Tag: launch

Micromax Launches the Canvas Amaze at Rs. 7,999

Micromax has launched the Canvas Amaze in India at a price of Rs. 7,999. The smartphone is available at a variety of online retailers.

The Canvas Amaze features a 5-inch HD (720X1280 pixels) IPS display and comes with dual-SIM support. The smartphone is powered by a quad-core MediaTek MT6580 processor clocked at 1.3GHz clubbed with 2GB of RAM and runs on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.

Other features of the Canvas Amaze include a 13MP primary camera with LED flash and a 5MP front. The device comes with 8GB of internal storage that’s expandable up to 32GB via MicroSD card slot. On the connectivity front the phone includes 3G, Wi-Fi Bluetooth, Micro-USB,and A-GPS, FM, while sensors include Proximity sensor, Accelerometer and Gyroscope, to name a few. The device has a 2000mAh removable battery pack, which will give you about 7 hours of talk time and 260 hours of standby.

Micromax is planning to host an event on November 18 for the launch of a new smartphone. No further details have been revealed as of now.

November 17, 2015
Everything You Need To Know About Samsung’s New Exynos 8890 Chip

We are all aware that the Samsung S7 will be the company’s next handset, what we also know is that the company just announced it’s first new chip in the Exynos 8 Octa series, called the Exynos 8890. This chip is also the first 14 nm FinFET process chip with an integrated CP and modem chip and is also the first custom core design chip.

Now you are probably wondering why this piece of information is relevant to you. The answer is that not only does this new chip affect the ‘tech geek’ in you, but will also show tangible changes that will affect the average smartphone user. The small size of the chip is said to affect power consumption and performance positively. The smallest size so far is 14nm and this chip will be used by the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, which hopefully be seen in next year’s smartphones.

While the details will surely excite more technical people, the implications of those features will also be felt by regular users. Chip manufacturers have forever been trying to use smaller and smaller manufacturing processes for their silicon. The smallest so far is 14 nm, which has now arrived on mobile thanks to Samsung. Using a smaller process not only results in smaller chips but also includes benefits to power consumption and performance. The new Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 uses the same 14 nm FinFET process, so we’ll be seeing the results of this new process in next year’s smartphones.

Samsung Galaxy On7

If you’re done processing all that information, we’re sorry to bother you but there’s more. This Exynos chip will also provide you with faster internet. How? Well, this chip combined within itself both the CPU and the LTE modem which can reportedly support 600 Mbps on down-link and 150 Mbps on uploads with the help of the Cat 12 and Cat 13 LTE. Furthermore, this chip, as mentioned earlier, is Samsung’s first custom core design chip. So, it will come with its own CPU core design which will only optimize its performance on the company’s devices. The Exynos also comes with four CPU cores and four Corted-A53 cores with the latest Mali-T880 graphics chip.

Availability wise, the Exynos 8 Octa will start shipping later this year and is expected to come integrated with Samsung’s next flagship smartphone. Until then, let us sit tight and await Samsung’s Unpacked event scheduled for the 21st of February 2016.

November 12, 2015
Apple’s iPad Pro To Go On Sale Globally This Wednesday

Apple has officially announced that the iPad Pro will be available for purchase on the official Apple website from the 11th of November 2015. The company has further said that, later this week, you might even find the iPad Pro at Apple Stores and certain carrier locations. However, let us note at the onset itself, that these dates will not apply to India, and as of now there are no details as to when it will release here.

https://youtu.be/4AZR8a5XVSs

The iPad Pro comes in two variants – Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi plus cellular. So, the Wi-Fi only iPad will e available at $799 (Rs.53,018) with 32GB internal storage, while the Wi-Fi plus cellular version will be priced at $1,079 (Rs.71,597) with 128GB of internal memory. The Apple Pencil will arrive at $99 (Rs.6,569) and the smart keyboard at $169 (Rs.11,214). Along with this Apple is also providing an iPad Pro smart cover in polyurethane at $59 (Rs.3,914) or silicon at $79 (Rs.5,242).

