Two mobile phones hit Nepali market

ZTE has launched ZTE Blade S7 in the Nepali market. The mid-range phone comes with selfie-friendly mode and features advanced cameras that generate high-resolution pictures.

According to Evolution International, the official distributor of ZTE smartphones here, the mobile phone is equipped with 13 megapixel rear and front camera. Its rear camera uses flash with laser auto focus that makes the camera stable while zooming. According to the company, the set that comes with pixel density 441 ppi produces sharper and quality images. Besides, it also comes with features like geo-tracking, face detection, HDR and panorama, among others.

ZTE Blade S7 also features 5-inch touch screen with full HD display and corning gorilla glass on both front and back. The screen comes with 1080X1920 pixel resolution.

It contains 3 GB RAM and 32 GB of internal storage which can be expanded up to 128 GB. The mobile set that supports 4G uses 1.5 GHz Snapdragan 625 octa-core processor. It runs on Android lollipop 5.1 operating system.

The phone also comes with 2,500 mAh non-removable powerful battery. It also contains fingerprint sensor and supports dual sim. The mobile set is priced at Rs26,500. Targeting Dashain and Tihar festivals, Evolution International has been providing cash back offer of Rs2,000 on the purchase of mobile phone set.

Zhongxing Telecommunication Equipment Corporation launched ZTE Blade S7 smartphone in the international market in November.

Micromax comes up with Q462

Micromax, an Indian brand of mobile phone, on Monday launched Q462 (Canvas 5 LITE). The budget phone comes with 1.0 GHz quad-core processor and features 2GB of RAM.

The mobile set launched with the theme all-in-one phone features a 5-inch HD display with a resolution of 720X1280 pixels.

The high-resolution 8MP primary camera that comes with the phone facilitates autofocus and the front-facing 5MP camera is suitable for selfies. The sturdy 1.0 GHz quad-core processor along with Android Lollipop 5.1 operating system facilitates fast and smooth using of the mobile phone.

The mobile phone contains 2GB RAM and 16GB ROM which is expandable up to 32 GB through microSD card. Also, the phone, equipped with powerful 2,000 mAh removable battery, enables customers to operate videos, mobile phone-based games and various applications. The high capacity battery facilitates 150 hours of standby time and four-and-a-half-hour of talk time.

It features connectivity options like Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, FM radio and Micro-USB. It is equipped with sensors including proximity sensor, ambient light sensor and accelerometer.

The cell phone is compatible with both 3G and 4G network systems. It allows use of dual Micro SIM. The Q462 from Micromax is available for Rs12,100.

Micromax launched Q462 in the Indian market a few days ago.

Published: 27-09-2016 08:48

Resource: http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2016-09-27/two-mobile-phones-hit-nepali-market.html

Micromax to launch four 4G smartphones with Google Duo pre-installed

Ahead of the festive season, handset maker Micromax will launch four 4G smartphones, priced under $100 (about Rs 6,700), to cash in on the booming demand for LTE devices. Micromax has partnered Google to preload the latter’s video calling app, Duo, on all the 4 smartphones.

“Video calling is perceived to be a very urban phenomenon and niche but at Micromax, we believe that there is a huge potential to massify the service by taking it beyond the tier 1 markets where Micromax has an unmatched edge,” Micromax co-founder Vikas Jain told PTI.

The ‘video series’ will help millions of users discover the Duo app and will be a volume driver for Micromax in the festive season, he added. Sales of 4G handsets have grown significantly in India as operators expand their high-speed Internet services (4G LTE) networks in the country. According to analysts, the trend will gain further momentum with the launch of Reliance Jio’s service that is offering free voice calling and cheap data rates to consumers.

According to research firm IDC, 4G smartphones shipments stood at 15.4 million units in January-March 2016 quarter, registering a growth of more than 6 times over the same period last year.

“The collaboration with Google Duo is extremely important. Users will find Duo easy to latch on to Duo’s simple interface…all the 4 phones will be sub-USD 100,” he said. Last month, Google launched Duo for Android and iOS users that competes with apps like FaceTime and Skype.

Also read: Reliance Jio 4G Preview offer: Micromax and YU join the bandwagon

The video calling app, first announced by Google at its I/O developer conference earlier this year, aims to take the “complexity out of video calling”. “In the first month alone we have seen over 10 million downloads, with US and India being among the top countries,” Google Group Product Manager Amit Fulay said.

Duo allows users to connect using their phone number without a separate username/account. Google also introduced a new feature ‘Knock Knock’ that allows people to see live video of the caller before they answer, helping users connect with the person even before they pick up.

“Duo has been built to be fast and reliable, so that video calls connect quickly and work well even on slower networks, something that we think is relevant for the Indian market,” Fulay said.
Resource :http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/mobile-tabs/micromax-to-launch-four-4g-smartphones-with-google-duo-pre-installed/

Micromax’s head of mobile, tablet businesses Ajay Sharma quits

NEW DELHI: Ajay Sharma, business head of mobile phone and tablet divisions at Micromax Informatics, has quit just nine months after rejoining the company in January this year. He has now been replaced Praveen Srivastava, who joined Micromax from Vodafone India, where he was the head of business development for growth circles, people familiar with the development told ET.

Sharma confirmed his exit but didn't share further details. Queries sent to Micromax didn't elicit any response.

