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Microsoft will ship Standalone Xbox One Kinect with One Bonus Game

Microsoft’s standalone sensor for the Xbox One increased the console’s price to an unreasonable level, prompting Microsoft to drop it and make it an optional purchase. Now Microsoft gives you an option to buy a standalone Kinect.

Microsoft announced that it will ship a standalone Kinect sensor for the Xbox One on Oct. 7 at $150. However, to make the deal little sweeter they have added a free game with its Dance Central Spotlight, the latest in the dance series from developer Harmonix, which will be available as a digital download.

The standalone Kinect sensor follows Microsoft’s decision to make it an optional peripheral, releasing the Xbox One on its own, without the sensor, earlier this year with an RRP of $599. According to Microsoft, the unbundled console saw Xbox One sales double in the United States.

Buying the complete Xbox One bundle is still the cheapest way to get the console and Kinect sensor, but the standalone Kinect gives people the option of getting the base console and then adding the sensor at a later date if they so desire.

In April, Microsoft said it had sold 5 million Xbox One consoles to retailers, while Sony said it had sold 7 million PlayStation 4 units to consumers. Earlier this month, Sony said it had sold 10 million PlayStation 4 consoles to consumers. Microsoft has not released an Xbox One sales figure since April.

Microsoft has already made a series of price cuts, including bundling top games and Xbox Live Gold membership into the price of its console. Then in June, Microsoft unbundled the console and sensor, selling the Xbox One without Kinect for $399. Sales of Xbox One more than doubled in the U.S. after Microsoft unbundled that console and sensor, the company said in July.

The Kinect sensors allows users to control their Xbox One consoles and play games using voice and gesture commands. Microsoft earlier this month announced India availability of the Xbox One console on September 23, and made it available for pre-order it Rs. 39,990 without Kinect, and Rs. 45,990 with Kinect.

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August 28, 2014
Gionee Brings The GPAD G5 With Hexa Core Processor to India

Chinese phone makers Gionee today brought the GPAD G5 to India. The phone follows an edgy design pattern and is quite a looker. Gionee sure knows how to make their phones look good.

The GPAD G5 gets its processing might from a 1.5 GHz Hexa Core processor. It is running on Android 4.4. The device comes with 1 GB RAM and 8 GB internal memory which is expandable up to 32 GB. The device has a 5.5 inch IPS HD display with a Dragontrail screen. Dragontails are made of thin glass without the fragility and have high scratch resistance.

The phone’s edgy design sure is appealing to look at.

The camera on the back of the device is an 8MP shooter while the front sports 2 MP selfie camera. Considering Gionee’s history, the camera should have great clarity and feature which we’ll confirm when we get our hands on the device.

The device gets its juice from a 2400 mAh battery which sounds less when considering the 5.5 Inch screen and the Hexa core processor. But Gionee has managed some good OS optimization which leads to a good battery back-up, we’ll check out how the phone manages its juice later.

The GPAD G5 has some decent mid segment specs and is priced at Rs. 14,999 which is a good price when compared to every brand except Gionee’s compatriot, Xiaomi.

August 28, 2014
Top 5 Big Screen Smartphones Under Rs. 25,000

Shopping for a new smartphone is a hard task. With some amazing smartphones flooding the market every day, it is hard to choose one. The idea is to carefully go through what you exactly want your smartphone to do. These days smartphones are going for a bigger screen as a norm and 4.5 inch is becoming lowest screen size available in the market. People prefer big screens as they provide you better multimedia experience on the go and are also convenient for business purpose.

We are listing top 5 big screen smartphones under Rs. 25,000.

5. Sony Xperia T2 Ultra

The Sony Xperia T2 Ultra is a big screen smartphone as it sports a 6 inch HD display (720p) with TRILUMINOS and Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 for mobile. It is also powered by a 1.4 GHz Quad-Core Snapdragon 400 processor and runs on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. The handset is packed with a 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal storage which is expandable upto 32 GB via microSD card. For a mere Rs 600 more you can get the T3 which comes with the Sony SmartBand SWR10 and a Sony Premium case a total worth of Rs. 8480.

