The much-awaited successor to the Xiaomi Redmi 1S (also tipped as the Redmi 2S) is expected to launch on January 4, with the firm uploading a poster for an event on that date ahead of CES 2015 event.

Reports speculate that the Xiaomi handset recently spotted on the Tenaa certification website and appeared to be the successor of the Redmi 1S with 4G LTE connectivity, might be the smartphone that will be launched on January 4 due to its resemblance.

Xiaomi, on its Weibo account uploaded a poster (via Gizmochina) that shows three women holding smartphones with a rear panel that matches the panel seen on the Redmi 2S' Tenna listing image.

As per the latest AnTuTu benchmarks and Tenaa listing, the anticipated Redmi 2S features a 4.7-inch HD display and runs on Android 4.4.4 KitKat. It is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core Cortex-A53 LTE-enabled 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor with Adreno 306 GPU, and features 1GB of RAM. Also, the rumoured Redmi 2S includes an 8-megapixel rear and 2-megapixel front-facing camera. The device is also understood to measure 134x67.21x9.2mm and weigh 132 grams, which is 26 grams less than the existing Redmi 1S.

The Tenaa listing additionally showed the handset to feature 8GB of internal storage expandable via microSD card (up to 32GB) and a 2200mAh battery. The dual-SIM phone is also listed to feature 4G LTE support on both SIM cards.

Xiaomi's recently leaked Arch smartphone with dual-edge display might also show up at the January 4 event. While there is no confirmation from the Chinese manufacturer about the Xiaomi Arch, the other two Xiaomi devices that are expected to launch soon are the Mi 5 or Mi 4S smartphone and the MiPad 2 tablet, which were both recently spotted in purported specifications and images.

xiaomi%20_arch_poster_leaked_gizmochina.jpg

Xiaomi is reportedly preparing a Galaxy Note Edge-like smartphone with a dual-edge display, dubbed the Xiaomi Arch.

According to GizmoChina on Saturday, a purported poster of the as-yet-unannounced Xiaomi Arch was spotted that called it the world's first phone with dual-edge display or dual-curved screen. However, the report doesn't reveal the source of the poster.

The Xiaomi Arch appears like a concept smartphone from the purported poster image (see above), and features a dual-edge display instead of just the single-edge display seen on the recently launched Samsung Galaxy Note Edge.

While there is no confirmation from the Chinese manufacturer about the Xiaomi Arch,the two devices that are expected from the Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi at CES 2015 are the Mi 5 or Mi 4S smartphone and the MiPad 2 tablet, which were both recently spotted in purported specifications and images.

From the purported image for the alleged Mi 5 or Mi 4S, the smartphone appeared to be a large screen phablet and was said to come with a sapphire glass display. The sapphire glass rumour is in line with a previous report, where the company was said to have ordered 50,000 sapphire covers for the smartphone.

As far as the specifications are concerned, the anticipated Mi 5 or Mi 4S smartphone is rumoured to feature a 5.7-inch Quad-HD (1440x2560 pixels) display; a 64-bit Snapdragon 810 processor; 3GB of RAM, and a 20.7-megapixel rear camera.

On the other hand, the anticipated next generation Xiaomi MiPad tablet, expected to be called the MiPad 2, is said feature an Intel chipset (1.8GHz), instead of an Nvidia Tegra SoC as seen on the original MiPad. The other tipped specifications of the rumoured MiPad 2 included a similar 7.9-inch display with a 2048x1536 pixels resolution; 2GB of RAM; 16GB of built-in storage, and MIUI skinned on top of Android 4.4.4 KitKat

The BlackBerry's blinking red light used to haunt me.

Just when I thought I could relax, enjoy a nice dinner or go for a run, my BlackBerry would start blinking again, signalling a new message. I was an addict. Typing with one hand, hiding the BlackBerry under the dinner table? No problem. Walking down the street while composing messages? Easy.

That was four years ago.

