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Samsung Note 6 to Feature 6GB RAM and 256 GB Storage

Samsung is expected to release the Note 6 earlier than usual to eat up some of the market share of the upcoming Apple iPhone 7. Usually launched end-August or early September the Note 6 is expected to have a June-July launch in 2016. Samsung Galaxy Note 6’s configuration were leaked out again on Weibo.

The smartphone is expected to outdo expectations of the consumers by adding 6 GB of RAM and 256 GB of onboard storage, a storage option that analysts claim will be available in the iPhone 7.

Samsung is apparently also working on two variants of the Note 6 one with the Snapdragon 823, which is a beefier version of the Snapdragon 820, for the US markets. The other one will have the Exynos 8890 chipset and will launch in markets like India, Korea and China.

Samsung is loading the Note 6 up with a 4200 mAh battery which is rated for two days use. Reports are also pointing to a Edge variant as in the case of the Note 4 (Note Edge) to add a more premium Note 6 to the lineup much like the Galaxy s7 and S7 Edge. These also may coincide with rumours that Galaxy S7 Edge Plus may actually be launched alongside the Galaxy Note 6, and that the “edge variant” may just as well be the larger S7 Edge plus.

Samsung has already proved that it is listening to the consumers with the Galaxy S7 by allowing microSD and dual sim capabilities. The Note ^ will also feature a similar setup along with IP68 Rating to make it water resistant, just like its younger siblings the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge.

VIA

May 8, 2016
Smartphone Launches This Month : Samsung, YU, Motorola, Lenovo and OnePlus

A lot of new Smartphones are headed to India this month, and with the market going ablaze with all the options, here are some things you should know about the new launches.

While many other phones may launch, These seem to be the peoples choice at the moment.

Moto G4 and G4 Plus

Now Lenovo owned Moto is all set to launch their next gen G4 and G4 Plus on 17th May while a lot is not know about the handsets, it is clear that Moto is pushing its smartphones hard. The G4 is expected to come with a fingerprint scanner and various other improvements on performance display and camera. The G4 Plus is expected to be a big brother of the G4 with possibly a larger display.

Yu 5330

While the actual name of this handset is unknown, the Yu 5330 has leaked and CEO Rahul Sharma was seen breaking “Flag Ships” in a video. If we put it together, the company wants to make a “Flagship Breaker” Smartphone. However the specs and leaks do not pit it as a flagship smartphone.

Lenovo Zuk Z1

Lenovo’s online only brand ZUk is creating some buzz in India, the Zuk Z1. The phone comes with a metal frame with a display of 5.5 inches IPS screen and 1080p resolution, while the phone itself measures 8.9mm thick and comes with a 4,100mAh battery with a 2.5A charger. Its is expected to be launched under Rs. 20000 on 10th May.

OnePlus Three

This year OnePlus decided to keep things on the down low as their #hype campaign last year left a lot of people disappointed. Reports are mentioning two models of the OnePlus 3 one with 4GB of RAM + 32GB of storage and one with 6GB of RAM + 64GB of storage. A price of CNY 1,999 (roughly Rs. 20,400) is quoted for the base model of the OnePlus pointing towards a roughly Rs. 24000-25000 launch price in markets like India. While it is expected to launch end May we are not sure when it will come to India. Hopefully, at the same time as the rest of the world.

Samsung Galaxy J5 and J7 2016

Samsung is launching the J5 and the J7 in India, the 2016 variant. While we are working on relevant videos, let us tell you that the handsets will have Snapdragon chipsets and many improvements which were requested by users. Samsung has taken a user centric approach this year and that might be a good thing.Samsung will launch both phones on 9th May.

Micromax Canvas 6

The Indian company which has not been faring well in the market, is trying to regain ground with the launch of several new handsets and a company redesign. Expected to launch sometime next week, the Canvas 6 has a Mediatek MT6795 Helio X10 and a 5.5 inch Full HD display. You will get 32 GB storage and 3 GB RAM along with expandability and dual SIM.

Which smartphone will you be waiting for and why? Let us know below.

May 7, 2016
Apple and Lenovo Biggest Winners in India, BlackBerry, Sony, and LG Biggest losers

In a recent report for India Smartphone market, Apple and Lenovo have come out on top in the list of fastest gaining Smartphone vendors. While the positions at the top have not changed much, with the top being Samsung followed by Micromax, Intex, Lenovo, and Lava.

Lenovo’s shipments increased 63 percent year-on-year while Apple experienced a shipments increase by 56 percent. The report also mentions the fact the Apple is the most aggressive in terms of growth and also has the largest growth potential.

Apple is outperforming the overall market in India, and still has great growth potentia

Apple recently took a lot of flak for a poor performance in the year on year results for Apple. While their revenue lowered to 10 billion from 13 billion, Apple still had double the sales of any other competition brand. Apple is agressively changing its strategies in India to ensure great results and it appears to be showing. Apple Also recently launched the iPhone SE which despite a huge price difference from global markets is doing well for the brand in India.

