The Substitute Phone is designed exclusively for smartphone addicts

In today’s day and age, asking a person to stay away from their smartphone for a few minutes can be a difficult task. We’ve grow used to having a device to fiddle around with when we get bored. We tend to scroll through social media sites or turn on the phone and randomly browse through apps like an involuntary action even when we don’t want to. It’s an addiction that may not be one of the more harmful kinds, but is still an addiction nevertheless. This is what pushed Austrian designer Klemens Schillinger to create the Substitute Phone – a tool made to help smartphone addicts abstain from using their phone.

This novel product is essentially designed looking at our touchscreen habits. I say product because this really isn’t an actual phone, but simply a smartphone-shaped block of high-grade plastic which features a line of stone beads set vertically, horizontally or diagonally. The beads act as ‘substitutes’ for touchscreen and users can roll their fingers on them to mimic daily smartphone actions like scrolling, zooming or swiping. The tool not only gives a sort of placebo effect, but Schillinger says it will provide smartphone addicts a therapeutic way to cope with withdrawal symptoms. “The object, which some of us describe as a prosthesis, is reduced to nothing but the motions,” he explains.

“More and more often one feels the urge to check their phone, even if you are not expecting a specific message or call. These observations inspired the idea of making a tool that would help stop this ‘checking’ behaviour,” he told Dezeen.

Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/technology/story/the-substitute-phone-is-designed-exclusively-for-smartphone-addicts/1/1097978.html

Android flagship LG V30 set for India release next month: Phone price revealed

The accelerated response time effectively eliminates afterimages, an important consideration for action movies and VR. And with support for HDR10 and Google Daydream VR platform, it guarantees immersive and expansive cinematic visual experience on the V30.

Furthermore, LG V30 boasts military-level-durability MIL-STD-810G certification and is capable of handling a wide-range of environment conditions that include: low pressure for altitude testing; exposure to high and low temperatures plus temperature shock (both operating and in storage); rain (including wind blown and freezing rain); humidity, fungus, salt fog for rust testing; sand and dust exposure; explosive atmosphere; leakage; acidic atmosphere, acceleration; shock and transport shock; gunfire vibration; and random vibration.

It also comes with IP68 water-and-dust resistant certification, meaning LG V30 users can take it for a dip in the swimming pool for close to 30 minutes, provided it is not less than five feet.

Another notable aspect of LG V30 is the camera hardware. It is the world’s first phone to boast f/1.6 aperture. With such large aperture, LG V30 camera will be able to absorb 25 percent more light to the sensor compared to an F1.8 lens seen in rival brands.

In a bid to improve the image and video recording quality, LG has incorporated a glass-based Crystal Clear Lens to deliver greater light-collecting ability as well as better colour reproduction than a plastic lens.

LG V30 comes with dual-camera, one a 16MP standard shooter (F1.6 / 71-degree Field Of View: FOV) and a 13MP wide angle (F1.9/ 120-degree FOV) snapper. On the front, it houses a 5MP camera with 100-degree wide-angle lens and f/2.2 aperture.

Source: http://www.ibtimes.co.in/android-flagship-lg-v30-set-india-release-next-month-phone-price-revealed-750826

Gionee M7 Plus, S11s and more: Specs, price and everything else about Gionee’s 8 new bezel-less phones

ezels are disappearing — the Gionee event in Shenzhen, China kicked off with these words. In a bid to give the likes of Xiaomi, Lenovo and Huawei a run for their money, Gionee has gone ahead and launched eight smartphones in one go. While the smartphones differ in many ways — including price points — they all come with edge-to-edge displays and minimal bezels.

The smartphones in question include the Gionee S11, Gionee S11s, Gionee M7 Plus, Gionee M7, Gionee F6, Gionee F205, Gionee Steel M7 Power and Gionee M7 Mini. Let’s take a look at them in detail:

Gionee S11s
Processor: MediaTek Helio P30, 2.5GHz

RAM: 6GB

Internal storage: 64GB, expandable via a microSD card

Display: 6.01-inch AMOLED, 18:9 aspect ratio

Cameras: 16+8MP on the back, 20+8MP at the front

Battery: 3,600mAh with fast charging support

Software: Android 7.1.1 with Gionee’s own Amigo 5.0 OS on top

Special features
— The smartphone has a glass and metal design with a special 3D curvature at the edges that makes it easier to be used with one hand. The frame is made out of stainless steel which Gionee claims is 27 percent harder than aluminium.

