Tag: iphone 6 plus

Apple Grabs Top Spot from Samsung in the Largest Smartphone Vendor Race

Gone are those days when Apple used to console itself seeing Samsung receiving for world’s largest manufacturer achievement. Samsung has long enjoyed the reputation of being the biggest smartphone vendor in the world. But this time, Apple has snatched the accolade from its lap and is happily showing off the award as the world’s largest smartphone vendor.

According to an analysis by a trusted company, Creative Strategies, Apple has set a benchmark by selling 74.5 million iPhones. It is the biggest quarterly profit by any company in the history of smartphone trade. However, Samsung says that it has sold as much as 95 million handsets in total, out of which 71 million – 75 million are smartphones. Well, the South Korean producer is just putting ahead big numbers to cover its defeat.

The picture above clearly speaks of Apple’s win over the other vendors. The analyst for Creative Strategies, Ben Bajarin crowns Apple as the winner this time. However, another analysis firm Strategy Analytics claims that both Apple and Samsung shipped the same number of phones in the fourth quarter last year – 74.5 million smartphones.

Few days back, Apple saw record-breaking fiscal Q1 2015 earnings of $74.6 billion, out of which $18 billion was the net profit. This net gain figure put Apple in the topmost spot in terms of revenue. The soaring sales of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus is the reason behind this success.

Though Apple has acquired the top position, Samsung will not sit back and let the Cupertino-based giant enjoy the prestige. It will surely work on a unique product to entice more customers. It would be exciting to see what Samsung comes up with next.

January 29, 2015
Apple Might Bring Out a Mini Version of the iPhone 6 in 2015

The 2014 launch of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus brought out the whole new design philosophy in Apple’s offerings. Earlier, the company had stuck to the smaller 4-inch screen size. Now it seems like Apple is further experimenting with different screen sizes; the new rumours making the rounds say that the company is planning to launch a mini version of its iPhone dubbed ‘iPhone 6s Mini’.

According to recent reports by Apple Insider, the specifications of the rumoured mini smartphone will match that of iPhone 5s and the specifications with iPhone 6. In other words, a return to the prior model’s 4-inch display size.

Apple Insider, citing a note issued by Timothy Arcuri, an analyst with Cowen and Company, to the investors suggests that Apple may launch a new 4-inch iPhone variant in 2015, which will be called iPhone 6s mini. The smartphone will join the current generation screen sizes of 4.7- inch and 5.5-inch.

The publication also noted that Arcuri, in the past, has a mixed track record on Apple iPhone rumors. In January 2014, the analyst correctly predicted some details of the iPhone 6. However, his prediction about a powerful processor for the iPhone 6 Plus turned out to be incorrect.

If the rumors are true, the new iPhone 6s is more likely to replace iPhone 5c as the company’s low-end offering. Being a low-end phone, the iPhone 6s Mini is also expected to have low-cost internals to keep the price low.

In the past, Samsung has launched the mini versions of its Galaxy S devices such as the Galaxy S3 Mini, Galaxy S4 Mini and the Galaxy S5 Mini. These mini handsets cater to smartphone customers who prefer a smaller handset and lower cost. With Apple looking into the mini segment of smartphones, the move could help bring wider consumers in the company’s ecosystem.

December 26, 2014
Apple iPhone 6 and 6 Plus Users Complain of Scratches on the Screen

Apple had touted that the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus had strengthened Ion-X glass. There were talks of inclusion of sapphire glass on the new generation iPhones, but that plan was shelved. The reason cited for it was the inability of the supplier to fulfill Apple’s demand even after a $1 billion deal. Well, the sapphire glass never came about but now it’s being reported that the Apple’s alternative choice is showing signs of scratches.

A conversation was commenced at Apple’s Support page by a user named jake.underwood26, who posted that he took extremely good care of his device, but still he ended up with scratches on the corners of the display. Presently, there are 654 replies on the forum, and there are multiple complaints of scratches on the display.

Users are claiming that the scratches are showing up at the corners of the display.

One user by the username Jshea74 says, “After 2 years of heavy use and no screen cover, my iPhone 5 never had a scratch. Less than a week into owning an iPhone 6, I have a good sized scratch on my screen. So disappointed. I only ever had a bumper on my old phone and would totally throw it in my purse with my other stuff with no issues. Now I guess I’ll have to get a cover for the screen. Definitely seemed easier to scratch.”

