If the latest fiscal report by Apple indicates anything, it is that the company owes its success to iPhones and Macbooks. Apple has posted its third quarterly results for 2015 and the company has performed better than last quarter, but apparently it wasn’t enough for the investors. The company’s share dropped down by 7%, around $60 billion in market value. Still, Apple has generated $49.6 billion in revenue and earned a profit of $10.7 billion, still behind its record of $18 billion that it set during the first quarter of this year.
Apple Watch isn’t the success that people had predicted it would be. Analysts estimated Apple to sell around 4 million units of the watch. The company did not specify how many units were sold, but according to Apple’s Chief Financial Officer, the Apple Watch generated around $1 billion in revenue for the company. The company has combined the sales figures of Apple Watch, Beats products and others, which the company says has generated around $2.64 billions. CEO Tim Cook said that “sales of the watch did exceed (our) own forecasts”, which means that not only Apple Watch but Apple’s acquisition of Beats by Dre has also paid off and will continue to do so in the near future.
The company’s latest report also mentions that for the second straight quarter, China is now the second largest market for Apple. Recently, the company has been trying to make products to suit Chinese customers, going as far as keeping the colour scheme of iPhone 5C according to Chinese preferences. While the sales in China are low from the last quarter, it is still the second largest base after the United States of America.
It will be interesting to see how the company performs in the next quarter, with the launch of the next iPhone and when Apple Music finally starts taking subscriptions.
Thanks to apps like WhatsApp and Hike, sharing images, music and videos between iOS and Android devices has become easy. Still, there are some files that cannot be sent over through WhatsApp and even if we e-mail the files, the large size of the file will eat most of the internet data. There are some apps which will allow you to send files between Android and iOS devices without any hassles:
1. Instashare:
The Instashare app works on a simple principle- drag and drop the file onto your nearby contacts list and the app takes care of the rest. It works on the same principle of Apple’s AirDrop. Instashare supports all types of file formats and works easily on both Android and iOS.
2. Fast File Transfer:
The app, available for Android users, creates a local Wi-fi network and allows iOS devices to log into them. The user can then send large files over small distances through the local Wi-Fi network created. The network is unique to the Android device and allows the iOS device to log into it. It’s faster than Bluetooth and easy to use.
3. Feem:
Feem works just like Fast File Transfer, sending files over locally created wi-fi networks. The app has to be installed in both iOS and Android devices, though. Once the users enter their partner’s username, they can easily exchange the files.
4. Sharable:
Sharable works just like Instashare, except it’s completely free, without any advertisements and restrictions on file size. The device connects users through their device’s local wi-fi.
5. File Transfer For iOS / Android:
File Transfer for iOS, along with the companion app File Transfer for Android, allows users to transfer files between their different devices. It uses Bluetooth when possible, making the process of sending files through Wi-Fi, unnecessary. The software automatically detects nearby devices.
Mobile phones have become an extended appendage to our bodies. Today though, with the stable establishment of the Smartphone, our lifestyle and etiquette has entirely changed. We embraced this change of modernity without much resistance, although it doesn’t hurt to wonder what it would have been like otherwise.
The Word ‘Selfie’ Would Not Be a Part of the Dictionary
The still trending culture of the ‘selfie‘ would be non-existent and one would have to learn how to perfect the art of holding one’s digital camera awkwardly. It helps that the new smartphones now come with a good front camera with up to 8MP HD clarity.
We Would be Rolling Down Our Car Window to Ask for Directions
Shopkeepers and road signs or even a REAL map would show us the way instead of the GPS or Google Map.
Image Source: Raising Gentlemen
Our Pictures Would Have #NoFilter
Instagram has nothing less than a cult following since its introduction. The App allows people to publish their photographs and has by far, the most aesthetic editing options that any photo editing app could offer. Although saying that it revolutionized picture quality and the art of photography would be going too far.
Source : Emarketing Blog
No Video Chats On-the-Go
At one point Skype was the only means to video chat across the world. It seemed like a revolutionary idea until the advent of the smartphone and along with it multiple video chatting apps such as FaceTime, Viber etc.
Remember SMS?
Two of the most popular apps for informal communication have changed the world of text messaging. Now we barely ever fill up our texting balance because we would rather use the Wi-fi to text, call, send jpeg images, voice notes etc.
