Page 878 – GadgetByte Nepal

Six Useful Android Apps You Probably Don’t Know About

GadgetByte

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August 25, 2016

Six Useful Android Apps You Probably Don’t Know About

Android is an open operating system. Lately, the app numbers have increased rapidly giving us choices in each and every category. There are thousands of useful apps in Google Play Store. In this article, I have made a list of six apps that people in Nepal are mostly unaware about but might find really useful. These apps provide tons of facilities and a worthwhile android experience.

AmpMe

Ever regretted not bringing a speaker when going out with your friends? AmpMe is a perfect solution to this problem. What it basically does is connect a number of devices so that you can play something from your music library, Youtube or even SoundCloud, all at the same time on multiple speakers. Create a ‘party’, connect your phones to it, and then you’re good to go. This might sound gimmicky, but if you’re out somewhere with no speaker, this app can come in handy. The only downside of this app is that you’ll need to connect to a wireless network to use it. And yes, it works on iOS devices too.

Evernote

Evernote has been one of the best note makings and notes managing apps around for a while. Its simplistic design and vast functions are useful in every means. You can make a simple text note or a handwritten note, take pictures and even make notes by including attachments. Evernote even allows you to share your notes. There’s even a chat function when you’re co-writing something with your friends. Seriously, making notes has never been this easy.

Gravity Gestures

Everyone likes the chop-chop gesture in a Moto phone or the double tap to wake in OnePlus phone. But most of the phones people use still lack those features. The app Gravity Gesture is a perfect fit in these devices. You can use four kinds of gestures to open an app, to make a call, to control the volume or to toggle torch. There are various other functions you can do just by rotating your phone in different directions or by shaking it, giving you more control over what the gestures do.

IFTTT

IF is an app like Tasker. It lets you automate various functions just like tasker. This app was previously known as IFTTT (If this then that) which basically tells us all about the app. In this app, you create recipes where you’re basically filling in the blanks in the statement ‘If ___ then ___’ where you can add thousands of conditions. One example is, ‘If any new photo, post a tweet with the image’. What this function does then tweets the new image you have just taken. I use it for notification purpose on various stuffs I need to know. You can even make the light in your house flicker if something happens (such as when your favorite team scores a goal).

Pocket

You come across an article about your favorite football club or a blog by a famous person just when you were about to do something important. There might not always be time to read those articles. Pocket helps you in this situation by saving links for offline reading. Just drop the link you want to read later in the app and you’re good. It is similar to saving pages on browsers, but this app does a much better job.

Zedge

Wondering around the internet looking for the perfect wallpaper for your phone? Zedge is the perfect solution to your problem. Consisting of tens of thousands of amazing wallpapers, the contents of the wallpaper vary from anime, designs, and logos, to nature and sports. In an instant, you can find wallpapers related to almost every field. [Awesome Batman wallpapers btw!] You can also change your icon packs, download ringtones and notification sounds from this app.

So this list basically consisted of some apps I think we Nepalis don’t usually install on our android smartphones. Do you know any apps like these? Don’t forget to comment.

Samsung Introduces New Dashain Offer! (Everything you need to know)

Samsung

GadgetByte

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August 25, 2016

2

Samsung Introduces New Dashain Offer! (Everything you need to know)

Samsung is the biggest smartphone brand in Nepal and with Dashain just around the corner, they couldn’t just let it skip without a big celebration like they do every year. So this year, Samsung has announced: “हरेक दिन लखपती ” Dashain offer where each day for 40 consecutive days one lucky buyer will win a cash price of “1 Lakh Rupees.”

But that’s not it, what’s so festive about just letting one person win on such an auspicious occasion? So, Samsung has got other gifts installed for this offer, like the Samsung Galaxy Gear S2, Samsung Level U sports earphone, and Samsung Level Box Bluetooth speaker for three winners every single day!

Dashain is when most of us buy that good tech stuff, with companies offering discounted price on most of the products. We haven’t seen any price offs from Samsung, but it won’t be long before they announce it.

So to participate in this Dashain offer, all you have to do is:

Buy a new Samsung Smartphone
SMS the serial number of your phone
And wait for your Luck to Shine!

