News Samsung New Handset Update : Samsung Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge Images Leaked And More Details Emerge

Samsung on Monday confirmed its pre-MWC "Galaxy Unpacked 2016" event for February 21 in Barcelona. Now, more details about Samsung's upcoming "Next Galaxy" flagship have emerged.

One of the most reliable phone tipsters, Evan Blass aka @evleaks has shared images of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge alongside claiming other details about the handsets. The shared images show the front panels of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge smartphones in full glory and also corroborate to earlier claims that said there will be only two high-end Galaxy phones unveiled this month in Barcelona.

In a report Venture Beat's Blass cites a person who was briefed about the company's plans and claims that the South Korean company has added some of the features that were missing from the 2015 flagship pair. One of the biggest additions is microSD card expansion support, which was being rumoured for long. Both the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge are said to come with microSD card slots with a capacity of up to 200GB supported. Another notable addition is the IP67 dust and water resistance in both the new Galaxy phones. Notably, both the features were rumoured to be included in the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge phones.

According to the leaked images, both the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge look to retain the same design language as their predecessors. The Galaxy S7 is likely to sport a 5.1-inch screen while the Galaxy S7 Edge is said to come with a 5.5-inch screen. Both the handsets are said to sport QHD (1440x2560 pixels) screen resolution.

The report says that this year Samsung may use the always-on display (AOD) functionality on both the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge phones. The feature however is said to consume around one percent battery every hour.

The report adds that both the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge will get a bump in the battery capacities and will feature 3000mAh and 3600mAh batteries respectively. If this comes out to be true, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge will pack large batteries than their predecessors Galaxy S6 (2550mAh) and Galaxy S6 Edge (2600mAh). Both the smartphones are also said to sport wireless charging functionality with as little as 2 hours for full charge on the Galaxy S7, and as little as 2.2 hours for the Galaxy S7 Edge.

Samsung is said to use the in-house SoC (system-on-chip) on the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge phones. Both the devices are said to pack Exynos 8 Octa 8890 processor with four cores clocked at 2.3GHz and four cores at 1.6GHz. The company is also expected to unveil a different model featuring the Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 processor in some regions. All the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge variants are said to pack 4GB of RAM and are expected to come in 32GB and 64GB storage options.

For the camera, Samsung is said to have downgraded from the 16-megapixel rear camera seen on the Galaxy S6 to a 12-megapixel camera sensor on the Galaxy S7. The company is also rumoured to get rid of the camera bump which was present on the Galaxy S6. The rear camera module is said to gain f/1.7 lens aperture, a bump from last generation. The front camera is said to remain unchanged from the Galaxy S6, which sport a 5-megapixel front-facing camera.

MWC 2016 is already gearing up to be the year's biggest mobile launch extravaganza with companies such as Sony, LG, Gionee, Xiaomi, and now Samsung confirming their presence at the event.

Posted by Unknown Monday, February 01, 2016

News Update On Handset : OnePlus X To Be Available Without Invite Via The Ola App On 8 December

Ola and OnePlus announced a first-of-its-kind partnership in India, giving users an opportunity to buy the OnePlus X, on-demand, straight from the Ola app. Consumers can purchase the smartphone without an invite for a day and have it delivered at their doorsteps within 15 minutes of placing the order. The OnePlus X is also exclusively available on Amazon.in.

The partnership of OnePlus fans and Ola users will go live on the Ola mobile app only on December 8, across seven cities in India namely, Delhi/NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Ahmedabad.

For those wishing to purchase the OnePlus X can open their Ola app and request a phone, just like they would book a cab, by clicking on the ‘ONEPLUSX’ category icon that will be available on the app between 10AM and 7PM. Once the request is received, an Ola cab will arrive at the customer’s location; along with a representative from OnePlus, with the smartphone. Customers will get a choice of paying for their OnePlus X handsets through cash or credit/debit cards.

The OnePlus X is the first ‘Make in India’ device for which local production will start in Hyderabad. In terms of specifications, the device will sport a 5-inch AMOLED display offering a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels. It will be powered by Qualcomm’s quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor clocked at 2.3 GHz. The OnePlux will have 3 GB RAM. It will include an internal storage of 16GB, and can be further expanded up to 128GB via a microSD card.

The devices will sport a 13MP rear camera along with a 8MP front facing camera. The device’s autofocus allows you to capture your subject in 0.2 seconds. The dual SIM smartphone will include a 2525mAh battery. The OnePlus X will run Oxygen OS based on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.

Sudarshan Gangrade, Vice-President Marketing at Ola said, “We continue to deliver unique experiences to delight our consumers by giving users a chance to buy a smartphone on-demand, straight from the Ola app and get it delivered at their doorstep within minutes. This is a testament to the on-demand nature of the mobility solutions, that the Ola platform offers and takes user engagement to an all-new level! We are thrilled to announce this partnership and take great pride in bringing this exclusive access to all Ola users.”

