Last week we saw some raw footage of the metal-clad phone which has been taking rounds on internet since January. Earlier, some pictures of black version of Samsung Galaxy Alpha were also released by Sammobile. The images confirm earlier reports that the Galaxy Alpha will sport a 4.7-inch screen and have a metallic construction.
The phone has been criticized of being another look-alike of Apple’s iPhone. Now, a new leak from TecMundo is giving us a glimpse inside this iFacade. The first leak originates from Brazil, where an anonymous reader sent the image below.
Since the picture quality makes it hard to read the specs, read them here:
4.7 Super AMOLED Display
12 mega-pixel rear camera and 2.1-megapixel front camera
2GB of RAM, 32GB of Storage (64GB rumored to be available), No MicroSD
The specs listed on the billboard bring no surprises – the leak confirms the Galaxy Alpha’s screen size and resolution, 1,860 mAh battery, as well as the inclusion of a fingerprint sensor and heart rate monitor. It’s the second time we hear the Alpha would feature an approx 1850 mAh battery; the relatively small capacity is likely a downside of the phone’s very thin profile of just six millimeters. Well, only time will show if Samsung managed to optimize the Alpha well enough to ensure a decent battery life.
Just few days after releasing their propriety user interface, HIVE, Xolo today released the 8x-1200, their gaming phone. The phone will adorn the XOLO Play series. It is Xolo’s priciest phone yet.
The phone gets its processing capabilities from a 2.0 GHz True Octa-Core Processor with Mali 450 GPU clocked at 700MHz. It has 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage. The phone runs Android KitKat 4.4 OS. The display is a Full HD 5-inch screen with 441 PPI density. Xolo also included OTG support for expanding storage.
The main camera on the device is a 13 MP shooter with a dual LED flash. The phone is selfie friendly as it has a 5 MP front shooter with LED flash, so those night parties are now going to get better lit Facebook albums. The phone is powered by a 2300 mAh which will primarily service the Octa Core Processor.
The Front LED flash may attract selfie enthusiasts to the device.
The phone is priced at Rs.19,999 which makes it the most expensive phone in Xolo’s lineup. Given its massive processor and game centric marketing, XOLO could have brought in a bigger battery. Xolo has grabbed some attention since its HIVE UI release and it was a good opportunity to launch the phone while the hype is still alive.
You bought that expensive phone with an eye popping 2K display but cannot find content that does justice to that phenomenal screen. Well everyone’s favorite video streaming address has now come up with a solution. YouTube is giving a scale up option for smartphones with superior displays.
Although Oppo’s Find 7 and Lenovo’s Vibe Z2 had brought their phones with 2K displays, the market started to heat up following the launch of the LG G3. The phones spectacular display and flagship performance was unanimously appreciated.
The issue with screens with such high definition is that there isn’t enough content for these screens. Of course there is some phenomenal HD content that will keep you mesmerized but they don’t unleash the screens full potential.
Now YouTube will provide a higher 1440p output for such screens, thereby giving you a one source option for high quality content. This will of course apply to content that can be presented at that resolution.
This is a great opportunity for other handset makers to bring in the displays and use them in their marketing strategy. It is speculated that Samsung might enter the 2K space with the upcoming Note 4. At a time when companies are actively trying to make smartphones capable of competing with computers, a superior display can be a good selling point.
Google may bring multiple user support to Android smartphones. The feature was mentioned by a Google project member in an official developer forum. In a discussion thread regarding multiuser functionality in Android handsets, the Google employee posted the following reply to forum members: “The development team has implemented this feature and it will be available as a part of the next public build.”
Although the statement isn’t exactly specific, but “the next public build” refers to Android L, unless Google is planning to introduce the feature in another minor KitKat update, which seems unlikely. Already available on Android tablets, the multi-user feature will surely make owners of Android smartphones a tad less wary of leaving their devices to others, especially children. It would also be useful to small businesses who want to create separate accounts for their office and home without investing in enterprise-managed mobile devices.
Google introduced Android L at this year’s Google I/O. Google has already made the developer preview available. As of now the update is available only for the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7.
