Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 Tablet will be 5.6mm thick in 8 and 9.7-inch Display

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July 21, 2015

Samsung has launched the Galaxy Tab S2, a tablet which is just 5.6mm thick; that’s 0.6mm thinner than Apple’s iPad Air 2.

Unlike its predecessor the Galaxy Tab S that offered 8.4-inch and 10.5-inch displays, the new Galaxy Tab S2 will be offered in two screen sizes – 8-inch and 9.7-inch.

Both screen-sizes will boast a 2048 x 1536 pixels Super AMOLED display and come in a very slim 5.6mm profile.

The larger variant is the same size as the iPad Air 2 and has the same resolution, but Galaxy Tab S2 will be just 1.6oz (45 grams) lighter.

It will run on an octa core processor, which has 4 cores clocked at 1.9GHz and the remaining at 1.3 GHz.

Besides this, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 will have 3GB RAM and 32GB or 64GB internal storage for the 8-inch or 9.7-inch variant respectively. And expandable storage up to 128 GB will also be provided.

The device’s primary shooter is an 8 MP rear camera and a 2.1 MP camera is also provided for your selfies.

A fingerprint scanner is incorporated into the device on the home button.

Under the hood, the Galaxy Tab S2 will run Android 5.0 (Lollipop) which Samsung’s software layer on top allowing for quick multitasking and app switching.

From all these features we are quite sure that the Galaxy Tab S2 will pack a punch, the thing is to see if it can take on Apple’s iPad Air 2. Tab 2 is at par with the iPad air 2 or perhaps even better (on paper at least).

So will it win the “Tablet wars” with Apple?

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 will release globally on August and will have Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi + LTE options depending on the variant. The pricing hasn’t been confirmed yet.

New Nintendo Handheld console Concept mates Game Boy with Project Ara

By

Nitish Singh

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July 21, 2015

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Pierre Cerveau a French designer from Thailand came up with a new concept device for a Nintendo handheld console which he dedicated to late Mr. Iwata. And it is quite sure that Mr. Iwata would have loved this concept as most of us did.

Pierre Cerveau has designed a new device that will mix your usual Android smartphone accompanied by the visual appeal of the classic Game Boy.

Remember Google’s project Ara? Google had tried to research a technology to make modular phones viable. Well, this concept takes its conception from the idea of Project Ara.

A modular phone is basically a phone where all the parts are interchangeable.

Cervera’s concept is in its essence a simple smartphone, but you can add or remove a physical controller at will and hence the “modular” concept.

The device is branded as Nintendo which is written on the back of the phone horizontally. But the device itself is given the name of SMART BOY.

It will behave as an Android Smartphone, but you can attach a controller named as “GAME BAT” to the side of the phone and turn it into a handheld console.

Cerveau also included the option of interchangeable battery, storage memory and Nintendo branded 13MP 3D camera. All of which will be in the form of modules, i.e. interchangeable.

The Smart Boy itself is a fantasy device and we might never see it as a buyable product. But considering how Nintendo has patented ideas around interchangeable controls for a handheld device, the concept isn’t that farfetched.

Cortana for Android in Beta Microsoft Hyperlapse video app opens universally

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Nitish Singh

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July 21, 2015

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Back in March Microsoft had announced Cortana; the truly “personal” digital assistance will be available for Android and iOS. It will take a few months for the official release but Cortana is available in beta for Android as of now.

Cortana in Android will come with all the features she has in Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 10.

You can create reminders, send emails, she will even sing you Happy Birthday if you wish. Cortana has a handy feature called Notebook, which its competitors Google now and Siri lack.

Notebook lets you fine-tune the information Cortana will and should know about you. You can also add/delete details about you and your life in the Notebook.

It’ll be quite interesting to see how Cortana will be received in non-native platforms. Having to access a virtual assistance via opening an app is not quite immediate and users might revert to their native virtual assistant.

Anyhow Cortana’s Notebook is quite a handy feature which doesn’t come with Google Now or Siri and her Voice Detection is best of its kind so these are quite positive areas for Cortana.

