Panasonic Eluga A Launched At Rs. 9,490

Expanding its portfolio of Eluga range of smartphones in India, Panasonic has launched mid-range Eluga A smartphone at Rs. 9,490/-. The Eluga A will start retailing in India from 15th August onwards and will be available in black and white colors.

The Eluga A sports a 5 inch IPS FWGA (854×480) display and runs on Android 4.3 (JellyBean) OS. It is driven by 1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor, coupled with 1GB RAM, 4GB ROM expandable to 32GB via microSD card. The Dual-SIM Eluga A comes with an 8 MP Auto Focus with LED Flash rear camera and 1.3MP front camera. It is packed with 2000mAh batery. For connectivity options, this smartphone offers 802.11b/g/n; Wi-Fi Hotspot & Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 3.0 and Micro USB 2.0.

The Eluga A is equipped with a single hand operative “Fit Home” user interface with features such as “Kwik Lock”, where the user can double tap the home screen to lock.The Eluga A also features support for leading Indian languages that allows the user to browse the web, chat and navigate the phone menu in his or her local language.

The Eluaga A has other advanced features such as Qualcomm Snapdragon Audio+ audio enhancement technology for rich 3D surround sound music; Voice+ voice enhancement technology for clearer conversations;  BatteryGuru for extended battery life; and Quick Charge for up to 40% faster charging.

Speakinga bout the launch of Eluga A,  Mr. Manish Sharma, Managing Director, Panasonic India said “Through ELUGA, Panasonic will bring advanced technological innovations to the Indian smartphone users and with ELUGA A, we have successfully integrated into the premium gadget, advanced technology for Audio enhancements, voice clarity, faster charging, longer battery life and local language features, in tune with the needs of the Indian consumer.”

Panasonic had launched its flagship Eluga U towards the end of July at a price of Rs. 18,990/-. The Panasonic Eluga U features a 5-inch IPS HD display (720×1280 pixels) with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection as an On-Glass Solution . It is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor coupled with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, which can be expanded upto 32GB via microSD card. The Eluga U is equipped with a 13MP autofocus rear camera with LED flash, and a 2MP front-facing camera.

20,000 Xiaomi Mi 3 smartphones get sold on Flipkart within 2.4 seconds

NEW DELHI: Xiaomi, China's largest handset maker, on Tuesday sold 20,000 Mi 3 smartphones on Flipkart within 2.4 seconds. This was Xiaomi's fourth flash sale on the online retail platform. While fewer glitches were reported this time, Flipkart website went down several times due to the high traffic in the past.

Hugo Barra, vice-president for international operations at Xiaomi, had apologised to frustrated customers and assured them of larger stocks going forward. Flipkart has also improved its resources to support large number of users on the site at the same time, which is a norm during the flash sales.

The next sale begins on August 19, registrations for which began 6 pm on Tuesday on Flipkart. The number of devices that will be available for purchase was not shared by the company till Tuesday evening. Xiaomi has sold 55,000 smartphones in its four sales on Flipkart. 

Nokia Lumia 1520′s 32 GB Version DISAPPEARS at AT&T, Lumia 1525 Incoming?

It seems that US wireless carrier AT&T has removed the 32GB version of the Nokia Lumia 1520 smartphone from its website, as only the 16GB variant os listed as available for purchase at the moment. There hasn’t been made any official announcement, so maybe the version is just out of stock.

Previously, when the new green color version of the large Windows Phonesmartphone was released, it was available only in the 16 GB flavor. Now, it seems that the same thing has been done for other models, as well. So, if you’ll go ahead and check AT&T’s website, you’ll see that the 32 GB version is absent.

The old link for the 32GB device variant won’t work, and you’ll get the message that the device is no longer available in your area. However, the 32GB Lumia 1520 can still be found in the carrier’s brick-and-mortar stores, but we don’t know for sure for how much more. A possible reason for AT&T ditching the 32 GB version is because the carrier is getting ready for the release of a new large Windows Phone handset which could be the Lumia 1525.

The Lumia 1525 would be an improved version of the Nokia Lumia 1520, and it could be released at the three biggest wireless carriers in the United States – T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon. It’s said to get released with a newer, Snapdragon 801 processor inside, and it could maintain the 6-inch touchscreen display and the 20MP camera.