Microsoft, BlackBerry, Sony, and LG lost the maximum market share with respect to shipments. Troubled by a market that is trending towards low-cost yet high spec handsets. Micromax on the other hand experienced a slight drop in market share from the year ago quarter to 16.7 percent.

The report mentions that Micromax, in particular, has been through tough times, with key executives leaving. Now the company is aiming to revamp its strategy to incorporate an ecosystem of services around payments and content. Micromax’s market share fell by a couple of percentage points to 16.7% in Q1 2016.

Source

May 6, 2016
While FBI and Apple were Fighting in Court , LAPD unlocked an iPhone 5s : Report

A new report originating from the LA Times claims that while Apple and FBI were taking matters to court and creating a public issue over iOS privacy. Los Angeles police investigators obtained a method to open a locked iPhone 5s.

The LAPD was able to unlock and access information on the iPhone 5s which belonged to April Jace, wife of actor Michael Jace, accused in her killing at their South L.A. home in 2014.

The report mentions that LAPD found a “forensic cellphone expert” who could “override the locked iPhone function,”. There is no other information on how the iPhone was actually unlocked and it looks like only those involved will know the actual details of the case.

While the FBI managed to do this with a foreign third party organization, the appearance of a sum of US $ 1 Million which was paid for the obtaining the crack of the iPhone 5c in the San Bernardino case. It is also unknown what the version of iOS on the iPhone 5S which was unlocked by LAPD was, if similar the same “forensic cellphone expert” could have been used by the FBI and saved the US $ 1 MillionCould it be the infamous Siri bypass?

Could it be the infamous Siri bypass? Hard to tell!

[LA Times]

May 5, 2016
Android Marshmallow is on Only 7.5 Percent Devices

With the launch of the next big Android revision just around the corner, it is disheartening to see that the upgrade cycle of Android is lower than ever. According to Google, Android 6.0 updates have only reached 7.5% devices running the Android OS, and this includes non-Nexus handsets.

In comparison, Android Kitkat and Lolipop have been the most successful for the company with a reach of 32.5% and 35.6% respectively. However, penetration has hugely improved from the 1.2% penetration that Marshmallow had back in February. The large boost is assumed to be from upgrade cycles of companies like Samsung and HTC who recently started to push Android Marshmallow updates.

In comparison 84% iOS devices including iPhones, iPads and iPods are running iOS 9 which almost immediately crossed the 50% penetration.

Android has a far larger fragmentation and the update cycle is controlled by several different manufacturers for their respective cycles. Google is attempting to simplify the upgrades and push for a cleaner and more efficient upgrade capability with Android N which is expected to be released at Google IO.

Source

May 5, 2016
Apple Will Not Be Allowed to Sell Refurbished iPhones in India

Apple has been denied the request to import and sell refurbished iPhones to the world’s second largest mobile population, a telecommunications ministry official told Bloomberg on Tuesday.

With India inc. heavily pushing “Make In India”, the rejection could simply be rebellion by competition brands who do not want Apple to gain foothold by selling cheaper refurbished phones. Companies started a public campaign against the effort, arguing that such a move would trigger a flood of used electronics while defeating the government’s Make-in-India program to encourage local manufacturing.

India is one the largest smartphone markets in the world, However, Apple has only been able to capture 2% stake in this ever growing region. This is reportedly due to the high prices and less availability of Apple products. Refurbished iPhone sales would have allowed Apple to pentrate a lower segment of the market which would have drastically improved sales and market share for Apple.

Apple is also seeking permission to open its own stores, and drive sales up for the iphone by offering specail Apple financing and deals, as they would in other markets.

VIA

May 4, 2016
Apple iPhone 7 May Not have a Home Button

The iPhone 7 to be launched this year is expected to bring about a significant design change for the Cupertino-based technology giant. With Apple revising the design of the iPhone with each new number, the iPhone 7 is expected to improve its looks drastically in comparison to the iPhone 6s.

Adding to the rumors of the new all glass design is the recent announcement by LG. The company announced that they have developed a new display technology which will allow manufacturers of smartphones to place a fingerprint scanner right on the display glass.

It is not new information that LG is one of the biggest display providers to Apple, and with the next iPhone due in September 2016, LG’s announcement comes right on time. The new display by LG allows the user to scan their finger anywhere on the glass of the screen, making the need for a button or a panel to scan the fingerprint redundant. LG said its new module has a false acceptance rate (FAR) of 0.002 percent. Because the module is sealed under a layer of glass, it remains protected from splashes and scratches.

Back in June 2015 reports pointed to Apple working on an integrated fingerprint scanner display :

Apple is internally developing touch and display driver integration (TDDI) single-chip solutions for its iPhones, according to sources in Taiwan’s IC design industry.

