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  • Moto Launches Moto Z2 Force With Shattershield Display

    Moto Launches Moto Z2 Force With Shattershield Display

    Lenovo-owned Motorola has launched its flagship for the year, the Moto Z2 Force with a shatterproof display technology. With a lot of high-end specifications, the 2nd-gen Moto Z phone will be the flag-bearer for Moto this year. It goes on sale in the USA on August 10th and is already available for pre-orders.

    Moto Z2 Force has got the hardware to compete with any flagship device this year with 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset. It has Android Nougat out-of-the-box with a promised update to Android. Let’s just say, pretty standard stuff for an expensive 2017 flagship device. The USP of Moto Z2 Force is three-fold. It has a shatterproof display that won’t crumble after a few regular drops thanks to a shatter-resistant coating on the display. Next up are the Moto Mods, which is why the design and the feel of the phone have been retained, except that it’s much thinner now thanks to a 2,730 mAh battery. The previous gen Moto Z had a 3,500 mAh battery, so to ship a new phone with that big a slump in battery size, just to make it thinner seems like a tricky decision. What’s also missing is our beloved 3.5mm headphone jack, so if you’re still living in the good ol’ days of wired headphones then you need to either make a shift to the wireless universe or live the dongle life, a USB C dongle is included in the box. Another significant change is the camera setup. It now has a dual-lens camera setup with dual 12MP sensors with an f/2.0 aperture. One camera shoots in monochrome, and the other shoots in colour, similar to what we saw on Huawei devices and recent Nubia M2. The Z2 Force also has laser AF, phase detection but no mention of optical image stabilisation. Similar to Apple’s portrait mode, the dual-lends setup has allowed Moto to implement a depth-of-field effect on the Moto Z2 Force.

    The Moto Z2 Force doesn’t have the edge-to-edge display from the Galaxy S8 or a huge / relatively large battery one would expect, but with a price tag of $720 (roughly INR47,000), it competes with the big boys of the current flagship market aka the Samsung Galaxy s8 and its bigger sibling the S8+, Apple’s iPhone 7 and 7 plus. The release date in India has not been specified and it is likely that the phone may not launch in India at all as the company stayed away from the Force variant last year.

     

  • Nokia 8, HMD’s First Android Flagship Is Launching On August 16th

    Nokia 8, HMD’s First Android Flagship Is Launching On August 16th

    HMD Global is gunning to unveil Nokia’s first android flagship- the Nokia 8 on August 16th. The phone maker has started sending out media invites to an event in London on August 16th. What’s interesting is that this invite comes just days after the Nokia 8 was leaked. Prepare for a pleasant throwback because Nokia 8 is set to become the first smartphone with Nokia’s branding to ship with the Carl Zeiss optics. Expect a spec’d out smartphone with the prospect of owning a premium Nokia branded phone in the longest time!

    The Nokia 8 is rumoured to have a dual-camera setup which has become a standard now on flagship devices. Expect dual 13-megapixel cameras with Carl Zeiss Optics. The Nokia 8 is rumoured to be sporting a 5.3-inch display (2560 x 1440), Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, 4 or 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB internal storage and dual-SIM options.

    Expect a snappy fingerprint scanner and an iris scanner on Nokia’s latest phone. The Nokia 8 is expected to ship with a large 3,800 mAh battery with quick charge. While the price is nowhere near certain, it is rumoured to be priced much like a premium flagship, carrying a hefty price tag of  $675 (INR 44,000 approximately). They phone may be launched in several colours including Blue, Steel and Gold-Copper colours.

    The date is set and in just a little more time, we will have the first ever Nokia branded premium Android smartphone! Who’s ready for the throwback ride?!

  • App Of The Week – Comics Is Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Read Comic Books on the Go

    App Of The Week – Comics Is Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Read Comic Books on the Go

    Some of the fondest memories of a comic book reader are peeling off the plastic wrap off of the comic book and turning the cover page. That sound of fresh paper rattling still makes us a little giddy inside. As much as we hate to admit, digital books are the present and the future. The purists still believe that nothing’s better than the feeling of a physical book in the hand and the sound of the rattling pages is unparalleled. But, the success of Kindle and reading apps tell us a different story. The handiness of a small gadget essentially carrying your whole library is too good a deal for avid readers to not look into. The comic book readers have long been waiting for a solid platform to satiate their digital comic book cravings.

