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OnePlus Pushes Android 4.4.4 OTA Update to Global Variants
Just a few hours after our unboxing went live, OnePlus has started pushing Android 4.4.4 to its Global variant One phones. While most issues are okay, the mic fix is the most awaited update and resolves the low audio from the microphone problem.

Full list of updates:
- Upgraded to Android 4.4.4
- Updated to new versions of Google apps
- Added Clear Image
- Added new (colder) calibration for the screen
- Proximity sensor prevents activation of off-screen gestures while in your pocket
- Capacitive touch keys supported in the recovery mode
- Increased capacitive button illumination
- Improved overall stability
- Fixed issues with vibration being disabled during Quiet Hours
- Fixed lockscreen not updating the track information during music playback
- Fixed microphone volume for all formats in the Voice Recorder app
- Fixed “OK, Google” not triggering voice search in Google Now
- Fixed Viber calls not working
- Fixed battery percent not updating in custom lock screens
- Fixed PicasaSync
- Fixed Camera “O” gesture activating lockscreen instead of triggering camera
- Fixed wallpapers not applying in full screen, taking the wrong size when cropping, etc.
This update also adds the clear image feature, which is taken from the OPPO line of devices. The process basically stitches multiple images up to make one single large image.

If you have the OnePlus One, you might want to stick your WiFi on and get on updating. If you don’t, you can watch our unboxing and play in our OnePlus One invite giveaway, at the end of the week.
August 20, 2014
Smart Cap : A DIY Google Glass Replica Made For Only Rs.4500

We love to get ‘inspired.’ Our Bollywood movies are predominantly ‘inspired’ by previous works by other filmmakers who in-turn get their inspiration from others. But sometimes these inspirations lead to some cool new inventions like a Google Glass replica that costs a meager Rs. 4500 in comparison to the hefty price tag of Google’s Augmented glasses.

Though the Smart Cap looks rudimentary, it is quite functional

Now Cochin-based Arvind Sanjeev has invented the “Smart Cap” which is basically a nerdier version of the sleek Google Glass. Now we, of course, need to cut him some slack as he didn’t have huge monetary resources backing those researchers at Google X.

Arvind’s design though rudimentary is pretty functional. The raw materials that went into making the smart cap are easily available. The Smart cap uses a USB Webcam, an LCD panel, aspheric lens, headphones, a Raspberry Pi Board, a sun board sheet and glue which is a DIY guy’s favorite tool.

Now since creating an operating system would have been a long task, Arvind went with open Android as the OS for Smart cap. The front of the cap has the camera, the Raspberry Pi board, and 2.5 inch LCD display mounted on it. To make the LCD display legible at such close distance, he used an aspheric lens.

The Smart cap works by taking commands using the microphone on the headset. The device can help you with navigation, Google search, YouTube, webcam recording and first person viewing of other cameras, etc.

Smart Cap can be used to access maps, send emails, take photos and more.

What is really appreciable is that he put the entire project in DIY and posted it for anyone to create their own smart cap. He has been doing this for a while and has uploaded several DIY tutorials. He also owns a start-up called A.R.S devices which make devices for automation, connected devices and safety purposes. He has in line for a hardware patent which will let you control your car using a smartphone app. Now that’s an app we’d all love to have.

Even though the Smart Cap is inspired by Google Glass, Arvind’s audacity and patience in creating this device is commendable. The value of DIY has always been to bring replicated expensive technology and attaining similar levels of functionality using cheaper alternatives. The Smart cap stands up to the value, and though it looks rudimentary, it is pretty dope, almost like a prop from a sci-fi movie about robots. So if you have the talent of DIY, then go ahead, get in the game and teach the world how to make some awesome stuff inexpensively.

August 20, 2014
Samsung NX mini Unboxing

There is always some skepticism when a name of a camera is prefixed with ‘mini’. We have seen in the past that many manufacturers failed to deliver a great camera in a small package. The Samsung NX mini is targeted towards young amateur photographers who focus on style and selfies above all.

