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Lenovo Launches the Affordable A5000 With 4000mAh Battery in India; Price Revealed

The newest A-series smartphone to launch in Russia few days back, the A5000, was speculated to arrive in India soon. Today, the handset has finally made it to the Indian soil. The A5000 is introduced at a price of Rs. 9,999 and is currently listed on the company’s online TheDoStore. Lenovo is taking pre-orders for the A5000, which will ship by April 30, as mentioned on the website. The phone will be available in two colour options – white and black.

The A5000 flaunts a 5-inch HD IPS display (1280×720 pixels). Inside is a 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek processor with 1GB RAM that provides processing speed to the device. The 8GB internal storage capacity of the device can be expanded up to 32GB via MicroSD card. The smartphone runs on Android 4.4 KitKat.

Optics includes an 8MP rear camera with autofocus and LED flash, while the front is a 2MP camera to click selfies. Connectivity options include GPRS/EDGE, Wi-Fi 802, GPS, Micro-USB, and Bluetooth 4.0. The dual-SIM device gets its juice from the massive 4000mAh battery.

At the price of Rs. 9,999, the new Lenovo handset will compete with Honor 4X, Redmi 2 and the new Moto E LTE.

Check the specs sheet of Lenovo A5000 below:

Specification	Lenovo A5000
Display	5-inch HD IPS (1280x720p) display
Processor	1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek processor
RAM	1GB
Storage	8GB
Expandable Upto	32GB
Main Camera	8MP
Front Camera	2MP
Battery	4000mAh
Operating System	Android 4.4 KitKat
Price	Rs. 9,999

April 27, 2015

Airtel Introduces Super Cheap Unlimited Voice Calling Schemes for Broadband Subscribers

Following the footsteps of Indian cellular service provider BSNL, Airtel has announced plans to boost its landline service. Bharti Airtel launched an unlimited voice calling service for its broadband customers in the country.

The telecom company announced two voice packs: there is a Rs. 49 pack for unlimited local calls for a month, and the other is Rs. 99 per month plan to make unlimited local and STD calls.

Airtel said in a statement –

In an industry first, it will announce that its broadband customers can enjoy free voice calls to any network in the country 24×7. Customers can enjoy unlimited free local calls with the pack priced at Rs. 49 per month and unlimited free STD+local calls at Rs. 99 per month to any network, anywhere in the country to both landlines and mobile phones round the clock.

The new offers are for non-commercial use, and allow users to make calls to both fixed lines and mobile numbers.

Airtel has an extensive network of fixed-line telephone and broadband services in 87 cities of India, but its user base is smaller in comparison to BSNL. According to a study by TRAI, Airtel has around 3.39 million landline customers in the country, while BSNL had more than five times the fixed-line subscribers, at 16.6 million.

Recently, BSNL announced free unlimited voice calling from 9pm to 7am across India, which will kick off from 1st May.

April 27, 2015
Motorola Quietly Cuts the Price of Moto X (Gen 2) in India

Once again, Motorola has slashed the price of the Moto X (Gen 2) in India. The 16GB smartphone will now be available at Rs. 26,999, which was previously priced at Rs. 29,999. Along with that, the 32GB version has also received a similar price drop of Rs. 3,000. The higher storage variant is currently available on Flipkart for Rs. 29,999.

Motorola earlier announced a price cut of Moto X (Gen 2) 16GB while launching the 32GB version of the handset. The device was released at a launch price of Rs. 31,999.

Recalling the specifications of second-gen Moto X, the handset boasts a 5.2-inch (1080x1920pl) AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. Inside is a 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor bundled with 2GB of RAM. Running on Android 4.4 KitKat, the phone can be upgraded to Lollipop.

Back of the phone sports a 13MP camera with autofocus, dual-LED flash, and the front has a 2MP shooter. The device gets fuelled up by a 2300mAh battery. The 16GB and 32GB variants come with identical specs and differ only in memory storage, which can’t be expanded.

Click here to buy now:

April 27, 2015
Google Hints at a New Device in Project Fi Video; Next-Gen Nexus 5 May be in the Works

The Nexus 5 has been touted as one of the best products to roll out from the Google lineup. The handset, featuring a Full HD Display and 2.3 GHz processor, came with an affordable price tag and sold like hot cakes. Now there are reports stating that the internet giant is working on a refreshed version of the flagship. The next device has tentatively been titled as Nexus 5 2015.

A technology portal called Android Origins states that a new version of Google Nexus 5 might release in two variants. The video released last week by Google on Project Fi also displayed a new device, which resembles the Nexus 5 from the front. The device render stayed for almost 16 seconds on the video with Project Fi support on it.

