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Top 4 Awesome Things Google Android Wear Can Do

If Google achieves its goal, Android will be not only on the phone in your pocket, but also wrapped around your wrist soon. As Google pointed out that we check our phones 125 time per day on an average, the new wearable gadget, aptly dubbed as Smartwatch, will take on much of that burden from the hand set.

During an I/O 2014 demo, it showed how smartwatches like LG’s G Watch paired with Android 4.3 or higher phones which will display the most important info to you at any given time. That includes flights, the weather, your commute, appointments, reminders, notes and messages. Here are the list of thing Android Wear can do:

1. Search

One feature that comes handy with Android wear is ‘Google Now’. If you’ve used Google voice search or Google Now on an Android smartphone you’ll know what to expect here. Google Now is built into Google’s search app on both Android and iOS and serves as an answer to Apple’s Siri. A virtual digital assistant, just without the sarcasm and personality that the iPhone’s disembodied voice is known for. Google Now is all about answers—it can answer a wide range of questions, make recommendations and predict what information users need based on what they are doing or where they are at.

You can ask Google Now, what song is playing, for nearby locations, for the latest sports score, and for the weather forecast. Even better Google Now shows search information before users even ask for it—such as flight information popping up when you have to catch the plane. All of this information is presented on white cards that slide up on the watch face and can be tapped or flicked for more info, or swiped away when no longer needed—this too is the familiar Google Now user interface and similar to what Google Glass does, which is also powered by Android.

2. Voice

Google Now is dependent on two types of input; speech and text while we use it on the phone. With Android Wear nobody seems to be typing. Rather, all the input seems to be dependent on voice commands for both search and messaging. Though, it seems that using Android wear in noisy places like concerts or stadiums will be a tough task. But on the other hand, Google does have a reputation for best-in-class voice recognition.

3. Location

Finding location is one of the key features of the Android Wear. Same as Google Now, Android Wear will aim on hands-free and voice navigation. Being a Google product will also send various notification based on the location like possibility of rain, good resturants around, warning about floods in the area etc.

4. Fitness

One more important function is its fitness tracking. Right now, such functions are being handled by devices like the Jawbone’s Up, the Fitbit and the Nike+ FuelBand. With Android Wear, Google clearly wants the only thing on your wrist to be an Android powered watch. One example high at Google I/O is showing the number of steps taken for the day and week. Android Wear devices made with heart rate monitors will also be able to tap into that data for compatible apps.

After showing-off Android Wear, Google announced a number of upcoming devices that will run its new platform. Chief among them was the new Samsung Gear Live, company’s first device to use Google’s wearable platform, along with LG G watch which are now available to preorder from the Google Play store. But those interested in the Moto 360 smartwatch will have to wait, as Google said it won’t be available to pre-order until later this summer.

June 26, 2014
Another Moto G Competitor Launched, Meet The HTC Desire 516
The new HTC Desire 516 Dual Sim secretly went online in eBay for Rs 13,302. Now, the Taiwanese vendor has officially launched the phone in the country for Rs 14,200. Well, availability of this device will certainly spice up the already crowded segment.

The HTC Desire 516 is equipped with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean skinned with HTC Sense UI v5.1 and is a Dual Sim Smartphone that will give though competition to the Moto G. The handset that is already available in China, runs on Snapdragon 200 SoC with quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 processor and a Adreno 302 GPU with 1 GB of RAM.

Desire 516 sports a 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and backside-illuminated sensor (BSI), while it also houses a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. The HTC Desire 516 packs a 1950mAh battery that is rated to deliver up to 9 hours of talk time with no word on standby time.

The smartphone will be available in Black and White colour variants only. It comes with dimensions 140x72x9.7mm and weighs 160 grams. The Desire 516 is currently on sale at eBay and was first spotted by Maktech blog.

The company had also launched Desire 816 in May through Flipkart in India at Rs. 24,450. Well, the new device has a direct competition with Moto G. Moto G is priced at INR 12,499, and is equipped with 4.5 inches HD Display, 1.2 GHz Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor. 1 GB RAM, 8 GB or 16 GB Internal Storage, 5MP rear and 1.3MP front camera and runs on Android 4.4.2 KitKat.