Software-wise, it could get the Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 operating system out-of-box, which would bring many new useful features. We’ve reached to AT&T for a comment and will let you know what they say.

iPhone 6 to Launch on September 25, 5.5-Inch Model Named iPhone Air: Report

Another day and another iPhone 6 rumour. This time a report out of China details an astonishing new launch date for the next iPhone from Apple, ahead of most dates in previous leaks. The report is accompanied with purported pricing details, as well as the name of the anticipated larger 5.5-inch iPhone 6 variant - iPhone Air.
The report citing industry sources claims Apple will unveil the iPhone 6 on September 15, which falls on a Monday, while retail availability will begin on September 25, which falls on a Thursday.
Apple traditionally starts sales of new iPhone models on a Friday to capture the weekend crowd, so the dates seem a little fishy. Previous leaks (including a purported internal communication from a German telecom carrier) had indicated a more credible launch date of September 19, which happens to be Friday.
According to the China.com report (via GforGames), China will also be amongst the first countries to receive the iPhone. The report also details the pricing, which matches previous leaks, claiming the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 (32GB) will cost CNY 5,288 (roughly Rs. 50,800), while the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 (16GB) will be priced at CNY 5,998 (roughly Rs. 57,600). This would also imply the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 (32GB) is cheaper than the current 4-inch iPhone 5s (16GB), which costs CNY 5,300.
The same report claims the much-rumoured 5.5-inch iPhone 6 variant will be called the iPhone Air, following the naming scheme of the latest, largest iPad. The report adds that China Mobile and China Unicom, Apple's carriers in the country, have begun field testing the iPhone 6 on their networks.

Recently, Japanese daily Nikkei had posted two alleged images of the rumoured 4.7-inch iPhone 6 dummy model, side by side with an iPhone 5s. The leaked images corroborate what's has been widely expected based on earlier leaks, that the next iPhone will house the power button on the right panel of the device, instead on the top panel seen on current iPhone models. It also seen to feature the Touch ID sensor.

Previously, another Chinese report indicated the alleged 5.5-inch iPhone 6 variant will feature a 128GB storage variant. The report further claims that the 128GB storage variant will be limited to the bigger variant of the rumoured iPhone 6, and the alleged 4.7-inch iPhone 6 will offer the conventional 64GB as its maximum storage variant, while the 16GB variant will be dumped for both models.

An earlier report citing a research note from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also suggested that the alleged 5.5-inch iPhone 6 would sport OIS (optical image stabilisation) for the rear camera. The report further claimed that the alleged 4.7-inch iPhone 6 will not come with OIS.

The Cupertino-based company has also been rumoured to be testing a higher screen resolution of 960x1704 pixels on at least one of the two iPhone models likely to debut this year.

Intex Aqua Curve Mini with 8MP camera @Rs 7,290 is a steal

This is a great handset and should do well in the market. Intex Aqua Curve Mini with 8MP camera @Rs 7,290 is a steal

New Delhi: Intex has come out with a rather good looking and affordable handset. The handset seems perfect for people who are looking forward to a decent handset at affordable price.

Intex Aqua Curve Mini is handset running on the latest Android KitKat operating system and comes with rather decent specifications. Aqua Curve Mini has been priced at rather wisely at Rs 7,290.

When it comes to specifications the handset seems good. But to many people this may not attract as it comes with rather small 4.5 inch display. Indian smartphone fans love huge sized handsets that can be looked at from a long distance.

Intex Aqua Curve Mini is power-packed for the handset priced this low. It comes with 1.3 GHz quad core processor and 1 GB RAM that seems a decent combo to give your handset enough power to. The handset comes with 4 GB+1.26 GB internal storage that can be expanded to 32GB with micro SD card slot. It also has a rather decent 1,500 mAh battery.

When it comes to camera, the handset has been given 8 mega pixel rear camera with LED flash and 2 MP front facing camera. It comes with3G, Wi-Fi, Micro-USB, and Bluetooth.  The handset should do well in the local market.


