Apple rejects iPhone price-fixing allegations in Russia

MOSCOW, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Apple Inc on Tuesday rejected allegations from Russia's state competition watchdog it may have been involved in fixing prices for iPhones, saying resellers set their own prices.

Apple reacted a day after Russia's Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAS) said it had opened a case into the allegations after a consumer had pointed out that identical prices had been set for iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus models, which appeared in Russia in October 2015, at 16 major resellers.

Apple, in emailed comments, said it did not oblige Russian resellers to fix prices for its products.

"Resellers set their own prices for the Apple products they sell in Russia and around the world," the company's press office said.

FAS said it was looking into the idea that Apple had somehow obliged Russian resellers to treat its recommended product prices as mandatory. It said an investigation had shown that retailers had set identical prices and kept them at that level for a certain time period, including for other models.

FAS has the power to fine firms it finds guilty of price-fixing. (Reporting by Maria Kiselyova; Editing by Andrew Osborn)

Resource: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-3731212/Apple-rejects-iPhone-price-fixing-allegations-Russia.html

Apple iPhone 7 in a Black colour variant leaked online

Apple iPhone 7 will launch in early September, and rumours refuse to die down around the new device. With the iPhone 7, we’ve seen quite a few leaks, and many are coming from China, which is hardly surprising. Just like with the iPhone 6s, which saw the addition of a new Rose Gold colour option, there are expectations Apple will introduce a new colour this time as well. In case of the iPhone 7, we’ve seen a blue variant being leaked online. Now a new leak from China claims to show pictures of the black variant of the iPhone 7 Plus.

A report from Chinese website MyDrivers, shows assembly drawings of iPhone 7, which it says will have a second “speaker grill” at the bottom, no headphones, dual cameras, and yes the phone is in a black colour option. The ‘Space Black’ colour rumour is not exactly new. In July, well known Japanese blog Macotakara had reported Apple will turn the Space Grey to a darker colour option that could be a formal black.

Black as a colour option holds a certain charm for dedicated Apple fans. Space Grey doesn’t have the same appeal as a hard-core black iPhone will, although there are indications Apple might even launch a dark blue version. In July, designer Martin Hajek created 3D iPhone 7 renders in a Black colour option, which had gone viral on the internet. Interestingly the renders featured a Force Touch button, another feature which could come true.Recently Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who is known for his Apple scoops, reported the iPhone 7 will have a dual-rear camera, a home button with taptic feedback (similar to what Apple Watch has) and no headphone jack. According to Gurman’s report, the dual-rear camera set up won’t appear on smaller version of iPhones, possibly the 4.7-inch version. It also says the cameras will allow for brighter photos, especially in low-light settings.

While Apple is expected to make significant changes on the camera and perhaps the home button, a full design overhaul is only expected with the iPhone 8, claim analysts. According to reports, a new glass design body, and a bigger OLED display will be introduced with the iPhone 8.

Apple iPhone 7 is expected to start at 32GB storage option, rather than the 16GB model, which was another pain point for many users. Apple CEO Tim Cook has promised the new phones will make every user want to upgrade, and it will be a crucial launch for the company which needs to boost sagging iPhone sales.

Apple is expected to unveil the new iPhone in the first week of September, and it could be in stores by September 16

.Resource:http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/mobile-tabs/apple-iphone-7-black-colour-variant-leaked-online-rumours-specs-2978331/

Asus Zenfone 3 may feature 23MP camera, 4GB RAM

Asus has been teasing the launch of its new lineup of Zenfones for quite some time, and now leakster @krispitech has leaked a bunch of new information about the phones on Twitter. According to the posts, the Asus Zenfone 3 will be launched in three variants, two with 4.5-inch and 5-inch displays, while the larger Zenfone 3 Max might feature a 5.5-inch or a 6-inch display.

As per the leak, the display of the phone will have a 2.5D Gorilla glass protection. The device is likely to be announced in five colours — Silver, Gold. Rose Gold, White and Black. The back of the phone is expected to have the spiral metal pattern similar to what Asus generally uses on its Zen series laptops. The device is tipped to have dual-SIM slots and may also offer 4G capabilities. MicroSD card slot is likely to be present and is expected to expand the storage capacity of the device by up to 128GB. In addition, the highest variant of the phone is expected to feature 23MP and 8MP cameras. A previous report tips the device to sport a fingerprint scanner as well.