Source : Mashable
We’d Still be Buying Cookbooks, Dictionaries, and Books in General
With the introduction of reading apps like Kindle, Aldiko Book Reader, Cool Reader etc. we have almost stopped opening Dictionaries, Cook Books and buying special edition magazines and novels. The reading app has become so much a part of our culture that Sunday morning Church services also involve the congregation taking out their mobile phones instead of The Bible. The mantra being, ‘less is more’.
Downloading and Storing Music
Today music enthusiasts don’t need to go to Music Stores in order to buy their favourite albums. In fact they don’t even need to buy an MP3 player or even the life changing iPod. All one needs to do is own a smartphone with apps such as SoundCloud, Apple Music, Spotify etc and you have it all in tow.
We should also be thankful that we’re no longer downloading music (along with a hundred viruses) from Limewire or Bearshare.
Candy Crush and Angry Birds Probably Wouldn’t Exist
Long ago in the 90s, if we wanted to play computer games we would have to go to the gaming parlours to experience the ultimate fun of gaming. Even when the feature Nokia mobile phone arrived the only game they had was called Snakes and it was joyous!
Arguments Wouldn’t Be Resolved Until Someone Located a PC/Laptop
Initially internet access would only be available to computer users and those who did not own one would have to visit Cyber Cafes. The feature phone too did not have a Wifi or data connection option and therefore the Cyber Cafés and computer business thrived. But with the coming of the smartphone and all its internet options most people now choose to buy a smartphone which has all the functions of a laptop or PC and have internet access on the go.
Without our smartphones, everytime anyone got into an argument, it wouldn’t be resolved till someone located a PC/Laptop.
To-Do Lists
The emergence of reminder apps have alone perhaps dropped the sales of efficient and creative stationary like sticky notes, labels, notebook fridge magnets etc.
In conclusion, a world without the smartphone would still be beautiful but perhaps won’t be able to keep up with the notoriously infamous ‘fast-paced modern’ lifestyle.
While everyone was looking forward to the Samsung Note 5 and the S6 Edge Plus to be launched together, rumour mills have now gone bust. A recent report shared says that the two devices will now be launched on different dates and venues.
For those waiting for the Note 5, looks like the wait is going to be extended as the Note 5 will be launched in the first week of September, at the IFA Berlin. The S6 though, will be launched mid-August almost 2 weeks earlier than the Note 5.
The reasons for delaying the launch can be a strategic move to create hype and increase profits and also to avoid the clash with the iPhone 6s Plus, which is speculated to release on the 14th of September. Therefore, since this is Samsung’s highly anticipated device, the company naturally wants to do everything right.
Meanwhile, the S6 Edge Plus will hit the markets soon. Watch this space for more information on the launch.
To read more about the Samsung Galaxy S6 Plus click here and for more info on the Note 5 here.
OnePlus, a modern age gift from China, had come out with its new Smartphone OnePlus One in April 2014. It launched itself in India exclusively via Amazon, with all transactions being carried out online. And even though it has been the shining star of 2014, it continues to strive towards bettering its marketing capacity and widening its horizon, especially in the Indian market where it has thrived.
A week before the release of its upcoming model OnePlus 2, it announces the launch of 9 offline customer care services around India. Partnering with Regeneris, a global provider of diagnostics and repair services to top brands in the consumer electronics industry, they aim to reach people all over the country offline. The customer care centres will be located in Bangalore, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, New Delhi and Kolkata.
The OnePlus Two releases on the 27th of July 2015, worldwide, with the latest android version, longer battery life, a 16MP camera with 5MP front camera, dual sim, a full HD display and other features enhanced from the first model OnePlus One.
The OnePlus goal according to Founder Pete Lau was to design a smartphone that would balance high-end quality with a lower price than other phones in its class. Lau explains that that they will never be different just for the sake of being different and that everything done had to improve the actual user experience in day-to-day use.
By introducing 9 offline customer care services in India, they actually might be true to their goal of improving the day-to-day experience of the daily user.
For more details on the new 9 offline customer care centres in India, click here.
Yu Televentures, yesterday, had unveiled the Yu Yureka Plus. The device, is priced at Rs 9,999, and while the device is not larger than the original Yu Yureka or have bumped up specs, it does include small and significant changes. For instance, the Plus model comes with a 1920x1080px display, as compared to the 720px on the original Yureka. The Plus also gets the Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection layer added to the top of the display. Some other improvements include a new camera sensor, made by Sony, and the new white colour finish back panel option, which gives the device a premium look.
