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Top 5 Smartphones With Keypads

Last week, a friend of mine called me up. Her question was simple, yet one that left me wondering for quite some time.The question? Which phone should I buy if I don’t like full touch smartphones?

I brainstormed for quite some time. There was an obvious solution of course, the Blackberry range of smartphones. But outside that, there weren’t really any names that popped to my head. And it was a pretty valid question too, as there are a lot of people out there who aren’t ready to join the “touch revolution” and would prefer a keypad on their devices for typing at least!.

So we decided to make a list of the top 5 smartphones that weren’t full touchscreens, touch and type would work too! Took us quite some time, but we think we’ve managed to cover them all!

1. The Blackberry Range

The most obvious choice. Ever since the launch of the Blackberry 10, the focus has shifted to the all touch Z10. But the older generation of Blackberry smartphones, with the widely loved QWERTY keyboards, are still selling strong.

You have a variety of phones to choose from, and from every price bracket. The Curve 9220, the Curve 9360, Bold 9900 etc. These phones still pack in a decent OS- Blackberry 7 OS- and offer a variety of features that you would expect from a smartphone.

The first choice for someone looking for some keyboard love.

2. Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro

The fact that this phone still has Ericsson in its name shows that it was released quite some time ago. It comes with Android 4.0 on board. The rest of the features? A physical QWERTY keyboard, 1 GHz Scorpion Processor with 512MB RAM, a LED-backlit Reality display with Sony Mobile BRAVIA Engine, an 8 megapixel ExmorR camera sensor, 720p video with continuous autofocus.

It’s the kind of phone that can enjoy demand from both business users and social networking fans.

Price – Around Rs 12,000 – 16,000.

3. Samsung Galaxy Chat B5330

The Samsung Galaxy Chat B5330 is a touch and type device, that gives users the comfort of typing on a physical keypad. And the best thing is that it runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich!

The phone has 4 GB of inbuilt memory space which can be expanded to 32 GB using a micro SD card. It has a reasonable 850 MHz processor with 512 MB RAM.

Android and a keypad? Yes please!

Price – Rs. 7,990

4. Nokia Asha 302

Nokia ASHA is one of the latest entrants in the market. It packs a 2.4 inch QVGA TFT display, Series 40 OS, a 1 GHz single core processor,3.2 megapixel camera,WI-Fi ,3.5 G connectivity. It’s memory can be expanded with a Micro-SD card up to 32 GB.

Decent!

Price – Rs. 6,548.

5. Nokia E6

Launched a long time ago, we’re still quite fond of this touch/type smartphone. It packs a premium build quality, an excellent display and the desired QWERTY keyboard.

The phone runs on Symbian Anna operating system. Powered by a 680 MHz ARM11 processor, the Nokia E6 comes with 256 MB RAM. The handset has a display of 2.46-inch with a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels. It also has an 8MP camera with a LED flash.

The drawback? Lack of quality apps. Still a decent purchase if you can find it in the market.

Price – Around Rs 10,000.

So what do you think? Have we missed out on any? Let us know below!

April 11, 2013
Edit : 1080p Full-HD Display On Smartphones – Game Changer Or Marketing Gimmick?

2013 (well 2012-end to be precise) ushered in a new era in the smartphone world. That of 1080p Full-HD displays. The HTC One, HTC Butterfly, Samsung Galaxy S4 etc all come equipped with what many would call the next step to smartphone greatness. But is it so? Or is it all just a big marketing gimmick?

This was a rather natural move, the one to Full-HD diplays, a move we all expected manufacturers to make.

When the Apple iPhone 4 was launched, with a new “high resolution display”, Steve Jobs decided that the best name for it would be the ‘Retina Display’, by dearth of the fact it was meant to be so high-res that it’s actually more than the eye can cope with. It had a PPI of 326, so high that individual pixels were indistinguishable to the human eye at normal viewing distances!

PPI is an actual count of the number of pixels found in one inch of a display, which varies depending on the resolution of the display and the overall size of the display.

The pixellation difference between the iPhone 3GS (left), and the Retina Display of the iPhone 4.

The difference was there for all to see. Consumers were mesmerized by the clarity and sharpness of these displays. More text would show up on the screen at once, and higher-resolution images show in full on a 720p screen.

[pullquote_left] Life seemed perfect. [/pullquote_left]

The focus of manufacturers shifted from WVGA (800*480) to 720p (720*1280) displays. Companies like Samsung, HTC, LG began churning out phone after phone equipped with what they all claimed were the best displays on the market!

