Moto X Force 'Shatterproof' Phone Listed on Amazon India Ahead of Launch

Ahead of Motorola's Monday launch where the company is expected to release the Moto X Force smartphone, the foreseen 'shatterproof' phone has been listed by a third-party retailer.

Amazon India has listed the Motorola Moto X Force without availability or price details. While we already know that ever since Motorola re-entered the India market, it released new devices in India exclusively through its long-time online retail partner, Flipkart. The listing can be an indication that Motorola may expand the availability of its Moto X Force smartphone at launch itself.

The Lenovo-owned company previous year expanded availability of its Moto devices via select Airtel stores alongside new e-commerce retail partners Amazon and Snapdeal. Thus we can expect that the Moto X Force will be available to purchase from more retail partners of Motorola rather than being limited to Flipkart at launch. We will have to still wait till Motorola's Monday launch to confirm.

The biggest highlight of the Moto X Force, which is an international variant of the Droid Turbo 2 for Verizon Wireless, is the 'ShatterShield' display. The company at global release back in October said that the display is made of an aluminium rigid core, flexible Amoled screen, and dual-layer touchscreen panel - wouldn't break into pieces even when dropped on a slab of concrete. Additionally, the smartphone also features water-repellent nano-coating.

For specifications, the Moto X Force sports a 5.4-inch QHD (1440x2560) display; powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core SoC clocked at 2GHz coupled with 3GB of LPDDR4 RAM; comes with 32GB and 64GB internal storage options; features expandable storage option via a microSD card slot (up to 2TB); 21-megapixel rear-camera with an f/2.0 aperture and Phase Detect Autofocus and dual-LED flash, and a 5-megapixel front camera with f/2.0 aperture and flash; includes 3760mAh battery with Quick Charging support;.

The Motorola smartphone runs Android 5.1.1 Lollipop and supports Wi-Fi 802.11ac, single-SIM with 4G LTE (Cat. 4), and other standard connectivity options. Motorola's Moto X Force was first available in the UK where it was priced at GBP 499 (approximately Rs. 49,900) for the 32GB variant, and a GBP 534 (approximately Rs. 53,400) for the 64GB variant.

SPECIFICATIONS

Display: 5.40-inch

Processor: 2GHz

Resolution: 1440x2560 pixels

RAM: 3GB             

OS: Android 5.1.1

Storage: 32GB

Rear Camera: 21-megapixel

Front Camera: 5-megapixels

Battery Capacity: 3760mAh

Videocon Infinium Z51Q Star and Infinium Z51 Punch Smartphones Launched

Videocon, after releasing its Infinium Z55 smartphone last month, has now released two new handsets under its 'Infinium' brand - the Infinium Z51 Punch and Infinium Z51Q Star. Priced at Rs. 5,999 and Rs. 5,490 respectively, the budget smartphones are available to buy through online retailers.

The two smartphones share most specifications, except the battery and camera setup. The dual-SIM dual-standby supporting Infinium smartphones run on Android 4.4.2 KitKat and sports a 5-inch FWVGA (480x854 pixels) IPS resolution display. Both are powered by a quad-core processor clocked at 1.2GHz, paired with 1GB RAM. The Infinium Z51 Punch and Infinium Z51Q Star both also bear 8GB of internal storage, which can be expanded via a microSD card (up to 32GB). Both sport the same set of wireless connectivity options including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, GPS, A-GPS, 3G, and FM radio.

The cheaper Videocon Infinium Z51Q Star includes a 5-megapixel BSI autofocus rear camera with LED flash with a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. A 2000mAh battery backs the smartphone.

The Videocon Infinium Z51 Punch houses an 8-megapixel autofocus rear camera with LED flash along and a 5-megapixel front facing camera. It packs a 3000mAh battery. The two handsets come preloaded with V-Safe app, which is designed for emergency purposes to contact friends and family.

"Videocon Mobile Phones endeavours to meet the emerging requirements of value-for-money smartphones, which combine robust performance with unmatched specification. Our smartphones are targeted at users who aspire to own a good-looking phone, which offers the best of features at a pocket friendly price," said Jerold Pereira, CEO, Videocon Mobile Phones. "The newly launched smartphones Z51 Punch and Z51Q Star offer a unique combination of speed and features, high on style and all at a very competitive pricing. With our latest smartphone range, we aim to ensure that the varied needs of new-age smartphone users are being fulfilled indigenously," he added.

