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  • Revisiting 2014: Top Technology Failures of Last Year

    Revisiting 2014: Top Technology Failures of Last Year

    The world of technology saw many ups and down last year. It was predominantly a good year for the tech industry, but there were some visible failures as well. While the sales of smartphones reached new altitudes, the biggest name of mobile telephony, Nokia departed from the mobile phone business. Several high-level security breaches questioned the safety of online storage. As 2014 comes to a close, we decided to list the gleaming failures of the tech industry.

    1. Sony Pictures:

    North Korea had taken serious offense against the movie and threatened merciless retaliation.

    Never before has a movie been called an ‘act of war’, and you wouldn’t have guessed that it would be a Seth Rogen movie. The film led to one of the biggest ever cyber-attacks on a major movie studio. Sony Pictures was brought down and humiliated by a group called the Guardians of Peace or #GOP. They claimed to have stolen more than 100 Terabytes of data from the studio. The hackers soon began unveiling details from the Sony data, that was embarrassing not just to the studio, but also to some big names from the entertainment industry including Angelina Jolie, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Adam Sandler. The hack is also the reason of heavy diplomatic tussle between the USA and North Korea.

    2. iCloud Hack:

    Jennifer Lawrence
    Another major cyber breach took place at Apple’s trusted iCloud storage. Thousands of private and intimate photos of celebrities were leaked online. This caused quite a furor around the world and put Apple in an awkward spot. Apple later confirmed that the hackers responsible for the leak had obtained the images using a “very targeted attack” on account information, such as passwords, rather than any specific security vulnerability in the iCloud service itself.

    3. Uber:

    uber-taxi
    The app based cab service had to face one PR disaster after another. There were multiple complaints of its driver harassing the passengers or sexually assaulting them. A highly publicized rape case in India led the company to temporarily cease its operations in many parts of the country. There were also revelations that Uber was spying on journalists who were being critical of the company. Uber also tried to take down its competition by ordering about 6000 rides and then canceling them. Even the drivers reported that they were exploited by the company. Guess for its new year resolution, Uber’s only resolution should be: Don’t be evil.

    4. Malaysian Airlines MH 370:

    MH 370

    On 8th March 2014, Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 disappeared – vanished, leaving behind many questions and limited answers. No one would have thought that in the age of satellites and modern communication equipments, a plane can just disappear from the radar screens. The disappearance also led to several conspiracy theories. The last signal from the aircraft was broadcasted when it was over South China sea. There was a massive multinational effort to locate the lost plane, but it yielded no results. The search was the largest and most expensive in aviation history. There was also added bad news for Malaysian Airlines whose other plane, MH 17 was shot down pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine using surface to air missiles.

    5. Apple iPhone 6 Plus:

    BEndgate
    After months of speculations and ever present hysteria around it, the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were launched with much fanfare albeit with a faulty livestream. The bigger variant, the iPhone 6 Plus soon became the butt of all jokes following reports of its bendability. Users found that the new device was easy to bend, and it quickly started trending on social media with the tag “#Bendgate”. There is an easy fix for the issue, and that is to use the phone with a protective case.

    6. Amazon Fire Phone:

    amazon fire phone

    Amazon really hyped its phone. There was a lot of buzz before the launch of the device, but it failed to capture commercial appeal. The device had some features like 3D display that could have been its defining element but turned out to be gimmicky. That coupled with below average battery performance, and low app availability led to low sales and forced the company to slash prices rapidly. Some reviewers even called it more of a prototype than a real device. Amazon has now begun working on the Amazon Fire Phone 2, which is expected to come out in 2016.

    7. BlackBerry:

    Classic Blackberry

    The company that was identified as one of the pioneers of the smartphone market has rapidly lost market share ever since the advent of the iPhone and Android ecosystems. Seeing that it was not going to carve out a place for itself in the brutal touch screen device market, the company decided to go back to its roots. The first device in this new attempt by the company was the Passport. Though the company tried to bring innovations into the device like a keyboard that also acts as a touchpad and a square display, it hasn’t managed to entice a lot of folks. This ultra wide device cannot be used with one hand and takes its own sweet time to focus while taking photos. The second device from the company called the Classic, might help bring back the experience that BlackBerry users were used to and get the company out of these times of peril.