People rejoiced, gone were the days of pixelated displays and watering eyes. Everyone started enjoying browsing the web and reading content on their smartphones now. Life seemed perfect.

Difference between zoomed in text on a WVGA display, and a 720p display.

But as is the case with almost everything that us homo sapiens do, we wanted more. HTC duly obliged and up came the HTC Butterfly,

In addition to an impressive spec sheet and super-sized proportions, the HTC Butterfly packed the world’s first smartphone-sized 1080p Full-HD display, a five-inch Super LCD 3 boasting an insane 440 pixels per inch. Boy were we all excited!

Honestly though, once we got over all those amazing marketing lines that HTC threw at us, all that related to a Full-HD display and the massive ppi, we wondered about how useful these new displays truly were.

I had a chance to test the Butterfly soon after and was surprised at how unimpressed I was when I saw the screen. Don’t get me wrong, it’s beautiful. It’s ridiculously sharp, everything looks perfect on it, and the sample videos that come with it truly show off what a 5″ 1080p Full-HD display is capable of, video-wise.

Despite all of that though, my reaction to it was more one of confirming what I was already expecting than it was one that blew me away. I still remember the first time I saw an iPhone 4; I was amazed at how good it looked. I didn’t get that with the Butterfly, because I fully expected it to look that way.

[pullquote_right]Back in February, Richard Yu, head of Huawei’s mobile division, claimed that a 1080p Full-HD display that is smaller than 5 inches didn’t make sense, as the human eye would be incapable of positively identifying the difference between that and a 720p panel.[/pullquote_right]

Post the launch of the latest smartphones like the HTC One and the Galaxy S4, I realised, it’s more of a psychological effect than a physical one. If today someone was to go out and buy a smartphone with a 720p display, it would keep playing at the back of his/her head that there is another phone out there in the world which has an even better display, scientifically at least, than the one he/she is getting by paying a premium price for that smartphone. Even if that means lesser battery life and more GPU usage.

And we can’t really blame ourselves, for the way these Full-HD displays are advertised, we can’t help but feel we’re missing out on something.

All that aside, it’s tough to see why anything substantially over 300ppi, the limit Apple initially cited as the “Retina” threshold, is even necessary. If pixels are indistinguishable at 300ppi, are they going to be more indistinguishable at the latest smartphones’ 440+ ppi?

It’s safe to assume now though that a Full-HD display will be the saturation point as far as screen resolution is concerned, and we hope manufacturers would now shift their focus on improving other aspects of smartphones such as battery life, durability, audio, OS, performance etc.

In conclusion, it’s clear that you can’t really differentiate between a 1080p Full-HD display and a 720p one. Yet we may find ourselves shelling out a bit more money to get a Full-HD “revolutionary” device than what we would on an equally capable 720p one. It’s all good marketing and the need for us humans to have the best of everything (even if that is not the case) in the end. At this point, it feels more like a bragging right than a feature that can make our lives better.

What do you think? Let us know below!

April 9, 2013
Lifeproof Nuud Waterproof, Shockproof, Dustproof case for iPad 2 / 3 / 4 Review

Build Quality and Design

[pullquote_right] looks pleasant and works well[/pullquote_right]The Lifeproof Nüüd is a case designed to not only look but act rugged. The cover is a complete mix of technology, engineering and design along with several elements of usefulness. The solid plastic center shell is surrounded by a second layer of polycarbonate-esque material which is dived by two layers of rubber seals and specialized O-Rings that prevents water from leaking into the case when the iPad is installed.

The one thing that bothers us is the fact that the manufacturer asks to remove the screen protector (which we didn’t remove) in order to ensure a proper seal with the Lifeproof Nuud, leaving the glass of your iPad virtually exposed to possible scratching / damage.

The case definitely makes the iPad resemble a tough-book from Panasonic or one of their new toughpads. It is solid, yet not a big eyesore so it looks pleasant and works well.

Installation and Usage

The Lifeproof Nuud installation process is a tedious one, and requires patience. Ensure that the O-RIngs are in place and the angle of approach to the clips is proper, the seals all clip and the covers are all shut. The process is almost like a flight simulator training on a 486 machine (for those later than that time – in simple words its got a learning curve). Once you are thorough the initial installation you are good to go.

In the box you will get a front and back cover, two O-Rings, 2 x 3.5 mm headphone port cover screws and a extension cable to make the headphone port accessible. There is also a iPad Test unit that is supposed to simulate an iPad for initial waterproof tests, but is a total failure in terms of design and is the main reason to cause frustration to most buying the Lifeproof Nuud.

