Android 1.0 and 1.1

The one that started it all. The first version of the platform was released back in 2008 and it seems like so long ago that it did not even have a dessert name. But just to complete the cycle, enthusiasts have started calling it Android Alpha and Beta for the versions 1.1 and 1.2 respectively. The first generation of the operating system included basic Google apps like Gmail, Maps, Calendar and YouTube. While all of it seems very basic now, it was quite a big deal to have a suite of applications on a mobile phone.

Android 1.5 – Cupcake

The Android 1.5 Cupcake was released in 2009, which also established the naming scheme based on sweet treats. Apart from being a monumental release, Cupcake brought about many changes to the platform. It was the first version to include an on-screen keyboard and third-party widgets. The latter provided the platforms one of the most unique features. Fun fact, this was also the first time the operating system gained the functionality enabling video recording on smartphones.

Android 1.6 – Donut

Android 1.6 Donut was also released in the year 2009 and brought about many features to the platform. The first and most significant was adding the search box. What is now a ubiquitous feature was first added to Donut. The version also added support for multiple display sizes, which is a key element for the platform’s success. It also introduced Google Play, which was called the Android Market at the time. The store enabled users to download and try out different apps and games.

Android 2.0/2.1 – Eclair

The Android Eclair was released after almost six months of Donut, which is not something the company does today. It was sort of like an incremental update, with the platform adding support for Google’s turn by turn navigation and speech to text among other features. Eclair also added live wallpapers, which while it drained a lot of battery, was a really cool feature at the time.

Android 2.2 – Froyo

Google plopped up the Android 2.2 Froyo just four months after Eclair. This release, just like the Frozen Yogurt it is named after, was a sweet treat to the users as it focussed on increasing the performance of the devices. The release added the support for new Voice Actions and added support for mobile hotspots; which is also an important addition by historical importance.

Android 2.3 – Gingerbread

Android 2.3 Gingerbread was released in the year 2010 and marked an incremental update over Froyo. The platform gained support for new and improved gaming API for better and graphically intense gaming. It also added NFC connectivity to compatible devices; enhancing their connectivity. Fun fact, Google added a hidden easter egg in the operating system starting Gingerbread. The first hidden surprise was a zombie artwork when the users tapped on the version number multiple times in settings.

Android 3.0/3.1/3.2 – Honeycomb

Back in the year 2011, when tablets were becoming all the rage in the market, Google released the Android 3.0 Honeycomb. As a tablet exclusive operating system, it didn’t see many takers but was an important step in the redesigning of the platform. The version saw a user interface that utilised the whole display of the device, which was important in a tablet. However, due to limited application support and not many makers adopting it, Honeycomb is one of the more obscure versions on the list.

Android 4.0 – Ice Cream Sandwich

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich was a major design overhaul for the operating system. Released in the same year as Honeycomb, the version brought about changes like a new Holo design, swipe gestures for notifications and recent apps, and support for Android Beam. Looking back at Ice Cream Sandwich now feels like it was an extremely ambitious update, one which has futuristic vibes going on for it.

Android 4.1/4.2/4.3 – Jellybean

Released over multiple periods between 2012 and 2013, the Android 4.1/4.2/4.3 Jellybean was an incremental update over Ice Cream Sandwich. The platform gained support for account switching, which lets multiple users use a smartphone in different ways. It also has Google Now, a barebones digital assistant which has now been christened as Google Assistant. Jellybean also got actionable notifications, which let taking actions without opening certain applications easier.

Android 4.4 – KitKat

The name for Android 4.4 KitKat was a result of Google’s partnership with Nestle in the year 2013. This release made for a delicious name, and software refinements all around the operating system. Things like a smart dialer, full-screen applications and the “Okay Google” keyword; which we now take for granted, were first added in KitKat.

Android 5.0 – Lollipop

One of the biggest releases of the operating system, Android 5.0 Lollipop saw Google going back to the drawing board in 2014. The company adopted the Material Design theme, which is still in use today and almost redesigned the platform. With the release, lock screen notifications became a thing, and the software gained support for full hands-free “Ok Google” detection. Not to mention the change in the recent apps drawer with the release. Fun fact, Google added a neat little game in the easter egg which resembled Flappy Bird, another smash hit game of the time.

Android 6.0 – Marshmallow

Android 6.0 Marshmallow was released in 2015 and was an incremental update over Lollipop. It was in part because the previous version was such a design overhaul that it made for Marshmallow not to do anything drastic. The version added support for things like fingerprint readers and USB Type C ports and added a feature called Now on Tap. It used the company’s machine learning to provide more information on what is being displayed on the device. For granular privacy settings, Marshmallow also had permission controls for each application.

Android 7.0 – Nougat

Android 7.0 Nougat, was released in the year 2016 and focussed on improving upon Marshmallow. It was launched alongside the first Google-made smartphone, the Pixel and Pixel XL. With Nougat, the company introduced the split-screen feature and debuted Google Assistant, which is arguably the best digital assistant on a smartphone.

Android 8.0 – Oreo

Android 8.0 Oreo was released in the year 2017 and again, was an incremental update over Nougat. The name, much like KitKat was a result of Google’s partnership with a big company, this time it being Nabisco. This release brought about feature like a picture in picture mode, granular control over notifications. One of the landmark features of the sandwich cookie version was the support for Project Treble. It was an attempt by Google to minimise Android Fragmentation; by getting the latest release on most devices faster. Sadly the last bit has not played out very well.

