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11 Hidden iOS 9 Features That Everyone Should Know

By now most iPhone and iPad users must have updated their device to the new iOS 9. With the update users would have also found some changes and features that are brand new.

We recently spoke about a few of the more visible changes that came with the new update. Today, we’ll look at some other new hidden additions that you might not have noticed as yet.

Drag and select multiple pictures

Now, before you start thinking that the multiple select option already existed, we are not denying that. But now with the iOS 9, users can select multiple photos from within the Photos app more easily. After you tap on “Select” you can hold and drag around your finger to select as many photos as you wish without having to select every photo individually. Along with this is the ability to hide multiple photos at once.

Siri can now recognize your voice

If you like to command Siri from a distance when your iPhone or iPad is on charge then you can enable the Allow “Hey Siri” option in General > Siri settings. However, this is not the new feature we’re talking about. Now, when you newly activate “Hey Siri” on iOS 9, you’ll be taken through a couple of steps which requires you to speak aloud a few sentences so that Siri can recognize your voice. Once you’ve finished the steps, Siri will now be able to recognize you and will respond to your voice when you say “Hey Siri”.

Siri has a new audio wave

Not only has Siri become smarter, but it’s groovier as well. The audio wave that shows up when you talk to Siri is now a lot more colorful and way cooler than the simple, old white colored waves. This little change does a lot more for the aesthetics of Siri rather than functionality. It’s simply a fashion change for Siri and we’re loving the new look.

Quickly call and message people via Proactive

Have you tried swiping right on your Home screen yet? You’ll find a new Siri Suggestions page with a search bar on top. Siri has indeed become more useful than ever. Type the name in the bar and you’ll find multiple options such as message, call, or mail for that person. This is also a neat way of finding emails of the person without having to search for it in the Mail app. Siri suggests just about everything you would want to find.

Hidden iCloud Drive app

You can now have an iCloud Drive icon on your home screen. The setting is switched off by default at first, so you’ll have to enable it by going to Settings > iCloud > iCloud Drive and turning on the “Show on Home Screen” option.

Silence Siri using Ringer (mute button)

If you don’t want Siri to talk and would rather just read the info text on screen, you have the option of muting it by simply flipping the Ringer switch. To activate it, you need to go to Setting > General > Siri, click on Voice Feedback and switch from “Always” to “Control with Ringer Switch”.

Quick Reply for almost all apps

You can now Quick Reply for most third-party messaging apps. Earlier you could only Quick Reply for Mail and stock messenger, but now you can pull on the notification you’ve received from mostly any third-party app (including Twitter) and the option to quickly reply will be available.

Larger multi tasking screen

When you double click the Home button, you’ll find that all your active apps are larger and more easily readable, taking up a good amount of screen space so that you can see what’s showing on the app without having to open it. It’s the little things that make life easier.

Audio app suggestions

When you plug in your headphone into the jack, you’ll notice that the music player opens up automatically in your lock screen or suggests the audio app you are most likely to use in the bottom left. The suggestion is not only based on the app you use most but also takes factors such as location into account.

Search through Settings

If you have a particular setting in mind that you want to change, you don’t have to look through the entire Settings app. There is now a search bar on top of Settings where you can type in a particular query (e.g. “Mail”) and everything matching that query will appear in a list below.

Wi-Fi Assist

Another helpful addition is the Wi-Fi Assist option that is enabled by default once you update your device to iOS 9. This feature is for situations where your mobile data may be more powerful than your Wi-Fi. When enabled the feature will switch you to mobile data if your Wi-Fi connection shows some trouble.

Along with our previous post on iOS 9, we’ve covered quite a few new hidden features, and yet the latest update offers a whole lot more. Keep exploring and tell us what new feature you’ve discovered in the comments below.

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September 19, 2015

Xiaomi’s Upcoming Mi 4c to Come With a USB Type C

The Chinese vendors have been super proactive this year. OnePlus took the lead in producing a USB Type C supported smartphone – OnePlus 2. This time it’s Xiaomi who’s challenging that product with its own variation of the Mi 4c that will now support a USB Type C. The smartphone will launch on the 22nd of September 2015.

The Mi 4c is a new phone in the Mi 4 line up and will come in two variants – a 16GB one with 2GB of RAM and 32GB with 3GB of RAM space. It is expected to have a 5-inch full HD display and will run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 808 SoC with a hexa-core processor.

