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Fujifilm Unveils Three Powerful Cameras with Wi-Fi Connectivity

Fujifilm unveiled a trio of powerful new cameras that are sure to find eager buyers. The new X-Pro2 is the biggest of the lot and the successor to the X-Pro1. These new cameras dare the camera world which is already being dominated by the likes of Sony’s A7R II, which won the Camera of the Year, according to Popular Photography.

The X-Pro2 comes with a new 24.3-magapixel X-Trans CMOS III sensor which is powered by the X-Processor Pro image processor. It takes 0.08 seconds for the camera’s autofocus to lock on to a subject and continuous shooting is at 8 frames per second. The ISO range goes fro 100-51200. Beautiful timelapses are guaranteed with the built-in interval timer that can shoot up to 999 frames. The maximum mechanical shutter speed has been doubled up to 1/8000 seconds.

X-Pro2

The X-Pro2 is dust and splash-resistant like the X-TI with 61 points. While the camera cannot go underwater, it will survive rainfall and splashes. The camera’s 3-inch screen is sharper with a 1.62-million dot resolution, and the camera comes with two SD card slots, one compatible with UHS-II Standards, and built-in Wi-Fi connectivity.

The only downside to the X-Pro2 is that it doesn’t shoot 4K video. The camera can, however, record full HD video at 1080p resolution at up to 60 fps. The camera comes with updated hybrid optical and electronic viewfinder. The camera also has a grain effect mode for grainy photos, which will win over film enthusiasts.

The powerful camera comes with a massive price tag of $1,699 and will be available in February.

X-E2S

Meanwhile, the company also updated its mid-range X-E line. The $699 X-E2S comes with a 16.3-megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS II sensor, a 49-point single focus mode, 77-point wide-tracking mode for freezing quick moving subjects, and ISO sensitivity up to 51200. Like the X-Pro2, the X-E2S records 1080p full HD video at up to 60 fps, and comes with a built-in interval timer and Wi-Fi connectivity. Though cheaper than the X-Pro2, the X-E2S packs some powerful specs and is a great choice for advanced photographers.

X70

The X-70 is priced exactly as the X-E2S and comes with a 16.3-megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS II sensor and a fixed 18.5mm lens with f/2.8 aperture, and ISO sensitivity up to 51200. The X-70 includes all the features seen in the X-E2S like 1080p video recording at 60fps, interval timer and Wi-Fi. The 3-inch screen here is a touchscreen and tilts 180-degrees. Both the mid-range cameras will be available in February as well.

January 15, 2016
Samsung Galaxy S7 to Have Apple’s ‘Live Photos’-Like Feature

One of the coolest, and most loved things about the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus when it launched was the inclusion of Live Photos. A really fun feature to use, it helps you click photos with short video clips just, and after the photo so that you can immerse yourself in the emotion of the photograph whenever you look at it.

It’s a fun feature, but not something ground-breaking that we expected Android to bring to their devices, but such is the lack of ingenuity in the smartphone market these days that we have Samsung’s already porting the idea on to their next flagship.

According to reports, Samsung is planning to bring a Live Photos-like feature to the Galaxy S7 under the name of Vivid Photos. But, Samsung’s version will be a bit different than Apple’s offering. Vivid Photos will not capture sound, but only the image. These images will be saved as GIFs, and will be particularly of interest to users who’ve struggled to upload Live Photos on Facebook. Let’s see if Vivid Photos works as well for Samsung as Live Photos did for Apple.

January 15, 2016
Samsung to be Apple’s Primary OLED Display Supplier

Rumors of Apple finally shifting to OLED displays for its iPhones aren’t going away. It looks like Samsung is set to be the primary OLED supplier for the new iPhones as the Korean giant gets ready to invest up to $7.27 billion depending on order levels.

Now, while the shift to OLED panels is imminent, the move will only happen in 2018, which means that the upcoming iPhone 7 will continue to sport LCD displays. Currently, the Apple Watch is the only device by the Cupertino giant that sports an OLED display.

