- Porducteev by Jive: This is a great app to boost productivity amongst colleagues and get tasks done on time. Meeting deadlines and delegation of work is where many start-ups struggle. Producteev takes care of these troubles and much more. One can easily connect with co-workers manage projects, get work done in an orderly fashion and also delegate work. Moreover, this app is cross platform ready.
- Àny Do: in a startup every penny counts and keeping a personal assistant for yourself is not feasible. So, how about a virtual assistant insteat. Any.do is a great app that keeps tracks of events, notes, to-do lists and more. Reminders can be set and one can work more efficiently and meet deadlines. A must-have app for startup CEO’s and top/mid level management.
- Skype: has been doing the rounds on PC’s and mobiles since ages now. It is by far the best app to quickly video chat with office workers across platforms. The app installs on the Android phone effortlessly and one can quickly do a video and voice meeting with subordinates or superiors. This is a must have app if you are a roaming professional.
- Refresh: in a startup you end up meeting dozens of new clients every other week. Most of the times you are facing a wall that you know nothing about. Refresh is a great app that takes care of the next confrontation with a potential client. This app pulls in details about the client you are about to meet from their Facebook, Twitter and other social feeds, so that you know a bit about the person before you go meet them.
- Evernote: you never know when you need to take a note. You might forget to pick up a pen and a paper, but chances are you will always have your mobile phone with you. Enter Evernote, which takes care of all your noting tasks. This one is an easy to use app that lets you take and upload notes, pictures, audio and video snippets. It is a cross platform ready so one can easily share these notes with co-workers.
5 Android apps to boost productivity if you are part of a startup
India has been struck by the startup wave and we see new companies, firms and businesses emerging every day. Some cater to the digital world and some adopt the offline model. But, whatever the case be all of them are looking to boost productivity and make best of their working hours.
If an organisation and its employees are productive, they can complete work in no time at all. Not to forget the profits will also start to sky rocket. So if you are a part of a startup or are soon going to join/begin one here is our list of productivity apps that you should put on your Android Smartphone.
Soon you will be able to buy Xiaomi phones from a retail store near you
Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi is developing a full-fledged retail business model for its phones and other devices in India, to strengthen its offline presence. The company has tied up with Redington to make its smartphones available across physical brick and mortar stores.
Mr. Manu Jain, Xiaomi India Head has be heard saying, “Offline has done well for us. But the focus will remain on online. In China, about 70 percent of our sales come from online and the remaining is offline. In India too, we should see similar trends. Currently about 90 percent sales in India is online. This should stabilise at about 20-30 percent in the coming time.”
Xiaomi will soon be selling its four smartphone models in the offline retail stores, which consist of Redmi 2, Mi4, Mi 4i and Mi Pad. The company has also got into these retail stores by affiliating with retail chain The Mobile Store and private telecom operator Bharti Airtel Limited. Together they want to bring in more customers to brand.
It seems that the Indian buyers will soon be getting the Xiaomi smartphones at their nearest retail stores. And, we do expect Xiaomi to bring more devices in the near future at more price segments.
Meizu m2 note comes to India at Rs 9,999
Meizu, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer has just announced the launch of its Meizu m2 note in India. The smartphone will be available from August 10, exclusively on Amazon India at Rs 9,999.
The Meizu m2 note is available in White, Blue, Gray and Pink colours. The mobile phone features a. 5.5 inches screen with 1080P Full HD resolution. Powering the smartphone is a 1.3GHz Octa-Core processor paired with 2GB of RAM. The onboard storage of the mobile phone accounts to 16GB and 32GB, which can be expanded by up to 128GB using a microSD card. This smartphone runs on Flyme 4.5, based on Android 5.1 Lollipop operating system.
The Meizu m2 note sports a 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash with Samsung CMOS sensor and 5-megapixel front-facing camera. This smartphone offers 4G LTE, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS as connectivity options. This mobile phone would house a 3,100 mAh battery.
The Meizu m2 note will be available for purchase with an invite in India starting August 10, for Rs. 9,999 exclusively on Amazon.
Techs Specs of Meizu m2 note
- Network supported: 4G LTE and 3G
- Display size: Full HD 5-inch display
- Operating system: Android 5.1 Lollipop OS
- CPU: Octa-Core 1.3GHz processor
- Chipset: Mediatek MT6753
- RAM: 2GB
- Memory:16GB and 32GB (memory can be extended up to 128GB via microSD card)
- Camera: Rear camera 13MP and secondary camera 5MP
- Battery: 3,100 mAh
- Dimensions: 9 x 75.2 x 8.7 mm
- Weight: 149g
Apple Music services crosses 11 million subscribers mark
The Cupertino based giant Apple has announced that the company has more than 11 million subscribers using its Apple Music service. The company is overwhelmed with the response they have received just one month after the launch of its music streaming service. Apple senior vice president of Internet software and services, Eddy Cue, told USA Today, “We’re thrilled with the numbers so far.”
