Tuesday, 29 September 2015
Google unveils Android-based Pixel C tablet
Google's high-end Pixel range just expanded. At today's Nexus Event, Sundar Pichai announced the new Pixel C, a 10.2-inch tablet starting at $499. And instead of running Chrome OS, this Pixel runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
Like so many of today's reveals, much about the Pixel C recently leaked. However, that doesn't make it any less interesting. The new Pixel eschews the Chromebook form factor that Google used in the original model in 2013 and the more recent refresh. Instead, as a large tablet, it has a lot more in common with the Surface and iPad Pro. Under the hood, the device has an Nvidia Tegra X1 processor and 3GB of RAM, which Google says makes it powerful enough to handle work and entertainment.
Onstage, Google took time to highlight how the keyboard will work with tablet. With a full-size $149 keyboard, the device is meant to useful while doing extensive typing. Meanwhile, the tablet itself inductively charges the keyboard so you never have to charge it.
Developing...
Google’s new Chromecast has a new look, catches up to modern Wi-Fi standards
It might have been the worst-kept secret leading up to today's Google event — aside from the new Nexus phones, that is — but Google has just announced two new Chromecast devices: a second-generation stick for streaming video, and a Chromecast Audio dongle that adds wireless music-streaming capabilities to any speaker with a 3.5mm auxiliary jack.
Like the first Chromecast, which was brought to market in 2013, the new Chromecast for video plugs into the back of a TV set via an HDMI port, and it mirrors, or casts, content from the Chromecast mobile app to TV screens. And like the first one, it costs just $35, making it a less expensive option than any of the streaming devices that Apple, Amazon, or Roku have to offer.
But the newest video streaming stick comes with some notable updates that will likely make it a no-brainer upgrade for Chromecast devotees. In some ways Google's just playing catch-up, but they're welcome changes, regardless.
First, it has a new look, which is both for aesthetics and for functionality. It's now a round, disc-like plastic device, rather than a stick. A long-ish, bendable HDMI arm extends from the disc. Google says this is so the device hangs further away from the TV set and other devices plugged into the back of the TV, to reduce interference. It ships in lemon yellow and bright red in addition to black (although, honestly, who even sees these things when they're plugged into the back of a TV set).
/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4105338/Hi_Res_Chromecast_Family.0.jpg)
More significantly, Google has updated the guts of the Chromecast to include support for modern Wi-Fi streaming standards (802.11ac, 5Ghz). There are three different antennas in the device for optimized Wi-Fi streaming, whereas the first Chromecast only had one. In fact, the Chromecast team says it worked with the Google OnHub team to design the Chromecast's new antenna structure.
There's also something called "Fast Play" being introduced with the new Chromecast. It's a way for the Chromecast to pre-fetch a video streaming app (like Netflix) and video content it thinks you'll want to watch before you hit play. Though the technical details are a little complicated (think coordination between your phone, the Chromecast's software, and the web service delivering the video), the results are meant to equal less time waiting before you get your Narcos fix.
Google says there are now "thousands" of apps that support casting through Chromecast, compared with just a handful that were available at the product's first launch. These include apps like Netflix, Sling TV, Discovery, Google Photos, and DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket. The Chromecast app itself has gotten a total refresh. As anyone who uses Chromecast knows, the time you actually spend using the app to stream video is minimal — once you find the content you want, you're booted to that specific streaming app — but Google has improved the discovery features within the Chromecast app, with a "What's On" section that shows top content from the streaming video apps you have downloaded onto your phone.
People with 4K TVs might be disappointed to learn that this second-generation Chromecast still doesn't support 4K content, but Google says that's something consumers can expect with Android TV.
Oh, right. Maybe you forgot about Android TV.
WHY HAVE ANDROID TV AND CHROMECAST?
