Nokia 8 launched | Dual Zeiss Camera | Price, Colors and Availability

      After months and months of anticipation, a flagship from Nokia is finally here! HMD Global, the Finnish start-up, has unveiled the Nokia 8 at an event in London. The company which so far released a few mid-range devices, has finally stepped into the premium market, dominated by the likes of Apple, Samsung and LG.

Nokia 8 launched | Dual Zeiss Camera | Price, Colors and Availability

Build and Design

      The Nokia 8 is made from a single block of 6000 series aluminium, with an average thicknes of 7.3 mm. The smartphone is 7.9 mm at its thickest point and 4.6 mm at its thinnest. Unlike other flagships, the Nokia 8 is not waterproof, but splash-proof nonetheless, with an IP54 rating. Measuring 151.5 x 73.7 x 7.9 mm, the device weighs a decent 160 gm. Nokia has included graphite shielded copper heat pipe to keep thermal levels optimal. The antennas are designed similar to iPhone7, blending to the side curves of the phone.

Display

      Nokia 8 sports a 5.3 inch IPS LCD display with a QuadHD resolution (2560x1440), with brightness levels maxing out at 700 nits. The display is 2.5D, meaning it curves slightly at the edges and it’s protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5.

Camera and OZO Audio

      Ever since Zeiss announced that they intend to bring back their famed lenses on Nokia phones, we were expecting some great optics. Equipping the Nokia 8 with dual 13 MP sensors, they have managed to live up to the hype. The rear camera setup contains two 13 MP sensors, a combination of color and monochrome ones. With a pixel size of 1.12 um, f/2.0 aperture, PDAF and dual LED flash, the cameras look set to produce some great shots. The front-facing camera also sports the same sensors, the only differences being a slightly wider 78.4 degree of FOV and display flash instead of LED ones.

      A unique feature call Bothie, by which both the cameras capture pictures at the same time, is also included. They also called this feature as Dual-Sight. This can be used for live-stream videos to give the audience a better view of what’s happening around you.

      Related to audio, Nokia 8 has OZO, which has the ability to combine the audio from its three microphones using unique algorithms. This means users can record 360 degree spatial surround sound for an immersive experience. Nokia confirmed that such audio codecs will be compatible on phones without OZO, so you can share the recorded videos without losing the amazing high quality audio.

Processing power, Storage and other Specifications

      The smartphone is powered by the latest and greatest from Qualcomm, the Snapdragon 835 processor with a maximum clock-speed of 2.45 GHz. 4 GB of RAM comes with 64 GB of internal storage (6 GB RAM and 128 GB memory on Gloss Blue variant), expandable up to 256 GB via external hybrid microSD card slot. It will be running Android Nougat 7.1.1 with the company hinting at a possibility of Nokia 8 being one of the first phones to receive Android O update. The stock Android also clears the way for faster security patch releases. Unlimited Google Photos storage and support for Google Assistant are also included.

      All these will be backed up by a 3090 mAh integrated battery with Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 (18W). USB Type-C, capable of data sync speeds up to 5 Gbps, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0 are the connectivity features. Sensors included are ambient light, proximity, accelerometer, e-compass, gyroscope, fingerprint, hall sensor, barometer, GPS/AGPS+GLONASS+BDS, NFC, ANT+.

Pricing, Availability and Colors

      Nokia 8 will be available at 599 Euros (~Rs 45,000) from September. It will come in four colors - Polished Blue, Tempered Blue, Steel, Polished Copper.

Source

Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro will feature swim tracking, offline Spotify support

      Samsung is all set to unveil the Note 8 at the Unpacked Event on 23 August, but it won't be the only device to mark its debut. A couple of other devices, the fitness tracker Gear Fit2 Pro and a backwards-compatible GearVR headset will also be unveiled alongside the Note 8.

      Though the hype and excitement related to wearable devices have gone down recently, it seems Samsung isn't going to give it up easily. Samsung had launched Gear Fit in 2014, and two years later, updated the line-up with Gear Fit2. The Fit2 Pro will actually be the third in the series of fitness trackers from Samsung, successor to the Gear Fit2. The latest fitness tracker from Samsung will be a big update to the Tizen-powered Fit2, according to sources.

Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro will feature swim tracking, offline Spotify support

      The South Korean company's new wearable device will have 5 ATM water resistance, which means that users can submerge the device fully without the fear of damage and also enables swim tracking. The Gear Fit2 had IP68 certification, which was waterproof only up to a certain extent.

(Also Read: Samsung releases Note 8 video teaser )

      For extended rough usage like rigorous workouts, the Fit2 Pro will have a watch-style clasp, ensuring a more secure fit compared to Fit2 which only had a snap clasp.

