Gadgets

Smartphone

BlackBerry Q10 Launched in India at Rs 44,999: Can the Expensive QWERTY Phone Attract Buyers?

by Rohit Khurana • June 6, 2013

Canadian smartphone maker – BlackBerry launched the much awaited QWERTY smartphone Q10 in India today. BlackBerry Q10 is priced at Rs 44,990, almost Rs 2,000 more than its touch screen sibling Z10 which is currently selling for Rs 42,490. The price of the new phone seems too exorbitant in a price-sensitive market like India, but the recently launched EMI scheme by the company is sure to come in handy for thrift buyers.

Online shopping mart Saholic has already begun selling the QWERTY phone for Rs 44,999 with a free gift voucher worth Rs 1000. The smartphone is expected to be zvailable in retail stores from Friday, June 7, 2013 in major cities across India. Alongside India, BlackBerry Q10 will also set foot in the US market today.

BlackBerry Q10 sports a 3.1-inch super AMOLED touchscreen. It also comes with a physical QWERTY keyboard, which has been associated with BlackBerry devices since the company started offering smartphones. There is an 8-megapixel rear camera on-board and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 4G and NFC. BlackBerry Q10 also packs in 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage and a 2,100mAh battery.

According to a report by Wall Street Journal, the Q10 with a price of Rs 44,999 is the company’s second costliest smartphone after Porsche P9981 priced at Rs 1,39,000. The report notes that the buyers may find its difficult to purchase the Q10 as per analysts. The arrival of Q10 comes on the heels of Nexus 4 and Panasonic P51 launch and, also Lenovo has announced six new smartphones on Wednesday. Hence, there is a lot for BlackBerry to fight with in India.

It is noted that in order to compete with heavyweights like Samsung, BlackBerry needs to have a wide variety of inexpensive handsets to attract buyers rather than launching only expensive devices.

Smartphone

Lenovo Launches K900, A706, A390, P780, S820 and S920 Smartphones in India, Price Starting from Rs 8,689

by Rohit Khurana • June 5, 2013

Lenovo has launched its flagship Android smartphone, the K900 in the Indian market at a price point of Rs. 32,999. Alongside the K900, Lenovo has also launched five other Android smartphones, namely A706, A390, P780, S820 and S920. While the K900 will be made available in July, the other smartphones will be released in the coming weeks.

Talking about specifications, K900 sports 5.5-inch Full HD IPS capacitive touchscreen display protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 2 and 1920×1080 pixel resolution. The handset is powered by 2GHz Intel Atom Z2580 Clover Trail+ dual-core processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB inbuilt memory, expandable to up to 32GB, 13-megapixel rear camera and 2-megapixel front camera. Also, the K900 comes with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC and 3G and is fueled with a juicy 2,500 mAh battery.

Lenovo S920 features 5.3-inch 720p display, 1.2GHz quad-core MediaTek processor, 8MP camera, 1GB RAM, dual-SIM support and Android 4.2. It has been priced at Rs 26,399. And, Lenovo P780 comes with a 5-inch 720p HD display, 1.2GHz quad-core MediaTek processor, dual-SIM support, Android 4.2, 8MP camera and a huge 4.000mAh battery. The phone will be available for Rs 22,529.

Coming to Lenovo S820, the phone sports 4.7-inch 720p display and features 1GB RAM, 1.2GHz quad-core MediaTek processor, dual-SIM support and Android 4.2. It will be sold for around Rs 19,599. Also, Lenovo A706 comes with 4.5-inch FWVGA display, 1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm processor, 1GB RAM, 2000 mAh battery, dual-SIM support and Android 4.1. According to Lenovo, it has been priced at Rs 15,949.

Lastly, Lenovo A390 is the cheapest of the bunch. It has been priced at just Rs 8,689. It packs 4-inch WVGA display, 1GHz dual-core MediaTek processor, 5MP rear camera, 512MB RAM, 1400 mAh battery and Android 4.0. It also comes with dual-SIM support.

Smartphone

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active: Rugged Smartphone with 5-Inch 1080p Display and Quad-Core CPU Goes Official

by Rohit Khurana • June 5, 2013

The rumors mills have been abuzz in the last month or so with images and videos leaking of an alleged rugged version of the Galaxy S4, called the Galaxy S4 Active. Today, Samsung has announced a new variant of its Galaxy S4 – Galaxy S4 Active more suited to the great outdoors.

The smartphone has a high degree of dust and water protection (IP67), allowing it to be submerged in water up to a meter deep for up to 30 minutes. Inside, it has the same 1.9GHz quad-core processor and 2,600mAh battery, nestled behind the same 5.0-inch 1080p LCD screen as its less robust cousin.