Well, this camera is not yet launched in India, but it is going to be coming soon with an exclusive partnership with Amazon.in priced at less than Rs. 30,000. NX mini is undoubtedly the slimmest interchangeable-lens camera available in the market. It does have a flip-up touchscreen and a cool selfie mode that lets you click a selfie by just blinking. You also get Adobe Photoshop Lightroom for free inside the box; which is a great software for aspiring photographers.

The biggest selling point here is its super-slim, lightweight body that you can slip into a handbag, or even a pocket. Without the lens attached, the NX mini is no larger than many compact point-and-shoots, but when you stick on the 9-27mm (24.3mm, 35mm equivalent) f/3.5 kit lens, it becomes little thick to carry around. There’s a 1-inch, 20.5-megapixel CMOS sensor that is identical in size to what you’ll get with very high-end compacts. However, quite smaller than the APS-C sensor manufacturers included with mirrorless cameras like the Alpha 6000 or the NX30.

The camera comes with a 16 GB micro-SD card and 2330mAh battery, which means that the camera will last for good 300 shots approximately. The camera is NFC-enabled and can be easily connected with NFC-enabled smartphones. The 20.5 MP BSI sensor, the company claims, is made by them. We’re uncertain about the authenticity of that statement, since these kind of sensors are made by Sony only. The lens included in the box is a 9mm (24.3mm, 35mm equivalent) f/3.5 kit lens and is fairly good for this price range.

On the top of the camera, you have a microphone pinhole, and hot-shoe sort of mount for Samsung external flash that comes with the package, Wi-Fi button, power on/off button and the shutter button. All of these buttons are seem to be made of metal and brushed aluminium, which makes it a high-quality premium looking device.

The camera supports a set of lenses that are called NX-mini lens and are completely different from regular NX lenses. You can use other lenses from Samsung if you have $150 adapter, which is a third party adapter. However, we heard that Samsung is also working on an in-house adapter.

Once you turn on the camera, you have to further twist the lens to unlock it. The shutter release is nearly full-size, and once you launch the menu, you can adjust many settings simply by tapping the 3-inch, 480 x 320 touchscreen, which also flips up 180 degrees for self-portraits, or at any angle in between for shots below eye-level, or overhead if you flip the camera upside-down.

As for the UI, there’s nothing out of the ordinary here. You can control just about everything using the touchscreen, though you can also use the four-way controller on the side to navigate. The menu interface includes all the general options and isnothing new. You get Auto share, ISO setting, image quality, etc. You also get a picture wizard which changes the setting according to the scene.

Its Wi-Fi mode lets you access a variety of wireless sharing options. MobileLink can be used to send photos from the camera to a smartphone or tablet, or Remote Viewfinder, which miraculously lets you access all of the NX mini’s shooting modes, including manual, from another device.

The Samsung NX mini gives access to Samsung Home Monitor, which requires its smartphone app and lets you use the camera to keep an eye on a child, for example, assuming your camera and phone are connected to the same WiFi network.

The camera fairly fast to focus and click the picture. The capacitative touchscreen allows you zoom in and out extremely easily. Apart from the fact that you don’t have a full manual control during video shooting mode, and its inability to use different lenses, the camera itself is very powerful. The look and the feel is also quite amazing.

The price is expected to be around Rs. 27,000 for 9-27mm lens package and Rs. 24,000 for 9mm lens package when launched exclusively on Amazon.in. This is not an official price but if the pricing remains the same, this device will a perfect starter camera for amateurs or a secondary camera for people who use DSLRs on the daily basis.

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August 20, 2014
Sony Unveiled Mid-Range Water-Resistant, The Xperia M2 Aqua

Sony, yesterday, introduced the Xperia M2 Aqua, its first mid-range waterproof smartphone. Expected to launch in the weeks ahead, the handset will be offered in select markets including Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific.

Sony has made water-resistance a sort of trademark for the Xperia line, but that’s a feature usually reserved for the upper class smartphones. However, this device is the only mid-range water resistant smartphone available.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Calum MacDougall” author_title=”Director of Xperia Marketing – Sony Mobile.”]

Xperia M2 Aqua is a significant milestone in our product portfolio as we bring yet another of our signature technologies to a new category of smartphones.The popularity of Xperia M2 showed us that there was a huge demand for premium Sony features at an affordable price-point. Following consumer feedback, we’ve now taken this a step further by bringing our waterproof expertise to a mid-range smartphone for the first time with Xperia M2 Aqua. It is a smartphone that lets customers take the best of Sony technology and entertainment with them wherever they go – come rain or shine – and we are excited to bring it to market.