      Another addition is the support for music playback – offline Spotify as well – which will give an extra advantage to the Fit2 Pro over other fitness trackers. This device will also have GPS function, like the Gear Fit2. The Fit2 Pro will sync with Speedo On app.

      It will be compatible with Android as well as iOS devices, and includes one year subscription to Under Armour’s premium digital services. Information about detailed specs and price was not available.

Source: VentureBeat

Asus announces the launch of Zephyrus in India | World's thinnest laptop with GTX 1080

      ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the launch of the world’s slimmest gaming laptop, the Zephyrus. This beast from Asus is powered by a 7th Gen Intel Core i7 processor (Kaby Lake) and the latest NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphics. Zephyrus will come with the Windows 10 Creators Update, which enhances the performance of PC games by means of the all-new Windows Game Mode, thereby enabling easier native game-streaming with Beam, Microsoft’s streaming service.

Asus announces the launch of Zephyrus in India | World's thinnest laptop with GTX 1080

       The gaming laptop will be showcased for the first time in India on 20 August, 2017 at Hotel Lalit Ashoka, Bangalore on the occasion of ROG Masters South Asia finale. The mega event will be attended by at least 1500 gamers.

      Priced at Rs. 2,99,990, the 15.6” display touting Zephyrus is an ultra-slim laptop and also incorporates the Active Aerodynamic System (AAS) — a specially designed ROG-exclusive cooling system. It also features customizable ASUS Aura RGB lighting effects and a super-fast 120Hz panel with wide-view technology, 100 percent sRGB color gamut and NVIDIA G-SYNC for breathtaking gaming visuals.

      Mr. Peter Chang, Regional Head - South Asia & Country Manager - ASUS India said, “ROG aims to create laptops that are slimmer, cooler, quieter & more powerful than ever before — to fully address the needs of today's highly mobile gamers. ROG Zephyrus is the result of this persistent dedication to gaming innovation. Being the first notebook to feature NVidia Max-Q design technology, ‘Zephyrus’ is the thinnest, lightest yet one of the most powerful gaming laptops at the moment.”

      By incorporating Max-Q technology, NVIDIA has enabled the OEMs to build laptops which are 3x thinner while delivering up to 3x more performance compared to previous gen. The better portability of laptops coupled with the powerful performance from NVIDIA ensures that gamers get the highest quality gaming-experience wherever and whenever they want it.  

      Vishal Dhupar, Managing Director, South Asia, NVIDIA said “In line with NVIDIA’s vision of constantly pushing the gaming industry & enhancing choices for customers, we are delighted to introduce NVIDIA Max-Q powered notebooks in India. The Asus ROG Zephyrus marks a new era for gaming notebooks, one where gamers can expect powerful performance without compromising on the aesthetics. Enabling OEMs to build laptops that are 3x thinner with up to 3x more performance, gamers can now experience high-fidelity gaming & high-resolution entertainment whenever & wherever they want it.”

      The ROG-exclusive cooling system called AAS incorporates AeroAccelerator technology for higher speed and efficiency of airflow. A small portion of the bottom chassis flexes each time Zephyrus is opened, increasing the air circulation. This efficient cooling maximizes the performance while keeping the thermal parameters in check, allowing the full utilization of the processing power.

      The design of the keyboard is also unique, which enhances the cooling of internal components. Featuring Aura RGB lighting, gamers can set customizable patterns as well as highlight effects for WASD and QWER key groups.

      WhisperMode technology plays with the game’s frame rate and the graphics settings simultaneously to increase the efficiency and reduce the acoustic level, making the gaming experience a lot quieter. The display on the Zephyrus has a very high frame rate of 120 Hz, which gets synchronized with GeForce graphic card’s frame rate as a result of G-SYNC, ensuring smooth visual experience. Wide-viewing angles and 100 percent sRGB gamut allows stunning color reproduction from all angles. With a thickness of just 16.9 mm, the world’s thinnest laptop with a GTX 1080 also features a USB Type-C with Thunderbolt 3, supporting G-SYNC, 4K output and fast data transfers.

Samsung releases a vague teaser of Galaxy Note 8 | Launch on August 23

      Samsung yesterday sent out a video teaser, which points at the Note 8 Launch scheduled on August 23. As it has been the case since a couple of years, such teasers are just ‘official’ confirmations of what we already know, thanks to the infinite number of leaks.

      Even this year it’s the same, with Evan Blass posting a clear picture of Note 8’s front and back on his twitter account. Evan Blass has a good history of leaking accurate details, and unlike others, he often posts high quality pictures.    

