Samsung Galaxy S8 to ship with wireless in-ear headphones: Report

After having battled massive negative publicity over the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco, Samsung is now gearing up for the launch of its next-generation flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S8. Already, there are huge expectations from the next Samsung flagship as it is supposed to help the company erase the bitter memories of Galaxy Note 7 failure. Prior to an official launch early next year, the Galaxy S8 has been subject to a slew of leaks and rumors, giving us a fair idea what the next Samsung flagship would bring to the table. Latest details to emerge online are about the accessory that is likely to launch alongside the Galaxy S8.

Sammobile reports that the Samsung Galaxy S8 will come with new wireless in-ear headphones. Right now it’s not clear whether the headphones will be bundled with the smartphone or sold separately. It’s also not known as yet whether the headphones will have Harman audio or not but, we can expect Samsung to launch a product that would compete with Apple AirPods.

It is worth pointing out that Samsung has already forayed into truly wireless headphones category with the Gear Icon X. The headphones didn’t really win over critics, or turn out to be a compelling enough product for customers to buy. But considering the recent rumors that the Samsung Galaxy S8 will ditch the 3.5mm standard audio jack in favor of USB Type-C port, the company finally be able to push the new headphones aggressively.

Besides wireless audio experience, Samsung is also looking to expand the accessory range for the Galaxy S8 by including support for the Stylus. The accessory, most likely an upgraded version of the S Pen, could come integrated into the Galaxy S8 similar to the Note models. Though the stylus will be offered as an external accessory.

As said earlier, the leaks hint at the major upgrade in terms of hardware and overall design with the Galaxy S8. One of the most recent rumors reveals come with on-screen buttons and a pressure-sensitive display, just like 3D Touch on the iPhone 7. There have been rumors of fingerprint scanner being embedded within the display itself, though there has been contradictory information about it. An AndroidAuthority report says the fingerprint sensor could be moved to the rear. 

As far as specifications go, the smartphone will be available in two variants with 5.1-inch and 5.5-inch displays. There are also rumors about a 6-inch variant which would be called the Galaxy S8 Plus, which could eventually replace the Galaxy Note 7 series. Moreover, the Galaxy S8 will only available in the dual-edge curved display.

For performance, the Samsung Galaxy S8 will be powered by Qualcomm’s top-end Snapdragon 835 processor or equivalent Exynos 8895 chipset built on 10nm process, paired with 6GB or 8GB of RAM. In terms of storage, the Galaxy S8 could be offered in 128GB and 256GB variants.

For photography, the Galaxy S8 is expected to sport dual rear camera modules – one RGB sensor with 16-megapixel resolution, and the other 8-megapixel module with a monochrome sensor. For selfies, a camera with auto-focus capabilities is likely to be in tow. Fuelled by a 4,200mAh battery and wireless charging capabilities, connectivity options such as 4G LTE with VoLTE, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS are expected. On the software front, the Galaxy S8 could run Android Nougat 7.1.1 out-of-the-box.

Like the predecessors, the Galaxy S8 is also likely to come with water and dust resistance capabilities, a heart rate sensor, and an always-on display. There also rumors about Samsung integrating an Apple Siri-like AI within the Galaxy S8. 

Samsung Galaxy A 2017 Series price, user manual leaked ahead of launch

Samsung's Galaxy A 2017 series of smartphones, which is set to be launched at an event in Malaysia on January 5, is also anticipated to be globally unveiled at the company's January 4 event ahead of CES 2017. While there have been plenty of rumours and leaks in the recent past, the alleged pricing for the Galaxy A 2017 series has also been leaked online.

As per the allegedly promotional images that were leaked, the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) has been tipped to cost MYR 1,699 (roughly Rs. 25,700) while the Galaxy A7 (2017) is expected to be priced at MYR 1,899 (roughly Rs. 28,800). No price details for the anticipated Galaxy A3 (2017) smartphone have been provided.

The alleged promotional images from Samsung Malaysia for the pre-order of Galaxy A 2017 series further reveal that users in Malaysia can pre-order the phones between January 6 and January 15, as spotted by SoyaCincau. However, the listed URL on the website seems to be not working at present. The leaked image further suggests that the South Korean manufacturer is also giving away Level U PRO wireless headset worth MYR 399 (roughly Rs. 6,000) with the pre-orders.

 A user manual that can be accessed on Samsung Russia's website confirms the existence of all three handsets, while also revealing some of their important features.

The Galaxy A 2017 user manual mentioned above also suggests that the phones will, unfortunately, run Android 6 Marshmallow at launch, instead of the newer Android 7 Nougat. 

According to gsmarena report, Samsung Malaysia's VP of Mobile and IT Business Unit Lee Jui Siang has also commented on the water resistance - indeed the hints were read correctly and all Galaxy A (2017) phones will be IP68-certified.

Samsung Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge Android Nougat 7.1.1 update to roll out in January

Samsung started rolling out Android Nougat beta updates for Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge users last month. Now the company has announced that the fourth beta update released last week will be the last, and the official build will start rolling out to users in January.

Samsung has sent a message to its beta testers via the Galaxy Members app, informing them that the Android Nougat beta program ends at midnight. It further says that no new beta updates will be rolled out, and there will also be no feedback for individual error reporting or suggestions, Sammobile reports. One sentence on the message however caught our eye, which reads — “We would do our best to distribute the official version in January as soon as possible.”