According to reports Moto X and G will be first in line getting Android L updates. Android L is expected to be launched later this year, although no clear date has been mentioned yet. Motorola vice president of product management Punit Soni recently responded to a Google+ query on the smartphone receiving the L update. “Moto X is still going to get Android L (5.0) right?,” asked a user, to which Punit Soni simply responded, “Yup”.
Indian mobile phone manufacturer, XOLO, today unveiled their new phone, the Xolo 8X-1000. The phone is running on its proprietary User Interface (UI) called HIVE. HIVE like Xiaomi’s MIUI is based on Android but comes with plentiful customization options.
The phone is designed with an India centric appeal
HIVE looks interesting in the first look. The OS is designed with “Made in India, Made for India” philosophy and created by our Software Design Centre at Bangalore. The UI is based on Android KitKat 4.4 which makes the phone an up-to-date effort. HIVE allows users to select from a vast library of customization options. The UI lets you chose themes, launcher, widgets, customized system apps that offer additional features. HIVE also allows users to connect to Xolo’s development team and get feedbacks. It also lets users contribute creatively to the platform and help it grow, thereby making it a step forward in terms of personalization.
The phones provide immense personalization features
Xolo’s HIVE also comes with a multimedia app called Fusion X which consolidates video, audio and radio on one platform. It provides curation services; recommending content based on user’s selections. It is also integrated with YouTube.
The phone itself has some decent specs. Its processing strength comes from a 1.4 GHz Mediatek octa core processor. We have seen this processor before at this clock speed on the HTC Desire 616, and it was able to churn out some good performance. It will be interesting to see how XOLO works out with the power hungry octa core processor’s optimization especially when the battery stands at 1920 mAh. XOLO has mentioned some battery test figures which look decent, but we won’t endorse it until we have tested it on our own.
The round dial controls sure are a welcome departure from the usual Android fare
XOLO has given a 5 inch, 1280X720, Gorilla Glass 3 display capable of pixel density of 294 ppi. The camera on the device is an 8 MP shooter with Sony’s Exmor R Sensor with a wide f/2.0 aperture. The camera is capable of full HD (1080p) recording along with features like Scene detection and tuning, vertical & horizontal panorama capture, face beautification, gesture detection, voice capture and object tracking.
The 8X-1000 is going to compete with the likes of Moto G and Xiaomi Mi3. The phone is priced at Rs. 13,999, exactly as much as the Mi3 on Flipkart. On paper the 8X-1000 and HIVE look really impressive. If they had priced it a little less, they could have provided an Indian alternative to the Mi3 with the pride of an India made tag. Xolo can take advantage of the Mi3’s limited stocks and find itself some admirers. But at the end of the day, this is an audacious step for an Indian phone manufacturer, and they need to be commended for their efforts. Your turn Micromax, the number 1 Indian brand, what’ve you got?
It’s that time of the year again. September is fast approaching, and it is bringing with it Samsung’s latest flagship phablet. Yes, Samsung is once again ready to release the next-generation Galaxy Note, and they have sent out invites for the launch event scheduled to take place on the 3rd of September.
Although Samsung hasn’t officially mentioned that the event will feature the launch of the Galaxy Note 4, it’s a pretty safe bet, considering how it’s been Samsung’s tradition to release their latest Note flagship at IFA in Berlin every September.
The Galaxy Alpha, Samsung’s supposed ‘premium built’ phone, may also feature in the event seeing that it’s been making rounds at the rumour mill since a long time. Along with the above two phones, it is also possible that Samsung may also announce some smartwatches which have also had their fair share of rumours and leaks. Another wearable that may be announced is a Samsung virtual reality headset, which will be very similar to the uber-cool Oculus Rift.
Samsung will have to catch up to competition with the next edition of the Note phablet
However, it is very likely that none of these devices are announced at that event, as Samsung would want to keep the spotlight towards the Galaxy Note 4 and nothing else.