Once Perfectly installed, you will realize how this cover can be useful for you. The Lifeproof Nuud is that one cover that will allow you to use your iPad in the Swimming pool, or simply underwater. In a Jacuzzi you can enjoy watching your favorite movie without being in the constant fear of loosing your iPad to the depths of the shallow blue water.

One of the most useful features, the the front cover that transforms into a stand that is not only robust, but also convenient. The front of the Lifeproof Nuud case provides added frontal damage protection, but also lets you prop up your iPad to watch movies or at an appropriate angle to type on the onscreen keyboard.

Weather you have an adventurous lifestyle or work routine that requires rugged equipment, this case actually may be useful to all. The Lifeproof Nuud will not make your iPad in-destructable and will not work for you if you are not careful. Example – after a few major drops the case may be prone to water leakage, or may case damage to the iPad on further impacts. Its not insurance its added prevention. If you are careful enough with the case, it will actually let you exploit the iPad’s capabilities in environment which were inaccessible earlier, Underwater, Rain, Snow, Dirt or work sites.

Conclusion

A cover for those who value their possessions, yet like to enjoy them. The Lifeproof Nuud will let you use your ipad in the pool and listen to music around it, without letting you worry of damage. It will also provide you valid build design information at construction yards and lumber mills. But it will also let you watch a movie at home. This is a rugged case, and if you can get over the initial testing bits, then it works great. Although removing added films is recommended, we didn’t, and our Lifeproof Nuud works great. The question really boils down to – “Do You Need One?”, I guess everyone does and for the price, if you don’t mind the added bulk, this case is Lifeproof.

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April 9, 2013
HTC First announced, phone with Facebook Home

The HTC First will continue on the partnership that HTC and Facebook have shared in the past, enabling users to experience a little more Facebook on their android screen, as the device comes preloaded with Facebook Home. Launching on April 12th on an exclusive carrier deal with At&t in the US the HTC First is expected tot be available globally shortly after.

AT&T had been collaborating with Facebook on its Home experience, and invited HTC to assemble the phone, said Ralph de la Vega, CEO of AT&T Mobility said at a Facebook’s press conference on Thursday.

On Thursday Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg announced Facebook Home, a family of apps that would sit as a integrated layer on the Android operating system.

Zuckerberg said Home was not an operating system or a “forked” version of Android akin to Amazon’s Kindle, but a separate software layer that could act as a home screen for smartphones.

The mid-range HTC First will be available in black, white, red and pale blue, and sports a 4.3-inch display that matches with earlier reports. Facebook Home obviously serves to obscure the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean build that’s actually running the show, while one of Qualcomm’s dual-core Snapdragon 400 chipsets (and not the MSM8960 that was previously reported) provides the horsepower from inside that smooth, curved chassis. The HTC First has a 720p display and LTE

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[toggle title=”Press Release”]Facebook’s Newest Mobile Experience Available Exclusively on the Nation’s Fastest 4G LTE Network

DALLAS, BELLEVUE and MENLO PARK, April 4, 2013 – AT&T*, HTC and Facebook have teamed up to develop and launch the HTC First™, the first and only smartphone built to feature Facebook Home, which puts your friends at the heart of your phone. Facebook Home is the first mobile experience designed to give you your friends’ latest updates right on your home screen and messages that reach you no matter what you’re doing.

HTC First will be available for pre-order today for $99.99 with a two-year commitment and available exclusively in AT&T stores and online starting April 12. To pre-order, visit www.att.com/facebookhome.

The HTC First runs on AT&T 4G LTE, the nation’s fastest 4G LTE network.** In addition, independent mobile research firm RootMetrics® has published a special report on 4G LTE in the U.S. which notes that AT&T wireless customers in our 4G LTE markets that were tested by RootMetrics have access to the fastest mobile speeds on their smartphones. AT&T also has the nation’s largest 4G network, covering 288 million people.

“The HTC First will offer the best Facebook Home experience on mobile, right out of the box. That’s why we’re committed to this phone and making it exclusive in our stores,” said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility. “Because AT&T offers the fastest 4G LTE** in the nation, it’s the best network for Facebook Home. And the best device for Facebook Home is the HTC First.”

“HTC has a track record of providing beautiful hardware design, and of being first-to-market with smartphone innovations,” said Peter Chou, CEO, HTC Corporation. “The HTC First continues that track record, providing AT&T customers with a unique home experience that puts a user’s friends and family at the center of their mobile experience.”