On the camera front, it might come with a 13MP primary camera and a 5MP front camera, while the entire phone will be fueled by a 3,080mAh battery. The expected dimensions are 138.1 x 69.6 x 7.8 mm and 130 grams. The connectivity according to leaks, suggest that it will come with a 3G, GPRS/ EDGE and 4G LTE support.

The Mi 4c could be priced at around Rs.15,500 for the 16GB variant, while the 32GB variant will obviously be higher.

Here are its speculated specifications:

Features	Mi 4c
Display	5-inch full HD
Processor	Snapdragon 808 SoC
OS	–
Storage	13GB/32GB
RAM	2GB/3GB
USB	Type C
Dimensions	138.1 x 69.6 x 7.8 mm and 130 grams
Battery	3,080mAh
Connectivity	3G, GPRS/ EDGE and 4G LTE
Price	Rs.15,500 approx.

September 19, 2015

iOS 9 Soon to Beat Android Lollipop’s Adoption Rate

It’s just been a couple of days since its release and iOS 9 adoption rates are already threatening to take over Android Lollipop. We all know that the number of iOS devices doesn’t match up to Android’s dominance. As per the last official count, Android had reached 1 billion active users, while there are 800 million iOS devices. Android is the most widely used platform for smartphone and tablets today, on the other hand iOS is exclusively used by Apple and is obviously lesser used.

New stats tell us that the iOS 9 adoption rates have reached over 18% in 3 days only and the numbers are expected to be on the rise.

Now Android Lollipop on the other hand, has reportedly only reached a 20% threshold with users still being stuck with the Android KitKat, which was made available some 2 years ago. Obviously, Android still have software update issues which Apple is conveniently taking advantage of.

Well, so far so good. We all knew that Android needs to step it up sooner or later. So, let’s hope Marshmallow is the answer to their problems.

September 18, 2015
There’s a New Invisibility Cloak Just In Time For Christmas

Earlier, much earlier, we had reported that the Harry Potter invisibility cloak concept was being studied for research purposes and that there were a couple of things they developed which brought them closer to their goal.

So just a 100 days before Christmas, we bring you good news that the researchers at the University of California, Berkeley have actually managed to create a thin, 80 nanometre skin cloak with the ability to make small things disappear.

It is said, that the cloak is made up of “gold brick-like nanoantennas” which redirect light waves from the object thereby making it invisible. What’s new about this cloak is that, as compared to the previously made bulky invisibility cloaks this one is ultra thin, and even though it is a 2D cloak, it is said to be able to cover 3D objects too.

The basic idea that helped with this development is the fact that they wanted to make the surface of the cloak in a way that the light hitting it “would be the same as that of light reflected from a flat mirror.”

“As long as the metasurface is designed correctly,” the study says, “both the container and the objects inside the container will become invisible.”

Oh well, there’s very little left for ones imagination these days.Will science destroy the entire idea of mystery soon? With the way things are advancing, no one will be able to read a book and get lost in another world.

So, here’s to hoping that the next gen also has their share of C.S Lewis and JK Rowling.

For more information click here.

September 18, 2015
Top 8 Upcoming Games to Pre-Order Now!

2015 is almost coming to a close and the year has already seen the release of some pretty amazing console games that were highly anticipated such as Batman: Arkham Knight, Mortal Kombat X, Metal Gear Solid V, and many more. But the year isn’t over and there are a few more expected in the next few months and in the first quarter of 2016. We’ve decided to list out some of them for all you gaming nerds out there that you may want to pre-order right away.

Call of Duty: Black Ops III

We can never get tired of Call of Duty, can we? The Black Ops segment of the franchise introduced a science fiction turn in Black Ops II that features a future warfare setting with robots and futuristic technology with a separate zombie story line as well. Black Ops III, much like its predecessor, will be set in a “dark, twisted future”. On April 26th 2015, the first teaser for the game was released and it was also revealed that the zombie mode will return. The game is set to release on November 6th on Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. However, pre-orders for Black Ops III are yet to begin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58Pspqx0XGs

 

Halo 5: Guardians

Another popular first-person shooter franchise, Halo, is set to release its newest game on October 27th. Halo 5: Guardians is a sequel to Halo 4. The game will be released for the Xbox One and Producer Josh Holmes stated that the game’s engine employs a “new progressive resolution system that allows us to dynamically scale the resolution at which we render the game” to guarantee it maintains a frame rate of 60 FPS.

