Well over a couple of years after launching the Canvas 4 smartphone, Indian smartphone manufacturer Micromax has launched the device’s successor. Dubbed Canvas 5, the handset carries a price tag of INR 11,999 (around $183) and goes on sale (through both online and offline channels) starting today.

Specs-wise, the device is powered by a MediaTek MTK6753 chipset with octa-core 1.3GHz processor, and sports a 5.2-inch full HD (1920×1080 pixels) display. It comes with 3GB RAM and 16GB expandable internal memory, and packs in a 2,900mAh battery.

In terms of camera, the dual-SIM Canvas 5 features a 13MP rear unit with Samsung 3M2 image sensor and a 5MP front shooter. The phone is 4.8mm thick and has metal side frame. Connectivity options include 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, GPS, as well as Bluetooth.

On the software front, the device’s camera offers the Picture in Picture feature, allowing you to capture shots with the rear and front camera at the same time. There’s also a Smart Wake feature that lets you launch apps straight from the locked screen with gestures. The handset currently runs Android 5.1 Lollipop, although the company is promising a Marshmallow update sometime in the future.

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At the end of August, Microsoft announced the new Xbox One Elite Bundle with 1TB storage. This Xbox One Elite Bundle features a unique 1TB Solid State Hybrid storage setup for faster access and load times.

Microsoft hasn’t shared the specifics on how the 1TB Solid State Hybrid storage is divided between a Solid State Drive and a regular Hard Disk Drive. Yet the company promises 20% faster wake-up times under the energy-saving mode. While other 1TB bundles with regular hard disk drives will continue to exist, this is the only unique hybrid storage boasting console version.

The Xbox One Elite Bundle also has the new Xbox One Elite wireless controller with 4 inter-changeable paddles, 6 swappable thumbsticks and 2 D-pads. Other things in the bundle include a controller carrying case, HDMI cable and 14-day Xbox Live Gold trial.

There’s no game included in this bundle. Also, the backward compatibility for Xbox 360 games will be enabled from November 12.

Microsoft has listed the Xbox One Elite Bundle on pre-order for $499 and will start shipping it in the US from December 1. Right now, you can order it via Amazon only while it is out of stock at other stores. The bundle will be sold from Microsoft Store, GamesStop, Amazon, Target, and physical…

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A couple of weeks ago, JerryRigEverything.com made a video where they put the new Nexus 6P through a series of tests, including scratch tests for the glass, a heat test for the display, and finally a bend test. The result of the final test was that the Nexus 6P bends like a candy bar on a warm summer day.

This didn’t go down well with some people, who questioned the video’s legitimacy, the method of testing, and the authenticity of the phone being used itself. So to put those questions to rest, they decided to make another video specifically focusing on the bend test, with a brand new device.

Spoiler alert: The phone bent just like before. The reason seems to be the use of dovetail joints that Huawei has used to attach plastic to aluminum, which doesn’t seem to be the best way to do things. The joint breaks easily, causing the display to pop out at the first sign of stress. With the display no longer providing structural support, coupled with some weak spots in the metal and no other form of structural support, the metal bends cleanly in half without too much effort.

Now the thing is, as with most other bend tests, this one shows that in extreme situations the phone won’t be able to handle the stress. In most situations, though, the device is unlikely to have to go through that much stress, meaning the phone should be fine in regular use. Having said that, the device is still not as rigid as many of the other Android devices tested on the same channel, which, along with the new iPhone 6s, passed their tests without any major issues, so Huawei does have some work to do before it can truly match the other brands in every…

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According to latest numbers from Apple, the iOS 9 adoption now stands at 66%, which means two out of every three mobile devices from the company are currently running the latest iOS operating system.

That’s quite impressive and certainly faster than iOS 8, given that it’s not been even a couple of months since iOS 9 was released. Apple has already said that iOS 9’s adoption rate has been the fastest ever seen by the company for a new OS iteration.

Keep in mind, however, that the current iOS 9 share includes the iOS 9.1 update which rolled out last month and brought along over 150 new emojis and better Live Photos functionality.

For the remaining 34% share, last year’s iOS 8 claimed 25%, while earlier versions were collectively at 9%. For those who aren’t aware, these adoption numbers are calculated based on the usage of the Cupertino-based company’s App…

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US-based wireless internet and mobile phone service provider FreedomPop is entering the smartphone market, and will launch its first handset next year. The device will be optimized for Wi-Fi, and thanks to a deal with Intel, will be powered by the chip giant’s low-cost SoFIA line of processors.

For those who aren’t aware, FreedomPop is basically a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), which means that it doesn’t have any wireless infrastructure of its own, relying on towers from big players like Sprint in the US and Three in the UK. The carrier offers certain amount of data and minutes for free, but charges for whatever extra users consume.