If you don’t exactly know what you’re getting, here are few details of the products:

Samsung Gear S2:

Galaxy Gear S2 is a Tizen OS based smartwatch. Unlike Android, Tizen has its UI and set of features. The Gear S2 syncs well with you Samsung device making it easier to check SMS, Calls, and notifications on the go. If you happen to be health conscious, you can track your steps, measure your heart rate and health reminders to drink water or stand up if you’re lazy for too long. The body comes in both stainless steel and rigid plastic. Typical of Samsung you get Super AMOLED 1.2inch screen with 302 ppi with Always ON Display. Also, the watch is IP68 water and dust resistant and has Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Protection, making it one heck of a tough smartwatch.

The body comes in both stainless steel and rigid plastic. Typical of Samsung you get Super AMOLED 1.2inch screen with 302 ppi with Always ON Display. Also, the watch is IP68 water and dust resistant and has Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Protection, making it one heck of a tough smartwatch.

It is powered by Exynos 3250 Dual Core 1Ghz CPU along with Mali 400 MP2 GPU and comes with 512MB of RAM. It has 4GB inbuilt storage. It sports sensors like Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer, ambient light. You get SVoice and wireless charging to name even more features. It is backed up by 250mAH battery which Samsung promises to last two days.This watch is both functionally and ergonomically pleasing.

The Price for the Samsung Galaxy Gear S2 is Rs.34,500.

Samsung Level U Bluetooth Earphones:

If you are someone who moves or works out a lot and at the same time listen to a lot of music, Samsung Level U earphone is the answer for you. This Bluetooth headset is ergonomically designed to go around your neck to comfortably hold it in place. It features large 12mm speaker and dual-mic noise reduction to ensure quality sound. It gives 10 hours of music playback.

Samsung Level Box Bluetooth Speaker:

Samsung Level Box Bluetooth Speakers come with aptX which Samsung claims to deliver near CD-like quality audio from Bluetooth. It is easily one of the high-end portable Bluetooth speakers you can find in the market. You have the option of 3.5mm headphone and USB port for convenience. It is also NFC enabled. You get 15hours of playback with 2,000hours of standby time and it takes 2.5 hours to fully charge.

Apple’s September 2016 Event: What to Expect?

Apple
iOS

GadgetByte

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August 25, 2016

1

Apple’s September 2016 Event: What to Expect?

Alright everyone tighten your seatbelt as we are a few weeks away from Apple’s Special Event. We all know Apple typically introduces iPhone in September. Apple is widely expected to debut the iPhone 7 (name may vary) at the upcoming September Special Event to be held on 30^th Sept. as revealed by Barbara Streisand after she had spoken to Apple CEO, Tim Cook. The murmurs and rumors of new iPhone had already started even before the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) held on June 13, 2016. Today we will go through the expectations and sum up all those rumors and information about what Apple might announce during its keynote.

Great Confusion- When’s an event?

According to Bloomberg, Apple will reportedly unveil its next iPhone on 7^th September but Barbra Streisand (a famous actress who recently called Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook complaining about the pronunciation made by Siri), said Event will be held on 30^th September. The well-known phone-leaker Evan Blass also supported Bloomberg. And we also think 7^th Sept. would be the right date if we go through those past events. If Apple does have an event that day, it’ll also be the final day of IFA 2016 in Berlin and all people will have their attention only for Apple Special Event, but it’ll have to compete with Sony’s PlayStation event, where we expect to hear more about the upgraded PlayStation 4 console and the rumors says it’s going to support 4K games (this will be the entire next article).

APPLE’S SEPTEMBER 2016 EVENT: WHAT TO EXPECT

iPhone 7/ iPhone 7Plus/ iPhone 7 Pro:

In September 2015, Apple introduced two models of iPhone (iPhone 6S and 6S Plus) followed by a smaller model, iPhone SE in March 2016. And September has always been a great month for Apple and its fans, it is more likely that Apple will reveal a new model of iPhone (probably they are going to name it iPhone 7) and every year the design is speculated by the fans and the Apple users. Talking about the specifications/features, we just don’t know yet but we in this section deals with all the rumors going around the world. The coming iPhone 7 is going to drop the headphone jack and also include a new home button with haptic feedback, and it will look a lot like the 6S. For a completely redesigned iPhone, we have to wait for some months. There has also been the talk of an iPhone 7 Pro which is thought to have better photo-taking capabilities – like a dual-camera setup.