Android 9 – Pie

The last release of the platform yet and one of the most important, Android 9 Pie was baked in the year 2018. It marked a soft reboot in designing the operating system, with the company trying to move away from Material Design. The release introduced new gesture-based navigation, which however half baked they may be; paved the way for all-screen smartphones. Also added to the release were clever software controls for Wi-Fi and mobile data. It also introduced the Digital Wellbeing feature on some devices. This lets users see the amount of time they spend on their smartphones and can limit it.

Android 10 – No Desserts For You!

Also read: Lenovo Teases An Upcoming Budget Smartphone, The Lenovo A6 Note

The latest release by the company, Android 10 as mentioned above does not have an official dessert name. However, according to some reports, Google still has the codename for the release which is named after a dessert that starts with Q. Take your guesses, I’m going with Quiche. However sad the company’s naming decision may be, the latest release will bring about significant changes in the platform. The first one is an all-new navigation gesture system, which resembles the new iPhone gestures. Also arriving in the release are better and faster security updates and support for Live Captions. The final developer’s Beta for the software has just been released; so Google is expected to roll out a stable update in the following weeks.

The post Android 10 Announced: Looking Back At The 10-Year-Old History Of Android Versions appeared first on iGyaan Network.

Some prime examples of the companies that have helped in driving down the costs of mobile devices include Huawei, Xiaomi and BBK Electronics (parent company of Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus and Realme).

Before we begin the saga of the previously mentioned Chinese OEMs, we will discuss the early days of smartphones and how some key players faired during those times.

iPhone 5 From 2012

We all know, the original iPhone from the year 2007 is considered one of the first smartphones. While Apple maintained a closed ecosystem by only offering iOS on it’s in house developed products, Google, on the other hand, embraced the concept of hardware independence for the Android operating system. 

Besides Apple, numerous companies tried their luck in the smartphone industry which includes Nokia, Samsung, Blackberry and HTC. While HTC flourished in the early days, it had to fall back due to fierce competition from Chinese competition. 

Talking about Blackberry and Nokia which stood by their in house developed OS (Symbian and BBoS), the companies were pushed to the brink of collapsing due to incompetent software. While Nokia has managed to recover to a fair extent after the adoption of Android, Blackberry still struggles to find a niche which would allow it to stand out of the crowd.

Nonetheless, one company that has not only survived but thrived during the early years of a smartphone is Samsung which currently enjoys the position of world’s number one smartphone manufacturer in terms of units sold.

Over a decade ago, the company was dabbling with operating systems including Windows OS and Palm until it stumbled upon Android. In the year 2009, it launched the ‘GT-I7500 Galaxy’ which was followed by the Galaxy Spica and the Samsung Galaxy S. While the former now rests in peace, the latter is one of the most renowned smartphones of the current era. 

For three consecutive years until the launch of the Galaxy S4, Samsung was the only company that was able to rake in substantial sales which could match up with the sales figures of Apple iPhone.

Then came the Mi3 which as we all know was made by Xiaomi. In comparison to Galaxy S4 which retailed for Rs 41,500, the Mi 3 cost only Rs 14,999. The reason for drawing this comparison is due to the fact that Xiaomi’s offering had similar specs to the 4th Gen Galaxy smartphone which include the following:

• 5 inch Full HD Display (441 ppi)
• 13 MP Front Camera
• 2 MP Rear Camera
• Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11 Wi-Fi
• Android 4.3

Now that we have a preface, let’s begin with the factors that allowed Chinese companies to significantly drive down costs of smartphones and associated technologies. 

• Online Only Business Model: Xiaomi which entered India in the year 2014, sold its devices exclusively online for a long period. This allowed the company to eliminate the traditional supply chain which included several commission bearers.
  
  Instead, it gave a small fee of Rs 700 to Rs 1,500 to its online partners i.e Amazon and Flipkart. In comparison, a traditional supply chain would incur upto 10 to 30 per cent of the device cost. This strategy is now even adopted by large companies like Samsung that sell devices like the Galaxy M lineup via online channels. 
  
  
• Wafer Thin Margins: In an effort to gain traction and lure in the maximum number of customers, these companies maintain low-profit margins at least during the early years. These companies are also able to save up on development costs as most of the components incorporated in the smartphones are manufactured by other OEMs. 
• Economies Of Scale:  Rather than selling fewer units with high-profit margin on each unit, Chinese companies tend to stress on selling a maximum number of units to drive up overall profit. Moreover, increased level of production also helps in saving costs.
  
• Lean Manufacturing: As observed with several smartphone launches, companies allow users to block units by paying a small booking amount which is a part of lean manufacturing and supply.
  
  Such practises allow the company to anticipate the demand which can be translated to adjust procurement of raw material, production of devices and storage of these ready products which would again incur costs in the form of warehousing if left piled up.  

Overall, Chinese OEMs have closely scrutinised all the steps that are required from designing to developing to retailing smartphones. During the process, all the steps or costs that seemed unnecessary have been eliminated that has helped in creating a strong and efficient business model. 

For reference, Huawei which has been heavily investing in R&D for a long period is able to design its own components like Kirin chipsets. This allows the company to save costs while allowing room for considerable profit margins. 