Some of you Halo fans may also be interested to know that a Halo television series is being produced by Steven Speilberg and is set to air along with the release of Halo 5: Guardians. The game will also see returning fan-favorite Nathan Fillion as Edward Buck from Halo 3: ODST. You can spot him in the opening scene below.

 

Fallout 4

Another post-apocalyptic game, the popular Fallout franchise will come out with its fifth installment, Fallout 4 for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox One on November 10, 2015. Fallout 4 will be an open-world, first-or third-person role-playing game. And with its non-linear gameplay, players can roam about as they please.

The game takes place 200 years after a war over resources that ended in a nuclear holocaust in 2077. The protagonist emerges 200 years later from an underground bunker known as the Vault 111.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE2BkLqMef4

 

Star Wars Battlefront

The Star Wars hype is getting bigger and louder as we lead up to the release of The Force Awakens. EA Dice is all set to release Star Wars Battlefront on November 17 on Xbox One, and PlayStation 4, with no news yet for Windows.

Players will traverse planets from Star Wars that include Hoth, Tatooine, and Endor. Players will get to choose to control either the Rebel Alliance soldiers or the Imperial Stormtrooper. And the most exciting news comes in the form of playable characters that include Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker and Bobba Fett, as well as non-playable characters like R2-D2 and C3PO. Time to embrace your inner Jedi or Dark Side.

 

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate

The ninth installment to the Assassin’s Creed franchise, the game will take place in 1868 Industrial London where twins Jacob and Evie, who serve as the new protagonists, arrive to find it controlled by Templars. The story will see famous figures such as Charles Dickens and Charles Darwin aiding the twins crusade against the Templars. Assassin’s Creed Syndicate will release on October 23 for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The trailer shows Jacob as the leader of the ‘Rooks’ out to take down the Templar establishment in London.

 

Tom Clancy’s: The Division

The Tom Clancy series is back with The Division. This third-person shooter game is set in mid-crisis New York where the player will have to investigate the source of a virus. The game features a dynamic, time based weather system that will allow players to use it to their advantage. The game is scheduled to release on the 31st of December for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

 

Uncharted 4: Nathan Drake Collection

When it comes to Uncharted 4 : A Thief’s End, Perhaps no game (except for Arkham Knight) has been as highly anticipated as this one. Popular adventurer Nathan Drake will be back with long-time friend and fan-favorite, Victor Sullivan for Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and it is all set to blow you away.

The game is set three years after the events of Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception and will see Nathan. now retired and settled with wife Elena Fisher, back in globe-trotting action to help his older brother Sam. The game was set to release this year but has now been pushed to March 2016. Pre-orders will begin soon so PlayStation 4 gamers may want save up for it. If you haven’t played the previous Uncharted games yet, you can find Nathan Drake Collection for PlayStation 4 on pre-order.

 

FIFA 16

Another year, another FIFA game. But we’re not complaining. This will be the 23rd game in the FIFA series and will be available on the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Android and iOS. This years game will introduce female footballers for the first time. The 12 women’s national teams are Australia, Canada, Brazil, England, China, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, and the United States. Watch cover boy Messi do his thing along with some of your favorite players in the trailer below.

 

September 18, 2015
The New Steve Jobs Trailer Is Here

There is one movie that has been on our minds since we heard about it first; yes, we’re talking about the new Steve Jobs movie. This movie comes with a lot of heavy names from showbiz, with Aaron Sorkin, acclaimed script writer with movies like the Social Network in his kitty, then they have Danny Boyle of Slumdog Billionaire acclaim as the director, and guess who’s playing Steve Jobs himself? Michael Fassbender. You’ll know him as Magneto, but he’s also done some great work with Quentin Tarantino and Steve McQueen. Oh, and he’s also going to be the new Macbeth soon.

We could go on with the big names in this film, but I’m going to leave that for the trailer that you can watch here:

This is the official trailer, but there have been other earlier trailers which seemed to have focused on different things than the official one. The final trailer focuses on his relationship with his daughter more than his genius, it seems to show him as a much more nuanced character than just being a complex genius. The film promises a lot with great reviews after its screening at the Telluride Film festival this year. Of course, there will be comparisons to the previous Jobs film, but then again even on the most shallow grounds of criticism you know who would emerge as the winner between Ashton Kutcher and Michael Fassbender.

Steve Wozniak himself is quoted saying “I felt like I was watching Steve Jobs,” while Fassbender’s co-actors have commented on his almost creepy transformation into Steve Jobs. We will know whether it’ll all pay off once the movie releases on the 9th of October 2015.