Earlier, it was rumored that both Samsung and LG will be the suppliers for the OLED panels, but it looks like Apple’s love-hate relationship with Samsung trumps all. Though this doesn’t completely rule out LG as a supplier.

No official statement has been released by either companies yet, but insiders have claimed that the contract has been signed. Furthermore, it is rumored that Samsung is planning to invest up to $7.47 billion in its display business. This would go towards equipment, plant improvements and staff to increase production loads.

The investment will be broken down to into an initial $2.49 billion to $3.32 billion this year, so that the company can begin production of 30 000 to 45 000 OLED sheets per month. Another set of recent rumors also suggest that Apple has a secret lab in Taiwan where where former Qualcomm and AUO employees are working on developing micro-LED screen tech for thinner, lighter, and brighter displays for the iPhone, though we’ll know how much of the latter is true once the next set of iPhones come out.

January 15, 2016
Oukitel K4000 Pro with 4,600mAh Battery Can Power Your Phone for 6 Days

Back in December, we heard that a Chinese company by the name Oukitel was setting out to launch a smartphone with a 10,000mAh battery that could power the device for unto 10 days. The device, named K10000 Pro will start shipping from January 21st.

But that’s not the only device Oukitel is pushing out. Word is that the company also has a smaller K4000 Pro, which, as the name suggests, comes with a 4600mAh battery that promises to give you enough juice for up to 6 days of “normal use” (according to the manufacturer’s standards), and up to 80.5 hours of talk time.

While the main attraction of the device is the massive battery pack, the device also comes with decent specs for a low-priced phone. The K4000 Pro sports a 5-inch, 720p-resolution LCD screen. It is powered by a MediaTek 6735P chipset with a quad-core CPU running at 1GHz. Other features include 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable storage memory, which isn’t going to do well under graphic intense games, but that’s also one of the reasons behind the long-lasting battery.

In terms of looks, the K4000 Pro comes with a machined metal frame whose four angles are reinforced to improve its endurance under drops. A 0.4-inch thick tempered glass gives the display device an added protection and durability, so much so that the device substitutes for a hammer, according to the company’s video.

The device will run on Android 5.1 Lollipop and Ouktitel says that it will be upgradable to Android 6.0 Marshmallow later on. The handset supports dual-SIM and comes with basic connectivity features like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and USB OTG.

Oukitel is having a pre-sale event between January 19 to February 1, where it will sell the device for $120. Furthermore, a limited batch of the K4000 Pro will be up for grabs for $90 on Tuesdays.

January 14, 2016
iPhone 6s Plus Tops AnTuTu’s Smartphone Performance Chart for 2015

The iPhones may not have specifications as highly marked as its counterparts from other companies but when it comes to performance, looks like nothing matches up to Apple’s user interface. Proving this right is AnTuTu’s list of smartphones from 2015 rated in terms of their performance.Talking strictly in terms of raw processors, iPhone 6s Plus has won hands down, beating competition from devices by Samsung and Huawei. The test ranks these smartphones in terms of their average benchmark scores.

iPhone 6s Plus has acquired the top spot on the chart by a big margin, with no contender in sight capable of dethroning it. For more specs, details and a hands on of the device, click here. Surprisingly enough, iPhone 6, which was launched in 2014 also made it to the top 10 based solely on its performance.

With companies working around the clock on improving their tech with every passing day, let’s see if they manage to dethrone Apple from its top position in 2016. What do you think of Apple devices, are they truly as worthy as this list makes them sound? Let us know in the comments below.

January 14, 2016
New iPhone 7 Concepts Emerge Online

Here’s a little visual treat for all Apple fan-boys and girls. New iPhone 7 concepts have emerged online, and who are we kidding? Speculating about one of the most significant events of the tech world just became so much funner. Yes, Apple is going to come out with another fancy device, all set to burn a major whole in our pockets. But that’s not going to stop us from talking about these new concepts.

Arthur Reis is the artist of the concepts and he borrows from the designs of both the old and the new Apple devices to give us a glimpse of these new babies. The front of the renders reminds us a lot of iPhone 6/6s while the back is definitely reminiscent of iPhone 3G and 3GS.