Also Read: Gamescom 2019 Roundup Of The Best Upcoming Games

Likewise, over the last few years, BBK electronics has also been observed to develop innovative devices like the Vivo Nex, Oppo Find X which have provided the company with a fair share of attention from the global audience.

To sum things up, this continuous contest played by the Chinese OEMs in order to maintain an edge over the other has helped in driving costs of smartphones consequently making them more affordable for the end-user. 

The post How Chinese Companies Have Helped In Making Smartphones Affordable appeared first on iGyaan Network.

LG Foldable Phone- Variant A

By the time these two handsets make a comeback, they won’t just be competing with each other. According to freshly granted patents, LG, Korea’s second-largest smartphone manufacturer is also developing multiple foldable handsets which may launch in time with Samsung and Huawei’s offering.

Surprisingly, the foldable phones that the patent exhibit are highly reminiscent of the Galaxy Fold and the Mate X. 

The first LG smartphone folds on the outside have dual display, out of which, one is present on the cover (outside) while the second is present on the inside. It features a triple rear camera setup which is accompanied by an LED Flash. 

LG Foldable Phone- Variant B

The second LG smartphone from the patent has a single large-screen display which folds on the outside. The design is similar to the ‘falcon wing’ which has been coined by Huawei. Besides, the position of camera sensors is also similar to Mate X.

Unfortunately, none of the patents reveals any specifications of the LG smartphones. Nevertheless, the devices if finalised for production and sale will pack top of the line specifications including chipset, camera and display. 

Also Read: Steps To Get The Fnatic Easter Egg On OnePlus Smartphones

As of now, the details about the launch of such LG handsets is unavailable. But, the company can reverse engineer Samsung and Huawei’s offering. Therefore, it won’t be as hard to make them. 

Though we will have to wait patiently until LG shines some light on its plans of a foldable device. 

The post LG Patents Two Foldable Smartphones That Are Reminiscent of Galaxy Fold And Mate X appeared first on iGyaan Network.

HTC Wildfire X Specifications And Features

The HTC Wildfire has a modern design with a waterdrop notch display on the front and a glossy plastic back. The display panel measures 6.2 inch and it has an HD+ resolution. 

Under the hood, the HTC Wilfire X is kitted with an Octa-Core processor that has a clock frequency of 2.0 GHz. Although the company has not provided the name of the chipset, going by its specifications, we believe it is the Helio P22.

In addition to an 8 MP selfie camera, it also has a triple rear camera setup which consists of a 12 MP + 5 MP + 8 MP sensors and a LED flash. The triple rear cameras are aligned in a vertical manner in two different modules.

Besides, the rear of the HTC Wildfire X features the company branding and a fingerprint sensor. The device runs on Android 9 which is skinned with the company’s UI. The device is powered by a 3,300 mAh battery which supports 10 W fast charging. 

Noteworthy, HTC has bundled a security-oriented accessory with the smartphone which is called ‘MyBuddy’. The accessory has a pull mechanism which when triggered makes a loud beeping noise and it also sends the live location to family members or the contacts that have been configured in the device. 

Additionally, it can also locate your smartphone and vice versa.

HTC Wildfire X Price

Also Read: Amazon Mistakenly Leaks Price And Specifications Of Moto One Zoom

As previously mentioned, the HTC Wildfire X will be available for purchase from Flipkart.com, starting 22nd of August. It will be offered in two storage variants for which the price is as follows:

• 3 GB + 32 GB: Rs 10,999
• 4 GB + 128 GB: Rs 13,999

In addition to the built-in storage, it also supports memory expansion upto 512 GB via a microSD card. 

Obviously, the HTC Wildfire X does not pack class-leading specifications but the MyBuddy accessory does provide it with an edge over its competitor. 

Readers who want to see the official listing on Flipkart can do so by clicking here.

The post HTC Launches Budget Oriented Wildfire X In India appeared first on iGyaan Network.

HTC Wildfire E1

One of the many reasons why HTC had to bail out of India was its pricing and marketing. The smartphone from the company was known to be premium built on even a few of its mid-range devices, however, this, in turn, couldn’t justify their high prices. In comparison, at the time companies like Xiaomi and OnePlus were just emerging that targeted the low to mid and top tier markets respectively. Both companies had aggressively priced their handsets which struck a right chord with the Indian audience. Hence, the companies and its overpriced products felt rather obsolete in value.

HTC Desire 12

Now, a brand new report from sources close to the company revealed that HTC will arrive in the Indian market in August. Inone Technology distribution network will be partnered with the company for the launch of its new flagship series. It is expected that HTC will launch new smartphones in the next few days or weeks with a couple of new features. It is exciting to see brands that were popular in India make a comeback to the market. The new launch would mark the first official release in a little more than a year.

HTC Desire 10 Pro

Also Read: Realme Is Set To Launch A Smartphone With 64MP Quad Camera On 8th August

HTC needs to be prepared to face stiff competition as the smartphone industry is more populated than when it had originally pulled out. Samsung’s A series of smartphone, Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo are giants in the Indian market so HTC has their work cut out for them. Unfortunately, information regarding the upcoming HTC devices is still sparse. Stay tuned for more information which is expected to be available in the arriving days.

The post HTC To Make A Comeback In India This Month appeared first on iGyaan Network.

