The feature will also help in quickly connecting to other Google devices.

In what is Google’s way of ensuring users have better access to relevant apps, it has today launched a new feature called ‘Nearby’. The feature essentially suggests users what apps they should use, based on their current location. In theory, this feature will put an end to the need to search for a particular app on Google Play Store when you are out. The Nearby feature works on smartphones running on Android KitKat 4.4 and above, and is being rolled out as a part of the Google Play Service update.

The Nearby feature requires you to have your smartphone’s Bluetooth and location enabled for it to work. Google has also provided a few examples of scenarios where the Nearby feature will be useful. So for example if you are travelling by United Airlines, you will get a notification suggesting that you download the official app, which offers free multimedia content.

It is not just restricted to apps either, and the feature will also recommend websites to visit, which is a part of Google’s Physical Web Project. The project included experiments on pop-up webpages on Chrome when at a particular location. So for example if you were visiting University of Notre Dame, Google Chrome will pop up the university’s website. The Nearby feature also works with select Google devices. The idea is to suggest to make a connection when your smartphone is near a Google Chromecast or an Android Wear smartwatch.

ALSO READ: Google Play Store to soon let you try out games directly from search results

While Google doesn’t specifically mention it, the Android Nearby feature could in theory be connected to Instant Apps. Showcased at I/O 2016 earlier this year, this feature lets you use Android apps without actually having to install them on your mobile device. Developers basically split the app into multiple modules, and Google Play will only fetch those modules that are necessary to run it on a smartphone. So when Android Nearby recommends an app you can simply stream it, and only if required later install the full app on your mobile device.

ALSO READ: Google Play to soon suggest neglected apps that you need to uninstall

Android Nearby sure sounds like an interesting feature and will go a long way in ensuring users download and use relevant apps. Though restricted to Android, Apple had introduced a similar feature on iOS 8, which would suggest apps on the lock screen based on your location.

Take a look at the Android smartphone case that can hold consoles.

A US-based video game peripherals company has designed a kit that can turn your Android smartphone into hand-held consoles that can play “Game Boy” and “Game Boy Color” games, a media report said. Designed by Hyperkin, the $60 “Smart Boy Development Kit” is available for pre-orders and will start shipping from December 1, tech website wired.com reported.

The retro Android case plugs into any appropriately-sized Android phone running KitKat 4.4.4 or above via microUSB. According to the company’s website, Hyperkin is including an open source serial app and firmware to let developers turn the Smart Boy into a “retail-ready model”. Hyperkin is offering a percentage of retail-ready Smart Boy units to anyone who improve its app and firmware so it’s ready for a wide-scale public release, the report noted.

The “Game Boy” was an 8-bit handheld video game device developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan on April 21, 1989 and was the first handheld console in the Game Boy line.

The Honor T1 7.0 is priced right, but does it have enough to take on the competition?

Along with the Honor 5C, Huawei also launched a voice calling tablet called the Honor T1 7.0. It features a 7-inch display, magnalium metal body and the USB reverse charging feature. The tablet is priced at Rs 6,999 and is available on open sale via Flipkart.

Honor T1 7.0 specifications, features: The tablet features a 7-inch IPS display running at a resolution of 1024X600 pixels. Under the hood is a 1.2GHz Spreadtrum SC7731G A7 quad-core chipset paired with 1GB of RAM. The tablet also boasts 8GB of onboard storage, along with a microSD card slot for further expansion.

Along with a pair of 2-megapixel selfie and rear cameras, the tablet also includes connectivity features such as 3G for mobile data, calling and SMS, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Armed with a 4,100mAh battery, the tablet also supports USB OTG (on-the-go) support for reverse charging. This means, you can use the tablet to charge your smartphone, smartwatch or any other tablet. On the software front, it runs outdated Android 4.4 KitKat-based Emotion UI 3.0.

At this price point, the Honor T1 7.0 will go heads on with Micromax Canvas Tab P701 which is priced at Rs 7,250, the Lenovo TAB3 7, which is priced at Rs 6,999 and Asus ZenPad C 7.0 which is priced at Rs 7,999. The Micromax tablet is equipped with a 1GHz MediaTek MT8735 quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 3,500mAh battery, 8GB of internal storage, 4G LTE connectivity and runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop.

The Lenovo TAB3 7 is powered by a 1.3GHz MediaTek quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB onboard storage, a 2-megapixel rear camera and a 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera. With a 3,450mAh battery and 3G connectivity, it runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop.

The ZenPad C 7.0, on the other hand, is powered by a 1.3GHz MediaTek MT8382 quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 8GB of expandable storage, 5-megapixel rear camera and a front-facing VGA camera. With a 3,450mAh battery and 3G connectivity, it runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop OS.

Comparison Table

Focused on music-centric audience, Micromax is offering six months free premium Gaana+ services with unlimited downloads.

Micromax has launched a new music-centric smartphone in India called the Canvas Fire 5. One of the highlights of the smartphone is the front firing speakers with Auro 3D sound enhancement. Micromax is also bundling six months subscription for Gaana+, which offers unlimited music downloads. The Micromax Canvas Fire 5 is priced at Rs 6,199 and will be available via offline retail stores.

Sporting a metal frame and brushed finish at the back, the smartphone will be offered in Champagne gold, silver and grey color options. Another interesting bit about the Canvas Fire 5 is ‘gravity calling’ feature – it allows users to take calls from any side. Taking advantage of the dual frontal speakers, even if one is holding the smartphone upside down, the other speaker can be used as an earpiece.

Micromax Canvas Fire 5 specifications, features: The smartphone features a 5.5-inch HD (720p) IPS display and is powered by MediaTek’s 1.3GHz quad-core processor. It is paired with 1GB of RAM and 16GB onboard storage. A microSD card slot for further expansion is also present.

