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Unboxing | Lava Iris X1 Grand | Hands On

Indian smartphone brand Lava recently brought out their new offering in the sub-Rs.10,000 market in the form of the Iris X1 Grand. This is a successor to the Lava Iris X1 that the company launched in the May of 2014. We unbox the device for you.

The device looks like an elder sibling to the Iris X1. It sports a 5-inch display with a resolution of 480×854 pixels. The power button is located on the right while the volume rockers are placed on the left. The flip cover provided with the device has markings on it which lets you manipulate the volume without opening the case.

In the Box you get:

Lava Iris X1 Grand Handset
In-ear Earphones
Charger and USB cable
Flip cover
Screen Protectors
Information booklet

The Iris X1 Comes along with a free Flip case and screen protector.

The device runs Android KitKat 4.4.2, out of the box, but it promises a guaranteed upgrade to Android Lollipop 5.0 which makes the deal attractive for the price. There aren’t a lot of bloatware on the device and the interface felt snappy and responsive.

Lava offers a free flip case with a round opening in the front which looks “inspired” from LG G3. The case is magnetic, so the screen shuts off when the case is on. You get quick access to the phone log, messages, music, settings and camera from the round screen so it would come handy when you are on the move.

The Lava Iris is priced at Rs. 6,500 which along with all the freebies such as flip case and the screen protectors makes it a bargain. Overall, the Lava Iris X1 Grand felt great in its first impressions, and we’ll take the device to task in our in-depth video, so stay tuned for that.

Specs	Lava Iris X1 Grand
Operating System	Android 4.4.2
Screen Size	5.0 inch 480×854 pixels
RAM	1 GB
Battery	2200 mAh
Processor	MediaTek MTK6582M
CPU	Quad-core 1.3 GHz
Internal Storage	8 GB
Expandable Up to	32 GB
Front camera	2 MP
Rear Camera	8 MP
Price	Rs. 6,500

February 10, 2015

Report : Motorola is Getting Ready to Launch the Refreshed Version of Moto E

Yesterday we heard that Motorola slashed the price of the Moto E by Rs.1000, reducing the price of the handset to a mere Rs. 5,999. Today, we can tell you why.

Motorola devices are doing well in the smartphone market. Moto G, Moto X and Moto E have made a good name for themselves in the industry. These devices offer specs of a high-end phones at relatively low prices; the fool-proof winning formula. Now, sources close to iGyaan have said that Motorola is working on releasing the successor of the Moto E handset.

Seeing the positive response to the E range, the US-based telecommunication firm is likely to release Moto E (Gen 2) soon. There is no word about the specifications of the rumored phone, but it is likely to flaunt a 4.5-inch qHD display (540x960p resolution). The second gen phone might be powered by 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 processor coupled with 1 GB of RAM. Talking about the camera of the device, the Moto E (Gen 2) may sport a 5MP main camera with LED flash and LTE connectivity, along with 2 MP front snapper.

Moto E was appreciated in its first generation because of its feature and price. But soon the market saw the arrival of the Redmi 1S which offered even more features for a price of Rs.5,999. Like its bigger siblings the Moto G and X, the E needs to offer a little more in terms of features or at least style to beat the competition this time around.

February 10, 2015
Xiaomi Mi 4 64 GB Variant is Coming to India on 24th February

Xiaomi recently launched its last flagship, the Mi4 in India. As with all the other Xiaomi launches, it was embraced warmly by the fans of the company. One major complaint with the device was the lack of expandable storage on the device and the lack of a 64 GB variant in the market. Heeding to the complaint Xiaomi will be launching a 64 GB variant of the Mi 4 on the 24th of February.

On their Facebook page, the company has announced that the 64 GB variant of Xiaomi Mi 4 will be available for a price of Rs.23,999.

Post by Mi India.

