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Saturday 7 June 2014

Apple to Launch Its First Wearable Device in October: Reports

Apple is preparing to sell its first wearable device this October, aiming to produce 3 million to 5 million units a month in its initial run, the Nikkei reported on Friday, citing an unidentified parts supplier and sources familiar with the matter.

Specifications are still being finalised, but the devices are likely to sport curved OLED (organic light-emitting diode) displays and sensors that collect health data from blood glucose and calorie consumption to sleep activity, the Japanese news service cited industry sources as saying.

Though the details of services have yet to be released, specs for the new product are being finalised, according to industry sources. It will likely use a curved organic light-emitting diode (OLED) touchscreen and collect health-related data, such as calorie consumption, sleep activity, blood glucose and blood oxygen levels. It will also allow users to read messages sent by smartphones.

Apple appears confident of the new product. According to a parts manufacturer, it plans monthly commercial output of about 3-5 million units, which exceeds the total global sales of watch-like devices last year. This confidence is backed by its partnerships with high-profile hospitals - it has teamed up with the Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic, U.S. health institutes based in Minnesota and Ohio, respectively, to develop specific ways of analysing the collected data and applying it to actual health management.

Meanwhile, a report in Re/code corroborates this view:

People familiar with Apple's plans tell Code/red the company hopes to schedule a special event that month to show off the device, which is designed to make good use of the HealthKit health and fitness information-gathering app it recently showed off at WWDC. Could things change between now and fall? That's certainly possible. But right now October is the target date.

(Also See: Apple's Medical Talent Hiring Spree Hints at iWatch, Wearable Plans)

The industry has long expected Apple to unveil some sort of smartwatch, following the release ofSamsung Electronics' Galaxy Gear watches.

Wall Street is hoping to see a new Apple product this year to galvanise the former stock market darling's share price and end a years-long drought of ground-breaking devices. CEO Tim Cook has promised "new product categories" in 2014.

Moto G Receiving Android 4.4.3 KitKat OTA Update in India and Other Regions

The Motorola Moto G has according to developer and user reports started receiving the Android 4.4.3 KitKat update over-the-air (OTA), for both its single SIM international variant and dual-SIM India variant.

Motorola had earlier this week announced the start of the roll-out of the Android 4.4.3 KitKat update for its range of Moto E, G and X smartphones.

The good people at the XDA Developers forum have reported the the Android 4.4.3 KitKat OTA update for both Moto G variants is now rolling out, and have noted it to be 169MB in size, and bring the system version to 210.12.32.

Users have also brought to our notice that the Android 4.4.3 KitKat update is rolling out both on the Moto G's single SIM (international) variant and dual-SIM (India) variants.

While one Moto G single SIM (international) user stated, "Motorola has started pushing the 4.4.3 update for Moto G. Looks like the download server is also taking a pounding," a dual-SIM Moto G user in India tweeted, "Here it is! 4.4.3 update for Moto G (India). Thanks @MotorolaIndia."

The Android 4.4.3 KitKat update for the Moto G (Review | Pictures) brings three main improvements to the handset. The update gives users the flexibility to pause video recording; a new phone dialler, and access to the Motorola Alert app, as stated in the official changelog and the screenshot seen above.

According to Motorola the Android 4.4.3 KitKat update for Moto E (Review | Pictures), Moto G andMoto X (Review | Pictures) also brings stability, framework and security fixes, as well as enhancements to the power profile capabilities.

The Android 4.4.3 KitKat OS update for Moto G is being rolled out at roughly the same time as the update for the range of Google Nexus devices. On Friday we confirmed the Android 4.4.3 udpate for Nexus 4, Nexus 5, and Nexus 7 has started rolling out over-the-air in India. Google released theAndroid 4.4.3 factory images for the Nexus range of devices earlier this week.

The Moto X (T-mobile) variant has also been receiving the Android KitKat update, and this too should soon roll-out in India, as well as the update for the popular Moto E.

Moto X 64GB Variant Launched at $449

Motorola has officially announced a 64GB variant of its flagship smartphone, the Moto X, in the US. Carrying a price tag of $449 (Rs. 26,500 approximately), the phone costs $100 (Rs. 5,900) more than its 16GB counterpart.