Speculations do suggest that Apple may go back to one of its older devices for inspiration with the iPhone 7 but nothing seems confirmed at this point. While rumours about a waterproof iPhone which may be sans a headphone jack are all over the place, Apple has dropped not even the slightest of hints of what the device could possibly lbe like. We’ll have to wait patiently for the September event of the company, because that’s when we expect the iPhone 7 to arrive. Until then, there are only rumours and speculations to go on with.

January 14, 2016
Mid-Range Asus Live is Now Official in Three Colour Variants

Asus has come out with a new mid-ranger, Asus Live. It has been launched in Brazil with its specs reminding us a lot of the Zenfone Go.

In terms of hardware, Live is modeled heavily on the same lines as its predecessor. It comes with a 5 inch display with 720p. It has 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage, and is powered by the MediaTek MT6589 SoC. On the camera front, the phone has an 8 MP main camera with f/2.0 aperture and a 2 MP selfie camera. Live is further equipped with Dual SIM support and a 2,070 mAh battery. However, the phone doesn’t offer LTE support.

The dimensions of the device once again remind us of Go. Live measures 144.5 x 71 x 9.98 mm and weighs 140 grams, just a little bit heavier than Go. The new Asus device however has a different colour variants to offer at the time of its launch; they are – Blue, Pink and Yellow. Asus Live is priced at 849 BRL (close to about Rs. 14,000). Let’s see when do we get to see the device in India.

January 14, 2016
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 with Snapdragon SoC Confirmed for India Launch

Xiaomi yesterday through its social media handles teased its loyal fanbase in India with vague communication of an “exciting announcement” for today, and we are glad to say it’s lived up to the said promise. Xiaomi has announced a Redmi Note 3 Explorer contest for 100 lucky winners from the country, effectively confirming that the Redmi Note 3 will make its way to Indian markets soon.

The Redmi Note 3 was launched in China last year with a MediaTek chipset, but Xiaomi is now bringing a new variant to India that is powered by a Snapdragon 650 SoC. No pricing details have been announced, but the 16GB variant will retail in China for RMB 999( approx Rs 10,000). Another 32 GB variant will also be available in the future.

The Redmi Note 3 announced today varies in two ways from the version announced back in November. Firstly, it replaces the Helio X10 chipset with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 64-bit 1.8GHz hexa-core CPU, Adreno 510 GPU, integrated X8 LTE with Cat 7 speeds and support for VoLTE.

Secondly, this refreshed model will feature a 16-MP shooter with f2.0 aperture, and phase detection autofocus. The earlier model only came in with a 13-MP camera on board.

Xiaomi Note 3 that makes it way to India will showcase impressive specs. It will boast of a 5.5-inch 403ppi Full HD display, and come equipped with a dedicated Reading mode. Xiaomi is expected to launch two variants as it has done in China, 16GB storage variant with 2GB of RAM, and 32GB storage variant with 3GB of RAM.

The phone also has a 5 MP front facing camera. It will get the juice it needs from a beefy 4,050 mAh battery, and will feature connectivity options like dual-SIM card slots, 4G LTE support, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 802.11ac and GPS.

January 14, 2016
Credit Card Sized Device To Charge Your Phone Using Water

CES 2016, saw a lot of crazy concepts, but none of them could match this one for ingenuity. Move aside portable chargers, forget about finding electric outlets to charge your phone, the JAQ is here to save the day.

Swedish startup MyFC unveiled this cool device which is small enough to slip into your pocket. It is a fuel cell charger, and uses saltwater and oxygen to convert chemical energy into electricity. Precious electricity that can later be used to charge your power hungry phone.

The charger consists of two pieces, a credit card-shaped power card and a port for the card that’s roughly the size of a smartphone. The card contains saltwater, which fuels electricity producing chemical reactions when you slip the card into the port. The port can be connected to your phone using a normal usb cable.

According to the information on the company’s website, one JAQ power card produces close to 1,800 mAh, enough to charge an iPhone 6S. Larger devices, like tablets, can also be charged with the fuel cell, but it’ll take more than one power card to get them fully juiced.

