ASUS hosts ‘Beyond the Edge’ in India, Launches Vivobook S15 Notebook

ASUS ‎today unveiled its latest flagship mainstream notebook ‘Vivobook S15’ at ‘Beyond The Edge’ press event in New Delhi. The event also showcased the all new Asus Zenbook UX430, the thinnest-ever ZenBook with discrete graphics. The latest ZenBook and VivoBook thin-and-light laptops push the boundaries of design and technology to deliver ultimate mobile computing experiences.

ASUS VivoBook S15
A 15.6-inch laptop designed for those constantly on the go, featuring a 17.9mm profile and weighing just 1.7 kg. The ASUS VivoBook Series is renowned for offering outstanding value and performance, but the new VivoBook S Series pushes the boundaries to deliver levels of style and performance normally only found in higher-end laptops. The thin and lightweight VivoBook S is the latest and most stylish model in the VivoBook Series. It has a metallic Icicle Gold finish for a quality feel, and features a NanoEdge display with a 7.8mm-slim bezel that provides a larger display area for more immersive viewing. This stylish laptop is powered by up to 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processor with up to 16GB DDR4 memory and feature NVIDIA MX150 graphics. 

NanoEdge display for immersive viewing
ASUS VivoBook features a Full HD (1920 x 1280) display with 178° wide-view technology for astonishing visuals, even when viewed from extreme positions. It’s the first laptop in its class to feature the slim-bezel NanoEdge display — the bezel is just 7.8 mm thin and gives VivoBook S15 an 80 percent screen-to-body ratio.

Simple yet stylish design
The compact ASUS VivoBook S15 measures just 361 x 243.5 x 17.9mm, and weighs 1.7 kg. It’s perfect for those constantly on the go, and easily fits into a messenger bag or backpack. It has an attractive Icicle Gold metallic finish for a premium look. For comfortable working in any lighting conditions, the notebook is equipped with an ergonomic backlit keyboard. An integrated fingerprint sensor offers extra security and allows easy one-touch, password-free login with Windows Hello.

Performance & multitasking
ASUS VivoBook S15 is powered by a 8th Generation quad core Intel Core i7-8550U and i5-8250U  processor with up to 16GB DDR4 2133Hz memory for super-smooth multitasking performance, and features NVIDIA® GeForce® MX150 graphics. It has dual storage drives, with a 1TB hard disk drive (HDD) to give users ample space to store music and media libraries, and a 128GB solid-state drive (SSD) to reduce boot-up and app loading times.  The reversible USB Type-C™ (USB-C™) port makes it easier to connect devices, with USB 3.1 Gen 1 providing superfast data transfer speeds — making it possible to transfer a 2GB movie to a USB drive in seconds. For maximum convenience and compatibility, ASUS VivoBook S15 also features one USB 3.0 ports and two USB 2.0 ports, one HDMI port, and Bluetooth® 4.2. Its dual-band 2x2 802.11ac Wi-Fi provides up to 6X-faster data speeds over the previous 802.11n standard.

SuperBattery
ASUS VivoBook S15 laptops feature a Lithium polymer battery that offers up to 8 hours battery life and a 3x longer lifespan than standard Lithium-ion cylinder batteries. The new ASUS Battery Health Charging Technology prolongs battery lifespan, decreases battery expansion rate and helps ensures the battery stays in a good condition. Fast-charge technology also charges the battery to 60 percent in just 49 minutes. If a laptop is constantly plugged in and the battery stays at 98% to 100% of its maximum capacity for long periods, this will significantly decrease its lifespan and may cause it to expand physically.
The ASUS VivoBook S15 has two technologies that prevent this and extends the battery’ operational life:
1.    SuperBattery - A special battery preservation technology known as “SuperBattery” that gives it three times (3X) the battery life span of conventional laptop batteries. SuperBattery does this by intelligently monitoring and limiting the maximum charge that can be given to the battery cells. With SuperBattery, the ASUS VivoBook S15 can:
•    Achieve a total of over 900 charge cycles compared to 300 for a conventional notebook’s batteries
•    Rapidly charge the ASUS VivoBook S15 from 0 to 60% of the capacity in only 49 minutes.

2.    The Asus Battery Health Charging App – This allows users to manually set the Relative State of Charge (RSOC) to 60%, 80% or 100%. Limiting the laptop charging in this way helps to further increase its battery’s operational life

ASUS ‘Beyond The Edge’ also showcased ZenBook UX430, the thinnest ever ZenBook with discrete graphics. Weighing only 1.25kg, the Full HD 14” Windows 10 laptop features 7.18mm NanoEdge bezel providing an 80% screen to body ratio. Offering a 178-degree wide view with matte non-reflective surface, ZenBook UX430 is powered by up to Intel 8th Generation Core i7 processor with the main memory of 16GB DDR4 (2133MHz) and up to 512 GB Storage. Offering a 9 hour long battery life & performance benefits of NVIDIA GeForce graphics up to MX150,  for work or entertainment, the ZenBook UX430 is best suited for people on-the-go who want to take more in less space!