The leak suggests that the price of the new Asus zenfone 3 and its variants may be between $110 (approx. Rs. 7,400) and $370 (approx. Rs. 25,500). It also says that most models may feature 4GB RAM and offer 32GB of on-board storage. Further, it is likely that the phone will be launched with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with ZenUI 3.0. It is also mentioned that the top variant scores about 135000 points on Antutu. The company will announce its next generation of phones on May 30.
Resource: http://www.digit.in/mobile-phones/asus-zenfone-3-may-have-a-23mp-camera-30307.html

Asus to launch Zenfone 3 series in India today, could introduce four phones

Asus Zenfone 3 series India launch is set to take place today. The Indian version of Z3nvolution will be streamed in 360-degree and users across the world can log in to watch the same. Asus Zenfone 3 series comprises of three variants – Zenfone 3, Zenfone 3 Ultra and Zenfone 3 Deluxe. Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe is the flagship of the three and also the world’s first smartphone to feature Snapdragon 821 chipset. Though there’s another variant of Zenfone 3 Deluxe with Snapdragon 820, we’ll have to wait and see which one is headed to India.

Asus Zenfone 3 series was announced announced at the Computex Conference in June. The smartphones make their way in to the Indian smartphone market nearly two months after they were unveiled in Taiwan. Asus CEO Jerry Shen, at the launch event of Zenfone 3 series had indicated that India is one of the most important market for the company. It is likely the company is planning to launch an entry-level called Zenfone 3 Laser at the event today as well. The successor of Asus Zenfone 3 Laser is a budget smartphone which was announced in Vietnam in mid-July.

Asus Zenfone 3 Laser has an ultra-fast 0.03 second laser autofocus, which is also the USP of the device.  It features a 5.5-inch Full HD display with 2.5D arc glass. Asus Zenfone 3 Laser gets a 13MP rear image sensor from Sony coupled with electronic image stabilisation. There’s 4GB RAM on-board and 32GB internal storage. The smartphone is priced at 5,990,000 vietnamese dong (approximately Rs 18,000). It is yet to be seen if Asus actually launches the phone in India today and how will it be priced.

Resource: http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/mobile-tabs/asus-zenfone-3-series-india-launch-price-specifications-features-2980264/

Apple iPhone 7 to launch with 256GB storage variant: Report

Apple iPhone is currently the most talked about smartphone. While we don’t know the exact date for the launch, leaks around the phone continue with the latest one hinting at a 256GB storage option.

The latest report originating from Taiwan says Apple will announce the new iPhone with up to 256GB storage. According to Digitimes, major NAND flash suppliers like Samsung and SK Hynix have all raised the prices of their flash storage citing huge demand from manufacturers. Digitimes reports the major trend in price hike is on the back of a claim that iPhone 7 will feature up to 256GB on-board space.

With iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, Apple introduced 128GB storage option, which made great sense for users who take a lot of pictures and videos on their smartphone. That being said, Apple has stuck with 16GB as the base model, which is never enough space if you’re a dedicated iPhone user.

With latest iPhones being capable of live photos and 4K video recording, Apple increasing the storage will definitely appeal to potential buyers. With iPhone 7, Apple is likely to make the 12MP rear camera even better by upgrading the optics. There is also a rumoured iPhone 7 Pro model launching with dual rear camera, which should offer better depth sensing and might also take more space than usual pictures.

As 256 GB iPhone will sound like a great deal, although Apple won’t be the first company to introduce such high on-board storage for a phone. Asus recently announced its Zenfone 3 series with the top-end Zenfone 3 Delux device getting 256GB storage.

Also read: Apple iPhone 7 will have a new pressure-sensitive home button

Apple is also rumoured to ditch the 16GB storage as base variant in favour of a 32GB model. While we are not sure of that, it is almost certain that Apple will drop headphone jack, and go with a new Smart Lightning Connector.  Other leaks claims a Black colour variant might be coming this year, and then there are reports for a Blue iPhone as well. Apple is also expected to introduce a pressure sensitive home button, which could support tactile feedback, like the Apple Watch.

If Apple does introduce dual-rear cameras as it is being reported, the extra space sure won’t hurt. But be prepared to pay a lot more for a 256GB Apple iPhone 7.

Resource: http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/mobile-tabs/apple-iphone-7-256gb-storage-variant-launch-price-specifications-features-2983157/

Apple iPhone 7 might not be able to prop up numbers: Canalys

Apple iPhone 7 is just weeks away and there is a lot of speculation about the features as always. While it is too early to tell what impact the phone will have on sales, research firm Canalys has released a new forecast which does not paint such a rosy picture for Apple.