But JAQ cards come with a catch. These power cards are good for just one use. After that,the saltwater in them stops producing the chemical reactions required for generating electricity.

The JAQ isn’t available for purchase just yet, but the company plans to start shipping the product to American users later this year. It is expected to be sold on a subscription bases, though the company also plans to make these cards individually available for $1 each( Approx Rs 60).

January 14, 2016
Samsung to Manufacture Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 Chipset

Qualcomm has struck a deal with Samsung which will see the latter manufacturing the former’s newest Snapdragon 820 chipsets. In a news that is surely going to make the tech world take notice, Qualcomm’s deal could see the two companies handle the chip manufacturing for a majority of flagship devices for the first half of 2016.

We’ve been hearing a lot of rumors and speculations regarding Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S7 flagship devices. The general word going around is that at least one variant will be featuring the Snapdragon 820 chip while the others will sport Samsung’s Exynos chipset.

Samsung today announced that it has begin mass production of chips using 2nd generation of its 14-nanometer LPP (Low-Power Plus) process – a technology that will power both Samsung’s Exynos 8 octa processor and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processor.

Here’s why the Qualcomm-Samsung deal is likely to be a win-win for both companies. Using Samsung’s 14nm process will not only help produce cheaper chipsets that consume less power, but will also help Qualcomm emerge once again as a leader in performance processors, especially after the pubic’s anger over the Snapdragon 810’s heating issues and power consumption. Since the new SD820 is supported by 14nm chips (down from 20nm for the S810), it’s only fitting for Qualcomm to seek Samsung’s technology.

Secondly, the move will benefit Samsung as well because the 820 offers better performance than the Exynos. “I do believe Samsung must use the 820 to be more competitive with Apple. 820 hits performance per watt levels Exynos just can’t hit,” said Patrick Moorhead, president and principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy.

Together, Samsung and Qualcomm are likely to produce the bulk of processors for major flagship devices this year. Samsung has claimed that the new 14nm LPP process delivers up to 15 percent higher speed and 15 percent less power consumption over the previous 14nm LPE (Low-Power Early) process.

This news, however, still doesn’t confirm whether Samsung will use the Snapdragon chip for its own S7 flagship devices, and the Korean giant has yet comment on the same. Looks like the two companies are ready to renew their friendship, and we’ll just have to wait and see how the Qualcomm’s new chip in the hands of Samsung will turn out.

January 14, 2016
Apple Watch 2 Trial Production to Begin This Month

Apple’s second run at striking gold is expected to start sooner than expected. If leaks coming out of China are anything to go by, Apple has decided to start trial productions of the Apple Watch 2 before this month’s end.

The manufacturing of this much awaited second generation smartwatch will be handled by Quanta, the same company which manufactured the Apple Watch last year, but the Cupertino based company is looking at new partners for handling the manufacturing of Apple Watch 2.

Not much is known about the specs of the Apple Watch 2, but rumours suggest the second generation watch could come equipped with a Face Time Camera, different display, and an improved processor. Addition health related features are also being rumoured for the Apple Watch 2.

The product is expected to launch alongside the 4-inch iPhone 5e that has been doing rounds on the Internet sometime in March. Watch this space for latest updates.

January 14, 2016
Xiaomi Mi 5 Listed on Retailer’s Website with Specs

Xiaomi’s Mi 5 flagship smartphone is set to take on Samsung’s Galaxy S7. The war has already begun even though the devices haven’t been officially launched yet. Fans on both sides have been closely following the many ruers and speculations surrounding the flagships. Xiaomi is set to unveil the Mi 5 on the 21st of February, and it looks like online retailers are already eager to out the device up on their site.

GearBest put up a page of the Mi 5 and listed some juicy specs before it was taken down. The 5.2-inch QHD screen (565ppi) will be powered by a Snapdragon 820 chipset with 4GB of RAM. The storage on this one was 16GB, though a 64GB option is very likely. The device will run MIUI 7 (based on Android 5.1).