AVAILABILITY & PRICING
•    ASUS VivoBook S15 will be available from October 01, 2017 across all online and offline retailer and partners at a starting price of INR 59,990/-
•    Asus Zenbook UX430 is available across all online and offline retailer and partners at a starting price of INR 74,990/

Source: Techpads

CHILLI MOBILES LAUNCHES WORLD’s FIRST FIDGET SPINNER MOBILE IN INDIA

A HongKong based company, Chilli International holding (HK) limited, launches world’s first Fidget Spinner Mobile, product K188 and AGPS phones, product F05 in the Indian market. Chilli Mobiles’ F05 is the first feature phone to offer A-GPS technology in India.  These two innovative products under the brand Chilli Mobiles will be available online on amazon, flipkart, shopclues, paytm by company’s authorized resellers in India and via offline networks in all leading stores across India by end of September, 2017.

Priced between INR 1200/- to INR 1300/- at the retail level, the Spinner Mobile, K188 is a pocket friendly compact gadget that fulfills the basic necessity of a mobile phone as well as, acts as a stress buster in today’s hectic life. This cool gadget can also be used as a Fidget Spinner as well as a Bluetooth device for your smart phone. It is a combination of a Fidget spinner, Feature phone and a Bluetooth headset. The phone also offers multimedia options, like images, video and music support along with internet accessibility as per the users network carrier. The product is available in six attractive color options rose gold, gold, silver, black, blue and red across online and offline stores in India.

K188 Specifications:
•    RAM 32MB + ROM 32MB
•    BT Dialer
•    MicroSD Upto 8GB
•    280mAh polymer battery
•    Vibration; MP3, WAV ringtones
•    Multimedia support
•    Dimension-96X40X12mm

Another product by Chilli Mobile F05 model is priced at INR 1500/- to INR 1700/- at the retail level, the feature phone is India’s first A-gps enabled feature phone. The technology feeded within the smart device is an amazing feature that helps you easily identify the location of your family members once you have feeded it in the device. The tool offered is mainly focused towards offering safety of kids/ close ones.   It also offers BT dialer facility and supports whatsapp. This model has a 7.9 mm super slim body, offers comfortable usage as it fits perfectly in your hand. The gadget also supports dual sim with dual standby.

 F05 Specifications:
•    6.1 cm half IPS LCD
•    AGPS enabled
•    BT Dialer
•    7.9 mm* Super Slim
•    Whatsapp supported
•    Dual Sim Dual Standby
•    Audio/Video Support
•    1.3 MP *Upgraded

BenQ showcases the new Xl2546 gaming monitor and Celeritas II at the Extremsland Quarter Finale

The LAN final of the ZOWIE eXTREMESLAND India Qualifier Finale was held at the LXG Café, which is one of India’s best gaming lounges. The event was hosted on the 23rd and 24th of September and provided a platform to some of the best home-grown teams in India to showcase their potential. The four finalists of the Online Qualifiers were announced and they battled it out to win an all-expenses paid trip to Shanghai and fight the best teams in Asia Pacific for the coveted prize pool of USD 100,000. The four finalists of the eXTREMESLAND ZOWIE Qualifiers were:  Eternal e-sports, Entity Gaming, TradeMarc Gaming and Team Shooting Monkeys.

This year the event saw exceptional gameplay by the four teams and Eternal e-sports and Entity Gaming battled it out in the last leg of the finale. Entity Gaming emerged victorious and claimed an all-expenses paid trip to Shanghai as their prize presented to them by Mr. Rajeev Singh, Managing Director of BenQ India Pvt. Ltd.

BenQ ZOWIE set up an exclusive experience tour on the 22nd of September for the players which gave them a chance to get a hands-on experience of the gaming products and peripherals that BenQ Zowie has to offer.

BenQ Zowie also showcased two newly launched products which included the Zowie XL2546, a 240hz  esports monitor with DyAc® technology, which guarantees the smoothest and the most responsive gameplay experience. The newly launched BenQ Zowie Celeritas II keyboard, which allows players to avoid double key presses is another addition to ZOWIE’s range of premium gaming hardware that the players got a chance to experience first-hand.

ZOWIE CELERITAS II features an optimal and more precise pre-travel which is the distance the key has to travel before an action is performed. A high quality iron spring allows for each keystroke to be executed with a consistent increase in force throughout while also improving durability to meet the standard required in eSports. The CELERITAS II introduces the optical switch, which allows players to avoid double key presses. It also has illuminated keys, with brightness levels that can be adjusted or turned off completely. This is priced at Rs 15,000.