AppleInsider did an investigation on the issue and found out that one of the culprits can be the use a curved display glass with no bezel ‘lip’ to protect against scrapes. In the predecessors of the device, a flat glass was used, and it was surrounded by a thermoplastic peripheral material housed in a harder polymer wrap. This kept the glass secure and prevented shock induced scratches. In the latest device, though the company uses the thermoplastic material but it is now in the middle of display assembly and phone body. Even the hard plastic wall was removed to cover the curves toward the rounded aluminum chassis. Apple is yet to respond on the issue.

Apple hasn’t had an easy path with the launch of the new iPhone. Previously, Bendgate became a major cause of embarrassment for the company when multiple users began complaining about the bending of the device. Seems like Apple didn’t finish its homework before releasing the phones and hopefully, it will fix the issues as soon as possible. The device cost a king’s ransom and it’s a shame that such issues are showing up in a premium device such as this.

November 25, 2014
iPhone 6 Records Three Times Higher Sales Than its Bigger Sibling

Even though Apple is always tight-lipped about its sales figures, a research firm Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) tracked down the first 30 days of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus availability in the US and has come up with some interesting data.

According to the analyst Steven Milunovich of CIRP, the iPhone 6 accounted for 68 percent of all iPhone sales, while the iPhone 6 Plus took between 23 and 24 percent. This puts the sales ratio somewhere near 3:1 in the favour of iPhone 6. Unlike the Asian market where phablets are always best sellers, iPhone 6 are preferred by the US customers over iPhone 6 Plus.

Together, the new iPhones represented about 91 percent of the total iPhone sales over their first four weeks of availability. The remaining units are represented by the previous-generation iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c. Obviously, the data clearly shows that there’s a clear favourite, but it is also to be noted that the iPhone 6 Plus has faced stock issues since its launch. That’s one of the reasons many people haven’t really been able to buy one.

CIRP’s research also pointed out that maximum buyers went for 48 GB storage, which is almost double the average storage capacity from a year old model. The reason is that Apple, this year, dropped the 32 GB capacity and offers the iPhone 6 Plus in sizes of 16, 64, and 128 gigabytes.

It is said that as soon as the stock level of iPhone 6 Plus picks up and a normal delivery time is achieved, we can expect the device to gain some considerable ground.

November 17, 2014
Apple Decides Against Offering EMI Options for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in India

In response to the unprecedented high demand for the new flagship iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in India, Apple has decided not to offer any EMI options. The reason quoted for this is that they are not able to cope up with the supply. Apple had tied up with Bajaj Finance and Capital First to offer a zero-interest finance options on their earlier products. However, the schemes are not applicable to the new line-up.

It has been said that the company will furthur evaluate the decision to offer EMI options for the new iPhones in the January quarter. Meanwhile, EMI options are still available on older models which include iPhone 5s, 5c and 4s.

Both phones deliver a good battery backup even with their massive displays.

The iPhone 6 has gone out of stock in India just days after its official release. In the nation’s capital, Apple’s ardent fans had even lined up at midnight to be the first to buy the device.

Apple had brought in a stock of 55,000 devices for sale in India on the midnight of 16th October. The entire stock got sold in just 3 days. Now the company is planning to bring 25,000 new devices soon to quench the demand for the latest bestseller. It was said that there will be a delay of three days before the devices are available again.

October 21, 2014

Nexus 6 vs iPhone 6 Plus vs Note 4 vs Xperia Z3 vs LG G3

With the launch of Google’s Nexus 9, the world has seen the crème de la crème of what the smartphone industry has to offer. This year turned out to be the best year in technology. Not only did we reach the highest specifications yet but were even able to bring those specs to lower-priced devices. Now that the biggest giants have unveiled their flagship competitors, it is time to test their spec-sheet might in comparison to each other.

This is a purely spec based battle and will not take in consideration the optimization and other software features. So let’s get ahead to check out how the innards of these legendary devices score in a face off against each other.