According to a report published by Canalys, Chinese smartphone maker, Xiaomi has once again come out on top as the most selling smartphone maker in India for the Q2 of 2019 (April to June). Noteworthy, the position has been held by Xiaomi since 2017 after it surpassed Samsung that held the postition for an extended period of time.

In terms of sales figures, Xiaomi sold 10.3 million (1.03 crore) smartphones in the Q2 of 2019 which is 4 percent higher in contrast to its yesteryear’s comparable quarter. 

On the other hand, the Korean giant, Samsung secured the number two position as it sold 7.3 million smartphones in the same time period. However, in comparison to Q2 of 2018, overall shipments have slumed by 27 percent which is sharp downfall.  

The third postion in list is held by Vivo which surprisingly has registered extraordinary growth due to its strong offline penetration. The company sold 5.8 million smartphones in Q2 of 2019 which is 63 percent higher in comparison to previous years corresponding quarter, in which, it sold 3.6 million units.

Vivo’s sister company’s Oppo and Realme also showed notable growth which hold the number fifth and sixth spot in the list. Oppo saw a growth of 25 percent YoY for Q2, while the newly incorporated, Realme saw exceptional growth of 303 percent YoY. 

Last but not the least, other brands collectively that include Apple, Micromax and many more saw a sales dip of 42 percent in comparison to the year 2018.

Also Read: HTC Wildfire X Listed On Android Enterprise Website, Expected To Launch Soon

Overall, the Indian smartphone industry saw a negative sales growth of 0.1 million smartphones in comparison to Q2 of 2019 and Q2 of 2018. Nevertheless, the all inclusive sales are 33 million or 3.3 crore which is an enormous figure. 

The post Xiaomi Is The Number One Smartphone Seller In India For Q2 Of 2019 appeared first on iGyaan Network.

HTC Wildfire E Plus

Earlier this month, four unreleased HTC smartphones were leaked online. In addition, another handset with the Wildfire X moniker has been listed on Android Enterprise website. The listing has revealed both the key features and design of the upcoming smartphone. As it has been listed on the Enterprise website, it is assumed that the handset will be targeted towards the commercial sector. In simpler words, the HTC Wildfire X will be oriented towards B2B customers and organisations that buy equipment in bulk to be used by there task force rather than the consumer sector.  

HTC Wildfire X

According to the Android Enterprise listing, the HTC Wildfire X has an orthodox design with considerable bezels on both the top and bottom of the display. However, such devices are economical to manufacture and more robust, which is the primary concern of enterprise devices. 

The top bezel of the Wildfire X houses a front-facing selfie camera, earpiece for listening to phone calls and necessary sensors like proximity and ambient light sensor. Unfortunately, the listing does not reveal the rear side of the smartphone or the crucial feature like the chipset. Nevertheless, it does provide key specs which are listed below.

HTC Wildfire X Quick Specs

• Display: 6.2 inch
• RAM: 3 GB
• ROM: 32 GB 
• OS Version: Android 9
• Security: Fingerprint Sensor

Also Read: Oppo Showcases A Smartphone With Waterfall Display

To conclude, we won’t have to wait for long to get the official price and specs of HTC Wildfire X, as the Android Enterprise listing suggests that its launch is about to happen.  

Interested readers can check the listing here.

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Nevertheless, after devising new strategies, LG once again entered the budget and mid-range smartphone arena with the “W” series of smartphones that debuted in India last month.

Subsequently, LG is expected to launch a variety of new devices in its home country which will be a part of a brand new “M” lineup. The company had filed numerous trademarks with KIPRIS (Korean Intellectual Property Rights Information Service) under the category 9 that deals with “mobile phone and smartphones”. 

The first handset in the trademark is dubbed the “M10” which coincidentally matches the moniker of a smartphone made by another Korean Giant, Samsung and the device name is Galaxy M10. Therefore, it is possible that the upcoming LG smartphone will be targetted towards the budget segment. Furthermore, the company may even launch smartphones like M20, M30, etc in the distant future.  

Also Read: More Concept Images Of The Mi Mix 4 With Pop Up Camera Surface Online

Other than that, the company had previously filed trademarks for the V60 and V70 labels which have now been granted. Going by chronological order, these smartphones will succeed the LG V50 ThinQ which was launched earlier this year. Taking into consideration, that Samsung and Apple are yet to reveal flagship devices in the near future which will be the Galaxy Note 10 lineup and 2019 iPhone lineup in respective order. Hence, it is possible that LG launches the V60 or V70 later this year to compete with these devices.

All in all, LG may be planning a proper comeback in the smartphone business. However, in order to verify the claims and theories, we will have to wait until LG officially spreads some light on its future plans. 

The post LG Trademarks A Slew Of Smartphones Including One Called The M10 appeared first on iGyaan Network.

Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro

The Redmi K20 Pro is the latest flagship offering from the company. It has a glass design on the front and back with a metal chassis for reinforcement. Noteworthy, the smartphone has an attractive gradient coloured design on the back. It features a 6.39 inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 px and a pixel density of 403 ppi. To maximise the screen real estate, it incorporates a pop-up mechanism on top which houses the front-facing selfie camera. For biometric security and rapidly unlocking the smartphone, the Redmi K20 Pro uses an in-display fingerprint scanner along with support for face unlock technology.