The firm has also revealed that 2 million people have signed up for the family plan which incorporates accounts for up to six people at a discounted price. The service is free for the first three months after the sign up and then it will charge $9.99 per month.
This music streaming service from the house of Apple is considered to give a blow to the rival services Spotify, Pandora and Rdio. The company is geared up to excel from all the other music streaming services by providing a seamless user experience.
Airtel launches its high speed 4G LTE services in 296 towns across India
Bharti Airtel Limited is a leading telecommunications company of India. They have finally launched its high speed 4G LTE services in 296 towns across India. This is by far the largest 4G rollout and comes as a surprise to many. Now, Airtel 4G is available to customers across a range of smart devices including mobile phones, dongles, 4G hotspots and Wi-Fi dongles.
Airtel has also launched an all new carrier agnostic mobile application called Wynk Movies that offers customers thousands of movies and other video content. They have also announced a range of strategic initiatives as part of its 4G rollout.
Gopal Vittal, MD & CEO, Bharti Airtel (India & South Asia) said, “At Airtel, the customer is at the heart of everything we do and therefore we first opened our 4G network to some of them for their valuable feedback. With the help of the feedback received from the beta launches, we have now built India’s first commercial 4G network that will make high speed mobile broadband a reality. The national roll-out today is another small step in our journey to be the most innovative and customer focused brand. We also believe that an open platform is critical to developing an ecosystem that nurtures innovation and enabling our consumers to access a myriad set of possibilities on their mobile phones.”
Airtel users can now get 4G data at 3G data prices with packs starting at Rs 25. Users can instantly swap their old SIM for a 4G SIM. With every 4G SIM swap, Airtel is giving six months of unlimited music streaming and downloads on Wynk Music. Along with that, they are also providing five free movies per month for six months on the Eros Now channel of Wynk Movies. Airtel also offers home delivery of SIMs and postpaid connections in just four hours.
They have also announced Flexpage. This is an automated platform that allows customers to track their data usage and get real time usage alerts. With Flexpage, users can upgrade their mobile plan starting at Rs 100.
Airtel is putting its best foot forward in delivering blazing fast 4G speeds to its customers. One can easily walk into their nearest Airtel store and switch to a 4G SIM to avail these amazing offers.
Microsoft rolls out its Outlook app for Apple Watch
The tech giant Microsoft has rolled out its email app Outlook for the Apple Watch. The users will now be able to check and revert to their mails directly from their wrist at a single glimpse. The app provides Focused Inbox Watch notifications which enable the users to know about their emails along with the various calendar events.
The users will also be able to browse and read the complete email and also performs functions such as archiving, deleting, flagging or scheduling, right from the watch. The users will also be able to see the unread mails and also next calendar appointment on the screen. Along with this, the app also let the users to get Quick Replies, with pre-written responses and voice dictation.
The Outlook app will be available for download form the App Store.
Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 Review: A stylish budget smartphone at an incredible price
Micromax, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer has got yet another budget smartphone in the Indian market. Called the Micromax Canvas Xpress 2, we got to review it recently and it surprised us quite a bit. Here is our take of the phone.
Design
The Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 is available in black colour. The phones black rubberised back panel is grippy and one can hold the phone nicely. The black panel has a golden metal rim along the sides that gives this phone a stunning and stylish look. Even the Micromax logo on the back, is in golden colour. Over that, the circular camera ring at the back also has a golden thread around it that shines under the light. Together, the gold does add to the theatre of the device. Overall, the design is pretty competitive.
The Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 screen has Corning Gorilla Glass 3 over a 5-inch HD IPS display. This HD IPS capacitive display comes with 16 million colours. The mobile phone is not that heavy and is very comfortable to use, even with just one hand.
Under the rear removable plastic panel, there is a battery that can be removed, two Micro SIM card slots and a Micro SD card slot. 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 of the phone and the 3.5mm headset jack is located at the top of the mobile phone. The primary camera is on the top right (rear) of the mobile phone, which comes with the LED flash. A neat pair of headphones also come in the box for music lovers.
Performance
The Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 has a 1.4GHz true Octa-Core processor that comes with 1GB of RAM. Hand in hand, the duo tries to make the applications and services run as smoothly as possible. The users also get 8GB of internal memory to store files. And there is also the option to add up to a 32GB microSD card to add more files. All this runs on the MediaTek MT6592M chipset.
For graphics a Mali-450 is also on board. Other features include accelerometer sensor, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor and gyroscope sensor. The primary camera of Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 comes with auto focus and can capture 13-megapixel still images. For selfies, there is a 2-megapixel secondary camera. The rear camera captures very decent pictures. Macro shots were also quite good. Other photography modes are also present in the smartphone like frontback which captures front and back images at the same time. Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 also has a Flipboard style feature called Quick Look, which aggregates news, weather and social media feeds.
We were able to play most apps and high-end games on the phone without any hassles. But, the games loudspeaker volume could have been better. Talking about which, we faced no problems when it came to audio and call quality on the Micromax Canvas Xpress 2. If you want good personal sound quality then we suggest you use the supplied headphones, as they are great for personal resonance. Screen, image and video quality is also above average and we quite liked what we saw.