Now Cortana might be a beta app now but Microsoft has released officially their Hyper lapse Video app.

The app lets you create silky smooth time-lapse videos by capturing a sequence of images by your camera and processing it. On-board images can also be imported to the app and it will work its charm.

Samsung Pay: the New Mobile Payment Service Launched by Samsung

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Nitish Singh

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July 18, 2015

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A little back, in February this year, Samsung had bought LoopPay now it is known as Samsung Pay. So with this inclusion in the vast market covered by Samsung, they are now getting ready to take on the mobile payments race.

Samsung Pay hardware is already available, predominantly in the Samsung Galaxy S6 but work still needs to be done on the software part. The cloud computing part of the deal also needs to be addressed.

But Samsung has shown good commitment to this project as they have officially announced on their blog that Samsung Pay trials have begun in its hometown of South Korea.

Samsung is also in the process of sending out software updates to select Galaxy S6 customers to use and offer feedback on their new mobile payment system.

The company is claiming the service will be compatible with NFC-enabled payment terminals as well as standard credit card holders.

They have also shared some information on how Samsung Pay will work.

Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) will to used by the app to beam data contained in the magnetic strips of credit cards wirelessly to the card-based terminals’ strip reader using magnetic fields.

Which confirms that the service will be compatible with existing infrastructure at most stores.

Users will pay for their purchases by holding their Samsung devices near a terminal and transactions’ authorization will be done via a fingerprint scan.

The Samsung Pay app will support up to 10 credit cards and will also hold a history list of transactions made by each of those cards.

There isn’t any official date for the launch for Samsung Pay in the international market, but it should be soon enough.

You may also be interested on How to Open and OPay Account.

Facebook Messenger app available for all Facebook/non-Facebook users

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Nitish Singh

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July 18, 2015

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Facebook is striving hard to gain market as a Messaging app (Messenger) in the Asian countries, where WeChat and Line dominates. They have done multiple improvements to the Messenger app, but the latest is somewhat out of character. Facebook Messenger is now globally available even for Non-Facebook users.

Now this change has not happened all of a sudden. Back in the month of June, residents of US, Canada, Venezuela and Peru all were allowed to sign up with Messenger without a Facebook account.

Facebook has lately treated Messenger as more of an independent platform rather than a part of its social networking platform. In the month of March, Facebook announced the ability to send payments right to chats and has shown interest in integrating apps into your messaging experience.

This stirring news becomes official when Facebook’s David Marcus wrote

“Excited to announce that the ability for everyone to use Messenger, even without a Facebook account, is now available globally. Sign up with your phone number and try it out!”

Basically, this step will make Messenger similar to all other messaging platforms. All you will need is your full name and a phone no. to get registered then off, you go chatting with your friends.

Although it should be noted that if you were to sign up in this manner you will not have access to the message your Facebook friends unless and until you have their phone number.

Again it will not be a universal account, i.e. chats on your mobile can’t be picked up on your computer/ tablet.

That said, this step is quite beneficial to Facebook, as Messenger will attract customers more interested in a good Messaging app than a Facebook account.

Windows 10 on USB drive: pre-order opens on Amazon

By

Nitish Singh

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July 18, 2015

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Windows 10’s official release is due on July 29. As the day draws near, Microsoft has confirmed that physical copies of the software can be bought in the form of a USB flash drive.

Pre-order pages have popped up on Amazon. You can now pre-order Microsoft Windows 10 Home for $119.99 and Microsoft Windows 10 Pro for $199.99.

Pre-order Windows 10 Home USB Flash Drive Here or Pre-order Windows 10 Pro USB Flash Drive Here

Now other retailers will also be involved in the distribution of Windows 10, including Microsoft Store.

We learnt from VentureBeat, where a Microsoft spokesperson recently said

“Windows 10 will be available on USB drives for purchase in retail channels shortly after launch.”

and also assured that

“The suggested retail prices for Windows 10 in the U.S. are the same as Windows 8.1.”