Samsung releases a vague teaser of Galaxy Note 8 

      The latest teaser offers some vague insights to the upcoming Note 8. The entire video is filled with just few words, which, according to the teaser, will be replaced by the Note 8. A few words come up in the video, then an S-pen shaped ‘strike-through’ cuts them off and a new word replaces it.

      Talk is replaced by act, step by leap, update by innovate, and so on. There are the usual taunts targeting Apple as well. The words such as closed and open are clearly pointing at Apple. The video ends with a bezel-less mobile figure and an S-pen. Do bigger things is the tag-line for this particular video, probably an indication of a bigger display being included on the Note 8. Right since the Note 3, all the Galaxy Note devices till date have had a 5.7 inch display. This will definitely be changing since the new trend is an 18:9 ratio tall display, meaning a similar sized phone can accommodate a much larger screen.

 (Also Read: LG launches the first mid-range smartphone with 18:9 display)

The Note 8's importance for Samsung

      The Note 8 is a much-awaited phone, more so because of how its predecessor, the Note 7, ended up. It was probably the worst thing to happen to a tech company in recent times, where it had to stop the sale of its flagship at once. A huge fiasco in itself, it could have turned much worse if Samsung had played the waiting game. As much as they deserve the criticism, they should also be applauded for the way they took the hard route and called off the sale. It would have been easy for a company as huge as Samsung to shrug off the reports and carry on with the sale to boost the profits. 100 devices out of a million is still 0.01 percentage, which is too small a figure. They cancelled the entire sale and recalled all the devices too. They were so adamant that they released an update which practically turned the Note 7 useless, forcing users to submit their phones. The chaos cause by the Note 7 last year makes the launch of Note 8 an important milestone for the company.

(specs: https://t.co/Q0BWXVac72) pic.twitter.com/dA0tU8WHIf

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) August 3, 2017

      Note 8 will be launch at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event, scheduled for August 23, 2017, at Park Avenue Armory in New York. The event will be live on Samsung’s website from 11 AM EST (8:30 PM IST).

Source : Samsung

LG just unveiled the world’s largest OLED screen in Dubai

      Display technology has evolved a lot over the last decade or so. The change from monochrome CRT to color CRT and then the first LCDs took more than half a century. CRTs, once the single most display technology, started getting replaced by LCDs at the start of this millennium. In just a decade and a half, two different technologies came up viz. plasma and LED and overtook LCD. Though LCD still has a sizable market share because of its low cost of production, larger TV and display screens are mostly made out of LED. Now it’s shifting to OLED panels, which are known for its vibrant colors and deep blacks. Display manufacturers like LG, Sony and others are focusing on bringing this technology to mainstream large scale production.

LG just unveiled the world’s largest OLED screen in Dubai

       LG Electronics unveiled a video signage in Dubai, which is the largest OLED screen and the largest HD wall in the world. Dubai Mall, adjacent to world’s tallest tower Burj Khalifa, was the chosen venue for the signage which was created using a staggering 820 Open Frame OLED panels. Emaar Entertainment was the partner for LG in this record breaking project.

(Also Read: LG V30 to be the first smartphone camera with an f/1.6 aperture!)

       “LG is revolutionizing the way commercial space is designed and used because its pioneering slim and curved OLED technology is an iconic piece of art itself,” said Kwon Soon-hwang, head of Information Display at the LG Home Entertainment Company. “Our Dubai exhibit is an example of how LG digital signage products add harmony to a space in addition to being an innovative solution that today’s B2B customers demand. It’s fitting that this breakthrough screen is being shown in the largest mall in the world next to the tallest structure in the world.” 

      Placed above an aquarium, the curved display complements the undulations of the flowing water beneath it. The ability of Open Frame OLED to form both concave and convex curves in landscape as well as portrait modes aided the project immensely.

(Also Read: LG launches LG Q6, first mid range device to sport an 18:9 FullVision display)

                   

OLED Technology | What's special?

      OLED technology is the preferred premium tech for displays now, and it’s called the next-gen display because of the low-power consumption and great colors. The lower power usage is due to the fact that OLED is emissive in nature, which means that the display has the ability to emit its own light. This eliminates the need for back-lighting, which are often bulky and inefficient. When displaying black color, the panel shuts off the particular pixels, which gives the deepest black levels and insanely high contrast. The viewing angle of OLED is also better when compared to back-lit LCD displays.