Under the hood, the Redmi K20 Pro is kitted with the 7nm Snapdragon 855 SoC which is comprised of an octa-core CPU and the Adreno 640 GPU. In terms of optics, the smartphone has a triple rear camera setup consisting of an f/1.8 aperture equipped 48MP Sony IMX 586 sensor, an f/2.4 aperture equipped 13MP ultra wide-angle sensor; and a tertiary f/2.4 aperture equipped 8MP telephoto sensor. Noteworthy, the primary camera sensor is different from the Redmi K20; which allows the K20 Pro to capture 4K videos at 60fps while the former is restricted to 4K video capture at 30fps. For selfies, an f/2.2 aperture equipped 20MP sensor is housed in the previously mentioned pop-up mechanism on top of the handset.

The Redmi K20 Pro is powered by a 4000mAh battery, which supports 27W fast charging (note: ships with 18W charger). The runs on MIUI 10 which is based on top of the latest Android 9 Pie. Connectivity options on the smartphone include 802.11 ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC and bottom-mounted USB Type C port and 3.5 mm audio jack. 

Pricing & Availability

Also Read: Specs And Images Of Four Upcoming HTC Wildfire Smartphones Leak

The Redmi K20 Pro is offered in three colour variants namely Glacier Blue, Flame Red and Carbon Black. The device will be available for purchase both via online and offline platforms. It will go on sale starting 22nd of July on Flipkart.com, MI.com and Mi Home stores. It is offered in two storage variants for which the price is as follows:

• 6 GB + 128 GB: Rs. 27,999
• 8 GB + 256 GB: Rs. 30,999

Besides, the company has launched a Signature Edition K20 Pro which is made out of luxurious materials like Diamond and Gold and is priced at an astounding 4.8 Lakhs INR.

All in all, the Redmi K20 Pro is one of the most value for money smartphone currently available in the country.

What are your thoughts on the newly launched flagship device? Do let us know in the comments

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To instantly grab the attention of the users, the upcoming smartphones from HTC will be launched under the Wildfire lineup which was once very popular. The new devices will be called the HTC Wildfire, Wildfire E, Wildfire E Plus and Wildfire E1 whose specifications and images have both leaked ahead of their official announcement. The Wildfire E and E Plus will have an identical design language with similar specifications while the Wildfire E1 and Wildfire will be a completely different device altogether. 

HTC Wildfire

HTC Wildfire E1

HTC Wildfire E and E Plus

Also Read: Realme Teases A Flagship Smartphone With Snapdragon 855 Plus

To sum it up, the upcoming HTC smartphones seem to have an elegant design which is backed by modest specifications. Though the key deciding factor in their sales performance will largely depend on their pricing which is yet to be revealed. Nevertheless, the leaked specs and HD images suggest they will launch soon.

What are your thoughts on the upcoming Wildfire smartphones from HTC? Do you think the company can once again ride to success on the back of these upcoming devices?

The post Specs And Images Of Four Upcoming HTC Wildfire Smartphones Leak appeared first on iGyaan Network.

Nokia N-Gage

The Nokia N-Gage was released back in the year 2003, when the company was at the pinnacle of mobile technology. Phones from Nokia were everywhere and for good reason, but then it unveiled the N-Gage. Featuring a weird design, the mobile phone was marketed as a phone, a portable media device and a gaming console. Unfortunately, the N-Gage failed to deliver on either of the promises. The sub-brand was subsequently shut down in 2009, and the mobile phone has been since known as the Taco Phone, because of the shape. The Nokia N-Gage has been honoured by being included in the (in)famous Museum of Failures in Sweden.

BlackBerry Z10

BlackBerry, like Nokia, was also a force to be reckoned with in the early 2000s. The brand has been credited for making some of the most iconic mobile phones of its time; most of which were really popular among businessmen and corporate because of the enterprise level security and the amazing keyboard. However, after the rise of the popularity of iOS and Android, the BlackBerryOS started to feel outdated and was also void of essential applications.

The company then tried rebranding itself and launched the Z10 running BBOS 10. It was a touchscreen smartphone running an overhauled user interface. What was enticing, is that it also supported Android apps, but the jarring interface and the poor touch support made the Z10 a commercial flop.BlackBerry, in a bid to stay relevant, kept supporting the BBOS10 until the year 2015. The company then kept losing revenue and finally succumbed to using Android in smartphones starting the BlackBerry Priv in 2015. The licensing rights to the iconic brand now belong to TCL which still makes Android smartphones.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7

It wasn’t so much that the Galaxy Note 7 from Samsung was a commercial flop, the smartphone failed as a product. When the company announced the device in the year 2016, the audience was wowed by all the impressive hardware and software features. It was such a hit product, that Samsung managed to sell millions of devices within days of release, and that’s where the problems started. 

A lot of users reported that their Galaxy Note 7 started heating up, catching fire and then eventually blowing to smithereens. Samsung tried controlling the situation by recalling all the smartphones and fixing them. But even after the fix was supposedly put into place, more reports of Galaxy Note 7’s blowing up kept surfacing online. This led to the company eventually killing the product altogether.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was so infamous that memes about it are still popular today. It is also banned from being carried in most flights. The company and the customers have since moved away from the frightening experience, but the Galaxy Note 7 still remains in the memory of people.