[/quote]

The main highlight of the M2 Aqua, of course, is its dust-proof and waterproof capabilities. A feature that is quite useful in a country like ours, with its adverse weather conditions. The smartphone can withstand being immersed in 1.5 meters of water for up to a half hour. And, there is a dedicated camera button too, which makes snapping underwater pictures quite possible.

The specifications on Sony Xperia M2 Aqua are same as on the Xperia M2 and Xperia M2 Dual (which was launched at Rs. 21,990 in India), except that Sony has put in its improved waterproof technology. Sony claims is the highest dust-proof and waterproof rating (IP65/68) in a smartphone.

It has a 4.8″ qHD screen and is powered by a Snapdragon 400 chipset (quad Cortex-A7 at 1.2GHz, Adreno 305, 1GB RAM). The battery life is also very promising with a 2,300 mAh battery.

In terms of connectivity, the Xperia M2 Aqua supports 3G, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi Miracast, aGPS and NFC. The Xperia M2 Aqua has an 8MP / 1080p camera with an Exmor RS sensor, HDR and SteadyShot video stabilization. It supports live streaming to Facebook and downloadable in-app features like Vine and Motiongraph. The phone has 8GB of built-in storage and a microSD card slot.

Pricing details were not announced for the Xperia M2 Aqua however we should expect more details to surface in the coming weeks. It is available in two colour variants – black and white. It is expected that the Xperia M2 Aqua will start selling in the next two months or so.

August 20, 2014
LG Might Bring Out the G Watch 2 at IFA Berlin

The tech evolution is happening at break neck speed. Just a few months after introducing the G Watch and bringing it out for the consumers, LG might already be ready to bring out the G Watch 2 at the upcoming IFA fair in Berlin.

It is probably the first time that the second generation has been ready to roll out so quickly after the debut product. This is also more than a rumor as it was an LG official who told KoreaTimes about the release.

The Second Generation G Watch is expected to have an OLED display.

The new LG G Watch 2 is expected to have an OLED panel which has nearly become synonymous with LG. Firstly, the OLED panel would definitely help in creating a better display and secondly will help for innovations in fields of battery usage and graphics.

The watch is also expected to be powered by a Qualcomm chipset. It was earlier reported that LG would utilize Odin chipset that it has been developing internally. However, new reports say that they are not ready for the market just yet.

If LG gets this right, it may prove to be a major competition in the burgeoning Smartwatch business. The company will face some intense competition from the Moto 360 and Apple iWatch, both of which are expected to arrive in the market soon. Being the only company with two generations of Android Wear devices, LG has a good chance to carve its luck in the Smartwatch market.

August 20, 2014
OnePlus One Unboxing : Redefining The Market
China is stirring up a storm, but it’s right here in India. Company after company is parading the smartphone market scene and everybody wants a piece of the pie. Earlier this year, Gionee set a precedent in bringing great build quality and a higher spec set into India by launching phones like the Gionee Elife E7. Later Xiaomi broke the market pricing scheme by launching the Xiaomi Mi3 in India. But is everyone really happy?

The lack of availability in both cases made it really difficult to own these products, while the E7 was fantastic for its time, it arrived almost 3 months too late and with the Xiaomi and its #FailSale strategy, people are essentially looking for a better outcome.

That answer may as well be here, sooner than you imagined. OnePlus is looking to launch their marvelous One in India as early as next month, and the company may bring a simple strategy to the market. The OnePlus One has been sold on an invite system from the get go. In doing so, the company continued to receive the orders, yet restricted orders enough to ramp up production.

The same system applies for India, however, the company has already reached up to required production standards with its current orders and invites are being fulfilled as and when you get them, so when it finally arrives in India, all you’ll need is a friend with an invite to share with you.

Inside the packaging, which is exceptionally high quality, all you get are three things; the OnePlus One unit, the charger and cable and a sim removal tool.

The inbox accessories tell you a great deal of what the end product quality is going to be, and you will be might impressed. not only is it high quality, a great amount of detail has gone into designing each item inside the box and customising the feel of the product.

