gadgets

LG Electronics is known for trying out fresh and innovative ideas with its smartphones to make them stand out in the crowd. Its flagship Rs 52,990 G5 — touted as the world’s first modular smartphone featuring a “slide-out” battery design and dual rear cameras — is an apt example. This time, LG has done magic in the front display and introduced a new secondary screen on top of the main screen in its mid-range offering — X Screen — to ease user interaction. The Rs 12,990 X Screen is also equipped with a panic button in line with the Indian government’s initiative. The smartphone goes head to head with Moto G4 and LeEco Le 2 devices in the mid-range segment. Here is what works for the device. The plain-looking device comes with specifications that you will expect from a mid-range smartphone. The back is covered by crystal-clear glass-fibre material. The smartphone features 4.93-inch display along with an 1.76-inch HD In-cell touch display which LG calls “second screen”. ...

The newest Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphone can now be rooted thanks to SuperSU by Chainfire. Although the new phone brings amazing hardware and the software is up to par as well but root remains to be a utility used by many. Samsung has implemented multiple new Knox features and has addressed different exploits in its new Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS for the Note 7. What this means is, it is now more complicated to gain root. However, Chainfire was hard at work and has released a Beta SuperSU which works on the Note 7. You can follow along our detailed guide to find out how to implement this root exploit. The whole process has been explained step-by-step for your ease. Once you root, you will gain access to all the root apps available on the Play Store. However, it should be noted that you do need a custom recovery like TWRP pre-installed. We have a separate post on showing you how to install TWRP 3.0 custom recovery on Samsung Galaxy Note 7. Once installed, flashing the SuperSU packag...

The team has developed a system that can be integrated into a NFC-capable smartphone to instantly detect toxins in the air. Researchers have developed a new low cost sensing material that can be integrated in electronic circuits and can enable smartphones to detect toxic gases within seconds. Researchers from National Institute for Materials Science in Japan and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) developed the chemical sensing material whose electrical conductivity dramatically increases when exposed to toxic gases. They integrated the sensing material into the electronic circuit in a near-field communication (NFC) tag, which is embedded in smart cards like those used to get through train ticket gates. This technology made it possible for smartphones to quickly (in five seconds) detect toxic gases at a low concentration (10 parts per million). People in today's society are subject to risks of being exposed to toxic gases deriving from natural sources (such as vo...

Researchers have developed a material that can return to their original shapes despite being stretched and twisted to extreme lengths. Scientists have 3D printed structures that "remember" their original shapes - even after being stretched, twisted, and bent at extreme angles - an advance that may lead to shape-changing solar cells and drug capsules that only release medicine when they detect fever. The researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US and Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) were able to print micron-scale features as small as the diameter of a human hair. The structures - from small coils and multimaterial flowers, to an inch-tall replica of the Eiffel tower - sprang back to their original forms within seconds of being heated to a certain temperature "sweet spot." Nicholas X Fang, associate professor at MIT, said shape-memory polymers that can predictably morph in response to temperature can be usefu...

Apple has released a security update to iOS today, responding to three previously unknown zero-day exploits. The activist, Ahmed Mansoor, did not tap on the link, and instead forwarded it to Citizen Lab. Immediately after discovering Trident, Citizen Labs and Lookout Security notified Apple. Security researchers on Thursday announced they had discovered a new piece of iPhone malware that allowed attackers to see virtually everything on your iPhone. To prevent this from happening again, Apple released an update for iOS 9 that patches up these vulnerabilities. An Israel-based “cyber war” company, NSO Group, was found by researchers at Citizen Lab and Lookout to be using zero-day exploits to target a human rights activist. Also Read:Pangu team to release new jailbreak for iOS 9.2 The exploits work by remotely jailbreaking the device to secretly download the spyware – which can then access the iPhone’s camera, microphone, and messages. An attack on a fully patched, cur...