— Just like the Honor 9i, the S11 has a dual camera setup on the front as well as the back. The front and rear cameras come with advanced beautification features that Gionee calls FaceBeauty 4.0. The S11s also comes with a feature that allows you to take dynamic 3D photo around objects. The phone has an independent ISP that allows images to be processed at a hardware level. Selfies can be taken by touching the fingerprint sensor.

— Amigo OS 5.0 comes with certain smart features like game mode which silents notifications whilst playing games or watching videos, the ability to use the fingerprint sensor to access seven applications.

Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/technology/story/gionee-m7-plus-s11s-and-more-specs-price-and-everything-else-about-gionee-8-new-bezel-less-phones/1/1097920.html

Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018) leaked in images, show off thin-bezel display

Samsung is on a roll, as the company gears up to announce a range of smartphones in the year to come. The key highlight will definitely be the Galaxy S9 and the S9+. It is also planning for a foldable phone for 2018. Alongside these phones, the South Korean smartphone manufacturer is reportedly planning to announce a couple of follow-up devices like the Galaxy A5 (2018) and Galaxy A7 (2018). Rumours about the two aforementioned phones have been making rounds on the web for quite some time now. It seems Samsung is working on another follow-up phone, aka the Galaxy S8 (2018). Well, to recall, there was no A8 (2017) edition — and the last one was the A8 (2016). But then, going by the rumours surfacing the web, Samsung is looking forward to announcing the Galaxy A8 (2018) edition next year.

Galaxy A8 (2018) has been leaked in pictures — which show off a thin-bezel display. This means, that the smartphone will most likely ship with a near edge-to-edge Infinity screen much like this year’s flagship phones — Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8+, and also the Galaxy Note 8. This compared to the phone’s successor is much improved and enhanced in terms of design. The Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018) comes with a 5.7-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1080 pixels by 1920 pixels.

Well, not much has been revealed about the smartphone yet. All that the leaked images show is the display, and some parts of the front camera setup. It seems the upcoming Galaxy A8 (2018) may come with a dual selfie camera setup. This also means, apart from the display, the A8 (2018) edition phone will have a major refreshment in the camera department as well. To recall, the Samsung Galaxy A8 (2016) come with a 16-megapixel primary camera on the rear and an 8-megapixel front shooter for selfies.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy A5 2018 to bring the Galaxy S8’s Infinity display to the masses

Much like the A8 (2018), Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy A5 (2018) and Galaxy A7 (2018) are also tipped to come with S8-like infinity display. Both the smartphones have been leaked in images, and rumours about them have also been making rounds on the internet for quite a while now.

Going by them, both the Galaxy A5 (2018) and Galaxy A7 (2018) are said to come with near edge-to-edge screens and share the same design palate. As per the leaked images, the Galaxy A5 (2018) will be available in four colours and see a major design shift in the positioning of the fingerprint scanner. Furthermore, both the phones are also seen having a dedicated Bixby button. In other words, Samsung may be looking to bring its virtual assistant to more phones in the days to come.

Both the Galaxy A5 and the Galaxy A7 (2018) are clearly going to be bezel-less phones although the rest of their specification details still remains a mystery. Samsung, following the usual routine, is expected to announce its A series 2018 editions in the early part of the year. Well, it is noteworthy that, the South Korean smartphone manufacturer hasn’t confirmed the coming of any of its A-series phones yet.

Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/technology/story/samsung-galaxy-a8-2018-leaked-in-images-show-off-a-thin-bezel-display/1/1097890.html

‘Made in India’ iPhone SE 2 to Launch in Early 2018: Report

Apple at its earnings call earlier this month revealed that the iPhone SE had a big hand in the double digit growth in iPhone sales in India this last quarter. Now, a fresh report claims Apple is preparing to launch the iPhone SE’s successor in early 2018, corroborating a much earlier report. The new model, said to be called the iPhone SE 2, will reportedly be manufactured by Taiwanese original design manufacturer (ODM) Wistron at its Bengaluru factory that already produces the original iPhone SE.

