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Android Lollipop Market Share Growth is Slow, Yet Steady

Officially introduced in early-March 2014, Lollipop is the newest Android software release available now. Steadily, it seems that Android has started to grasp the ways of the competitive market. However, after being made available, Lollipop was being used by only 0.7% of the market. Now, Lollipop’s market almost doubled within this month, whose surge can be attributed to the launch of Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. Both the handsets came pre-loaded with the operating system.

Meanwhile, its predecessor, KitKat, slipped from 41.4% to 39.8%, which could very well hint towards the rate of the upgrade of the OS. In the similar fashion, all the previous versions of Android saw a decline. Surprisingly, Froyo, the first Android OS, still hangs at the tip with 0.3% market share.

As you can see in the above figure, the number of active Android handset space has increased eventually. Lollipop now operates in 9.7% of the Android smartphones around the world. Google released a report on the steady growth of Android 5.0 Lollipop’s market share, rising from 0.1% in December 2014 to 1.6% in January and over 5% in March. If the jump crosses above 10% in April, it may be one of the biggest wins for Android.

First introduced in the summers of 2014 at Google’s I/O, a 10% growth in a year may not seem too much for most of the other companies. Reasons for the slow increase? Patchwork arrangements between Google and various other manufacturers, the large collection of Android devices of the companies, many more variants required by each carrier – all contribute towards the fact that it is not easy for Android to roll out its updates for handsets in the same way as Apple does for iOS.

May 6, 2015
Third-Gen Moto X Speculated to Arrive in the Next Few Months

The second-generation Moto X was Motorola’s latest offering in the high-end smartphone category, along with the Droid Turbo. The device debuted last year but hasn’t been able to make way for itself in the competitive smartphone arena, with Samsung Galaxy S6 and iPhone 6 grabbing all the spotlight. The US-based electronics firm is aware of its lagging position among other smartphone brands like Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi, and is reportedly working on the successor of Moto X (2^nd gen).

According to STJS Gadgets, the third-generation Moto X is leaked by a Motorola insider, who claims to have a hold of details about the next Moto X. The upcoming smartphone on Moto X series will sport a 5.2-inch QHD AMOLED display, used on the Droid Turbo. Under the hood will be a Snapdragon 808 chipset bundled with a massive 4GB RAM. The device will come pre-installed with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.

The front camera will be a 5MP, while the back will house a 16MP snapper with Clear Pixel Technology. The battery powering the device will also be mammoth at 3280mAh. The device will come in two storage variants – 32GB and 64GB. Moto X (3^rd Gen) is expected to arrive in the coming months.

May 6, 2015
Xiaomi Mi Band to go on Sale Again on May 12, Registrations Begin Today

The first flash sale of the Xiaomi Mi Band in India was a huge success. The sale commenced on May 5 at 2pm and got over within seconds. The Chinese electronics start-up is conducting the second flash sale of the Mi Band in India, but unlike the special preview sale, the fitness wearable will not be available for Re. 1 this time.

The next Mi Band sale will be held on May 12, i.e. the coming Tuesday. Interested buyers can register on the official Mi website today 2pm onwards. The registration window will be open till May 11, 2pm. The Mi Band will cost buyers Rs. 999.

Our next sale for Mi Band happens next Tuesday, 12th May at 2PM! Registration starts tomorrow 2PM at mi.com/in, so do…

Posted by Mi India on Tuesday, May 5, 2015

The Mi fitness tracker was introduced in India along the Xiaomi Mi 4i. It is the cheapest tracker available in the country. The aluminium surface band comes with a micro laser perforation and no display screen. It is water resistant and has a battery life of 30 days. Used as a fitness and sleep tracking band, this device connects to a user’s smartphone and can unlock the handset without the need of passwords or patterns. It is available in a variety of colours like blue, pink, brown, grey and purple.

May 6, 2015
Indian Government Comes Out in Support of Net Neutrality

The much heated issue of Net Neutrality now has the Centre’s support. The government hasn’t come out with a final verdict on the same, but is committed to keeping the Intenet open and evenly accessible to everyone. Standing up in support of free internet, Telecom and IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in a firm voice said that the practices of blocking and deliberately slowing down or speeding up of lawful content on web should not be allowed.

