A couple of weeks ago, Motorola had started a 63-day road-trip to give a hands-on experience of many of its devices to potential buyers. The initiative is called Moto Spotlight and, for those who don’t know, it involves showcasing of Motorola devices in 12 cities across the country on a travelling rooftop stage.
You ask why do we bring this month old news up now? Because this Motorola vehicle is going to be in Delhi starting day after tomorrow. You can catch a bus from Pacific Mall, DLF Saket or Cyberhub in Gurgaon over the next couple of days. Click here for other details.
Additionally, aspiring artists and musicians get a chance to perform alongside names like Parikrama and Junkyard Groove by being in the Moto Spotlight. All you need to do is register yourself or the band, and upload a video. The best entries will be made part of the performance. Register yourself on the official website to stand a chance to perform at Moto Spotlight.
Micromax unveiled the Canvas 5 yesterday and we’ve provided all the technical details as well as a hands-on with the device. But if you’re still a little uncertain about whether you should buy Micromax’s latest flagship then have no worries. We’ve made a list of everything that is going for the Micromax Canvas 5, and if you find your needs mentioned then we suggest you have your wallets ready.
Design
Right off the bat then, the Canvas 5 looks amazing. It has improved a lot since the Canvas 4 in terms of looks. The moment you see the Canvas 5 after unboxing, you’ll notice a shiny and attractive Gorilla Glass 3 on the front that has a 2.5D Curve Touch panel. The glass doesn’t leave smudges and stays pretty clear. This along with a metal side and rounded edge gives the device an iPhone-like feel. In the back you have a removable plastic panel that has a faux leather texture to it. Because it’s extremely flexible, it’s not likely to break any time soon. So if you want a phone that looks and feels great in your hand, you should definitely look to the Canvas 5.
Display
On switching on the device, we found that the 5.2-inch 1920×1080 Full HD display is crisp, clear and bright. The colours are attractive and makes you want to switch on the device even if you have nothing in particular to do. A graphic-intensive game like Asphalt 8 looks great on the device and works pretty smoothly. The details of the game look crisp and also give decent sound clarity.
Performance and UI
First use of the device right after unboxing will generally give a fast performance. So, it is a little early in the day to know exactly how the device will run. But our initial response to the Canvas 5 is that it gives a solid performance for a phone that is priced at Rs. 11,999. The phone will respond quickly to all your basic day-to-day needs and with no app drawer, you can access your apps a lot faster, as is the case with the iPhone. Though, those who prefer an app drawer may find the screen cluttered with bloatware.
Sliding through the phone quick and fluid and you will love the ease of it all within 5 minutes of usage. A 3 GB RAM for a device under 12K bracket is a rare sight and the Canvas 5 comes with just that. This allows you to multi-task with greater ease and also improves gaming performance. In terms of competition, the Canvas 5 wins over the Moto G (3rd Gen) and the Xiaomi Mi 4i for sure.
Camera
The Canvas 5 actually has a great camera app with loads of modes and pro features like those found on flagship Samsung Galaxy phones. You also get an app that lets you retouch images and give the desired makeup that it needs.
The device features a 13MP primary camera and a 5MP front with flash. The images taken by the primary camera are fairly decent and is quick at capturing images. The added professional modes like ISO, exposure compensations and white balance help you take that perfect shot. So, for a mid-range device, the Canvas 5 gives you a lot to play around with.
Price
Pricing is always key for a successful smartphone (unless it’s an iPhone). The Canvas 5 with all the above mentioned pros would be worth it if it is reasonably priced. And luckily it is. At Rs. 11,999, the Canvas 5 is a terrific phone that gives Motorola and Xiaomi a run for their money. The performance, display and design are premium material. The Canvas 5 along with the OnePlus X show us that it is possible to make a great looking device for a mid-level market. Should you go for it? Well, your interests are ticked in the list above then you definitely should buy the Canvas 5.
Samsung’s newest mid-range ‘On’ series has been officially launched in India on the 3rd of November. The On5 and On7 are the first set of devices in this group. We have been talking about them for a while and now let’s take a look at which of the two devices is a better bet.
