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iVoomi i1 Hands-On Review: An 18:9 aspect ratio display at just Rs. 5,999

By
Devesh Arora
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iVoomi on Monday unveiled two new smartphones which are the company's next-generation flagship devices. The new iVoomi i1 and i1s come with an 18:9 display and a dual-camera setup the back which has become a trend nowadays. As the company always likes to surprise people with the price tag, the i1 and i1s are no exception. The smartphone offers a great display and decent set of cameras starting at just Rs. 5,999.

Specifications

iVoomi i1 features a 5.65-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels and an aspect ratio of 18:9. The smartphone is powered by the MediaTek MTK6737 quad-core processor coupled with 2GB of RAM. For storage the device packs in a 16GB internal storage which is further expandable up to 128GB via a dedicated microSD card. Under the hood, there is a 3,000mAh battery powering up the device. The i1 runs on Google's Android 7.0 Nougat operating system out-of-the-box.

ivoomi i1 box 2

In the camera department, the i1 sports a dual-camera setup at the back consisting of a 13-megapixel camera and a 2-megapixel camera at the rear with a LED flash. Up front, the phone comes with an 8-megapixel camera for selfies and video calling.

Hands-On Review

The iVoomi i1 is the first smartphone from the company to feature an 18:9 display and they have implemented it well with their new design language. The company decided to go with a narrow design like the Samsung Galaxy S8 as it fits great in hand, especially for people with small hands. The first in-hand feel of the phone gave a firm grip due to the curves at the back of the device. Though the smartphone comes with a plastic back, the device looks quite premium and modern from the front. The removable plastic back reveals the non-removable battery as well as two micro-sim card slots and a microSD card slot. The micro-sim card slots feel a bit outdated but at the same time give more options to the users coming from a device which used a mini or a micro sim card.

Booting up the device for the first times shows off the amazing 18:9 display which is bright enough to view content outdoors. The software experience on the device is near to stock with some changes made like the icon pack. The iVoomi i1 is also the first smartphone from the company to feature a fingerprint scanner. The fingerprint scanner is not the fastest but its always welcome to have a reliable fingerprint scanner on a budget smartphone.

Lenovo in partnership with Google launches the Lenovo Mirage Camera with Daydream

By
Devesh Arora
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Lenovo, today at the CES 2018 event, announced in partnership with Google, the Lenovo Mirage Camera with Daydream. The Lenovo Mirage Camera is a 180 degree VR camera which is capable of creating virtual reality content with easy video or image capture. The content can then be directly uploaded to the user's Google Photos and Youtube account. The camera is easy to use and can record some great content with ease.

Lenovo Mirage Camera

Lenovo has also launched the Lenovo Mirage Solo alongside the Mirage Camera with Daydream. The Lenovo Mirage Solo is a standalone VR headset that has Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC at the heart of it. This VR headset is standalone which means it does not need any wires or any smartphone. Lenovo Mirage Solo and the Mirage Camera with Daydream complement each other for users.

Lenovo Mirage Solo

The Lenovo Mirage Camera looks and feels like a normal compact point-and-shoot camera without a viewfinder. It connects to your smartphone wirelessly which can then act as a viewfinder for the camera. The Mirage Camera sports dual 13-megapixel fisheye cameras which record videos at 180 degrees. The camera supports the YouTube’s new VR180 video format.

Also Read: Xiaomi and Oculus partner up to bring Standalone VR Headsets, Here’s what you need to know

In terms of the hardware, the Mirage Camera is powered by the Qualcomm Connected Camera Platform with a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 chipset. The processor features high-quality dual cameras and powerful processing with built-in Wi-Fi and even an integrated X9 LTE cellular modem in the LTE version. The device also comes with 2GB of RAM for seamless performance. The Mirage Camera uses a USB Type-C port for charging and also has a slot for the removable battery. The camera can record up to 2 hours of high-resolution videos with a full charge.

Xiaomi and Oculus partner up to bring Standalone VR Headsets, Here's what you need to know

By
Devesh Arora
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Xiaomi and Oculus have partnered up to bring a new range of VR products. Xiaomi will now launch a standalone Mi VR headset which will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 mobile VR platform. Xiaomi will also be providing hardware for the upcoming Oculus Go headset. Xiaomi is expanding its portfolio of products by committing to this partnership.

Xiaomi Oculus

According to Oculus, there will be two VR headset launches powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 mobile VR platform where one will be under the Oculus branding while the other will be under the Xiaomi's branding. Xiaomi already has a VR headset in its portfolio named Mi VR 2 Play which is available in India at a price of Rs. 1,299. The Mi VR 2 Play is made t work with Android and iOS device ranging in the size between 4.7 to 5.7-inches.