At Micromax, Sharma was leading a team of 250 people, and was looking after executing channel and retail strategies in the smartphone segment.

His exit comes within a few days after Arvind Gulati, head of customer services at Micromax Informatics recently quit the company. Gulati was replaced by Bharat Malik, existing head of customer service for the company's subsidiary Yu Televentures.

Sharma, who headed the smartphone business for the Gurgaon-based company from 2012 to 2014, re-joined Micromax from Panasonic, where he headed their India's phone division. He also helped Apple CEO John Sculley-backed Obi Mobiles launch India operations and headed the company for almost 11 months.

Srivastava served Vodafone for almost four years before joining Micromax. Prior to Vodafone, he served MVL Telecom and Lava International.

Micromax was the second largest smartphone vendor in India with 12.9% market share in India. The vendor saw 19.9% growth in the second quarter over the previous quarter, according to International Data Corporation.

In the second quarter, a slew of new launches backed by the new marketing initiatives helped Micromax gain the market share post two consecutive declines in the second quarter, IDC said in its recent report.

Resource :  http://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/micromaxs-head-of-mobile-tablet-businesses-ajay-sharma-quits/54291948

Apple dip is great buying opportunity: Bank of America

An Apple employee hands over Apple iPhone 7 phones at an Apple store on September 16, 2016 in Berlin, Germany.

Investors should buy Apple shares as the decline spurred by a third-party research firm's negative report is unwarranted, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch, which reiterated its buy rating.

The tech giant's stock fell 1.7 percent Friday on GfK's market research data on iPhone sales.

"Our conversations suggest that the sellout data from a third party released Friday indicated iPhone 7/7+ sales down 25% Y/Y in International (non-North American) markets over the launch weekend," Bank of America analyst Wamsi Mohan wrote in a note to clients Sunday.

"In our opinion this data is not representative of true demand. ... Apple may have allocated more supply to U.S. locations in general, and/or to its own retail stores in other countries vs. to other outlets. We would view the pullback in shares as a particularly attractive opportunity."

Resource :http://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/26/apple-dip-is-great-buying-opportunity-bofa.html

Apple iPhone 5S now selling for Rs 20,000 but should you buy?

Finally, a decent iPhone is selling at a price that you can call affordable. Or rather, it is as affordable as it can be in the world of iPhones. If you check the online e-retailers, the iPhone 5S is now selling for a price of around Rs 20,000. Give or take a few hundred here and there. This is the price of the new iPhone 5S. It is also probably the cheapest iPhone that has been in India in its entire history.

But talking of history, the iPhone 5S is a phone that is old. And that inevitably brings up the question: is it worth buying? Sure, it is the most affordable iPhone in the market right -- discounting the iPhone 5 or older, which are kind of useless -- but does it really make any sense.

Also Read: iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus full prices for India revealed, up to Rs 22,000 price cut on other iPhones

While I am no fan of old phones -- and the iPhone 5S was actually released in 2013 -- there is still some life left in this phone. And while, even at a price of Rs 20,000, this is not a phone for everyone, but for a lot of people it does make sense.

The value of a phone is relative. This means as people who do buying guides, we suggest phones at a particular price point on the basis of the competition. Now, if you look at the price point of Rs 20,000, the iPhone 5S is a formidable competitor. At Rs 25,000 it is overpriced, beaten by the likes of the LG Nexus 5X, OnePlus 3 and even Xiaomi's Mi 5. But a price close to Rs 20,000, it doesn't have a strong competitor. And the reason for that is the hardware inside the iPhone 5S, which remains pretty good even after all these years.
iPhone 7 from 2013

The iPhone 5S is like the iPhone 7 of 2013. It has a design that was very similar -- almost unchanged -- to the iPhone 5, which was launched in 2012. The S part in its name hinted that it was evolutionary and its looks gave out the same impression. But internally there was a lot that changed. This is similar to how the iPhone 7 is to the iPhone 6S.

The iPhone 5S came with the A7 processor, the first 64-bit chip put in a phone, and had a much improved camera. It even introduced the new features like Touch ID aka the fingerprint scanner in the phone, which Apple continues to use in the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus.

This fresh and powerful hardware -- the A7 was and is very fast -- means that the iPhone 5S has aged well. It continues to be a fast enough phone, has a decent screen, a very capable 8-megapixel camera and almost all major features that Apple offers in iPhones. It even has 16GB storage, something that was a problem on some of earlier iPhones that came with 8GB storage. Sure, there are better phones than the iPhone 5S but they also cost more.

The other bit that helps the case of iPhone 5S is the iOS 10. Unlike the iOS updates earlier, which would made the older iPhones slow, the iOS 10 actually improves performance in the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5, which again bolsters the case for the iPhone 5S at its current low price.
A couple of deal-breakers

No, not everything is perfect about iPhone 5S, even at the price of Rs 20,000. The screen is small (albeit high quality one). The 4-inch screen in the iPhone 5S is just too small although, particularly if you have used a bigger phone. The text looks small on it, the videos look small on it, you will be squinting a lot while using the phone. Although it is better than some of the crappy screens, even if they are bigger, that you find on Android phones, the screen size is one thing that could be sort of deal-breaker for some.

The second aspect of the iPhone 5S is that it is old. You can say that it is "old but gold" but there is no hiding the fact that gadgets aren't supposed to last forever. The iPhone 5S production has probably been discontinued by Apple. And the support too will end soon. It is a phone that Apple doesn't have in the line-up anymore, although you keep finding it in shops because the stock exists until it does.