Design:
Other than the screen size, On5 measuring a 5 inches while On7 measures a 5.5 inches, both phones are completely identical physically. Because of the screen size, On5 is easier to hold and use with one hand. On5 and On7 also have a tough, sturdy feel thanks to the metal frame of the devices.
It should be noted the two handsets differ in their design from J5, and therefore have a better, more pleasant appearance. J5 is inspired by Galaxy S5 in terms of its design which wasn’t a big success with buyers to begin with. Consequently, J5 doesn’t have design as one of its highlights. It was a smart move on Samsung’s part to ditch the S5 and J5 design for the On5 and On7.
Camera:
With primary cameras marked at 8 MP for On5 and 13 MP for On7, the latter definitely offers better, clearer images. However, the same thing cannot be said for the front camera. Both devices give identical results with their cameras marked at 5 MP each.
Samsung Galaxy On5
Processor:
Given that the On7 is priced higher of the two phones, one would expect the processor to be better as well. But surprisingly that’s not the case. On7 has a 1.2Ghz Quad A53 processor with a Snapdragon 410 MSM8916 chipset, while On5 is equipped with a 1.3GHz Quad Core processor which is powered by Exynos 3475.
Samsung Galaxy On7
User Interface and Display:
The two handsets have the same specs for display that is (720×1280 pixel) TFT display. Both phones are quick to respond as well offering a smooth UI, and keeping usage of apps convenient, smooth and uncluttered.
Samsung Galaxy On5
Price:
The specs and price of the On7 is quite similar to the Galaxy J5 except for a bigger battery in the On7 at 3,000 mAh. This begs one to question why exactly Samsung felt the need to introduce a new series when it already had one that covered the price range. Samsung claims to have young consumers in mind as the target audience for the mid-range On5 (Rs.8,990) and On7 (Rs. 10,990).
Samsung Galaxy On7
Meizu m2, Meizu m2 Note, Xiaomi Redmi 2 Prime, Micromax Canvas 5 and Moto G (3rd Gen) are some of the devices in the same price range On5 and On7 will face competition from in the market.
Additional Highlights:
The devices are touted as youth friendly and come equipped with an Ultra Data Saving mode that compresses data and saves up to 50% data charges during networking and browsing. The devices also come with MixRadio which is an Apple Music-like streaming service that lets users stream millions of songs, while offering curated music based on the user’s preference at the same time.
Samsung Galaxy On5
Verdict:
With similar specs, and a very narrow difference in their pricing, either of the two devices can be opted for. If you prefer a better main camera and a bigger screen which will definitely be easier on the eyes but harder to use with one hand, then On7 is your device.
However, if you’re more of a selfie-oriented person, willing to let go of crisper images for a more convenient handset that is easier to use with one hand owing to its smaller screen, your answer lies in On5. You would also end up saving a few pennies with this one.
The major difference between the two phones is the 2k price gap, which is equivalent to two movie-outings perhaps? We say let go of two social engagements and get the bigger brother, On7. Let us know in the comments below if you agree and which device would you opt for.
For a closer look, check out the specs table below.
Specs
Galaxy On5
Galaxy On7
Display
5.0-inch HD TFT
5.5-inch HD TFT
Resolution
1280 x 720 pixels
1280 x 720 pixels
Chipset
Exynos 3475
Snapdragon 410 MSM8916
CPU
1.3GHz Quad Core
1.2Ghz Quad A53
GPU
RAM
1.5GB
1.5GB
Primary Camera
8MP(F/2.2) w/ LED Flash
13MP(F/2.1) w/ LED Flash
Front Camera
5MP(F/2.2)
5MP(F/2.2)
Storage
8GB
8GB
Expandability
Up to 128GB via MicroSD card slot
Up to 128GB via MicroSD card slot
Battery
2,600mAh
3,000mAh
Connectivity
Bluetooth 4.1, WiFi b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, GPS, Glonass
Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, GPS, Glonass, Beidou, NFC O (option)
Over the past couple of days there have been tons of rumours regarding the camera of the upcoming Galaxy S7 flagship. Samsung is keen to be the best in the camera department.The S6 received a lot of praise for its camera and the Korean manufacturers now want to make it better.