The phone itself is pretty impressive, for a price of US$ 299 (16Gb) or US $ 349 for the 64 GB seen here (roughly INR 21500) which basically compares with the current flagships of the world.

Specs wise you will get :
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 801
- Adreno 330 GPU
- 3GB of RAM
- 16/64 GB storage
- 5.5 Inch 1920 x 1080p Display
- 13 Mp primary camera with 4K video
- 5 MP front camera 1080p video
- 3100 mAh – Non Removable battery
- Gorilla Glass 3
The software and user interface is familiar and responsive, you will get Android 4.4.2 out of the box with a promised update to 4.4.4 and Cyanogen Mod 11s to get you happy. CyanogenMod will also ensure that you are getting the maximum output from your hardware and customization options are almost endless. Thanks to CyanogenMod you can also expect quick roll-outs of the latest relevant updates on Android, especially the upcoming Android L.

Watch our unboxing Video Below and stay tuned for a flurry of comparisons after the break. Also leave your review requests in the comments for us.
August 20, 2014
Top 5 Websites to Sell Your Old Gadgets Online

Re-commerce i.e. trading old gadgets for a price is not a common practice in India. But with more and more people wanting to buy the latest in technology, dispensing old gadgets safely has become important. And its all the more better if you can make some money while doing it. Even though prices offered depend on the time, market demand and the condition of the gadget, putting your old gizmos on sale is a good idea. There are numerous websites which offer the service of trading old gadgets.

We are listing 5 of these website where you can sell you old gadgets in return of cash.

1.YouRenew

The company offers consumers a profitable and environment-friendly way to dispose of their used smartphones, MP3 players, laptops, digital cameras, tablets and other electronic goods. The site is user friendly and three easy steps let you recycle your old gizmo. You need to type in the name of the device and if it is listed on YouRenew.com, then answer a few questions about the device and you’ll know how much the site would pay you.

2. Karma Recycling

Karma Recycling is one of the leading e-waste management services in India. The website is also quite user-friendly; you have go through 4 steps to sell your mobile. Choose your mobile, its condition and they will offer you a price. You can choose your payment through check , yatra.com or yebi.com gift card.

3. Atteroboy

Atteroboy works similar to Karma Recycling. Website works in a same way, choose you mobile, its condition and they will offer you a price. Though we noticed that they might pay you less than Karma recycling.

4. Cellforcash

The first thing to remember when you decide to sell old mobile phones online is if you send handsets in beat up condition – that do not work or without accessories – then don’t expect a high payoff. Cellforcash.com clearly highlights in its ‘Terms and Condition’ section that it is looking for quality used-items and the better conditioned the phone, the better chances of getting a nice payout.

5. Buymytronics

Buymytronics.com, earlier known as www.BuyMyBrokeniPod.com, lets customers sell used iPods, iPhones and consumer electronics like laptops, game consoles and digital cameras. The process of selling the item is the same as other websites — select the category of the gadget, select it from the list and specify its working condition. The site would then quote a price, and if you think it’s a good bargain, then you need to ship it to the address provided to you by email.

August 20, 2014
The Windows Phone Everyone Wanted : HTC One M8 for Windows Out

Talk about an unfortunate day for companies who wanted to keep their products a surprise till the release date. After Samsung had a major boo boo with the AnTuTu specs leaks, its HTC’s time to face some leak music. The worst part of the HTC leak is that it was done not through some leakster sitting in his bedroom but by telecom giant Verizon.

The HTC One M8 for Windows was officially supposed to release at a function later today in New York but its just too hard for some folks to wait that long. It seems like one of the posters for the One M8 which was supposed to be put up after the release, went up at one Verizon store, where the internet got hold of it.

The Poster that spoilt everything

The poster has a huge photo of the One M8 exteriors along with the Windows 8.1 tiles view on the UI. It uses the tagline “built to inspire envy” has one important line that blows up the entire surprise that HTC had in store for its fans. The bottom half of the poster says available in Android and Windows.

What was really a good move on the part of HTC is not bring the phone under the name HTC One W8 as was previously speculated. Keeping the name common keeps the focus on the features of the phone instead of the user interface used to access those features.