As per a fresh supply-chain report by Taiwan’s Economic Daily News, Apple will launch the iPhone SE 2 in the first quarter of next year. The reported launch schedule appears to be in line with the original iPhone SE that was debuted in March last year. Further, the new low-end iPhone model is reportedly already in the initial stages of production at Wistron’s facility in Bengaluru. The facility was established for assembling iPhone SE models earlier this year, allowing Apple to enjoy reduced tariffs by adhering to the Make in India and thereby reduce prices on the smartphone.

The local manufacturing process is already helping Apple maintain an affordable price of the iPhone SE in India. This trend would continue with its refresh version. According to the FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) policy, foreign companies producing goods in the country need to source 30 percent of their components locally. Therefore, the iPhone SE 2 is likely to be marketed as a new “Made in India” iPhone by the Cupertino company.

The report adds that the iPhone SE 2 will be targeted at markets like Indonesia and the rest of Southeast Asia, apart from India. It is also said to cost roughly $450 (roughly Rs. 29,200) – which if true would be significantly cheaper than the original iPhone SE’s launch price.

If we believe some recent reports, the second-generation iPhone SE will have Apple’s A10 Fusion chip that was debuted on the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus last year, coupled with 2GB of RAM as well as 32GB and 128GB storage options. The iPhone SE 2 is also rumoured to have a 12-megapixel rear camera sensor, a 5-megapixel front camera, and a 1700mAh battery. Moreover, the display of the new iPhone SE model is likely to be identical to its predecessor that has a 4-inch panel.

Apple can be expected to announce the iPhone SE model in March, if going by last year’s launch. Meanwhile, we can expect a series of rumours and leaks pointing towards the new hardware.

Source: https://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/iphone-se-2-made-in-india-price-launch-2018-plan-apple-1779032

OnePlus 5T Update: Unlocking Improvements, Better Screen Off Gesture Accuracy, And More

Only a week into its launch, the OnePlus 5T has received the latest OS update. The update for the OS is for a range of new improvements.

OnePlus is making sure that its customers who have purchased the 5T flagship model are treated with all the necessary updates for a smooth experience with the smartphone.

What All Comes In OnePlus 5T Update
The OxygenOS 4.7.2 update at 107MB is mainly for the Wi-Fi WPA2 security issue fix. A vulnerability known as KRACK will no more affect the devices with this latest update.

The update optimises the face unlock and fingerprint scan features, it is also focused to increase the performance and efficiency of OnePlus 5T. Gesture controls for screen off command will also see improvements.

OnePlus is reportedly considering early feedback from the users for improvements in its dual camera setup of 5T handsets. After consolidating the reviews, the company will release a new software for its 5T’s camera. However, there is no fixed date for the release.

OxygenOS 4.7.2 is based on the Android Nougat and is an over-the-air (OTA) update. The official OnePlus forum discussed the latest update and queries related to installations.

For those who are eager for 4K video recording improvements, the update includes EIS (electronic image stabilization) for better video capture. OnePlus 5T does not support OIS (optical image stabilization) and with this update, the EIS will definitely improve video capture at 4K resolution.

The customers can check the latest update on their devices by going to the settings and then system updates. Before installing anything, it is advisable to backup existing data.

“We have seen some of the reviews that mention our OnePlus 5T camera could be performing better and offering a few areas of improvement,” says the spokesperson for OnePlus.

With the latest update to its software, the 5T’s beautification mode will become optional. Improvements to low-light photography and improved selfie shots are also part of the latest update.

OnePlus 5T’s camera is by no means a substandard equipment, it has a wide range of features and a spectacular lens for the price it retails. The latest improvements will enhance the camera’s capability and will add to an even better experience with the phone for the users who live to capture every beautiful moment of their lives.

Source: http://www.techtimes.com/articles/216137/20171124/oneplus-5t-update-unlocking-improvements-better-screen-off-gesture-accuracy-and-more.htmL