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This Wearable Will Track Your Emotions and Stress Levels

Taking mood-rings to the next level is this new awesome wristband by Sentio Solutions. It’s called Feel and it helps the user stay updated about their emotional state. It may not change colours, but hey, it has so much more to offer.

With the help of sensors on its inner-side, Feel tracks and meaures your pulse rate, body temperature and galvanic response using sweat glands on the skin and their behaviour under different conditions. It gets connected to the user’s phone via Bluetooth and provides real-time information about your moods.

This information can also be presented in the form of graphs, suggesting patterns of the mood during the course of a day. The graphs, in turn, lets the user determine what are the most stressful periods of the day and so on and so forth.

Feel also gives tips and pointers on how to reduce stress through Yoga, meditation or breathing exercises. The user is reminded to take deep long breaths during moments of high stress. In some cases, like moments of anger during anger, Feel would give a real-time alert in the form of a vibration which according to George Eleftheriou, the co-founder and CEO, is enough to calm the user down.

The flexible wrist-bank comes in a sleek, inconspicuous design which fits well with all kinds of individual stylistic preferences. It is priced at $199 (about Rs.13,000) and will be available for $149 (about Rs.10,000) on pre-order. Feel will be up for pre-order this spring and is expected to arrive in December. Log on to the official website for more details.

January 13, 2016
Samsung Galaxy J1 Launched in Dubai

Just until yesterday, the Samsung Galaxy J1 2016 edition was merely a device with a few rumors and speculations attached to it. Today, Samsung quietly launched the budget handset in Dubai without any major show or noise. Indeed, it looks like Samsung did not want to wait for its launches and is perhaps saving the big events for its upcoming flagship devices.

The launch of the new Galaxy J1 smartphone comes with confirmed specs and price tag. The device sports a 4.5-inch display with a resolution of only 480 x 800 pixels, but still using Super AMOLED technology. Powering the handset is a quad-core chipset, clocked at 1.3 GHz, possibly Samsung’s Exynos 3475 SoC.

Other specifications include 1GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal storage. The rear camera is of 5 MP while the front houses a 2 MP shooter. Like its predecessor, the J1 comes with a 2,050 man battery. The device is 4G-enabled and runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop. It will be available in three colour variants -black, white and gold. The Dubai pricing of the J1 is at 499 AED (approximately Rs. 9000).

January 13, 2016

Lenovo Lemon 3 Launched with Snapdragon 615 SoC

Looks like Lenovo has a launched a direct competition to Xiaomi’s Redmi 3. The Lenovo Lemon 3 budget smartphone has been launched in China. The device sports a 5-inch Full HD (1080×1920 pixels) resolution IPS display with pixel density of 441ppi and is powered by a Snapdragon 616 chipset and Adreno 405 GPU.

Other specifications include 2GB of RAM and 16GB internal storage which is expandable via MicroSD card slot. On the camera front, the handset sports a 13 MP rear camera with LED flash and a 5 MP front. The device comes packed with a 2,750mAh battery, which is much smaller than the 4,100mAh battery found inside the Redmi 3. Connectivity options include 4G LTE, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and Micro USB. The device also features dual audio speakers.

The specifications are similar to the Redmi 3 except for battery and display (the Redmi 3 sports a 720p display). The Lenovo Lemon 3 is available for RMB 699 (approximately Rs 7000). No word yet on when the device will reach international markets.

Specs	Lenovo Lemon 3
Display	5-inch Full HD IPS
Resolution	1080×1920 (441 ppi)
Processor	octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 616
GPU	Adreno 405
Storage	16 GB
Rear Camera	13 MP with LED flash
Front Camera	5 MP
Expandability	Yes
Battery	2,750mAh battery
Connectivity	4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot, Bluetooth v4.0, GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, microUSB v2.0
OS	Android 5.0 Lollipop
Price	CNY 699 (about Rs. 7,000), Price in India unannounced

January 13, 2016

iPhone 7 To Include Improved Speaker System

Today’s dose of iPhone leaks and rumours brings to us news which will be music to curious ears. After angering audiophiles world over with its alleged decision to do away with the headphone jack, the Cupertino based company is now is looking to atone for its sins by planning to equip the next iPhone with a new and improved speaker system.

Latest set of patents doing rounds on the internet reveal Apple is looking at ways to boost the audio for the iPhone 7. As suggested by the patents, the next iteration of the iPhone could have significantly improved sound output.