Moving on to its battery life, the Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 has 2,500 mAh interchangeable battery inside it. It worked for 22 hours straight after a full charge (under nominal use). We tested the phone with Quadrant and it managed to score 11,648 that puts it right in the middle of the pack.
Verdict
The Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 is built for the youngsters. It has the Android 4.4.2 KitKat OS, which can get upgraded to Lollipop OS. It comes with a lot of preloaded apps such as Housing, CleanMaster, Apps Center, M!Live, Scandid, Start, SwiftKey, Chaatz, Newshunt, Quikr and Hotstar app. The experience was quite smooth throughout. The company has priced the Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 for Rs 5,999 and is exclusively available on Flipkart.
Pros
We were able to play most apps and high-end games on the phone without any hassles. But, the games loudspeaker volume could have been better. Talking about which, we faced no problems when it came to audio and call quality on the Micromax Canvas Xpress 2. If you want good personal sound quality then we suggest you use the supplied headphones, as they are great for personal resonance. Screen, image and video quality is also above average and we quite liked what we saw.
Moving on to its battery life, the Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 has 2,500 mAh interchangeable battery inside it. It worked for 22 hours straight after a full charge (under nominal use). We tested the phone with Quadrant and it managed to score 11,648 that puts it right in the middle of the pack.
Verdict
The Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 is built for the youngsters. It has the Android 4.4.2 KitKat OS, which can get upgraded to Lollipop OS. It comes with a lot of preloaded apps such as Housing, CleanMaster, Apps Center, M!Live, Scandid, Start, SwiftKey, Chaatz, Newshunt, Quikr and Hotstar app. The experience was quite smooth throughout. The company has priced the Micromax Canvas Xpress 2 for Rs 5,999 and is exclusively available on Flipkart.
Pros
- Quite affordable
- Stylish compact design
- Nice cameras
- Decent battery life
- Not a 4G phone
- Lots of bloatware
- Comes with Android KitKat OS
- Network supported: 2G and 3G
- Display size: HD IPS 5-inch display
- Operating system: Android 4.4.2 KitKat OS
- Chipset: Mediatek MT6592M
- CPU: Octa-Core 1.4 GHz processor
- GPU: Mali-450
- RAM: 1GB
- Memory: 8GB (memory can be expanded up to 32GB via micro SD card)
- Camera: Rear camera 13MP and 2MP secondary camera
- Battery: 2,500 mAh (removable)
Karbonn brings the new Titanium Mach Five at Rs 5,999 in India
Karbonn, the domestic smartphone manufacturer has just launched its latest Titanium Mach Five in India, which will be exclusively available on Amazon. Karbonn has partnered with Peel for its IR app to double up as a universal remote control for home appliances such as modern television sets, air-conditioner, set top box etc.
Shashin Devsare, Karbonn Executive Director said, “While the actually sales of Karbonn smartphones are mostly happening through brick and mortar stores, the brand has slowly increased the sale on e-commerce websites as well. Over 30 per cent of our smartphones are now sold on online shopping sites. We want to strengthen our presence in stores as well on online websites. Karbonn Titanium Mach Five comes with infrared emitter and Peel application that enables it to function as remote control for TV, STBs, and ACs of about 400 brands. At Rs 5,999, it is value for money.”
The Karbonn Titanium Mach Five features a 5-inch 720p HD display. Powering the smartphone is a 1.3GHz Quad-Core processor paired with 2GB of RAM. The onboard storage of the mobile phone accounts to 16GB, which can be expanded by up to 32GB using a microSD card. The smartphone runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system.
The smartphone comes equipped with an 8-megapixel rear sensor camera with LED flash alongside a 5-megapixel front camera with LED flash. This smartphone offers 3G, Wi-Fi, microUSB and Bluetooth as connectivity options. The device packs a 2,200 mAh battery.
Karbonn Titanium Mach Five will exclusively be available on Amazon at Rs 5,999. It shall arrive in stock on August 7.
Techs Specs of Karbonn Titanium Mach Five
- Network supported: 3G
- Display size: HD 5-inch 720p display
- Operating system: Android 5.0 Lollipop OS
- CPU: Quad-Core 1.3GHz processor
- RAM: 2GB
- Memory:16GB (memory can be expanded up to 32GB via microSD card)
- Camera: Rear camera 8MP and secondary camera 5MP
- Battery: 2,200 mAh
- Dimensions:143 x 73 x 8.7 mm
- Weight: 159g
Asus launches Asus Zenfone 2 Deluxe in India for Rs 22,999
The Asus Zen festival did seemed like a huge hit, as there was not a seat in the huge JLN indoor arena that was not occupied. The first phone that the company has launched at the event is the Asus Zenfone 2 Deluxe, which is an upgrade to the Asus Zenfone 2.
