Author: Bharat Nagpal

HTC One Review

HTC has been flirting with Android phones from the beginning of the Ecosystem, But they only recently picked up pace thanks to the HTC One Series. The new HTC One, also referred to as the M7 is a beginning of a whole new design philosophy for the company. Does the HTC One feature all that is required to be the king of the robotic Jungle? Lets Find out.

Build Quality and Design

[pullquote_left]Ecstatic Expression on your Face![/pullquote_left]From the moment you handle the HTC One for the first time, you get this ecstatic expression on your face, you are wow’d by the design and simply amazed by the display. A shiver passes through your hands as you feel the Unibody design fit inside you hand almost perfectly as if it was designed for it.

The HTC One is cast from a single shell unibody Aluminum block, that curves at the back but is flat in the front. The two network bands that run across the back add network strength and aesthetic value to the complete mixture. Also embedded in the back is a subtle HTC logo.

The build, although very tough and robust, feels very damage friendly. The front has Gorilla Glass 2 , but does not have a lay on the table design, in other words if you lay the phone on the screen, the glass will touch the surface that you lay the phone on. The phone seems so metallic in-fact, that every time you hold it, you worry about it getting dented, if you nick it against a door or a table edge. The fear quickly goes away as you start to use the phone and realize how tough, and scratch resistant the back of the phone is.

The Design strategy infuses the technology they learnt in making the HTC Windows Phone 8 and a mix of their research and experience with metals in the past with their Desire series. The HTC One is a perfect balance, of build quality, design, aesthetic and that wonderful Awe factor it causes in you everytime you pick it up.

[youtube id=”2jGmZcdFxi0″ width=”100%” height=”300px”]

Hardware

[pullquote_left]right fuse of external and internal[/pullquote_left]HTC has packed the HTC One with just the right amount of specs. Even when a product can never be ahead of technology, the HTC One is a right fuse of external and internal technology. Powered by a 2300 mAh non – replaceable battery, the HTC One carries a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 Chipset with a wonderfully snappy QuadCore 1.7 GHz CPU. The Graphics are provided by a Adreno 320 GP which remains superior in terms of Mobile Graphics rendering. This intense capability is supported by 2GB of RAM and 32 or 64 GB of storage.

The Back features an Ultrapixel Camera which has a larger pixel size, making it sufficient at just 4 MP, and the front features a 2.1 MP snapper, both capture full HD video. The main camera is also assisted by an LED flash.

The Gorgeous front features a 4.7 inch 1920 x 1080p IPS LCD 3 display with an intense 469 ppi making is one of the highest pixel density phones in the market.

UltraPixel Camera on the HTC ONE

Ultrapixel is a word that does not exist in the dictionary, or at least that was the case before the HTC One. The camera comprises of a larger sensor and a larger size of the pixels that combine together to form the sensor. The camera combined with the software on the inside of the HTC One the is able to capture extremely high detail in an image. The large sensor and pixel size also opens up the sensor to low light subjects, allowing for better image quality in dim lighting conditions.

[youtube id=”oUWbQhewqbM” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

The images come out extremely sharp to about a 8×12 inch size, post which you will see degradation of the images.

We found that the Video Captured by the HTC One is wonderfully vivid and captured without any stutter, rolling shutter was at a minimum and almost no aliasing was seen in the video. The Autofocus keeps jumping in and out during video especially if you are close to your subject, this can be painfully bothersome while recording or even while playing back. This is however fixed by turning off Continuos AF during video capture at the cost of loss of focus.

The HTC Zoe feature within the camera is a wonderful add on, not only does it create beautiful timelines and videos demonstrating your photo groups it also allows you to modify pictures, remove photo bombers, and a lot more. This truly enables a social sharer to stay on top of his game adding just a right amount of usefulness.

We did a comparison of the cameras of the top smartphones, and HTC One performed excellently well in low light and landscape capture.

[youtube id=”HfYr69uVZPk” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

BlinkFeed and HTC Sense

Here is where we begin to applaud HTC again, whether the BlinkFeed UI is useful or not, HTC with their new ONE has attempted to totally change the norm. While most companies just upgrade the UI, HTC revamps it time and again. They changed it with Sense 4.0 and now they changed it again with the new BlinkFeed on Sense 5.0.

[pullquote_right]practicality and ingenuity[/pullquote_right]A lot of previous owners will complain at the removal of features of the past HTC Sense UI. But, the new experience is a great mix of practicality and ingenuity. Blinkfeed on the HTC One is nothing more than an aggregator, it collects your favorite news streams, your Social Networks and even your connections to display them in a beautiful, seamless, Flipboard-esque interface which will also remind you of the Windows Phone UI.