Apple is to create a new sound system for the iPhone 7 which will use the entire phone as an audio chamber. The idea is to use the phone’s interiors to improve the amount of air that can pass through the speaker system, thus resulting in better volume output as well as audio quality. This new system adopted by Apple would also see the phone keeping up with the rumoured sleeker form of the phone.

The patent reads,

“As portable electronic devices get smaller and thinner, there are increased difficulties in providing the same or greater functionality in a smaller area.The one or more speakers of the system can produce audio sound that can be directed to one or more audio output openings.”

The interpretation of this patent information also hints at a better system for audio input which would essentially mean an upgrade to the phone’s microphone too! Nice try Apple, but the loss of the 3.5mm jack still hurts.

January 13, 2016
Report: Apple Watch Constitutes 50% Smartwatch Shipments in 2015

According to latest data by Juniper Research, the Apple Watch constitutes for 50% of smartwatch shipment in 2015. The Watch, which was globally released in April 2015, has overtaken Samsung’s Tizen powered Gear S2 which was launched in November last year.

Gear S2

Android Wear-powered smartwatches constitute only a total 10% of total smartwatch shipment from last year. However, the research also added that keeping Apple aside, the market is dominated by cheaper, products like those by Martian and Razer.

Apple Watch

Things look good for Apple, which is important for the company which is all set to hold an official event in March. We expect to see the second-gen version of the Apple Watch there. Even though Gear S2 and Moto 260 Second Gen seemed like they could offer some strong competition to the Apple Watch, Apple has managed to maintain its dominance in the realm of wearable tech.

January 13, 2016
Possible LG G5 Launch Round the Corner after MWC Event Tease

Mobile World Congress, 2016 is just round the corner and big name brands have already started gearing up to showcase the best they have to eager customers around the globe. Surprisingly, first out of the blocks is South Korean tech giant, LG.

The G5 which has been rumoured to get an earlier than usual launch date is being tipped to be unveiled next month in Barcelona. LG for its part has today only added fuel to fire by sending out invites to the media for an event on February, 21. The invite does not reveal much, but only states, “Play Begins” with a mysterious jack-in-the-box music player in the background. What this could possibly point to is a music focused flagship for this year.

LG on its part has usually unveiled its G series flagship phones later than its competitors Samsung, and HTC, and has lost out in sales numbers because of it. This switch in strategy could well see it substantially increase sales in important markets.

The G5 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.

There are also whispers suggesting that the device might come with some sort of modular attachment. Well, what that attachment could be is anybody’s guess right now. The stylish addition of leather to the back of the handset could also be seen in the new flagship.

January 13, 2016
iPhone 7 Rumored to Sport OLED Displays

There’s no denying that when it comes to design and looks, Apple does incredibly well to draw the publics gaze. But if there is an area that is still left wanting, it’s to do with the display. Apple has rarely made any dramatic changes to its iPhones, both in design and hardware. But the little that the company does do tends to leave out the display that is still using LCD screens with 750 x 1334 pixel resolution, while other have moved on to bigger and brighter things.

Back in November, fresh rumors surrounding the upcoming iPhone 7 suggested the Apple may be changing quite a few things this time around, one of which is the display. The iPhone 7 is rumoured sport an OLED display thereby giving up on LCD display that it has relied on so far. Apple followers will know that the Apple Watch is the only Apple device to sport an OLED display currently. In 2013, Tim Cook has expressed his distaste for the OLED displays calling them “awful” when it came to colour saturation.

iPhone 6

Furthermore, Samsung and LG are pegged as the two companies that will be providing the bulk of the OLED panels to Apple. Another new report also suggests that Apple is ready to invest in this particular screen technology by working with AU Optronics. According to Focus Taiwan, Apple wants to transform AUO into an AMOLED screen supplier for the iPhone.

if the rumors do turn out to be true, this could be quite a catch for AUO who has currently been supplying OLED displays for Huawei and other Chinese handset makers.

But that’s not all. Another set of 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. We’ll just leave you here for now to let all of that sink in.

January 13, 2016
Leak Suggests Confirmed Names for Samsung Galaxy S7 Devices

Samsung is all set to host an Unpacked event on 21st February at the Mobile World Congress, and we expect it to unveil the Galaxy S7 devices there. Rumours about the S7 phones are doing the rounds to no end and here’s the latest update from that front.

According to @evleaks, the names of the three S7 devices have been confirmed thus.

Honestly surprised by this (though it does explain a lot). pic.twitter.com/B7fL41qShm
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) January 12, 2016

Galaxy S7, S7 Edge and S7 Edge+ will be the three devices expected to be unveiled on the 21st of February. The tweeted image shows the three names written against a background with water-droplets on it. This image only seems fitting since the Galaxy S7 phones are expected to be waterproof like the Galaxy S5 from 2014.