HTC ChaCha

Despite its condition today, Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC was a popular company in the first five years of this decade. In the year 2011, the company announced ChaCha and Salsa in a collaboration with Facebook. Aside from being horribly named, these smartphones featured a dedicated Facebook button. And while the latter was not anything spectacular, the ChaCha got all the hate because of the awkward design with a keyboard and again, the Facebook button.

The HTC ChaCha ran Android 4.0 Jellybean and as mentioned above, featured a keyboard. Because of the not so pleasing name (It literally means uncle in Hindi!) and the useless interface, the ChaCha was a commercial and critical flop.

Red Hydrogen One

Red, the company behind some of the best cinematic quality available today, tried its hands at making a smartphone in 2018. Called the Red Hydrogen One, the device boasts of a few impressive specifications, including a 4D Holographic display, a sturdy and different design and the ability to attach future camera accessories to the handset. However, due to the eye watering price tag starting at about US$ 1300 for the base variant, the smartphone did not sell well. Add to the fact that the display did not work as advertised and the processor used was also from 2017, the Snapdragon 835.

Also read: Top Android And iOS Competitors That Got Lost In The Wheel Of Time

The Red Hydrogen One is a classic example of a company trying to do something they have no experience in, and failing badly. While it is all but confirmed that Red will not release a “Hydrogen Two” in the market, but the company is still expected to give the mobile phone business idea another try, hopefully in a different form.

The post Top 5 Failed Mobile Phones That Have Left A Mark On Technology History appeared first on iGyaan Network.

LG ThinQ Wallet

As mentioned above, LG has filed for a patent for a cryptocurrency wallet called the ThinQ Wallet. The patent was filed at the USPTO (The United States Patent and Trademark Office). The description of the listing mentions it is a software for smartphones that specialises in payments. It will use blockchain technology, which is what all the cryptocurrencies are based on. Using it, the company is working on a digital wallet for the currencies, so they will work as a traditional wallet application which specialises in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

LG G7 ThiNQ

Also read: Galaxy Note 10 Will Allegedly Support 20 W Wireless Charging, First On A Samsung Device

The name ThinQ is used by LG in products that boast of some form of Artificial Intelligence technology; so it may be the case that the wallet when launched will feature AI as one of its features. It is speculated that the company may introduce the ThinQ Wallet alongside a flagship smartphone in the following weeks. Unfortunately, more details about the upcoming device or the cryptocurrency wallet are unknown at the moment. However, the patent listing suggests that we may not have to wait too long to hear about them.

The post LG Working On A Cryptocurrency Wallet Suggests Patent appeared first on iGyaan Network.

However, the company is working rigorously to neutralise the havoc that the trade ban has caused. Huawei was previously reported to be working on its own operating system for mobile devices which is expected to debut later this year. The said OS is allegedly called HongMeng and is reported to be cross compatible with Android OS. This implies that applications from the Android platform will work seamlessly with the upcoming OS from Huawei. According to a fresh report published by China Daily, Huawei has already shipped 1 million smartphones with the HongMeng OS onboard for testing. Besides supporting Android applications, the OS is claimed to have increased security functions to protect personal data.

The OS will support mobile phones, computers, tablets, televisions, cars and even smart wearable devices revealed a senior Huawei executive in a WeChat group involving some internet experts. Intriguingly, Huawei has not started working on the OS following the US ban. Instead, the company has been developing such an operating system for over half a decade. This move was taken as the company had previously anticipated the rising dominance of Western companies in the field of software.

Another report published by South China Morning Post states that in the year 2012, Huawei’s founder arranged a closed door meeting in the company’s heavily guarded premised that lasted for several days. The meeting was intended so that the top official could brainstorm the development of an OS that would safeguard the company’s future if a deal with the US goes bad. Reports also suggest that the company has pumped billions of dollars in the project since its inception without any form of direct contribution to the company’s revenue.

Also Read: HTC Launches U19e And Desire 19+ In Taiwan

It seems that Huawei which is a leader across several fields of technologies has also maintained a strong grip in ensuring that it’s hard earned dominance stays regardless of tough times. All in all, Huawei has tackled the massive destruction causing trade ban with strong preparation. Though we will have to wait patiently till the hyped up HongMeng OS is officially rolled out later this year. 

The post Huawei Has Shipped 1 Million Phones With Their Own OS appeared first on iGyaan Network.

HTC U19e Specifications And Price

The HTC U19e features a 6 inch LCD Full HD+ display with a 2160 x 1080 px resolution. The display has an aspect ratio of 18:9. Under the hood, it runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, which consists of the octa-core Kryo 360 CPU and the Adreno 616 GPU. It is paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, with microSD expansion support.

Regarding the camera, the HTC U19e sports a dual camera setup, comprising of 12MP (f/1.8) primary camera and a 20MP secondary sensor. It supports 4K video recording with AI add-on features. For selfies, the U19e boasts of a 24MP (f/2.0) front facing camera. It is powered by a 3930 mAh battery with Qualcomm Quick Charge 4.0 support. Also, the smartphone features HTC BoomSound Hi-Fi. The device has been priced at TWD 14,900 (~INR 32,900)

HTC Desire 19+ Specifications And Price

HTC U19e

Alongside the HTC U19e, the company unveiled the Desire 19+. It features a slightly larger 6.2 inch HD+ screen than the U19e. The smartphone packs a MediaTek Helio P35 SoC, which consists of an octa-core Cortex A53 CPU clocked at 2.3 GHz and the IMG PowerVR GE8320 GPU. It is bundled with 4GB/6GB of RAM and 64GB/128GB ROM. 