    8. Sony:

    sony

    The year 2014 wasn’t really kind to this consumer electronics giant. The company lost a massive amount of money, in terms of billions. Its smartphone market share constantly kept falling along with its other electronics. The end of the year brought it a massive torment when its Hollywood studio got hacked by the North Korean hackers. The only saving grace for the company was its PlayStation business which saw an upward trajectory this year. All these misfortunes caused the company to introspect and set a goal of returning back to profitability.

    9. Microsoft Kinect 2.0:

    Kinect

    Seems like consumers are not ready for motion capture or spending extra for a hands-free gaming experience. Microsoft bet big money on the Kinect 2.0 and brought it in the market with improved functionalities. Microsoft was selling Kinect with the Xbox One. Sales were slow, and so Microsoft decided to unbundle the Kinect and sold Xbox One without it and cut $100 off the price. The result: Microsoft’s console easily beat Sony’s PlayStation in holiday sales. Though it is not the end of the Kinect as of yet. As the motion-based games and technology gets better, more folks will get comfortable to give the boot to the good old controllers and get on the Kinect bandwagon. It’s just a matter of time.

  • 10 Tech Resolutions You Should Keep This New Year

    10 Tech Resolutions You Should Keep This New Year

    All of us make several resolutions every year. And why not, the beginning of a year is the best time to adopt new habits. But have you ever considered keeping a few tech-related promises?

    Technology has become an integral part of our lives and largely, it has made it simpler. In spite of numerous benefits, its evil effects shouldn’t be ignored. Take a pledge to make these tech resolutions this New Year:

    1. Avoid e-Readers before bedtime

    eBooks-reading

    Definitely, e-Readers have ended the need for hard copies but a recent study has revealed that reading through electronic devices at bedtime could adversely affect sleep habits. Research says that the light emitted by the device can have a bad impact on the overall health, alertness, and circadian clock. This in turn results in sleeping disorders. So, to get a good night’s sleep, vow to avoid gadgets before bedtime.

    2. Go Paperless

    no paper

    Papers cannot be avoided entirely. You need to have a hard copy of the digital document just as a backup, but we also confess that it’s not required always. Many a times, we take a printout of the non-required text and pay no heed to the fact that paper wastage is a direct cause for deforestation. Vow to switch to emails, PDFs, Google Docs and other digital mediums and use paper only when it’s unavoidable.

    3. Keep the TV off bedroom

    tv a family room

    We know that in this ever busy life, we get less time for ourselves. No time to sleep, eat, watch Television and sometimes even eat. You may be entertaining yourself watching late night daily soaps, but seriously, that is not the right decision to amuse yourself. A research organisation American Academy of Sleep Medicine has revealed that watching TV at night may lead to disrupted sleep patterns.

    The organisation said that a minimum of seven hours of sleep is mandatory and the person resting less than that may suffer from increased obesity, morbidity and the worst scenario may lead to death as well. It would be advisable to keep the Television set in the family room rather than the bedroom.

    4. Install an Anti-theft app

    Anti-theft

    Phone theft has become a daily affair. You need to take precautions before you become one of the victims. Pledge that this new year you will install an anti-theft app for the safety of your own phone. Just a few taps and text, and you are done. You can also check out some of these apps to make your phone theft-proof and download one that suits your needs.

    5. Build a Smarter Home

    home automation

    Smart home automation is one thing you need to invest in this new year. Start with lighting and audio-visual and then switch on to shading, sensors, actuators and more. The automation will not only make your life super easy, but also aid in conserving electricity. You can switch off the lights, fans and other electrical appliances from anywhere just through a tab on your phone. Also, the technology senses the presence of a person and adjusts wisely.

    6. Use Tech to Stay fit

    fitness app

    Apart from making the best use of technology at work, it’s time to utilize it for you. Well, we are talking about the fitness apps which are profuse in quantity on the app store, but remain neglected for one or the other reasons. Kickstart 2015 by installing some fitness apps and notice your health stats. Record your walking, running and other activities and also get suggestions based on your performance. The fitness apps will keep many health issues at bay. A few of them to consider are RunKeeper, Google Fit, and Fitocracy.

    7. Download a Password Manager

    1password-logo-round

    Managing passwords for all the websites you are signed up in is a tough task. Certainly, keeping one password for all sites is a solution to your forgetful nature, but that would make your accounts an easy target for hackers. The best way to beat this password management dilemma is downloading apps like 1Password and LastPass. These apps, by default, create strong and different passwords for diverse networks. Just log in and it will do the rest for you.