SPECIFICATIONS

Display: 5.00-inch

Processor: 1.2GHz

Resolution: 480x854 pixels

RAM: 1GB

OS: Android 4.4.2

Front Camera: 2-megapixel

Rear Camera: 5-megapixel

Storage: 8GB

Battery Capacity: 2000mAh

Meizu Pro 5 launched

Meizu has released its new flagship smartphone, the Pro 5, at an event on Wednesday in Beijing, China. The smartphone is part of the new Pro series of handsets, which come with Pro accessories and services.

The Meizu Pro 5 will be available in two versions - 3GB of LPDDR4 RAM with 32GB storage priced at CNY 2,799 (roughly Rs. 29,000) and 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM with 64GB of storage priced at CNY 3,000 (roughly Rs. 32,000). The smartphone will go up for reservation starting Wednesday and will hit the market on October 12 in China. It will be available in Silver, Grey, Golden and Silver Black colours.

Meizu said it is trying to bring the Pro 5 to India as soon as the end of this year, but added certification and other issues may delay it till early next year.

The company has assured that the Meizu Pro 5 will be getting "VIP services" containing M Support - a remote support system, which will mean that Meizu experts can go through the phone like TeamViewer. Meizu says users can be assured if privacy during this process, with SSL and AES encryption, and can end the session at any time.

The company said it will dawn testing its M Support service in October, and the service can be hoped to launch in November. Onsite service will be granted for those problems that cannot be resolved remotely.

The Pro 5 features an all metal body and much like some previously launched Meizu handsets, sports a physical home button that doubles as a fingerprint scanner. The company alleged that the Pro 5 smartphone sports "the fastest fingerprint recognition on a Meizu device yet." The physical home button is surrounded by a metal ring made of stainless steel. The Chinese company at the launch claimed that the new button finish will ensure a better tactile feel.

The handset comes with a 5.7-inch (1080x1920 pixels) Super Amoled display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for protection and 2.5D glass. The display sfeatures a pixel density of 387ppi. Under the hood, the Pro 5 is backed by a Samsung Exynos 7420 octa-core processor (quad-core 2.1GHz + quad-core 1.5GHz) coupled with Mali T760 MP8 GPU.

Running Flyme 5 runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop, the smartphone features dual Nano-SIMs and also support 4G LTE on both the SIM cards. The Pro 5 features LTE Cat. 6 standard offering download speed of up to 300Mbps in the TDD LTE 4G frequency band. The company is also promoting a brand new baseband modem, which also offers improved call quality.

The Pro 5 smartphone features a 21.16-megapixel rear camera with Sony IMX 230, dual-tone flash and f/2.2 aperture. The rear camera includes a Blue glass filter and sports Panorama, burst mode and packs both phase detection laser focusing and autofocus focusing. There is a 5-megapixel front-facing camera also on board.

The handset is backed by 3050mAh battery and sports mCharge 2.0 technology that is claimed to offer up to 65 percent charge in just 30 minutes. Another main feature of the Meizu Pro 5 is it comes packed with USB Type-C port. It measures 156.7x78x7.5mm and weighs 166 grams.

The Chinese company is also promoting the audio capabilities of the Pro 5, containing an ESS ES9018K2M DSP and NXP chips, calling Hi-Fi 2.0. It also announced some accessories with the Pro 5 including the Harman Kardon Sound Sticks III which can be bundled with the smartphone at CNY 3798 (approximately Rs. 39,250) for the 32GB/ 3GB of RAM and CNY 4,098 (approximately Rs. 42,350) for the 64GB/ 4GB of RAM models.

The Meizu EP-31 earphones were also declared at the same event and can be bundled with Pro 5 package at an additional overall price of CNY 3398 (roughly Rs. 35,000) for the 32GB/ 3GB RAM and CNY 3698 (roughly Rs. 38,000) for the 64GB/ 4GB RAM. They can be bought separately at CNY 199.

The Flyme 5 operating system sports several additions over and above Flyme 4.5, and is said to be simpler, fatser and cleaner. It also brings 'split screen' functionality, including for incoming calls. Also, with the additional display real estate, users have more icon rows (from 4 to 5).

The firm said Flyme 5 is faster than MIUI for app loading, and offers 11 percent better battery life than Flyme 4.5. It is releasing on Friday for the MX5, but will be released in beta for the Pro 5 on October 15, and the final build on November 15.