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4. OnePlus One

Okay! you need to get an invite to buy this Awesome big screen smartphone. But, don’t worry, we are giving out 5 invitation to our subscribers. Be sure to sign up for the giveaway here. The device is as impressive as it gets, it sports 5.5 Inch display at 1920 x 1080p with a 13 MP primary camera (4K video) and 5 MP front camera (1080p video). It is surely going to create a stir when it launches later this year for roughly Rs. 22,000. Check out the Hands on of OnePlus One.

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3. Xiaomi Mi4

Well yes, this big screen smartphone has not launched in India yet, But the follow up of the blockbuster Mi3 is expected to launch soon. The impressive device is said to be launch post-Diwali in all likelihood, And our exclusive source told us it is going to available in two variants at Rs. 22,000 and Rs. 25,000. At first glance, the Xiaomi Mi 4 bears a striking resemblance to the design of the iPhone, especially the stainless steel banding around the sides.

Stay updated about Xiaomi Mi 4 here.

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4. Gionee S5.5

Gionee S5.5 is a gorgeous device with 5-inch screen at 1080×1920 pixels, does not qualify as a really big screen smartphone. However, hardware wise the Gionee Elife S5.5 somehow seems to find a good balance. A Mediatek 6592 chipset with 8 cores clocked at 1.7 GHz a Mali450 MP4 variant GPU, 2 GB of RAM and comes in 16/32 GB storage capacities. The main camera sensor is 13 MP and the front camera sensor is 5 MP both with 1080p capture. Battery is on the low side with just 2300 mAh under the hood, however with the slimness of this device in consideration, its a pretty high value. If looks, beautiful display and a better than average camera is what you need, at Rs 22,999 the Elife S5.5 makes a strong case for itself.

Read our full review here.

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1. HTC Desire 816

The HTC Desire 816 is a brilliant display equipped big screen smartphone, that looks great from the moment you first hold the device in your hand. The 5.5 inch Super LCD 2 display offers excellent brightness and great wide viewing angles. Almost every time you turn on the display you get a slight smirk on your face as to how beautifully HTC manages color and how good this screen looks.The HTC Desire 816 may be a large device but it fits comfortably, and is an excellent phone with solid network strength.

Read our full review here.

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August 28, 2014
LG Officially Reveals G Watch R with Circular P-OLED Display

It is a good day for smart watch lovers; Following the unveiling of Samsung Gear S and Gear Circle, LG announced its new G Watch R smartwatch, and it’s one of the most elegantly designed smartwatches we have seen.

The LG G Watch R is said to be the world’s first watch-style wearable device to feature a circular Plastic OLED (P-OLED) display. It utilises 100 per cent of its watch face unlike Moto 360 which has flat bezel in the bottom of the screen.

Like LG’s G Watch, the G Watch R runs on Google’s Android Wear operating system, but that’s by far is the only similarity between the two watches. The G Watch R’s circular touchscreen measures 1.3 inches versus the G Watch’s rectangular 1.65-inch screen. The G Watch R’s display has a higher resolution (320 × 320 pixels) compared with the G Watch’s (280 × 280 pixels).

LG claims that it’s viewable in sunlight and clear from any angle, and the plastic also comes with some durability benefits. The screen rests in a stainless steel frame, and comes with an interchangeable calf skin leather strap.

LG G Watch R packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 SoC with 1.2GHz CPU and 512MB of RAM. The rest of the device’s specs include 4GB of built-in memory, 410mAh battery, and the usual sensors (gyro, accelerometer, compass, barometer).

The G Watch, which sells for $229, took heavy criticism for not including a heart-rate monitor which the company has included in the new G Watch R. It is said that the new device will give tough competition to the much popular Moto 360 which turned lot of heads around during its unveiling at this years Google I/O.

LG G Watch R is already a crowd favorite with its retro-style analog watchfaces, which show sweeping second hands and a set of internal dials that look like a classic watch. There’s even a classic watch crown on the side, which is likely the power button disguised in style.

