Category: Android

iG Exclusive : Micromax A85 SuperPhone Hands On (Video)

This is one of those moments that makes you feel proud. We got an exclusive hands on with the new upcoming Micromax A85 Super Phone, and we are happy to say the device is quite impressive. The overall specs mentioned in our earlier rumors match with the actual final device. The screen on the Micromax A85 is a Gorilla Glass coated, 3.8 inch 480×800 pixel display which has vivid color composition. The device also has a muti-touch surface and importantly is based on the Nvidia Tegra 2 Processor with 1GHz dual core chipset and a dedicated GPU (Geforce8). The overall interface of the device is quite smooth and Micromax for once has done some unique customizations to the Android Build.

Android on this device is still however 2.2 (froyo) but the company insider promises that the Android 2.3 build is already-ready and undergoing testing. We are keeping our fingers crossed with that. The interface has a unique mix of apps and widgets with an option of multiple launchers from the initial rom. The device also features Gesture control which can be seen in a limited number of inbuilt applications such as Email, messaging, contacts, etc. The gesture controls can be used to navigate through the picture gallery and play/pause and forward/rewind in the music /video players. The gestures main use will come into the phone app with which you can answer or silence incoming calls, and with the wave of your hand you can put the phone into Speakerphone mode while in a call.

The device scored well in our initial hands on, as we also got a chance to add some benchmark apps and run them to get mighty impressive scores, which you will be able to see in the upcoming video shortly. The device is Micromax’s first attempt in the Rs. 15,000+ handset market and it seems like Micromax choose the right device. The initial impressions with the speaker and the video playback were impressive. The “Intelligent Illumination” camera was also fast to focus and click pictures even in dim lighting. The price of the phone is expected around the 18-19K mark ,but we are hoping for a drop soon after launch.

Check out our flurry of first hands on images below, and stay tuned for the complete video after the break.

Hands On Videos

November 4, 2011
HTC Launches the Rezound expects worldwide by end 2011

HTC has launched the Rezound for the Verizon networks in the US. Formerly known as the HTC Vigor, the device features a 4.3-inch 720p display, a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, with 1GB RAM, 16GB of internal storage / 16GB on microSD card, 1,620mAh battery, WiFi and Bluetooth 3.0.

The handset will come Ice Cream Sandwich-ready, but currently has Sense 3.5 skinned on top of Gingerbread 2.3.4. The device also has a 8 megapixel camera with f/2.2 sensor (capable of 1080p video capture). The box will also contain a pair of custom Beats Headphones like the one you see in the images below.

The device is expected to hit India by December after certain delays, but the Nov 2nd week launch is still possible. We will update you when we have more.

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HTC AND VERIZON WIRELESS UNVEIL HTC REZOUND™, FIRST SMARTPHONE IN THE U.S. TO FEATURE BEATS AUDIO™

HTC Rezound Breaks New Ground with Introduction of Advanced Audio and High-Definition Visual Experience

New York City – HTC Corporation, a global designer of mobile devices, and Verizon Wireless today announced the HTC Rezound™, the only phone in the United States with Beats Audio™ integration. A result of the recent partnership between HTC and Beats, the HTC Rezound delivers a powerful entertainment experience with unparalleled audio and multimedia capabilities highlighted by a 4.3-inch true HD 720p display. The HTC Rezound, a premium designed smartphone that includes the latest HTC Sense experience and access to Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network, will be available exclusively from Verizon Wireless on Nov. 14.

“HTC is dedicated to delivering the latest in sight and sound innovation and we’re excited to be introducing the first U.S. smartphone featuring Beats Audio technology,” said Peter Chou, CEO, HTC Corporation. “Paired with Verizon Wireless’ blazing-fast 4G LTE network and a robust multimedia experience, the HTC Rezound enables customers to enjoy their favorite music and entertainment on-the-go like never before.”

The HTC Rezound enables customers to hear music the way the artist intended with unique audio tuning by Beats that delivers thundering bass, soaring midrange and crisp highs. Unique to HTC, the HTC Rezound also includes new lightweight Beats headphones, created exclusively to integrate with the Beats’ audio profile on the device. Hands-free calling is easy with the built-in microphone and the on-cable remote to pause, advance or rewind and answer a call mid-track.

“HTC fully recognizes the destruction to audio caused by the digital revolution. They embrace our vision to repair this ecosystem and bring the feeling from the recording studio to the smartphone,” said Jimmy Iovine, chairman of Beats By Dr. Dre. “This is only the beginning of our plan to fix how music is delivered.”

Lightning-fast mobile entertainment

The HTC Rezound is the first HTC smartphone to feature a true HD 720p display and is perfect for enjoying high-quality entertainment on the 4.3-inch super LCD screen. HTC Watch puts an entire library of the latest premium movies and TV shows right at your fingertips. Using a wireless connection, HTC Watch uses progressive download technology on the HTC Rezound which makes it possible to watch videos without waiting for them to finish downloading. Customers can rent or purchase videos through HTC Watch and enjoy content on up to five different HTC devices. The HTC Rezound features Mobile High Definition Link (MHL) connectivity, so customers can watch content from the device on an HDTV, including 5.1 surround sound and SRS WOW™ HD surround to take advantage of a home theater setup. Equipped with a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, the HTC Rezound offers a speedy mobile experience even for the most demanding media enthusiast.