The initial rumour that was going around was that Samsung might bump up the megapixels to around 20 or 23. The company was looking to Sony’s Xperia Z5, specifically the IMX300 sensor that the device’s camera boasts of. Having Sony’s sensor would certainly give the S7 that edge. Sony would also like to finalise a deal with Samsung so that it can push out its sensors to a wider market. So a 20MP ISOCELL camera could be on the cards.
Galaxy S6
However, the second rumour debunks the first in that Samsung is not looking to enter the megapixel race and will likely go with a 12MP primary camera. However, the sensors will be a large 1/2-inch size. In this case, the camera would have larger pixels and would also improve the camera’s low-light performance.
Finally, the third and certainly not the last rumour of the day is that Samsung has filed a trademark application in which the company has trademarked BRITECELL, which, as of now, confirms rumours that Samsung is indeed going for a large sensor. The name doesn’t suggest much except that the sensor will somehow capture more light than Samsung’s previous attempts. Sony has been leading in the sensor department especially with the recently launched Nexus 6P which features Sony’s ExmorR IMX 377 sensor with 1.55 micron pixels.
Samsung is expected to have a January unveiling of the Galaxy S7. You can expect a lot more rumours about the device as we get closer to the date. We’ll keep you updated as soon as we have more dope.
Tech-nerds, time to gear yourself for Xiaomi’s Re.1 flash sale. Today is the last day so make sure to be there in time. The company is holding a #DubsmashWithMi contest in which participants would get a chance to win a Mi Band. The timing for the contest is 11 am to 6 pm on the official Mi Twitter and Facebook accounts. Four winners will get a Mi Band as part of this contest.
Third day of Xiaomi’s Diwali celebrations will follow the same pattern as the last two days. The Mi Band and Mi in-ear phones already went up for sale at 10 am in the morning at the price of Rs. 799 and Rs. 299 respectively. Now the Re. 1 flash sale will take place between 2 pm and 6 pm.
To participate in Xiaomi’s flash sale, users have to share the flash sale promotion from Xiaomi’s official website mi.com/in on Facebook or Twitter. This will take the users to the ‘Light Me Up’ game. Players of this game will have a chance to win coupons for the Mi store. Additionally, customers who make purchases using the Mi store app during the sale period also stand to win a Mi TV 2S.
Customers who use PayU for transactions will get a 5% cashback. Find more details and rules of Xiaomi’s Diwali sale here. Xiaomi has been trying and succeeding at wooing customers with exciting sales and offers for a while now. Earlier this year, a 1000 customers who had managed to register themselves in time had received Mi Bands for Re. 1.
Needless to say, the sale has seen an incredible response over the past two days. Happy shopping on the final day of this sale. Get set go!
The official Cyanogen 12.1 update for Yureka and Yureka Plus has begun rolling out. Some of the highlights include a Live Display feature which adjusts the screen based on environmental conditions. This would ensure better readability in sunlight and a softer, dimmer screen during the night. Your eyes will definitely be happier about this update.
Another feature of this update is the calendar which is integrated with the email. This allows you to sync emails from different sources like Gmail and Exchange in the calendar, making sifting through appointments and reminders easier and more convenient. It also allows scheduling of appointments directly from an email.
The redesigned UI for the folders and app drawer allows one-handed-use of the device to the user, while also reducing visual clutter. YU also promises better performance and an over-all improved sound experience with an updated audio FX UI.
It is time to get your YU devices updated, folks, and tell us about your experience in the comments below.
Allowing you to take laziness to the next level, Google’s new email app will come up with responses for emails and thereby saving your brain cells the extra effort. The Smart Reply feature of the Inbox by Gmail app was unveiled on Tuesday and offers three responses that can be customised by the user.
Smart Reply, Google’s smartphone app, uses deep learning, a modified version of Artificial intelligence to make the appropriate replies. Over time, the app would study the pattern of responses to emails, and suggest responses based on the most and least often used ones.
The president of the Google for Work program, Amit Singh commented on this, “The possibilities of machine learning are endless.”
Users tend to keep replies short on mobile phones and it was precisely this style of emailing on phones which led to the development of Google’s newest app. Google has also made sure to include or exclude responses which are more commonly used or steered cleared of. This ensures no private replies get mixed with business emails and vice versa. Smart Reply is expected to be available by the end of this week as part of the Inbox app that is compatible with both Android and iOS devices.