Key Features of HTC Desire 516 –
- 5-inch Capacitive Touchscreen Display (540 x 960 pixels)
- Android v4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) OS
- 1.2 GHz, Quad core, Qualcomm QSC6270
- Adreno 302
- 1 GB RAM, 4GB Internal Memory (expandable upto 32GB via microSD card)
- 5 MP Primary Camera with LED Flash, 2 MP Secondary Camera
- Dual SIM, GSM+GSM
- GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA, Wi-Fi 802.11, b/g/n, Bluetooth, A-GPS, GPS, USB Connectivity
- 1950 mAH Battery
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June 26, 2014
Rumor Roundup: All That We Know About The Upcoming iPhone 6

Apple’s products are always the most anticipated ones in the market and iPhone 6 is not an exception to that rule. While people eagerly wait for the launch of the device, rumors and leaks fuel their excitement.

There has been a round of alleged iPhone 6 dummy images making the rounds. Earlier this month VentureBeat reported; the iPhone 6 will contain several highly-anticipated features, including near field communication (NFC), wireless charging, better 4G antenna, and a much bigger screen. Earlier this month, we had also reported that after the major 3.2 billion dollar acquisition of Beats by Apple, the company might include their earphones with the next iPhone.

Recently, an eBay user posted 6 high-resolution pictures, of a black and silver handset on which more details can be seen than ever before. These images show some significant design changes, including the fact that the power button has been moved to the side of the device.

It is also said to feature a significantly larger screen that will take up relatively more area on the front of the phone. The hardware border around the screen will be smaller than on previous iPhones. The size of the iPhone’s display grew from 3.5 inches to 4 inches with the iPhone 5, and with the iPhone 6, the screen is said to be even larger.

Apple has been juggling with many varieties of screen sizes, with the majority of rumors solidifying around a range of 4.7 inches and 5.5 inches, bringing the next iPhone in line to compete with Android and Windows phones that have already adopted larger displays.

Since April, various different alleged iPhone 6 parts have surfaced. What could be the front panel from the larger iPhone 6 recently appeared on Chinese microblogging site Weibo, displaying a notably thinner bezel along with familiar cutouts for a front-facing camera, ambient light sensor, ear speaker, and home button.

The supposed iPhone 6 batteries have also surfaced, as have manufacturing molds that are said to be for the iPhone 6. Apple is currently using Corning Gorilla Glass for its iPhones, but rumors suggests that the company could switch to sapphire crystal for future displays.

The talks are pointing towards the September release of the 4.7-inches variant of the new iPhone 6 followed by 5.5-inches variant a month later. While leaks of the iPhone are becoming commonplace, they are not always accurate.

In the last six months, several different designs have been leaked. Well, we are eagerly waiting to hold the new iPhone in our hand. It will be launching with new iOS 8 that was introduced at this year’s WWDC. While, the new Apple’s Smartwatch named iWatch is tentatively targeted for an October unveiling.

June 25, 2014
Upcoming Moto X+1 May Have 4K Video Recording Capability

There is a flood of rumors about the new Moto X+1. Most recently, the famous phone leaker @Evleaks has released the first press render of the smartphone covered in a case. TKTechNews has also leaked a couple of videos showing the smartphone in action.

Other than announcing the possibility of a device, Motorola has remained tight-lipped about the upcoming model. Even without the company’s help, Moto X+1 is turning out to one of the worst kept tech secrets.

The leaked press render shows a device that is very plain and covered by a protective case. However, there are a couple of inconsistencies that have raised questions over the accountability of the photo. The leak illustrates that the notification bar on the home screen is opaque and translucent as per KitKat’s design. Some odd points noted are the lack of a flash alongside the rear camera and the absence of the front camera.

Here is the leaked video that features Moto X+1 by TKTechNews:

From the above video, one can see that the smartphone records crisp, detailed footage. It can quickly auto-focus during constant movement and even zoom in and out without losing pace with the movements.

This video also shows us that the smartphone may have 4K video recording abilities, apart from the standard 1080p format. Overall, this video offers hope that the Moto X+1 will provide a solid imaging experience. Last week, the same YouTube channel posted a video of a similar handset wrapped in plastic, which is allegedly the Moto X+1.

It is said that Moto X+1 may have a 5.2inch display, and 1,080 x 1,920 pixel resolution. Furthermore, rumors illustrate that the phone will include a Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM and 16/32 GB of internet storage.