“The early response to iPad Pro from app developers and our customers has been incredible, and we’re excited to get iPad Pro into the hands of customers around the world this week.” – said Philip Schiller, SVP Worldwide Marketing, Apple.

Apple is also going all out in the customer services department by announcing that a user purchasing the iPad Pro from a physical Apple Store will also be given the option of getting their device set up for them by an Apple Store representative. Furthermore, these customers can also have their email and other apps set up for them at the store for free.

Before you buy anything though, let us give you a small recap of the iPad Pro’s features. It comes with a 12.9-inch IPS screen carrying a 2048 x 2072 resolution with a pixel density of 265ppi. It runs on the Apple A9X SoC which is under the hood and has a 4GB of RAM inside. On the camera front, it comes with an 8MP primary camera and a 1.2MP camera up front. The battery is expected to last you about 10 hours of use between charges.

Let’s see when this much anticipated Apple device arrives in India. It would be interesting to see the response of the Indian market to the iPad Pro after the unexpectedly low sales of iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. Watch this space for all the latest updates.

November 10, 2015
HTC Launches the Desire 728G in India, Priced at Rs. 17,990

Last month we had mentioned HTC is planning to launch the Desire 728G in India. Today, HTC has indeed launched the phone at a price of Rs. 17,990. The smartphone is offered in Purple Myst and White Luxury colour variants and is available at major offline retailers.

“The new HTC Desire 728G Dual SIM brings distinctive design into a feature-rich smartphone, providing you with a great value smartphone which you can truly make your own. We want to provide a powerful, fully customisable experience to our customers, and the HTC Desire 728G Dual SIM brings this in abundance,” said Faisal Siddiqui, President, HTC South Asia during the launch.

The HTC Desire 728G Dual SIM is housed in a stylish, elegant body and boasts a clean yet striking finish. The device features a 5.5-inch HD (729×1280 pixels) display. It is powered by a 1.3GHz MediaTek octa-core processor paired with 1.5 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage expandable up to 2 TB via MicroSD card slot.

The handset also features a 13 MP primary camera with BSI sensor, f/2.2 aperture and LED flash, and a 5 MP front camera with 1080p video recording capabilities, a 2,080 mAh battery, and will run on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. Other connectivity features include dual-SIM card slots, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1 and GPS. The dual SIM, however, does not support 4G.

Online sales of the HTC Desire 728G have yet to begin. We’ll bring word as and when the device becomes available with online retailers in India.

November 9, 2015
Samsung to Launch its Virtual Reality Headset This Month

Samsung is all set to release Gear VR, company’s virtual reality headset, before Black Friday that is 27th November. It will be first launched in the US, followed by a UK launch a couple of days later and then other parts of the world. The headset would be shipped with the new Occulus Social app. Vimeo and Twitch videos would also be part of the app which can be watched with other people in anywhere in the world, participating as avatars.

Samsung has also launched Samsung Milk VR, it’s own VR video channel, along with a VR camera Project Beyond which is a 360-degree 3D capture camera built specifically to create videos for virtual reality.

Samsung’s Vice President for VR, Nicholas DiCarlo comments on Gear VR and says, ““Some people think virtual reality (VR) will be isolating but I think it’s clear it’s going to be a social medium… It’s the launch of consumer virtual reality.”

Other than the Occulus Social app and Milk VR, there are also plenty of games, apps such as Facebook 360 videos and Jaunt (a technological initiative that commissions and therefore encourages film-makers to make VR-friendly films) which have been developed for the headset. The headset is priced at $99 (close to Rs. 6,500) and can be plugged into the Galaxy S6, Edge, Edge + and Note 5 and any of the other new Samsung handsets.

Virtual reality seems to be the next big thing in the world of entertainment as well as tech. Would you be willing to give it a try?

November 7, 2015
‘Notify’ -Facebook’s Standalone News-Only App to Launch Next Week

Following its announcement of serving over a billion users, Facebook is once again in news -this time for a standalone app for delivering news to readers. According to reports, the app is called Notify and it will put together news from different sources which include The Washington Post, Comedy Central and Vogue, among others.