Asus Zenfone 2 Deluxe sports a 5.5 inch HD IPS display. The screen is supported by the latest Gorilla Glass 4 that is twice as tough as before. Underneath the touchscreen Asus has installed an Intel 2.3 GHz 64 bit CPU, 4GB RAM and up to 128 GB of memory is available. The rear camera has a 13 MP sensor and the front one uses a 5 MP one. Dual SIM card slots are available that support LTE and 4G technology.
Powering the device is a 3,000 mAh battery that can be quick charged up to 60% in 30 minutes. Not bad for a mid range smartphone. As far as the operating system is concerned Android Lolipop has been installed on this smartphone. Asus has priced Zenfone 2 Deluxe well at Rs 22,999 and this flagship phone does bring you the bang for the buck. Do check out the first look video of the Asus Zenfone 2 Deluxe (above).
Intel to set up Intel India Maker Lab in Bengaluru
Intel India has recently declared its plan to set up Intel India Maker Lab in its Bengaluru campus, which will be operational soon. The Intel India Maker Lab have two goals. First, to accelerate hardware design innovation by increasing product revolution. Second, to improve maker capability for innovators and startups in India.
Kumud Srinivasan, President, Intel India, said “Intel India is committed to the Government’s Digital India vision. Intel’s philosophy has always been to inspire, imagine and realize innovations that enhance lives. With the Intel India Maker Lab, we are offering a strong platform to India’s vibrant start-up ecosystem, and encouraging young innovators to turn their ideas into exciting and relevant products for India.”
This Lab will provide resources such as infrastructure, development kits, reference boards, and hardware/software tools. Using these resources, the innovators and sartups can test their ideas and develop proof of concepts. Later, they can finally shape those resources into products and solutions.
In tandem with the ‘Make in India’ initiative, Intel India will help the innovators to connect with the local technology ecosystem like Electronic Manufacturing Service providers, Original Design Manufacturers, Independent Software Vendors and System Integrators.
It seems like Intel India is working really hard to bring new tech to life from Indian innovators. It does look like a good step to boost quality innovations and help Make In India campaign.
Lava launches Iris X5 4G with 13MP camera, 2GB RAM for Rs 10,199 via Amazon
The Indian smartphone manufacturer Lava has added yet another member to its 4G smartphones with the launch of Iris X5 4G. The company has priced the device for Rs 10,199 and it will be available in Icy white and Royal Black colour options exclusively via Amazon.
Talking about the specifications, the Lava Iris X5 4G flaunts a 5-inch display with 1280×720 pixels resolution protected by Asahi Dragon Trail Glass on top. The smartphone offer dual SIM capability and runs on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop operating system based in Star OS. Powering the smartphone is a 1.3 GHz Quad-Core MediaTek MT6735 processor paired with 2GB of RAM. The internal storage of the smartphone accounts to 16GB which can be expanded further using a microSD card.
The smartphone sports a 13.0-megapixel rear snapper with dual LED flash and an 8.0-megapixel front facing camera for clicking perfect selfies. The connectivity attributes of the smartphone include 4G, LTE, 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and packs in a 2,500 mAh battery.
Gionee launches Marathon M4 smartphone with 4G support at Rs, 15,499
The Chinese smartphone manufacturer Gionee has expanded its product portfolio with the launch of Marathon M4 smartphone for Rs 15,499. The smartphone will be available in White and Black colour options.
Speaking about the device, Timir Baran Acharyya, GM, Gionee India said, “Marathon M4 is a result of Gionee’s consistent understanding of the rising demand for a device that not just looks great on the specs sheet, but also demonstrates an impeccable performance. Consumers today love to be connected on the go and are always on the lookout for powerful devices and M4 answers exactly that. With an exceptional battery life and powerful multimedia experience, M4 is sure to set the bar a notch higher.”
Talking about the specifications, the Gionee Marathon M4 features a 5-inch HD Super AMOLED display with 1280×720 pixels resolution. The smartphone comes with dual SIM functionality and runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system topped with Amigo UI. Powering the device is a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor paired with 2GB of RAM. The inbuilt storage of the smartphone accounts to 16GB which can be expanded further using a microSD card.
The smartphone flaunts an 8.0-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 5.0-megapixel front facing for clicking selfies. Connectivity attributes of the smartphone include 4G, LTE, 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, USB OTG and houses a 5,000 mAh battery.
The Lexus Hoverboard has taken flight, watch this really cool video of the nifty levitation device
Most of us geeks grew up with fantasies about Hoverboards from the Back to the Future series of movies. We never thought that the device would actually hit reality one day. Well, Lexus has proved us wrong and they have introduced a Hoverboard that actually works. Take that Sci-Fi and fantasy movies haters.
Before we tell you more about this nifty little device, watch the video of the Lexus Hoverboard below.
A month or so ago the global car maker had starting sending teasers of what is to come. A mysterious device came into the picture that seemed like a Hoverboard, but we were still sceptical at the time about the gimmick. Now looking at this video where skateboarders are using the Lexux Hoverboard to skate around the park and on water, yes you read that right – on water!, this contraption which once felt like a fantasy is now a reality.