Key Specs
Display: 4.50-inch, 480×854 pixels
Processor: 1.3GHz dual core
Camera: 8MP rear, 2-megapixel
RAM: 1GB
OS: Android 4.4
Storage: 4GB, expandable upto 32 GB

Samsung launches Galaxy K zoom with 20.7MP camera & 10x optical zoom for Rs 29,999 in India

Unveiled in April this year, Samsung Electronics has now launched the Galaxy K zoom camera specialised smartphone in the Indian market. The smartphone blends advanced digital camera technology with Samsung’s Galaxy experience (at least that is what the company claims) and will enable its users to create professional-quality visual content, with the help of a 20.7 megapixel rear camera.
In India, the device has been launched exclusively on Amazon.in (taking a cue from Flipkart-Motorola deal are we!) and will be available for pre-order starting today- shipping to start from July 9, 2014. The smartphone cum camera has been priced at Rs 29,999 in the country.

The company is also providing a number of introductory offers with the smartphone that include 50GB of free cloud-space for two years from Dropbox, 1TB of storage for three months from Bitcasa, etc. In addition, first 1,000 pre-orders will also get freebies worth Rs 6,000- like free Samsung pop out case, free Sandisk 32GB MicroSD card, six movie tickets, among others.
As far as the specifications are concerned, the smartphone has a 4.8 inch HD Super AMOLED display (1280×720 pixels resolution) and runs on the Android 4.4 KitKat operating system. It is powered by a hexa-core (1.3GHz quad-core + 1.7GHz dual-core) processor and has 2GB of RAM. The internal memory of the device is 8GB, which can be further expanded up to 64GB with a microSD card.
Since it’s a camera-specialised smartphone, the Galaxy K zoom offers an advanced technical camera system designed to offer the control and functionality of a professional camera. The Galaxy K zoom is equipped with new retracting lens technology that provides 10x optical zoom, as well as a 20.7MP BSI CMOS sensor for ultra-clear, ultra-detailed images. The autofocus rear camera also comes with Xenon Flash and can record full high definition videos (1080p) at 60 frames per second. In addition, it also has a 2MP front facing camera for video calling.
According to Samsung, the smartphones’ camera excels in low light conditions, and provides Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS) to reduce blur caused by movement. Other features include Auto Focus/Auto Exposure Separation (AF/AE Separation) for the precise balance of light and clarity; next-generation ‘Pro Suggest’ mode which offers five optimised filter settings; ‘Selfie Alarm’ that allows users to take timed selfies with ease; and ‘object tracing’ for a clear, focused shot of a moving subject.
The camera also comes with 28 ‘smart modes’ that include beauty face, continuous shot, party/indoor, action freeze, waterfall, animated photo, sound shot, silhouette, fireworks, and light race, among others.
In terms of connectivity, it has Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, 3G and 4G LTE (depending on the region), as well as a microUSB port and a microSD card slot. The dimensions of the device are 137.5mm x 70.8mm x 16.6mm and its weight is 200gm. Samsung has provided a 2,430mAh battery in the device, which also comes with a full suite of Google apps. The smartphone has Near Field Communication (NFC), GPS (with A-GPS support), as well as an Ultra Power Saving Mode (for minimising the battery consumption), S Health Lite (for personalised fitness and lifestyle coaching), and a Studio app to allow users to easily edit their pictures and videos.

Spice introduces Stellar 445 3G quad core smartphone at Rs 5,299

New Delhi: Spice Retail Ltd has added another smartphone to its Stellar series. The company has launched its dual sim smartphone Stellar 445 in an affordable range.

The phone has been priced at Rs 5,299 and will be available from the first week of July.

The phone packs a 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon Quad Core processor, a 3.2 MP rear snapper, and a 1.3 MP front camera. Running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean OS, the phone also has 4GB ROM coupled with 512MB RAM. Spice Stellar 445 features a 10.16cm WVGA screen.

The dual sim smartphone (3G+2G) enables 3G Video calling and comes with a 1500 mAh battery which provides decent battery backup.

With this smartphone, users will have access to pre-embedded apps like OLX, WhatsApp and free 2 GB Spice Cloud storage facility

Key Features

10.16cm WVGA screen

Dual SIM (3G + 2G)

1.2 GHz Quad Core Processor

Android 4.3 Jelly Bean

3.2MP + 1.3MP Camera front camera

Snapdragon Audio+ Technology

Multiple Languages

4GB ROM + 512MB RAM

1500 mAh Battery

3G Video Calling

Expandable Memory upto 32 GB

Swift Keyboard

G Sensor

Wi-Fi &Wi – Fi Tethering

FM Radio

GPS / AGPS / GMS

3G Video calling

Maxx unveils AX356 GenxDroid7 for Rs 3696, will receive Android KitKat update

Maxx Mobile AX356 GenxDroid7 is possibly one of the most forgettable names for an Android smartphone that we’ve come across of late. Not to sound like we’re slagging off a device just because it’s low-end, but can you look around and actually claim that a price of Rs 3696 is reasonable for a Jelly Bean powered device?
We’re seeing more and more new launches landing with KitKat in spite of their ridiculously low costs and dropping a handset like the AX356 GenxDroid7 handset into the mix isn’t the best move Maxx Mobile could have made. After all, a lot of Indian manufacturers show themselves to be rather lazy when it boils down to software updates.

