Samsung Announces 4-Inch Galaxy Ace

by vinayak mathur

samsungSamsung has launched the Galaxy Ace 3, a low-end (or entry-level, if you prefer) Android smartphone with a 4-inch screen and LTE capability.

The specifications are nothing to write home about: a 1GHz dual-core processor, 4-inch, 480×800 display, a 5-megapixel camera, 1GB of RAM and 4GB of memory, expandable via microSD cards.

The device is powered by Android 4.2 and also comes as a dual-SIM device — all in all, your standard low-end Android smartphone.

Samsung hopes to bring it a notch above the competition with a bunch of S-features, normally available in the company’s premium smartphones. These include the S Translator, which gives instantaneous translations at any time, S Travel, which provides travel guides and info, and S Voice, which offers voice command functionality.

The Galaxy Ace 3 will be available as 3G or LTE, depending on the market. The price and exact date of availability have not been announced.

BlackBerry Q10 launched in India at Rs 44,990

by vinayak mathur

imagesBlackBerry has rolled out its keyboard-touting Q10 smartphone in India, bringing its second handset powered by its new operating system BlackBerry 10. The phone features touch-and-type functionality and features a Qwerty keyboard below the 3.1-inch touchscreen. The Canadian manufacturer has priced the device at Rs 44,990, bringing it level to the likes of Apple iPhone 5 and HTC Butterfly in terms of cost.

The all-new BlackBerry Q10 features a SuperAMOLED display with resolution of 720x720p and 328ppi pixel density. The phone runs on the BlackBerry 10 operating system and packs a 1.5GHz processor, coupled with 2GB RAM, under the hood. Available with 16GB onboard storage, the phone also supports storage expansion up to 64GB via microSD card.

On the back, the latest phone in BlackBerry India’s portfolio has an 8MP camera, whereas a 2MP unit is placed in front. Connectivity options in Q10 include 2G, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 NFC and microUSB 2.0. The device has a 2,100mAh battery and is available in the country in white and black colours.

At Rs 44,990, BlackBerry Q10 is more expensive than Z10 model, which was rolled out at Rs 43,490. The price of the latter was ridiculed by the masses at the time of the launch. Q10 is the only premium phone in the market that boasts of a Qwerty keyboard, as most manufacturers have dumped this form factor in favour of touchscreens.

White Nexus 4 available now in US Google Play Store starting from $299

by vinayak mathur

nexus4whiteThe white version of LG’s Nexus 4 smartphone is now being sold in the US version of the Google Play store and on the T-Mobile USA website.

The device was only announced earlier this week, but LG has been wise to launch its refreshed high-end Android smartphone well in advance of the upcoming Google Edition Galaxy S4 and Google Edition HTC One.

Both the 8GB and 16GB variants are being described as a “Limited Edition” version of the Nexus 4, suggesting a small or temporary production run. The entry-level model is currently being sold SIM-free for $299, with the 16GB version coming in at a slightly pricier $349.

Google is also offering a free bumper with every white Nexus 4 to sweeten the deal during the initial launch period.

T-Mobile USA, however, is selling the 16GB white Nexus 4 for $427.99.

The white Nexus 4 is equipped with exactly the same hardware as its predecessor, including a 4.7-inch display with a 768×1280 resolution (318 ppi). It’s powered by a 1.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm APQ8064 Snapdragon processor, as well as 2GB of RAM and either 8GB or 16GB of internal storage.

There’s an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera capable of shooting 1080p video at 30 frames per second, as well as a weaker 1.3-megapixel counterpart on the front. It also features the same non-removable 2100 mAh battery and doesn’t support LTE connectivity.

Perhaps most importantly, the white Nexus 4 runs stock Android out of the box, without any form of pre-installed skin, themes or apps (i.e. bloatware) from LG.

Cheap Android Phones Below 10K

by vinayak mathur

1. Sony Xperia E

Lenovo AS60

Lenovo AS60

Sony Xperia E has Android 4.1 Jelly Bean runs on an 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM7227A processor backed by a 512MB RAM.
The device is fitted with a 3.5-inch HVGA touchscreen and a 3.2-megapixel camera with auto-focus coupled with a 1,500 mAh battery life.