June 24, 2014
The Best 4 Websites to Showcase Your Creative Talent

If you are a serious artist, you may have a website for your artwork, but how much traffic are you really able to grab online? In my opinion, it is not a great option until to you are modern day Picasso. Furthermore, coding a website is tricky and time-consuming. You’d rather use those hours to concentrate on your work.

The best option is to sign up to one of these ready-made websites that provide you a platform to showcase your artwork. These websites charge you little or nothing and some of them even allow you to sell it to a global audience. Moreover, you get to interact with an enormous community of worldwide artists and get their feedback. Here is a list of our favorite four:

1. ISSUU

If you are into writing articles, this the best website you can go to. Issuu is the fastest growing digital publishing platform in the world. It is a community of millions of avid readers who use this website to read the free publications created by enthusiastic young writers from all over the globe. They cover a top of topics: fashion, lifestyle, art, sports and global affairs are just a few of them. You can publish anything that you want for free. The website also provides you with the option of a premium account where you can customize your magazine layout.

2. Touchtalent

Touchtalent is a community of art lovers, art buyers and artists. Touchtalent is the perfect if you are a painter or a poet. They provide you with an interactive interface and an option of creating a digital portfolio. You also can get connecting with art lovers and buyers to sell your artwork. It is heavily based on the social media, and you can share your artworks in different social networking websites very easily through Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, etc.You can also use their Go-pro option for $60 a year. It provides you extra perks like unlimited uploads and personal messaging.

3. deviantART

devianART is probably the most famous websites on this list. It is an online community showcasing various forms of user-made artwork. DeviantArt aims to provide a platform for any artist to exhibit and discuss pieces of work. The Works of artists are organized in a comprehensive category structure, including photography, digital art, traditional art, literature, etc. deviantART is totally free and enables you to build a strong fanbase. It also has a section called deviantART shop where you can sell your work.

4.Behance

Behance is a leading online platform to showcase and discover creative work. Introduced by Adobe in 2006 this website provides you with a platform to update your creative work in one place and broadcast it widely and efficiently. Through which companies explore the work and access talent on a global scale. Their Motto is: To empower the creative world to make ideas happen.

June 24, 2014
Apple Cuts $200 on its New iMac

It came as a surprise, when Apple launched new all-in-one iMac desktop computer.The new variant is slightly lower in price but with some significant changes in it’s build. The new 21.5-inch iMac is as slim as it’s older variants.

The $200-cheaper iMac is missing some of the regular iMac specs. The built of the cheaper iMac is 40 percent slower in performance when compared to Apple’s older lower-end desktop computer. It has a dual-core Intel Core i5 processor running at 1.4GHz, 8GB of RAM, and has a 500GB hard drive.

The new variant provides with non-upgradable 500gb hard drive against older variant’s 1TB and an Intel integrated GPU compared to high-end Intel graphics card in the old model. It does have the same 21.5-inch, 1080p screen and the same 8 GB of RAM. The RAM of the device is non-upgradable, but the hard drive can be upgraded for a price. A 1 TB drive is available for an extra $50, while $250 will buy either a 256 GB solid-state drive or a 1TB Fusion Drive, which combines a small SSD with a larger hard drive.

Apart from these changes, the computer’s internal parts have no major difference compared to the regular iMac. While others see it as a wise move for the iMac-maker to drive sales, the offered iMac 2014 specs are neither perfect for graphic design work, nor for gaming.

However, the new variant is good enough for casual home computing and a great option for those who want the Apple quality, design and software but at a lower price. This may ensure Apple’s intent to make its all-in-one desktop more affordable.

The late release of this cheaper model in the iMac product line stands in contrast with Apple’s usual strategy. The company often lowers the price of existing models as they age in order to continue to attract customers while the next year’s lineup is on the way. In April, Apple upgraded the processors in the MacBook Air, while simultaneously lowering the price by $100.

June 23, 2014
Top 5 Apps That Will Help You Adjust To a New City

Fresh out of college, moving to a new city and living alone for the first time? Well, it happens to most of us at some point of time in our lives. Moving to a city you are unfamiliar with can be super stressful. You know that the only way you are going to find your way around, stagger across the local hotspots, and make friends is to leave your home and attempt to embrace the city head on. Still, as nervous and excited as you may be, it does not take away the fear of getting lost, being alone, or totally missing out on things because you are not visiting the right places on the best days.

