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5 Things the OnePlus 2 Should Have Had

The OnePlus 2 officially arrived today, and at first glance, it is worth the price. Still, like many who complain about The Avengers for being incomplete, there are some who wish OnePlus 2 could have been more than it is.

We look at 5 things that OnePlus could have included in its flagship killer (their words, not ours):

4K Display

OnePlus went with 1080p display for the OnePlus 2, citing it enough for viewing experience. Although 1080p resolution makes for a good viewing experience, 4K display adds more clarity and livens up the picture. Remember Sony Xperia Z series? If you ever watched the 4K trailer for The Amazing Spider Man 2 on a Xperia Z, the 4K resolution makes the trailer look full of life, not to forget the smoothness with which it plays. OnePlus could’ve used the advantage of Qualcomm Snapdragon 810, but it didn’t. The upside to this is – the 1080p display might’ve helped keep its cost down.

NFC

NFC: While not huge, NFC has become important over the years. NFC could’ve allowed users to pay directly from the phone, connect accessories, transfer files and much more. Seems like a missed opportunity for OnePlus. At the India launch, the company claimed that the product has been made after conducting extensive research from consumers. Apparently, the data collected showed that not many users were inclined on using the NFC feature.

Open Sale System

OnePlus faced criticism for this last time and the company faces it again, this year. Invites are dreadful; they may arrive late, may be expired and above all, it is hard to score one in the first place. For example, the company said that regular visitors on its forums would be favoured. OnePlus has to find a better way for the registration process.

More Storage Options

It’s unfair. OnePlus offers OnePlus 2 in two variants: 16GB/64GB. While those with 64GB may have no problem with storage, those with 16GB will be banging their heads against the wall. The company can introduce an expandable storage option in the lower variants. Or it can do the alternate: make the 32GB the lowest model, just like Apple did. This should satisfy users with storage problems.

Wireless and Quick Charging

Since smartphone companies have failed to provide us with long-lasting batteries, they should be focusing on making sure that charging a device is quick and easy.

Any other feature you wished the OnePlus 2 had? Feel free to leave a comment below.

July 28, 2015
Apple May Not Bring Out a 4-inch iPhone 6C

In an earlier article, we showed you the rumoured leaked images of the iPhone 6C, and according to other reports and rumours, Apple was meant to launch 3 iPhones this year. But, on 27th July 2015, an update by digitaltrends said that the 4-inch phone had been scrapped and that a picture of what might have been the iPhone 6C’s battery pack had also been removed.

This rumour began when sometime in January, Timothy Arcuri, of Cowen and Company hinted that he saw signs of a smaller iPhone being in production. Later, in July, he stated that plans for a 4-inch iPhone 6C have since been scrapped, attributing one of the reasons to the successful sales of the iPhone 6 and stating that the launch of a new phone would be self-destructive. However, another leaked image of a smaller 1715 mAh battery, that appeared on a website called nowhereelse.fr, sparked rumour mills again.

Image Source: nowhereelse.fr

Most sources deny the launch of a new iPhone 6C, however, reports have found, that along with the launch of the Apple 6 and 6 Plus, Apple revealed a brightly coloured phone that looked exactly like the 5C, but had one small difference. If one looked at the Home Button, one would see a chrome surround and an absence of a square icon, that gave the impression of a Touch ID sensor. Since then rumours have been afloat, as to whether, Apple might have leaked its own phone. These rumours could be false, since the images could also have been a poorly constructed press render.

July 28, 2015

Motorola Launches the New Moto G, Moto X and Possibly the Moto 360 Today

Motorola is expected to launch two of its anticipated products today in New Delhi, New York, London & San Francisco, simultaneously. By the look of their invitation that reads “Your relationship status is about to change”, signed, ” XGX Moto”, it seems like they are going to launch the Moto X (Gen 3) and the budget-friendly Moto G (Gen 3) smartphones. There are added rumours that Motorola will also launch a new product, for which there seems to be barely any information, called the Moto 360 (Gen 2)

Although, most of the specs for the Moto G (Gen 3) are available, Flipkart accidentally leaked the 8GB white Moto G (Gen 3) priced at Rs 11, 999. Below are the rumoured specifications for the Moto G (Gen 3):

Specification	Moto G (Gen 3)
Display	5 “(12.7 cm) TFT, Gorilla Glass
Resolution	1080 x 1920 HD
Chipset	NA
Processor	MSM8916 1.4 Ghz Quadcore
GPU	NA
RAM	1GB
Storage	8 GB
Expandability	32 GB
Rear Camera	13 MP
Rear Camera Video	1080p
Front Camera	5MP
Front Camera Video	NA
Battery	Non-removable Li-ion 2470 mAh battery
Operating System	Android 5.1 Lollipop
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot, Bluetooth v4.0, A2DP, LE, GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100, LTE band 1 (2100), 3 (1800), 7 (2600), 20 (800)
Miscellaneous	Fingerprint sensor
Price	Rs.11, 999

Apart from this, the Moto G (Gen 3) is also rumoured to be waterproof!