Google’s recent mobile carrier plan that allows users to switch between Wi-Fi and cellular networks is limited to Nexus 6 only. The company announced that its upcoming devices will come with support to Project Fi. It’s quite possible that Google was talking about the next-gen Nexus 5. Since it is called Nexus 5 2015, the device is expected to release sometime this year.

According to the source, both Huawei and LG will be working on the Nexus devices. LG will be responsible for the Nexus tablet or the Nexus phone, while Huawei can bring out inexpensive versions of the two.

Have a look at the Project Fi video below from timeframe 0.16 to 0.32 to check out the phone renders:

April 27, 2015
Facebook and Google Have Been Instrumental In Locating Nepal Earthquake Survivors

A destructive earthquake shocked Nepal for two days and left nearly 2,200 people dead, and many more were left injured or missing. It was one of the most dangerous earthquakes whose epicenter originated 17km south of Kodari, Nepal and measured 7.9 on the Richter scale. At this hour of crisis, many technological powerhouses have made it easier for rescue workers and family members to reach out to missing people.

Google’s Person Finder is a free tool that doubles up as a registry or a message board for survivors. This app was developed first during the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and its aggregated data include registries run by CNN, the Miami Herald and the New York Times. This tool can be used by family or friends to locate missing people or loved ones.

Facebook’s Safety Check is a tool that allows people to inform their family members or friends about their safety status. This feature works by accessing the user’s profile information and check-in updates and tracks people near the area of impact.

https://www.facebook.com/zuck/posts/10102050030813611

This feature was first initiated by Facebook on 16th October 2014.

For the current disaster in Nepal, Facebook has mapped every person in Nepal and nearby Indian states within the reach.

Viber cancelled the Viber Out bill system so that users can make calls for free to any mobile or landline number during the stretch of the disaster. Similar steps were taken by BSNL, MTNL, IDEA, Airtel and Vodafone. BSNL, Vodafone, MTNL and Idea have lowered down the call rates to Re 1 for the next three days while Airtel offered free Airtel India to Nepal calls for the next three days.

The earthquake jolted Nepal yesterday whose tremors were felt in Delhi and places of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The quake flattened down many houses and buildings, including the famous Dharhara tower.

April 27, 2015
Ratan Tata Buys Stake in Xiaomi

Recently we heard the Chinese smartphone maker, Xiaomi, claiming that it wants to be an Indian company. Today, according to an official post by Xiaomi, Ratan Tata has acquired stake in the brand, making him the first Indian investor.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Xiaomi” link=”https://www.facebook.com/MiIndiaOfficial/photos/a.1504141266467106.1073741828.1495988390615727/1614587922089106″]

We are happy to announce that Mr. Ratan Tata, chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, has made an investment in Xiaomi. This is the first investment by any Indian in Xiaomi.

Lei Jun, founder and CEO of Xiaomi, is happy to say: “Mr. Tata is one of the most well-respected business leaders in the world. An investment by him is an affirmation of the strategy we have undertaken in India so far. This is just the start of an exciting journey, and we are looking forward to bringing more products into India.”

[/quote]

Xiaomi has already made it to number 4 in the Indian smartphone market, and with Tata’s investment the company might get major push in the Indian retail market especially Tata Croma retail stores, which will now carry Xiaomi phones.

Xiaomi recently launched a new cheaper version of the Mi 4 dubbed the “Mi 4i” which is expected to do well in the Indian market.

April 27, 2015
Nokia Denies Comeback to Smartphone Business, Says “Reports are False”

The former leader of consumer smartphone manufacturer Nokia recently made headlines for considering making a comeback in the mobile manufacturing business. The firm heard the recent buzz over Internet and came out to publically announce that the information was false. The report of Nokia planning to return to the mobile business was surfaced by the reliable technology portal Re/Code, which stated that the news was disclosed by a Nokia Networks executive.

The exact statement by the Finnish reads –

Nokia notes recent news reports claiming the company communicated an intention to manufacture consumer handsets out of a R&D facility in China. These reports are false, and include comments incorrectly attributed to a Nokia Networks executive.

Nokia reiterates it currently has no plans to manufacture or sell consumer handsets.

Re/Code claimed that Microsoft-acquired Nokia is planning to bounce back to the smartphone business sometime next year. It also stated that several ambitious projects are in the making, and one among them is a virtual reality device. The company recently launched its first Nokia-branded Android tablet, along with an Android app called Z Launcher.