READ : Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Black Pearl (128GB) Variant Shipping Starts In India On December 30: Price, Specifications, Features

In addition to new features and fixes, Android Nougat 7.1.1 will also bring a host of visual changes. These include new shortcuts to Samsung’s apps, new icons, new layout for Quick Panel, new clock styles for always on display, and more. Android Nougat also brings in new features like multi-window support allowing you to use two apps simultaneously, and double tap to switch between them, improved doze mode for longer battery life, bundled notifications and quick reply to messages from notifications.

Apple to start making iPhones in Bangalore from April: Report

Apple plans to make iPhones for the Indian market in Bengaluru. Wistron, a Taiwanese OEM maker for Apple, is setting up a facility in Peenya, the city's industrial hub, to manufacture the iPhones. The facility will start production from next April, according to industry sources.

Top sources in the company confirmed to TOI that Apple is "very serious" about beginning assembly operations —and thereafter full manufacture — in India by the end of next year. "Bangalore is being looked at seriously," said multiple sources within the company. Local manufacture will help Apple price its phones competitively as full imports attract 12.5% additional duty.

Foxconn, Apple's largest Taiwan-based OEM, earlier committed to setting up a manufacturing plant in Maharashtra. The assumption was the plant would make only Apple products. But sources say Foxconn has tied up with other players like Xiaomi and OnePlus for local manufacture and not necessarily to only make Apple products there.

This will be Apple's second big announcement for Bengaluru. In May, Apple announced a design and development accelerator in the city to grow the iOS developer community and also to guide Indian developers to leverage Apple's programming language Swift and build apps for Apple TV and Apple Watch. The facility will open early next year.

The Bengaluru manufacturing facility underscores India's importance for the Cupertino-based company. Apple CEO Tim Cook's multi-city India tour earlier this year signalled the growing importance of India powered by the demand for Apple products by a burgeoning middle class. Data from Hong Kong-based Counterpoint Technology Market Research showed that Apple sold 2.5 million iPhones in India from October 2015 to September 2016, a rise of more than 50% over the year-ago period.

The revenue numbers speak for themselves. Apple India clocked robust sales touching Rs 9,997 crore in the 2016 financial year, up 56% from Rs 6,472 crore, previously. The company's net profit grew 21% to Rs 294 crore during the same period with deeper retail penetration and lower prices for older iPhone models that garnered a huge user base. An email sent to Apple didn't elicit a response till the time of going to press.

Apple has published job openings on its portal for a few positions at its OEM's factory in Bengaluru like operations program manager and product quality manager. Faisal Kawoosa, principal analyst (telecom) at CyberMedia Research, said, "Apple coming to India is a big booster for the make in India initiative."

Samsung Galaxy S8 rumored to come with ditch Physical Keys, Note 7-like S Pen as external accessory

There's a lot riding on Samsung's next flagship given how the past year has witnessed the fall of the Galaxy Note 7. The upcoming Galaxy S8 flagship smartphone has been subject to a ton of rumours, the latest of which being that Samsung may offer an external S-Pen stylus and an Exynos 8895 chipset variant. Another rumour suggests the Galaxy S8 will lack physical buttons.

Until now, the S Pen had been exclusive to the Samsung Galaxy Note series of large-screen smartphones. However, in light of the official execution of the Note 7 from the market, the stylus could help consumers deal with the inflammation better and also seamlessly upgrade to the Galaxy S8. Now, given the requirement for the use of a stylus is a large screen display, the latest rumor falls in line with earlier speculations about the upcoming Galaxy S8 featuring display sizes from 5.1-inch and going up to a massive 6.1-inch.

Additionally, it could also mean that the South Korea-based company is yet again trying to take on arch rival Apple. The California-based company has filed a patent which reveals that a future iPhone could come with a stylus that will allow text entry, doodling, annotations, and more. Although Apple’s upcoming iPhone 8 is unlikely to come with the stylus, but given the company’s recent shift towards large-display smartphones after the iPhone 6 Plus and later, a stylus-based iPhone isn’t too far from reality.

Android Police's David Ruddock says the Galaxy S8 will ditch physical keys, completely, and switch to "all soft keys with 3D Touch-like functionality." He adds that soft keys may be customisable, while the fingerprint scanner may go to the back of the phone - though the in-display fingerprint scanner remains a possibility. 

Meanwhile, the Galaxy S8 – Samsung’s only hope at having a better start to 2017 and turn around its fate – is expected to come in multiple variants with one boasting a massive 6-inch display. It is expected to be powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 835 SoC or Exynos 8895 chipset, depending upon the region. It is further rumored to feature up to 8GB of RAM along with onboard storage options of 128GB and 256GB.

READ : Samsung Galaxy S8 Leak Hints At 6-Inch Display, 8GB Of RAM, UFS 2.1 Flash Storage

The purported Samsung Galaxy S8 is likely to offer a dual rear camera module and come with a pair of 16-megapixel camera with RGB sensor and an 8-megapixel camera with monochrome sensor. For selfies, it is expected to come with a camera with auto focus capabilities. Other features include optical fingerprint sensor, water and dust resistance capabilities, and a 4,200mAh battery with wireless charging capabilities. On the software front, the Galaxy S8 is expected to run on Android Nougat 7.1.1 out-of-the-box.

Samsung files patent for two new smartwatches, one with a foldable display

Recently unearthed patent filings hint that Samsung is working on two new smartwatches. According to gsmarena report, one of the two smartwatches features a foldable display as well. The other smartwatch seems to be a more sport and fitness-oriented one. It’s untenable that the smartwatch with the foldable display spikes a lot more interest. The patent reveals that the foldable wearable could be like a slap-on bracelet, which would be based around a foldable panel.