Key features:

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM7227A processor
3.5-inch HVGA touchscreen
3.2-megapixel camera with auto-focus
HD Voice which enables the calls to be noise free and clearer than before
4GB of internal storage which can be expanded upto 32 GB via microSD card

Priced at Rs 9,990

2. Intel XOLO B700

Intel XOLO B700

Intel XOLO B700

Intel has introduced its latest phone XOLO B700 in its new series of phones called the ‘XOLO B’ series.

Key Features:

Android Ice Cream Sandwich OS
1GHz dual-core processor
Outstanding battery life of 3,450mAh
3G-enabled Dual-SIM device
4.3-inch IPS qHD display with 960×540 pixels resolution
Equipped with a 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and
a VGA front camera for video calls and chats
4GB internal memory which can be expanded to 32GB via microSD card
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity

Priced at Rs 8,999

3. Huawei Ascend G330

Huawei Ascend G330

Huawei Ascend G330

Chinese company Huawei has been turning head at MWC 2013, with its high-end Windows Phone W1, monstrous phablet Ascent Mate and super duper powerful Ascend D2.

Key Features:

Dual-core processor clocking at 1GHz
Android 4.1 ICS OS
512MB RAM for butterly smooth navigation and browsing experience
4-inch display with a resolution of 800×480 pixels
Adecent 1,500 mAh battery life.
5-megapixel rear camera with a front 0.3-megapixel camera

Priced at Rs 9,999

4. Karbonn Retina A27

Karbonn Retina A27

Karbonn Retina A27

The latest Smartphone from the Karbonn, powered by Android Jelly Bean 4.1 and 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, the device promises smooth and seamless navigation and browsing experience.

Key Features:

Android Jelly Bean 4.1
1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor
4.3-inch display with 960×540 pixels resolution
Dual-SIM 3G-enabled device
8-megapixel rear camera along with a 2-megapixel front camera
2GB of internal memory with a microSD slot for 32GB support and a 1800mAh battery life

Price at Rs Rs 9,090

5. Lava Xolo A700

Lava Xolo A700

Lava Xolo A700

Lava Xolo A700 under its popular Xolo tag is a brand new smartphone

Key Features:

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
1 GHz dual core processor from Mediatek
dual SIM connectivity
512 MB RAM.
4 GB which can be expanded further using a micro SD card to 32 GB
4.5 inch IPS capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 960 x 540 pixels
In-built stereo FM radio receiver
5 megapixel main camera with an LED flash and HD video recording capability
A secondary camera to facilitate video calling and video chatting

Priced at Rs 9,999

6. Spice Stellar Virtuoso Mi-495

Spice Stellar Virtuoso Mi-495

Spice Stellar Virtuoso Mi-495

Another Indigenous mobile manufacturer who has gained popularity among the Indian masses with its pocket friendly feature-rich smartphones is Spice.
The company recently released its slimmest smartphone – Stellar Virtuoso Mi-495 with a 9.44 mm thin body, 4.5 inch qHD screen, 1GHz dual core processor and Android Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) operating system.

Key Features:

Android Ice Cream Sandwich
4.5 inch qHD screen
1GHz dual core processor
8 megapixel auto focus rear camera with flash
A front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera
Dual-SIM powered Stellar Virtuoso Mi-495 is backed by a 1700 mAh battery life
4 GB internal memory
Free leather cover and a screen guard worth Rs 1,000

Priced at Rs 9799

7. Lenovo AS60

Lenovo AS60

Lenovo AS60

A product from the popular Chinese multinational computer hardware and electronics company Lenovo AS60 is the popular smartphone in the market recently and is the cheapest smartphone from the Lenovo.

