Friday, January 22, 2016

Latest Stuff - Gadgets

Latest Stuff - Gadgets

Asus ZenFone Zoom with 13-megapixel OIS camera, 3x optical zoom launched in India

Posted: 22 Jan 2016 10:30 AM PST

Asus today launched its camera-centric smartphone, ZenFone Zoom, in India. The smartphone is priced at Rs 37,999 and there is also a bundle with ZenFlash and specially made tripod for Rs 39,999. As of now, Asus did not mention any availability date.
Asus had unveiled the ZenFone Zoom at the CES 2015 and was available in select markets so far. The main highlight of the smartphone is its 13-megapixel rear camera that features SmartFSI sensor comprising of 10 lenses – four aspherical glasses, four glass lenses and two prism lenses, along with 3x optical zoom. It also comes with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), laser auto-focus, and has a dedicated camera button the edge of the smartphone. The smartphone also comes with a 5-megapixel front facing camera.
Asus ZenFone Zoom specifications and features: The smartphone comes with a 5.5-inch full HD IPS display. The smartphone is powered by Intel Atom 2.5GHz quad-core processor coupled with 4GB of RAM and 128GB onboard storage. The smartphone supports expandable storage via microSD.
Connectivity options include 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth and GPS. A 3,000 mAh battery powers the smartphone.
Source: bgr.in

Samsung Gear VR headset launched in India, to go on sale via Flipkart for Rs 8,200

Posted: 22 Jan 2016 10:19 AM PST

In addition to the Gear S2 and Gear S2 Classic smartwatches, Samsung today also launched the Gear VR headset. The virtual reality headset too will be exclusively available on Flipkart with a price tag of Rs 8,200. It will also be available at select offline stores like Croma and Reliance Digital.
The VR headset, powered by Oculus, was first unveiled at the Oculus Connect Conference back in September last year. While at first glance the Gear VR looks quite similar to its predecessor (Gear VR Innovator Edition), the new headset is 22 percent lighter. It features dimensions of 201.9×116.4×92.6mm and weighs 318 grams. It may not be as portable as say the Google Cardboard, but this is the first VR headset launched by Samsung for everyday consumers.It looks more like a pair of giant ski mask with foam on the inside and an elastic Velcro strap. The headset is big enough and is designed to accommodate glasses too. Underneath it boasts sensors like Accelerator, Gyrometer, and Proximity to detect mounting and unmounting of the headset.As for compatibility, the previous version only worked with the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy Note 4. But this new headset works with a whole raft of Samsung smartphones, including the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge+. It connects to the smartphones using the micro-USB port.
Source: bgr.in

Titan Juxt smartwatch launched in India, prices start from Rs 15,995

Posted: 22 Jan 2016 10:15 AM PST

Leading watchmaker Titan today entered the wearable technology segment with the launch of its smartwatch Titan Juxt and is introducing it in international markets including the US, the UK and Canada. The watches will be priced between Rs 15,995 and Rs 19,995.
Juxt is launched in colloboration with global technology giant HP, and Titan will sell the smartwatch in the international markets through HP's distribution network."We are selling Juxt in the US, the UK and Canada through HP's distribution network, and in the next one year we will launch it in five or six more countries outside India," Bhaskar Bhat, managing director of Titan Company said.The growth in the watches category across players has been challenging, he said, and with the launch of the new brand Titan hopes to bring new customers into the fold.
"This will help watches get back on wrists, and smartwatches will give a fillip to the watch business," he said.
While the business model of Titan is not based on international forays, Bhat said that the initiative to sell it in international markets will bring good business for the company. The watch is available for prebooking on the company's e-commerce website, and on Myntra. It will also be available across select World of Titan, Helios and large format stores, the company said.
The approximately Rs 5,000 crore watch market in the country has seen "single digit growth" in the past year. Market leader Titan has slowed down expansion and is "more cautious" with the number of new stores it opens, S Ravi Kant, chief executive of watches and accessories, Titan said.
Titan had said last year, that it would increase its presence in small towns, with 100 more outlets across its retail formats of World of Titan, Fastrack and Helios this fiscal.
Source: bgr.in