SPECIFICATIONS

Display: 5.70-inch

Resolution: 1080x1920 pixels

Processor: 1.5GHz

RAM: 3GB

Rear Camera: 21.16-megapixels

Front Camera: 5-megapixels

OS: Android 5.1

Storage: 32GB

Battery Capacity: 3050mAh

Asus ZenFone 2 Variant With 4GB RAM Launched in US

Asus has released multiple variants of its ZenFone 2 smartphone in India and some other select markets. The Taiwanese tech company has now unveiled a new variant of the ZenFone 2 in the US sports 4GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, priced at $229 (roughly Rs. 15,000).

Previously, Asus released two ZenFone variants priced at $199 (roughly Rs. 13,000) for the 2GB RAM and 16GB of internal storage, and another variant priced at $299 (roughly Rs. 19,750) for the 4GB of RAM and 64GB built-in storage.

 The new ZenFone 2 variant in the US will be powered by a 1.8GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3560, similar to the ZenFone 2 ZE551ML released in India.

Other innards contains a 5.5-inch full-HD (1080x1920 pixels) IPS display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3; 5-megapixel front camera; 13-megapixel rear camera; dual SIM LTE; microSD card support; and 3000mAh battery.

Asus India recently started selling the ZenFone Selfie priced at Rs. 17,999. The Taiwanese Tech company currently only selling the 32GB variant with 3GB RAM. The ZenFone Selfie 16GB built-in storage variant with 2GB RAM priced at Rs. 15,999 will go on sale starting September 30. The ZenFone Selfie features 13-megapixel rear and front cameras, a highlight of the device at this price point, with 28mm focal length, f/2.0 aperture, and dual-colour Real Tone flash. The rear camera sports a laser autofocus module in addition. It is powered by a 64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 (1.7GHz quad-core and 1GHz quad-core) processor with Adreno 405 GPU coupled with 3GB of RAM.

SPECIFICATIONS

Display: 5.50-inch

Processor: 2.3GHz

Resolution: 1080x1920 pixels

RAM: 4GB

OS: Android 5.0

Storage: 32GB

Rear Camera: 13-megapixels

Front Camera: 13-megapixels

Battery Capacity: 3000mAh

Smartphone With Android 5.0 Lollipop, Windows 10 Mobile Dual-Boot Launched

Elephone has released a new smartphone - Vowney - priced at $299.99 (roughly Rs. 20,000). The smartphone is available to pre-order starting Thursday and will go on sale on September 30.

The main feature of the Elephone Vowney is that it's a dual-boot smartphone that can run both Android 5.0 Lollipop and Windows 10 Mobile. The company is promoting its new Vowney smartphone as a flagship smartphone.

It sports a 5.5-inch QHD IPS LCD display, identical to some high-end smartphones from Samsung and LG, providing a screen resolution of 1440x2560 pixels and an impressive pixel density of 535 pixels per inch. The Elephone Vowney is powered by an octa-core MediaTek MT6795 processor clocked at 2.2GHz paired with 3GB of RAM. The handset packs 64GB of built-in storage and supports expandable storage via microSD card up to 64GB.

Another great feature of the Elephone Vowney smartphone is its 20.7-megapixel rear camera with Sony Exmor IMX230 sensor. The rear camera sports autofocus and supports 4K video recording. There is a dual-LED flash accompanying the rear camera. An 8-megapixel front camera is also its highlight.

The dual-SIM (Micro) handset includes a 4200mAh removable battery and also sports a fingerprint scanner on the back panel just below the rear camera. The company will be also offering an additional battery for the handset of a 3800mAh capacity. Connectivity options include GPRS/ EDGE, 3G, GPS/ A-GPS, Wi-Fi Bluetooth and Micro-USB. It will be available in White and Black colours.

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Elephone back in July had launched the G7 handset in India priced at Rs. 8,888.

SPECIFICATIONS

Display: 5.50-inch

Front Camera: 8-megapixel

Rear Camera: 20.7-megapixel

Processor: 2.2Ghz

Resolution: 1440x2560 pixels

Storage: 64GB

RAM: 3GB

OS: Android 5.1

Battery Capacity:  4200mAh

Samsung To Launch Its First Foldable Smartphone

We have been hearing rumors about a Samsung foldable smartphone in the works for more than two years now, with the company showing off several models of folding displays as well.

The South Korean tech giant in the meantime has released Galaxy smartphones with curved edge displays. If a new leak is to be considered, we might finally able to see a foldable Samsung smartphone in January - with the company reportedly already testing the smartphone. Samsung's mysterious Galaxy View smartphone has been certified by the Bluetooth SIG claiming it's a tablet.

