Lapcare brings new Bluetooth headphones to India

Gadget Bridge Bureau
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Lapcare brings new Bluetooth headphones to India


The headphones demand in India is increasing, especially when it comes to good ones for mobile phones. The latest company to launch a Bluetooth driven headphone is Lapcare, a Singapore based company. They have brought Lapcare YO! – LBH208 headphone that are designed to work with any smartphone that has Bluetooth in it.

Carved for today’s generation these nifty headphones are available in an array of colours. These are wireless so the users are away from the messy wires and don’t get tangled in them. Lapcare YO! – LBH 208 folds up as well, so that users can store them as easily as they can wear them. These headphones come with its own rechargeable battery, which once fully charged can give up to 500 hours of standby time.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Atul Guupta, Managing Director, Lapcare, said “At Lapcare we constantly strive to transform and better the lives of our customers through carefully designed products. Everyday life requires making/attending frequent calls or listening to music during leisure time, while still on the move. This demands products which are both easy to carry and comfortable to use. The all new LapcareYO LBH 208 packs comfort, ease and style. It’s also a smart accessory that offers stand by time of Upto 500 hours, thanks to its built in smart power saving technology. We are certain that it will resonate well with our customers.”

Manish-paul-lapcare

Manish Paul, the brand ambassador for Lapcare added, ‘ Acting involves a lot of travelling. So, I relax with my Lapcare YO LBH 208. Being foldable it’s convenient to carry around and the headband just fits right. The sound clarity is also amazing and lasts long due to its smart power saving technology. It’s a must carry accessory for me everywhere.’

Users can receive calls using these headphones too. It comes with an in-built MIC and volume buttons. The Lapcare YO! – LBH208 is decently priced at Rs 1,999 and comes with 1 year warranty. It is available on Amazon, FlipKart as well as Snapdeal.

Zebronics launches less expensive LED TV’s in India

Gadget Bridge Bureau
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Zebronics launches less expensive LED TV’s in India

Most IT manufacturing companies in India are looking to foray or are already in gadget arms other than IT. Zebronics who is one of the Indian brands known for IT and PC peripherals has moved a step further and dipped its toes in the large screen TV segment. They have launched LED TV’s in 16, 19, 20, 21, 24, 32 and 40-inch sizes.

The 40 inch ZEB-4001LED flat screen LED display has 1000000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. It supports Full HD 1080P display and a viewing angle of 178 degrees. This model also has 12 X 2 W speakers hidden behind the slim bezel. Power consumption lies at a miniscule 80W. As far as connectivity goes this TV has VGA, AV in/out, RF, 2 HDMI and composite ports.

Commenting on the launch of the LED TV’s Mr. Pradeep Doshi, Director, Zebronics says “There has been a transition from the traditional CRTs or LCD TVs to LED TVs. The LED TV Market in India, is very promising and has been witnessing a steep growth but still at a very nascent stage. Zebronics wants to lead the growth of the Industry with its ‘value for money’ LED TVs. Our latest range shall enable the consumers to choose the best LED TV suiting their pocket”

Adding further he says, “Understanding the desires of the Tier 2 and 3 cities, we also plan to roll out Smart TVs in smaller sizes for these Cities which have come into reckoning as the growth drivers of the future”

Zebronics-32-inch-led-tv

The TV’s come with 1 year warranty and in all certainty are built in China. The range starts from Rs 6,999. Zebronics wants to capture a decent chunk of the TV market in the next two years. Their aim to sell in tier 2 and tier 3 towns can help them expand rapidly and get good numbers in their favour.

Gigabyte brings a new motherboard that is good for office and home use

Gadget Bridge Bureau
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Gigabyte brings a new motherboard that is good for office and home use

If you are a professional who is looking out for a motherboard for both home as well as office use then you are in luck. Now the choice has been made easier by Gigabyte, when it comes to motherboards.

They have brought the GIGABYTE GA-B85M-D3H motherboard to India, which is built for professional as well as entertainment purposes. The new motherboard is not very expensive and can be purchased for Rs 6,200 with 3 years of warranty. It is built for productivity as well as daily home requirements.

This motherboard has 2 USB 3.0 ports along with 4 USB 2.0 ports. It supports Intel’s fourth gen Core processors and is AMD crossfire ready. Intel HD4600 graphics come on board, which means you do not require an additional graphics card if you don’t run graphics hungry applications and games on your PC. For monitor connectivity this Gigabyte motherboard has VGA, DVI and HDMI ports at the back.

Gigabyte-GA-B85M-D3H-1

Key Features of GA-B85M-D3H

  • Supports 4th Generation Intel Core processors
  • GIGABYTE Ultra Durable 4 Plus Technology
  • GIGABYTE Hybrid digital power engine
  • GIGABYTE UEFI DualBIOS
  • Multi-GPU Support
  • GIGABYTE On/Off Charge for USB devices
  • LAN with high ESD Protection
  • HDMI 1.4, DVI, D-SUB
  • Long lifespan Durable Solid caps
  • GIGABYTE LAN Optimizer

 

LG G4 gets launched in leather attire

Sulabh Puri
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LG G4 gets launched in leather attire

While the world is ogling over iPhone 6 and Samsung Edge, LG has gone ahead and launched it’s flagship model G4, which is nothing short of a stunner. The phone has an arc type design that keeps the phone safe and offers 20% higher toughness if it gets dropped by the user. It also promotes hand comfort while talking and holding the LG G4 in the hand.