Today, I'm a loyal iPhone user, having just bought my second phone from Apple. I get my personal and work email on it. I also use it to tweet - maybe too much - and share photos of my travels on Instagram. My airline boarding passes and hotel reservations live on my phone. As a travel reporter, it's an indispensable tool for my work - not so much for the email but for all the apps that help me manage my trips. It feels like a mobile office for me.

This past week, I went back to my BlackBerry ways to test the company's latest model, the Classic.

For BlackBerry, this device is a return to its roots: It's made for those heavy corporate users who love the physical keyboard and have resisted the touch screens adopted by millions of iPhone and Android users. The Classic has strong security features, restores the beloved navigation row and sports a battery that won't be drained by lunch.

I can see how the Classic is a great device for loyal BlackBerry fans.

My friend Heather Montminy practically jumped out of her chair to try the Classic when she saw me testing it during dinner last week with our respective spouses. Montminy is a lawyer who has been using a BlackBerry for 12 years and carries two phones: an iPhone for her personal use and a BlackBerry for work.

"I'm excited for any new BlackBerry. I was really concerned that they were going to phase out the keyboard," Montminy says. "I feel like I can get a business email done much faster and more efficiently."

She says she's not great at typing on a touch screen and often finds herself making mistakes and having to go back and fix them. That might be fine in a message to friends but not on an important work email.

But after four years on the iPhone, I don't think the Classic is for me. I also don't believe it's going to sway back anybody who has abandoned the BlackBerry.

To be honest, I've become very good at typing emails on my touch screen. And I'm no casual user.

I send and receive a whopping 500 emails a day. Many are public relations pitches that only require a word or two in reply. But for many others, I will easily respond with a few paragraphs on my iPhone. In fact, I will often write large sections of my stories on my iPhone while riding the subway or sitting on planes prior to takeoff. The only big downside for me is copying and pasting.

Going back to a physical keyboard this past week turned out to be cumbersome. Yes, I liked that while in another program, the BlackBerry gave me a little banner up top announcing the sender of a new email. And, to be honest, that blinking red light was, in a strange way, comforting. But I wasn't typing any faster with the physical keyboard.

Beyond that, photos aren't as good as what I can take with the iPhone. Both phones produce 8 megapixel pictures, but images taken with the Classic weren't as sharp.

More importantly, BlackBerry lacks several apps I've come to depend on. The Classic will run some Android apps through Amazon's app store, but it's a subset of what's available for Android. It doesn't even run everything that would run on Amazon's Fire phone. Apps need to be tweaked for the phone's 3.5-inch screen (The display is smaller than most phones because the physical keyboard takes up much of the bottom).

There's no Instagram, no Uber car service and no ability to easily pull up my airline boarding pass. With my iPhone, I can get my boarding pass and add it to Passbook. It's there as I get to the security checkpoint - no fumbling around email folders or hoping there is a strong enough cell signal to download the image fresh.

Maybe if I never got a taste of the iPhones and all the apps available for it, I'd be first in line for a Classic. But BlackBerry took too long to modernize its system, and in that time, I've gotten used to the touchscreen.

Just like the Moto G and its LTE variant, the 4G model of the Moto G (Gen 2) has beenlisted ahead of an official announcement by the company. This time however, the Moto G (Gen 2) LTE has been listed on Motorola's site in Brazil.

The LTE (Band 7) variant of the Motorola Moto G (Gen 2) is listed on the firm's site to weigh slightly more than the 3G version at 155 grams, feature a bigger 2390mAh battery, and come only in a 16GB model (though with expandability via microSD card).

The Motorola Moto G (Gen 2) LTE is listed in a dual-SIM variant, with slots for Micro-SIM cards. The rest of the specifications of the smartphone are the same - a 5-inch HD (720x1280 pixel) IPS display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 (MSM8226) processor, 1GB of RAM, Adreno 305 GPU. It runs Android 4.4.4 KitKat out-of-the-box.

