Fone Arena - The Mobile Blog

Jivi 2010 phone for Ladies with One Press SOS button launched at Rs. 1699

Srivatsan — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:43:24 +0000

Jivi Mobile has launched the Jivi 2010, a feature phone with a dedicated SOS button aimed at women. In case of any emergency or eventuality, user needs to long-press the SOS button and the phone starts calling 5 pre-defined numbers one by one. In case any of the numbers is busy or does not take the call, a SMS message is sent to the number. After this, the phone dials other numbers on the pre-defined list - thereby ensuring much needed help. It has a (2.4 inch 240 x 320 pixels), dual SIM support with dual standby and comes equipped with a big speaker with multiple music formats (MP3, MP4, AVI or 3GP), 3.5 mm universal audio jack and FM Radio with recording. It has GPRS, Bluetooth and micro USB port for charging and data transfer. It has Mobile Tracker, flash light, folder lock, auto call recording and Hungama WAP Launcher with over 2 million mobile content such as music, videos, dialogues, ringtones & wallpapers across genres and languages. It comes with expandable memory up to 32 GB through a microSD card. The Jivi 2010 comes in white, red and black colors with stylish metallic or chrome finish and is priced at Rs 1699, but it is available for as low as ...

Spice Coolpad Mi-515 with 5-inch display, quad-core processor now available for Rs. 9990, Stellar Prime Mi-510 coming soon

Srivatsan — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:36:54 +0000

Spice Coolpad Mi-515, the company's latest mid-range Android smartphone is now available from online retailer Saholic. It has a 5-inch qHD (960 × 540 pixels) capacitive touch screen display, powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor and runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). It has a 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 0.3-megapixel (VGA) front-facing camera. It comes with dual SIM support with dual standby and DTS audio. The Spice Stellar Prime Mi-510 with 5-inch FWVA display and Android 4.2 has been listed on the Spice website with the complete specs. Spice Coolpad Mi-515 specifications 5-inch qHD (960 × 540 pixels) capacitive touch screen IPS display Dual SIM ( 3G + 2G) with Dual Standby Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) OS 1.2 GHz quad-core processor 9.9mm thick and weighs 161 grams 5MP Auto Focus Camera with LED flash 0.3MP (VGA) front-facing camera 3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth with A2DP and GPS / aGPS 1GB RAM, 4GB internal memory, Expandable memory up to 32GB with micro SD 2000 mAh battery Spice Stellar Prime Mi-510 specifications 5-inch FWVGA (480 x 840 pixels) capacitive touch screen display Dual SIM (3G + 3G) with Dual Standby Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) OS 1.2 GHz quad-core processor 8MP Auto Focus Camera with LED flash 3.2MP front-facing camera 3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio Light Sensor, Motion Sensor, Proximity Sensor, G sensor. 3G, ...

Samsung Galaxy Core launching in India soon

Srivatsan — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:13:52 +0000

Samsung Galaxy Core (GT-I8262), a mid-range Android smartphone has been spotted on Samsung India website. It was announced last month and packs a 4.3-inch (800 x 480 Pixels) LCD capacitive touch screen display, powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). It has a 5-megapixel Auto Focus Camera with LED Flash and a 0.3MP (VGA)front-facing camera. It has Dual SIM support with Smart dual SIM feature that lets you receive calls on SIM 1 even when utilizing SIM 2. Samsung Galaxy Core specifications 4.3-inch (800 x 480 Pixels) LCD capacitive touch screen display 1.2 GHz dual-core processor Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) OS Dual SIM with Smart Dual SIM 8.95 mm thick and weighs 124 grams 5MP Auto Focus Camera with LED Flash 0.3MP (VGA)front-facing camera 3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio with RDS 1GB RAM, 8 GB internal memory, expandable up to 64GB with microSD 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth v 3.0, GPS 1800 mAh battery The Samsung Galaxy Core comes in White and Blue colors. No details about the availability or the pricing yet. Source: Samsung India

Facebook v6.2 update for iPhone and iPad brings icons with action status updates

Srivatsan — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:14:06 +0000

You might have noticed the icon with action status on the Facebook for desktop. The Facebook app for iPhone and iPad has been updated to version 6.2 that brings option to share you mood using icons along with an action you are doing in your status. This update also brings option to easily change who can see something you've shared which would let you keep the shared items within a group and start a new conversation with photos. This feature was introduced for Android in the 3.3 update last week. The Android app did not get the new action and icon status updates yet. New features in Facebook for iPhone and iPad v6.2 Add icons to status updates to show what you're feeling, reading, watching and more (English only) Easily change who can see something you've shared Start a new conversation with photos you receive in messages Bug fixes Download Facebook for iPhone and iPad from the Apple iTunes Store for free, if you don't have it yet.