Canalys expects Apple’s worldwide shipments to decline in 2016 despite the new iPhone thanks to the “struggle in China”. “The launch of the iPhone 6 saw Apple’s shipments in Greater China skyrocket, but the company has struggled to maintain this momentum,” said research analyst Jessie Ding, adding that the iPhone 6s had a lackluster reception in comparison and the iPhone SE is unlikely to make a big difference.

Meanwhile, local players like Huawei, Oppo and Vivo have improved product quality and gained a better market share with products at significantly lower price points. “The iPhones lack features such as waterproofing and wireless charging. Apple needs to catch up with the competition if it wants to compete,” Canalys said.  However, cutting edge features in the new iPhone could change the game.
Meanwhile, Canalys said worldwide smartphone shipments will reach just over 1.4 billion units in 2016 – a 5 per cent year-on-year increase. But shipments in Asia Pacific (excluding Greater China) will grow faster at 13 per cent. “The smartphone markets in India and the Philippines are performing well in 2016, with annual growth expected to reach 21 per cent and 26 per cent respectively,” said research analyst Ishan Dutt.

Apple and other smartphone majors like Samsung are expected to look to these markets to prop up sales across their portfolio. In fact, in an interview to Washington Post, Apple CEO Tim Cook said he sees great potential in the Indian market, especially with 4G coming in.

“Smartphone penetration in these markets remains low, meaning there is a big opportunity for vendors. Growth in established markets is harder to find but, despite shipment declines in the first two quarters, we expect Western Europe and North America to return to growth in the second half of the year,” he added. Both these regions are expected to end 2016 with single-digit percentage shipment increases powered by the demand for the new iPhone.

The new Apple iPhone 7 is expected to launch in the early September. The iPhone 7 series is rumoured to have a dual-rear camera, a home button with taptic feedback like on the Apple Watch and will end the era of the headphone jack.

Resource: http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/apple-iphone-7-might-not-be-able-to-prop-up-numbers-canalys/

iPhone 7 launch event reportedly planned for September 7

Don't make any firm plans just yet, but it looks like Apple will unveil the iPhone 7 on September 7.

The latest word comes from the oft-accurate and well-sourced Mark Gurman of Bloomberg. In discussing an updated line of MacBook Pros, a source revealed the company probably won't debut these new notebooks at an event Apple currently has planned for the first Wednesday of next month.

The purpose, then, of this September 7 event? To show off the next line of iPhones.

Apple is widely expected to introduce the iPhone 7 at its big fall event. Accompanying the new phone will almost certainly be a larger iPhone 7 Plus. Rumor has it an even bigger and more powerful iPhone 7 Pro is coming, too, though the latest word is that a proper "Pro" phone won't arrive until 2017.
Lucky number 7

If Apple does hold an iPhone 7 launch event on September 7, it will slightly buck the trend of its past iPhone reveals. Typically, they've taken place on a Tuesday, though last year Apple held an event mid-week to announce the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus.

Of course, the date could always change - note that Gurman writes the event is "currently scheduled for Sept. 7." Still, it lines up with the end of a back to school offer one of our readers spotted, and the chance to launch the iPhone 7 on the 7th day of the month is almost too good to pass up.

The iPhone 7's most notable feature - or lack thereof - will be the removal of the headphone jack. It's not set in stone that Apple is doing away with the headphone port, though most leaks suggest the plugin's end is nigh.

Other rumored iPhone 7 features include a 1080p screen, a larger, single-lens camera sensor (a dual-camera set up for the 7 Plus), and possible waterproofing.

If the iPhone 7 event is going down on September 7, it'll be a jam-packed day as Sony's "PlayStation Meeting" is also taking place. It's here the company is expected to show off the PS4.5. 

Resource: http://www.in.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/iPhone-7-launch-event-reportedly-planned-for-September-7/articleshow/53642168.cms

Asus 'Zenfone Max' review: You can use the smartphone to charge other mobiles

If you're a smartphone user, one of the things constantly on your mind is battery life -or the lack of it. Most users start to get anxious when their phone battery starts running low, which explains the popularity of power banks.

We also know that the only way to get better battery life in a smartphone is to fit in a larger battery. Enter the Zenfone Max -the highlight of this device is the massive, 5,000 mAh battery. It was actually launched several months ago -this is the refreshed , 2016 edition. The primary upgrade is a faster processor (Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 vs the aging Snapdragon 410 in the previous version) and this version has Android 6.0 (vs Android 5.0 before).
Note that the older version of the Max with the Snapdragon 410 continues to be on sale at a lower Rs 8,999. We reviewed it early this year and appreciated the feature rich user interface, good build quality, stylish design (with faux leather back panel) and good display. All those things persist today because it is the same device with upgraded components and software.