The Wired.co.uk reports that the board measures 92x22x9cm and can carry weights of up to 200 Kg. The The Lexus Hoverboard levitates thanks to superconductors made from the catchily named compound Yttrium barium copper oxide that are fitted within the body. Sitting in two cryostats (or reservoirs), the superconductors need to be cooled to below -181C in liquid nitrogen to work. Therefore, you see vapours coming out of the board.
Well, we quite like the whole spectacle of the vapours from the Lexus Hoverboard. It just adds to the show, unless they pollute the environment in some way (then that is not cool). Once the compound has reached the -181C cooled state it can store a magnetic field. In this case the 200 meter magnetic track under skatepark helps the board levitate. That is why you see the skateboarder swiftly moving over water as well.
However, there are instances in the video showcasing some sloppy movements. This just illustrates that the Lexus Hoverboard is still in its Beta/testing phases, nonetheless exhilarating to see. This tech is exciting to watch as it brings lot of childhood memories and fantasies to existence. Kudos to Lexus and the team for bringing this Sci-Fi tech to life, Marty McFly would be proud of you guys.
Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime 4G launched at Rs 11,100 in India
Samsung has expanded its product portfolio with the launch of Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime 4G. The new smartphone is the latest offering from the Samsung in its “4G” series. The mobile phone is available in white, grey and gold colour variants.
Asim Warsi, vice president, marketing, Mobile & IT at Samsung India said, “Samsung is committed to develop innovative products basis deep consumer insights. With the 4G variant of the Galaxy Grand Prime we continue to expand our product offerings in the mid segment with the aim to provide uncompromised smartphone experience, at very competitive prices.”
The Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime 4G features a 5-inch HD TFT display. Powering the smartphone is a 1.2GHz Quad-Core processor paired with 1GB of RAM. The onboard storage of the mobile phone accounts to 8GB, which can be expanded by up to 64GB using a microSD card. The smartphone runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop operating system with Samsung’s TouchWiz UI.
The Grand Prime 4G is equipped with an 8MP auto-focus rear camera with LED flash and a 5MP wide-angled front camera. This smartphone offers 3G, 4G LTE, GPS/ A-GPS, NFC, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth as connectivity options. The device packs a 2,600 mAh battery.
The company has priced the Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime 4G at Rs 11,100.
Techs Specs of Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime 4G
- Network supported: 4G LTE and 3G
- Display size: HD TFT 5-inch display
- Operating system: Android 5.1 Lollipop with Samsung’s TouchWiz UI
- CPU: Quad-Core 1.2GHz processor
- RAM: 1GB
- Memory:8GB (memory can be expanded up to 64GB via micro SD card)
- Camera: Rear camera 8MP and secondary camera 5MP
- Battery: 2,600 mAh
- Dimensions:80 x 72.10 x 8.60mm
- Weight: 156g
Apple iPhone 6S first pictures leaked along with some specs
Apple will soon launch another stylish iPhone called the iPhone 6S. This news has been spotted on the many websites thanks to GeekBar. Many reported that this smartphone will have larger screen and a slightly bigger body in comparison to the other iPhones. The iPhone 6S will be around 0.13mm thick. This smartphone might come in a rose gold colour in addition to the silver, gold and space grey. The iPhone 6S is expected to launch during September 2015.
Some leaked image of iPhone 6S shows that the phone will have the same design as the previous one. Over that, the Touch ID is unlikely to be moved from the home button to the rear or even the display.
The iPhone 6S will feature a 4.7 to 5-inch touchscreen display, which will hide an A9 chip. The smartphone is expected to get an upgrade in the RAM department to 2GB. Some rumours to say that the iPhone 6S will flaunt a 12-megapixel rear camera with 4K video capturing capabilities. The smartphone will come pre-loaded with the next-gen iOS 9. It seems that users get the choice of 64GB and 128GB alongside a 16 GB model.
The price for iPhone 6S will be known in the coming days. Stay tuned as we bring you more developments from the camp of Apple.
Some leaked image of iPhone 6S shows that the phone will have the same design as the previous one. Over that, the Touch ID is unlikely to be moved from the home button to the rear or even the display.
The iPhone 6S will feature a 4.7 to 5-inch touchscreen display, which will hide an A9 chip. The smartphone is expected to get an upgrade in the RAM department to 2GB. Some rumours to say that the iPhone 6S will flaunt a 12-megapixel rear camera with 4K video capturing capabilities. The smartphone will come pre-loaded with the next-gen iOS 9. It seems that users get the choice of 64GB and 128GB alongside a 16 GB model.
The price for iPhone 6S will be known in the coming days. Stay tuned as we bring you more developments from the camp of Apple. GOQii fitness band review: A decent fitness band, but at a price
The Indian consumers are slowly waking up to the reality that they have to stay fit and healthy. But, most do not end up hitting the gym or the yoga mat every day. Time is dear and one ends up doing a lot of other things, juggling between home and the office, that no time for a 15-20 minute workout can be bought. This is where fitness trackers step in. They not only enable you to do a quick workout, but keep an eye on your health and fitness levels too.