Lenovo Vibe X3 to launch in India on January 27

Posted: 22 Jan 2016 10:15 AM PST

Lenovo will be reportedly launching its Vibe X3 smartphone in India on January 27. The smartphone was first unveiled in China in November last year. Lenovo had introduced three variants of the Vibe X3, including two Qualcomm-based models and one MediaTek powered version called the Vibe X3 Lite. Lenovo is most likely to introduce the Vibe X3 with a Qualcomm chipset in India.
Lenovo Vibe X3 specifications and features: The Lenovo Vibe X3 is successor to the Vibe X2. The smartphone has a 5.5-inch full HD display with Gorilla Glass 3 protection. It runs Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor with 3GB of RAM. The company is likely to introduce the 32GB storage version of the smartphone in India. The smartphone also supports expandable storage via microSD.For photography, the Vibe X3 has a 23-megapixel rear camera featuring Sony IMX230 sensor, phase detection autofocus and 4K video recording. It also has an 8-megapixel front facing camera. In terms of connectivity, the smartphone supports dual-SIM, LTE, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi among others. It is powered by a 3,600mAh battery with Quick Charge 2.0 support. Other important features of the smartphone include Dolby ATMOS integration for sound and fingerprint scanner on the rear.
So far there's no word on the India pricing of the smartphone. The ibe X3 was launched in China with price starting at 1,899 Yuan or Rs.19,000 approximately.
Launch of the Vibe X3 comes shortly after the company introduced its budget K4 Note smartphone in India. Priced at Rs 11,999, the smartphone comes with features such as 5-inch full HD display, MediaTek octa-core processor, 3GB of RAM and 13-megapixel camera. Lenovo has also launched a VR bundled variant, which is available for Rs 12,499.

Source: bgr.in

Samsung Gear S2 and Gear S2 Classic Tizen smartwatches launched in India, prices start from Rs 24,300

Posted: 22 Jan 2016 10:08 AM PST

Samsung has finally brought its gorgeous Gear S2 smartwatch to India. The smartwatch will be available in two variants – Gear S2 and Gear S2 Classic, priced at Rs 24,300 and Rs 25,800 respectively. Both variants will be exclusively available on Flipkart.
One of the talking points of the Gear S2 is its gorgeous design, which unlike most smartwatches out there (including Apple Watch) boasts a circular design. It also doesn't come with a flat tyre dead zone seen on the Motorola Moto 360 and makes use of all the space. As for the variants, Samsung says that the Gear S2 is 'ideal for those who are on-the-go and have an admiration for minimal and modern design'. The Gear S2 classic, on the other hand, is for users 'who prefer a more timeless watch design'.While the Gear S2 supports touch inputs, what sets it apart from other smartwatches is an intuitive rotating bezel. This bezel can be used to navigate the user interface, while the two physical buttons on the side can be used to go 'one step back' and the other to 'launch the app drawer'.
Another differentiating factor is the operating system, which is yet another example of how Samsung is distancing itself from Google. Instead of running on Android Wear, it runs on the homegrown Tizen OS. There are basic apps to keep you notified of emails, text messages, news, calendar events and fitness related activities. But one will miss out on the growing number of third-party apps available on Google's operating system.As for customization options, the Gear S2 will be available in a dark gray case with silver or white bands. The Gear S2 Classic looks more like a regular watch with a black finish and black leather band, and you also get an option to swap bands. At CES 2015 last month, Samsung unveiled two new premium color variants of the smartwatch, called Platinum and Rose Gold. These variants, the company says, will be launched in India by end of this month.
Samsung Gear S2, Gear S2 Classic specifications and features: Both variants feature the same set of internals and are only differentiated on their design. So what you get is a 1.2-inch (360×360 pixels) circular display, and a 1GHz dual-core processor paired with 512MB of RAM underneath. On the storage front, there is 4GB inbuilt memory available.
The Gear S2 also features a 250mAh battery, which Samsung says is good enough to last 2-3 days. This is impressive considering the Apple Watch needs to be charged at the end of each day. There is also a heart rate monitor, IP68 certification for dust and water resistance, and connectivity options like Wi-Fi 802.11n, NFC and Bluetooth 4.1.
Source: bgr.in

Motorola Moto X Force, the shatterproof smartphone, to launch in India on February 1

Posted: 22 Jan 2016 10:04 AM PST

Motorola has sent out invites to media for a two-day event on February 1-2, to launch its Moto X smartphone in India. It may be recalled that Motorola India GM Amit Boni had confirmed that the Moto X Force, the Indian variant of the Droid Turbo 2, will be available in the country soon.
The main highlight of the Moto X Force is its display featuring ShatterShield technology that is said to make the smartphone shock and crack proof. The company is also offering a 4-year shatterproof warranty with the smartphone.The Moto X Force has a 5.4-inch QHD AMOLED display. It runs Android 5.1.1 Lollipop and is powered by Snapdragon 810 processor along with 3GB of RAM. The smartphone is available in 32GB and 64GB storage variants, and supports expandable storage up to 2TB through microSD.It also features a 21-megapixel rear camera with dual-LED flash, PDAF, and a 5-megapixel front facing camera. The smartphone is powered by a 3,760 mAh battery, and supports quick charging. Connectivity options include 4G LTE, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
The India pricing of the smartphone hasn't been disclosed so far. It's worth pointing out that the smartphone is available in the US for about $624 (Rs 40,700 approximately) and $720 (Rs 47,000 approximately) for the 32GB and 64GB variants respectively.
Source: bgr.in