Rumours of Facebook working on a news-only app has been milling since August. This app aims to standout from others in the league by giving alerts to the reader as and when the story they are following develops. The reader would not have to visit specific stories or categories again to view the updates and changes.

Notify is expected to follow in the footsteps of Apple’s pre-installed News app for iOS 9 which boasts of over 40 million users now since its launch in mid-September. Let’s see how users take to this newest update by Facebook. Do you think it will simply add to the fray of many other similar news-related apps or will it be a change as refreshing and useful as reports are making it sound to be? We’ll keep you updated as and when we get more on this.

November 5, 2015

Samsung Launches Galaxy On5 and On7 in India

Samsung’s newest mid-range ‘On’ series has officially launched in India. The On5 and On7 are the first set of devices in this group. We have been talking about it for a while and now we have all specifics and particulars for you.

Looking at the On5 first, the device sports a 5-inch (126.7mm) HD touchscreen display and is equipped with a 1.3GHz quad core processor under the hood. It features a 1.5GB RAM and an 8GB storage, a portion of which is occupied by the OS. On the camera front, the On5 has an 8MP primary camera with auto-focus and a 5MP front.

Samsung Galaxy On5 iGyaan 1 — Samsung Galaxy On5

Moving on to the On7 and you see a slightly bigger screen at 5.5-inch (138.6mm) HD display. The On7 runs on a 1.2GHz quad core Sanpdragon 410 processor and a 1.5GB RAM. The storage is the same as the On5 at 8GB and both are expandable up to 128GB via MicroSD card slot. Bith the devices are dual SIM. The On7 houses a 13MP primary camera with auto-focus and a 5MP front.

Samsung Galaxy On7 iGyaan 0 — Samsung Galaxy On7

Now, given that the On7 is the bigger of the two phones in terms of pricing, one would expect the processor to be better as well. But surprisingly that’s not the case. Furthermore, the specs and price of the On7 is quite similar to the Galaxy J5 except for a bigger battery in the On7 at 3,000mAh. This begs one to question why exactly Samsung felt the need to introduce a new series when it already had one that covered the price range.

The devices are touted as youth friendly and come an Ultra Data Saving mode that compresses data and saves up to 50% data charges for greater networking and browsing. The devices also come with RadioMix which is an Apple Music-like streaming service that lets you stream millions of songs and also offers curated music based on your preference.

The On5 is priced at Rs. 8990 while the On7 costs Rs. 10,990. The devices will be sold exclusively on Flipkart starting midnight tonight. Stay tuned for a detailed hands-on with both the devices. Till then, have a look at the specs table below.

Specs	Galaxy On5	Galaxy On7
Display	5.0-inch HD TFT	5.5-inch HD TFT
Resolution	1280 x 720 pixels	1280 x 720 pixels
Chipset	Exynos 3475	Snapdragon 410 MSM8916
CPU	1.3GHz Quad Core	1.2Ghz Quad A53
GPU
RAM	1.5GB	1.5GB
Primary Camera	8MP(F/2.2) w/ LED Flash	13MP(F/2.1) w/ LED Flash
Front Camera	5MP(F/2.2)	5MP(F/2.2)
Storage	8GB	8GB
Expandability	Up to 128GB via MicroSD card slot	Up to 128GB via MicroSD card slot
Battery	2,600mAh	3,000mAh
Connectivity	Bluetooth 4.1, WiFi b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, GPS, Glonass	Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, GPS, Glonass, Beidou, NFC O (option)
Operating System	Android 5.1.1 Lollipop	Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
Price	Rs. 8,990	Rs. 10,990

November 3, 2015

HTC One M9e Launched in China With One A9’s Camera

Adding to the fray of HTC’s complicated naming scheme, the company’s newest smartphone HTC One M9e (phew!) has been launched in China. Notice the presence of the ‘e’ here as opposed to the previous One M9, the M9+, the One E9, the E9+ and so on.

This device seems to be a hybrid of M9 and A9 with a 13 MP OIS camera and 1080p recording, minus 4K. The smartphone further incorporates the OneM9+ chipset -the MediaTek MT6795T Helio X 10. This is a step up from the Snapdragon 617 in the One A9 and therefore is capable of 2160p video recording.