While responding to a discussion on Net Neutrality in Rajya Sabha, Prasad commented –

Government stands for ensuring non-discriminatory access to Internet for all citizens of the country. The government agrees with the viewpoint that blocking and deliberately slowing down/speeding up of lawful content on the Internet should not be allowed, and customers should have unrestricted access to all lawful content on the Internet.

Prasad stressed on the fact that the Government has all powers to direct Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on public policy. “However, TRAI’s powers to regulate tariff and quality of service are subject to overall public policy of the government and the government has sufficient powers under the Trai Act to invoke its national policy objectives to give directions to Trai,” stated Prasad.

Telecom and IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad spoke up about keeping the Internet an open platform.

He further mentioned that a detailed examination on topics like traffic management, national security, integrity of network and infrastructure investment is needed by experts on Net Neutrality.

It should be kept in mind that government hasn’t laid down the structured guidelines on net neutrality principles. Once the government frame rules for the content flow on web, telecom operators wouldn’t be able to adopt illegitimate pratices to earn more money.

A while back, TRAI’s consultation paper on its official website gathered millions of emails in support of Net Neutrality. From the comments of the Telecom minister, it seems like the final verdict would slay the Airtel Zero plan, once and for all.

May 6, 2015
After The Predator, Jason Voorhees Enters as a Playable Character in Mortal Kombat X

Jason Voorhees is one of the scariest characters that have been created. Though fictional, the chief antagonist of Friday the 13th has undoubtedly raised eyebrows with his mass murder spree series of films. Now, imagine playing with him against a group of equally proficient fighters. That’s right, Mortal Kombat X now has Jason Voorhees as a playable character, with his set of combat moves and fatalities. The character unveiled before Jason is the Predator, a well known fictional character from the Alien Vs Predator franchise.

Jason was inducted as a character on May 5th if you have purchased the Kombat pack for Playstation 4, Xbox One and PC. Most of Jason’s moves include a standard line of attacks and if executed correctly, a clothesline. One important skill of this character is that it can become unstoppable, which means nothing would be able to escape his special moves.

In addition to Jason, the pack also includes characters like Vampiress Mileena, Kraken Reptile, and Pharaoh Ermac horror-themed skins. For players who have not purchased the package, Jason Voorhees will be available from May 12^th for $7.99. Today is also the official release of the game on Android devices.

May 6, 2015
Facebook Includes Nokia HERE Maps on Messenger, Instagram Ahead of Official Buyout

HERE maps, previously known as Ovi Maps or Nokia Maps, is an alternative of Google Maps and Apple Maps service. Nokia was in talks with buyers to sell out its maps unit, but seems like Facebook has inked a deal to power maps on its various platforms.

The social networking site is presently using Here maps on the mobile version of its website, and on other applications like Facebook Messenger and Instagram. The Facebook spokesperson confirmed the same through statement –

We are testing Nokia HERE maps across Facebook to give us more control and flexibility in delivering a consistent maps experience.

Nokia confirmed that it is seeking buyers to sell out its $2 billion Here map. The Finnish tech brand spent $8.1 billion to buy Chicago-based digital map maker, Navteq, in an effort to capitalize its market for mobile search, but the buy-out deemed unprofitable. Hence, in April, Nokia roped in the heavyweights of technology including Apple, Facebook, Amazon, Alibaba Group, etc. to sell its maps business. According to Techcrunch, one of those potential buyers has already sealed a deal with Nokia.

For now, Facebook has not given any details about its availability on iOS.

May 5, 2015
1,000 Xiaomi Mi Band Sell Out in 7 Seconds in its First Flash Sale

Today, Xiaomi’s Mi fitness band saw its first sale for the registered users. Under the ‘Special Preview’ sale, it was available for Re. 1 for the first 1,000 registrants. The flash sale commenced at 2pm and got over within 7 seconds.