Interestingly, the company has also launched a 'try then buy' program for the Moto X, which entitles customers to try the smartphone for two weeks before making a purchase, Android Central reports.

The Moto X (16GB) was launched in India at Rs. 23,999 in March. The Moto X launch came a few weeks after the successful launch of the budget smartphone Moto G (Review | Pictures) in the country, also via Flipkart.

(Also see: Moto X Review | Pictures)

The Moto X, a customisable Android smartphone, was launched in August last year and was initially available in US only. The smartphone natively ran Android 4.2 Jelly Bean; however Motorola rolled out the Android 4.4.2 KitKat update for it in November last year, and the Android 4.4.3 KitKat update is also said to be now rolling out for the smartphone.

The Moto X features a 4.7-inch display with a resolution of 720x1280 pixels. It is powered by a 1.7GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8960Pro Snapdragon processor along with 2GB of RAM. The storage is non-expandable. It also sports a 10-megapixel rear camera accompanied by an LED flash and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera.

The highlight of the Moto X is its software features like Active Display, Touchless Control, Quick Capture Camera, and customisability.

There is no word yet on when, and indeed if, the 64GB Moto X will be launched in India.

Thursday 5 June 2014

Lenovo A7-50 Voice-Calling Tablet Launched at Rs. 15,499

Lenovo has quietly listed its A-series tablet, the A7-50, on the company's Do Store in India. The Lenovo A7-50 voice-calling tablet is now available at Rs. 15,499 and the official store notes that the tablet will be delivered in 8-10 business days.

Notably, the Lenovo A7-50 tablet was launched globally in April, alongside the Lenovo A7-30, A8 and A10 tablets. However, we are yet to hear anything about the launch of Lenovo's other A-series tablet in India.

The Lenovo A7-50 tablet comes with SIM support (single SIM) and offers the voice-calling feature. It runs the now-dated Android 4.2 Jelly Bean out-of-the-box, and sports a 7-inch (1280x800 pixels) IPS display.

The tablet is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek (MT8382) processor with 1GB of RAM. It comes with 16GB of inbuilt storage, which is further expandable via microSD card (up to 32GB).

It sports a 5-megapixel rear camera with fixed focus, while there is a secondary 2-megapixel fixed focus front-facing camera also onboard. On the connectivity front, the Lenovo A7-50 includes 3G, Wi-Fi, Micro-USB, A-GPS, GPRS/ EDGE, and Bluetooth connectivity. Lenovo had also announced a Wi-Fi only variant of the A7-50, but at this time, there is no word on India availability or pricing of the same.

The tablet packs a 3450mAh battery, which is rated to deliver up to 8 hours of usage time and up to 336 hours of standby time. The tablet is available in Midnight Blue colour.

Earlier, the company announced Android 4.4 KitKat update rollout for the Vibe X and the Vibe Zsmartphones. The Chinese handset maker has also revealed the Android 4.4 KitKat update changelogs for both the Vibe X and Vibe Z smartphones.

In May, Lenovo also announced a price cut for the mid-range Vibe X smartphone, which now retails at Rs. 22,999.

Monday 2 June 2014

Lava 3G 412 and Iris 300 Style with Dual-Core SoCs Listed on Company Site

Lava has introduced two new Android budget smartphones - 3G 412 and Iris 300 Style. Both the new Lava handsets are now listed on the company site without any pricing and availability details. The Lava 3G 412 runs the now-dated Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and offers dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) support with dual standby. The budget Android smartphone features a 4-inch IPS display with a (WVGA) 480x800 pixel resolution.
A dual-core processor (unspecified chipset) powers the smartphone, clocked at 1GHz, coupled with a 512MB of RAM. The Lava 3G 412 sports a 2-megapixel rear camera without an LED flash, while there is a 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera also onboard.
The Lava 3G 412 comes with 512MB of inbuilt storage, which can be expanded via microSD card (up to 32GB). It supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS/ A-GPS, GPRS/ EDGE and 3G connectivity options.
The smartphone is backed by a 1500mAh battery, which according to the official site can deliver up to 10 hours of talk time and 250 hours of standby time on the 3G network. It comes with dimensions 123x64x11.7mm and weighs 120 grams.
The Lava Iris 300 Style, on the other hand, is again a dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) device that runs the dated Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. It features a 3.5-inch IPS display with a HVGA (320x480 pixels) resolution. A dual-core processor (unspecified chipset) powers the device, clocked at 1GHz, with 256MB of RAM.
The smartphone features a 2-megapixel rear camera and also comes with is a 0.3 megapixel front-facing camera. The Iris 300 Style handset comes with 512MB built-in storage, and can be expanded via microSD card (up to 32GB). It measures 114.7x61.5x13.3mm and weighs 100 grams.
Unfortunately, the Iris Style does not support 3G, instead comes with GPRS/ EDGE connectivity support, apart from Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Micro-USB. It is powered by a 1400mAh battery, which according to the company delivers up to 13 hours of talk time and up to 280 hours of standby time.
Earlier, Lava launched its first Android 4.4 KitKat smartphone, dubbed Iris X1, at Rs. 7,999. Notably, the domestic handset maker had been teasing its Iris X1 smartphone ahead of the official launch.