In fact, there's a strong family resemblance among the Zenfone series from Asus -it's both a good and a bad thing. Good because it's instantly recognisable as an Asus phone and bad because there's not much difference in the way the phones look at different price points. The Max is big and heavy, and it's all because of the 5,000mAh battery -that's a larger battery than many power banks. The battery will last about 20 hours with a looping video or 12 hours with web browsing. On an average, users can get 2 to 3 full days of battery life on a charge


If you've used a Zenfone before, you'll be right at home with the interface. There are lots of little tweaks and useful apps built in. For instance, the Sharelink lets you share files wirelessly, there's a collage maker, built in webstorage (5GB free), MiniMovie (video editor), AudioWizard (audio presets and 5 band EQ), screen colour adjustment, call recorder, theme engine, app permissions and a laser ruler (uses the camera laser AF to measure distance under 50cm). Apart from the battery life,  the interface is the best part of this phone
There aren't too many other extraordinary features -performance is adequate for daily use, multimedia and light gaming. The camera app has a lot of modes (including full manual) and has low shutter lag. Quality is very good in daylight, which starts to break down a little with noise indoors.

So apart from monster battery life, what good is a big battery?
How about using it like a power bank? If you long press the power button, you'll see the option to shift to reverse charging mode (you can only activate it if the battery charge is above 20 %).

Simply use an OTG adapter (provided in the box) and plug in any other phone to charge it. The charger is a conventional 5V1.2Amp one -it will take a long time to charge up the big battery -this is fine if you're the type who only plugs in a phone to charge overnight.
If you're interested in the Max, it means you value battery life the most. And if so, the Rs 9,999 version obviously makes a lot of sense. The higher spec Rs 12,999 version of the Max has an additional 1GB RAM -but that's the only difference between these two variants. Rs 3k for just 1GB more RAM seems overpriced.

There are a bunch of competitors at about the same price. The Redmi Note 3 has both 2GB16GB and 3GB32GB versions, a large 4,000 mAh battery, faster Snapdragon 650 processor, fingerprint scanner and IR emitter. Other devices you can consider include the Meizu M3 Note (Rs 9,999 for 3GB RAM, 32GB storage), Le 2 (Rs 11,999 for 3GB and 32GB storage + a year of unlimited multimedia), and the Cool Note 3 Plus (Rs 8,999)

Resource:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/asus-zenfone-max-review-you-can-use-the-smartphone-to-charge-other-mobiles/articleshow/53316131.cms

Asus Zenfone 3 ships to Malaysia

First Snapdragon 821 to ship soon

Since early June, we have been closing windows on our summer advent calendar waiting for the Snapdragon 821 based Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe. Now it seems that the Asus Santa Claws is visting Malaysia first.

Malaysian customers will get the entire range of the Asus Zenfone 3 including the premier Zenfone 3 Deluxe, Zenfone 3 Ultra 6.8 inch phablet, Zenfone 3 laser, Zenfone 3 Max and  the Asus Zenfone 3.

It is a pity, because we were especially interested in the Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe and its 256GB UFS 2.0 storage. It comes with 6GB RAM and Snapdragon 821 SoC. It seems that it will sell for MYR 3,299 which is USD $820.

The Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe with Snapdragon 820, 6GB RAM and 64GB storage will sell for MYR 2,599 or USD $645. The ZenFone 3 Ultra 6.8-inch phablet will come at the same price but the size of that phone sounds incredible as this is almost as big as the popular Nexus 7 first $199 tablet in 2013. The Zenfone 3 Ultra 6.8-inch phablet comes with the Snapdragon 852 SoC.

The Asus Zenfone 3 laser a 5.5 inch full HD phone with 4GB Ram and a Snapdragon 430 will sell for  MYR 999 ($250). The Asus Zenfone 3 Max featuring Snapdragon 615, 3GB RAM and 4,100mAh should be selling for a fab MYR 799 ($200).

The last but by no means the least are the vanilla Zenfone 3 models. They come in two sizes. The 5.2-inch version,  with 4GB RAM, 64GB storage and Snapdragon 625 will sell for MYR 1,499 ($370). The larger 5.5-inch version will sell for 1,699 / $420 USD and has the same spec.