Specs	Nexus 6	Samsung Note 4	iPhone 6 Plus	Sony Xperia Z3	LG G3
Display	5.96 inch QHD	5.7 inch QHD	5.5 inch Full HD	5.2 inch Full HD	5.5 inch QHD
Processor	2.7GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 805	2.7GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 805	1.4 GHz Dual-core A8 chipset	2.5 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 801	2.26 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 801
RAM	3 GB	3 GB	1 GB	3 GB RAM	3 GB
Storage	32GB & 64GB	32 GB	16/64/128 GB	16/32 GB	16/32GB
Expandable Upto	–	64 GB	–	128 GB	128 GB
Main Camera	13MP	16 MP	8 MP	20.7 MP	13 MP sensor
Front Camera	2MP	3.7 MP	1.2 MP	2.2	2.2MP sensor
Battery	3220mAh	Removable 3220 mAh	Non-removable 2915 mAh	Non-removable 3100 mAh	3,000mAh
Operating System	Android 5.0	Android 4.4.4	iOS 8	Android 4.4.4	Android 4.4.2
Miscellanous	Ring Flash	S-Pen	Reachability	Water-Proof	Knock Code

With this table, one can easily see the Nexus throwing a heavy claim to the throne. Not only does it come with great specifications, it also comes with the Android Lollipop which is the most efficient Android OS yet. The phone also sports Motorola’s unique ring flash which sets it apart from the rest. For a multimedia enthusiast, the Nexus 6 makes complete sense with its front facing speakers and gigantic display. However it misses out on expandable storage and added features like timelapse and slow motion camera which irks because those features could have been easily incorporated.

Nexus 6 faces its most toughest challenge from its own cousin. The rumored Moto X Plus will take the features from this device and add more features to the device. There is still a lot to look forward to in the future.

October 16, 2014

iPhone 6 Plus : Bigger Than Bigger May Be Better or Bendier

This is the first time Apple has gone this big with a phone, usually pinging their traditional theories that the phone needs to be designed for one handed use. The iPhone 6 Plus has been the preferred of the two (6 and 6 Plus) by buyers worldwide, simply because those who were using large Android phones could switch to a similarly large iPhone 6 Plus.

The iPhone 6 Plus on paper is the better bet, a full HD screen, bigger battery, larger display, optical image stabilization and landscape mode etc. However that all changes when you first hold the phone and the immediate reaction is “wow its huge”. Does it make a big difference, to the way we use smartphones and is the iPhone 6 plus actually a better phone? Let’s find out!

Overview

The iPhone 6 Plus is the largest phone Apple has ever built, but there is good reason that they did it now, when people wanted it more than ever. The bendgate phenomenon has actually added to the existing hype of the iPhone 6 Plus, making people more aware of the existence of the phone. The idea behind the bendgate died as soon as it emerged simply because it didn’t affect users as much. The phone is essentially a bigger brother of the iPhone 6, but Apple may have done the right things to leverage the bigger size.

Build Quality and Hardware

The iPhone 6 Plus is built on a single rounded piece of aluminum, this not only makes the phone look good but adds a good resistance to damage. The phone however is not as strengthened on the smaller phones, hence bendgate exists. No but it’s not as easy as it looks, the phone does not bend as easily as it appears to on screen, and only under certain circumstances. It is an issue and if you are worried about that happening, you should skip the rest.

Hardware wise you get a bumped up Dual Core 1.4 GHz Apple A8 chipset with the Quad Core Graphics, same 1 GB of RAM as the little brother and a M8 motion co-processor that also ties into the health app on iOS 8. The battery is a large non-removable 2915 mAh, and you get the three storage options, 16GB , 64Gb and 128 GB.

The front has a massive 5.5 inch with a 1920 x 1080p resolution which feels a little more fulfilling than the resolution on the iPhone 6 although you get the retina display at 401 ppi. Even though its massive in size it is only 7.1 mm thick, making it exceptionally sleek and pocketable.

Here is how it stacks up with other big boys !

Specs	Samsung Note 4	Sony Xperia Z3	iPhone 6 Plus	LG G3	Galaxy S5
Display	5.7 inch QHD	5.2 inch Full HD	5.5 inch Full HD	5.5 inch QHD	5.1 inch Full HD
Processor	2.7GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 805	2.5 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 801	1.4 GHz Dual-core A8 chipset	2.26 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 801	2.5 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 801
RAM	3 GB	3 GB RAM	1 GB	3 GB	2 GB
Storage	32 GB	16/32 GB	16/64/128 GB	16/32GB	16/32GB
Expandable Upto	64 GB	128 GB	–	128 GB	64 GB
Main Camera	16 MP	20.7 MP	8 MP	13 MP sensor	16MP sensor
Front Camera	3.7 MP	2.2	1.2 MP	2.2MP sensor	2 MP
Battery	Removable 3220 mAh	Non-removable 3100 mAh	Non-removable 2915mAh	3,000mAh	2,800mAh
Operating System	Android 4.4.4	Android 4.4.4	iOS 8	Android 4.4.2	Android 4.4.4
Price	Rs. 61,500	Rs. 51,990	Rs. 62,500 for 16 GB variant	Rs. 44,100	Rs. 37,000

Performance

The iPhone 6 Plus is no underdog when it comes to performance, and just because it is running relatively low spec’d hardware doesn’t mean that this guy doesn’t pack a punch. Apple has managed to make it work, they own the architecture and the hardware and have optimized the OS to run zippy smooth on hardware which in Android terms would be lame and notoriously dated, props to Apple for this.

