Microsoft’s Lumia 950, Lumia 950XL Review

Finally, Microsoft has unveiled its new smartphones – Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL. This also means Microsoft has jumped into the mobile space with a complete refocus on its mobile devices, yet again. The new devices will be competing with the leading phones from Samsung, Apple and others. Let’s take a quick look at its specs to understand what it holds within.

 Display

The Lumia 950 features a 5.2-inch AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution. The display resolution is almost par with the competitors. It will sport a pixel density of 565 ppi that means one can view crisp and clear images. The larger 950 XL comes with a 5.7-inches IPS display with 2,560 x 1,440  and whopping pixel density of 518 ppi that will ensure the device isn’t knocked out easily in the competition.

 Processor

The 950 is powered by a hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 (RAM uncear) while the larger 950 XL packs in a 64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 with 3GB RAM. In terms of processing power, both devices are well placed to take on the competition. However, one shouldn’t forget that the OnePlus 2 also packs in an 810 processor and at a much lower price. However, Microsoft’s Windows 10 could be a great distinguishing factor here if it manages to strike the chords right.

OS

The Lumia 950 and 950 XL are the first devices to run Microsoft’s Windows 10 out of the box. One of the biggest USP of the new Windows 10 is said to be the Continumm feature that allows turning the mobile device into a full-fledged Windows 10 PC. Both devices feature almost the same hardware so one can also expect a similar experience. It requires Microsoft Display Dock that will connect the devices via Type-C port to a display, keyboard and mouse. Moreover, you can also connect to an external source. The user can then continue to use universal apps that are pre-loaded on the phone.

Storage

Microsoft keeps it simple with a 32GB storage variant of both models, which can be further expanded via microSD card slot.
Camera
In terms of camera, both come with 20MP rear snapper along with triple LED flash and a fifth generation OIS. Both devices will also come with a dedicated camera button and a 5MP front-facing camera for selfies.

Microsoft Lumia 950, 950 XL will be announced in India on 30 November

It’s been known for a while now that Microsoft is set to launch the new Lumia 950 and the 950XL in India on 30 November.

Microsoft has begun sending invites for its event on 30 November, beginning at 11:15am. It turns out the event will happen simultaneously in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Raghuvesh Sarup, Director of Marketing, Mobile Devices at Microsoft India is expected to unveil the new devices on  Monday.

The Lumia 950 features a 5.2-inch AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution and a pixel density of 565 ppi, the larger 950 XL comes with a 5.7-inches IPS display with 2,560 x 1,440 and whopping pixel density of 518 ppi. The 950 is powered by a hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 while the larger 950 XL packs in a 64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810.

The Lumia 950 and 950 XL are the first devices to run Microsoft’s Windows 10 out of the box. One of the biggest USP of the new Windows 10 is said to be the Continuum feature that allows turning the mobile device into a full-fledged Windows 10 PC. Both devices feature almost the same hardware so one can also expect a similar experience. In terms of camera, both come with 20MP rear snapper along with triple LED flash and a fifth generation OIS. Both devices will also come with a dedicated camera button and a 5MP front-facing camera for selfies.

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Microsoft Launches Cortana Beta for iOS

Microsoft has officially started its beta test of a new Cortana app for iOS. And if you're one of the lucky few to be involved in it, consider yourself part of a fairly exclusive club. According to a blog post over at WareNotice, Apple limits TestFlight-based betas to roughly 2,000 or so people per application, and we figure there are a probably a lot more Microsoft fans looking to play around with the Cortana app than that.

If you're in the beta, you should have received an email earlier this week to give you the good news. If you have now scoured your inbox and come up with nothing, don't fret just yet: It's possible that Microsoft is rolling out invites in waves, and perhaps your time will come soon.

"Your life is not limited to one device, and neither is your digital assistant. Cortana is with you on your Windows 10 PC, tablet, and phone—helping you whenever and wherever you need it. But we also know that there's a choice of mobile devices out there, so we want help from our Windows Insiders to make sure she's a great personal assistant on iOS too," read Microsoft's description in an early-November blog post.

"Cortana's deep integration with Windows means that's where she can really shine. So, while there are some features you'll use on Windows that we don't (yet) support on iOS phones (like saying 'Hey Cortana' to wake her up), we've focused on making Cortana on iOS the perfect companion to your Windows experience."

As TechCrunch notes, those taking part in the iOS Cortana beta are asked to try out a few specific activities within the app: Setting a reminder on a Windows 10 PC and seeing what happens to your iOS device when you do so, using Cortana to schedule meetings and seeing whether the virtual assistant "can help you have meeting [sic] on time consistently," and communicating with Cortana and seeing whether or not the virtual assistant sounds, well, real.

These goals are a bit more marketing-themed than actually technical, but we don't blame Microsoft for trying to familiarize beta testers who might otherwise not be very Cortana-savvy.