“HTC Rezound combines sleek design, innovative entertainment features and the power of Verizon Wireless network to create a multimedia phone that consumers have been waiting for,” said Jeff Dietel, vice president of marketing, for Verizon Wireless. “4G LTE speeds take mobile entertainment to a new level, providing customers with advanced functionality in a phone they can count on for everyday use.”

Advanced multimedia features

The HTC Rezound boasts an 8-megapixel camera featuring autofocus, dual LED flash, a f/2.2 and 28mm wide-angle lens with BSI sensor to fit more of the scene into every shot and for better low-light performance. The enhanced camera features available through HTC Sense offer new scenes and effects such as panoramic mode for capturing life on a grand scale or action burst scene for the perfect action shot.

For self-portraits or video conversations, the HTC Rezound also features a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. With a 1080p camcorder, the HTC Rezound enables customers to record a perfect moment with stunning clarity and incredible stereo sound, perfect for sharing on YouTube or Facebook. Customers can also wirelessly send their media to a compatible TV for looking at videos or pictures with friends and family using Digital Living Network Alliance® (DLNA).

HTC Sense

Featuring the latest version of HTC Sense, the HTC Rezound enables people to create a unique and intuitive user experience that matches their personal preference and lifestyle. A customizable active lockscreen experience transforms the lockscreen into a real-time window to the most important information and content, such as social updates, photos, weather or stock updates that are viewed by simply turning on the display. In addition, the new active lockscreen becomes a customizable gateway that lets people quickly jump to the most used features, like making a phone call, sending an email, taking a picture or anything else with the same quick gesture usually used to unlock the phone.

HTC Sense also delivers a new group messaging experience simplifying group and multimedia messaging so people can stay up-to-date on the latest conversations quickly and easily. People can view recent status updates from popular social networks in one place using FriendStream™, as well as sync their contact list with all email accounts and social networks for smooth integration.

“HTC and Beats have been important partners to Best Buy over the years and we are thrilled to help them bring the HTC Rezound on the Verizon Wireless network to consumers,” said Scott Anderson, head of merchandising for Best Buy Mobile. “This is going to be a big holiday for smartphones and people will be looking for new and different features. The HTC Rezound, with HTC’s mobile expertise and audio excellence from Beats, will be a great option for our customers.”

Additional features

Mobile Hotspot capability: share 4G connection with up to ten Wi-Fi-enabled devices
Operating System: Android 2.3™ (Gingerbread) with latest HTC Sense – an upgrade to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) will be available in early 2012
Internal Memory: 16 GB on-board memory, 1 GB DDR2 RAM
Memory Card: 16 GB MicroSD™ pre-installed
Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n
Bluetooth®: 3.0 – support for headset, hands-free, stereo, phonebook access and object push for vCard and vCalendar
GPS: GPS/AGPS
Battery: 1,620 mAh
Special Features: HDMI (through MHL), G-sensor, Light sensor, Compass, Proximity sensor, MicroUSB, USIM/CSIM/ISIM, audio jack and Wireless Charging capable
Chipset: Qualcomm® MSM8660 1.5GHz, Qualcomm® MDM9600
Dimensions: 129 x 65.5 x 13.65 mm

Availability

The HTC Rezound will be available beginning Nov. 14 at Verizon Wireless and at Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores for $299.99 with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers who purchase the HTC Rezound will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 for monthly access and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data. Customers can visit www.verizonwireless.com/Rezound to sign up for more information.

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November 4, 2011
Motorola makes the Xoom 2 and Xoom 2 Media Edition Tablets Official (PR)

Motorola has finally announced the long rumored Motorola XOOM 2 and XOOM 2 Media edition tablets. The Xoom 2 features a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, Android 3.2, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, and a 10.1-inch display. It has a front facing 1.3 MP camera along with a 5 MP auto focus rear shooter. The device will also have a flavor of Motorola’s new Splash-guard protection.

The Xoom 2 Media Edition apart from the similar features has a smaller 8.2-inch display size with a Gorilla Glass. Motorola says the Xoom 2 Media will have a 20 % improved graphics engine when compared to the original Xoom announced earlier this year. The new screen also has a 178 degree viewing angle making it a monster for sharing and watching movies and videos win groups.

The Tablet has been announced for UK and Ireland, and will also be updated to the Android Ice Cream Sandwich (i.e. Android 4.0) by the end of the Year.

[toggle title_open=”Press Release” title_closed=”Press Release” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]Motorola Mobility Launches Two New Tablets in the UK and Ireland

Motorola XOOM 2™ and Motorola XOOM 2 Media Edition™ are powerful, portable and ready to take on the world

LONDON – November 3, 2011 – Building on the success of Motorola XOOM™, Motorola Mobility is rocking the tablet world yet again with two additions that bring enhanced experiences to the European market. Wi-Fi variants of the Motorola XOOM 2™ and Motorola XOOM 2 Media Edition™ — boasting powerful productivity, rich entertainment and customizable experiences — are now available: the answer to consumers looking for a tablet that can keep up with their lifestyle. Both tablets will be available at Carphone Warehouse in the UK and Ireland, as well as Best Buy, Dixons, PC World and Currys in the UK.