    8. Unplug gadgets once charged

    phone on charge

    Research concludes that devices may burn due to overcharging of the batteries. These cases point out to  one direction – negligence.

    The devices should be unplugged from charging once the phone shows the full battery notification. Overcharging reduces the life of the device and may even lead to accidental hazards.

    9. Say No to Texting and Driving

    using phone while driving

    We agree, smartphones are an inseparable part of our lives, however it is important to remember that the world’s major accidents happen because of careless driving. If you are one amongst them who don’t care about the road safety rules and drive while keeping your eyes on your smartphone, then this is resolution is for you. Stay alert while driving, keep your eyes on the road and put your phone aside till you hit the next break.

    10. De-clutter Your Desktop

    declutter desktop

    Open a laptop and a countless number of icons appear on home screen instead of wallpaper. If that sounds like your desktop, then there is a need to keep your system organised. Delete the irrelevant stuff and arrange the required items logically in folders. Avoid storing it on the desktop as this slows down your system.

  • Revisiting 2014: 10 Epic Kickstarter Campaigns of Last Year

    Revisiting 2014: 10 Epic Kickstarter Campaigns of Last Year

    The independent tech community went big last year. Websites like Kickstarter.com have given the opportunity to millions of people to become venture capitalists and investors in new products. Such websites have given common people the power to see their ideas changing millions of lives.

    We are listing top 10 brilliant Kickstarter campaigns which made this tech year so fun.

    1. MIYO

    770c90e2eac694f2525c532eb9126aee_large

    This small piece of hardware is the revolution  in the audio tech industry. Still running its campaign, MIYO is a digital-to-analog converter which lets you rediscover your favorite music as though it were high-quality vinyl. MIYO delivers the same amazing sound quality you would expect from that track, at a fraction of the size and cost.

    2. Powerlace P-One

    POWERLACE

    This Kickstarter campaign has made all ‘Back To Future’ fans go gaga. The company created the first shoes with auto-lacing capabilities that McFly made popular back in 80s. The shoes named Powerlace P-One don’t look similar to the sneakers in the movie, however, they certainly get the job done. The Powerlace shoes have a simple mechanism for auto-lacing that doesn’t involve any voice commands, complex chips, apps, batteries or motors.

    3. Biofueled Triplane

    triplane4-690x359

    It’s the world’s first eco-friendly plane powered by biofuel and has been named Bio-Electric-Hybrid-Aircraft or BEHA. This prototype is almost silent and cancels out night flight restrictions and pollution concerns. The six-seat aircraft could be a revolution in the field of aviation. Meanwhile, the BEHA prototype is in its initial phases of development. The developers claim that it is likely to take to the skies post 2020.

    4. Pico

    pico

    Pico is a tiny trigger that you can program through your smartphone and then easily use the programming to shoot time-lapse videos. The accompanying app gives you multiple shooting options such as HDR, speed ramping, and bulb ramping. With these in your hand, you can easily create professional looking visuals to enthrall your audience.

    5. Reeljuice

    8842de5195a6b0165c98b3a3f7e53f7f_large

    Reeljuice is the world’s first backup battery pack with built-in universal charging cable, so you’ll always be prepared to recharge your phone or tablet. It features a 48-inch long, retractable charging cable which can be used to charge an array of popular devices available in the market. Reeljuice is the only portable power solution in the world that integrates patented, retractable, cord reel technology. It is created by a team of designers and engineers, who have received worldwide acclaim for their innovative products.

    6. Pryntcase

    Pryntcase

    A French startup, Pryntcases, has introduced a phone case that converts your phone to a Polaroid camera. Presently, the device can only take one polaroid film at a time and takes a minute to print the image, but it is still a great case to have. The appeal of physically holding a photograph can’t be matched with the tons of electronic images. The case comes with an accompanying camera app, which has a cool feature. It takes video while you are taking a picture. Then, when you hold the developed picture in front of the case, it will start playing the video.

    7. Everykey

    455c8e7ea0cc8593a486c1c7ebe5a5b4_large

    Available in a multitude of colors, Everykey is an innovative universal access device for everything that requires a physical key or password. It allows immediate access to a user’s password-protected electronics such as a smartphone, tablet, or computer, as well as physically locked items including doors, car doors, bike locks, and other access devices that need to be controlled.

