc for the next gen Apple Watch.
A recent glitch on Discover’s “Deals” website revealed a 7th generation iPod Touch which was also vaguely indicated in the recent iOS 11 GM leak. A 4K video capable Apple TV will also be unveiled on September 12.
Microsoft and DJ duo, The Chainsmokers have teamed up for a custom Xbox One S edition that lights up when you play. Microsoft has addressed that this is a part of a larger initiative where the company will team up with more celebrities and brands for custom XBon One S editions. The custom console uses a small, USB-powered processor that converts sound into a changing light show. There are 60 pixels that light and creates what Microsoft says is a 3D effect.
Chainsmokers released a statement in support of the new console expressing their excitement at the opportunity to collaborate with Microsoft.
We were really pumped to work with Xbox on this project and help bring our music to life in a new way, by combining it with the best gaming console in the world. We knew the team would do something amazing, but when we saw the custom Xbox One S for the first time, we were both blown away by how cool the design is.
Aaron Greenberg, GM of Games Marketing at Xbox, stated that throughout the years, he has seen a lot of unique consoles, but nothing quite like this. Greenberg added that the Chainsmokers Xbox One S console “is a true piece of art.”
Microsoft has decided to give away the console. You can try your luck by following The Chainsmokers on Twitter and replying to them with a message about why you like the design of the console. The details about the giveaway contest can be found here.
Getting your hands on one of these custom XBox One S consoles seems is a bit of a stretch, but, the XBox One X will launch in November, which Microsoft claims is the most powerful console it has ever made. The XBox One X will be priced at USD 500 (Rs. 32,000), which is much more than the USD 250 (Rs. 16,000 approx.) price of the XBox One S.
The Samsung Galaxy Note8 has been launched in India at a price of Rs 67900 for the 6GB of RAM and 64GB onboard storage variant, the price is not a lot more than that of the S8+ 128GB variant. The Note8 which was announced recently for the global market, has made its way to India rather soon. The signature flagship S Pen equipped Note8 replaces the Note7 which never made its way to India officially.
In a signature Samsung fashion, the box of the Galaxy Note8 has ‘Note8’ embossed on the box in a blue colour, with the storage variant written at the side of it. An over view of the specifications can be found on the back of the box. Inside You get the following:
The Samsung Galaxy Note8
S Pen
Tweezer And Extra Pen Tips
USB Power Adaptor
USB Type C Cable
Micro USB Connector
USB Connector (USB Type C)
AKG Earphones
Sim Ejection Tool
Documentation
Protective Case (India Only)
We have the Midnight Black colour variant and the phone has been lauched in Maple Gold colour as well. The Samsung Galaxy Note8 is the first Note device to launch in India after the Galaxy Note5, but, the design of the Note8 is more reminiscent of the Galaxy S8 and S8+. The device retains most of the design elements of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and back and a metal frame around the edges. On the front is also a 6.3 inch 2960 x 1440 px Super AMOLED infinity display with minimal bezels on the top and bottom of the phone. The aspect ratio of the phone is 18.5:9, which is the same as the Galaxy S8 and S8+. The fingerprint sensor as well is still placed at the back of the phone right next to the dual-cameras. The edges of the device are more squared off, which is a signature design aspect of the Note series.
Powering the device is a 3300 mAh battery which is smaller than the 3500 mAh battery found on the Galaxy Note7 with wireless charging capabilities, and runs Android Nougat 7.1.1 with Samsung’s custom skin on top. The device has the Exynos 8895 chipset, 2.3GHz Quad-Core (Custom CPU) + 1.7GHz Quad-Core (Cortex-A53) processor, 6GB of RAM and 128GB onboard storage, which is expandable up to 256GB via microSD card. The graphics are handled by the Mali-G71 MP20 GPU. The Galaxy Note8 and the S Pen are both IP68 certified water and dust resistant.
The new Note8 has a 12MP dual-camera setup, one of which has a wide lens and the other a telephoto. The telephoto lens allows a user to zoom in losslessly for an up to 2x magnification. The use of dual camera allows for the ability to blur out the background for professional looking bokeh effect shots, something that seems to be common in smartphones in 2017. This is much like effects seen on past dual camera phones like the iPhone 7 Plus to the OnePlus 5 and the Xiaomi Mi A1.
The Samsung Galaxy Note8 also records 4K videos at 30 FPS along with high-speed video at a lower resolution. The front camera has an 8MP sensor with an f/1.7 aperture and also records 4K UHD videos at 30 FPS.