“Tablets are quickly becoming a must-have tool for staying connected, getting work done and having fun at home and on the road,” said Victoria McManus, marketing director UK & Ireland, Motorola Mobility. “We are very excited about these two new additions to our tablet portfolio that build on the success of the original Motorola XOOM to now deliver more powerful tablet experiences to the European market.”

The new Motorola XOOM 2 and Motorola XOOM 2 Media Edition both feature Android 3.2, a dual-core 1.2 GHz processor, brilliant displays with Corning® Gorilla® Glass and a splashguard coating for a go anywhere, do everything attitude. In addition, both tablets include the new MotoCast™ app that lets you stream all your music, photos, videos and documents between your PC or Mac and tablet without any media tools, apps, or cords.

Motorola XOOM 2: Lighter and Brighter

Motorola XOOM 2 with Wi-Fi sports a 10.1-inch widescreen HD display and Android 3.2 Honeycomb like its predecessor, but the similarities end there. The display is brighter and more vibrant than before with colour enhancement, and the edges have been strategically designed to make the tablet more comfortable to hold — this tablet is easy on the eyes, and easy on the hands. It is compatible with the optional Motorola Stylus that is great for note-taking, hand-writing emails and sketching. Motorola XOOM 2 is loaded with Business Ready features like VPN support and data encryption.

Motorola XOOM 2 with Wi-Fi features MOTOPRINT integrated into key apps so you can print wirelessly from your tablet. It is approximately 100 grams lighter than the original Motorola XOOM to make it even easier to take on the road, and can withstand poolside use, spilled drinks or dashes out to the car in the rain thanks to its new splash-guard coating. A battery delivering more than 10 hours of video playback means it can go with you wherever you need to be.

Motorola XOOM 2 Media Edition: Beat your Boredom

Motorola XOOM 2 Media Edition with Wi-Fi is easy to hold with one hand thanks to its 8.2-inch display, and easy to take with you wherever you go, weighing less than the best-selling paperback you’ve been carrying around. Optimised for entertainment, it has a wide, 178 degree viewing angle. Hold it up to someone across the room, or share it with someone sitting next to you, and everyone gets a brilliant view.

Motorola XOOM 2 Media Edition has a 20 percent improvement in graphics performance over the original Motorola XOOM for smoother gaming, features adaptive virtual surround sound with booming bass that’ll delight your ears, and stands out from the crowd with the fastest multi-tasking in its class. It can even be a universal remote control for home AV equipment with the personalized, custom remote control app pre-loaded on the tablet. Lastly, a splash-guard coating provides extra protection against the spills that are bound to happen when you’re having fun.

Accessories to connect to your life easier, from anywhere

With the Work and Play kit, plug your tablet into the HD Multimedia Station to connect to your HDTV, speakers and other peripherals for large-screen entertainment. Get more done, faster with the included keyboard and mouse with Bluetooth technology. Now, when your tablet is docked, the Smart Controller lets you MC the show from the comfort of your couch. For Motorola XOOM 2, no accessory discussion is complete without mentioning the Motorola Stylus with Precision tip – your tablet’s best friend.[/toggle]

November 4, 2011
LG Slaps rumors, Says Optimus 2X to Get ICS Android 4.0

Worried that your recent LG Optimus 2X purchase may not be future proof? Think again, LG has confirmed that the Optimus 2X will intact be getting the Android 4.0 update, and this information was put up on their FB page. There are no details as to when this will happen, or how, since most are still awaiting the 2.3 version of the LG firmware.

“[LG Official Statements on Ice Cream Sandwich OS Update]
LG firmly denies the rumors that claim LG will not be providing the Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) OS update for the LG Optimus 2X. These rumors are NOT true. LG is currently in the process of planning the ICS OS update for the LG Optimus 2X as well as other LG high-end smartphones. Detailed information on the ICS OS update schedule for specific models will be announced, once the ICS OS is publicly released by Google. Please stay tuned for more updates from LG.
Thank you very much.”

[LG (Facebook)]

November 2, 2011
Samsung Galaxy Note GT-N7000 Launched in India at Rs. 34,990

The Galaxy Note has been launched in India for a price of 34,990/- at market price and will go on sale starting today. The first 100,000 buyers will get a complementary leather pouch with their device. The device features the worlds first 1.4 GHz Dual core processor and also the worlds first 5.3″ display on a Smartphone. The device features a Smart Pen which lets you bring back the memories of olden days with a modern twist, the Pen can be used to live annotate and edit files, draw, sketch etc all on the Galaxy Note. The company is pitching it as a replacement for a Tablet and a Phone and unifying the market. The price seems a bit high and expect it to fall under 30K pretty soon. Check out the specs below and wait for our exclusive hands on video.