App Drawer

Weather Widget

Phone Dialer

BlinkFeed

Keyboard

LockScreen

The information is clean and laid out quickly and beautifully, almost making you go back to it again and again. The other features of HTC Sense are also found in the UI, the Music App, Car Mode, Flashlight App, big chunky widgets and the oh so famous Weather / Flip clock widget are all there.

The HTC TV app is not currently available in India, and currently cannot be manually configured. The Power button does have an IR blaster inbuilt so it does function as a remote, but the functionality will be added at a later time. You should possibly be able download 3rd party apps to enable this feature soon.

[youtube id=”a-qLHE_6xfQ” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

Display and Multimedia

The HTC One has a gorgeous 1920 x 1080p display, and honestly it looks absolutely stunning, even outdoors. The LCD3 technology with an IPS panel and extremely high pixel density set it apart for the mix. The Screen floats right on top with the touch panel, thanks to the fused display technology borrowed from LG, touching the HTC One feels like touching the elements of the display.

[pullquote_right]eliminates muffling[/pullquote_right]Watching Videos, playing games and other forms of media is fantastic thanks to HTC BoomSound, a wonderful thought of putting the Stereo Speakers in a forward facing manner, makes the audio extremely accurate and clear. It also eliminates muffling due to accidental finger touches and is easily heard especially while playing games.

The HTC One also contains a FM radio which does require a headset to be connected for reception. Audio from the included earphones is absolutely great and in the history of in box earphones, these have to be one of the better ones if not the best. Beats audio is available throughout the array of hardware that you can connect to the Smartphone.

Performance and Battery

The HTC One came out on top in terms of performance tests. The hardware is quite capable of handling all the tasks that you can throw at it with wonderful accuracy and flair. The chipset can handle, multitasking, heavy gaming and performance tasks with ease and still have power to calculate under formulas.

Benchmarks for the early developer build beat all scores of the market at the time. For reference the latest build of the HTC One scores a fantastic 12030 on Quadrant, without tweaks of any kind.

The phone does heat up a lot with extended use, which is normal for any smartphone, but the extended use of metals is what makes it uncomfortable to hold or even pocket.

[youtube id=”wijp79uCwFg” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

Battery on the HTC One is wonderfully managed by the interface, when not in use (aka; standby) the phone barely drains at all unlike other Android devices, the Blinkfeed can be configured to refresh manually to even improve battery life a tad bit more. Often times we found battery life to be good enough to go on into day two.

[tabgroup]

[tab title=”Battery Life with 3G ON” icon=”icon-headphones”]Talk time : 5 Hours
Standby : 48 Hours
Gaming : 3.5 Hours
Online : 6 hours
Music 8 hours[/tab]

[tab title=”Battery Life with 3G OFF” icon=”icon-headphones”]Talk time : 6 Hours
Standby : 54 Hours
Gaming : 3.5 Hours
Online : 6 hours (wifi)
Music 8.5 hours[/tab]

[/tabgroup]

Phone and Networks

HTC has always been able to handle networks and phone capabilities in their devices, same is the case for the HTC One. The networks remained strong throughout and audio whether incoming or outgoing was crisp as ever. In our days of testing the phone, we had but only a few dropped calls, which can easily be blamed on the lack of network coverage.

HTC has kept it usual features for phone capabilities, loud ringer in the pocket, flip to mute etc are all included making handling of phone calls an easy recipe.

Conclusion

The HTC One is not a perfect smartphone, no smartphone is. But the HTC One, comes as close as it can to delivering a perfect balance between many elements that make up todays smartphone. It is a flagship so it is priced high, but with that price it brings about a sense of achievement, a sense of ownership and pride. A mixed bag of feelings and emotions emerge when you hold and use the HTC One for the first time. Most people cannot stop themselves from passing a smile when they first handle this behemoth of a device. A great phone, a wonderful crisp display enabling a joyful multimedia device and a performance warehouse of the tech junkie. Sure it lacks a lot of software patches and gimmicks, but in entirety of usage it lacks almost nothing.