    We went on a spree to find you the perfect app for comic books and boy do we have a good one! Comics by ComiXology is all you’ll ever need and it is great. With a collection of over 75,000 graphic novels, comics and manga this is your one true flight-mate.The collection is mostly paid but there are a few free comic books to get you started.

    As is with every app, to access the full library you need to buy the books and read them offline while you are on a flight or a place where you can’t access the internet. From Archies to DC and Marvel to Appleseed, the collection is huge and it’ll take you the long time to even try and finish reading the whole library. Another important box that this app checks out is the UI. An easy-to-use app with proper refined categories and an easy payment method makes using the app an absolute walk in the park. It has all the necessary tabs to help you find the comic book you’re looking for. The text is crisp and the images are sharp to keep you immersed in whatever you’re reading.

    Available for free, this app is a must-have for all you comic book/graphic novel enthusiasts who travel a lot and can’t afford to give up the precious space in your hand-baggage. This handy little app will soon become your go-to saviour from the perpetual boredom. Check out the app below and tell us what you feel about it!

    [button type=”link” link=”https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.iconology.comics&hl=en” variation=”btn-info”]Explore The App Here[/button]

  • Awesome Tech: The Robotic Glass Cleaner!

    Awesome Tech: The Robotic Glass Cleaner!

    Every now and then, we stumble onto greatness while scouring the internet. The piece of tech in the centre of attention here is the Robotic Glass Cleaner, and it blew us away with how easy (and an excuse to procrastinate longer) it made our lives! Our office has quite a lot of glass walls which you would’ve noticed in our office tour video a few days ago. What we also showed you a glimpse of, was this futuristic looking uber cool glass cleaner. Now, what this device essentially does is clean your glass walls in a circular motion with the use of its plush soft micro fibre padding. And we don’t need to tell you how awesome micro-fibre is!

    The design of the glass cleaner is extremely cool and looks like a thing from the future with its round paddings and a black-and-white colour scheme giving it a robotic feel. Hence, the name as well. It’s extremely sturdy and won’t break down on you anytime soon. It comes with a safety harness to break a fall in case it isn’t connected to a power source and the battery runs out. that brings us to its functionality, and boy is it a keeper! The glass cleaner moves horizontally or vertically on auto mode and also has a manual mode where you can change its directions from the accompanying remote control and the smartphone app. It really is extremely satisfying to just sit and watch it spread its magic of cleaning. We aren’t talking up this product because it actually is the most hard working member at our office.

    The price is a huge factor for whatever people decide to buy, and  this extremely handy tool retails for $150.With the coupon GBS60 you can save an additional 20-30$. It is an investment if you ask us and our spick and span glass walls will back us up here. This Robotic Glass Cleaner should be a part of every dream setup, be it an office or a home. Check out the link below to see how the magic happens and tell us what will prompt you to add this tool to your repertoire.

    [button type=”link” link=”http://igy.me/2vSCBVF” variation=”btn-info”]Buy the Robotic Glass Cleaner here![/button]

     

     

  • People, MS Paint Is Officially Dead

    People, MS Paint Is Officially Dead

    The good ol’ MS Paint, the tool that inspired the lot of us to become artistes is getting ‘deprecated’, according to Microsoft. In a recent announcement by Windows, it listed out the features and software that will be in the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update. The iconic MS Paint was first introduced by Microsoft back in 1985 ie 32 years ago! MS Paint will be missed, not for its functionality but for just being, well Paint. It’s like that old t-shirt which doesn’t fit you anymore but you can’t give it away either because it was cool a several year ago. MS Paint getting the axe doesn’t come as much of a surprise though, as Microsoft is now pushing Paint 3D as the next big thing in their repertoire.