The Moto X (Gen 3), however is a better kept secret and the price of the product, due to the launch today, is still unknown. However, the speculated specifications of the phone are rumoured to be as follows:

Specification	Moto X (Gen 3)
Technology
Display	5.2 inches,1440X2560 pixels resolution,AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Body	Nano SIM
OS	Android OS, v5.1.1 (Lollipop),
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8992 Snapdragon 808
CPU	Dual-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A57 & quad-core 1.44 GHz Cortex-A53
GPU	Adreno 418
Storage	32/64 GB, 4 GB RAM (Internal), with Micro SD Slot
Camera	21 MP, 5312 x 2988 pixels, autofocus, optical image stabilization, dual-LED flash (primary)
Video	2160p@30fps, 1080p@120fps, HDR
Secondary Camera	5 MP, 1080p
Communications	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, DLNA, hotspot, bluetooth v4.1, A2DP, EDR, LE, GPS withA-GPS, GLONASS, microUSB v2.0, USB Host and NFC
Features	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, temperature, SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email, IM, HTML5
Battery	Non-removable Li-Ion 3600 mAh battery
Miscellaneous	– Fast battery charging: 60% in 30 min (Quick Charge 2.0) – Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic – MP3/AAC+/WAV/WMA player – MP4/H.264/WMV player – Photo/video editor – Document viewer
Colours	Black, White

The third product, which is being highly anticipated, is Motorola’s smartwatch Moto 360 (Gen 2). Although, it is rumoured to be releasing today, there have been leaks about it that revealed the Moto 360 (Gen 2) to be like the Moto 360 in design but slimmer. The Moto 360 (Gen 2) is rumoured to have inserts where the watchband is supposed to be, rather than arms and the physical button seems to be placed in the center, as displayed in the leaked pictures .

Despite leaked images and information, the Motorola devices still seem to be creating a buzz. According to sources, the launch date has been set for today at 3:30pm (New Delhi). With the launch of the OnePlus 2 this morning, it is to be seen whether the Motorola devices will be able to stand the competition.

July 28, 2015

Here is Everything You Need to Know About the One Plus 2
It’s out and how. Already creating a buzz by being the first to introduce their newest addition to the One Plus family on VR, Co-founder, Carl Pei insisted on letting everyone live their experience of launching the highly coveted One Plus 2. Now that it’s formally out, here is everything you need to know about the One Plus 2:

1. Pricing

The VR launch that took place, had founders Carl Pei and Pete Lau teasing viewers with the speculation of the price. Even till the very end, they didn’t formally announce the numbers but instead took to Twitter to announce the cost. The 16GB variant costs Rs. 22,999 and the 64GB costs Rs. 24,999. With the minor difference in price, one wouldn’t consider buying the 16GB at all, don’t you think? While most phones that they have as competition, cost exorbitant amounts, the OnePlus 2 comes at a reasonable price for the specs its offers and the upgradation it has been through.

2. It’s Available from 11th August

The One Plus 2 will hit the markets of US, China, Canada and India, on August 11th. A few months back the company had admitted that India is one of their priority markets. Reservations and invites for the purchase of the phone can be done on https://oneplus.net/invites. In addition to this, Pei has announced that there will be nine pop up stores all over the world that allow you to experience the One Plus 2 before purchasing it.The pop up stores will also have invites as well as goodie bags that you can take back. The experience zones will open in India, in Bangalore and Delhi. The address for the stores are as mentioned below:
3. Processor

With the OnePlus 2, we have something bold to say. We believe that great products come from great ideas, not multi-million dollar marketing campaigns. We believe “that’s just the way things are” is almost always the wrong answer. Most of all, we believe that great things should be shared.

The makers of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 claim that this is “the most advanced chip they have ever made.” Naturally then, this has to be fitted onto the most advanced phones of its time. This is a huge improvement from the OnePlus One as it will be able to take both front and back camera pictures without a drop in superior quality, the 4G LTE connectivity will be smooth and the gaming experience will also be pleasurable. Pei stated that OnePlus has focused on and built their phone around the processor, instead of gimmicky features.