If you haven’t heard the rumours, the Note 4 is believed to revolve around the following specs – a 5.7” Quad HD (2560×1440) display, a Snapdragon 805 (Exynos 5433 for some markets, including India) chipset, 3GB of RAM, a 16-megapixel camera with Optical Image Stabilization, a so-called ‘ultraviolet’ sensor, and Android 4.4 KitKat. The remaining specs should be similar to the Note’s smaller sized sibling, the Galaxy S5. The phone might also come with a biometric sensor in the form of an eye sensor
The event will take place on September 3 at 2 p.m. Berlin time. That’s almost a month away, and we should see many more rumours and leaks confirming those specifications. As has been with every flagship these days, we’ll probably know each and every detail about the phablet before the announcement actually takes place. Boy, August is going to be an exciting month.
Messaging app WhatsApp has brought their fresh new update and this one has support for your Android Wear devices. With WhatsApp becoming a staple communication tool having almost replaced text messaging, it’s the right move from them.
The New version (Version 2.11.318) lets you access the app on your phone using voice controls and checking on the notifications. The update gives you options to view you entire message on the watch itself instead of just being short notifications.
You can also see all notifications individually without having to take out your phones and reply to them using the voice feature.
This new enhancement provided by Whatsapp is keeping up with the times and the app is ready for the age of the wearables. We can’t wait to see what the other app industry leaders have in store for this new world.
Samsung’s much awaited Note 4 which is expected to release next month will be again Samsung’s high shelf device. Samsung which has recently faced some serious consumer bashing for not innovating in accordance with the competition and its identical looking devices might want to bring back those users back to its side. The Note 4 would be a good opportunity for Samsung to show off its innovation muscle, especially when the competition is getting really tough with LG’s G3 and Apple’s new iPhone 6 being under constant limelight.
The 5.7 inch Super AMOLED display laced Galaxy Note 3 came with a 1.9GHz eight-core Exynos 5 Octa chipset with 3GB of RAM was released at Rs. 49,990. The device is now available on Flipkart for to Rs 37,983.
Besides the Note 3, its mini version, the Note 3 Neo also saw a major price cut. The device was launched in the market in February this year for a price of Rs 40,900. It features a 5.5-inch 720p Super AMOLED display with Exynos hexacore processor paired with 2GB of RAM. The price of the device after the cut stands at Rs 27,249, talk about a massive cut.
There is though not a lot known about the Samsung’s big release, the Note 4. It is expected to help Samsung gain back some lost trust and prove to competitors of Samsung’s formidability in the smartphone market. The new Note 4 might have a 5.7-inch Quad HD display keeping in line with 2K flagship displays with 3GB of RAM and 32GB internal storage. According to the various rumors, the device might also feature an eye-scanner and might also be powered by a new 64-bit processor. Hopefully Samsung will take a departure from Exynos Chipset for this one and bring in something which will let the Note 4 access its full capabilities.
If you were one of them who were waiting for Google Nexus device like ability to have a Google Now Launcher on your Android phones, you’re going to be really happy today. Google has released the Google Now launcher for all Android 4.1 devices and above. Though some phones might not support it yet.
This update allows Android users to access a left panel which opens into Google Now. It also allows you to use the “OK Google” hot word on the main screen. This option is currently compatible with HTC One M8, One E8, One Mini 2, Desire 816, Huawei Ascend P7 and LG G3, among others.
Proprietary systems like HTC’s Blinkfeed get replaced after installing this update and instead you have the Google Now panel which is customizable to your liking. This will be a good addition for folks with stock Android devices who want a customizable information panel easily accessible with one swipe.
This is one more offering from Google that is now finding a wider user base. Google’s minimalistic looking apps also provide great functionality and that’s why they are preferred.
You can download the app from the Play store: [button link=”https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.launcher” size=”small” text_size=”gamma” newtab=”on”]Google Now LAuncher[/button]
Snapchat began a race for instant messaging in which the content disappears once it is viewed. Now Instagram has brought its own app to counter Snapchat’s dominance in the field. Facebook did try to take on Snapchat with its Slingshot app which garnered a lukewarm response. Now it attempts to try the same with its subsidiary, Instagram.
You don’t have to look around in your huge contact list to find folks you chat with the most. The app lets you have upto 20 favorites to share your images with. To take a snap you just have to tap the contact for a snap or tap and hold to record a video. The UI is really minimalistic and easy to understand.