    As per the announcement, don’t expect MS Paint to vanish off the face of the earth just yet, as it states that MS Paint will ‘deprecated’ rather than ‘removed effective immediately.’ What this essentially means is that the software is not in active development and can be removed in the future updates. MS Paint will be available through the App Store with its functionality integrated with paint 3D. If you’re wondering what this Paint 3D is, then here’s a small introduction: It is nothing like our ‘masterpiece creator MS Paint.’As the name suggests, it is designed to make in 3D. Paint 3D will let users turn parts of photos, artwork into full-fledged 3D objects. It was announced back in April 2017 with the Creator’s Update. It also lets users work on a 2D image and convert it into 3D artwork.

    MS Paint is here to stay, it will just have a new home soon, in the Windows Store where it will be available for free.

    The final word on when MS paint will be removed in its entirety is not out there, yet. The Windows 10 Creators’ Autumn update will start rolling out soon, although a definitive date has not been announced, expect the gradual removal MS Paint as soon as the update starts rolling.

    Till then enjoy this MSPaint creation :

     

  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Allegedly Bursts Into Flames

    Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Allegedly Bursts Into Flames

    Last year was all bout smartphone fires and about the infamous Samsung Galaxy Note 7 which was LIT (pun intended)! Long story short, lots of Note 7 handsets started randomly catching fire and Samsung recalled all the units and hence, the ‘Note 7 bursting into flames’ jokes came into being. In a rather bizarre news, a Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 was caught on tape bursting into flames in a shop in Bengaluru.

    As the shopkeeper was trying to insert a Sim card in the phone, it caught fire after an explosion and burned the handset’s entire body. In the video, you can see that the phone isn’t connected to any charger or an accessory and quite astonishingly burst into flames while the retailer was handling the phone. A lot of similar cases are a result of overheating due to charging, so this is a rather rare case and quite bizarre.

    Image via TechCase
    In a yet another Firegate incident, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 bursting into flames seems like an isolated incident and although it is scary, no one in the incident got hurt. After Samsung Galaxy Note 7, this news comes in as a shock as we expect all the smartphone makers to be on top of their stop-the-phone-from-catching-fire game. We will reiterate that this is an isolated incident and doesn’t necessarily indicate and serious or inherent problem in the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4.
    Late on Monday, Xiaomi released a statement which indicates that it believes the video is of an unrelated incident. Here’s Xiaomi India’s statement on the incident:
    At Xiaomi, customer safety is of utmost importance to us. We investigated the Redmi Note 4 in the images, and concluded that it was a case of damage due to a faulty third-party charger used by the customer. Nonetheless we worked with the Poorvika store where the unit was bought, and replaced the customer’s damaged unit with a brand new Redmi Note 4. However, after a thorough investigation, we cannot validate the source of this video, as it has no relation to this case, and was not from the Poorvika store. In fact, it is unclear if this separate and unrelated incident depicted in the video involved a Xiaomi device.
    Note- It appears that the video is fake and iGyaan has received the following statement from Xiaomi

    At Xiaomi, customer safety is of utmost importance to us.

    Recently, a video has been shared across a few news publications claiming that a Redmi Note 4 unit experienced an explosive scenario. We would like to state that this video has no relation to the concerned Redmi Note 4.

    After an internal investigation, we found that the only recent incident of a burnt Redmi Note 4 stemmed from a Bangalore based customer – Arjun. He had purchased a Redmi Note 4 from a Poorvika store in Bangalore on 1st June 2017. His phone was damaged at his home on 17th July 2017, following which he took the phone to the aforementioned Poorvika store on the same day.

    As soon as we were alerted to this incident, we took the device back. After a thorough technical investigation, we found out that the damage was caused due to a faulty third-party charger used by the customer. In addition, there were signs of physical damage on the phone as well.

    We advise our customers to only use Xiaomi authorized chargers and accessories.

    Regarding the video being circulated, we would like to clarify the following points:
    (1) The video was attained from a random WhatsApp group, and has nothing to do with this recent Redmi Note 4 case.
    (2) In fact, there is no evidence in the video to suggest that the device is a Redmi Note 4 or any other Xiaomi phone.
    (3) The video is not from the aforementioned Poorvika store, or any other Poorvika store. On further investigation, we found that the CCTV video was from a retailer in Anamangad, Kerala. Xiaomi India only started selling devices at 3G and Fone 4 stores a few weeks ago in Kerala.
    (4) The CCTV video was recorded on a different date, not 1st June (when Arjun bought the phone) or 17th July (when his phone got damaged).
    (5) The customer in the video is not Arjun. He has confirmed to Xiaomi that the people in the video does not include or represent him or any of his relatives.

