Electronics gadgets Hub

25/01/2017

Depending on your demand, you may need a smartphone with huge internal storage.Today, we would like to list our top 5 256GB smartphones for you!

19/11/2015

Diet Pepsi, Pepsi Max, Pepsi Phone P1 – one of those things is not like the other. The rumors were completely true and the soda-maker has lent its brand to a smartphone. It's actually a surprisingly available mid-ranger that carries Pepsi's famous logo on its back.

The phone itself is manufactured by Shenzhen Scooby Communication Equipment. Its aluminum unibody houses a 5.5" 1080p screen (with 2.5D glass) and an octa-core MT6592 chipset. The software is called dido OS and is based on Android 5.1 Lollipop.
The phone has a 13MP main camera (f/2.0, 1/3.06") and a 5MP selfie camera, also as is popular these days there's a fingerprint reader on the back. A 3,000mAh battery powers the handset.

The Pepsi Phone P1 is a dual-SIM phone with LTE-connectivity. There's a version for China Unicom (with FDD-LTE) dubbed the P1s. Either way you can replace the second SIM card with a microSD.

20/10/2015

Reliance to Launch 4G Smartphones Under 'Lyf' Brand

Reliance Retail, part of the Reliance Industries group, said Friday it will soon launch its own brand of 4G LTE smartphones under the brand Lyf.

In an emailed statement, Reliance Retail said the brand is "built on the premise of unmatched user experience will offer high performance handsets that deliver a true 4G experience comparable to the best in the world."

To that end, Reliance Retail said the Lyf range of smartphones will come with features like voice over LTE (VoLTE), voice over Wi-Fi (VoWi-FI), as well as HD voice and HD quality video calling. The company has earlier talked about launching 4G smartphones at Rs. 4,000 and offering services at Rs. 300 per month.

Apart from Reliance Retail, the Lyf brand of smartphones will be available through a wider distribution and retail network including multi-brand outlets.

Earlier this month, Reliance Industries (which owns Reliance Jio Infocomm) and Reliance Communications announced a partnership to trade and share mobile airwaves to offer high-speed 4G services.

With this partnership, the once-feuding Ambani brothers have taken another step in working together after their father Dhirubhai Ambani's death in 2002 led to a power struggle between his two sons that split the Reliance empire.

Mukesh Ambani, the country's richest man, controls Reliance Industries, while Reliance Communications, India's fourth-biggest mobile phone carrier, is controlled by his younger brother Anil.

Reliance Communications and Reliance Industries' telecoms unit, Jio, have entered into business tie-ups in the last couple of years that included sharing of mobile masts and leasing of optic fibre network.

At the announcement, Anil Ambani told his company's shareholders that the latest partnership would allow Reliance Communications to access 4G mobile networks of Jio, which, in turn, can use the former's 2G and 3G networks when needed.

Jio won 4G mobile airwaves in 2010 and is expected to start nationwide commercial services by end of this year, joining leading Indian carriers Bharti Airtel Ltd and Vodafone Group Plc's India unit.

Reliance Communications will also enter into a pact with Jio for trading and sharing of 4G mobile airwaves, said Anil, whose empire includes infrastructure and financial services companies. 4G typically offer customers faster Internet browsing speed.

17/10/2015

new Galaxy Note 5 has the best performing screen in town, according to a new report from DisplayMate.

In a new round of lab tests analyzing the screens of both the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge+, DisplayMate President Raymond Soneira gave both phones high marks for their display performance. The Note 5 sports a 5.7-inch high-resolution Quad HD 2,560x1,440 pixel display. The S6 Edge+ offers the same screen size and resolution but with a screen that wraps around each side. Among the two, however, the Note 5 earned Soneira's highest kudos.

Smartphone buyers may consider a variety of features when choosing a phone, but the screen performance should be one of the top factors. Size is important as consumers have been opting for bigger-screen phones. But the quality of the screen is critical as it determines the readability of the text, the appearance of photos and graphics and the ability to look good even in bright sunlight and other difficult conditions. Soneira refers to the screen performance as the "crown jewel of the smartphone."