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Is Apple Inc Trying to Copy Samsung Electronics Screen Technology

For the longest time, Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) had tried to differentiate its smartphone from its fiercest rival Samsung. But if rumors are to be believed, come 2018, the iPhone will sport an Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screen. All Samsung phones already come with an OLED screen and now it seems Apple has finally realized the superiority of an OLED screen compared to its all-time favorite LED screen.

According to a report published by Nikkei Asian Review, a Japanese business journal, Apple has been quietly getting in touch with suppliers with the intent of obtaining OLED screens. The iPhone maker has some experience with the OLED screen, as its Apple Watch is the only device in its product line-up to have one.

Industry experts had been debating when Apple will make the switch, as Samsung had been offering the superior screen to its customers since 2010. Apart from the rich visual experience provided by OLED displays, which include better contrast level and deeper blacks, it also provided improved battery life and energy depletion.

If this report has any substance then there is no doubt it will create hysteria amongst OLED suppliers and manufacturers. Given the immense popularity of the iPhone, it will be a jackpot for whoever gets Apple’s nod to be their main supplier. It has been alleged that LG Display has already started their ground work and might emerge as the chief supplier of the screens.

Interestingly, apart from LG, the only other top end maker of OLED screens is its rival Samsung. The massive global demand for the iPhone will make it tough for LG to provide screens for all units and it is believed that Apple would have to turn to Samsung to fill the difference.

While its good news for OLED manufacturers, LCD makers such as Japan Display and Sharp, who for the longest time have been making the LCD screens for the iPhone, will see a dip in their business. 30% of Japan Display’s sales are made to Apple and would see a significant drop when Apple finally makes the switch in 2018.

The latest iPhone model, the 6S, which has broken all record by selling 13 million units in just the first weekend, goes to show Apple’s dominance of the smartphone industry. It is believed Apple will make significant changes to its iPhone 7 when it comes out next September, with rumors circulating that the company will ditch its trademark home screen button to increase the screen size. Given the 2018 deadline for the OLED screen, iPhone 8 would be the first model to come with the OLED display, if Apple sticks to the same release cycle.

Apple Switching To OLED Displays For iPhones In 2018: What Are The Implications?

Apple is reportedly poised to swap its Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) in favor of the Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) technology for the future iPhones.

Come 2018, the Cupertino-based company intends to switch to OLED displays. The information comes courtesy of Nikkei, a Japanese site, which reveals that Apple has allegedly informed its suppliers of its forthcoming plans.

"Apple plans to introduce organic light-emitting diode displays for iPhones starting in 2018, sending suppliers racing to fine-tune the technology and invest in capacity expansion," notes the publication.

The report divulges that LG Display is already preparing for capacity increases to meet the demand for the production of OLED displays in massive quantities. The publication also suggests that both Samsung Electronics and LG Display would possibly share the production of the OLED panel for the next-gen iPhones.

If the rumors are true then Apple would be in the August Company of the likes of Samsung and LG, which currently deploy the OLED displays in their smartphones.

In the event Apple takes the leap of faith and transitions to OLED displays instead of using LCDs, the move could potentially have "major implications" for the company's current display suppliers, that is, Japan Display and Sharp. These two LCD suppliers rely primarily on Apple, which accounts for 30 percent of Japan Display's business.

However, there is a ray of hope for Apple's old suppliers as the high number of iPhones being shipped each year may result in the company selling iPhones with both LCD and OLED displays. Why? Because the production of OLED displays is technically challenging and Apple may not get the desired number of displays in time.

OLED displays offer brighter, sharper images and hues and power saving capacity in comparison to LCD ones. However, a minus of the former is that the production cost is higher than that of LCDs and they also have a shorter lifecycle.

Apple is apparently in consultation with the display makers on how to eliminate the drawbacks in OLED technology.

Since its launch eight years ago, iPhones have sported LCD screens and it would be interesting to see if Apple indeed transitions to OLED for its future iPhones.

Research Reveals Apple Watch Users’ Daily Patterns

Fortune has revealed the results of two surveys conducted on the usage patterns of Apple Inc.’s  Apple Watch users. These studies have highlighted how often users used their smart-watches, the frequency of apps they used, and even the usefulness of the watch on a rainy day.

Research agency, Wristly, confirmed in its report that 30 of its 1,450 respondents claimed that they checked their Apple Watches 60 -80 times in a day. Out of these, about 38% claimed that they glanced at their watches 2 or 3 times in an hour. The study also focused on how these users mainly referred to the watch to scan its interface, keeping tabs on time or checking notifications. Similarly, since the watch has been integrated with features like Siri and heart rate sensors, it shows that the Apple Watch has been beneficial to health-conscious users, increasing usage for the watch.