The new S Pen has a list of new features that make the Note8 exciting, especially for previous Note device owners. The new live message allows you to scribble a message and then save the animation as a Gif file. This can then be shared with anyone using any app that supports Gif files and is not restricted to Samsung devices. The Pen glance feature and snap window are some other interesting things that we have detailed in our unboxing video below.
For more details on the launch offers, Click Here.
Watch our unboxing of the Samsung Galaxy Note8 here
Samsung has launched the Galaxy Note8 in India at a price of Rs. 67900 for the 64GB onboard storage variant. The Galaxy Note8 is the first note series smartphone to sell in India in always two years, since the launch of the Note5. While Samsung had taken registration for the Note7 last year, the company never launched the phone in India due to its global recall. The Galaxy Note8 is the third Samsung flagship smartphone launched in the country in 2017 after the Galaxy S8 and S8+ were launched earlier in the year. Despite the late launch and the success of the Galaxy S8 and S+, over 250,000 people registered on Samsung India’s official website to buy the phone.
The Galaxy Note8 has a 6.3 inch 2960 x 1440 px Super AMOLED display with an 18.5:9 aspect ratio, which is the same aspect ratio found on the Galaxy S8 and S8+. The Galaxy Note8 retains the design language of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ with an all glass body and a metal frame and an awkwardly placed fingerprint sensor at the back. The Note8 also retains the dedicated Bixby button and Samsung has announced that Bixby Voice will now be available in India. The differentiating aspect of the design is the cornered edges, which has become a signature of the Note series. Powering the device is a 3300 mAh battery which is smaller than the 3500 mAh battery found on the Galaxy Note7 with wireless charging capabilities, and runs Android Nougat 7.1.1 with Samsung’s custom skin on top. The device has the Exynos 8895 chipset, 2.3GHz Quad-Core (Custom CPU) + 1.7GHz Quad-Core (Cortex-A53) processor, 6GB of RAM and 128GB onboard storage, which is expandable up to 256GB via microSD card. The graphics are handled by the Mali-G71 MP20 GPU. The Galaxy Note8 and the S Pen are both IP68 certified water and dust resistant and will be available in Midnight Black and Maple Gold colour variants.
The Galaxy Note8 is also the first Samsung smartphone to feature a dual-camera setup. The new Note8 has a 12MP dual-camera setup, one of which has a wide lens and the other a telephoto. The telephoto lens allows a user to zoom in losslessly for an up to 2x magnification. The use of dual camera allows for the ability to blur out the background for professional looking bokeh effect shots, something that seems to be common in smartphones in 2017. The Galaxy Note8, Samsung claims, is the first smartphone to feature OIS in both the cameras at the back. This is much like effects seen on past dual camera phones like the iPhone 7 Plus to the OnePlus 5 and the Xiaomi Mi A1. The Samsung Galaxy Note8 also records 4K videos at 30 FPS along with high-speed video at a lower resolution. The front camera has an 8MP sensor with an f/1.7 aperture and also records 4K UHD videos at 30 FPS.
Over the years, the Note series has grown from a more business buyers-centric lineup into a broader audience targeted lineup. The large screen, premium specifications and build quality have made the Note devices ideal for media consumption. The Galaxy Note8 is also the only smartphone in 2017 that sells with a stylus as a bundle. The S pen is not an ordinary stylus and has a lot of features that make it unique. Smart Select, which allows you to easily select, clip and copy the content that you like. A new addition to the Note8 is the ability to send .gif messages drawn using the S Pen, which will playback to the recipient in the way you draw them, much like those seen on iMessage. The Screen Off Memo, allows users to quickly jot down important notes and details, when the phone is locked with the screen off, this is activated automatically when the pen is removed from the Note8. The S Pen is closely linked to the Note8, so the phone will remind you to pick if your S Pen if you leave it behind. The Note8 also activates a S Pen specific menu each time you pull the Pen from the device.
The Samsung Galaxy Note8 will be available from 21st September on Amazon India and Samsung India’s official website. The phone will be available offline at select retail outlets later in September. Samsung has also introduced a Note upgrade program wherein current Galaxy Note users can upgrade to the Galaxy Note8 at a discounted price. HDFC credit card users will also get Rs 4000 cashback on pre-orders. Samsung has tamed up with Reliance Jio to offer up to 448GB of extra 4G data over 8 months to Galaxy Note8 users.
HMD Global launched the Nokia 8 in August at an event held in London. The Nokia 8 is the first flagship smartphone running Android OS under the brand name of Nokia and turned a few heads at the time of its launch. The smartphone was highly anticipated because of the nostalgia factor and launched with high-end specifications. At the time of its launch, HMD Global announced that the phone will be made globally available in mid-September. Now, the Nokia 8 has been launched in Malaysia at a price of RM 2,299 (Rs. 35,000 approx.), which means that its entry in other major Asian markets like India is not too far away. That being said, there is no official word on the date of launch of the Nokia 8 in India yet. The smartphone might have a lot of suitors in India as Nokia was one of the most well-known brands in the pre-smartphone era and a chance to hold a premium Nokia handset again might influence quite a few buyers.