In Weibo (Chinese Microblogging Website which is used by 30% of internet users and it is hybrid of Facebook and Twitter), the following photo (down below) is gaining popularity. MacRumors reported that the antenna bands across the rear will apparently be moved to the top, while the camera lens will sit flush rather than protrude as it does currently. Now we don’t know much about every specification. We will update about everything in the next article.

iOS 10

iOS 10 was unveiled at WWDC earlier this year and since then it has released several beta builds (Oh my god beta 10 is already out) to both developers and the public, giving us a good idea of what to expect from the final software. We all are waiting for the final release of it and of course what could be a better time than the September Event. So be in position for the final update which we all have been waiting since June. The new iOS will support a number of new features designed to enhance an iPhone even more beyond what the company launched in iOS 9 last year. The biggest update as claimed by Apple, there will be at least 10 major features, including a HomeKit Home app as well as changes to Siri (Siri is expected to have major change), the lock screen, and photos. We will update our readers about the every feature on next article.

iPad Pro

Last year, Apple combined what would normally be two events into one giant event. At the event, it announced the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus alongside 12.9-inch iPad Pro on one day and a 9.7-inch version was unveiled months later. Apple may again do that same thing, no one but they know it.

However, according to noted analyst Ming- Chi Kuo, Apple will refresh its iPad lineup in 2017, with three new iPads which may range from 9.7 inches to 12.9 inches. According to him, Apple plans to introduce a new 10.5-inch iPad Pro model next year which go along with a 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2 as well as low-cost 9.7-inch iPad model. Apple will keep its September event focused only on iPhone if Kuo is right and more than this even we could not say. But of course, don’t forget we are here to update you if any leaks happen.

MacBook Pro

We all are a bit disappointed at WWDC earlier this year as we didn’t see any update in MacBook Pro beside MacOS. At WWDC 2016, everyone thought Apple was going to update its MacBook Pro line but Apple did not give any sign of it that time. Now the world is expecting refreshed models to come out this autumn instead. We know there are two sizes of MacBook Pro: a 13-inch model that was last updated in March 2015, and updated in May 2015 was a 15-inch model. So, nobody can imagine Apple is going two full years without rolling out MacBook Pro models. Also, the Apple fans have not imagined it and they are really taking this to heart.

Rumors suggest that the new ones are on the way and are ready to burst and capture the market. What’s more, the upcoming laptops won’t have faster processors and even they won’t have thinner bodies, which we all pretty much expect. They are heavily tipped to feature an OLED touch panel and a Touch ID sensor in their keyboards which may be embedded.

However, Bloomberg reported in earlier this month that the new computer will be a no-show at Apple’s upcoming September Event. So sad Apple fans but don’t worry as the event is approaching near and till then what can we do besides hoping, waiting and watching. And don’t forget we are here to update on each and every leaks, murmurs, rumors, and information.

Galaxy J2 2016 Review: Is it Worth it?

Yural Maskey

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August 24, 2016

1

Samsung’s latest midrange phone, the Galaxy J2 2016, is here. If offers substantial improvements over its predecessor, but with the increasing competition from Chinese and Indian manufacturers in a midrange price segment, can the Galaxy J2 2016 Edition live up to its hype? Let’s find out in our review:

Disclaimer: We tested a retail version of the Samsung J2 2016 provided by Samsung Mobiles Nepal for the purpose of this review. We used it for about 2 weeks before gathering our impressions, and then we sent it back.

Design:

The design of the Galaxy J2 is nothing to write home about. It features the same all plastic design and looks similar to other midrange handsets from Samsung. Although made up of plastic, it’s ergonomic and feels sturdier in the hands.

It’s light weight and one hand operation is very easy thanks to its compact form factor. What I also like about Samsung Phones is the inclusion of a decent Home button that serves you well while using the phone. Double tap it and the camera app opens which is one of the quickest ways to take photos. The back and multitasking capacitive buttons are also very responsive, but unlike seen on the high-end phones, these are not backlit.

Display:

Samsung has been a pioneer in the display department. They make the best smartphone displays. The Galaxy J2 sports a 5-inch HD display with AMOLED panel. At this price, this is the best display we have ever tested. The IPS panel of other handsets is a no match in front of the vibrant, oversaturated 720P display of J2. The sunlight legibility and viewing angles are also stellar for the price. Samsung has not included any kind of protection, so make sure you insert a tempered glass that will prevent the phone from scratches and drops.

