iGyaan Network

Category: Sony

  • iGyaan Holiday Guide : Extreme Phones 21,000 and UP

    iGyaan Holiday Guide : Extreme Phones 21,000 and UP

    The end of the year is upon us, and what better  way than to look at the amazing phones of 2011, the top list, or the commercial giants. Here is a list of Smartphones which we think make sense in the Bracket from 21-40 thousand. Of course we only list our favorites. 

    Missed the Other Guides ? Check them Out:

    Best Phones in Rs. 20,000/-

    Best Phones in Rs. 15,000/-

    Best Phones in Rs. 10,000/-

     

    Android 

    Possibly the largest category in this guide we have literally more than 15 phones that can fit in this price range, so we take out what we think is the best of the lot.

     

    Samsung Galaxy Note (Rs. 32000) : Phone? Tablet? Relax its a Galaxy Note! The best Android device money can buy today in India. The Note features a massive 5.3 inch screen with an awesome Super Amoled Display ( beautiful), it also has a S-Pen which is a capacitive pen with more features than a stylus ever had before : Detailed here. The Note also has a fast 1.4GHz processor, 16 GB storage, Android 2.3 with confirmed ICS. 8MP camera + front camera with Video calls. Check out our Unboxing and Hands On : Review is out Shortly!

     

     

    Motorola Razr XT910 ( Rs. 33990) : The slimmest phone in the Android Series, Motorola has revived the Razr brand, with just a 7.1mm thickness for a smartphone. The device is powered with a 1.2 GHz dual core ARM Cortex A9 processor, the RAZR also packs in 1 GB of RAM and a PowerVR SGX540 GPU. A 4.3 inch super AMOLED advanced display make for the best viewing with a qHD resolution. 8MP camera allows great pictures and Full HD video recording 1080p. Our Review Out Shortly!

     

    HTC Sensation XE ( Rs. 32000) and XL ( Rs. 37000) :  While we really recommend HTC phones simply because of brilliant build qualities, we feel that they are overpriced and thus they share the third spot in the Android Lineup. The XE packs Beats audio and iBeats , 1.4 GHz processor a great 4.3inch qHD screen and Sense UI on top of Android 2.3.4. Our Review covers it in-depth. The XL is just a bigger version of XE with a much bigger price tag. The specs are strange, a 480x800px resolution, a 1.5GHz processor and Android 2.3. Its a way to express that you love HTC phones and thats it. Need we say our review is out shortly!

     

    HTC Evo 3D (Rs. 35000) : Want to jump on the 3D bandwagon? this is the device to choose. The LG Optimus 3D is a cheaper alternative, but we feel that the HTC is a better device. Specs include 1.2 GHz dual core processor, an Adreno 220 GPU based on a MSM 8660 chipset and 1 GB of RAM. An auto-stereo-scopic Display makes 3D viewing without 3D glasses possible. The 4.3inch display has a qHD resolution and the device has HTC Sense on Android 2.3 – to be upgraded to ICS and newer Sense in 2012. Our unboxing and Video Review cover the Evo 3D extensively.

     

    Samsung Galaxy S2 (Rs. 28,000) : The best selling Android Premium smartphone in 2011, the Samsung Galaxy S2 is truly an amazing device. An upgrade to the Galaxy S, the S2 brought a lot of firsts for Samsung. An 8 MP camera with stunning pictures and full HD video, a beautiful Super AMOLED Plus display which hosts Android 2.3 with Touchwiz –  flick and  tap. A large in-built memory of 16 GB and is expandable up to 32 GB, good battery life and a gorilla display. This device truly answered all questions that buyers had in 2011. Check out our Full Review.

    Sony Ericsson Arc S ( Rs. 28000) : No its not the best phone for the money thats why it falls under the S2, The SE ARC S is the only SONY entrant in our list, because of the beautiful Timescape UI and the stunning Bravia Engine on the display. Powered by a poor old 1.4 GHz Qualcomm Scorpion processor and Adreno 205 GPU, no this does not make this device incapable. The UI is stable and the performance is excellent from the device. 

     

     

    Samsung Galaxy S Plus ( Rs. 21000) : The Lowest range handset in our list, powered by the same processor as the ARC S , 1.4GHz Scorpion, The S Plus is exactly what the name says, a plus to the Galaxy S.  8GB memory and 512MB RAM, a Super Amoled Display. The funny thing is you get better specs on a cheaper device the Galaxy R ( Rs. 18800) .

     

     

    The Galaxy Nexus didn’t make our list because its not officially available in India, Yes it should be at the top of the list, considering ICS is already on board and a 720 x 1280 px, 4.65 inch Super Amoled Capacitive touchscreen, a Dual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9, 16GB internal storage – Optional 32GB . The phone also has a 5MP camera with full HD video and a front camera for native 3G video calls. A lot more specs than we can list here. The phone enters India end January 2012, you can get it from ebay ranging 35-45k. Best of luck!