    8. Modbook Pro X

    modbook1

    The company, famous for turning Apple’s MacBook Pro into an iPad-like tablet, launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund its project, the Modbook Pro X, back in August. The Modbook has been around for about seven years, when Axiotron and Other World Computing teamed up to deliver the first Mac tablet at Macworld. At the time, 331 backers converted their own Retina MacBook Pros into a tablet. The conversion incorporates the laptop’s original hardware, with components shifted from the lower half of the computer to just behind the 15.4-inch 2,880 x 1,800-pixel LCD.

    9. ZUtA Pocket Printer

    zuta-labs-robot-printer

    ZUtA Pocket Printer is simple, softball-sized and compatible with any electronic device. It can be used anywhere, anytime. Since it doesn’t necessitate any special drivers, it can be accessed via computers, smartphones or tablets, by using the traditional print function or an app. It works with paper of any size and will print roughly 1,000 sheets of paper on a standard, disposable ink cartridge. The printer lasts for up to an hour on full battery and can be recharged via a USB cable.

    10. Hendo hoverboard

    hoverboard

    Inventor Greg Henderson has created hovering technology that he calls Magnetic Field Architecture (MFA). Using the technology, you can practically get everything hovering and a hoverboard is the bare minimum that MFA can achieve. The Hendo hoverboard uses magnetic levitation principle, similar to the one used in Maglev trains. The device hovers 1-inch above the ground, that is good for a start. The board looks bulky, but its design is sleek and sexy. The device is capable of integrating with the natural movement of the rider.

  • Google Nexus 5 is Back in Stock on Flipkart!

    Google Nexus 5 is Back in Stock on Flipkart!

    The flagship smartphone by the US-based search giant, Google Nexus 5, was the most desired device of 2013 and 2014 alike. Those who were able to get their hands on the device were on cloud 9 and a few unlucky ones were anticipating for it to go on sale again. Google has come up some really good news for those waiting for the Nexus 5.

    nexus 5 flipkart

    The smartphone by Google is back in stock on Flipkart with no comment on its stocks. Both the 16 GB and 32 GB versions of the phone are available on the e-commerce website. You can also choose from the three colour variants – red, black and white. The red, 32 GB variant is priced at Rs. 29,919, while the 32 GB version in black and white colours can be bagged at a price of Rs. 32,999 and 31,350 respectively.

    A couple of weeks back, Google confirmed that it will halt the production of the Nexus 5 by the first quarter of 2015, which made the phone lovers rush to the retail stores.

    Briefing its specs, then the Nexus 5 sports a Full HD display of 4.95-inch that is protected by the Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The device is powered by Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800 chipset. It runs on Android 4.4.4 KitKat and has 2 GB of RAM. On the camera front, it has an 8MP rear and a 1.3MP secondary snapper.

    For the Nexus 5 lovers, it the perfect opportunity to grab this device at the earliest.

  • Micromax Yu Yureka : Benchmarks and Gaming

    Micromax Yu Yureka : Benchmarks and Gaming

    Micromax’s new subsidiary Yu has made quite an impact in a short span of time with its new smartphone Yureka running on Cyanogen OS 11. The Yu Televenture has adopted new business practices similar to the likes of OnePlus and Xiaomi, relying on community driven ecosystem of CyanogenMod.

    Check out our full benchmark  and hardware test along with the gaming performance of the Yureka below-

    Considering the price range, Yu Yureka packs quite an impressive combination of Cyanogen experience with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 which does 1.5 GHz on Octa-cores. The Yureka comes with Android 4.4.4 out of the box expected to be updated to the Lollipop soon.

    The device came to our testing lab and we ran a Benchmark Test, the results are as below-

    Test

    Yu Yureka

    Xiaomi Mi3

    Moto G (Gen 2)
    Antutu 28,359 30,537 17,159
    NenaMark  55.0 fps 60.0 fps 57.5 fps

    To test benchmarks, we started by running Antutu on the device. The device performed well up to its hype and got an impressive score of 28,359 . However, the handset lags behind the Xiaomi Mi 3’s score of  30,537.

    We also ran the device through NenaMark 2 and the Yureka scored 55.0 fps. The number is a little low as compared to other competitive devices available in market such as Xiaomi Mi 3 and Moto G (Gen 2).