Software:

The J2 2016 runs on the latest Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with touch wiz UI layered on top. What we have learned from Samsung in the last couple of year is they have worked really hard in improving the UI by excluding a lot of bloatware and make the UI clean and minimal.

1 of 5

Performance:

The J2 2016 boasts a 1.5Ghz quad-core cortex A7 processor (Spreadtrum SC8830) with 1.5GB of RAM. It features a Turbo Speed Technology (TST) which the company claims will result in superior device performance. On our test, the 32 bit Cortex A7 Processor performed fairly well while doing normal tasks like chatting, browsing, and navigating through UI. However, the outdated 32-bit Speadtrum processor means you sacrifice while playing games, opening apps, and multitasking. Although low-end to mid-end games are playable, but you will see lags and drop frame rates most of the time. That being said, it’s a budget phone so we can’t expect more from the device. In terms of memory, the Galaxy J2 has 8GB of inbuilt storage (3.6 GB available to users). Since most of the storage is being used by the OS, you will soon run out of storage

Camera:

The 8MP rear camera of the J2 2016 is pretty average. It can capture “Okay” photos during daylight with vibrant colors, but the details is not there once you zoom in the photos. The low light imaging, as well as indoor imaging, is below par with lots of noise. The 5MP front camera is decent for taking selfies and for social media uploads.

Connectivity & Sensors:

The Galaxy J2 2016 comes with 2 SIM slot with 4G LTE. Other connectivity options include Wi-Fi b/g/n (no dual band ac), Bluetooth 4.1, and GPS. It includes a Smart Glow LED’s on the back which is a nice feature, but not practical and gimmicky at best. Samsung Galaxy J2 also lacks few basic sensors like ambient light sensor, gyro sensor, and a secondary noise-canceling microphone.

Battery:

The Galaxy J2 2016 offers a sizeable 2600mAh battery which is user replaceable. On our battery test, it provided 3.5 to 4.5 hours of on screen time, which means it should last you a whole working day. It lacks quick charge technology which means it will take roughly around 2 hours to charge from 0 to 100%.

While most of the phones don’t have access to the battery, the J2 2016 offers a removable battery. So, if you are a power hungry user, you could easily get an extra battery for around Rs. 1500 and enjoy the benefits.

Conclusion:

The competition of midrange smartphone is getting fierce as there are lots of smartphones under Rs. 20,000 to choose from. The Galaxy J2 2016 offers great AMOLED display, ergonomic design, and a good selfie camera. But, the phone lags behind the competitors in other aspects like the performance, rear camera, and sensors. If you are don’t play high-end games, use a smartphone mostly for chatting and browsing, like to take a lot of selfies, value brand, after sales service and availability of accessories, and need a removable battery, the Galaxy J2 2016 would be an excellent choice.

Pros	Cons
– Excellent Super AMOLED display (bright, vibrant 720P display)	– Sluggish Gaming Performance (Spreadtrum 32bit chipset is not favorable for gaming and heavy multitasking)
– Feature pack UI (S bike mode, Ultra data saving mode, Smart Glow App)	– Low internal storage (Out of 8GB onboard storage, 3.6GB is only available to the user)
– Battery Life (4 hours of onscreen time)	– Average Camera (The camera lack in details and can only record videos in 720P)

Samsung Galaxy J Max with 7.0 inch Display Launched in Nepal

Samsung

Yural Maskey

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August 24, 2016

0

Samsung Galaxy J Max with 7.0 inch Display Launched in Nepal

Samsung Mobiles Nepal has launched a new phone, the Galaxy J Max, in the Nepali Market. It is Samsung’s biggest phone measuring a 7-inch display and comes with a Bluetooth Headset for calling and receiving calls.

Priced at Rs. 21, 900, the Galaxy J Max has a 70% screen to body ratio despite featuring a huge 7-inch TFT capacitive display with a resolution of 800 x 1280 pixels. It is powered by a 1.5Ghz quad-core processor (Spreadtrum SC8830) which is an outdated 32-bit SoC compared to the 64-bit processor that you will easily get at this price point. In terms of memory, the J Max has 1.5GB of RAM and 8GB of onboard storage with microSD expansion slot expandable upto 200GB.