     

    Apple

    iPhone 4S (Rs. 44900) : The Apple of everyone’s eye, the Apple iPhone 4S is the flagship phone from Apple this year. With millions sold within weeks its also one of the most sold handset in 2011 (considering iPhone 4). The new iPhone 4S brings the A5 chipset with dual core capabilities, best in class 8MP camera with full HD video and Image stabilization ( 5 Lens system). The highest resolution Retina Display. But the most popular thing of 2011 is Siri, the voice activated Assistant that follows your every command. Check out our Unboxing : Review Shortly 

    iPhone 4 ( Rs. 32,000) : Yes two Apple devices made our list, the iPhone 4 is the taster for those unwilling to shell out big buck for the bigger brother. Still you get iOS5, iCloud and Siri after jailbreak of course. The iPhone 4 has a 5 MP rear illuminated camera, the same Retina display, Front facing camera for FaceTime calls and Millions of Apps from the iOS AppStore. The iPhone 4 is a perfect device for those with the budget and the urge to jump over to iOS while Apple unveils the next-gen iPhone sometime in 2012 for big buck. Of course we reviewed it back in the day.

    Blackberry

    Bold 9900 ( Rs. 31000) : The Bold 9900 is the flagship Bold from RIM. The same keyboard layout from the original bold 9000, with a new capacitive touchscreen, a super slim profile and BB OS 7 . The only disappointment is the poor fixed focus 5MP camera. The 9900 is a businessman’s powerhouse, especially if you are a previous BB user. The device has excellent mail capabilities and of course has BBM. The new OS 7 also supports a lot more new age apps and games. The phone features a 1.2 GHz processor , 768 MB of RAM, 2.8-inch capacitive LCD and 8GB storage. Our Video Here

    Torch 3 / 9860 ( Rs. 28000) : Our Second BB recommendation, the beautiful screen and the full touch display make the device feel really nice in the hands. Liquid graphics on a 3.7-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen. 4GB internal storage and 768MB ram. BB OS 7 and new age emailing and messaging, excellent media capabilities and an excellent form factor. A great Blackberry for those looking for a BB – iPhone Hybrid (minus iOS) . Our Video Here 

     

    Windows Phone

    HTC Radar (Rs. 23000) : Our first recommendation simply because of Price vs Features. The Radar has a beautiful build quality with WP7.5 Mango running on top of a 1 GHz Qualcomm Scorpion processor. The 3.8-inch Super LCD screen has a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels and look great. The device has a 5MP camera and a 0.3 MP front camera no 3G video calls though. Check out our full review. If you don’t really rely on Build quality, a better and cheaper alternative is the Omnia W for 18,990

    NOKIA Lumia 800 ( Rs 28900) : The Amazing Everyday, no not yet ! Yes this is Nokia’s Answer to Android, but is it the right answer? The device runs WP7.5 Mango with proprietary Nokia Apps ( not really since we ported them to HTC)  but the device has a 1.4 GHz Qualcomm Scorpion processor, 512 MB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage. Lumia 800 has a 8MP camera with full HD recording, but wait! where is the second camera? Our Review and Comparison with Omnia W comes out shortly.

  • iGyaan Holiday Guide : Best Smartphones for 20000 Rupees

    iGyaan Holiday Guide : Best Smartphones for 20000 Rupees

     

    Continuing on with our Tradition of Holiday Guides today we bring the best phones under the 20,000 Rupees mark (15,000 – 20,000), Of course you can check out our under 15,000 guide and Under 10,000 Guide if they better suits your purpose.

    (In order of preference) 

    Android Phones  

     Samsung Galaxy R (Rs. 20,000) : Have 20k to spend? This is our pick for smartphone under the 20 thousand mark. The dual core smartphone is available at online retailers for prices well below 19k including deals, searching will get you a good deal. The phone performs great and a review done for the second time, by us, will fill you in on required info.

     

     

    LG Optimus 2X (Rs 18,599) : Although the phone fared poorly in our review, The device has been rooted, modded and been patched to fix all software glitches of the stock ROM, This is a alternative dual core smartphone for the modder and cellphone tweaker. This phone will keep you busy for hours. If you plan to mess around with software on your device this is your poison. Although this may not help you Our Review is here

     

     

    Motorola Defy Plus (Rs 17,000) :  The best rugged phone in this class, with Android 2.3 Gingerbread, 512MB ram a 3.7 inch WXGA screen and endless hours of outdoor fun. This is your device if you love the outdoors but want in on the latest smartphone action. The Defy Plus will most probably get the ICS update since it has all supporting hardware ( Considering that Motorola is almost a Google entity now) . Our complete review with the higher priced Xperia Active is here.