Full Review Video

[youtube id=”1qN9lIzd0_0″ width=”100%” height=”300px”]

Images

May 13, 2013
We are Hiring ! Work at India’s most famous Technology Website
Yep, iGyaan is hiring and we are looking for a crack whip team. We have lots of positions open and are looking for the Best of the best of the best. If you think you got what it takes check out available jobs below and Apply Here : Work at iGyaan

Positions open
1. Full Time News Coverage (Positions open : 4): Work at the iGyaan office where all the magic happens, and cover the latest in tech trends, play with all the exciting equipment and latest gear. People with great english, and communications skills, a flair for writing and preferably with past experience of the same. Since we will be 24×7 soon, we need a few night owls
2. Full Time Review Writer: (Positions Open : 2) : If you have worked with tech before, then we want you to work with us. Experience with reviews is a must, appropriate knowledge and a good sense of humor comes together. Needless to say Written and spoken english needs to be perfect for written and video reviews.
3. Remote Coverage (Positions Open : 3) : A lot of people write to us wanting a job, well here is your chance. If you cant come into the office, then we can have you write from home. The work is still the same, News coverage and original articles. Again needless to say, proficiency in english and a flair for writing is a must.
4. Video Editors (Position Open :1) : If you can chop and skew footage like nobody else, we are looking for you. Mention your background and softwares worked on. This is an in-office position since videos need to be edited. Need to be in Delhi and good at what you do, You can get advanced training, and will learn more and more everyday.
5. Social Media Handler (Position Open 1) : In Office or remote, You need to be good with handling Social accounts. Skills needed are proficiency in english, conversational ability, humility and a keen sense of marketing. Facebook, Twitter and Youtube management experience is a boon.
6. Operations Manager (Position Open 1) : The title speaks for itself, Office management will include HR activities and Marketing related experience. Client meetings and presentation skills are required. Good Spoken english and conversational capabilities are a boon. In Office Full Time position.
Click Here to Apply : iGyaan.in | Work at iGyaan ! – iGyaan.in
May 12, 2013
Saavn Set To Introduce English Music To It’s Streaming Service

Saavn, the popular Indian music streaming service, which boasts of about 10 million users globally, is all set to introduce an international music catalogue. The Music streaming service is planning to introduce English music early this summer, which will add to its existing collection of Bollywood, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, Bhojpuri, Kannada, and Bengali songs.

This decision comes in the wake of the global reach of the app, and numerous feedback from the users. The Company also mentioned that out of its total global usage, 50 percent comes from iOS devices, while in India, over 60 percent comes from Android devices.

Saavn is working on a new feature called Celebrity Playlists, and Saavn V.I.P. which will put celebrities front and center.

Recently, Saavn has partnered with Shazam, a prominent music identification service, and as a part of the deal, Saavn’s music library was incorporated into Shazam’s database, allowing users to discover and tag latest Indian music and then listen to the song live on Saavn (mobile app). The partnership also allowed the users to share the music on various social networking websites like Facebook, Twitter, etc.

Saavn has incorporated many new features in the app, allowing users to create and save their own playlists and radio stations with their favorite songs. The service also allows the users to listen to the top 15 songs of the week. Using their existing Saavn account, users can access their starred songs, saved playlists, and radio stations.

Saavn is currently an aggregator and tracks live time the usage patterns of listeners and users, understanding their needs and their music listening behavior. This in the future could help to company give live time suggestions and playlist recommendations to listeners. For. eg. Considering you are driving back from work and listen to you driving playlist, the app could recognize this behavior and recommend you this playlist bast on you location movement or time of day. The company currently has no plans to integrate data into a useful feature like the above , but said that they will constantly evolve to provide better service to users.

The music streaming app is available on iOS, Android and Java platforms, where it can be downloaded for free.

May 12, 2013
Micromax A115 Canvas 3D Review

Micromax has recently taken the budget smart phone market with their Canvas Series in India. The Micromax A115 Canvas 3D is another addition to the lineup. Cheaper than the Canvas 2 at launch, the Canvas 3D adds a 3D Stereoscopic Display into the mix. Lets see how it fares out in our full review.

Display in 2D mode

Build Quality and Design

The Canvas series of phones including the Canvas 2 and Canvas HD are nicely built phones from Micromax. The Micromax A115 Canvas 3D takes it one step ahead. The back of the device is now coated with a soft touch material that makes the phone seem more robust and easy to handle. While the whole chassis is made of plastic it is able to withstand a couple of drops and high intensity jerks.

In terms of design the Micromax A115 Canvas 3D will be easily spotted from a distance, the unique build and design will also set it apart for those who want slightly premium looking phones. The ID of the phone resembles more HTC devices vs their previous obsession with Samsung Design. The phone does not appear to be the strongest phone at this time or even price, however it is well-built , looks and feels good in the hand.

[youtube id=”sJhvi6qdRhM” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

Hardware

The insides are laden with the previous-gen Mediatek 6577 chipset, which in terms of performance lacks behind, in comparison to many of the other devices available at a slightly higher price. Inbuilt storage remains at 4 GB, but the minute you insert a micro SD card the internal storage combines with the card enabling up to 34GB of capacity (32GB card + 2GB onboard). The RAM on the Canvas 3D is lower than required at 512 MB and you will see the grunt of it during gaming and application usage.