To sum it up we have a 5.3 inch display, a 1.4 GHz dual core processor, 16GB storage, 32GB expandable a 8 megapixel camera at back and a 2MP in the front. We also get an impressive stylus and a beautiful screen and a 2500 mah battery pack .

Live Blog Here

And Our First Hands On Here

November 2, 2011
First Hands on with The Galaxy Note GT-N7000 in India : Pre-Launch

We got our hands on the large size Samsung Galaxy Note GT-N7000 pre-launch in India. The event is about to begin and our initial impressions are mixed, the device is ver very big. The device is quite a middle point between a Tablet and a Smartphone and is pretty comfortable for its size. The display even though is 5.3 inches is very crisp with a Super Amoled screen. The device remains very slim and fares almost close to the iPhone 4S at just 9.65mm. The Note is possibly the first smartphone you will enjoy using a stylus on, the precision of the point is great. The Stylus is also a great sketch and edit instrument and you will actually use it a lot if you get this device.

The stylus does not work with other screens and not at all with the iPhone (trust us we tested). The device fits into the pockets of your denim in a very uncomfortable fashion, but would do well for a coat/blazer pocket (for those corporate types). Check out our hands on images below and stay tuned for the full hands on Video by the end of the day. The camera is a pretty good snapper and we have attached a bunch of samples we got from it including an indoor 1080p video which should go up by the end of the day.

To sum it up we have a 5.3 inch display, a 1.4 GHz dual core processor, 16GB storage, 32GB expandable a 8 megapixel camera at back and a 2MP in the front. We also get an impressive stylus and a beautiful screen a 2500 mah battery pack . So far so good right.

Update : The price is now confirmed at an MRP of INR 34,990/-

November 2, 2011
Duke Nukem 3D now on Android : Retro Game Gasm

Thats right you are reading this story straight up, no you are not hung over or estranged, Duke Nukem 3D is now available in the Android Marketplace. The mobile version of this classic FPS has hit the Android OS and you can rock this game for Android 1.6 and up. The cost is a mere 0.99 $ and you cant put a price on a game of legends.

Android Market

November 2, 2011
WhatsApp Users send over 1 Billion messages daily

Do you use a popular messaging service? services like WhatsApp have taken inter device connectivity by storm. The company is reporting that their users send and receive over 1 billion messages over a number of platforms including Android, iOS and Blackberry.

The mobile messaging market is moving, choices around platforms and their pricing and how they provide an amazing customer experience are the hot topics at hand. As a leader in the messaging space and with our network now handling over one billion messages a day, we see that the power is with the consumer.

-Whatsapp

WhatsApp is currently available for iOS, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry and Symbian devices.

[VIA]

November 2, 2011
HTC Releases Profit Reports for Quarter 3 profit up 68 percent
HTC has issued its Q3 results and their profits are up by 68%. The total net income rose to $624.6 million this quarter

Revenue rose by 79 percent on the year toaround $4.54 billion

The reasons cited by HTC for this growth are :

“strong brand recognition, leading product portfolio and expanded distribution channels.”

“We aim to lead the way as the smartphone market continues to expand and change rapidly,We pride ourselves on anticipating market and consumer needs and addressing them before they are realized. We are growing rapidly and responsibly around the globe and continue to expand our leadership in new areas, such as LTE.”

– Peter Chou, CEO of HTC.

HTC saw the strongest growth in China where the sales were up nine times, which may also possibly the main reason for the increase in handset shipments, which increased 93 percent over the year, to 13.2 million units.

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PRESS RELEASE

HTC REPORTS 3Q 2011 RESULTS

QUARTERLY REVENUES, NET PROFITS AND EPS ALL HIT NEW HIGHS

Taoyuan, Taiwan, R.O.C. October 31, 2011 – HTC Corporation (“HTC”, or the “Company”, TWSE: 2498), a global leader in smartphone innovation and design, today announced consolidated results of the Company and its subsidiaries for the third quarter of 2011.

3Q Highlights
After-tax profit was NT$18.68bn, up 68% year-on-year; EPS was NT$22.07

Total revenues grew for the sixth consecutive quarter since 1Q 2010 and reached

NT$135.82bn, up 79% year-on-year

Handset shipments totalled 13.2mn units, up 93% year-on-year

ASP was US$344, up 0.6% year-on-year

Gross profit margin and operating margin were both in line with original guidance at 28.0%

and 14.9%, respectively
3Q 2011 Results

HTC’s diverse product offerings, expanded distribution network and growing global brand recognition, have helped the Company deliver a record-high quarterly revenue of NT$135.82bn in the third quarter of 2011, resulting in after-tax earnings of NT$18.68bn and EPS of NT$22.07.

HTC sold 13.2 million smartphones in 3Q 2011: 93% more than the same period last year, and 9% more than the second quarter of this year.

New products launched during 3Q addressed a wide variety of customers and market segments. Co- branded with Beats, HTC Sensation XE and HTC Sensation XL offer a studio-quality experience to consumers. HTC Rhyme bundled a new HTC Sense experience and sleek accessories to create a lifestyle device. The Company expanded its entry-level offerings by launching HTC Explorer into emerging markets, such as India, on the heels of HTC Wildfire’s success. And HTC Titan and HTC Radar were the first smartphones to launch with the new Windows Phone “Mango” platform.