With a whole lot of information about the specs, let us see whether the Yu Yureka lived up to its legacy against its contenders in the same budget category:
Hardware Specs
Yu Yureka Plus
Lenovo K3 Note
Xiaomi Mi 4i
ASUS Zenfone 2
Display
5.5-inch FHD Gorilla Glass 3
5.5 inch IPS capacitive
5-inches IPS LCD capacitive with Gorilla Glass 3
5.5-inch IPS capacitive Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution
1920 x 1080px 400ppi
1080 x 1920px 401 ppi
1080 x 1920px 441ppi
720 x 1280px 267ppi
Chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon 615
MediaTek MT6752
Qualcomm Snapdragon 615
Intel Atom Z3560
Processor
1.5GHz Octacore | 64 Bit
1.7GHz Octa-core | 64 Bit
1.7 GHz Octa-core | 64 Bit
1.8 GHz Quad-core | 64 Bit
GPU
Adreno 405
Mali-T760MP2
Adreno 405
PowerVR G6430
RAM
2GB
2GB
2GB
2GB
Primary Camera
13MP Sony Sensor
13MP
13MP
16MP
Front Camera
5MP
5MP
5MP
13MP
Video Recoding
1080p Full HD
1080p Full HD
1080p Full HD
1080p Full HD
Storage
16GB
16GB
16GB
16GB
Expandable Up to
32 GB
32GB
N/A
64GB
Battery
2,500 mAh
3,000 mAh
3,120mAh
3,000 mAh
Operating System
Android 5.1 Lollipop with Cyanogen 12
Android Lollipop 5.0 with Lenovo Vibe 2.5 UI
Android 5.0 Lollipop with MIUI 6
Android 5.0 Lollipop OS with custom ZenUI
Bluetooth
4.0
4.1
4.1
4
Price
Rs. 9,999
Rs.9,999
Rs. 12,999
Rs 12,000
As we can see in the specs sheet above, the Yu Yureka Plus holds most of the same specs as the Xiaomi Mi 4i and the ASUS Zenfone 2, but only much cheaper. Except in terms of battery, of course. While the Xiaomi and the ASUS handsets rock it out with their 3,000mAh and above battery meter, the Yu Yureka Plus lags behind with only 2,500mAh of battery life. But, you can’t have everything in one package, right?
The phone will go on sale on the 24th of July at 12:00 Noon, at Amazon.in. The Yu Yureka Plus comes in two colour options, the Moondust Grey and the Alabaster White.
Samsung has announced the launch of Galaxy Tab S2, which the company says is “the most immersive Samsung tablet to-date.” . The Galaxy Tab S2 is available in two sizes – 9.7-inch and 8.0-inch. The tablet is 5.6 mm thick and weighs 389 grams for the 9.7-inch model and 265 grams for the 8.0-inch model.
The Galaxy Tab S2 sports Super AMOLED display, giving 2048×1536 resolution. It runs on an Octa- core processor with four cores clocked at 1.9 GHz and the other four clocked at 1.3GHz. with a microSD slot that allows the users to add an additional 128GB of space. In terms of storage, it is available in two variants – 32GB and 64GB variants, with expandable memory upto 128 GB and 3GB of RAM. The Galaxy Tab S2 runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 inch
The 8-inch model is powered by a 4,000 mAh battery while the 9.7 inch model is powered by a 5,870mAh battery. Both models run on Android 5.0 Lollipop and sport an 8MP rear camera and a 2.1-MP front camera. The Galaxy Tab S2 is capable of recording 2K footage and 4K playback. It also features a fingerprint reader.
In a bid to connect with their audience and to up their usage, Google has finally decided that it will be shutting down Google+ photos and making way for Google Photos by August 1st.
This announcement sounds like good news for two reasons. Firstly, Google Photos will provide unlimited storage and will automatically sort out your photos in various categories and timelines. Secondly, anything that is free is always worth it. Google will provide unlimited storage, organise your folders and allow you to edit, share and save all your photos for free. Google announced that they will begin the shutdown process with Android phones, then iOS and the Web thereafter. The Plus now has prompts asking people to switch to Google Photos and download it before the 1st of August. Doing this, will be of great convenience as Plus will soon stop working and one will have to access their photos from Google Takeout. The company ensures that all your photos and videos will still be saved and available after you switch to the new, stand-alone Google Photos app. So download soon, it can only benefit you.