HTC Butterfly S with 1.9GHz Snapdragon 600 processor, UltraPixel camera introduced

Dhruv Bhutani — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:26:19 +0000

HTC just introduced the successor to the Butterfly at an event in Taiwan. Called the Butterfly S, the handset looks very similar to the model it replaces. However, the phone has now been equipped with the same front facing BoomSound speakers as seen on the HTC One. The operating system too gets the HTC's spanking new Sense 5 UI layer that we quite liked when we reviewed the One. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nzTHKdZH8o Internally, the phone is now powered by a 1.9 GHz Snapdragon 600. This processor has been clocked higher than the one on the HTC One and should result in some interesting benchmarks. There's 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage that can be expanded via a microSD slot. The battery unit is rated 3,200 mAh. The camera module is the same as the one on the HTC One and comes with Zoe software based features. The front snapper is a 2.1 MP wide angle module. HTC Butterfly S specifications 5.0-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) Full HD Super LCD 3 display display with 440ppi, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection 1.9 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor with Adreno 320 GPU Android 4.2.2 Jellybean with HTC Sense 5.0 HTC Zoe, HTC BoomSound, Dual frontal stereo speakers with built-in amplifiers UltraPixel rear camera with ...

Opinion – Why 3G Fair Usage Policy is Retarded

Bharadwaj — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:21:55 +0000

Interrupting my usual Internet binging over a daily 2 hour commute, was a message from my operator. The message said I had exhausted my 2 GB limit for high speed internet this month, and now will be forced to a ridiculously low speed of 64 kbps. Say what?! Yes, I understand the concept of a fair usage policy thank you very much, and hey, apparently, I can either go through with the reduced speeds or order an add-on pack for an additional 250 rupees for a GB of 3G data. How lovely! Ok dear Operator, I understand the need for a Fair Usage Policy because offering me unlimited data for eternity is not going to cut it for you, purely in terms of business and I totally get it. But why are post-FUP speeds so retarded? Internet these days is very data intensive and even basic mobile web browsing takes up considerable amount of data and needs decent bandwidth. 64 Kbps is like time traveling back to 2001 with a horribly slow beeper of a 56.6 Kbps landline modem. This needs to change. Consumers like us are paying considerable amounts of money for 3G. Yes, may be some of us go through ...

Huawei Ascend Mate Review

Srivatsan — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:16:04 +0000

Huawei launched the Ascend Mate (MT1-U06), the company's latest flagship Android smartphone in India yesterday, here we have the review of the device. Huawei did not launch the Ascend P1 or the D1 that were unveiled at the MWC 2012, and it is good to see it bringing the Ascend Mate that was unveiled at the CES 2013. The company would bring the Ascend D2 soon that was also unveiled at the CES earlier this year. Let's dive into the review. Unboxing httpv://youtu.be/K3QcGRsn2bU Box Contents Huawei Ascend Mate smartphone Charger USB cable Headset with Mic User manual The phone has a 4050 mAh internal battery, so you don't get a battery it the box. Since this is a Chinese retail unit, box contents might differ from the Indian retail unit. Hardware The phone has a huge 6.1-inch IPS+ display at a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels at a pixel density of 240 PPI. Even though the pixel density of the phone is less, the screen is sharp and bright. The phone has corning gorilla glass protection and comes with glove touch, and Huawei is calling it Magic Touch. This lets you use the phone even when you are wearing a thick gloves since the screen is super sensitive. You can ...

Nokia 301 Dual SIM phone now available in India for Rs. 5149

Srivatsan — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:13:33 +0000

Nokia 301 that was announced earlier this year at the MWC 2013 is now available in India from online retailer Flipkart. It has a 2.4-inch (320 x 240 pixels) display and runs on Series 40 OS. One of the main highlight of the device is its 3.2-megapixel rear camera with unique panorama, sequential shot which takes shots at 3-5 fps. It also lets you choose the perfect picture and self-portrait feature that uses voice prompts to tell you how to position the phone so your face is properly in the frame. It comes with dual SIM support with Easy Swap Dual SIM. It has Nokia Slam Bluetooth sharing feature. Nokia 301 specifications 2.4-inch (320 x 240 pixels) display Nokia Series 40 (6th edition) OS Dual SIM with Dual Standby 3.2MP Fixed focus rear camera with Panorama, Sequence and f2.8 aperture 3.5mm audio jack, Stereo FM Radio with RDS 64MB RAM, 256MB internal memory, expandable memory up to 32GB with micro SD (Hot Swap) 3G (HSDPA up to 7.2Mbps), Bluetooth 2.1 +EDR, Micro USB slot with USB Charging 1200 mAh battery The Nokia 301 Dual SIM (RM-839) comes in Cyan, Black, Yellow, Magenta, White colors and is priced at Rs. 5149. It is available for purchase from Flipkart and is expected to ship in 7 to 8 business days. Source: Flipkart