Other features include:

• Optimal and more precise pretravel
• High quality iron spring, consistent keystroke and improved durability
• Optical switches, avoid double key presses
• No drivers needed, plug & play
• Red LED backlit keys with adjustable brightness
• RTR (Real Time Response,1x 2x 4x 8x) via PS/2 interface
• 100% N-Key Rollover

BenQ Zowie XL2546 Gaming Monitor comes equipped with BenQ ZOWIE’s exclusive technology - “Dynamic Accuracy” maintains remarkable clarity during in-game movements allowing for a smoother experience. The monitor also has a native 240Hz Refresh Rate which catches every detail of motion and  ensures a flawless view of fast-motion. The monitor is priced at Rs. 50,000 consistently at all time.

Key features include:
• Exclusive DyAc technology achieves remarkable clarity while providing a different spray feeling
• Native 240Hz refresh rate delivers smoothest ever gameplay experience
• Shield helps you focus on the game by blocking out distractions
• Adopted worldwide by most professional e-Sports tournaments and players
• Built-in Black eQualizer technology brightens dark scenes without over-exposing the bright areas
• The effortless one-finger height adjustable stand provides personalized viewing angles
• S Switch allows you to easily access settings and transfer 3 profiles
• Specially designed frame minimizes reflective screen glare

 DyAc Technology –A Different Spray Feeling
Shield – Helps You Focus On The Game
Shield - reveal the way to be concentrated in games. The adjustable angle and removable design allows Shield to adopt various environments according to preference. Just focus on winning the game.

Google, Levi's made smart jacket to go on sale for ₹23,000

Technology major Google and clothing company Levi's made smart 'Commuter Trucker' jacket will go on sale on September 27 for ₹23,000 ($350). 

The jacket allows users to answer calls or get directions by waving their hand over the jacket's cuff. It is made with Google's multi-touch sensor technology and connects to users smartphones using tiny electronics in the sleeves.

Source: Inshorts

Image: Wired

Sony Xperia XZ1 Smartphone Launched At Rs 44,990

Sony India today announced that it is enhancing the communication possibilities with the world’s first smartphone featuring real-time 3D capture1; with the Xperia XZ1. The newest flagship leverages Sony’s legacy of developing forward thinking camera innovations, together with its history of craftsmanship to offer an immersive entertainment experience packaged up in a timeless design. The advanced elements technology comprises of Autofocus Burst (10FPS) and Full HD- HDR Display. The smartphone’s camera stands out for its prowess with new Smile Predictive Capture.

Drawing inspiration from Sony’s most inventive products developed over the decades such as the Cyber-shot, α, BRAVI, Handycam and Walkman, the Xperia XZ1 presents the very best of Sony technology in a single device. It showcases Sony’s core expertise in camera technology and image sensing, with a combination of four inventive new camera focused features - the 3D Creator, Super slow-motion video, new Smile Predictive Capture and Autofocus burst from Motion-Eye camera. Together with support from a 13.2 cm (5.2) Full HD HDR display, High-Resolution Audio and a unique OmniBalance approach to a unibody design, the Xperia XZ1’s innovative appeals lie in its ability to marry the best of Sony’s hardware and software into a single unit.

Xperia XZ1 is powered by the cutting-edge Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Mobile Platform with X16 LTE, designed to provide blazing fast Gigabit LTE downloads speeds[3] (up to 1Gbps) and performance to enjoy a modern lifestyle whilst working or having fun. The Snapdragon 835 Mobile Platform is engineered to support stunning graphics, smooth performance and enhanced battery efficiency. Perfect for smooth, responsive gameplay of your favourite PlayStation4 games using PS4 Remote Play.

The newly launched Xperia XZ1 will be available at Rs 44,990 at all Sony Center and major electronic stores across India.

Source: Techpads

Dell unveils the world’s first VR-ready Precision 5720 All-in-One in India

Dell in India has announced the launch of the Precision 5720 All-in-one, the newest addition to its flagship line of Precision devices. The 27-inch Dell Precision All-in-One 5720, caters to a variety of industries which are centered on graphics-intensive tasks including Manufacturing, Media and Entertainment, Architecture and Design, Health. 

Taking forward a 20-year legacy of shaping industries that thrive on creativity, the Dell Precision 5720, is one of the world’s first VR-ready all-in-one (AIO) workstation, equipped with AMD Radeon Pro graphics, rendering a seamless touch to graphic-intensive tasks, outstanding reliability with ISV certifications, ECC memory and Dell Precision Optimizer; make this the world’s most powerful All-in-One workstation.