To recall, the Nokia 8 has a 5.3 inch 2560 x 1440 px display and 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for protection. A flagship device of 2017, the Nokia 8 does have a very unlike 2017 design with thick bezels around the display. The smartphone has an aluminum unibody design. The Nokia 8, however, has IP54 rating for splash resistance. The fingerprint sensor is housed inside a physical home button which sits between two navigation touch capacitive buttons below the screen. Powering the device is a 3,090mAh battery with QuickCharge 3.0 support via USB Type-C port. The Nokia 8 runs stock Android 7.1.1 OS and the company has promised monthly security updates and yearly Android updates. Under the hood is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset and a 2.45GHz octa-core processor, the Adreno 540 GPU, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage which is expandable via microSD card.
In terms of optics, the Nokia 8 is very 2017 flagship-like device. The smartphone is the first Nokia Android device to feature Carl Zeiss optics. In a very 2017 move, the Nokia 8 boasts a Zeiss powered dual camera setup at the rear – a primary 13MP RGB (colour) sensor with optical image stabilisation paired with a 13MP secondary monochrome (black and white) sensor and an f/2.0 aperture. The dual-camera setup is capable of recording videos in 4K at 30 FPS and has a portrait mode for bokeh effect. On the front is a 13MP camera with an f/2.0 aperture which can also record 4K videos at 30FPS.
In the overcrowded world of premium smartphones, Nokia has taken a step further to try and differentiate itself from the crowd. The device has a feature called Bothie. It is the first smartphone in the world which allows ‘Dual-Sight’ video to be live streamed natively and in real-time to social feeds such as YouTube and Facebook. Dual-Sight allows you to use the front and rear camera at the same time in a split screen view. Another feature that the smartphone boasts is called OZO Audio in which the smartphone’s three microphones and Nokia’s acoustic algorithms allow you to capture 360-degree spatial surround sound. You can also share 4K videos with OZO audio with anyone – binaural codecs ensure high fidelity playback even on devices without OZO Audio.
The Nokia 8, when it does enter the India market, might be priced in the sub-45K category, considering the price bracket of its launch in Malaysia. The smartphone will face competition from the likes of the OnePlus and LG G6, both of which also offer dual-camera setups, albeit different implementations. The wait for a Nokia branded Android flagship is not too far away and we will keep you updated on all the latest developments surrounding the Nokia 8 launch in India.
The iGyaan signature Top Tech series is back. For all your tech budget shopping needs, here are the top 10 tech accessories you can buy for under Rs. 1000!
1. 1More Piston Earphones
The 1iMore earphones are sturdy, look premium for a price of Rs 999 and have tangle-resistant cables. The sound is bass-heavy and the fit comfortably in the ears. If you are looking for a budget-friendly pair of earphones which offer a bass-heavy sound, the 1More earphones are worth a shot.
2. 3-In-1 Magnetic Cables
These cables are well-built and have a braided design. The cable comes with 3 magnetic connectors made out of aluminum, a micro USB port, a Type C port and lightning port. The magnetic connectors are inserted in your devices and can be left there to instantly connect the cable without any hassles. The cables cost Rs 999 and fit the bill if you have multiple devices to charge which use different ports for charging.
3. Spill Proof Mug
This mug costs Rs 790 and is the solution to you spilling your favourite drinks on your keyboards or other gadgets. The mighty mug has a suction cup at the bottom and can only be lifted vertically, so, whenever you accidentally hit the mug, it won’t topple and spill out the drink on to your desk.
4. Portable Laptop Cooler
This is a must-have gadget for all laptop owners. This USB powered laptop cooler attaches at the vent of your laptop and allows more air to circulate through your laptop. This results in cooler running temperatures and will come in extra handy if you are a power user. This laptop cooler is available on Amazon at a price of Rs. 999.
5. SanDisk Dual Drive
This dual drive from San Disk has a 32GB storage space and connects to smartphones with a micro USB port. It has a traditional USB port on the other side to transfer data from a desktop or laptop on to the OTG drive. The SanDisk Dual Drive is currently available on Amazon at a price of Rs 925.
6. Desktop Heater
This nifty desktop heater can be your companion at work when the mighty winter arrives. It is available in multiple colours and can be adjusted to give you heat at the right angle. It is priced at Rs. 900.