In the camera department, the smartphone sports an 8-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 5-megapixel selfie camera. Armed with a 2,500mAh battery, the Canvas Fire 5 features connectivity options such as Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth, 3G and dual SIM card slots. On the software front, it runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS out of the box.

At this price point, the Canvas Fire 5 will compete with the likes of Lenovo Vibe K5 and Xiaomi Redmi 2 Prime, both of which are priced at Rs 6,999. The Vibe K5 features a 5-inch HD (720p) display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 415 octa-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB onboard storage, 4G LTE connectivity and 2,750mAh battery. It also features a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front facing camera.

The Redmi 2 Prime, on the other hand, features a 4.7-inch HD (720p) display, Snapdragon 410 quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB onboard storage, 4G LTE connectivity and a 2,200mAh battery. In the camera department, the smartphone features an 8-megapixel rear camera and 2-megapixel front facing camera. The Vibe K5 and Redmi 2 Prime may be expensive by Rs 800, but they offer slightly better specifications for the price.

Comparison Table

Lava's latest tablet runs on a dated Android KitKat and doesn't support 4G connectivity.

Lava has launched a new tablet in India, called X80. It is priced at Rs 9,999 and will be available across retail outlets in India. Users will be able to choose between two color options – white and black. Lava touts its new tablet to be ‘crafted to provide next-generation experience to consumers’. But a quick look at the specs page, and Android KitKat along with the absence of 4G clearly shows how dated the tablet already is.

Lava X80 specifications, features: Speaking of specifications and features, the Lava X80 features an 8-inch HD IPS (1280×800 pixels) display, and is powered by a 1.83GHz Intel quad-core processor paired with 1GB of RAM. Also on offer is 16GB internal storage, which can be further expanded up to 32GB using a microSD card.

On the camera front, the tablet sports a 5-megapixel rear camera with auto-focus and LED flash. There is also a 3.2-megapixel camera for better selfies and video calling. The affordable tablet comes with a huge 4,200mAh Li-ion battery pack, and the ability to make voice calls. Connectivity options include 2G/3G, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm Audio Jack, FM radio, GPRS/ EDGE, Bluetooth, GPS, and Micro-USB 2.0. What’s surprising is that the Lava X80 will run Android 4.4 KitKat out-of-the-box.

At this price point, there may not be a lot of tablets to choose from, but the Lava X80 will face competition from the likes of the slightly more expensive Xiaomi Mi Pad and the Lenovo Tab 2 A850 to name a few. Where the Mi Pad, priced at Rs 10,999, comes with a better set of specifications and features, the Rs 12,350 Tab 2 comes with 4G support.

Android Nougat might be closer to official release, its predecessor Marshmallow continues to struggle with adoption.

Google has released the latest Android distribution data calculated between seven-day period ending July 11. The numbers reveal that Android Marshmallow now runs on 13.3 percent Android smartphones, compared to 10.1 percent last month – a rise of mere 3.2 percent. Even after eight months, the rate of adoption is pretty slow considering Google is all set to release the final version of Android Nougat in the coming months.

While some credit of the increasing market share can be given to the latest smartphones that run Android 6.0 Marshmallow out-of-the-box, majority of smartphones still run on dated Android versions. Also, due to the fragmentation issue that Android has since the beginning, a lot of manufacturers fail to deliver timely updates to their range of smartphones.

The good news, however, is that it seems we have already seen peak Lollipop, as its adoption is slowly declining, and should witness faster growth in Marshmallow adoption. According to Google’s data, 35.1 percent of smartphones run on Lollipop (v 5.0 and 5.1 combined), a minute drop from 35.4 percent last month. Also, Android 4.4 KitKat, still runs on 30.1 percent devices, a drop of 1.5 percent compared to last month.

Android JellyBean (v 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 combined) still has a good market share of 17.8 percent, but it is still a drop of 1.1 percent, compared to last month. Earlier Android versions – Ice Cream Sandwich (v 4.0) and Gingerbread (v 2.3) still runs on 1.7 percent and 1.9 percent respectively. And yet again, Android 2.2 Foryo has still managed to be present on 0.1 percent devices.

In comparison, Apple’s latest iOS has seen the fastest adoption. Since its launch in September last year, iOS 9 runs on 84 percent of devices, whereas iOS 8 runs on 11 percent of devices. In contrast, Android Marshmallow was launched in October last year.

ALSO READ: Google to publicly name and shame OEMs that don’t roll out the latest Android updates

Google has been trying hard to ease the software update process to ensure the latest updates reach as many smartphones as possible. It has also made it easier to install the Android N Developer Preview updates on compatible Nexus smartphones via OTA. That’s not all; a recent report also suggested that Google would publicly name and shame manufacturers that are slower in releasing software updates. Now it remains to be seen how far the efforts could bring in the expected results.

Intex's latest budget tablet will take on the likes of Lava X80, Datawind moreGmax 4G7 and Honor T1 7.0

Intex has launched a new tablet called the iBuddy IN-7DD01. The main features of the tablet are 7-inch full HD display, voice calling support and 2,800 mAh battery. Priced at Rs 5,499, the  iBuddy IN-7DD01 is available exclusively via Amazon India.

Intex iBuddy IN-7DD01 specifications

The  iBuddy IN-7DD01 flaunts a 7-inch (1280×720 pixels) HD display. It is powered by quad-core Mediatek processor paired with 1GB of RAM. Also on offer 8GB of inbuilt storage which can be further expandable upto 32GB via a microSD card.