The Mi 4 features 5-inch Full HD Display. It is powered by a 2.5 Snapdragon 801 processor along with 3 RAM. The handset sports a 13 MP camera on the back and an 8 MP selfie snapper on the front. It gets its juice from 3080 mAh battery and runs on the latest MIUI 6. With this device, Xiaomi will be directly competing against the OnePlus One in India.

February 9, 2015
State Telecom Companies BSNL and MTNL Not Participating in Spectrum Auction

The telecom industry is looking forward to the spectrum auction with bated breath. While the government expects to make massive profits, telecom companies will be battling each other to gain spectrum to stay in business. The competition became a little easy today as state telecom companies BSNL and MTNL have backed out of the auction.

The Indian government plans to earn about Rs.1 lakh crore. Both BSNL and MTNL have said that they would now be engaging in the auction as they have no use for any additional spectrum.

The Indian government has been criticized for the high base price for the spectrum; even TRAI had suggested lower base pricing for the spectrum. The association of GSM operators COAI and GSMA have said that the auction might end up being a dull affair because of the low availability of spectrum and high price tag.

During the previous auction too, the telecom operators had to borrow heavy sums of money from the bank to buy spectrum that led to a staggering debt for the industry worth Rs. 2.5 lakh crores. COAI has also said that the high spectrum prices will also act as a major hindrance in the audacious Digital India Project of the present government. The auction will be held on February 25.

February 9, 2015
Lower-End Microsoft 8.1 Smartphones May Also Get Windows 10

Microsoft has presented its new operating system, Windows 10, and it has impressed a lot of its critics. The latest Windows offering will act as Microsoft’s initiative to create an ecosystem for its devices. It will work on all the Microsoft devices – from desktops to tablets to smartphones. Microsoft just announced that even the lower end smartphones running on Windows 8.1 will also be getting the Windows 10 upgrade.

In a tweet, Joe Belfiore, the Corporate Vice President of Operating Systems Group for Microsoft has said that they are making a version of Windows 10 for devices running on 512 MB RAM. The tweet specifically mentions the Lumia 520. But he also added that the features would vary in these devices. It would probably be a stripped down version of the operating system made to run on devices with lower specs.

Hey all: we ARE working on Win10 for 512MB, including 520. Our ambition is to make #Win10 available for these devices but features may vary

— joebelfiore (@joebelfiore) February 8, 2015

Microsoft has been struggling with its smartphone business. Its smartphone operating system runs in just about 3% of the devices sold. It has some good features, but the mass appeal of Android and iOS from Apple has not given it a chance to grow. Joe also announced that the insider build announced at the Windows event would be coming out sometime in February.

Also, we’re on track for Insider build coming “in Feb” as Terry said at our 1/21 event. We need to complete internal testing 1st, hang in!

— joebelfiore (@joebelfiore) February 8, 2015

February 9, 2015
Flipkart Offers Big Discounts on 2nd Gen Moto X and Moto G, Moto E Price Slashed

If you’ve been mulling over the idea of switching up your device to a better model, this might be the good news you needed to brighten up your Monday. To celebrate Motorola’s one-year tie-up with Flipkart, the two have joined hands to bring out offers. You can now exchange your old smartphone for a brand new Motorola handset at a discounted rate.

Motorola is offering discounted rates up to Rs. 4,000 on Moto G (2nd Gen) phones and Rs. 6,000 on the Moto X (2nd Gen). In short, the discount brings down the price of the Moto X and the Moto G to Rs. 25,999 and Rs. 8,999, respectively. Another exciting offer is that Motorola is giving out free Moto Deck Speakers, if you decide to go for the Moto X (2nd Gen). As always, the discount rate depends on the phone model you are exchanging.

Other than the Motorola range, the Google Nexus 6 phones are also available discount of up to Rs. 10,000 on exchange, another offer with Rs. 10,000 off if bought along with a Moto 360 Smart Watch – the two offers cannot be combined. These exchange offers are valid only till 15^th February, so make sure to spread the word.

Though there are no exchange offers available on the Moto E handsets, price of the phone has been been slashed by Rs. 1000 and is now priced at a mere Rs. 5,999 on Flipkart.