7. Mi Selfie Stick
Let’s admit it, we all buy the fancy phones nowadays in pursuit of that perfect club selfie with your friends. The pleasure of getting that group selfie with all your friends in it just makes the day a little better, doesn’t it? The Xiaomi Selfie Stick is the perfect companion when it comes to taking those tedious group selfies ensuring all your friends are in the frame!
This powercube extension has a 3-meter cable and 5 sockets. It also ships with an attachment which allows you to stick the power cube on your desk. Because of the design, you can use all the ports at once unlike a lot of multi-socket adaptors that max out at two or three ports.
9. 4-In-1 Card Reader
This card reader will come in handy if you use multiple devices for media consumption or file transfers. The card reader has a micro USB connector, a lightning port connector, and a USB Type C connector which makes it compatible with any smartphone. The card reader is not the fastest but, it is a nifty little accessory to have during emergencies.
10. Cable Sleeve
These cable sleeves can be cut into pieces and used for cable management across your office space or your desk at home for tidy look.
Xiaomi has launched the Mi Notebook Pro in China at the Mi Mix 2 event along with the Mi Note 3. The launch of the Mi Notebook Pro saw Xiaomi take a sly dig at Apple MacBook Pro while boasting about its several ports, a better keyboard, fingerprint sensor and the Windows 10 operating system. The Mi Notebook Air, that launched in 2016 was a cheaper competitor to the MacBook Air and its 2017 iteration has targeted the more expensive Apple laptop.
You can now forget about carrying port extensions just because.. you know, we've got it all! pic.twitter.com/FxxGbXaySE
The nomenclature of the Mi Notebook Pro is very similar to the MacBook Pro, has a 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 px display and the top-end variant is powered by an 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor with up to 16GB RAM and a Nvidia GeForce MX150 graphics chip. Xiaomi claims that because of what’s under the hood, the Notebook Pro will be 40% faster than the Notebook Air from 2016. The laptop has a full-metal unibody design and 7 integrated ports. The new Notebook Pro includes a fingerprint sensor housed inside the trackpad, three-in-one SD card support, a total of 7 USB-C and regular USB ports, a headphone jack and a full HDMI slot. The speakers are custom-built and powered by Harman.
The Mi Notebook Pro as of now looks like a China-only product, just like the Mi Notebook Air. The Pro variant is also a little more expensive than its Air sibling.
Intel i5/8GB of RAM – 5599 RMB (Rs. 55,000 approx.)
Intel Coffee Lake i7/8GB of RAM – 6699 RMB (Rs. 62,000 approx.)
Intel Coffee Lake i7/16GB of RAM – 6999 RMB (Rs. 68,000 approx.)
Even though Xiaomi wants to pit the Notebook Pro against the Apple MacBook Pro, there are enough Windows powered laptops in a similar price bracket with top-end specifications. There is no word right now whether the Notebook Pro will launch in the global markets or not hence, how much of a threat the Xiaomi laptop will be to the MacBook Pro is yet to be seen.
Similar to last year’s Xiaomi Mi Mix launch event, Xiaomi unveiled its new iteration of the Mi Note series during the Mi Mix 2 launch. The Mi Note 3 has been launched along with the Mi Mix 2 at a starting price of CNY 2,899 (Rs. 28,300 approx.). The smartphone will be available in Black and Blue colour variants.
The Xiaomi Mi Note 3 has a 5.5 inch 1920 x 1080 px IPS LCD display with a pixel density of 403ppi and a 94.4 percent NTSC colour gamut. The smartphone is powered by a 3,500 mAh battery with QuickCharge 3.0 through USB TYpe C port and runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat with Xiaomi’s custom MIUI 9 on top. Xiaomi has boasted about the phone’s ‘Adaptable AI Beautify’ feature, which the Chinese smartphone maker claims is a result of over half a year’s R&D. The feature uses AI-based algorithms to beautify selfies and has a different algorithm for men and women. Under the hood, the Xiaomi Mi Note 3 has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset, 6GB RAM, and 64GB or 128GB onboard storage options. The onboard storage can not be expanded. The fingerprint sensor is placed under the glass at the front device, just below the display.
In the camera department, unlike the Mi Mix 2, the Mi Note 3 features a dual-camera setup at the back. The primary 12MP camera has a wide angle lens and an f/1.8 aperture and the secondary 12MP camera has a telephoto lens with an f/2.6 aperture. This setup is similar to a lot of dual-camera smartphones and offers 2X lossless zooming capabilities. It also has features such as Bokeh effect shots and a portrait mode very similar to the one on the iPhone 7 Plus. The front facing camera has a 16MP sensor with a 2-micron pixel size.