Gaana for Android v2.0 update brings Gaana+ premium service and improved search

Srivatsan — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:40:18 +0000

Gaana app has been updated to version 2.0 for Android that is now more stable, brings significantly improved search and Gaana+ music service that offers multi-bit rate streaming and more. Gaana Music app for Android, iPhone, BlackBerry and Java phones were released earlier this year, and the Gaana app for Windows Phone was launched back in March. Gaana 2.0 for iPhone with Gaana+ subscription was launched back in April. New features in Gaana for Android v2.0 for Android Improved Search - now its easier to find your favorite songs, albums & artists Multi Bitrate (128kbps streaming for Gaana+)- Choose appropriate streaming quality and get the best song listening experience, even on bad connections Offline music ( For Gaana+ subscribers - up to 320kbps) - download your favorite playlists & songs to your phone, and listen without any internet connection No Ads (for Gaana+ users) - You don’t see ads anywhere Bug fixes and other stability improvements Download Gaana for Android from the Google Play Store for free. Gaana+ feature would be available for free for 14 days as a promotional offers, after that it costs $2.99 per month (for India) or $3.99 (outside India). Read

Nvidia announces GPU licensing starting with Kepler, to compete with PowerVR

Bharadwaj — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:40:12 +0000

Nvidia, one of the world's leading graphics providers, has announced that it will start licensing its GPU technology for other SoC manufacturers, starting with the Kepler series of GPUs. This move comes at a time when most smartphone manufacturers have moved away from Nvidia's Tegra SoC, which was supposed to provide the much needed boost to the company's flailing mobile portfolio. Nvidia Tegra, while good at games, lacked in raw performance and most importantly, battery life. Tegra chips were Nvidia's SoC play at the mobile market, and now, like their core PC business, the Kepler based GPUs will be licensed to willing manufacturers. Imagination technologies, the leading graphics provider for smartphones, has been in the same business for a long time, and its business model is exactly what Nvidia are aiming to take advantage of. The PowerVR graphics from Imagination technologies, which are licensed to several companies, even power Intel based SoCs like Clovefield and Medfield. With Qualcomm using its own Adreno solution, and ARM licensing its own Mali graphics, the market is stuffed with competition that Nvidia wants to be a part of. While this might be a risky move, it is so much better than Nvidia making its own ...

Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 Benchmarks

Varun Krish — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:11:57 +0000

We are here in San Francisco on invitation from Qualcomm to benchmark their Snapdragon 800 processor (MSM8974) which features a 28nm HPm quad core Krait 400 CPU capable of running at 2.3 GHz per core and the new Adreno 330 GPU. It is expected to be the fastest mobile processor in the market and even beat the Samsung Exynos 5 Octa and Qualcomm's own Snapdragon 600 processor in terms of benchmarks and performance. Dive in and take a look at the jaw dropping numbers in the Benchmarks. Highlights Capture, playback and display in UltraHD video (with four times 1080p pixel density) Dual Image Signal Processors for Snapdragon Camera support simultaneous camera/video, ultrafast 640 Megapixel/second capture speeds and computational camera HD multichannel audio with DTS-HD and Dolby Digital Plus for enhanced audio Higher display resolutions (up to 2560x2048) and Miracast 1080p HD support LP-DDR3 memory for high performance and low latency Updated Adreno 330 GPU delivers up to 50% increase in graphics performance1 Support for advanced graphic and compute APIs, including OpenGL ES 3.0, DirectX, OpenCL, Renderscript Compute and FlexRender Support for popular middleware and game engines like Unity, Epic, and Unigine True 4G LTE World Mode, supporting LTE FDD, LTE, TDD, WCDMA, CDMA1x, EV-DO, TD-SCDMA and GSM3 4G LTE with Carrier Aggregation for speeds up to 150 Mbps New USB 3.0 for ultra-fast transfers 802.11ac Wi-Fi for peak ...