The sophisticated looking G Watch R come only in black. The Android Gear powered device will run all compatible apps available in the Google Play Store and with an Ingress Protection Rating of IP67, the LG G Watch R is designed to run for up to 30 minutes in one metre of water too. Talk about durability.

The LG G Watch R is said to available in market sometime around this year’s Q4. Prices and details of availability will be announced at the time of local launches. The watch will be on display at IFA 2014 in Berlin next week.

August 28, 2014
Samsung Targets Watch Lovers With The Gear S Smart Watch

Samsung has launched yet another smartwatch called Samsung Gear S (not Solo). The new Tizen based smartwatch is going to be shown off at IFA next week and also at Samsung’s IFA press conference on September 3rd. The company is trying to one up the circular smart watches expected in the near future from Motorola and LG, and is also aiming to lure the more traditional watch lovers.

Gear S will be the first smartwatch from Samsung with built-in 3G connectivity, and have ability to connect to 3G and 2G networks on its own, meaning users won’t need to keep it wirelessly connected to a smartphone in order to get notifications or make calls.

The Samsung Gear S has a 2-inch curved AMOLED display. It is topped with dual-core 1GHz CPU inside along with GPS, heart rate and motion sensors. It is powered by a 300mAh battery which Samsung says can last up to two days. It runs Tizen instead of Android Wear, with pedestrian navigation available from from Nokia’s HERE and support for Facebook.

It also lets you reply to incoming messages using the onscreen keyboard, or S Voice functionality to complete your tasks. You can also make and receive calls directly from your wrist, or get calls forwarded from your smartphone.

The 2-inch curved AMOLED display is kept at a 360 x 480px resolution, which comes out to a fairly impressive 300 pixels per inch. The smart watch does not sport a camera, and unlike Samsung’s other Tizen-based Gear watches, it has a standalone music player.

Along with Gear S, the company also announced the Gear Circle headset; a ring-style headphone that connects via Bluetooth and features a magnetic lock that clasps around the users’ neck when it’s not being used. It can also vibrate to give the user notifications and let you hear notifications, use voice commands or listen to music through the earbuds.

The company has not revealed any pricing details about either of the products, but Samsung said that the Gear S will go on sale this October.

August 28, 2014
Xiaomi Mi 4 Coming to India This December In Two Variants

We have received exclusive word from Xiaomi that the Mi 4 will be making the journey to the Indian shores. The devices are expected to come in two variants. The phones haven’t yet been manufactured as they need to be calibrated to India specific conditions. They will be made TDD-LTE and FDD-LTE compatible for India. The devices are expected to be priced at Rs. 22,000 and Rs. 25,000. Considering the miniscule price difference between the two variants it will be interesting to see what Xiaomi has in store for India.

This phone will be the fourth offering from Xiaomi in India following the Mi 3, the Redmi 1S and the soon to come Redmi Note. The phone will release soon after the launch of the OnePlus One in India. The OnePlus One has already created a lot buzz around the world because of its incomparable specs encased in classy, visually appealing exteriors, it is seen as the only competitor to Xiaomi. (We are Giving away OnePlus One Invites Here)

The features on the Mi 4 will bring a thousand tears to Flagship makers

The features on the Mi 4 are as impressive and aspirational as its predecessor. The phone runs on Android Kitkat 4.4.3 based MIUI 5 and might be upgraded to MIUI 6 by the time it comes to India. It is powered by a Snapdragon 801 chipset which is clocked at 2.5 GHz. It holds 3 GB of RAM, which is a lot of RAM for the price point, and comes in 16 and 64 GB variants. The display on the device is a full HD 5 inch screen with a pixel density of 441 ppi. It houses a 13 MP camera on the back and an 8 MP camera on the front. All that feature for the price almost makes you feel guilty about paying too less for all that awesomeness.

The Mi 4 is expected to make a landing in India by the end of December. So if you were one of the unlucky one’s who couldn’t score a Mi3, you need not worry, a slightly expensive but bigger beast lies in wait for you. Just make sure you save enough cash for the moment of arrival of Mi 4 because as you know, those bad boys fly of the shelf incredibly fast.