On the camera front the tablet will sport a 2.0-megapixel rear camera and a 0.3-megapixel front camera. The tablet is equipped with 2,800mAh battery, which the company claims offers a long standby duration and talk time. The Intex iBuddy IN-7DD01 runs Android 5.1 OS. On the connectivity front, the tablet comes with 3G, dual-SIM, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS.

The tablet will face tough competitions in the likes of Micromax Canvas Tab P701, Asus ZenPad C 7.0 and Honor T1 7.0. The competitions have much better specifications as compared to Intex iBuddy IN-7DD01.

Lava has launched two new entry-level 3G smartphones, the A68 and A32. While the Lava A68 runs Android Marsmallow, the Lava A32 runs Android KiKat.

Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime (2016) is the successor to 2014's Galaxy Grand Prime. The new smartphone comes with a 5-inch display and has been spotted on Zauba, hinting at an imminent launch.

A new smartphone from Samsung has been spotted on India’s import-export site Zauba, bearing the model number SM-G532F. According to Phonearena, the smartphone is likely to be the Galaxy Grand Prime (2016), which as the name suggests, will be the successor to the Galaxy Grand Prime launched back in 2014. The Zauba listing doesn’t reveal a lot about the upcoming smartphone except for the fact that the device will come with a 5-inch display just like its predecessor.

This is not the first time the Galaxy Grand Prime (2016) smartphone has been spotted on Zauba. The previous listing revealed a price tag of $103, which is approximately Rs 6,800. While this is not the exact price of the smartphone, it is a hint that the device will be a budget offering. The Galaxy Grand Prime, was launched in India a couple of years back, with a price tag of Rs 15,499.

The Galaxy Grand Prime was launched with specifications like a 5-inch qHD (960×540 pixels) display, 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and 8GB internal storage that could be expanded using a microSD card.

The smartphone also featured an 8-megapixel rear camera, 5-megapixel camera at the front, 2,600mAh battery and connectivity options like 3G support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and GPS. On the software front, the smartphone runs on Android KitKat 4.4. The industry has changed a lot since 2014, and this year’s Galaxy Grand Prime smartphone is expected to be a major upgrade over its predecessor. At the very least we can expect a metallic body, full HD display, 4G LTE support and Android Marshmallow 6.0.

Besides the Galaxy Grand Prime (2016), Samsung is also believed to be working on the successors to the Galaxy On5 and Galaxy On7 — called Galaxy On5 (2016) and Galaxy On7 (2016). These smartphones are expected to be launching soon, and have been spotted multiple times on benchmarking sites.

The new Titan JUXT Pro launched today is the successor to the JUXT smartwatch. It is priced at Rs 22,995 and will be available at select offline stores and Flipkart.

Titan, the classic brand for watches, has launched a new smartwatch called JUXT Pro. As the name suggests, this is essentially the successor to the JUXT that was launched in India earlier this year. The new JUXT Pro has launched for Rs 22,995, and will be available in two variants — matte black and steel black. The smartwatch will be going on sale on August 12 at select offline stores and online via Flipkart.

Unlike the JUXT, which was just an analog watch with a small display that showed notifications and other information, the JUXT Pro certifies itself as a true smartwatch. Like other smartwatches from the likes of Motorola and Samsung, Titan’s new smartwatch too flaunts a touchscreen display, and features two buttons fixed on the right side.

Titan JUXT Pro specifications

The JUXT pro features a 1.3-inch (360×360 pixels) IPS LCD touchscreen display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. Under the hood is a 1GHz Intel dual-core processor paired with 512MB RAM and 4GB onboard storage. It is backed by a 450mAh battery.

On the software front, the smartwatch runs on Titan’s own OS, and is compatible with smartphones running Android KitKat 4.4 and above. To connect with the smartwatch, users will have to download and install the Titan JUXT Pro app from Play Store. The Titan JUXT Pro mirrors notifications and alerts for email, calls, and SMS, WhatsApp and calendar appointments on its display. It has a customizable watch dial feature with 20 pre-loaded designs.

ALSO READ: Apple Watch 2 with faster processor, larger battery and built-in GPS to be unveiled later this year: Report

Of the two physical buttons on the side, one is a dedicated safety button which works with the Titan Safety for JUXT PRO app. On the app, you fill in the necessary details and add emergency contact and by long pressing the safety button, the app will track your location and send an alert call to the emergency contacts. The smartwatch also features music control, front camera control and phone finder. The smartwatch has Cloud support for historical fitness data, customized dials creation and security and a fitness tracker that calculates active calories burnt and distance traveled.

ALSO READ: Samsung’s next smartwatch is codenamed Solis, runs Tizen OS

With Apple Watch 2, Samsung’s new smartwatch, and a rumored Google Nexus smartwatch on its way, Titan’s JUXT Pro is likely to face heavy competition, especially when you consider the price tag. We will soon put up our first impressions of the new JUXT Pro, so stay tuned!

Xiaomi has started rolling out the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow based MIUI 8 Global Stable ROM to compatible smartphones. Here’s how to install the update on your Xiaomi device.

After announcing the rollout of MIUI 8 Global Beta ROM last month, Xiaomi has today released the MIUI 8 Global Stable ROM for compatible Xiaomi smartphones. Based on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, the latest update brings all the features of the Google’s operating system such as improved apps permissions and doze mode, Adoptive Storage and Google Now on Tap among other features. It also includes bug fixes and performance improvements along with over the top customizations from Xiaomi.

Xiaomi has included some nifty features in MIUI 8, including live currency conversion in calculator app, new photo and video editing tools in the gallery app, scrolling screenshot to capture the entire page, T9 dialer with Hindi search and integrated Caller and SMS ID to display the identity of unknown numbers. One of the best features of MIUI 8 is the ability to run dual apps. For instance, you have two different accounts of Hike Messenger and WhatsApp on one smartphone. There is also a new feature called dual-space, allowing users to create separate spaces to use two different accounts, along with two different password. Lastly, there is also a floating quick ball tool, which makes single-handed use easier.