    It is unfortunate that a member of the technology blogging fraternity used a video of an unrelated incident attained from a WhatsApp group, and merged it with the above-mentioned case involving Arjun, without doing any investigation. We find this behaviour very irresponsible and disturbing. We are currently evaluating legal action against this publication.

    To all our Mi Fans, we would like to re-emphasize that safety is of utmost importance to us! All of our devices go through stringent quality tests to ensure that you get the best quality. We will once again encourage everyone to only use Xiaomi authorized chargers and accessories.

     

  • Awesome Tech: An Old School DIY 35mm Pinhole Camera

    Awesome Tech: An Old School DIY 35mm Pinhole Camera

    Smartphones have upped their camera game in the past few years resulting in a steep rise of interest in photography. The ease with which you can click beautiful pictures with these immensely spec’d out smartphone cameras is bound to make anyone a “photography buff.” 4K video recording, dual-lens camera setups and whatnot, smartphones of the present age are judged based on what they offer in the camera department, such is the essence of cameras nowadays. Don’t get us wrong, the DSLR’s of the world are here and will live on in the foreseeable future, and that’s the reality. But the need to go old- school in tech has become a strong phenomenon these days. From the resurgence of vinyl records to people resorting to B&W filters on apps like Instagram. That is where this Kickstarter program comes into play, the space of old school tech winning people’s hearts.

    No, we’re not talking about polaroids, we are talking pinhole cameras. Now before you leave this tab and head over to Google to know what this is, give us a chance to tell you about it. A pinhole camera uses a single small aperture – a pinhole – instead of a lens. The ingenious process of pinhole photography involves exposure of film using light filtered through a small hole in a light-proof box. It strips photography into its bare bones- Light. As light passes through this hole, an image is exposed on the film loaded inside the camera. Due to such a small size of the aperture, it may take anything between a few seconds to a couple of hours to expose a photograph.

    Sounds tedious, no? But, the pleasure of handling a camera that uses a process dating back to the 1880s is unparalleled. The whole purpose of this camera is to give you a chance to travel back in time and experience photography before there were filters and touch screens. The new pinhole camera by London-based designer Kelly is an improvement in many aspects over her 2013 version of the pinhole camera.

    Unlike the 2013 model, the new VIDERE pinhole camera shoots on 35mm film which is easily accessible even in today’s all-things-digital world. It also has a tripod thread for stability along with a new ultra-hardwearing shutter. As per the DIY process, it goes from a flat pack to shooting mode within an hour! The VIDERE 35mm pinhole camera packs a punch with stability options, an easily accessible 35mm film process and a good ol’ throwback!

    It’ll be interesting to get our hands on a piece of tech like this and experience photography from the simpler times. You can check out the product below on Kickstarter and tell us your thoughts on old-school gadgets making their way into our lives at this point in time!

    [button type=”link” link=”https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kellyangood/kickstarter-gold-videre-35mm-diy-pinhole-camera-ki?ref=category_popular” variation=”btn-info”]Check Out The VIDERE 35mm Pinhole Camera[/button]

     

  • Samsung Galaxy Note 8 To Launch August 23rd

    Samsung Galaxy Note 8 To Launch August 23rd

    Samsung has finally made it official that the Galaxy Note 8 will be launched at 11 a.m. ET on the 23rd of August in New York’s Park Avenue Armory.

    Samsung sent out the press invites and made the announcement that the Unpacked event would focus on “Samsung’s newest mobile device.” The invitation teaser shows an image with the silhouette of a device with an Infinity Display (similar to the one featured on the Galaxy S8) and thin bezels on the top and bottom. The S-Pen-like stylus in the teaser is also a big giveaway.

    Though the name “Note 8” was to be seen nowhere on the unpacked event invitation, it was quite obvious from the “Do Bigger Things” and the outline of a phone.

     

    The Galaxy Note 8 is said to feature a 6.3-inch Super AMOLED curved infinity display, a Snapdragon 835 a massive 6GB RAM with 64GB on board storage. The device is also rumoured to have horizontally placed dual cameras, which are expected to be 12MP.