Camera wise, the phone sports an 8MP rear camera with LED flash and a 2MP front-facing camera. It is currently running on Android 5.1 Lollipop with TouchWiz UI which is again a let down since it was announced last month and should have at least featured Marshmallow 6.0.1 out-of-the-box. Powering the device is a 4000mAh non-removable battery rated to provide 21 hours of talk time. Connectivity wise, the phone has Dual SIM (4G +3G), Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4. 0, and GPS. Like other midrange phones from Samsung, it lacks Fingerprint scanner, Dual band Wi-Fi ac, and also misses out on some basic sensors like Auto brightness and Gyro Sensor.

Coming back to the design, the Galaxy J Max is a weird device and is not ideal for all. Having said that, it could be a decent phone for multimedia consumers. Like the recently launched Galaxy J2 2016, the J Max features a Turbo Speed Technology (TST) which the company claims will result in superior device performance. It also comes with Smart Glow — a colour LED notification system, Ultra data saving (UDS) mode powered by Opera Max and S bike mode.

j max troll — Micheal Scott from The Office on the Galaxy J Max.

Samsung Galaxy J Max Handset Highlights:

7-inch (1280 × 800 pixels) WXGA TFT display
1.5 GHz quad-core processor
1.5GB RAM, 8GB internal memory, expandable up to 200GB with microSD
Android 5.1 (Lollipop) OS
Dual (nano) SIM
8MP auto-focus rear camera with LED Flash, f/1.9 aperture
2MP front-facing camera, f/2.2 aperture
3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio
4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS
Dimensions: 186.9×108.8×8

[socialpoll id=”2380061″]

Deal Alert: Micromax Canvas Selfie Available in Nepal for Rs. 12,000

Micromax

Yural Maskey

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August 24, 2016

0

Deal Alert: Micromax Canvas Selfie Available in Nepal for Rs. 12,000

Micromax Canvas Selfie (A255) is now available for Rs. 12,000 from Kaymu as a part of the 24-hour sale. Previously priced at Rs. 29,480, the Canvas Selfie is a smartphone specially designed for taking self-clicked (Selfie). If you are someone who likes taking a lot of selfies and don’t want to spend a lot of money, the Micromax Canvas Selfie is right up your alley with its price tag of Rs. 12,000.

Specification of Micromax Canvas Selfie:

4.7-inch (1280 x 720 pixels) HD display with Gorilla Glass 3 protection
1.7 GHz MediaTek MT6592 Octa-Core processor
2GB RAM, 16GB internal memory, expandable memory up to 32GB with microSD
Android 4.4 (KitKat)
Dual SIM
13MP rear camera with dual LED Flash, Sony Sensor, LARGAN lens
13MP front-facing camera with soft LED flash, Sony Sensor, LARGAN lens
3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio
3G, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth, GPS
2300mAh battery

Micromax Canvas Selfie features different ENHANCEMENT EFFECTS and MAKEUP EFFECTS. The sSmoothen skin effect reduces the appearance of wrinkles and blemishes, and the skin whitening effect lets you select the correct tone for your skin. The Remove oil feature removes oil patches visible on your image, while the face slimming tones the shape of your face and gives you high cheekbone effect. If you have dark circles, there is a feature that removes eye under circles with eye enhancement making your eyes look bold and beautiful.

Currently, there are only five stocks of Canvas Selfie left and the offer stands for only 24 hours. So, if you have been looking to buy a smartphone for Rs, 12,000, the Canvas Selfie would be an excellent bargain buy.

Gionee S6s with an 8 Megapixel Front Camera Launched in Nepal

Yural Maskey

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August 23, 2016

0

Gionee S6s with an 8 Megapixel Front Camera Launched in Nepal

Teletalk Pvt. Ltd., the authorized distributor of Gionee Phones in Nepal, has officially launched the successor of Gionee S6 — the Gionee S6s. The company has priced the phone at Rs. 26,000 and is available for purchase starting today from different Gionee outlets.

The Gionee S6s offers many improvements over the Gionee S6, most notable being the 8-megapixel front-facing snapper for selfie maniacs. Moving on with the specs, the Gionee S6s offers the same 5.5-inch display as seen on the S6, but the resolution is bumped upto 1080P. Other internal hardware specs such as RAM, ROM, battery size, and CPU remains the same. It is powered by a 1.3Ghz octa-core Mediatek MT6753 64bit processor coupled with Mali T720MP3 GPU, has 3GB of RAM, 32GB of inbuilt storage with a microSD card support, and 3150mAh battery.