Instead of waiting for 28th July, Motorola should already unveil the specifications for the upcoming Moto G and Moto X.Yesterday, a retailer leaked the specifications for the Moto G (3rd Gen) and now a new set of images of the upcoming phone have been leaked, confirming what was reported in the earlier rumours.
As you can see in the above photograph, most of the details on the dummy unit already confirms what we saw in yesterday’s leak. The one detail that was left out yesterday was the IPx7 certification, which was rumored but never confirmed. The dummy unit confirms the certification, which means that the Moto G (3rd Gen) is water resistant and can survive after being submerged under 1m of water for 30 minutes.
The Moto G (3rd gen) has a 5 “(12.7 cm) TFT, Gorilla Glass display and is powered by Li-Ion 2470 mAh battery. The phone sports a rear 13 MP Dual Flash and a 5 MP front camera and can record full HD videos at 1080p resolution. The phone supports 4G LTE and has Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0. The device has been priced at EUR 199 (approximately Rs. 13,700). The details were leaked yesterday by Spanish e-commerce website fnac.
If the image wasn’t enough, Motorola India tweeted another clue yesterday:
While nothing has been made official from Motorola yet, we will know only next week on 28th July, when Motorola will announce the launch of the new Moto G and Moto X.
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/16GB
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)
Xiaomi may launch a new product, according to a cryptic teaser released ahead of its anniversary on July 22. The teaser reads ‘move 4 to double’ indicating that the company could launch the Mi 4i 32GB variant in India.
The Xiaomi Mi4i, was launched with just 16GB of internal storage and no microSD card slot, which led to many users complaining about the storage problems faced. Xiaomi’s Hugo Barra said that the higher capacity variants of the Mi 4i would be launched in India in the future.
Priced at Rs. 12,999, the current Xiaomi Mi 4i 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 16GB of non-expandable storage space. The Mi 4i runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop with the company’s MIUI 6 on top. Optics includes a 13MP rear and a 5MP shooter. The dual-SIM device is powered by a 3120mAh battery. Connectivity options include Micro-USB 2.0, Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi.
It seems except for the expansion in storage, all the specifications would remain same.
We all know that there is a fair amount of Marijuana consumed by the youth today. But most of us don’t feel threatened enough when someone ‘high’ drives because we feel he/she is in his/her senses. The law and others seem to disagree, though.
In a rather daunting yet intelligent move, it was reported that a Canadian company by the apt name of Cannabix Technologies has now begun to develop a prototype to test the THC levels in a person’s body, using a breathalyser-like device. While the device will be unable to measure the extent to which a person who has consumed pot, is impaired by the substance, it will definitely be able to detect it. Just like the breathalysers used for alcohol detection.
The breathalyser is yet to come out and will surely tighten the leash on traffic and driving rules. While this may be a brave step in the direction of safe driving and can reduce the risk of accidents, it will be a while before we see the traffic police using this unique breathalyser. Furthermore, it still remains to be seen if there is really a requirement of these kind of breathalysers in the first place as not enough research has been conducted to see the effect of Marijuana on keeping your eyes on the road.
For the past few weeks, Motorola has been trying to keep the details of its upcoming 3rd generation Moto G a secret but for some reason, they keep leaking out. Today, a fresh set of details about the Moto G (3rd gen) have been leaked by a retailer and (kind of) confirms most things about what we knew so far about the phone.
Spanish online retailer fnac has listed the details about the upcoming Moto G (3rd gen) on its website. The site details a comprehensive spec sheet for the Moto G. To begin with, it runs on a MSM8916 1.4 Ghz Quad Core processor with 1GB RAM. It sports a 5 “(12.7 cm) TFT, Gorilla Glass display and is powered by Li-Ion 2470 mAh battery. For now, the website has listed the 8GB variant, which can be expanded upto 32 GB.
The Moto G (3rd gen) sports a rear 13 MP Dual Flash and a 5 MP front camera. The phone can record full HD videos at 1080p resolution. The phone supports 4G LTE and has Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0. The device has been priced at EUR 199 (approximately Rs. 13,700).