It's been a long (and sometimes baffling) road for Google in its efforts to infiltrate television sets. Its Google TV product, which launched in 2010, married a slow, confusing interface with undesirable hardware made by third-party manufacturing partners. That has now been reincarnated as Android TV, another attempt to take over the TV by running an Android OS on television sets made by Sony, Sharp, and Philips. Android TV is also available through gaming devices, like the Razer Forge TV and the Nvidia Shield. And, Google offers a $50, Asus-made Nexus Player that runs Android TV.
All of which might make any reasonable consumer ask: why have Android TV and Chromecast?
According to Rishi Chandra, vice president of product management for the company's TV efforts, Google sees these products as serving different needs. "We do believe computers will be in TVs," Chandra said in an interview prior to today's event. But he went on to say that Android TV is more of a bet for the future — the TV upgrade cycle for most consumers is still around every seven years, so maybe the next TV a person buys will be an Android TV.
In the meantime, Chandra said, "if you want to get thousands of apps, the apps already on your phone, and mirror them to the TV, then you cast it."
Chandra says Google has sold 20 million Chromecast sticks globally since the device's launch in 2013. That's not an insignificant number, but in the context of a billion active Android devices, it's very small. Google is certainly hoping the new Chromecasts will push that number up, even if the future of Google in TVs is less about the actual stick and more about getting people to want a Google-powered TV or set-top box.
Chromecast Audio enables wireless music streaming for your old-school speakers
The Chromecast catalog is expanding. Google's new Chromecast Audio does for home speakers what the standard Chromecast does for TV sets: creates a bridge between old tech and modern streaming services. The dongle looks nearly identical to the new disc-shaped Chromecast except instead of HDMI, there's a standard 3.5mm audio port that plugs directly into the back of a speaker.
The result is a $35 solution for turning old-school high-fidelity speakers, so-so Bluetooth speakers, or just plain old "dumb" speakers into ones that stream music over Wi-Fi. Users can cast music from Spotify, Google's own Play Music app, or Pandora — basically any app that will support casting. As rumored, Chromecast Audio will support multi-room audio streaming, eventually, but not until sometime later this year. Of course, you'll need a Chromecast for every speaker you want to stream music to.
CHROMECAST AUDIO WON'T SUPPORT MULTI-ROOM AUDIO RIGHT AWAY
Though it sounds like a simple solution, it's actually a bit of a clunky workaround in some cases. For one, not every speaker / amplifier has a 3.5mm input, so it might require a different kind of cable or adapter. Also, just like its video counterpart, Chromecast Audio needs to be plugged into a power source as well as a speaker, so you'll end up with some extra wiring in the back.
So it's a start, and it's certainly something that a lot of consumers have been waiting for. For Google, it's an obvious move in its efforts to expand the Chromecast footprint in the living room. But until we try it — and hear it — in real-world scenarios, we won't be able to say just how useful it is.
Google announces family plan for Play Music
Google today officially announced that its Play Music service will soon offer a family plan option. Currently, a single subscriber for Play Music costs $9.99 per month, but the new plan will offer up to six subscribers for $14.99 per month.
Google's new plan is a clear answer to Apple Music's family plan, which many view as the most valuable part of that service. Spotify and Rdio also offer family plan options, but both are more expensive than Google's or Apple's.
Google did not say exactly when the new family plan option would be available, but noted that it will be coming later this year.
Wednesday, 9 September 2015
Watch all the Apple products videos here
As the much awaited event of the tech-world finally came to a close, it gave tech-geeks enough to gush about for a while. The launch of 6s and 6s Plus were accompanied by the Apple Watch, iPad Pro and the Apple TV. The Watch also came equipped with accessories like the Apple Pencil and the keyboard. A picture is worth a thousand words, and a video’s worth, well, a little bit more. So here goes:
Apple Watch:
Tim Cook talks about the Apple Watch and says, “It’s amazing how much power you have on your wrist” . Apple has collaborated with Hermes for this watch which boasts of over 10,000 apps and more. It will be available for sale in 24 countries post the 16th of September.
iPad Pro:
The iPad Pro has finally been unveiled at the official Apple event in San Francisco. The new iPad Pro is accompanied by accessories like a “unique tip pen” as well as a keyboard. The gadgets are priced as follows: the iPad Pro at 1079$ (128GB), the Apple Pencil at $99 and the keyboard for 169$. The device and its accessories will be available, this November.