Also Read: Xiaomi Mi Band 4 With Colour Display Launched

In terms of optics, it features the first triple camera setup ever seen in an HTC smartphone. It can be broken down into a 13MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 5MP depth sensor. For selfies, it has a 16MP front-facing camera which has support for facial recognition-based unlock and AI-enabled beauty modes. Both the smartphones will run Android 9.0 Pie out of the box. The pricing of the two variants is as follows: 

• 4GB + 64GB: TWD 9,990 (~INR 22,000)
• 6GB + 128GB: TWD 10,990 (~INR 24,200)
  
  

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Ryzen 9 3950X

The leaked 16-core CPU processor is being dubbed the Ryzen 9 3950X and will be the flagship Zen 2 product available for consumers. The AMD chipset features a 16 core/ 32 threads with a boost clock of 4.7Ghz (base 3.5Ghz) and a TDP of 105W. Gaming is the main focus of the new chipset that runs on the existing 3000 motherboards. AMD Ryzen 9 3950X is essentially a 3900X with all of its cores on both chiplets enabled for more raw output in performance with 16 cores. 

The top-end consumer chipset will most probably be announced along with the new Navi GPUs. AMD Ryzen 9 3900X currently has no competition, with the closest being the high-end Intel Core i9-9900K Coffee Lake chipset for gaming. The Ryzen 9 is the first gaming dedicated CPU that crosses the 8-core milestone and should, on paper, outperform the Core i9 CPU.

Radeon RX 5700 XT

AMD’s reveal of its RDNA graphical architecture based Radeon RX 5000 GPUs at the Horizon Next Gaming event might be offset with a new leak. The leakster apparently got his hands on the slides meant for the show. Images leaked show the details of the GPU, including the picture of the RX 5700XT. The new generation Radeon is expected to go up against NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 2070 GPU.

Also Read: HTC To Launch A Mid Range Smartphone Called The U19e On The 11th Of June

AMD Radeon RX 5700XT features 40 compute units or 2560 streaming processors that deliver 9.75 TFLOPs of FP32 performance. The 7nm GPU will sport 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM with a core clock of 1606MHz and a boost clock of 1905 MHz. This is by far the highest clockspeed seen in any AMD GPU, all thanks to its new RDNA architecture and 7nm process. Apparently, a ‘Game Clock’ is also planned which will probably be a hybrid state between boost and base clocks for when the entire GPU is not being fully utilized.

The post AMD Ryzen 9 3950X And Radeon RX 5700XT Leaked appeared first on iGyaan Network.

Huawei Nova 5i

According to the listing on TENAA’s website, the Nova 5i from Huawei will be its mid-range offering. The smartphone will measure 159.1 x 75.9 x 8.3mm and weigh 178 grams. It will have a 6.3-inch display with a resolution of 2310 x 1080 px. The device will run on an Octa-core processor with a clock speed of 2.2GHz. While it is not specified which SoC will be used in the handset, it may be the 12nm Kirin 710, which is comprised of an Octa-core processor and the Mali G51 GPU. This processor is also found in devices like the Honor 8X and the Honor 20i. 

Huawei P30 Pro

In terms of optics, the Nova 5i has been revealed to have a quad rear camera setup. This will be comprised of a 24MP primary sensor, an 8MP secondary sensor and two additional 2MP sensors. For selfies, a 24MP camera will be present on the front of the device. It will be launched in three colour variants, namely Red, Black and Blue. The smartphone will be available in the following two memory configurations.

• 6GB of RAM and 128GB ROM
• 8GB of RAM and 128GB ROM

Pricing and Availability

Huawei Nova 3

Also read: Nokia Reportedly Plans On Releasing Two 5G Smartphones In Q3 Of 2019

The Huawei Nova 5i is expected to make its debut in the last week of June alongside its elder sibling Nova 5. Unfortunately, the company has not revealed any information about the pricing of the smartphone, but it is expected to be a sub Rs. 20,000 device when it launches in India.

The post Huawei Nova 5i Certified Via TENAA, To Launch Soon appeared first on iGyaan Network.

The aforementioned ‘certain’ type of melanoma has to contain a potent gene mutation named BRAF-V600E. When the combination of drugs was tested on this mutation, it did not exhibit any side effects that normally occur. The research further implied that when the combination of two targeted inhibitors successfully blocked the BRAF mutation, the melanoma patient can be expected to survive significantly longer. 

After the results of the phase one and phase two trials were published, it was found out that the patients had ‘Progression-free’ survival, which means that the disease did not worsen or progress over an average period of 16 months. Those patients who received the trio of trametinib, dabrafenib and a placebo were able to survive for an average duration of 10.3 months without the disease progressing any further.

Also Read: HTC To Launch A Mid Range Smartphone Called The U19e On The 11th Of June

Previously, one of the three drugs have been tried out on patients, and it has been deduced that it can reduce the size of the tumour to quite an extent. However, most people don’t respond to the treatments and tend to relapse in the later stages. Even two-drug treatments failed to be as effective as three-drug treatments. The head of the research team stated that the results of the triple drug therapy were more than encouraging for patients suffering from Advanced Melanoma. Listing an immune response to the cancer/tumour will help the body to develop an improved and durable response structure to the therapy. 