On the specifications front, there aren’t going to be a lot many changes in the two variants. The HTC One M8 for Windows Phone version will hold the dual camera setup with a 4-UltraPixel rear camera with a depth-sensing camera, apart from a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. It’s processing might is expected to come from a 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor coupled with 2GB of RAM. It is expected to retain the 2600mAh battery along with its a 5-inch full-HD display.

It seems like with this release HTC wants to compete on both the two prominent, non iOS operating systems. It is also beneficial for Windows to have the support of a recognized, premium product running their OS, thereby making their OS more visible. For the consumers, it gives a real alternative for folks who want a Windows device from a prominent brand. This release seems like a win-win for all.

August 19, 2014
Note 4 Specs Leaked Just Weeks Before Release

Misery strikes at the worst possible time. Samsung executives responsible for Note 4 release are going to have a terrible day. All the prominent specs for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 4 have been leaked online and boy, are they impressive!

The leak happened on benchmarks app AnTuTu. First of all, the biggest expectation from Samsung was the introduction of a 2K screen on the Note 4 and Samsung didn’t disappoint. The phablet will sport a massive 5.7 inch, 1440 x 2560 QHD Super AMOLED display.

The device is expected to run Android KitKat 4.4.4 right out of the box. The leaked Antutu device has an Exynos 5433 octa core processor which comes with an updated Mali GPU. If Samsung follows its usual plan of action, one can expect a Snapdragon 805 variant to come in select markets.

The Device is also expected to take a departure from the faux leather back panel.

The camera on the device is a 16 MP shooter with optical image stabilization. It also has features like dual shot and simultaneous HD video and image recording. The front camera on the device is 2 MP selfie camera capable of shooting 1080p at 30 FPS.

Considering the massive price point of the Note 4, the company can easily provide a 32 GB and 64 GB variants and the icing on the cake will be expandable storage upto 128 GB, as per the specifications from GSMArena, this seems to be true.

The Note 4, officially will be unveiled September 3rd at an event scheduled to take place simultaneously in Berlin, Beijing, and New York.

August 19, 2014
Happn: An App That Makes Love at First Sight Easy

If you are a romantic then you can imagine a scenario where you come across that perfect mate like in the movies. Things in real life though don’t work that way, most of the time its awkward smiles or just a struggle to avoid eye contact. To make life simpler to folks who are looking for a person with similar tastes but just don’t have the time to swipe through countless profiles, here comes Happn.

But how in a world of online dating dominated by Tinder, what can this app do that the rest can’t? Well, instead of using many parameters to judge the suitability, Happn simply uses a phone’s GPS to bring you extremely localized lists of potential companions. The catch, of course is that both sides need to have the app on their ends.

Distance is the prominent parameter used by Happn. The app scans an area of 250 meters to find an ideal mate for you. This is also a great way of just meeting new friends too.

Privacy and safety issues maybe a concern in people’s mind that might dissuade them from trying the app. The creators make it clear that none of the personal information is stored or saved. It basically tries to create a database of folks you randomly meet in the course of the day that you can scroll through at the end of the day to find the ones who interest you. Once you have found the right person, you can send them messages through the app.

Apps like Tinder gives you a huge list of folks to swipe through. A Facebook profile is not an ideal judgment of a person. Happn clears all that mess and lets you meet people who are or have been in your vicinity and make it easy to find them.

The app is rapidly broadening its user base and has a good number of users in the creators home country of France. The app is available for iOS as well as Android. So if you are lonely and ready to mingle, your perfect wingman, your smartphone, now has an extra trick up its sleeve. So what are you waiting for, go out and make things Happn.

August 19, 2014
HTC to Launch Butterfly 2 in India Soon

HTC Butterfly 2, which was launched in Japan as J Butterfly, is going to launch in India and some other Asian countries soon. Taiwan-based smartphone maker has just announced that the high-end plastic phone will go on sale in Taiwan on September 2nd which will be followed by the launch in Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand soon after.

It is available in 3 colour variants – blue, white and red. Anyhow, the company haven’t commented on the pricing details of the device. The single-SIM HTC Butterfly 2 smartphone is the successor to the HTC Butterfly which was launched last year at Rs. 49,990 in India.