Spice MI-535 Pinnacle Pro Review

Dhruv Bhutani — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:27:34 +0000

Spice has consistently done a good job of providing well built phones with decent performance and affordable price points. With the Spice Stellar Pinnacle Pro, the company aims to continue this tradition.We spent some time with the Spice Pinnacle Pro and here's our review of the handset. Design The Pinnacle Pro is one of the more generic looking handsets out there and as such Spice hasn't done much to make it stand out from the herd. The front of the phone is dominated by the 5.3 inch screen. Three capacitive buttons line up below the screen and work as expected. Above the screen is a front facing camera. With dimensions of 152 x 79 x 10.3 m, the Pinnacle Pro is one of the larger handsets in its category. Weighing almost 196 grams, you definitely feel the heft of the phone however it is evenly distributed and isn't really an issue in day to day usage. Spice has bestowed the Pinnacle Pro with a power key, volume rocker and even a dedicated camera key in terms of buttons. The buttons provide decent feedback and are fairly easy to access given the dimensions of the phone. We really like the material used by the company on the ...

XCOM: Enemy Unknown coming to iPhone and iPad on June 20th

Srivatsan — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:34:04 +0000

2K and Firaxis Games have announced the XCOM: Enemy Unknown for iOS devices. It is an award winning turn-based tactical role-playing video game the is already available for PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and recently launched for Mac OS X. The game has been optimized for the touch interface of iOS devices.It comes with GameCenter support and utilizes iCloud functionality that would let players save games across their iOS devices. The game is set in the near future, as a global alien invasion begins and you play the role of the commander of XCOM, and proceeds to engage in a war against an extraterrestrial enemy. You need to direct the soldiers in turn-based combat missions against alien enemies. The XCOM: Enemy Unknown will be available via the iTunes App Store as an an universal app for both iPhone and iPad at £13.99 on June 20th. It is compatible with iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4, iPad mini, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5 and iPod touch 5 th Generation. Head-to-head multiplayer mode would be available later as a free update. Via: Gamasutra

Huawei Ascend P6 with 4.7-inch 720p display, 6.18mm slim metallic body, Android 4.2 announced

Srivatsan — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:09:56 +0000

Huawei has finally announced the Ascend P6, the company's latest flagship smartphone with metallic body at an event in London. It comes with a 4.7-inch (1280 x 720 pixels) display based on in-cell LCD screen technology and MagicTouch that is responsive even when wearing gloves, powered by a 1.5 GHz quad-core processor and runs on Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) with new Emotion UI that comes with panoramic shoot, facial recognition photography, Themes, enhanced Easy Panel with profile selection. It has a 8-megapixel rear camera with BSI sensor, F2.0 aperture and 4cm macro and 1080P full HD video recording and has IMAGESmart software with lot of features including HDR video recordin. It packs a 5-megapixel front-facing camera with auto facial-enhancing capabilities for self portraits. It is just 6.18 mm thick and weighs just 120 grams. It has multi-screen AirSharing capability and packs a 2000 mAh battery with Automated Discontinuous Reception (ADRX) and Quick Power Control (QPC) battery optimization and power saving technology similar to the Ascend Mate. httpv://youtu.be/E75gTh3nK1k Huawei Ascend P6 specifications 4.7-inch (1280 x 720 pixels) capacitive touch screen display 1.5 GHz quad-core processor Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) 8MP camera with BSI sensor, F2.0 aperture, 4cm macro lens 1080P full HD video recording and playback 5-megapixel front-facing camera with auto facial-enhancing capabilities 6.18 mm thick and weighs 120 ...

Domo nTice F12 and A10 with 5.2-inch and 4-inch displays launched for Rs. 8900 and Rs. 3990

Srivatsan — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:30:12 +0000

Domo Gadgets has launched the nTice F12 and nTice A10, the company's latest smartphones. The F12 is a mid-range Android smartphone with a large screen and the A10, and entry-level Android smartphone with 2G (EDGE) support. The nTice F12 has a 5.2-inch (480 x 800 pixels) capacitive touch screen display, powered by a 1 GHz dual-core MediaTek MT6577 processor and runs on Android Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Tthe Domo A10 has a 4-inch (480 x 800 pixels) capacitive touch screen IPS display, powered by a 1GHz single-core processor and runs on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). Domo nTice F12 specifications 5.2-inch (480 x 800 pixels) capacitive touch screen display 1 GHz dual-core MediaTek MT6577 processor and PowerVR SGX531 GPU Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean Dual SIM (GSM + GSM) with dual standby 8-megapixel rear camera with dual LED Flash 0.3MP (VGA) front-facing camera 12mm thick and weighs 199 grams 3G, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS 512MB RAM, 4GB internal memory, Expandable memory up to 32GB with microSD 2500 mAh battery Domo nTice A10 specifications 4-inch (480 x 800 pixels) capacitive touch screen display 1 GHz Spreadtrum SC6820 single-core processor with Mali 300 GPU Dual SIM (GSM + GSM) with Dual Standby Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) 2MP camera with LED Flash 0.3MP front-facing camera 3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio 2G (EDGE), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 256MB RAM, 512MB internal memory, 32GB expandable memory with microSD 1500 mAh battery The Domo nTice F12 and ...