The Micromax A115 Canvas 3D’s name comes from the 5 inch 480 x 800 px Glasses-Free Stereoscopic 3D display, which turns on in certain applications including the 3D YouTube videos, certain apps from the 3D HUB and Picture preview. The camera is a 5 MP camera that combines two individually clicked images to make a 3D image, unlike other 3D phones which have dual sensors.

The power source is a 2000 mAh battery pack and is capable enough, read the battery section below.

3D Mode

Micromax A115 Canvas 3D and its Use

[pullquote_left]Economies of Scale vs Economies of Fail[/pullquote_left] So, a 3D display in a budget phone, what does that mean? Essentially, there are only two ways a technology becomes cheaper. One; if a tech has reached its saturation point, and enough development and numbers produced to make the process work for it, to make it cheaper (Economies of Scale). Two; if the technology was not successful to begin with and the stocks and design frameworks liquidate (Economies of Fail?). Well, Glasses Free 3D on mobile phone may as well be a part of the latter, while many companies including LG and HTC tried to make Glasses Free 3D phones. They were just not appreciated by the world, and eventually that technology thrown out. Nintendo used the Glasses Free 3D on their portable gaming console and that just did wonderfully well. The fact remains that the 3D technology is still at far from becoming mainstream, simply because it just does not look that good.

So thanks to the effect of expensive phones with this technology not being successful, the technology became cheaper, cheap enough to get fitted inside an under Rs. 10,000 phone for users to enjoy 3D content. Unfortunately there is no ALL time 3D switch , or any form of 2D to 3D conversion engine.

The content on 3D is also decent enough and enjoyed once in a while, and not all the time. So at the end it only plays to the fact that you have 3D in your phone, but you will not use it a lot.

Camera and Multimedia

The camera on the Micromax A115 Canvas 3D is a Fixed Focus 5 MP camera, that has a software ability to capture 3D images. Unlike standard 3D cameras which have two lenses, the Lens on the Micromax Canvas 3D utilizes time shift and user movement to capture a 3D image. The images are half decent and truly may not pass off as 3D images, unless the user is professionally focusing on the angle and the distance of the shot from the first click. Video shot is also poor quality, and is not shot in 3D mode. You do not have auto focus or tap to focus what so ever, the phone does recalibrate white balance and ISO for every picture taken.

Multimedia performance is good, you can enjoy 3D content on the Micromax Canvas 3D without the need of glasses. The viewing angles improve once in 2D mode, but are not great in 3D mode. The Micromax A115 Canvas 3D also has good sounding audio from the main speaker as well as through headphones.

[youtube id=”It_A9ayPcdM” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

Performance, Gaming and UI

Basic UI navigation within the interface was fast and fluid, we did face a bit of lag and it seemed that the phone held back when it came to performance. While the Canvas 2 did really well for Micromax, the Canvas 3D has the same performance only reduced by the 3D display’s punch of the graphics card.

In the case of the Micromax A115 Canvas 3D, almost all games are downloadable and installable thanks to the storage on memory card option. But, even though the phone can download, install and run almost all games, only basic games will work perfectly on this phone. The Canvas 3D does not have the capability of performing in games like NOVA 3 and Modern Combat 4, simply because of the lack of power under the hood. See out Gaming Video below.

The UI remains mostly vanilla, with only the addition of basic things like quick toggles in the notification panel, and custom apps and icons. Every other UI element looks and performs vanilla with the Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean OS, which comes as stock on the Micromax A115 Canvas 3D.

[youtube id=”EryyoYQFLRs” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

Phone and Networks

Phone call quality remained good throughout, with little or no dropped calls keeping the network strength in the high range. While the microphone and earpiece are great to use the Speakerphone is not as loud as some would expect.

Switching b/w Sim cards maybe still a problem, since both SIM slots don’t support 3G outright, only one fixed slot will run 3G at a time, creating issues in low or no network areas for that sim. You will get stuck on 2G or no data network on both sim cards.

Battery life

The Micromax A115 Canvas 3D has varied battery life as we demonstrate below, in normal usage the phone lasted a good 5-6 hours on talk time, add any online access etc., the battery life for talk time drops to just 3 hours.

[tabgroup]

[tab title=”Battery Life with 3G ON” icon=”icon-headphones”]Talk time : 5 Hours
Standby : 48 Hours
Gaming : 2-3
Online : 5 hours
Music 7 hours[/tab]

[tab title=”Battery Life with 3G OFF” icon=”icon-headphones”]Talk time : 6 Hours
Standby : 54 Hours
Gaming : 3
Online : 5 hours
Music 7 hours[/tab]

[/tabgroup]

Conclusion

While The Micromax Canvas 3D brings to the market which no other company is offering in the price bracket, one truly needs to understand the give and take for it. Does one really need the 3D feature? why not. If you are getting the same performance like other products in the price bracket and yet you get additional features, why would you refuse. For the sake of the argument, the A115 is as good as the A110 but with 3D powers.