Customers in India might be the next to get these phones on August 17 and we guess that the rest of the world won’t be that far away. This is the first generation of Asus phones that defected to Qualcomm's Snapdragon after Intel decided to stop wasting its money on mobile phone SoCs.
Resource:http://www.fudzilla.com/news/mobile/41281-asus-zenfone-3-ships-to-malaysia

Asus sets the Plan to release Zenfone 3 series in India on August 17: Price, Specs, Features Overview

 

Asus sets plan to make launch for their new latest smartphone Zenfone 3 series at the Z3 evolution event on August 17, 2016, in India. In this Zenfone 3 series, they are launching three new smartphones Asus Zenfone 3, Zenfone 3 Ultra and Zenfone 3 Deluxe.

Earlier in the month of May at the Computex event, all these smartphones were introduced. These three smartphones in the Zenfone 3 series comes with the 1080p displays and have the fingerprint recognition in rear-end.

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Walk through the specifications of the Asus Zenfone 3

Asus Zenfone 3 is one of the smartphones from the Zenfone 3 series which is going to take part in the launch that is going to happen on August 17 in India. This Asus Zenfone 3 comes with 5.5-inch with Full HD Super IPS+ display (1920 x 1080 pixels). The display has 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection.

The phone is ingrained with 2GHz Octa-Core Snapdragon 625 14nm processor along with Adreno 506 GPU.  3GB of RAM enhances the performance, and that boosts multi-tasking and other variant comes with 4GB of RAM.

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In a similar way storage segments are classified in Asus Zenfone 3.  3GB of RAM with 32GB storage, 4GB RAM with 64GB storage, and this can be an expandable memory with microSD.

The phone is pre-installed with Android 6.0 Marshmallow along with Zen UI 3.0. Hybrid Dual Sim comes in this phone which supports Micro SIM or Nano SIM/ MicroSD card. The phone supports connectivity supports 4G LTE with VoLTE.

The camera of Asus Zenfone 3 comes with 16 Megapixel rear camera with dual-tone LED Flash, and other features are PDAF, Laser Auto Focus, f/2.0 aperture and four axis Optimal Image Stabilization is available on this phone. The front facing camera comes with 8MP with f/2.0 aperture. This front facing camera is having great viewing angle of 88-degree wide-angle lens.

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The phone has Fingerprint sensor which helps in unlocking phone so quick. The weighs about 155g which is slightly heavy when compared with the other smartphones. The Asus Zenfone 3 will come with the USB Type-C, and the battery capacity of the device is 3000mAh.

Earlier when the phone is launched in Taipei, Asus Zenfone 3 was priced at $249.00 which is roughly Rs. 16,800.

Walk through the specifications of the Asus Zenfone 3 Ultra

Asus Zenfone 3 Ultra is the next smartphone in the lineup of the launch. This smartphone Asus Zenfone 3 Ultra have some extra specifications when compared with the previous model more over some advanced specs. Asus Zenfone 3 Ultra arrives in 6.8-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) display with 95% NTSC colour gamut.

Zenfone 3 Ultra will be available with the Octa Core Snapdragon 652 processor which is the combination of the Quad 1.8GHz ARM Cortex A72 and Quad 1.2GHz A53 CPUs with Adreno 510 GPU.

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The phone Zenfone 3 Ultra is available with different variants with sizes of the RAM, 3GB/ 4GB and in following way the internal storage details are available 32GB/ 64GB/ 128GB. The storage is expandable by including external MicroSD card.

The Zenfone 3 Ultra is pre-installed and comes with Android 6.0 Marshmallow with Zen UI. Jumping to Camera segment of Zenfone 3 Ultra, 23 MP rear camera which gives you stunning and sharp images with dual-tone LED flash and Sony IMX318 sensor. The key features in the camera segment are 4-axis axis Optimal Image Stabilization and the 3-axis EIS along with the Laser Auto-Focus.

The front facing camera is not compromised, and it comes with the 8MP with the f/2.0 aperture and 85-degree wide viewing angle which gives the best images and the selfies.

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The Hybrid Sim management is included in this Asus Zenfone 3 Ultra smartphone. The phone comes with the fingerprint sensor recognition which helps quick unlocking your phone less than the blink of an eye. The phone weighs about 233Gms which is bit heavy.

The phone have Dual Five-magnet stereo speakers which gives best audio output with clear quality and other features in audio segment are NXP smart amplifier, Hi-Res Audio (HRA). The phone comes with 4600 mAh and battery Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0, and Zenfone 3 Ultra comes with the USB 3.0 Type-C port.