According to a tipster from China, Samsung's foldable smartphone has been codenamed Project Valley and is being tested with two different chipsets - Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 and Snapdragon 620. Other details tipped by the tipster claim that the handset will sports 3GB of RAM; come with an embedded battery, and will come with expandable storage.

It's worth noting that a previous report had claimed that Samsung was testing the unannounced Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset 'aggressively'. The test results were said to determine if the chipset would be supported in next year's flagship models or not.

In other news, Samsung's mysterious Galaxy View device which was teased during its IFA event and expected to the oft-leaked 18.4-inch tablet from the company has supposedly been certified by Bluetooth SIG with model name SM-T670. The Bluetooth SIG details of the tablet doesn't tell many things; except that the Bluetooth version will be 4.1.

To recall, Samsung just as it did at the Galaxy Unpacked event last month, bothered a new upcoming product at the end of the IFA show - what appeared to be a large tablet. Dubbed Galaxy View, the teaser was mysterious enough to hide most details but a kick stand was visible on the back panel. We will have to wait for Samsung to make the announcement.

Lenovo A7000 Plus Launched

Lenovo has silently released the successor to the A7000 smartphone, the A7000 Plus, in the Philippines. The new smartphone will be going to hit the market on Tuesday via Lazada, a local e-commerce website.

Priced at PHP 7,999 (roughly Rs. 11,400), the company is yet to declare availability details of the Lenovo A7000 Plus for other markets. To recall, the Lenovo A7000 smartphone was declared earlier this year and it went on sale in India back in April at Rs. 8,999.

The Lenovo A7000 Plus comes with upgraded innards when compared to its predecessor. It sports a 5.5-inch full-HD (1080x1920 pixels) display while the A7000 features a HD (720x1280 pixels) resolution 5.5-inch screen. The A7000 Plus is powered by an octa-core MediaTek (MT6752) SoC clocked at 1.7GHz paired with 2GB of RAM. The A7000 also sports an octa-core processor though was clocked at 1.5GHz.

The internal storage on the A7000 Plus has also been bumped to 16GB from 8GB on the A7000. It supports expandable storage via microSD card. The 13-megapixel rear camera on the A7000 Plus has also received an upgrade from the 8-megapixel offering on the A7000. The A7000 Plus features the same 5-megapixel front camera. The handset contains a 3000mAh battery.

Connectivity options on the A7000 Plus smartphone include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, 4G LTE (FDD Band 1, 3, 7, 20; TDD Band 40), Bluetooth, GPS/ A-GPS and Micro-USB, just like its predecessor. The dual-SIM smartphone sports speakers powered by Dolby Atmos technology. The handset measures 152.6x76.2x7.99mm and weighs 140 grams.

Lenovo India last week declared that it sold over 500,000 K3 Note units in India in less than two months since the smartphone's launch in the country.

SPECIFICATIONS

Display: 5.50-inch

Processor: 1.7 GHz

Resolution: 1080x1920 pixels

Front Camera: 5-megapixel

OS: Android 5.0

Rear Camera: 13-megapixel

RAM: 2GB

Storage: 16GB

Battery Capacity: 3000mAh

Intex Aqua Power II Launched

Intex has released its Aqua Power II, the successor to the Aqua Power smartphone. Priced at Rs. 6,490, the handset is now listed on the company's website. We can hope the Intex Aqua Power II to go on sale soon.

The dual-SIM Aqua Power II runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop, and sports a 5-inch HD (720x1280 pixel) IPS display. The new Intex smartphone is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core Spreadtrum (SC7731) processor paired with 1GB of RAM.

Sporting a 5-megapixel rear autofocus camera, the Intex Aqua Power II also sports a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. It bears 8GB of internal storage that is expandable via microSD card (32GB). Connectivity options include Bluetooth 4.0, 3G (HSPA+), Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, GPS/ A-GPS, Micro-USB 2.0, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

Measuring 146x74x10.3mm, the Aqua Power II weighs 152 grams and includes a 4000mAh battery, a main feature of the device. The handset is rated to deliver up to 500 hours of standby time and up to 15 hours of talk time. It bears an proximity sensor accelerometer and ambient light sensor.

The new Intex Aqua Power II smartphone will go head-to-head with Micromax's newly launched Canvas Juice 3 - supporting a 4000mAh battery. The handset will be also up against the Karbonn Aura 9, which sports the same battery capacity.