Now the date of shipment of Windows 10 is quite ambiguous, whatever the site maybe. For example, Amazon has stated the delivery date to be on August 16, 2015, which has all of a sudden changed to August 30th.

The reason maybe with Microsoft’s strategy of releasing Windows 10 is waves. Again Microsoft should be blamed as they have explicitly said that the availability of Windows 10 as the USB flash drive will be “shortly after launch.”

Now Windows 10 is going to be available for us in waves. So if you’re not with insiders program, the free upgrade might take a while to arrive. Again the free upgrade you will receive will only be for one specific device.

If you plan to install Windows 10 in machines, where the free upgrades are not applicable then the USB pre-order is mandatory.

Samsung launches new JS7000 4K SUHD TV

By

passyjango

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July 17, 2015

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Samsung Electronics America has added a new TV to its premium 4K SUHD TV lineup. The Samsung JS7000 SUHD TV has been added to the lineup.

Following three families of SUHD TVs launched earlier this year, the new 4K SUHD TV with its water-clear screen and vibrant rich colors is expected to bring the premium viewing of the SUHD class to a more affordable price range.

“The JS7000 SUHD TV is the best TV ever produced by Samsung that will fascinate its customers through its alluring looks,”

said Bill Lee, Vice President of TV Marketing, Samsung Electronics America.

“In addition to the marvelous features in this device, this 4K TV includes Quad core platform that enables the users to plug and play from anywhere and with any device they use,”

he added.

The new generation smart TV allows its users to browse internet, play favorite songs and enjoy favored games. It also features smart phone display option that acts as an interface for your smart phone to convert data to and from JS7000.

The JS7000 4K SUHD is powered by a quad-core processor, 4 HDMI slots, 3 USB 2.0 ports, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Ethernet.

It also features a camera that allows the users to control their TV using hand gestures.

Samsung JS7000 4K SUHD TV includes a mirroring feature that connects your smartphone to your TV wirelessly thus transforming the TV screen into your phone’s home screen the feature allows you to share special moments with your family on a big and wide screen.

The 4K TV provides 4x resolution compared to a full HD TV and gives a dynamic color selection range. It is available in three sizes including 50-inch, 55-inch, and 60-inch.

With these fabulous features and color enriched display, this TV is quite affordable and comes with a price tag starting at just $1,299 (UPP).

The new Samsung JS7000 SUHD TV is being speculated to give the competitors a run for their money.

The Samsung JS9500 still sits on top of the SUHD TV line while the JS7000 appears to be the entry level member of the lineup.

Angry Birds 2: Get ready for the RAGE on July 30

By

Nitish Singh

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July 17, 2015

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The next installment of the immensely popular Angry Birds franchise by Rovio is due on July 30th. And though technically it’s the 16th variation of the game, the official name is Angry Birds 2.

Will Angry Birds 2 be successful?

Angry Birds 1 or the first game of this franchise was launched in 2009. It became ridiculously popular.

The game has very basic rules.There are some birds. These birds are “Angry” on the mean green Pigs. So these birds which have some special powers, hurl themselves on the pigs to destroy them (maybe kill them?!) along with destructible construction behind which the pigs take cover.

Angry Birds in total has spawned 11 follow-ups with themed levels. Online play and gameplay tweaks were also introduced in the follow-ups.

A Star Wars and Transformers based Angry Birds game was also launched.

Till date, the game has been downloaded over 3 billion times.

So it’s very exciting to see what Angry Birds 2 is going to do.

“Back in December 2009, when we were just a small games studio, we released our 52nd game featuring colorful birds, green pigs, a slingshot and a super catchy theme tune. Fast forward to 2015 and Angry Birds has taken the world by storm,”

reads Rovio’s statement.

“With 3 billion game downloads, millions of fans across the globe, multiple mashups and spin-offs, collaborations with A-list celebrities and much more, we’re really proud that Angry Birds is the mother of all mobile game apps. And now we’re proud to announce the mother of all sequels – Angry Birds 2!”