August 27, 2014
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 to Get New Fingerprint Features

Since it’s debut on the Galaxy S5, Samsung  has included a fingerprint scanner on a number of devices. There is no surprise that the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 will come with one as well, but this time it could be in for better features.

Recently Sammobile, popular leakster, claimed that Samsung will use the Synaptics’ Natural ID solution, just like the Galaxy S5 and the Galaxy Alpha in Galaxy Note 4. Presently the Galaxy S5 and Alpha come with Private Mode authentication, and Samsung and PayPal account verification. However, the Galaxy Note 4 will sport some add on features like a Fingerprint Shortcuts and Web sign-in feature. The new feature will allow users to assign specific application launches and functions to swipes of individual fingers.

Leaked Galaxy Note 4 tutorials have revealed  phone’s Fingerprint Shortcuts feature in full detail. “When you unlock the device with the registered fingers, you can make the finger shortcut to any applications or other functions directly from the lock screen,” the instructions read.

Another new feature that’s said to be coming to the Galaxy Note 4 is ‘Web Sign-in’. This feature allows you to sign in to websites that can remember passwords by swiping your finger over the home key, thus saving your time and trouble of typing while being more secure alternative than simply leaving sites signed in.

Since they’re software features, it’s quite possible that Web Sign-In and Fingerprint Shortcuts could make their way to the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Alpha following the launch of Galaxy Note 4.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is expected to launch at  a pre-IFA 2014 event on September 3. Note 4 is stated to have a 5.7 inch QHD display and is expected to be powered by a Snapdragon 805 or an Exynos 5 Octa SoC. The device is also expected to sport a 16 MP camera on the back and a 3.7 MP front selfie shooter.

August 27, 2014
Apple Slated to Launch 12.9 inch iPad Next Year

With Samsung and Google taking over the tablet market with high-end devices, Apple is preparing to give them a tough competition. Recent reports illustrates that the company is planning to launch a larger 12.9 inch iPad in early 2015.

We first heard of this tablet, which has been dubbed the “iPad Pro” in rumors, in mid-2013 with a prospective 2014 launch date. However, recent rumors suggests that the plans for the tablet had been put on hold. The new 12.9-in. iPad will be launched in the spring, as reported by Bloomberg, following the company’s release of new iPhones next month.

Apple has been struggling with the declining sales of 10 inch and 7.9-inch tablets. The plan to launch this new iPad pro is said to be the outcome of this sluggish market scenario which has been replaced by large smartphone and tablets from likes of Google and Samsung.

According to rumors, the larger 12.9-inch iPad will include a high pixel density display that is almost of an ultra high-definition quality. It will likely adopt many of the design elements offered in the current iPad Air and iPad mini, like an ultrathin chassis and narrow side bezels.

Mass production of Apple’s iPad Air with a 9.7-inch (24.6-cm) screen has already started, and it is likely to be unveiled by the end of current quarter. Along with this, a new version of the 7.9-inch iPad mini is also entering production and is likely to be available by the end of the year. Both of these devices are expected to include upgraded processors and support for the Touch ID fingerprint sensor.

Apple is shaking up the iPad line to increase the sales. Also company is trying to revive iPad sales by selling the devices to large companies through its new partnership with IBM. IBM will use its sales-force to sell iPads to large enterprises. It’ll also make enterprise specific apps for the tablets.

August 27, 2014
Unboxing : Redmi 1S And First Impressions

Xiaomi has really taken the Indian market seriously and has made products available quite promptly. With the new Xiaomi Redmi 1S, the company has broken the price barrier at Rs. 5999 and basically beat the Moto E and Asus Zenphone A450 by exactly Rs. 1000. The Phone will follow the same sale pattern as before , often referred to as #FailSale but, the company claims that the strategy is really working for them.