As far as performance is concerned, LG G4 is right up there with the big players. Inside it has a 1.8 GHz hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 CPU with 3GB RAM and an Adreno GPU. For file storage LG has installed 32 GB internal memory that can be pumped up by 128 GB with the help of a storage card. The company has put a 5.5-inch IPS quantum display on the LG G4 that supports HD resolutions at 538 PPI. Corning Gorilla Glass 4 is also there adding to the toughness and protection bit.

The G4 sports a 16MP rear camera with dual LED flash and for selfie lovers an 8 MP front one. The device is powered by a 3,000 mAh battery and runs the latest Google Android Lolipop operating system. But, what really takes the cake is the genuine leather casing the phone comes with. We have seen leather textured plastic designs on some of the Samsung phones and few HTC cases. This would be the first time we would see actual leather strapped onto the phone for good.

LG G4 Tech Specs:

  • Display: 5.5-inch Quad HD IPS Quantum Display (2560 x 1440, 538ppi)
  • Memory: 32GB eMMC ROM, 3GB LPDDR3RAM / microSD slot
  • Camera: Rear 16MP with F1.8 Aperture / OIS 2.0 / Front 8MP
  • Chipset: Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 808 Processorwith X10 LTE
  • Operating System: Android 5.1 Lollipop
  • Network:4G / LTE / HSPA+ 21 Mbps (3G)
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac / Bluetooth 4.1LE / NFC / USB 2.0
  • Battery: 3,000mAh
  • Size: 148.9 x 76.1 x 6.3 – 9.8mm
  • Weight: 155g

Here’s an App that can make you rich

Gadget Bridge Bureau
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Here’s an App that can make you rich

An app that can make you rich even if you have not developed it? All I have to do is sign up? Well yes, apparently that is all you require to do in the social app called KQingdom. This is the first offering of sorts to users in India who become a partner/share holder in the apps monetary benefits. Collectively the users can own 50% of the shares of KQingdom.

The company says that “KQingdom app users can keep scores with friends and others for fun, while at the same time have real tangible benefits.”

Mr. Lucky Gupta of KQingdom says that,” The business model of all social apps is driven by their user base, and their continued active participation. Effectively, the users are responsible for their sky rocketing valuations with our personal profile information, network connections, and posting of content, while the chat app just provides a platform. However, users end up being short-changed, while the app promoters and investors mint billions. KQingdom management believes that they are correcting this imbalance by partnering with its Users and forging a strong bond with them.”

One has to download the app, sign up and be an active part of the group to reap maximum benefits. Of course they do not start right away, but over a period of time. Users will get rewards periodically, just like one gets dividend annually. As stated above, the company says users are the main reason behind an apps performance and its profits. So why not share some of the profits with the users themselves.

To get some of the profit users would need to put in a bit of effort as well. For example, how early did the user register, number of messages sent and received, time spent in-app, the frequency of use, number of friends joining the app, number of referral credit received from friends for joining the app, the number of likes received  and so on.

Mr. Gupta further also said, “In future, the users will be able to collect their rewards in the form of digital money transfer, cash into digital wallet, coupon, discounts, and vouchers, once the company is profitable. The User’s respective profit share at the annual profit declaration will be determined as a percentage of User’s accumulated KQingdom Coins (called “KQins”) over total net KQins of all Users.”

It’s an interesting way to hook consumers on to an app. Probably most will come to make a quick buck, however by the looks of it, the benefits are not short term but long term (only if the app does well). KQingdom is currently available on the Android Play store as well as Apple app store.

Everything you want to know about 4G and how will it benefit Indians.

Raman Khilnani
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Everything you want to know about 4G and how will it benefit Indians.

The evolution in the wireless network technology has been exponential in the past couple of decades. The smart phone revolution has completely taken the market by a storm. A cell phone is no more a mere tool to talk or send messages but has turned to efficient, fast and safe mobile computing devise. Fuelled by innovation it has evolved from the first generation of mobile telecommunication technology to the current third generation and the latest fourth generation which is designed primarily for data, has IP-based protocols and is a truly mobile broadband. To understand the generation leaps it is imperative to start from ground zero.

0 G-Zero Generation Technology

These are also referred as pre-cellular systems, since they were the first generation of mobiles radio telephone systems, devised before the prevailing of mobile telephony technology. These were available as a commercial service, with individual telephone numbers. These were made in the shape of a briefcase or were mounted on vehicles The transmitter-receiver was placed in the trunk of the vehicle and  attached to the head, which had the dial, display, and handset, placed near the driver seat.

1G-First Generation Technology

Introduced in 1980’s, more popularly known as the cell phones and were used for basic voice service. The radio signals used are analogs, the voice during a call is modulated to a higher frequency, 150 MHz and above, and with the help of a technique called FDMA (Frequency- division Multiple Access, it is transferred between radio towers.

2G-Second Generation Technology

Launched in the 1990’s, the voice in the call was digitally encrypted and then digitally transmitted across the radio towers. Their advantage over the 1G was more efficiency on the spectrum giving improved coverage and capacity. Secondly data services were introduced starting with SMS text messages and moving on to picture messages and MMS (multi media messages). First digital standards (GSM, CDMA), were introduced.