September 18, 2015
Introducing : Let’s Game

India is still figuring out technology, yet it is one of the largest consumers of new technology in the world. Smartphones reach India faster than ever and now other categories of tech are starting to pay interest in the growing market.

Gaming is also an industry that has been synonymous with the international market, and while a lot of people are interested in gaming, the scope of engagement has stayed outside the borders of our country.

Let’s Game wants to change that!

A community of gamers, game lovers, game developers and enthusiasts. While iGyaan will do its bit in providing news and information along with reviews. Let’s Game will allow direct interaction with gamers. iGyaan will share community videos and crowd sourced gameplay, tips and tricks.

We are working on a mega event for 2016 where 2000 people will get together for the largest gaming festival in India. We can’t be excited enough!

While we iron out the details on this. Tell us what you would like, how you would like this to work. Your ideas for engagement, and your methods of communication. What you would like to see and how you would like to see it grow.

Motorola India is backing this project by iGyaan and are helping us develop and engage the community.

So stay tuned for updates and more exciting news, and till then watch our intro to Let’s Game below. Soon you and us will be on projects like these together.

September 18, 2015
Top 5 HD Games That Will Push Your Flagship to its Limit

Gaming nerds with powerful smartphones need a good game or two that fully showcases what their phones are capable of. The games we’re talking about are the console-like high-definition games that are heavy, processor-consuming, and feature kickass visuals.

Give your Pac-Man 256 and Crossy Road a break and let your smartphone shift into overdrive with these high-definition games.

Walking Dead: The Game

Are you a fan of The Walking Dead TV show or the comics? Well, you don’t have to be to enjoy this 5 episode zombie apocalyptic game. Yes, the game is set in the same fictional world as the comics, but the characters are mostly new. There’s plenty of zombie killing and gore if you’re thirsty for blood. The story keeps you hooked and the game hinges on the choices that you make. The graphics are pretty great and the zombies are clear enough to put some genuine fear in your movements.

The 1st Season is free but you’ll have to pay via in-app purchase for season 2-5. Download it here for Android and here for iOS.

Implosion – Never Lose Hope

Implosion is an all out hack-and-slash action game developed by Rayark Games. The game has impressive graphics and control systems and works well within the limitations of the hardware to give you something exciting.

In the game, you wear a mech-suit with a number of weapons at your disposal, travelling through a post-apocalyptic wasteland. The game is simple enough: slash and dash your way through mutant armies and monsters. Honestly, do you need anything more? The game is free for Android users, but iOS users will have to shell out Rs. 620 for it.

Brothers in Arms 3: Sons of War

This is Call of Duty for your mobile. Brothers in Arms is your traditional war game with loads of gun fight. Released in December 2014, The 3rd game in the series is set during World War II that sees you shooting, stabbing, and blasting your way through the Nazis. The levels are small and just right for those who want to be able to stop and get back to work.

If you’re in for a simple, shoot and kill video game that boasts of a pretty neat sound design then you should definitely download Brothers in Arms 3. Click here for Android users and here for iOS.

Gangster Vegas

Now this is the Grand Theft Auto for the mobile. Gangster Vegas released in 2013 and is still among the top downloaded games today. The game is set in Las Vegas and the story is set around Jason Maloe, a mixed martial arts fighter. The game employs many of the elements from popular driving games, third-person shooters and features a GTA-like “open world” gameplay.

Let it be known that Grand Theft Auto is also available for the mobile for Rs. 300. So, if you want a free solution to your ‘gangsta’ needs, you can download Gangster Vegas here for Android and here for iOS.

Leo’s Fortune

Okay, we’ve saved the best for the last. Leo’s Fortune is a super fun ride and beautifully crafted for your smartphone. This highly rated Swedish game features a mustachioed “fluff ball” and his goal is to recover stolen treasure in the form of gold coins. The player guides Leopold and slides him through various platform levels. The game is not free and costs around Rs. 300 but this one is guaranteed to deliver on the ultimate fun quotient.

We’d recommend you to go for Leo’s Fortune just to be able to slide Leo left and right, which is really fun and the game’s graphics is one of its highlights. If you’re still a little skeptical about this game, you can read the reviews on the App Store and Google Play and decide whether its worth your money.

Have more games you think, will blow your mind? Let us know in the comments below.