Now, that is should not be an issue if you want the iPhone 5S. If you buy it and something goes wrong, Apple will provide the required customer service. But it's just that if you break the iPhone 5S screen, Apple may not have the replacement part in stock, in which case the service centre will probably upgrade you to a more recent iPhone -- probably iPhone 6S or iPhone 7 -- but at a cost.

Whether that solution Apple comes out with will satisfy you or not, is something that I can't predict. It is just that the aftersales processes for the iPhone 5S may not be as smooth in 2016 as they were in 2013 because this is an old phone.
So is iPhone 5S worth Rs 20,000?

In my opinion it is. Although, phones like the Nexus 5X and the Xiaomi Mi 5 are better, if you are willing to pay a couple of thousands of rupees more. At the same time, if it is the iPhone that you want and want to spend as less as possible, the iPhone 5S sure makes a lot of sense. As a phone, as a product, it continues to be very good. The only real deal-breaker is the screen size. But that is fine with you, it's a phone fully recommended at a price of around Rs 20,000.
Resource :http://indiatoday.intoday.in/technology/story/apple-iphone-5s-now-selling-for-rs-20-000-but-should-you-buy/1/765614.html

Logitech M720 Triathlon Multi-Device mouse launched at IFA 2016

NEW DELHI: Popular accessory maker Logitech has launched its M720 Triathlon Multi-Device Mouse at IFA 2016. It lets users switch between three devices for better productivity.

"Thanks to Easy-Switch technology, the M720 Triathlon can pair with up to three devices, and seamlessly switch between them with the touch of a button," said the company on its blog post.

The Lausanne-based tech company maintains that the mouse allows dual connectivity letting users connect to devices via the Logitech Unifying Receiver or the Bluetooth Smart wireless technology. Since the device sports a sculpted shape, it is easy to hold. Users can customize their experience for Windows OS or MacOS X via the Logitech Options software.

The company's subsidiary, Ultimate Ears, had launched a portable speaker, dubbed UE Boom 2, in India earlier this year. The speaker, priced at Rs 15,995, is available in GreenMachine, Tropical and BrainFreeze colour variants.


Logitech M238 Party Collection wireless mouse review: Go colourful

The UE Boom 2 has an increased wireless range of up to 100 feet and delivers 25% louder audio experience as compared to its predecessors. It also has an IPX7 rating which makes it water and drop resistant up to 5 feet.


The Bluetooth speaker is capable of delivering 15 hours of playback on a full charge and has 'tap buttons' to control music. Through the company's iOS and Android apps, the UE Boom 2 can connect with another UE speakers for an even better audio experience.


The company's launch list in India also included the UE Roll Bluetooth speaker with a price tag of Rs 8,459. UE Roll comes with a compact and upward facing design, and emits a 360-degree sound.
Resource: http://www.gadgetsnow.com/tech-news/Logitech-M720-Triathlon-Multi-Device-mouse-launched-at-IFA-2016/articleshow/53982331.cms

Apple iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus have a hissing problem: Reports

Apple’s iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus seems to have a hissing problem, according to reports from early users and reviewers. The issue was first noted by 512 Pixels’ Stephen Hackett, who posted about the same on on Twitter, and also shared a YouTube link to the hissing sound from his iPhone 7 Plus. He wrote on Twitter, “My iPhone 7 Plus makes terrible noises when under load,” and has added the YouTube link. And his complaint has been corroborated by others as well who are facing the same problem.

TechCrunch writer Darrell Etherington also posted on Twitter saying a brand new, just un-boxed iPhone 7 Plus was doing the same thing, aka the hissing sound. It seems the iPhone 7 series is making this hissing sound, which is what is known as a ‘coil noise’ made by a high-powered processor when under load.

According to iMore, this hissing sound is not just an iPhone 7 problem. The detailed explanation on iMore points out pretty much all devices make this ‘hissing noise’ especially in “high-intensity CPU/GPU activity.” Apple has so far declined to comment on ‘hissing-gate’, and so far it doesn’t seem as bad as bend-gate from 2014, when there were reports that the iPhone 6s Plus was prone to bending. Apple has said at the time only 9 iPhones had faced the bending issue, but it was still one of the most talked about things for the iPhone 6 Plus launch.


However, if you listen to Hackett’s YouTube video link of the iPhone 7 Plus hissing, it’s not something which is common on an iPhone. As the report on iMore points out, ‘the coil noise’ is most likely because of CPU overload, and it could be because of the A10 Fusion chip which is much more powerful.

Another iOS developer Marco Arment also commented on Hackett’s tweet, saying the hissing sound is “the phone equivalent of hearing the fans spin up loudly whenever your Mac’s CPU gets used to its actual potential.” His first tweet also says, “Lots of reports of iPhone 7 hissing noises. There may be a good reason, but it’s still unfortunate and ungraceful.” Check out the tweets below

    My iPhone 7 Plus makes terrible noises when under load. http://t.co/wFM2gImpOb

    — Stephen Hackett (@ismh) September 17, 2016

    @panzer @ismh brand new, just-unboxed doing the same thing right now. did not restore, set up as new (still DL-ing email etc)

    — Darrell Etherington (@etherington) September 17, 2016

    It’s the phone equivalent of hearing the fans spin up loudly whenever your Mac’s CPU gets used to its actual potential.