Want to get a user feedback on the devices? Click here for our full reviews.

February 9, 2015
Alibaba Invests Heavily in Chinese Smartphone Maker Meizu

Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce giant, has been trying for a while to put its foot in the profitable smartphone business. The company created a record last year with the biggest IPO ever worth $25 Billion. Alibaba is now betting big on Chinese smartphone maker Meizu and has invested a sum of $590 Million in the company.

Through this merger, Alibaba would try to take its operating system Yun OS further in the market. The os is based on the Android platform and provides cloud-based features like e-mail, Web search, weather updates, and GPS navigation tools. It is also called Aliyun OS. Google had previously dissuaded Acer to ship devices based on Aliyun as it was incompatible with other Android devices, and Acer is a signatory of the Open Handset Alliance (OHA).

Meizu like Xiaomi, gets its design “inspirations” from Apple

Meizu has tried to emulate Xiaomi, which in turn “borrows” from Apple. This deal might also help Meizu to take on Xiaomi, which has replaced Samsung in China as the biggest smartphone brand. Meizu isn’t even in the top-5 of that points tally, and a push by Alibaba might work in its favor.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Alibaba “]

Alibaba Group will provide Meizu with resources and support in the fields of e-commerce, mobile Internet, mobile operating system and data analysis with the aim of developing Meizu’s smartphone ecosystem.

[/quote]

Alibaba has, in the past, invested $280 million in a messaging app called Tango and $120 million in US game maker Kabam. But these investments are yet to bear fruit for the company. It makes sense for it to invest in an established brand rather than starting a brand from scratch.

February 9, 2015
Flagship-Killer OnePlus One to Go Invite-Free for a Day in India

All OnePlus One fans, hold your breath. The flagship killer is going on open sale tomorrow on Amazon India. The handset will be available without an invite on 10th February and the sale will kick off at 10am IST.

The company confirmed the same via Twitter saying –

We all have a reason to celebrate. You will too. Visit @amazonIN on February 10: http://t.co/9cFkResGhp pic.twitter.com/HLswzZIUjE

— OnePlus (@oneplus) February 7, 2015

The open sale is to celebrate the 10 brilliantly successful weeks of OnePlus in India. The same can be confirmed through the Amazon India website that reads – No invite needed. Shop the One. There is no announcement about the number of units going up for sale, however, the company has hinted limited stock with the statement ’till stock lasts’.

Amazon India egged the willing customers to hurry with the statement, “The sale would be for limited quantity which is expected to run out quickly given the high demand for the phone.” The flagship One will be available for Rs. 21,999 for the 64 GB model.

OnePlus embarked on similar sales in other countries, but Indians haven’t had the opportunity to buy it without an invite. It’s the first time the One smartphones are going on open sale in our country.

February 9, 2015
Future iPhones May Have Touch ID Right on the Display

We have all seen those lame fingerprint sensor apps available on various app stores. They have been able to prank a lot of folks into downloading them. But Apple seems to have cracked the code to bring display-based Touch ID into reality.

In a patent titled “Fingerprint Sensor in an Electronic Device,” the company explains the technology. According to the abstract, a fingerprint sensor may capture fingerprint at a single pre-defined fixed location on a display, or they can opt for a full panel fingerprint sensor to capture multiple fingerprints.

The Fingerprint sensor can be placed at one spot on the display or it can scan multiple fingers at once.

Users may be able to unlock their device by placing a thumb at a predetermined spot on their iOS displays. On bigger displays like the iPad, there can be multiple fingerprint detection where you may scan with all five fingers.

To keep the sensors sensitive enough, Apple plans to implement the sensor as an integrated circuit connected to a bottom surface of a cover sheet. They can also place it near the bottom surface of the cover sheet, or connected to a top surface of a display.