On the other hand, the second patent, as we mentioned earlier, hint at a sporty wearable, however the strap of the device has been very interestingly described in the documents. Basically, it can be used to input control. A user can interact with the wearable by shifting its position, relative to the strap. A second strap could also potentially be introduced to the setup for an extended or at least different input scheme. If you look at the patent documents you can see some scenarios illustrated for the usage scenarios for the device, including wrapping it around your neck, or hanging it on an object, likely with varied functional intentions.

Lately, Samsung has been seen patenting various foldable and bendable technologies. Just late last month, a patent revealed Samsung’s concept for a foldable smartphone, which bends in the middle to form the shape of a flip phone. The patent was eventually approved.

The patent for a flexible display was granted to Samsung by the US Patent and Trademark Office. The image of the concept smartphone with the flexible display technology, showed it bending from the middle. The interesting part about that patent was that the flexible device bent without one using a hand for it. The report explains that the technology used an electrode layer, dielectric elastomer film, while another electrode is used in both the upper and lower portion of the flexible display. When a certain amount of voltage is applied on both the layers, the flexible device bends itself. This technology although explained in theory would be more understandable when demonstrated for real. 

Even earlier, Samsung has been granted a patent for a flexible display. Naturally, these many patent filings make people more curious of the company working on such a device. Samsung’s previous patents include a 3-in-1 foldable smartphone, which can be used as a watch, smartphone and a tablet. Recent patents also reveal the making of a smartphone folding into half, and another unfolding from a 5-inch form factor. There also have been rumors that Samsung may be unveiling its flexible display smartphone at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, which will take place in February, 2017. But then again, as in case with all patents, one can never be sure if these would ever materialize in actual products and reach the markets.

You can now pre-register for Super Mario Run on the Google Play Store

Initially announced and released as an iOS first in mid-December, Super Mario Run now has a Google Play Store listing. While not immediately available, users can pre-register and be alerted when the game is available to download.

The Google Play listing confirms that, just like on iOS, players will be able to download the first few levels of Super Mario Run for free, then have the option to purchase the remaining levels for a set price. Also just like on iOS, internet connectivity is required to play Super Mario Run.

READ : Stay Away From Those ‘Super Mario Run’ Knockoffs For Android, Nintendo Plans To Release 2 Or 3 Mobile Games A Year

The game was released on iOS on December 15 and was downloaded more than 40 million times from the App Store in its first week of release.

Samsung Galaxy A (2017) series to launch on January 5

Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy A (2017) series has been in the news for quite sometime now. Just yesterday, Samsung Mobile released a teaser poster via its Malaysia’s Twitter confirming that the upcoming A-series smartphones will include water resistance capabilities. Now, Samsung has sent out media invites for a launch event on January 5, which is set to take place in Kuala Lumpur. Interestingly, the announcement coincides with CES 2017, which kickstarts in Las Vegas.

Interestingly, CES 2017 is also scheduled to begin from January 5 - and Samsung has a pre-CES event scheduled on January 4. It looks like the Kuala Lumpur event may see a local launch, while CES 2017 will be the stage for a global unveiling of the 2017 Galaxy A Series.

Samsung has already announced that it will be showcasing its home audio and video range at the CES. And while the Galaxy A (2017) series may see a local launch in Kuala Lampur, CES 2017 might be used as a stage for global unveiling. The upcoming Galaxy A (2017) series – Galaxy A3 (2017), Galaxy A5 (2017) and Galaxy A7 (2017) have already leaked via benchmarks and press renders, giving us a fair idea of what to expect. The series is set to get a design overhaul, better cameras and water resistance capabilities. 

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) specifications and features 

The Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) is expected to feature either a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display. It could be powered by an Exynos 7880 chipset, paired with Mali-T830 GPU and 3GB of RAM. The smartphone is expected to come with 32GB or 64GB storage options, with option of expanding storage via a microSD card. For photography, the Galaxy A7 (2017) is expected to sport a 16-megapixel rear camera with f/1.9 aperture, auto-focus, face detection and touch focus. Up front too, a 16-megapixel selfie camera is expected. For power, the smartphone is expected to use a 3,500mAh battery. Its connectivity options could be 4G LTE, USB Type-C port, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. The smartphone will most likely feature a fingerprint scanner as seen in the Galaxy A7 (2016). 

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) specifications and features 

Based on the rumors and leaks so far, we can expect the Galaxy A5 (2017) to feature a 5.2-inch display and the smartphone could be offered in two models — single SIM and dual-SIM support. Under the hood, it could be powered by an octa-core Exynos 7880 processor (four Cortex A72 cores + four Cortex A53 cores) clocked at 1.87GHz paired with 3GB of RAM. However, details about internal storage are scarce at the moment. The smartphone could feature a 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash. there is no word about the front-facing selfie camera. Furthermore, the smartphone is expected to be fuelled by a 3,300mAh battery with fast charging support. As per the benchmark listing, the smartphone is expected to run Android Marshmallow 6.0 wrapped under TouchWiz UI.

Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) specifications and features 

The Galaxy A3 (2017) is could feature a 4.7-inch display with resolution of 720×1280 pixels. However, previous reports suggested a 5.5-inch display. It is said to be powered by an octa-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz and paired with ARM Mali-T830 GPU. The Galaxy A3 (2017) is expected to come with 2GB of RAM and onboard storage of 8GB, which would be further expandable up to 32GB via a microSD card. It is worth pointing out here that the Galaxy A3 (2016) comes with twice the internal storage, and expandable storage up to 128GB. In the photography department, the smartphone could sport a 12-megapixel rear camera and a 7-megapixel front camera. For connectivity, the smartphone could include NFC, Wi-Fi and the newest Bluetooth standard, Bluetooth 5.0, along with LTE support. On the software front, the smartphone is expected to runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow out-of-the-box and could be powered by a 3,000mAh battery.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 will ‘come into focus’ at CES 2017

All those who have been still battling battery woes are in for a treat in the coming year as Qualcomm prepares to unveil its next processor which aims to significantly take the battery efficiency notches up. The chipmaker has posted a tweet announcing the debut of its next advanced processor. At the upcoming Consumer Electronic Show (CES) 2017, Qualcomm will be bringing its Snapdragon 835 processor ‘into focus’.

The Snapdragon 835 processor has been built in partnership with Samsung using the newest 10nm FinFET process. The fabrication process is said to make the chipset 30 percent more efficient and offer performance improvement of 27 percent. It also allows the chipset to consume lesser power and reduce footprint.

Highlight of the Snapdragon 835 is that it comes with support for Quick Charge 4.0. The current quick charging standard 3.0 is capable of powering the device up to 80 percent in about half an hour of charge. However, with Quick Charge 4.0, smartphones will be able to achieve five hours of power with just five minutes of charging. The chipset has been further designed to support the newer USB Type-C and USB Power Delivery standards, which essentially means that the Pixel smartphones, MacBooks, and Nexus smartphones with USB Type-C ports could be swiftly charged using the Quick Charge 4.0.

Although there has been no official word on the hardware specifics for the Snapdragon 835 chipset, benchmarks leaked from GFXBench site suggest that the processor has an octa-core structure with a clock speed of 2.2GHz paired with Adreno 540 GPU, which is said to be 30 percent faster than the Adreno 530 chip. The chipset is also said to come with support for 4K display and dual camera support.

Samsung confirms Galaxy A series 2017 water resistant smartphones for CES 2017

Earlier last month, rumours suggested that Samsung's alleged Galaxy A Series (2017) smartphone will come with IP68 certification, making it highly resistant to dust and water. Now, the South Korean company has added further fuel to these rumours as it has teased water resistance feature for next generation of devices in its Galaxy A Series of smartphones - which are anticipated to be launched at CES 2017 next week.

Samsung Malaysia's Twitter account posted the official teaser for the upcoming phones in the Galaxy A Series on Monday. The company said, "It all begins with A. Hold your breath." If this was not hint enough, the company even added some water droplets into the image to make the matters more clear. However, it still remains to be seen if all phones from the series will get the water resistance or certain models.

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) specifications and features 

The Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) is expected to feature either a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display. It could be powered by an Exynos 7880 chipset, paired with Mali-T830 GPU and 3GB of RAM. The smartphone is expected to come with 32GB or 64GB storage options, with option of expanding storage via a microSD card. For photography, the Galaxy A7 (2017) is expected to sport a 16-megapixel rear camera with f/1.9 aperture, auto-focus, face detection and touch focus. Up front too, a 16-megapixel selfie camera is expected. For power, the smartphone is expected to use a 3,500mAh battery. Its connectivity options could be 4G LTE, USB Type-C port, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. The smartphone will most likely feature a fingerprint scanner as seen in the Galaxy A7 (2016). 

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) specifications and features 

Based on the rumors and leaks so far, we can expect the Galaxy A5 (2017) to feature a 5.2-inch display and the smartphone could be offered in two models — single SIM and dual-SIM support. Under the hood, it could be powered by an octa-core Exynos 7880 processor (four Cortex A72 cores + four Cortex A53 cores) clocked at 1.87GHz paired with 3GB of RAM. However, details about internal storage are scarce at the moment. The smartphone could feature a 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash. there is no word about the front-facing selfie camera. Furthermore, the smartphone is expected to be fuelled by a 3,300mAh battery with fast charging support. As per the benchmark listing, the smartphone is expected to run Android Marshmallow 6.0 wrapped under TouchWiz UI.

Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) specifications and features 

The Galaxy A3 (2017) is could feature a 4.7-inch display with resolution of 720×1280 pixels. However, previous reports suggested a 5.5-inch display. It is said to be powered by an octa-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz and paired with ARM Mali-T830 GPU. The Galaxy A3 (2017) is expected to come with 2GB of RAM and onboard storage of 8GB, which would be further expandable up to 32GB via a microSD card. It is worth pointing out here that the Galaxy A3 (2016) comes with twice the internal storage, and expandable storage up to 128GB. In the photography department, the smartphone could sport a 12-megapixel rear camera and a 7-megapixel front camera. For connectivity, the smartphone could include NFC, Wi-Fi and the newest Bluetooth standard, Bluetooth 5.0, along with LTE support. On the software front, the smartphone is expected to runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow out-of-the-box and could be powered by a 3,000mAh battery.

The new Galaxy A Series phones are expected to be unveiled by the company at its CES 2017 event next month and as the rumours regarding the other models in the series are thin, we will have to wait for the official announcement by the company.

TRAI asks Reliance Jio to explain why ‘Happy New Year Offer’ is not in violation of norms

Telecom regulator TRAI has asked Reliance Jio to explain why extension of its free voice and data plan should not be seen as violation of existing regulations requiring promotional offers to be limited to 90 days.

TRAI shot off the letter after the Mukesh Ambani-led firm announced free data and voice calls for existing and new customers under the 'Happy New Year offer', days before the 90-day inaugural welcome plan ended on December 3.