We see a lot of fitness trackers, bands and watches flooding the Indian market these days. We got our hands on one them called the GOQii Fitness band that ends up as your personal trainer who will always be with you 24X7. We spent a good time with it and this is what we found out.
Design-wise the GOQii Fitness band is decent too look at. Yes, there are fitness trackers that look really hot, but this one does have an identity of its own. Dressed in black and red, the GOQii Fitness band is a light fitness tracker that can be adjusted over any wrist type. The tracker is right in the middle of the strap and can be easily removed for a quick charge.
If you sweat a lot do not worry, as the band is water resistant and one can take it out on (light) rainy day too. Just make sure you do not take it to the showers after a workout. One can tap or swipe the device to wake it up. Light taps on it show you the different modes, steps and calories burnt. The device boots up very quickly and charges up fast too. The battery lasted for 3 days straight for us. A charger comes in the box so that one does need to find a USB port to charge the GOQii Fitness band.
On the performance front the GOQii Fitness band is pretty much up there. Users need to download the GOQii app to use the device fully. The app is compatible with most Android smartphones and will show you things like calories burnt and distance travelled.
There are certain things that one would need to log into the app such as food intake, type of food and water consumed. These cannot be tracked directly by the GOQii Fitness band, but one can easily use the app, which by the way acts like your personal trainer, to log these things in. The GOQii app uses Bluetooth to sync the info between the phone and the band. So one ends up using a wee-bit extra power of the smartphone as well.
Users can set goals and work towards them. This is seen by the GOQii coach who knows every bit about you. At the time of registering the device, the user needs to fill an elaborate form about their fitness levels and other things. This helps the coach app train you well. The coach will suggest the methods and gives you food options to keep you fit and healthy.
Overall, the experience with the GOQii Fitness band was not bad. Consumers can pick up the GOQii Fitness band with a 6 month coach subscription option of Rs 6,999 or 12 month option of Rs 11,999. This is a bit steep when compared to some of the other fitness trackers available in the market, but those do not provide you an elaborate coach system like the GOQii Fitness band does.
Pros:
Decent style
Water resistant
Cons:
Battery life could have been better
Price is a little steep
iBall unveils new Throb 2.0 speakers at Rs 5,999 in India
Computer speaker systems have become better. They are not the same like they were half a decade ago. Makers such as iBall, Intex and Zebronics are working hard to give users a good sound experience. iBall is the latest to launch its 2.0 speakers system in India.
These speakers are the latest 4.0 Bluetooth speakers by the company for Indian consumers. The company claims that the 2.0 speakers promises to give users a cinematic audio experience for movies, games or a live concert-like surroundings at an affordable price.
These iBall Throb 2.0 speakers have a beautiful design. The speakers come with the compact wooden cabinet, which ensures a perfect combination of sound and decor. This device comes a fully functional remote control, which enables users to toggle volume, mute and power options from a distance.
The speakers have an inbuilt soft domed tweeter with a unique dual suspension system that suppresses astonishing nodes, which gives more enjoyment to the users. It is designed to give users exceptional and dynamic sound with high power, states the company.
This speaker system has been built for seamless multi-functional usage. Its power strip allows it to play the most popular MP3 audios from personal devices such as a PC, DVD player or a TV. The device also comes with built-in Bluetooth tech that lets the users enjoy music wirelessly. It also allows users to connect multiple devices via PC (RCA1) and AUX inputs. Bass and treble adjustment and controls are also present in these speakers.
The company has priced the iBall Throb 2.0 speakers at Rs 5,999 and the speakers shall be available at the leading stores very soon.
Valve just made over 52 Million USD on the biggest DOTA 2 gaming tournament ever
Let’s face it there is a gamer in all of us. Some of us play casually on our mobile phones or gaming consoles over the weekend, but some take it very seriously and play games competitively. The Biggest E-sports event is taking place right now and the game being played is one of the most widely played strategy fixture called DOTA 2.
For those who do not know about Defence Of The Ancients or DOTA, it was a map mod in the popular Warcraft 3 game by Blizzard. Then the maker of the map ‘Icefrog’ joined hands with Valve to make DOTA 2. Long story short, together they are making millions each year off this game. Valve has a yearly tournament in the form of The International, which started 5 years ago.
So how do they make money from this tournament?
Gamers can buy a special compendium, which grants them special in game items, music packs, announcers and more. Each item opens up at a stretch goal when the prize money reaches certain level. Valve was expecting about 15 Million USD as the final prize money, but it surpassed all expectations and went to 18 Million USD. Valve sells each compendium for about 9.99 USD, of which 25% goes to the tournament’s prize money. The Prize of the tournament is now over a whooping 18 Million USD’s. So by our calculations by just selling compendiums and the level points of the compendium, Valve has made over 52 Million USD.
This is the biggest prize money being given out ever. Much of it crowd funded. The gamers and viewers from around the world are basically sponsoring this E-sports tournament being held in Seattle, USA. Valve is rolling in money with this free game as thousands buy in game items every day.