Source : LG NewsRoom

Nokia 5 will go on sale in India from 15th August | Specs | Price and Availability

      Once the king of mobile phone devices, the fall of Nokia pained a lot of their fans. Their initial objection to Android, coupled with a stiff competition from Apple and Google hastened the Finland company’s sharp decline. The inability to give a tough fight to the ever-growing popularity of Android and iOS devices, at a time when smartphones were taking over the world resulted in a decision to sell the mobiles’ division to Microsoft. Microsoft, a struggling company with regards to smartphones themselves, removed the Nokia branding from the phones and replaced it with Microsoft. This marked the end of an era, a time during which the company once even accounted for nearly 4% of the total GDP of Finland.

      A couple of years back, Nokia Technologies announced a plan to return to smartphone manufacturing. With a few hiccups here and there, it seems that the company have finalized a strategy to approach the saturated smartphone market.

Nokia 5 will go on sale in India from 15^th August | Specs | Price and Availability

      Nokia 5 will go on sale in India on 15^th August, the country’s Independence Day. It will be available only in offline retailer shops, unlike the Nokia 6 which will be an Amazon exclusive. There are a few additional offers too, which are mentioned below.

      “As a result of the sophistication in smartphone functionality & services, we spend more time than ever before on our phones. People today want something that fits in the palm of their hands and they want something that will go the distance. Nokia 5 is the ultimate pocketable phone at 5.2 inches with a very unique design,” says Mr. Ajey Mehta, Vice President- India, HMD Global.

Nokia 5 Specifications

      The phone will feature a 5.2 inch IPS display with a resolution of 1280x720. The 2.5D screen will be protected by Corning Gorilla Glass. The exterior, measuring 149.7 x 72.5 x 8.05 mm (excluding 0.5 mm camera bump), will be made out of a single block of 6000 series aluminium. The mid-ranger will be powered by Snapdragon 430 chipset. 2 GB of LPPDDR3 RAM will be accompanied by 16 GB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 128 GB via a microSD card slot. Out of the box, Nokia 5 will be running on Android 7.1.1 Nougat. The UI will be stock Android which will help in releasing faster updates and security patches. The 3000 mAh battery is non-removable.

      The primary camera will sport a 13 MP phase detection auto focus sensor, with pixel size of 1.12 um, f/2 aperture and dual tone flash. Secondary camera has an 8 MP auto-focus sensor, with a similar 1.12 um pixel size, f/2 aperture and a field of view of 84 degrees.

      Dual SIM capabilities, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, microUSB 2.0, USB OTG will take care of connectivity while the sensors included are GPS/AGPS+GLONASS+BDS, FM/RDS and NFC, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, fingerprint scanner, e-compass, gyroscope and proximity.

(Also Read: Convert your iPhone 6/6S to a dual SIM Android smartphone using this case! [No Jailbreak required!] )

Nokia 5 Price, Colors and Availability

      Nokia 5 will be available at retail stores across the country at a price of Rs. 12,499 from August 15, 2017. Available colors are – Matte Black, Silver, Tempered Blue and Copper. Initially, only Matte Black will be available. The other three colors - Silver, Tempered Blue and Copper - will be available in the next few weeks.

 Launch offers

      Vodafone subscribers can avail 5GB data per month @ Rs. 149/month for 3 months on their Nokia 5. Users will also receive a discount of Rs. 2500 (Rs. 1800 and Rs.700 off on hotels and domestic flights respectively) on Makemytrip.com

Source : Nokia

Micromax Canvas Infinity will feature an 18:9 display | Will launch on August 22

        The trend of increasing the screen resolution has been replaced by that of changing the aspect ratio. LG started it with the G6, followed by Samsung and the next iPhone is rumored to sport a similar tall display resolution. LG recently announced a new mid-range device with 18:9 display ratio. Now the latest company to join the bandwagon is Micromax. After a brief hiatus from mobile manufacturing, they are planning to relaunch their Canvas series, now with a series called Canvas Infinity.

Micromax Canvas Infinity will feature an 18:9 display | Will launch on August 22

      The Canvas series initially offered some good value for money products. It ensured that Micromax got enough market share in India. Then the entry of Chinese players such as Xiaomi, Lenovo and others toppled Micromax from their position as market leaders. They tried to bring out a subsidiary called Yu, which again didn't stand a chance in front of the Chinese giants. Eventually, Micromax lost almost 50% of their market share within one year.

      Now, the company is all set to launch a premium phone on 22nd of August. They have started sending out invites with a message - 'Block Your Date'. The tag line on the invite says 'Let's put a number to Infinity', which indicates that the phone will be named Canvas Infinity.  

