Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5, 8.4 vs Others(Comparison)

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S 10.5 and Tab S 8.4, its latest challenge to iPad Air and iPad mini 2, are expected to come to the Indian market in the next couple of months. Not only the two new tablets offer top notch hardware and latest software, they tout displays than that of the Apple tablets. Plus they are thinner and lighter than their respective rivals.

But are these features enough to make them a viable choice against the two iPad models? Here’s a comparison between Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 and 8.4 against their main rivals to see where each of them stands…

1. Display:

Galaxy Tab S 10.5: 10.5-inch Super AMOLED.

iPad Air: 9.7-inch.

Galaxy Tablet S 8.4: 8.4-inch Super AMOLED.

iPad Mini with Retina Display: 7.9-inches.

Google Nexus 7: 7-inch.

2. Resolution:

Galaxy Tab S 10.5: 2560*1600

iPad Air: 2048*1536

Galaxy Tablet S 8.4: 2560*1600

iPad Mini with Retina Display: 2048*1536

Google Nexus 7: 1920*1080

3. Weight:

Galaxy Tab S 10.5: 456g

iPad Air: 469g

Galaxy Tablet S 8.4: 294g

iPad Mini with Retina Display: 331g

Google Nexus 7: 290g

4. Operating System:

Galaxy Tab S 10.5: Android 4.4

iPad Air: iOS 7

Galaxy Tablet S 8.4: Android 4.4

iPad Mini with Retina Display: iOS 7

Google Nexus 7: Android 4.4

5. Processor:

Galaxy Tab S 10.5: Quad-core 1.9GHz + quad-core 1.3Ghz

iPad Air: 1.3GHz dual core

Galaxy Tablet S 8.4: Quad-core 1.9GHz + quad-core

iPad Mini with Retina Display: 1.3GHz dual core

Google Nexus 7: 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor

6. RAM:

Galaxy Tab S 10.5: 3 GB

iPad Air: 1 GB

Galaxy Tablet S 8.4: 3 GB

iPad Mini with Retina Display: 1 GB

Google Nexus 7: 2 GB

7: Storage:

Galaxy Tab S 10.5: 16 GB + microSD

iPad Air: 16/32/64 GB

Galaxy Tablet S 8.4: 16 GB + microSD

iPad Mini with Retina Display: 16/32/64 GB

Google Nexus 7: 16 GB

8: Camera:

Galaxy Tab S 10.5: 8 MP + 2.1 MP

iPad Air: 5 MP + 1.2 MP

Galaxy Tablet S 8.4: 8 MP + 2.1 MP

iPad Mini with Retina Display: 5 MP + 1.2 MP

Google Nexus 7: 5 MP + 1.2 MP

9. Battery:

Galaxy Tab S 10.5: 7,900 mAh

iPad Air: 8,820 mAh

Galaxy Tablet S 8.4: 4,900 mAh

iPad Mini with Retina Display: 6,471 mAh

Google Nexus 7: 3,950 mAh

10. Price:

Galaxy Tab S 10.5: Rs 32,000 (expected)

iPad Air: Rs 35,900

Galaxy Tablet S 8.4: Rs 25,000 (expected)

iPad Mini with Retina Display: Rs 28,900 onwards

Google Nexus 7: Rs 19,900







@source from timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Google Releases Android 4.4.4 Factory Images for Nexus Devices

Google within about two weeks of the Android 4.4.3 KitKat update's release, has shared factory images of Android 4.4.4.
Google has posted Android 4.4.4 factory images of several Nexus devices - Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 on its developer site. Notably, the developer listing at Google shows that an Android 4.4.4 build is not listed for the Nexus 7 (2013) 3G tablet.

The Android 4.4.4 comes with build number KTU84P and seems to be majorly for security fixes. Android Police cites Sprint's community forums that list Nexus 5's changelog and it only includes security fix.

XDA reports the Android 4.4.4 update has begun rolling out over-the-air (OTA) for the Nexus 5, and should gradually become available across regions soon. Other Nexus users can install the factory image themselves - note, a backup of all data is recommended before using the factory image, as it resets the device. Waiting for the OTA update to arrive is the wisest option, and we can expect it to roll-out to the other Nexus devices within a few days. Further, Google Play Edition devices can also be expected to receive the Android 4.4.4 update soon.

Earlier this month, Google released the Android 4.4.3 update, which is still rolling out to Nexus devices, Google Play Editions and Motorola smartphones worldwide.

The Nexus 7 (2013) Wi-Fi only variant was the first device to receive the Android 4.4.3 KitKat update over-the-air, and we can expect the tablet to again receive the Android 4.4.4 update soon.

Motorola, soon after Google released the Android 4.4.3 KitKat factory images for Nexus devices, announced the same update for its Moto E, Moto G and Moto X smartphones.