Apple Pencil:
The Apple Pencil will not be part of the same box as the iPad Pro and will have to be bought separately at a price of 99$. It will be made available for sale this November onwards.
Apple TV:
The TV is built on a powerful hardware that runs a modern operating system. It is further equipped with a completely revamped user experience, even better developer tools, and an App Store, of course.The original TV is priced at 69$ followed by 149$ and 199$ for the 32 GB and 64 GB
versions respectively.
versions respectively.
iPhone 6s and 6s Plus:
The moment has arrived, when Apple finally revealed its iPhone 6s and 6s Plus smartphones. We have been covering all sorts of rumours and reports about these phones so far and it’s time to put all those speculations, hopes and expectations to a much-needed rest.
Watch this space for more updates on Apple and its latest gadgets
APPLE PENCIL WANTS TO TAKE ON SAMSUNG’S S-PEN
What do you do when Apple announces an Apple pencil? You write about it. Then because it’s so similar to Samsung’s S-Pen, you compare them.
So, the new S-Pen most recently arrived with the Galaxy Note 5. It came as stylus on the side of the smartphone and could be used on the Note 5 even when the display was off.
The Apple Pencil came along with the 12.7 inch iPad Pro that was just announced at their 2015 event today. Now here’s the annoying bit about the Apple pencil – you have to buy it for $99, which is approximately Rs. 5,000. It’s unfair, because they make an expensive iPad with this new stylus and then don’t even give you the full stylus in one set. It’s like buying an iPhone without the battery.
Moving on, we see that the Apple Pencil is charged by directly plugging it into the iPad Pro while the S-Pen is independent. The Apple pencil doesn’t really have a ‘wrong side’ either, so you can write using both side. Whereas, you can use the S-Pen only on the ‘right side’.
Now all we’re waiting for is to get our hands on the Apple ‘Stylus’ (and the iPad Pro) to tell you if it really lives up to the hype.
iPhone 6s Plus unveiled with plenty of new features
As expected, Apple unveiled the iPhone 6s Plus today, the company’s latest flagship smartphone. It packs many of the new features offered by the smaller iPhone 6s, just in a much larger package.
The iPhone 6s Plus features a brand new aluminum build and comes in rose gold along with the usual space gray, gold and silver color options. It offers a brand new Ion-X display and a new 3D Touch control. This new feature lets you press down on the phone to bring up hidden menus and options. Apple describes it as peeking in.
It works using capacitive sensors embedded in the display along with a taptic engine, similar to the Apple Watch. Apple actually invented an entirely new type of vibration engine that can buzz for just 10 to 15 milliseconds. That allows for super precise feedback on the iPhone 6S Plus.
The iPhone 6s Plus packs a new A9 64-bit chip that’s 70 percent faster than the A8 at CPU tasks. For graphics tasks it’s actually 90 percent faster than last year’s iPhones. It also offers faster LTE and Wi-Fi.
There’s also a second-generation Touch ID module and an upgraded 12-megapixel camera. Apple also improved the camera to add more accurate colors and an improved depth of field. The new camera can even shoot 4k-quality video. Finally, the front-facing camera has been upgraded as well to 5-megapixels. It even uses the Retina display as its flash.
The iPhone 6s Plus starts at $299 with a two-year contract and 16GB of storage (yup, still 16GB). You can upgrade to 64Gb for $399 and 128GB for $499 on-contract. If you’re paying in monthly installments the iPhone 6s Plus starts at $31 per month.
iPhone 6s unveiled with 3D Touch, new colors, 12MP camera and more
Apple just announced the iPhone 6s during its huge press conference in California on Wednesday. The device has long been expected and was preceded by plenty of rumors that revealed plenty of details around the smartphone. Still, Apple managed to squeeze in a few surprises. “The only thing that’s changed is everything,” Tim Cook said.