Rovio currently hasn’t revealed much about the game but has assured more info on July 28, just 2 days prior to the game release.

Meet Marshall London: A Smartphone dedicated to Music

By

Nitish Singh

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July 17, 2015

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Out of the blue and quite unexpectedly, Marshall Headphones has just launched an Android smartphone, and it’s a flagship device called the Marshall London. Marshall says this “might just be the loudest phone on earth.”

The Classic Gold Marshall London

The device will have Marshall’s classic gold detailing on its buttons and volume rockers and come with a matte-black finish. In brief, it looks rock-n-roll good.

The device is called “London”. It comes with two front facing speakers, which is not unusual. But it comes with two headphone jacks which is very unusual.

This means you and your friend can listen to a song or watch a movie together without the intervention of a dongle.

There is also a dedicated/signature M button on the top of the device, in between the headphone jacks. Marshall London will be used to launch your favourite music player. The volume rocker of the device is a gold accented scroll wheel on the left.

Marshall is also praising a special Wolfson WM8281 Audio Hub inside the device which will provide “higher resolution” audio playback.

They are also throwing in a set of Marshall Mode in-ear headphones with London.

Apart from this the Marshall London comes with pretty basic specs for a flagship.

On the software side, it will run Android 5.0.2 (Lollipop). Some pre-installed apps like a global audio equalizer and a special DJ app will also be provided.

On the display side, it will boast a 4.7-inch 720p display.

An 8 megapixel camera shooter will be provided.

2GB RAM and 16GB of internal storage will be provided with a removable battery of 2500mAH.

This entire package will be offered at a pricing of $590.

But anyhow, with the specs above it is clear that the Marshall London isn’t about being able to compete with other flagships, it’s about the music experience.

If you ever wanted a Music-dedicated phone this is probably the phone for you. So get ready as this model will hit the market on August 17.

Net Neutrality in India: The DoT Supports the Core Principle

By

Nitish Singh

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July 17, 2015

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The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the leadership of AK Bhargava has finally released its report on Net Neutrality making some key recommendations.

The verdict has finally come

The report is about 100 pages in length and contains a detailed report about DoT’s understanding of the notion of Net Neutrality revolving around the Indian context.

This aforementioned report contains some recommendations for the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) but is also made public so we can see what DoT is suggesting.

In brief, this is what DoT is saying:

In the report, DoT is applying extra pressure in Understanding the true notion of Net Neutrality and that “the core principles of Net Neutrality must be adhered to.”

Public Policy in this matter should be focused on the expansion of the total broadband access in the entire country as a whole.

The ability of Web users to create, access and share lawful content should be maintained and there should not be any form of discrimination in this respect.

The report also includes a portion where licensing and regulating VoIP services are recommended, whereas the approach to international VoIP is suggested to be taken with a liberal mindset.

Furthermore, the report goes on to stating that telecom and broadband providers should be more transparent about their traffic management and should most certainly be barred from prioritizing bandwidth for particular apps.

Facebook’s vice president for mobile and global access policy Kevin Martin commented on this report, saying:

“The preservation of the core principles of net neutrality and the promotion of innovation and infrastructure within the context of India’s Internet access challenges are critical to bringing more people online. As recognized in today’s report, we introduced the Internet.org platform to promote an internet access model that is open and non-exclusive.
Internet.org acts as a gateway, as opposed to a gatekeeper, to Internet access by breaking down the cost, infrastructure and social barriers that exist today. We welcome the DoT’s engagement and consultation process and are committed to working with all stakeholders to overcome the infrastructure, affordability and social barriers that exist today and to bring more people in India online. “

And Finally the report focuses on the inclusion of these Net Neutrality principles in the upcoming licenses that are going to be offered to telecom operators.

The TRAI will currently consider DoT’s ideas and proposals and then finally form its own recommendations which will be the final form of the Government’s new legislation.