September 18, 2015
Japanese Robot Successfully Extracts A Wisdom Tooth

Few months back, a Japanese robot successfully removed a wisdom tooth of a 55 year old man in a local clinic in Tokyo. The robot, who is rightly nicknamed “Al Dente”, removed the tooth without any inconvenience to the patient.

The robot is part of a Japanese program that is looking to substitute 30% of Japan’s dentists with robots by the year 2030. “We knew the software is perfect, we knew Al Dente has all the capabilities to maintain such a delicate mission but from this, to completing a successful wisdom tooth removal… I mean, there were moments I felt pity for that man on the dentist chair. It’s good to know that our experiment had a happy end, knowing from previous tests that much more blood could have been spilled there,” said Ishaki Morakuni, one of the developers in the program.

This program is finding strong reactions from certain parts of the world who are concerned that the idea of robots such as “Al Dente” substituting humans could lead to the disappearance of the profession itself. “This is our job of which we’re very proud,” said a spokesman of a small group in France. “We don’t like the idea of them (robots – O.N.) coming and taking our place. People must understand that even if robots can pull put an aching tooth, they will not be there to tell us jokes or calm us down when blood is pouring down like a river.”

September 17, 2015
List of the Best Budget Phones Under Rs.10,000

Planning to buy a cheap, affordable phone right now but don’t know where to start looking? We’ve made a list of 5 phones under Rs. 10,000 that you can look up.

Xiomi Redmi 2 Prime

The Redmi 2 Prime is a simple, elegant looking phone that packs a lot at at a very low cost. The phone is powered by a 64-bit Cortex-A53 processor and 2 GB RAM with 1.2GHz MSM8916 Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor, Adreno 306 GPU, with 16GB internal memory that is expandable to 32GB.

It has a 4.7 inch HD IPS Display with 1280 x 720 pixels resolution and 312 ppi pixel density and an 8-megapixel primary camera and 2-megapixel front. The takeaway of this phone is its 2200mAh lithium-polymer battery that will provide you with enough for your daily needs. It also comes with the latest Quick Charge technology that will speed up your charge by 30%. If these are the features you’re looking for, you can purchase it from Flipkart, Amazon, and Snapdeal for Rs. 6999.

Lenovo A6000 Plus

The Lenovo A6000 Plus is a loud phone that comes with twin Dolby-Digit Plus speakers and boasts of crisp, clear sounds. So if you’re looking for a phone that provides the best clarity for music, videos, and games, then this is the phone for you.

The A6000 Plus is powered by a 64-bit quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor, Adreno 306 GPU and has a 2300mAh battery that should last about 13 hours on 3G. It has a 5-inch, IPS capacitive touchscreen display with 1280 x 720 pixels resolution.

The phone runs on Android v4.4.4 KitKat, with 2GB RAM and 16 GB internal memory expandable up to 32GB. The Lenovo A6000 Plus is available on Flipkart for Rs. 7499

Moto G 2nd Gen

This is one of the most popular low budget phones currently out there. The 2nd gen Moto G has a large 5-inch screen and has a great build that is comfortable to hold with dual speakers on the front that provide great sound quality.

The 8-megapixel camera in the Moto G 2nd gen is an improvement over its predecessor. It features a Quad-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, and runs on Android v4.4.4 KitKat that can be updated to Android 5.0 Lollipop. The phone’s 2070mAh battery will last you a whole day on medium screen brightness. The Moto G 2nd Gen is available on Flipkart for Rs. 9999.

Karbonn Titanium Mach five

At Rs. 5999, the Karbonn Titanium Machfive offers an impressive 2 GB RAM and 16 GB internal storage. The phone has a 5-inch HD capacitive touchscreen display with 1280 x 720 pixels resolution, an 8-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front with LED flash.

The Machfive is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core Mediatek processor with Mali 400 GPU. The phone has an impressive 2200mAH lithium-ion battery. Perhaps the best feature of the phone is the front camera with LED that is a sure winner for selfie lovers. You can find the phone here.

Yu Yureka Plus

Yureka Plus is the third smartphone in the Yu series after Yureka and Yuphoria. The Yureka Plus comes with a Full HD display and is powered by a 64-bit Octa Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor, 2 GB RAM and 16 GB internal storage, which means the phone can handle its games quite well, though, issues of heating may arise like it did with the Yureka and may dran considerable amount of battery life.