In an update to its terms of service and privacy policy, WhatsApp has announced that it will share user data - of over 1 billion WhatsApp users - with Facebook. The Mark Zuckerberg-owned Facebook bought the messaging app for $19 billion in 2014. WhatsApp explains that users will not see any ads on the messaging platform. Instead, data from WhatsApp will be used to target ads on Facebook and will help influence the 'You may also know' profiles that are displayed on your newsfeed. While this may appear to be a small change, it actually is a major shift for WhatsApp, which has finally lifted the lid on its revenue source. Since 2012, WhatsApp has regularly updated its legal policy to include a number of changes. The latest update specifies that WhatsApp is a part of Facebook and that it may be open to commercial messaging. Also Read:WhatsApp Will Not Work on Symbian Devices After December 31 Here's an extract from the blogpost that WhatsApp shared on 25 August...

Pokemon Go craze has showed the possibilities of Augmented Reality(AR) for the gaming industry. But can it be a game changer for banks too- for e.g. in terms of improving service delivery and simplifying the user experience? Axis bank has found out a way to use AR already, which will not only make it easy for users to check banks offers real-time on any location, but will also transform the way marketing, promotions and loyalty are handled by the bank. The bank has rolled out a Pokemon Go-like Augmented Reality(AR) feature on its mobile app – which will help users look for the dine-out, shopping offers run by Axis Bank by just using their mobile camera. “New technology is truly making banking convenient, simple and delightful. We look forward to alliances with more merchant partners for special deals and services based on customer preferences,” said Sethi, President and CIO, Axis Bank. Users can view actual streets in a 360degree mode through their mobile phone camera, as ...

Apple’s Find my iPhone, a feature initially introduced to MobileMe customers in 2010, has become an invaluable tool for users who have misplaced (or lost) their iOS device. Now, beyond simply locating your device and wiping it remotely, Apple wants to help authorities identify thieves by capturing biometric data. According to an update to a previously published patent application, Apple could use the Touch ID sensor on your iPhone to record fingerprints when an iOS device is lost. That means if you’re a criminal in possession of a stolen device and you put your finger to the sensor, the device could potentially record your print and forward that over to investigators. Also Read:iPhone 6S Plus, Galaxy S7 Edge drowned In Coke. Which Survives? Before the patent’s update on Thursday, the patent described how Apple devices might also record a thief’s voice (like during a call) or even surreptitiously snap a photo. Here’s a portion of the patent’s text: A computing device may ...

Sony is bringing the PlayStation Now service to Windows PC, which means subscribers can soon access PlayStation 3 games on their computer screen in the same way they’d watch a Netflix series. Starting with Europe, PS Now is launching in the UK, Belgium, and Netherlands. A US and Canada launch will follow “shortly thereafter,” according to a new PlayStation blog post. This will bring a wide selection of PlayStation exclusive titles to Windows PC for the very first time, including entries in the Uncharted, God of War, and Ratchet & Clank franchises, as well as beloved PS3 games like The Last of Us and Journey. Also Read:'EA Sports UFC 2' update 6 adds 4 new fighters; brings changes to roster, gameplay and menu The recommended PC specs for using PS Now according to Sony include: A minimum 5Mbps connection is required to use PS Now on any device. PS Now gives subscribers access to a library of more than 400 PlayStation 3 games, all of which are streamed to the ...

The Z2 will be Samsung's third phone in the budget segment to have the Tizen OS and first of its kind with 4G internet capabilities. Samsung has pinned hopes on the Tizen OS once again. The latest handset launched, the Tizen operated Z2, is the third offering from Samsung into the budget category, and also the first in its category, to be sporting 4G internet capabilities. With an aim to shift users towards more smartphone use, from the category of feature phones, Samsung has priced the Z2 at INR 4,590 a piece, and will also have Reliance Jio 4G services complimentary during the trial period. Amongst other things, Samsung Z2 comes with mentionable specifications, pre-loaded essential apps and Samsung’s popular ‘Make for India’ features such as the Ultra Data Saving mode, S bike mode and the new My Money Transfer, to drive smartphone adoption. Also Read:Is Samsung about to start selling refurbished smartphones? Samsung Z2 comes with a complimentary invitation to the Jio P...