HTC has equipped this phone with a 13 MP rear camera and an UltraPixel 4 MP front camera. M9e runs on the older Android 5.0 Lollipop featuring HTC sense. On the RAM front One M9e is marked at 2 GB and comes with 16 GB of storage.

In terms of display, the handset is marked at 5 inches with an 1080p screen. The aluminium unibody of M9e supports a single SIM. Connectivity options for One M9e include 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, and MicroUSB 2.0.

HTC One M9e is priced at CNY 2,700 ($425 or close to Rs. 28,000). Though it has been launched in China, it is unclear when will it be made available in other countries.

October 31, 2015
HTC Desire 728 to Launch in India Soon

HTC recently launched the One A9, but it will be a while before the phone hits the Indian market. In the meantime, you may be interested in the HTC’s Desire 728G that is set to arrive in Indian stores soon.

The news comes from a Mumbai-based retailer that says that the device will be priced at Rs. 17,990. The HTC Desire 728G is a variant of the 728 that was launched in China recently.

The device comes with expected mid-range specs such as a 1.3GHz MediaTek octa-core processor paired with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage expandable up to 2TB via MicroSD card slot.

The handset will also feature a 13 MP primary camera and a 5 MP front camera with 1080p video recording capabilities, a 2,080 mAh battery, and will run on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. Other connectivity features include dual-SIM card slots, 4G LTE support, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1 and GPS.

No further details on the exact date of launch have been revealed yet. Let us know if you’re interested in the Desire 728 or would rather hold out for the One A9 in the comments below.

October 31, 2015
iPad Pro and New Apple Pencil to Launch in India in November

Following Samsung’s announcement of making its On series phones available in India next month, reports have confirmed 11th November as the date for Apple’s iPad Pro to come to the country. The device was launched in September, along with additional accessories and the new iPhones.

Apple had mentioned a November launch for the iPad Pro and now various sources have confirmed the date as eleventh. The Apple Pencil and the Smart Keyboard -accessories for the new iPad – will also go on sale on the same day. Current pricing of the device in the US marks it at $799 (about Rs. 52,000) while the Pencil costs $99 (about Rs. 6400) and the Smart Keyboard costs $169 (about Rs. 11,000). Click here for the specs of iPad Pro.

After the poor response to iPhone 6s and 6s Plus in the country, let’s see how the iPad is received by buyers. Many users believe that there isn’t a specific purpose for the iPad because all work gets done on laptops and cellphones in India. There isn’t basically a need of an in-between device. iPad Pro thus is not much more than another shiny new toy for tech lovers and Apple enthusiasts, don’t you think?

October 31, 2015
Samsung Teases November Launch of ‘On’ Series Smartphones

Samsung unveiled its ‘On’ lineup of budget smartphones last week. The On5 was even briefly listed on Flipkart last week with the name ‘Samsung Galaxy On5 G550’ without any mention of the price. Last night, Samsung India sent out a tweet that suggests that the low-range smartphones will see a November 3 launch.

Watch this space for more. pic.twitter.com/dVRrpxVIMm

— Samsung Mobile India (@SamsungMobileIN) October 30, 2015

The tweet doesn’t give away much and you can expect Samsung India to make a few more announcements in the days leading up to November 3. The On series phones also promises an ‘exhilarating music experience’, which points out what the devices main attraction is going to be, apart from it’s price tag.

For those unaware, the Galaxy On5 and On7 are equipped with a 1.3 GHz 32-bit quad-core Samsung Exynos 3475 processor paired with a Mali-T720 MP1 GPU and 1.5 GB of RAM. The phones come with a low 8 GB internal storage, but are expandable up to 128 GB via MicroSD slot.

Furthermore, the On7 and On5 feature 5.5-inch and 5.0-inch Super AMOLED display, respectively. Another point of difference between them is the camera. The Galaxy On5 has an 8-megapixel rear camera while the On7 houses a 13-megapixel sensor rear, and they both sport a 5-megapixel front. Meanwhile, the On7 has a bigger 3000mAh battery compared to On5’s 2,600mAh.