China is one of the most important growth regions for HTC, and China reported top sales growth across all regions this quarter – 9x more than its sales volume in the same period last year. HTC Wildfire has become an iconic, mainstream smartphone in the region, and HTC launched the flagship HTC Sensation into two major operators (China Mobile and China Unicom) networks. Two highly- customized social networking devices – HTC ?? with Sina Weibo and HTC ChaCha with QQ – showed HTC’s strong committment to deepen Chinese comsumers’ experience. The Company aims to capture early brand preference in China, as smartphone penetration is at an early stage.

Operating profit continued to grow from NT$12.40 billion in the same period last year, to NT$20.18 billion this quarter- up 63% year-on-year and 5% quarter-on-quarter – on the back of expansion inoperating scale and increased revenue. HTC is focused on driving economic scale to achieve efficient operating leverage and a healthy operating margin level.
“We aim to lead the way as the smartphone market continues to expand and change rapidly,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC. “We pride ourselves on anticipating market and consumer needs and addressing them before they are realized. We are growing rapidly and responsibly around the globe and continue to expand our leadership in new areas, such as LTE.”

LTE technology is expected to be the next generation wireless communication technology for high- speed data. Since 2009, HTC has maintained its leadership position in 4G, developing and shipping more 4G devices than any other company. An LTE device upgrade cycle is foreseeable in 2012 in both the United States and some advanced markets in Asia (e.g., Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong). HTC is poised to capture an advantage in this market.

In addition to LTE, HTC has invested in delivering innovation to the entry-level smartphone sector. HTC Wildfire has become one of the Company’s top selling products, and the newly-launched HTC Explorer continues to attract first-time smartphone buyers. The Company is committed to drive innovation, not only with high-end LTE devices, but also to the mass market.

Despite uncertainties in the macro-economic environment, HTC believes in its ability to continue to drive strong growth, and is committed to continue investing in marketing, operations and R&D. Going into fourth quarter this year, HTC’s retail presence in China is expected to expand, totaling up to 2,000 outlets. A new factory in Taoyuan is scheduled to complete beginning of next year, which has the potential to increase capacity by up to 40 million units per year. Last but not least, the Company continues its focus on creating global brand preference and emotional connection with customers.

4Q 2011 Outlook

The Company’s outlook for the fourth quarter of 2011 is as follows:

4Q revenue expected to be around NT$125 to 135bn, up 20% to 30% year-on-year

4Q shipment expected to be around 12.0 to 13.0mn units, up 31% to 42% year-on-year

Gross margin expected to be around 28.0%±0.5%

Operating margin expected to be in the range of 14.5%±0.5%

Conference Call and Webcast

HTC will host its quarterly conference call in Chinese beginning at 4 p.m. (Taiwan Time, GMT+8), and quarterly conference call in English beginning at 8 p.m. (Taiwan Time, GMT+8) on Monday, October 31st, 2011. The conference call in Chinese will be webcast live with audio and slides at:

http://www.mzcan.com/cancast/taiwan/index.php?id=tw2498_143&version=c and webcast link for the call in English is http://www.mzcan.com/cancast/taiwan/index.php?id=tw2498_143&version=e.

About HTC
PRESS RELEASE

HTC Corporation (HTC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile industry. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC creates innovative smartphones and tablets that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.

###

HTC, the HTC logo are the trademarks of HTC Corporation. All other names of companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks
of their respective owners.

HTC IR & PR Contacts

HTC IR / Finance & Accounting Division

Disclaimer:
This press release contains forward-looking statements which may include projections of future results of operations, financial condition or business prospects based on our own information and other sources. Our actual results of operations, financial condition or business prospects may differ from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to market demand, price fluctuations, competition, international economic conditions, supply chain issues, exchange rate fluctuations and other risks and factors beyond our control. The forward-looking statements in this release reflect the current belief of HTC as of the date of this release. HTC undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements for events or circumstances that occur subsequent to such date.

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November 2, 2011

Samsung Galaxy Y Full Review

Times have changed over the years, but never did we see the smartphones reach the consumer market with such a blow that feature phones would almost disappear.

The new Samsung Galaxy Y offers a complete package for a fairly low budget, But is it actually a full smartphone ?

Lets find out in this iGyaan review :

Build Quality and Hardware

The Galaxy Y is well built to an extent where you wont be disappointed by any thing in terms of the exterior of the device. The screen is not tough so a screen protector is essential for the device. Every-thing else is built to last and will not need any extra care, solid built, tactile buttons and no rattle or noise from the body of the device.