In the December 20 letter, the regulator, which is in the process of examining the new plan by Reliance Jio, also asked why the offer of free data under the promotional scheme should not be treated as "predatory". When contacted, Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd (RJIL) did not offer any comments on the issue.

Sources with direct knowledge of the development said the regulator in its letter had cited RJIL's consumer base growing to 63 million as on December 18 to state that the company will become a significant market player in the broadband space shortly, may be by December-end.

Stating that the preliminary analysis relies on factors like average subscriber additions per day and free data being offered, TRAI is learnt to have asked RJIL to clarify as to "why the offer of free data under the promotional offer should not be treated as predatory."

Another source said that in a meeting with TRAI, Jio has said that the latest Happy New Year offer is substantiatively different from the Jio Welcome Offer (that commenced on September 5) as in the initial offer it had provided 4GB of free data per day, and in the new offer the same was capped at 1GB under Fair Usage Policy.

Also, they contend, in the first offer there was no option of renewal or payment after the 4GB limit was exhausted, but in the new offer, one can recharge both data and the promised speed.

In terms of market dominance, Reliance Jio is six per cent of the installations in the country whereas the Competition Commission of India (CCI) norms specify 30 per cent threshold to trigger the 'misuse of market dominance' clause.

Sources said, TRAI has also asked Jio to give an estimated month-wise projection of the number of subscribers that are expected to be added till March 31, 2017. Jio has been given five days to clarify on the issues raised by the regulator.

Jio first launched an inaugural free voice and data plan beginning September, and earlier this month extended the freebies till March 31, 2017.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai visits India, likely to announce new initiatives for startups, small businesses

Google CEO Sundar Pichai is in India on a private holiday trip, but will host an event on 4 January where new announcements for small businesses and startups are expected, according to a report in BGR. The event will be attended by IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, as well as senior Google officials. The event is likely to see participation by Google in the Startup India and Digital India initiatives by the government.

“Small and Medium Businesses are the backbone of the Indian economy and are powering the next wave of the country’s growth. At Google, we are excited about partnering with businesses to help them unlock exponential growth through the power of digital. We invite you to join Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and other senior leaders from Google as they shine spot light on how digital can be a game changer for Indian SMBs. Also sharing thoughts will be Shri ravi Shankar Prasad, Hon’ble IT Minister, Government of India,” the invite read.

Expected announcements involve the Digital Unlocked platform, an online learning tool for small businesses and startups. The training is certified by Google and the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad. There is a primer application that rapidly trains users on new digital marketing techniques. Business owners can set goals such as increasing visibility, reach more people, increase sales, and then track progress as they get help and tips from experts.

The platform helps businesses go online. The effort is in partnership with many local industry bodies, including Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture (MACCIA), the Rajasthan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (RCCI), the Federation of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTAPCCI), the Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA), and the All India Association of Industries (AIAI). All these bodies were already working on nurturing the growth of small and medium businesses.

Google introduced the “My Business” app in Rajasthan. The application provides a one point interface for small business owners to feed in and update information about their businesses on Google Search and Google Maps. Business owners can directly feed in the working hours, vacations, contact details and locations. The accounts are authenticated by Google, and the listings can be used by consumers to provide feedback and write reviews. Business owners can add photos to the listing, and respond to the reviews.

Google has previously encouraged startups in India by selecting seven Indian startups for the Launchpad Accelerator program. The program selects promising Startups, provides them $50,000 (roughly Rs 33,98,250) equity free funding each, identifies the critical challenges, and provides hands on training to tackle these issues. The startup teams will receive guidance from Google Engineers, product managers and mentors from other tech firms in Silicon valley.

The conference is the latest in a series of initiatives by Google of improving its presence in India. The move comes close on the heels of Google India collaborating with Ministry of Consumer Affairs to improve online consumer protection.

Gionee M2017 With 7000mAh Battery, dual-camera setup, 5.7-inch display, 6GB of RAM launched in China; Price, Specs and features

Gionee has launched its M2017 premium smartphone in China and the smartphone has been made available with a hefty base price of CNY 6,999 (roughly Rs. 68,400) in the country. As of now, the company has not disclosed whether the new Gionee M2017 will be made available in other regions or just stay exclusive to China. Another version with an Italian custom alligator leather back panel costs CNY 16,999 (roughly Rs. 1,66,000) The Gionee M2017 smartphone is up for pre-orders in China, but Gionee's website is already showing the phone as "Fully Booked".

Gionee M2017 specifications and features

Coming back to the new smartphone, and the Gionee M2017 flaunts a 5.7-inch QHD (2560×1440 pixels) AMOLED display, and is powered by a 1.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 653 octa-core SoC paired with 6GB of RAM. Storage options include 128GB and 256GB options, but there is no microSD card slot to expand the internal memory.

For photography, there is a dual-camera setup at the back, which includes a 12-megapixel sensor and a 13-megapixel sensor. The rear camera comes with LED flash, 10x zoom, and 4K video recording capabilities. For selfies, there is an 8-megapixel shooter up front.

In line with the leaks, the talking point of the new smartphone is its mammoth 7,000mAh battery capacity. Gionee claims that the battery is good enough to offer up to 31.7 hours of talktime, nearly 26 hours of video playback, and up to 915 hours on standby mode. The battery also comes with support for Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0. With battery life being one of the major concerns of smartphone users these days, these numbers will be music to one’s ears. In order to achieve such numbers, Gionee hasn’t quite fit in a massive battery, but instead has simply fit in two 3,500mAh battery units underneath.