“Home is a completely new experience for your phone,” said Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s Founder and CEO. “With Home available right out of the box, you’re getting the best quality experience for connecting with your friends.”

Facebook Home brings your News Feed to the surface, immediately giving you the content you care about right on your home screen when you turn on your phone without having to open an app or access a mobile website. Just sign into your Facebook account and begin using Home – no need for download or configuration. Facebook Home connects you directly with your friends, whether it’s their real-time updates and newest photo uploads being streamed on your cover feed or the ability to chat with friends without jumping in and out of apps.

Facebook Home is built around your friends and puts them at the center of your phone:

· Cover feed: A constant, fresh stream of photos and updates from your newsfeed, cover feed is always present when you wake up your phone. It lets you stay up-to-date on your friends’ latest activities in real-time, all the time. You can swipe through to see more photos and updates, double tap to “like” a post and comment right from cover feed. To learn more about cover feed, check out this video.· Notifications: Notifications from apps and friends appear right on your home screen. It’s easier to see when you have a missed call, calendar reminder or new message. Open a notification with a double tap or clear them away to see your Cover Feed. To learn more about notifications, check out this video.

· Chat Heads: The mobile messenger lets you jump in and out of conversations while you do other things, like watch a video and browse the web. Reply right from chat heads, or move them around if you’re not ready to respond. Plus you can send and receive texts and Facebook messages from the same spot. To learn more about chat heads, check out this video.

· App Launcher: See your favorite apps and post right to Facebook from the same spot. You choose what’s on your app launcher-press and hold an app then drag it anywhere.

· Instagram: HTC First is the only phone that comes with Instagram pre-loaded.

HTC First will be available in four colors: black, white, red and pale blue. The hardware is thin, modern and seamless, with soft edges to draw your attention to the updates from friends and family on the 4.3-inch glass display. Inside, the smartphone runs Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) with the new Facebook Home experience and incorporates a Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 400 processor with dual-core CPU and 3G/4G world and multimode LTE so you can enjoy the richest content on AT&T’s blazing fast 4G LTE network.

For more information, or to pre-order HTC First, please visit www.att.com/facebookhome.[/toggle]

April 4, 2013
HTC One Vs Samsung Galaxy S4 – Battle For Android Supremacy

We may only be three months into 2013 but it’s already been a big year for phones. One of the biggest stories so far is that of the HTC One – a no-compromise handset from the Taiwanese firm that aims to make amends for the last couple of years and bring HTC back to the top of the Android heap, where they once stood with the help of the HTC Legend.

It’s a remarkable phone in so many ways, but now it faces its biggest threat yet – the Samsung Galaxy S4, the latest flagship phone from the current king of Android.

How do these 2 fare against each other? Let’s find out!

1. Build Quality And Design

Do we even need to discuss this one? Even the most ardent Samsung fanboy would agree that the HTC One is much better in terms of design. On one hand, we have the light, plastic body of the Galaxy S4, and on the other – the heavy, metal one of the HTC One.

The disadvantage of this design, though, is not only that metal will get slightly hotter than plastic, but that the unibody design also prevents the handset’s battery from being removed.

Samsung took a step in the right direction by utilising a little bit of metal around the edge of the phone, but it’s still mostly plastic and still nowhere close to the quality of the HTC One’s build.

Verdict – HTC One

2. Display

This is a tough category, as both the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One have excellent screens. The Samsung Galaxy S4 features a 5″ HD 1080p Super AMOLED touchscreen, which on first impressions proved pretty impressive, while the HTC One features a 4.7″ HD 1080p Super LCD3 touchscreen.

Going purely on numbers, the HTC wins here since its pixel density is 469ppi against the Galaxy S4’s 441ppi. In real life this difference is not noticeable by the human eye.

Put simply, these are two of the best displays on the smartphone market. However, Samsung’s AMOLED displays have been criticized in the past for having a blueish tint on them, but the contrast and deep blacks on this display are amazing.

Another difference is that the Galaxy S4 uses Gorilla Glass 3 which its maker, Corning, says is up to three times more damage resistant than Gorilla Glass 2 which the HTC One offers.

Depending on how you plan to use each smartphone, there are clear advantages to some of the screen technology. It’s hard to pick an overall winner here, one has a slightly bigger screen the other has a slightly higher pixel density, but both are fantastic through and through so it’s a draw and really just comes down to a matter of personal preference.