The first place winners of The International 5 would take home almost 6.5 million USD. While the second place winners get 2.8 million and so on. Not bad for an E-sport tournament.
The first place winners of The International 5 would take home almost 6.5 million USD. While the second place winners get 2.8 million and so on. Not bad for an E-sport tournament. Sony unveils Xperia M5 with 3GB RAM, 21.5MP camera, octa-core CPU
It seems that the smartphone manufacturer Sony is leaving no stone upturned in order to lure its customers. The manufacturer has expanded its M series with its latest offering Xperia M5. The smartphone runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system and will be available in both single and dual SIM variants. The device flaunts a 5-inch full HD with 1920×1080 pixels resolution and Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2.
Powering the Sony XPERIA M5 is a 2.2 GHz MediaTek Helio X10 (MT6795T) Octa-Core 64-bit processor coupled with 3GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage which can be expanded further up to 200GB with the help of the microSD card. The device sports a 21.5-megapixel rear shooter with LED flash and a 13.0-megapixel front facing camera for video calling. This 4G enabled smartphone from the house of Sony also comes with water and dust protection.
The connectivity attributes of the device include 4G, LTE, 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC and houses a 2,600 mAh battery. The smartphone will be available in Gold, Black and White colour options, however the company has not yet revealed the pricing details of the device.
Sony announced Xperia C5 Ultra Selfie smartphone with 13MP camera
The Japanese smartphone manufacturer Sony has introduced the latest selfie smartphone of the company called as Xperia C5 Ultra. The smartphone features a 6-inch full HD display with 1920×1080 pixels resolution and Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2. The smartphone runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system and comes in both single and dual SIM variants.
The Sony Xperia C5 Ultra is powered by a 1.7 GHz octa-core MediaTek MT6752 processor paired with 2GB of RAM. The internal storage of the device accounts to 16GB which can be expanded up to 200GB with the help of microSD card. The smartphone flaunts a 13.0-megapixel with wide angle lens and selfie flash both at the rear and front end.
On the connectivity front the Sony Xperia C5 Ultra include, 4G, LTE, 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC and houses a 2,930 mAh battery. The company has not yet divulged any details about the pricing of the device but it will be available in black, white and a glossy soft mint colour options in selected countries starting mid-August.
Lava brings yet another budget smartphone Lava Iris X1 Selfie to India at Rs 6,777
The budget segment of smartphones is getting thicker by the day. Lava, the Indian smartphone manufacturer has contributed to the budget Android smartphone sphere with their new mobile called Lava Iris X1. This smartphone comes in three colour variations, which consist of Royal Black, Icy White and Purple.
Speaking on the launch of the Iris X1 Selfie, Navin Chawla, Senior Vice President of Lava said, “We realize that there is a need for such devices and with our R&D efforts this offering has a perfect combination of hardware and software driven front camera capabilities.”
On the specification front, the Lava Iris X1 flaunts a 4.5-inch FWVGA display. The device comes with dual SIM functionality and runs an Android 5.1 Lollipop operating system. Powering the smartphone is a Quad-Core 1.3GHz processor coupled with 1GB of RAM. The on-board storage of the smartphone accounts to 8GB that can be expanded further via microSD card up to 32GB.
The device features an 8.0-megapixel rear camera with LED flash. Users can record videos in HD with it. Over that, the camera features photo timer and HDR mode too. Accompanying the rear camera is the 5.0-megapixel front-facing camera with LED flash. The smartphone offers 3G, Wi-Fi, USB 2.0, GPS and Bluetooth as connectivity options and it packs a 2,000 mAh battery.
The company has priced the new Lava Iris X1 at Rs 6,777 and will be available for both online and offline consumers from early next week.
Techs Specs of Lava Iris X1
- Network supported: 3G
- Display size: FWVGA 4.5 inch display
- Operating system: Android 5.1 Lollipop
- CPU: Quad-Core 1.3GHz processor
- RAM: 1GB
- Memory: 8GB internal memory & add up to 32GB via microSD card
- Camera: Rear camera 8MP and 5MP secondary camera
- Battery: 2,000 mAh
- Dimensions: 5 x 6.0 x 8.5 mm
- Weight: 140g
Samsung to launch its new smartwatch Gear A (Orbis) soon
Samsung, the South Korean tech giant will soon launch its latest smartwatch called the Gear A. This smartwatch has been codenamed Orbis. The company is expected to launch this smartwatch alongside the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus smartphone on 13 August at a global event.
Some reports state that the Gear A smartwatch will have round and rotatable bezel. This rotating circular dial will be used to navigate the interface easier, zoom in and zoom out the photos. The watch will feature a round display with a 360×360 pixel resolution. A few more specifications have surfaced, which show that the new device will have 4GB of internal memory.
Gear A is expected to run on Tizen 2.3.1 operating system. The smartwatch will be powered by an Exynos 3472 Dual-Core processor coupled with 768GB of RAM. The connectivity options include Bluetooth 4.1, Wi-Fi, 2G and GPS along with the barometer sensor and a heart rate sensor. It would house a 250 mAh battery.