@source from gadgets.ndtv.com

Amazon Fire Phone: 7 Unique Features

World’s biggest online retailer Amazon has ventured into the smartphone world with a model that focuses on the user experience rather than just hardware.

As rumoured, Amazon Fire Phone has a 4.7-inch 720p display, Fire OS 3.5, quad-core 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB RAM, 13MP rear camera and access to all the apps on Amazon’s App Store. And as expected, it also has a few features that no other smartphone in the market can match right now.

Take a look at seven exclusive features of Amazon Fire Phone:-

1. Five Front Camera:

Amazon’s first-ever smartphone features five front cameras.
The one placed just above the screen does the standard job, while the other four – placed in four corners of the phone – scan the user’s eyes. These four cameras use infrared and can track the user’s eyes even in the dark. The Fire Phone uses this eye-tracking technology to power its Dynamic Perspective feature. Click to know about Dynamic Perspective.

2. Dynamic Perspective:

With Dynamic Perspective, users can simply tilt Amazon Fire Phone to perform common functions. A right tilt enables them to navigate through menus, while a left tilt allows them to attach photos to messages, view lyrics of songs etc.

Users can swivel the phone around to open notifications, flashlight, Settings menu and Mayday. A feature called Peek shows additional details about something that the user is searching for but only when they need it, keeping the screen uncluttered most of the times, according to Amazon.

3. Firefly:

Firefly is another signature feature of Amazon Fire Phone. The user simply needs to take a photo of the text on a business card, advertisements, posters etc from the smartphone and the phone will automatically identify the contact information and save it in the address book.

By clicking the Firefly button, placed on the side of the phone, user can access the camera and even take photos of QR codes to find items on Amazon’s website and then buy them instantly. An X-Ray feature allows Firefly to identify the image or video of, for example, an actor to give all the information about him via IMDb.

Similarly, it can determine the songs the user is listening to and give useful information about it. The more important function of Firefly, however, is to create a playlist of songs and movies for the users depending on their content consumption and then prompting them to buy the same via Amazon. According to Amazon, Firefly will also recognize artwork, languages and wine labels.

The company is releasing the Firefly software development kit (SDK) to all developers, so third-party app makers may add more functionality to this feature.

4. Free Prime Membership:

Amazon is providing free Prime membership worth $99 to those who buy Fire Phone. The smartphone is priced at $199 and $299 for 32 and 64GB models respectively. Therefore, those who were planning to subscribe to Prime service will essentially save $99 by buying this smartphone. Prime membership, available only in the US, includes free unlimited music and video streaming (over a million songs), guaranteed two-day delivery, free books from Kindle Owners’ Lending 

5. Unlimited Cloud Storage:

Fire Phone sports a 13MP rear camera and Amazon is offering unlimited cloud storage to buyers. Users can save both photos and videos in their Amazon Cloud Drive, but not music. However, it is not yet known whether or not it will maintain the original resolution when images are saved online

6. Mayday:

Amazon is providing one-touch access to its customer support service with Fire Phone. Users just need to tap the Mayday button to talk to customer care executives who will be available via video chat and also show how to perform certain functions with annotations. With Mayday, the customer support executives can even take over the smartphone remotely.

Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon, has said that the Mayday team will be available 24x7 and respond within 15 seconds.

7. Superior Audio Performance:

Fire Phone comes with built-in Dolby Digital Plus audio enhancement technology that can auto-adjust volume, create virtual surround-sound experience and ensure that dialogues while streaming movies or TV shows are crisp and clear. Sound quality is essential to the Fire Phone experience as Amazon sells a lot of music and video content via its stores, and sub-par sound would hamper the user experience on-the-go.

@source from timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Samsung Tizen Operating System.

What is Tizen OS?

Tizen has been in development for years. We saw some phones running it at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February, where Samsung also announced the Tizen-powered Samsung Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo. Finally Samsung has launched the world's first Tizen OS smartphone in Russia —  the Samsung Z.

Up until now Samsung has been using Google's Android OS to run its range of Galaxy smartphones and tablets. However, the Korean manufacturer has confirmed its intent to go it alone, offering an alternative to Google’s mobile OS, iOS and Windows Phone.

So how does Tizen differ from Android? Here’s six things we know so far about the operating system that joins Firefox OS, Jolla Sailfish and Ubuntu Touch in the bid to shake things up.

1. Its Open Source:

 Samsung has worked with Intel to develop Tizen. It is Linux-based platform built from Nokia and Intel’s ditched MeeGo. The fact it is open-source, like Android, means that hardware manufacturers that choose to adopt it are free to tinker with the interface and the UI to make it as unique as they like. 

Samsung has also taken some of the more interesting features that cropped up in Bada, its first attempt to go it alone on an operating sytem and built them into Tizen.