    All in all considering the price bracket of this device it performs pretty well on the benchmark test and is a great device for gaming. Also check out the Unboxing and Hands On of this device on iGyaan and stay tuned for the full review of this device.

  • Xiaomi Redmi 1S with LTE Support to be Announced Soon

    Xiaomi Redmi 1S with LTE Support to be Announced Soon

    Xiaomi will soon be announcing the LTE variant of its highly popular Redmi 1S. The Chinese manufacturer who was recently banned from selling its products in India, teased on a social networking site Weibo that it plans to unwrap the LTE compatible Redmi 1S on Friday.

    The listing further stated that the smartphone would come with a 64 bit Snapdragon 410 processor bundled with 1GB of RAM. The smartphone would feature a 4.7 inch 720p display and would be equipped with both front and rear camera units at 2MP and 8MP respectively. The dual-SIM phone will have support for TD-LTE and LTE-FDD networks.  Meanwhile, the leaked image also points to a thinner bezel compared to its predecessor. It also sports an OGS screen which should enhance colour and display quality. Sources also reveal additional colour options for the Redmi 1S with LTE support.

    There are no details available as of now regarding its launch in India; however an announcement is expected to be made on January 4th.

  • Xiaomi Get a Clean Chit from Taiwan in the Data Breach Investigation

    Xiaomi Get a Clean Chit from Taiwan in the Data Breach Investigation

    Xiaomi has had a fantastic year, but it also had to face several allegations and controversies. One of the prominent embarrassments for the company was the allegation that the company’s smartphones were sending user’s personal data to their servers in China without permission. This was seen as a serious allegation and it prompted a probe in Taiwan for Xiaomi and other smartphone brands.

    It was a security agency called F-secure which found that Xiaomi was automatically syncing the files on the cloud. This incident led the Taiwanese authorities to initiate an investigation into handsets from major companies to check whether they are breaching data protection laws. Xiaomi responded by saying that cloud syncing was activated by default, which led to the issue. It then issued a new update which let the users decide whether they wanted to sync their data on the cloud or not.

    xiaomi

    It is important to know that it wasn’t just Xiaomi which faced the scrutiny from Taiwanese authorities. The National Communications Commission of Taiwan investigated 12 brands in total which also included devices from Apple, Samsung, LG, Sony, along with Chinese brands like Huawei and ZTE. All of these were cleared by the commission.

    The investigators did ask the companies to strengthen the transfer of information on their devices and make them more secure. The Xiaomi data breach issue had also led the Indian Air force to issue a directive to its staff to refrain from using Chinese smartphones, especially Xiaomi. The company had then responded by moving its Indian user’s data to servers in India. It even plans to launch a local data center in India in 2015 to serve the needs of (and store data for) their Indian users.

    It seems like after a few hurdles, Xiaomi’s ship is now in smoother waters. The company has some big plans for 2015 including a new flagship and more devices coming out of its stable. After this report, you can go ahead and register for the next flash sale with an ease of mind.

  • Unboxing | Micromax Yu Yureka | Hands On

    Unboxing | Micromax Yu Yureka | Hands On

    Micromax’s new company was a smart move for the Indian smartphone giant. However, whether or not the company will be able to provide a better consumer experience will be seen overtime. YU Televentures takes departure from traditional business practices of Micromax and relies on a large community driven eco-system as done by the likes of Xiaomi and OnePlus.

    Well, it’s practically 2015, and India has been left behind in the race for development ROMs. Almost all launched handsets are either locked, on in the case of Indian Manufacturers, have unsupported systems.

    Yu Yureka iGyaan1

    The YU Yureka comes with Cyanogen preloaded, which allows for a lot of development, almost from the moment you open the box.

    To take the packaging in the similar fashion, it sits comfortably between Xiaomi and OnePlus style of packaging, while made from recycled materials, we were far from impressed by the presentation or the box contents.

    In the Box you Get :

    • Yu Yureka Handset
    • EarPhones
    • Charger + Cable
    • 2500 mAh Battery

    The Interface is really snappy and that may be thanks to a mix of the Cyanogen experience along with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 which does 1.5 GHz on octa-cores.