It features, as rumors said, four metal finishes, including silver, gold, space gray and rose gold, and is made out of series 7000 aluminum that’s stronger than last year’s aluminum. The iPhone 6s has the same size 4.7-inch screen as last year, but it features a new “3D Touch” element, which sounds similar to Force Touch. Apple says it’s adding a “new dimension” into the iPhone, that it calls “the next generation of multitouch.” Like Force Touch, it recognizes force for “peek” and “pop.”
If you press lightly, you’ll see a “peek” of content. If you press harder, you’ll get a “pop” message with more options, like a brand new menu. It’s “deeply integrated into iOS 9,” Apple said. The tech is integrated into the backlight of the display, Apple said, and it is capable of measuring microscopic changes in each touch. Hold on the Messages icon on the homescreen, for example, and you might get a menu to quickly text or call a specific contact.
The new iPhone 6s is powered by a new A9 chip, the fastest Apple has ever offered. Graphics are 90 percent faster than last year, and CPU performance is 70 percent faster. It also has a new always-on M9 processor, which is built right into the A9 processor this time around.
Other features include second-generation Touch ID and a brand new 12-megapixel iSight camera, which has 50 percent more pixels than before, Apple said, noting that it focused on skin tone and color accuracy. It also supports 4K video, a feature fans have been waiting for. Up front, Apple added a new 5-megapixel FaceTime HD camera with a True Tone Retina flash, which will actually take advantage of the display instead of a standalone LED flash.
Another new feature on the camera is called “Live Photos,” and it allows you to take a normal photo as always. But there’s now a default option that records 1.5 seconds on each side of the photo, providing an animated capture moment when you tap each photo that’s been snapped with this. It’s supported across devices, too, including the iPad, Macs and the apple Watch.
For data, LTE speeds are twice as fast as before with 23 bands of LTE support. Wi-Fi supports up to 866Mbps, up to twice as fast as the iPhone 6.
Pre-orders start on September 12 and the phones will ship on September 25. Pricing with a new two-year contract starts at $199 for the 16GB iPhone 6s and $299 for the 16GB iPhone 6s Plus with a two-year contract.
Apple announced the new iPad Pro
Apple just announced the iPad Pro, its massive iPad that has been rumored for more than a year now. The iPad Pro packs in plenty of features and tons of power, but the focus seems to be on multitasking using all of that screen real estate.
Tim Cook called it the most capable iPad ever created, and packs a 12.9-inch display with a 2732 x 2048 pixel resolution. That’s 5.6 million pixels total. Of course, it runs iOS 9 with its new multitasking features.
Under the hood you’ll find an A9X processor. Apple says it’s 1.8x faster than the A8X chip included in the iPad Air 2. It’s a 64-bit processor with twice the memory bandwidth, offering what the company claims is desktop class performance better than 80 percent of the PC
It offers a 10-hour battery life. Apple’s also included four speakers for a great audio experience. The entire thing is 6.9mm thin and weighs just 1.57 pounds. It’s set to launch in November.
The iPad Pro comes in space gray, gold and silver. It starts at $799 for a Wi-Fi only 32GB model. You can upgrade to 128GB for $949, and add cellular on top of that for a whopping $1079.
Apple is also offering a stylus for the device, called the Apple Pencil for an extra $99. The new accessory comes packed with sensors that can tell how hard or soft you’re pushing down, and the company says it works better than any third-party stylus. It even works simultaneously with your finger. The built-in battery lasts for “hours of use,” and it features a built-in Lightning connector to plug directly into the iPad Pro.
On top of that, there’s also a specially designed keyboard-kickstand attachment for the new tablet. It’s a little pricy though at $169.