Verdict – Draw

3. Software And UI

The Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One are pretty evenly matched when it comes to software too, with both running Google’s Android Jelly Bean operating system. Saying that, the Galaxy S4 has a later version, Android 4.2.2, while the HTC One has Android 4.1.2.

There is a vast difference between the custom user experiences found on both devices.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 comes with the latest version of Samsung’s Touchwiz UI, giving a horde of custom features. As well as a barrage of software features such as Air Gesture and Smart Scroll, Samsung’s Touchwiz UI offers a fairly heavy custom skin, which is not good for those who are fans of the vanilla Android 4.x Jelly Bean.

The HTC One, on the other hand, offers a much simpler user interface skin. Blinkfeed is its standout feature – a unique take on Flipboard – and beyond that, the HTC Sense 5.0 UI is fairly stripped back and easy to use.

However, Samsung clearly wins this one with its onslaught of software tricks and custom features.

Verdict – Samsung Galaxy S4

4. Processor

The HTC One packs a lot of power under its shiny metallic shell, with a 1.7 GHz quad-core processor and 2 GB of RAM. But impressive as it is the Samsung Galaxy S4 goes one better with a 1.9 GHz quad-core processor, though it merely matches the HTC One for RAM. Both phones are true next generation handsets and both have more power than you’re likely to know what to do with.

Early benchmark results of these 2 smartphones reveal that they’re neck to neck in performance.

So it’s a draw for us!

Verdict – Draw

5. Memory And Storage

Memory is another win for the Galaxy S4, as while the HTC One comes with up to 64GB of on-board memory (a 32GB version also exists), there’s no micro SD card slot, so no way to expand on it. The Galaxy S4 meanwhile matches its on-board memory with 16, 32 and 64GB versions up for grabs, but also includes a micro SD card slot on top of that.

Their connectivity options are identical as both handsets provide Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G/LTE, GPS, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC and an infrared port. It’s about as comprehensive set of options as you could hope to see.

Verdict – Samsung Galaxy S4

6. Camera

HTC has gone in new direction with the One’s camera. The Ultrapixel camera is only 4MP in resolution but captures 300 percent more light than a regular smartphone camera. The camera is good especially in low light situations.

HTC’s bold move makes it pretty difficult to compare with the Galaxy S4’s 13Mp camera which we expect to be a good camera. Each rear camera can record video in Full HD 1080p quality.

Things are almost identical in terms of front facing cameras between the Galaxy S4 and HTC One. They have 2MP and 2.1MP cameras which can each record video in Full HD.

HTC Zoe is the big camera feature that is grabbing the headlines when it comes to the HTC One. When you record a ‘Zoe’, the HTC One takes a 3 second video and 20 single frame shots. Not only do you then have the Zoe clip itself, but also the functionality for some very impressive features: remove unwanted people and objects from the background of a shot, make sure everyone is smiling and has their eyes open for group shots and combine several frames in a sequence shot to create a ‘slow-motion’ photo.

The S4 also has some nice camera features and some that are similar to the HTC One. Eraser also let’s you remove unwanted photo elements, sound and shot lets you record a sound clip with a photo and drama shot will take 100 photos in 4 seconds. There are plenty more features to talk about for both these handsets and you’ll have a great experience with either.

So while the HTC One is likely to fare better in low light conditions, the camera in the Samsung Galaxy S4 seems the better bet overall.

Verdict – Samsung Galaxy S4

7. Audio

When it comes to sound the HTC handset wins without doubt. You will have heard HTC BoomSound mentioned by now, which is the technology that makes the HTC One so loud. It’s the first handset to feature dual frontal stereo speakers, plus it has Beats Audio technology built in. This results in louder music playback, ringtones and notifications.

The S4 speaker is also of a good quality and is a close second to the HTC device.

Verdict – HTC One

Conclusion

Both of these handsets are truly remarkable and it’s a tough call picking one out as the best. They both have incredible displays, loads of connectivity options, great cameras and a lot of horsepower.

There is no real winner in this article, and it should only be used as a reference to how the devices perform in each of the sections discussed above.

This will be one of the most exciting fights in the premium segment this season.

Which one will you choose? Let us know below!

April 1, 2013
Exclusive : Samsung Galaxy S4 Launch in India set at May 10, Price Rs. 44,999/-

Just like last year, our Samsung insider has told us that Samsung will launch the Samsung Galaxy S4 on May 10 for India available either the same day or soon after via the online Samsung Store. The company has decided to keep the price of their newest flagship at Rs. 44999/- for the 16GB variant.