    — Marco Arment (@marcoarment) September 17, 2016

Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus launch in India on October 7, and in the US the iPhone 7 Plus’ jet black version is already sold out. Apple iPhone 7 starts at Rs 60,000 for 32GB going all the way to Rs 70,000 for 128GB and Rs 80,000 for 256GB. Apple iPhone 7 Plus starts at Rs 72,000 for the 32GB version, while the 128GB version is priced at Rs 82,000 and Rs 92,000 for 256GB.

Apple has also slashed prices of the 128GB versions of the iPhone 6s, and iPhone 6s Plus in India, as well the 64GB version of the iPhone SE. Apple iPhone 7 series comes with an improved 12MP camera with a lower f/1.8 aperture for better low-light shots, while the iPhone 7 Plus has a dual rear camera with a special Portrait mode. iPhone 7 series also runs the more powerful quad-core A10 Fusion chipset.

Resource: http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/iphone-7/apple-iphone-7-iphone-7-plus-seems-to-have-a-hissing-problem-reports-3038567/

Apple Admits iPhone 7 Has A Problem

The most controversial feature of the new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus is something they lack: a headphone jack. Apple AAPL +0.02% claimed the omission took “courage” and talked up an all digital future built around the Lightning port. But this future is not off to a good start…

Following the sapphire controversy, Business Insider reports iPhone 7 owners have found Apple’s new Lightning EarPods regularly ‘crash’. This leaves users still able to hear music, but the EarPod’s controls are frozen so you are unable to operate their volume controls or use the shortcuts to answer calls and activate Siri.

The reason for this all comes down to one thing: software.
Apple's new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are likely to be the biggest selling smartphones of 2016. Image credit: Apple

Apple’s new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are likely to be the biggest selling smartphones of 2016. Image credit: Apple

Unlike analog 3.5mm pairs, Lighting jack-based earphones and headphones are reliant on software to function and Apple has confirmed to Business Insider that a bug in iOS 10 and iOS 10.0.1 is to blame. The good news is Apple said it is already working on a fix and this will be issued in a future update (presumably iOS 10.0.2 or iOS 10.1).

Until then users are advised to unplug their Lighting EarPods each time a crash happens then plug them back in, which temporarily fixes the problem. As the issue seemingly occurs at random that can mean long spells without any problems followed by multiple crashes in a row.

Of course the incident is a perfect example of why so many users were against the removal of the headphone jack from iPhones in the first place. The 3.5mm port is ubiquitous, simple, unaffected by software updates and, crucially, far less prone to damage from wear and tear.


This latter point is interesting given the Lightning port has proved to be a weak spot on Apple devices and can break over time. But since it will now be used far more both as charger and headphone point, as well as a reset option for any headphone bugs, there is understandable concern over how the port will hold up as devices age.

My personal feeling is Apple removed the headphone jack a generation early and it would’ve been more credible to tie its omission to an iPhone which brought an additional charging option, like wireless charging. That said, the potential for ‘smart headphones’ and for developers to eventually code around the software required by Lighting headphones to deliver additional functionality could prove a masterstroke in the long term future of wired audio.

But for now iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus owners will just want Lightning headphones to work like the boring, old, reliable 3.5mm ones always did…

Resource: http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2016/09/20/apple-iphone-7-lighting-headphones-problem/#24ade0592c8d

Apple's iPhone 7 more expensive to make: IHS Markit

Apple Inc (AAPL.O) is spending more to manufacture its iPhone 7 smartphone than predecessor iPhone 6S due to features such as a bigger battery and larger storage capacity, according to a teardown by IHS Markit Ltd (INFO.O).

Including $5 in basic manufacturing costs, total cost to manufacture the iPhone 7 mobile rises to $224.80, $36.89 higher than the business research provider's estimates for the iPhone 6S.

Apple retails an unsubsidized 32GB iPhone 7 at $649.

The company unveiled the iPhone 7 with high-resolution cameras and no headphone jack at its annual launch on Sept. 7.

IHS Markit also said on Tuesday the iPhone 7's Bill Of Materials (BOM), a financial estimate of the raw materials used, was "in line" with flagship smartphones made by rival Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) but Apple ekes out better margins.

"All other things being equal, Apple still makes more margin from hardware than Samsung, but materials costs are higher than in the past," said Andrew Rassweiler, senior director of cost benchmarking services at IHS Markit.

IHS Markit has not yet performed a teardown analysis on the larger iPhone 7 Plus.

Supplies of Apple's iPhone 7 Plus have been exhausted in all shades, and the smaller iPhone 7 has also sold out in the new jet black color, the company said last week.

Yet, in some markets, such as China, interest in the new phone has been muted, as cheaper local brands amp up their design and marketing.
Resource: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-iphone-cost-idUSKCN11Q2VP

Will Apple iPhone 6s price cut help Redington?

September 15, 2016:

Apple Inc has slashed prices of iPhone 6S and 6S Plus by up to ₹22,000. There is usually a price drop for the previous versions when a new model is announced by Apple.

The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, which was launched earlier this month in the US, are slated to hit the Indian market on October 7, with prices starting at ₹60,000.