Samsung has been facing a rough time in the smartphone arena, with its once stellar sales and market share steadily dripping down for almost two years. Launched in March, the company's Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge have failed to turn the tide, resulting in Samsung suffering its seventh straight drop in quarterly earnings for the quarter ended June 30. Battling Chinese vendors such as Xiaomi and Huawei on the low end and Apple on the high end, Samsung needs the Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ to help revive sales and recover some of that lost market share.

Which factors earned the Note 5's screen its stellar grades?

Compared with the Galaxy Note 4, the Note 5 offers a much higher level of peak brightness, greater screen visibility and better readability under high ambient light conditions. Ambient light refers to the available or existing light surrounding an object. High ambient light is typically reflected on the screen, often washing out the image.

Further, the Note 5 is more power efficient than its predecessor, so it achieves its superior screen quality while slurping up less juice from the battery. The new Note also scored well for "including the best absolute color accuracy of any mobile display that we have ever tested, and delivering absolutely stunning and beautiful images," Soneira said.

Based on the lab tests, the Note 5 is the "best performing smartphone display that we have ever tested," Soneira said, earning it the crown from the previous record holder, the Galaxy Note 4.

Also offering a solid screen performance, the Galaxy S6 Edge+ was notable more for its curved display. Soneira called such displays "the wave of the future" as they improve display performance by reducing and even removing reflections from ambient light sources that wash out the screen. That capability enhances both readability and image quality and lets the display run at a lower brightness, helping to preserve battery life.

Both the Note 5 and S6 Edge+ use OLED (organic light-emitting diode) displays, which are thinner and lighter than the LCD (liquid crystal displays) used in such devices as the Apple iPhone. In September 2014, Soneira awarded the iPhone 6 Plus for the best LCD display on the market. But he noted at the time that Samsung's Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4 were the top performers for OLED displays.

Samsung got a pat on the back from Soneira for its focus on enhancing the peak brightness and performance under high ambient light conditions instead of on bumping up the resolution. With other smartphone vendors continually trying to increase the screen resolution and number of pixels per inch, Soneira called that effort a "marketing wild goose chase into the stratosphere." Instead, other vendors should follow Samsung's path.

"With screen size and resolution already functionally maxed out, display and smartphone manufacturers should instead dedicate their efforts and resources into improving real world display performance in ambient light, something that every consumer will benefit from, and will also immediately notice and appreciate -- providing a true sales and marketing advantage," Soneira said.

15/10/2015

BlackBerry Priv Android Slider Smartphone Goes Up for Pre-RegistrationThe BlackBerry Priv, the Canadian smartphone maker's first Android-based smartphone, can now be pre-registered via a new dedicated website. The page also confirms some of the smartphone's specifications. The release date however, is still a secret for now. Interested users can sign-up on the page to get updates as to when the device would be reaching the shelves.

The BlackBerry Priv pre-registration page reveals the smartphone features a "stunning 5.4-inch dual-curved display", a 3410mAh battery, touch and physical keyboards, Schneider-Kreuznach certified camera, and "extraordinary audio quality". The Android handset would also come pre-installed with DTEK, BlackBerry's warning system app - one that has not yet been detailed.

The pre-registration page adds the Priv will sport an "authentic BlackBerry keyboard, legendary security, streamlined communications and productivity" services alongside the access to Google Play. "It has been engineered with the world's finest technology, and packaged in an ultra-thin, ergonomically perfect device with a keyboard hidden by SmartSlide technology," the site adds.

Notably, the BlackBerry Priv earlier this week went through an in-depth hands-on by a website. Besides confirming the 5.4-inch screen, the website added the smartphone to sport a QHD (1440×2560 pixels) resolution display, hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor under-the-hood, clubbed with 3GB of RAM, 32GB of inbuilt storage, of which the pre-installed software already occupies 10GB, microSD card expansion, Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, and Micro-USB port (USB 2.0), and an 18-megapixel rear camera.