This smartwatch by Samsung does seem like a treat for Samsung fan boys. However, the company is tight lipped on its launch and specifications.
Samsung to announce its Galaxy S5 Neo smartphone soon, some specs revealed
Samsung, the South Korean smartphone maker will soon launch its latest smartphone called the Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo. This news has been spotted on the Web by a Dutch e-commerce website Belsimpel. They reported that this smartphone will be available by the end of the next month globally and in India.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo will feature a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED Full HD display, with Corning Gorilla Glass for protection. The smartphone will be powered by an Octa-Core Exynos processor and 2GB of RAM.
A few more specifications have surfaced which show that the new device will run on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. The device will have 16GB onboard storage, which can be expanded up to 128GB via microSD card. On the camera front, the smartphone sports a 16MP rear camera with autofocus and LED flash along with a 5MP front camera. The connectivity options include LTE Cat6, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, microUSB 2.0, GPS with AGPS and NFC. The Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo houses a 2,800mAh battery.
Some reports also point out that the Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo will measure 142×72.5×8.1mm and would weigh 145 grams. It is expected to be available in black, gold, silver and white options. And the price for this smartphone will be approximately Rs 33,000. But, there is no official word from the company yet.
Gionee expands its pioneer series with the launch of new Pioneer P2M at Rs 6,999
Gionee might be a Chinese brand but they have launched some great mobile phones in India. Now, they have launched the Gionee Pioneer P2M, which is an upgraded version of the Pioneer P2 that was launched back in 2013. The smartphone is available in three colour variations – white, gold and black.
The Gionee Pioneer P2M features a 4-inch WVGA IPS display. The smartphone is powered by a 1.3GHz Quad-Core processor that runs on MediaTek MT6582 chipset coupled with 1GB of RAM. It comes with 16GB of inbuilt storage. This can be further expandable via a microSD card (up to 32GB). The Pioneer P2M is a dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) smartphone with dual standby support. It runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop operating system. For graphics an ARM Mali 400 MP is also on board.
The Gionee Pioneer P2M is equipped with a 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash alongside 2-megapixel front camera. This smartphone offers 3G, GPS, WI-Fi and Bluetooth as connectivity options. The device packs a 3,000 mAh battery.
The company has priced the Gionee Pioneer P2M very aggressively at Rs 6,999. The new Gionee smartphone will be available in India for both online and offline consumers. But, with am array of smartphones already available at this price point, the road for Gionee does not look that smooth as before.
Techs Specs of Gionee Pioneer P2M
- Network supported: 3G and 2G
- Display size: WVGA IPS 4-inch display
- Operating system: Android 5.1 Lollipop
- CPU: Quad-Core 1.3GHz processor
- Chipset: MediaTek MT6582
- GPU: ARM Mali 400 MP
- RAM: 1GB
- Memory:16GB (memory can be extended up to 32GB via micro SD card )
- Camera: Rear camera 5MP and secondary camera 2MP
- Dimensions:00 x 62.50 x 10.90mm
- Battery: 3,000 mAh (removable)
The Lenovo K3 Note selling like hot cakes, the next flash sale is on August 5
The Chinese smartphone maker, Lenovo along with Flipkart sold 50,000 units of Lenovo K3 Note in just 10 seconds on this 29th July flash sale. The company informed that it sold 35,000 units of K3 Note (black version) in 6.5 seconds and another 15,000 units of its white version were sold out in 3.5 seconds at the fourth flash sale yesterday.
The Lenovo K3 Note has a 5.5-inch full HD (1920x1080p) display. The smartphone runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop OS with Vibe UI and comes with dual-SIM support. It is powered by a 64-bit 1.7GHz Octa-Core MediaTek MT6752 processor coupled with 2GB of RAM. For graphics an ARM MALI-T760 is also on board.
The on-board storage of the Lenovo K3 Note accounts to 16GB that can be expanded further via microSD card up to 32GB. The device features a 13-megapixel rear camera with dual-LED flash and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. The Lenovo K3 Note features 4G LTE, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and USB as connectivity options. The device houses a 3,000 mAh battery to keep it alive.
The company has priced the Lenovo K3 Note at Rs 9,999 and it is exclusively on Flipkart, as far as online sales are concerned. It will be available through another flash sale, which is expected to take place on August 5. The registrations for the next week sale have already begun. The Lenovo K3 Note (black) will be open for sale at 12pm while the white version will go on sale at 3pm.
Tech Specs of Lenovo K3 Note
- Network supported: 4G LTE and 3G
- Display size: Full HD 5.5-inch display
- Operating system: Android 5.0 Lollipop OS with Vibe UI
- CPU: Octa-Core 1.7GHz processor (64-bit)
- GPU:ARM MALI-T760
- Chipset: MediaTek MT6752
- RAM: 2GB
- Memory: 16GB internal memory & add up to 32GB via microSD card
- Camera: Rear camera 13-megapixel and secondary camera 5-megapixel
- Battery: 3,000 mAh
- Dimensions: 6×76.2×8 mm
- Weight: 150g