Speaking of specifications, Galaxy S4 Active flaunts a 5-inch full HD display with a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels and 443 ppi pixel density. Also, it features the Samsung’s Glove Touch technology, which allows one to use the display even when wearing gloves.

Galaxy S4 Active is powered by a 1.9GHz quad-core processor paired with 2GB of RAM and includes features like an 8-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, 2-megapixel secondary camera, 16GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 64GB using a microSD card and a 2,600mAh battery.

Connectivity-wise, the device supports 3G and includes features like Wi-Fi, IrDA, NFC, USB 2.0 and Bluetooth 4.0. On the software front, the smartphone runs on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean topped with Touch-Wiz Nature UX interface and comes pre-loaded with Samsung unique software seen on the Galaxy S4 like S Travel, S Translator, Group Play, Samsung Smart Pause, Air View and Air Gesture among others.

The USP of Galaxy S4 Active is ruggedness and to help it survive in the wild, the device is water and dust resistant and the camera also has an Aqua mode which helps in clicking enhanced underwater photos.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active Specs

5-inch full HD TFT LCD display
1.9GHz quad-core processor
Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
8MP rear camera with LED flash
2MP front-facing camera
Dust and Water Resistant (IP67)
2GB RAM, 16GB internal memory (11.25GB user memory), expandable memory up to 64GB
IR LED, 4G /3G, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n ac, WiFi Direct, GPS, NFC
2,600 mAh battery

The Galaxy S4 Active comes in Urban Grey, Dive Blue and Orange Flare and would go on sale this summer starting from U.S. and Sweden. It would be showcased at the Samsung Premier 2013 event in London on June 20, 2013 alongside Galaxy S4 mini.

Smartphone

HTC Desire U, Desire XDS: Dual SIM Android ICS Smartphones Launched at Rs 13,499 and Rs 16,089

by Rohit Khurana • June 5, 2013

HTC seems to be in a rage to gain enough market share in Indian smartphone space as the vendor is coming up with dual SIM entry-level and mid-range smartphones.

In a recent development, HTC Desire U and Desire XDS – dual SIM Android ICS smartphones have been spotted on online retailers. The Desire U, which was launched in Taiwan, has now come to India at Rs 13,499 and later, the Desire XDS, the dual SIM variant of Desire X is available at Rs 16,089.

Both are flavored with Android ICS operating system and come with basic specifications alongside the Beats Audio integration.

HTC Desire U Specifications

4.0-inch capacitive touchscreen display with 800×480 pixels
1GHz processor
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with HTC Sense UI
5-megapixel auto focus camera with LED Flash
512MB RAM, 4GB internal, expandable memory up to 32GB with microSD
3G, WiFi 820.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX, GPS
1,650 mAh battery

HTC Desire XDS Specifications

4.0-inch capacitive touchscreen display with 800×480 pixels
1GHz dual-core processor
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with HTC Sense UI
5-megapixel auto focus camera with LED Flash
768MB RAM, 4GB internal, expandable memory up to 32GB with microSD
3G, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS / aGPS
1,650 mAh battery

Price & Availability

HTC Desire U is available on Flipkart at Rs 13,499 and the Desire XDS is priced at RS 16,089 and is listed on Saholic.

Tablet PC

DataWind Surpasses Micromax and Apple: Leads Tablet Market with 15.3% Share

by Rohit Khurana • June 5, 2013

DataWind, the maker of Aakash tablet has occupied the lead position in the supply of tablet computers in India. According to the Quarterly Tablet Market report for Q1 2013 by Cyber Media Research, DataWind has grabbed 15.3% market share, thereby surpassing Micromax with 12.3% and Apple with 11.7% market shares.

It has to be noted that the supply of 100,000 Aakash 2 tablets to IIT Bombay on May 1, 2013 is not included in the report and it comprises only of commercial sales volume.

Following this report, DataWind CEO, Suneet Singh Tuli said, “The enormous demand for our products helps validate our focus on affordability and connectivity. Unlike many in this industry that are focused on providing media tablets to the elite, our focus is to enable Indians with their first computer at an affordable price.”

He also added that, “Our flagship product, the UbiSlate 7C+, is also the world’s lowest cost phablet for only Rs.4,999 inclusive of all duties and taxes in the Indian market. In addition to WiFi connectivity, the device takes a regular SIM card, allowing the user to make calls or access the internet on its quad-band Edge modem – and with DataWind’s special web acceleration technology it allows a fast and rich internet experience, anytime and anywhere.”