4. Built and Display

People who have had the opportunity to fiddle with the One Plus 2, before its launch, said that the built was good with a Magnesium Aluminium alloy frame running around the phone, that gave it a classy look. It has polished steel buttons, and you can customise your Home and Back buttons to your liking. When it comes to the display, with a 5.5″ display, and a really bright screen that allows you to use your phone in the brightest of sunlight, the display of the OnePlus 2 will surely not disappoint. One can reduce the brightness with the Dark Mode option too. For the complete spec sheet click here.

4. Finger Print Sensor

This is touted as the most convenient feature and the company claims that the fingerprint sensor is actually faster than the iPhone. It can register 5 fingers and is an excellent security feature that is easy to use.

5. Alert Slider

We usually find it embarrassing when our phone starts ringing in a meeting and we have to turn the Home screen on, in order to activate the Silent mode. However, the One Plus 2 has an Alert Slider at the side of the phone itself, which allows you to slide between the options of no notifications, some notifications and all notifications. So, you can toggle between the three, at your own convenience.

6. USB Type-C Port

This is the first major company to have include feature in their phones. And in addition to this, the USB port will also have a patented reversible side that will allow you to plug it into any device you want.

7. Style Swap Covers

The OnePlus One had received mixed responses in relation to the black sandstone finish cover that it had. However, this time around, OnePlus 2 gives you four other options in addition to the basic black that they were offering. Therefore, you can change the back cover in a matter of seconds and completely customise your phone from the outside as well as inside. Fancy, right?

8. Software

The phone is supported by OxygenOS that isn’t purely Android and carries some minor changes. With additional features like Dark Mode, Customisable LED options, you can control your apps with the notifications you want and silence the ones you don’t want to be bothered by too. It also has a newly embedded Camera app that includes the slow motion option that allows you to take 120 frames per second and is also fit with an automatic Time Lapse Mode.

9. Camera

Lastly, everyone wanted the camera to be better and OnePlus 2 has lived up to its expectations. It has a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera that makes picture taking, easy and crystal clear. One very important addition to the camera is OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) that allows you to take pictures despite having a shaky hand as its focus point becomes strong. The camera is also fitted with a Laser Focus System that scans the screen for the perfect focal point and also takes less than 0.3 seconds to shift the focus point, without causing a blur. Thus, the company claims that the OnePlus 2 is ready to conquer anything from a scenery to night photography, with utmost ease. Carl Pei and Pete Lau are proud of their endeavour to ‘Never Settle,’ by attempting to create a future-proof phone.

Do you have faith in the OnePlus 2, as well? Let us know.
July 28, 2015
Should You Buy the OnePlus 2?

After months of leaks, speculations, announcement and hype, the OnePlus 2 is here, and like many, we had to watch the launch without the VR Cardboard, which was more like seeing a footage shot with fish-eye lens with motion sensors. Anyway, OnePlus says that the OnePlus 2 is going to be the flagship killer and with the price of Rs. 22,999 for the 16GB variant and Rs. 24,999 for the 64GB variant. To help you decide whether the phone is worth a hole in your pocket, let’s take a look at the main factors made while purchasing a phone – performance, display, camera and notable features.

Beautiful, powerful, and future-proof. Discover the #OnePlus2: http://t.co/nZrfiW0lfG pic.twitter.com/zFHDpHhJiu

— OnePlus (@oneplus) July 28, 2015

OnePlus One was criticised for overheating quickly and this time, the company seems to have taken care of it. The new OnePlus 2 uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810, which combined with thermal gel and graphite in the phone should take care of the overheating problem. The 1.8GHz octa-core 64-bit processor combined with 4GB of RAM is fast enough to run Facebook, Twitter and Clash of Clans simultaneously at the same time.

Although the processor is capable of 4K streaming, you won’t be able to view any 4K in its native resolution. The phone sports a 5.5 inch display with a 1080p resolution. While it is natural to expect a 4K display in this age, it is also important to note that a 1080p display is more than enough at 5.5 inch. Higher resolutions are better experienced on large screens, such as TV or computer displays. The picture may be clearer at 4K but even 1080p provides good viewing experience.

The phone uses the Type-C USB port, which is good because it is a reversible port that can take care of power, data transfers, and display output. Being slim and compatible with almost every device with standard USB ports relieves customers of four or six connecting ports. It reduces the demand of the system’s space and gives manufacturers freedom to trim down the size of machines and, hence, weight. Moreover, OnePlus 2 uses a lightweight aluminium alloy, so the phone should not feel like a clunky device in your hands.