However, because Samsung hasn’t officially confirmed these names, we still cannot be sure. There could also be a Galaxy S7+ but there isn’t much to go on with for this device.

AnTuTu posted on Weibo the specs of a 5.1-inch Galaxy S7 device. It is already confirmed that the flagship device will sport Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 820 chipset, and AnTuTu confirms the same. Other specs listed include 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB internal storage, Adreno 530 GPU. The device will run of Android 6.0 Marshmallow ( no surprises there).

We have done a complete round-up of all the rumours regarding Samsung’s S7 family of phones which you can check out here.

January 13, 2016
Flipkart Deals of the Day

Good morning readers, iGyaan comes bearing good news. Flipkart today is running a sales promotion campaign under the name “Brand Days Store Online”. Under this promotion campaign Flipkart is offering some really cool handsets at great discounts and exchange offers.

The catalogue brings to you a variety of handsets from the house of Motorola, and the much wanted Nexus 6. If you’re not the one for exchange offers, Flipkart gives you a Flat discount of Rs 2000 on devices such as Moto X Play, Moto G Turbo, and Moto G( 3rd Gen). These come with exchange offers also which depend on the handset.

Moto Turbo, Moto X Style, and Nexus 6 are also up for grabs at great exchange deals. All three of them are available for upgrade with exchange amount upto Rs 15,000 for your old phone. Moto E2, and Moto 4G are also available for exchange offers of upto Rs 3000.

Moto X Play/ Moto X Style

The Moto X Play boasts of features that are sure to excite the masses. With a 21 MP camera, 3630 mAh battery, and expandable memory up to 128 GB. Other features include a 5.5 inch screen with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, Snapdragon 615, and an Octa-core 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU. The Moto X Play is currently available at a price of Rs. 16,499.

The Moto X Style has a 5.7 inch, 2K display, 3 GB of RAM and Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 chipset. The cameras are marked at 21 MP for the main camera and 5 MP for the front camera. Both cameras are equipped with flash. The phone has a 3,000 mAh battery and runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop. The device is available on Flipkart for Rs. 29,999, but there’s an exchange offer up to Rs. 15,000 on the device.

Nexus 6

The Nexus 6 boasts a 5.96-inch QHD (2560×1440p) AMOLED display. It is powered by 2.7 GHz Snapdragon 805 quad-core processor coupled with 3 GB of RAM. It runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box. The screen of the device is shielded by Corning Glass 3, which means users need not have to worry about scratches.

On the camera front, it sports a 13MP rear and 2MP front snapper. The device gets its juice from a 3,220mAh battery, which the company claims to last for six hours on a 15-minute charge as it comes along with Motorola’s Turbo Charger. Nexus 6 offers wireless charging. The device is up for grabs with great exchange offer as well.

Moto Turbo

Comes equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 chipset with a Quad Core CPU clocked at 2.7 GHz (Krait 450). The GPU is the new ADRENO 420 and all of this is managed with 3 GB of RAM and a fixed 64 GB of storage. On the outside is a brilliant 5.2 inch Quad-HD Super-AMOLED type with a 2560 X 1440 Pixel resolution giving it 565 ppi. Priced at Rs 31,999, the device has an exchange offer available through the Flipkart app.

Moto G Turbo

The Moto G Turbo comes with a Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 chipset, with Adreno 405 and a quick charge capability that Motorola calls a turbo charge with 2GB RAM. 13 MP Camera, and HD 1280*720p display. The device is available at a price of Rs. 12,499.

Moto G (3rd Gen)

The device boasts of a 5-inch 720p display with 1280×720-pixel resolution and 294ppi. It is powered by a 1.4GHz Quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410, along with an Adreno306 GPU. It is juiced by a 2,470 mAh battery that can last roughly up to a day. The handset is available in two variants- 8GB storage with 1GB RAM and 16GB storage with 2GB RAM. The discounted handset for the 8GB variant now falls just under the 10K bracket at Rs. 9,999, while the 16 GB device is available for Rs. 10,999.

January 13, 2016
Microsoft Working on a Snapdragon 820-Powered Windows Phone

Microsoft might have a new device in the works that going to rock Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 820 chipset. Geekbench database revealed that Microsoft is working on a faster, more powerful device than the recent Lumia 950 and 950 XL smartphones. Before moving on, it must be known that the listing cannot be confirmed and must be taken with a pinch of salt.