The price of Zenfone 3 Ultra has priced at $479.00 roughly Rs. 32,200 in India. These are expected prices from previous release in other country. You can wait for official announcement by company at the launch.

Resource: http://techfactslive.com/asus-zenfone-sets-plan-release-zenfone-3-series-india-august-17/6224/

Asus Zenfone 3 series launch set for August 17 in India

Asus Zenfone 3 series of smartphones will launch in India on August 17, according to a press invite from the company. Zenfone 3 was first announced in June at the annual Computex Conference in Taipei, Taiwan. Asus launched the Zenfone 3 in three variants at Computex, which included the Snapdragon 820 processor in the flagship Zenfone 3 Deluxe, although later in July another version of the Deluxe was launched with Snapdragon 821. It is not clear which phones Asus will launch in India on August 17.

At Computex, Asus has confirmed it would launch the Zenfone 3 series in August-September time frame in India. “We are still finalising what configurations will come to India like with the Deluxe, which has up to 6 GB RAM and 256 GB space. Given that India is one of our top, and most important markets, we plan to launch the high-end configurations for the phone, although we are finalising what will be the right fit for the market,” Peter Chang, Asus India country manager had told Indianexpress.com at Computex in June.

Zenfone 3 Deluxe has a 5.7-inch full HD (1920 by 1080 pixels) Super AMOLED display, and a 79 per cent screen-to-body ratio. The processor is Qualcomm Snapdragon 820/821, and it comes with up to 6GB RAM option It has a 23MP camera with the latest Sony IMX318 image sensor, f/2.0 aperture lens, and 4-axis optical image stabilization and 4K video recording.

Asus at Computex pointed the camera comes with both OIS and EIS, which is electronic image stabilisation to ensure better videos. The camera also has a Super Resolution mode, where it can take a 92 mp picture ( five pictures are taken in burst mode and stitched together to bump up the resolution). It also has a colour sensor on the back along with LED flash to improve white balance.

Also read: Computex 2016: Asus unveils Zenfone 3, flagship Zenfone 3 Deluxe and Zenfone 3 Ultra

In terms of specifications, the basic Zenfone 3 has 5.5-inch Full HD (1920 by 1080) Super IPS+ display, 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass on the front and rear of the phone. The design is similar to the Samsung Galaxy S7, S7 edge series with the glass and metal design frame. It runs Snapdragon 625 octa-core processor, has 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM, a 16MP rear camera + 8MP front camera and a fingerprint scanner on the back.

ZenFone 3 Ultra is a phablet with a 6.8-inch Full HD (1920 by 1080) display, and a full metal unibody design. It also runs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 octa-core processor, Adreno 510 GPU, and has up to 4GB RAM and 128GB ROM. It also features a 23 MP rear camera, and has a fingerprint scanner on the front. ZenFone 3 Ultra has a 4600mAh battery and Quick Charge 3.0 technology.

Asus had priced Zenfone 3 Deluxe at $499 or Rs 34,000,  Zenfone 3 at $249 which is around Rs 16,000 and Zenfone 3 Ultra version at $479 or Rs 32,000 on conversion. We’ll have to wait and see how Asus prices the phones in India.

Resource: http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/mobile-tabs/asus-zenfone-3-series-launch-set-for-august-17-in-india-specs-price-features-2955187/

Buy an Apple iPhone 5S for just Rs 12,000?

New Delhi: Ahead of Apple iPhone’s 5SE launch later this month, the buzz is that the 5S model would attract a price cut up to50%.

KGI Securities’ analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said in a research note that the company will slash the price of iPhone 5S by 50% once iPhone SE hits the market, according to a MacRumors report.

iPhone 5S, which costs $450 in the US, would be available for $225 in the next couple of months, if the report turns out to be a reality. However, there’s no confirmation on the dropping of prices in India.

iPhone 5S is currently available in Indian e-commerce websites for a starting price of Rs 21,499 for the 16GB model. Hence, in that scenario, the model would cost somewhere between Rs 12,000-13,000 to the users here.

Keeping the slashed price in mind, it looks to definitely be a good time for the Apple enthusiasts to try their hands on the iPhone 5s which still is quite popular in the country.
Resource: http://www.abplive.in/gadgets/buy-an-apple-iphone-5s-for-just-rs-12000-302872

Apple models new iPhones replaced after 3 years

Apple says it expects people to use a new iPhone and Apple Watch for just three years before replacing it, while a Mac is expected to stay with its first owner for four years.

