Countdown Starts for CES 2015 – Here’s What You Can Expect

 Consumer Electronic Show (CES) can simply be explained as a 3-day long extravagant exhibition of geeky stuff in Las Vegas. The event has been a launching pad for many concept devices and this year as well, we’ll be seeing some exceptional innovations for the first time. With new segments in the tech industry mushrooming and touching every corner of our lives. This year’s show is expected to be heavily focused on the Internet of Things (IoT) and latest automobile tech. Along with this, many global smartphone makers are expected to show off their devices including Huawei, Alcatel, Lenovo among others.

Here’s what you can expect from the Consumer Electronic Show 2015:

1. TVS

 Since the commencement of this annual show, televisions have been the primary focus. CES has been the wonderland of colour televisions, HD TVs and almost every new technology that has shaped the television industry. This year at CES, we can expect to see more 4K TVs from LG and Samsung. LG has already confirmed that it will be showing off the new quantum dot-enabled 4K LCD TV. The new display technology uses nanocrystals placed in front of the LCD backlight to increase the range of colours, saturation and brightness over traditional LD displays. Samsung is also expected to launch TVs with similar technology, considering the traditional rivalry between of both South Korean electronic giants.

4K content streaming is also expected to go big at this year’s show. With Sony expected to launch a new range of 4K TVs, Sony Pictures will surely be coming up with more of 4K content to use those extra pixels. Along with this, 4K disc format is also said to make its debut at the CES 2015. However, we are not sure if it’s the right time.

2. SMARTPHONES

 Probably, the biggest announcement in the smartphone segment will be the Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 810 processor. LG looks geared to continue its smartphone bending tradition by revealing the LG G Flex 2 at CES 2015. The original G Flex featured LG’s flexible OLED display, but the structure of the phone itself was rigid.

 Huawei, the Chinese firm, is trying mightily to break into the US market along with Alcatel and Lenovo. So, we can expect some big announcements from these companies. Also trying to get hold of the market is Microsoft. The company has avoided CES for the last couple of years, but Microsoft may make push its smartphones this time. And of course, there will be a vast amount of stages devoted to smartphone cases, headphones and other accessories.

3. WEARABLES

 Last year’s CES saw the introduction of wearables. Subsequent launch of Android Wear fuelled the wearable segment and exploded the market with strings of new wearables. This segment has now started to congeal into a more manageable market. This CES should bring heart rate sensors to the must-do list of every fitness bands, which earlier were restricted to counting stairs, steps and sleep.

Well, not much can be said about the launch of new devices. It is expected that Apple Watch may finally start to sell. Other than that, not too many wearables are expected to launch this year.

4. VIRTUAL REALITY

 Google’s much controversial Glass eyewear has proved to be a breakthrough in the VR segment, which encouraged more companies to join the race. A bunch of big names are expected to announce their VR devices at CES 2015 including Oculus Rift, Sony’s Project Morpheus and Samsung’s VR headset.

CES has a long history in the entertainment industry. There is no way big game makers will be losing the chance to show off their new VR headsets. We can expect new games, movies and apps to be announced at CES 2015.

5. AUTO TECH

 In 2010, Ford CEO Alan Mulally took the stage of CES. Since then, autombiles have become a significant part of the show. This year, many big brands like Ford, Audi, Mercedes, Hyundai, Toyota and more will be present at the CES. Toyota stole the show last year with its hydrogen-powered car  and we can expect to see more next-gen fuel cars this year; at least we hope to. Along with this, we can expect to see some driver-less cars too but not from Google, as it doesn’t usually drop by CES .

Also, with Android Auto and Apple’s CarPlay on full consumer mode, we can expect car-makers to show off some new models equipped with these automobile communication systems. Navigation systems and head-up display on windscreens are also expected to go big at the CES 2015. We can also expect a peek into the future of car infotainment system, which is somehow still in a nascent stage.

This CES is warming up to be quite an exciting event, from which we can expect many new launches and perhaps a few surprises.