Everything from playing games, to multitasking to going about your day, works well on the iPhone. Some of the Apps have been designed to leverage the large screen size of the iPhone 6 Plus improving the overall experience by a lot.

Camera

This is a big mention, and no not because Apple added a might big sensor but because two amazing things happen with the iPhone 6 Plus. First the video is absolutely stunning with the optical image stabilization, you can walk about and get almost steadicam like shots on your iPhone. The phone also shoots brilliant 720p 240fps slow mo that looks absolutely stunning in low light or otherwise.

Images are sharper and there is definitely less hunting thanks to the on-sensor phase detection that has good and accurate focus capabilities. This overall improvement in focus results in sharper images and better results. The camera on the iPhone has been best in class, the new improved sensor and image processing will only carry that into the next year.

The large screen on the iPhone 6 Plus makes for a good viewfinder for the camera, and especially in video mode it comes in handy to pick and select your focus points. The fact that you can adjust the brightness on the fly will be appreciated by a lot of people, you can also lock in your points before you click a picture or shoot a video.

Phone Networks and Battery Life

The one thing that you immediately notice is the battery life of the iPhone 6 Plus, it will practically last you a day and a half. Even more if you are a light user. The networks are sustained and solid through areas with weak reception. Mostly in areas that we would notice weak reception with the iPhone 5 and 5s we saw great network reception with the iPhone 6 Plus, better than the iPhone 6 even.

Battery will last you 6+ hours with talk time on LTE networks and 7+ hours on 3G networks, with a switch to 2G we saw upwards of 8 hours which is impressive. The biggest drain on the battery is the display, so if you have less screen on time, then you get more talk time, and vice versa.

iOS 8

[pullquote_left]Apple’s biggest strength is the lack of weakness in iOS[/pullquote_left]

Apple’s biggest strength is the lack of weakness in iOS. Despite a few initial bugs on iOS 8, the next versions have been tweaked and work as flawlessly as any other iOS release ever. There is no denying that iOS is the best if not one of the best mobile operating systems, and also one of the reasons that iPhones have seen success through the years.

Apple has taken iOS 8 and moulded it well for the iPhone 6 Plus, and it works great. The iPhone 6 Plus essentially behaves like a mini-iPad, so you get landscape mode on the desktop as well as some essential apps like messaging and mail. Apple’s reachability with the use of the touch-id sensor makes a lot of sense on this gigantic phone. Third parties can leverage the large size of the display to their advantage and we have yet to see unique use case scenarios. However, Apple has updated the dev kit to make this work well.

Conclusion

Apple has made a big iPhone and there is no denying it, infact people said the same thing about the iPad when it was first released, and it went on to become the most selling tablet ever. Apple has given the market what they needed, a large size iPhone option. While the 4.7 inch iPhone may be the right size for most people, the iPhone 6 Plus, is just that big boy of a phone which comes with its perks. The large battery life will be a boon to any iPhone user of the past as, chargers will become a thing of the past. Those with a camera fetish will love the slow-mo capability that looks as juicy as the apple being sliced in slow motion. The optical image stabilization, large viewfinder for the display, and excellent use of the large screen to show landscape options truly adds to the already awesome iPhone experience.

For those looking for a little extra, the Note 4 rival launches the same day as the iPhone 6 Plus in India, so take a healthy pick.

[tw-column width=”one-half”]

GOOD THINGS

Excellent Battery
Solid Networks
Wow Camera
Slo-Mo video at 240 fps

[/tw-column]

[tw-column width=”one-half” position=”last”]

BAD THINGS

It Bends!
Seriously, it bends!

[/tw-column]

October 15, 2014

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 vs Major Flagship Phablets of 2014

Samsung launched its flagship, the Galaxy Note 4 in India today. Along with a sleeker design and an updated metal frame, the Note 4 features a Quad HD display.