There are smartphones and then there are modular phones. We hear something new about smartphones everyday, but even modular phones need their day in the sun. Last year, the PuzzlePhone was introduced to the masses. The modular phone is made up with multiple pieces that can be upgraded, swapped or replaced as needed. The PuzzlePhone has three pieces: the Brain, the Spine, and the heart.
The ‘brain’ contains the processor, camera, RAM, and storage; the ‘spine’ provides the structure and screen; and the ‘heart’ holds the battery and secondary electronics. Finnish company Circular Devices initially offered multiple size options for the PuzzlePhone, but had to streamline their offer for its initial crowdfunded release.
The team behind the PuzzlePhone has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo seeking to raise $250,000 to kickstart production. So far the site has received $40,234 with 41 days left. The Indiegogo money will be used for manufacturing, shipping, and the product itself.
In terms of features, the PuzzlePhone features a 5-inch 1080p display, an unspecified 64-bit octa-core processor, 3GB RAM, a 2,800mAh battery pack, a 12-megapixel back camera, and Android 6.0 Marshmallow (or higher depending on the release date). The PuzzlePhone will have 16GB, 32GB and 64GB storage options for various backers of the campaign.
We’ll know in a few weeks whether the team behind the PuzzlePhone has everything to go ahead with the production. If you want to be a part of the campaign then head on over to Indiegogo and do your part.
We are all aware how important emoticons are nowadays. Nobody wants to type ‘okay’ anymore, just a thumbs up emoticon will do. The process is supposed to save time, but we still have to press an extra key to open our emoji options. These troubles will however soon be in the past, because EmojiWorks has debuted its first hardware based emoji keyboard. So now, with the help of a built-in shortcut, you can immediately just type in your preferred emoji.
Design wise it looks like an Apple keyboard with emoji symbols and each key has an emoji along with a character. Just like the shift key we use in order to type in a letter in capitals, there is an additional ’emoji’ button which you need to press in order to insert the specific emoji.
EmojiWorks has been very careful so as to include all your favourite emoji, including the poop emoji. They also claim that the emoji keyboard is up to 10 times faster than a standard keyboard and is Bluetooth enabled; this feature in turn makes it compatible with Mac and iOS devices. The only con that comes with this keyboard is that it cannot be customized as it comes pre-printed with emoji on the keys along with pre-programmed emoji shortcuts. Here is a short video:
https://youtu.be/Hvm3B6kXPK0
Speaking of its availability, the emoji keyboards come in three different models: the Emoji Keyboard at $79.95 (approx Rs.5,175), the Emoji Keyboard Plus at $89.95 (Rs.5,830), and the Emoji Keyboard Pro at $99.95 (Rs.6,485). The difference between these keyboards is that the number of emoji shortcuts differ, so basically, the cheapest one will have one emoji per key, the emoji plus will have a total of 94 emoji and the emoji plus will have more than 120 emoji, with three shortcuts per key.
Click here for your pre-order and more information.
Just when you thought things in the country couldn’t get any stranger (to use a safer word), we have been proved wrong one more time as Vodafone chooses to take randomness (once again, playing it safe) to a whole new level. In a very unusual turn of events, the company is offering a 100 MB of data for free to all its users all over India.
Vodafone says in an official statement, “At Vodafone, we are driven with the singular objective of delivering superior experience to our customers.”
Sorry, what? Next time if there’s a brainstorming session for ideas of Diwali free gifts at Vodafone, hopefully somebody comes up with something probably just a tiny bit more useful like – better customer service where the company representatives actually manage to solve the user’s problem for a change, or better network coverage which doesn’t require the user to perform all sorts of acrobats to get a single bar of reception in their device, and what’s up on the 4G front, folks? How about offering something that truly helps your 188 million ‘valued’ customers in the country? Take a look at re-volt to get a better picture of what we’re trying to say.
Vodafone Diwali freebies got us excited like.