Announcing this unique initiative, Karan Sarin, Head of Marketing India, OnePlus said, “The enthusiasm from our fans and consumers at large around the country to get our newest smartphone, the OnePlus X, has been unprecedented. People love our products and we are enhancing the experience by making it even more convenient for our fans to get their hands on the OnePlus phone now. In an industry-first partnership with Ola and Amazon.in, we are taking a step towards engaging with consumers wherein they can purchase the OnePlus X phone in three easy steps – Book. Purchase. Delivered.  All from the comfort of their Ola app.”

Posted by Unknown Tuesday, December 08, 2015

New Update On Handset : OnePlus 2 Now Available 'Invite-Free' In India

 

The OnePlus 2 (Review) is now available invite-free in India. While OnePlus India had promised the smartphone will be available invite-free from midnight Friday, the company on Saturday issued a blog post saying the smartphone will only go on sale invite-free in India at 2pm IST on Monday.

OnePlus had last week following its Black Friday open sale announced the OnePlus 2 would be available invite-free forever starting midnight Friday across the world. It turns out that date wasn't applicable for India, with the invite-free status only official from Monday. The smartphone is available exclusively via Amazon India.

To recall, the OnePlus 2 bears the tagline "2016 flagship caller", and sports a 5.5-inch full-HD (1920x1080) display. It is powered by a 64-bit octa-core Snapdragon 810 v2.1 SoC clocked at 1.8GHz and coupled with an Adreno 430 GPU alongside 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM and 64GB internal storage. It sports dual 4G Nano-SIM cards (dual-SIM dual standby), as well as USB Type-C connectivity (with the cable reversible at both ends).

On the photography front, the handset rocks a 13-megapixel rear-camera, and a 5-megapixel front facing shooter. The dual-SIM capable smartphone supports 4G LTE, Wi-Fi and other standard connectivity features. It runs Android-powered OxygenOS 2.0, though OxygenOS 2.1.2 is officially available as well.

It is priced at Rs. 24,999, while a 16GB OnePlus 2 variant with 3GB of LPDDR4 RAM will be made available at a later date at Rs. 22,999.

To note, the OnePlus 2 has been made available via open sales (not requiring invites) in India on several occasions in the past, with the most recent being in October. OnePlus in October rolled out two smartphone coverage options in the form of B2X Service and B2X Protect for the OnePlus 2 in India.

Posted by Unknown Tuesday, December 08, 2015

New Update On Handset Launch : Android One failed In India; Could Google Possibly Avoid Failure With Version 2.0?

Android One was launched amid much fanfare in India last year. Aimed at the entry-level users of the emerging Indian market, Google had teamed up with three well-known low to mid-range players such as Karbonn, Micromax and Spice. The Android One failed. They didn’t sell well and many major retailers even refused to stock them. The news had it that eight major retailers which have 1800 stores between them refused to stock the devices.

Some reports have been pointing at Google making a comeback with the next version of Android One with Lava. This is one of the reasons why new India-born CEO Sundar Pichai is here. Here’s what Google could avoid to ensure that Android version 2.0 manages to make a mark in India’s fierce mobile world.

Focus on hardware, software can’t be the selling point
Earlier, Google launched three phones namely,  Spice Android One Dream, Karbonn Sparkle V, and Micromax Canvas A1. Interestingly, due to Google’s list of rules, all three had the same low-end specs. The only differentiating factor was the brand name. Yes, they were almost identical in specs, and all you had to do is decide which brand you prefer. The hardware requirements were a small list of approved processors, cameras and other components. While reports have already been pointing out at this, it would be nice if Google went ahead and brought some lax to its rules. This will help the companies bring in better specs at affordable prices and eventually help compete with the likes of Xiaomi.

Now, the importance of Android One goes well beyond what you see. There is a reason why Android One is so important to India. China and India are the fastest growing smartphone markets, but China is a wasteland when it comes to Google service and generating revenue from them. The onslaught of Chinese vendors and their forked OS versions coupled with great hardware are getting popular in India too. To ensure not to see the same fate in India, Google is yet again trying its hand at revamped Android One. Android One is probably how Google wants to take its services to be at the forefront.

Phones models at varying budget prices
With Android One, Google is targeting new entry-level users. However, the entry-level markets have spruced up consumer expectations. A sub-Rs 3000 smartphone is a great idea, but if another device is offering much more for Rs 1000 more, wouldn’t consumer prefer that. Arguably, there are chances that first time users in rural areas may prefer a really low-end phone with alphanumeric keys. This makes it imperative to have different models and at varying price points. Thus, looking at Android One from a broader prospective is crucial.

Now, Google already has phones across price brackets. But for Android One to become a go-to phone under Rs 3000, will have to be a mix of many factors.

Brand matters
In India, brand matters. One may want to opt for a budget device, but are always looking for a value for money product from a decent brand. A Spice or Karbonn are often related to cheap, low end devices. This isn’t something what many users are looking for – especially if a Moto E from a seasoned OEM such as Motorola is selling at Rs 5000.

Online, offline marketing tactics
These days, we are seeing new ways of marketing handsets. From Xiaomi to the latest Qiku, all have formed newer forms to attract audiences. Google will have to bring more to the table in terms of marketing and selling the phones. Moreover, the previous phones were launched exclusive to an online site initially.