     

    Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V ( Rs 17,499) :  Five words : “Timescape plus Mobile Bravia Engine” define what Android on a smartphone should look like. There is nothing that looks and performs as good as the TimeScape UI (Considering only Android OS)on Sony Ericsson Phones ( according to us) The phone is powered with a 1GHZ scorpion processor and features a 3.7 inch Screen with MBE. It has 512 MB Ram and Android 2.3 with a confirmed upgrade for Ice Cream Sandwich. Our Review is Here 

     

    There are of-course others that didn’t make the list, Our Reviews can be seen for those:

    Blackberry 

    Curve 9360 (Rs. 19,000) : The curve that runs OS 7, a fix for those who are not yet ready to shift to a full touch Blackberry, and those who are not ready to switch to Android or the likes of iOS. The device is the slimmest Blackberry yet at only 11mm. 800 MHz processor 512MB Ram and 512MB Rom. Check out our Video.

     

     

    Curve 9380 ( Rs 20,000): The first full touch curve, it brings BB OS 7 and a range of nice changes to the blackberry users, 800 MHz cpu , 512 MB Ram and 512 MB Rom is carried on from its younger cousin above. The device also features a nice 3.2” HVGA+ touch screen with a 480 X 360 pixel resolution at 188ppi. Check out our full review.

     

    iOS

    iPhone 3Gs ( Rs 20,000) : Two years old but still selling strong, the iPhone 3Gs supports iOS 5, iCloud, iMessage, Airplay and everything except FaceTime. If you hurry you can cash in on the new iOS 5.0.1 Jailbreak and even get Siri working on it. What else could you ask from a two year old phone. in terms of specs, it runs at 600MHz, has 16GB internal storage and 256MB Ram. The AppStore is the largest app market although most new apps may not perform great on the 3Gs. But hey you still get asked the question : “You have an iPhone”? Read our Editorial Here

     

    Symbian

    Nokia E6 (Rs. 17,000) : The business power seller from Nokia, If you don’t use a Blackberry, you use a Nokia E Series phone. A Qwerty marvel from Nokia, the device features 2.46-inch Touchscreen making it the first Touch Type – Nokia E Series. The device is loaded with Symbian Anna and comes with a 680 MHz processor, 8 MP camera and a very long battery life, bundled with a excellent build quality. Check out our Unboxing and Review Video

     

    Nokia 701 (Rs. 17,800) : Although stocks are limited on this recently released phone, it seems like a promising option for the Symbian lover, Running the new Symbian Belle Nokia Belle, the device features a 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 640 x 360 px. Inbuilt NFC, 1 GHz processor and 8MP Camera with 720p (30fps) Video. Our Review will be out shortly.

     

     

    Windows Phone

    Samsung Omnia W (Rs 18,990) : Launched upwards of 25k , Samsung has fiercely dropped the price of the Omnia taking into record the Nokia Lumia Marketing campaign. The device has a nice 3.7 Inches WVGA Super AMOLED display, 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon Processor, and 5MP AF Camera With LED Flash including a VGA front camera. Comes with Windows Phone Mango 7.5 and Samsung Apps. Our Review is Coming Soon

     

     

    Nokia Lumia 710 (Rs 19,999) :  Finally available the Nokia Lumia Series brings the first versions of Nokia Phones running WP7.5 to India. Powered by a 1.4 GHz Qualcomm Scorpion Processor the Lumia 710 is the smaller sibling of the highly advertised Lumia 800. This device has 3.7-inch TFT LCD touchscreen display screen with 480 x 800 pixel and a 5MP camera + LED flash. It also has a 512 MB RAM and has Adreno 205 GPU. iGyaan Review Out Shortly.

     

    Other phones that were not designed for Windows 7.5, but still support it fully include the following,( and you can possibly find a good deal on them):

    HTC HD 7 : 19,500

    HTC Mozart : Rs 19,000

    Dell Venue Pro : Rs 20,000

     

    Stay tuned for more Holiday Guides.

  • iGyaan Holiday Guide : Best Phones for 15,000

    iGyaan Holiday Guide : Best Phones for 15,000

    So many questions, so little time. Its the time for holiday cheer and we are literally getting bombarded with hundreds of emails asking us what phones to buy. So here is our guide for the best options in the Rs. 15000 price.

    (In order of preference) 

    Android Phones  

    1. Micromax A85 SuperFone : (Rs. 15290) The price drop has already been announced, and at this price it is the best spec’d phone. A dual core Nvidia Tegra 2, 3.8 inch touchscreen, 5 MP camera and gesture control make this the best bet at the price. But sadly it ships with Android 2.2.