Unfortunately, Vodafone is already glorying in the extra 100 MB of data they are going to be handing out to their customers to realise how badly they have missed the mark. The “special” offer, as Vodafone fondly calls its problem child, will be available to all Vodafone customers on Wednesday, November 11, 2015. They can avail it by SMS-ing ‘DIWALI’ to 199. Do let us know how many extra selfies you manage to exchange with all this free data.
For those of you who secretly watch all the trending TV Shows and movies via online streaming sites such as Popcorn Time – its doomsday for you. Popcorn Time and YTS have been shut down following court orders in Canada and New Zealand.
This isn’t something that has come as a shock, because the Motion Picture Association of America or MPAA had filed a suit back in October against three operators of popcorntime.io, claiming that they had “enabled, authorized and induced copyright infringement via an app that allowed viewers to watch pirated movies and TV shows”.
In Canada, they received an injunction on the 16th of October to shutdown the site while in New Zealand they filed a suit on the 12th of October 2015 against YTS, which is a torrent site. Both sites have therefore, been shut down as the legal procedures continue.
All you can do now, is hope and pray the MPAA don’t get to your favorite site next.
On a mission to secure a goal of having Windows 10 power 1 billion devices, Microsoft’s “Window’s life cycle fact sheet” shows us that October 31st 2016 could be the last day for sales of PCs pre-installed with Windows 7 professional or Windows 8.1. This means, that post the given date, all new computers will come with Windows 10 pre-installed. However, businesses with license agreements which entitle them to choose whichever version they prefer can continue working on Windows 7 or 8.1.
This deadline is probably not the best news for users who have become comfortable with the Windows 7 and have been procrastinating the update to Windows 10. Microsoft will however benefit from this deadline, because they will finally be able to tie together PCs and other devices with apps that can run on all the devices.
Microsoft usually sets their end-of-sales date for each version of Windows after two years of the release of a new version. However, since Windows 8 didn’t receive the best of responses, Windows 7 continued to be available. This privilege may not be available anymore because of the positive response that Windows 10 has mustered up.
But, for users who really want to continue with the Windows 7, technical support has been extended up to January 14th, 2020 for all users and up till January 10th 2023 for Windows 8 users. As of now, Windows 10 is available as an “optional update” on all PCs, however, early next year, reports suggest that it could become a “recommended update”.
Windows 10 is slowly finding acceptance, so Microsoft is probably just trying to make things easier for themselves and their users. All we can do is watch and wait for the response.
Twitter recently announced that they would replace their users’ ability to mark “favorites” with an option to “like” Tweets instead. Along with this, they have also decided to ditch the star icon for favorites with a heart icon for likes.
The social media networking company made a statement regarding this change, saying that because “the star could be confusing, especially to newcomers”, they will now use a more “universal symbol” like the heart “that resonates across languages, cultures, and time zones.”
According to user tests, these changes have been said to do well and will soon be introduced on Vine too. However, as it happens with all new changes, this one, too, has had mixed reactions, since the “favourites” option was used to indicate various things and was even used as a bookmark or reminder.
I work at @twitter but even I can’t believe how we replaced a completely value-neutral term like “favorite” with something so loaded.
Social media is getting more emotive, and its users are becoming more and more aware of small things such as “like” buttons and its correct usages. Facebook is working on ways to let users express a lot more than simple “likes”, whereas Twitter seems to be going back a step by providing its users a basic “like” option. With all the revamping and the firing of employees, let us hope that Twitter can manage to stay afloat and save their dwindling fan base. What do you think about this? Let us know in the comments section below.
Sennheiser will soon release it’s new set of headphones, Orpheus with a price tag of $50,000 (no, that’s not a typo) or Rs. 32,75,000. About twenty five years ago, the company had come out with Orpheus HE90, which soon came to be known as the best headphones money can buy. There were only 300 of those made by the company, and they came with an amplifier at a cost of about $16,000.
Sennheiser Orpheus in 1991
After almost a quarter of a century since 1991, Sennheiser is ready with an updated version of the Orpheus. The company had been working on the gadget for over a decade now. German craftsmanship and over 6,000 components that include gold-vaporized ceramic electrodes, platinum-vaporized diaphragms, and Carrara marble amplifier housing from Italy -same as the one used by Michelangelo -all have gone into making this beauty. Clearly, these headphones are not meant for metro rides or listening to music on the laptop.