    The Unpacked event is extremely important for the company, considering the last year’s Galaxy Note 7 lineup was recalled thanks to faulty batteries. While Samsung has been extra cautious and playing it safe all this time, the last year’s recall of the Note 7 handsets still has the company dealing with losses in excess of US$ 5 billion.

    Samsung was also recently reported to recycle the recalled Galaxy Note 7 devices as the Note FE and salvage about 157 tons of rare metal like gold, cobalt and copper. By staying true to its promise of recycling faulty devices, the company has earned much appreciation.

    Samsung also regained consumer trust with the introduction of Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus in March. None of the devices have had any battery related troubles since they went up for sale. The launch of the Galaxy Note 8 will be a major milestone for the company.

  • The Rock is Making a Movie With Siri

    The Rock is Making a Movie With Siri

    Remember last year’s Taylor swift and Apple music collaboration, well Apple is back at it.

    Rumours about the Siri integrated wireless charging have barely subsided and now Siri has been reported to star in a movie along with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

    While most of us are busy bossing Siri around, the voice assistant has managed to get its own movie titled, The Rock x Siri: Dominate The Day. Dominating the day or not, Siri is definitely dominating Hollywood now.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufBLI6bB9sg

    Despite initially describing it as a “Movie”, Johnson now says that his partnership with Apple is a commercial.


    The extended commercial or a movie is a collaboration between Johnson and Apple. The “movie” made quite an entrance with an over-the-top poster featuring automobiles, satellites, space, car crashes etc.

    The Rock also tweeted along with the poster of The Rock x Siri: Dominate The Day. 


    By the looks of his Facebook page, Johnson seems quite excited about the collab. In his own words, the movie will be the “dopest” and was made to “motivate you to get out there and get the job done.”

    The film itself will be released on July 24th, on Apple’s YouTube channel. Unlike most of the content being exclusive to Apple Music, Apple’s Siri co-starring movie with The Rock will be available for free on YouTube.

    With Apple releasing the Siri integrated HomePod in a couple of months, this seems like an excellent opportunity to show that Apple’s virtual assistant can be held at par with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

  • Top 10 Tech Accessories Under Rs.1000

    Top 10 Tech Accessories Under Rs.1000

    The latest in our top 10 tech segment are tech accessories under INR 1000. We scoured the web for best accessories to buy when them rainy days strike and for those who are looking for a perfect gift to give to your geeky friend, this is the place to be.

     

    1. Clip-On Lens Kit

    It’s time to get up close and personal with photography. The clip on lens kit consists of 3 in 1 detachable lenses for your smartphone. Available in three variants, fish-eye, macro and wide angle, this lens kit will add an extra element to your basic smartphone pictures. The fisheye lens offers a wide hemispherical image whereas the macro lens is used for clicking extreme close-up pictures of a far away object. The wide-angle lens projects a substantially larger image circle than would be typical for a standard design lens of the same focal length. Put those photography lessons to use and mount these lenses to any smartphone’s existing camera lens at just INR 899.00

     

    2. Gaming Mouse Pad

    We know how the mouse pad is never long enough to accommodate your mouse, keyboard and gaming gadgets. This gaming accessory is a perfect fit for all your gaming needs and is priced at INR 890. The HAVIT HV-MP830 Professional Gaming mouse pad is long enough to comfortably place all your stuff and its anti-skid base keeps it from sliding off the table. Made from high-quality fine mesh cloth, the gaming mouse pad is durable and ensures smooth working of the mouse.

     

    3. Five-in-One Car Charger

    This car accessory is one of a kind. Owing to its unique design, this Tantra 5 USB port smart car chargers capable of charging 5 devices at once. The charger consists two parts, one with 2 ports (4.8A) for the front seaters and the other 3 ports (6A) for the people in back. It also features rapid charging with intelligent recognition IC  which detects your device’s current charge requirement to deliver fastest possible charging speed upto 2.4A per port.

     

    4. Self Stirring Mug

    Today I don’t feel like doing anything…

    This self stirring mug is self explanatory and perfect for those lazy days. This battery powered mug has a dedicated button for stirring at the bottom, a double 304 stainless steel design along with a top storage unit for cookies, biscuits, crackers and even protein powder for those fitness junkies. At a price of INR 850, keep them frothy cappuccinos coming.