On the camera front, the Mi 5 is set to sport a 16MP camera on the back with dual-LED flash and an 8MP selfie camera. The device is complete with a 3,600mAh battery. The Mi 5 is also a dual-SIM handset, both 4G LTE-enabled.

GearBest did not reveal the price of the device, but the specs are in line with what we have already come to know so far.

January 14, 2016
LG G5 Could Feature a Modular Design

LG’s next flagship smartphone is just around the corner. The company will be unveiling the device at the MWC on the 21st of February. As it happens with every major flagship (and non-flagship) devices, rumors and speculations are always at its highest when nearing the launch date. We already know a lot about the G5, which we’ll get to in a bit. But this new rumor is sure to take your fancy.

A rumor straight out of Korea suggests that the LG G5 may come with a ‘modular’ design. Now before you thing of Google’s Proje ARA here, the G5 is going full modular, and you won’t be able to replace parts as you please. The G5’s modular nature is more to do with design rather than anything else. The design and the ability to still preserve the removable battery is LG’s top priority.

The G5’s modular design, according to rumors, involves a detachable bottom, which will reveal the battery and allow it to simply slide in and out. Not only does this design help in making a thinner looking device, but it also gives easy access to the removable battery. This would put some of the hardware to be mounted on detachable connectors as well, like the speaker, USB port, microphone, among other things.

Other than this latest rumor, what we know about the flagship is that it is rumoured to come equipped with a 5.3-inch QHD display, sporting a Snapdragon 820 processor and 3GB of RAM with 32GB of internal storage. It’s also suggested that LG G5 might include an eye scanner, USB-C connectivity and a fingerprint sensor. Speculation also points to a 21-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel front-facing sensor.

January 13, 2016
LG K7 Specifications Revealed

The younger sibling of the LG K10 will hit stores this week. The K7, or LG Tribute 5 depending on the region you buy it from will honour LG’s signature phone design, and will be available to buy starting tomorrow. It will cater to budget concious customers looking for a phone under the Rs 10,000 mark.

This Android phone which will come with Lolipop 5.1 out of the box has a 5-inch 480p display. The phone has a matte peblle curved design, and also features the new 2.5D Arc Glass design. It comes in Titan carbon gray color, and is smaller than the K10 at 143.6 x 72.5 x 8.9mm.

The phone is expected to feature a 1.3Ghz Quad Core Chip in the model that makes it to India. It has 16GB of internal storage onboard with 1.5GB of RAM, another option could also be made available with 8GB of storage and 1GB of RAM.

The K7 will feature a 8MP rear camera and 5MP front-facing camera and will come equipped with software features like gesture shot, gesture interval shot and a screen-lit “flash” for front-facing selfies.

January 13, 2016
Researchers Develop a Lithium Battery That Won’t Explode

Battery is one of the major concerns of the tech world these days. Developers have to ensure that batteries are not only efficient and capable of providing sufficient support to gadgets, but most important of all, they can withstand high temperatures without exploding.

The explosion-scare in batteries is even though not very high when it comes to phones, but exploding hoverboard batteries have made everyone sit up and listen. Fires caused by malfunctioning hoverboards actually forced retailer websites to take the product off and stop selling them for a while.

An exploded hoverboard.

But it looks like a team of scientists at Stanford University have found a cure for these lithium-ion batteries in hoverboards that are the culprit behind all these fires. The team of researchers have developed a lithium battery that has a plastic over-lay filled with nickel particles. If this battery gets over-heated, it shuts down and cuts all power-supply. The supply is resumed only once the temperature has dropped to a safe level. This will ensure that the battery’s electrolyte never catches fire.

The same tech of self-shut down has been seen in batteries previously as well if they sense an explosion threat. However once they shut down, the battery is not functional again. This is primarily what this new battery will be able to take care of, among other things. Though these explosion-proof lithium batteries seem to hold great potential, there are still several years before they can be produced and used in smartphones and other gadgets on a mass scale. We wouldn’t advise you to get your hopes high about them hoverboards just yet.

January 13, 2016