So we won’t expect the Maxx GenxDroid7 to get its Android KitKat break until it actually arrives even if the company says that the smartphone is upgradable from Jelly Bean. From another point of view, if you were just buying this one as a temporary backup device and took an inexplicable fancy to it, we could see why you’d pick it up.
Running on Android v4.2.2, this Maxx Mobile smartphone sports a 3.5-inch display spewing out visuals in a low 320 x 480p resolution. It gets its processing power from a 1GHz dual core MT6572M chipset from MediaTek and is helped along by 512MB of RAM. A 1200mAh battery keeps it juiced up for 3.5 hours of talk time between charges.

Maxx Mobile AX356 GenxDroid7 specs list:
- 3.5-inch 320 x 480p touchscreen
- 1GHz dual core processor
- 512MB of RAM, 4GB ROM
- 8GB memory card
- 3.2MP main camera with flash
- 0.3MP webcam
- 1200mAh battery
- 3.5 hours talk time

Xiaomi partners with Flipkart to launch its smartphones in India

Chinese handset maker Xiaomi is gearing up for the Indian debut in next few weeks. Xiaomi, like Motorola is also teaming up with the e-Commerce major Flipkart to launch its handsets in India. Xiaomi had launched its official website in India earlier this month, announcing its entry into the Indian smartphone market in the next few weeks.

Xiaomi is expected to bring two smartphones in partnership with Flipkart in the next 2-3 months. They added the agreement between the parties is in the final stages and the launch on the online market place will happen next month, reported PTI.

Many handset makers like Motorola and Alcatel are partnering with e-commerce firms to launch their devices exclusively. While Motorola has launched its Moto G, Moto X and Moto E with Flipkart, Celkon had launched its Android Kitkat-powered Campus A35K exclusively with Snapdeal.
Founded in 2010 by serial entrepreneur Lei Jun, the Beijing-headquartered firm has become one of China's biggest electronics companies that designs, develops and sells smartphones, mobile apps and other such consumer items. Other Chinese firms selling its handsets in India include Huawei, ZTE, Lenovo, Gionee and Oppo, the latest entrant.

According to the company's website, it has already sold over 17 million handsets in China. Its portfolio includes devices like Mi 3, Mi Wi-Fi and Mi Box, among others. It launched its products in Singapore in February this year. Earlier this month, the company had also roped in Jabong co-founder Manu Kumar Jain to head its operations in India.

According to research firm IDC, smartphone sales in the country grew almost three-fold to over 44 million in 2013, buoyed by affordable devices made by local firms such as Micromax and Karbonn.

Affordable smartphones, especially those priced in the sub-USD 200 category (Rs 12,000), are doing well. Over the last few weeks, companies have launched handsets like Lumia 630 and Moto G to tap the booming market.

Samsung Galaxy K Zoom launched at Rs 29,999

   NEW DELHI: After teasing it on the homepage, e-commerce retailer Amazon India has announced the launch of Samsung Galaxy K Zoom at Rs 29,999.

Pre-orders for the phone start July 2nd midnight exclusively on the website and shipments start July 9 onwards. The phone will be available in 3 colors - Charcoal Black, Shimmery White and Electric Blue.

Amazon is also offering freebie worth Rs 6,000 to first 1,000 customers. It will offer a free Samsung Pop out case, Sandisk 32GB microSD card, 6 free movie tickets, Rs 1000 value off coupon on purchase of select handbags and Rs 1000 value off coupon on purchase of select watches on Amazon.in, to qualifying customers.

Successor to Samsung's Galaxy Camera 2, the Galaxy K Zoom combines the features of a smartphone and a point and shoot camera. The phone was initially announced in April.