The Mi VR Standalone and the Oculus Go will be featuring the same core hardware and have the same set of features. The new Mi VR will also support Oculus Mobile SDK which will allow developers to bring their content to the Mi VR headset. The Mi VR Standalone will be initially available to the company's home country China. The company will also work with Oculus developers to bring some of the popular content from the Oculus Store to their Chinese markets.

Also Read: Xiaomi looking for beta testers for the Mi Mix 2 Android 8.0 Oreo Update

Oculus is working on Standalone VR headsets which will be aimed to work without the need of a cable or a smartphone. The company has announced in the past that the Oculus Go will start at USD 199 (roughly Rs. 12,650). Oculus Go will start shipping early this year.

 

Vivo to showcase world’s first smartphone with under the display fingerprint scanner

By
Lalit Wadhwa
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Chinese Smartphone manufacturer Vivo will showcase it's the latest invention which is a mobile with the world’s first under the display fingerprint scanner. This showcase is said to happen on January 10 at the ongoing CES 2018 technology show in Las Vegas. Vivo is relying on an optical fingerprint sensor technology by Synaptics, which was showcased at the end of 2017. The company didn't release any name or specifications or the availability except for the fact the phone comes with an under the display fingerprint sensor, a world's first.

Vivo's Under the display Fingerprint Sensor Phone Teaser
Vivo's Under the display Fingerprint Sensor Phone Teaser

Synaptics first revealed this technology in December 2017 and the world was gone crazy trying to figure out which smartphones will feature this technology and who will be the first of them. The company had said that the FS9500 optical in-display fingerprint sensor was undergoing mass production with a ‘top five OEM’. These fingerprintsensor's are scratchproof as well as waterproof. It now looks like, Vivo is the first one to get this done.

Based on the press statement in Vivo, the fingerprint scanner is placed between the OLED and glass panel covering the display. The demand for under the display fingerprint scanners has risen after smartphone makers have switched to a full an 18:9 resolution display with minimal bezels. These display typically don't leave any space in from except for the earpiece and the front camera.

Many smartphone manufacturers have already removed side bezels completely on their smartphones like Samsung with its Galaxy S8, Note 8 devices, LG with its G6, V30+, Xiaomi with its Mi Mix and Mi Mix 2. Devices like Apple’s iPhone X with no bezels all along and a top-notch will benefit from this technology bring back the fingerprint sensor in the Apple flagship.

Vivo's Under the display Fingerprint Sensor Phone, how will it work
Vivo's Under the display Fingerprint Sensor Phone, how will it work

While most smartphone manufacturers have moved the fingerprint sensor to the back which is not idle but gets the job done, manufacturers like Apple have completely removed the fingerprint sensor and accommodated the FaceID. FaceID is a face recognition system y Apple on the iPhone X. Apple may bring back the fingerprint sensor using this technology on the next generation iPhone.

Also Read: Nokia 6 starts receiving Android Oreo update under Beta: Here’s how to get it

According to the Vivo, the smartphone is ready to mass produce and users will be able to unlock their phone just by touching the display of their smartphone.

“With our efforts in extensive consumer research and long-term R&D investment, Vivo is well positioned to pioneer the development of fingerprint scanning technology. We first presented a prototype of our fingerprint scanning solution at MWC Shanghai 2017 based on an ultrasonic sensor, and have remained committed to realizing our vision for future smartphones,” Alex Feng, Senior Vice President of Vivo, said in a press statement. Vivo says it will announce the availability of its first under the display fingerprint scanner bearing smartphone in early 2018.

Instagram has started letting users post stories directly to WhatsApp

By
Lalit Wadhwa
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Social media giant Facebook has started integrating all of its projects together to create one big platform. In a move to achieve this, Facebook-owned Instagram is now rolling out a feature to enable users to directly post stories on to WhatsApp as their status.

"We are always testing ways to improve the experience on Instagram and make it easier to share any moment with the people who matter to you"

-A Facebook spokesperson

Instagram

The social media site Instagram is currently in process of rolling out this feature to a small number of users for beta testing. This feature is expected to be rolled out Globally before the end of the year.

The integration is based on publicly available code that WhatsApp makes available to the public for free to integrate WhatsApp messaging with third-party apps on the web or on Android.

Also Read: iVOOMi i1 and i1s with 18:9 displays launched: Price, Specifications and Availability

The feature is a simple attempt to increase the usage and relevance of Instagram stories which is basically a Snapchat ripoff. As of last June, Instagram stories were outstripping usage of the Snapchat product they were created to clone.

To recall, Facebook recently rolled the feature giving users the ability to post Instagram Stories directly on Facebook as Facebook Stories. Now when the users will be pressing "add to story" button on their Instagram app, they will get another menu offering them to post Snapchat alike stories on to their WhatsApp also.