LeEco Le Max launched with 6.33-inch QHD display, 21-megapixel camera

Posted: 22 Jan 2016 09:54 AM PST

LeEco aka LeTv today launched the Le Max in India. It will be available in two variants – gold color 128GB internal storage variant and a silver colored 64GB internal storage variant, with prices starting from Rs 32,999. There is also a Le Max Sapphire Edition that boasts a Sapphire Crystal Display, priced at Rs 69,999. The smartphone will be exclusively available via Flipkart on February 16, with registrations for the first sale starting today.LeEco describes the Le Max as a "superphone" boasting a full metal body with a thickness of only 8.95mm. The device also features a fingerprint scanner placed at the back, which the company calls LeTouch. The scanner is said to be fast enough to unlock the device in just 0.15 seconds and boasts an accuracy of almost 99.3 percent.
LeEco Le Max specifications and features: It flaunts a 6.33-inch 2K (1440×2560 pixels) display with pixel density of 464ppi and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. It is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 64-bit octa-core processor clocked at 2GHz and paired with 4GB of RAM. While the processor is infamous for its heating issues, the company promises that its engineers have worked hard to ensure that is not the case with the Le Max.
On the photography front, it is equipped with a 21-megapixel f/.20 rear camera with dual-LED flash, OIS, and PDAF. Up front, there is a 4-megapixel f/2.0 selfie camera with 2.0um micron pixel size. There is also a 3,400mAh battery and connectivity options like dual-SIM card slots, 4G LTE support, USB Type-C port, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS. On the software front, it runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop wrapped under EUI.
Source: bgr.in

Apple files application to setup offline, online stores in India

Posted: 22 Jan 2016 08:25 AM PST

Finally, Apple Stores could come to India. Apple has filed an application with the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) to set up stores – both offline and online – in India.
DIPP secretary Amitabh Kant confirmed the application filing. "We have just received Apple's proposal. We are examining it," he told Tol. The application comes after the government relaxed FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) in single-brand retail back in November. The liberalization of FDI in single-brand retail not only relaxes the 30 percent domestic sourcing rule, but also lets companies sell their products through retail, wholesale or e-commerce route.Prior to the relaxing of FDI policy, Apple had to sell its products through a network of authorized Apple Premium Resellers. It was also reported to be setting up dedicated sections at Croma's retail stores.Apple's plans for a retail presence though have been in the open for the past couple of years. The company has long been lobbying for the relaxation of FDI in single-brand retail, which would allow it to set up its own stores.
BGR India had also exclusively reported about Apple's plans to set up stores to sell iPhones and iPads in the country. Subsequent reports have since claimed that Apple plans on setting up as many as 500 such stores across the country.
India has proved to be an important market for Apple, and recently its revenues in the country crossed the $1 billion mark for the first time ever. The importance of India was highlighted during Apple's Q3, 2015 earnings call when CEO Tim Cook revealed how India had raced ahead of Greater China for the first time. "[In] India we grew at 93 percent and this is on top of the Greater China numbers that we've already covered that grew 87 percent during the quarter against a market of 5 percent," Cook said. "And so we did exceptionally well I think in any way that you look at it."
Source: bgr.in

WhatsApp officially goes free

Posted: 22 Jan 2016 10:09 AM PST

WhatsApp has announced that it is going to end its $1 annual subscription fee in the coming weeks.  It has further hinted that WhatsApp may evolve into a platform where users can communicate with businesses and organizations. However, WhatsApp has categorically said it will not be introducing third-party advertisements as a business model.
As a part of its subscription plan, WhatsApp was free for the first year and would charge users $1 as an annual subscription fee. It's worth pointing out here that WhatsApp has remained free in emerging markets such as India, one of the main factors behind company's tremendous growth over the years. WhatsApp acknowledged that its annual subscription model, even though it was just $1 was not doing well.
"Many WhatsApp users don't have a debit or credit card number and they worried they'd lose access to their friends and family after their first year. So over the next several weeks, we'll remove fees from the different versions of our app and WhatsApp will no longer charge you for our service," the Facebook-owned messenger service explained in a blog post announcing the move.
After its acquisition by Facebook, it has been long speculated that WhatsApp may change its policies and monetize through ads. WhatsApp however says it is not looking at advertising or any other model that could increase spam.
"Starting this year, we will test tools that allow you to use WhatsApp to communicate with businesses and organizations that you want to hear from. That could mean communicating with your bank about whether a recent transaction was fraudulent, or with an airline about a delayed flight. We all get these messages elsewhere today – through text messages and phone calls – so we want to test new tools to make this easier to do on WhatsApp, while still giving you an experience without third-party ads and spam," the company said.
The move comes shortly after Facebook reported a meteoric growth of its Messenger platform. Facebook this month revealed its Messenger platform had gone past 800 million monthly active users whereas WhatsApp had hit 800 million monthly active users in September 2015 and has not announced new numbers.Facebook's approach for Messenger is bit different from WhatsApp. Messenger is being evolved as a standalone platform that lets you do multiple things such as Send and Receive Money and Virtual Business cards among others. WhatsApp, on the other hand, is likely to stay a primarily messaging and calling service.