Nokia was acquired at a whopping price of $7.2 billion last year by hardware and software leader Microsoft. It was learnt that Nokia can’t use its brand name on smartphones till Q4 2016. Since Nokia was launching one or the other products lately, the news didn’t seem unfitting.

A while back, the company disclosed its move of acquiring Alcatel-Lucent for $16.5 billion. The new firm formed is called the Nokia Corporation. The acquisition will give a boost to its patent licensing business and networks division, which makes for 90 percent of the total revenue. The company is in talks with potential buyers to sell its maps business “HERE“.

April 27, 2015
Here’s Why It is Difficult for Developers to Create Games for Apple Watch

When Apple Watch went up for sale globally on Friday, nobody thought that games could find a place on Apple Watch. The Cupertino-based firm focused on health and fitness apps incorporated on its Watch, and never talked about any game-related app in its March 9 conference.

However, it sparks a question of whether developers would be able to shrink down games to the size of a 2-inch screen of the device. The gaming market for the smartphones is vast, and with the size of games decreasing year after year, it now seems possible. The preview page of Apple shows only two games.

It was learnt that developers don’t have access to full features of the wearable and development tools. But if any company succeeds to squeeze down a game to the size of the watch, it will have a firm grip on the smartwatch game sector. Apple has made a record-breaking $15 billion in 2014 through games in its App Store, and with estimates of 40 million Apple Watch to sell by year-end, there is a vast market for the developers ahead.

Some game developers have already started to take an initiative. New York-based studio Robot 5 says it has already designed three games that can be played on the 2-inch screen, along with seven more that will complete before the end of June.

Runeblade

Right now, the Apple Watch acts as a screen interface when tethered to the iPhone. Developers are still trying to figure out a way to develop native apps for the Watch. For making games on the wearable, it will need an entirely different mindset, however. Peter Chen, Founder and CEO of Robot 5 Studios says –

The biggest challenge is the complexity of the animations. iPhone games can have animations that are infinitely complex, with full control of each pixel and also of objects movements across the screen. Apple Watch games don’t have this kind of control over pixels and objects, so we have to mimic this kind of behavior.

It is likely that Apple will work on this issue on its launch or after, added Peter Chen. The 18-hour battery life of the wearable is also a problem for the developers.

It is quite evident that creating games for Apple Watch is not impossible. Just like for the iPhone and iPad, creating a set of games for the wearable needs a different approach.

Robot 5 Studios released a teaser of a new game. Check out how it looks like on Apple Watch in the video below:

https://youtu.be/tcwFyJysTG8

April 25, 2015
Rumour Roundup : All That We Know About LG’s Next Flagship Smartphone

The upcoming phone by the Korean electronics manufacturer LG is the current hot topic. The smartphone is expected to compete with Apple’s iPhone 6 and Samsung’s Galaxy S6. While the company officially unveils the LG G4 on 28^th of this month, let’s walk you through the speculations about the next LG flagship.

The new G4 by LG is said to feature a 5.5-inch Quad HD (2560×1440) display. This was officially stated by the display manufacturing unit of the company. The phone will come with a 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor along with 2GB and 3GB RAM options. The 2GB variant will have 16GB storage space, while the 3GB RAM model will come with 32GB onboard storage capacity, both expandable up to 128GB. The phone will have Android 4.4.4 KitKat installed with the company’s UX 4.0 UI.

A video released by LG narrates that UX 4.0 sports a lot of features like Quick Shot, Smart Board and Smart Notice 2.0 along with Smart Calendar app and Super Fast Gallery.

The camera specifications include a 13MP rear shooter with Optical Image Stabilization and Laser Auto Focus Dual Flash. The front will boast a 2.1MP snapper. The company recently teased the camera specification of the device which confirms that the G4 will feature a camera of aperture f/1.8. A sufficient 3000mAh battery will fuel the device.

LG G4 will come in nine different back panels, out of which three are standard, and six are crafted back panels made of real leather. The colour options include yellow, brown, silver and more.

Over a week back, LG accidently opened the LG G4 website that uncovered the above-mentioned details. Though, we can’t consider them as final until LG officially brings out the device. Let’s wait and watch if this device finds a niche in the over-flooded smartphone marketplace, where many affordable phones are ready to take on the high-end flagships.

April 25, 2015
Xiaomi Wants to Become an Indian Company, Says Company CEO Lei Jun

Xiaomi has exhibited many a times how important India is as a marketplace for the Chinese electronics manufacturer. It has set up an R&D centre in Bangalore (India), launched a warehouse and is showing interest to invest in Indian start-ups. The China’s Apple is now planning to begin local manufacturing in India and is reportedly in talks to set up a plant, as per Economic Times.