A Reddit users also posted the image of Priv stating it to be slimmer than the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, which is 7.6mm thick, but heavier in comparison. Other claims made by the user were that it took longer for Priv to lock focus on objects in dark, and the software was smooth as the Nexus 5 with Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

08/10/2015

Smartphone maker InFocus launched its latest flagship the M812 today in India. Available through Snapdeal, the phone costs $300 (INR 19,999) and packs quite the features for the price.The InFocus M812 is built around a 5.5" 1080p IPS display with Gorilla Glass 3 layer of protection. Beneath the aluminum unibody ticks a Snapdragon 801 chipset and 3GB of RAM. Internal storage is 16GB but sadly isn't backed by a microSD card slot for further expansion.

At the back there's a 13MP shooter with a f/1.8 aperture and dual-tone flash. The front camera is 8MP. The phone boots with Android 5.0 Lollipop garnished with the InLife UI on top.

02/10/2015

LG's new V10 phone has two screens - and two front cameras too

When the LG V10 leaked last month, it caught us by surprise: a phone with a second front screen? What's that all about? But it turns out that LG's new phone has even more twists than we anticipated.

Officially revealed today, the V10 does indeed have a smaller, second screen atop its 5.7in Quad HD main panel - and it's always on. The 2.1in IPS display - running at 160x1040, at the same 513ppi as the larger screen - is designed to aid in both multitasking and personalisation.

On the multitasking front, we can definitely see the advantages. As seen in the hilariously dramatic video below, the ability to tap an always-visible icon to switch apps on the fly is really handy. But beyond that, do we need constant, 24/7 access to the time and notifications up top? Will the added battery drain be noticeable on the 3,000mAh pack? We're curious (and slightly concerned) to find out.The other unexpected front-facing feature is a pair of camera where one selfie-shooter is usually found. They're 5-megapixel cameras, with one used for a standard selfie and the other activated for wider group shots - with a software algorithm used to merge the results together into one seamless photo with a 120-degree viewing angle. Pretty interesting, but definitely niche.

And the V10 is also built to be a video powerhouse, with the 16MP back camera offering a full manual mode for capturing 4K footage. You can adjust aspects like ISO, shutter speed, frame rate, white balance, and focus while recording.

Additionally, the Steady Record function puts electronic image staibilsation to use to smooth out your results, while a 15 Second Auto Edit mode will cut blurry and static scenes from your recording for a short, social media-ready clip.The V10 houses a Snapdragon 808 processor with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage, with a microSD slot for cards up to 2TB. It'll ship with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, and the outer casing is made from stainless steel and silicone, giving it a premium edge. It's coming in Space Black, Luxe White, Modern Beige, Ocean Blue, and Opal Blue varieties.

No word yet on pricing, however, given all that, but it'll debut in Korea this month before expanding to the United States, China, and elsewhere. An Indian launch remains unannounced.

22/09/2015

Declining Smartphone Maker HTC Booted From Blue Chip Index
Taiwan's stock exchange has removed smartphone maker HTC from its index of blue chip companies, signposting the dramatic decline of a business that once ranked as Taiwan's No. 1 brand and dazzled consumers with some of the world's first Android handsets.

The exchange removed HTC from its FTSE TWSE Taiwan 50 index on Monday after the company's market value declined below the level required for inclusion in the market benchmark. The index lists Taiwan's 50 biggest companies which together represent 70 percent of the market's value.

It's a humbling comedown for a company that once sold more than 1 in 10 of phones worldwide, received plaudits for innovation and represented Taiwan's ambitions to spawn its own globally recognized electronics brands.

In the past several years, HTC has struggled because of marketing and supply chain glitches as well as intense competition from Apple, Samsung Electronics and Chinese makers such as Xiaomi. Last month, it announced a 15 percent cut in its staff of about 15,700 after a second-quarter loss of $247 million.

"They made a lot of missteps, but they were also caught in the crosshairs of a shift to commoditization of the market," said John Brebeck, senior Taipei adviser with Hong Kong investment consultancy Peace Field.