      Micromax had recently revealed that their upcoming phone will have a 5.7 inch display with 18:9 ratio. The highlight of the invite is an image of the front side of the phone, which clearly shows a tall display, thereby leaving too little for imagination. The phones having such displays are  Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+, LG G6 and Q6. While Q6 costs Rs. 14,999, S8/S8+ and LG G6 are premium handsets with prices higher than Rs 35,000.

      If Micromax price their new smartphones aggressively, it might turn the fortunes for the Indian company. But given the track record of poorly executed hardware, we are skeptical about its success.

Read More - Mesuit Smart Case - Run Android On iPhone! [No Jailbreak]

Android O will be the last major upgrade for OnePlus 3 and 3T

On an average, an Android flagship gets up to 18 months of major software upgrades. Recently, major companies have tried to extend the software support beyond that, but usually, any top Android phone gets updated to the consequent two Android versions. OnePlus, which has a sketchy record with updates, is currently in news for an announcement regarding updates for 3 and 3T.   

Android O will be the last major upgrade for OnePlus 3 and 3T

OnePlus has confirmed in an online forum that OnePlus 3 and 3T won’t receive any major update after Android O. Last month, in a Reddit AMA, OnePlus team had revealed their planned upgrades. Android 8, which still remains unnamed, will be released for last year’s flagships by the end of 2017.

The not-so-good record of Android updates from OnePlus

 In 2014, OnePlus announced its arrival as a 'flagship-killer' with the launch of OnePlus One, which had top of the line internals at just $300. It had a custom OS built by Cyanogenmod for the global variant. The budget beast was launched with Android 4.4.4 Kitkat, and over the years it received two Android version updates and now has Marshmallow.

 Their next phone was the OnePlus 2, which came with Oxygen OS, and not the Cyanogenmod OS like the OnePlus One. The device, which had Android 5.1 Lollipop out of the box, received only one version update. OnePlus had promised Android Nougat, but they announced that OnePlus 2 won't be receiving it.

  OnePlus X, the first ‘mid-range’ device from the Chinese company, also came with Android 5.1. Though it was not the flagship device, the fact remains that OnePlus X also received just one version update and currently runs on Marshmallow. So the record shows that since OnePlus ditched Cyanogenmod OS and replaced it with Oxygen OS, the phones have received only one major update.

3T will receive only one year of updates.

Android O being the last update for OnePlus 3 was expected. But the users are irked that OnePlus 3T will also be receiving the same treatment. The OnePlus 3T was released as a minor upgrade over the already excellent OnePlus 3, to keep up with the competition. The flagships introduced in the second half of 2016 had Snapdragon 821, while the OnePlus 3 featured Snapdragon 820.

Equipped with the 821 and 6 GB of RAM, the OnePlus 3T still has impressive internals. The 2016 phone released with Marshmallow, hence it will be receiving the second major upgrade when it gets Android 8. This is already better than OnePlus 2, but the fact that its hardware will be capable of running later versions of Android and it will receive only one year worth of version updates has disappointed the customers. The company has clarified that both the phones will continue to receive security patches and bug fixes.

Source: OnePlus forums

LG V30 to sport an f/1.6 lens, the widest aperture ever on a smartphone camera!

An illustration of how the new clear glass lens will help in better color reproduction

      Smartphone cameras are getting better each year, and the quality of the optics remains the one thing that really distinguishes a true top of the line flagship from a mid-range ‘flagship killer’. Each smartphone company try to gain an advantage by making their offerings look better on paper. The initial fight was by increasing the megapixel count each year. Since the last couple of years, it’s the aperture. Samsung introduced smartphones sporting lenses with aperture as wide as f/1.9, and LG outwitted them with LG G4 which had an f/1.8 aperture. From 2016 till now, f/1.7 was the widest aperture lens used, and LG is set to overtake Samsung once again at least in this regard.

LG V30 to sport an f/1.6 lens, the widest aperture ever on a smartphone camera!

      The camera war has seen close fight between LG, Samsung and Apple over the recent years, and LG will be incorporating a couple of changes to edge out the tough competitions. LG’s upcoming flagship smartphone, the V30, will be the first smartphone to sport an f/1.6 lens. Another change that LG will bring out is inclusion of a glass lens with higher clarity than the existing ones. Touting it as a combination of ‘largest aperture and clearest lens ever to be featured in a smartphone’, LG looks determined to deliver the best smartphone camera till date!

      The wide f/1.6 aperture will allow 25 percent more light to hit the sensor compared to an f/1.8 lens. The Crystal Clear Lens enhances the color reproduction and also the ability to gather light compared to a plastic lens. As it is evident in the illustration shown in the above image, more accurate colors can be captured. The overall gain makes the V30 well suited for photography and videography.