The Xiaomi Mi Note 3 price starts at CNY 2,499 (Rs. 24,500 approx.) for the 6GB RAM/64GB storage variant, CNY 2,899 (Rs. 28,300 approx.) for the 6GB RAM/128GB storage variant in Black, and CNY 2,999 (roughly Rs. 29,400) for the 6GB RAM/ 128GB inbuilt storage variant in Blue. As is the case with the Mi Mix 2, there is no word on the Mi Note 3’s availability in the global market yet.
The highly anticipated successor to last year’s bezel-less Mi Mix, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 has been launched in China at a starting price of CNY 3,299 (Rs. 32,000 approx.). The Xiaomi Mi Mix received a lot of traction in 2016 because of its tri-bezel less design and a front camera placed in the bottom chin. The Mi Mix 2 has been launched with 2017 flagship specifications, thinner bezels and will be available in Black and White colour variants.
While the Mi Mix had a 6.4-inch display with a 17:9 aspect ratio, the new Mi Mix 2 has a 5.99 inch 2160 x 1080 px LCD display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. The Mi Mix 2 has a 12% reduced bottom bezel and a screen-to-body ratio of 80.8%. The device features a cantilever piezoelectric ceramic acoustic speaker and ultrasonic proximity sensor. The device is powered by a 3,400 mAh battery which is considerably smaller than the previous generation Mix’s 4,400 mAh battery. The Mi Mix 2 runs Android 7.1.1 with Xiaomi’s custom MIUI 9 on top. Under the hood, the flagship smartphone has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset, Adreno 540 GPU, 6GB RAM and storage options of 64GB, 128GB or 256GB. A special edition Mi Mix 2 with a full ceramic body, 8GB RAM and 128GB onboard storage has also been announced. The onboard storage will not be expandable due to the absence of a microSD card slot. The fingerprint sensor is placed at the back of the device just below the camera.
On the optics front, the Mi Mix 2 has a very unlike-2017 flagship single camera setup at the back. The smartphone sports a 12-megapixel Sony IMX386 sensor with 1.25-micron pixels, an f/2.0 aperture 4-axis optical image stabilisation, 5-piece lens, and facial recognition. On the front is a 5MP which features facial recognition as well.
As far as pricing is concerned, the 6GB RAM/64GB storage variant is priced at CNY 3,299 (Rs. 32,000 approx.). The 6GB RAM/128GB variant will cost CNY 3,599 (Rs. 35,300 approx.) and the 6GB/256GB variant will be priced at CNY 3,999 (Rs. 39,200 approx.) The special edition full ceramic body variant with 8GB RAM/128GB storage is priced at CNY 4,699 (Rs. 46,000 approx.). There is no word on the Mi Mix 2’s global availability yet.
The Samsung Galaxy Note8 has already received record-breaking pre-orders in the United States and South Korea. In India, Samsung’s new flagship device, the Galaxy Note8 will launch on September 12th and according to the company over 250,000 people have already registered on Samsung India’s official website.
Samsung India’s website accepts registration by collecting contact information. This registration does not require any financial transaction and is different from a pre-order. In comparison the Galaxy S8 and S8+ had received 150,000 Pre-orders (not registrations) when they were launched in India earlier this year. How many of the 2.5 lac people, already registered with Samsung,will buy the phone is yet unknown. The Galaxy Note8 is the first note series smartphone to sell in India in always two years, since the launch of the Note5. While Samsung had taken registration for the Note7 last year, the company never launched the phone in India due to its global recall. The high number of Note8 registrations is also said to be due to the large number of Note loyalist waiting to upgrade from their dated Note5 devices. Samsung will bundle the first few orders of the Galaxy Note8 with its DeX dock and data offers to excite the customer, and also to introduce them to the new DeX dock which is an upgraded version of the DeX dock launched with the Galaxy S8 and S8+. The Note8 also features the Bixby assistant, with a dedicated button like the Galaxy S8 and S8+, however, Bixby voice is not available in India yet.
Samsung’s Note lineup has always been unique, and is presently the only smartphone which sells with a stylus as a bundle. The Pen was designed and utilised in the Note series by the South Korean manufacturer because the company wanted to make and sell a phone to the business buyer. However, after several launches of the Note series of phones, the consumer audience has accepted and appreciated the Note phones as a flagship, due to the design and materials used in the phone along with some of the features it offers.