     

     

    5. Programmable Timer Switch

    The Walnut Innovations Programmable Timer switch is an energy-saving electronic timer with a load capacity of 1000 WATTS. Priced at INR 773, this smart timer can also serve as a security device by programming to turn on the house lights at a specific time in case you plan a trip and don’t want your house to appear vacant. This timer can also be used to charge your phone and save it from over charging the device.

     

     

    6. AmazonBasics Nano BT Speaker

    Perfect for the bathroom singers, this portable nano speaker is water resistant and available in different colours. For the price of INR 999, this bluetooth speaker can last upto 6 hours on a single charge and takes upto 2 hours to get fully charged. The speaker also has a built-in mic for making phone calls and power and volume-control buttons.

     

     

    7. Mini Foldable Handy Tripod

    This mini tripod can hold a camera of approximately 3kgs and is foldable, light weight and sturdy. It also doubles up as a camera stabiliser and opens up to height of approx 12-13 cm. This mini table top tripod can mount DSLR, digital camera and smartphones and is priced at INR 599.

     

    8. Dragon War Gaming Mouse

    This customizable gaming mouse from Aries is available in two colors – red and white. You can change the DPI from 800 to 3200. With six control buttons and eight programmable keys, the INR 990 gaming mouse can be programed with the included software. It also offers a braided cable and gold plated USB connector.

     

     

    9. Sensy Smart Remote

    Though this smart remote is originally priced at INR 1199, but for the first time, we have managed to bring the price down to under INR 1000. All you have to do is use Coupon Code: ZMBDHRMM on Amazon. The Sensy Smart Remote allows you to control your set-top box and TV from your smartphone using voice commands. You can also search and discover information regarding TV shows, switch between channels, set reminders and is compatible with Android & iOS. 

     

     

    10. Gel Wrist Rest

    The name says it all. This gaming accessory is a must for every gamer. Simply keep the wrist rest under your wrist while typing or gaming for extra comfort. Filled with gel the wrist rest conforms to the shape of you wrist and provide proper cushioning. The Belkin -Wave gel filled wrist rest is available at INR 963.

     

     

  • Everything We Know About JioPhone

    Everything We Know About JioPhone

    The recently launched “JioPhone” has taken the internet by storm. The handset was introduced as “India Ka Smartphone” with 4G-enabled features and was launched at an “effective price” of Rs. 0. Available for pre-booking from JioPhone will be available from August 24 and here is everything we know about JioPhone.

    Launch And Availability

    The phone was announced at Reliance Industries 40th annual general meet in Mumbai yesterday. The handset will be available on August 15 – for limited testing and will be up for pre-booking from August 24 onwards via the MyJio app or at Jio offline stores. Those who pre-book the JioPhone will be available to get their hands on the device September onwards. The company targets to make 5 million phones available every week at a first come first serve basis.

    Price

    Price is one of the major attractions of JioPhone. Mukesh Ambani announced that the phone will be effectively for free with one time deposit of Rs 1500 which is refundable after 3 years on return of the handset. The release of the  JioPhone will also be a step forward for the company in tapping the estimated 50 crore feature phone users who have not been able to join the Jio 4G bandwagon due to high-priced smartphones.

    Plans

    JioPhone users will have different plans on a monthly, weekly or daily basis to suit their needs.

    • For the price of Rs 153 per month, users will get free voice and SMS, and unlimited data (high-speed data FUP is 500MB per day)
    • Rs. 309 per month for free voice, SMS, unlimited data and the support for mirroring your screen on a TV.
    • Rs. 24 for two days users will get free voice and SMS, and unlimited data (high-speed data FUP is 500MB per day)
    • Rs. 54 per week users get free voice and SMS, and unlimited data (high-speed data FUP is 500MB per day)

    Features and Specifications

    The JioPhone was introduced by siblings Akash and Isha Ambani, revealing standard feature phone functionality along with phone’s support voice commands. The design looks familiar and is easy to use, unlike the complex smartphones available in market. The handset also comes preinstalled with a browser and Jio apps like Jio Cinema, Jio Music etc.