In its latest environmental push, Apple released a document about how it calculates how much its products contribute to the greenhouse gas lifecycle. One of the metrics it detailed was "years of use".

"Years of use, which are based on first owners, are assumed to be four years for OS X and tvOS devices and three years for iOS and watchOS devices," the Cupertino, CA-based firm said.

Of course, this is just what Apple thinks people are doing based on its own data. And given the fact the Watch has only been out for a year, it's a forecast on Apple's part.

Analysis earlier this year from IHS showed that of the iPhone models in active use, 29 percent are iPhone 5 models and 23 percent are even older iPhone models. The iPhone 5 was launched in September 2012, which was over 3 years ago.

Apple's software updates had not always supported older iPhone models however. But from iOS 8, released in 2014, this changed. iOS 8 and the latest iOS 9 both support the iPhone 4s, which came out in October 2011.

Macs, of course, like many computers have a typically longer refresh cycle.

While Apple is not saying that it expects it devices to break down, the comments show its thinking when it comes to product cycles.

In the same document, other eagle-eyed observers noticed a slip-up by Apple in the way it refers to its operating system (OS) for its Macs. While the statement refers to "OS X" – the name of Apple's OS on Macs and Macbook's – the original statement referred to "MacOS" until it was quickly changed.

It's unknown if this was a genuine mistake or it could indicate a rebranding of the operating system.

CLARIFICATION: An earlier version of this article was unclear about what metric Apple was calculating for its devices.

Resource: http://www.cnbc.com/2016/04/15/apple-thinks-your-iphone-will-last-3-years.html

Samsung Galaxy S7 Beats Apple iPhone 6s Sales in Q2 2016 in the US: Report

Highlights

•    . Kantar Worldpanel data shows Samsung and Apple's US sales
•     Samsung Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge accounted for 16 percent of sales
•     iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus accounted 14.6 percent of sales

It is safe to say Samsung's latest flagship entries Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge and have been received well by both customers and critics alike, and now a market research report indicates that sales of Samsung's flagships were better than Apple's current flagships iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus in the US market in Q2 2016.

According to latest mobile market data numbers by Kantar Worldpanel, Samsung's flagship models Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge accounted for 16 percent of all smartphone sales in the US, while iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus accounted for 14.6 percent of sales in three months ended May. Even though Apple's flagships were launched in September last year and those of Samsung in March this year, this can be considered a worrying sign for the Cupertino-based company as it showed a trend of maintaining lead in market sales despite the launch gap till this very year.

In terms of all smartphone models, Samsung took an even bigger lead over Apple as the company accounted for 37 percent of all smartphone sales in US while Apple lagged behind at 29 percent market share during March-May.

The only respite from Apple's point of view in the released data was that 88 percent of current Apple users have chosen to stay loyal and intend to buy another smartphone from the same company. Although Samsung seems to be catching up in this regard as well with 86 percent of Samsung customers chose to stick with the company.

In April, Apple posted its first-ever decline in iPhone sales and its first revenue drop in 13 years, during January-March, as the company credited with re-inventing the smartphone struggled with an increasingly saturated market and faced the heat from Samsung's new flagships.

With the latest mobile market data from Kantar Worldpanel, it seems like the trend is likely to continue and Apple will have to hit it big with its upcoming smartphones - anticipated to be called the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus - to change this trend, otherwise the company might not be able to hold onto its position for long.
Resource: http://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/samsung-outpacing-apple-smartphone-sales-in-us-as-flagships-s7-and-s7-edge-boost-sales-860686

iOS 9.2.1 Download: How to Install It to Boost Older iPhone Models’ Performance

The wait for a jailbreak tool to Apple’s latest iOS 9.3.3 and other versions including iOS 9.2.1 ended with Chinese team Pangu finally releasing a new tool to all 64-bit Apple devices. The latest jailbreak tool is now available to multiple iPhone devices – iPhone 5C and 5S, iPhone 6, 6 Plus, iPhone 6S, 6S Plus and iPhone SE.

The older versions of the iPhone including iPhone 4, iPhone 4S and iPhone 5, however, will not be able to use the jailbreak tool. So the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 users planning to hop on the latest iOS 9 version and jailbreak their device are left disappointed.
They instead plan on sticking with Apple’s older iOS 8 to make the most of their jailbroken devices. Besides the jailbreaking, older iPhone users are also concerned with the speed of their devices dipping with the new update. Users expect that another version of iOS will make their otherwise well performing device into a piece of junk as each new update makes slow the speed of their iPhone further.