Source: bgr.in

BlackBerry to launch its first Android smartphone, Priv, in India on January 28

Posted: 22 Jan 2016 08:20 AM PST

BlackBerry has sent invites to the media for a January 28 event, where it will launch the Priv, its first Android smartphones.  Apart from the smartphone, the company is expected to elaborate on its ecosystem of Android apps for the BlackBerry OS.
BlackBerry had introduced the Priv last year. The smartphone comes with a slide-out physical QWERTY keyboard along with a 5.4-inch AMOLED display with 2560×1440 pixels resolution. The smartphone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor coupled with 3GB of RAM and Adreno 418 GPU. It comes with 32GB of onboard storage, which is expandable by up to 2TB via a microSD card.For photography, the BlackBerry Priv sports an 18-megapixel rear camera along with OIS and PDAF, and a 2-megapixel front facing camera. The smartphone is powered by a 3,410mAh battery and supports Quick Charge 2.0. Connectivity options include LTE, USB 2.0, Bluetooth 4.1 LE, GPS and Wi-Fi Direct.
As you can expect, the smartphone comes pre-loaded with a slew of BlackBerry apps such as BBM, DTEK by BlackBerry warning system, BlackBerry Device Search, BlackBerry Password Keeper and BlackBerry Notes. It also comes with a range of preloaded Google apps such as Chrome, Drive, Maps and Photos among others.
BlackBerry Priv1
So far, there's no word on the India pricing of the phone. The BlackBerry Priv is available in the US for $699, which translates to approximately Rs 47,300. We expect the smartphone to launch in India with a premium price tag.
The Priv is an important device for BlackBerry, which has been making several efforts to revive its fortunes in the smartphone market. After losing significant market share to the likes of Samsung, BlackBerry has been watchful about its hardware portfolio.
However, the company hasn't hesitated in experimenting on this front. Its square-ish BlackBerry Passport was appreciated for its unique design. With the Priv, the company is now experimenting with an Android-based smartphone. BlackBerry last year had said if it wasn't able to meet the target of selling 5 million smartphones per year it may consider to exit the smartphone business altogther.
BlackBerry CEO John Chen had in December said that the company could launch more affordable Android smartphones later this year, depending on the Priv's performance.

Source: bgr.in

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 dual-SIM goes on sale in India

Posted: 22 Jan 2016 08:10 AM PST

In line with the last week's report, Samsung has launched the dual-SIM variant of the Galaxy Note 5. Similar to the single-SIM variant, you get two storage options to choose from – 32GB and 64GB.
Described as the 'most powerful and dynamic Galaxy yet,' the Galaxy Note 5 borrows its design cues from Samsung's other flagship line, the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge. Like in case with previous Note-series phablets, S-Pen stylus is once again the main highlight of the Note 5. Samsung has also added a new push-to-eject mechanism, making it easier to remove the stylus.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 dual-SIM price: The 32GB variant is priced at Rs 51,400, and the 64GB variant is priced at Rs 57,400, which will be launched a little later. The Note 5 dual-SIM will be available to purchase from Samsung India e-store in Black Sapphire, Silver Titanium and Gold Platinum color options. In comparison, the single-SIM 32GB and 64GB storage variants are priced at Rs 47,900 and Rs 54,545, respectively.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 dual-SIM specifications and features: In terms of hardware, there aren't any major differences. It flaunts a 5.7-inch QHD Super AMOLED display (2560×1440 pixels) with pixel density of 518ppi and covered with Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protection. There is Exynos 7420 64-bit octa-core processor at the helm, paired with 4GB of RAM. One small disappointment though, there is no microSD card slot to expand the storage any further.For shutterbugs, the phablet sports a 16-megapixel f/1.9 rear camera with optical image stabilization and LED flash. The camera also supports 4K video recording (30fps) and full HD video recording (60fps). It is supplemented with a 5-megapixel front-facing camera for selfies and video calling.
Armed with a 3,000mAh battery, it supports wireless fast charging and connectivity options such as dual-SIM card slots, 4G LTE support, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC and USB host. On the software front, it runs on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, wrapped under a refreshed TouchWiz UI. It is also due to get Android 6.0 Marshmallow update in the coming months.
Source: bgr.in
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