But, thanks to the modern technology, there are an abundance of apps that will do everything from guide you around the city to help you make dinner reservations or find a park with trails. You may even feel a little less “alone” while exploring when you have an app to reference. And yes, if you have Google Now or Siri, they won’t let you feel alone, at least you will have someone to talk to. We have come up with a list of 5 apps that will help you blend in and enjoy the stay when you relocate in a new city.

1. HopStop

This app is available for Android, iPhone, iPad, and Mobile Web. It has been named an essential by both “Travel” and “Time” magazine. HopStop gives you door-to-door directions, but unlike most apps that focus on driving directions, this one gives you a lot more. You can get biking, walking, and taxi directions in more than 300 cities. This will be your heartfelt companion while you’re stressed about the change in your life.

2. BrightNest

Whether you’re moving from your college hostel to your first apartment or you’re just looking for a fresh start, BrightNest has tons of home improvement and organization tips that will impress your guests. This app essentially helps create and maintain a customized to-do list for your home. BrightNest is especially handy for renters who are moving to an entirely new and unfamiliar city.

3. Around Me

Around me is a GPS-based app that will take your exact location and tell you everything that is close by. This app is a great way to find new restaurants, ATM machines, grocery stores, gas station, or anything for that matter. Especially when you are craving for your favorite donuts from Dunkin’s or M.O.D. It’ll tell you exactly the direction you need to be moving in.

4. Happy Houred

Well, how are you going to find out the right places to buy beer on a Friday night, if you don’t have any local friends in the city? Happy Houred does just this. It could take you months to discover which bar has the specials you are interested in on any given day. This app tells you where to find the best shot specials, cheaper brews, half-off pizza, and so much more. Happy Houred has listings for more than 22,000 cities and continuously adding on the list.

5. Fan Finder

It is the easiest way to make friends. Football season is going on, and we all want to cheer for our favorite team. The trick is figuring out exactly where you should do this. FanFinder from the iTunes store locates US sports bars where fans of your favorite team are watching the big game. It covers almost all, it has special sections for NHL, NFL, MLB, NBA, football and basketball.

June 23, 2014
5 Vintage Tech Ads That Will Make You ROFL

We frequently go back to quoting the relatable posts from ‘when we were a 90’s kid’. The times were simple and in the absence of screens we actually went out in the sun to interact with the real 3D world, instead of trying to grab at air while wearing dorky glasses. Remember when we spent countless hours on those 8-bit games with our sibling, screwing with them every time it was their turn? So, if you are a 90’s kid, you would have also grown up as a generation who experienced the big technology evolution.

This train of thought got me thinking about the technology that used to excite us in the past. And what records an era in time better than an advertisement of that period. So I decided to dig up some hilarious vintage tech ads. Watch them, they’ll make you wonder, “where we really so excited about this stuff?”

1. Motorola Flip phone (Vintage Early 90’s)

Motorola was a true pioneer in personal communications. They introduced the world’s first commercial portable cellular phone. Watching this commercial you will wonder how our lives have transformed in past few decades and obviously the funny voice-over tingle your nerves.

2. Ms-Dos 5 Upgrade Promotion (1991)

I’m sure you are going to ROFL-ing when you watch this video. It seems Microsoft spent quite a lot of money back in day, to get people use MS-DOS.

P.S.- Our pal MC C-Prompt paved the way for generations of goofy white rappers. You know, like Vanilla Ice. And Eminem.

3. The Kids Guide to the Internet (1997)

This is the best vintage video I have ever seen. It is not exactly an ad, but I so wanted you guys to watch it. Video starts with a text asking viewers ‘Adjust the VCR tracking for the clearest picture.’ Okay. But what the hell is VCR tracking?

4. Windows 1.0 (1986)

I didn’t know who this guy is introducing the then ‘New’ Windows 1.0. Trust me when you find out who this man is, it will make this ad even more hilarious. He is the present CEO of Microsoft, Steve Balmer. You have to appreciate the enthusiasm of Mr. Balmer though. Maybe it was this zealousness for the company that got him his present job.