MIUI 8 Global Stable ROM supported Xiaomi smartphones in India

Xiaomi has a long list of smartphones that support MIUI 8 in India. These devices include the Redmi-series — Redmi 3S, Redmi Note 3, Redmi 3S Prime, Redmi 2, Redmi 1S, Redmi 2 Prime, Redmi Note 3G and Redmi Note 4G. The Mi series smartphones are also supported, including the recently launched Mi Max phablet, the Mi 5 flagship smartphone, the Mi 4 and the Mi 4i.

Starting today, the MIUI 8 OTA (over-the-air) update will be available for Mi 4i, Redmi Note 3G and Redmi Note 4G smartphones in India. The update roll out for other devices will start from August 24, Xiaomi says.

Do Note: Not all devices get the Android Marshmallow based MIUI 8 update. The Redmi 1S, for instance, gets Android 4.4 KitKat based MIUI 8, the Mi 4i gets Android 5.0 Lollipop based MIUI 8.

How to install MIUI 8 Global Stable ROM on your Xiaomi smartphone

There are many ways to update your Xiaomi smartphone to the latest MIUI 8 version. One of the easiest ways to do so is by using the ‘Updater’ app. Simply open the app and check for updates. It will download the updates and then prompt you to install it. There are other two methods as well — one using the ‘Recovery’ process, which is an easy process and other using the ‘Fastboot’ mode, which is quite tedious. Let’s take a look at how to update the using the Recovery process.

Step One:  Head over to MIUI forums by clicking here and scroll down to the download links. You will find the device name followed by links to download the ‘Fastboot’ and ‘Recovery’ files.

Step Two: Download the recovery file to your PC, rename it as ‘update.zip’ and copy to the root of your smartphone’s microSD card or internal storage.

Step Three: Enter the recovery mode on your smartphone – open the ‘Updater’ app, click on the top right corner and then click on ‘Reboot to Recovery Mode.’ Alternatively, you can also switch off your smartphone, and then press the ‘Volume+’ and ‘Power’ button at the same time to access the recovery mode.

Step Four: Use volume +/- buttons to navigate to “Install update.zip to System One,” and press power button to select. You will be asked for confirmation in the next step, just navigate to ‘yes’ and press the power button.

Once the update is complete, the device will automatically reboot and you will have the new MIUI 8 update running on your smartphone. If you found this guide to be helpful and updated your Xiaomi smartphone to MIUI 8, do let us know about your experience in the comments section below.

Nokia is expected to make its comeback with Android powered smartphones, but the latest leak reveals some disappointing specifications. Here’s why you shouldn’t be too excited about these smartphones.

Nokia has had a great run with its feature phones and Symbian OS-based smartphones, but the glory days came to halt when Android and iOS platforms started gaining dominance. The shift from Symbian and MeeGo OS to Windows Phone, followed by Microsoft buying Nokia didn’t do any good for neither of the brands. However, the much-anticipated return of Nokia is expected to happen later this year. For its revival, Nokia has already signed a deal with HMD Global for manufacturing smartphones and tablets for the next 10 years. Since then, we have come across reports stating the Nokia may launch up to four Android-based devices this year. Now, two Nokia-branded smartphones have surfaced on Geekbench, revealing outdated specifications. The smartphones, however, could be the ones Nokia decided against launching in the market.

Out of the two phones, the first one, Nokia 5320 was spotted running on outdated Android 4.4.4 KitKat OS, powered by a quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM. It logged a score of 494 and 1,531 in single-core and multi-core tests. The second one, Nokia RM-1490 was spotted running an even older Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS, and powered by AMD A8-5545M processor clocked at 500MHz and 2GB of RAM. It logged a score of 972 and 1,669 in single-core and multi-core tests.

However, as the smartphones weren’t put through test on GFX Bench, there are no details about other specifications, camera and connectivity options. Clearly, both smartphones seem outdated and probably are the ones that may have got shelved in the development and prototype phase after Microsoft acquired Nokia. Also, these specifications contradict with the recent report hinting at Nokia working on two new high-end smartphones. ALSO READ: Nokia set to make a comeback with two smartphones: Report

A recent report also revealed some of the expected specifications and features, which include a 5.2-inch and 5.5-inch QHD display and Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 quad-core chipset under the hood. The smartphones are also expected to feature premium metal unibody design with IP68 certification, fingerprint scanner and 22-megapixel cameras with innovative features. Both smartphones are expected to run Android 7.0 Nougat out-of-the-box. ALSO READ: Nokia Android smartphones with Snapdragon 820 SoC, 2K displays leaked

In yet another leak, alleged Nokia smartphones called C1 and P1 had surfaced. Reports also hinted tha the Nokia P1 could be the rebranded Sharp Aquos P1 featuring a 5.3-inch full HD display, Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage with microSD card slot. ALSO READ: Nokia-owned Withings enters Indian market with its connected devices, prices start at Rs 10,000

Based on all these rumors and leaks we could expect Nokia to make its comeback with a bang. But how exactly it pans out is something that remains to be seen.

Intex has launched a new smartphone in its Aqua 4.5 series, called the Aqua 4.5 3G. But this 3G smartphone runs on a dated Android 4.4.2 Kitkat operating system.

Intex had launched the Aqua Costa 3G smartphone just yesterday and now they’re back with another 3G smartphone. Intex today launched another smartphone in its Aqua series, called the Aqua 4.5 3G and is priced at Rs 3,349. The smartphone is listed on the company’s official website. It is available in three colors, champagne gold, gray and blue. The Intex Aqua 4.5 3G smartphone comes preloaded with apps like Online Software Update, Matrabhasha and Opera Mini. This is the third smartphone in the Aqua 4.5 series. The other two smartphones in the list are the Aqua 4.5 Pro priced at Rs 4,249 and Aqua 4.5E priced at Rs 3,499. Rht now, there’s no word on the availability of the smartphone.