3G-Third Generation Technology

Introduced in 1981/82, 3G has applications such as voice telephony, mobile internet, fixed wireless internet access, video calls and mobile T.V. The 3G service providers are supposed to meet the IMT-2000 standards, an information rate of at least 200 kbit/s (about 0,2 Mbit/s). The later additions also provided higher speeds than the minimum specifications. It was the first mobile broadband.

4G-Fourth Generation Technology

The Mobile WiMAX and LTE( Long Term Evolution)  smart phones were available in 2010 and 2011, respectively in the United States, These were the first phones which were able to access the 4G network. These appliances had all the applications of 3G plus:

  • Amended mobile web access
  • IP(Internet Protocol) telephony
  • Multi player gaming services
  • High definition mobile TV
  • Video Conferencing
  • 3D television
  • Cloud computing

Benefits

  • Speed- At an average a 4G network is 4 to 5 times faster than a 3G network. It also has superior, uninterrupted connectivity Downloading movies, games and music is much faster and streaming live videos, live TV, and video chatting is seamless.
  • Wider Coverage– Coverage of 30 miles and more and complete connectivity at all times.
  • Online Security-Guarantees high security. The network prevents hacking and keeps your data private and secure, which is an asset for business purpose.
  • Better Signal– More reliable signal, can be assured of connectivity, even on trains.
  • Easy Installation– All that is required is a mobile phone which is 4G compatible or a PC card or USB port that can be easily plugged into a laptop.
  • Low Cost Introductory Offers- Flexible plans available to suit your needs and usage.
  • Business- Increased productivity and efficiency due to large file transfers at high speed, can set up workplace fast, even in transit, rich machine to machine and monitoring applications, videoconferencing, and media collaboration, can have remote access to business applications.

Shortcomings

  • Connectivity is limited to certain specified regions and carriers.
  • Technology is new so initial hurdles, shortfalls and teething problems might be there.
  • Switching cost will be there and hardware compatibility will have to be kept in mind.
  • Poorer battery life with this network, so larger devices with more battery power will be required, especially when in use for longer duration.
  • Health hazard- Stronger radiation and more high power towers can cause health problems at a later stage.

Airtel launched its 4G service in India, in 2012, but at that point of time there were no 4G compatible handsets available. Today there are 13 companies offering 26 handsets. Ever since Airtel slashed its tariffs in September 2014, and brought them down to their 3G tariffs, the demand for 4G compatible handsets has surged and so has the Airtel user base. Market entrant prices are being used and devices are also being offered at affordable prices, starting from Rs 6,700 and above. RIL is launching 4G services through its subsidiary, Jio Infocomm, Aircel too has its 4G presence in four circles .Others like Tikona Digital Networks, are ready but waiting for the market to mature.

It has become a necessity, rather than a luxury to remain connected to the internet constantly and having an efficient net service on one’s mobile can be a boon.  The 4G services can help create a digital infrastructure which can stimulate growth, economy, businesses and provide fast, safe and secure internet service. But before switching it is advisable to be sure of your needs, costs and benefits or else the boon can become a bane.

Apple on a new high ends second quarter with excellent earnings

Sulabh Puri
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Apple on a new high ends second quarter with excellent earnings

Apple has announced their second quarter earnings for the fiscal 2015 with the quarter ending on March 28, 2015. The company did exceptionally well with the iPhone, Mac and App store sales in this quarter. As much as 27% jump was seen here when compared to same time last year.

The company did really well here and has posted quarterly revenue of $58 billion and quarterly net profit of $13.6 billion, or $2.33 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $45.6 billion and net profit of $10.2 billion, or $1.66 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter.

An area that has also accelerated total quarter revenues for Apple is international sales. These accounted for 69% of the quarter’s revenue. This just shows that Apple is doing a fabulous job in international waters as they expand further in to developing nations such as India.

“We are thrilled by the continued strength of iPhone, Mac and the App Store, which drove our best March quarter results ever,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We’re seeing a higher rate of people switching to iPhone than we’ve experienced in previous cycles, and we’re off to an exciting start to the June quarter with the launch of Apple Watch.”

“The tremendous customer demand for our products and services in the March quarter drove revenue growth of 27 percent and EPS growth of 40 percent,” said Luca Maestri, Apple’s CFO. “Cash flow from operations was also outstanding at $19.1 billion.”

Apple suggests that in the third quarter they will generate revenues between $46 billion and $48 billion.

Spice launches Stellar 519 4G at Rs 8,499

Gadget Bridge Bureau
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Spice launches Stellar 519 4G at Rs 8,499

4G network is becoming stronger in India and the mobile companies know it. This is the reason why many of them are launching 4G variants or newer 4G models of phones and expanding their lines.

The latest to join the 4G ranks in India is Spice Stellar 519, this the makers first offering that is open to 4G networks and can work on it. The phone is available in two colours – Steel Blue and Slate Grey. In pictures the phone does look a bit similar to the HTC One M7/M8.

Spice Stellar 519 comes with an 8MP rear camera and 3.2MP front shooter. It has a 5-inch touch display that supports 480 x 854 pixels resolution. The motherboard consists of a 1.2 GHz Quad-core CPU and 1 GB RAM. As far as the internal storage is concerned, Spice Stellar 519 has 8 GB of it that can be expanded by up to 32 GB using a MicroSD card.