The phone sports a 20.7MP CMOS camera sensor at the back with 10X Zoom and a Xenon flash, and a 2MP front-facing camera. In terms of focal length, the lens in K Zoom covers 24-240mm. The lens has an aperture of F3.1-6.3.

Featuring a 4.8-inch SuperAMOLED display(720x1280p), Galaxy K Zoom is powered by a hexa-core (1.3GHz quad-core and 1.7GHz dual-core) processor and 2GB RAM. It has 8GB internal storage but features a microSD that supports cards of up to 64GB capacity. The phone has a 2,430mAh battery. It runs Android 4.4 KitKat.

In terms of connectivity options, the phone offers Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, 3G and GPS.

Videocon VPhone Grande low-cost feature phone launches for Rs 1950

A brand new Videocon VPhone Grande has emerged in India with a price of Rs 1950 attached to it and you’re undoubtedly wondering whether it works on Android or not considering its tag. Manufacturers these days are surprising us with so many low cost handsets running the Google mobile OS, feature phones make their debut few and far between.
Videocon is clearly still trying to break big into the scene that Nokia is most popular in even after its sale to Microsoft. The VPhone Grande has all the specifications a first time phone buyer or backup device seeker could ask of a gadget of its ilk starting from the basics such as FM radio and recording as well as Bluetooth connectivity.

In keeping with the trend of low cost handsets allowing you to juggle with mobile numbers, this Videocon phone hides dual SIM slots under its hood. It has a modest 2.8-inch color display on the front and a 1.3MP camera with flash on the back. Though the internal memory hasn’t been mentioned, you can slide in a microSD card of up to 32GB.
Also see: Celkon unveils Campus A35K Android 4.4 KitKat phone on Snapdeal for Rs 2999
Videocon VPhone Grande: Quick look at its key specs
- 2.8-inch QVGA resolution screen
- 1.3MP camera
- GRPS and Bluetooth connectivity
- 32GB microSD support
- 1100mAh Li-ion battery
- Dual SIM dual standby
- FM radio with recording
- LED flash light
- 68 grams
- Black, white, blue colors

The Videocon VPhone Grande can be purchased from three online retailers at present and these include HomeShop18, Digiworld and Next.

Flipkart partners with Karbonn to exclusively sell entry-level Android phones in India

Karbonn has turned to Flipkart to announce four budget Android phones in India dubbed Smart A50S, Smart A52+, Smart A11* and Smart A12* and their prices start at Rs 2699. All four have much in common with regards to their specs sheets and two of them run on the Android KitKat OS.
You’ve heard of the Karbonn Smart A50S smartphone, though it was admittedly pegged higher at Rs 2790 before and now costs just Rs 2699. It’s time to greet its cousin going by the name Smart A52+ which sticks to similar features covering a 3.5-inch touchscreen, a 2MP main camera, dual SIM slots, Android Jelly Bean, 512MB RAM and a dual core MediaTek processor.

But then this 2G-capable Karbonn smartphone veers away on a couple of counts such as its memory which amounts to 4GB (32GB microSD card support) and its larger 1300mAh battery as well as higher Rs 3290 price. Next comes the Smart A11* which is a 3G device getting its steam from Android KitKat 4.4.2.
It works on a 1.2GHz dual core MediaTek chipset, keeping its cost low at Rs 4099, and has a 4-inch display. The handset is powered by 512MB of RAM and offers 4GB onboard storage along with memory expandability. It is kept going by a 1400mAh battery, embeds a 5MP camera on its back and a VGA one above its screen.

Last but not the least is the Karbonn Smart A12* which also happens to get its kicks from KitKat and a dual core MediaTek chip. Its list of features practically matches that of the Smart A11* even though it chooses to go with a larger 4.3-inch touchscreen, the last mentioned of which explains its Rs 4499 price tag.
Also see: Karbonn A50s entry-level smartphone is now available exclusively via Flipkart for Rs 2790
Flipkart doesn’t appear to have hoisted product pages for all four Karbonn smartphones at present seeing as we could only find the older Smart A50S and latest Smart A52+ listed on the website.