Wednesday, 2 September 2015
The ultimate spec sheet of Sony's new Xperia Z lineup
Specification | Sony Xperia Z5 | Sony Xperia Z5 Premium | Sony Xperia Z5 Compact |
Display | 5.2 inch display | 5.5 inch 4K Ultra HD | 4.6 inch display |
Resolution | 1920 x 1080p | 4k – 806ppi | 1920 x 1080p |
Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 |
Processor | Octa Core – 64 bit | Octa Core – 64 bit | Octa Core – 64 bit |
GPU | Adreno 430 | Adreno 430 | Adreno 430 |
RAM | 3GB | 3GB | 3GB |
Storage | 32GB internal memory | 32GB internal memory | 32GB internal memory |
Expandability | – | 200 GB | – |
Rear Camera | 23MP sensor, F2.0 G Lens, 1/2.3 Exmor RS | 23MP sensor, F2.0 G Lens, 1/2.3 Exmor RS | 23MP sensor, F2.0 G Lens, 1/2.3 Exmor RS |
Rear Camera Video | 4k | 4k | 4k |
Front Camera | 5MP | 5MP | 5MP |
Front Camera Video | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p |
Battery | 2 days stamina with Qualcomm Quick Charger | 3430 mAh battery lasting for up to two days, with quick charge | 2 days stamina with Qualcomm Quick Charger |
Operating System | Android 5.1 | Android 5.1 | Android 5.1 |
Connectivity | 4G LTE, Single SIM and Dual SIM | Single SIM and Dual SIM | 4G LTE |
Miscellaneous | Fingerprint sensor, Colours: White, Graphite Black, Gold and Green | Fingerprint sensor | Yellow and Coral |
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium announced
Sony just unveiled the Xperia Z5 Premium, the larger version of its new Xperia Z5 smartphone, during the IFA 2015 trade show in Berlin. It features a 5.5-inch display, and it’s also the world’s first smartphone with a 4K resolution.
The Z5 Premium also packs a Snapdragon 810 chip, a 3430mAh battery, 32GB of storage with microSD support. You also get the same powerful 23-megapixel camera found in the Xperia Z5.
Developing…
Xperia Z5 Compact announced at IFA Berlin 2015
Sony just announced the Xperia Z5 Compact, the smaller 4.6-inch version of its new Xperia Z5, during the IFA trade show in Berlin. It promises the same flagship experience as the regular Z5 in a smaller frame.
That means you’ll still get a 23-megapixel camera and a fingerprint sensor built into the power button on the side of the device. It’s available in Yellow, Coral, White or Black color options, and Sony says the new phone should be available globally sometime in October.
Developing…
Xperia Z5 announced by Sony
Sony just announced the Xperia Z5 during its press conference at the IFA trade show in Berlin.
The company’s new flagship phone features a familiar industrial slate design, and packs an upgraded 23-megapixel rear camera with improved zoom and advanced image stabilization. Sony’ also added better charging and a battery that should last two full days. The Xperia Z5 even features a fingerprint sensor along the side built into the power button.
Developing…
Thursday, 27 August 2015
FORMER APPLE CEO REVEALS TWO NEW AFFORDABLE ANDROID SMARTPHONES
The SF1 is a 4G/LTE smartphone featuring exceptional photography and audio capabilities. It has a 5 inch Corning Gorilla Glass 4 and comes with a “fiberglass body and metal accents at the top and bottom of the phone.” It also supports a long-life, quick-charge battery, and a dual SIM slot with micro secure digital (SD) expansion. The price quoted for this device is $199 that is approximately Rs.13,135 with a 2GB RAM and 16GB internal memory. However, there is a second variant of this phone that comes at $249, which is approximately Rs.16,444 and comes with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory.
The phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor and comes with a 13MP camera with a Sony IMX214 Exmor sensor. The camera also supports a Qualcomm ChromaFlash camera feature to click two photos – one with flash, one without. After taking the picture you can select your focus through the Qualcomm UbiFocus camera feature. Even after that you can zoom in using the Qualcomm OptiZoom camera feature. So, you see how this phone is more of a camera than a smartphone? Nowadays a phone is judged by how intense their camera is, not communications or network or anything like that.
Anyway, they also have Dolby Audio which, according to the company, delivers some ” powerful and crystal clear surround sound though the device speakers and with headphones”. Luckily in case you’ve forgotten that this is also supposed to be a phone, it even features the Qualcomm Quick Charge 1.0 power management technology and runs on the Google Android Lollipop.
Here are the specifications of the erm..phone/camera/music player:
| Features | SF1 |
| Aesthetics | Unibody with metallic accents and floating (“raised “) glass display |
| OS | Android OS version 5.0.2 Lollipop |
| Processor | Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 with1.5 GHz Octa Core |
| GPU | Adreno 405 GPU |
| Display | 5-inch full, high-definition in-cell, (1080×1920 pixels), 443 ppi |
| Primary Camera | 13 megapixels, automatic focus with LED flash with Sony IMX214 Exmor sensor, f/2.0 aperture with Geo-tagging, touch focus, face/smile detection, panorama, and high dynamic range (HDR). Video 1080p@30fps. UbiFocus, Chroma Flash and OptiZoom |
| Secondary Camera | 5 megapixels with LED flash |
| Memory | Samsung 3 GB RAM and 32 GB internal storage, expandable up to an additional 64 GB with micro SD. Also available in 2GB RAM and 16 GB internal storage expandable up to an additional 64 GB with micro SD |
| Communication | Easy-access, dual SIM (Micro and Nano), Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual band, Wi-Fi direct. Bluetooth – v4.0, A2DP. GPS – A-GPS/ GLONASS. USB – microSB v2.0 |
| Sound | Dolby Audio with 7.1 discrete channels of high-fidelity surround sound. Dual microphone for noise-cancellation |
| Network | GPRS/EDGE/WCDMA/HSPA+/4G/LTE |
| Cover Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 |
| Battery | Quick-charge, 3,000mAh Li-Po |
| Price | $199 USD for 16 GB/2GB version, and $249 USD for 32 GB/3GB version |
Here are the specs for the SJ1.5
| Features | SJ1.5 |
| OS | Android OS version 5.1 Lollipop |
| Processor | MediaTek MT6580, 1.3GHz Quad Core processor |
| Display | 5” high-definition (720 x 1280 pixels), IPS full lamination screen |
| Memory | Samsung 1 GB RAM and 16 GB internal storage; expandable up to an additional 32 GB with micro SD |
| Primary Camera | 8 megapixels, automatic focus OV8865 sensor and flash.f/2.2 aperture |
| Secondary Camera | 5 megapixels, f/2.2 aperture |
| Communication | Easy-access, dual SIM, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth v4.0, A2DP, GPS and micro USB 2.0 |
| Networks | GSM/HSPA/3G |
| Cover Glass | Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 |
| Battery | 3,000 mAh Li-Po |
| Price | $129 USD |
LG TO REVEAL A POCKET-SIZED KEYBOARD AT IFA BERLIN 2015
With IFA Berlin only a week away, there is a stream of predictions pouring in. New reports suggest that LG has created a very new and innovative product called the ‘Rolly Keyboard’. This is a full-sized QWERTY keyboard for smartphones and tablets that rolls up into a stick for your convenience.
You can store a full keyboard and carry it anywhere in your pocket. It is smaller than a regular size keyboard and each key is 17mm, powered by a single AAA battery. It also supports bluetooth and is said to last for around three months before running out of power.
The keyboard is also said to be made from “durable” polycarbonate and ABS plastic and is expected to be unveiled at the IFA Electronics event in Berlin next week with the G Pad II tab. Lg has not released the cost of this product but has announced that it will go on sale in the US from September onward.
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)
.jpg)
.jpg)