    Yu Yureka iGyaan0

    The eureka comes with Android 4.4.4 out of the box and will be quickly updated to Lollipop as soon as you can find a flash-able ROM or when Cyanogen pushes an update. Check out the specs below and a quick comparison with the Redmi Note (4G variant) which comes with a Qualcomm chipset. Also at the bottom is the Unboxing and Hands-On video. Stay tuned for the full review.

    Specs

    Yu Yureka

    Redmi Note 4G
    Screen Size 5.5 inches
    720×1280 pixels    		 5.5 inches
    720 x 1280 pixels
    RAM 2 GB 2 GB
    Battery 2500 mAh 3200 mAh
    Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 Qualcomm Snapdragon 400
    CPU 1.5GHz  Octa-core  1.6 GHz Quad-core
    GPU Adreno 405 Adreno 305
    Front Camera 5 MP 5 MP
    Rear Camera 13 MP 13 MP
    Price (Click for Updated Pricing) Rs. 8,999 Rs. 9,999
    Special Features Cyanogen OS 11 MIUI 5.0

     

  • Lenovo to Take on the Redmi 1S with an Affordable 4G device

    Lenovo to Take on the Redmi 1S with an Affordable 4G device

    Xiaomi is fiercely racing ahead in the smartphone race. With the recent influx of capital into the company, Xiaomi has become the most valuable startup in the world. Its products are seriously challenging its competition, and there still hasn’t been a real opponent to the company. Lenovo, the other Chinese electronics giant, plans to take on Xiaomi with a new 4G device which will be priced below the popular Redmi 1S.

    According to a report, Lenovo would be introducing a new device at CES 2015. The website suspects that this device might be the Lenovo K3. It is said be powered by 4G-LTE compatible Qualcomm’s 1.2 GHz Snapdragon 410 processor. Lenovo is wasting no time in introducing the device in competitive markets. It will be launching the device in India just a week after its CES launch.

    The specifications cited for the Lenovo K3 make it look like an effective challenger to the Redmi 1S. It has a 5 inch 720 HD display with a pixel density of 294 PPI. It holds 1 GB RAM with 16 GB of internal memory, which might be advantageous as against the Redmi 1S’s 8 GB storage.

    There has been a flux of affordable smartphone companies this year. Companies like Motorola, Xiaomi, Asus have begun the culture of offering good specifications at affordable prices and thus have gained a considerable amount of market share. The winner of this battle, of course, is a budget buyer who gets great functionalities without shelling big bucks.

    Considering the price of the Xiaomi Redmi 1s(a mere 5,999); this device could be a game changer if it delivers the specifications mentioned above. It will also be nice to see a healthy rivalry to the Xiaomi 1s, which presently seems to be running away with the ‘Best Budget Phone’ tag.

  • OPPO Launches the Ultra-Thin R5 in India

    OPPO Launches the Ultra-Thin R5 in India

    The slimmest smartphone by the Chinese electronics manufacturer, OPPO R5 was much-awaited by the Indian audience and finally, the wait has come to an end. OPPO India has launched its flagship device in the country today at a price of Rs. 29,990. The company announced that the phone will be available for pre-order from 1st January, 2015.

    The high-end device was unveiled by the company in October at a price tag of $499. The smartphone was the world’s slimmest phone record holder before the launch of Vivo X5 Max. The X5 Max beats OPPO R5 by just .10 mm, with a sleek design measured at 4.75 mm.

    In an official announcement, the company highlighted its specifications, “The 4G-enabled R5 is equipped with Octa-core Qualcomm MSM8939 processor and features a 5.2-inch AMOLED screen”. Adding to its specs, the phone has a screen resolution of 1080×1920 pixels. Along with the Qualcomm processors, the device packs 2 GB of RAM and an Adreno 405 GPU. The 13 MP rear camera and 5 MP front shooter are quite impressive and can take amazing pictures. Running on Android 4.4 KitKat, the phone supports a single SIM. The device comes with 16 GB of unexpandable inbuilt storage, which is the only drawback of this model.

    OPPO India CEO Tom Lu commented on the launch –

    This phone has been developed with the end user in mind. We used cutting edge manufacturing techniques to create a phone that fits perfectly into the users’ hands, and that feels incredible. The frame has been forged nine times and then finished by hand to give a perfect sheen and feel. It has a quality that is not available anywhere else in the industry. The R5, like the rest of the R series delivers a truly stylish, exquisite and distinctive design and will continue to delight our customers with its innovative yet practical functions.