      “LG boasts an unrivaled heritage in smartphone photography & our decision to adopt glass in the V30 camera is specifically because this has traditionally been the realm of DSLRs,” said Juno Cho, President of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “For the users for whom the V series was designed, this kind of innovation is significant.”

      At least on paper, the V30 is an improvement over the previous flagships from the company, and it might well be better than other OEMs’ flagships too. The camera in V30 is said to cut edge distortions by a third compared to the V20 in wide angle shots, thus making it ideal for expansive landscapes or large group photos.

      Although the optics of V30 includes so many improvements, the camera module still remains sleek, at a size that’s almost 30 percent smaller compared to the module used in V20. Along with other features in LG’s cameras such as laser detection auto focus, optical and electronic image stabilization, the LG V30 might runaway with many best smartphone camera awards this year. 

Samsung Brings Global Range of Audio Accessories to India

      Samsung India just introduced its global range of portable speakers in India, with the launch of the Bottle design, the Level Box Slim and the Scoop speakers. The tech giant has also expanded its headset range, by introducing the Level Active & the Rectangle Headset.

      “Samsung is synonymous with innovation & our new Audio range reinforces us as pioneers in the Mobile entertainment space. Each of these audio devices, with their balance of aesthetics & acoustics, should be a definite delight for our consumers” said Mr. Asim Warsi -
 Senior Vice President - Mobile Business, Samsung India.

Samsung Brings Global Range of Audio Accessories to India

Samsung Level Box Slim

      Level Box Slim is a portable Bluetooth speaker which also doubles up as a power bank. The stand integrated into its back allows users to prop it up according to their needs, while the IPX7 water resistance means it can withstand splashes of water or a sudden drizzle. Featuring a compact design, it can be carried comfortably in one’s palm or back pocket. This portability combined with the splash resistance makes it equally suitable for indoors as well as outdoors.

      Level Box Slim’s Bluetooth speaker with an output power of 8 Watts delivers balanced audio levels. The integrated microphone allows users to use it as a handsfree set for voice calls, thereby eliminating the need to reach for their smartphone. The noise-reduction and echo-cancellation technologies further improves the quality and facilitates crisp and clear communication.

      The Level Box Slim is powered by a 2600mAh battery, which can provide up to 30 hours of music playback on a single charge and also functions as a portable charger, allowing users to top up their devices while enjoying their favorite music. Samsung Level App allows users to check the status of their speaker’s battery, and easily adjust its volume settings.

Samsung Wireless Speaker Bottle design

      The Wireless Speaker Bottle is both an aural & visual delight as its 360-degree surround sound gives an immersive rich audio while the mood lighting enhances the listening experience.

With support for wireless charging and a motion-sensitive UX, controlling and powering the Bottle design is a breeze. When holding the speaker, a water-pouring motion adjusts the built-in 16M-color LED lighting unit’s brightness, while a simple shake chnages its color. The Wireless Speaker Bottle design can be completely customized via the Lux Manager App, which helps users to find the perfect hue to tune both the moment and their mood.  

      Users can listen to music by connecting the Bottle with a Bluetooth enabled device or a non-Bluetooth enabled device using it’s 3.5 mm AUX port and cable, but the LED functionality won't be available when it's connected through AUX.

Samsung Wireless Speaker Scoop design

      The Wireless Speaker Scoop design is a compact and stylish speaker built for enjoying powerful audio on the go. Equipped with a practical strap to facilitate easy handling, the Scoop has splash resistance and a sleek understated design making it suitable for streaming music both indoors & outdoors.

      Intuitive controls allow users to effortlessly find their favorite tracks, while the built-in microphone with noise-reduction and echo-cancellation technologies, just like Level Slim Box, help users to field calls from the device itself.

Samsung Level Active

      The Level Active, as the name suggests, is a Bluetooth-enabled earphone specially designed for exercise and other outdoor activities. This headset comes with soft silicon earhooks which, along with the comfortable wingtips and in-ear ear buds, make it comfortable for people on the move. The Level Active is also splash resistant, allowing users to work out without worrying about sweat or a quick drizzle damaging their earphones.

      Since it has the Active tag, Samsung has integrated the device to help users in their daily workout routines. Using the Active key, users can control their headset to monitor their workout. They can even connect to S Health on their smartphones using this key and record information for walking, running, cycling or hiking.

Samsung In-ear Headphones Rectangle design

      The Rectangle Headset packs powerful sound into an attractive packaging, which is probably the best in its segment. Sporting a sturdy, fabric-and-metal construction with a flat tangle-free fabric cable and DLM structured speakers for top-notch sound, the earphones demonstrate both stylish designing and balanced, high-quality audio.