     

    2. Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini Pro Sk17i: (Rs 15,000) One of the most recommended devices by iGyaan in 2011 our extensive review will tell you why this device is an excellent purchase.

     

     


    3. Motorola Defy (Rs 14,000) : The original defy is still an awesome phone, with Android a brilliant rugged construction that resists water and dust. The design is also shock proof. Check out our Review.

     

    4. HTC ChaCha (Rs. 14500): A brilliant form factor with excellent build, the only touch and type phone with this design from HTC. Also the first phone with a dedicated FB button on the Android platform, a Social king. Our Review Covers it.

     

     

    5. Samsung Galaxy Ace (Rs 13000): One of the most loved phones of 2011 the ace has a nice display along with impressive looks, a good processor and Touchwiz on top of Android 2.3. The device is well supported in the developer community and will get ICS courtesy Root and Custom CM9 rom. Check out our Review 

     

     

    6. HTC Wildfire S (Rs 12,500): Not our last option but an alternative to the Galaxy Ace, the build is far superior also is the quality of materials used. The device features HTC Sense on top of Android 2.3 and is arguably the best built phone of this bracket. The camera in some aspects is better than the Ace and pulls out great images. The processor is only a 600MHz compared to the 800MHz on the Ace. We reviewed it Here

     

    Blackberry 

    Blackberry Curve 3G 9300 (Rs. 14,450):  The only berry in this range, you also get the CDMA version of the curve 8520 (called: 8530) which is not worth mentioning. What is to say this is an old outdated berry running on the older OS6 but features a great and responsive OS. It is a great upgrade for some one on a Blackberry high . We however say, spend more and get the Curve 9380 : we covered here.

     

    Nokia Symbian

    Nokia 700 (Rs 15299) :  Younger version of the 701, this device is available in the market in select locations, features new Symbian Belle and a 3.2 inch Capacitive Amoled Clear Black display. A 5 Mp camera and 720p video capabilities make it a good competitor. Another add-on is the tough gorilla glass front. The price seems a bit high for this old-school Operating System. The phone also has a 2Gb internal storage and is a grab option for those who refuse to abandon the legendary OS in its dying days.

     

     

     

    Nokia 500 (Rs 11,000): Then there is the 500,  its the only other Nokia phone in this bracket apart from the discontinued C6-01. This features a 1GHz processor along with a 3.2-inch TFT nHD Capacitive Touchscreen. The phone features Symbian Anna and has great 5MP camera, which is fixed focus. Again price is a bit of a pinch especially because the device is unable to offer the freedom that say an Android device would offer, But on the upside it does have a 1GHz processor.

     

     

     

     

    Windows Phone

    Samsung Focus (Rs 14000) : The device was never announced in India, but New and unlocked US versions can be bought on Ebay. The device features a nice 4.0 Inch Super Amoled Display with a native 480 x 800 px resolution. Already updated to Mango this device offers all the new features of Windows Phone 7.5 at a bargain, everything of course except a front facing camera. The Focus also has 8GB of memory and 512MB Ram and 512MB Rom

     

  • Sony sells its stake in SLCD back to Samsung for US$ 939 Million (PR)

    Sony sells its stake in SLCD back to Samsung for US$ 939 Million (PR)

    Sony has sold its stake in the SLCD division of Samsung, the initial tie up was a 50%-50% partnership between the two companies. The venture was started seven years ago and now the companies have decided to part ways. The 50% stake that Sony owned was bought back by samsung for a sum of US $ 939 million, and Sony believes that it will continue engineering efforts for LCD developments in the future alongside Samsung.

    [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”]Sony and Samsung Shift to New LCD Panel Business Alliance

    • Samsung to acquire all of Sony’s shares of S-LCD, making the joint venture its wholly-owned subsidiary
    • Sony and Samsung enter into a strategic agreement for supply and purchase of LCD panels.

    Tokyo, Japan – Sony Corporation (“Sony”) and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (“Samsung”) today announced that the two companies have signed agreements to transition the current business relationship with respect to LCD panels.

    Under the agreement, Samsung will acquire all of Sony’s shares of S-LCD Corporation (“S-LCD”), the two companies’ LCD panel manufacturing joint venture, making S-LCD a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung. In consideration for the share transfer, cash consideration of approximately KRW 1.08 trillion* will be paid to Sony by Samsung. Concurrently, the two companies have entered into a new strategic agreement for the supply and purchase of LCD panels with a goal of enhancing the competitiveness of both companies. The agreement also allows Sony and Samsung to continue cooperative engineering efforts focused on LCD panel technology.