If you want performance and gaming capabilities, you should seriously reconsider your price bracket, No, you cannot get a Samsung Galaxy S4 replacement in Rs. 10,000 not yet anyway.

More than anything the Micromax A115 Canvas 3D gives you yet another option in this wide array of phones in the market. If you were considering the A110 the A115 is another option to consider. In Our opinion Micromax has held back on their hardware capabilities and should have used the newer Mediatek Chipset instead of the outdated underpowered MTK 6577.

Full Review Video

(upcoming)

Images

May 11, 2013
Exclusive : Samsung I8552 Galaxy Grand Quattro / Galaxy Win Unboxing and Hands on
Samsung has just announced the Galaxy Grand Quattro also known as the Galaxy Win in other markets. This smart phone is a retake on the Galaxy Grand adding a few things and removing a few.

The packaging is minimal suggesting towards the lower end spectrum for Samsung but also infusing their new less paper (eco-friendly) model they suggested during the launch of the Galaxy S4. Listed below are the box contents:
- Samsung Galaxy Grand Quattro / Win Handset
- 2000 mAh Battery
- USB charging cable
- USB wall adapter
- Documentation
- In-ear earphones with additional tips.
Hardware

There are a bunch of differences in the Galaxy Grand Quattro, starting with a smaller 4.7 inch 480 x 800 px display, which bumps up the ppi to 199 ppi. The chipset on the inside is now a Qualcomm MSM8625Q Snapdragon 200 quad-core 1.2 GHz chipset, along with an Adreno 203 GPU.

The rear camera and the front camera have also been downgraded to 5 MP and VGA from 8MP and 2.1 MP respectively. Inside however we still have 8GB of storage (5GB + is available to the user) and 1 GB of RAM.

Samsung Galaxy Grand Quattro I8552 Initial impressions

The build quality is along the lines of the Galaxy Grand, composed of 100% plastic build including the back panel and the bezel. The Galaxy Grand Quattro has a significantly smaller footprint thanks to the smaller screen size. The phone also weighs less and fits comfortably in the hand of the user.

The interface reminds us of many of the recent Samsung launches all showing of similar Touch-Wiz and Android 4.1.2 functionality. The Galaxy Grand Quattro / Win however, does not carry the smart features seen on the Galaxy Grand, No Multi Window toolbar, no S-Voice and No Pop-Up-Play. Which could nullify the proposition for a lot of buyers. The Smaller screen is definitely more crisp and is evident in the first impression. Video playback is smooth even though we felt a bit of lag in the Internet browser.

The keyboard is as fast as ever and retains the continuos input option, along with all of the Samsung customizations for its keyboard. The Samsung Galaxy Grand Quattro / Win is a promising upgrade to the Galaxy Grand, it removes a lot of software and hardware features, but, does two interesting things, Adds a quad-core Processor and drops the price by about Rs. 2500 or US $ 50.

Galaxy Grand Quattro Unboxing VIdeo (Uploading)

[youtube id=”aHleGFEbTxk” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

Buy The Galaxy Grand Quattro

[button color=”default-color” size=”default-size” float=”left” text=”Rs. 17,690″ link=”http://gizmolution.com/details.aspx?ID=714″]
May 7, 2013
Samsung will lose the Apple Chip supply contract for 2014 iPhone Lineup

Apple is constantly trying to end all relationships with Smartphone manufacturer Samsung, including the supply for most of the parts for iPhones. According to reports Apple is trying to move production of Apple chipsets to TSMC for the next generation of iPhones.

This will be a huge loss of revenue for the production division for Samsung, leaving out key investment into their chip making business, making innovation of next generation chipsets extremely expensive for the Korean company.

Another confirmation to this report is the fact that TSMC has significantly increased the production capacity of its plants hinting at an expected increase in orders.

Samsung will however continue to make chipsets for this years iPhone devices will be announced later this year.

May 7, 2013
More 2014 Mercedes S Class Images Prove it to be like a Private Jet

Earlier leaked images of the 2014 Mercedes S class showed of the extensive use of LED lighting and the extremely plush interiors. We now know that the 2014 Mercedes S class will make its official debut on May 15th will have electronically reclining rear seats, and radical new exterior. The new entertainment system will also control the massaging seats for the rear passengers.

The steering wheel of the 2014 Mercedes S class will also have access to the full setup of controls, right from the drivers fingertips.