The phone is still on the older version of the Android (Kitkat 4.4.4) and comes with a 2,500 mAh battery to keep it alive for long. Apart from 4G connectivity Spice Stellar 519 has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Prashant Bindal, CEO, Spice Mobility Ltd, said, “We are thrilled to introduce our first 4G LTE smartphone, Stellar 519, which promises to deliver an outstanding and seamless internet browsing experience. The new Stellar 519 offers a scintillating combination of an amazing user experience with excellent speed and multi-tasking options. This is a great device for customers looking for a smartphone that has it all. We have packed in our latest technology complimented with a one-of-its-kind, unique 4G experience never before seen on a mid-range smartphone.”

The phone is built to go head to head with mobiles such as Moto E second Gen 4G, which has the latest OS and is less expensive than the Spice Stellar 519 by Rs 500.

Moto E second gen Review: A decent budget phone with latest Android OS

Sulabh Puri
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Moto E second gen Review: A decent budget phone with latest Android OS

Motorola has made quite a remarkable re-entry in the Indian market. They were down and out; however with the new innings they have launched some great phones and accessories in India to capture a decent chunk of the pie. Last year we saw the Moto E from the brand and it was a fabulous device. Now they have launched the second version of the phone, which is not a significant upgrade over the previous one, but does get the job done.

Design

The Moto E second gen is available in two colours, black and white. We got our hands on the white one and right of the box we fell for it. Yes, some might say it is a bit chunky or fat, but we didn’t mind it one bit. This mobile has a nice feel to it and the white colour gives it the edge.

The battery is locked in. Hence users cannot replace it by themselves. Moto E  second gen can accommodate two Micro SIM cards. The slots are well hidden under the detachable band, which runs all around the phone. The MicroSD card slot is also placed under the same band in between the two SIM slots.

Moto E second gen has a 4.5-inch IPS qHD display, which is slightly bigger than the last version. However, the resolution of the phone is much lower than what its competition is providing. Above the screen, consumers will find the front camera for selfies and at the back Motorola has incorporated a 5 MP shooter (without flash).

Moto-e-second-gen

The power button is located on the right side of the phone along with the volume key. The USB port is located at the bottom and the audio port is available at the top. Audio port on top always works for the younger generation. The phone is aimed towards youngsters and we all know what they love to do, listen to a lot of music. People can easily slide the phone in the front pocket and listen to music using the headphones, which come with a nice long wire.

Performance

Moto E is not a power house when it comes to under the hood performance. However, it does justify its price. Moto E second gen has the Qualcomm 1.2 GHz CPU that comes along with 1 GB RAM and 8 GB internal memory. Out of which users only get about 5 GB to store files. For graphics an Adreno GPU is also installed on board.

We didn’t face any challenges as far as basic entertainment needs were concerned. The place where the phone stresses a bit is gaming. You can’t play high-end games on it. Power hungry utilities also run a bit slow on this phone.

On the other hand Music apps and video galleries ran beautifully. Talking about which, the audio quality is very fine. The supplied headphones get the job done and one can hear the beats clearly. Screen, image and video quality is above average.

We tested the phone out with Quadrant and it managed a score of 9,522 points. Not the best in the class, but is pretty much up there. Camera quality of the phone is not too shabby, when clicked in well lit rooms and outdoors. It becomes a bit sloppy in low light and dark areas. Front snapper is just about fine for selfies. You do get noise in pictures if the light is low.

Moving on to its battery life, Moto E second gen does manage to stay awake for a long duration. With 2,390 mAh battery inside it, we did get between 20-24 hours after a full charge (under nominal use). It will go down by couple of hours if you are using Wi-Fi network as well.

Verdict

Moto E second gen is definitely built for the masses. The voice quality is very good and you rarely end up missing a note, unless your mobile network is acting up. We did like the built quality and the looks. It has the latest Android Lolipop OS with stock apps. If users want to download more app on this phone they can do with the Play store. The price also plays a huge factor here. The Moto E second gen can be picked up for Rs 6,999. Not a bad price for this package. The 4G version of the phone is now available too and one can get that for Rs 7,999 from FlipKart.

 

Pros

Good built

Good price

Cons

Rear camera flash missing

Not built to play high-end games

4G services from Airtel to go live in Delhi

Sulabh Puri
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4G services from Airtel to go live in Delhi

Airtel is already providing 4G services in 19 cities across India. These include Chandigarh, Bangalore, Kolkata, Nasik and Pune. Delhi has been one its toughest targets to achieve. Finally the dark clouds might be evaporating as Airtel sees a ray of hope. They have got the go ahead from Department of Telecom (DoT) to deploy 4G services in Delhi.

Airtel has been fighting a court case where DoT had asked them to pay 436 crores for 4G deployment in the Delhi circle. As the mobile and broadband service provider had acquired 4G spectrum using Wireless Business Services, which was earlier part of Qualcomm and now has been taken over by Airtel under Airtel Broadband Services.

The court has asked Airtel to give and undertaking in which the company has to state that if their petition fails in court then they would need to pay Rs 436 crores to the Union of India with interest. On the same basis DoT has given to green signal to Airtel to deploy 4G services in the Indian capital.

This does seem like a sticky surface for Airtel, if you ask us. However, some sources do say that Airtel is confident of the situation and can go ahead with 4G deployment in New Delhi. The pricing of the service in Delhi is still not out and no one has commented on the same. Hopefully in the coming months we would have a clearer picture.