Aircel to offer special short-term prepaid SIM Cards for Amarnath yatra pilgrims

Srivatsan — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:31:43 +0000

Aircel has announced that they will offer special short-term prepaid Yatra SIM Cards and seamless mobile coverage for the pilgrims of Amarnath Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir during the yatra. The company would also set-up special counters in Jammu, Pahalgam, Baltal and more locations in Jammu and Kashmir to make these special SIM cards available to the yatris. The annual Amarnath Yatra commences on the June 28 this year, which is next week and concludes on August 21st. Registration for the Yatra started from 18th March. Every year over 6 Lakh pilgrims visit the Amarnath Temple. The short-term prepaid Yatra SIM Cards wouldenable the yatris to stay connected 24X7 during the Amarnath Yatra. Aircel is planning unique initiatives for the Yatris during the course of Amarnath yatra. To avail the services, yartis need to original Yatra registration slip and submit a photocopy while purchasing this SIM card. Additionally, yatris have to submit a self-certified copy of valid Proof of Identification and Proof of Address as prescribed by DoT, besides filling CEF and submitting 4 latest photographs.

iBall Slide 7334i with 7-inch display, 3G and Voice calling launched for Rs. 10499

Srivatsan — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:05:04 +0000

iBall has launched the Slide 7334i, the company's latest Android tablet. It has a 7-inch (1024 x 600 pixels) capacitive touch screen display and is powered by a dual-core 1 GHz Cortex A9 processor. It runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), comes with a 2-megapixel rear camera with flash and a VGA front-facing camera. It has dual SIM support with 3G on both, voice calling and FM Radio. Celkon launched the CT888 Tablet with a similar 7-inch display and FM Radio, but it has a single-core processor and runs on Android ICS. iBall Slide 7334i Specifications 7-inch (1024 x 600 pixels) capacitive 5-point multi-touch display Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) OS Dual SIM with dual standby 1 GHz dual-core Cortex A9 processor 2MP rear camera with flash 0.3MP (VGA) front-facing camera 3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio 3G (via SIM card slots), WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS 1GB DDR3 RAM, 16GB internal memory, 32GB expandable memory with microSD 3000 mAh battery The iBall iBall Slide 7334i tablet is priced at an MRP of Rs. 10,499, but it is available at a market price of Rs. 9,990.

Developer page indicates upcoming Snapdragon 800 based Nokia Windows RT tablet?

Bharadwaj — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:35:05 +0000

Take this with a pinch of salt but some of the deep rooted developer pages belonging to Nokia have recently added references to "Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 MSM8974" and "Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 MSM8274" both of which are part of the new range of Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoCs, which are currently the fastest chips on the market, alas with not a single device based on it yet. Qualcomm just announced its support for Windows RT 8.1 by readying its Snapdragon 800 chipsets for it. And now we are seeing Nokia add references to it on its website, co-incidence? While the recently leaked phablet comes to mind, there's always a possibility of a Windows RT tablet from Nokia, as it has been rumored for a long time now. These are the exact references from the developer page - ** Changes from Version 1.93 to 1.94 Added new values for dp:Battery http://sw.nokia.com/DP-1/Battery/BL_4U_1200 http://sw.nokia.com/DP-1/Battery/BL_4YW_2000 http://sw.nokia.com/DP-1/Battery/BP_4GWA_2000 http://sw.nokia.com/DP-1/Battery/BV_4NW_2000 Added new value for dp:HardwareGraphicsProcessor: http://sw.nokia.com/DP-1/HardwareGraphicsProcessor/adreno_330 Added new value for dp:HardwareCPUType http://sw.nokia.com/DP-1/HardwareCPUType/qualcomm_snapdragon_s4_msm8274 http://sw.nokia.com/DP-1/HardwareCPUType/qualcomm_snapdragon_s4_msm8974 Added new value for dp:CPUCount: http://sw.nokia.com/DP-1/CPUCount/quad_core Added new value for dp:DeveloperPlatform ...