The expected prices of the On5 and On7 stand at $150 (approx. Rs. 10,000) and $200 (approx. Rs. 13,000), respectively. You can expect the Indian pricing to be made official in the next few days. Follow this space for more on the On series launch.

October 31, 2015
Moto X Force to Arrive in India Next Month

After making news with Moto X Play and Moto X Style, Motorola is all set to launch its new smartphone, Moto X Force, in India next month. The smartphone is expected to hit the market with its current price tag of $624 (Rs. 40,000 approximately) and $720 (Rs. 47,000 approximately) for the 32GB and 64GB variants respectively.

Moto X Style and Play

The highlight of the device is its super-hardy screen. Motorola claims to have integrated a ‘Moto Shattershield’ technology in the display of Moto Force which, it says, is the first shatterproof screen in the world. The company feels confident enough to affirm the screen would stay intact for up to four years, owing to the multiple layers of different materials used in making it capable of absorbing shock and providing protection against cracking.

Moto X Force has been already launched as Droid Turbo 2 exclusively for Verizon users in the US. Moto X Force is the name of the global variant of this smartphone which will go on sale in Latin America, EMEA, and APAC (including India) starting this November.

https://youtu.be/JJWmBFV2GHM

On the specs front, Moto X Force packs a 5.4 inch Quad HD display with a resolution of 2560×1440 pixels. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core chipset along with 3 GB of RAM. The two internal storage options of 32 GB and 64 GB are expandable up to 2 TB with the help of a microSD card.

The phone comes equipped with a 21 megapixel main camera along with a 5 megapixel selfie camera. The battery is marked at a 3,760 mAh, which Motorola claims is sufficient for lasting up to two days of mixed usage. The battery also features Quick Charging support. In terms of connectivity, Moto X Force includes single-SIM card slot, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and runs on 5.1.1 Lollipop.

October 29, 2015

OnePlus 2 vs OnePlus X: Specs, Price And All Other Details

After teasing audiences for a while on social media, OnePlus launched OnePlus X in India today. The company launched its predecessor, OnePlus 2 in July this year. OnePlus 2 had been made available for sale on an invite-only basis initially, but later it was put up for open sale as well.

The glass ceramic limited edition variant of OnePlus X costs Rs. 22,999. The price is same as that of the 16 GB variant of OnePlus 2. However, the 16 GB variant of OnePlus 2 is priced at Rs. 22,999 which is far ahead from the Rs. 16,999 of OnePlus X onyx-back variant.

OnePlus X has only one storage option which is 16 GB, but it’s expandable upto 128 GB with the help of a microSD slot. Find a comparison of the specs of the two OnePlus devices below and let us know which one you would be willing to stake your money on.

Specs	OnePlus X	OnePlus 2
Display	5 inch full HD Amoled display, Corning Gorilla Glass 3	5.5-inch, LTPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, Corning Gorilla Glass
Resolution	1080 X 1920 Full HD, 441 PPI	1080 x 1920 pixels, 401 PPI
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 with 2.3 GHz Quad-core CPUs	Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 v2.1 octa-core processor
GPU	Adreno 330	Adreno 430
RAM	3 GB	3/4 GB
Storage	16 GB	16 GB/ 64 GB
Rear Camera	13 MP ISOCELL Camera	13 MP with OIS, laser autofocus, dual-LED flash
Front Camera	8 MP	5 MP
Expandability	128 GB	N/A
Battery	Embedded LiPo 2,525 mAh	Non-removable Li-Po 3300 mAh
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 2.4 Ghz b/g/n WCN3680, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, GLONASS and BDS.	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspotBluetooth v4.1, A2DP, Micro USB, Type-C reversible connector
OS	Oxygen OS based on Android 5.1.1	Android 5.1 Lollipop
Price	Rs. 16,999 (onyx variant) and Rs. 22,999 (limited edition glass ceramic variant)	22,999 (16 GB), Rs 24,999 (64 GB)

In addition to the above mentioned specs, OnePlus X has dual sim, two variants -one with an onyx back, the other with a glass-ceramic back which is a limited edition variant, 11 mm drivers and is available in two colours -gold and graphite.