The go ahead from DoT could be the opportunity Airtel needs to get the edge over any other service provider in Delhi, but if it does not go in their favour in the court they would end up paying a lot of money.

Nikon is probably bringing new full-frame mirrorless cameras this year

Gadget Bridge Bureau
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Nikon is probably bringing new full-frame mirrorless cameras this year

Let the rivalry begin! Sony has enjoyed good market space, created by them, with a full-frame mirrorless camera in the form of A7. Now, Nikon is going to take the fight to Sony by introducing their very own full-frame mirrorless camera.

Sony’s A7 is top-of-the-line mirrorless camera that has seen great results with most photo enthusiasts. Sony has the monopoly here and is going strong. Nikon might play spoil sport to Sony’s party by bringing a full-frame mirrorless camera by the end of this year or early 2016.

If we go by the reports, Nikon’s full-frame mirrorless camera will be smaller than Sony’s A7. Its size will be identical to the Olympus E-M1. Nikons camera is said to be in the testing phase at the moment and more details will be released soon. However, the pricing and other tech-specs are still unclear. Do stay tuned as we bring you more on Nikons mirrorless camera, once additional information is revealed.

Nikon launches a range of new cameras

Gadget Bridge Bureau
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Nikon launches a range of new cameras

April is usually the time when we see camera companies such as Nikon bring a flurry of new cameras in the Point and Shoot category. This year is no different, as Nikon launched 12 new camera variants that are available in multiple hues. The new offerings are now available to the customers through online and offline stores.

Hiroshi Takashina, Nikon India’s Managing Director, said at the launch ‘’that the company would also hold workshops to promote the photography culture in India.

“Over last few years, we have witnessed a surge in the demand for high performance cameras from the southern states of India and we thought it to be perfect opportunity for us to expand in the region,” said Sajjan Kumar, Vice-President of Nikon India.

The launch saw new models being added to P, S, L and AW series. The price of the cameras starts from as low as Rs 6,950 for S series entry level shooter and goes up to Rs 29,950 for the advance CoolPix P900.  The P900 is their flagship offering in the super zoom category. It has 83X optical zoom, which is highest in its class. With the new series of cameras, Nikon is set for the year 2015. They have brought something for everyone.

Moto E second gen 3G Video Review

Sulabh Puri
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Moto E second gen 3G Video Review

Moto E second gen is a great device. Here is our video review of the Moto G second gen 3G.

Philips does a comeback, re-enters Indian market with 4K LED televisions

Sulabh Puri
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Philips does a comeback, re-enters Indian market with 4K LED televisions

Philips is a brand that is pretty much liked by the matured audience in India. It is a brand that people have complete faith on. Weather it is your trusted Philips iron or the CFL bulb, people from the pre-2000’s era knows the brand well and trusts it to the core.

However, when Philips somewhat retracted from the home entertainment industry in India, people kind of forgot about it. As brands like Samsung, LG and Sony quickly gained speed. Now, the brand is back with an all-new UHD 4K LED television range that can give some of the best in the business a run for their money.

Philips 4K LED TV range sports its patented Ambilight feature, which emits an ambient light around the television panel (on to the rear wall) in accordance to the picture being shown on the LED screen. This has been seen in earlier LCD models from Philips and was quite a hit. So it made sense for them to bring it back in the newer version of televisions as well.

The Philips 4K televisions support 3,840 x 2,160 pixels resolution to bring movies, sports and games to life. 3D capability is what these TVs possess as well; the TV’s use active 3D method for the same. The range is available in 50, 58 and 65-inches, and the range starts from Rs 1.55 lakhs and goes upto Rs 3.72 lakhs.

Philips is again trying to make a mark and own a piece of the pie in the Indian TV industry. Yes, they are a bit behind in the race, but we do expect them to bounce back and hold a decent TV market share, considering they will launch more TV models in the near future.

New range of Canon projectors come to India

Gadget Bridge Bureau
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New range of Canon projectors come to India

Canon is a well known brand for cameras, printers and projectors. They have recently refreshed their projectors range and have brought 9 LV and 4  XEED series of projectors to India. These are aimed at medium and large sectors such as big corporates, educational institutes and government organisations.

Mr. Yasuhiko Hoshino, Senior General Manager, Canon Inc. said, “We are excited to bring our globally leading projectors equipped with world-class technology and user-friendly features to customers in India. The projectors offer quality and brightness along with lower operating costs enabling both businesses and end-users to deliver optimum results at a minimum cost.”

Mr. Kazutada Kobayashi, President and CEO, Canon India Pvt. Ltd, said, “Projection requirements of Indian customers have evolved over the years. Apart from being used for projecting data, customers are now using it to project movies, videos and games as well. The new Canon projectors are equipped with high quality optics to cater to such needs. We will be reaching out to potential customers across all the major metros and aim to capture 10% market share by 2017.”

The LV Series of Canon projectors are the portable range that utilise DLP BrilliantColor display technology to deliver rich, realistic colour, 3,000 lumens of brightness. These also have 2,300:1 contrast ratio to reproduce excellent blacks with depth and dimension in moving pictures. The new range of Canon projectors is also 3D-ready.

On the other side, the XEED Canon projectors series have inbuilt liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) technology, which produces fine and detailed images. LCOS technology and constant brightness is a technology adapted by Canon, and is supplied to its users to experience outstanding imagery.