The Xiaomi Redmi 1s will come with 2 Micro Sim to Regular Sim adapters in the box for the dual sim device. The phone will run one card on 3G GSM while one on 2G GSM. The Redmi 1S is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 Chipset running at 1.6 GHz on Quad Cores and the Adreno 305 GPU. It accepts micro SD cards unto 32 GB and comes with an inbuilt storage of 8 GB and has 1 GB RAM.

For the Price it is an amazing value, and definitely beats down the competition. The juicy bits include a 1280 x 720 px 4.7 inch IPS LCD Display along with an 8MP camera which can shoot 1080p footage and a front facing 1.6MP camera capable of 720p video.

Xiaomi has started accepting registrations for the sale set to being on 2nd Sept on Flipkart here. The company claims that it has had no issues regarding service, and urges people to use the included sim adapters to tackle the sim card related problems. For the first flash sale of the Redmi 1S, Xiaomi will bring 40,000 units, which from the point of demand is still a meager stock.

The Phone will be made available along side a bunch of accessories including a screen protector, a gel case and a PU leather cover as well. Stay tuned for our review.

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August 27, 2014
Xiaomi Plans to Set Up Shop in Bangalore to Make India-Specific Phones

After seeing tremendous market potential for itself in the neighboring land, Chinese smartphone maker, Xiaomi is planning an R&D center in India. The company has seen phenomenal opening of its innings in India with its one of kind phones falling short of supply for the massive demand.

The R&D center will primarily focus on customizing the devices for the Indian consumers. The company said that they intend to have a team of engineers, designers and product managers who will build features that are specific to the needs of the Indian population.

The company is still a beginner in the smartphone game by market standards, but it was confident of its audacious product. The company took on the climb and has made it onto the list of the most appreciated products in the market. Its mid-segment priced products are capable of taking on the flagships. The company has made its mark in the markets of Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines and is now planning to wreak havoc in the markets of Indonesia, Thailand, Russia, Turkey, Brazil and Mexico.

Xiaomi claims the specific hardware requirements for Indian market caused the low supply of the Mi3

One of the major reasons cited for the R&D center is the heterogeneous network requirements of India. This country has different hardware and antenna calibrations which require physical calibration in the devices meant for the country. It was this reason that the phones meant for markets of China and Taiwan couldn’t be directed to India thereby leading to a shortage of products.

Apart from this, the company is planning on setting up its own consumer call centre to answer the queries of the consumers. Currently, the consumer support has been outsourced, and even the company runs on a bare minimum workforce in India under Head of Operations, Manu Jain.

This development shows the seriousness of the Indian market, in Xiaomi’s scheme of things. The company plans to prioritize both India and China as just catering to these two markets would be immensely profitable considering the massive population. The company will release its LTE enabled MI4 in India probably by December end. So if you want to have the full Xiaomi experience, there might be a job waiting for you in Xiaomi’s upcoming Banglore facility.

August 27, 2014
Leaked iPhone 6 User Manual Confirms Specs and Launch Date

Everyone is eagerly waiting for the rumored September 9th launch of the new revamped iPhone 6. As the date creeps closer, the World Wide Web is flooded with rumours and leaks. The most recent buzz was that the screen of Apple’s new monster was creating problems for the company, and this might delay the launch of the product.

Well, Apple enthusiats can breathe easy, one of the most recent leaked images points to the same predicted date: Tuesday, September 9.

The image is leaked by a French website called Nowhereelse.fr, which has a strong record of getting its hands on new Apple devices before its public unveiling. The image leaked is a shot of the front of the device’s quick start manual. The device printed on the front has a set date of Tuesday, September 9.

It doesn’t come as a surprise, since Apple likes to remain consistent to its history. It typically launches its smartphones in September, and last year, the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C reared their heads on the second Tuesday of September (10th Sept. to be precise).

If the image is to be believed, the image on the cover of the guide for the presumed iPhone 6 is different than the current model. The shape of the volume buttons have been changed, as have the Sleep/Wake button on the right. The Lightning connector appears to be centered below the home button, which still includes the Touch ID sensor, as marked on the manual.