The official Mi India page confirms the same –

Thank you! #MiBand‘s 1st special preview sale on http://t.co/osSEXTVk0K went out of stock in 7 secs. pic.twitter.com/BlmjEQXg0y

— Mi India (@MiIndiaOfficial) May 5, 2015

The sale took place on the company’s official web site, Mi.com. The registered buyers reported some glitch and said that the official Mi India page showed ‘Sold out’ message even before the sale commenced.

#MiBandSale – Some Mi fans r seeing “sold out” msg for http://t.co/pMj1r7lwp8 for Mi Band sale. The sale will happen at 2pm, as planned.

— Manu Kumar Jain (@manukumarjain) May 5, 2015

The fitness band was first unveiled in July last year and arrived in India on April 23^rd along with the Mi 4i. The aluminium surface band comes with a micro laser perforation and no display screen. It is water resistant and has a battery life of 30 days. Used as a fitness and sleep tracking band, this device connects to user’s smartphone and can unlock the handset without the need of passwords or patterns.

It is available in a variety of colours like blue, pink, brown, grey and purple.

May 5, 2015
Check Out This Modular Case That Gives a Smartphone Project Ara-like Upgradation Abilities

Now is the age of customization. Smartphones today offer options to tweak the customary set-up and mould it to your convenience. Google’s latest Project Ara is the ultimate form of customization that is set to transform the present smartphone industry. But seems like there’s another advanced technology like Project Ara that can modify your present handsets. Nexpaq, a California-based start-up, has developed a modular case that has the power to add additional features to your device, that you have always wished for.

The case is said to be “the first truly modular smartphone case” and comes with 12 different modules. These include Laser, Battery Power, Super LED Flashlight, SD Card Reader, Amplified Speaker, and a few more. Nexpaq says that there are more to come. Simply put, it provides external support to upgrade the device in terms of memory, sound quality even if your phone has restricted capacity. The company claims that it is the first hardware to switch between iOS and Android devices. Which basically means, users of the two operating systems can switch modules to experience each other’s modules.

At one time, six different modules can fit in the case. The case coming in two different colours – black and white – is compatible with smartphones like Samsung Galaxy S5, iPhone 6 and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. The project is still under development and one can pre-order it for $109 to get a Nexpaq case and four different modules. The product will be shipped to the backers by January 2016. There are different deals at different prices which offer two Nexpaq cases, module development kits and more.

As the shipping date suggests, the project will launch by January next year. It is highly likely that Google may come up with Project Ara before then.

To know how it works, check the video below:

May 5, 2015
First Images of Samsung Z2 Running on Tizen

Samsung’s next Tizen OS-powered smartphone is yet to get an official announcement from the Korean electronics giant. But thanks to an online leaks, we now have an idea what Samsung will offer with its upcoming Tizen-based smartphone. A set of pictures are circulating online which are said to be of the upcoming Samsung Z2.

The leaked images of the tentatively titled Samsung Z2 give a hint of its design. The Z2 seems much like Samsung Galaxy S3 mini with identical display size and body (plastic frame and metal texture). The Tizen Store is also shown in the picture, which displays some of the popular downloads like Opera Mini, WhatsApp and more.

Past rumours suggest that the next Samsung device running company’s Tizen OS will feature a 32-bit quad-core CPU with 1GB of RAM and Tizen 3.0 UI. The device will sport a qHD (540×960) TFT-LCD display and will pack a 2000mAh battery.

The phone will be another entry-level offering with basic features. The company aims to make room for itself in the Android-ruled market. The smartphone will launch in more countries than just Bangladesh and India, which first saw the release of Samsung Z1. Samsung is expected to bring out the Z2 in the first half of 2015.

May 5, 2015
Iron Man-Themed Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge Handsets Arrive This Month

After their formal introduction at MWC 2015, Samsung’s new Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge instantly became one of the most sought-after devices. They received a record of 20 million unit orders within a week of their launch. Over the years, Samsung has become a company that is known for experimenting with unique variants of its products. Carrying on the trend, Samsung affirmed that they will be releasing a limited set of Avengers-themed Galaxy S6 Edge, starting off with an Iron Man themed handset.

Samsung confirmed on Monday that Iron Man themed Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge will be launching by next month and will be based on Iron Man’s standard red and yellow suit colour. Though Samsung Mobile Exec, Young Hee, did not mention where and at what price.