The Founder and CEO of Xiaomi Lei Jun said in a statement –

The most important market for us in 2015 is India. We want to become an Indian company. So, we want to build an R&D team, manufacture phones, set up data centre in India and invest in ecosystem companies in India.

He further disclosed the company has a team working on local manufacturing project. It is in conversation with its partners along with the government of two nations. Xiaomi wishes to make it happen as early as possible, but all this would take up to two years. The unit yet to establish in India will initially assemble the devices.

The electronics start-up which emerged in 2010 has become a customer favourite all over world. The devices offered by the firm come with considerable specifications and a reasonable price tag. It now stands neck and neck with notable electronics players like Apple, Samsung, HTC and more who are in the smartphone game since long.

Recently, the world’s third-largest smartphone producer conveyed that its goal is to become an Internet giant, not a handset dealer. It expects to reap nearly $1 billion from mobile services this year. Xiaomi aims to make Internet services e.g. smartphone games and payment app a pivotal part of its business and hopes to turn smartphone buyers into paying customers with its services.

India is on top of the company’s list to expand outside China, and the company launched Mi 4i in New Delhi. It is the cheaper version of Xiaomi Mi 4 costing Rs. 12,999 and includes an India-specific feature called Visual IVR. Xiaomi is presently the world’s most valuable technology start-up.

April 25, 2015
Motorola Introduces Steel Variant of Moto 360 in India

Months after releasing the leather version of Moto 360, Motorola has now announced the steel version of the smartwatch in India. The wearable with steel bands is available exclusively on Flipkart and comes in silver and black colour options. The new variants are priced at Rs. 19,999, which is Rs. 2,000 above the regular version.The smartwatch is the most appreciated wearables of all and holds some amazing features and specifications. The device has a 1.65-inch display and comes with Gorilla Glass protection. The water-proof Moto 360 runs on Google’s Android Wear OS and offers voice control. It is powered by a TI OMAP 3 processor along with 512MB of RAM and 4GB internal memory space. The 320mAh battery of the device can keep it running for up to 12 hours, as claimed by the company. The Moto 360 comes with Bluetooth 4.0 and sensors like pedometer and heart-rate monitor.

The company came up with a Gold edition as well, but for now, there is no word on its price and availability in the country. Meanwhile, we surfaced the news that the US-based firm is working on the successor of Moto 360. The smartwatch is in testing mode and can be announced any time soon.

Keep checking back for more updates.

April 24, 2015
Now Google Lets You Send Directions From Desktop to Your Android Phone

The Maps app by Google is a must-have tool while commuting from one place to another. Users need to type in the address or speak it to Google to get directions to the location, but what if you can avoid all that hassle. The search engine biggie has launched a new feature that allows sending directions from Chrome browser to your handheld device. Now users can search commute routes before leaving for the destination.

The announcement was made public by the company itself through its Google+ page. The process is as simple as searching on Google. Just type in send directions in the Chrome omnibox and add the final point. Tap on the ‘Send directions to my phone’ option and it will send the directions to your device. The Google Maps will load automatically with the specified location and will navigate to your destination.

It looks like the feature is not accessible in India as of now, but is expected to arrive soon. The hardware and software company launched ‘Find my Phone’ feature a week back that helps locate your missing Android device. It also revised its search algorithm to boost mobile-friendly websites and slipped a list of relevant apps within search results for you to download. All the moves are in favour of its users.

April 24, 2015
Samsung Teases Round Display of its Next Gear Smartwatch

The next Gear smartwatch is the most-awaited product to come out of the Samsung factory. Till date, quite a few details were known about the next wearable device, but now we have significant information about its form factor. The Korean electronics giant today gave a slight glimpse of its next Gear smartwatch that confirms of it boasting a circular display. The revelation was made in a press release that speaks of developers getting an early access to the Software Development Kit (SDK) for the company’s next-generation smartwatch.

A round smartwatch is the first for Samsung, who has previously released rectangular and curved screen watches. It would look like Moto 360 that has gained critical acclaim.

An image (provided above) was affixed to the official statement that let slip a brief sight of its watch face. Below are five more round watch faces that appear to be freshly designed. The company seems to have partnered with CNN, Baidu, Yelp, Apposter, and FidMe and is looking for more businesses for a tie-up.