Innovative technology to create landmark products and results, when it comes to design and creativity

Key features:
•    The Dell Precision 5720 All-in-One is the only AIO to feature professional graphics: AMD Radeon Pro graphics (WX 7100 or WX 4150)
•    With a spectacular, 27-inch UltraSharp 4K Ultra HD display (available with touch option), the Precision Workstations are Independent Software Vendor (ISV) certified, ensuring high-performance applications work smoothly
•    The workstation is the world’s first VR ready AIO, with Intel Kaby Lake and Sky Lake processors (Core i5, i7, Xeon E3-1200 v6)
•    The device comes with 10 speaker sound system powered by dynamic amplifiers capable of 50W per channel at <1% THD coupled with Jack Joseph Puig Signature Series powered by Waves MaxxAudio  Pro rendering studio-quality production, editing, and play back.
•    The Precision 5720 AIO can support up to 3 additional 4K displays at 60Hz or an additional 1x 5K and 1x 4K at 60Hz.

Availability and Pricing: The Dell Precision 5720 All-in-One is available in India at a starting price of INR 109000 /- and is available for purchase on www.dell.co.in

Bring memories to life with HP Sprocket

HP Inc., the global leader in printing, today launched the HP Sprocket Photo Printer for millennials and photography lovers, passionate about capturing memories in their day-to-day life through smartphones. The pocket-sized photo printer allows users to print directly from their mobile device instantly. 

The HP Sprocket makes photo printing more intuitive, convenient and snappy. With the HP Sprocket app, free on Android and iOS, users can now customize with their photographs by adding fun borders, emojis, stickers, filters and fonts available in the mobile application before printing them. The companion app enables users to print photographs directly from their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram as well as choosing from their phone’s camera roll. Supporting a range of file types including .jpeg, .gif and .png, the app enables users to work on almost any image format.

HP Sprocket photo printer connects seamlessly to mobile devices via Bluetooth and prints photographs sized 2X3 inches using ZINK technology. The ZINK Photo Paper delivers colorful, smudge-proof, water-resistant and tear-resistant photos without ink or toner cartridges as all the color required for printing is embedded in the HP ZINK photo paper itself. Additionally, the peel-and-stick backing property of ZINK paper can turn favorite photos into fun stickers that can personalize everyday items such as bags, phones and notebook PCs.

The HP Sprocket will be available at a special price of INR 8,999/- on http://amazon.in and will be available in Black, Red and White colours. HP ZINK paper to be available for INR 539/- for a pack of 20 & INR 1249 for a pack of 50. Pack of 10 papers will come with the box at the time of purchase

Google and HTC Announce US$1.1 Billion Cooperation Agreement

Google and HTC Corporation has announced a definitive agreement under which certain HTC employees – many of whom are already working with Google to develop Pixel smartphones – will join Google. HTC will receive US$1.1 billion in cash from Google as part of the transaction. Separately, Google will receive a non-exclusive license for HTC intellectual property (IP). The agreement is a testament to the decade-long strategic relationship between HTC and Google around the development of premium smartphones.

This agreement also supports HTC’s continued branded smartphone strategy, enabling a more streamlined product portfolio, greater operational efficiency and financial flexibility. HTC will continue to have best-in-class engineering talent, which is currently working on the next flagship phone, following the successful launch of the HTC U11 earlier this year. HTC will also continue to build the virtual reality ecosystem to grow its VIVE business, while investing in other next-generation technologies, including the Internet of Things, augmented reality and artificial intelligence.

For Google, this agreement further reinforces its commitment to smartphones and overall investment in its emerging hardware business. In addition to the talented and experienced team of professionals, Google will continue to have access to HTC’s IP to support the Pixel smartphone family. Additionally, this agreement also represents a significant investment by Google in Taiwan as a key innovation and technology hub.

“HTC has been a longtime partner of Google and has created some of the most beautiful,
premium devices on the market,” said Rick Osterloh, Senior Vice President of Hardware at Google. “We're excited and can't wait to welcome members of the HTC team who will be joining Google to fuel further innovation and future product development in consumer hardware.”

The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions, is expected to close by early 2018.

Source: Techpads

Introducing Instagram Face Filters in Live

Starting today, you can play with face filters while sharing live video. Whether you’re channeling a kitten or want to add some stars or rainbow light to your face, you can easily try on face filters while connecting with friends and followers in the moment.

To use face filters in live video, tap the face icon in the bottom right corner before or during your broadcast. Tap any filter to check out a new look, and play around with as many as you’d like. You can also try on the new sunglasses face filter — available exclusively in live video for the next week — and tap to change the scenery reflected in your lenses.

When your broadcast has ended you can share a replay to stories, or choose “Discard” and your live video will disappear from the app as usual.

Face filters in live video will be rolling out globally over the next several weeks.

TOKO Innovation Studios Launches the SuperSchool Android app

What if your child could be enrolled in a magical school that'll teach her skills from planning out projects to increasing his/her memory by 5x in a Game and Fun way? TOKO Innovation Studios, has just the solution – SuperSchool app, India’s leading tech enabled smart learning content platform for kids (upto 7 years). A learning app so comprehensive and engaging that this is all your children will ever need!