With the likes of Sony, Apple, Xiaomi, LG and HTC setting their own benchmarks in the flagship race, lets see how much mettle the latest Galaxy Note 4 has in this never ending battle for supremacy. We’ve decided to put all flagships for a quick comparison, at least in terms of figures.

So without further adieu, here’s a comparison between the Galaxy Note 4, iPhone 6 Plus, LG G3 and the Galaxy S5.

Specs	Samsung Note 4	Sony Xperia Z3	iPhone 6 Plus	LG G3	Galaxy S5
Display	5.7 inch QHD	5.2 inch Full HD	5.5 inch Full HD	5.5 inch QHD	5.1 inch Full HD
Processor	2.7GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 805	2.5 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 801	1.4 GHz Dual-core A8 chipset	2.26 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 801	2.5 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 801
RAM	3 GB	3 GB RAM	1 GB	3 GB	2 GB
Storage	32 GB	16/32 GB	16/64/128 GB	16/32GB	16/32GB
Expandable Upto	64 GB	128 GB	–	128 GB	64 GB
Main Camera	16 MP	20.7 MP	8 MP	13 MP sensor	16MP sensor
Front Camera	3.7 MP	2.2	1.2 MP	2.2MP sensor	2 MP
Battery	Removable 3220 mAh	Non-removable 3100 mAh	Non-removable 2600mAh	3,000mAh	2,800mAh
Operating System	Android 4.4.4	Android 4.4.4	iOS 8	Android 4.4.2	Android 4.4.4
Price	Rs.61,500	Rs 51,990	Rs. 62,500 for 16 GB variant	Rs.44,100	Rs.37,000

From the table, its quite evident that the latest Galaxy Note 4 is one beast when it comes to specs. Powerful internals, QHD display, better design, an S-Pen and future proof connectivity, it has all the ingredients of a superior device. There are also reports of a superior blend of Samsung’s Touch Wiz UI with Android has been achieved to perfection.

The device will be available for pre-orders in India soon after its unveiling today and goes on sale from October 17th. However, We’d advise you to wait for our in-depth review of this beast of a machine.

October 14, 2014

Apple iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus Pre-Orders Start Today in India

Apple’s latest flagship iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are all set to launch on October 17th, right before Diwali. The launch, about a month after the phone arrived in the US, will go down as the fastest launch of a new iPhone model ever.

This time around, Apple has chosen e-commerce dealers for the new iPhones. Amazon.in and Ahmedabad-based Infibeam promise a firm dlivery date for iPhone 6 sales in India. Both website will take pre-order starting noon today. The online retail firm has promised to deliver iPhones 6 and iPhone 6 plus on October 17 in all urban areas, and in rural areas in a couple of more days.

The 16GB version of Apple iPhone 6 will be available for Rs. 53,500, while the 64GB version is priced at Rs. 62,500. The 128GB version of the phone will sell for Rs. 71,500. The 16GB version of Apple iPhone 6 Plus will be available at Rs. 62,500, while the 64GB version is priced at Rs. 71,500. The 128GB version of the phone will sell for Rs 80,500.

Offline retailers have repeatedly complained to phone brands about low prices being offered by online retailers. As a result, companies are increasingly going through ‘exclusive’ partners for online selling to retain control over prices. The prices announced by Infibeam are exactly the prices that Apple has stipulated, and not lower than that. The prices are what you can get in offline stores as well.

October 7, 2014
Teardown of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus Reveals What’s Inside

Apple’s flagship is now available for anyone who has got the money for it. The phone got polarising reviews with Apple fans sticking by their device and Android fans turning social media against the new iPhones using tons of memes. As always, it is now time to rip apart and unveil all the secret sauces that went into making the new jewel in Apple’s crown. The tear down of both phones showed us that they are pretty interesting on the inside.

First up, the iPhone 6 with a 4.7 inch display. A Japanese blog called ‘Mac Otakara’ disassembled the phone. They found that the 1810 mAh battery on the device was fastened to the chassis with adhesive tabs. The phone has received some internal tweaks to adapt to the slimmer design. It has a linear oscillating type vibrating motor that sits on the right with the battery. The phone is said to have 1GB RAM.