While nothing has been made official from Motorola yet, we will know only next week on 28th July, when Motorola will announce the launch of the new Moto G and Moto X.
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)
Amazon will launch its Prime service in India later this year, according to a report. Amazon Prime is a membership program that offers unlimited free shipping on most deliveries with no minimum order size, unlimited backup for photos, access to streaming movies and music, free books from the Kindle Lending Library and more for an annual fee of $99. Think of it as Flipkart First, but with streaming and backup. Not only that, the company will also launch its Instant Video service, which is a major competitor to Netflix.
Amazon India users have been waiting for the Prime and Instant Video services since the website launched in 2013. While Amazon may reduce the price of its Prime service, it will be interesting to see how it launches the Instant Video for Indian users. Amazon’s Instant Video is known for providing stock as well as original programming abroad, so will the same happen in India, is a question we will be waiting to get the answer of. Moreover, it will be interesting to see if Amazon also launches its digital music service, which is also currently unavailable in India.
Amazon’s Instant Video provides streaming for TV shows and movies as well as its own content, in a unique way: it will stream the first episode of a TV show and ask viewers to vote on whether the show should be made or not. For now, it seems Amazon will only provide streaming of current TV shows and movies before it forays into original Indian programming. As far as its digital music service is concerned, it may take a lesson or two from Flipkart, which used to have its own music service, Flyte, before it was shut down due to low profits.
With Netflix poised to come next year and e-commerce websites like Snapdeal and Flipkart upping their services, it is a good time to be a consumer.
Today we have moved on from the age of emails and PCs to the age of texting and mobile phones, and with apps such as Viber, WhatsApp, FaceTime, Skype etc. the use of emails has become almost limited to being used exclusively for official purposes. In the process, age old apps like Yahoo have almost become redundant, especially with the growing popularity of new apps such as Google because of their efficiency and ability to cater to the growing needs of the modern lifestyle.
Recently though, Yahoo has made a silent comeback with the launch of its Livetext app on the iTunes app store. The unique feature of this app is that it is a peculiar combination of silent video chatting combined with texting. This app is unlike Skype or FaceTime. Users can have a virtual face-to-face chat and text each other simultaneously, without the voice getting in the way of the messaging. It should be very useful for people in business or classroom situations.
The advertisement for this app as the iTunes description states is as follows:
“Welcome to Livetext for iOS, the most natural way to have REAL conversations. It’s live video texting, without sound. You will feel like your friends are right there with you.”
Therefore, according to Yahoo, this new app should allow people to interact more naturally. This is Yahoo’s answer to making communication and interactions in the modern world efficient, interesting but yet personal and REAL.
The reviews for the app have been mixed. Some consider it a worthwhile comeback while others term it as ‘odd’. The necessity of silent video chatting has been questioned, although as previously mentioned it could be of use in certain situations. Apart from that, we also have apps such as FaceTime and Yahoo’s ultimate usurper, Gmail with functions such as Google+ Hangout which is basically “free video chat service from Google that enables both one-on-one chats and group chats with up to ten people at a time.” Yahoo Livetext on the other hand, is still not equipped for more than a 1:1 interaction- at least for the time being.
Yahoo made its app live, on July 11,2015. Livetext for iOS can use either a WiFi or cell connection. With the app having been launched only on the Hong Kong iTunes, it is yet to be seen whether it will hit the global market.
So, will you revert back to the revamped Yahoo? Let us know.
Last week, we reported that Samsung may have advanced the release date from September to August for Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus, to boost the struggling sales the company has been experiencing for past few months. Earlier today we gave you a sneak peek into what the Galaxy Note 5 would look like and along with it were a new set of images that were posted, giving us an idea about how the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus would look. All About Samsung has posted photographs of what looks like a storage dummy for the upcoming phone.
In the above photo, the S6 Edge Plus looks to be around the same height as the Galaxy Note 4, but is slightly less wide. The Note 4’s display clocks at 5.7 inches, which makes the Galaxy S6 Edge + bigger than its predecessor.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus is basically the phablet version of the Galaxy S6 Edge. The device is assumed to have a curved display and run on Exynos 7420 processor with 3GB, instead of the Snapdragon 808. Samsung will probably release the official photos in the next few weeks, and judging by the above photo, this one looks to be a serious contender to Apple’s upcoming iPhone.