Some of the preloaded apps include CleanMater,  Myntra, Intex Play, Quikr, Intex Service, I Store, Skype, NewsHunt and Chaatz. The Intex Aqua Power II is listed to be available in Champagne, Black and White colours.

The company on Monday launched what it called its "maiden offering for females", the Aqua Glam, priced at Rs. 7,690.

SPECIFICATIONS

Display: 5.00-inch

Resolution: 720x1280 pixels

Processor: 1.3 GHz

RAM: 1 GB

Front Camera: 2-megapixels

Rear Camera: 5-megapixels

OS: Android 5.1

Storage: 8 GB

Battery Capacity: 4000mAh

Don't Use Xperia Device Underwater, Warns Sony

Sony, which has again and again promoted waterproof capabilities of its devices in the past, is now warning users that they should not use their Xperia devices (whether smartphone or tablet) underwater. IF you do so, your device’s warranty will be finished. To do so, will void the device's warranty, the company added.

The Japanese consumer electronics giant has updated its website with a warning. "Remember not to use the device underwater," the warning reads. The high-end Xperia smartphones includes IP68 rating, which certifies that the device is capable to withstand liquid under pressure for a long period of time. As per the standard definition, an IP68-rated device is totally dust-tight, and should be capable to withstand continuous immersion in water beyond 1 metre with perfect conditions specified by the manufacturer.

Sony on its website while repeating the definition, adds that it means immersion in 1.5 metre of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. So, while specifying manufacturer conditions, the company does seem to reducing the continuous immersion to 30 minutes of immersion.

While the company noted that its 'waterproof' devices do have the required certification, it also mentioned that the tests it had conducted were performed in prescribed conditions in standby mode, and that the users should not try to take pictures or do any similar things when the devices are underwater. It also advice users to shut all covers before immersing the smartphone or tablet.

"Sony smartphones that are tested for their waterproof strength are placed gently inside a container filled with water and lowered to a depth of 1.5 metres. After 30 minutes in the container, the device is smoothly taken out and its functions and features are tested." the company illustrate how it performed the test.

The company, however, also noted that one could wash the dirt off a high-end Xperia smartphone or tablet using tap water. Clearly, the company isn't completely backtracking from the Xperia device's promise to offer withstanding abilities against water and dirt. It just doesn't want you to "abuse" or perform "improper use" of the said lineup of devices.

SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick Launched

 SanDisk has released the Connect Wireless Stick in India in its 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB different variants, priced at Rs. 2,790, Rs. 3,790, Rs. 5,490, and Rs. 9,490 respectively. The wireless storage sticks will be sold on Flipkart from September 18, and by other channels at a later stage.

The SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick, which also acts like a regular USB flash drive, works with devices like smartphones, PCs and laptops, and connects to them with its inbuilt Wi-Fi hotspot. Users can wirelessly access and transfer bulky files or stream videos to and from up to three mobile devices simultaneously.

The device can stream a single HD video at 2Mbps for up to 4.5 hours on a single charge. SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick can be connected with laptop and PC devices, acting as a regular USB drive.

The storage stick works alongside the SanDisk Connect app, with which users can manage content between iOS, Mac, Android, PC, and Fire devices. Also, included are features like auto-backup of images, videos from camera roll.

"We live in a generation where we are truly living a mobile lifestyle. We use our devices to record life's moments, and work in a way that was never before possible - all of which has established the need for a new generation of mobile storage," Dinesh Bahal, Vice President, Product Marketing, SanDisk had said at the global launch in July, adding, "The SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick is made to give people a simple, intuitive way to access and save all of the great content they consume and create across multiple devices, without breaking the bank."

iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus Launched

Apple wrap off the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus - described by CEO Tim Cook as the "most advanced phones ever" - at a major event in San Francisco on Wednesday. Pre-orders for the new iPhone models begin from this Saturday and they have a launch date (start shipping) in twelve countries on 25 September.

The price for the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus remain constant as compared to their predecessors: $649 for the 16GB iPhone 6s, $749 for the 16GB iPhone 6s plus and 64GB iPhone 6s, $849 for 64GB iPhone 6s plus and 128GB iPhone 6s, and $949 for the 128GB iPhone 6s Plus (all US prices).

The new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus come in four variants: Silver, Space Grey, a new Rose Gold Aluminium finish  and Gold, made from a custom alloy designed by Apple. The countries where the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus will be launched are: Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, France, Germany, Japan, Puerto Rico, New Zealand, Singapore, the US and the UK.