Samsung Reveals Galaxy S5 Mini

 

The rumors were true. Samsung today revealed a mini version of its Galaxy S5 flagship smartphone.
The Galaxy S5 mini sports a 4.5-inch, 720-by-1,280 Super AMOLED display, down from the 5.1-inch, 1,920-by-1,080 display on the larger S5. It runs a 1.4GHz quad-core processor (the S5 has a 2.5GHz chip) and Android 4.4 KitKat. It has 1.5GB of RAM and 16GB of internal memory, expandable to 64GB via microSD.
There's an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash on the mini, as well as a 2.1-megapixel front-facing shooter, and the usual Samsung photo software.
The device is dust- and water-resistant, and includes features like ultra power saving mode, S Health, and a private/kids mode. Like the S5, meanwhile, the mini also includes the fingerprint and heart rate sensors.
U.S. buyers will have to wait to get their hands on the mini. It will launch in Russia in July before rolling out globally. The device will come in four color options: Charcoal Black, Shimmery White, Electric Blue, or Copper Gold.
A mini version of the Galaxy S5 isn't entirely unexpected. Samsung released a Galaxy S4 Mini last year, which had a 4.3-inch display.
More recently, Samsung released a rugged version of the Galaxy S5. The Samsung Galaxy S5 Active is available on AT&T, while it will be known as the S5 Sport on Sprint.
Yesterday, Samsung also announced four new budget Galaxy devices: the Galaxy Core II, Galaxy Star 2, Galaxy Ace 4, and Galaxy Young 2.

Google Nexus 7, 32GB Wi-Fi only version available on Google Play for Rs 19K

It is a great tablet and is being loved by consumers in India. Google Nexus 7, 32GB Wi-Fi only version is available in India on Google Play for Rs 19K
Google’s Nexus 7, 32GB Wi-Fi version has been launched in the Indian market after months of wait. Earlier the company had introduced its 16 GB versions in the Indian market making life tough for Cupertino based Apple’s iPad Mini in the market. There is a whole lot of price difference between the two tablets from two tech giants and Google’s Nexus 7 may pose tough challenge before iPad Mini especially in the Indian market. For price and quality conscious Indian consumers a difference of Rs 6000-7000 in price is a huge difference and they will prefer cheaper version if the quality of the product is not compromised.
For Indian consumers the choice has become very wide, unlike the past and now there are all sorts of big 10 inch tablets and small 7 inch tablets vying for consumers’ attention. Several home grown tech companies producing smart-phones and tablets have also introduced several good tabs in the Indian market during the last few months and the best thing about those tabs is the fact that they are very affordable.

Google Nexus 7 comes with all the good things that a consumer may want to be in his or her tablet. It comes with great display quality and a very powerful processor. The Google Nexus 7 comes with an impressive 7-inch 1280×800 resolution display and is powered by a quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 CPU and 1GB of RAM. The tablet comes with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean out of the box. The search giant has priced the tablet at Rs 18,999.

Asus launches FonePad in India for Rs. 15,999, supports voice calling

Asus has finally launched its FonePad in the Indian market. This device was unveiled by Asus earlier this year during the Mobile World Congress. It is priced at Rs. 15,999.

The Asus FonePad sports a 7-inch HD IPS display with a resolution of 1280×800 pixels. It is powered by an Intel Atom Z2420 processor which clocked at 1.2GHz. It is also equipped by a PowerVR GC540 GPU for improved graphics performance and has 1GB of RAM.

Apart from this the Asus tablet boasts a 1.2 megapixel camera on the front which is capable of recording videos at 720p. It comes in 16GB and 32GB size variants, has a microSD card for expandable storage and comes pre-loaded with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

On the connectivity front, the FonePad has a micro-SIM card slot, supports 3G and has voice calling capabilities. It also includes Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Smart move: Nokia bets big on Lumia 920