The Phones were torn down by IFixit and Mac Otakara

The iPhone 6 Plus, on the other hand, was unraveled by iFixit who are known for surgically removing all the organs of devices and laying them side by side. The battery on Apple’s biggest iPhone yet stands at 2915 mAh. The battery is bigger in comparison to Samsung’s S5 (2800mAh) which was released earlier this year. Like the Samsung flagship, the iPhone 6 Plus has a full HD(1920X1080) display.

iFixit confirmed that the device holds an Elpida 1 GB LPDDR3 RAM. It is an entire gigabyte less than Samsung’s S5 and 2 gigabyte less than the Note 4. The company also confirmed that the smaller sibling, iPhone 6 also carries the same amount of RAM. The devices are powered by Apple’s A8 chipset.

The Camera Module with OIS is beautiful to look at.

The camera modules on the phones were impressive to see. This new cameras has optical image stabilization, and it sure looks beautiful on the inside.

The 128GB NAND flash memory has been supplied by SK Hynix. Other features that were found inside include the Wi-Fi module supplied by Murata, touch screen controller by Broadcom, power amplifier module by TriQuint and gyroscope and accelerometer combo supplied by InvenSense.

Apple has claimed that the new devices have better battery life and are faster than the previous generations. Considering its higher end phones have the same amount of RAM as there is in the Moto E, it will be interesting to see how the phones handle the new additions such as the much-touted interconnectivity features.

September 19, 2014
Apple Might Screw Up the India Launch of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, Again!

The new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are expected to do well in India, especially considering the launch date which falls just shy of major festivals of our country. Oct 17th (the official launch of both big iPhones in India) is also just 4 days prior to the mega festival of “Dhanteras” which celebrates gold and anything that represents gold. A few days post that is the biggest festival of India, Diwali/Deepavali, which again brings about the act of gifting, shopping and spending money like there is no tomorrow. And finally “Bhai Duj” which again ensures that people are buying gifts for their respective brothers and sisters.

In 2013, Apple launched the gold color iPhone 5s, which was sold out within hours and remained out of stock for many a days. It is assumed that there was a high demand of the gold color due to the excitement around the time of the above stated festivals. However, the way the iPhone was launched in India was the complete opposite of how Apple does things globally.

Apple in India, unfortunately does not have any of its own stores, no online store, no flagship stores and well nothing close to a “5th Ave” store. The company has its distribution tied up with Indian distributers “Ingram” and “Reddington”, who make a spectacle of the launch, by making available “limited” number of phone in limited cities. This redundant process has left people who actually want to buy an iPhone with a horrible taste.

Poorly Orchestrated iPhone 5s Launch

The launch is nothing close to what happens, for example, at a US store (or any other Apple store). There is this strange coupon system that lets you stand in line to buy an iPhone. Then there is a “special” coupon that lets you skip the line and jump ahead to a “special” area for VIP guests of big distributers i.e. Ingram, Reddington and networks like Airtel.

The standard line is essentially made up of store owners and employees of store owners, who want to essentially get stock that they can then sell from their respective stores to their respective “best clients”. There is a huge inflation of price of the iPhone as well. The same day as the launch of the gold iPhone 5s for (Rs. 54,500 for the 16GB variant), the phone was available at most dealers and brick mortar stores for as high as Rs. 70,000. An inflated price you had to pay for not standing in line.

There are a few who actually brave it and stand in line, but their numbers are limited and their wait times are catastrophically high. The event itself is loud and disorganized, usually outdoors and in the open (except a few), leading to long wait times and a chaotic atmosphere. The company also tries to build in live music and unnecessary shows with loud emcees making it look like a typical Indian fair (mela).

Despite claiming that the gold color had reached “out of stock” status, Apple India warehouses were full of them, and Apple chose not to sell anymore gold colored iPhone 5s, because it was affecting the sales of the other colors.

Why does it have to be so difficult, and complicated for a user to buy a phone that they want to pay money for. Apple needs to bring their user experience to India, considering India is an important market for them. Apple is planning to officially be in India by next year, that means that the company will finally set up shop which may end all these theatrics. However if there are limited number of handsets to sell, a simple pre-order system should suffice, or a registration system which lets actual buyers who want to own these phones buy them. Apple asks for identification and credit cards at the time of purchase in the US and also limits the sale to a maximum of two handsets.

However in India, most purchases are made by cash and why should the company care about identification as long as phones are getting sold? To make matters worse, the people who are supposedly selling you the phones have not been trained as you would expect at a “genius bar”, they have been debriefed a few hours prior to the launch and know basic things like “turning on the iPhone” and “inserting a sim card”. They usually freeze up if you ask them questions around “iCloud” or some new elements like “handoff”.