Other features include a 13-megapixel primary camera and 5-megapixel front, 2500mAH lithium-ion battery, and is available in Moonstone Grey and Alabaster White. The phone runs on Android v5.0 Lollipop and is available on Amazon for Rs. 8999.

Remember that there are a lot more smartphones out there that are available under Rs. 10,000. This list is just to get you started. Once you have an idea of what you’re looking for, you can explore away. If you have any more suggestions for phones under Rs.10,000, leave them in the comments below.

September 17, 2015
New Google Doodle Celebrates MF Hussain’s 100th Birthday

Today Google has a very ‘artsy-fartsy’ doodle with MF Hussain in it. Why? Well it’s his 100th birth anniversary. So we’re going to tell you a bit about him, maybe you already know this stuff, or maybe you don’t but here we go anyway.

Hussain was born into a Muslim family on the 17th of September 1915, his family trace their roots way back to Yemen, but were based in Maharashtra. Hussain became interested in art while studying calligraphy in a Madrasa and is well known for being ‘self-taught’. Forbes magazine has gone to the extent of calling him the “Picasso of India”, whether he is or not, is a whole other topic.

But what was he best known for? It’s hard to say because his topics ranged from Mohandas K. Gandhi, Mother Teresa, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the British Raj, and motifs of Indian urban and rural life. His work was applauded and criticized equally as it is said to be a “blend of cubism and classical Indian styles”. Now, we all know what happens when you try to mess with the Indian classical version of things. But, Google has made a decent attempt at trying to showcase the artist’s style through this doodle.

It is refreshing to know that this art maestro was also linked with the Mumbai cinema industry in his early days when he would make posters for films and also apparently worked for a toy company to earn a little extra money. That’s a humble background for someone who owns a Buggati Veyron and drives it with equal finesse as his art.

Oh! The Buggatti isn’t the only luxury car he owned.

September 17, 2015

iPhone 6s to Arrive In India Next Month Priced Starting Rs.53,500

The 9th of September, 2015 was quite an event for Apple and its million followers. Anything, Apple does is documented with as much urgency and importance as a political crisis. However ridiculous as this might sound, every news channel, in every part of the world was covering the Apple event. The company surprised us with their Apple Pencil, a uber cool iPad, and an ultra fashionable Hermes-Apple watch, amongst other things. The highlight of the event, or rather the product that all of us were looking forward to seeing, was the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus.

Today we bring you more information about its availability in India – the iPhone 6s will arrive next month (October 2015) with a price tag of Rs. 53,500 for the 16GB variant. The expected price of the 64GB version is Rs. 60,500 and Rs. 67,500 for the 128GB.

Coming to the iPhone 6s Plus, the base model (16 GB) is expected to be priced at 62,500, 64GB at Rs. 69,500 and 128GB at Rs. 76,500.

Just for a recap, the iPhone 6s comes with a 4.7 inch display with 1334 X 750 pixel resolution. It has the special force touch technology embedded in its core system and an updated 12MP primary camera with 4K video recording. It is powered by the M9 motion coprocessor and an A9 chipset. Run on the iOS 9, the iPhone 6s comes in three storage variants – 16GB, 64GB and 128GB.

Here is a specification sheet:

Specifications	iPhone 6s	iPhone 6s Plus
Display	Retina HD display with 3D Touch, 4.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit widescreen	Retina HD display with 3D Touch, 5.5-inch LED-backlit widescreen
Resolution	1334 X 750-pixel resolution at 326 ppi	1920-by-1080-pixel resolution at 401 ppi
Processor	Embedded M9 motion coprocessor	Embedded M9 motion coprocessor
Chipset	A9 chip with 64-bit architecture	A9 chip with 64-bit architecture
OS	iOS 9	iOS 9
Internal Storage	16GB/64GB/128GB	16GB/64GB/128GB
Exapandibility	N/A	N/A
Rear camera	12-megapixel iSight camera with 1.22µ pixels, ƒ/2.2 aperture	12-megapixel iSight camera with 1.22µ pixels, ƒ/2.2 aperture, Optical image stabilization
Rear Camera Video	4K video recording (3840 by 2160) at 30 fps	Optical image stabilization for video, 4K video recording (3840 by 2160) at 30 fps
Front Camera	5-megapixel photos, ƒ/2.2 aperture, Retina Flash	5-megapixel photos, ƒ/2.2 aperture, Retina Flash
Front Camera Video	720p HD video recording	720p HD video recording
Body Dimensions	143 grams	192 grams
Special Features	Fingerprint sensor, 3D force touch, live photo	Fingerprint sensor, 3D force touch, live photo
Connectivity	23 LTE and faster Wi-Fi	23 LTE and faster Wi-Fi
Battery	1,715mAh	2,750mAh
Variants	Silver, Gold, Space Gray, Rose Gold	Silver, Gold, Space Gray, Rose Gold
Price	$199, $299 and $399 respectively for 16GB/64GB/128GB on contract.$649, $749, $849 for 16GB/64GB/128GB respectively unlocked	$299, $399 and $499 respectively for 16GB/64GB/128GB on contract.$749, $849, $949 for 16GB/64GB/128GB respectively unlocked