Shares of Redington may remain in focus, as it is one of the major distributors of Apple products in India.
(This article was published on September 15, 2016)
Resource: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/markets/stock-markets/will-apple-iphone-6s-price-cut-help-redington/article9111547.ece

Apple slashes iPhone 6s, 6s Plus prices by Rs. 22,000

 In what may prove to be a happy news for iPhone 6s and 6s Plus lovers, the US tech giant Apple has slashed the prices of these devices by Rs. 22,000, market sources said.

Apple iPhone 6S (128GB variant) which was earlier priced at Rs. 82,000, will now be available at Rs. 60,000 after a price drop of Rs. 22,000.

With the same price cut, the iPhone 6s Plus (128GB variant) will now be available at Rs. 70,000, the sources told IANS, though there was no official confirmation from Apple.

Apple’s 4-inch smartphone iPhone SE, which was launched in March this year, also got a price cut. The 64GB version of iPhone SE, available for Rs. 49,000, will now be available at Rs. 44,000.

Recently, Apple’s iPhone 6s was rated as the world’s top-selling smartphone model in the second quarter of 2016. The US giant currently accounts for two of the three top-selling devices shipped worldwide.

Apple shipped 14.2 million units and accounted for four per cent share of all smartphones shipped worldwide in second quarter of 2016, said market research firm Strategy Analytics.

The Apple iPhone 6 shipped 8.5 million units worldwide for second position and two per cent marketshare during second quarter of 2016, followed by Samsung Galaxy S7 edge in third place with 8.3 million and two per cent share.

Apple launched iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus equipped with 3D Touch technology in India in October last year.

Both the smartphones feature 64-bit A9 chipset, 12MP iSight camera and 2GB of RAM. ..

Resource: http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/gadgets/apple-slashes-iphone-6s-6s-plus-prices-by-rs-22000/article9110944.ece

iPhone 7 Price List: Which Country has the Cheapest iPhone 7?

Apple iPhone 7 will be released in India on October 7th. The heavily priced smartphones often deter users from buying them. While certain people go to great lengths to get the best possible deal. In India, people extra conscious about paying the right price. Let’s take a look at iPhone 7 Price in different countries and find out which Which Country Is Getting The Cheapest Apple iPhone 7?

In India, the Apple iPhone 7 32GB variant is priced at Rs. 60,000. While in the US, the smartphone was launched at $649 [approx. Rs. 43,400]. Now, that’s a huge price difference, especially for Indian customers. Other countries with such low prices include Hong Kong [approx. Rs. 48,200], Japan [approx. 47,350], UAE [approx. Rs. 47,300], and Canada [approx. Rs. 46,100]. However, these prices do not include local taxes, which vary from country to country. In some countries like UK and India, the price includes taxes, while in others like the United States, taxes are not included in the price as they vary from state to state.

The Apple iPhone 7 32GB is priced higher in countries like Italy [approx. Rs. 59,900], Norway [approx. Rs. 59,750], Sweden [approx. Rs. 58,900], and New Zealand [approx. Rs. 58,800]. The new smartphone is priced at approx. 58,400 in Portugal, Ireland, Finland, and Denmark. While people from Belgium, France, Netherlands, and Spain can get it for approx. Rs. 57,600. The Apple iPhone 7 will cost approx. Rs. 56,900 in Germany and Austria. In Luxembourg, it will cost approx. Rs. 55,700.

In the middle, countries like Mexico, Australia, and China will be offered the new iPhone for approx. Rs. 55,000, Rs. 54,500, and Rs. 53,800, respectively. The UK price for the new smartphone is Approx. Rs. 53,100. In Switzerland, Taiwan, and Singapore it has been priced at approx. Rs. 51,900.

The above-mentioned prices of the iPhone 7 32GB have been taken from Apple’s website for each region.

Resource: http://www.mobipicker.com/iphone-7-price-list-country-cheapest-iphone-7/

Apple iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus India prices are now out: Here’s the full list

Apple iPhone 7 32GB version is slated to be priced at Rs 60,000, while the iPhone 7 Plus 256GB will come at Rs 92,000
Apple iPhone 7 launches in India October 7, and the final prices for the devices are already here. Apple has announced the prices for the iPhone 7 on their official India website. The starting price of the iPhone 7 will be Rs 60,000.

According to Apple’s website, iPhone 7 32GB will retail at Rs 60,000; the 128GB version at Rs 70,000, and the 256GB version at Rs 80,000. The iPhone 7 Plus on the other hand will be priced at Rs 72,000 for the 32GB variant; Rs 82,000 for the 128GB version, and Rs 92,000 for the 256GB phone.

Both versions of the iPhone 7 are running Apple’s new A10 Fusion chipset which the company claims will allow gaming at a console-level. The 4.7-inch iPhone 7 comes with a 12MP rear camera with a bigger f/1.8 aperture and Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS). The 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus features Apple’s first dual camera array, which couples a wide-angle lens with a telephoto lens – giving users 2X optical zoom when needed and the ability for 10x digital zoom.

The iPhone 7 also ditches the physical home button in favour of a redesigned home button with haptic feedback. The battery in both devices has also been increased from the previous generation. The new phones will be available in five colour options – Black, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold and Jet Black. The Jet Black colour for the iPhone 7 will only be available with the 128Gb and the 256GB versions of the phone.

Apple has done away with the 3.5mm headphone jack with the new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. To connect your headphones, a user now needs to use an adapter, or use the Earpods that are shipping with the phone that will connect through the lightening adapter. The phones can also be connected wireless using Apple’s recently unveiled AirPods.