October 29, 2015

OnePlus X Officially Launches in India

We had earlier reported that OnePlus’ latest smartphone will be launched in India on the 29th of October. The company has indeed lifted the veils off the OnePlus X today. This is the third entry in the company’s lineup and it falls under a whole new category for OnePlus – not exactly a mid-range device but also not a ‘flagship killer’.

The OnePlus X was touted as a smaller version of the OnePlus 2. Recent leaked images also suggested that the company was not going with the OnePlus 2 design for the X, which made sense given the poor response towards the OnePlus 2’s look.

The phone was launched today in New Delhi. The GM of OnePlus India, Vikas Agarwal, said that the OnePlus X is made for a design conscious user and brings a feeling of high quality. The company has introduced for the first time a glass-ceramic variant for the phone. The OnePlus X onyx will come with a black glass plate and round edges while the OnePlus ceramic comes with angled edges that will reflect light. The ceramic variant is limited edition with only 10,000 units available.

The specs of the phone keep with past rumours. The OnePlus X sports a 5-inch AMOLED display (1920×1080), with a primary camera of 13 MP and a 8 MP front. The device runs on a 2.1 GHz Snapdragon 801 chipset. It features a 3 GB RAM with 16 GB internal storage and is expandable up to 128 via MicroSD card slot. The phone includes an alert slider, like the one found on OnePlus 2. The OnePlus X weighs around 138 gm for the onyx variant and a heavier 160 gm for the ceramic variant.

As expected, the OnePlus X is available through invite only. The handset comes at a very affordable price tag of Rs. 16,999 for the onyx variant and Rs. 24,999 for the limited edition ceramic body. The price is great for a phone that aesthetically looks high-end but isn’t. The device will be sold exclusively on Amazon from the 5th of November. Have a look at the spec table below.

Specification	OnePlus X
Display	5-inch full HD AMOLED screen, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	1920×1080 pixels, 441ppi
Dimensions	140 x 69 x 6.9 mm
Weight	138 g (Onyx)/ 160 g (Ceramic)
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 801
CPU	2.3 GHz Quad-core processor
GPU	Adreno 330
RAM	3 GB
Front Camera	8 MP f/2.4
Rear Camera	13 MP f/2.2 ISOCELL
Storage	16 GB eMMC v5.0
Expandability	Up to 128 GB via MicoSD
Battery	2,525 mAh embedded rechargeable battery
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz b/g/n WCN3680 / Bluetooth 4.0
Operating System	Oxygen OS based on Android 5.1.1
Price	Rs. 16,999 (Onyx)/ Rs. 22,999 (limited edition Ceramic)

October 29, 2015

Latest Leak Reveals OnePlus X Design and Pricing

We earlier mentioned to you that the OnePlus X is set to come to our markets by the end of this month. Now, official leaks of the much awaited phone reveal what seems like its final design and price tag.

The OnePlus X is said to be 5-inch which will be smaller that the current OnePlus’ that are both 5.5.” The phone is expected to sport a 1080p display, in a 140 x 69 x 6.9 mm chassis and will sport a 13 MP rear camera, an 8 MP camera on the front, 3 GB of RAM, and 16 GB/32 GB of expandable storage space.

The device is likely to be announced on 29th October which is just three days away. The poster also showed the highly anticipated price tag which is 1699 yuan (Approximately Rs. 17,362). This doesn’t seem cheap considering that competition phones are cheaper and also because it was first rumoured to be three thousand rupees cheaper. It isn’t yet clear if that is the pricing of the 32 GB variant as there is another 1099 yuan price tag, present on the poster. However, that is probably going to be the price for event attendees.

Whatever said and done, the OnePlus X has caused a great amount of stir and the 29th of October will answer all your unanswered questions so watch this space for more.

October 26, 2015

Tag: launch

Specs

Galaxy On5

Galaxy On7

Specs

OnePlus X

OnePlus 2