September 17, 2015

Before, During and After : What to do During an Earthquake

We have just heard about the catastrophic earthquake that hit Chile yesterday. This quake measured 8.3 on the Richter scale and was the biggest since Chile’s February 2010 earthquake. It also set the Tsunami alarm off and has reportedly flooded some coastal areas, apart from destroying buildings.

Even though Chile is one of the most earthquake-prone areas in the world, nobody can be prepared for a natural calamity. The reactions will always be the same, along with the helplessness and strangely there will also be political repercussions. Despite all that we’re here to tell you about a few ways you can deal with an earthquake.

First let’s talk a little bit about what you can do to be prepared (as prepared as one can be) before an earthquake hits. We don’t mean to say that you’re expected to predict earthquakes, we’re just saying that in case you live in an earthquake prone area here’s what you can do.

Firstly, whether you’re at work or at home, just identify safe places where you can “Drop, Cover and Hold On”; it would also help if you knew at least two ways to exit your building. Secondly, you can keep emergency supplies such as – a torch, first-aid kit, whistle, gloves, shoes, googles and blankets, ready. Stocking up on food is also essential if the earthquake hits real strong and your water and food supply are cut off. And Thirdly, for your work space, if you are in an earthquake prone area, it would be wise to keep all big furniture such as bookshelves, and cabinets anchored while storing heavy objects in low drawers or shelves.

Now, for what you can do during an earthquake. Remain calm. You see, in a tense situation where most people panic and emulate thoughtlessly, someone else might thoughtlessly emulate your cool and hence be saved; depending on the extent of the quake that is. There are usually two situations in which you can be caught during an earthquake – Indoors or Outdoors, unless you practice black magic and are in some ‘in-between’ space, in which case you can probably help yourself and others.

If you are indoors, then immediately move away from glass structures or unsecured heavy furniture and then “Drop, Cover and Hold On”, under a desk or table while protecting your head, face and neck, and then hang in there and pray until the debris settles or the earth stops quaking.

Let’s go back a couple months when our city, Delhi had faced a number of earthquakes and well honestly, we saw people run out of their office spaces and PGs. To where? The main road. Now unless you live in an open space there is honestly no reason you’d want to run out of tall concrete monsters. But, let’s say you are outdoors, try and find an open space away from trees, power lines and tall buildings and once again – “Drop, Cover and Hold On”. After an earthquake, spending a night in the open is recommended as after shocks are equally brutal.

Here’s what you may do after the earthquake: remain calm and reassuring. It is advisable to first check whether you are injured before checking up on others. Also, it’s better not to move injured people unless they are in danger, however, you can use your first-aid awareness to help them and yourself.

Remember, if there is a large earthquake there will probably be after shocks that will continue for days. So, just be prepared.

After a huge earthquake, usually the power lines get disturbed or destroyed, so you should be very careful while moving around in the dark and be very aware of things that have fallen down during the earthquake, lest you get hurt. If you need to leave the building, then do so cautiously and take all your essentials and a first-aid kit with you. And lastly, since telephone lines are usually jammed, in case of a major incident, text messages are more efficient.

If your phone data is working, then you shouldn’t have any trouble getting in touch with friends and family. In case you’re unable to connect to the internet on your smartphone, try and locate a wi-fi connection. Google’s Person Finder is a free tool that doubles up as a registry or a message board for survivors. This app was developed first during the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and its aggregated data include registries run by CNN, the Miami Herald and the New York Times. This tool can be used by family or friends to locate missing people or loved ones.

In extreme scenarios, use a landline since they work using underground cables. Something you can do in advance? Find out information about your local CB Radio which may be with the nearby fire station and/or police station.