Read: Here is why iPhone 7 Plus’ dual rear camera is a big deal

Price of the iPhone 7 32GB is Rs 2,000 cheaper than the what the iPhone 6S was introduced in India for, and this time you’re getting double the space as well. Apple announced the price for the new AirPods as Rs 15,400, and will be sold separately. EarPods with Lightning Connector are set to be priced at Rs 2,500, while the headphone jack adapter is priced at Rs 900. Apple is bundling the EardPods and adapter in the box.

Apple also recently announced a price cut for the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus as well with Rs 22,000 price drop for the 128GB models. Apple iPhone SE also got a price cut in India and now the 64GB version costs Rs 44,000.
Resource: http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/iphone-7/apple-iphone-7-iphone-7-plus-india-full-price-list-all-variants-sale-date-3032499/

Reliance Jio: After Panasonic and Asus, Preview Offer now expanded to Micromax and YU smartphones

Reliance Jio has now tied up with Micromax and its sub-brand YU to expand its Preview Offer where users get free Jio SIM card along with unlimited data, calls and access to Jio suite of apps for 90 days. Those with 4G-enabled smartphones from Asus, Panasonic, LG and Samsung can also avail the offer.

Earlier today, Reliance Jio expanded its ‘Preview Offer’ to Asus and Panasonic 4G-enabled smartphones. Now, the company also has also partnered Micromax and its sub-brand YU to make its next-gen high-speed 4G LTE and VoLTE voice calling service available to even more customers. The move makes perfect sense as Micromax has the second largest market share in India after Samsung. This will now only allow Reliance Jio to increase its reach more customers, but also enable the company to fine tune its network and services before the actual commercial launch takes place. The benefits under Preview Offer remain the same – unlimited HD voice calling, access to premium content on Jio suite of apps and unlimited downloads for 90 days from the date of activation.

The preview offer is applicable on 4G enabled Micromax smartphones, including Bolt Selfie, Canvas Mega 2, Canvas Knight 2, Canvas 5 Lite Special Edition, Canvas Unite 4 Pro, Canvas Tab P701 and Canvas 5 among others. Also, users of YU smartphones including the newly launched YU Unique Plus, Yureka S, Yunicorn, Yureka Note, Yutopia, Yureka and Yunique will be able to avail the Jio Preview offer.

To get your hands on a free Jio SIM card, Micromax and YU smartphone users first need to download the MyJio app. Enter your name, mobile phone number and location to verify if the offer is available for you. Next you will need to generate a unique code, and also fill in your address and identification proof on the next page. Once this is done, head over to the nearest Reliance Digital or Reliance Dx Mini Store. At the store, show the unique code and submit the relevant address and identification proof to get your hands on a free SIM card. The last step involves dialing 1977 to activate the Jio SIM card. RELATED: Reliance Jio Preview Offer reportedly opened to everyone with a 4G smartphone

Speaking of other compatible Asus or Panasonic smartphones, the ones from Asus include the Asus Zenfone 2 Laser (ZE550KL), Asus Zenfone 2 (ZE551ML), Asus Zenfone Max (ZC550KL), Asus Zenfone 2 Laser 5.0 (ZE500KL), Asus Zenfone 2 (ZE550ML), Asus Zenfone Selfie (ZD551KL), Asus Zenfone 2 Laser (ZE601KL), Asus Zenfone Zoom (ZX551ML), Asus Zenfone Go, Asus Zenfone 3 (ZE552KL), Asus Zenfone 3 Laser (ZC551KL), Asus Zenfone 3 (ZE520KL), Asus Zenfone 3 (ZS570KL), and the Asus Zenfone 3 (ZU680KL). Compatible Panasonic smartphones include the Panasonic Eluga L, Panasonic Eluga Switch, Panasonic Eluga Icon, Panasonic T45, Panasonic Eluga I2 (1GB), Panasonic Eluga L2, Panasonic Eluga Mark, Panasonic Eluga Turbo, Panasonic Eluga Arc, Panasonic Eluga I2 (2GB), Panasonic Eluga I2 (3GB), Panasonic Eluga I3, Panasonic Eluga Icon 2, Panasonic Eluga A2, Panasonic Eluga Note, Panasonic P55 Novo 4G, Panasonic Eluga Arc 2, and the Panasonic P77. ALSO READ: No, Reliance Jio is not launching a Rs 199 smartphone

While there is still no word on when Reliance Jio plans for a commercial launch, its Preview Offers have gathered pace and have already helped the company amass over a million users. What started out exclusively for Reliance Digital’s LYF-branded smartphones, has now been expanded to Samsung, LG, Asus and Panasonic smartphones as well. With its preview offer, the company is not only giving a taste of what users can expect post the commercial launch, but is also optimizing its network ahead of the big launch. ALSO READ: Reliance Jio 4G has spoilt Indian users even before launch, but we are not complaining

However rival carriers like Airtel, Vodafone and Idea, among others, feel differently. They claim Jio already has about 2.5 million users, which is as good as a commercial launch. The COAI, in letters to the government, has written that Reliance is diverting revenues from Jio to Reliance Digital by selling LYF smartphones, which come with the free offer, causing a loss to the government since the carrier does not make any revenue and hence doesn’t pay the government.