The phones supports new 3D touch, which is a pressure sensitive screen that lets you perform different actions dependent on the amount of pressure you put. For example, you can tap normally to go view it as usual, while light press to preview content. Or you can 3D Touch the Facebook icon on your home screen and post an update without having to open an app.

The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus contains new 12-megapixel rear camera that also supports 4K video recording. Apple claims improved quicker autofocus, enhanced lowlight performance and colour accuracy. Front camera has been jumped up to 5-megapixels. Apple is introducing technology where the display will light up to act as flash for the front camera.

The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus supports new 'live photos' that let you capture audio with your 'photos', including frames just before and after the moment you capture. They will come with support for 23 LTE bands and faster LTE as well as Wi-Fi.

They also sports a new Touch ID fingerprint scanner that's twice as fast. The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus are powered by a new A9 SoC, with M9 motion co-processor integrated into the chip, enabling always on 'Hey Siri' - you can now invoke Apple's virtual assistant without pressing any buttons.

In terms of accessories, the new iPhone models will ship with new docks, silicone and leather covers. The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus will come with iOS 9, which will become available to existing iOS devices on September 16.

SPECIFICATIONS

Display: 4.70-inch

Processor: A9

Resolution: 750X1334 pixels

OS: ioS 9

Storage: 16GB

Rear Camera: 12-megapixel

Front Camera: 5-megapixel

Lava Pixel V2 Launched

Lava on Monday unveiled the Pixel V2, a refreshed variant of the Pixel V1 launched in July this year under Google's Android One initiative. The new handset, which is not associated with the initiative, is priced at an MRP of Rs. 10,750, which is lower than its predecessor (Rs. 11,350) and is already available to buy offline. The company committed to make the smartphone feasible to buy online starting September 15.

Based on specifications, the Lava Pixel V2 is a quite good update over the Pixel V1, specially in the camera department. The handset's main features is the 13-megapxiel rear camera with 1.4-micron pixel size, 5p Largan Lens, f/2.0 aperture and Blue Glass Filter with dual-LED flash. Also, it comes with a wide-angle 8-megapixel front-facing camera with 1.4-micron pixel size, 4p lens, f/2.4 aperture with LED flash. Some of the camera modes included are night mode, wide angle selfie, Pic Focus, Intelligent Mode, Face Beauty and gif maker. It can also record videos with up to 1080p resolution.

The dual 4G SIM (Micro-SIM) supporting Lava Pixel V2 runs Android 5.1 Lollipop with the Star OS 2.0 skin, and features a 5-inch HD (720x1280 pixels) resolution IPS display layered by Asahi Dragontail Glass. Lava Pixel V2 powered by a 64-bit quad-core Media MTK6735 SoC (four Cortex A53 cores at 1.3GHz), coupled with 2GB DDR3 RAM and Mali T720 GPU. As for the storage, the Pixel V2 includes 16GB internal storage, which can be further expanded through a microSD card up to 32GB. Besides a set of standard connectivity options, the smartphone also supports Cat. 4 4G LTE connectivity, with support for Indian LTE bands.

The Pixel V2 is backed by a 2500mAh Li-Po battery and weighs 128 grams. While the Pixel V2 is currently available in Royal Black and Icy White colour variants, the company would bring the smartphone in Prism Blue colour variant as well in October this year.

SPECIFICATIONS

OS: Android 5.1

Display: 5.00-inch

Processor: 1.3 GHz

Rear Camera: 13-megapixel

Front Camera: 8-megapixel

Resolution: 720X1280 pixels

RAM: 2GB

Storage: 16GB

Battery capacity: 2500mAh

Let The Game Starts With Moto X Play

Motorola, among its latest fleet of smartphones, launched its budget Moto G (Gen 3) in India while introducing the Moto X Style and Moto X Play at global events in July. The Lenovo-owned company is now teasing the launch of a new smartphone in India, and it is supposed to be the cheaper Moto X Play handset.

On Sunday, Motorola India tweeted "No more getting dumped by your phone. Your perfect partner is coming with 30 hours of battery backup. #XOMotoX," along with an image. The image displayed the upper-back panel of the smartphone along with its iconic design and the Motorola logo embedded at the centre.

The teaser comes almost two weeks after Motorola Moto X Play was spotted under the Zauba listings. The listing displayed the smartphone, codenamed Motorola XT1562, was shipped to India for "testing purposes". Also seen was that 40 units of the device's White-coloured 32GB version and 40 units of the Black-coloured 32GB versions were shipped, each valued at Rs. 22,228. However the price is likely to change when the product finally hits the market, as declared. The smartphone when launched in the UK, was priced at GBP 249 (approximately Rs. 25,400).