2. HTML 5:

Tizen is a HTML5-based operating system. This is good news for content creators since the platform should allow for shorter development cycles, works intuitively with the web and should lower the cost of making apps. 

3. Tizen look like Android TouchWiz:

The real question as to whether users will adopt Tizen has to do with how intuitive and experience it will provide. Can it be as user-friendly as iOS or Android’s 4.4 Kitkat operating systems? In its latest guise 2.2.1, Tizen doesn’t look entirely different from a TouchWiz-layered Android.

Tizen will also include the swipe down notification bar with toggle bar as used in the TouchWiz UI and is set to support multitasking, integrated power saving, a firewall to block sites and other features already available in current Samsung phones.

4. The Future of the Tizen:

While Samusng has dipped its toe in the water with its first devices running the OS there's still a long way to go before we see it as the main platform.  Will we see it in the Samsung Galaxy S6? It's too early to tell but the Galaxy S5 maker is looking at where to go next with Tizen. Version 3.0 is already in the works and some details were revealed at its Tizen developer summit back in late 2013, including support for 64-bit processors. We know that Google is also busy getting ready to release a 64-bit enabled version of Android. 

Like Android, there will be multi-user profiles as well as support for games and app that require more advanced 3D graphics. This update is expected in early 2015.

Galaxy Note 4 Release Rumors.

Samsung Gear 2 shown together with compatible devices and the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 in the forefront. Credit: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO. LTD. 

The Tech industry is waiting for Galaxy Note 4 that is the Samsung upcoming phablet, which expected to show up this year at IFA in Berlin. Recent rumors also says that South Korea Smartphones maker will launch the Samsung Gear 3 along with Galaxy Note 4.

Last Year Samsung launch the Note 3 with the first version of the Smartwatch, the Samsung Galaxy Gear running Android OS. The Company second Smartwatch Samsung Gear 2 was launched at 2014 along with Samsung Galaxy S5, during the Mobile World Congress in Bracelona last February.

Samsung Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo just hit the market at April this year, and was among the company's first device to run the Tizen Operating System instead of Android.

The Galaxy Note 4 is rumored to come with a 5.9-inch QHD 2560 x 1440p display panel, Snapdragon 805 Qualcomm chip, 3GB RAM and a 20MP rear-facing camera, the specs of the new Samsung Gear 3 are not clear.Samsung Gear 3 may take a few cues from the SIM-enabled Gear Solo standalone smartwatch, or watchphone, which Samsung is rumored to launch this summer.

BLACKBERRY Z3 Confirms For India Launch

BlackBerry CEO John Chen has confirmed that BlackBerry Z3, the company's new budget device is coming to India next week. Chen confirmed the same during the company's quarterly conference call.

The development was first reported by Crackberry.

The confirmation comes ahead of BlackBerry's launch event in New Delhi, scheduled for June 25, where it is expected to announce the Z3.

The company's invite to the press features a message that says, "The smartphone for today's India is here - Join us to witness the unveiling of the next generation BlackBerry 10 smartphone."

The invite hints at a phone that will appeal to the price sensitive India market. BlackBerry had launched the Z3 in Indonesia, last month at IDR 2,199,000 (approximately Rs 11,000) so it is expected that the company may launch the phone at an aggressive price in India.

Among the first devices made by Foxconn for the company, BlackBerry Z3 sports a 5-inch qHD(540x960p) display. It is powered by a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 (MSM8230) dual-core processor and 1.5GB RAM. The phone runs BlackBerry 10 OS version 10.2.1, the latest iteration of the OS.

The phone sports a 5MP rear camera and a 1.1MP front-facing camera. The smartphone comes with 8GB storage and a microSD card slot that supports cards up to 32GB. It has a 2500mAh battery, which the company claims, offers up to 15.5 hours talk time and up to 16.2 days of standby time. In terms of connectivity options, the phone offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G, and GPS.

Facebook Launches Mobile App That Makes Photos And Videos Disappear

The well-known social networking giant Facebook has launched a new mobile app called 

‘Slingshot’, which allows the users to share photos and videos that disappear after the person views it. 

The app does not require a Facebook account and it is the company’s new move to improve on its mobile 

services, reports Reuters.

Slingshot lets its users to sign up with their mobile numbers and use their contacts list to connect

with friends or allows you to chat with your Facebook friends too. 

The photos on slingshot user’s phone disappear after being viewed by the user. 

Contrary to other messaging apps, the Facebook app does not allow the person to view messages they have received from their friends till the person responds with a photo or video.

The launch of the app from Facebook increases the popularity of the mobile messaging services and could be a possible threat to its social networking site.

Apparently, to reduce the threat from the rivals to the social networking site, Facebook is developing apps and acquiring flourishing companies.

The acquisition of the Instagram and the Whatsapp messaging service were the biggest examples of that.