Avengers: Age of Ultron one of the most-anticipated films of 2015 broke the world record by making over $40 million in IMAX theatres in just 12 days of release.

Meanwhile, Samsung and Marvel teamwork resulted in a free app called ‘Battle for Avengers Tower’ that uses Samsung Gear VR headset. You can check out the 360-degree video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdTm7Vpape0#action=share

To read more about Samsung’s Flagships, click here.

May 5, 2015
Timex Ditches the Gold Watch, Launches Smartwatch and Fitness Band in India

American watch brand Timex is adopting all major steps to catch up with India’s wearable market. Recently, Timex Group launched a smartwatch and a fitness band in the country. The tech-driven Ironman Run x20 GPS watch is priced at Rs. 11,995, while the Ironman Move x20 activity tracker comes at a price of Rs. 8,995. Both the wearables will be available exclusively on Amazon.in.

Anupam Mathur of Sales and Marketing Head, Timex Group India commented at the launch –

With the introduction of Timex Ironman Move x20, and Timex Ironman Run x20 we aim to offer our consumers a confluence of future technology and style, Timex’s foray into wearable technology. We are pleased to introduce these new products to our Ironman portfolio designed to cater to the current age of fitness enthusiasts and tech savvy audience.

The Ironman Run x20 GPS by Timex is a watch designed to entice sport enthusiasts. As the name suggests, it features a GPS technology that lets users keep a track of the distance covered, pace, speed and calories burned while working out or running. Users can receive call and text alerts on the digital display of the smartwatch itself. The Run x20 GPS features a 10-workout memory with dated summary, stopwatch with 99-lap counter and offers automatic pace alerts.

Powering the wearable is a rechargeable Li-Ion battery that can go for 6 hours in full GPS mode. The smartwatch sports a Timex’s INDIGLO night-light and is water-resistant up to 50 meters.

On the other hand, the Ironman Move x20 is essentially a tracking device that records activities like steps, distance, calories and sleep, and notifies about missed calls and texts. It has different modes that helps wearer achieving their goals. The waterproof tracker is fitted with a rechargeable battery with 7 days support. It is compatible with both Android and iOS devices.

May 5, 2015
Samsung to Provide Chipset and Displays for Apple’s Upcoming Products

It looks like the world’s biggest rivals in the tech world will soon be announcing major collaborations. According to the grapevine, Samsung will be manufacturing Apple’s core chip for the next iPhone as well as displays for other Apple products. This unexpected alliance was formed when Apple Chief Executive agreed to tone down the battle of patent suits against Samsung, thereby leading to this association.

Samsung will be budgeting $14 billion dollars for setting up new plants and equipment for manufacturing Apple’s newest device parts. Samsung had used the latest SoC for their flagship Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. The chip uses 14nm technology whose standards are matched by Exynos 7420, Samsung’s home made processor. The 14Nm chip is more powerful than the 16Nm chips that are standardly used in the company’s handsets.

But from this partnership, Apple’s former partners like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and Sandisk may get a significant blow. TSMC used to manufacture chips for all the previous models of the iPhone and SanDisk was given the responsibility of memory chips for iPhone, iPad and Mac.

There are no official confirmations from both the tech power houses, but if true, we may soon see something very different from this alliance. Although Samsung is manufacturing Apple’s new chipset, the Korean company will continue to make its own smartphones.

May 5, 2015

Panasonic India Launches Eluga L 4G in India Priced at Rs. 12,999

Catching up with the emerging smartphone market, Panasonic has today launched its first 4G smartphone in India. The Eluga L 4G will be available at all major online and offline stores at a price of Rs. 12,999.

The Managing Director of Panasonic India Manish Sharma said –

Panasonic India has now signaled a big leap in its product portfolio by bringing better specifications and features in the newly launched Eluga L which not only caters to the fast developing technological needs in the market but is also priced reasonably. With the company’s recent success in the smartphones category and the mobility landscape rapidly evolving today, the new device will surely match the needs of our fast evolving consumers in the country.