Review

Review

Apple Unveils HealthKit Platform for Mobile-Based Health Apps

Apple Inc took the wraps off a mobile application that can collect and analyze users' health data, part of a suite of new features outlined for its computing and mobile software, at its annual developers' conference on Monday. Called "Healthkit," it will pull together data such as blood pressure and weight, collected by a growing plethora of healthcare apps on the iPhone or iPad, Apple executives told developers.
The company will work in tandem with Nike Inc, a major player in fitness tracking, and the Mayo Clinic on the new feature, which will be included with the latest versions of Apple's mobile software.
"That information lives in silos," said Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of software engineering. "You can't get a single comprehensive picture."
Apple, which will discuss new software features with the thousands of developers gathered in San Francisco this week, did not elaborate on Healthkit's features and capabilities.
The news follows arch-rival Samsung Electronics Co Ltd's announcement last week of a mobile health-data store called SAMI (Samsung Architecture Multimodal Interactions).
It is unclear how Apple will promote Healthkit. Samsung plans to market SAMI by hosting a developer challenge and setting aside a $50 million fund for early-stage digital health entrepreneurs.

Courtship
Monday's event in downtown San Francisco, an annual pilgrimage of sorts for the large and growing Apple developer community, was short of major surprises.
Apple has one of the most dedicated software communities in the tech industry, with more than 9 million registered developers. Every year, the iPhone maker and rival Google Inc, whose Android mobile devices comprise an estimated four-fifths of all smartphones sold globally, show the latest software enhancements to thousands of prospective developers.
Chief Executive Tim Cook, opening Apple's conference on Monday, said the iPhone maker has sold more than 800 million mobile devices. Some 130 million customers bought their first Apple mobile device in the past 12 months, he added.
Apple described how its latest "Yosemite" Mac software, which comes on the heels of its well-reviewed "Mavericks" release, will come with a new Internet storage application, and allow users to pick up calls and see text messages relayed to iPhones.
Computer users would also be able to call up maps, search for information or look up documents by typing directly onto their home screens

iBall Andi 4 IPS Tiger With Quad-Core SoC Launched at Rs. 7,199

The iBall Andi 4 IPS Tiger, a smartphone that was listed on the company's website and was available with online retail store couple of weeks ago, has now been officially launched by the firm. The smartphone, priced at MRP of Rs. 7,199, comes with a best buy price of Rs. 6,599.

The Andi 4 IPS Tiger offers dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) support and runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean out-of-the-box. The new budget Android smartphone from iBall features a 4-inch IPS display with a (WVGA) 480x800 pixel resolution and offers a pixel density of 233ppi. A quad-core (unspecified chipset) Cortex A7 processor powers the Andi 4 IPS Tiger smartphone, clocked at 1.3GHz, along with 512MB of RAM. The handset also comes in a 1GB RAM variant.

The new iBall smartphone sports a 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, while there is a 0.3 megapixel front-facing camera also onboard that also supports 3G video calling. The Andi 4 IPS Tiger comes with 4GB of inbuilt storage, and can be expanded up to an additional 32GB via microSD card.

Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, Micro-USB, GPS/ A-GPS, GPRS/ EDGE and 3G support. The Andi 4 IPS Tiger is backed by a 1300mAh battery with no word on talk time and standby time. It also features FM radio connectivity alongside the auto-call recording feature.