The one good thing out of all of this is the fact that Apple has made the phones available in India early, unlike the iPhone 4s which was launched a good 9-10 months later, the iPhone 6 will launch a month after the US launch. However, this year expect the problems to be big, or well “bigger than bigger”. #BigFailSale anyone?

[poll id=”21″]

September 17, 2014
iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 Plus : Is the Bigger Screen Worth the Extra Bucks?

Months of heavy speculation about Apple revealing two new phones this year, was confirmed at the mega event held in Cupertino California on 9th September. They arrived with much fanfare and we finally got to meet the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus. Both the devices are larger and much thinner in size; the iPhone 6 comes with a 4.7-inch screen and its bigger sibling, the iPhone 6 Plus sports a 5.5-inch one. However, there is a hundred dollar difference between the two.

Now if you’re thinking about investing in one of these devices, you need to really think it through. Here are some differences that could help determine your decision.

Design

Both devices are made of aluminum and have a hard glass front. Also, there is a steel Apple logo at the back of the phone, that gives them both an elegant but still tough look. There are bare minimum changes in the design, the only difference is the size. As the name suggests, the iPhone 6 Plus is a lot larger than the smaller iPhone 6. Some of you may find it a bit too big for your hands. Also, at 7.1mm the iPhone 6 Plus is bit thicker, while the iPhone 6 is 6.8mm thick.

Screen and Display

As mentioned above, the iPhone 6 Plus comes with a 5.5-inch display while the iPhone 6 is at 4.7-inch. Previous iPhones, in the last few years, have come with much smaller screens in comparison to other high-end Android phones like Galaxy Note series and the Nexus series. However, there is no significant difference in display technology between the two. Both use IPS displays with ion-toughened fronts. As expected, iPhone 6 Plus gets a higher resolution and pixel density. Where the iPhone 6 has a display of 326ppi (same as iPhone 5S), the iPhone 6 Plus offers 1080p resolution.

Camera

One of the biggest disappointment at the event was that Apple decided to stick to an 8 megapixel cameras. The new camera in the iPhones is an 8-megapixels with f/2.2 and 1.5 micrometer pixels. Although, Apple claims that the new camera comes with a better low light performance and focus than the previous generation iPhones. The iPhone 6 offers digital image stabilisation, while the iPhone 6 Plus comes with higher optical image stabilisation (OIS), hence giving the bigger variant an edge in terms of camera. Both devices are also equipped with the 1.2-megapixel FaceTime HD camera, with f/2.2 aperture.

Battery life

The iPhone 6 have the same battery life as iPhone 5S that lasts about 10 hours. The iPhone 6 Plus gets a better battery life which can last upto 16 hours on a single charge, and that is pretty impressive considering the size of the device. The larger device claims 24 hours of 3G talk time, the smaller 14 hours, however, the company did not reveal the actual capacity yet.

Processor

Both phones are equipped with the same processor and a dual-core 1.4GHz 64-bit CPU. According to the company, the new Apple A8 processor offers 20 per cent better CPU performance than the Apple A7. All in all, compared to the original iPhone, the new processor in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus is rated to be 84 times faster. Furthermore, Apple says the new A8 is up to 50 percent more power-efficient and will be able to sustain battery-sucking tasks for longer without heating up.

Storage

Not that we are surprised, Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus do not offer you expandable memory option. Anyhow, Apple’s new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will provide users more storage than ever before, excelling out at an impressive 128 gigabytes of space on high-end models of its two new handsets. An iPhone 6 Plus with 128GB of internal storage will be a ‘Holy Grail’ for on-the-go multimedia experience, offering enough memory for a hundred SD-quality films or 25-plus HD ones.

Verdict

Big or Small? Apple made sure that there is no weak link between the two iPhones. Both the devices have same screen tech, the same processor and similar-grade cameras with only a considerable difference is the screen size and the battery life. However, we prefer that extra display space of the iPhone 6 Plus and its greater battery life makes it more of a power user device. Keeping this and pricing in mind it will be better to spend some extra money get that extra real estate on the screen and battery life.

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September 11, 2014
Apple to Bring iPhone 6 to India on 17th October

Apple’s latest flagship is out now, and the lovers and haters are excited for their own reasons. The company has posted on its website that the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will be available in India on the 17th of October. It appears that both variants of the phone will come together; it was previously reported that the bigger iPhone was to come later by the end of the year.