According to the Geekbench listing, the unnamed Microsoft phablet will sport a 6-inch display (2560×1440 pixels). Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset will be powering the device along with a 2.2GHz quad-core Kyro CPU and an Adreno 530 GPU. The GFXBench also lists internal specs such 20MP primary camera, a 12MP selfie shooter, and 64 GB of internal storage.

The listing does seem a little off as well, mentioning RAM at 1.5 GB only, though it is likely to be twice as much given the specs of the device. Furthermore, the chances of the device being a new Lumia phone is high, since Microsoft is the only manufacturer currently developing high-end Windows 10-powered devices.

These are just speculations as of now. We’ll know more in the coming months on whether Microsoft is in fact working on a 6-inch Windows 10 phablet powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset.

Source

January 13, 2016
Polaroid ModelSmart 250S : 3-D Printer for your Home

Polaroid is a company which became a world-wide hit during the 70’s with its instant photo spitting devices. It’s a brand that invokes nostalgia amongst all who ever held, or saw one of its rainbow striped cameras. Though these devices are no match for today’s digital cameras for features, but in terms of fun, and instant gratification, Polaroid’s instant snappers provided something that no digital camera can match.

At CES, 2016, Polaroid keeping in touch with the core values of its brand launched the Polaroid Snap. The Snap was the evolution of the 70’s Polaroid instant Snapper. This device is a Digital Camera + Bluetooth Instant Printer in one. Suffice to say onlookers were charmed, Polaroid back in the news, but it seems like the Company wasn’t done. Well, not just yet. Enter Polaroid ModelSmart 250S.

Smart 250s is Polaroid’s attempt at testing new waters in 2016. This is Polaroid’s foray into the 3-D printing market. The company will produce this tech in partnership with U.K based Environmental Business Products(EBP).

The printing chamber’s dimensions are 250 x 150 x 150mm (W x H x D), and on the outside the printer bears Polaroid’s iconic color band along with its name at the front. It is a refreshing change from the other dull 3-D printers available in the market.

Polaroid’s machine comes with autocalibration, and 3-D Prep software, and hence only 10 Simple settings for printing. It also is equipped with Wi-Fi enabled camera, and app control so that printing can be done sitting from the users desk. Objects between the size of 50-350 microns can be created with ModelSmart 250.

With the ModelSmart 250S, Polaroid’s come to the market with a simple product aimed at home users, but more likely users of this machine could end up being small businesses, and startups. No pricing information has been announced for the ModelSmart 250S.

January 12, 2016
Microsoft Ends Support for Internet Explorer 8, 9 and 10

The first generation of netizens would fondly recall their days of web browsing and how Internet Explorer played such an integral part in it. But looks like it’s time to let go and move on, folks, as Microsoft finalised its withdrawal of support for the browser. The company would no longer offer technical support or security updates for Internet Explorer 8, 9 and 10.Microsoft had declared its plan to end support for the browser first in July 2014, and starting today, these plans have gone into action. However, the company would still continue to support Internet Explorer 11 and Microsoft Edge. Microsoft Edge comes embedded with any device running on Windows 10, and also offers integration with Cortana.

If users wish to continue using the older versions of the browser -not sure if there are many takers for it to begin with -Microsoft warns you against malicious software that might harm your computer. According to statistics, one in every five internet user was still using Internet Explorer 8, 9 or 10 in December. However, looks like now users might want to experiment with other options, especially since there are so many available to them -Opera Mini, Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari et al.

January 12, 2016
Samsung Galaxy S7 3D Renders Suggest Possible Design Language

Samsung is on course to unveil its Galaxy S7 flagship devices at next month’s Mobile World Conference. While the many, many rumors about the device have mostly surrounded the specs, which have pretty much been confirmed now thanks to an AnTuTu listing yesterday, not much has been spoken or even hinted at regarding the design.

But a new 3D renders of the device, designed by 3D designer Jermaine Smith, have surfaced that show what the flagship device could look like. The renders are of the 5.1-inch Galaxy S7 handset. The renders including the video show the device with curved sides at the back, much like the Galaxy Note 5. The 5.5-inch S7 Edge will have curved edges at the front. The front design of the S7 shows narrower side bezels, 2.5D glass covering the display and the Home Button.

The video by Smith is based on popular tipster @onleaks leaked design blueprints of the Galaxy S7. The front design of the S7 shows narrower side bezels, 2.5D glass covering the display and the Home Button. Now while the renders cannot be confirmed, it is likely that the Galaxy S7 will sport the same design aesthetics as shown in the video. The video also shows 5 color variants for the phone including rose gold, silver, black, blue and gold, although this may just be the video maker’s personal choices.