OnePlus 2 sports a 13MP rear camera with sensor pixel size of 1.3 micron pixels. While OnePlus has retained the same megapixels, by increasing the sensor size it has improved the quality of the image. Put it this way, iPhone 5S used a sensor with 1.5 micron pixels and most standard phones use a sensor with 1.12 micron pixels. Thus, your images will be captured faster, will be less blurred and even if you capture a photo in a dark environment, it won’t be a monstrosity. For selfie lovers, there is a 5MP front camera.

The phone can be customised using OnePlus’ StyleSwap covers available in four variants – Bamboo, Black Apricot, Rosewood, and Kevlar. According to reviews so far, the covers can be swapped without any hassle. Also, there is a new feature called the ‘alert slider’. It is a button on the side of the phone that toggles between three notification profiles – ‘None’, ‘Priority’ and ‘All’. The button was added on the suggestion of a Reddit user. The phone has a 3,300 mAh non-removable battery and runs on Android 5.1 with OxygenOS.

For those disappointed with the display, do not worry. Adding 4K resolution would’ve only added to its cost and moreover, streaming 4K content consumes a lot of data. Given that OnePlus has improved the overall design of OnePlus 2, it is worth its value.

The OnePlus 2 will be available in India from August 11.

July 28, 2015

OnePlus One Vs OnePlus 2 : What’s the Real Difference?

The day has finally arrived. OnePlus has released their highly-anticipated follow up to their 2014 OnePlus One, the OnePlus 2. The launch event was showcased exclusively through Virtual Reality technology via specially designed OnePlus VR headsets. All this while, the Chinese start-up had been releasing teasers and trailers to keep their fans occupied ahead of the launch today. These, served the purpose, and managed to create the desired hype.

First, let us see have a quick look at how the OnePlus 2 fares against its elder brother, the OnePlus One.

Specification	OnePlus One	OnePlus 2
Display	5.5-inch LTPS LCD, Corning Gorilla Glass 3	5.5-inch TPS LCD in cell, Corning Gorilla Glass
Resolution	1080×1920 pixels, 401 ppi	1080×1920 pixels, 401 ppi
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8974AC Snapdragon 801	Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 v2.1
Processor	Quad-core 2.5 GHz Krait 400	Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 and Quad-core 2 GHz Cortex-A57
GPU	Adreno 330	Adreno 430
RAM	3 GB	3/4 GB LPDDR4 RAM
Storage	16/64 GB	16/64 GB
Expandability	N/A	N/A
Rear Camera	13 MP Sony Exmor IMX214 camera with f/2.0 aperture	13 MP with OIS, 1.35 sensor size and fast laser focus and f/ 2.0 aperture
Rear Camera Video	2160p at 30fps, 2160p(DCI) at 24fps, 1080p at 60fps, 720p at 120fps, HDR, stereo sound recording	2160p at 30fps, 2160p(DCI) at 24fps, 1080p at 60fps, 720p at 120fps, HDR, stereo sound recording
Front Camera	5 MP	5 MP
Front Camera Video	1080p at 30fps	1080p at 30fps
Battery	Non-removable Li-Po 3100 mAh battery	Non-removable Li-Po 3300 mAh battery
Operating System	CyanogenMod 12	Android 5.1 Lollipop-based Oxygen OS
Connectivity	SIM: MicroWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspotBluetooth v4.1, A2DP with A-GPS, GLONASSNFC, microUSB v2.0, USB Host	SIM: DualWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot Bluetooth v4.1, A2DPGPS with A-GPS, GLONASS, Radio FM,microUSB v2.0, Type-C reversible connector
Miscellaneous	Available in Silk White, Sandstone Black colours;	Fingerprint sensor, Reversible USB Type-C Charger
Price	Rs 21, 999	Rs 22,999/24,999

As we can see in the spec sheet above, there is not much difference between the One and 2. Most of the specs including the screen size, resolution, storage and camera. The OnePlus 2, although, stands out in the terms of its processor and RAM. OnePlus 2 is also the first OnePlus device to feature a Type-C USB port and a fingerprint sensor, that can store five unique fingerprints.

Camera-wise the megapixel number may not have budged, however the company has added an array of useful sensors. The OnePlus 2 comes with a sensor pixel size of 1.3 microns that makes it up to 35% larger than standard smartphone cameras. The new Laser Focus feature also helps to take clear shots in less that 0.3 seconds. It also features the coveted OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation), which has been previously seen in the iPhone 6 Plus.

Just like the specs, the price also barely sees a change. The company had announced that the new handset will not cross more than the price of Rs. 28,500 ($450). Honoring that promise, OnePlus revealed the final launch price of the new OnePlus 2 as Rs. 22,999 for the 16GB variant and Rs. 24,999 for the 64GB variant.