HTC, an 18-year-old company that started out doing contract work for other high-tech firms, came out with its HTC Magic phone in 2008. It ran on Google's Android operating system when other vendors were still working on feature phones - the kind with buttons rather than touchscreens. Company revenues shot up 93 percent in 2010.

By early 2011 those handsets, backed by a reputation for lightness and technical quality, had taken HTC to its world market share peak of 10.7 percent.

That year the New York-based consultancy Interbrand ranked HTC as the No. 98 brand worldwide. That laurel cast the company whose initials stand for "high tech computer" as a model for an island dependent for decades on high-tech contract work but with few globally known brands of its own.

HTC's decline began as the number of smartphone vendors surged along with total shipments that reached 1.2 billion units last year, up 28 percent over 2013.

Samsung and Apple captured the United States through sales contracts with wireless carriers while local Chinese brands such as Lenovo and Xiaomi led in China as HTC was trying to establish a customer base. Its world market share is estimated now at 3 to 4 percent.

HTC attributes its losses to slowing use of high-end Android phones, changes in its product lineup and increased competition.

It will keep working on high-end handsets along with connected devices and "virtual reality," the company's media office said last week.

"We remain confident that, with the diversification of our product portfolio and our continued investment in innovation, our market share will grow," it said.

Analysts say HTC underspent on marketing, perhaps underestimating the impact of the iconic name recognition of Apple and aggressive publicity campaigns by Samsung. Sales techniques increase in importance as smartphone designs vary less and less over time.

HTC also moved too slowly to secure phone components as competition grew, analysts believe. For a flagship high-end One series smartphone released in 2013, HTC used a processor that the supplier had already replaced with a faster one.

"Its efforts to increase tech innovations were dragged by sloppy supply chain management," said Jade Chang, an analyst with Taipei-based research firm Marketing Intelligence & Consulting Institute.

HTC's removal for the top 50 index "reflects the heavy losses its stock has suffered in recent sessions," she said.

Taiwan's stock exchange said in a statement that HTC had "not met standards" for the top 50. Its share price has declined about 60 percent in the year to date, extending a steady fall since 2011.

The exchange moved HTC to the FTSE TWSE Taiwan Mid-Cap 100 Index, a list of 100 publicly traded firms with moderate market capitalization.

12/09/2015

Talking about the HTC One M10 specifications at present would not make sense, as HTC One M9 specifications are just revealed. And specifications of HTC One M9 a includes Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset with 8-cores (4 cores 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 and Quad-core 2 GHZ A57 high performance cores), 3GB RAM and fulL HD resolution 5 inches display. Moreover an interesting camera specification that includes with two 20.7 MP sensors (front) and rear 4MP (Ultrapixel camera).
And now if we talk about the HTC One M10 specifications, as per the rumors it includes the 27MP dual-camera, front and rear. After the launch of HTC Desire Eye it was clear that HTC is moving with the trend silently. As already there is a trend for taking selfies, so HTC launched a selfie smartphone. And now HTC thinks that, the flagship of the year should also carry each high-end specification that could be possible for a smartphone. So, expecting a bigger camera module in the front position, then we won’t be wrong.

Next big thing could be found in the HTC M10 is the display of 4K resolution or atleast 2K resolution. The rivals Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is already rumored with 4K resolution, and HTC would also like to be first. If you remember in the early 2013, as there was a new trend to opt the full HD display, HTC was very first to such brands, if you remember HTC Butterfly. So, definitely 4K-resolution display or else 2K-resolution display would be part of HTC One M10 display configuration.

As of HTC One M10 processor is concerned, you must know HTC only incorporated the powerful snapdragon chipset and for the smartphone of early 2016, there would be Qualcomm 820 / 82X chipset that are going through the testing and early sample manufacturing stage. However, there is no clue from the Qualcomm the chip giant.