Key Features:

Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS
1GHz processor
Dual-SIM smartphone bears a 3.5- inch WVGA display
256MB of RAM
1500mAh battery
2-mega pixel camera to take pictures on the go
FM Radio
GPS and a host of other apps and entertainment features

Priced at Rs 6,499

8. Intex Aqua 5.0

Intex Aqua 5.0

Intex Aqua 5.0

Intex’s latest endeavor – Aqua 5.0 packs in a 1GHz dual-core processor, bundled with Android 4.0 OS, 4GB of internal memory, and 4GB microSD card slot (expandable up to 32GB).

Key Features:

Aqua 5.0 sports a 5-inch touchscreen
5-megapixel auto focus rear camera with a 1.3-megapixel front camera supporting video calling
Dual-SIM capability
High resolution display
Wi-Fi enabled
2000mAh battery with a talk time of 5 hours and about 8 days of standby time.
Equipped with three sensors – Gravity, Light and Proximity, and supports Auto Call Recorder
4GB memory card
NQ antivirus absolutely free

Priced at Rs 9,990

9. Lava Iris 501

Lava Iris 501

Lava Iris 501

Lava Iris 501 is an interesting offering from Lava stable with dual-SIM Lava Iris 501 Android smartphone sports a 5-inch display, Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich OS and 1GHz dual-core processor.

Key Features:

Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich OS
1GHz dual-core processor
Great pictures on the go thanks to its 5-megapixel rear camera and VGA front-facing camera
A great 2300mAh battery life
A smooth and uninterrupted fun while using apps like Saavn Music, Fusion Music organizer app and playing battery intensive games like Asphalt HD and more
Connectivity options via USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS
A free 4GB microSD card

Priced at Rs 9,999

10. Idea Ivory

Idea Ivory

Idea Ivory

Idea Ivory has an impressive spec list and attractive data packs offered by operator Idea available in white and black color variants, the device houses a 3.5-inch full touch screen.

Key Features:

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS
1 GHz processor
Dual-SIM 3G
512 MB RAM
Connectivity G Sensor, Wifi, A-GPS
Built-in social media apps – Facebook, Twitter, IMAP, HTML, Music Video Player
Consumers buying Idea Ivory can avail 1 GB of free data every month for first three months along with access to Idea TV for just Rs 261.

Priced at 6,829

BlackBerry officially unveils the low-cost Q5

by vinayak mathur

130514110102-blackberry-q5-620xaBlackBerry unveiled a new low-cost smartphone Tuesday destined for emerging markets in developing countries.

The BlackBerry Q5, which is built on the new BlackBerry 10 platform, will roll out to new markets this summer, said CEO Thorsten Heins, holding up a red version of the phone.

“I think you’re really going to like it,” Heins said, speaking at the company’s annual conference in Orlando, Fla.

He said the phone, which has a physical keyboard, is a “sleek, slim, high performance device” that will be available in red, black, white and pink.

Heins has made it a priority to expand BlackBerry’s product offerings in the mid- and entry-level range in developing nations, since he took over a year-and-a-half ago.

“We understand the importance of having devices to suit all markets and needs and we have already said we will give global markets an opportunity to provide BlackBerry 10 performance in an ideal price range,” Heins said.

Heins didn’t provide any details about the cost of the new Q5 or whether it would ever be available in North American markets.

Earlier this year BlackBerry introduced the Z10 touchscreen device and Q10 keyboard version.

Google announces Samsung Galaxy S4 with ‘stock’ Android, coming in June for $649

by vinayak mathur

images (1)Inline with earlier rumours, Google announced a variant of the Samsung Galaxy S4 that runs stock Android at the Google I/O event in San Francisco.

Google will be selling the phone bootloader and SIM unlocked on Google Play Store at a price of $649 (Rs. 35,500 approximately) before taxes and shipping starting June 26. Since the phone is SIM unlocked, it should work on GSM operators across the globe. Bootloader unlocked means the users are free to install any custom Android ROM on the phone, or, theoretically at least, any other OS on their phone altogether.

As mentioned earlier, the phone runs ‘stock’ Android, which means it is free from any third-party skins or software and provides the Android experience as Google intended. Google also confirmed that the phone will receive updates directly from Google, just like the Nexus phones.