We think the upgraded design and the new camera, RAM, reversible chargerm and fingerprint scanner may be worth the amount, but we’ll only give our final verdict after our full review. Watch this space for more on the new OnePlus 2.

July 28, 2015

Meet the OnePlus 2

We have been following the young Chinese start-up, OnePlus, since it released its first smartphone in December 2013, OnePlus One at a price of Rs. 21,999. The first thing everyone noticed about OnePlus was that it provides the user with quality as well as a reasonable price tag. OnePlus thrived, in both the Indian as well as Chinese markets, despite it being a new company and despite conducting all its transactions online, including its launch. And yet again, OnePlus is creating waves. Today, we meet the second flagship by the company, the OnePlus 2.

The #OnePlus2 is not a flagship from 2015, it’s a 2016 Flagship Killer. Our competitors will take note next year.

— OnePlus (@oneplus) July 28, 2015

OnePlus adopted a new strategy for the launch of their new device by leaking sneak-peeks of their smartphone on the official blog, almost at regular intervals. This created a frenzy around the device with speculations about its display, processor, launch date etc.

Amidst all the anticipation, we have the final details of the OnePlus 2’s Exclusive launch today. As leaked by their official blog previously, the display of the phone is 5.5 inch screen with a 1080p resolution. The smartphone comes with a chipset of Qualcomm Snapdragon 810.

One of the exciting features about this phone is its 13MP rear camera with sensor pixel size of 1.3 microns, which are supposedly 35% larger than standard smartphone cameras. The added Laser Focus feature will help take clear shots in less that 0.3 seconds. The camera even includes OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) – a feature previously seen on the iPhone 6 Plus. The company has added a 5MP camera in the front.

As previously revealed, the new smartphone has a reversible USB Type-C charging/syncing port and a fingerprint sensor which can store five unique fingerprints. The OnePlus 2 comes with an Android Lollipop-based Oxygen OS.

Design-wise, the company has taken things up a notch. While like the previous iteration, it features a textured Sandstone back cover, the company has also added a premium metal rim. In case you’re not fond of the Sandstone finish, the company is also launching StyleSwap covers along with the phone. For now, they announced Bamboo, Black Apricot, Rosewood and Kevlar.

Here’s our first look at the smartphone:

The OnePlus 2 will be available in two variants – 16GB and 64GB. The 16GB variant, with 3GB RAM, will be available for Rs. 22,999 and the 64GB, with 4GB RAM, will be priced at Rs. 24,999.

The smartphone will be available to buy in India from the 11th of August. The company has also announced that it would be opening pop-up experience stores in cities around the world. This will help potential consumers get a better idea about the device, before spending their money. In India, Bangalore and Delhi are the chosen cities which will host the pop-ups.

Check out the spec table below to get a detailed idea:

Specification	OnePlus Two
Display	5.5-inch TPS LCD in cell, Corning Gorilla Glass
Resolution	1080 x 1920 pixels, 401 ppi
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 v2.1
Processor	Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & Quad-core 2 GHz Cortex-A57
GPU	Adreno 430
RAM	3/4 GB LPDDR4 RAM
Storage	16/64 GB
Expandability	N/A
Rear Camera	13 MP with OIS, 1.35 sensor size and fast laser focus and 2.0 aperture
Rear Camera Video	2160p at 30fps, 2160p(DCI) at 24fps, 1080p at 60fps, 720p at 120fps, HDR, stereo sound recording
Front Camera	5 MP
Front Camera Video	1080p at 30fps
Battery	Non-removable Li-Po 3300 mAh battery
Operating System	Android 5.1 Lollipop-based Oxygen OS
Connectivity	SIM: Dual Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot Bluetooth v4.1, A2DPGPS with A-GPS, GLONASS Type-C reversible connector
Miscellaneous	Fingerprint sensor
Price	Rs 22,999 for the 16GB variant; Rs 24,999 for the 64GB variant

July 28, 2015

Unboxing and Hands On: Micromax Canvas Xpress 2

Starting the week right is Micromax’s launch of its ultra budget smartphone. Meet the Canvas Xpress 2 – it comes with a 13MP camera, a 5-inch HD display, 1GB RAM and is only priced at Rs. 5,999.

Chinese companies have spoilt Indian buyers by offering high-end specs at affordable prices and Indian companies are trying hard to keep up. This is Micromax’s attempt.

You’d expect that such a smartphone would be a product of the company’s subsidiary Yu Televentures. But Micromax decided to swoop in and bring out its own budget offering.

In the box, along with the smartphone, we get a pair of earphones, a data cable, a power adapter, a screen guard and standard documentation.