The Suwon-based electronics firm announced that it is building up an ecosystem for the seventh generation Gear smartwatch. It sent an open invitation to members of the global developer community saying that they can get early access to SDK of next Gear device. CEO and Head of IT & Mobile Communications Division, Samsung Electronics, JK Shin commented –

Samsung has actively adapted its approach to wearable device development as the leader of the rapidly developing category. Through meaningful and progressive innovation, Samsung welcomes to developers and industry leaders to join this open collaboration effort to enrich and create unique user experiences for a new smart mobile life.

The company was expected to unveil the smartwatch at Mobile World Congress 2015 alongside Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, but instead, Samsung showcased virtual-reality headsets. It is expected that the next Gear device will run on Tizen OS with Exynos 7420 powering it. The smartwatch may launch in two variants. The company hasn’t come up with an official announcement till now, and we expect to hear it soon.

April 24, 2015

Xiaomi Brings Out the Lighter ‘Mi 4i’ With a 13MP Rear Camera

The time for which we all had been waiting for has come. Xiaomi has finally pulled the curtain off the ‘i’ mystery and showcased the world, Xiaomi Mi 4i. The Chinese electronics manufacturer has been teasing the device for quite some time. As speculated, the fresh handset is an affordable variant of Xiaomi Mi 4 and comes at a price of Rs. 12,999.

Talking about the exterior of the handset, the Mi 4i sports a polycarbonate unibody. It weighs a mere 130g and features dimensions 138.1mm x 69.6mm x 7.8mm. As compared to the original version, the Mi 4i is slightly smaller and lighter than Xiaomi Mi 4.

The device has a 5-inch Full HD OGS IPS display with 441ppi pixel density. The screen comes with a new technology called Sunlight display that adjusts the brightness when outdoors. The processor powering the phone is a 64-bit octa-core Cortex-A53; the four cores clocked at 1.7 GHz and the other four at 1.1 GHz. The device has 2GB of RAM and 16GB of inbuilt storage onboard. The phone doesn’t have a MicroSD card slot. There is an Adreno 405 catering to graphics quality. On the software front, the Mi 4i runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop with the company’s MIUI 6 on top.

Coming on to the camera, then the Mi 4i has a changes camera setup. The phone boasts a 13MP shooter with F/2.0 aperture along with dual-LED Flash and Autofocus, while the front is a 5MP shooter with F/1.8 aperture. The camera app has got some new features like image filters. Besides that the current tools have been modified to provide better picture quality such as HDR and Beautify.

The dual-SIM device is powered by a 3120mAh battery. Connectivity options include microUSB 2.0, Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi. The handset will be available in white, blue, orange, yellow and pink colour options. The handset will be available from April 30 on e-commerce site Flipkart. Meanwhile, users can register to for the same today from 8pm.

Check out its specs below:

Specs	Xiaomi Mi 4i
Display	5-inch Full-HD, 441ppi
Processor	64-bit octa-core Cortex-A53
RAM	2GB
Storage	16GB
Camera	13MP Rear, 5MP Front
Battery	3120mAh
Operating System	Android 5.0 Lollipop with MIUI 6
Price	Rs. 12,999

April 23, 2015

New Lenovo A5000 With a 4,000mAh Battery and 5-inch Display Coming Soon to India

Lenovo has launched its newest A-series phone, the A5000 in Russia and has priced the handset at RB 12,000 (roughly Rs. 14,500). Although, there are no details or dates mentioned about its release in other markets, Times of India has confirmed that the Lenovo A5000 will be arriving in India soon. The most attractive feature of this phone would undoubtedly be the 4000mAh battery which may play an important role in its marketing. According to the company, the battery gives 792 hours of standby on 3G.

Official listings show the phone would not support 4G LTE. The dual SIM phone comes with a 5-inch HD IPS display (720×1280 pixels) and is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek processor. It comes with 8GB of internal storage and 32GB of expandable memory. It has an 8MP primary camera and a 2MP FF front camera. Connectivity options include GPRS/EDGE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, GPS/ A-GPS, Micro-USB, and Bluetooth. Measuring 140×71.4×9.98mm, weighing 160 grams, the phone comes in two colours; black and white.

Though there is no official date for the India release, the Chinese company has recently launched the A7000. With this new variant, it can be concluded that Lenovo is expanding its line of budget phones to cater different requirements of different groups in the country.

Specification	Lenovo A5000
Display	5-inch HD IPS (720×1280 pixels) display
Processor	1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek processor
RAM	1GB
Storage	8GB
Expandable Upto	32GB
Main Camera	8MP
Front Camera	2MP
Battery	4000mAh
Operating System	Android 4.4
Price	Rs. 14,500 (Tentative)

April 23, 2015

Category: Brands and Companies

Specs

Xiaomi Mi 4i