As of now, Google has announced plans to sell the phone only in the US and plans to launch the phone in other countries remain unclear.

The phone targets users and developers who prefer the stock version of Android over the version that adds Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface layer. We’re not sure if many are fans of Samsung’s TouchWiz UI, that has been panned for employing big, glossy and cartoon-like icons and menus. So the phone might find favour among Android enthusiasts who’d like to have all the power that the Galaxy S4 carries under the hood along with the simplicity of stock Android.

We wonder what will happen to Samsung’s custom apps, motion and hand gestures, and camera features such as dual-shot, employing the use of both front and back camera, eraser shot mode to remove people from photos, and a Cinemagram like feature called Cinema Photo. The phone’s apps also make use of its several hardware sensors including temperature and humidity sensors. It will be interesting to see if Samsung has deployed additional apps and software to offer the same functionality or totally get rid of it.

The existence of the phone was reported a day before and now we know that it’s in fact a real deal.

Samsung had unveiled the Galaxy S4 on March 14. The phone sports a 5-inch full-HD screen with a resolution of 1080×1920 pixels, and pixel density of 441ppi. It is powered by 1.6GHz Exynos octa-core processor in some regions, and a 1.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core processor in others. It has 2GB of RAM and a PowerVR SGX544MP3 triple-core GPU.

The smartphone comes in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB variants but will also feature a microSD card slot for expanding the memory. The Galaxy S4 sports a 13-megapixels rear shooter and a 2-megapixel one on the front.

Previously, HTC had released a developer edition of the HTC One in limited quantities in the US. The phone which is available SIM and bootloader unlocked, is offered at a price of $649. However, that does not run stock version of Android. Previously, HTC had released a developer edition of the HTC One in limited quantities in the US. The phone which is available SIM and bootloader unlocked, is offered at a price of $649. However, that does not run stock version of Android.

HTC One listed online for Rs. 42,900

by vinayak mathur

htc-one-whiteAfter more than a month of HTC announcing the launch of its premium flagship HTC One in the Indian market, the phone has been listed on online mobile retailer Saholic’s website for Rs.42,900. At the time of writing this post, only the Silver colour variant of the phone is available. The site is also offering a free back cover with the phone.

However, we checked the status of the phone’s availability with a HTC representative and got a response that the phone is still not officially available. The representative refused to confirm a date when the HTC One will go on sale in the retail market.

It’s worth pointing out that the Saholic listing mentions a delivery time of 9 business days, so the listing does’t confirm immediate availability.

htc-one-listing.jpg
HTC One features a 4.7-inch screen with 1080p display. It is powered by a 1.7GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor along with 2GB of RAM. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 802.11 a/ac/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, NFC, Infrared and Micro-USB. The smartphone runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) along with a brand new Sense UI.  The phone was originally scheduled to go on sale from end of April.

HTC One comes with 32GB of non-expandable storage, though a 64GB variant is available in other markets. No word from HTC when, and indeed if, the 64GB variant will hit Indian shores.

There has been a lot of buzz around the HTC One camera, as the company has ditched the conventional megapixel in favour of something that the company dubs as the UltraPixel camera. There is a 2.1-megapixel front camera and a 2,300mAh battery.

HTC One key specifications

  • 4.7-inch full-HD display
  • 1.7GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor
  • 2GB RAM
  • 32GB internal storage
  • UltraPixel camera
  • Wi-Fi 802.11 a/ac/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, NFC, Infrared, Micro-USB
  • 2,300mAh battery
  • Android 4.1
  • 137.4 x 68.2 x 9.3mm
  • 143g

Nexus 4 launches in India @ Rs 25,999

by vinayak mathur

imagesLG and Google announced that Nexus 4, the official Android phone, would be available in India in the coming days at an MRP of Rs 25,999. Yesterday, the device became available for pre-order on Flipkart, an e-commerce site, starting at a price of Rs 25,990.

Sources said that the pre-order was part of an exclusive deal that Flipkart had struck with LG.