When you think about it, Gionee’s idea to add two batteries in its smartphone seems like quite a simple, yet smart, solution. With support for Quick Charge 3.0, Gionee is also ensuring users don’t have to wait ages for both sets of batteries to fully charge. It’s not just Gionee either, most companies and universities alike are working towards finding a way to overcome the apparent limitations of lithium-ion batteries. We have seen researchers using materials like magnesium, gold nanowires, while companies like Huawei are experimenting with graphene-assisted Li-ion batteries that can not only withstand high temperatures, but also have twice the lifespan as that of usual batteries.

The M2017 smartphone also features a fingerprint sensor embedded into the home button up front, and connectivity options like dual-SIM card slots, 4G LTE support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and USB Type-C port. As is quickly becoming a trend, Gionee’s smartphone ditches the 3.5mm audio jack. On the software front, the smartphone runs on Android Marshmallow-based Amigo 3.5 UI.

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) press renders leaked ahead of CES 2017; here’s what we know so far

Ahead of the upcoming CES 2017, a lot of anticipated smartphones and devices are being spotted online. The latest to join the list is the Samsung A5 (2017) which has been revealed in fresh press renders. By far, it had been speculated that the smartphone will launch in four color options of Black, Gold, Pink, and Blue. Now the newest leaks reveal some of the key specifications of the mid-range smartphone.

Based on the leaks, Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) is likely to continue with the same design language as its predecessor with glass and metal. However, it will bring certain improvements in terms of processor speed, camera, and battery capacity.

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) specifications and features

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) could feature a 5.2-inch display offering full HD resolution. It is expected to be powered by an Exynos 7880 octa-core processor clocked at 1.8GHz and coupled with Mali-T860 MP4 GPU and 3GB of RAM. It could pack 32GB of onboard storage.

In terms of smartphone photography, it is likely to feature 16-megapixel cameras in the rear and front, making it a selfie-centric smartphone. In terms of power, the Galaxy A5 (2017) would draw its juice from a 3,000mAh battery. The smartphone will further come with Android 6.0 Marshmallow out-of-the-box. 

Xiaomi is looking for Mi Explorers before the launch of Redmi Note 4 in India

Xiaomi has an all-new Redmi device up its sleeve for Indian consumers and the company is looking for ‘Mi Explorers’ to gear up for the launch. In its tweet, the company has called out Mi fans to be part of the Mi Explorers Challenge who could help Xiaomi perfect its next product based on user feedback. Although Xiaomi doesn’t mention which Redmi device it will launch, but all speculations hint at the India debut of the Redmi Note 4 in January.

The Mi Explorers page explains the requirements for someone to participate in the challenge. The last date to apply for the Mi Explorers Challenge is December 30. Winners stand a chance to win the upcoming Redmi device. Once you log into the Mi account, you will be required to finish a questionnaire in five minutes in which the questions range from identifying Mi products to the terms and conditions of the Mi Explorers challenge. Once you complete the survey, Mi India will contact you in case you are selected to become an explorer. As the product launch is preceded by user feedback and data, the group of explorers are likely to get hands on the purported Redmi device before the masses.

Xiaomi had hosted a similar Mi Explorers program before the launch of the Redmi Note 3 phablet in India earlier this year. The Redmi Note 3 had been the ‘highest-shipped smartphone ever online in India in any given quarter,’ according to a report on IDC. With the Redmi Note 4, the company intends to continue dominating the Indian smartphone sphere. The smartphone, priced at RMB 899 (approximately Rs 9,000) for the base variant, will yet again be one of the budget phablet smartphones offering a blend of looks and features.

Additionally, as there is no official word on the color choices, we could expect the company to limit the color options to the standard options of silver, gold and grey, with the introduction the new color choices of black and blue later.

Redmi Note 4 specifications and features

The Redmi Note 4 features a 5.5-inch full HD (1080p) display with 2.5D curved glass on top. In China, it is powered by a MediaTek Helio X20 deca-core SoC, but for the Indian market, Xiaomi will no doubt switch to a Qualcomm chipset, mostly Snapdragon 625 SoC. It comes in options of 2GB of RAM + 16GB onboard storage and 3GB of RAM + 64GB of onboard storage. It is expected that the company will also launch a third variant with 4GB of RAM along with more onboard storage.

In the photography department, the Redmi Note 4 features a 13-megapixel rear camera LED flash, f/2.0 aperture and PDAF support. For selfies, it comes with a 5-megapixel front camera with f/2.0 aperture and 85-degree wide-angle lens. Although the predecessor, Redmi Note 3, features a 16-megapixel rear camera, the output from the Redmi Note 4 is reportedly said to be better in terms of image quality. The company’s invite for Mi Explorers also hints at photography at the centre of the challenge as skills in photography and videography will be bonuses for selecting Mi fans.

Keeping the Redmi Note 4 ticking is a 4,100mAh battery which is said to last for the day on a single charge. Connectivity options include dual-SIM card slots (via hybrid tray), 4G VoLTE support, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. On the software front, the Redmi Note 4 runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow with MIUI 8 layered atop.

Samsung Galaxy S8 leak hints at 6-inch display, 8GB of RAM, UFS 2.1 flash storage

Samsung‘s next big thing, could literally be big, if new reports are to be believed. The latest report out of Korea states that Samsung will launch a 6-inch Galaxy S8 Plus, which will replace the now infamous Galaxy Note lineup of phablets. Another report also claims that one of the Galaxy S8 variants could also boast a whopping 8GB of RAM.