The Note8 just like every Note phone before it includes a S Pen. But, the S pen is not an ordinary stylus and has a lot of features that make it unique. Smart Select, which allows you to easily select, clip and copy the content that you like. A new addition to the Note8 is the ability to send .gif messages drawn using the S Pen, which will playback to the recipient in the way you draw them, much like those seen on iMessage. The Screen Off Memo, allows users to quickly jot down important notes and details, when the phone is locked with the screen off, this is activated automatically when the pen is removed from the Note8. The S Pen is closely linked to the Note8, so the phone will remind you to pick if your S Pen if you leave it behind. The Note8 also activates a S Pen specific menu each time you pull the Pen from the device. These features mixed with the iP68 certification of both the S-pen and Note8 can draw the consumers toward shelling out the extra money Samsung is asking for the Note8.
Samsung has a lot riding on the Galaxy Note8, especially considering the bad press the company got from the Note7 last year. The new note has a 12MP dual-camera setup, one of which has a wide lens and the other a telephoto. The telephoto lens allows a user to zoom in loss-lessly for an upto 2x magnification. The use of dual camera allows for the ability to blur out the background for professional looking bokeh effect shots, something that seems to be common in smartphones in 2017. This is much like effects seen on past dual camera phones all the way from the iPhone 7 Plus to the new Mi Ai with devices from companies like Huawei and OnePlus offing similar functionality. The Samsung Galaxy Note8 also records 4K videos at 30 FPS along with high speed video at a lower resolution. The front camera has an 8MP sensor with an f/1.7 aperture and also records 4K UHD videos at 30 FPS.
The Note8 is expected to launch in India in only one of the three storage variants available globally, the phone will subsequently go on sale after the September 12th launch. With a high expected launch price (Rs. 74999) and not a lot of unique differences in the new Samsung Galaxy Note 8, buyers may opt for the Samsung Galaxy S8+ with identical features (sans S Pen) and a much lower price of Rs. 65,999.
High Dynamic Range (HDR) is not new in the world of tech, but, it is no longer restricted to high-end Televisions anymore. YouTube has started rolling out an update for HDR support to select Android devices.
The feature was made available to HDR televisions last year and now phones like the Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+, Galaxy Note8, Sony Xperia XZ Premium, and the LG V30 will have HDR support as well. Since YouTube has not officially announced the update yet, there are doubts over other handsets getting the update. The feature was observed to be available in videos starting 144p resolution.
Even though the update is a useful upgrade and will surely bump up the video viewing experience, all doesn’t seem rosy for the users of aforementioned devices, According to SlashGear, Reddit users are reporting stuttering videos and battery-draining brightness levels. Some users have also claimed that the update gets rid of the option to switch to full screen.
HDR videos have a wider colour gamut with the shadows having more details than the usual non-HDR video formats. HDR images are supported a more accurate representation of what a human-eye can see. Netflix has also jumped this ship and the Netflix CEO said, “Starting with the LG G6 phones that support both Dolby Vision and HDR 10 streams, Netflix would be supporting HDR on mobile devices” during the 2017 Mobile World Congress.
A more aggressive push with fixed bugs expected to be rolled out by Google to more devices in the future, but, as of now, if you own any of the devices currently supported, click on the three dots while playing a video and select the desired resolution.
Xiaomi Mi A1 was launched in India on September 5th at a price of Rs 14999. Two USPs of the device are the dual-camera setup and stock Android OS. The Mi A1 is the first Xiaomi smartphone to feature stock Android OS in association with Google’s Android One program. The company has also confirmed that the device will receive Android 8.0 Oreo update before the end of 2017.
The smartphone has a 5.5 inch 1920 x 1080 px LTPS display with Corning Gorilla Glass on top for protection and aluminum unibody build. Powering the device is a 3080 mAh battery and 2A charging through the Type C port. The Mi A1 runs pure Android 7.1.2 Nougat OS. Even though the phone has stock Android OS, Xiaomi has retained a few apps, such as the Mi camera app since the Google app doesn’t support dual-camera functions right now. The phone has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chipset, 8x ARM Cortex A53 2.0GHz 64-bit processor, 4GB RAM and 64GB of onboard storage which is expandable via microSD card. Handling the graphics under the hood is the Adreno 505 GPU. The fingerprint sensor sits at the back of the device below the camera. Xiaomi has also included a dedicated headphone amplifier for better music listening experience.
In terms of optics, the smartphone features dual sensors – 12MP with an f/2.2 aperture (26mm) and 12MP with an f/2.6 aperture (50mm) setup with 1.25-micron pixel size. Out of the two cameras at the back, the primary one is equipped with a telephoto lens and the secondary camera has a wide-angle lens. The telephoto lens allows the user to take bokeh effect shots with blurred background and a 2X optical lossless zoom. For landscape shots, Xiaomi has introduced a wide angle lens while on the front is a 5MP camera.