Here is the best part of the news, the Samsung Galaxy S4 set for India is the Exynos based Octa-core variant and not the quad-core as most were expecting. Although Samsung might change over to a quad core variant if the sales are slow as they were for the S2 in India and the company then launched a cheaper ~~Single core~~ alternate chipset variant adding a G at the end of the model number.

Samsung has taken a similar strategy with the Samsung Galaxy S4 ( or plans to) with the company expecting good sales numbers based on the hype created by the launch. Post that they plan to shift to a quad core variant similar to the one in the US.

Apart from the chipset the Samsung Galaxy S4 also has a 5 inch 1920x1080p Super-Amoled display, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of storage for the Indian variant, along with a 13 MP camera at the rear capable of full hd 1080p video at 30fps.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 also has Android 4.2.2 along with the latest TouchWiz UI .

March 18, 2013
Samsung Galaxy S4 Polycarbonate Glaze Explained!

Since we already spoke about the use of plastics by Samsung, and their unwillingness to move to a different type of build for their most recent flagship the Galaxy S4. A lot of readers are confused about the one statement made by Samsung Executives who said, “The new Samsung Galaxy S4 comes with Polycarbonate Glaze”, in fact it appears Samsung’s use of the said statement has actually met with its purpose.

Lets lay down the details first, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is the Korean company’s latest flagship announced at an event held in New York on the 14th of March 2013. The smartphone just like any other from Samsung in the past and others this year, features top of the line specifications. The norm being full HD 1920 x 1080p display, a 13 MP camera, various storage capacities, an octa-core processor and a newer set of software tweaks to satisfy the user and to set them apart from others. The Samsung Galaxy S4 also has a large 2600 mAh battery and the very latest Android 4.2.2 with their new designed for life TouchWiz/ Nature/ Life UI.

But one major element of the latest smartphone that seems to not be catching the fancy of the eye is the lack of design change and the continued use of plastics in the so called natural form factor. We do understand that most companies follow the “if it sells then why change it?” policy, But the reason Samsung came into the limelight is because they changed the norms, with the S2, with the Note series and even with their tablets to some extent, which were unique in their own way and different from the herd of smartphones that were being built on Android.

But, before we start another battle, lets talk about the “Polycarbonate Glaze”. Polycarbonate Glazing (confused here), is used to replace glass in areas where extra strength is required, like greenhouses, security cars, safe rooms and even on some fighter jets. However the thinnest form of this polycarbonate glazing which can be used effectively is either 4mm or 5mm, and since most of us know that the Samsung Galaxy S4 is just short of the 8 mm thickness, Samsung did not fill half of that bulk with a polycarbonate sheet.

[pullquote_left] special poly-carbonate body [/pullquote_left]Polycarbonate Glaze, however, is what Samsung has actually done on this variant of the Galaxy, Glaze by definition of its use here is “a layer of paint, thinned with a medium, so as to become somewhat transparent” . The Samsung Galaxy S4 has a fully plastic shell/frame which does not use Polycarbonate anywhere. In-fact Samsung goes to say that the Galaxy S4’s bezel is wrapped in a “special polycarbonate body” which means that the plastic back panel has a coating of polycarbonate paint, generally used to provide added strength to RC boats, cars and toys. This particular “Polycarbonate Glaze” is also used on some other model novelty items to provide some added shine and strength.

In May 2012 Samsung responded to several users upset with the build quality of the galaxy S3, claiming that the back cover of the Galaxy S3 in-fact has polycarbonate, “Using three layers of high quality, pure and clear polycarbonate”, what they did not mention is that these three layers are by all intents and purposes laid on top (read: painted/coated) of the plastic back panel of the Galaxy S3, the Note 2 and in-fact the recently launched Galaxy Grand aswell. So, go ahead Grand owners celebrate your phone is made out of polycarbonate. The Lumia series of phones from Nokia, are the greatest example of the kind of feel a polycarbonate shell would give to the one holding it, some HTC phones also possess this type of build.

The fact remains Samsung may or may not change their design process, especially if they continue to sell the numbers they already do. We have reached out to Samsung for better clarification and will update this article, once they do respond.

March 18, 2013
Xolo X1000 Unboxing and Hands On

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With many a options available, the Android market space has yet another competitor in the Rupees 20,000 price segment. The Xolo X1000 was launched yesterday for a price that was lower than expected, but does it truly offer what the market is looking for?. Interms of Hardware we have an Intel Atom medfield platform at Single core and 2GHz on the clock, for the Graphics we have a 400 MHz GPU.