The Moto G (Gen 2) LTE features an 8-megapixel autofocus rear camera, and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. It also sports dual-front speakers, above and below the display, apart from 2 mics. 4G LTE aside, the smartphone also features 3G, Wi-Fi 80211.ac, Bluetooth 4.0LE, Micro-USB, 3.5mm audio jack connectivity options. It measures 141.5x70.7x10.99mm.

The 3G variant of the Moto G (Gen 2) had its global launch in India back in September, and it was priced at Rs. 12,999. Notably, the Moto G (Gen 2) has not yet been listed for purchase by the company on the Brazil site, with the DTV (Digital TV) variant listed at BRL 799 (roughly Rs. 18,900), and the regular 3G variant listed at BRL 729 (roughly Rs. 17,200). It is not yet known if an LTE model will arrive in a similar configuration for global markets

As more and more Indians go online, our government services are following suit. A lot of things that used to be extremely difficult and inconvenient are now just a matter of a few clicks. To help our readers make the most of the new services that are now available, we will regularly update guides for using different government websites. The new sites make it easy for anyone to file an RTI, apply for a PAN card or download a copy of their Aadhaar card. Digital governance has made applying for things easier than ever, and nowhere is this more true than in applying for a passport.

Just the thought of applying for a passport in India is enough to induce a headache. Many people still sweat over minor details such as how to fill the form and which documents are needed. Many people still hire agents and getting the process completed for a fee because no one wants to waste hours at government offices, running from one department to another in order to get basic things done. If you are one of these people, stop furrowing your brows and relax. It's easy to apply for a passport online. The process is long and you'll still have to go to the passport office, but you definitely won't need an agent to get the job done as long as you follow these steps.

Go to the Passport Seva website.
Click Register Now in the box titled Apply.
Now fill the form to create an account on the Passport Seva website. You need to select the passport office of the city you're living in now, not your native place. Also make sure that you enter the name exactly as it appears in your other documents to avoid any problems with your application. The rest of the form is pretty straightforward - it's just like signing up for any other website..
Click Register when done.
Now that you've created your account, return to the Passport Seva website.
Click the green Login button.
Enter your email address and click Continue.
Key in your email, password and the characters in the image. Click Login.
Click Apply for Fresh Passport/Reissue of Passport.
You can either download the form, fill it and upload it back to the website, or just fill the details online. We recommend that you fill the details online to save time.

In case you want to download the form anyway, click Click here to download the soft copy of the form, in the first subheading on the page titled Alternative 1.
If you want to fill the form online, click on Click here to fill the application form online under Alternative 2. We suggest you choose this option as it is the easiest way to apply for your passport.
On the next page, you'll have to choose between a Fresh passport or Re-issue, aNormal or Tatkal passport, 38 pages or 60 pages. Make the selections as per your requirements, and click Next page.
You have to enter your personal information on the next page, and once again, the information you fill should match your other documents. If you have any doubts, you can refer to this official instruction booklet. Once you're done, clickSubmit Application at the bottom right.
After you've filled the form, return to the webpage mentioned in step 9.
Click View Saved/Submitted Applications.
You'll see the application you just submitted. Click the radio button next to it and click Pay and Schedule Appointment.
Select Online Payment and click Next.

A list of Passport Seva Kendras from your city will appear on screen along with the date and time of the earliest available appointment.
Select one of these from the drop-down menu next to PSK Location.
Enter the characters in the image next to and click Next.
Click Pay and Book Appointment.
This will now take you to the payment gateway. Complete your payment and you'll be redirected to the Passport Seva website.
Now you'll see a page titled Appointment Confirmation with all the details of your appointment at the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK).
Click Print Application Receipt. The next page will show a detailed view of the application - again, click on Print Application Receipt.
On the next page you'll see a preview of the receipt. Once again, click Print Application Receipt to finally take a printout of the appointment confirmation.
You will need a print of this receipt to enter the PSK.