Vodafone cuts 2G data rates for Pay As You Go customers up to 80%

Srivatsan — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:31:42 +0000

Vodafone India has announced that they have reduced the 2G data rates for the Pay as you Go (PAYG) users up to 80%. The charges are down to 2p/10KB from the previous rate of 10p/10KB. This rate would be applicable for all pre-paid and post-paid customers using 2G network on a Pay as you Go basis, which would be affordable for those who use mobile internet in a limited way. Vodafone revised their 3G data plans last June that made additional usage charges after free data and The Pay As You Go (PAYG) rate for the customers customers as 2p/10KB on a 3G network. Regarding the rate cut, Vivek Mathur, Chief Commercial Officer, Vodafone India said, The overall internet penetration in India is low while the mobile penetration is several times higher. Most consumers will discover the power of the internet via the mobile. We, at Vodafone, want to accelerate mobile internet adoption through penetration, consumption and value addition. This 80% reduction in data charges for customers using 2G network is an important step in this direction and we are confident that this move will facilitate in faster adoption and better usage. Vodafone launched one-time trial packs for 2G and 3G customers back in April. The company says the new move is also ...

LG Optimus G Pro sales surpass 1 million units in Korea

Srivatsan — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:12:57 +0000

LG has announced that the sales (to supply channel) of their latest flagship, the Optimus G Pro has surpassed 1 million units in their home county Korea, in less than 4 months of launch. The LG Optimus G Pro was unveiled in February, that went on sale in Korea on February 21st. The LG Optimus G Pro sales crossed 500 thousand units in Korea back in April in less than 40 days after the launch. It has a 5.5-inch (1920×1080 pixels) Full HD IPS curved glass display, 1.7 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor and runs on Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean). It has a 13MP rear camera with LED Flash, 2 MP front-facing camera and packs a 3140 mAh battery. It has Dual Recording, Virtual Reality (VR) Panorama Smart Video, Smart Camera, Pause and Resume Recording and lots more. LG expanded the sales of the smartphone throughout Korea last month. They had also announced that the Optimus G Pro would roll out across Asia in June starting from June and would gradually roll out in other Asian markets including India later this month.

HTC Desire 200 with 3.5-inch display, Beats Audio announced

Srivatsan — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:35:08 +0000

HTC has officially announced the Desire 200, the company's latest budget Android smartphone. It was leaked recently and has a 3.5-inch (320 x 480 pixels) display, powered by a 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and features a 5-megapixel camera. Details about the Android version is not available but it is likely to be 4.0 or 4.1. It has Beats audio support and comes with in-ear headset. The looks like an enhanced version Desire C that was launched last year. Even the rear part of the device looks similar to the Desire C. It has the HTC Data Manager that lets you manage your data usage. HTC Desire 200 specifications 3.5-inch (320 x480 pixels) display 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor Android OS with Sense UI 5MP rear camera 11.9mm thick and weighs 100 grams 3.5mm audio jack, Beats audio 512MB RAM and 4GB of internal storage and expandable up to 32GB with microSD 3G (HSDPA 7.2 Mbps) , Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS /aGPS 1230 mAh battery The HTC Desire 200 comes in Black and White colors. According to a press release from Taiwanese website ePrice, the phone would go on sale in Taiwan from 19th June at a suggested retail price of NT$ 4,990 (~US$ 166).

Huawei Ascend Mate Benchmarks

Srivatsan — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:48:09 +0000

Huawei launched the Ascend Mate with a 6.1-inch HD display in India earlier today. We brought you the unboxing of the device earlier today, here we have the benchmarks of the device. The Ascend Mate is powered by a the Huawei's own K3v2 processor developed by HiSilicon Technologies from Huawei. It has four 4 ARM Cortex A9 cores based on ARMv7 architecture. The chip is based on 40nm technology. It has a 16-core Vivante GC4000 GPU. Huawei uses the same CPU and the GPU in the Media Pad FHD. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-NGMxuoVGs Quadrant Benchmark The Ascend Mate could easily beat the Galaxy Note in the Quadrant benchmark, but it couldn't beat the S3 or the Note 2. AnTuTu Benchmark 3.3 In the AnTuTu benchmark the Ascend Mate's scores are almost similar to the Nexus 4. It is better than the S3, but it couldn't beat the nexus 4. Vellamo 2.0 HTML5 In the Vellamo 2 HTML 5 browser benchmark, the Ascend Mate scores 1621 points. Vellamo 2.0 Metal It managed to score 453 points in the Vellamo 2 Metal benchmarks that measures the CPU subsystem performance . NenaMark 2 In the NenaMark 2 GPU benchmark it clocks 59.8 fps similar to the Xperia Z. GLBenchmark 2.5 Egypt HD (On screen) In the GLBenchmark it clocked 23 fps and ...