The Intex Aqua 4.5 is a regular entry-level smartphone with 3G connectivity. Though, the smartphone will face a strong competition against a slew of LYF smartphones with 4G and VoLTE support, which are available for Rs 2,999. Also, Intex’s smartphone runs on a rather dated operating system, Android 4.4.2 KitKat. Right now, there’s no word on whether the smartphone will be upgraded to new versions of Android.

Intex Aqua 4.5 3G specifications

Intex Aqua 4.5 3G smartphone features a 4.5-inch TN display with 854 x 480 pixels resolution. Under the hood runs a 1.2GHz dual-core MediaTek processor. The smartphone comes with 512MB of RAM and onboard storage of 4GB which is further expandable up to 32GB via a microSD card. On the photography front, the Intex Aqua 4.5 3G sports a 2-megapixel rear camera and a VGA front camera. The smartphone is powered by a 1,500mAh battery. Its connectivity options include dual-SIM support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and AGPS.

Talking about competition, we can take the Reliance Digital LYF Flame 6 into consideration. Its price was today slashed to Rs 2,999 and its main strong point is the fact that the smartphone supports 4G VoLTE. As for its specifications, the Reliance Digital LYF Flame 6 sports a 4-inch WVGA display with Dragontail glass protection. Under the hood runs a 1.5GHz quad-core processor. The smartphone comes with 512MB RAM and onboard storage of 4GB which is further expandable up to 32GB. It runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop and is powered by a 1,750mAh battery. The LYF Flame 6 sports a 2-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 2-megapixel selfie camera.

Another smartphone which joins the competition line is the Panasonic T44 Lite. Priced at Rs 3,199, Panasonic T44 Lite features a 4-inch WVGA display. Under the hood runs a MediaTek 1.3GHz quad-core processor. The smartphone comes with a 512MB RAM and 8GB onboard storage expandable up to 32GB. The Pansonic T44 Lite runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow and is powered by a 2,400mAh battery. its camera specs are 2-megapixels on the rear end and a VGA selfie camera. ALSO READ: Intex Aqua Costa 3G smartphone with Android 6.0 Marshmallow launched, priced at Rs 5,499: Specifications and features

While Android Marshmallow adoption rose by two percent, Android Nougat still hasn’t made to the list.

The Android distribution numbers for last month are here. Nougat, the latest Android version did not make it to the list as Google only counts versions equal to or exceeding 0.1 percent of the ecosystem. As we look at the table, we can see that Lollipop (5.0 and 5.1 combined) once again tops the list with a combined market share of 35 percent. Coming in at second is KitKat (4.4) with 27.7 percent followed by Marshmallow with 18.7 percent and Jelly Bean at 15.6 percent. What’s surprising to see is that Android’s ancient version (Froyo 2.2) still stands at a meager 0.1 percent, which was the same in last month’s Android distribution list.

Looking at last month’s Android distribution, Marshmallow had registered a very slow growth owing to its lack of updates on smartphones. But given that many of the new smartphones are coming with Android Marshmallow out-of-the-box, an increase in its distribution was expected. And it has increased its presence from running on 15.2 percent devices to 18.7 percent. When compared to its predecessors KitKat and Lollipop, Marshmallow has had a rough run in making its presence felt.

According to the latest Android distribution system, Lollipop is running on 35 percent devices, which is a 0.5 percent drop from last month. An old, but popular Android version, Jelly Bean, has decreased from 16.7 percent to 15.6 percent. As for Ice-cream Sandwich, it has also decreased from six percent to 1.4 percent. Gingerbread, one of the soon-to-be ancient Android versions has also gone down by two percent standing currently at 1.4 percent from its previous 1.6 percent. Looks like the old versions of Android are slowly but steadily dying, but given their long presence even after years of their release, it shows that some Android users have continued to stick with their old smartphones.

Talking about Android Nougat, it created a lot of buzz especially because of its name. First introduced as Android N, Google began an online voting competition leaving it to the public to choose a name for Android N. After days and weeks, Google finally picked a winner and surprisingly, Nougat stole the crown. Another talking point about Android Nougat is that for the first time ever a new version of Android won’t be running on Google’s latest Nexus/Pixel devices. ALSO READ: Google Pixel, Pixel XL renders leaked ahead of rumored launch on October 4

Yes, the LG V20, which was launched this month is the first smartphone to run on Android Nougat. However, it is not stock Android that runs on LG V20 and we would probably have to wait for Google Pixel devices rumored to be launched in October, to see how Android Nougat really performs. An exciting feature that Android Nougat is bringing to the table is Google’s Daydream VR platform, which promises to give a better experience than Google Cardboard VR. Come October, we will probably see Android Nougat in the distribution list. ALSO READ: LG V20 launched with Android Nougat 7.0; here are its top 6 features

Lava has launched the X28 4G VoLTE smartphone for Rs 7,349, and A56 2G smartphone for Rs 4,199. Read on to find out the specifications and features of both devices.

Lava has added to new affordable smartphones to its portfolio, called the A56 and X28. The A56 is a 2G smartphone priced at Rs 4,199, and it is available in white and black colors. The Lava X28, on the other hand, is a 4G VoLTE capable smartphone priced at Rs 7,349, and it will be available in gold, silver and coffee color variants. The smartphone will be available across all retail stores and multi-brand outlets in India.