The TDDI single-chip solutions will also come with integrated fingerprint sensors, said the sources. The integrated design would fit into future iPhone designs – models with ultra-thin and ultra-narrow displays, and with a whole plane design eliminating the Home button.

In fact, Apple also has a patent for the same.

Other reports point to a flush home button made of liquid metal, which would be recessed when pressed but would return to original shape after recovery.

LG’s solution, which is 0.3mm thick, is inserted on the lower backside of a smartphone’s cover glass. LG has also designed its own adhesive to allow this module to be stuck to the glass of the smartphone.

With 3D touch, the need for the home button may also be directly replaced by making the screen 3D touch capable. With LG’s new fingerprint technology, and Apple’s 3D Touch released with the iPhone 6s combined with rumors of a seamless glass design, it is highly likely that Apple may drop the home button on the iPhone 7.

Via

May 4, 2016

HTC Desire 830 Launched With Helio X10

HTC has launched the Desire 830 smartphone in Taiwan with the Helio X10 Chipset. The Desire 830 is a revision to the popular Desire 820 and has been launched for a price of TWD 9,990 (Rs. 20,000)

The Desire 830 sports a 5.5 inch 1920 x 1080p display along with BoomSound Speakers. Users will get 3 GB or RAM and 32 GB of Storage expandable further via microSD card. A 13 MP main camera and a 4 ultrapixel front camera complete the optics, both have f/2.0 lenses.

Running the latest Sense UI on Android 6.0 Marshmallow the Desire 830 will pack 2800 mAh of battery and will work with LTE along with EVDO Networks meaning you will be able to use both GSM and CDMA sim cards on this dual sim handset.

Specifications	HTC Desire 830
Display	5.5-inch full HD display with 1920x1080p resolution Pixel density: 401 ppi (pixels per inch)
OS	Android Marshmallow-based Sense UI
Chipset	MediaTek Helio X10 (MT6753T)
CPU	1.5GHz octa-core CPU
GPU	ARM Mali-T720
RAM	3GB
Storage	32GB
Expandable	Yes, microSD
Main Camera	13MP camera with LED Flash OIS, BSI sensor f/2.0 aperture, 28mm lens full HD video
Secondary Camera	Front: 4µp (UltraPixel) camera with f/2.0 aperture, 26.8mm wide-angle lens
Battery	2800mAh
Add-ons	BoomSound stereo speaker with Dolby audio technology
Dimensions	157.5 x 78.9 x 7.79 mm
Colours	White/orange and white/blue combination
Price	NTD9,990 (around $309/€269/Rs. 20,590)

May 4, 2016

OnePlus 3 To Support Dash Charge and Cost Rs. 20,400

The OnePlus 3 launch is just around the corner and the phone is highly anticipated. While many have put a lot of faith and trust in OnePlus and expect a fantastic phone, many are waiting for the company to reveal the handset before commenting.

OnePlus has filed a patent for a technology called “Dash Charge” while little is known about the tech, many assume that the name suggests a fast charging technology. Something that was missing in the OnePlus 2 and was considered unacceptable by many.

Other reports are mentioning two models of the OnePlus 3 one with 4GB of RAM + 32GB of storage and one with 6GB of RAM + 64GB of storage. A price of CNY 1,999 (roughly Rs. 20,400) is quoted for the base model of the OnePlus pointing towards a roughly Rs. 24000-25000 launch price in markets like India. It was earlier reported that OnePlus 3 will be launched in three variants. Other specs leaked also point towards a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset with the Adreno 530 GPU.

VIA / 2

May 3, 2016
Samsung J5 (6) and J7 (6) 2016 Launched, Coming to India Soon

Samsung has launched the J5 and J7 in the home country of South Korea and in China. This time however, the handsets feature a metal frame and improved design and specifications.

The Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016) features a 5.2-inch 720p Super AMOLED display and runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow. A 1.2 Ghz quad-core processor powers the device, along with 16 GB of internal storage, and microSD expansion slot. It also has a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front facing camera. The Galaxy J5 will come with a 3,100 mAh removable battery.

The Samsung Galaxy J7 has a 5.5-inch 1080p Super AMOLED display an runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It’s powered by 1.6 Ghz quad-core chip and 2 GB of RAM. I 16 GB of internal storage, microSD expansion slot for up to 128 GB support.13-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front facing camera It packs in a larger 3,300 mAh removable battery.

Samsung is working to launch these handsets in India soon, and will boast many of the data saving and graphics features, that were a huge hit last year. Both the J5 and J7 have cameras with f1.9 aperture which will truly improve low light camera performance for these phones.

The Phones have been launched for KRW 290,000 (around $255 / Rs 14000) and KRW 363,000 (around $320 / Rs 20000) however they are expected to be priced lower in India.