However, other leaksters have found reasons to believe that this may not be a legitimate product manual. In the past, Apple has used the original product images on the front of the manual. Also, it is said the font is not in line with Apple’s style.

We will only know on September 9th if the image is authentic. The company is expected to launch two devices, the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch smartphones. Rumors suggests that the name of the large device might be iPhone 6L. Apple is also rumored to include a reversible Lightning cable for the iPhone 6 that allows you to plug it into USB ports from either end. The existing Lightning connector can plug into an iPhone or iPad in any way, but the latest design will bring the flexibility to both ends of the cable.

August 27, 2014
After Xiaomi, Oppo Signs an Exclusive Deal With Flipkart

Flipkart is becoming ‘the’ place online for smartphone manufacturers to reach out to consumers. The strategy gathered steam when the king of comeback, Motorola, introduced their products on the website. Its Moto line of products went out of stock when they went on sale, indicating the huge demand online. This encouraged others to try out the route and we have seen companies like Xiaomi gaining huge popularity in India through Flipkart. Now another Chinese smartphone manufacturer, Oppo is going for an exclusive retail deal with Flipkart.

Oppo has some good products in its kitty.

Oppo has some amazing devices such as Find 7 which was the first phone with Quad HD (2K) display in India. The company is looking forward to generating an all India market for their devices. They currently have 10 devices in the Indian market and they can be found in a price range of Rs. 8990 to Rs. 37,990. The phones in the Oppo stable in India are Oppo N1, R1, Find 5 Mini, Neo, Yoyo, Joy, Neo 3, Find 7a and the the recently released N1 Mini.

The company’s CEO, Mr. Tom Lu had this to say about the deal: “We have been striving to come closer to our customers and become a part of the society. With more and more consumers going online, having a digital presence has become a must. Flipkart is definitely one of the most popular shopping platforms with a very loyal customer base and by partnering with them, we are sure Oppo’s smartphones will reach out to more customers. With our products, Indian customers will get a chance to experience the best in innovation, the way many customers have enjoyed globally.”

Oppo certainly has some good products in its stable. The company hasn’t actually been able to create a buzz towards itself, even with an ad campaign that starred Hrithik Roshan. Considering the huge demand for quality high specs phones for fair prices on Flipkart, Oppo might be able to carve out a decent consumer base for its consumers.

August 27, 2014
New Leak Confirms Nexus X Specs and Reveals an Important Detail about Android L

We’ve already established the fact that Google’s upcoming Nexus device will not be called Nexus 6. Also, at this point we’re pretty certain that the device will be brought to us by Motorola. Now, popular tech blog TKTechNews has leaked some interesting information about the upcoming Nexus X. The leaked images show several AnTuTu benchmark screenshots for the handset, which also seem to reveal an important new detail about Android L.

The screenshot reveals the hardware details about the device. The leaked information is in line with the previous reports, which includes a 2K display, 2.7GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and 13-megapixel camera. As mentioned earlier, the AnTuTu app refers the device as Nexus X and the device scored 35,430 in the test.

What’s interesting is that the leaked images of the benchmark lists Android version as ‘5.0’. However, in contrast, other recent leaks had suggested that the new updated version of Android will be called LMP or Lemon Meringue Pie.

The company is yet to confirm what will be the name of the new version of Android once it will be officially launched. Considering that these images are true, this Nexus X benchmark seems to confirm what every Android fan has been waiting for Google to reveal. Android will upgrade itself from Android 4.x (used since Ice Cream Sandwich) to Android 5.x.

Another rumor surrounding the Google’s Nexus X had surfaced recently. According to the leaked Best Buy listing, the Nexus X will be available on Sprint networks for $500 with a two-year contract. The listing for the Nexus X claims that the device has a 5.9-inch Quad-HD display that has a resolution of 1440×2560, a 2.7GHz quad-core processor and the Android L operating system. Google Nexus devices were expected to get an Andoird L update sometime in October followed by Motorola handsets.