Talking about design, the Lava A56 features a polycarbonate body and sports a textured pattern at the back. The rear panel also has a speaker grille towards the bottom. The Lava X28, in our opinion, looks quite similar to the Xiaomi Redmi 3s. But where Xiaomi’s smartphone features a unibody metal design, Lava’s smartphone features a metallic body. While the Lava X56 has the volume and power buttons placed on the left hand side, the X28′s power and volume buttons are placed on the right hand side.

Lava A56 Specifications

The smartphone flaunts a 5-inch FWVGA (854×480 pixels) display, and is powered by a 1.3GHz dual-core processor paired with 512MB RAM. There is also 4GB internal storage, which is further expandable up to 32GB using a microSD card.

The Lava A56 is also equipped with a 5-megapixel primary camera with LED flash, and features like HDR, Grid, photo timer, HD video calling and Digital Zoom. Up front, is a VGA selfie camera. The Lava A56 also packs a 1,850mAh battery, and connectivity options like 2G support, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and 3.5mm audio jack. The smartphone runs on a dated Android KitKat 4.4 out-of-the-box.

Lava’s decision to launch a smartphone running on Android KitKat and with 2G support is baffling to say the least. The launch is strange because we are seeing smartphone companies launching budget 4G smartphones with prices starting as low as Rs 3,999. To be specific, Lava’s smartphone will compete with Reliance Digital LYF Flame 5, which is priced at Rs 2,999 and supports 4G and VoLTE.

Lava X28 Specifications

The Lava X28 features a 5.5-inch HD (1280×720 pixels) display, and is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core processor paired with 1GB of RAM. It also comes with 8GB of internal storage, which can be further expanded to 32GB using a microSD card.

The Lava X28 comes with an 8-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel selfie camera. Both the cameras come with LED flash. The smartphone is packed with a 2,600mAh battery that Lava says is good enough to last an entire day and connectivity options like 4G support, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi.

At this price range, the Lava X28 will face competition from the likes of the Moto E3 Power which is priced at Rs 7,999 and Xiaomi Redmi 3s which comes at a price of Rs 6,999. All the three smartphones support 4G VoLTE feature and run Android 6.0 Marshmallow out-of-the-box. While the Moto E3 Power comes with a splash-proof body which protects it from accidental spills, the Redmi 3s comes with a full-metal body. Both, Moto E3 Power and Redmi 3s come with better battery as compared to the Lava X28. In fact, the Redmi 3s is cheaper than the Lava X28 and offers better specifications as well.

At a time when manufacturers are aiming to build devices which offer the latest features, the 3G compatible Intex Aqua Eco 3G is aimed at first-time smartphone users and aimed at consumers beyond big cities.

Intex Mobiles has introduced an all-new budget smartphone with 3G support called the Aqua Eco 3G. The phone is priced at Rs 2,400. Targeted at first-time smartphone users, the phone is powered by the older Android KitKat 4.4 OS and supports dual SIM. At a time when manufacturers are pushing for more 4G compatible devices, Intex Aqua Eco 3G is for the humbler late adopters who want to familiarize themselves with the ‘smart’ phone interface.In the past, Intex has delivered budget yet feature-rich phones, such as the Intex Aqua Joy and the Intex Aqua G2. The Intex Aqua Eco 3G is an entry-level smartphone featuring a 4-inch display offering a display resolution of 480×800 pixels. It comes with a 0.3 megapixel camera both in the front and rear which is supported by dual LED flash. Under the hood of the Intex Aqua Eco 3G  is a 1GHz dual-core MTK 6572AX chipset coupled with 256MB of RAM and 512MB of internal storage.  Unnikrishnan Mohandas, Product Head – Mobiles, Intex Technologies, says that the phone is targeted at ‘markets beyond big cities’. The Aqua Eco 3G will be available in color choices of black, white, and blue at all leading retail stores.

Intex Aqua Eco 3G specifications

The budget smartphone, priced at Rs 2,400, measures 124.3×63.3×11.2mm and weighs 118 grams. It comes with dual-SIM support and has a battery capacity of 1400mAh. Intex claims that the battery power can offer a talk-time of up to 5 hours along with a standby of at least 9 days. Although it features a measly 512MB of internal storage, users can push the storage up to 32GB with the help of a microSD card. Surprisingly, the budget smartphone comes with support for HD video playback.

If one compares it with the Intex Aqua Joy which is priced at around Rs 500 more than the Intex Aqua Eco 3G, then what users get is Android 5.1, 4GB of internal storage, and a slightly bigger 1,450mAh Li-ion battery. The Aqua Eco 3G is a variant of the Aqua Eco 4G which evidently supports 4G network. Priced at Rs 3,949, the 4G variant features a similar display size of 4-inches and comes powered with Android 5.1. The differentiating factor is also a 2 megapixel rear camera, a VGA selfie camera, and a 1.5GHz quad-core processor with 512MB of RAM.

Although the Intex Aqua Eco 3G is targeted at ‘markets beyond big cities,’ it is worth mentioning that companies like Reliance Digital are offering similarly priced devices with more advanced features. Reliance’s range of LYF smartphones are not only marketed as a budget device for consumers residing in places beyond big cities, but are also feature rich by offering services beyond the basic. The LYF Flame 4 smartphone, priced at Rs 2,999, offers 8GB of internal storage and supports 4G and VoLTE among other such features. On the other hand, the LYF Flame 6, touted the cheapest phone to come with 4G VoLTE support at Rs 2,999, comes with a 2-megapixel cameras both in the front and rear supported by LED flash. Also competing with the Intex Aqua Eco 3G in the sub-Rs 3,000 segment are the Micromax Bolt Supreme and Bolt Supreme 2, which are also aimed at first-time smartphone users but run a more recent version of Android.