The front has a brilliant 4.7 inch SHARP™ HD 2.5 D edge curved glass display, which has a resolution of 1280 x 720p. The cameras are 8 and 1.3 MP with with former being the rear camera with full HD 1080p video, and the latter being the front facer.

[pullquote_left] Get ready for premium feel![/pullquote_left] Holding the phone in the hand for the first time might just take you by surprise, the touch and feel of the phone is far from expected (in a positive sense). The phone feels really premium and does a fantastic job of making you feel like you are holding a truly premium device.

The HD Display is truly commendable as well, with brilliant viewing angles and fantastic color reproduction, its easily one the best displays of the price segment. The response from the screen is also snappy and initially gave instant feedback. A couple of facts that did let us down start with the fact that the device runs on Android 4.0.3 and Xolo is not yet ready with a jelly bean software update yet.

Check out the video above or the images below. Stay tuned for the Gaming and benchmarks videos.

March 15, 2013
Samsung Unpacked 2013 for the Galaxy S4 Live Blog

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We will be giving you step by step into the Galaxy S4 launch right here on iGyaan.

March 15, 2013
Edit : 5 Symptoms Of A Smartphone Addict! Are You One?

Nomophobia is a term first coined by British researchers during 2008 to denote people who experienced anxiety when they had no access to mobile technology—such as their mobile phones.

This unfortunate-sounding condition (you must enunciate well when you say it) is an abbreviation for no-mobile-phone-phobia.

Smartphone addiction is a very sly and cunning condition. Unlike other addictions, you won’t even come to know that you’re suffering from it.

People who are said to suffer with this addiction report being unable to turn their phones off—ever. They worry over running out of battery power. They constantly check for new emails and text messages and calls. And they don’t even want to go to the restroom without their phones.

Mentioned below are 5 symptoms of a smartphone addict, according to DigitalTrends.

1. You’ve spent more on accessories than on your phone.

It started out with something harmless like a car charger, but then you stepped up to the car FM transmitter, armband, a different case for each day of the week, spare batteries, screen protectors, a stereo Bluetooth adapter, wireless speakerphone, and even a dock powered by tube amps. You realize that it’s just a phone, not a kid, right? And that none of it will work when you inevitably buy a new device?

2. You have 30 different apps installed. And use them all.

We’ve all gone through app-installing binges where we’ve installed some questionable stuff on our cell phones. Two weeks later, we either figure out it’s garbage and delete it, or leave it to stagnate. But those of you still checking on your digital iPhorest trees, using Shazam to find that song that’s playing on the radio, or just lying on the bed in your pajamas playing poker on your phone are the real nuts.

3. A full battery charge barely lasts the day.

After brushing your teeth and washing your face, your last ritual before bed is plugging in that smartphone. Because if you don’t, there’s no way that sucker’s lasting another full day after the workout you gave it today. We’ll admit that the battery life on some modern smartphones is pretty dismal, but if you’re downing a full charge day after day, you might need to lay off the juice.

4. When you meet people with the same phone, you can only talk about the phone.

“You have an iPhone too? Oh awesome, have you tried the Moves app yet? Yea, this case is pretty cool, but I’m getting this metallic one soon that’s even slimmer.”

If this sounds at all like a conversation you might have upon meeting someone with the same smartphone, you should reconsider your smartphone addiction and your social life.

5. You use it in the bathroom.

This is just wrong. But not for hygienic reasons as you all suspect. If you’re using your smartphone on the can, you’ve just robbed yourself of your last refuge from interruption. You’ve tainted mankind’s last fortress of solitude by dragging the entire equivalent of a computer into the equation. Can’t you live five minutes without e-mail? Really?

If you exhibit the above symptoms, then you, my friend, are a smartphone addict.

Let us know below if you are!

March 13, 2013
Welcome to the New iGyaan 2013

[title title=”Editorial: iGyaan and You” icon=”icon-edit”]

Few years back when I started iGyaan, it was supposed to be a simple and efficient way for me to give advice to my friends and family who wanted the right information and tips on technology. Today, iGyaan is ranked as India’s leading technology destination and I have only you to thank. With the first few inspirational emails and positive comments, I was constantly fighting the battle to do better and better with something which was a mere hobby for me at that time.

[pullquote_left] As long as you remember us [/pullquote_left]I remember an anonymous reader stating on the blogspot blog, iGyaan should be a website it will do well. Low and behold months later iGyaan.in was formed. There are many reasons I chose this name, and many have tried to justify it, “India-Gyaan”, “IT- Gyaan”, “I (me) – Gyaan”, It honestly does not matter to me, As long as you remember us.