    The device is available in other countries like Australia, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and few more except India. The other smartphones by the company were received well by the Indian users. Only time will tell whether this device finds a place in this saturated smartphone market.

  • Xiaomi Redmi Note Fly Off the Shelves Within Seconds

    Xiaomi Redmi Note Fly Off the Shelves Within Seconds

    The much awaited 4G variant of Xiaomi’s blockbuster Redmi Note was officially up for grab today. The flash sale started (like always) at 2PM today on Flipkart allowing registered users to buy Redmi Note 4G for Rs. 9,999.

    There were only 40,000 units up for sale, whereas, according to Flipkart, 200,000 people registered for the Redmi Note 4G variant. Like in the past, this one was also a torrid affair and the Redmi Note 4G was out of the stock in seconds. Although, last week the Redmi 1S, after a prolonged ban, did not get the expected response.

    xiaomi remi note 4g flipkart

    The major difference between the 4G and 3G variants of the Redmi Note is the processor and connectivity support. As the name suggests, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4G is a 4G LTE ready device. It is further powered by a 1.6GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 CPU coupled with 2GB of RAM.

    Although Xiaomi will be pleased with the response, there continues to remain a partial ban on the company and it will be interesting to observe how this Chinese superpower will proceed. As as now Xiaomi seems to be stronger than ever, KUDOS!

  • Get Ready For A Whole New Browser For Windows 10

    Get Ready For A Whole New Browser For Windows 10

    If there is one internet browser that has gathered immense online infamy, it’s the Internet Explorer (IE). As one of the oldest browsers, it helped Microsoft win the browser game as it was provided for free with its Windows OS. It’s competitors, like Netscape Navigator couldn’t compete, because of the massive reach of Windows. But lately with the emergence of browsers like Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome, the Internet Explorer has taken a back seat. However, Microsoft hasn’t lost out of hope with one of its oldest product yet. It is planning to create a whole new browser for the upcoming Windows 10 operating system.

    According to ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley, The project is apparently code-named “Spartan”. Microsoft’s top competition Apple introduced multiple features in this year’s version of its browser Safari. With the Spartan, Microsoft hopes to create a light-weight browsing experience similar to that on Firefox and Chrome. This browser will be available for both the desktop and the mobile versions.

    It is also being reported that Microsoft will ship Windows 10 with Internet Explorer 11 for the sake of backward compatibility. Microsoft wishes to reignite the browser wars that it started back in the 90’s. The winner in this battle would be the consumer who will get improved functionalities thanks to the fierce competition.

    Microsoft is going to hold a press event on January 21st where we will get to know more about the consumer aspects of the Windows 10. Maybe we’ll get to know more about Spartan too. The previews of Windows 10 have been appreciated and so we have some hopes with this new browser. Windows 10 is expected to come to the market by next September; only then we’ll finally know whether Microsoft’s Spartan forms a formidable opponent to the three ruling forces of the browser game.

  • Uber to Resume Services With Additional Security Measures

    Uber to Resume Services With Additional Security Measures

    The Uber owners can now breathe a sigh of relief as Delhi government has lifted ban on the app-based transportation service. Delhi Transport Department on Monday added some new rules in the Radio Taxi Scheme 2006 which include cab-hailing apps like Uber, Ola and more to the category of Radio Taxis. The declaration has come as a welcome note for the ride-sharing service as its status was uncertain post the ban implemented earlier this month.

    Uber services were banned in Delhi as a result of the rape incident committed by a registered Uber driver two weeks ago. The app faced an outrage of people all over the world, and as a result, its services were barred in the capital.

    As per the modified rules in the Radio Taxi Scheme 2006, the app-based taxi companies can resume their services in the national capital once they obtain a license. All licensees need to maintain a minimum fleet of 200 radio taxis. It can be done either by owning a car or by an agreement with individual drivers possessing licensed taxi permits. The new law overrules the existing rule which say that those services will only be eligible to own licenses who have at least 500 cabs.

    The modified rule received a mixed response from the taxi-app owners, however, Uber head seemed relieved with the decision. The head of Uber Asia operations Eric Alexander commented-

    All the information solicited from Uber has been dutifully provided to the authorities. We look forward to a positive outcome which benefits the people of Delhi.