Now all you need to do is go to the PSK at the time mentioned in the receipt. Based on our experience, if you have all the required documents, your PSK visit shouldn't take more than two hours. You'll get your passport after police verification is complete. In the meantime, you can check the status of your application here. To track your application status:

Go to the website here.
Choose Passport from the drop down menu, and type in your case number (which the PSK gives you) and your date of birth, and click on Track Status to see the status of your application.

Have you applied for a passport online? If yes, how was your experience? Let us know via the comments. For more tutorials, visit our How To section.

Microsoft's rumoured Lumia 1330 mid-range handset, which was spotted last month in an image, has been purportedly listed in a GFXBench benchmark along with its specification details.

The Lumia 1330 is being tipped as the successor to the Lumia 1320. Until now, theblue-coloured rear panel of the rumoured device was the only clue that indicated the handset's existence.

According to the GFXBench listing (via Nokiapoweruser), the rumoured Lumia 1330, codenamed RM-1062, features a 5.7-inch display with an HD (1280x719 pixels) resolution. A quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 ARMv7 processor is listed, along with Adreno 305 for handling the graphics. Besides DirectX 11 integration, the rumoured Lumia 1330 is also seen to include 1GB of RAM (shown as 0.38GB in the benchmark screenshot below).

While the Windows Phone handset in the GFXBench test shows a 12-megapixel rear camera, it is actually said to feature a maximum image resolution of 13-megapixel and pack at least a 14-megapixel rear camera sensor as per another source via the website. A 5-megapixel (shown as 4.8-megapixel) front-facing camera is also suggested in the test results.

In addition, 27GB of inbuilt storage is listed for the Lumia 1330, which points to 32GB of overall storage.

While the launch date, availability or the price details of the handset in question are not yet known, Microsoft may introduce at the upcoming CES 2015 event in January in Las Vegas or during the MWC 2015 in February. Microsoft has until now launched only one Lumia handset without Nokia-branding, the Lumia 535

Apple fans who were disappointed with the launch of the large screen iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in September this year, might soon see a 4-inch iPhone with an iPhone 6-like design arrive in 2015.

Timothy Arcuri, an analyst from Cowen and Company, is reported to have issued a note to Apple investors stating that the Cupertino-based tech firm might be working on a 4-inch handset, which might be called as iPhone 6s mini.

Apple Insider, which claims to have procured a copy of the issued note, also adds that the specifications of the rumoured mini smartphone will match with that of iPhone 5s' and the design with iPhone 6. This piece of information however should be taken with a pinch of salt as Arcuri's predictions is said to be mixed.

If Arcuri's prediction proves to be correct, the iPhone 6s mini could replace the iPhone 5c - the company's current budget smartphone - in the market. The analyst has also added that Apple might rely on Qualcomm for the iPhone 6s mini's components in order to keep the pricing down.

Apple in September this year launched the large screen iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus handsets showing that it is willing to change its beliefs to cater to the moving market landscape. However, some observers also saw this surprise move by the firm as a bit of a U-turn, based on public comments made by the company earlier.

Arcuri not only sparked rumours for the iPhone 6s mini but also said that Apple's long rumoured 12.9-inch tablet is well under works and might be launched in Spring next year. The tablet is said to 'reinvigorate' the product category. Apple plans to ship 15 million to 20 million units of the rumoured tablet initially

Reliance Communications' zero downpayment plans for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were first reported back in October. However, there has been no announcement regarding the Zero Plan offer from either company.

Now, further cementing the fact that the Reliance Zero Plan for new iPhones might be around the corner, the Apple India website is seen to include a link to Reliance's official eShop. Notably, the link on the Apple site only leads to Reliance's official online eShop home page.

Unfortunately, the Reliance eShop site does not list the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus (or any iPhone) under its Zero Plan offers hinting that the offer is in final stages and we have to still wait for the official announcement. One of our readers spotted the new button available on the Apple India site.