The new Huawei Fit fitness tracker features an always-on circular display, real-time heart rate monitor and battery life of six days.

At its event in Germany, Huawei took the wraps off the new Mate 9 and limited edition Mate 9 Porsche Design smartphones, along with a new fitness and activity tracker called Huawei Fit. Priced at just $129, which is approximately Rs 8,800, the fitness tracker will be offered in two casing options – silver and matt black, and three watch band colors – orange, black and blue.

The casing is made from aluminum and has a thickness of 11.2mm. It does not have any physical buttons or dials, but features a 1.04-inch circular monochrome LCD touchscreen display. Having a resolution of 208x208pixels, the black and white (or e-ink) display is similar to what you find on Amazon’s Kindle readers. While viewing under direct sunlight should not be an issue, the Huawei Fit also comes with an ambient light sensor and a backlit to make it easily readable in dark. The display shows basic readings such as time, number of steps, calories burned and more.

Under the hood, you have 256KB of RAM, 1MB of internal storage. While these specifications may not look impressive, you don’t need a faster processor, RAM and storage for a fitness tracker. Powering the Huawei Fit is an 80mAh battery, which Huawei claims is good enough to last for up to six days, and standby time of 30 days. The Huawei Fit also comes with real-time heart rate sensor, gyro and accelerometer. ALSO READ: Huawei Mate 9, Mate 9 Porsche Design with Leica dual rear cameras, Android 7.0 Nougat launched: Price, specifications and features

It is compatible with Apple iPhones and Android smartphones running on KitKat 4.4 OS and above, and having more than 1.5GB of RAM. You’ll need Huawei Wear app to connect the fitness tracker with your smartphone. While it is not a smartwatch, it is still capable of displaying alerts and notifications from your smartphone. For instance, you can dismiss a call directly without having to take the phone out of your pocket.

The fitness tracker is water resistant and rated at 5 ATM (atmospheric pressure), or 50 meters. This means you can wear it while taking a bath, in light rains or even take for a swim. However, it would be a good idea not to take it for diving. ALSO READ: Xiaomi Mi Band 2: From OLED display to 20-day battery life, here are its 7 interesting features

At its price point, the Huawei Fit activity and fitness tracker will closely compete with Fitbit Charge 2 which is priced around Rs 12,000. For Rs 9,500, you can get a TomTom Spark smartwatch, for Rs 10,900, you can go for Asus Zenwatch 2, and if you don’t mind paying a little extra, you can get Samsung’s Gear Fit 2 or Sony SWR50 priced under Rs 15,000. And for those who want a fitness tracker with OLED display and heart rate monitor without creating hole in your pocket, the Xiaomi Mi Band 2 for Rs 1,999 is one of the best options. The display not only shows fitness activity details and notifications, but its battery can last for up to 20 days on a single charge.

Photo Credit – Phandroid

Meet Modi keynote app, which lets you watch Narendra Modi's speech on black money on the new Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 notes.

After the demonetization of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 we have seen a rise in the use of mobile wallets and net banking transactions. People have moved to using digital wallet apps like Paytm and Freecharge. While on one hand people are still finding it difficult to use the Rs 2,000 currency notes and are figuring ways to skip the long queues outside banks and ATMs, there is one startup which has already put the Rs 2,000 into use. Of all the weird things we have heard since Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 went out of business this one wins through.

‘Modi Keynote’ is an app by Barra Skull Studios, a Bangalore based-startup. The app is available for Android smartphone user on Google Play Store and currently there is no word if the app will launch for iOS users or not. At the time of filing this story, the app was downloaded 7,867 times to be precise.

What the app does is that it will display Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech on black money and scrapping the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes and bring in the new Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 notes. However, the catch here is that you need to place your smartphone on the new currency notes for it to work. ALSO READ: Rs 500, Rs 1,000 notes ban fallout: Narendra Modi loses over 3 lakh followers on Twitter 

Reports further say that it will also run on the new Rs 500 note when launched. The video on the note further zooms-in and zooms-out as per the movements of your hand in and out.

The app only works for smartphones with Android 4.4 KitKat and above.  BGRIndia tried using the app and found the app to be little sluggish. The video takes a lot of time to load and Rs 2,000 note has to be put at a particular angle for the video to appear. Internet has been filled with question about the app, and out the many queries people have about the app, one of the most asked question was whether this app lets you find if the currency is original or fake? Well, please note that the Modi Keynote app will not let you find out original or fake notes. ALSO READ: Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency demonetization: Google search now lets you find the nearest ATM

The app has already made a lot of buzz on social media platforms and here’s what people who have used the app think about it.

So the new notes scanning app is out.MODI https://t.co/O4DXBYv9JA from playstore.

— Vivek H.Yajnik (@YAJNIKV) November 19, 2016

@arunjaitley thr is app in android named modi keynote which play modi ji video.spreading bad image of gov tat note contains chip.

— Abdullah Khan (@Abdullahlko) November 19, 2016

There is a app called modi keynote where in you can check the new 2000 and 500 currency note
Watch the video pic.twitter.com/st1DvA2J92

— आनंद चव्हाण (@anand_chavan2) November 19, 2016

https://t.co/CwXXAO995v

Really amazing app track modi video clip on New currency watch this video

We tested

— Teacher’s guide (@fasihurdu) November 19, 2016

@sudhirchaudhary
Hi
Is there any truth of “modi keynote” mobile app??
The video coming in the app is viral now.

— Suvransu Bhuyan (@Suvransu_India) November 19, 2016

The people who do Augmented Reality App for Modi on a 2000Rs note are called Bhakt! What a shame!