“LG Electronics is pleased to partner Google on the release of the Nexus 4 in India,” shared Soon Kwon, managing director, LG Electronics India. “We added the best of our talent to our strength, and the result is a feature-packed smartphone that packs superb hardware under a slim hood.”

For now, LG had announced details about only the model with 16GB internal storage and not about the 8GB one, which could be cheaper by at least a few thousands rupees.

Nexus 4 has a 4.7-inch screen with 720P resolution. The phone is powered by a quad-core processor and has 2GB RAM. It has a 8MP primary camera and a 1.3MP front camera. The phone doesn’t support microSD card and has a battery that cannot be replaced by users.

The real appeal of the Nexus 4 lies in the software it runs. Like all Nexus devices, it is powered by an unmodified version of Android and is guaranteed to get quick updates whenever Google comes out with the new version of the OS.

This is in stark contrast to other devices that get updates several months after Google had introduced the new version of Android. In an interview to Wired, Sundar Pichai, Android division head at Google, acknowledged that the company was working to fix the update process.

Google usually sells Nexus devices online through its Play Store. But sources said that Nexus 4 would be sold only by LG and its retail partners.

The phone was launched in the global markets last year. At that time an LG executive claimed that it would be available in India in October. But the plans to launch it didn’t materialize.

So far Google has made six Nexus phones and tablets. Nexus 4 is the third from the series to hit India. The other two are Nexus S and Nexus 7.

Sony Xperia ZR announced, allows underwater photography

by vinayak mathur

sony-xperia-zrSony’s ratcheted up its water-resistant device tech a notch with the launch of the Xperia ZR, a new 4.6-inch, 720p Android smartphone that’s waterproof to 1.5 meters (5 feet). Sony boasts that its new device will let you film your snorkeling adventures in full HD quality, with HDR in both video or 13-megapixel stills thanks to the Exmor RS image sensor — there’s also a dedicated camera button like the one on the Xperia ZL. The handset packs a Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core 1.5GH CPU, 2GB RAM, LTE, NFC, Sony’s Walkman album and movie apps and a notable OptiContrast OLED screen with Bravia tech to reduce glare “even in bright sunlight.” There’s no word yet on pricing or availability, but as soon as we hear more, we’ll try to prep you ahead of that next beach-bound holiday. Meanwhile, you can check the galleries, PR and video after the break for more.

Update: As Xperia Blog found out, the Xperia ZR is actually the international version of Japan’s upcoming Xperia A SO-04E — the one we saw popping up in the FCC database.

Samsung Galaxy Mega, Galaxy S4 mini, Galaxy S4 Activ and Galaxy S4 Zoom rumoured launch dates revealed

by vinayak mathur

Samsung-Galaxy-MegaSamsung is expected to launch a number of smartphones under the umbrella of its Galaxy S4 smartphone, and even before the company officially announces them a new report reveals the release timeline of these phones.

Samsung focused blog SamMobile has got hold of an official list from insiders that has launch date targets of the unannounced phones from Samsung including the rumoured Galaxy S4 mini, Galaxy S4 Activ (the rugged version of the Galaxy S4) and the Galaxy S4 Zoom (the camera focused variant), in addition to the officially announced Galaxy Mega 5.8 and Galaxy Mega 6.3 for Europe.

According to the website, the White coloured variant of the Galaxy Mega 5.8 will release in week 20 of this year i.e. between May 13 and 19, while the Black variant will launch between June 17 to 23. The Galaxy Mega 6.3′s Black variant is expected to launch in the week starting May 6, while its White version is expected to launch the week starting May 20.

The report pegs the launch of the Galaxy S4 mini in the week starting July 15 in both White and Black colours. This is in-line with an earlier report that suggested that the Galaxy S4 mini will release in July.

The Galaxy S4 Activ, which is reportedly a ruggedised phone based on the Galaxy S4 platform, is also expected to release in the same week in Metallic Orange colour.

Interestingly, the Galaxy S4 Zoom, a smartphone that has been rumoured to feature a 16-megapixel camera has a target launch date between June 3 and June 9 for the Black variant and June 17 to 23 for the White one. The phone’s existence was revealed just a day back.

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