After they failed to capture market share, the devices went to offline stores. It should be noted that the phones are targeted at tier 2 and tier 3 cities, and offline channels would have played a bigger role in selling the phones if launched simultaneously on both platforms. Today, Android One already carried a failed tag, and wooing audiences will be even more difficult.

Posted by Unknown Tuesday, December 08, 2015

News Update On Gionee Handset Release : Gionee Elife E8 First Impressions: 6-Inch Flagship With Great Feature Set; Could Compete With Moto X Style

Gionee announced its flagship phone the Elife E8 at an event in New Delhi today. The Elife E8 will be successor to the Elife E7 which was launched in 2013. The Elife E8 is priced at Rs 34,999 and will be selling on Snapdeal from 12 October. Post the launch event we spent some time with the device and here are our first impressions.

Build and Design
The Gionee Elife E8 is quite a handful at its 6-inch form factor. While the bezels are thin, using the phone one handed is out of question, unless you have unnaturally large hands. The phone comes with a metallic edge which is complemented by a plastic rear cover which has a slight curvature, reminiscent of that seen on the Elife E7. The metallic edges give the phone an elegant look. The back cover is removable, but the battery is not.

The left hand side is clean whereas on the right hand side you have the volume rocker button, power/standby button and a dedicated camera shutter button. A 3.5mm audio jack graces the top edge and there’s the microUSB charging and data transfer port on the base.

On the rear side, you have a circular finger print scanner placed just below the 24MP camera. On the front, you have a 6-inch Quad HD display. There aren’t any physical buttons on the front portion of the Elife E8. The menu soft buttons are sadly, not backlit.

The phone will require two handed use for most users. Due to the smooth rear cover, the grip is a bit slippery.

Display
QuadHD displays have become a standard with most flagship phones these days and the Elife E8 is no different. It sports a 6-inch 2560×1440 pixel AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. The colours appear vibrant and the text is sharp. But we will have to check the legibility in sunlight and video playback quality, which we will, once we get the review unit.

Chipset, RAM, Storage
The Elife E8 houses the MediaTek Helios X10 (MT6795) system on chip which houses a 2.0GHz octa core processor. This is paired with 3GB of RAM. The phone comes with 64GB of on board storage and you have the option to expand it to 128GB via a microSD card.

OS, Connectivity
The Gionee Elife E8 comes with Android 5.1 Lollipop and as is the case with most Gionee phones, there is the Amigo 3.1 user interface skin atop the Android OS. Gionee will be working with its Indian research team to add on more India specific features on the Amigo 3.1 UI. It will come with support for 9 Indian languages out of the box. The user interface on the Elife E8 felt really smooth as compared to what we had seen on the Elife E7 when it had launched. But we will need to use it more extensively to give a proper verdict.

The Elife E8 has a dual microSIM card configuration and it will support 4G SIM cards as well. It supports WiFi 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS with A-GPS, FM and so on.

Camera
Gionee flagship phones have had good cameras and we were impressed with the 16MP shooter on the Elife E7. With the Elife E8, Gionee has gone a step further and added on a 24MP rear camera. This is complemented with an 8MP front-facing camera.

The 24MP camera on the rear side has a true tone dual LED flash unit. The camera user interface is quite intuitive. The Gionee Elife E8 comes with phase detect AF feature to help with faster focusing. But thanks to the poor lighting in the demo zone, we couldn’t try it out. The camera comes with many specialty modes such as Professional mode, Real HDR, Real Night, Magic Focus 2.0 and so on. The UltraPixel mode let’s you shoot an almost 120MP image by stitching around 5 images. The video camera is capable of shooting 4K videos as well.

We will need to use the phone’s camera extensively to be able to talk about the performance, as on paper it certainly ticks off all the right boxes, including a dedicated camera shutter button which will be appreciated by photography enthusiasts.

Battery
The Gionee Elife E8 houses a 3,520mAh Li-ion non-removable battery. Gionee claims that you can get up to two days of regular use with the E8, but we will hold back on that till we test the device.

Gallery

Conclusion
Gionee has upgraded its flagship after two years and it has put in a good overall feature set. The Helios X10 chipset with 3GB of RAM and 64GB storage, a 24MP shooter, fingerprint reader, 3,520mAh battery with fast charging technology are high end specifications. We will have to see how it comes together as an everyday phone, when we review it.

The Gionee Elife E8 is priced at Rs 34,999 and going by Gionee’s history, their flagship phone pricing has been premium since the launch of Elife E6. But this time around, Gionee has partnered with Snapdeal to sell the E8 online. This brings with it the hassles of registration. Considering this is a premium device, one should not be concerned about phone selling out within seconds as Gionee has promised a limited, although good volumes of phone for online sales.

At Rs 34,999, the Gionee Elife E8 will certainly have some good competition in the form of Samsung Galaxy A8, the just launched Motorola Moto X Style, and others phones such as the OnePlus One, Huawei Honor 7 and so on.

Do check back for the full review of the Elife E8 soon. In the meantime, do let us know your thoughts on the product, its feature set, price point in the comments section.

Posted by Unknown Thursday, October 08, 2015