Android 7.0 Nougat is another feature-refining build for the OS, with lots of little tweaks and optimizations throughout. Google covered a lot of the big features when it announced Nougat (then called “Andorid N”), but today we’re going to highlight a handful of features that you may not have already heard about. The Settings Menu Is Now More Efficient The Settings menu in Android has always been a relatively simple place, with everything broken down into an easy-to-use list. One of the more subtle additions here is a new “suggestions” option at the top of the menu—things you may not have yet set up that Google thinks you may want to. I like it. With Nougat, Google also delivered a feature we didn’t even know we needed in the Settings menu: relevant info under each option. For example, the Wi-Fi menu entry now shows the network name below it, as does Bluetooth. Data Usage now offers a quick look at how much you’ve used, without ever having to enter the menu. Sound shows the c...

The tech giant is apparently looking for ways to “sustain earnings momentum” as growth in the smartphone market hits a plateau. The company is already in goo books given the recent acknowledgment of its incredible design work. The refurbished handsets could sport a new display, battery or outer casing, depending on its age or damage sustained. Through the program, Samsung would refurbish and resell phones that were returned by customers as part of the yearly upgrade schemes it runs in the US, UK, South Korea, and other markets. If smartphone shoppers have the option of purchasing used phones under warranty directly from Samsung at deep discounts, it could cannibalize sales of new smartphone models to an extent. The key to the difference is how big a discount the refurbished phones would be sold at, which markets the phones would be sold in or how many refurbished devices Samsung could sell. Also Read:Samsung LEVEL Active Availability Info Confirmed By Samsung Samsung is a ...

The technique could prevent rechargeable batteries from accumulating in landfills, by using organic processes to break them down. Scientists have found a low-cost and environment-friendly method to recycle waste rechargeable lithium-ion batteries - using fungi. Although rechargeable batteries in smartphones, cars and tablets can be charged again and again, they do not last forever. Old batteries often wind up in landfills or incinerators, potentially harming the environment, and with valuable materials remaining locked inside. Now, a team of researchers at the University of South Florida in the US is turning to naturally occurring fungi to drive an environmentally friendly recycling process to extract cobalt and lithium from tonnes of waste batteries. "The idea first came from a student who had experience extracting some metals from waste slag left over from smelting operations," said Jeffrey A Cunningham, the project's team leader. "We were watching the hug...

Samsung has today released details, availability and pricing of the new Samsung LEVEL Active wireless Bluetooth headphones. These are going on sale in Europe, Chinese, Turkey, Russia, Korea and the United States of America. In the US, the headphones are $99 and will be shipped inside the next three days. The LEVEL Active is a wireless, Bluetooth-enabled headset designed for exercise and outdoor activities. As one would expect from a pair of earphones like this, the LEVEL Active is splash and sweat resistant. Samsung have coated the inside of the the earphones with an “ultra-thin P2i nano-coating,” which protects the sensitive electronics from liquid damage. The device comes with a rechargeable battery and a MicroUSB port. For comfort, Samsung have given the LEVEL Active soft silicon earhooks, which wrap over the whole ear to keep the earphones comfortably in place. The device comes with two pairs of wingtips designed for optimum comfort. Finally, there are small, medium and large ...

Samsung galaxy On7 (2016) is codenamed SM-G610F on Geekbench and will reportedly feature a 4.8-inch Full HD display. Samsung Galaxy On7 (2016) recently passed through US regulatory agency FCC, which revealed specifications of the device. According to the listing, On7 (2016) will be backed by a 3,000 mAh battery. The dimensions of the device are said to be 151.5 x 74.9 x 8 mm. The FCC certification confirms On7 (2016) will support 4G LTE, WiFi and Bluetooth. Samsung galaxy On7 (2016) was recently spotted on benchmarking website Geekbench. The site suggests that On7 (2016) will come with 3GB RAM. The smartphone is codenamed SM-G610F on Geekbench and will reportedly feature a 4.8-inch Full HD display. Other specifications include a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera. The smartphone will be powered by an Exynos 7870 processor and Sammobile reports that the device is headed to India. There are rumours that Samsung will launch another variant of On7 (2016) with Qualcomm’s Snap...