Reliance Jio has dismissed the claims, often calling the COAI propelling the vested interests of a few members. It has even accused rival carriers of not providing it with enough points of interconnect, which are causing difficulties for its subscribers to connect to existing carriers. COAI refutes the counter allegations.

Things are bound to get interesting in the coming weeks, especially with the spectrum auctions scheduled for next month. Reliance Jio’s commercial launch has been delayed multiple times in the past two years and considering the state of affairs, it seems unlikely to launch any time soon. But users are not really complaining considering the unlimited access to the Internet and Jio’s services they are getting for free.
Resource:http://www.bgr.in/news/reliance-jio-preview-offer-now-open-for-asus-and-panasonic-smartphone-users-too/

Buying an Apple iPhone 7? Consider these smart investment moves to avoid splurging

A cellphone is a depreciating asset, whereas one creates wealth by investing in a financial instruments, purchasing an insurance which protects you from monetary losses, or repaying a loan which reduces your liabilities and thus boosts your net worth.

Last week, Apple launched the latest version of its popular phones, iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. Apple fans and sceptics alike are buzzing about the various improvements in the phone. It is also likely to debut in India sooner than the earlier iPhone models, and the price of the base model is expected to be upwards of Rs 60,000, or around $900.

Buying this new gadget for yourself will bring you marginal utility: you will love the novelty of a new toy and enjoy the many technical improvements in the phone. It will also bring you the acknowledgement of your peers who may rate you favourably for your taste in technology.

But let’s discuss this purchase speaking purely from an investment point of view.

It could be said that there are many smarter things you could do with that money. A cellphone, like every electronic item in your possession, is a depreciating asset: its monetary value will start sliding down a greasy pole the moment you purchase it. If you try to resell it after a few years of use, it will fetch you only a small fraction of its original cost. (Hold that thought for a real-time example of iPhone 5s mentioned below.)

This works out exactly the opposite of creating wealth by investing in an appreciating asset, purchasing an insurance which protects you from monetary losses, or repaying a loan which reduces your liabilities and thus boosts your net worth.

Let’s take a quick look at some smart moves you can make with Rs 60,000—especially if you haven’t done them already.

BUY A LIFE COVER
If you’re a 30-year-old salaried person earning Rs 500,000 annually, you could get a term insurance plan of Rs 1 crore (that’s 20 times your income) for an annual premium of around Rs. 10,000. It still leaves you with plenty of money to purchase just about any top-rated smartphone in the market. Not only can you still buy a good phone, you would also secure the long-term finances of your dependents with your term cover in case of your untimely death.

BUY A HEALTH COVER—FOR YOUR WHOLE FAMILY
Buying health insurance should be a priority on the same level as paying rent or buying food. Everyone needs it. A 30-year-old salaried male can buy a health cover of Rs 500,000 for himself, spouse and one child for an annual premium around Rs 12,000. If the same person has dependent parents who are, for example, in their fifties, he can buy them a similar health cover for an annual premium around Rs 30,000. Buying those two covers for your family still leaves you with change for further investments.

BUY MUTUAL FUNDS
This has been a good year for Indian investors. There’s a positive feel to the Indian economy and most market indices are at their peak. Many institutional investors believe that India’s greatest bull run lies ahead of us. So why not pose faith in the markets and buy some mutual funds? Consider the performances of some of the best-performing funds at the moment. An investment of Rs 60,000 five years ago in a large cap fund such as Kotak Select Focus Fund would have returned you nearly Rs 1,51,000 this week. A similar investment in a small and mid-cap fund such as BlackRock Micro Cap Fund would have returned you a whopping Rs 2,01,000 this week—enough money to keep growing your wealth while sparing plenty for you to buy literally any phone in the market. Now, consider the flipside: an iPhone 5s, which debuted in India late in 2013 for a price around Rs 54,000 is now priced around Rs 20,000. So which of these options seem more attractive now?

BUY STOCK
If you’re a risk taker looking to create wealth for himself, one of the best ways to do it is by purchasing equity. This, however, needs careful evaluation of a company’s financial records. You could stick to bluechip companies and minimize your risks while ascertaining steady long-term appreciation. For example, five years ago, you could have purchased 8 shares of MRF with Rs 56,000. And that investment would have been worth Rs 3,20,000 this morning.

PAY OFF YOUR LOAN
With a pre-payment of Rs 60,000, you could make a sizeable dent on your outstanding loan amount. Let’s assume you have borrowed Rs 3,000,000 at the rate of 9.4 per cent for 20 years. Your EMI is Rs 27,768. Assume that you have paid 24 EMIs. At the start of your loan, you were paying Rs 4,268 as principal. But after 24 payments, that amount has risen to only Rs. 5,147. Assume that you were now to make a pre-payment of Rs. 60,000. This straightaway reduces 11 EMIs from your loan, whose total value is approximately Rs 3,05,000, saving you nearly Rs. 245,000 in the long run. It also raises your monthly principal payments to Rs 5,657—a number you would not have reached for another 12 months without the pre-payment. TL; DR—the pre-payment will ensure significant short and long-term savings for you, freeing up your income to pursue a lifestyle of a higher quality.

DEPOSIT IT
If market-linked ups and downs aren’t for you, go safe. There are plenty of conservative options to grow your money. Fixed deposits would offer you rates between 7-8 per cent. Public Provident Fund offers 8.1 per cent currently, while increasing payments to your Employee Provident Fund would return you 8.7 per cent an annum. You could also buy top rated government and corporate bonds, National Savings Certificates, etc. all of which would pay you in the range of 8% with lock-in periods of varying length.