The new Eluga series handset holds a thickness of 6.1mm and features a uni-body design. It is light at 131 grams. The 5-inch (1280×720 pixels) HD IPS display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass from back and front. The processor powering the phone is a 64-bit quad Quad-core Snapdragon 410 clocked at 1.2GHz. The Adreno 306 GPU caters to the graphic quality, along with 1GB RAM. The Eluga L 4G runs on Android 4.4 KitKat. The onboard storage space of the device is 8GB, which can be extended up to 32GB via Micro SD card.

On the camera front, the phone has an 8MP primary camera with autofocus and LED flash. A 5MP secondary shooter sits on the front for capturing selfies. For now, there is no details about its battery capacity. The dual-SIM device supports 4G and 3G network. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. There is just one colour option available in the smartphone – Radiant Blue.

The smartphone has to compete with Xiaomi Mi 4i and ZenFone 2 ZE550ML in the similar price range.

Here’s the spec table of Panasonic Eluga L 4G:

Specifications	Panasonic Eluga L 4G
Display	5-inch HD IPS (1280×720 pixels)
Processor	1.2GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 410
RAM	1GB
Memory	8GB, expandable up to 32GB
Camera	8MP rear, 5MP
Battery	Not Mentioned
Operating System	Android 4.4 KitKat
Price	Rs. 12,999

May 4, 2015

Microsoft’s Future Smart Glass Might be Able to Read Emotions

To remain interesting, wearables are continuously being upgraded. They have a massive potential, and major tech companies are constantly looking to improve their last offering. From smartwatches to smart glasses, possibilities of technology seems only limited till the emotional spectrum. Recently, it seems that Microsoft may have overcome this barrier. The US technology giant, known for making its mark in the computing world, have recently been awarded a patent for a smart glass that would be able to detect or interpret emotions of people within its range.

This patent, filed as ‘a wearable emotion detection feedback system’, was originally filed in October last year and has been announced this week. By judging different variations in speech rhythm and amplitude, choice of words, type and speed of gestures,eye focus and body posture, the glass would be able to determine the emotion of a single person or a group, without them knowing about it. It will use sensors like depth cameras and a microphone under the nose bridge to pick up the audio and video information about the subject.

According to Wall Street Journal, its uses were not specified, but one can imagine it will come very useful during interrogation questioning where devices would be able to measure changes in the person’s body temperature or pick up small shifts in the voice tone. According to the patent, this device can communicate with another same device, thus allowing the share of information. This also gives the user a 360-degree view, and can be used in gaming or security work.

Again, the possibilities seem endless. Let’s wait and watch how Microsoft takes this innovation forward.

May 4, 2015
Paytm’s Mobile Wallet Will Soon Be Accepted at Café Coffee Day, Domino’s and More

After stepping in the e-commerce market, Paytm is geared to diversify into the offline space. The digital recharge start-up has partnered with thousands of quick service restaurants (QSRs) in major cities of India to provide cash-less service in the next two months. By stepping in offline retail business, the mobile recharge service will offer customers a choice to pay through their secure platform without the need to carry cash.

The Vice-President (Business) of Paytm Amit Lakhotia stated on the same –

We are now foraying into the offline space. We have partnered various QSRs covering 7,000-10,000 outlets in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

He further added that the service should be available by mid-June. Some of the restaurants that have joined hands with Paytm include top food chains like Café Coffee Day (CCD) and Domino’s. The company is planning to add more more restaurants where their Paytm Wallet can be functional.

Lakhotia stated on the growing acceptance of their virtual wallet application, “Mobile wallet usage is definitely growing in the country. On our platform alone, about 66 million people are using the wallet services and the number will cross 100 million much before the year ends.”

The company commenced the Paytm Wallet app with its debut in e-commerce space. Paytm wallet allows users to transfer money within the wallets. The app offers users to transfer money to a bank account from the wallet so that they can cash out the required amount.

Paytm expects to observe a steep increase in revenue by the year end. Right now, its revenue rate is $1.5 billion, but it is expected to multiply more than double to $4 billion by end-2015.

Meanwhile, Paytm provides its services to the online services like Uber, BookMyShow, eBay and IRCTC.

May 4, 2015

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Specifications

Panasonic Eluga L 4G