In terms of the Hardware Specs:

Price	Rs. 7,830 (MRP)
Network	Edge + HSDPA upto 7.2 Mbps
Phone Style	Touchscreen Capacitive
OS	Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread
Thickness	11.5mm
Length	104mm
Width	58 mm
Weight	97.5 g
Built-in Memory	160 MB Rom Ram Unknown
Additional Memory	microSD, up to 32GB
High-speed Data	3G
Connectivity	Bluetooth, Wifi ,
Screen Size	3-inch, 240×320 pixels
Secondary Screen Size	N/A
Screen Colours	256k
Camera	2-megapixel ff
Camera Resolution	1600×1200 pixels
Flash	NO
GPS	Yes
Wifi	802.11 b/g/n
Music Formats	MP3
Radio	Yes
Speaker	Yes
Processor	832 Mhz Processor
Browser	Android Browser, Full Flash Enabled
Games	Android MarketPlace Games
Battery	1200mAh

Screen and Multimedia

The screen on the device is a 3 inch 320×240 px capacitive display, its a relatively low res display, but its leaps and bounds better than the one found on the Pop and Fit. Why ? You ask. There is a massive difference in the pixellation levels of the Galaxy Y and the POP, on the Pop you aslo only get Android 2.2, this device comes preloaded with 2.3.5 and a display that does not bother you at all with reading webpages etc.

The screen is decent for movie playback and the speakerphone is loud enough to get the message across. This device will feature as a portable media player for many a youth, but don’t expect it to replace a TV or even an iPod. Audio quality is good but is only limited with the hardware chip used. The maximum throughput of sound is limited hence will not deliver performance compared to even the Wildfire S. The Audio is not really an issue because an everyday user will not notice it, as the device produces a loud sound with or without the earphones, whcih is mostly enough for a consumer.

Phone, Network and Messaging

The device is an excellent phone, with robust network connectivity and a solid signal strength. We noticed no dropped calls in the extensive network tests conducted. Audio (incoming and outgoing) on both channels was crisp and loud, with no feedback issues. The “Y” gets a great rating because it does a good job of what its basic purpose is: to make and receive calls.

Messaging on the device is also easy and is demonstrated in our video review. Typing is simple thanks to an error correction algorithm by Samsung, which utilizes a most common error path and auto corrects the text errors. Pretty fancy for a sub 7k phone. You also get SWYPE inbuilt on the keyboard making it very useful indeed.

Data, Internet and Battery

By now we have learnt that Android devices are no too data friendly. Turning data on and off when required will boost your battery life enormously. That being said this device also features 3G data connectivity and HSDPA upto 7.25 Mbps. The connections are stable and not too power consuming, the Wifi Hotspot feature works great and does not suck the life forces from your device, like it used to on previous devices.

Internet connectivity is stable on both Wifi and 3G and the browser loads all sorts of Flash content, with a bit of hiccups. Browser is easily readable and on a screen this size you cant expect much more. The basics can be accessed from this browser, but its not a replacement for your computer.

Battery Life

Companies talk about battery life in their own mood, we do some extensive real life tests to get out the best from the device.

Talk Time 2G : 6 Hours
Talk Time 3G : 4.5 Hours
Standby Time : 36-72 Hours
WiFi Surfing : 4-5 Hours
3G Surfing : 3.5 Hours
Music : 7 Hours
Video : 2 Hours

Conclusion:

The Galaxy Y is now available for a price of 6800 INR on most online portals, possibly at a cheaper price at local vendors. At that price to get a 800+ MHz processor with native Android 2.3.5 capacitive touchscreen Wifi , 3G and Hotspot, we have no complaints from this device. Why should we? This is a complete device and offers anything you would need as a first time Android user on a budget, and also basics for somebody looking for a secondary device. It looks great, is manufactured by a trusted brand and has great service and support for a budget.

We say get it!

We Rate the GALAXY Y : 4 on 5

Unboxing Video

Review Video

Image Gallery

October 31, 2011

Samsung Confirms Ice Cream Sandwich Rollout Plans for devices
Samsung has confirmed the list of devices that will be getting Android 4.0 AKA Ice Cream Sandwich. This also clarifies if you didn’t pay good amounts of money for you device Samsung does not care about you. Also it seems that only newer devices are being considered for the update.

Here is the confirmed spec list:
- Galaxy S2
- Galaxy Notes
- Galaxy Tab 10.1
- Galaxy Tab 8.9
- Galaxy Tab 7.7
- Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus
Samsung is still evaluating less recent devices for potential upgrades.

Missing devices and low mid-range and the “old” Galaxy S i9000. Samsung has yet to assess the time to port the new version on the high-end device and then verify that everything is replicable also on line cheapest device (however, only WVGA). Thus were not yet evaluated the choices for the Galaxy W and the like.

–Samsung Blog
October 29, 2011
End Of Days: Sony Buys out stake from Sony Ericsson at €1.05 billion

Rumors are all out, and put to an end. Sony has confirmed that it will buy out its stake from the JV of Sony Ericsson for a whopping €1.05 billion in exchange for its 50 percent. This will give Sony full ownership of the company soon to be rebranded worldwide. This will also enable the company to have a more systematic alignment with the arsenal of tablets and PCs it plans in the future.

The buyout will also give IP cross-licensing agreement and ownership of “five essential patent families” to ensure they stay in the mobile phone business. The separation will be finalized in Jan 2012.