    Despite the price, the feature smartphone is loaded with specs.

    Here’s a list of these features –

    • 2.4-inch QVGA display.
    • 2MP Rear Camera and a VGA front camera.
    • Multilingual Alphanumeric Keypad.
    • 512 MB RAM.
    • Runs on KAI OS (OS version of the Firefox OS).
    • Dual Sim Feature.
    • 4-Way Navigation.
    • Supports digital payment via NFC (to be enabled with software update)
    • Voice Commands to call, message, open apps and more.
    • JioPhone will support 24 Indian languages including English and Hindi.
    • 2000mAh battery (Upto 10 Hours).
    • 4GB Internal Storage along with SD card slot for upto 128GB expandable memory.
    • Supports 4G VoLTE for calls and data.
    • Offers SOS support button which can be accessed by long-pressing the ‘5’ button on the keypad to send a distress message. The message includes the location details of the user.
    • Torch light, Headphone Jack, Video playback and pre-installed Jio Apps.
    • Wireless networks – Bluetooth v4.1 +, Wi-Fi and FM Radio.
    • Phones shipped November Onwards will be fully Made in India.

    The “India ka smartphone” with 4G VoLTE support, unlimited voice calls, dual sim feature and the unbelievable price makes up for the few misses. With the launch of JioPhone, Mukesh Ambani has made it possible for every Indian to purchase a smartphone and access the 4G VoLTE support.

  • Visit The International Space Station With Google Street View

    Visit The International Space Station With Google Street View

    Google street view now works in outer space. Google Street View partnered with the European Space Agency to create a walk-through of the International Space Station. Taking the street view a little outside the planet Earth, Google now lets you pay a virtual visit and explore the entire habitable portion of the ISS and the interiors of two commercial spacecraft, Orbital ATK’s Cygnus and SpaceX’s Dragon.

    Earth From Space via Google Street View – ISS Edition

    While the regular street view let us see places like the Mount Everest, London. etc. navigating the ISS street view image is a bit different from the typical setup. Google also added side notes or as they call them – annotations to the images describing the significance of what you are viewing with additional information on items around the space station,  because well, not all of us are bestowed with astronauts like wisdom. Besides, who is not curious about where astronauts eat or  sleep, among other things.

    Looking at the images, Google and Nasa did an impressive job, considering they were clicked in space.  That said, Google’s typical street view wasn’t practical for the space station’s zero gravity therefore Thomas Pesquet, the ESA astronaut (who worked with Google to capture the images), improvised using the DSLR cameras which were already onboard the Space Station. The images were then amalgamated together to create the 360-degree views we see now.

    Pesquet said that they “did a lot of troubleshooting” before they could get the images right. “The ISS has technical equipment on all surfaces, with lots of cables and a complicated layout with modules shooting off in all directions—left, right, up, down, And it’s a busy place, with six crew members carrying out research and maintenance activities 12 hours a day.”

     

    Google and the ESA also made a video about the process of creating the simulation.

     

     

  • Andy Rubin’s Essential Phone PH-1 Is Almost Ready For Sales

    Andy Rubin’s Essential Phone PH-1 Is Almost Ready For Sales

    The Essential phone which was announced last month by Andy Rubin is almost ready to hit buyers. Emails went out from Andy Rubin to those who ordered the Essential phone, confirming that the devices will be shipping in a few weeks.

    Hi Bharat,

    I personally wanted to thank you for putting your name down for our first phone. We’ve been hard at work getting everything ready and the good news is that we’re now going through certification and testing with multiple US and international carriers.

    You might be getting impatient to get your hands on your new Essential Phone (and I’m also impatient to get it to you!) but rest assured that you will have a device in your hands in a few weeks.

    Andy

    The essential phone has a full front 5.71 inch display with radiused corners, a 19:10 aspect ratio, 2560 x 1312 QHD resolution and a brightness of 500 nits. The back has 13 MP dual cameras with one RGB sensor and one Monochrome sensor and f/1.85 aperture lenses. The front has an 8 MP camera and both cameras are capable of shooting 4k video at 30fps. The Essential phone also has a 3040mAh battery and supports fast charging using USB, but also has a cordless dock that allows you to lay flat the phone while it charges.