The main USP of the Gionee S6s, as the company claims, are their cameras. It is accompanied by an 8MP front camera with F2.2 aperture lens and LED flash. The back houses a 13-megapixel Sony IMX 258 sensor with f/2.0 aperture. Like the Gionee S6, the S6s houses a metal build with 2.5D glass and Corning Gorilla Glass 3, a fingerprint scanner on the back, and dual hybrid SIM setup with 4G LTE. The phone is currently running the latest Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with Amigo 3.2 UI layered on top.

Gionee S6s Handset Highlights:

5.5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) 2.5D curved glass display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection
1.3GHz Octa-Core MediaTek MT6753 Processor with Mali T-720 GPU
3GB RAM, 32GB Internal memory, expandable memory up to 128GB with microSD
Android 6.0 Marshmallow with Amigo 3.2 UI
Hybrid Dual SIM Slot (micro SIM + nano SIM / microSD)
13MP camera with LED Flash, 1080p video recording, f/2.0 aperture, PDAF, Sony IMX258 sensor
8MP front camera with LED flash, f/2.2 aperture, 5P lens
Fingerprint sensor (on the back)
Dimensions: 154.5 x 75.6 x 8.27mm
4G LTE, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS
3150mAh built-in battery
Available Colors: Mocha Gold, Latte Gold
Price: Rs. 26,000

REVIEW OF GIONEE S6S:

PRESS RELEASE:

Gionee launches new S6s in its Selfie Master lineup

After recently bringing out the F103 Pro, Gionee has launched a new handset in its Selfie Master lineup – the Gionee S6s. The S6s boasts a 13MP SONY IMX258 rear Camera and a 8MP f 2.2 aperture front camera with LED front flash and screen flash that promises clear selfies even in low light.

The phone has a metallic unibody build that carries a 5.5-inch 1080p Full HD 2.5 D water-drop glass display(with Gorilla Glass 3 protection). S6s is powered by a 1.3 Ghz MediaTek MT6753 processor and a Mali T720MP3 GPU. The phone has 3GB RAM and 32GB of inbuilt storage (expandable to 128 GB).

S6s also features a fingerprint scanner which can also be used for clicking photographs. The dual SIM phone (hybrid dual SIM slot) has a 3150 mAh battery and runs on Gionee’s own Amigo 3.2 UI based on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. Amigo 3.2 has improvements on several fronts including Image + (Gionee’s camera software) which has time lapse, slow motion, text recognition and pic note functions. The phone comes equipped with Gionee’s own video editor. It also allows split- window functionality so that 2 apps can run on the same screen.

The phone is available in Mocha Gold and Latte Gold at a price tag of Rs. 25,999. Gionee expects the S6s to be well received in the Nepali market with around 3,000 sets sold every month.

Samsung Note 7 Unofficially Lands in Nepal for Rs. 1,35,000

Samsung

Yural Maskey

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August 22, 2016

1

Samsung Note 7 Unofficially Lands in Nepal for Rs. 1,35,000

Samsung Mobiles Nepal will be launching the Note 7 sometime next month, but that has not stopped retail shops from selling the grey variant of the Note 7. The grey variant will be deprived of Samsung warranty, and is priced exorbitantly at Rs. 1,35,000. The phone is currently available from M.K.Tradeline.

Until and unless you absolutely can’t wait for the official launch of Note 7 (scheduled for Sept.) or you have an extra cash lying around, I personally, don’t recommend you to get the Note 7 from the grey market. It would be wise to wait for few weeks and get it from the official Samsung store. Moreover, history suggests that Samsung Mobiles Nepal will be coming up with pre-order schemes like free Gear fit or Gear VR, so you don’t want to miss out on such freebies.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is already available in 10 countries that include US, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, UAE, and Korea. It is scheduled to launch in Europe on Sept 2. Coming back to the phone’s spec, it shares a lot of similarities with the Galaxy S7 edge, but also a few of its own tricks — including new S Pen features, fresh software and an iris scanner.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 features a 5.7-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED curved dual edge display with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. It has a metal frame and a glass back reminiscent of the S7 Edge. The Note 7 is also IP68 water resistant; the first Note series to have it. Powering the device is an Octa-Core Exynos 8890 processor with 4GB RAM which is exactly the same configuration as the Galaxy S7, so we can expect excellent performance.