The app is currently free on Google PlayStore (https://goo.gl/1HRdb8), and will soon debut on the Gionee’s G-store. Since the app’s beta launch on PlayStore, SuperSchool has been counting more than 100,000 downloads already while clocking around 12 minutes of an average time spent on the app per user per day with over 3.6 sessions per week. The iOS version will be launched shortly.

The exit surveys conducted during beta testing have been very encouraging with over 93% parents acknowledging that their child improved his/her knowledge after playing the SuperSchool language games and 91% responded positively to the math games.

SuperSchool brings pioneering gamified methodologies to education for children. The app has been specifically designed to cater the curious age group of 0 to 7 years. Content has been created in-house under the guidance of experienced educationists, keeping in view the needs and maturity of the children. Let the children explore SuperSchool on their own -- the sea of knowledge will unravel in many forms and manifestations – mesmerized, the little ones take a deep dive into the magical waters of learning. You, in the meanwhile, can relax as no parental oversight is needed! Packed with interactive foundation learning through games & videos, SuperSchool covers a wide gamut of topics that will help strengthen a child's foundation.

Some of the topics include – Math and Pre-Math Games like Odd-Even Ninja; Educational Books; Rhymes and Videos; Writing Capital Alphabets; How different instruments sound, and how their notes can be used to make music; Planet Catch - Planets in our solar system including position and interesting facts; Bubble Letter Pop - Connecting alphabets to objects that start with them; Bubble Phonic Pop - Teaching phonic sounds and words that use them; Food Run - Healthy & unhealthy food and their effects; Match the animal; Grammar Flight; and many more.

Vu Televisions goes from strength to strength, launches the revolutionary Smart Series in India

Propelling the television technology industry to the next pedestal of aestheticism, bravura and functionality, Vu, the California-based luxury television company, announces the launch of its Smart Series, which features 3 distinguished products-The Office Smart, The Pop Smart and The Premium Smart, designed especially for the youth and professionals of India. Vu TVs have the highest market share in the Premium TV segment in India after Sony and Samsung and is the largest selling television brand in India when it comes to online.

The Pop Smart from the newly launched Smart Series has been developed right here in India at Vu Technologies NPD Lab, based on the feedback of thousands of customers. The Pop Smart is built to cater to the needs of the Young Indian customer at home with its multiple casting options, integrated Indian Apps and 4 hot key remote. The Office Smart is being launched as the only office TV in the market and is perfect for the tech savvy working professional while the Premium Smart can wow customers with its Quad Core processor that has an overlap user interface.

Speaking at the event, Devita Saraf, Founder and CEO, Vu Technologies, commented, “Our aim is to make the television an all-inclusive device that takes care of all your needs at home and at work. The Smart Series is designed keeping in mind the younger generation who enjoy luxury in all aspects of their lives.”

“We are proud to announce that the love of our consumers has made us the largest selling television brand in India after the top 2 global brands and we have seen a strong growth of 35%, clocking in 540cr in revenue in FY16/17 over the last year. We believe the new range is only going to strengthen our position in the market, making us touch the 1000cr revenue mark very soon.” 

The Pop Smart, Office Smart and Premium Smart are category defining products in their own right.

The Pop Smart
Key features:
Developed in India for India by VU in house R&D
More casting options
Integrated Indian Apps
4 hot key remote
Sizes available: 49’’, 43’’ & 32’’

The Office Smart
World’s first Office TV
Unique remote keyboard
Smart with Windows-No need for laptop
Plug & play solution for meeting rooms
Sizes available: 75’’, 65’’, 55’’, 49’’

The Premium Smart TV
Fastest processor (Quad Core Internet Video Processor) with overlay User Interface
Successful OS with licensed Netflix and YouTube
Screen Mirroring
Sizes available: 55’’, 49’’, 43’’, 39’’, 32’’

Along with these 3 revolutionary products, Devita Saraf also announced the launch of Android Smart, a Google Certified Android TV. 

Customers have a lot more to look forward to with Vu announcing the next launch in the pipeline- The QLED TV, coming to a store near you post Diwali. It will be sleeker and slimmer than ever and will boast of front firing speakers for even better sound output. 

New Ways to Share Instagram Stories

Starting today, you can share stories with your friends in Direct. From stories you follow on surfing to stories about your best friend’s cat, now you have more ways to share the stories you love.

Sharing a story in Direct is as easy as sharing a post from your feed. When you discover a story you want to share, tap the direct icon in the bottom right corner, select a friend or group to share it with and tap send.

When someone shares a story with you, you will see it in your Direct inbox. When the original story disappears from the app, it will no longer be available in your message thread.

If you prefer to turn off the ability for others to share your story in Direct, you can always disable the option in your stories settings. And if you have a private account, only your followers can view your story in Direct.