    The Essential phone costs $699 and has flagship specifications like a Qualcomm 835 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage.

  • Samsung May be Making A Bixby Powered AirPod Competitor

    Samsung May be Making A Bixby Powered AirPod Competitor

    Recent announcement of Samsung’s Bixby voice support being available to Galaxy S8 and S8+ owners in US has kept Samsung in news. The latest rumour is that Samsung might be working on making AirPods-like headphones powered by its smart assistant Bixby. The headphones are expected to feature noise-cancelling tech and are expected to be launched alongside the Galaxy Note 8 launch next month.

    The Bixby powered earphones are also reported to also allow users to talk to Bixby and ask the voice-activated assistant contextual questions, thanks to Bixby’s recently released voice support.

    While Samsung’s Smart assistant is still in works and requires many updates, releasing a pair of expensive Bluetooth earphones might not be the best decision. Bringing Bixby to be up to par with the Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant might take some time.

    Samsung is also reportedly working on a Bixby speaker, designed to compete with Google Home, Amazon’s Alexa-powered Echo and Apple’s HomePod. But the recent rumours suggest that the project might have been scuttled.

    The rumours also state that the device isn’t fully ready yet, therefore, there are chances that the launch  might not happen as soon as the Note 8 launch. Which, may also buy Samsung the time it needs to work on it’s smart assistant and launch with a much improved device.

    It is all heresy till the end product is officially announced by Samsung. For now, their focus should be on the Note 8, as they have some really angry people to please in the Note world..

    The Note 8 is expected to have a horizontally placed dual camera setup with 12MP dual pixel sensors each. Expected to run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 with a 6GB RAM and 64GB on board storage, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 will reportedly run Android 7.1 from the get go and is said to have a 3,300mAh battery pack. Recent reports also suggest that the Note 8 will feature a 4k borderless Super Amoled display design and a newly designed S-Pen with improved features.

     

     

  • Reliance JioPhone 4G VoLTE Feature Phone Launched in India

    Reliance JioPhone 4G VoLTE Feature Phone Launched in India

    Reliance Industries Limited chairman Mukesh Ambani announced the ‘JioPhone’ at Reliance Industries 40th annual general meet in Mumbai, terming it as ‘India Ka Smartphone’.

    Adding a new 4G feature phone to its array of products, Mukesh Ambani said that the phone will be “effectively for free” with a one time security deposit of INR 1500. The deposit will be refundable after three years at the time of return. The phone will be available for beta testing from August 15 and for pre-booking from August 24.The company targets to make 5 million phones every week at a first come first serve basis. Along with a lifetime of free voice calls, ‘JioPhone’ will also have free unlimited data from August 15 with an affordable monthly plan of Rs 153.

    At a plan Rs 153 a month, it is only 3 per cent of the existing price putting an end to unaffordable data for all Indians forever;- Mukesh Ambani

    Similar weekly and two-day plans will also be available for Rs 54 and Rs 24. Further adding to the list of features, Ambani said “Users will be able to connect Jio Phone to any TV, not just smart TVs but even the old CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) TVs that some still own. All Jio Phone users can enjoy viewing their Jio content from their phones on their TV screens” Aside from the basic features like calling, texting, Internet surfing etc. the JioPhone also has

    • 2.4-inch display
    • Supports digital payment via NFC
    • SD card slot for extended memory
    • Torch light
    • Supports 4G VoLTE for calls and data
    • New set of data plans, starting at Rs 153 for the device
    • Comes with preloaded Jio apps like Jio Cinema, Jio Music etc.

    Major Attractions of JioPhone

    • Unlimited 4G data for Rs 153 a month
    • JioPhone will be effectively free of cost
    • One time security deposit, refundable at the time of return after 3 years
    • Available for advance booking from 24 August
    • Long press number 5 on the JioPhone and a distress message will be sent to all registered contacts.
    • PM Modi’s podcast Mann Ki Baat on the Jio feature phone will be available.
    • Most likely, NaMo app will come pre-loaded on the device.

    The phone has been created by Indian engineers for an Indian audience, Mukesh Ambani said, “made in India for Indian users”.

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