Reclining Rear Seats

New LED Light Cluster and Front Design

LED Rear Cluster

Steering Wheel and Front Controls

[via]

May 6, 2013
Audi Set to Launch the A9 in 2016 based on the Next Gen Q7

Rumors that Audi is working on the A9 have been around for quite some time, but it looks like the German Auto giant is readying production to make available the car for 2016 launch. German auto-motor-und-sport reports that the car will be based on the next generation Q7 platform and will take its styling cues from A7 and form a complete new segment.

This will result in better handling, suspension and Stainless Steel undercarriage, making the vehicle excellent for countries like India, where Audi is selling extremely well. It is likely that the car will be offered with a selection of engines including a V8 powerplant pumping out at least 500hp. The 2016 Audi A9 could debut with a semi-autonomous driving system which can drive and park the car without any inputs needed from the driver.

The new Audi A9 will supposedly be 5 meter long and will come with a 4WD option from the beginning of Sale se in early 2016.

[VIA]

May 6, 2013
Blackberry R10 leaks before next weeks conference

The Blackberry R10 is supposedly going to be a cheaper alternative to the Q10 with almost the exact same features, minus the multimedia benefits, if DGtle is to be believed. The Blackberry R10 will have the same 3.1-inch screen size and 2GB of RAM as the Blackberry Q10. However, the R10 reportedly steps down to a 5-megapixel camera in addition to previously hinted cutbacks in storage (to 8GB) and battery (to 1,800mAh).

Blackberry (Previously RIM) pegged big hopes on their new range of Blackberry 10 devices, but as the sales reports for the company are lower than ever, a quick shift in policy and strategy may help the company come back from its current situation. Blackberry may need to retarget the lower end of the spectrum with budget Blackberry 10 devices, making the masses once again appreciate the company.

[via]

May 6, 2013
Samsung Galaxy Y Plus Duos GT-S5303 Review

Samsung’s success in the Indian market is truly thanks to their ability to understand the need of the market. The company understood that by penetrating the lower end of the spectrum they could increase their popularity. So with devices like the Galaxy Ace and Galaxy Y, Samsung tapped the under 10,000 market space. With the Galaxy Y plus, Samsung has further tried to take away from the feature phone buyer and get him interested in smartphones. In our Samsung Galaxy Y Plus review we try to see if Samsung has yet another winner.

Solid Plastics

Build Quality & Design

Weather you buy a Rs. 5000 phone or a Rs. 50,000 phone from Samsung, you will find the excessive use of plastics. The Samsung Galaxy Y Plus is no different, with a Plastic chassis, plastic back and plastic bezels along with plastic buttons. The phone however is robust and looks or at least feels like it could survive a bunch of falls and crashes, in fact we wont be surprised if it survives a car running over it, only to be thrown away.

The design and shape is reminiscent of the Y Series of Galaxy phones. The shape adds a bit of the looks of the higher end of the spectrum devices from Samsung.

No Front Cam

2 MP Rear Cam

Left Side

Right Side

Hardware

Not a lot to boast about here for the Samsung Galaxy Y Plus. The front has a 2.8 inch LCD which has a resolution of 240 x 320px making it 143 ppi, it truly makes you wonder if Samsung will ever dump small size AMOLED displays in budget phones. The insides are a little sketchy with an unknown 850 MHz processor, no details for any sort of GPU and no info on the RAM. If we were to guess, we’d say the RAM should be around the 384MB mark.

The Galaxy Y plus has a 2 MP, 1600×1200 pixels, camera which has a fixed focus and Geo Tagging capability. The internal storage is shown as 4GB out of which under 2 GB is available to the user and expandability is kept at 32GB via microSD. The Galaxy Y Plus has a 1200 mAh battery which seems sufficient considering the specs in question even thought the phone has two sim card slots, one for 3G and one for 2G.

Android and Interface

The Samsung Galaxy Y Plus comes with Android 4.0, which is a slight disappointment especially because companies like Micromax are throwing out Jelly Bean equipped phones by the minute. The interface however is very responsive and seems like this variant of Android was a logical choice of the company to retain the fluidity of the experience.

TouchWiz is also loaded on the tiny display which makes for a fun trailer to what you can expect when you later on switch to a more expensive Samsung Device (the company is betting on this). In fact adaptability of OS along with the available hardware is surprisingly great and performance seems acceptable from a phone of said value.

2 MP Rear Cam

Multimedia and Camera

The phone is poor in these departments and for anyone who may be looking to buy this phone for the multimedia aspects, we suggest you look elsewhere. Although the Samsung Galaxy Y Plus is capable of playing games like temple run 2 smoothly, we feel the display is tattered and totally takes away from any such experience. Similar is the video playback experience, not only does the screen create a letterbox, but also reduces the size of the video to play it totally taking away from the end user enjoyment.