Today we see natural calamities hitting and destroying human life so often that it has become just another piece of news, for us and we react to it accordingly. Especially in the age of social media, you’ll see statuses, memes and god knows what, but let’s try to keep it simple and most importantly, helpful.

September 17, 2015
5 Cool Features of iOS 9

iOS 9 is finally out, and those of you who haven’t updated your iPhones and iPads yet can do so while we tell you some of the neat new features of the latest operating system.

New icons

Whenever we do an update it’s obvious our eyes are going to search for something new from the get go. While the iOS 9 is mostly the same as the iOS 8 in terms of the look of it, users will find three brand new icons in their home screen (Well, two actually and one revamped). The two new default apps are called Find iPhone and Find Friends. Both these apps were already available for download in the App Store. Find Friends/iPhone is pretty useful if you want to know if a friend is nearby for a cup of coffee, or if you’ve suffered a mini heart-attack from losing your iPhone.

The Passbook has been renamed as Wallet, which is a cleaner name and suits that fact that the app can now store all your credit cards, reward cards and membership cards.

A back button

The iOS 9 has plenty of new features that are hidden away from the usual ones. Once you start using your device as you normally would, you’ll find subtle changes and additions in your iPhone that really make a difference to your usability.

Take for instance the new back button that appears on the top-left corner of your screen when you switch from one app to another. And if you open a link from your Mail that takes you to Safari, the back button will appear that will take you back to Mail. Now you won’t have to double-click the Home button every time you want to go back to the previous app.

New Low Power Mode

This is perhaps one of the best new features Apple could have provided. The new Battery settings comes with The Low Power Mode which promises to give you an additional 3 hours of battery life, if you find yourself on really low power and still need the phone to stay alive for a few more hours.

The Low Power Mode disables background app refresh, automatic downloads, mail fetch and visual effects to give you as much extra battery life as it possibly can. Battery information will be displayed in the Notification Center for the iOS device and the Apple Watch.

Changes to the shift key

Apple has made another subtle but much needed change to the keyboard. You can actually see the capitalized letters when you turn on the caps lock. The letters change to upper case when ‘shift’ is on and change back to lower case when ‘shift’ is turned off.

New Notes app

Notes has undergone some major changes. You now have the feature to add Photos to your notes, make a checklist, and draw and doodle using your fingers. The Notes app also allows you to embed websites, photos, maps, and more without having to leave the app.

You can take a photo from within the Notes app as well. Finally, you can arrange the items attached to your notes with the new Attachment Browser.

These are but a few of the subtle and not-so-subtle changes that come with the new iOS 9. Other features also include split-screen multitasking and picture-in-picture for the iPad, a new and improved Siri, with a Proactive feature when you swipe right on the homescreen, transit directions in Maps, new search bar in Settings, and much more. Though some of these features are yet to work well in India.

What are your favorite updates from the new iOS 9? Let us know in the comments below.

September 17, 2015
Everything We Know About Qualcomm Snapdragon 820

We have been mentioning Qualcomm’s upcoming processor called the Snapdragon 820 for a while now. A couple of devices that are expected to come with the new processor are – Xiaomi’s Mi 5 and Mi 5 Plus, the Nexus 5 and 6 etc. Now, what is different in this version of the processor as compared to its predecessor? Or what is new about the Snapdragon 820?

At today’s unveiling event in China, Qualcomm revealed that the Snapdragon 820 will come with a mobile data bandwidth of up to, wait-for-it, 600Mbps downstream and 150Mbps up over LTE-Advanced (X12 LTE). That is saying quite a bit for just mobile data and streaming. But then again, smartphones have taken over so much of our lives, that we need faster internet on it than on our laptops. Furthermore on the internet connectivity front, it will also come with a Wi-Fi 802.11ad.

Moving on to more technical details, it will use four custom 64-bit Kryo cores instead of the usual Cortex. The new Kyro processor is said to have been created in a way that would make it easy on the battery instead of draining its life source. They claim that the new processor will be 40% more advanced in performance and will have a 40% cut in power usage.

Wait, there’s some more technical details. So, basically this new chipset comes integrated with the Adreno 530 GPU and the Hexagon 680 DSP. The GPU is said to support an HDMI 2.0 and up to 4K at 60fps output. Well, that’s that, but along with the 820, Qualcomm also revealed two new chipset processors – Snapdragon 617 and 430.

Below are images of their specifications:

Because, one is never enough. Now all we have to do is wait and see how well these processors work on their devices. Hang on tight till then.

September 16, 2015