The new Canon projector range starts from Rs 40,750 for the entry level models and goes upto Rs 5,00,000 for the more professional ones. The pricing is pretty decent as there is something for each business. But, they do have stiff competition in the market in the form of Epson and NEC.

Blueair launches its premium range of indoor air purifiers

Gadget Bridge Bureau
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Blueair launches its premium range of indoor air purifiers

Let’s face it we live in a deadly environment. Every other day there is a report in the papers that shows us how polluted each of our cities is. Doctors in cities like New Delhi are telling patients with breathing problems to flee the city if they want to live. In these circumstances it becomes extremely important to take care of yourself and your loved ones health.

To keep the air around you clean and fresh, Blueair has just brought 3 new indoor models of air purifiers. These will help you combat germs and allergies within the confines of your homes and offices. Blueair recently fitted 1,800 of these air purifier machines in the American embassy (New Delhi), ahead of president Obama’s visit. Blueair indoor air purifiers have won lot of awards for supplying pure including the Red dot Ward and Good Design award from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design. And is the preferred choice in 50 countries around the world.

The three models launched are 270E for rooms as big as 270 square feet, 450E for rooms as big as 370 square feet and 650E for rooms as big as 698 square feet. They are definitely priced on the more expensive side when compared to other purifiers in the market. The Blueair 270E is available for Rs 50,000, the Blueair 450E can be picked up for Rs 75,000 and the asking price for 650E is a whooping Rs 90,000.

What is Net Neutrality and how will it benefit or not benefit the Indian Consumer?

Raman Khilnani
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What is Net Neutrality and how will it benefit or not benefit the Indian Consumer?

The Tsunami of protests and flake of the irked netizens has forced Flipkart to withdraw from the Airtel Zero platform. TRAI (Telcom Regulatory Authority of India) has received 3 lakh emails so far from India’s fuming internet population.

Airtel’s Airtel Zero, is a platform that allows internet companies to pay to Airtel to allow the consumers access certain apps for free. Anything free is always tempting and sounds lucrative at the outset. But, free always has a hidden cost, when the user will try to get to a site that has not paid with the telecom operator, the site will be either blocked or very slow. The whole concept is a staunch violation of the freedom of Net and its open and neutral nature. What is Net Nutrality?

As defined by Wikipedia, Net Neutrality is the principle that the internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source, and without favoring or blocking particular products or websites.

“Net Neutrality” literally means that the internet should be neutral i.e the data on the net should be available without any biases, discriminations and democratically. Each data should be treated equally in terms of speed, access and cost. Access to knowledge, freedom of speech, innovation as well as ease of doing business are the core benefits of the internet and the internet owes its success to it’s neutrality–the fact that the net provides equal access to all legal websites and services, without prioritizing one over the other.

Net Neutrality tends to maintain the internet like a public utility, like electricity or water, same for everybody.

Airtel Zero is not the only violators of Net Neutrality; other telecomm companies have also tried a piece of the pie:

  • The Reliance-Facebook deal for Internet.org- free access on 2G and 3G networks in select part of the country
  • The free WhatsApp pack by Reliance in 2012– free Facebook and WhatsApp to its GSM users for Rs.16 per month, without extra data cost.
  • Aircel and Wikipedia (2013)-free Wikipedia on Mobile phones.
  • Reliance and Twitter pack (2013)- free Twitter access pack for reliance user.

Free is the catch and the carrot to increase their consumer base. The question remains as to why should it be free of charge on a particular network while accessing other sites would incur data charges? Why should one website get preferential treatment? All these freebies are violating the freedom and equality of the internet. It is debatable as to who will benefit more, the telecoms or the user.

Benefits of Net Neutrality

  • No Throttling- The cost of downloading is the same, irrespective of the content the user is accessing.
  • No Censorship- There is no restriction as to the kind of content or the quantity that one can download besides connection rates.
  • No Restriction- There is no restriction on accessing any part of the internet [except for content blocked by the Government]
  • Capitalism- It provides a free market, an equal platform for start ups and for competing companies.

Without Net Neutrality

  • Monitoring- The ISP,s would be monitoring all the content, product or services that their customers would be viewing. The availability of the content would depend on which content provider can pay to be there.
  • Restrictions- Access to the web pages can get restricted, depending on who pays what. For E.g. peer to peer file transfers can be blocked, along with criticisms, political, social or business.
  • Throttling- Intentionally slowing down some websites or speeding up others, the ones who have paid the ISP’s.
  • Higher Cost- The increased cost to the service or content providers will eventually be extracted from the customers only and they only will end up paying more.
  • Anti-Competition- The ISP’s could prevent access to their competitor’s products, services, or web pages.

The kind of ecosystem that will be created without neutrality and preferential treatment in the virtual world can only encourage splitting the net to fractions. The net will be split to free and paid, big and small companies, Indian and Global. Different services free on different operators and as result numerous small companies.

The commercial arrangements between the telecomm and the internet companies will also shift the free access of data from a public internet to an internet mall with preferential access to the loaded companies. The ISP’s will become like gatekeepers to a valuable resource. The start ups would find it difficult to get viewer ship, OTT(over the top services) like WhatsApp, Viber, Skype, WeChat will start costing more. The telecoms feel that these OTT services have taken away a large share of their revenues with their free SMS and free calling. The fact is that the telecomm do benefit from these apps. More app usage means more data consumed and more revenue, hence their loss is debatable.