Reliance Lyf Flame 7 and Lyf Wind 7 have been launched in India. The smartphones are equipped with 4G VoLTE and HD voice call support. Reliance Lyf Flame 7 and Lyf Wind 7 have been launched in India. The smartphones are equipped with 4G VoLTE and HD voice call support. Reliance Jio Infocomm is making its 4G SIM card available with Lyf devices. The Reliance Jio SIM card comes with free, unlimited data and voice calling services for the first 3 months. Reliance Lyf Flame 7 and Wind 7 are priced at Rs 3,499 and Rs 6,999 respectively. The smartphones can be bought from Reliance Digital, Spice Retail, Digital Express and other offline stores. Reliance Lyf Flame 7 features a 4-inch WVGA display (480×800 pixels) with a pixel density of 218ppi and Asahi Dragontrail Glass for protection. It is powered by a 1.5 GHz quad-core SC9830A chipset coupled with 1GB RAM and 8GB ROM. The internal memory is expandable up to 32GB via microSD card. It sports a 5MP rear camera with LED flash and 2MP fr...

Intel says new USB-C audio standard will offer better sound quality than the 3.5mm audio jack Soon the 3.5mm audio jack will be a thing of the past and if latest moves by major smartphone makers is any hint, then we are already bidding adieu to the proprietary connector. The 3.5mm audio jack, which was introduced as a way to connect headphones into an audio player is poised to be replaced by USB-C port. Most smartphones and high end laptops have transitioned from microUSB to USB-C as the primary port of interface and the reversible USB port is now aiming to kill the well known audio jack. At IDF, Intel has announced new USB audio standard that will push 3.5mm audio out of the smartphone industry. The first problem with USB-C port replacing the headphone jack is the countless number of headphones people own right now and ones that are lying in the inventory. The second problem being that while listening to music with a USB-C based headphone, it will become impossible to charg...

Moore’s law has held strong for processors, making our smartphones exponentially more powerful with every passing year. However, battery technology has proven to be a frustrating barricade. Although our phones are more intelligent about how they manage battery life, we’ve been using essentially the same kinds of batteries for twenty years with only incremental boosts to performance. That is, until now. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are reporting that they’ve discovered a way to make lithium-ion batteries fully twice as powerful as previous designs. This design is in alignment with current manufacturing procedures, which means these double-charged batteries could be hitting the market as early as next year. Curious as to how it works? In traditional lithium-ion batteries, ions move from a negatively charged graphite cathode to a positively charged anode through an electrolyte solution. Graphite has proven to be an excellent cathode because it’s stable a...

Unfortunately, phones and water don't mix well. Even a bit of moisture takes a big toll on your phone's tiny electronic innards and make them useless. The worst thing is most manufacturers won't cover water damage under the warranty. If at all you have caused any water damage to your phone, you need to take all the blame on yourself. However, the manufacturers have come up with a possible way to help you out in the case of water damage. There are many sensors and indicators in the modern smartphones and one such indicator is the Liquid Control Indicator. Also read:iPhone 6S Plus, Galaxy S7 Edge drowned In Coke. Which Survives? Well, the sole purpose of this is to detect and record watery contact. If there is any liquid damage caused to the phone, those sensors will turn red, and you can forget about any warranty-sanctioned repair. Here, we tell you more about the water sensor on your phone or its battery and how you can make use of the same. Take a look! ...

What if water spills over your mobile phone? You will obviously panic. The phone will stop working. The world will come upside down. ''What has happened? Oh my god! Oh my god! God help me! I swear I will take care of it from the next time. Please save me this time.'' Lol! This must have happened to each one of us at least once in our lifetime. But what if I tell you that your phones can survive not only water but also freezing and coca-cola? I am sure you won't trust me but still have a look, try this and I bet this would change your mind. This applies just on Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge and iPhone 6S Plus. Read also:DIY: How to Turn Your Old Smartphone or Tablet into a Security Camera 1. Submerge your mobile phones in coca-cola. 2. Close them in the boxes. 3. Keep them in the freezer at the minus 24 degrees temperature. 4. Take the boxes out of the refrigerator after 10 hours. 5. Pour warm water over the frozen phones to break the ice. 6. Take the ...