[toggle title_open=”Press Release” title_closed=”Press Release” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]Ericsson: Sony to acquire Ericsson’s share of Sony Ericsson

October 27, 2011, 08:16 (CEST)

Sony Ericsson to become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony and integrated into Sony’s broad platform of network-connected consumer electronics products
The transaction also provides Sony with a broad IP cross-licensing agreement and ownership of five essential patent families
Ericsson to receive EUR 1.05 billion cash payment
Sony and Ericsson to create wireless connectivity initiative to drive connectivity across multiple platforms
Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) and Sony Corporation (“Sony”) today announced that Sony will acquire Ericsson’s 50 percent stake in Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (“Sony Ericsson”), making the mobile handset business a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony.

The transaction gives Sony an opportunity to rapidly integrate smartphones into its broad array of network-connected consumer electronics devices – including tablets, televisions and personal computers – for the benefit of consumers and the growth of its business. The transaction also provides Sony with a broad intellectual property (IP) cross-licensing agreement covering all products and services of Sony as well as ownership of five essential patent families relating to wireless handset technology.

As part of the transaction, Ericsson will receive a cash consideration of EUR 1.05 billion.

During the past ten years the mobile market has shifted focus from simple mobile phones to rich smartphones that include access to internet services and content. The transaction is a logical strategic step that takes into account the nature of this evolution and its impact on the marketplace.

This means that the synergies for Ericsson in having both a world leading technology and telecoms services portfolio and a handset operation are decreasing. Today Ericsson’s focus is on the global wireless market as a whole; how wireless connectivity can benefit people, business and society beyond just phones. Consistent with that mission, by setting up a wireless connectivity initiative, Ericsson and Sony will work to drive and develop the market’s adoption of connectivity across multiple platforms.

“This acquisition makes sense for Sony and Ericsson, and it will make the difference for consumers, who want to connect with content wherever they are, whenever they want. With a vibrant smartphone business and by gaining access to important strategic IP, notably a broad cross-license agreement, our four-screen strategy is in place. We can more rapidly and more widely offer consumers smartphones, laptops, tablets and televisions that seamlessly connect with one another and open up new worlds of online entertainment. This includes Sony’s own acclaimed network services, like the PlayStation Network and Sony Entertainment Network,” said Sir Howard Stringer, Sony’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President. Mr Stringer also noted that the acquisition will afford Sony operational efficiencies in engineering, network development and marketing, among other areas. “We can help people enjoy all our content – from movies to music and games – through our many devices, in a way no one else can.”

“Ten years ago when we formed the joint venture, thereby combining Sony’s consumer products knowledge with Ericsson’s telecommunication technology expertise, it was a perfect match to drive the development of feature phones. Today we take an equally logical step as Sony acquires our stake in Sony Ericsson and makes it a part of its broad range of consumer devices. We will now enhance our focus on enabling connectivity for all devices, using our R&D and industry leading patent portfolio to realize a truly connected world” said Hans Vestberg, President and CEO of Ericsson.

When Sony Ericsson started its operations on October 1, 2001, it combined the unprofitable handset operations from Ericsson and Sony. Following a successful turnaround the company has become a market leader in the development of feature phones by integrating Sony’s strong consumer products knowledge and Ericsson’s telecommunications technology leadership. The WalkmanTM phone and Cyber-shotTM phone are well known examples.

With the successful introduction of the P1 in 2007, Sony Ericsson early on established itself in the smartphone segment. More recently, the company has successfully made the transition from feature phones to Android-based Xperia(TM) smartphones. By the end of the third quarter of 2011, Sony Ericsson held a market share of 11 percent (by value) in the Android phone market, representing 80 percent of the company’s third quarter sales. During its ten years in operation Sony Ericsson has generated approximately EUR 1.5 billion of profit and paid dividends totalling approximately EUR 1.9 billion to its parent companies. Prominent models include “XperiaTM arc” and “XperiaTM mini” which received 2011 EISA Awards, while recent notable additions to the lineup include “XperiaTM PLAY” and “XperiaTM arc S”.

The transaction, which has been approved by appropriate decision-making bodies of both companies, is expected to close in January 2012, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

Ericsson has accounted for its 50 percent share in Sony Ericsson according to the equity method. Following completion of the transaction, Ericsson will have no outstanding guarantees relating to Sony Ericsson and will no longer account for Sony Ericsson as an investment on balance sheet. The transaction will result in a positive capital gain for Ericsson which will be defined after closing of the transaction.

SEB Enskilda is acting as Ericsson’s sole financial advisor in the transaction.[/toggle]

October 27, 2011

Samsung Galaxy R Unboxing and Review

The Samsung Galaxy R is the company’s attempt at making their success story with the Samsung Galaxy Slcd move over to the higher segment. Read on through to understand why we don’t recommend this device.

Build and Hardware

The i9103 is build in traditional samsung fashion, making “plastics feel like metals” look, which makes the device look great and feel great in the hand. But what makes it better is the fact that its styled almost along the lines of the Galaxy S2, which is Samsung’s Flagship. The overall use of materials and build quality is good if not better than the S2.