5. IBM PS/2 (1989)

‘In your Business, you have got a mission: to rise up the competition. How are you gonna do it? Well, you have to PS/2 it!’ It’s all fun and games until this song gets stuck in your head for four days. Trust me.

June 22, 2014
Nokia Releases the New ‘Z Launcher’ App

These are hard days for Nokia. Once the largest phone vendor by a staggering margin, Nokia has sold its devices and services business to Microsoft and will now try different sectors as it looks toward the future. The company tried something similar by launching an app called Z launcher, a truly novel home screen replacement for Android phones.

Launched on Thursday, this screen app is able to accomplish this by dynamically changing the most frequently used apps throughout the day. Z Launcher is also able to include your contacts and frequently visited websites into the mix and making it a more complete experience.

At the top of the screen are the time, date and the upcoming calendar event. Tapping the time will open Android’s clock app and tapping the calendar event will open the phone’s Calendar app. The remainder of the screen is dedicated to just a few apps, contacts and web pages.

Five static shortcuts appear at the bottom of the screen, while the majority of the launcher screen is occupied by six additional shortcuts. These items lead to a combination of apps, contacts and web pages that you open most often.

If Z Launcher does not offer the apps you are looking for, you can easily bring them up by accessing a feature called Scribble. Scribble works by just drawing the first letter or two of the app or contact you want to access. It then instantly brings you to the proper selection. This virtually eliminates the need to tap, scroll, and hunt for the application or contact you are searching for.

The Z launcher is a very nifty offering from Nokia and it has the potential to completely change the way you use your phone. Smartphones are all about apps, plain and simple. With the Z Launcher, your most used apps take center stage and everything else is a few short swipes away.

It’s currently available only to a limited number of users in a rough alpha release. And while the alpha should run on many Android phones, Nokia has only tested it on the Nexus 5 and the recent Galaxy S models.

June 20, 2014
The 5 Major Differences Between Slingshot and Snapchat

We’ve known that Facebook has been working on Slingshot for the last six months. The app has just went live on Google Play. Along with that, they officially announced it on their Facebook page and also released a new promo video announcing availability of Slingshot for both Android and iOS.

If there were any doubt that Facebook will be taking on Snapchat, the public launch and availability of its new Slingshot app has now confirmed it.

The free app lets you take a quick photo or video, mark it up with colorful drawings, caption it with big white text, and then send it off to your chosen contacts. But when you receive your first message, you realize that this app is something completely different. Rather than just copying Snapchat feature by feature, Facebook is putting in a rather intriguing twist to the messaging trend by focusing on a more social aspect. So, we decided to list 5 things that make Slingshot different from Snapchat.

1. The Social Factor

When an app comes out of the Facebook oven, there is not even a slight chance that there can be anything lacking in its social media element. Slingshot does not solely rely on your Facebook friends list for contacts. Accounts are tied to your phone number, which you must verify before you can start using the app. Once you have verified your account, you can search for friends from your contacts list, Facebook or look up individuals by user name.

2. No Approval Needed

Slingshot allows you to search for people you know and there isn’t one central contacts menu where you can easily view all your connections. And, unlike Snapchat, there is no approval process for adding connections. Anyone can send messages to anyone whose information they might have. Facebook says an approval process is necessary because users can simply choose to ignore the message they don’t want to see. You can also choose to ignore all messages from individual users by hiding them.

3. No One-Sided Sharing

One noteworthy aspect of the app is that it won’t allow you to see a new picture messages unless you send one of your own back. Facebook says the reason behind this is to take the pressure off users to constantly read and send messages. With so many mobile apps competing for people’s attention, Slingshot’s ability to self-perpetuate engagement could be the key to traction. One friend doesn’t have to do all the work to entertain others, who consume without creating, breaking the chain. With Slingshot, the conversation never dies because the last message is always waiting to be unlocked.

4. Better Camera quality

Launching Slingshot immediately takes you to the app’s camera. The selfie button toggles between the device’s front and rear-facing cameras, and holding down the shutter button allows you to record a video. Slingshot’s overall camera quality is better than Snapchat’s, even when you zoom in. As with Snapchat, you can add drawings and text to the photos and videos you send in Slingshot but both features feel far more elegant and give you much more control in the latter.