Four new fighters have been added as part of the content update #6 to "EA Sports UFC 2."Twitter/EASPORTSUFC Publisher EA announced content update #6 (patch 1.09) for "EA Sports UFC 2" mixed martial arts fighting video game that brings changes in roster, gameplay and menu. It also adds four new fighters to the game. The four new fighters: Abel Trujillo (Men's Lightweight), Evan Dunham (Men's Lightweight), Rashid Magomedov (Men's Lightweight) and Sean O'Connell (Men's Light Heavyweight) were added as part of the new update. The roster update brings U.S. professional MMA fighter Donald Cerrone to "EA Sports UFC 2." Cerrone is a former professional kickboxer. The content update also brings changes to gameplay and menu: Gameplay updates Added the ability to end a round "The Holloway" when you taunt with Max Holloway in the last 20 seconds of the round and your opponent taunts back. Added Grapple Advantage Meter wh...

After launching its P9 smartphone in China, Huawei has now launched it in India. The device will be available in Ceramic White, Mystic Silver, Titanium Grey, Haze Gold, Prestige Gold and Rose Gold colour options, priced at Rs. 39,999. The company also showcased the Huawei Watch in Stainless Steel at the event, which will retail at Rs. 29,999. The Huawei P9 features a 5.2-inch 1080p AMOLED 2.5D curved glass display. Regarding connectivity, it comes supports Hybrid dual-SIM, which means that the second slot can either be used for SIM or microSD card. It boasts a full metal body with chamfered edges. The thickness of P9 stands at 6.95mm. The device sports 12-megapixel dual rear cameras with Leica SUMMARIT lenses, dual-tone LED flash, along with an 8-megapixel front-facing camera. It features a 3D fingerprint scanner on the back. For online buyers, the P9 will be exclusively up for sale via Flipkart while offline buyers can get it from Poorvika and Croma stores. Its first online sa...

Our Verdict The Micromax Canvas 6 might look good but in everything else, it is only an average sub-15k smartphone. PROS Metal build Thoughtful design CONS Average performance Heating issues Sub-par camera Unreliable battery life Micromax has come a long way. From being a quintessential budget smartphone maker, to a company that truly takes on global brands. Micromax, though, has run into a lot of roadblocks recently, especially from Chinese manufacturers. The company went for a complete brand revamp, led by the Micromax Canvas 6, the company’s first metallic smartphone. Did it get back in competition? Here’s what I found over a week of using this phone. Build and Design The Micromax Canvas 6 shared similar ergonomics as the OnePlus One, although it’s made of metal rather than Sandstone. Further, unlike most other phones (especially from Micromax) in the sub-15k price bracket, the Canvas 6 has a much bolder design. The edges are not curved or rounded, there i...

Canvas 5 Lite Special Edition sports wood-finish rear panel It is listed on the company site It is powered by a MediaTek processor Micromax has introduced its new Canvas 5 Lite Special Edition smartphone which is now listed on the company site. Unfortunately, there is no word on the pricing, but we can expect the handset to go on sale soon. The biggest highlight of the Micromax Canvas 5 Lite Special Edition is its rear panel which sports a walnut wood finish. Another highlight of the handset is it supports 4G LTE connectivity. The new handset seems to be a ‘lite’ variant of the Canvas 5 smartphone which was unveiled last year at Rs. 11,999. Read also:Micromax Canvas 6 It features a 5-inch HD (720×1280 pixels) IPS display, runs Android 5.0 Lollipop out-of-the-box, and is powered by a 1GHz quad-core MediaTek (MT6735P) processor coupled with 3GB of RAM. There is 16GB of on-board storage and supports expandable storage via microSD card. The handset sports an 8-megapixel rear c...