In terms of Hardware Specs the Galaxy R fails to stand up to serious competition that the S2 gives.


COMPARISON	Samsung Galaxy R I9103	Samsung Galaxy S 2 I9100

Platform
Operating Freq	GSM – 900, 1800	GSM – 850, 900, 1800, 1900; UMTS – 2100
OS	Android v2.3 (Gingerbread)	Android v2.3 (Gingerbread)
User Interface	TouchWiz	TouchWiz 4.0
Java
Processor	1 GHz ARM Cortex A9, Dual Core	1.2 GHz ARM Cortex A9, Dual Core
Graphics	ULP GeForce	Mali-400 MP

Display
Type	Super Clear LCD	Super AMOLED Plus
Size	4.2 Inches	4.27 Inches
Resolution	WVGA, 480 x 800 Pixels	800 x 480 Pixels
Colors	16 M	16 M

Camera
Primary Camera	5 Megapixel	8 Megapixel
Secondary Camera	VGA	2 Megapixel
Flash	LED	LED
Video Recording	1280 x 720	1920 x 1080, 30 fps
HD Recording	HD	HD, Full HD
Other Camera Features	Geo-tagging, Smile Detection, Auto Focus, Image Editor	Auto Focus, Shot Mode, Photo Effects, White Balance, Geo-tagging, Face and Smile Detection
Zoom		Digital Zoom

Dimensions
Size	66 x 125 x 9.5 mm	66.1 x 125.3 x 8.4 mm
Weight	135 g	116 g

Battery
Type	Li-lon, 1650 mAh	1650 mAh
Talktime		18 hrs (2G), 8 hrs (3G)
Standby Time		710 hrs (2G), 610 hrs (3G)

Memory and Storage
Internal	8 GB	16 GB
Expandable Memory Slot	Micro SD, upto 32 GB	Micro SD, upto 32 GB

Display, Camera and Multimedia

The device is after all a good spec’d phone, so expect great performance in terms of the display and sound quality. The display is not as vivid as the one on the S2 simply because of the lack of an AMOLED screen. The speakerphone we found was a bit more organized with its audio quality.

The device features a 4.2 Inch SLCD which appears to be washed out in front of the high intensity black of the S2’s Amoled display. Although both rank in at the same resolution the S2 has a slightly larger 4.27 inch screen. Watching videos and browsing websites is great in the combination of the internal hardware and external display. The device fares well agains competition like the Optimus 2X , but then again if you can spend a couple thousand and get the S2 why wouldn’t you?

Phone and Battery

So here is the segment where there is an actual improvement. The earpiece is exceptionally clear, and sounds great when on a phone call, the mic pics up your audio without the effect of any breakage and overall network connectivity is robust.

The device also has a greatly improved battery life over the S2, with a decent talk time of 5-7 hours depending on usage , we were pretty impressed to see that the device delivered upto 24 hours of music playback.

OS and UI

The device runs Android 2.3.5 and atop that is the TouchWiz UI from Samsung, now the interface is the same on the galaxy S2, but somehow it looked really dull on this device, possibly because of color usage and definitely because of the SLCD. the UI also adds a large variety of good widgets which make the daily usage of the phone a wonderful experience.

Conclusion

The device is a great alternative to the Samsung Galaxy S2, but not at this price range(Available for Rs. 27,000). It offers far less features to justify just a 1.5-2k price gap between the R and the S2. Our recommendation is DON’T BUY THE GALAXY R, instead get the S2 or some similar device from another manufacturer.

Video Unboxing and Review

October 25, 2011

Most Android Honeycomb Tablets will upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich

The air has been cleared over the tablet to Android 4 controversy and it seems all but most Honeycomb tablets will be updated to the latest build of Android from their companies. The only thing that lies in the middle is the timeline, and since we all know that companies like to take their own sweet time ironing out the kinks, we would say it should be a while.

October 24, 2011

Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V Unboxing and Quick Review

So we went hands on with the Neo V. Check out this highly anticipated device, in full iG Glory , with Specs Images and Video

Tech Specs

Price	20,000 /- MRP
Frequency	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900; HSDPA 900 / 2100; HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100
Phone Style	Touchscreen
OS	Android 2.3.5
Thickness	13 mm
Length	116 mm
Width	57 mm
Weight	126g
Built-in Memory	1GB ; RAM 512
Additional Memory	microSD up to 32GB
High-speed Data	GPRS, HSDPA
Connectivity	Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, A-GPS
Screen Size	3.7-inches, 854 x 480 pixels
Secondary Screen Size	N/A
Screen Colours	16 million
Camera	Yes
Camera Resolution	5 megapixel with upto 16x zooming; Front VGA camera
Flash	Yes
Ringtones	Polyphonic, MP3, Truetone
Music Player	Yes
GPS	Gps + aGPS
Radio	Yes
Speaker	Yes
Processor	1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8255
Internet	Yes
Browser	HTML
Games	Yes
Battery	Talk time: Up to 7 hrs on 3G and 6hours 55 minutes on 2G, Standby time up to 430 hrs on 3G and 400 hrs on 2G

Images

Video

October 21, 2011