Pictures can be clicked from the phone’s 2 MP snapper never to be reconsidered, Samsung’s emphasizes on the geo tagging feature, as if we must remember exactly where we clicked the atrociously horrible pictures which were completely out of focus.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy Y Plus Duos is a great dual sim phone, which fades the barrier between smartphone and feature phone. While it does have multitasking capabilities, and a whole array of multimedia features you may not end up using any of them except possibly the loud music from the speakerphone.

If you want to get a basic phone to make phone calls and send messages , this is your bet, dual sim with a good two day battery life and great network reception and a loud speaker. You may also be happy knowing that you have other Android capabilities which you may never use.

Video Review

[youtube id=”bMkO8jnsPNw” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

May 4, 2013
Exclusive : Micromax A115 Canvas 3D Unboxing and Impressions
We dig deep into the box of this new device the Micromax A115 Canvas 3D, and see what sets it apart from the rest of the crowd.

Box Contents

Micromax A115 Canvas 3D Box Contents

Plagued by similar box contents, the Micromax A115 Canvas 3D’s box also contains the usual set of things:
- Wall Brick with USB Port
- USB to Micro USB Cable
- Documentation
- Handsfree Kit
- Micromax A115 Canvas 3D Unit
Front Facing 0.3 MP Cam

Initial Impressions of the Micromax A115 Canvas 3D

The new 3D capable Canvas is the same body Identity of the A110 or A116, with the exact same form factor and feel, except it’s a lot more comfortable in the hands.

The display is pretty good for the resolution, the 480 x 800 px laden Stereoscopic front of the Canvas 3D actually puts it in a good place. The Phone also has the ability to natively adjust the screen depending on the content you have on there.

3D Mode

The build of the Canvas 3d actually seems a little more robust if we compare it with the predecessor, the soft touch back does a lot to add to the overall feel of the phone, we honestly were hoping for a more wide array of colors. (bright blue perhaps). The phone is a cluncky and feel a bit heavier, but we are told that is due to the 3D hardware, which is significantly heavier.

The Micromax A115 Canvas 3D has a 5 Megapixel camera, which has the capability of converting images and video into 3D and then saving then natively on the device to be viewed later.

The Ui and interface elements seem really snappy, and with minimal customizations and very little bloatware the phone zipped through initial tests of usage.

While we devour the 3D elements of the new Micromax A115 Canvas 3D, Let us know below, what your impressions are of the device, and what you would like for us to check in this phone for the upcoming videos.

Stay tuned for the Full Review.

Images

Canvas 3D Dialer

Sim Selection in Notification panel

Backlit Buttons

Power button

Volume Rocker

5 MP camera

Canvas 3D vs Canvas HD

Canvas 3D vs Canvas HD

Canvas 3D Unboxing Video

[youtube id=”sJhvi6qdRhM” width=”100%” height=”300px”]
May 4, 2013
Exclusive : Samsung Galaxy S4 Discount : Rs. 1500 Cashback Coupon for iGyaan

Only for first 100 buyers! We have an exclusive iGyaan Samsung Galaxy S4 discount. If you have decided on buying the Samsung Galaxy S4, then you will truly enjoy the Samsung Galaxy S4 Discount.

Simply visit Gizmolution and select the color of preference and check out. However while checking out ensure that you add “-iGyaanS4” in the Name box after your name. If your name is Sumit Sharma , write your name as “Sumit Sharma-iGyaanS4) and you will get a cheque of Rs.1500 along with your Galaxy S4.

Simple, Easy and effective!

Now remember this is a limited time offer, and is exclusive to iGyaan Readers. So don’t miss out on the Samsung Galaxy S4 Discount!

Watch our unboxing video below

[youtube id=”_c8OsVmdf_A” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

The Samsung Galaxy S4 was launched on April 26th in India, and retails for a Price of Rs. 41,500. The Smartphone has a dual-Quad core setup along with a 5 inch Full HD Super AMOLED Display. The cameras and optics have improved with a 13mp Sony Sensor and a front facing 2.1 MP camera. Both capable of FULL HD video recording.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 in India comes with 2GB of Ram and a 16GB storage capacity along with expandability options via microSD card (max 64GB).

May 2, 2013
Samsung Galaxy S4 Unboxing and Hands On Review
Samsung Galaxy S4 is Samsung’s latest baby in the Super Smart Phone Market. Apart from being loaded with top notch Hardware, the Galaxy S4 also has great software that complements the user experience and makes it a fantastic all round product.

Galaxy S4 Box Contents
1. Charger
2. USB Cable
3. Documentation
4. Tangle Free Earphones
5. Samsung Galaxy S4 i9500 handset
6. 2600 mAh Battery
7. Warranty Card
The build quality of the Samsung Galaxy S4 seems more robust than its predecessors, including the panel on the back along with the Gorilla Glass 3 laden display.