FreedomPop’s handset, being a Wi-Fi first phone, would use Wi-Fi for services including even texting and calling, and when Wi-Fi isn’t available, it’d switch to the cellular network with no major difference visible to the user. The device, unsurprisingly, will be exclusive to the carrier in markets where the latter has a presence.

Commenting on the upcoming phone, FreedomPop CEO Stephen Stokols said, “It may mean more to Intel than it does to FreedomPop in some respects,” adding that “we are going to showcase their technology more than they could on their own, for sure.” He also indicated that the device would be priced less than $200.

“Mobile consumers continue to look for more ways to save on mobile bills, and a Wi-Fi-first smartphone allows them to use a more cost-effective network,” said general manager of Intel’s phone business Sam Spangler. “We look forward to working jointly with FreedomPop in improving the customer’s Wi-Fi-first experience via this new smartphone utilizing FreedomPop’s Wi-Fi network.” It’s worth mentioning that the chip-giant is also taking an ownership stake in the…

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While pre-orders for Microsoft’s Windows 10 Mobile flagships – the Lumia 950 and 950 XL – are already live in several European countries, the Redmond, Washington-based company has now also started accepting the handsets’ pre-orders in Ireland.

As for the price, like many other European countries, the Lumia 950 carries a tag of €599 in Ireland, while the bigger cousin will set you back €699 in the country. Color options include black and white, and shipment date is currently listed as November 27.

It’s worth mentioning here that the devices have already received price cuts in some European countries – Microsoft itself dropped the prices of the handsets in the UK, while Amazon is selling them at reduced rates in France.

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Following an announcement earlier this year, two of the three major wireless charging groups – Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP) and Power Matters Alliance (PMA) – have finally joined forces to form a new combined organization and brand identity called AirFuel Alliance.

“AirFuel technology is the next step in fast-tracking the commercialization of wirelessly charged products,” said President of AirFuel Alliance Ron Resnick. “We embrace a new, inclusive ideal of wireless charging and those member companies within AirFuel Alliance are energized towards bringing wireless power products to consumers globally.”

The new group consists of a total of 195 member companies, including Intel, Samsung, AT&T, and Starbucks. It’s major rival is now the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), which has been developing its own Qi standard, already used by several…

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Just days after clearing the FCC hurdle in the United States, the yet-to-be-announced Samsung Galaxy J3 smartphone – which was spotted listed on GFXBench earlier last month – has been certified by TENAA and 3C in China.

The listing on TENAA, where the Galaxy J2 successor is listed with model number SM-J3109, reveals that the device is powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor (which the GFXBench listing revealed is a 64-bit Snapdragon 410 processor), and sports a 5-inch 720p OLED display.

It has 1GB RAM and 8GB expandable internal memory, features 8MP rear and 5MP front camera, and packs in a 2600 mAh battery. Like GFXBench, the TENAA listing also shows the device running Android 5.1.1 out-of-the-box. Weighing 140 gms and measuring 142.2 × 71.6 × 7.9 (mm), the handset has also passed what’s known as China Compulsory Certification…

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Google tried to re-invent the email inbox with its new Inbox by Gmail app last year and it has gained quite a few followers since. Google kept improving the service and now the Search Giant added a new ‘Smart Reply’ option to Inbox by Gmail for quickly sending one of the few responses to an email.

The new ‘Smart Reply’ suggests up to three quick replies which are populated based on the type of emails you receive. For an instance, if you get inquiry about a product or file, the Smart Reply will show three probably answers such as – I will send it to you, I will have to look for it, and I don’t have it, sorry. So out of three options, you tap on one and the text gets added to the reply field.

If the feature catches on, the responses will get even better as the algorithm will learn from your usage patterns and improve itself.

Google will start pushing Smart Reply to the Inbox app users via Google Play Store later this week…

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Tech giant Samsung has been leading several industries including phones, tablets, home appliances, and TVs with no sign of slowing down, until now.

An article released by the popular Korean news outlet Asiae reports Samsung is going to suspend its camera division by moving employees around to its medical, optical, and smartphone departments. Perhaps this is for research and development to improve imaging for these industries. It is not known if Samsung plans to relaunch a digital camera division in the future or if it will do away with it altogether.

It seems that this will only affect the mirrorless cameras (non-DSLRs), since the translated article mentions the words “mirrorless” and “NX500” throughout. Neither of which would suggest DSLR cameras are included (Although, DSLRs tend to have much longer life-cycles). Also, the website samsungcamera.com, which hasn’t been updated for months, seems to only feature mirrorless cameras.

The same article also mentions “…to the growth of smartphone cameras, as well as high-end digital cameras.” suggesting plans to improve DSLR image sensors as well.

There’s a chance that Samusng is taking a year or two off of the digital camera space to regroup, review, and relaunch its product and marketing to better compete with Sony, Canon, Nikon, and Kodak for the digital camera space. Yet staging a comeback with zero market share will be pretty tough so if Samsung is to close the division it will likely be for good.

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