In terms of storage, the Note 7 comes in just one storage variant with 64GB of memory that is expandable via microSD card slot upto 256GB. As far as the camera is concerned, the Note 7 features exactly the same camera as the Galaxy S7 Edge. It has a 12MP rear camera with LED Flash, dual-pixel PDAF, Smart OIS, and f/1.7 aperture. The front houses a 5MP front-facing camera with f/1.7 aperture.

What’s new about the Note 7 is the inclusion of Iris Scanner, along with Fingerprint scanner on the home button. The Iris scanner lets you unlock the phone using eye recognition. The S-pen has also been improved with a smaller tip and improved pressure sensitivity. The Galaxy Note 7 is rocking Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow and should receive the Android 7 Nougat sometime in the future.

The Galaxy Note 7 also boasts a USB type C port which charges the 3500mAh non-removable battery. Overall, the Note 7 is much similar to the S7 Edge in terms of performance, display, camera, and build which is not a bad thing by any means. If you are using the S7 Edge or the Galaxy Note 5, the Note 7 might feel boring and less innovative. However, if you are using older generation Samsung phones or other Android handsets, the Note 7 might be an excellent upgrade.

ZTE to launch 5 new phones in Nepal

ZTE

GadgetByte

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August 22, 2016

0

Evolution Enterprises, the official distributor of ZTE phones in Nepal recently entered the Nepali market with ZTE Blade S6 and ZTE Blade D2 and D3. Now they are set to launch a wide array of ZTE smartphones. The phones that are getting launched are the ZTE Blade S7, ZTE Blade V7 Lite, ZTE Blade A610, ZTE Blade L5 and ZTE Blade L5 Plus.

ZTE Blade S7:

ZTE Blade S7 is the most powerful phone among the bunch. It sports a 5-inch Full HD display with pixel density of 441ppi with no protection mentioned. The phone features the Snapdragon 615 SoC with 3GB of RAM. It also comes with a fingerprint sensor on the home button. The phone is still running on Android 5.1 Lollipop which can turn off some users. You also get 32GB of Internal Storage which can be expanded up to 64GB via micro SD card. Talking about the Camera it features 13MP camera on both front and back. The phone is backed up by 2500mAh of battery.

ZTE Blade V7 Lite:

ZTE Blade V7 Lite is a mid-range phone which sports a 5inch display with the resolution of 720*1280 resulting in a pixel density of 294ppi. It is powered by Mediatek MT6735P quad-core processor which is clocked at 1.0Ghz and comes with 2GB of RAM. The phone is running on Android Marshmallow 6.0. Talking about the Camera it sports 13MP camera on back and 8MP camera up front. It comes with a fingerprint sensor on the back. The phone is backed up by 2500mAh of non-removable battery.

ZTE Blade A610:

ZTE Blade A610 also comes with a 5inch display with the resolution of 720*1280 and the pixel density of 294ppi. It is powered by the same MediaTek MT6735P quad core chipset. It comes with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of Internal Storage and can be expanded up to 64GB via Micro SD Card. Talking about the camera it sports a 13MP back camera and a 5MP front facing camera. The phone is powered by a 4,000mAh battery.

ZTE Blade L5:

ZTE Blade L5 is a budget phone from ZTE which features a 5inch display with the resolution of 480*854 with the pixel density of 196ppi. The phone is equipped with Mediatek MT6572 quad core processor clocked at 1.3 Ghz and is coupled with 1GB RAM. In terms of internals, it comes with 8GB of Internal Storage and is expandable up to 32GB via Micro SD Card. It packs 5MP camera on the back with no flashlight and 2MP camera on the front. It is powered by 2150mAh of battery.

ZTE Blade L5 Plus:

ZTE Blade L5 Plus is a slightly better version of the L5 but it still falls under the low-end category. The phone comes with 1GB of RAM coupled with Mediatek MT6580 chipset. The phone is equipped with a 5inch 720p panel which is an upgrade from the lower resolution panel on the L5. The phone also comes with an 8MP rear camera and 2MP front facing camera. The phone is running on Android 5.1 Lollipop. The phone is powered by a 2150mAH battery.

With the release of multiple phones in the market, general consumers will have more options to choose from. It is a good thing that major International brands are coming into Nepal and trying to establish their brand here. More the brands in the market, more the products and more the options for us to choose what suits and is best for us.