— Nimod Namboodiri (@nimodka) November 19, 2016

Some sensor in #Rs2000/500
It is proved but not chip
When downloaded app video connect note display Modi speech
Not in Rs100 note

— SADANANDTIKARE (@sadanandtikare) November 19, 2016

Haha interesting app by Android developer . Modi speech on new ₹500 ₹2000 notes. Play Store Modi Keynote https://t.co/PSQQUtLoYC pic.twitter.com/ISbVgdpjpQ

— biju govind (@bijugovind) November 19, 2016

This is in the interest of the nation.
So Stay home, download Modi app keep listening to his speech
Show your patriotism https://t.co/GMYAw7vpfY

— SarkaaR (@abhishekna1) November 18, 2016

New notes are showing modi video on demonetization..by downloading modi keynote app..you have to scan it and the video will start playing pic.twitter.com/4UH0bNynOB

— Ambrish Rai (@AmbrishRai27) November 18, 2016

Microsoft PC game collection of Solitaire includes all the five different games, ranging from Klondike to Pyramid.

Card games on Microsoft PCs have always been a boredom killer. Microsoft’s Solitaire Collection game on PCs starting from FreeCell, Hearts, Solitaire and Spider Solitaire, have been a favorite for years now. The entire collection of Microsoft PC card games is now available for download on Android and iOS devices for free. Microsoft Solitaire Collection has been played for over 25 years now, and it still remains a favorite even after so long. This is the first time Microsoft has released the game outside of its own platform. The game has currently been played by 119 million people on Windows 8 and Windows 9, and it is expected to increase even more with iOS and Android integration.

Microsoft Solitaire Collection can be downloaded on Google Play Store for Android users and on App Store for iOS users. The game is available for download without any charge. For Android devices, the game is compatible with Android 4.4 KitKat and above. And for iOS devices, the game is compatible with iOS 8.0 and above. Microsoft Solitaire Collection includes a set of five card games namely Klondike, Spider, FreeCell, Tripeaks and Pyramid. One can sign in and play the games or can simply opt to play as a guest. To sign in, one needs to have a Microsoft account and it would help them earn Xbox Live Achievements, view Leader boards and can save their game data in Microsoft Cloud.

Other than the five different card games available, there are daily challenges as well for all the games. There’s a Star Club section as well which isn’t available as yet. There is also a section for themes too which hasn’t arrived yet, plus there are awards and statistics as well to check one’s progress with the games. All these are available to access on the homepage of the game but are also placed under the Menu tab which is located on the top left corner of the game.

Microsoft is also giving an offer right now, which is free usage for month of the game’s premium edition. As a premium user one will receive double coins for playing the daily challenges and will also get game boosts. Moreover, they will avoid the cluster of ads appearing on the game. The offer for the premium edition is available till December 31, 2016. ALSO READ: Microsoft’s Color Binoculars app launched to help colorblind easily distinguish between colors

Here’s a brief intro to the five different games available with the collection. Klondike includes the classic Solitaire game which is evidently the easiest out of the lot. One should clear all the cards from the table using one or three-card draw. Spider Solitaire includes eight columns of cards which should be cleared with the fewest moves possible. One can either play a single suit or double suits for a more challenging experience. In FreeCell, one needs to use the four extra cells to move cards around and clear them from the table. In Tripeaks, one should select cards in a sequence, earn combo points and clear out as many boards before running out of deals. For Pyramid, one needs to combine two cards that add up to 13 to remove them from the board. The goal is to reach the top of the Pyramid and clear as many boards possible. ALSO READ: Microsoft’s new smartphone app will let anyone convert any object into 3D virtual reality

The games still retain their simplicity as seen in the PCs and the instructions plus tips are also available with the games. Go ahead and download the game to kill your spare time and boredom.

According to the latest distribution numbers, Android Marshmallow is still steadily rising, while Nougat is yet to make to even cross the one percent mark.

Google has released the latest Android distribution numbers calculated between the seven-day period ending December 5. The numbers reveal that Google’s latest Android 7.0 Nougat update barely makes its presence by running on just 0.4 percent devices, compared to 0.3 percent last month. However, as manufacturers start rolling out the update to its flagship smartphones, the adoption is set to grow further in the coming months.

Google’s newly launched Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones are the first ones to run on Android 7.1 Nougat update. The LG V20, which launched in India just yesterday, is among the first non-Google smartphone to come shipped with Android Nougat. Huawei and OnePlus have started testing their Android Nougat builds on some of their smartphones. HTC has rolled out the new OS for its HTC 10 and One M9 smartphones, whereas Motorola has also started seeding the update to Moto Z and Moto Z Force smartphones. Just yesterday, Sony also announced the update for its flagship smartphone, the Xperia XZ.

Android Marshmallow, which was released back in late 2015 has also seen a steady growth in the past one year, and it now runs on 26.3 percent devices compared to 24 percent last month. Android Lollipop (5.0 and 5.1), now runs on 34 percent of devices, compared to 34.1 percent last month. Android KitKat (v4.4), has finally peaked out with the OS now running on 24 percent devices compared to 25.2 percent in November, and 27.7 percent in September. ALSO READ: Android Nougat smartphones could soon get partial screenshot capture feature

The older operating systems such as Jelly Bean (4.1, 4.2 and 4.3) are still present on 12.8 percent devices compared to 13.7 percent last month, Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0) runs on 1.2 percent devices compared to 1.3 percent in the previous month, whereas Gingerbread (2.3) is still present on 1.2 percent devices compared to 1.3 percent last month. And lastly, Android Froyo (2.2) is still hanging there with a negligible market share of 0.1 percent. ALSO READ: Sony Xperia XZ Android Nougat 7.0 update now rolling out in India

In comparison, Apple’s latest iOS 10, which was released in September this year, already runs on 63 percent devices, the iOS 9, runs on 29 percent devices, whereas the previous iOS versions run on 8 percent devices.