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Smartphones combine the functionality of a mobile calling device and a computing platform in a portable device. The one thing that differentiates feature phones from smartphones is the fact that they offer stronger hardware capabilities and extensive mobile operating systems. While the first iPhone formed the blueprint that is the modern smartphone, it wasn’t the first smartphone in existence. In the mid-2000s, BlackBerry were highly popular and considered as among the first major successes in the smartphone industry at the time. Following its success, LG announced the first of its kind phone in December 2006 with a large capacitive touchscreen titled the LG Prada. However, the LG Prada was overshadowed by the launch of the first Apple iPhone in January 2007. The iPhone also featured its own built-in App Store, allowing users to directly download third-party software. It has since become the main paradigm for all smartphone platforms and paved the way for the popular Android operating system we see on most modern smartphones today. Following the success of the first iPhone, several manufacturers adopted the large capacitive touchscreen design. The horizontal-sliding HTC Dream was released in September 2008 and was the first Android device. Since their inception smartphones have come along way, with OEMs adopting new variations of the original concept with dual screens, moving modules, replaceable parts, folding form factors, and more. More

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  • Apple makes iOS 17 developer betas free to download June 07, 2023 12:10 PM IST

    Apple makes iOS 17 developer betas free to download

    Previously, you needed a subscription to Apple's $99 per month developer programme to download and test out the latest developer betas. Apple has now changed that policy, and free developer accounts can now use their Apple ID to sign in and try out the beta for iOS 17.

  • Samsung expects monsoon to bring strong growth from rural area in second half June 06, 2023 09:33 PM IST

    Samsung expects monsoon to bring strong growth from rural area in second half

    "We are preparing for a very strong second half and (Galaxy) F54 5G is seeding to a very strong growth in the second half of this year," a senior Samsung India official said.

  • Samsung Galaxy F54 5G Review: Smart package of camera, display and battery with some flaws June 06, 2023 03:33 PM IST

    Samsung Galaxy F54 5G Review: Smart package of camera, display and battery with some flaws

    Samsung claims its latest mid-premium segment smartphone packs best-in-class camera capabilities with excellent battery life. But does the phone really offer the perfect package that will get you the bang for the buck? Let’s dig deeper and find out.

  • Census unlikely before LS polls; citizens to be asked about smartphones, Internet, cereals May 29, 2023 06:24 AM IST

    Census unlikely before LS polls; citizens to be asked about smartphones, Internet, cereals

    Access to smartphones, Internet, laptops, computers, cars, two-wheelers, main cereal consumed are some of the 31 questions to be asked in the Census, whenever it is held.

  • Apple's iOS 17 may enable smart displays on locked iPhones May 25, 2023 05:02 PM IST

    Apple's iOS 17 may enable smart displays on locked iPhones

    When locked and placed in a horizontal position, iPhones running iOS 17 will display information such as appointments and weather in the style of a smart display

  • Policy changes needed to regulate age of smartphone adoption May 18, 2023 03:06 PM IST

    Policy changes needed to regulate age of smartphone adoption

    A new global study has revealed that the age at which children get their first smartphone affects their mental health as adults. Those aged 18-24, who acquired smartphones at an early age, were found to have poorer mental health. 

  • Google Pixel 7a first impressions: Small in size, big on features May 11, 2023 01:10 AM IST

    Google Pixel 7a first impressions: Small in size, big on features

    The new Pixel 7a is priced at Rs 43,999, and you can get it for as low as Rs 39,999 with HDFC Bank card offers.

  • Google reveals its first foldable phone Pixel Fold May 05, 2023 01:49 PM IST

    Google reveals its first foldable phone Pixel Fold

    Google teased it first foldable phone called 'the Pixel Fold'. Google will launch the device at its annual developer conference, Google I/O event, on May 10.

  • Smartphone shipments in India dips 16% in Jan-Mar: IDC May 04, 2023 11:27 PM IST

    Smartphone shipments in India dips 16% in Jan-Mar: IDC

    India's smartphone market is expected to see flat growth in 2023, the IDC report said.

  • Snapchat users trash My AI chatbot, negative reviews pile up April 25, 2023 02:09 PM IST

    Snapchat users trash My AI chatbot, negative reviews pile up

    According to a report by Sensor Tower, users bombarded Snapchat on the App Store with negative ratings, 75 percent of which were just one star. Users are worried about data and their privacy

  • Xiaomi 13 Ultra launched in China, comes with Leica-branded four camera module April 19, 2023 04:20 PM IST

    Xiaomi 13 Ultra launched in China, comes with Leica-branded four camera module

    The Xiaomi 13 Ultra comes in three storage and RAM configurations.