August 27, 2014
Moto ‘Skip’ is a Tiny Accessory That Will Help You Find Your Smartphone

Remember Skip? The petite accessory by Motorola that lets you bypass your phone’s lock screen entirely and “skip” the step of entering a passcode or pattern to use your phone. It was introduced last year alongside Moto X. And now, the word is Motorola is working on the second version of ‘Skip’ which is said to be more useful than its predecessor.

According to new filings at the FCC, the next version of the Skip will use Bluetooth instead of NFC and will become more mature from just being a quick access key to your smartphone. The updated version of Skip will also be capable of helping you locate your misplaced keys if the device is attached to your keychain.

It works the other way round too, double-pressing the power button will make your nearby Android phone ring so it’s easier to locate. This could prove to be of huge help if you’re one of those who always loses their phone. It is pointed out that Motorola is also working on an app which will be available for all Android devices, through which you’ll be able to see where your Skip was last connected.

When you get within the range of finding it, Skip will start beeping to help your search. According to Motorola’s user manual, the small device will last about a year on a single battery, and it relies on Bluetooth to pull off most of its functionality.

No information has been made available in terms of pricing or availability. It is said that the probabilities are high that we will see this device at the September 4th event where we expect Moto X+1 and Moto G2 to launch.

August 27, 2014
5 Reasons Why You Should Consider Buying a Windows Phone

The Windows Phone is making a comeback. This time the operating system has found a home in one of the most appreciated smartphones in the business. The new HTC One M8 with Windows has given a fresh new breath of life to the Windows Phone 8.1 and given users a chance to experience the operating system on a brilliantly designed phone. The success of this phone will definitely encourage other manufacturers to bring out Windows variants in their flagship space.

So we dug deep, scoured through and looked into the Windows Phone 8.1 operating system. With this new Windows Phone 8.1 update the OS is catching up to the giants. We check out how a Windows phone can score over the champions of the smartphone game, Android and iOS.

With the HTC One M8 running Windows Phone 8.1, the OS is back in view

5. Its Customizability

Windows phone 8 didn’t have many customizability features but much has changed since. The Windows phones of course don’t have as many customizability features as Android but it surely has more than the iOS. The ‘Start background’ lets you personalize the homepage. The homegrown apps on the Windows Phone 8.1 are ready to take on the world and the OS is as competitive as others.

4. Cortana

Cortana has some nice quirky attitude.

This one will definitely be a plus for Microsoft. The digital assistant inspired by the widely acclaimed character from Halo is a lot of fun. Cortana is anthropomorphic which means that you can have a conversation with her and because of this, she wins over the robotic Google Now responses. Cortana is capable of doing what Google Now does but with a quirky attitude that you would love. Cortana’s Notebook is a feature worth mentioning. The user customizable Notebook is used by Cortana to find the best results for you.

3. The Action Centre

Action Center

The only thing missing from the main screen of a Windows phone was a notification menu. It’s here, Microsoft has brought the ‘Action Center’ in Windows Phone 8.1 which makes the OS fully functional now. The Action Center can be accessed by swiping down the screen from top, just like in Android.

2. Integrated Skype

Skype’s Video calling prowess is globally known. On a Windows system, Skype is the default video dialing client on the Windows Phone 8.1. The app is also integrated with Cortana so you can ask Cortana to video call someone from your contacts.

1. Faster Software Updates

Microsoft has said that the cycle of the updates delivery will be sped up to one new update every 6-8 months. The OS upgrade will take place every in one or two years. By speeding up the updates process, the company can generate trust in its consumers of a quality product.

Overall, Windows Phone 8.1 update was one of the most advantageous updates over its predecessors. With Microsoft getting into the mobile game and taking its mobile operating system seriously, it will be interesting to see how the market treats it. With the promise of frequent updates, Windows Phone can surely attract enthusiasts first who are bored of the usual iOS and Android fare. There is a need for a third alternative in the OS market and Windows seems like a good option as it is backed by one of the biggest tech giants. The more attention given to the OS, more the developers will be interested in creating apps for the system.

Now that the update to the Windows Phone 8.1 is days away, we hope to see it grow and give us viable alternatives in the market.

August 27, 2014