Coming to the smartphone itself, this one is quite a looker. The smartphone comes with a gold rim, which is subtle and stylish. It also has a smooth matte black back, so there isn’t a need to worry about fingerprints. The display is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, which takes away the worry of careless scratches. The gold and black exteriors complement each other well and moreover give the phone a premium feel. The design of the device also seems sturdy.

Meanwhile, under the hood, the Xpress 2 comes with an octa core, MediaTek6592 chipset clocked at 1.4 GHz. It comes coupled with 1GB of RAM. The smartphone offers 8GB internal storage, which is expandale to 32GB. Micromax has provided a 2500Ah Battery to fuel the device.

The company claims they’re extremely proud of the smartphone’s camera prowess. The Canvas Xpress 2 comes with a 13MP rear camera, with a Dual LED Flash and f/ 2.0 lens, which promises to produce clear pictures in low-light settings.

The device comes with Android KitKat 4.4.2 out of the box, which is upgradable to Lollipop. The user interface is mostly generic, with a little or no changes from Micromax. The overall experience of the UI is incredibly smooth. One of the useful features about it is that a quick swipe to the left opens up the newsfeed; which is an easy way to keep up with current events. The standard three buttons at the bottom of the screen are touch-capacitive.

The smartphone is again, available online-only, and will exclusively go on sale via Flipkart via the infamous flash sale model. Registrations begin today, i.e 27th July and the first sale is scheduled on the 4th of August. The company also is offering an exclusive deal in collaboration with Vodafone.

Watch out Unboxing and Hands On review here:

To know what we think of the device, wait for our full review.

July 27, 2015

Introducing the Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 | iGyaan Launchpad Exclusive

A few days back, iGyaan leaked the news about an upcoming budget smartphone by Micromax. We reported that the new device included a sleek gold and black design, Snapdragon 615, and a 13MP rear camera.

While we were wrong about the chipset, we got the rest of the details right. In an iGyaan Launchpad episode, iGyaan’s Founder, Bharat Nagpal sat down with Shubhajit Sen, CMO of Micromax to discuss the new Canvas Xpress 2.

Watch the whole conversation here:

In December 2014, Micromax launched Canvas Xpress to compete with Motorola’s bonafide hit, the Moto E. Today, the company has launched its successor, the Canvas Xpress 2, which feels more of a jab at Xiaomi, based on the specs and its jaw-dropping price tag of Rs. 5,999. The pricing is surprising because the Canvas Xpress was launched at a price of Rs. 6,999.

The phone is superior to its predecessor in all aspects – display, camera, processor, battery and pricing. The Canvas Xpress 2 has a 5-inch HD display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, a huge improvement considering its predecessor had a 4.5 inch FWVGA(854×480) display. The phone has a 13MP rear and 2MP front camera, which is at par with what the Redmi 2 offers. Micromax also upgraded the processor by using a 1.4Ghz Octa-Core MediaTek 6592 processor. The phone offers 8GB of internal storage, which can be expanded upto 32GB, with 1GB of RAM.

Micromax has made a huge improvement in the Canvas Xpress 2 by increasing the battery from 1,950 mAh to 2,500 mAh. The device comes with Android KitKat 4.4 and supports 2G and 3G network.

Although this latest offering by Micromax should attract buyers, it will be a tough sell because of the Redmi 2, which lags a bit in the display size and camera section, offers value-for-money at the same price of Rs.5,999.

Micromax will sell the Canvas Xpress 2 exclusively at Flipkart. The registrations will start today and the device will go on sale from 4th August. The company has also announced exclusive deals for Vodafone users.

Specification	Micromax Canvas Xpress 2
Display	5 “(12.7 cm) IPS, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	1280 x 720 HD
Chipset	MediaTek 6592
Processor	1.4 Ghz Quadcore
GPU	NA
RAM	1 GB
Storage	8 GB
Expandability	32 GB
Rear Camera	13 MP
Rear Camera Video	1080p
Front Camera	2MP
Front Camera Video	NA
Battery	2,500 mAh battery
Operating System	Android 4.4 KitKat
Connectivity	GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, WCDMA 900/2100 MHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS
Miscellaneous	NA
Price	Rs. 5,999

July 27, 2015

Here’s the First Look at the Samsung Galaxy S6 Mini

With reports that Samsung will launch the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus next month, a new set of images have been leaked about the company’s latest device, a compact version of the Galaxy S6. Named the Galaxy S6 Mini, the company will apparently launch it on August 13th, along with the S6 Edge Plus.