  • Samsung launches the M14 5G in India: Check here for price, specifications April 17, 2023 05:08 PM IST

    Samsung launches the M14 5G in India: Check here for price, specifications

    The smartphone is priced starting at Rs 13,490 and will be available from April 21, 2023.

  • Apple’s first stores in India signal a new bonhomie April 14, 2023 04:34 PM IST

    Apple’s first stores in India signal a new bonhomie

    With $5 billion of iPhone exports out of India, expected to go up to 25 percent of Apple’s entire production line of the smartphone by 2025, India has finally hit the sweet spot in the supply chain of the world’s most valuable company

  • What’s in store? Excited Apple aficionados hope an end to long waits for the latest products, disappointing after-sales service April 07, 2023 08:24 AM IST

    What’s in store? Excited Apple aficionados hope an end to long waits for the latest products, disappointing after-sales service

    Apart from a better customer experience, they are also looking forward to experiencing the thrill of shopping at a proper Apple store in India

  • Google will make it compulsory for Android apps to allow account deletion April 06, 2023 06:59 PM IST

    Google will make it compulsory for Android apps to allow account deletion

    The company announced that apps that require an account to log in must also allow users to delete that account when they leave.

  • Apple WWDC 2023 Special Event: When is apple WWDC23? Schedule, What to expect and how to watch? May 18, 2023 05:42 PM IST

    Apple WWDC 2023 Special Event: When is apple WWDC23? Schedule, What to expect and how to watch?

    Apple WWDC 2023: From new software updates to the long-rumored mixed-reality headset, here's everything we know about Apple WWDC 2023

  • Best flagship smartphones of 2023: iPhone 14 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, OnePlus 11 or Google Pixel? April 04, 2023 11:54 AM IST

    Best flagship smartphones of 2023: iPhone 14 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, OnePlus 11 or Google Pixel?

    Between Apple, Samsung, OnePlus, Google, Xiaomi and Oppo, we help you decide which flagship smartphone is the best for you

  • Apple likely to launch affordable iPhone SE 4 next year: Report April 03, 2023 03:21 PM IST

    Apple likely to launch affordable iPhone SE 4 next year: Report

    The Cupertino-based technology giant may position the SE series as an affordable alternative to the premium iPhones

  • Apple wins appeal against UK's antitrust investigation April 02, 2023 03:46 PM IST

    Apple wins appeal against UK's antitrust investigation

    The UK's Competition and Markets Authority was in the process of investigating Apple to see if it held dominance in the mobile browser market

  • Upcoming iOS 17 Preview to reportedly have features long requested by users March 27, 2023 06:04 PM IST

    Upcoming iOS 17 Preview to reportedly have features long requested by users

    Apple's next big update to iOS will be previewed at WWDC 2023, which is likely to be hosted in June this year

  • Samsung Galaxy F14 5G launched in India with Exynos 1330 SoC, 90Hz Display, 6,000 mAh Battery March 24, 2023 05:27 PM IST

    Samsung Galaxy F14 5G launched in India with Exynos 1330 SoC, 90Hz Display, 6,000 mAh Battery

    The Samsung Galaxy F14 price in India is set at Rs 12,990 for the 4GB/128GB model.

  • Redmi Note 12 4G makes global debut with Snapdragon 685 SoC, 120Hz AMOLED Display March 24, 2023 04:55 PM IST

    Redmi Note 12 4G makes global debut with Snapdragon 685 SoC, 120Hz AMOLED Display

    The Redmi Note 12 4G price is set at $219 (roughly Rs 18,050) for the base 4GB/128GB model.

  • Tecno Spark 10 Pro launched in India with MediaTek Helio G88 SoC, 90Hz Display, Android 13 March 24, 2023 03:06 PM IST

    Tecno Spark 10 Pro launched in India with MediaTek Helio G88 SoC, 90Hz Display, Android 13

    The Tecno Spark 10 Pro price in India is set at Rs 12,499 for the sole 8GB/128GB.

  • Asus ROG Phone 7 India, global launch confirmed for April 13 March 24, 2023 02:02 PM IST

    Asus ROG Phone 7 India, global launch confirmed for April 13

    The Asus ROG Phone 7 will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset.

  • Huawei P60 Art, P60 Pro, P60 launched with 4G Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC, 120Hz LTPO OLED Display March 24, 2023 12:37 PM IST

    Huawei P60 Art, P60 Pro, P60 launched with 4G Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC, 120Hz LTPO OLED Display

    The Huawei P60 series features a starting price of CNY 4,488 (roughly Rs 54,100) in China.