The post Advanced Melanoma Can Be Treated With Three Drug Combination appeared first on iGyaan Network.

HTC U19e

As previously mentioned, the alleged HTC U19e will be a mid range offering from the company. Leaked schematics of the device reveal it will have a large display surrounded by minimal bezels. The images show that it will have a dual front facing camera setup, like present in the U12+ from last year. The smartphone has the volume rockers and the power button mounted on the right side. It is also insinuated that the device may also have the company’s active edge feature which acts as a shortcut to apps and commands inside the UI; by squeezing the sides of the handset.

Also read: PUBG Lite Confirmed To Launch In India Soon

The HTC U19e has been revealed to have the model number 2Q7A100. Past leaks about the smartphone have revealed its key specifications. The HTC mid-range smartphone will run on the 10nm Snapdragon 710 SoC. It consists of an Octa-Core CPU and the Adreno 616 GPU. In terms of memory and storage, the device may have 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage; which might be further expandable via a microSD card. The device will have a display with an FHD+ resolution of 2160 x 1080 px. As mentioned above, the U19e will debut on the 11th of June at an expected price of Rs. 25,000.

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Aptly named, DJI Storm received a rather uneventful reveal with the company discreetly uploading a video of the drone on YouTube. The drone is heavily equipped to tackle various scenarios and function at the optimum levels(operational parameters ranging from -10°C to 40°C). Carrying with it an eight-rotor blade, the drone has a maximum payload capacity of 18.5kg.

This opens up the potential for drones to carry various mid-sized and professional filming cameras like the Arri Alexa LF camera that was equipped with its lens as seen in the YouTube reveal video. The camera was also outfitted with one of DJI’s wireless focus system (that follows the subject in focus) along with DJI’s Ronin 2 gimbal for stabilization.

The video showcased a myriad of expensive hardware that is not exactly consumer grade but rather used for professional work or filming. Even DJI’s latest drone model available for sale, the Matrice 600 for professionals, costs $5000 (approx. Rs. 3,47,000). The Matrice 600 however, is only capable of carrying a load of upto 6kg. DJI Storm is also reportedly faster than the Matrice variant by 10mph, having a top speed of 80kmph. DJI has listed the capabilities of the drone to sustain flight for 15 minutes with a payload of 12kg,  this depends on the batteries used to power the drone systems.

DJI Storm is working out to be one of the most expensive filming drone systems ever seen. The DJI Ronin 2 gimbal for stabilization carries a hefty price tag of $8000 (approx. Rs. 5,56,000) and the heavy duty drones like xFold Dragon X12 will put buyers down by $30,000 (approx. Rs. 20,87,000). 

However, the company seems to be reserving the equipment for its DJI Studio Custom Aerial Cinematography Service, which is seen in the video with the special van, professionally trained crew, and many of the DJI’s top gears like Master Wheels and Force Pro remote control systems. These systems allow the cinematographers to move the drone’s camera as they would do in person.

Also Read: Mysterious Mid Range HTC Smartphone Certified By Bluetooth SIG, Launch Imminent

DJI Studio is not a relatively new department within DJI, having been working with Asian markets for a while now. What can be gathered by the company’s Chinese website show offerings for only the DJI Matrice 600 paired with the Sony A7S II camera or the DJI Inspire 2. It is unclear as to which markets would be hit with this service as no official announcements have been made so far.

The post DJI Unveils The DJI Storm Drone Alongside Its Own Van And Crew appeared first on iGyaan Network.

Galaxy M40: Leaked Specifications And Features

Leaks suggest that the Galaxy M40 will sport a 6.3 inch FHD+ display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 px. The smartphone will boast of a high screen-to-body ratio thanks to the Infinity-O display (punch-hole display). The right side of the device will accommodate the volume rockers and the power button. The rear panel of the handset houses the triple camera setup, the fingerprint scanner and the company branding in the middle.

Samsung Galaxy M30

Under the hood, the Galaxy M40 will run on the Snapdragon 675 chipset, which consists of the octa-core Kryo 460 CPU and the Adreno 612 GPU. Information regarding different variants is unknown, but it is confirmed that the smartphone will launch with at least 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It will be powered by a 3,500 mAh battery, unlike the Galaxy M30 (see review here), which packed a massive 5000 mAh battery. 

Regarding optics, the Galaxy M40 will feature a triple rear camera setup, which will consist of a 32MP primary sensor, a 5MP depth sensor and a third 8MP ultra wide sensor. For selfies, it will sport a 16MP front camera housed in the in-screen cutout. Noteworthy, the M40 will be the first M-series smartphone to run on Android 9.0 (Pie) out-of-the-box. 

Galaxy M40: Expected Price And Availability

Also Read: Mysterious Mid Range HTC Smartphone Certified By Bluetooth SIG, Launch Imminent

As mentioned before, the Galaxy M40 will be unveiled by the company on June 11, 2019. Sources state that it will be priced around the price point of INR 20,000 (~$287). When launched, it will be retailed on an online-only basis, with the retailers being popular e-commerce website Amazon and Samsung’s own online store.  

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