 The Android 5.1.1 Lollipop-based Moto X Play includes a 5.5-inch display of full-HD (1080p) screen resolution and is powered by 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor clocked at 1.7GHz coupled with 2GB of RAM. The smartphone also comes in 16GB storage variant, which support external storage expansion via microSD card (up to 128GB). On the camera front, the X Play contains a 21-megapixel sensor with dual-LED flash and a 5-megapixel snapper. Other features of the 4G LTE-enabled Moto X Play include a 3630mAh battery.

Specifications:

1. Display:  5.50-inch
2. Processor:  1.7GHz
3. Front Camera:   5-megapixel
4. Resolution:  1080 X 1920
5. Ram:   2GB
6. OS:   Android 5.1.1
7. Storage:  16GB
8. Rear Camera:   21-megapixel
9. Battery Capacity:  3630mAh

ZTE Axon Elite Launched at IFA 2015

 Amidst  Samsung, Sony, Alcatel and other announcements at IFA 2015, ZTE announced the global version of its new Axon smartphone, the ZTE Axon Elite. The handset will reach France, Spain, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom on September 24. Turkey, Russia, Singapore, Malaysia, Mexico, Thailand, Hong Kong, and the Philippines would get the smartphone later. ZTE has priced that Axon Elite at EUR 419.99 (approximately Rs. 31,100).

The dual-SIM ZTE Axon Elite will hit the markets with similar specifications like seen in the original ZTE Axon (aka Axon Pro), which was launched in July in the US this year at $449.98 unlocked (approximately Rs. 28,500). The differences between the two variants comes in their screen resolution i.e. ZTE Axon has QHD (1440x2560 pixels) resolution display while the Axon Elite comes with lower full-HD (1080x1920 pixels) resolution display. However, the Axon Elite includes biometric authentication methods such as fingerprint, eye scanning and voice sensors, which are not there in the ZTE Axon.

The Android 5.1.1 Lollipop-based ZTE Axon Elite specifications includes a 5.5-inch display, and is powered by a 64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 (quad-core 1.5GHz + quad-core 2GHz) processor coupled with Adreno 430 GPU and 3GB of RAM.

The main features of the metal-clad ZTE Axon Elite includes a dual-lens (13-megapixel + 2-megapixel) rear camera with dual-LED flash and BSI CMOS sensor. The dual-lens camera lets users refocus an object after the image has been captured. The rear camera is capable of recording videos in 4K resolution. The smartphone consist of an 8-megapixel front-facing camera. It also bears 32GB of internal storage and misses out on microSD card expansion. The connectivity features included in ZTE Axon Elite are 4G LTE, GPS/ A-GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and USB. The smartphone is backed by a 3000mAh non-removable battery.

Samsung Releases Ultra HD Blu-ray Player, SleepSense Device at IFA 2015

Samsung announce a range of Internet of Things products at the ongoing IFA 2015 in Berlin. The South Korean tech giant wrap off its SleepSense health-centric device, and its first Ultra HD HD Blu-ray player. The also launched an Internet-connected Samsung WW8500 AddWash washing machine.

The company says that its Ultra HD Blu-ray player offers 64 times higher colour expression and four times the resolution of of standard Blu-ray devices. The device also includes upscaling to provide UHD resolution for "any disc" the company noted. The new Blu-ray player also supports HDR (high dynamic range) video.

The Samsung SleepSense is a personal healthcare device made to help people to improve the quality of their sleep. The device works by simply analysing your sleep patterns - including quality and duration and also brings a personalised sleep reports through its mobile app.

Here's how it works: 

You have to kept the device under your mattress, download an app on your device, and connect the two. From that point onwards, the SleepSense starts tracking your sleep cycle using its contactless sensor, which as the company claims, is up to 97 percent accurate. In addition to sleep, it also analyses respiratory and heart rates. The device gives reports in the morning, and gives you a information that is how your sleep pattern differs from others.

Once it has obtain information about you, it also gives you expert instructions and tips on how to boost your sleep experience. Another fascinating feature of the device is its ability to pair up with other Samsung smart appliances. This could help you by automatically switch off the Samsung smart TV when you doze off.