Last month, iBall launched the Andi4 IPS Gem and Andi4 IPS Velvet for the Indian market. The iBall Andi4 IPS Gem and Andi4 IPS Velvet have been priced at Rs. 5,699 and Rs. 5,199 respectively. Both the dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) and dual standby smartphones run Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean out-of-the-box.

iBall Andi 4 IPS Tiger

Display

4.00-inch

Processor

1.3GHz

Front Camera

0.3-megapixel

Resolution

480x800 pixels

RAM

512MB

OS

Android 4.2

Storage

4GB

Rear Camera

5-megapixel

Battery capacity

1300mAh

Friday 30 May 2014

BBM 2.2 for Android and iOS Brings Easier Sign-Up, Friending, and More

It was late last year that Canadian smartphone manufacturer BlackBerry released its BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) on Android and iOS platforms for free. Now the latest version of BBM (version 2.2) is available for download on Google Play, with the iOS version all set to hit the App Store in the coming days.

On the official BlackBerry blog, Inside BlackBerry, Jeff Gadway, head of product and brand marketing writes about the new version which has hit the Google Play store on Wednesday, "This next release (v.2.2) is focused on streamlining key aspects of the BBM experience. Our goal was to make it simpler for new users to join the BBM community and to make it faster and easier to add new BBM contacts."

The new features on BBM v2.2 for Android include an easier way to add contacts via email, wherein a user who receives a BBM invite by email can just become a contact by clicking on the link provided, rather than sending a PIN invite back, as is the current method. Even signing up for BBM is easier. All that new users require are an email ID, name and password, and they can start using it.

On the cosmetic side there are 16 new emoticons that will be added to the new version. These include a hotdog, hacker, a pair of hot lips amongst others. The 'Updates' tab has been renamed to 'Feeds', to represent a user better. It will include latest statuses and profile photos from BBM contacts and newer posts from the BBM channels that users follow. The latest version also brings a range of bug fixes and performance improvements.

The updated BBM v2.2 app Android version can be downloaded from Google Play. In addition to that the blog also makes a mention of the fact that there is something new in store for BlackBerry users. While Gadway has not given away much details in the post, he does write that the special release of the BBM for BlackBerry smartphones will be for the BBOS and BlackBerry 10 smartphones. "This special release of BBM for BlackBerry smartphones will include many of the things we've talked about here...and a few special things added for good measure," he writes.

It is also important to note that the previous update which had come to BBM (for Android, BB10 and iOS) around two months ago offered larger and bolder images, brought sticker support, as well as the ability to share photos in multi-person chats. It also increased the file sharing limit from 6MB to 16MB.

Windows Phone is still the only major smartphone ecosystem BBM has not yet made a foray into. It was however confirmed by BlackBerry that it is looking for a Q2 2014 release of BBM for Windows Phone.

Oppo N1 Mini With 13-Megapixel Swivel Camera, 5-Inch Display Now Official

Oppo, as promised, has made the N1 Mini official. However, the company has only listed the N1's mini-variant in China and has not revealed the pricing and availability details of the handset.

Instead the Chinese company has announced a June 10 launch day for the Oppo N1 Mini, while it has also confirmed that the smartphone will go on sale on June 11.

On the specifications front, the Oppo N1 Mini comes with a 5-inch HD display, down from the full-HD display found on the N1. The smartphone runs Color OS 1.4 on top of Android (unspecified version).

The Oppo N1 Mini weighs 150 grams, which makes it lighter compared to the N1 - which weighs 213 grams. Other specifications listed on the official site include a 13-megapixel swivel camera with dual LED flash, which is the device's major highlight, as the camera can rotate up to 206 degrees, and can lock at any angle.

The Oppo N1 packed a 3610mAh battery, while the mini-variant comes with a 2140mAh battery. There is no word on the processor, RAM, inbuilt storage and expandable storage support of the N1 Mini.

We can expect to hear more about the Oppo N1 Mini at the June 10 launch in China. Notably, there is no mention of the CyanogenMod OS.

The Oppo N1 reached the Indian market earlier this year and was priced at Rs. 39,999 (16GB).

Another Oppo smartphone, the Find 7 announced back in March, will start shipping from Thursday. Earlier this month, the Find 7 went up for pre-order in China and was expected to start shipping from May 29.