All these intricately chosen components improve sound quality and audio experience. Digital amplification takes place directly in the headphones and therefore steers clear of any disturbance that might have happened because of cord travel of the sound. Sennheiser plans to make the Orpheus available starting mid-2016 and would keep the production at a 250 piece per year. Time to bring out the piggy bank and start saving up, folks!
In the past one week we have seen a number of smartphone launches under the 20K range. The OnePlus X that was officially launched on the 29th of October gave fans many reasons to cheer for the company. Today, it was Micromax’s turn to please the crowd with the launch of the Canvas 5.
Both OnePlus X and the Canvas 5 have been designed to please the eyes. Two other phones that come under the same banner are the Moto Gen (3rd Gen) device that was launched in July this year and the Xiaomi Mi4i that came out in April.
Starting from the earliest then, the Xiaomi Mi4i has a 5-inch Full HD OGS IPS display with 441ppi pixel density. The phone is powered by a 64-bit octa-core Cortex-A53 processor. It features 2GB of RAM and runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop with the company’s MIUI 6. The two cameras include a 13MP in the rear and a 5MP in the front. The dual-SIM device is powered by a 3120mAh battery. Connectivity options include Micro-USB 2.0, Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi.
Moto G (3rd Gen)
The Moto G (3rd Gen) with the rounded design and silver accents has a premium look and feel to the device. The device has a 5-inch 720p display with 1280×720-pixel resolution and 294ppi. It is powered by a 1.4GHz Quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor with 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.
OnePlus X
The OnePlus X is a mid-range phone that aesthetically looks high-end with ceramic-glass and onyx variants for the back. The device sports a 5-inch AMOLED display (1920×1080), with a primary camera of 13 MP and a 8 MP front. The device runs on a 2.1 GHz Snapdragon 801 chipset. It features a 3 GB RAM with 16 GB internal storage and is expandable up to 128 via MicroSD card slot.
Micromax Canvas 5
Finally, the Canvas 5 also wins in the design department with curved metallic edges, a plastic back panel that has a leather-like feel to it, and at 8.5mm thickness the device is pretty slim. The flagship sports a 5.2-inch FHD screen with 480ppi. It is powered by a 1.3GHz octa core MediaTek MT6753 ARM Cortex-A53 chipset. It also features 3GB RAM and 11GB internal storage expandable up to 128 GB via MicroSD card slot.
Here’s how the four devices stand in comparison. Have a look and post your winner in the comments below.
Specs
Micromax Canvas 5
OnePlus X
Moto G (3rd Gen)
Xiaomi Mi 4i
Display
5.2-inch full HD screen, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
5-inch full HD AMOLED screen, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
5-inch, 720p HD, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
5-inch IPS LCD capacitive with Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution
1920×1080 pixels, 423ppi
1920×1080 pixels, 441ppi
1280x720p pixels, 294ppi
1080×1920 pixels, 441ppi
Chipset
Media Tek MT6753, ARM Cortex-A53
Qualcomm Snapdragon 801
Qualcomm Snapdragon 410
Qualcomm Snapdragon 615
CPU
1.3 GHz octa-core processor
2.3 GHz Quad-core processor
1.4GHz Quad core
1.7 GHz quad-core
GPU
Mali-T720 MP2
Adreno 330
Adreno 306
Adreno 405
RAM
3 GB
3 GB
1 GB/ 2 GB
2 GB
Front Camera
5 MP
8 MP
5 MP
5 MP
Rear Camera
13 MP
13 MP
13 MP
13 MP
Storage
11 GB
16 GB
8 GB/ 16 GB
16 GB
Expandability
Up to 128GB via MicroSD card slot
Up to 128 GB via MicoSD
Up to 32 GB
NA
Battery
2,900 mAh
2,525 mAh
2,470 mAh
3,120mAh
Connectivity
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS/AGPS
Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz b/g/n WCN3680 / Bluetooth 4.0
MicroUSB, 3.5mm headset jack, Bluetooth 4.0WiFi 802.11 b/g/n (2.4 GHz)
MicroUSB, 3.5mm headset jack, Bluetooth 4.1WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