Price and availability:

      Samsung Level Box Slim will set you back by Rs. 6,699, while the Bottle speaker costs Rs. 4,999 and the Scoop speaker is priced at Rs. 2,799. The Level Active and the Rectangle Headset are available at Rs. 4,999 and Rs. 1,899 respectively. 

Also Read: Run Android on your iPhone with this Smart Case! [No jailbreak required]

Mesuit Smart Case - Run Android On iPhone! [No Jailbreak]

 

     Unlike PCs, smartphones usually don't have the ability to run two OS. There have been attempts at creating such devices, but none were actually successful. Smartphone users have hence been loyal to their preferred OS, since an Android running Apple device did not exist and neither did iOS running non-Apple device. But this is all set to change with the latest development.

      Last week, Yerha.com, an e-commerce platform for technology products, announced the launch of its smart case - Mesuit, an iPhone case which converts it to a dual-sim device running Android OS. This unique case leverages the home device's dual-SIM, dual-standby features to offer simultaneous access to two OS on a single device, thus bringing the best of both worlds to the consumer.

Mesuit Smart Case - Run Android On iPhone![No Jailbreak]

           The world's first hardware with the ability to run Android OS on iPhones, albeit in the form of an app, Mesuit is, in itself, a fully functional mobile device featuring its own modem. The supporting app, which can be downloaded using a QR code, also displays the usage of battery, memory and storage details of both the phone and the case. Turn on the bluetooth and download the app by scanning the QR code available in the box, and your iPhone can be used as an Android phone by just one tap. The case allows users to run Mesuit OS 1.0, an Android-based OS with Apus launcher, on  their iPhone 6 or iPhone 6S.

Specifications and Features

           The case is powered by a Mediatek octa-core processor with 2 GB RAM and 16 GB of storage capacity that allows users to store and transfer photos & videos from the phone to the case with a single tap and even enjoy dual WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram on a single device. The device also has an in built battery which works as external power source, with a rating of 1700 mAh, providing an additional seven hours of talk time.

         It also has a slot to insert an additional SIM card, thereby converting it to a dual SIM device. It also has a pass through slot for 3.5 mm jack (Yeah you guessed it right, it's only available for iPhone 6 and 6S, not 7!). The speaker grills are on the front side and the charging slot at the bottom will be connected to a lightning-to-microUSB 2.0 converter, thereby converting the iPhone to a truly Android device!

      The case has a rubberized finish, which gives more grip and helps in handling the device. The box contents include a USB to microUSB cable, which can be used to charge the case. The Mesuit app is currently not available on App Store. The app can be downloaded by scanning a QR code, which comes in the box.

        The Android version is 5.1 Lollipop. Apps for Android cannot be downloaded from Play Store, it instead has its own store, where limited number of supported apps are available for download. For Android users who want to test iOS on their device, there are plans to introduce a similar app which runs iOS on Android device.

Mesuit Smart Case - Run Android On iPhone | Price and Availability 

     The Mesuit smart case is priced at Rs. 9,990 and will be available on Yerha.com.

Link to buy - Mesuit Smart case on Yerha.com

Also Read - Lenovo launches K8 Note in India

LG Q6 launched in India | FullVision Display | Specs, Price and Availability

          LG has launched Q6, the first smartphone of the much-awaited Q series, in India. The new series will offer many premium features usually found on flagship series at an attractive price.
The Q6 will feature a 18:9 wide screen, similar to the premium G6, facial recognition technology and military grade durability.

         After debuting its FullVision display with the flagship G6, the company has brought the technology to the Q6, which will be the first mid-range phone with the proprietary technology.

LG Q6 Specifications | FullVision Display

          LG Q6 has a 5.5 inch FHD FullVision display, with a tall aspect ratio of 18:9. It will be powered by a Snapdragon 435 octa core chip at 1.4 GHz along with Adreno 505. Multitasking will be taken care of by the 3 GB of RAM and internal memory capacity is 32 GB, which can be expanded up to 2 TB via microSD, which has a dedicated slot.

         Dual nano SIM, with support for VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, microUSB Type-B with OTG support take care of connectivity. Sensors such as proximity, ambient Light, accelerometer, compass and gyroscope are included. The fingerprint scanner has been omitted and the Q6 will be protected by proprietary Face Recognition technology and Knock Code.

          The company touted about the smartphone's durability, which is enhanced by the use of 7000 series aluminium as the metal frame. With an exterior dimension of 142.5 x 69.3 x 8.1 mm, the phone weighs 149 g. 