    The rule says that the app-driven taxis should incorporate GPS and GPRS trackers, a printer along with a display panel through which passengers could keep a tab on the path and total distance covered. Furthermore, a helpline center, an authorised call center or a web portal should be established for the security of female passengers. Also, licensees need to list all the details on the website like ownership, registered address, contact details, fare structure, control room number, services offered, insurance liabilities, together with a section for redressal of grievances.

    Although the lift of this ban has been met with mixed emotions; we pray that the security measures implemented are enough to prevent any such incident in future.

  • Unboxing | Samsung Galaxy Note Edge | Hands On

    Unboxing | Samsung Galaxy Note Edge | Hands On

    Samsung had a tough year, and a couple of launches that did not help them in their overall outlook. The Galaxy S5 was a huge failure for the company, then losing it to Micromax as the Number One vendor in India was added insult to injury. Then it was time for the Note.

    Samsung launched the Note 4 in autumn and teased a device which was quite identical to the Note but had one edge curved to the side. The interwebs blew up and everyone wanted to know what this device was made up of. The Note Edge has been announced in India for a whopping price of Rs. 63,500 officially, making it the most expensive consumer mobile device.

    The box of the Note Edge is very similar to its more squared brother and comes with the exact same box contents :

    1. Handset
    2. USB Cable
    3. Charger
    4. Documentation
    5. Extra tips for S-Pen
    6. 3000 mAh Battery

    The first thing that hits the eye with this phone is the edge, and while most have dismissed its usability, it is quite an innovation. There are a bunch of screens for the Edge Screen that can be activated, including weather, notifications, tweets and even an arcade game.

    Specs Samsung Galaxy Note Edge Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Google Nexus 6
    Screen Size 5.6 inches 5.7 inches 5.96 inches
    RAM 3 GB 3 GB 3 GB
    Battery 3000 mAh 3220 mAh 3220 mAh
    Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 Qualcomm Snapdragon 805
    GPU Quad-core 2.7 GHz Quad-core 2.7 GHz Quad-core 2.7 GHz
    CPU Adreno 420 Adreno 420 Adreno 420
    Front Camera 3.7 MP, 1440p Video 3.7 MP, 1440p Video 2 MP
    Rear Camera 16 MP, 2160p Video 16 MP, 2160p Video 13 MP, 2160p Video
    Price (Click for Updated Pricing) Rs. 64900 Rs. 53,000 Rs. 43,999
    Special Features Edge Screen
    S-Pen    		 S-Pen Stock Android
    Comes with Lollipop
    Out of the box

    For now check out the images and the Unboxing video below. Stay tuned for a full review.

  • After Conquering the Smartphone Segment, Xiaomi Now Targets Laptops

    After Conquering the Smartphone Segment, Xiaomi Now Targets Laptops

    Inspite of recent controversies surrounding the Chinese smartphone giant regarding patent infringement, the company seems undeterred. After raising funding of $1.1 Billion over the last couple of days, Xiaomi seems to be diversifying into the Laptop market as well.

    Their latest addition to the portfolio (as leaks online suggest,) may be a Xiaomi MI Laptop. Earlier Xiaomi had already come out with the Mi Power bank (in the 10,400 mAh and 5,200 mAh variant) which was quite a hit. Although there were speculations regarding Xiaomi entering the Computing market however, this is the first time that there have been conclusive pictures as well as some details regarding its configuration.

    The leaked specs allegedly reveal that it would have an Intel Haswell i7-4500u processor with 2 x 8GB dual channel memory. Further, it would have a large 15-inch 1080p display up front and would run on a linux OS customized by Xiaomi. Additionally, it is expected to be priced at approximately $480 (Rs. 30,000).

    If these specs are anything close to reality, then this seems to be a device worth every Dollar, Yuan or Rupee spent on it; which would make the Chinese a superpower in the Laptop category as well.

    In the past, Xiaomi has been quite successful in selling their devices in India through flash sales via Flipkart. Rumours also surround the market that Xiaomi is working on a dual edge smartphone known as the Xiaomi Arch, a device in direct competition with the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge.

    Unfortunately nothing has been officially declared by Xiaomi regarding the Notebook and the fans would have to wait a while before the company announces the same. This device, if and when released, could be a game changer destroying many domestic companies which are presently enjoying the benefit of the lower and middle-end consumers.

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