Since launching last year, Instagram Stories has quickly become a place to connect more closely with the people, interests and brands you care about most. Now sharing those favorite everyday moments is even easier.

This update will be rolling out globally over the coming weeks. To learn more about sharing a story in Direct, check out the [Instagram Help Center]. The new feature is available for iOS and Android in the Apple App Store and Google Play as part of Instagram version 11.0.

Samsung Galaxy Note8 Priced At Rs 67,900

Samsung Electronics has launched its flagship smartphone Galaxy Note8 in India, offering the next level Note for people who want to do bigger things. 

Samsung will also introduce Bixby Voice capabilities with ‘Make for India’ innovations in its intelligent interface Bixby in the next few weeks. Bixby will be available on Galaxy Note8 and Galaxy S8 & S8+ devices.

With Galaxy Note8, consumers get a big, immersive Infinity Display that fits comfortably in one hand,
S Pen to communicate in more personal ways, and Samsung’s best-ever true Dual Camera with dual Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) to capture stunning photos in all conditions.

The incredible Note series loved by millions of consumers in India will also come with the revolutionary mobile payment service, Samsung Pay, and Samsung’s defense-grade security platform Samsung Knox, making it the most desirable smartphone available in the market. Galaxy Note8 is designed for the way consumers lead their lives and lean on technology today.

India Loves Note
Samsung pioneered a new category of smartphones with the Galaxy Note launch in 2011. Since then, a community of enthusiasts emerged through their affinity for Note’s signature expansive screen and
S Pen. According to Samsung market research1, 87% of Note users say they are satisfied with their Galaxy Note and 82% may recommend it to friends.

See More, Do More on the Infinity Display
Galaxy Note8 has the biggest screen ever on a Note device, yet with superior engineering and design, it comfortably fits in one hand. The 6.3-inch Quad HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity Display lets you see more and scroll less. Galaxy Note8 gives you more room to watch, read and draw—making it the ultimate multitasking smartphone.

Note users have long been able to do more with Multi Window. With Galaxy Note8, the App Pair feature lets you create a custom shortcut on the Edge Panel to simultaneously launch two frequently used apps and invoke them with ease. So, they can watch a video while messaging friends or dial into a conference call with the number and agenda in front of them2.

S Pen: A Smarter Way to Express
Since its introduction, the S Pen has been one of the Note’s defining features. With Galaxy Note8, the intelligent S Pen unlocks entirely new ways to write, draw, and interact with the phone and communicate with friends. It has a finer tip, improved pressure sensitivity3, and features that enable users to express themselves in ways that no other stylus or smartphone ever has.

Live Message on Galaxy Note8 allows you to tell expressive stories and you can now share animated texts or drawings across platforms that support GIFs4. It’s a whole new way to communicate with the
S Pen—adding lively and emotional connections that bring your messages to life.

The Always On Display allows Galaxy users to stay on top of their notifications without unlocking their phone. And with Galaxy Note8, it’s even more powerful.

Galaxy Note8’s Screen off memo allows you to take up to one-hundred pages of notes, without even unlocking the phone. Users just need to remove the S Pen and jot down notes, pin them to the Always On Display and edit directly from the Always On Display, letting users, including professionals, do what other smartphones can’t.

The improved S Pen acts as a personal translator and convertor—just hover over text to quickly translate not only individual words, but entire sentences and get the output in up to 71 languages, or instantly convert units and foreign currencies.

Picture Perfect Moments with True Dual Camera
Samsung set the standard for smartphone cameras and with Galaxy Note8, we’re delivering our most powerful smartphone camera yet.

The rear camera on Galaxy Note8 comes with two 12MP lenses—wide angle and telephoto—and both are equipped with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) for sharper photos and videos—an industry first feature.

For more advanced photo-taking, the Galaxy Note8’s Live Focus feature lets you control the depth of field by allowing you to adjust the bokeh effect in preview mode and even after you take the photo.

In Dual Capture mode, both rear cameras take pictures simultaneously—one close-up shot from the telephoto lens and one wide-angle shot that shows the entire background.

The wide-angle lens continues the legacy of the Dual Pixel sensor with rapid Auto Focus so you can capture sharper, clearer shots even in low-light environments. Galaxy Note8 is also equipped with an industry-leading 8MP Smart Auto Focus front-facing camera for sharp selfies and video chats.

Infinite Possibilities
Galaxy Note8 packs in enhanced performance and features that have redefined the mobile experience:

Legacy of Convenience
•    Water and Dust Resistance: Four years ago, Samsung introduced the first Galaxy device with water resistance. And today, you can take your Note almost anywhere you want with water and dust resistance (IP685) on the device and even the S Pen.
•    Fast Wireless Charging: Two years ago, Samsung introduced the first Galaxy device with wireless charging. The Galaxy Note8 supports the most advanced wireless charging capabilities yet, so you can get a quick, convenient charge6.