The Butterfly 2 sports a 5-inch, full-HD (1080×1920 pixels) display. It is powered by a powerful quad-core Snapdragon 801 SoC that clocks at 2.5GHz and coupled with 2GB of RAM. In storage front, Butterfly 2 comes with 16GB and 32GB of inbuilt storage options, with expandable storage via microSD card (up to 128GB).

Also, same as the HTC One (M8), it sports a duo-camera setup with 13 megapixel main sensor, f/2.0, 28mm lens and support for 1080p video recording and a 5-megapixel front shooter with BSI sensor, 1080p full HD video recording too.

HTC Butterfly 2 also comes with a IPX5 / IPX7 for dust and water resistance and Infrared LED for remote control. The device features a Dual front-facing stereo speakers with built-in amplifiers which HTC has been using in all its handsets. It is powered by a 2700 mAh battery. HTC has tied up with HARMAN for JBL LiveStage Signal Processing Technology for better audio output. It comes bundled with exclusively designed JBL in-ear headphones in Japan.

August 19, 2014
Activision to Pull a Marvel: May Start its Own Movie Studio

You have played those Activision games a million times, they have intricate storylines and some amazing characters. Activision understands the tremendous motion picture potential that they have that is waiting to add multiple zeros to their bank statements.

Activision is famous for its gaming titles such as Call of Duty and Skylanders. The company is inspired by the phenomenal success that Marvel has had since the comic book company unleashed its characters on the big screen. The Marvel Cinematic Universe was one tough nut to crack and Marvel executive managed to achieve it and now are reaping the glory. Activision wants to follow suit and bring out films on which it has complete control.

Usually the producers who are interested in a title ask for rights of characters from comic characters and games. After buying the rights the producers can decide on the script and treatment of the story. But in the case of Marvel, the company wanted to have control over the decisions of the films and so established their own movie studio.

Activision intends to have such control when it establishes the movie studio. There is a huge market full of gamers who would simply love to watch their favorite character played by Hollywood stars. They can easily come back to their games and create a personalized version of the story in their home consoles. As of now Activision isn’t opening its cards and is not commenting on the issue but they realize the prospects of a movie business are huge. They should move fast before the other studios get ahead of them. We are waiting and getting our popcorns ready. Activision, show us what you got.

August 19, 2014
Apple May Drop Standard USB in Favor of a New Reversible Connector

It is said that when Apple will launch its new iPhone i.e. iPhone 6 in September, it will also introduce its new Lightning data-power cable—that is, if newly leaked images circulating online are to be believed.

Several leaked photos in recent days have suggested Apple may be looking to move to a reversible USB connector for its next-generation Lightning cables, making it easier for users to plug the cables into their computers, chargers, and other equipment with standard USB ports.

MacRumors reported a leaked picture from iOS leaker, Sonny Dickson, showing the Lightning cable with a reversible USB connector. While the USB connector on the current Lightning cable is attached to the bottom of its metal housing, the connector of the supposedly newer cable is attached to the center.

Reversible USB port on the new Lightning cables! pic.twitter.com/bhVKjK3xKl

— Sonny Dickson (@SonnyDickson) August 17, 2014

“It is also therefore possible that the new Lightning cable could utilize USB 3.0 technology, as current Lightning cables support only USB 2.0. However, no other evidence suggests that the cable could be of the USB 3.0 variety.” the report from MacRumor noted.

However, Apple is not the only one with this technology. A California company by the name of UltraTek already holds a patent for the reversible connector and is selling cables through major online retailers. MacRumors suggested the possibility of the new cables being shipped along with the new iPhone 6 and subsequent iOS devices. Aside from the possible USB 3.0 support, the new Lightning cable could also support high-definition audio playback on “Made for iPhone” accessories.

Apple is rumored to be introducing a brand new proprietary version of the traditional USB connector

That being said, this move may harm the company as all those new Macs would be incompatible with current USB Type A cords — and presumably incompatible with any other newer standards that could be released in the near future, including the expected USB Type C plug. Apple would also charge third-party accessory makers licensing fees to use its patented USB reversible connector.