Processor – Qualcomm 82X with 3.X GHz Octa-core HMP cyclone technology (6 instruction per cycle capability)
4GB RAM
64GB / 128GB on-board memory solution
Dual-SIM support (Nano-version)
27MP front and rear sensor camera with phase detection Auto-focus technology
3500 mAh battery
5 inches 4K / 2K resolution display
New design
Two Stereo speakers (powerful)
Waterproof and dustproof certification
Heart rate sensor
Touch ID scanner (fingerprint)
HTC One M10 price:

HTC One M10 price would be in the range of 650$ to 800$. The flagship would not come in the cheaper price, as you can see the above specification would increase the production cost and the final product will also be expensive. But the same price people are paying since the 2013 for a flagship, so wouldn’t be a big deal.

11/09/2015

Senior Vice President of BlackBerry, Matthew Talbot, on Monday announced that the company's messaging service, BBM experienced very strong growth in the month of July. "Indeed, July was one of our strongest months on record for BBM growth," he said in a company blog post about BBM's mobile commerce momentum.

He further explained that the growth was led by the release of BBM v2.9, which features an interface based on the Material Design theme introduced in Android 5.0 Lollipop. Talbot stated that some part of the growth was due to the summer holidays when most of the youth was on vacation or off from school, and also due to 'strong word-of-mouth.'

It was also mentioned that BBM saw "record new milestones" in its ad business as well. Some of the key advertisers on BBM included New York Times, TD Bank, Mint, Samsung, Smartfren (devices), Traveloca (travel), RedMart (retail) and Manulife (insurance). The company also started offering video ads, of which the first set included firms such as King.com, OLX and Studio M Hotel. "Video ads provide a great opportunity to drive higher revenues, while also exposing BBM users to newer exciting content on our platform," said Talbot.

The blog post added that BlackBerry Messenger has had some successful brand-sponsored sticker campaigns as well, with the most successful by Line-owner Rakuten - generating 35 million impressions to the partner website in two weeks using stickers with embedded and customizable links.

The post also claimed that during a recent e-commerce campaign in Indonesia, its BBM Money mobile payment service outperformed bank transfers and other payment methods except credit cards in terms of converting prospective consumers to actual sales. The country would also be receiving the recently launched PayPal integration for peer-to-peer payments, which is limited to Canada for now.

09/09/2015

Qualcomm executive: 30 smartphones based on the Snapdragon 820 are currently in the planning phase

In the past month or so, there has been a lot of talk about the upcoming Qualcomm Snapdragon 820. Between Qualcomm's fragmented unveiling of the chipset's hardware specifications and unofficial reports which claim that Samsung is already busy testing and optimizing the Snapdragon 820 for next year's Samsung Galaxy S7, the Snapdragon 820 is drawing a lot of attention these days. In fact, the chip is shaping up to the one of the most important pieces of silicon to ever come out of Qualcomm's labs, especially following the disappointing thermal performance of the current-gen Snapdragon 810.

According to a new report from China, Qualcomm President Frank Meng has recently revealed that multiple smartphone manufacturers from around the world have shown interest in using the upcoming Snapdragon 820. Meng said that no less than 30 smartphone models based on the Snapdragon 820 are currently in the planning and design phase.

Meng did not mention any particular smartphone makers but given that most high-end smartphones use Snapdragon chips, there's reason to believe that companies such as Sony, HTC, LG, Xiaomi, ZTE, and many others have their eyes set on the Snapdragon 820.

According to previous rumors, Qualcomm will start sending Snapdragon 820 samples to smartphone makers in October. As always, once manufacturers start test-driving the new chip, we'll probably start witnessing various leaks that hint at Snapdragon 820-powered smartphones.

As revealed by Qualcomm, the Snapdragon 820 will come with new custom CPU cores, a significantly improved Adreno 530 GPU, a new Hexagon 680 DSP chip, as well as native anti-malware protection. Sources suggest that the Snapdragon 820 will be manufactured using Samsung's 14nm FinFET technology, which might help alleviate the overheating problems that we've witnessed on multiple Snapdragon 810-based smartphones.

08/09/2015