    For Sony, this transaction will enable it to monetize its shares in S-LCD and aims to secure a flexible and steady supply of LCD panels from Samsung, based on market prices and without the responsibility and costs of operating a manufacturing facility. With whole ownership of S-LCD, Samsung anticipates heightened flexibility, speed and efficiency in both panel production and business operations.

    Established in April 2004, S-LCD has continued to deliver advanced and cost-competitive LCD panels to both of its parent companies, contributing to the expansion of the respective parties’ TV businesses, and the large-sized LCD TV market overall. However, LCD panel and TV market conditions have now changed. In order to respond to such challenging conditions and to strengthen their respective market competitiveness, the two companies have agreed to shift to a new LCD panel business alliance.

    The share transfer and payment are targeted to close by the end of January 2012, subject to necessary approvals from regulatory authorities.

    As a result of this transaction, a non-cash impairment loss of approximately JPY 66 billion is expected to be incurred by Sony in the third quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012, due to the reevaluation of its S-LCD shares. This loss includes an impact from the fluctuation of exchange rate. Despite this one-time loss, Sony estimates that the transaction will result in substantial savings on and after January 1, 2012 in respect of costs associated with its
    procurement of LCD panels. The current estimate of the yearly savings in respect of such costs is approximately JPY 50 billion, compared to LCD panel procurement costs estimated for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012. Neither the one-time loss nor the estimated cost savings were included in Sony’s forecast of consolidated financial results for the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2012, announced on November 2, 2011. Sony is currently reevaluating this forecast, taking into account this transaction and other factors that might affect its full year FY2011 consolidated financial results forecast.

    Facts about S-LCD
    Established: April 26, 2004
    Capital: KRW 3.3 Trillion
    (Samsung Electronics: 50% plus 1 share, Sony: 50% minus 1 share)
    Representative: Location: Production Items:
    Donggun Park, CEO
    Tangjeong, Chung Cheong Nam-Do, South Korea 7th and 8th generation Amorphous TFT LCD
    *Note: The final amount of such payment will be determined based on S-LCD’s financial statements as of the end of December 2011.[/toggle]

  • Sony to intro PS4 in time for Xbox 720

    Sony to intro PS4 in time for Xbox 720

    So we all have heard news that the next version of Microsoft’s gaming console will come next year around E3 time. Sony’s gaming division is also tracking the growing rumours of a new Microsoft console, with the aim being to release its PlayStation4 .

    PlayStation Europe president Jim Ryan,  said it would be “undesirable” for Sony to launch a new console “significantly later” than the next version of the Xbox, to avoid handing Microsoft another huge lead. This makes Sony’s plans clear to announce the PS4 sooner and not later than the launch of the Xbox 720.

  • Motorla Defy + vs Sony Ericsson Xperia Active Review

    Motorla Defy + vs Sony Ericsson Xperia Active Review

     

    Two phones, multiple battle grounds and various areas of testing. The Motorola Defy Plus in one corner and the Sony Ericsson Xperia Active in the other, the two phones that appear superior in their fields. The true definition of a rugged phone is one that can withstand tortures of daily activities and more. 

     

    Build Quality & Design

    Both the Xperia Active and the Defy + are made to withstand certain levels of torture, with rugged accents in both their constructions, both devices fared well in waterproof testing. The Motorola Defy + is more of a mans phone, with the industrial looks and design, the strength to withstand drops and scratches. The device is a step above the Active which is not designed to withstand drops as the backpanel scratches and withers easily . Both devices have a gorilla glass front, the Active however has a tuff display which comes preloaded with a impact sheet and a scratch protector. The Defy + has a true full feature gorilla display which does not even need a screen protector to prevent scratches or impacts.

    We prefer the looks of the Defy + as a rugged phone, and the fact that it has a much larger display makes it a little bit more attractive. The Active has its own charm and can been seen as a pretty and small device, a possible option for the outgoing ladies.

    Hardware and Specs

       

    DEVICE

    		  