WhatsApp

After selecting the option to add to WhatsApp also, the same image will appear on WhatsApp status with a small Instagram logo at the left bottom corner.

While Facebook's plan is not known till now, it is quite clear their focus is to make the Instagram stories appear outside the application to increase their viewership and boost their usage. Finally, social media giant Facebook might also be cross-pollinating its apps in an effort to not just increase the amount of time you spend on them, but also keep the users busy with its apps only.

A few months ago Instagram started testing recommended stories like Facebook to increase user engagement. All these efforts will definitely help Facebook boost their user engagement and time online boosting their revenue and traffic stats. What Facebook has in mind will be uncovered in upcoming months. We just need to wait and watch.

iVOOMi i1 and i1s with 18:9 displays launched: Price, Specifications and Availability

By
Devesh Arora
-

iVoomi, the smartphone manufacturing company, has come up with two new smartphones, the iVoomi i1 and i1s. Though the smartphones share a lot in common, the major difference between the devices is the RAM and the internal storage. The highlights of the smartphones include the 18:9 aspect ratio full view display and the dual-camera setup at the back.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Ashwin Bhandari, CEO, iVOOMi, India said “iVOOMi stands for its distinguished products that are built on innovation and high quality. We are extremely excited to introduce i1 and i1sas our second flagship series that resonates with a large segment of users across the country. He further added, “The launch is in line with our objective to broaden the horizon of advanced technology and features in the affordable segment of smartphones in India.”

Mr. Ayyappan Rajagopal, Sr. Director, Flipkart, said, “Flipkart is excited to partner with iVOOMi. The partnership will offer shoppers to experience innovation at breakthrough prices. We wish for a continued relationship with iVOOMi and for more exciting products like the iVOOMi i1 &iVOOMi i1s for Flipkart shoppers”.

Specifications

In terms of specifications, the iVoomi i1 and i1s feature a 5.45-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1280x720 and an aspect ratio of 18:9. The smartphones are powered by the MediaTek MTK 6737 quad-core chipset. The iVoomi i1 packs in 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage while the iVoomi i1s comes with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage. The storage of the devices is expandable up to 128GB using a microSD card. Both the smartphones are backed by a 3,000mAh battery and runs on Android 7.0 Nougat.

iVOOMi i1

Also Read: iVoomi sold over 1.5 Lac smartphones this festive season, Established 1000+ service centres across India

On the optics front, both the smartphones sport a dual-camera setup at the back consisting of a 13-megapixel camera coupled with a 2-megapixel camera and a LED flash. Up front, there is an 8-megapixel selfie shooter.

As for the connectivity, the iVoomi i1 and i1s support 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and microUSB. The smartphones also come with a fingerprint scanner located at the back right below the camera setup.

Price and Availability

The iVoomi i1 is launched with a price tag of Rs. 5,999 while the iVoomi i1s will retail for Rs. 7,499. Both the smartphones will be available exclusively via Flipkart starting 12 noon on January 10, 2018. The smartphones will be available in Jade Black and Platinum Gold colour variants.

Nokia 6 starts receiving Android Oreo update under Beta: Here's how to get it

By
Devesh Arora
-

Nokia has started rolling out the Android 8.0 Oreo update for Nokia 6 users in India under a Beta programme. The Android Oreo Beta Labs update is not commercially available to everyone and is given to limited users in order to gain feedback. The Chief Product Officer at HMD Global, Juho Sarvikas, made the announcement of the update rollout via his official twitter handle. The company is currently demanding feedback from the users so the stable version of the Android Oreo can start rolling out soon.

The Android Oreo Beta update was already available in other parts of the world and has now finally made available to the users in India. Interested users can sign up for the Beta update on the Nokia Beta Labs website by providing their IMEI number. Once the sign in is done, users will receive an OTA update for Android 8.0 Oreo Beta within the next 12 hours. The OTA update will weigh in at around 1.8GB.

Nokia 6

Also Read: Here’s how you can get Rs. 2,000 off on the Nokia 6 and Nokia 8

The update brings all the Android Oreo features like Snooze Notifications, Picture-in-Picture mode, Autofill and much more. The latest update also brings the December 2017 security patch with it.

Nokia has recently launched the 2018 edition of the Nokia 6 calling it the Nokia 6 (2018). The smartphone brings plenty of changes to the table from the design to the internal hardware.

Honor to launch the Honor 9 Lite with four cameras in India this month

By
Devesh Arora
-

Honor recently launched the Honor 9 Lite with a dual-camera setup at the back as well as the front, making a total of four camera sensors. The company is now expected to bring the smartphone to the Indian markets. Though the company has not yet made any official announcement, recently they mentioned in a statement “the next smartphone is tailor-made for the selfie lovers with dual front cameras.” As the Honor 9 Lite was launched in China last month, the company is expected to bring the smartphone to India by the end of this month.