DataWind has not only been recognized in the global market as the maker of low-cost tablets, but also has been awarded for its patented breakthrough web delivery platform, which will deliver a fast, rich and affordable web experience on its devices.

Additionally, Dr. HamadounToure, Secretary General, International Telecommunications Union (ITU) entrusted DataWind with the most Innovative Access Device Award at the NTA ICT World Communication Awards.

So long DataWind was selling its devices mainly through the call-centre, UbiSlate.com and via other e-commerce retailers, but, now, it has been announced that the company is planning to set up retail stores this summer to enable easier purchase.

Smartphone

Sony Unleashes Xperia M, M dual with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS and Premium Sony Features

by Rohit Khurana • June 4, 2013

Sony has announced the launch of mid-range Android smartphone – Xperia M and its dual SIM variant – Xperia M dual. Running on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS, the Xperia M comes with exciting features and specifications and has a thin form factor while comparing it to its rivals.

At the launch, Calum MacDougall, Director of Xperia Marketing at Sony Mobile Communications said, “Consumers looking for their first steps into the world of Xperia smartphones, would be well-advised to look at Xperia M or Xperia M dual. Both models benefit from Sony’s proven innovation and engineering expertise, and are perfect for those who want the premium technology and experiences often only associated with high-end models.”

Xperia M Specifications

Measuring only 9.3mm and 115 grams in thickness and weight, the Xperia M houses a 4-inch capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 800×480 pixels. Further, boasting a 1GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, the Xperia M runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS and packs a 5-megapixel rear shooter and a VGA front camera. Also, the Xperia M comes with 4GB internal memory, up to 32GB expandable storage and 1GB RAM and packs Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, 3G and a 1,750 mAh battery.

Xperia M Availability

The Xperia M and Xperia M dual would be available in Black, White and Purple and a Yellow color variation would also be available for the single SIM model. These phones would go on sale globally in Q3 2013.

Omni Balance Design

The iconic Omni Balance design, which debuted with Xperia Z smartphone enables the handset to be incredibly slim and lightweight.

Software Features

Of course, the Xperia M not only comes with improved hardware, but also packs some interesting and amazing software features.

Battery Stamina Mode

Xperia M has Battery Stamina Mode, which will offer enhanced standby time by up to four folds. This can be achieved by closing the apps that are running behind draining the power soon as the screen is off and again starting them when the screen is unlocked.

Walkman, Movies and Album

Sony has preloaded media applications such as Walkman, Album and Movies in the Xperia M. These features offer consistent entertainment experience across a wide range of Sony devices.

Tablet PC

HCL ME Connect 2G 2.0 Tablet with Voice Calling Launched at Rs 8,499: Specs, Features and More

by Rohit Khurana • June 4, 2013

A couple of months back, India based venture HCL launched a slew of tablets like ME U2, ME V1 and ME Y3. Now, the company appears to have expanded its portfolio with the launch of another voice calling tablet called ME Connect 2G 2.0. Priced at Rs 8,499, the tablet comes with impressive specifications and features.

In terms of technical specs, the ME Connect 2G 2.0 houses a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 800×480 pixels and is fitted with a 1GHz ARM Cortex A9 processor and Mali-400 GPU. Also, the tablet includes a 2-megapixel rear camera and a VGA front camera and packs 4GB of internal storage expandable to up to 32GB. Further, the ME Connect 2G 2.0 is loaded with a 3,800 mAh battery.

Detailing on the connectivity aspects, the HCL tablet is packed with features like in-built 2G for voice calling, 3G via dongle, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS.

On the software side, the HCL ME Connect 2G 2.0 is preloaded with freebies worth Rs 2,000 and is preloaded with applications including BigFlix, Hungama, Readwhere, Paytm, Facebook, Twitter and apps from range of categories such as Games, Business, Communication, Lifestyle, Entertainment, Education, Health and more. Also, the tablet supports regional languages such as Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi and more.

HCL ME Connect 2G 2.0 Specifications

7-inch capacitive touchscreen display with 800×480 pixels
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS
1GHz cortex A9 CPU
2-megapixel rear camera, VGA front camera
2G, 3G (via USB dongle), WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth
1GB RAM, 4GB internal memory, 32GB expandable memory with microSD
3,800 mAh battery

The HCL ME Connect 2G 2.0 tablet is priced at Rs. 8,499. It is available across all major stores and online portals and will be supported by an integrated after sales service application – HCL Touch, a 24X7 one touch service facility.

With a price point of Rs 8,499 and with voice calling functionalities, HCL ME Connect 2G 2.0 will be facing some stiff competition against the likes of Salora Fontab, Lava ETAB Connect and the Micromax Funbook Talk P360 among others.