Meanwhile, the specs of the device remain unchanged from past rumors. It is already confirmed that the flagship device will sport Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 820 chipset. Other likely specs include 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB internal storage, Adreno 530 GPU. The device will run of Android 6.0 Marshmallow (no surprises there).

On the camera front, Samsung is looking to downgrade to 12 MP camera and focus more on improving low-light imaging and wider dynamic range for the upcoming flagship. To do this, Samsung is taking help of the new BRITECELL setup. AnTuTu listing also confirms that the device will sport a 12 MP rear sensor and a 5 MP front. Looks like Samsung is sticking to quality rather than quantity here.

January 12, 2016
Apple iOS 9.3 to bring big changes to iPhones and iPads

Apple today has released a new iOS 9.3 beta software for its iOS devices, giving developers a glimpse into the new features that will soon be available. Public beta will be up for download for all who signed up for it. The iOS 9.3 beta is one of the biggest updates to iOS 9 as of now, and brings along with it a number of really cool features.

Improved 3D Touch

The latest update to the OS will bring with it advanced 3D Touch capabilities. Advancements to the way users interact with their Apple device will be seen such as the use of pressure commands. New ‘Quick Shortcuts’ for the App store, Compass, Health, iTunes Store and Weather are going to be seen,

App Switcher

iOS 9.3 includes haptic feedback when using the Force Touch app switcher on an iPhone 6s or 6s Plus. “Peek” feedback is provided when first opening the app switcher, and a full “Pop” feedback is given when pressing further to open it fully.

Night Shift

This is a new feature designed to decrease the amount of blue light an iOS user is exposed to at night. Night Shift allows for the OS to shift to more yellow tones for the iPhone or iPad’s display. Apparently this shift will help the user, be more comfortable while reading in the dark, and result in a more peaceful sleep at night. Thank you Apple for caring so much.

News

Improvements have been made to the news app in iOS 9.3 to make it more specific to each person’s interests. A new For You section will also incorporate trending topics and specific picks from Apple editors to help users discover conetent. Other new features include a new landscape view for News on the iPhone, in-line video playback for videos in news stories. According to Apple faster content updating when opening the news app will also be noticed.

Health

iOS 9.3 will include third-party app recommendations in the Health app, where users will also be able to see move, exercise, stand, and goal data from a paired Apple Watch. Health will highlight apps for example tracking weight.

CarPlay

CarPlay apps have been updated to bring them in line with iOS apps on iOS 9. The Apple Music CarPlay app now include a new For You sections to help the user with music discovery. A new Nearby feature is also added to maps to offer information about what’s close-by tailored for the user.

Education

iOS 9.3 will bring with it several Education-oriented features such as feature of shared iPads for students, a new Classroom app, an Apple School Manager, and improved Apple ID management features. Sharing of iPads is a particularly interesting feature which is picked up from android, and as such could be seen soon in use for more than just the Education app.

Apple Watch

Alongside iOS 9.3, Apple also released the watchOS 2.2 beta to developers around the world. With both these updates installed the iPhone will be able to pair with more than one Apple Watch at a time.

Live Photos

iOS 9.3 will also see the iPhone 6s get a brand new option to save a full resolution photo from a Live Photo. Users can do this while using Share Sheet, choosing “Duplicate”. it will now gives an option to create a Still Photo duplicate of a Live Photo.

Notes

The Notes app has a minor update to it. iOS 9.3 will see the Notes app get finger-print unlocking ability. This is expected to make using the the must have app more convenient.

January 12, 2016
Pre-orders for HTC Vive Begin Next Month

HTC has announced the date for pre-order of HTC Vive as 29th February. The company will start shipping the VR-headsets starting April. Pricing and other details of the gadget will be revealed close to the pre-order date.

The HTC Vive was showcased and unveiled at CES 2016. The launch of the consumer version of the VR-headset was delayed due to what chief executive Cher Wang described as a “very, very big technological breakthrough”. This breakthrough was later revealed to be an all new front camera.

The camera allows the wearer to see the physical room around them, which helps to avoid collisions. The wearable also features room-scale technology. You can also read our heads on with the developer edition of the HTC Vive.

One of the main questions surrounding the HTC Vive was always its affordability. Following Occulus’ price tag of $599 (about Rs. 40,000), we can expect the Vive to be priced around somewhere close to this at $600 or slightly higher, if not less.

January 12, 2016