“That’s a big phone.” “Isn’t it too bulky to carry around?” These are the first questions colleagues asked on seeing the Nokia Lumia 920, and the answer to both is in the affirmative. Yes, it is a big phone, and a bit bulky to carry around. But then, Nokia is betting big on this “big” phone to take on rivals Samsung, Apple and HTC. It weighs about 185g — far more than Samsung SIII (133g) and HTC One XL (129g) — but once you go behind the bulk and the weight, there’s a lot to like in the Lumia 920.
For starters, the 4.5-inch screen with 1,280x768 resolution is a delight. It’s a bit less than SIII, but bigger than the iPhone 5. Colours look more vibrant, and even in sunlight you don’t have to squint and read texts or punch in numbers. Watching videos on the Lumia 920 is far better than on the iPhone or the HTC. It certainly scores over its competition in terms of screen size and display.
The Lumia 920 is a Windows 8 phone and comes with popular apps like Nokia Drive, Nokia Maps and Nokia Music. The Nokia Drive map is exceptionally good and way ahead of its competition: Google Maps. If you’re not used to Android or iOS operating systems, you might take a liking to the interface of Windows 8 in the first glance only. But those accustomed to Android or iOS would find it a bit difficult to get used to it. In terms of multitasking, Windows 8 certainly is a bit slow, apps often take time to load and restart and, at times, it does get a bit frustrating.
The best part about the Lumia 920 is its camera, which comes with image stabilisation. In its class of smartphones, the 920 perhaps has the best camera. Be it low-light photography or indoor shots at night, it captures pictures to near perfection. The colours come out beautifully, thanks to the superior display, and it has concept camera lenses like Bing Vision, Panorama, Cinemagraph and Smart Shoot. It has an eight-megapixel Pure View camera at the back and, 1.3-megapixel camera at the front.
Some might say the app argument is an old, harsh and unfair stick to keep beating Windows phone with, but then a lot of people look for apps on smartphones, and it plays an important role in decision-making. The Lumia 920 disappoints on that front when compared to Android and iOS, as it doesn’t have a wide range of apps on the app store. If you aren’t one of those who wouldn’t care much about the apps as long as the phone delivers good performance, Lumia 920 fits the bill.
The battery life, a big bugbear among smartphone users, of the Lumia 920 is pretty good. It can last up to a day once charged fully, even when you use multiple apps. Just like the iPhone, there’s no room for additional memory, and the 920 comes with 32-GB storage capacity. The Internet Explorer browser is pretty fast.
At Rs 38,199, the Lumia 920 is priced to compete against SIII, iPhone 4S and 5, as well as the HTC. Does it actually match up? It certainly is an impressive phone, but doesn’t do enough to make you shell out the asking price. The camera and screen certainly give it an edge over other phones, but Android users will find it tough to switch to the Windows operating system. It is arguably one of the best Windows phones and will find a lot of loyalists picking it. However, Nokia, with Lumia 920, would find it tough to convince Android or Apple users to switch to Windows. At a lesser price point, perhaps it could have done the trick.

Micromax silently announces A89 Ninja, expected at Rs. 7,000

The Micromax A89 appeared on the official website. It boasts of a 4-inch display, Android 4.0 ICS and a 1GHz dual-core processor.

Micromax wasn’t kidding when it said that would launch more than 30 phones in its portfolio in 2013. The latest addition to their smartphone family comes under the Ninja umbrella. Christened the A89 Ninja, the device has made an appearance on the company’s official website with details about the specifications but no information about the price.

In terms of the specifications, the A89 Ninja has a 4-inch TFT display with a 480x800 pixel resolution. A 1GHz dual-core Mediatek MT6577 SoC processor and 512MB of RAM power the device. It houses a 1450mAh battery which Micromax claims can last for 170 hours of standby and four hours of talk time. It runs on Android 4.0 ICS. The rear of the A89 houses a 3MP camera and there is no front facing camera.

In terms of connectivity options, the A89 Ninja has Bluetooth 2.1, 3G, Wi-Fi and USB. It has 4GB of ROM, and built-in storage of 2.07GB expandable via a microSD card. It also supports dual-SIM functionality.

No pricing is available about the phone, nor has it made an appearance on online shopping portals as of writing this article, but Information on the Internet suggests that the A89 will be available for Rs. 7,000 approximately.

The market is flooded with a plethora of budget phones available in Rs. 7,000 price range. For that budget you can get the LG Optimus L3, Micromax Superfone Elite A84, the Xolo A500 or even the Samsung Galaxy Pocket. The advantage of the A89 however is that it has the MediaTek MT6577 SoC which is designed for low cost phones. The SoC features a dual-core 1GHz Cortex-A9 application processor from ARM, a PowerVR Series5 SGX GPU. How well the SoC is optimized with the device is something we can say when we review the device.

Micromax has gone all out to capture the budget market in India. They had the successful Canvas A110 launch just a few months ago. You can read our review of the device here.