Huawei Ascend Mate Unboxing

Bharadwaj — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:57:12 +0000

The Huawei Ascend Mate was launched at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January and has then evaded the Indian market until now. Today, the company has launched its ambitious phablet device with a massive 6.1 inch screen at a price tag of Rs. 24,900, just weeks after Samsung continued their trend of releasing phablet devices with the Galaxy Mega series. The Indian market seems to have likened to the big screen phenomena and the Ascend Mate is hoping to address at least a part of it. The device just landed in our labs and here is our ritualistic unboxing video below - httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3QcGRsn2bU The Ascend Mate is packaged in a seemingly small box but as it is revealed, we see that the whole device almost spans the height and width of the box, which is a testament in itself to the massive scale of the device. Here are the box contents - Includes a travel charging adapter, a stereo headset with mic, user manuals and the standard micro USB cable. It was good to note that all the box contents were of high quality. Here is a quick look at the back of the device - A quick recap of the ...

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 Review

Bharadwaj — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:54:32 +0000

The Galaxy Note 8.0 launched way back in February, at the Mobile World Congress as the first 8 inch screened device in the Galaxy Note series. The surprising addition was that the cellular edition of the device could make calls and lets you use it like a phone thanks to the on-device ear piece. It was extremely awkward to see people holding a huge device to their face but worry not, we have got the 16 GB WiFi only version for review here and we are going to see whether the Note 8.0 is really worth your money. Lets find out in the full review then. Hardware Walkthrough The Note 8.0 is a natural progression of the Galaxy S3's design philosophy. With rounded corners, plasticky faux-metal sides and a glossy plastic back, it looks like a stretched out S3. There are various other changes though, one being the non-removable battery cover, as it does not make sense for a device as big as the Note 8.0, so yes, Samsung have gone with a sealed battery. Amongst things that never change with most Samsung devices is choice of materials used. Dominated by glossy plastic, the Note 8.0 looks really cheap, especially at the price ...

Huawei Ascend Mate launched in India for Rs. 24900

Srivatsan — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:42:33 +0000

Huawei has launched the Ascend Mate, the company's latest flagship Android smartphone in India. It went on sale online few days back. It has a 6.1-inch 720p display with Corning Gorilla glass protection. It features magic touch technology that would let you use the phone even with gloves. It is powered by a 1.5 GHz quad-core Hi-Silicon K3V2 processor and runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) with Huawei’s Emotion UI 1.5 on top. It has a 8-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, full HD video recording and a 1-megapixel HD front-facing camera. Huawei Ascend Mate specifications 6.1-inch (1280 x 720 pixels) HD IPS display with Corning Gorilla glass protection 1.5 GHz quad-core Hi-Silicon K3V2 processor with 16-core GPU Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) 9.9 mm thick and weighs 198 grams. 8MP auto focus rear camera with LED flash, 1080p video recording 1MP HD front-facing camera 3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio 2GB RAM, 8GB of internal memory, expandable memory card slot 3G, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, dual band WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, GPS 4050 mAh battery The Huawei Ascend Mate comes in crystal black and pure white colors and is priced at Rs. 24,900. It would be available through online channels, modern trade like Croma, Ezone, IT and multi-brand mobile stores across India.

Pelican Imaging shows off Mobile array camera with 3D video capture, 3D printing and more

Srivatsan — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:00:57 +0000

Pelican Imaging announced the array camera for smartphones earlier this year. Now the company has released a new video that show off the depth-enabled features of the array camera including 3D printing, all-in-focus image capture, linear measurement, and 3D video capture. The camera can capture still images and video footage with depth information of the scene. You can perform several actions such as refocusing, selecting multiple objects of focus, measuring distance between any two points, or creating a depth map/3D model of any scene. The camera is about 50% of the thickness of the top-end camera modules used in mobile phones says the company. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nleclfgqn_U The video shows a person capturing a video using the array camera on a smartphone all-in-focus image capture, linear measurement, and 3D video capture. Later the person captures a video of the bride and groom and prints a 3D model of them by connecting the phone to a 3D printer. "We're looking forward to working with our customers, strategic partners, and third party application developers to bring Pelican's mobile array camera to market in late 2014." said Pelican Imaging CEO and President Christopher Picket. Qualcomm and Nokia Growth Partners have invested in the company alongside several venture capital firms. Hope we can see ...