Apple recently sent out invites for its September 12 event where it will announce three new iPhones and a host of upgrades to its existing products. Keeping the excitement of the new iPhones aside, products like an LTE enabled Apple Watch, 4K supported Apple TV will also be launched during the event.
Without a doubt, the most anticipated launch is that of the iPhone 8. There have been a lot of rumours and leaks about the upcoming flagship iPhone, let’s take a look at what we know about it so far
Display
The most talked-about feature of the upcoming iPhone 8 is its bezel less display. Ever since the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ with the infinity display, rumours have suggested a 5.8 inch bezel-less display on the next iPhone. Apple is also said to finally be using OLED panels, and rumours suggest that the iPhone 8 will feature a curved OLED display which will pit it against the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+’s display. A new iOS 11 GM leak suggests that tThe display of the device may feature True Tone support like the iPad Pro.
Design
One of the most noticeable deviations for the iPhone 8 from the previous gen iPhones is going to its design. The smartphone will reportedly sport a “glass sandwich” design to support wireless charging. The phone will have a metal frame and very thin bezels with a notch on top to house the front camera, 3D sensors and other along with all the other necessary sensors. The lock button was reported to be larger this time around, mainly due to a fingerprint sensor housed in it but, these reports seem to have been deemed false. The headphone jack will still be dearly missed although, it may not seem that out of order or radical this time around.
Price
Multiple reports have confirmed that the new iPhone will break the US 1000 price barrier and cost USD 999 for the base 64GB variant. The other two variants will be the 256GB variant for USD 1099 and the 512GB variant for USD 1199. This bumped up storage is reportedly due to the phone’s 4K ay 60 FPS video taking capabilities through the front and back camera. Apple will also market the phone for AR functionalities and the apps to support that won’t be light on the storage, hence, the increased storage space makes sense. The price, on the other hand, will take a while to get used to.
Security
Ever since the iPhone 5S, TouchID has been a staple for all Apple mobile devices and has become the main security feature to access your Apple Account as well. According to the HomePod firmware leak, the new iPhone 8 will not feature a fingerprint sensor and instead will be replaced by a facial recognition system dubbed as ‘FaceID’. These rumours gained impedance when the 3D sensing modules of the iPhone 8 were leaked.
The lack of bezels forced Apple to replace the home button and after the initial reports of a virtual home button, it seems like the iPhone 8 will come without a physical or virtual home button and instead use gestures for navigation. A new iOS 11 GM leak has revealed that the iPhone 8 will have gesture support. Pulling upwards on the bar brings up the Home screen and a longer pull brings up the App Switcher.
iPhone 8 3D Sensing Module
Camera
Interestingly, not a lot has been revealed about the iPhone 8’s cameras, except that this time around the dual cameras will be vertically placed. The HomePod firmware also revealed that the rear front facing cameras will record 4K videos at 60 FPS. According to Korea Economic Daily, Apple is working on facial recognition technology leveraging the cameras for “biometric” identification. Like Touch ID — but with your face instead of your thumbprint. In addition to that, a leaked patent application spills out the details of a sensor that will tell you if you’re human or not. This is Apple’s effort towards developing a rear-facing 3D laser system that would improve AR depth detection as well autofocus for photography. The phone will support Apple’s new HVEC file type, which reduces the file size by a significant amount. This makes sense because 4K videos generally have large file sizes and HVEC can reduce the size by almost 50 per cent resulting in better storage management. The same iOS 11 GM leak has revealed new video recording options
– 1080p HD at 240 fps 480 MB
– 4K at 24 fps (film style)
– 4K at 60 fps 400 MB
New Colour?
The Rose Gold colour variant on the iPhone 6S back in 2015 was a trendsetter and how. Apple led the charge in experimenting with its flagship device’s colour variants and a lot of companies followed suit. But the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus might be the last ones to sport the swanky Rose Gold colour as KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said that Apple might drop the colour variant for the upcoming iPhone 8. Ming-Chi Kuo, who has been a reliable source of Apple news suggests that the new iPhone will only arrive in Black, Silver and Copper Gold. The new Copper Gold Colour may be called “Blush Gold.”
Under The Hood
Apple will introduce the new A11 Fusion chipset at the September 12 event. All the three new iPhones will have the A11 Fusion chipset which will like every chipset upgrade, be more power efficient and faster than the previous generations. The iPhone 8 will have 4GB RAM and as discussed earlier, come in three storage variants, 64GB, 256GB and 512GB. The battery
Apple A11 Geekbench4,?4600,8500 and 4300,7000?This is two different clock frequencies, and the final result may be between the two
Apple’s decision to remove the headphone jack from the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus and not introduce wireless charging was heavily panned in 2016. Things in 2017 though, are looking much better for iPhone fans as new leaks suggest that the iPhone 8 will definitely feature wireless charging.