This initiative will let Apple take off the round home button and make the device even slimmer. The technology still seems to be in the beginning stage and may not show up immediately on the next device by Apple. There will surely be some privacy concerns with this technology though as a thief could gain access to a person’s information by just acquiring their fingerprints. Apple would have to work seriously on the security features before it can bring the technology in the mainstream.

February 9, 2015
BlackBerry 10.3.1 Expected to Arrive on 19th February

BlackBerry launched its latest operating system (OS) 10.3.1 few days back, but it was accessible to the privileged users of Classic only. The users of the previously released devices were eagerly waiting for the upgrade and now the Canadian telecommunication company is rolling out the official OS for their BlackBerry 10 models.

The update will bring the Siri-like BlackBerry Assistant to the handsets. Along with that there are many other features that diminishes the need of app installation. There is reverse contrast mode which is extremely good for viewing at night. It turns the screen from black on white, and to white on black. One can also block contacts from calling or texting. One can hide their private pictures with the new OS for which users need to install save gallery tool. The BlackBerry 10.3.1 also claims to have resolved the persisting battery issue. The Battery Saving mode cuts back the unnecessary features that takes a toll on the battery.

The roll out was scheduled for yesterday, but a bug was spotted early on. BlackBerry seems to have resolved the issue. The company hasn’t made any official announcement about the release, but it is likely to happen on 19th February.

February 9, 2015
Google Acquires a Private Photo Sharing App, Team to Join Google+

Google, the company that stores almost all of our information has now hired the makers of an app that lets user send images privately. Odysee is an iOS and Android app that lets user automatically back up the photos and videos they’ve taken on their cameras or tablets on to their home computers. The creators of this app will now join the team at Google+.

The feature that sets Odysee apart is its ability to share photos privately and automatically with other people. It gives the option to share with followers or a follower group so your pictures only reach the people you intend to share with. The app keeps the content in full quality on the home computer.

The app was co-founded by Raghavan Menon and Shiva Javalagi. On their homepage, the Odysee team thanked the users and informed them that the service will come to a close on the 23rd of February. The current users will be able to download their photos and videos as archives.

Google is rumoured to be transitioning Photos into an independent app. Giving an option to save content directly on a home computer sounds much safer than a cloud server after the entire iCloud fiasco last year. The photo sharing app space is really crowded right now with Instagram ruling the roost, so Google would have to offer a lot more features in the new independent app to get ahead in the race.

February 9, 2015
MediaTek Aspires to Expand Business in India

MediaTek is an established name in the field of technology. Its chips power to many low-priced phones. The Taiwan-based firm wants to expand at our home ground and affirmed the same in a meeting with the Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today.

The company aspires to make technology accessible to everyone and remarked in an official statement –

MediaTek chairman (MK Tsai) shared his commitment to make technology more accessible for people. He was encouraged by the great market potential that India holds in the field of technology and high tech services. He shared with the Minister that MediaTek is keen on expanding its presence in India.

The maker only designs chips and doesn’t manufacturer them on its own. It gets the products made from its vendors. The Telecom minister made it known the flexible policies and great demand for technology in the country and highlighted the ‘Make in India’ program in which accessible technology is the prime criteria.

Mr. Shankar shared the views of establishing BPOs in rural areas and creating more IT hubs in small towns, which in turn will bring prosperity and growth to the lesser developed parts of India.

February 7, 2015
After the Epic 5DS, Canon Brings Out the T6i

The Rebel series of Canon is perhaps one of the best tools for a budding photographer. This affordable camera family provides the same specs as the higher end 7D cameras but come at an affordable price tag. Canon understands the volume of sales in the segment and puts active efforts into updating these mid-range DSLRs. Now the company has unveiled the new Rebel T6i and Rebel T6s to take on the market.

In Burst mode the camera shoots at 5 fps.

This time around Canon seems to have given some thought into their product. The last offering known as the T5i (Canon 700D) was just a nominal improvement over its predecessor T4i (Canon 650D). Canon T6i gets 24.2 Megapixel APS-C sensor with 19-point autofocus. It offers an ISO range of 100-12800 which is expandable up to 25600. The camera shoots continuously at 5 frames per second (fps) which is great for shooting action shots.