BOTTOMLINE
To build long-term wealth, you must invest more and splurge less. Make sure your investment and insurance basics are looked after first, that your loans are paid off on priority, and only then should you spend on lifestyle upgrades.

Resource: http://www.financialexpress.com/personal-finance/buying-an-apple-iphone-7-consider-these-smart-investment-moves-to-avoid-splurging/375406/

Apple's iPhone 7 pricing strategy is really weird

As you'd expect, The iPhone 7 has a premium price tag, but Apple's price strategy is very confusing if you're looking for the "best value" iPhone.

Apple cranked up its hype machine during the event, complete with presenters talking up how magical and wonderful all its new features are going to be.

For the most part, while the iPhone 7 should comfortably fit in the pantheon of premium 2016 phones, features such as stereo speakers and water resistance aren't astonishingly new, and dropping the 3.5mm headphone port is likely to be as divisive as it may be forward-looking.

The pricing story for the iPhone family is now exceptionally mixed, thanks to some unusual moves by Apple in terms of pricing, models and especially storage capacities.

For previous iPhone generations, the general rule has been to make the older models available with low 16GB storage only, at a slightly reduced price compared to when the device launched. 16GB is lousy for iOS even if you don't install that many apps, because it doesn't take too many photos or videos to fill that meagre space, so it was always the poor phone buyer's choice.

Frankly, if you couldn't scrape the funds together for a 64GB iPhone, you were better off looking at Android alternatives.

This time around things are different. Apple has dumped 16GB as the baseline for older models, not just the new releases. The smallest new model of last year's 6s is now the 32GB NZ$999 iPhone 6s, with a 128GB model available for NZ$1199. The 6s Plus will run you NZ$1199 for 32GB or NZ$1399 for 128GB.

The only place the 16GB storage option is available is the iPhone SE, which powers on with a 16GB variant at the same NZ$749 price as it was selling for earlier. Rather quietly, though, Apple has cut the local price of the 64GB iPhone SE down to NZ$849. In other words, if you want an iPhone SE, buy that one and pretend that the 16GB model doesn't exist.

As for the actual new iPhone 7 models, they predictably sit at higher price points.

The standard 7 is available at NZ$1199 (32GB), NZ$1399 (128GB) and NZ$1599 (256GB), while if the iPhone 7 Plus tickles your fancy you're looking at NZ$1429 (32GB), NZ$1629 (128GB) and a hefty NZ$1829 (256GB).

Overall, Apple's pricing strategy is downright weird.

Walk into a store from Friday with NZ$1199 in your pocket, and you could walk out with either a 128GB iPhone 6s, a 32GB iPhone 6s Plus or a 32GB iPhone 7.

The iPhone 7's arguably the best buy with an overall longer expected shelf life in terms of iOS upgrades, but why is Apple keeping prices on older iPhones so high?

The only major consumer benefit there is that if you're thinking of selling your older iPhone, especially if it's a high-capacity model, you can expect higher prices than if Apple offered the 6s range at more realistic price points.

Your other option for iPhone acquisition is for contracting to a telco for it. It's not rocket science to predict that you'll pay a hefty handset repayment fee on top of your access costs on lower priced plans, because that's long been the iPhone strategy.

For higher-capacity phones though, and especially for a phone that costs NZ$1829, a contract buy might be your most sensible option.

Alex Kidman is the telco editor for comparison site finder.com.au.

Resource: http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/gadgets/84191979/apples-iphone-7-pricing-strategy-is-really-weird

Asus’s gold Surface Pro clone is coming to Europe

Fancy a gold Surface Pro 3? Microsoft may not be selling those just quite yet but Asus’s got you covered with not one, but two differences – the Asus Transformer 3 and the Transformer 3 Pro. While both devices were announced at Computex earlier this year, they were only available for sale in Taiwan and other Asian markets. Now, at IFA 2016 Asus has announced that they will be bringing these devices to the European market as well.

With a kickstand, removable keyboard and Windows 10 on board, Asus’s Transformer 3 Pro looks like the Surface Pro 3’s long lost brother Jeff  who went on a rebellious stage with gold and a tattoo on his forehead. But that doesn’t mean this device doesn’t come with some new tricks of its own. While it comes with the standard metal kickstand and backlit Transformer Cover Keyboard  – it also brings with it a 3K resolution display and Harman Kardon-powered stereo speakers. It’s a bit pricey, starting at €1200 for the base secs and going all the way up to  €1800 for the i7 equipped, 1TB SSD and 16GB of RAM powerhouse.

ASUS also has a lower cost version for users with more modest wallets. It’s thinner and lighter than the Surface Pr Transformer 3 Pro, coming in at 6.9 mm to its 8.35 mm, but it tops out at 512 GB of internal storage and 8GB of RAM, combined with a Transformer sleeve keyboard for  a less premium experience.

For those looking for future looking.experiences, both devices pack USB Type-C ports, and fingerprint readers for authentication via Windows Hello.

They’ll be available later this year, so if you’re interested you’ll probably be able to find it at your local retailer, Amazon or direct from Asus themselves.

Resource: http://mspoweruser.com/asuss-gold-surface-pro-clone-coming-europe/

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/