    Sony Ericsson Xperia Active

    Motorola Defy +
    Availability Announced on June 2011 August 2011
      Available September 2011 October 2011
    Battery Capacity 1200mAh 1700 mAh
      Standby Time 350 hours 384 hours
      Talk Time 6 hours 7 hours
      Type Lithium Ion Lithium Polymer
    CPU Speed 1GHz 1GHz
      Type Qualcomm MSM8255 TI OMAP 3620
    Camera Main 5mp (2592×1944) 5mp (2592×1944)
      Video 720p 720p
    Connectivity & Data Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR v2.1 A2DP EDR
      EDGE Class 32, 236.8 kbits Class 12
      GPRS Class 32, 88 kbps Class 12 (4+1/3+2/2+3/1+4 slots), 32 – 48 kbps
      GPS   yes
      HSCSD HSDPA 7.2 Mbps, HSUPA 5.76 Mbps HSDPA 7.2 Mbps; HSUPA, 2 Mbps
      USB 2.0 microUSB 2.0 microUSB
      Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n; DLNA Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n; DLNA
    Display Colors 16.8 million 16.8 million
      Resolution 320×480 pixels 480×854 pixels
      Size 3 inches 3.7 inches
      Type LCD capacitive touchscreen TFT capacitive touchscreen
    General 2G Network GSM 850, 900, 1800, 1900 GSM 850, 900, 1800, 1900
      3G Network HSDPA 900, 2100 OR HSDPA 850, 1900, 2100 HSDPA 900, 2100 OR HSDPA 850, 2100 OR HSDPA 850, 1900
      Alias ST17i, ST17a Defy+
      Form Factor CandyBar CandyBar
      Price Range    
    Memory Call record Unlimited  
      Card Slot microSD, up to 32 GB, 2 GB included microSD, up to 32 GB, 2 GB included
      Internal 320MB, 1GB ROM 2 GB
      Phonebook Unlimited entries  
      Ram 512MB 512MB
    Operating System Type Android Android
      Version 2.3 2.3
    Other Features Misc Features Wet finger tracking, ANT+, Water and dust resistant  
    Size and Weight Width 55.0 mm (2.15 inches) 59.0 mm (2.30 inches)
      Height 92.0 mm (3.59 inches) 107.0 mm (4.17 inches)
      Depth 16.5 mm (0.64 inches) 13.4 mm (0.52 inches)
      Weight 110 grams (3.9 ounces) 118 grams (4.1 ounces)

     

    Multimedia and Camera

    Both devices have a 5 MP camera with LED flash, both have 720p video quality with fairly decent and frame loss capture. The cameras are autofocus and the camera on the Xperia Active performs well, especially outdoors. Both devices come with their own variants on the camera app and the one on the Xperia outshines the one on the Defy. The defy + also lacks a front facing camera for video calls over Voip.

    The multimedia experience is somewhat of a dilemma, on one hand you have a larger display and a very loud speaker of the Defy+ and on the other hand you have a small display with a very vivid mobile Bravia engine and a good sounding speaker on the Xperia Active. The Defy+ also has a large resolution making the image and text quality on the device much better.

    Both devices performed well in video streaming and playback and were able to sustain a good overall experience, Playing back almost all sorts of media files.

     

    Phone and Networks

    The Motorola Defy + and the Xperia Active both have solid phone capabilities, except we noticed that the Defy+ proved to be the strong one in this challenge, the network and call quality for the Defy +was excellent and there were no dropped calls whatsoever. The Defy +  also showed off excellent WiFi strength compared to the weak WiFi on the Xperia Active.

    The Xperia Active faced some dropped calls and intermittent connectivity issues, not enough to worry us. The WiFi was weak and the company claims that its due to the dual layer shielding on the Active.

    Battery Life on the Devices :

      Defy + Xperia Active
    Phone calls 2G 6 Hours 4.5 Hours
    Phone calls 3G 4.5 Hours 3 – 3.5 Hours
    Internet Surf over Wifi 9.5 Hours

    7 Hours
    Internet Surf over data 4 Hours 3.55 Hours
    Video Playback upto 7 Hours upto 5 Hours
         

    UI and Accessories

    The Motorola Defy Plus comes with a custom UI on top of Android 2.3, called the MOTOBLUR it socializes your friends, pics, emails, messages, and Facebook, and Twitter happenings. MOTOBLUR syncs them all, with continuous updates and back ups. For Sony Ericsson its called TimeScape, a similar experience plus the good looks of the UI. The overview feature shows off a nice jiggly animation to look at all home screens. The device powers off with the old CRT-TV animation for Gingerbread. Where as, the icons and widgets on the MOTOBLUR are old looking and jagged, remind us of the days of the CRT TV.

    The included accessories in the Xperia Active at first seem like a positive, but later out turn out to be meh!. The included extra cover is possibly the only great bit of accessory in the Active, the LiveView watch /clip is an added notification panel with a touchscreen that lets you control music and look at notifications. But guess what its not water resistant or dust proof, so much for outdoor activities. It does come with a host of straps and clips , but since the LiveView does not hold charge or connect properly to the device, you will ignore it more than use it. The Active also comes with a pre installed Screen Protector.

    Conclusion

    Well both phones have their plus points and downsides, We feel unless you really have a need for a rugged phone, getting some other device would be a better idea simply because of the specs that you would get. If you do need a rugged phone you need to decide between a larger screen or a smoother UI, a industrial vs a playful design. Included add-ons and goodies may or may not mean anything to you, they didn’t to us, especially because they weren’t useful.