Honor 9 Lite
Honor 9 Lite

In terms of specifications, the Honor 9 Lite features a 5.65-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1080x2160 pixels and an 18:9 aspect ratio. The smartphone is powered by the company's homegrown HiSilicon Kirin 659 processor which is an octa-core chipset. The device 3GB or 4GB of RAM and comes with either 32GB or 64GB of onboard storage. The storage on the dual-sim device is expandable up to 256GB using a microSD card.

Also Read: LG to unveil its next flagship, the LG G7 with Snapdragon 845 in March: Report

The Honor 9 Lite runs on EMUI 8.0 based on Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box. The smartphone is backed by a 3,000mAh battery. The device also comes with a fingerprint scanner located at the back below the camera setup.

On the optics front, the Honor 9 Lite sports a dual-camera setup at the back consisting of a 13-megapixel sensor combined with a 2-megapixel sensor with a LED flash. Up front, there is the same dual-camera setup with a 13-megapixel and a 2-megapixel sensor

 

Here's how you can get Rs. 2,000 off on the Nokia 6 and Nokia 8

By
Lalit Wadhwa
-

Amazon India is hosting a 5-day long sale called the "Nokia Mobile Week". The sale started on January 8 midnight and will carry on until January 12 midnight. During the Nokia Mobile Week, as the name probably suggests, Amazon India is offering huge discounts on the Nokia 6 (2017) and Nokia 8, both of which launched last year.

Nokia 6

Nokia 6, launched in the first half of last year is now available at a price of Rs 14,999. On opposite spectrum Nokia 8, Nokia's 201 flagship phone is priced at Rs 36,999. Amazon India as a part of the sale is offering discount up to Rs 1,500 discount in the form of an instant flat discount on both the phones. This means you can purchase the Nokia 6 at Rs 13,499 and Nokia 8 at Rs 35,499 during the Nokia Mobile Week.

On purchase of Nokia 6 and Nokia 8 from Amazon within the 5 days of the sale, customers with ICICI credit card are eligible to get a flat discount of Rs 1,500. This offer is however only valid if and only if more than Rs 10,000 are spend on the card for the purchase of Nokia smartphones.

Also Read: LG to unveil its next flagship, the LG G7 with Snapdragon 845 in March: Report

It is to be noted that this is a flat discount offer and is available for customers using their ICICI Bank Credit Card across both Amazon site as well as the app. However, the offer is limited to one redemption per ICICI credit card.

Furthermore, customers trying to buy Nokia 8 using Amazon Pay balance will get a Rs 2000 cashback. The Rs 2000 cashback is available only on purchases made through Amazing Mobiles or GreenMobiles. Note, this offer is only valid for prepaid Amazon Pay balance payment only. Given that, customers should note that they can (obviously) use either the Rs 1500 ICICI flat discount offer or Rs 2000 Amazon Pay.

Also, Amazon India is also offering Rs 1000 extra discount as a part of exchange offer on buying Nokia 6 during the Nokia Mobile Week sale.

All the four colour options -- silver, tempered blue, copper and matte black of the Nokia 6 (2017) are available in the Nokia Mobile Week. On the other hand, all three colour variants steel, polished blue and tempered blue of Nokia 8 with 64GB of internal storage are also up on sale and available under the discount offer.

LG to unveil its next flagship, the LG G7 with Snapdragon 845 in March: Report

By
Devesh Arora
-

The South Korean giant, LG is now working on bringing its next flagship smartphone to the market, the LG G7. Earlier rumours suggested that the company will unveil the smartphone sometime in February and the device will go on sale starting March 2018. However, recent reports coming from ET News claim that LG G7 will be unvield in the month of March and will be officially released in April and will gon on sale soon after.

LG V30+

Speculations also suggest that LG might rebrand the whole "G" branding used for its flagship smartphones. Until we officially get the confirmation on what the smartphone would be named, we would stick to referring it as the LG G7. The LG's 2018 flagship will be unveiled a month later than its usual cycle which is February. ET News has also reported that the LG G7 will be officially released on April 20, 2018.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy A8 Plus (2018) to launch in India on January 10, Here’s how to get it

As the speculations are pointing towards March 2018 unveiling, LG could possibly unveil the device during MWC 2018 as it is set to end on March 1. Notably, this will be the first smartphone launch under Hwang Jeong-hwan, the new CEO of LG Mobile Communications.

As far as the specifications are concerned, the LG G7 is expected to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset. The smartphone will feature a full view display and will sport a dual-camera setup at the back like the LG V30. The company might bring an OLED panel just like the V30 to the LG G7.

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