Tech Talk with a candidate of Nepal Engineers’ Association election, Er.Bidhan Pokhrel

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August 18, 2016

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Tech Talk with a candidate of Nepal Engineers’ Association election, Er.Bidhan Pokhrel

Social Media, these days, are filled with advertisement banners of engineers and their respective groups, giving a hint of elections coming around. Nepal Engineers’ Association is on the process to elect its 31^st executive body and five members of Nepal Engineering Council on September 16^th, 2016. Nepal Engineers’ Association (NEA) is basically an independent non-profit organization of Nepalese engineers, registered under the Social Service Act of the Government of Nepal. It was established in 1962. Today, it represents around 20,000 engineers, belonging to various engineering disciplines including architects, civil, electrical, mechanical, and electronic which is governed by an elected executive body of 15 members, led by the President of the association for a tenure of two years. NEA’s mandates include promoting fellowship goodwill and cooperation assistance among the Nepalese engineers, safeguarding their rights and interests and promoting the development of science and technology.

NEA facilitates and coordinates the professional activities of the independent engineering specific professional societies and has also been at the forefront of developing fellowship and goodwill with international engineering associations and institutions. Presently, NEA is a member of World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) and was instrumental in the establishment of Federation of Engineering Institute of South and Central Asia (FEISCA).

Yesterday, we got an opportunity to spend some quality time with Bidhan Pokhrel who also have filed a candidacy for the post of an executive member in the upcoming election of NEA. We asked Bidhan Pokhrel some of the questions regarding the election and his candidacy.

On with the interview…

1. So, let’s start with a very simple question. Tell us about yourself.

I am Bidhan Pokhrel, an Electrical and Electronics Engineer graduate from Kathmandu Universty. Professionally I am working as an Electrical Engineer in Nepal Electricity Authority, Community Rural Electrification Department for the past two years and have designed, planned and executed several electrification projects in rural communities. Besides I am a Non-life Insurance Surveyor as I have played a decent role in loss evaluation of damaged properties and settling Insurance claims efficiently after the massive earthquake.

2. What made you file a candidacy for the executive member of NEA election?

I, as a professional engineer, just feel that there is a lack of protective, accountable, controlling body here in our country. Even though Nepal Engineers Association (NEA) exists but it has a very limited reach and us common engineers rarely get access to any activities within the organization. Hence, in this scenario, I have filed up a candidacy as to provide a notable contribution in the betterment of we engineers and make NEA a common ground for the upliftment of professional engineers.

3. So, how are you going to overcome such limitations?

I along with my team here in the election have a strong agenda of Digitalization of all sector and works carried out by NEA, reducing the paperwork and promoting IT infrastructure. Online Membership Management, E-Voting portal management system, Online weekly and monthly seminars would certainly be the first set of works I would initiate if been elected. In this situation when IT is backing up all the activities and movements of the world, we believe that we ourselves being a technical force would not be suitable no to rely on IT for the management and operation of NEA.

We as a team have a lot of agendas to be carried out, as actions speak greater than words, it would certainly be better if we come up as we have done this rather that we will do this. But as a major change we would certainly coordinate with different sectors to establish a Research Unit/Consulting Unit as try to produce as much capable consultants here in Nepal itself and next speak up officially from the organizational level for the insensible and unrealistic thoughts preached publicly related to any sector of engineering with calculated and specific data’s.

4. How are you conducting your election campaign?

As we have focussed on Digitalization of the organization I personally and as a team also we have focussed on digital media for the promotion and campaigning. I have tried to speak personally will all my engineer friends, seniors, and juniors to support in my election campaign. Next us as a team, in the leadership of Dr. Sumitra Amatya, as president candidate has planned to visit all the election centers all over Nepal and conduct a mass campaign.

5. Finally, any words you would like to share with our readers?

I present myself as a youth representative in this election who could justify engineering from an early professional level and would certainly work forward for the innovative management and utmost mobilization of engineers here in Nepal if elected.

I request all my engineer friends, seniors, juniors, and well-wishers to cast your precious vote for the post of the executive member and the team lead by Dr.Sumitra Amatya as president. We would not let your vote be wasted and would certainly work in the progress of Engineering Sector and the organization NEA itself as a young, energetic, enthusiastic and Innovative team. It would definitely be easier for me to fulfill my commitment with team work as we are a team of progressive and professional engineers working for a better tomorrow.