According to Korea’s MKNews, Samsung will launch a ‘Galaxy S8 Plus’ variant alongside the standard Galaxy S8 variant. This Plus variant will reportedly boast a 6-inch display, which happens to be bigger than the Galaxy Note 7. That said, the overall form factor is not expected to be much bigger courtesy of the rumored 90 percent body-to-screen-ratio. Going by these rumors, it looks highly likely that Samsung is planning on moving past the Galaxy Note 7 debacle by discontinuing the lineup all together.

In line with previous rumors, this new report reiterates that neither of the variants will have a flat display. As more smartphone companies are opting for curved displays, Samsung is reportedly making it a standard feature on its upcoming flagship devices. Both the Galaxy S8 variants will reportedly feature dual-edged curved display with QHD resolution.

A tipster on Weibo also claims that one of the upcoming Galaxy S8 variants will also feature a whopping 8GB of RAM. The Galaxy S8 Plus seems to be the obvious choice for the massive amount of RAM, and needless to say it will be highest seen on a smartphone so far. The tipster further says that the upcoming Galaxy S8 variants will also boast ultra-fast UFS 2.1 flash storage chip.

Samsung Galaxy S8 specifications and features

Based on the previous rumors, the Galaxy S8 is expected to be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 SoC or Exynos 8895 chipset, depending upon the region. Storage variants set to be offered are 128GB and 256GB.

For photography, the Galaxy S8 will reportedly boast a dual-camera setup at the back. This setup is likely to include a 16-megapixel snapper with RGB sensor, and an 8-megapixel snapper with monochrome sensor. The dual-camera setup is also expected to take advantage of Qualcomm’s Clear Sight technology to capture good quality photos. For selfie lovers, Samsung is expected to offer a snapper with auto-focus capabilities.

The rest of the features expected are optical fingerprint sensor, water and dust resistance capabilities, and a 4,200mAh battery with wireless charging capabilities. On the software front, the Galaxy S8 is expected to run on Android Nougat 7.1.1 out-of-the-box. A recent report claimed that the upcoming smartphone will have a dedicated ‘beast mode’. While details are scarce, this mode is expected to offer high-level of performance when required. 

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Black Pearl (128GB) variant shipping starts in India on December 30: Price, specifications, features

After recent rumors of the shipment of the Black Pearl variant of the Galaxy S7 edge being delayed till January 1, Samsung has listed the smartphone on its Indian e-commerce portal. The website confirms that the device will be shipped to its Indian customer from December 30. Also, as compared to the existing color variants of the smartphone, including the recently announced Gold Pink variant, the glossy Black Pearl one is priced higher. Listed at Rs 56,900, the new glossy black variant of the Galaxy S7 edge also comes with a larger 128GB internal storage.

Quite evidently, the new Black Pearl version of the Galaxy S7 edge draws some inspiration from the Jet Black edition of Apple’s iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. While the iPhone color variants received a lot of criticism for its scratch magnet body design, the Black Pearl would hopefully not have that issue with the Gorilla Glass protection on it rear panel. The Galaxy S7 edge Black Pearl variant comes with the same black 3D glass panels as on the Black Onyx variant. The addition here is the metal frame that goes around the sides of the smartphone also now comes in a black finish, making it completely black, similar to Olympics Edition of the smartphone that was announced not too long ago.

Earlier this week, Samsung also launched the Galaxy S7 edge in Gold Pink color, which is available in India through Samsung India e-stores. And as of now, the Galaxy S7 edge is available in five color variants of Gold Pink, Blue Coral, Black Onyx, Silver Platinum and Gold Platinum in India.

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge specifications and features 

The smartphone features a 5.5-inch dual-edge curved OHD Super AMOLED display. It is powered by a Exynos 8890 octa-core chipset paired with 4GB of RAM and 32GB and 128GB storage variant with a microSD card slot for further expansion.

On the camera front, the phone sports a 12-megapixel rear camera with dual-pixel auto-focus, PDAF and optical image stabilization (OIS), f/1.7 aperture. Up front, there is a 5-megapixel selfie camera. Armed with a 3,600mAh battery, it also comes with features like Quick Charge 2.0 and Wireless Fast Charging. The smartphone comes with connectivity options like dual-SIM support (hybrid SIM card slot), 4G LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi 802.11ac and GPS. On the software front, the smartphone runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow with TouchWiz UI running atop.

Stay away from those ‘Super Mario Run’ knockoffs for Android, Nintendo plans to release 2 or 3 mobile games a year

In an interview with Japanese newspaper Kyoto Shimbun, Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima reconfirmed Super Mario Run for Android will be available next year. He also stated that Nintendo plans to release two to three smartphone games a year from 2017.

However in another interview with Japanese daily Sankei, Kimishima claimed that the company could release “more than three smartphone games” per year according a translation via games industry consultant Serkan Toto. The monetisation models and target audiences will determine what eventually would hit app stores. Furthermore, the objective for Nintendo is to turn smartphone games into another revenue source — along with its console hardware and games.

Kimishima’s statements are in line with what Nintendo had publicly disclosed in the past. In 2015, it divulged plans to publish five mobile games by 2017. With Miitomo and Super Mario Run already out and Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem games along the way, it will be interesting to see what the fifth game could be.

Prior to this, Nintendo announced that Super Mario Run has hit 40 million downloads in four days. This was after several third-parties weighed in on the potential of the game and the company releasing a new feature in Friendly Run.