    We found the Defy Plus a better device, with better looks, battery backup, larger display and overall appeal as a rugged device- it screams Tough Book – Tough Phone!

    We rate both devices equally at 4.0

     

    Unboxing Videos

     

     

    Review Video

    Image Gallery

  • Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V Review

    Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V Review

    Sony has been going strong with its Xperia lineup this year. With over 5-8 models released this year does  the company actually have what it takes to restructure the market with the right devices. Sony also Recently announced that it plans to buy-out the stake from Sony Ericsson (The Ericsson share) to call the company Sony mobile. The Neo V is an example of what Sony stands for, lets find out whether it delivers to the sony image or not.

     

    Build Quality and Hardware

    The Neo V is exceptionally well built with great overall hardware design, and brilliant paint finish. the device feels like a luxury car parked right in the palm of your hand. A curvaceous back and a glossy paint finish make you feel special that you hold this device. There is no shake or rattle from this device and it delivers a robust experience while you fiddle around with the tactile buttons and great structure.

    In terms of Hardware the Neo V has a great set check out the total 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

     

    Multimedia, Display and Camera

    The device has a brilliant display with a Mobile Bravia engine, which ensures super smooth video playback. The Device however has only a 1GHZ single core processor which is somewhat of a let down for the price bracket. Coming back to the screen which is a 3.7 inch 854 x 480 px display which offers superior ppi for the size of the display, that makes images and videos look good and text look crisp.

    Video playback is well supported over almost all available formats and scrubbing through video does not pixellate or mismatch audio. Audio is loud and clear and the device performs well in all aspects of the Multimedia field.

    The camera has a 5 MP XMOR R sensor, which makes images look good even in low light. We however found video to be jittery with 720p at 30fps underperforming the label. Images were also decent but poor compared to those from similar camera of competitors. Overall a decent camera with a bunch of effects and software camera shake reduction, which may or may not impress you depending on where you come from (previous device).

    Phone Messaging and Internet

     The phone quality and network stability were solid, no dropped calls in 2 weeks of testing. 3G however was not as stable as we wanted and kept jumping from H to 3G to E. The sound and volume of it were clear and loud and  we were quite impressed with it. Internet can be bothersome on the go when you shift from tower to tower, the phone takes about a minute to reset the data connection. On wifi however there is no problem. 

    The onboard keyboard is stock and therefore can be replaced easily with many from the marketplace. The typing experience is great thanks to the highly responsive screen.

    The Device also supports the Wifi Hotspot feature which allows you to make the device into a portable router. Which is a convenient feature available in most Androids today, the difference here lies that the Neo V does not drain out of its battery like a dripping plastic bag. It sustains power management within the Wifi hotspot mode and offers extended usage.

    Battery

    The battery life on the Neo V was impressive swell with a longer talk time than mentioned in the spec sheet we were impressed

    • 9 Hours on 2G
    • 7.5 Hours on 3G
    • 8 Hours Wifi Browsing
    • 4 hours 3G browsing
    • 4 Hours Wifi Hotspot (3 devices connected)
    • 24 Hours of Music Playback
    • 5 Hours of Video

     

    Conclusion

    The device is an expensive representation of devices like the Xperia Mini Pro, but offer a different form factor with slightly different specs. The battery life was immense and we were happy with it. The power management is great and handles most features brilliantly. The sealed Bravia display is a delight for those with love for mobile video and multimedia. The speakers and sound is crisp and loud from all areas and impressive overall. The device is a great phone and a nice looking one at that

    We rate it 4/5

    Unboxing Video

     

    Review Video 

    Coming Soon….

    Images

  • Xperia Arc and Arco Get Playstation Certification in Japan

    Xperia Arc and Arco Get Playstation Certification in Japan

    Sony Has awarded PS certification to the Xperia Arc and never seen outside Japan- Arco. These are the only other two phones apart from the Xperia Play to win the Sony playstation certification. These phones will now be able to access and download PS certified games from the Sony-Android Marketplace which was earlier limited to the Xperia Play.

    If you missed it you can catch the full review of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc Here.

    [Sony Ericsson Japan]

  • End Of Days: Sony Buys out stake from Sony Ericsson at €1.05 billion

    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]

  • Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V Unboxing and Quick Review

    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

  • Sony Ericsson Xperia Active Unboxing

    Sony Ericsson Xperia Active Unboxing

    The new Sony Ericsson Xperia Active left starts where the likes of the Defy left off. With a host of interesting things in the box, the Xperia Active promises to be a delight for those with an active lifestyle.