Yu Yureka Cyanogen-powered smartphone launched in India for Rs 8,999, to go on sale next month on Amazon India

As expected, Micromax today launched the Yu smartphone brand in India. The first smartphone to come out of this new brand is called the Yureka. It runs on CyanogenMod and is priced at Rs 8,999. The smartphone will be exclusively available on Amazon India, and it will go on sale in the second week of January. Registrations for the sale will begin tomorrow on the ecommerce site. As far as specifications are concerned, the Yu Yureka features a 5.5-inch HD 720p display with pixel density of 267ppi, and is protected by Gorilla Glass 3. It is powered by a 64-bit 1.5GHz Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor paired with Adreno 405 GPU, and 2GB of RAM.

On the photography front, it features a 13-megapixel rear camera with Sony Xmor sensor, and features like time-lapse mode, and support for slow motion video recording at 60fps, and a 5-megapixel shooter upfront.

The smartphone also features 16GB built-in storage that can be further expanded using a microSD card, and a 2,500mAh battery, which the company claims is goog enough to survive up to seven hours on LTE, and up to 210 hours on standby mode.

Connectivity options include dual-SIM card support, LTE support, Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth.

One of the most noticeable features on the smartphone however is the Cyanogen platform. The smartphone runs on Cyanogen 11 based on Android 4.4.4 KitKat, and includes a bunch of features with increased focus on personalization and security. Some of these features include personalizing menu buttons and widgets, blacklisting phone numbers, and the ability to remotely locate and wipe your smartphone, among many others.

OnePlus One May Face Sales Ban in India

 After the dejection that set on Indian smartphone consumers after the ban on Xiaomi, a new development might infuriate them further. Micromax has filed an infringement complaint calling for a ban on sales of OnePlus devices as it now owns exclusive rights to sell Cyanogen devices in India. The fans of the flagship killer have waited for a long time to get their hands on the exclusive device, and this development might backfire on Micromax.

Micromax is going to launch its own brand of CyanogenMod powered devices called ‘YU’. The company states that it incurred massive costs to create an exclusive brand for selling Cyanogen powered devices in India. The devices are up for launch tomorrow, 18th of December.

According to Livemint, the complaint was registered at Delhi High court and Micromax secured a temporary injunction in the case. The court has ordered OnePlus to refrain from marketing, selling and shipping its popular handsets in India. But to give the Chinese company some relief, the judge allowed them to sell all the remaining stocks they have on hand. OnePlus began selling the handsets on 2nd of December.

OnePlus has a non-exclusive right to use CyanogenMod‘s trademark and software all across the world except China. While Micromax has an exclusive license for South Asia, this might become a major hindrance in the growth path of the OnePlus. The company had major plans for India, including bringing the next generation OnePlus Two in India, but it is yet to be seen what this development leads to. OnePlus also informed the court that Cyanogen intimated them about the exclusive agreement with Micromax just a fortnight before its India launch. The court told OnePlus that it could sue Cyanogen but that can only be governed by the laws of California where the agreement was signed.

It might not actually mean the end of the Chinese company’s India journey. OnePlus is already planning a new OS based on the latest Android L update, but this will lead to the demise of its most appreciated feature, the CyanogenMod.

Micromax on the other hand can gather a bad public reputation following this development. Though they are right in the technical and legal aspects of things, but the public opinion might shift against them and that too just a day before their brand launch. The company will have to bring something exceptional to take on the massive popularity of the OnePlus One.

Micromax if you don’t want to face immense public ire, you better bring something that blows our minds or else you’ll be seen as the killer of the flagship killer in India, and you really don’t want to be that company.

Slimmest Phone in the World ‘Vivo X5 Max’ Out in India for Rs. 32,980

 The world’s slimmest smartphone will be making its debut in the Indian market soon and today it was officially unveiled. The Chinese electronic giant announced the Vivo X5 Max, which has beaten the present record holder Oppo R5.

 With just 4.75 mm thickness, the phone has given slim a new definition. The device is announced at a price of Rs. 32,980, which is a bit more than expected. The X5 Max comes with a 5.5-inch Full HD display and has a screen resolution of 1080x1920p. It runs on 64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 and is packed with 2 GB of RAM and Android 4.4 KitKat. On the camera front, it has a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front snapper. The device offers dual-SIM card slots with support for 4G LTE and TD-SCDMA. It holds Hi-Fi 2.0 audio and a Yamaha YSS-205X chip as well.

 Oppo confirmed that its upcoming release, the R5, would not be that expensive and will come in a price bracket of Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 30,000. The R5 will launch later this month.