To sign up for the service you will only need your phone number. You don’t need a Facebook or Instagram account. This is the moment of evolution in mobile chat where text is slowly replaced by photos and videos. The service also lets you bring back deleted pics to return within the first few seconds of deleting if you wanted to see that snap once more, before it goes into oblivion. The one sect of people who will be particularly disappointed by these developments are the NSA analysts. Those guys had to deal with reading all those emails and texts were having an easier time with images, but instantly deletable messages might be an issue for them. But they might just hack into the service to retrieve the information.
Even though the app is available for iOS or Android, Bolt is currently only available in Singapore as an app called Bolt already exists. The other Bolt is a mobile voice app and has been around for quite a while. The developers of the other Bolt, Benton have filed an application but haven’t got a trademark yet. They are adamant about keeping the name. Benton were also eventually going to start their own messaging service. But with a prominent company like Instagram coming out with a messaging app with the name Bolt would prevent that from happening.
It will be interesting to see which side caves first. Will it be the big pocketed Facebook or Benton? For the moment if you want Instagram’s Bolt, you can download the apk available easily online.
Motorola and Google parted ways last January, but if rumors are to be believed, Motorola is working on a new Nexus device, codenamed “Shamu”, that is set to launch sometime this fall. A number of other reports have indicated that HTC has also been working on an 8.9 inch Nexus tablet for Google. It’s code-named “Volantis,” and probably has an NVIDIA Tegra K1 processor and a high-resolution display, among other things.
Now it looks like a new Nexus smartphone by Motorola is also on the way, although it is said to have a near tablet-sized screen.
The reports leaked by Android Police hint that the Nexus device is a 5.9-inch device with a fingerprint sensor.
Android Police seem confident that the rumor is true. “Point are deducted simply because hardware plans can change very quickly, even when a prototype device already exists,” Android Police writes. “We are confident that Shamu is a real device under active development, and fairly confident that it is a contender for the Nexus program.”
Being that it’s a Nexus contender doesn’t mean it’ll be the device consumers will be able to buy later this year. But Motorola is apparently working on a device, which is supposed to be “targeted at major U.S. carriers, and unspecified carriers in other parts of the world,” Android Police said.
It seems unlikely that a new Nexus device would appear before this fall, which is far enough away for the plans to change. But this report somewhere takes the sword off the Nexus program, which seems to be doomed. Not only is it still in play, looks like it may have a few great devices coming down the line.
Domestic smartphone maker, Lava International Limited, has just announced an Android 4.4.2 Kitkat update for LAVA Iris 504Q+.
The new update, as company said , will improve user experience through an enhanced user interface, superior battery life and software performance. The update also comes with new dialer app which will automatically prioritize contacts according to the most frequently dialed numbers in the phone book. Also the dialer will offer a true-caller like service which will match unknown number from businesses with a local listing on Google Maps.
The users of Lava Iris 504Q+ will soon get the upgrade notification; on tapping the notification, the user will be guided through the upgrade download and installation process. Alternatively, the users can download and install manually through “Check Update” functionality that can be found in Settings.
The update will be downloaded on the memory card only and the user needs to have the memory card inserted in the smartphone while installing. After installation, the Android KitKat software can run with or without memory card in smartphone.
The new upgrade is said to increase the performance of the device. The Lava Iris 504Q+ packs in 1GB RAM and an internal memory of 8GB, which is expandable up to 32GB via micro-SD card, giving users enough space for applications and multimedia content. It is powered by a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor and Mali 400 MP2 at 500MHz Graphics Unit.
Another noteworthy feature of the devices is its 10 MP rear auto-focus camera that is powered by Sony Exmor RS Sensor having sensor size of 1/3.2 inch allowing enhanced lowlight performance. Through its unique gesture control and voice command functionality, a user can click a picture by saying just “Cheese” or “Capture” or with a swipe of the hand in air. Lava Iris is available in Grey and Silver colors at the price of Rs. 11,900.
Don’t like Apple’s on-screen keyboard? Tough luck, you can’t change it! Most flagship Android phones are coming out with the swype keyboard; however if not available the swift keyboard app can be downloaded. This feature enables you to swipe across the keyboard; and once you get the hang of it, it’s incredibly fast. It is however, expected that iOS 8 will be launched with this feature.