Wristly’s study shows that Apple has successfully branded its Apple Watch with exclusive features mimicking its iPhone apps in order to create a customized experience. Through the watch, its other services like Siri are also gaining an increasing platform and contributing to its growth.

However, another study by Stockholm University, concludes that users' interactions with the Apple Watch are limited, contradicting some of Wristly’s findings. By claiming that only a limited amount of users use their devices for apps like Siri, the study shows how “half” these Apple Watch interactions referred to just “glances” at the device’s screen.

The University'

Furthermore, with Black Friday around the corner, these studies may also help boost sales for the Apple Watch which is now being made available for pre-Black Friday deals at third-party retailers.
s study elaborated on the duration of interaction between users and their watches, revealing that the Maps app consumed a distinct percentage of users' time. Following these new research studies, Apple may reconsider redesigning the layout out of its main apps page which has been noted to appear slightly clustered. Since the tech giant has now had some time to experiment with its Apple Watch accessories and gain an insight into user preferences, it may be able to further improve upon the user experience for Apple Watch.

Nokia C1 Smartphone Leaks Again, Could Run Two Operating Systems: Android And Windows 10 Mobile

The elusive Nokia C1 leaked on several occasions so far, but it has yet to materialize and make its formal debut. No official information is available on the device, so everything we have so far on the alleged Nokia C1, including the latest leaked render, is still in the rumor state. That said, take everything with a grain of salt.

While the purported Nokia C1 has leaked in the past as well, the new render is particularly interesting because it shows two operating systems powering the handset. Previous reports hinted at an Android-powered Nokia C1, but the new image also shows a Windows 10 Mobile version of the smartphone (seen on the far right, behind the one with the Z Launcher).

"Nokia will take Android route that's we have heard, as it allows them to use the Z Launcher as the OS UI Layer. While the Render does have Android variant with Z Launcher UI, it looks like a nice concept than a real deal," NPU further points out.

As a reminder, Microsoft acquired Nokia's mobile unit a while back and the Finnish company is still bound by an agreement with Microsoft that prevents it from releasing any new phone until next year. Once that agreement expires in 2016, however, Nokia will be able to return to the smartphone market. At the same time, it's worth pointing out that the deal ends in the fourth quarter of next year, so it may not be until 2017 that we actually see a new Nokia smartphone hit the market.

With that in mind, this render seems even more confusing. The possibility of a new Nokia C1 smartphone running two operating systems or coming in two variants, each with a different OS, is not too farfetched, but it's still too early on to know anything for sure. The design in the new leak is also different from the design that previously leaked, particularly when it comes to the location of the cameras.

It's all still pretty hazy for now, but more information should come to light soon enough if the Finnish company is indeed working on a Nokia C1. In the meantime, a healthy dose of skepticism is advised.

iPhone water damage? Apple locks down ports with new shutter patent

 Apple is exploring a system that would automatically block speaker and microphone ports to protect them from liquids and other contaminants when not in use.

Apple made its iPhone 6S water resistant by covering its logic board in silicon. That measure targeted components that are highly sensitive to water damage, rather than waterproofing the entire case. The technique, of course, was patented by Apple.

Now the company has filed a new patent application that could see a different but equally targeted method for protecting other iPhone components, such as speakers, microphone and anything that sits behind a port in the device's casing.

The patent filing, published on Thursday, describes a new shutter system placed on the inside of an iPhone's housing to protect audio and other electronic components that might be exposed to the elements through port openings.

The shutter could be placed between the audio component and the housing port, and would be moulded to mirror any openings in a device's housing, or could simply be a plate-like design to cover the port.

On an iPhone 6, for example, the shutters could be built to exactly cover the headphone port or the openings for the speaker on the bottom of the device.

"The shutter may be closed by placing the shutter member in a position in which the housing openings are blocked, thereby preventing intrusion of contaminants into the interior portion of the housing," Apple notes.

"The shutter may be opened by placing the shutter member in a position in which the housing openings are unblocked, thereby allowing sound to pass through the housing port."

Apple primarily envisages that the shutter would be automated to prevent moisture and dirt from entering the device, with the system monitoring for events such as audio playback to indicate when to open the shutter.

However, it also notes the shutters could be manually opened or closed or it could make the electronic controller responsive to open and close commands.

Of course, the iPhone isn't the only Apple device with port openings for electronic components and Apple notes other applications for the shutter system could include PCs, laptops, TVs, wearable devices, headphones, displays and media players.

Top 5 Best Smartphones Upcoming in 2016

we are heading towards the next year, the buzzing rumors on upcoming Android smartphones are continuing to be intensified more than ever. They have generated a massive enthusiasm in the heart of global smartphone enthusiasts. This video gives you top top 5 best upcoming Smartphones in 2016 so, just Check them out.