The final call is yet to be taken by the IT ministry, the government needs to insure the public interest and ensure an egalitarian internet.

Google ups the handwriting experience on Android devices

Gadget Bridge Bureau
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Google ups the handwriting experience on Android devices

Google doesn’t like to sit idle and that is why it keeps rolling out new product enhancements every day. And no, we are not talking about the Android OS here—in fact, our focus is on one of the Google apps, which the company has recently announced. It is the new Google Handwriting Input using which you can write your messages the way you do on your notebooks—with or without stylus.

The app will be available to for Android 4.0.3 (or above) users. You can write text, draw emojis and do a lot more with this tool. This would be supporting 82 languages in 20 distinct scripts.

As per what is written on Google’s Research Blog, the idea behind this app is to allow for natural and intuitive method for text entry. It says, “Voice input is an option, but there are situations where it is not feasible, such as in a noisy environment or during a meeting. Using handwriting as an input method can allow for natural and intuitive input method for text entry which complements typing and speech input methods.”

If you want to use this app, simply download Google Handwriting Input available on the Google Play Store.

 

After a hit flash sale yesterday, Lenovo A6000 Plus launch was next on their to-do list

Gadget Bridge Bureau
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After a hit flash sale yesterday, Lenovo A6000 Plus launch was next on their to-do list

Lenovo seems to be going aggressive in the smartphone segment—especially in India. After receiving a good response for its A6000 phones in the country, Lenovo decided to sell its next device A7000 through a flash sale on Flipkart. This sale, which happened yesterday in the country, helped Lenovo sell 30,000 units in four seconds flat.

And guess how the company began its day today? It launched another device in the country, which is the Lenovo A6000 Plus. It is the updated version of the A6000 device. While all other features—right from the screen size to the camera, processor to the battery—remain the same. The company has only doubled up the RAM and storage capacity of the device; you get 2GB RAM and 16GB storage space on the Lenovo A6000 Plus.

This dual SIM Lenovo A6000 is priced slightly higher than its predecessor as it is a 4G-variant with slightly better features. One can pick it up for Rs 7,499.

Here is a quick rundown of its Tech Specs:

  • 5-inch HD screen with IPS,
  • 2GHz 64-bit quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor
  • 2300 mAh battery.
  • 8MP rear camera along with a 2MP fixed focus front camera
  • Android 4.4 KitKat OS

Microsoft Surface 3 will be available for $499 in a months time

Gadget Bridge Bureau
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Microsoft Surface 3 will be available for $499 in a months time

Well, it is about time. We for one are fans of Microsoft Surface series of tablets. Unlike the earlier models of the Surface, Microsoft has announced that the new Microsoft Surface 3 will be available soon for a super low price tag of $499 (roughly Rs 31,000). This is about $300 cheaper from the previous models.

Microsoft Surface 3 will run Windows 8.1 operating system right now. Users can upgrade to Windows 10 (for free) once it is available. Microsoft Surface 3 has a 10.8-inch full HD display. Behind this lies an Intel Quad-core Atom X7 CPU and 2 GB RAM. The Surface 3 will be available in 2 variants. The 64 GB and the 128 GB tabs can be picked up after May this year.

The Surface 3 also sports an 8 MP rear camera and a 3.5 MP front camera to take care of your selfie and video chat needs. We quite liked the stand that came with the earlier versions of the Surface. Well, the kickstand is also part of the package and with it the tablet measure meagre 8.7mm (thickness). It weighs 622 grams.

As far as connectivity is concerned the Microsoft surface 3 supports 4G/LTE networks. It also has a USB 3.0 port, a mini display port along with a microSD card reader slot. Seems like Microsoft has thought of everything for this tablet, we are just keeping our fingers crossed and hoping that they decide to bring this version to India, finally.

Microsoft is planning to launch a $149 laptop to compete with Chromebook

Sulabh Puri
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Microsoft is planning to launch a $149 laptop to compete with Chromebook

It is not the first time that we are hearing Microsoft trying to shut down Chromebook’s growth by launching its competition. Reports suggest in August last year, they did try to do compete with Chromebooks in partnership HP. Now, reports have again emerged that Microsoft is building a $149 laptop, which will be in the same ring as Google’s Chromebook.

If we were Microsoft, we would be nervous too. Google has already taken a big market lead when it comes to mobile operating systems in the form of Android. Microsoft is rightly trying to secure its top position in the laptop market with low-end devices, which will not let Google Chromebook pick up steam.

The new laptops from Microsoft are set to have Windows 10 OS and Intel’s Bay Trail platform. They will be available in the normal clamshell design. A major point of differentiation between the Chromebook and new MS laptops will be the screen size. The screen size of the Microsoft laptop is going to be smaller than the ones found on Chromebook. This laptop will have an 11.6-inch screen, while the Chromebooks are available in 13 and 16 inches.

The Microsoft laptops would be available in mid 2015 and are aimed at emerging markets. By the likes of it India and Brazil should be on the list of early roll-outs.

Moto E 4G can be pre-ordered on FlipKart now

Sulabh Puri
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Moto E 4G can be pre-ordered on FlipKart now

Seems like the 4G wave is sweeping the country. 4G services are being deployed across India and mobile makers such as Motorola want to make the most of it. They have gone ahead and put the Moto E 4G on pre-order on FlipKart.com. Yes, consumers can grab the upcoming 4G version of the Moto E on the online megastore.