As reported by PhoneArena (via BGR India), the images show the Galaxy S6 Mini from varied angles. The phone looks a lot like the Galaxy S6, with a micro-USB port and 3.5 mm audio situated in the same manner. The phone is rumoured to come with a Snapdragon 808 SoC processor with 2GB of RAM, a 4.6″ or 4.7″ screen with 720p resolution, and a 15 MP camera.

Samsung has not revealed any official details yet, but given the date the report has mentioned, the announcement is expected to be made soon. We will be on the lookout for more details of the Galaxy S6 Mini.

Source (images): [tw-button size=”small” background=”” color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://www.phonearena.com/news/Samsung-Galaxy-S6-Mini-pictures-surface.-Scheduled-for-August-release_id71946″]PhoneArena[/tw-button]

Via: [tw-button size=”small” background=”” color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://www.bgr.in/manufacturers/samsung/samsung-galaxy-s6-mini-first-photos-leaked-pegged-for-an-august-13-release/”]BGR India[/tw-button]

July 27, 2015

Lava Officially Launches its Android One Offering Priced at Rs. 11,350

We brought you news in the morning, stating that Lava was going to release its new phone, this afternoon and also giving you the leaked specs and price. However, we now have the official specs and price of Lava’s new Android One smartphone.

Priced at Rs. 11,350, the Lava Pixel V1 will be on sale exclusively on Flipkart and retail stores, starting next Monday. This Android One phone will also receive regular updates for up to 2 years, just like all the others do. Other than this, the phone will be available in two colours; Gold and White-Silver. The phone has a 2650 mAh battery and its connectivity options include a Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, USB OTG, and Micro-USB.

To take care of the camera needs, is a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP secondary camera. The phone comes with dual SIM support and with 3G connectivity on both the SIMs. However, it doesn’t have 4G LTE connectivity and might prove to be at a huge disadvantage due to this. With the market today, flooded with 4G enabled smartphones that are cheaper than the Pixel V1, only time will tell if it will be able to compete with the plethora of smartphones available.

Its main contenders, Yu Yureka and Lenovo K3 Note, both prove to be tough competition. However, with Google’s support, Lava Pixel V1 will stay ahead in getting timely software updates.

Here is the complete spec sheet for the Lava Pixel V1:

Specification	Lava Pixel V1
Display	5.5-inch HD IPS display
Resolution	1280 x 720 HD
Chipset	NA
Processor	1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek (MT6582)
GPU	NA
RAM	2 GB
Storage	32 GB
Expandability	32 GB
Rear Camera	13 MP
Rear Camera Video	NA
Front Camera	8MP
Front Camera Video	NA
Battery	2650 mAh battery
Operating System	Android 5.1 Lollipop
Connectivity	GSM, WCDMA Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, USB OTG, and Micro-USB.
Miscellaneous	NA
Price	Rs. 11,350

July 27, 2015

Samsung’s Latest Monitor Can Wirelessly Charge Your Phone – iGyaan

It happens to the best of us. You are working, you realise your phone’s battery is dying and you connect your phone to the charger located across the monitor or you charge your phone by plugging it to a USB port on your laptop/desktop. Soon your workstation becomes a wired mess. Samsung has found an elegant, if not unique, way to solve this problem – by building a wireless charging station into the monitor.

Can’t you just buy a wireless charger, you might ask. You can, but wireless charger is like your ordinary charger, as it will be located away from your desk and will involve a wire anyway. Thanks to smartphones, we are more prone to multi-tasking and as people prefer to keep their smartphones close to their workstation, it probably makes sense to work on a monitor that has a built-in wireless charger. After all, the aim is to reduce the amount of wires in any way possible.

It is to be noted that the wireless charger will only work with smartphones which have built-in wireless charging capability, like the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. The monitor comes in two sizes – 24 inches and 27 inches – and AMD’s anti-gaming flicker tech with a 178 degree viewing angle.

Samsung has not released any launch date or region for now, but is expected to announce more at IFA 2015 in September.

Source: [tw-button size=”small” background=”” color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://www.engadget.com/2015/07/27/samsungs-latest-monitors-wirelessly-charge-your-phone/”]Engadget[/tw-button]

July 27, 2015
Here’s a Little Help if You Haven’t Received the Windows 10 Upgrade Notification Yet

It is safe to say, that the most awaited update of this month is the Windows 10 update. While many Windows users have still not received the little Windows 10 notification button on their System Tray, what is it that you can do to get your system to step up?

source: PCworld

The process to prepare your laptop for this upgrade will differ according to the Windows version you are using. If you are running the Windows 7, then the solution is to simply update, because the older version of the Windows 7 is not equipped to a new OS without intermediary updates. What you can do is go over to the Control panel, click on System and then choose the Automatic Updates option, moreover, one can also manually update everything. Once your computer is through with the process, just reboot it and you should be able to see the notification icon for the Windows 10 upgrade.