The Rebel T6i comes with a 24.2 Megapixel APS-C image sensor

The 3 inch swivel display also returns to this device that comes handy while shooting videos. Like the Rebel models before it, the T6i allows you to shoot 1080p videos at 30 fps.

The second launch from Canon is the T6s that offers a few additional features over the T6i. The T6s lets users shoot HDR video and also offers a built-in electronic level meter. The unique bit added to the T6s is the LCD data panel on the top. This feature till now was only available with the models above the 60D.

The Rebel T6s is the first Rebel DSRL with an LCD information display.

The T6i is priced at $749.99 for the body-only, $899.99 with an EF-S 18-55mm STM lens and $1,099 with an EF-S 18-135mm STM lens. The T6s will cost $849.99 the body-only and $1199 with an EF-S 18-135mm STM lens. The cameras are expected to arrive in the market by the end of April.

February 7, 2015
Corning is Working on a Tough and Sapphire-Like Scratch Resistant Glass

Corning, a name known from producing one of the toughest glasses for mobiles, has fastened its belt to come up with a scratch resistant glass. The Gorilla Glass producer is working on a new project that will combine the toughness of a Gorilla and at the same time add the scratch-resistance property close to sapphire.

The upcoming product dubbed as Project Phire is under development, as announced yesterday by Corning Executive James Clappin. He added that the product will start selling in the market later this year. He further said –

We told you last year that sapphire was great for scratch performance but didn’t fare well when dropped. So, we created a product that offers the same superior damage resistance and drop performance of Gorilla Glass 4 with scratch resistance that approaches sapphire

Corning gets a major part of its revenue from TV displays and fiber-optics. Gorilla Glass, a product of Corning, has gained reputation of the most durable glass in terms of breakage and the company doesn’t want to slip this achievement to sapphire. Meanwhile, Samsung and Apple are the biggest customers of Gorilla Glass and lot many high-end phones like Galaxy Note Edge, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus use Corning glass. So Corning is planning on an ideal glass that has qualities of both.

The company is pushing its boundaries to come up with a perfect product. This new innovation is expected to be received with the same enthusiasm as its previous offerings.

February 7, 2015
Indian Government May Exempt Startups From Excise Duty and Service Tax

Startups are the foundation of a developing nation and such businesses need to be encouraged. Indian Government has taken a praise-worthy step and is ready to extend support to the India-based startup companies. The Union Government is planning to exempt the budding firms from service tax and exercise duty for a specific period, so that they don’t fail because of money issues.

As per a report by Economic Times, an inter-ministerial group is considering a one-stop registration scheme that will make them eligible for government grants. The group includes Ministry of Science and Technology, Corporate Affairs and the Department of Electronics and IT, and was chaired by Jayant Sinha, Minister of State for Finance. Meanwhile, the proposal is under consideration.

Under this scheme, the startups that are registered under Department of Science and Technology and the ones certified as ‘bonafide’ will be exempted from the above said taxes. This tax waiver will be applicable until they reach certain revenue. Meanwhile, these tech startups pay service tax at the rate of 12.36% along with exercise duty and income tax. Also, if the proposal is enacted, the startups will become eligible for grants up to Rs. 10 crore from the government’s science and technology department.

Nasscom has proposed a three-year moratorium on quarterly regulatory filings and taxes to the government. This will give a boost to the India’s young companies. “Service tax exemption is a much needed proposition. But sops should be more broad-based as majority of successful start-ups are not registered with DST affiliated incubators,” commented Nasscom Product Council Chairman Ravi Gururaj.

The startups in India are burdened by bad regulations and the pattern needs to be altered. The new proposal will have flexible regulations for budding as well as failed start-ups. The failed ones can shut down in a day with just a single page submission. Moreover, it would be a big step in favour of low-budget budding firms to grow and flourish in their respective industries without any pressure.

February 7, 2015