We have already told you about the expected pricing of the devices. For a premium device with innovative interconnectivity features, the price is justified. The phones are, in fact, cheaper than their predecessors when considering the amount of features they bring. Apple has kept with times and has increased the screen sizes for heavy multimedia consumption. And to address the elephant in the room; yes you are also paying for the Apple brand and it’s a great service. Premium services cost a lot of moolah.

The new phones also come with an NFC payment feature called Apple Pay. It seems fairly secure and will come handy to folks traveling to America coming next month when it gets implemented across multiple stores and online retailers.

These 64 bit, A8 chip-based phones are much faster, and their seamless interconnectivity feature like handoff, Wi-Fi-calling and others will make them worth buying. The improved camera features will also be appreciated by Apple enthusiasts. So mark your calendar, the Apple giants are a month away.

September 10, 2014
Apple iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in India Pricing

After the flood of leaks and rumors we finally get to see what Apple had in store for us. The devices are not just designed right, they are priced right too.

The 4.7 inch variant i.e. iPhone 6 is priced at about Rs. 39,500 in the US for an unlocked version so is expected to cost around Rs. 48000- 49000 for the 16 GB variant.

On the other hand, the 5.5 inch bigger sibling, the iPhone 6 Plus will be sold at the price tag of about Rs. 45,500 without contract in the US which would come to around Rs 55000 in India just like last years iPhone 5s.

For a premium flagship phone, this is good pricing. The phones are of course going to be trend setters in terms of their inter-connectivity features as well as the convenience of Apple pay. Coupled with the amazing Apple Watch, this will be a tech connoisseurs must have gadgetry. So being tech connoisseurs, our hands are itching for a feel of these beautiful devices. We can just hope for them to land on our stores as soon as possible.

September 10, 2014
Apple Pay: Easy Digital Payment From Your New iPhone 6 and 6 Plus

Apple introduced its long awaited and much-leaked iPhone 6 and the 6 Plus. Of course, you must have heard loads about the new smartphones from the Cupertino based tech giant. But there was one amazing innovation presented at the event that is going to make shopping easy, really easy. It’s called the Apple Pay.

With the new iPhones, Apple introduces the NFC radio on their phones. With Apple Pay all you need to do for paying at stores is bring your phone near the payment sensor, and that’s it, your payment is done. Apple pay is available on both, the iPhone 6 as well as the iPhone 6 Plus. It uses the Touch id for secure payment.

Apple Pay is a revolutionary way of payment.

Well, well you say, what about security, Apple hasn’t had the best of PR in that respect. Well, Apple is leaving no holes barred, the company has inducted a security chip called the Secure Elements on the phones. Not just that, with this new technology, even your name and purchase details remain hidden from the cashiers at the store. You simply pay by keeping your thumb on the touch ID sensor.

Apple has also take special care that your financial data such as Credit card and account details from falling into the wrong hands. All your credit cards are stored in the Passbook app that doesn’t store any physical data on the device like credit card number and the CVV number. Instead, what you get is a One Time Payment(OTP) number for every transaction that gets transferred to the bank, so neither Apple nor the merchant gets to know your details.

The most important bit is that if your Phone gets stolen or lost, you can simply use the Find my iPhone app and suspend all transaction from the phone. As the details credit cards are not physically present on the device, you don’t even need to cancel your cards.

The Passbook stores all the credit card details at one secure place.

Apple Pay also works on the internet. When you go for a transaction on a site that supports Apple Pay, you don’t need to go through the troubles typing in all the shipping details and card details. With just one touch you can pay for the items, and you’ll get a notification with all the details of the purchase.

Adding credit cards to the Passbook is also real easy. You can use the existing cards from iTunes. If you want to add a new card, all you need to do is take an image from your phone and get it confirmed from your bank, and you are ready to shop online.

Apple will begin the Apple pay service from the month of October in the USA. It will partner with some of the biggest chains and services like McDonalds, Subway, etc. It will also work with apps such as Uber, Groupon and of course the Apple online store. Apple pay will also work with Apple’s latest innovation, the Apple Watch.

With this Apple has brought the next generation payment technology in the mainstream that seems fast and secure. To actually judge the technology we have to wait for its implementation, but as of now, we are impressed. With the addition of NFC-enabled payment, Apple has matched up to its adversary, Androids Google Wallet and taken it a step further.

September 10, 2014