Also, the new connector would also help Apple effectively ‘own’ both ends of the charging cord, so if an iPhone/iPad user wanted to employ a micro USB cable from another manufacturer, or a future USB Type C cord, they’d have to purchase two adaptors — one for each end of the cord. The word is that Apple has already issued Lightning Cable MFi specifications for headphones last June, letting accessory makers build products that connect to the Lightning port instead of a 3.5-mm jack.

August 19, 2014
According to IDC, Samsung is Still No.1 in India

India being a fast growing smartphone market has become the centre of smartphone wars. Apple and Samsung have been trying hard to keep up with players such as Micromax, Lava, Karbon and the new entrant Xiaomi.

The Indian handset market is currently led by Samsung with Micromax at No. 2, according to an International Data Corporation (IDC) report for India’s mobile market in Q2. The market could experience a shuffle in the rankings amongst the top five vendors in coming quarters, as Chinese and local device makers aggressively tap the entry level segment of smartphones.

The digits in the IDC report showed that in the overall mobile market, Samsung had a 17 per cent share, while Micromax had a 14 per cent share, ahead of Nokia which was the previous number two and which now has a mere 10 percent share. Karbon and Lava are at number four and five respectively and rest is acquired by other phone makers.

In smartphones, Samsung ha held a 29% share, which however was a sharp fall from the 35% it held in the January-March period, as aggressive competitors such as Micromax, Lava and Motorola ate into its share. Micromax remained in second place with 18% share, up from 15% in the previous quarter.

“While Samsung has held on to its leadership position in the market, it is noteworthy that Micromax is growing faster. Samsung needs to continue to address the low-end of the market aggressively, and also needs a blockbuster product at the high end to regain momentum,” said Jaideep Mehta, vice president and general manager, South Asia, IDC.

At the start of the month, another research by Hong Kong-based Counterpoint Technology Market Research showed that, in the April-June period, Micromax’s share of the overall handset market stood at 16.6 per cent, while Samsung’s was 14.4 per cent. The mismatch in numbers may be the result of use different methodology. IDC said it collects data from various sources, including vendors and channels.

The report also pointed out that with the entrance of Chinese vendors and Mozilla in the smartphone category at $50 level, the low-end segment of the smartphone market will become crucial in the coming quarters. It will be really interesting to see what news Q3 and Q4 will bring out in the Indian mobile and smartphone market with the entry of players like Xiaomi, Oppo. Xiaomi in particular has created a stir in market with the launch of a sole device, the samsung Xiaomi Mi3 .

August 19, 2014
Asus Stocks Up 20,000 ZenFone Units on Flipkart

Asus has become a darling of the Indian market since its release in India. It along with Xiaomi made it the summer for Chinese smartphone makers. Their high-spec-low-price business model is tailor-made for the Indian market.

The Asus Zenphone series have seen shortage of supply and they are either out of stock or available in limited numbers. Asus wants to correct that and they are bringing in a 20,000 phone inventory to Flipkart. Though the number of individual phone models haven’t been specified, it is a good big number of devices.

Most importantly today will become a Taiwan on China battle here as Xiaomi too is bringing 20,000 devices for a flash sale today the 19th of August. It will be fun to see if Asus is capable of stealing Xiaomi’s customers. The folks who are disappointed by the Xiaomi sale can see the Asus line-up as a good alternative.

The Customization and Color features of the ZenUI are unique and tasteful

The Asus Zenphones are powered by Intel Atom processors and come in 4, 5 and 6-inch display variants. The phones also come in multiple color variants and have a youth friendly design. The Zenphone 6 has a classy look which will be appreciated by corporate users too.

The Zenphones are dual SIM capable and can be used easily with gloved hands. These phones also run on Asus’s own UI called the ZenUI which has been appreciated for its unique design and customizability features.

Asus’s business model is more appreciable than that of Xiaomi. The company seems like it is interested in staying in the market for a long time. They have also said that it wants to sell its phone in the offline market thereby making there long term plan in India apparent. By bringing in products in accordance with the demand in the market, the company gets to retain as well bring in new customers. The Zenphone 4, 5 and 6 are priced at Rs. 5,999, Rs. 9,999 and Rs. 16,999 respectively.

August 19, 2014