Micromax and MediaTek have also joined forces to launch the first quad-core powered smartphone running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Called the A116 Canvas HD, the device boasts of a 5-inch display and some impressive power under the hood. You can read the launch details of the A116

HTC unveils 4-inch Desire U with Android 4.0, 1GHz processor

HTC has announced a new 4-inch device in its home country dubbed as the Desire U. The device is expected to retail for 7990 New Taiwan Dollar (about $274) or at NT$ 291 per month on contract from Chunghwa Telecom. Launch details for other regions remain unknown at the moment.

Specs wise, the Desire U doesn't have much to show off. At 9.32mm thick and weighing 119g, the smartphone sports a 4-inch capacitive touch display (800x480) and runs on Android 4.0 with the company's Sense UI atop. It comes with a 5-megapixel auto focus rear camera with LED Flash.

Internally, the device is powered by a 1GHz processor with 512MB RAM and has 4GB of internal storage with expansion options upto 32GB via microSD cards. The smartphone comes with a 1,650mAh battery.

An interesting addition to the phone's design is the micro-drilled cover art on the back panel. The HTC logo is engraved in the centre and like most other HTC device. It features Beats Audio integration. Connectivity protocols include Wi-Fi 820.11 b/g/n, 3G, Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX and GPS. The device will come in black and white colour options.

HTC has been in the news lately for its M7 full-HD device that is expected to launch one week ahead of the Mobile World Congress next month. The HTC M7 has been leaked in press renders over the past few weeks also seen with the yet-to-be-announced Sense 5.0 UI.

Previously rumoured specifications for the device indicate a 4.7-inch full-HD display, making it an incredible 468ppi. Other alleged specs include a 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor with 2GB RAM, 32GB of internal storage, 12-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel one in the front.

HTC Desire U key specifications

• 4-inch (800x480 pixels) capacitive touch screen display
• 1 GHz processor
• 512 MB RAM
• 4GB of internal storage expandable up to 32GB via microSD
• 5-megapixel auto focus rear camera with LED Flash
• 3G, Wi-Fi 820.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX, GPS
• 1,650mAh battery
• Android 4.0 with HTC Sense UI
• 9.32mm thick
• Weighs 119 grams

Sony Xperia T gets official Jelly Bean alpha build

Sony has released the alpha build of the upcoming Jelly Bean update for Xperia T smartphone. Clearly meant for advanced users and ROM developers, this build is in no way meant for daily usage. According to Sony, the update build can be flashed using company’s recently released Flash tool, but it would need the bootloader to be unlocked first.
Several key features like Voice-calling, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, Google Apps are currently missing from this update build due to various reasons.  Company however notes that the final Jelly Bean update for Xperia T is not very far.
“We’re now making an early alpha ROM of Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) available for Xperia™ T, along with the open source archive, as a way for us to get valuable feedback from the custom ROM community (although we are not far away from the official release of JB for Xperia™ T).  Thanks to the great dialogue we have with open community developers, we see this as a great way for us to get input, and for the open developer community to get to try this alpha out hands-on,” company noted on the developer blog.

Micromax launches android smartphone Micromax A54 Smarty 3.5

Micromax on Friday unveiled launches android smartphone Micromax A54 Smarty 3.5. Though the company has not disclosed its price, it is available on ecommerce portal infibeam.com at Rs.5999.

This phone is available in all the leading online stores the major cities including Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad in India.

Micromax A54 Smarty 3.5 runs on Android v 2.3.5 Gingerbread OS. It bears single core 1 GHz processor from Qualcomm, 3.5” HVGA capacitive touch screen having the resolution of 480×320 pixels, and 3 megapixels camera. As with all the Micromax phones, this phone also a powerful battery backup of 1300 mAh which can last for 170 hours on standby and 4 hours talk time.

Micromax is ranked 12th recently in the world for handset manufacturing. The company has already announced to launch as many as 30 new models of mobile phones in 2013. Micromax A54 Smarty 3.5 is the new offering by the company in the Smartphone mobile market.

Other striking features of the phone are as follows:

•  Dual SIM standby ( GSM +  GSM)
• Entertainment features include audio player, video player, and stereo FM radio.
• Connectivity options include Bluetooth v2.1, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n connectivity, and  micro USB v2.0
•  A 3 mp camera with LED flash and video recording feature
•  G-Sensor and Proximity sensors
• Internal Memory of 130 MB that can be expanded up to 32 GB.
• Quick access to popular apps like Facebook, Hookup, Mi Zone, Mi Store, Google Play Store, IM, and GTalk.