ES File Explorer gives you the ability to control your Android device just like a PC. You can manage your files and applications, kill unwanted tasks and upload files and folders to your favorite cloud service. This app however is not available on iOS
The Lock Screen is another bit of iOS many people would like to customize, and once again on Android there are all kinds of apps that Apple owners can only envy.
Imagine you find an interesting link on Twitter. Link Bubble will let you click on it and then load it in the background while you continue using Twitter. Once you close the app, the link will be available for your viewing pleasure. It can be tough to remember all the cool stuff you see online, so Link Bubble makes it easier for you to keep track of everything.
Tasker contains more than 200 actions and triggers that let you control various aspects of your device. Tasker could well be the poster child for Android apps: it’s a little intimidating at first, but the things it can do are incredible.
In addition to keeping your Android handset free of malware, Avast Mobile Security and Antivirus lets you lock specific apps so other users can access them without your permission. It is one of the best security software for your phone.
Just when you were thinking that Xiaomi was the kickass all-in-one package, a new competitor is raising its head at the horizon. Smartphone manufacturer One Plus is planning to come to India with its One Plus One smartphone and boy, is it impressive.
The One Plus One has an incomparable spec sheet at the price it is offered. The phone runs on CyanogenMod 11S based on Android 4.4 Kitkat. It has a heart of steel with a Snapdragon 801 2.5GHz Quad-core processor. Its graphics is powered by a 578MHz Adreno 330 GPU. The RAM on the One Plus One is a phenomenal 3 GB LP-DDR3 and comes in a 16 GB and 64 GB variants.
Everything is Awesome about the One Plus One
The camera department is as impressive as the hardware spec sheet. The main camera is 13 Megapixel with Sony Exmor IMX 214 sensors and a dual LED Flash. The front camera is a distortion free 5 MP Selfie Shooter. The camera also has a wide aperture of f/2.0. The most remarkable feature is its 4K recording capability with and its ability to record slow motion at 720p resolution at 120 frames per second(fps). Now that’s a camera!
The display on the One Plus One is a giant Full HD, 5.5 inch, Corning Gorrila Glass 3 screen. There is nothing to complain about in this phone, a true all-rounder from every angle. To power all of these epic features, this phone comes with 3100 mAh battery.
If you thought the features are impressive the One Plus One also provides impressive back panel options
Now you might be asking, how much lighter would your pockets get if you get this power packed gizmo, well the answer is: the 16 GB variant comes at $299 (around Rs. 17,900)and the 64 GB variant comes at $349 (around Rs. 20,900). Yeah, you read that right, go ahead pull your jaw up!
The company said that there is an enormous interest in their phones in India and they have heard talks of Indians importing them from the US. They would like to take advantage of this favorable situation.
Now this is a real competitor to Xiaomi, which came in and cleared the market and took the limelight away from the Moto G. Indian smartphone consumers might be feeling like a king right now in the times of heavy inflation. So what if food is expensive, you can simply distract yourself with these badass phones.
Taiwan based phone manufacturers Oplus have introduced their 5-inch smartphone by the name Xonphone 5 in India today.
The Xonphone 5 runs Android 4.4.2 out of the box. It gets it processing power from a Mediatek 1.3GHz quad-core processor. It possesses 1 GB of RAM with 16 GB’s of internal storage with expandable storage support for a 32 GB MicroSD card. The phone is powered by a 2000 mAh battery. The phone is dual sim capable with a Micro SIM and Mini SIM slot.
The display on the Xonphone 5 is a 5 inch 1280x720p HD display with an 180-degree viewing angles. The display also has a 320 ppi display which sounds impressive for the price. The main camera on the device is an 8 MP shooter with autofocus and LED flash, and the front cam is a 2 MP fixed focus selfie cam.
The makers of the phone provide a screen protector inside the box with the usual USB connector, charger and earphones. The phone provides a Yamaha professional bass speaker system which will give a good audio experience.
The selling price of the device is set at Rs7,999 which is pretty competitive for the Indian market. The company has made an exclusive deal with Snapdeal to reach the consumers. If its performance matches up to its spec sheet, it might be another Asian brand that will create troubles for the Indian manufacturers like Micromax, Lava and others.