Motorola Moto Z users in India recieve Android 7.0 Nougat update

Motorola has started rolling out Android 7.0 update for Moto Z users in India. The update makes Moto Z smartphone compatible with Daydream, Google’s mobile VR platform. The company had earlier announced the Android 7.0 upgrade for Moto Z and Moto Z Force users in the US. Now Nougat has made its way to Moto Z smartphone India.

Moto Z users have started receiving notification for the new system update, which upgrades their device to version NPL25.85-15, making it Daydream-ready.

Users who get the notification can click on ‘Yes, I’m in’ to download the Nougat update. Next, you’ll be prompted to install the update. Click on ‘Install now’ and Android 7.0 Nougat will be installed to your Moto Z smartphone. To check for the update manually, go to Settings > About Phone > System Updates. Now, check for any new update and install it.

Motorola had promised in October that it will roll out Android 7.0 Nougat for its smartphones by the end of this year. Motorola started rolling out Android Nougat update for its Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus smartphones in October.

Moto Z was announced in India early October and the device is priced at Rs Rs 39,999. Moto Z is the company’s first modular smartphone series that comes with Moto Mods. Moto Mods are compatible with the Moto Z and Moto Z Play and add advanced functionality like battery life, camera quality of projection.

Moto Z Specificaton and features 

In terms of specification, the Moto Z features a 5.5-inch quad HD display offering 2560×1440 pixel resolution. It is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor clocked at 1.8GHz, paired with Adreno 530 GPU and 4GB of RAM. The Moto Z comes with 64GB onboard storage along with an option to further expand the storage.

For smartphone photography enthusiasts, the Moto Z comes with a 13-megapixel rear camera with dual LED flash, optical image stabilization (OIS), 4K video recording at 30fps and full HD video recording at 60fps. Up front is a 5-megapixel shooter for selfies and video calling. It draws its juice from a 2,600mAh battery that comes with Turbo Charging support which is claimed to offer talktime of up to eight hours with just 15 minutes of charging. Connectivity options include 4G LTE with VoLTE voice calling support, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, NFC and Bluetooth 4.1. For charging, data transfer and audio output, Motorola Moto Z is equipped with USB Type-C port.

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Black Pearl variant to come to India in January

Just two weeks ago, Samsung announced that it will be bringing a glossy black variant of the Galaxy S7 edge. If that got you waiting to score the new Black Pearl variant of the smartphone, you’d have to wait a bit longer. According to a report by Android Headline, the new Black Pearl variant of the Galaxy S7 edge will come to India only till January 2017.

Also considered to be inspired by Apple’s iPhone 7 Jet Black edition, the Black Pearl variant comes with the same black 3D glass panels as on the Black Onyx variant. The addition here is the metal frame that goes around the sides of the smartphone also now comes in a black finish, making it completely black, similar to Olympics Edition of the smartphone that was announced not too long ago.

Earlier this week, Samsung also launched the Galaxy S7 edge in Gold Pink color, which is available in India through Samsung India e-stores.

As of now, the Galaxy S7 edge will be available in five color variants of Gold Pink, Blue Coral, Black Onyx, Silver Platinum and Gold Platinum in India. The Silver Titanium variant of the Galaxy S7 edge has been removed from the company’s official website. Also on offer is a one-time screen replacement for the Galaxy S7 edge for Rs 990. Along with that, customers can also get the new Gear VR for Rs 1,990.

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge specifications and features 

The smartphone features a 5.5-inch dual-edge curved OHD Super AMOLED display. It is powered by a Exynos 8890 octa-core chipset paired with 4GB of RAM and 32GB and 128GB storage variant with a microSD card slot for further expansion. 

On the camera front, the phone sports a 12-megapixel rear camera with dual-pixel auto-focus, PDAF and optical image stabilization (OIS), f/1.7 aperture. Up front, there is a 5-megapixel selfie camera. Armed with a 3,600mAh battery, it also comes with features like Quick Charge 2.0 and Wireless Fast Charging. The smartphone comes with connectivity options like dual-SIM support (hybrid SIM card slot), 4G LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi 802.11ac and GPS. On the software front, the smartphone runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow with TouchWiz UI running atop.

Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) with new design, 3GB RAM, Android 7.0 Nougat leaks in renders and 360 video

New details about Samsung’s yet-to-be-announced Galaxy J7 (2017) have emerged online. The Galaxy J7 was first launched in 2015 and in the following year, Samsung introduced the smartphone, conveniently called Galaxy J7 (2016), with upgrades and new features. For the 2017 edition, it looks like Samsung has a better-looking smartphone in-the-making. In separate reports, the Galaxy J7 (2017) has received Bluetooth certification, and the latest renders hint at a new rear panel design with a metallic strip for the camera and flash module. The device, which has already received Wi-Fi certification, has now received certification by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG).

Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) specifications and features

Based on the latest video render of the purported smartphone, the Galaxy J7 (2017) is expected to boast similar design as its predecessor but with the exception of a metal strip at the back. In terms of design, the Galaxy J7 (2017) features the volume buttons on the left while the right features the power button. From the renders, it appears the smartphone will be available in two color choices of white and grey.

The Galaxy J7 (2017) is expected to come with more or less the same features as its predecessors except for a possible design upgrade. It is expected to feature a 5.5-inch full HD display. It is powered by an Exynos chipset, paired with 3GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage. 

The Galaxy J7 (2017) comes with a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. The smartphone will come packed with a 3,000mAh battery. It will further run Android 7.0 Nougat out-of-the-box.