          The rear camera has a 13 MP CMOS sensor and front camera has a 5 MP Wide Angle sensor. A square camera mode and an option to instantly share to social media are also included. The phone will be running on Android 7.1.1 with support for Google Assistant. The Q6 will be powered by a 3000 mAh non removable battery.

LG Q6 Pricing, Colors and Availability 

       The LG Q6 is priced at Rs. 14,990 and will be available in three color options - Astro Black, Ice Platinum and Terra Gold. Q6 is available exclusively via Amazon India, with additional offers such as up to Rs 3000 off on exchange, 50 GB additional Jio data and free one time screen replacement (within 6 months).

To Buy : LG Q6

Panasonic launches the power packed Eluga A3 and Eluga A3 Pro | Specs | Price and Availability

           Panasonic India launched the Eluga A3 and A3 Pro today in New Delhi. The company also announced the appointment of Indian celebrity Taapsee Pannu as the new face of its smartphone business, joining the existing brand ambassador Varun Dhawan. Panasonic also unveiled its latest brand campaign - 'So Much To Do' for the new Eluga product series. Panasonic Eluga A3 and A3 Pro are equipped with ARBO, the virtual assistant, and will be priced at Rs. 11,290 and Rs. 12,790 respectively.

           The smartphones were launched in the capital city in the presence of Mr. Manish Sharma, President & CEO, Panasonic India & South Asia, Vice President, Appliances Company and Executive Officer, Panasonic Corporation, Mr.Pankaj Rana, Business Head - Mobility Division, Panasonic India and actor Taapsee Pannu.

            Commenting on the launch, Mr. Pankaj Rana said, “Further to the positive response of Eluga Ray series, we are happy to introduce two more  powerful smartphones in the Eluga portfolio- Eluga A3 and A3 Pro. With the new improved features and enhanced quality the user will be able to do so much more. The Smartphones come in 3 stunning colors - Mocha Gold, Gold and Grey which define and compliment consumer’s style quotient. Also, our AI Assistant – Arbo will track and understand all your activities and help you make a schedule so that you don’t miss out on anything from your daily routine”

           He added, “We learned that the consumer wishes to do new things every day. With our new brand campaign ‘So Much To Do’ we want the user to explore, create, practice and mostly do things that they have never done. Taapsee with her recent performances has developed a connect with the millennials and will surely infuse freshness to the new range. We are very happy to have her as our brand ambassador and look forward to this association.”

          Highlighting the company’s strategy towards the smartphone division in India, Mr. Manish Sharma said, “We believe our in-house developed artificial intelligence (AI)-based virtual assistant—Arbo will be a differentiator. Today, software’s comprising of applications and user-interface (UI) have become the deciding factor to upgrade yourself to the next level of technology. The evolution of technology software has opened endless opportunities. Customers will continue to look for technology which will shape the product interface and the way we interact with our smartphones.”

Panasonic Eluga A3 and Eluga A3 Pro Specifications:

            Both the devices have similar footprint at 148.7 x 72.4 x 9.1 mm, weighing in at 161 g. Sporting full metal bodies, the phones have a 5.2 inch Asahi Dragontrail protected Full HD display with thin bezels, giving an immersive experience. The Eluga A3 is powered by 1.25 GHz MTK 6737 Quad core processor and Eluga A3 Pro is powered by 1.3 GHz MTK 6753 octa core processor. A3 comes with 16 GB of internal storage while the A3 Pro comes with 32 GB, both of which are expandable up to 128 GB via microSD card. The devices have 3 GB RAM, and will run on Android 7.0 Nougat. Video chatting app Google Duo will be pre-installed and split-screen feature, which debuted in Nougat is also present.

           Rear camera has a 13 MP sensor with Phase Detection Auto Focus and LED flash. Secondary camera will sport an 8 MP sensor. Both phones will be powered by 4000 mAh batteries, which would be enough to last a full working day.


           Connectivity features include support for dual SIM, with VoLTE enabled, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, FM Radio Bluetooth 4.0 and a microUSB 2.0 port for charging/data sync with USB OTG enabled. A fingerprint reader to the front, ambient light sensor, accelerometer and proximity are the included sensors.

 

Panasonic Eluga A3 and Eluga A3 Pro - Price, Availability and Colors

           Panasonic Eluga A3 and A3 Pro will be priced at Rs. 11,290 and Rs. 12,790 respectively. Both will be available from 10th August at all Panasonic brand shops and other retailers across the country. Color options are Mocha Gold, Gold and Grey.