Apple’s older devices are now essentially plagued with poor performance and battery life. The repeated updates, especially the iOS 8, have slowed the speed of the devices equipped with older hardware. The fears of iPhone 4S and 5 users are quite understandable as once updated, the devices won’t be able to downgrade to the older version of the iOS.

However, they should now abandon the older iOS platform and update their devices to the new iOS 9.2.1 because it solves a lot of problems. It has been demonstrably proven that the iOS 9.2.1 update instead boosts speed of older devices. According to a popular YouTuber, iAppleBytes, who is obsessed with iOS speed comparisons, the iOS 9.2.1 update brings significant speed improvements to both the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5.

Although he discovered that both devices still lag behind iOS 8 in boot times, but the majority of apps now open either as fast or slightly faster and scrolling is noticeably smoother. A video of a stark comparison of both phones on previous iOS 9 releases, showed they were much slower earlier.

So owners who are holding back on the iOS 9.2.1 update so far need to get the latest update installed. The update will vary in size depending on your device but will approximately be between 40 to 50MB and will make your device more secure and fix several minor bugs as well.
Here’s the instructions to download the update:

    Launch the Settings app
    Tap on General
    Now tap on Software Update
    When after few seconds the iOS 9.2.1 update pops up, tap on “Download and Install”

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Resource: http://www.thebitbag.com/ios-9-2-1-download-install-boost-older-iphone-models-performance/168501

Motorola Droid Turbo 2 vs. Apple iPhone 6S Plus Review: Specs Comparison Reveals The Best Buy Option

Our Motorola DROID Turbo 2 vs. Apple iPhone 6s Plus comparison suggested that both the devices have their own individual fair share of excellent specs. Even though the Motorola device has an upper hand over the Apple device, it reportedly outshines the former with many extraordinary features like the 3D Touch, Touch ID fingerprint scanner, and an upgraded camera.

Below, we have jotted down the different highlights of the two smartphones in terms of processor, display, memory, camera, design, operating system, battery life, and price, which will help you to decide on the best buy option.
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The Motorola DROID Turbo 2 sports far better display compared to the iPhone 6s Plus with a 5.4-inch screen and Quad HD P-OLED display. The Motorola device's display sports a ShatterShield technology, which consists of five protection layers like the aluminum chassis, AMOLED display, dual touch layer, interior lens, and an exterior protective lens. This display provides the DROID user with high brightness and a more attractive graphic experience.

On the other hand, the Apple iPhone 6s Plus has a 5.5-inch screen with Full HD IPS Retina display. The display is protected with a Corning Gorilla Glass 4 and has a wide range of RGB colors. Also, the Apple phone features a 3D Touch layer with a pressure-sensitive touch screen.

In terms of processors specs, the Motorola DROID Turbo 2 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor with 3 GB RAM. The smartphone has been made available in two different variants of 32 GB and 64 GB.  Besides, the iPhone 6s Plus is powered by the powerful A9 dual-core SoC chipset and features 2 GB RAM. It consists of three storage variants as the 16GB, 64GB, and 128GB.

Moreover, the iPhone 6s Plus consists of a 2750mAh capacity battery and offers the users up to 12 hours of browsing on 3G networks and 14 hours of continuous HD video playback. On the other hand, the DROID Turbo 2 sports 3760mAh battery with Turbo Power fast-charging functionality with which you can get up to 13 hours of usage from just 15 minutes charging. It also provides with wireless charging support to the users.

As far as the camera specs are concerned, the DROID Turbo 2 outshines the iPhone 6s Plus once again. The Motorola phone consists of a 21- megapixel rear and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera with additional specs like phase-detection autofocus technology, dual-LED flash with Color Correlated Temperature, 4x digital zoom, Night mode, Auto HDR, panorama and slow-motion video capture.
On the other hand, the new iPhone 6s Plus features a 12-megapixel rear and a 5-megapixel front FaceTime camera. It also consists of features like dual-tone True Tone LED flash, five-element aperture lens, optical image stabilization, Burst Mode, Timer Mode, and Geo-tagging.

The Motorola DROID Turbo 2 is priced at $624 for the 32 GB model and $720 for the 64 GB variant. Whereas the iPhone 6s Plus is available at $299 for the 16GB variant, $399 for the 32 GB variant, and $499 for the 128GB variant. 

Resource:http://www.mobilenapps.com/articles/16445/20160803/motorola-droid-turbo-2-vs-apple-iphone-6s-plus-review-specs-comparison.htm