At its IFA 2015 event, Samsung's SmartThings firm also announced a new lineup of products for the US and UK, including an upgraded SmartThings Hub, a redesigned mobile app and new sensors. Alex Hawkinson, CEO and founder of SmartThings, said, "This marks our first product launch as part of the Samsung family, and together we're continuing our commitment to deliver the easiest smart home solutions with a truly open 'Internet of Things' platform that maximizes collaboration and innovation across the industry."

The new SmartThings Hub trades for $99 with sensors ranging between $30 and $55 each, and has been enhanced with a new processor that delivers video monitoring and promises improved battery life, lasting up to 10 hours in case of power outage. With the new video monitoring feature, Samsung is also releasing out the Smart Home Monitor solution. The redesigned SmartThings app on the other hand, for Android and iOS, features a more spontaneous navigation UI.

The Samsung WW8500 AddWash is company's new front-loader washing machine. The WW8500 AddWash lets you add more clothes and detergent or fabric softener at any point during the wash cycle. "The AddWash feature will make your laundry stress-free," said BK Yoon, President and CEO at Samsung Electronics, adding, "With its unique features, it is a perfect time-saving and convenient solution for busy families."

The AddWash also offers features called as a 'child lock' to avoid kids from accidentally opening the machine's door. The AddWash syncs with both Android and iOS smartphones, and let you monitor the progress of the laundry program.

Lenovo Vibe S1, Vibe P1, and Vibe P1m Smartphones Launched

Lenovo at the ongoing IFA 2015 in Berlin has already revealed new ThinkPad, IdeaPad, IdeaCentre, and Yoga Tab 3 devices. The Chinese company also unwraps its new Vibe smartphones - the Vibe P1, Vibe P1m, and Vibe S1. Additionally, Lenovo also revealed its new Phab-series smartphones - the Phab and recently unveiled Phab Plus.

The Lenovo Vibe S1 will hit the market in November at a starting price of $299 (approximately Rs. 19,800) excluding tax or shipping charges. The Lenovo P1 will go on sale in early October at $279 (approximately Rs. 18,500) and Lenovo Vibe P1m will be available from mid-September at $159 (approximately Rs. 10,500). The company has declared that the new Vibe-series handset will be launching only in countries where Lenovo smartphones are sold. However Vibe S1 will not be available in North America.

The Lenovo Phab and Phab Plus smartphones will be available in select countries starting September at $179 (approximately Rs. 12,000) and at $299 (approximately Rs. 19,800) respectively.

The Android 5.0 Lollipop-based Lenovo Vibe S1 features a 5-inch full-HD (1080x1920) display. The major feature of the smartphone are its dual front cameras. It contains 8-megapixel and 2-megapixel front-facing cameras. The company explains, "The 8-megapixel primary front camera takes the sharpest photos and a 2-megapixel secondary front camera analyses depth of field information."

The handset also contains several built-in photo editing tools such as Blur, which allows refocusing anywhere on the selfie (up to 3 focal plains), and Cut Out, allows users to cut out people from a selfie and then superimpose them on another image. There Lenovo Vibe S1 also contains a 13-megapixel rear camera. It sports a 7.8mm thin profile and weighs 132 grams. Under the hood, the smartphone is powered by a 64-bit quad-core MediaTek processor coupled with 3GB of RAM. The smartphone has 32GB of internal storage and supports expandable storage via microSD (up to 128GB). Running Android 5.0 Lollipop, the smartphone supports 4G LTE connectivity, features a 2500mAh battery, and will be available in Midnight Blue colours and Pearl White.

Lenovo's new Android 5.1 Lollipop-based Vibe P1 and P1m smartphones feature massive batteries. The Vibe P1 sports a huge 5000mAh battery while the P1m contains a 4000mAh battery, the main feature of both the handsets. For specifications, it features a 5.5-inch full-HD (1080x1920 pixels) IPS display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection; Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz; Adreno 405 GPU; 16GB storage; 3GB of RAM; expandable storage support via microSD card; NFC; USB OTG; 13-megapixel rear camera; 5-megapixel front camera; dual-SIM with dual 4G LTE support, as well as 24-watt charging capability that's claimed to the smartphone a bit faster. The Vibe P1 will be available in Platinum, Gold and Graphite Grey colours.

The Lenovo Vibe P1m is a 'lite' version of the Vibe P1, and features a 5-inch HD (720x1280 pixels) display. It is powered by a 64-bit quad-core MediaTek MT6735 processor with 2GB RAM and 16GB storage. The smartphone supports expandable storage. It will be available in available in Pearl White and Onyx Black.