What is to be noted here, is that, the icon works solely for the Windows 7 SP1 version and not the Windows 7 Enterprise yet. If the updates aren’t working properly, or if you don’t want to update everything then you can manually update the necessary requirements. The two necessary updates are here and here, after which you can download the app itself. Without these updates, Windows 7 won’t be equipped to upgrade to the Windows 10.

For more detailed information on the upgrade click here.

Similarly, for the Windows 8 or 8.1 user, you will need to upgrade your operating system. If you haven’t chosen the automatic updating option then you will have to go to your Settings and select the Change PC Settings option then pick the Update and Recovery button. There are different options to update your PC on a Windows 8/8.1, so if you want to control the update installation, then simply pick the Choose How Updates get Installed option.

Here also, however, the Windows 8/8.1 Enterprise and Windows RT/RT 8.1 cannot get the Windows 10 update icon or app. Although, for a manual update, the process is similar to that for Windows 7, for which the links have been given above.

For computers on a professional network, the option to upgrade is out of your hands. This is because, most schools, colleges and business organizations run networks with a tight firewall protection which is managed by the administration or IT department. Therefore, in these cases one can only hope that one’s organization also plans to eventually update their version of Windows.

Finally, for older Windows operating systems, if you have picked the “no update for you” option on Windows 7 and 8, one might have already noticed that the new upgrade cannot be downloaded on to your system yet. But, according to sources such as PCgamer.com, Windows is offering an upgrade even for ‘non-genuine’ users. As posted in a Windows blog on May 15th, Terry Myerson wrote that the company would be releasing an attractive Windows 10 upgrade for those running older devices on a non-genuine state.

So let us wait and see, what the much anticipated Windows Upgrade, holds for us.

July 27, 2015
Here’s How You Can Watch the Moto G (Gen 3) Launch Tomorrow

With just a little over 24 hours left for the launch of the Moto G (Gen 3), Motorola India has decided to stream the event live on its YouTube channel. It’s interesting though, given that the company has not admitted that it will launch the new Moto G/Moto X.

To watch the live event, you have to search #mymotobff live on YouTube and click on the event. The event was announced ten days ago through a media invite. The new Moto G has been in the news recently, for the amount of details leaked about it.

Just a few hours ago, Flipkart listed the details about the Moto G (Gen 3) only to remove it a few moments later. The listing included the price of the 8GB variant at Rs. 11,999 and various details that were previously leaked such as a 1.4GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor, which is consistent with the reports that the phone will sport a 1.4GHz processor and a 13MP rear camera with dual-LED flash, a 5MP front camera, and a 2470 mAh battery.

With just a little over 24 hours left for the launch, it is better if we wait for Motorola to announce the phone and do not ruin the surprise, if there’s any surprise left at all.

Here’s the live stream that Motorola has launched:

We will also post the unboxing of the new Moto G and our review on iGyaan. So stay tuned.

July 27, 2015
Introducing a 360 Degree-View ‘Treehouse’ With Wi-fi and Beer

Jono Williams, a plastics engineer and graphic designer from New Zealand has built a treehouse. But this treehouse is said to be the ideal bachelor pad. Why? Because it has a 360-degree view, high speed Wi-Fi, an app-controlled beer dispenser and voice-controlled LED lights- all of this being solar powered.

Image Credit: Mashable

It is said that he wanted to build an elevated room with a view, but wasn’t convinced by the generic treehouse idea. Therefore, he created his own steel treehouse for $67,000. The structure is called ‘The Skysphere’, and is controlled by a wireless sound system fingerprint entry.

The Skysphere also has a projector and dimmable LED lighting from solar-powered, app and voice-controlled mechanics.The room is completely powered by solar panels, which is necessary for all of its gadgets. Although Mr.William’s favourite part of the Skysphere is the smartphone activated, refrigerated, in-couch beer dispenser, which can hold 12 beers and can chill an additional 36 beers at the same time.

One general question is- how does he get things up? To answer this he says, his initial plan was to use a large hydraulic ram that goes down into the ground, with a lift on it. But for now he’s using a ladder and a rope-pulley system.

The only thing that seems to be missing here is a bathroom, but Mr.Williams is soon planning to make one “in the trees near the tower”. What do you think of this tech savvy treehouse?

Source: [tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_blank” link=”http://www.theskysphere.com/”]theSkysphere[/tw-button]

July 27, 2015