5. Customized Text

Text is limited to 140 characters, but can be repositioned on the image. Unlike Snapchat’s text, which always remains the same size and at the same place, Slingshot’s text will get bigger when you drag it down from the top of the screen. The drawing tool is also far more advanced than Snapchat’s — you can adjust both the color and the size of the brush. Dragging along the color bar selects a color, dragging left or right changes the brush size, moving the tool right makes the brush smaller and moving it left makes it larger.

June 19, 2014
Lenovo Launches Two New Laptop-Tablet Hybrids In India

Lenovo has launched two new laptops/tablet hybrids in India – Lenovo Yoga 2 and Flex 2. First, let’s have a look at the Lenovo Yoga 2.

It is a new addition to the Yoga line of Lenovo laptops is a Laptop-Tablet hybrid and features a 13.3-inch Full HD (1920×1080) LED Backlit display with 10 finger multi-touch support.

The many phases of the Lenovo Yoga 2

It is powered by a 4th-gen Intel Core i7 4500U quad-core processor running at a clock speed of 1.8GHz. Yoga 2 runs Windows 8.1 operating system and Intel HD 4400 Graphics. It has 8GB of RAM and comes with 500GB of Solid-State Hard Drive coupled with 16GB of SSD for faster performance.

Yoga 2 supports Intel 7260 b/g/n Wireless network card, Bluetooth 4.0 and is powered by a 6-cell 50 Watt Lithium-Ion battery. Lenovo claims that the battery will last 8 hours of usage after a full charge. The hybrid is 0.68-inch thick and weighs around 1.5kg. The screen on Yoga 2 can be rotated all the way to 360 degrees so that it can be used as a tablet.

Coming to second device, the new hybrid in the Flex series of Lenovo is the Flex 2 which features a larger display than the Yoga 2. Flex 2 is equipped with 14-inch Full HD (1920×1080) display. It can be used as a laptop and also supports 300 degree rotation for use in “stand mode” which is introduced for touch-based use or watching movies. It also features the 10-point multi-touch display. Users can choose between an Intel processor or an AMD A8 APU on the Flex 2. One model comes with Intel Core i7 processor with NVIDIA GPU while the other comes AMD A8 APU with Radeon M230 GPU.

The 300 Degree rotation feature of the Lenovo Flex 2

The Flex 2 comes with 1TB of HDD storage but users can buy the upgraded versions which features up to 256GB SSD as well. It supports Bluetooth 4.0, USB 3.0 and microHDMI as well. Lenovo promises 6 hours of battery life on the Flex 2. Even though the company claims that Flex 2 is designed for users who are light-travelers, it weighs almost 2 kg which makes it even more heavy than the Yoga 2 hybrid.

Both the hybrids are based on Windows 8.1. The devices will be available at all Lenovo Exclusive stores, multi-brand outlets and other retail stores. Yoga 2 has been priced at Rs 59,990 while the Flex 2 costs Rs 41,900.

June 18, 2014
Is Flipkart Getting Ready to Launch its Own Range of Tablets?

The recent round of rumors are that Flipkart is gearing up to launch a range of tablets under its own private label, DigiFlip. The label already sells a number of accessories under the same label, including earphones, portable speakers, laptop accessories, etc. This move would be huge step for the company to set up a tight race against E-commerce giant and arch-rival Amazon, which already sells tablets, apart from e-book readers under its Kindle brand.

Apparently, Flipkart has tied up with MediaTek to build its tablets that have been acquired from manufacturers based out of China and Taiwan. While pricing and hardware specifications would be key to the success of these tablets, it also remains to be seen whether Flipkart can weave in its primary online retail offerings that include e-books among other categories and make the tablet as a tool to access its services.

Though, the company is tight-lipped about this new venture, it will be worth noticing how it differentiates itself in an already crowded tablet market space. In India, more than 4 million tablets were shipped last year making it one of the biggest tech segment in the market. The tablet market is right now ruled by likes of Samsung, Micromax and Apple.

Flipkart has been working continuously to gain more customers and sales. Few months back, Flipkart took over Myntra.com and online shopping store. If done right, Flipkart can easily take the throne and become the domestic Amazon.

June 18, 2014
Android Vs Firefox OS : Beginning of the New ‘Low-End Phone’ Era

Celkon debuted its Campus A35K this week, it joined the ever growing club of affordable Android KitKat Smartphones in India. With a price tag as low as Rs 2,999 in an exclusive partnership with online marketplace Snapdeal.com, this device does indeed have quite a proposition on its hands, but how well will it work? Let’s find out.