Source 1 / 2

May 2, 2016
YU and Cyanogen Go Through Breakup Says Lenovo

YU Televentures and Cyanogen seem to be going through a breakup it seems, as Lenovo is shouting that ZUK smartphones with Cyanogen are India bound. The 2014 YU and Cyanogen exclusive partnership left OnePlus in dirty muddy waters struggling to launch the OnePlus One in the region.

This could also mean that the company’s next handset seen running Android 5.1 may or may not come with Cyanogen. Lenovo is working on its online brand ZUK for a while and will be launching in India soon.

The ZUK Z1 running Cyanogen 12.1 based on Android 5.1 Lollipop and comes with 64 GB of storage for a price of Rs. 18500 approximately in China. However it is expected to hit the Indian market for roughly Rs. 19,999.

May 2, 2016
Schematics Reveal iPhone 7 will Have Smart Connector

Think of the Smart Connector on the iPad Pro and it has mostly been used by case makers to power up the cases which come with keyboards. Until recently when Logitech released a dock which allows you to charge the iPad Pro using the Smart Connector.

iPhone 7 plus version drawings have been shared by Japanese site Mac Otakara, and they show a purported “pro” variant with a 5.5-inch display which will also have the smart connector just like the iPad Pro. The handset is set to measure in at 158.22mm x 77.94mm x 7.3mm. Along with a large cutout in the schematic that shows a possible dual-camera setup.

The addition of the smart connector would mean that you will still be able to charge up your iPhone 7 while listening to music via headphones connected to the lightning connector. (See: Apple Set to change history)

On the flip side, it could be used to charge headphones, as Apple is apparently working on new Beats Headphones to be released alongside the new iPhone 7.

People also suggest that the iPhone smart connector could be connected to other peripherals, including external microphones, lenses and camera cases to make for a nice portable camera kit.

Who knows what Apple has up its sleeve and if the final iPhone 7 will have the smart connector in the first place. Previously MacFan has been accurate about Apple’s devices, sharing design details of the iPhone 6/6 Plus and 12.9-inch iPad Pro ahead of launch.

Source

April 29, 2016
ThinCharge : Thinnest iPhone 6s Case Review

We quickly review the thinnest iPhone 6s Case aka the ThinCharge .

Product Dimensions: 11mm x 5.6 in x 3.2 in – Weight: 70 grams
Compatibility: Apple iPhone 6/6s
Package Dimensions: 205mm x 105mm x 16mm – Weight: 5 ounces
Battery capacity: 2600mAh – Type: Lithium-polymer

April 29, 2016
HTC will Make Two Nexus Devices This Year, M1 and S1

Leaks are suggesting that HTC will be launching two Nexus devices in 2016, codenamed M1 and S1. This information comes after previous news of HTC signing a multi-year contract with Alphabet inc.

HTC is building a pair of Android N devices for Google internally dubbed M1 and S1 #nexus
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) April 27, 2016

The devices are also known as ‘Marlin’ and ‘Sailfish’ according to Android Police. A Geekbench score of a device named “marlin” have been leaked with 4GB RAM and still named Nexus 6p, however, running Android N.

Google is rumoured to include universal support for pressure-sensitive display technology, and hence, the HTC Nexus devices will use 3D Touch type technology and will come with 5.2 and 5.5 inch displays. Running the final version of Android N out of the box. The handsets are expected to be made completely out of metal and have impressive camera capabilities.

April 28, 2016
Apple Wants to Remove iPhone Distribution Chain in India

Apple is all set to launch official Apple stores and the online Apple store in India. With the company steadily moving forward towards that goal, they intend to remove the current distribution layer in the market.

Sources close to iGyaan from within Apple have clarified that service and sale of all iPhones may fall back under Apple’s own command as the general approach towards service has been poor in India when compared to global standards of service.

Traditional distribution model which was adopted by importers of iPhone in India, Ingram and Reddington, end up decreasing the sale prices of the iPhone considerable within one year, which is not the case with Apple’s global sales model. Apple wants to ensure that the price protection for the customer who buys the phone at launch is equal for the customer who buys the phone six months from launch.

The Recent launch of the iPhone SE is the biggest example of Price problems faced by the company. The iPhone SE was launched at Rs. 39000 while the iPhone 6s was available at the time for around Rs. 40000 down about Rs. 16000 from initial launch price. Apple then steadily moved to regulate the price of the iPhone in India, even though denying it, to ensure the sale of their new mid-tier iPhone SE.

Apple sees India as a large opportunity for sales, only after the US and China, and expects to be able to provide equivalent pricing as the US markets and also ensure that price does not fall by taking reins of the sales and service model in India. In a scenario like that the iPhone SE, which costs $ 399 in the US would cost Rs. 26500 in India and not Rs. 39000.

April 28, 2016