 As told previously, BBK Electronics has partnered with Viacom 18 to promote the device. Through this joint venture, the Vivo X5 Max will be advertised on the following platforms: MTV, VH1, Colors and Comedy Central. Also, the company is likely to launch more smartphones in the market within the range of Rs. 7,000 to Rs. 40,000.

[Sources]

Indians Can Now Watch YouTube Videos Offline on their Smartphones

YouTube received an enthusiastic response when it announced that it will soon facilitate audience with viewing videos offline. The company kept its word and recently launched its offline feature during a press event.

With this new feature, users can watch videos even when offline through the YouTube app. However, to make it possible, one has to first download the video using thier data pack or Wi-Fi. Once the desired video is taken offline, it can be watched buffer-free within the time frame of 48 hours.

The Vice-President of Engineering, YouTube commented:

Already, we’re seeing over 40 per cent of our traffic in India come from mobile devices. By launching this offline experience on YouTube in India today, we hope to help people move past the challenges of data connection, speed and cost to enjoy a smooth, buffer-free version of YouTube.

The offline video service works like when you chose to download a desired video, it asks you for the playback quality of the same. One you chose the quality of the video, it downloads and automatically adds it to the offline section for you to watch it later.

 Ajay Vidyasagar, Regional Director of YouTube commented that India is the fifth-largest market for partner revenue in the world. Features like this will just make this stronger. He believes that we could get into the top three markets very soon.

 The online video channel has partnered with different music companies and production houses in India like Saregama, T-Series, Shemaroo and Yashraj Films to provide content. The service has also been launched in Indonesia and the Philippines, along with India.

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Bracelet Which Converts Your Skin Into a Touchscreen

 Wearable technology has got a sort of Adrenaline boost in the recent past. Following the almost saturation of the smartphone market, the technology industry is looking for the next cash cow and smart wearables seem to be the answer. We have seen a lot of different kinds of wearables coming to the market specializing in health, navigation and even drone controls. Now a new bracelet brings the wearable and smartphone experience together.

 Cicret has introduced a small bracelet that projects an image on your skin that is touch accessible. The best possible response to that sentence is “sweeeet”. By simply twisting your wrists, the device projects an Android interface on your forearm after which it’s the usual smartphone experience.

 The central bit to the Cicret bracelet is the pico projector along with eight proximity sensors. These sensors track the movement of the fingers on the projected image to give you the same experience as on the phone. You can pretty much take care of any task that you would normally do on your phone including sending emails, browsing, multimedia files and more.

 The device is available in two storage options, i.e., 16 and 32GB. The connectivity options on the device include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Micro-USB port. It also features an accelerometer, vibration module and LED notification. The bracelet connects to your Android device using the Cicret App.

 The one major drawback of this device is that it is not yet as responsive as the smartphone touch surface. The developers are working on the issue and will put the device up for pre-order in the coming future. This device shows the potential of wearables in bringing an ease in dealing with the massive screen menace around us. Maybe projectable displays will finally give us the convenience we are yearning for and will empty some of this load from our pockets. Also, as these devices are easier to insulate from water and dirt in comparison to the screen devices, they’ll probably be easier to carry around. This bracelet looks like a good first attempt; we shall now wait for Pranav Mistry’s sixth sense technology to become a reality. if you don't know what sixth sense technology is then here is a video for you as follows.

MIUI V5 Developer Version Suspended. MIUI 6 Timeline for Redmi, Mi 2 & Mi 1

Hey MIUI fans,

As you may know, it's been over a year since MIUI V5 was released. With the release and upgrade of MIUI 6, Developers would like to focus on MIUI 6 feature development and optimization. So they have
decided that the developer version of MIUI V5 will be suspended after release of 4.12.5. The last stable
version of MIUI V5 is being tested now and will be released within this month.

And here is the timeline of MIUI 6 :

1) All Redmi phones will get MIUI 6 developer version and stable version; developers will try their best
    to release some beta versions by the end of Dec.2014;

2) MIUI 6 Special Edition for Mi 2 series is available for now, and they will also work on developer
    version and stable version in the future;

3) The developer version for Mi 1 suspended, so 4.12.5 is the final version. And there will be no MIUI 6
    Mi 1 in the future.


Please note that the above mentioned ROM versions all refer to China ROM
(Both Chinese and English officially supported), not global ROM.

[Source]