The front surface is a 320 x 480 pixel display of 3.5 inches in size. The device itself is enclosed inside a 119mm x 63mm x 10.7mm body and its overall weight comes up to 102gms. A 1GHz processor powers it from within, gaining what little assistance it can from just 256MB of RAM. Touted as the cheapest Android KitKat-operating system based Smartphone, the handset has dual-SIM slot and supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Micro-USB, and AGPS connectivity options along with 3G connectivity. It comes equipped with a disappointing 1400mAh battery, but then again we can’t complain much considering the face that its priced so cheap.

Android KitKat is the latest version of the Google-owned operating system. While the market is flooded with devices based on the previous generation of JellyBean OS, handset makers are now focusing on launching devices with Android KitKat.

The price segment this phone caters to is still ruled by the old world feature phone. The new entrant is said to be eliminating most of these buttons phone soon.

Also, Indian phone makers Intex and Spice have decided to bring Mozilla’s Firefox OS to India. Intex calls its device the Cloud FX. The company said that the phone will be priced around Rs.2000, thereby bringing the Smartphone experience to the last group of people untouched by it. Spice on the other hand has just given a July release timeframe and announced that its phone will be a dual Sim device.

This may bring a revolution in the low-end phone segment mobilizing bigger players to enter that arena. If any one device in this segment works, there is a possibility of new trends in this segment. With major companies like Google and Facebook investing in initiatives to connect the massive unconnected population with internet, operating systems like these which facilitate cheaper devices which will further lead to more global interconnection.

June 18, 2014
The Plastic HTC E8 One Officially Launched

HTC E8 One has been launched in China and its pricing is almost half as much as its aluminum counterpart M8. The much talked about plastic body is said to be solid and looks good too.

E8 fashions an impressive ergonomic Dual Curve Design, that makes the device fit in your hands easily. It has a 13MP main camera and 5MP front facing wide-angle camera. The Built-in Touch Up software balances skin tones while retaining your genuine look. The company will also provide a dual SIM version of the phone but only in selected areas, as mentioned on their website.

The new ‘Vogue Edition’ HTC M8 One is said to be similar to M8 in most of the specs. Though it is pointed out that its 13 MP camera is slower and the TV remote feature is missing. The price of the E8 is easily a steal given the near-identical features as the M8 i.e. Motion Launch, HTC BoomSound, Snapdragon 801, 5-inch 1080p screen, MicroSD expansion.

E8 is available in four colors: Polar White, Electric Crimson, Maldives Blue, and Misty Gray. The new device is said to be a little bit taller and thicker than the M8. The price set for the phone is CN¥2, 799 which rounds up to INR 27,000 approximately. We’re still uncertain about when it would be launched in India.

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June 12, 2014
Amazon Quietly Launches its New Music Streaming Service

There had been a lot of speculations that Amazon may finally turn on its music streaming service this week. And they did just that a while ago.

In an attempt to chase Apple’s recent $3 billion deal with Beats Music, the online giant is testing its hand at music streaming, promising over 1 million songs ready to instant streaming pleasure. They were previously only offering a music downloading service. We’ve heard that Google is also in talks to acquire Songza, another streaming music service.

The new Amazon music service will be available to those who subscribe to Amazon Prime, its paid shopping membership option. Amazon Prime costs $99 and also offers a streaming video service that competes with Netflix.

The music service will work across multiple devices and will allow users to play songs as many times as they want, including some offline capabilities. There appear to be around 90,000 albums listed right now as options for streaming, working out roughly to the 1 million tracks Amazon promised.

The new offering is described as a condensed version of Spotify. Consumers would be able to access a restricted playlist of songs, but none of them would be the most recent chart toppers. The independent music labels, Sony Music and Warner Music Group have reportedly signed on to license their music to Amazon, though Universal is said to be out of the picture right now.

Amazon has also recently been encouraging its video streaming content by selling digital content – be it movies, television shows, books, or music – instead of its physical counterparts. This lets the company save money in storage and shipping.

This move may also have something to do with the fact that Amazon is likely to be releasing its own Smartphone next week.

June 12, 2014