Continued Note Promise
•    Powerful Performance: With 6GB RAM, a 10nm processor, and expandable memory (up to 256GB), you have all the power you need to browse, stream, play games, and multitask. All this without having to worry about power consumption due to enhanced processor efficiency and a host of power management features.
•    Security: The Galaxy Note8 offers a choice of biometric authentication options—including iris and fingerprint scanning in addition to face recognition, pin, pattern and password. Samsung Knox7 provides defense-grade security at the hardware and software layers and with Secure Folder, keeps your personal and professional data separate.

New Way to Interact
•    Bixby: With our intelligent interface Bixby, the phone adapts to you and not the other way around. It is a smarter way to use your phone and get more done. Bixby Voice capability will be introduced in India in the next few weeks on Galaxy Note8 and Galaxy S8 & S8+ devices. Being true to Samsung’s legacy of bringing customer centric innovations for the Indian market, Bixby has now been optimized to understand English in Indian accents.

Phone+
•    Innovative Mobile Experiences: Samsung DeX enables a desktop experience, powered by Galaxy Note8. You can keep your files on your device, conduct work on the go, and use Samsung DeX when you need an even bigger screen.

Price & Availability
Galaxy Note8 will be offered to consumers at a price of INR 67,900 and will be available in India starting September 21, 2017 in Midnight Black and Maple Gold colours. The device will be available for pre-booking from September 12, 2017 across selected retail stores and also online exclusively on Samsung Shop and Amazon.in.

Galaxy Note8 consumers can avail an attractive Introductory Offer comprising a one-time screen replacement* and a free Convertible Wireless Charger.

Samsung also announced an all new ‘Samsung Upgrade’ program offering its loyal Galaxy users the best value when they trade in their old device for the Galaxy Note8. The program offers a convenient solution through My Galaxy app—a Samsung Make for India feature and is powered by Cashify.

Galaxy Note8 users will get a Double Data offer on Jio, under which they can get up to 448 GB  of extra 4G data over 8 months, as well as complimentary Jio Prime Membership. With these offers Samsung Galaxy Note8 users can experience a truly unconstrained Digital Life on Jio’s world-class all-IP data strong only-4G network.

In another special launch offer, consumers who purchase their Galaxy Note8 using an HDFC Credit Card will get a cashback of INR 4,000.


Source: Techpads

Xiaomi and HRX in a joint business partnership launch Mi Band - HRX Edition

Leading Technology Company, Xiaomi and HRX, India’s first home grown fitness brand have signed a strategic business partnership to boost the fitness wearable category in India. The two brands are co-launching Mi Band - HRX Edition.

Mi Band - HRX Edition is an adaptation of Xiaomi’s successful Mi Band 2 for its Indian Mi fans. Mi Band 2 is the world’s leading fitness wearable with 3.5 million units being sold globally in Q2, as per IDC. Xiaomi is the #1 wearable vendor worldwide with 13.4 percent as per IDC Q2 report.
The business partnership between Xiaomi and HRX is a step forward in fostering fitness as a part of lifestyle by making the wearable category affordable and accessible to Indians.

Both brands share a common vision, which led to a promising business partnership. Xiaomi believes in bringing innovation to everyone and making high end technology affordable so that everyone can enjoy it. HRX also believes in creating an inspiring and motivating people to become the best version of them. Mi Band - HRX Edition is a utilitarian and innovative fitness device that is in perfect sync with both brand philosophies.

Mi Band - HRX Edition boasts over 23 days of usage on a single charge, thanks to the low-energy Bluetooth 4.0 chipset, and a power efficient OLED display. It can monitor your steps, calories burnt, and sleep patterns, as well as display notifications including incoming calls or text messages.

Hrithik Roshan, Founder, HRX: “I always envisioned HRX to be a platform that could inspire people to be the best version of themselves. Partnering with Xiaomi to launch the Mi Bands - HRX Edition is an opportune decision as they are in sync with our philosophy. In today's fast paced life a lot of commitment is required while keeping up a healthy regime therefore a fitness tracker is the first step that can help in maintaining discipline. I believe that this will be the next Best Buy for all fitness enthusiasts.”

Mi Band - HRX Edition will be on sale at a price of Rs. 1299, starting from September 18th on
Mi.com and Mi Home stores. Following that, from September 20th it will also be available across
Flipkart, Amazon, and Myntra.

Bosch Power Tools Unveils The Only Smart Screwdriver ‘Bosch GO’

Bosch Power Tools India, has announced a smart screwdriver called ‘Bosch GO’. The smartness of this screwdriver lies in the fact that it can get the work done with a simple push, thus reducing all the physical efforts needed in the manual process. 