The images show the purported component that will enable wireless charging on all of Apple’s next-generation iPhones. The part will be placed on the back of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 7s, right under the rear glass shell. It has been already reported that the iPhone lineup will have a “glass sandwich” design, which means glass front and back. This news further legitimises the HomePod firmware leak which suggested that wireless charging support will be built into iOS. Having an all glass design allows manufacturers to add wireless charging capabilities even though it’s not as durable as having an all metal design.
What’s It Going To Be Called?
The new iPhone was touted as the iPhone 8 and the other two devices as the iPhone 7S and iPhone 7S Plus, going by Apple’s history. A recent report however, has revealed that the marquee device will be called the iPhone X, as it is the 10th anniversary iPhone or the iPhone Edition. The other two variants will then be named iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. The Apple invite for the event doesn’t give anything away and in fact does not even hint towards an iPhone launch, unlike a lot of other recent flagship launch invites like the Samsung Galaxy Note8 or Huawei Mate 10.
The launch of the iPhone 8 is upon us but, new leaks seize to fade out. The golden master version of the iOS 11 has been leaked, shedding more light on the features of the upcoming iPhone 8 and an LTE Apple Watch.
In the leak, there are references to FaceID, which might be the name of the new facial recognition system. There are images of the bezel-less display and a notch on top for the camera and sensors. The display of the device may feature True Tone support like the iPad Pro.
Two screenshots give us an idea about the new navigation system on the iPhone 8. Pulling upwards on the bar brings up the Home screen and a longer pull brings up the App Switcher. The elongated sleep/wake button will activate Siri and bring Apple Pay cards and passes. A new ‘Portrait Lighting’ mode which will work with the flash on, offering Contour Light, Natural Light, Stage Light, Stage Light Mono, and Studio Light. New camera options reveal recording modes
– 1080p HD at 240 fps 480 MB
– 4K at 24 fps (film style)
– 4K at 60 fps 400 MB
In the Apple Watch app, there’s an image of what looks like the LTE enabled Apple Watch. The device has the same design language as the current Apple Watch but, it has a bright red Digital Crown.
There are references to animated emoji for iMessage and AirPods 1,2, which may be an updated version of the current AirPods and may be launched on September 12 along with the new iPhones and the LTE enabled Apple Watch.
The August 23 launch of Samsung Galaxy Note8 was one of the most anticipated events of the year and Samsung unveiled a worthy successor to the Galaxy Note7. The South Korean smartphone maker announced that customers have pre-ordered the Galaxy Note8 more than any other Note device ever sold by the company.
The steep price of USD 930 had cast a shadow of doubt over the success of the phone, but, Samsung tried to justify that price by bundling a DeX dock and Samsung Gear products for the first few pre-orders. Samsung also announced heavy discounts for previous owners of Galaxy Note7 who traded in their current devices. There were reports that the Galaxy Note8 in South Korea has received 395,000 pre-orders, which is already much more than the number for the Galaxy Note7 last year.
The Samsung Galaxy Note8 has a 6.3 inch 2960 x 1440 px Super AMOLED display with an 18.5:9 aspect ratio, similar to the Galaxy S8 and S8+. The phone runs Android 7.1.1 with Samsung’s custom UI on top and is powered by 3,300 mAh battery with QuckCharge 3.0 capabilities. Under the hood, the Galaxy Note8, for the Indian market has the Exynos 8895 chipset, 2.3GHz Quad-Core (Custom CPU)+1.7GHz Quad-Core (Cortex-A53) processor, Mali-G71 MP20 GPU, 6GB RAM and 64GB/128GB/256GB storage options. The onboard storage can be expanded up to 256GB via microSD card. In a disappointing move, Samsung retained the awkward placement of the fingerprint sensor right next to the dual cameras at the back.
Talking about cameras, the Galaxy Note 8 is the first phone from Samsung to feature dual-cameras with a 12MP dual-camera setup, the primary camera has a wide-angle 12MP lens with an f/1.7 aperture and the secondary camera has a 12MP telephoto lens with an f/2.4 aperture. The telephoto lens enables a 2X lossless optical zoom and has features such as the Bokeh effect, much like the iPhone 7 Plus. The dual-cameras are capable of capturing 4K videos at 30 FPS On the front is an 8MP camera with an f/1.7 aperture and captures 4K videos at 30 FPS.
Samsung will launch the Galaxy Note8 in India on September 12 for a reported price of Rs 74,999 and the pre-orders have already started on its official website.