     

    SPECS

    Network GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900
    Price 20,500/- INR
    Frequency Quad Band
    Phone Style

    Touch Screen Candy Bar
    OS Android 2.3.4
    Thickness 16.5 mm 
    Length 92 mm
    Width 55 mm
    Weight

    110.8g
    Built-in Memory 1GB ROM (up to 320MB free) , 512 MB RAM
    Additional Memory microSD™, up to 32GB
    High-speed Data UMTS/HSPA 900/2100
    Connectivity 3.5 mm audio jack,Bluetooth™ technology,WiFi
    Screen Size 3″, 320 x 480 Pixels, Dust and water resistant
    Secondary Screen Size N/A
    Screen Colours 16,777,216 color TFT
    Camera 5-megapixel, digital zoom – up to 8x,image stabiliser
    Camera Resolution HD video recording 720p
    Colors Black-RedOrange , Black with White , White-RedOrange , White – White
    Ringtones Polyphonic, MP3, Truetone
    Music Player Yes
    Music Formats TBC
    Radio Yes
    Speaker Yes
    Processor 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S2 processor
    Internet Yes
    Browser HTML
    Games Yes
    Battery Li-Ion 1200 mAh

     

     

    IMAGES

    UNBOXING VIDEO

     

     

    iG Tech Labs

  • Sony Plans to buy out Ericsson’s part from Sony Ericsson, Move up in the Cell phone world

    Sony Plans to buy out Ericsson’s part from Sony Ericsson, Move up in the Cell phone world

    Sony has decided to take some action about its current global standing in the top cellphone vendors list. Currently at 6th place , Sony has decided to finalize the deal between Sony and Ericsson that will give total control of the mobility division to sony and hence all future devices will be known as “Sony Mobiles” and not “Sony Ericsson”. Ericsson currently roughly $1.3 to $1.7 billion worth of mobile technology patents are the main reason for the partnership  buyout.

     

    [Wall Street Journal]

  • iGyaan Exclusive – Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray Coming Tomorrow Rs 18,899 – We Go Hands on

    iGyaan Exclusive – Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray Coming Tomorrow Rs 18,899 – We Go Hands on

    The Xperia Ray is yet to start shipping despite several websites claim to have it in stock. The device is a unique breed of Android candybar phone, which is not only slim but excellent to hold in the hand. 

     

    Tech Specs

    Network GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900
    Price 18,889/– INR
    Frequency Quad Band
    Phone Style

    Keyboard 12 keys and qwerty
    OS Android 2.3.4
    Thickness 9.4 mm 
    Length 111.0 mm
    Width 53 mm
    Weight

    100g
    Built-in Memory Up to 300MB
    Additional Memory microSD up to 32GB
    High-speed Data GPRS, HSDPA
    Connectivity 3.5 mm audio jack,Bluetooth™ technology,WiFi
    Screen Size 3.3 inches, 854 x 480 pixels (WVGA)
    Secondary Screen Size N/A
    Screen Colours 16 million 
    Camera 8.1-megapixel,digital zoom up to 16x, Sony’s Exmor R™ for mobile 
    Camera Resolution HD video recording 720p
    Colors Gold – Black – Pink – White
    Ringtones Polyphonic, MP3, Truetone
    Music Player Yes
    Music Formats TBC
    Radio Yes
    Speaker Yes
    Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon S2 processor
    Graphics Adreno 205 GPU
    Browser HTML
    Games Yes
    Battery Li-Ion 1500 mAh

    Price is Rs. 18,899

    US Dollar : 429 without  contract

    Check out the Hands on Images and Video Below

     

     

    Video

  • Sony Ericsson lends support to FreeXperia devs

    Sony Ericsson lends support to FreeXperia devs

    Sony Ericsson has handed its support to the FreeXperia dev team, which is dedicated to bringing CyanogenMod 7.1 .The company has donated 20 phones to the cause, realizing that “not all Android phones are alike”.

    Even though Sony Ericsson do not promote the unlocking of the bootloader and developing Android software on the Xperia devices, They certainly allow you to do it and also give you a step by step.

    [Sony Ericsson Developer World]

  • Sony PS Vita announced, with live Augmented Reality Gaming and 3 Hour battery

    Sony PS Vita announced, with live Augmented Reality Gaming and 3 Hour battery

    Yes it has been days since the new Sony PS vita was announced to be launched in December in Japan, then came the news of Reality Fighters, a game exclusive to the Sony Playstation Vita that uses real time Aug reality to form players and scenarios for gaming.

    But the low down that has come today is the battery life f the new PS vita. where most PSPs of today rake in about 3.5 to 5.5 hours of play time depending on game type and battery size. The PS Vita (has the same processing abilities as a full blown PS3) will have a gaming battery life of 3-5 hours a 10-20% lower life than the previous model.

    Game On?

iGyaan Network
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