The Moto E 4G, besides having 4G capabilities and speed services, has a 4.5-inch qHD display. That hides a 1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU and 1 GB RAM. Users will get the latest operating system in the form of Android Lolipop and can click away to glory with a 5 MP rear camera or the 0.3 MP front camera.

A 2,390 mAh battery will keep this phone alive. Consumers can download and store files on the onboard 8 GB memory. This can be further expanded by up to 32GB using a microSD card. Overall, the phone seems to be a decent option for people looking to buy a 4G device in under 10K. The phone can be picked up from FlipKart for Rs 7,999.

Tech Specs

OS Android 5.0 Lollipop
Processor 4G-LTE Model: 64-bit class 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 series quad-core CPU with Adreno 306 GPU)

3G Model: 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 series Quad-core CPU (with Adreno 302 GPU)
RAM 1GB
Camera Main: 5.0-megapixel camera

Front: 0.3-megapixel (VGA) camera
Display 4.5-inch TFT qHD (960x450p) screen with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 shield

Pixel density: 245 ppi (pixels per inch)
Storage capacity 8GB, expandable up to 32GB

 

Lenovo launches its A7000 smartphone in India

Gadget Bridge Bureau
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Lenovo launches its A7000 smartphone in India

India is a growing market for smartphones. There are millions of people standing in the queue to pick up a smartphone. This is probably the reason why many companies, such as Lenovo, see India as a great market for its brand of smartphones.

Recently Lenovo got good acclamation for the A7000 at Mobile World Congress 2015. They have brought the nifty little smartphone now to India, which features an excellent 5.5 inch HD wide-angle display. Under the hood this latest mobile from Lenovo has a 64-bit 1.5 GHz CPU and 2 GB DDR3 RAM. Lenovo says together they can play the most challenging games and apps smoothly. Over that, Lenovo in association with Dolby has introduced the all-new Atmos technology in this phone, which is world’s first to be seen in a smartphone. We reckon with this technology the sound experience on the A7000 should be first-rate.

4G layout is just around the corner in India and Lenovo knows it. The newly launched Lenovo A7000 is 4G/LTE ready and users can easily jump to the new network when it becomes available in India. The A7000 is powered by 2,900 mAh battery with enhanced battery optimisation features that will keep the phone alive for longer. The phone weighs 140 grams and is 7.9 mm thin.

“At Lenovo we are committed to providing cutting edge technology to our consumers” – said, Sudhin Mathur, Director- Smartphones, Lenovo India. “The A7000 brings in flagship worthy features and performance at an incredible price making it a perfect choice for consumers looking for a trendy and powerful phone loaded with future-proof features.” he added.

The A7000 is priced at Rs 8,999 and will be exclusively available with FlipKart.

Tech Specs:

  • 5.5 Inch HD IPS Touchscreen Display
  • 8 MP Rear Camera With LED Flash
  • 5MP Front Camera
  • 1.5 GHz MT6752m Octa-Core Processor
  • 2GB RAM
  • 4G
  • WiFi
  • Bluetooth
  • 2900 MAh Battery
  • Dual Micro SIM

Asus launches top-end anniversary edition graphic cards in gold and white

Sulabh Puri
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Asus launches top-end anniversary edition graphic cards in gold and white

Asus is a brand well known for computer products such as motherboards and graphic cards. They just launched a special anniversary edition of graphic cards that every gamer would want to own. In association with NVIDIA, they introduced GTX 980 GPU that houses in a beautiful golden enclosure. This graphic card has clock speed of 1.43 GHz.

The other graphic card that is part of the celebrations is the NVIDIA Turbo GTX 970. This one comes in a suave white colour packaging and we for one love the look. This is what every gamer wants to showcase in his computer cabinet and with it gain some bragging rights.

Asus has a history of innovating and they were kind enough to send us what they have done in the past decade and a half.

  • 1998: Established an industry standard by creating the first graphics card with a fan-enhanced heatsink for optimal cooling and stability.
  • 2002: Established an industry standard by delivering the first graphics card with premium black PCB.
  • 2007: Released the first external graphics card — the XG Station — featuring a physical dial to let users control clock speed, and a screen to show graphics-related information, such as GPU temperatures and fan speed.
  • 2008: Released the first Republic of Gamers (ROG) graphics card, the ROG Matrix EN9600/EN9800 GT. Designed for user-friendly overclocking and blisteringly-fast speed out of the box, ROG Matrix EN9600/EN9800 GT set the trend for all future ROG graphics cards.
  • 2010: Established an industry standard by creating the first direct-contact, GPU-to-copper-heat-pipe cooling solution.
  • 2011: Established an industry standard by developing Super Alloy Power components, which ensure maximum performance and lifespan with minimal power loss and thermal levels. Super Alloy Power components are still used on all ASUS graphics cards today.
  • 2013: Established an industry standard with the first hybrid air/liquid cooling solution on a graphics card, the ROG Poseidon.
  • 2014: Established an industry standard with the release of the Strix Gaming Series, advancing DirectCU technology with the addition of its innovative 0dB-fan technology that lets gamers enjoy gaming in complete silence.

 

The Asus GTX 980 can be picked up for Rs 58,500 and the Turbo GTX 970 can be procured for Rs 27,450 (taxes additional on both).

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