It’s intelligent clutch system knows when to stop on reaching the target torque. The user can also switch from automatic to manual mode seamlessly. This compact innovative screwdriver is powered by lithium-ion battery and would be available on Flipkart and Amazon for purchase.

With an eye on UX, Bosch has aesthetically designed this smart screwdriver to look like any other manual screwdriver.  ‘Bosch GO’ can tighten or loose screws with an adjustable 5/2.5 Nm torque, achieving speed up to 360 rpm. 

It is as light as 280 grams and has a spindle lock to use the product manually, when auto mode is not needed. Its 3.6V 1.5Ah battery can be charged with a micro-USB charging point. Along with the main unit, ‘Bosch GO’ comes with 33 pc accessories kit, USB adapter and a USB cable in a plastic case.

The product is available immediately on the ecommerce portals, Amazon and Flipkart and priced at INR 2399/- against an MRP of INR 4450/-. 'Bosch GO' will be available at dealer stores across India from October onwards.

iPhone 8 Plus review: Apple's newest phablet has enough new features to warrant an upgrade

You typically have to wait a year for the latest Apple iPhone to be surpassed, yet at its most recent launch event, this took just 10 minutes. 

Fresh off the back of unveiling the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, Apple launched its flagship iPhone X – a high-end model that completely redesigns how the iPhone looks and works, leaving the iPhone 8 range looking almost second-rate.

It's not though, and both the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus have a number of improvements that elevate it above its predecessors without the eye-watering price of the iPhone X. In this hands on, we reveal our first impressions of the larger of the two phones - the 5.5in iPhone 8 Plus.

iPhone 8 Plus review: Key specifications and release date

Screen: 5.5in

CPU: A11 Bionic

Storage: 64GB and 256GB

Camera: 12MP rear-facing camera, 7MP front-facing camera

Price: £799 (64GB); £949 (256GB)

Release date: 22 September
iPhone 8 Plus review: Design, key features, and first impressions

The iPhone 8 Plus comes with design improvements, a more powerful processor inspired by the human brain, wireless charging and improved cameras, all designed to tempt you into upgrading, or even switching from Android.

 Its 12-megapixel rear-facing camera, for example, features a faster and larger sensor which Apple claims “delivers advanced pixel processing" and "faster autofocus in low light. The rear of the iPhone 8 is now made from reinforced glass, signaling a significant move away from the metal design of the iPhone 7 range, while giving a nod to the original iPhone from 2007. Beneath this glass panel is a wireless charging panel for the first time meaning the iPhone 8 Plus can be charged on any Qi standard charging plate.

Its 5.5in display uses so-called True Tone technology to make the screen blend in more with its surroundings, giving it a more natural appearance, and the iPhone 8 Plus - like the iPhone 8 and iPhone X - runs on Apple’s neural networks, powered by its new A11 Bionic chip. The iPhone 8 Plus has also been “custom tuned” for the augmented reality features built into iOS 11.

Before getting an iPhone 7 Plus, I never thought I liked larger screens. Having spent a year with it, I now can't use smaller models so the iPhone 8 Plus remains a familiar-sized handset. The larger form factor, compared to the iPhone 8, and the glass back make the phone feel extremely high-end, and the screen's size highlights the improvements that have been made to this display (namely the addition of True Tone and the Retina Display) much more than on the smaller iPhone 8. This larger display additionally helps showcase the ARKit features more effectively.

Beyond the screen, the Portrait Mode introduced on the iPhone 7 Plus now comes with Portrait Lighting on the iPhone 8 Plus. You can mimic the kind of lighting effects created in professional studios, as well as stage lighting, and the results are seriously impressive.

"Portrait Lighting is based on extensive research into the art and science of portraiture and core photographic lighting principles,": Apple explains, and it uses the dual cameras as well as an image signal processor to recognise the scene, create a so-called depth map and separate the subject from the background. Machine learning is then used to create "facial landmarks and add lighting over contours of the face" in real time.

Like-for-like, the iPhone 8 Plus offers enough improvements to warrant an upgrade from the iPhone 7 Plus. An upgrade is especially warranted if you have the smaller iPhone 7 or previous iPhone models.

The new glass design on the iPhone 8 range is a genuine delight, and its AR capabilities really do need to be seen to be believed. Having wireless charging is now a significant selling point for the iPhone 8 Plus, as well as the iPhone 8, and the more powerful, AI-based A11 Bionic chip feels like its worth the investment. It's also cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 – £799 vs the Note 8's £869.

That said, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 does come with expandable storage. Google's introduction of ARCore will see more Android devices taking advantage of augmented reality, and it already features wireless charging.

If you're looking to stick with iOS, or make the move, the iPhone 8 Plus is my favourite in terms of features and (relative) value for money from the three phones announced at Apple's September event. It's still an incredibly expensive piece of kit, but on the right pay-monthly package, it could prove a worthwhile treat. 

Source: Alphr