Samsung to introduce faster Galaxy S4 with LTE-Advanced

Dhruv Bhutani — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:55:54 +0000

Samsung is in talks with several carriers to introduce its LTE-Advanced version of the Samsung Galaxy S4. LTE Advanced 4G is an upgrade from the conventional LTE networks deployed currently and offers a data transmission speed at up to double the speeds of standard 4G networks. The phones will run on Qualcomm chipsets and could possibly be powered by the Snapdragon 800 processor. The news follows reports that industry analysts have cut sales forecasts for the Galaxy S4 by as much as 30 percent owing to saturation in the high end smartphone market. Samsung's market capitalization is $195 billion but the company's shares have lost almost $20 billion in value since June 7th. Samsung's JK Shin reaffirms that sales for the Galaxy S4 remain strong and variants with faster data transmission, rugged designs will only bolster this demand. We reviewed the Galaxy S4 and found it to be a very powerful high end handset with a compelling feature set. [Via - Reuters]

TRAI: Roaming charges for Calls and SMS to be cheaper from July 1st

Srivatsan — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:02:30 +0000

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has reduced the limit for national roaming tariff for calls and SMS. They have also issued a new regime for the telecom providers to offer unlimited roaming through Special Tariff Vouchers (STVs) and Combo Vouchers. Several operators such as Airtel, Vodafone and Aircel and cheaper roaming rates through tariff vouchers, Videocon offers free incoming calls without any processing fee or a special tariff vouchers. The Cabinet had approved New Telecom Policy 2012 back in May 2012 that detailed on removing roaming charges across India under One Nation-Free Roaming. Now TRAI says providing free roaming is not possible since it would hit operators by Rs. 2200 crore, which would make them increase the tariffs. Now TRAI has reduced the charges for local and STD calls to Rs. 1 per minute and Rs. 1.50 per minute, respectively while roaming. Previously it was Rs. 1.40 per minute and Rs. 2.40 per minute, respectively prescribed by TRAI in 2007. Incoming call charges would be Rs. 0.75 while roaming . Local and National SMS charges would be Rs.1 and Rs. 1.50 per SMS and the incoming SMS charges would remain free. Telecom providers can set cheaper rates than these fixed amount set by TRAI. TRAI has announced that every service provider should provide partially free ...

Xolo Q1000 Unboxing

Bharadwaj — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:59:46 +0000

Amidst a sea of 5 inch phablets in the mid range category comes Xolo's entry, the Q1000. Launched a while back, for a price of Rs. 14,999, the device has landed in our labs for testing. The 5 inch 720p screen has been a standard in most devices in this price range and they all come with very similar specs, so we went ahead and unboxed the Xolo Q1000 for you, with an unsuspecting view of the retail box contents and some initial thoughts on the device, watch the video - httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ7MNrYMmKY The box contents are shown off in the image above. Apart from all the usual suspects, it was good to see a scratch guard inside the box(not shown above). That's a sensible addition because people buy it anyway. The device, with its really thin bezel and a metallic rim on the sides stands out in terms of build quality except for the glossy plastic back. The screen is nicely bright and has decent viewing angles from our initial hands on time with it. Here is a rundown of the specifications of the Xolo Q1000 - 5-inch (1280 x 720 pixels) HD IPS display at 295 PPI with scratch restistant Dragon Trail Glass 1.2 GHz quad-core ...

Skype video messaging graduates to release on every platform except Windows Phone

Bharadwaj — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:45:40 +0000

The video messaging service from Skype has been lurking in devices as a beta feature for quite a while now, but has finally gained the official status and launched on major platforms like Windows, iOS, Android and Mac. The voicemail-like feature is present even on the Blackberry devices now, but surprisingly has evaded Windows Phone, which is disappointing. The video messaging feature is completely free of charge and is available for all accounts effective immediately. We think it is a nice feature on the whole, and here is a demo video explaining the usability - httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88nDTJyEIz4 According to Skype, here is how you record a video message - First, tap the “video message” button. Next, tap the record button to capture your video message. You can record a message of up to three minutes, which can be previewed prior to sending. If you’d like to, you can delete and re-record until you are completely happy with it. When you are ready, simply click on the envelope icon to send your video message to the recipient. We expect more information on Windows Phone compatibility soon, but for now, if you own any other device, you can try the feature out in Skype's latest update. More information in the ...