As seen with the previous leaked zero downpayment plans for the new iPhones, Reliance could offer the iPhone 6 at Rs. 3,099 per month for 24 months, while the iPhone 6 Plus at Rs. 3,599 per month for 24 months. There were no details about which storage variant available under Rcom's Zero Plan, but the per month pricing translated to a total of Rs. 74,376 over two years for the iPhone 6, and Rs. 86,376 over two years for the iPhone 6 Plus.

Apple back in October had launched the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus smartphones in India - pricing the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 at Rs. 53,500 for the 16GB variant, Rs. 62,500 for the 64GB variant, and Rs. 71,500 for the 128GB variant; and the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus at Rs. 62,500 for the 16GB variant, Rs. 71,500 for the 64GB variant, and Rs. 80,500 for the 128GB variant.

For those unaware, under Reliance's Zero Plan, consumers can buy mobile devices under 6-month, 12-month, or 24-month contracts (depending on the price of the smartphone), and won't be required to make any downpayment.

It's worth noting that Reliance Communications had last year as well introduced a similar offer where consumers could buy the 16GB iPhone 5s at a monthly fee of Rs. 2,999 and 16GB iPhone 5c at a fee of Rs. 2,599 at zero upfront cost.

Two devices from Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi expected at CES 2015 are the Mi 5 or Mi 4S smartphone and the MiPad 2 tablet.

The anticipated flagship smartphone from Xiaomi has been leaked in purported specifications and an image. The alleged Mi 5 or Mi 4S from the purported image appears to be a large screen smartphone or phablet, and likely uses a sapphire glass display, reports DigiTimes (via PhoneArena).

The sapphire glass rumour is in-line with a previous report, where the company was said to have ordered 50,000 sapphire covers for the smartphone.

On the other hand, the anticipated next generation Xiaomi MiPad tablet, expected to be called the MiPad 2, has also been leaked in pictures and specifications on Weibo (via GizmoChina). The report speculates that these pictures could be fake however, as there is no Mi branding on top of the pictured tablet and its overall design is very different from the current MiPad.

xiaomi _mipad_2_leaked_weibo_gizmochina.jpg

One big change that Xiaomi is said to be making for the next generation MiPad tablet is the inclusion of an Intel chipset (1.8GHz), instead of using an Nvidia Tegra SoC as used in the original MiPad.

The other tipped specifications of the rumoured MiPad 2 include a similar 7.9-inch display with a 2048x1536 pixels resolution; 2GB of RAM; 16GB of built-in storage, and MIUI skinned on top of Android 4.4.4 KitKat.

HTC will expand its entry-level 4G smartphone portfolio in the first quarter of next year, hints President of HTC North Asia, Jack Tong, in a media report.

Tong is also reported to have to revealed some statistics, such as HTC handsets sold online currently account for a 'double-digit ratio to its total sales'.

The DigiTimes report further cites Tong to say HTC will stress on promotion of affordable HTC handsets over the Internet. Tong also expects that HTC handset shipment will grow by a double-digit rate next year. He also revealed that the single-SIM Desire 820 will be available in markets starting January 2015.

The HTC North Asia President added that the company's RE camera has seen impressive response since its availability in early December. Tong expects that the RE camera will exceed 20,000 units by end of this year.

HTC's RE action camera earlier this month was made officially available in India via exclusive online partner, Snapdeal, priced at Rs. 9,990.

The Taiwanese handset brand has launched a number of budget and mid-range smartphones in India this year. Some of the popular handsets that created a buzz in the Indian market were the HTC Desire 816 launched at Rs. 23,990, and which was soon followed by a cheaper version called the Desire 816G. Other handsets include the HTC Desire 210 Dual SIM priced at Rs. 8,700; HTC Desire 310 at Rs. 11,700; HTC Desire 516 Dual SIM priced at Rs. 14,200; HTC Desire 516C at Rs. 12,990, and HTC Desire 616 Dual SIM at Rs. 16,900.

The company also launched its "most affordable 4G LTE handset," the Desire 510, which is currently available in select markets in Europe and Asia.

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