Samsung has booted several Software benefits to the end user, including the latest Android 4.2.2 and tons of Samsung Proprietary Apps like S Health, Memo, Samsung Hub, Air View, Gestures, Samsung Apps and a lot more.

While, a lot of Smartphone options exist for the new buyer in the market, see our list here. We feel that at the end of it all, Samsung has the widest reach simply because of the way they market their features to the end user. Between a group of Galaxy users these features can come in real handy as well. Group share, Group cast, Group Play are just some of the things Galaxy Devices can do with each other.

[youtube id=”_c8OsVmdf_A” width=”100%” height=”300px”]
April 29, 2013
Top Alternatives to the Samsung Galaxy S4
Now that the Samsung Galaxy S4 has been launched in India for Rs. 41,500, most will want to know what it is pegged up against. While many have already made up their mind there are always a few who would want to know what options are out there.
1. HTC ONE (Rs. 42,990)
  If the plastic body of the S4 is bothering your style, and you are not looking to join the heard of the Galaxy Phones, The HTC One with its Unibody Metal design and insanely crisp 4.7inch 1080p screen is the best alternative to the Magical Galaxy. The HTC One has an impressive camera and blazing fast CPU up its arsenal. Unfortunately does not have an interchangeable battery or a SD card expansion.
2. iPhone 5 (Rs 43,500)
  Like it love it or hate it, the iPhone 5 is the preferred choice of many wanting to try this ecosystem built by Apple. More than the hardware, The iPhone depends on the software and the apps eco system and if this is something that excites you, then the iPhone is your choice. Unibody Chassis, 4inch Retina display and one of the best Mobile phone cameras make this an easy target for most buyers. Plus its smaller and easier to hold or pocket.
3. Samsung Galaxy Note 2 (Rs 36500)
  The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is still a wonder phone and will satisfy a lot of your devilish sins. The Note 2 also has the S Pen which makes productivity easy on a smartphone. There’s the giant 5.5in screen, which pushes it into the contentious grey zone halfway between phone and tablet enabling the market for the so called “phablet”.
4. LG Optimus G (Rs. 32990)
  Comes with a 13 MP camera and a display that would put any full HD smartphone to shame. The LG Optimus G is fast, efficient and light, looks good and a great alternative to the Samsung Galaxy S4, Until the Optimus G Pro is released anyway.
5. Lumia 920 (Rs. 35999)
  The Nokia Lumia 920 is arguably the best Windows Phone device out there, the best built and the most feature full. It also gives the user a break from all the Android madness that is running around. An excellent photosensitive camera, brilliantly clear display and tank like construction, along with almost Rs. 7000 saved make it a considerable option.
6. Samsung Galaxy S3 (Rs. 28500)
  The S4 looks exactly like the S3 to you? then why not just buy the S3? The Galaxy S3 is the most selling Smartphone for Samsung since their Galaxies began to circle the mobile universe. It may be last years king, but its still a great Android device, the most rooted and has possible the maximum number of custom Roms available for it including many that offer over clocking. Great design and a good display are just a few of the things that make this phone desirable. Recent price drops have made it more attractive.
7. Sony Xperia Z ( Rs 38000)
  Guess what this phone has everything plus water resistivity and dust protection. Its like a magical android wonder beast, I also personally like the design, even though it has some aesthetic flaws in being square. The camera is great and so is the design and look, the hardware is top notch and the price is just right. For the typical Indian the phone is also made by a “JAPANESE” company, even though it is still made in China.
8. Blackberry Z10 ( Rs. 42900)
  I would personally not recommend this to you , unless you are a blackberry loyalist, but, the device is still an alternative. Lack of the right hardware, Apps and atrociously high pricing are one of the reasons this Blackberry has failed in India. It still has BBM though!
April 26, 2013
Twitter for Mac gets update, Support for Retina Display, New Composer and Languages
The Twitter for Mac app has received a much needed update, that not only brings support for retina display, but also few other fixes.
- Photos: It’s easier than ever to share photos. Simply click the camera icon in the lower-left corner of the Tweet compose box, and choose a photo to share. If you prefer, you can still drag and drop photos from the desktop.
- Retina display support: Now Twitter is even more vibrant and detailed on the highest resolution Mac notebooks. With this update, Tweets will be clearer and sharper, creating a more vivid experience.
- 14 more languages: In addition to English, Twitter for Mac now supports Dutch, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, and Turkish.
Along with these updates, Twitter for Mac offers keyboard shortcuts, support for multiple accounts and timelines, and other features. Download now from the link below.

[App Store]
April 26, 2013