I have strived to hold standards on iGyaan, ensuring that I can deliver the best of quality and the right amounts of it. In the years, however, there have been many things which have been not accepted by you, what can I say, we learnt and we moved on.

The best thing about iGyaan is the team that holds it together, from Devs, to designers, to writers, editors, video editors among others who helped us reach this milestone.

[pullquote_right]Makes us do what we do better[/pullquote_right]The new iGyaan, has been created with careful tinkering and to deliver a fast and efficient reading experience for all those on the other side. The new design also makes it easy for us to deliver the information to you people, so it turns out to be a win-win. We hope you appreciate all the hard work and no-sleep nights that go into delivering a better end-user experience, and continue to give us all the love and appreciation for it. It is truly what makes us do what we do better.

March 13, 2013
Samsung Galaxy Fame Hands-On
At an event yesterday, Samsung launched its latest entrant in the budget smartphone segment, the Samsung Galaxy Fame.

The Galaxy Fame has a 3.5in 320×480 display which uses TFT rather than AMOLED technology, behind which is a single-core 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM and 4GB of storage – which, again, can be upgraded by up to 64GB using a micro-SD card. The device includes a five megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash and VGA resolution front-facing camera, and runs Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean.

Samsung has packed a 1,300mAh battery inside.

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

Samsung Galaxy Fame
- Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean
- 3.5-inch 320×480 TFT display
- 1GHz processor single-core
- 512MB RAM
- 4GB of storage, externally expandable to 64GB
- 5MP rear camera, with LED flash
- VGA front camera
- 1,300mAh battery
Pricing and availability in India is yet unannounced and we’ll update you soon as soon as we get a hint of it. Till then, stay tuned.

Check out our hands on video below :

Images
March 2, 2013
Hands on with the new HTC One
HTC has recently launched the new HTC One, a flagship for the company with impressive specs and a wonderful new design. The HTC One comes with a unibody Aluminum design which is built into a seamless unit which is 4mm at the slimmest and 9mm at the thickest. Making it only roughly thicker than the iPhone 5.

What one really needs to appreciate is the new Blink feed on the gorgeous display. The new UI lays out social feeds, news updates, calendar info, friends data and more right on the home screen of the phone in this new super smooth flowing interface.

The HTC One has a Ultra pixel camera with a larger 4 MP sensor that will allow more light to be captured allowing for a beautiful print size of upto 8 x 12 inches directly from the camera of the phone. HTC has incorporated several camera enhancements in the HTC One , most interesting being ZOE that allows a user to capture few seconds of images and HD video at the same time allowing you to relive the experiences .

HTC also claims improved battery life with the HTC One lasting almost twice that on the iPhone 5, and 30% more compared to similar tests on a Galaxy S3 or a Note 2. The phone is 10% smaller compared to the HTC One X and slightly smaller in size when compared to the Butterfly.

(More Developing)

Quick Specs Check
- Android 4.1.2 with HTC Sense 5
- Processor: Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 600, quad-core, 1.7GHz
- Total storage: 32GB/64GBi, available capacity varies
- RAM: 2GB DDR2
- Battery: 2300 mAh embedded rechargeable Li-polymer battery
CAMERA
- BSI sensor, Pixel size 2.0 ?m, Sensor size 1/3′
- Dedicated HTC ImageChip™ 2
- F2.0 aperture and 28 mm lens
- Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)
- Smart Flash: Five levels of flash automatically set by distance to subject
- Front Camera: 88 wide angle lens with HDR capability
- 1080p Full HD video recording for both front and back cameras
- HDR Video
- Continuous shooting and VideoPic
- Slow motion video recording with variable speed playback
- HTC Zoe™ with highlights and HTC Zoe™ Share
- Retouch with Object Removal, Always Smile, and Sequence Shot
CONNECTIVITY
- 3.5 mm stereo audio jack
- NFC capable
- Compliant with Bluetooth 4.0
- Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX™ enabled
- Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 a/ac/b/g/n
- DLNA® for wirelessly streaming media from the phone to a compatible TV or computer
- Support consumer infrared remote control
- micro-USB 2.0 (5-pin) port with mobile high-definition video link (MHL) for USB or HDMI connection (Special cable required for HDMI connection.)
HTC BOOMSOUND™
- Dual frontal stereo speakers with built-in amplifiers
- Studio-quality sound with Beats Audio™
- HDR Microphone
- Sense Voice
NETWORK
- GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
- WCDMA (1900/2100 (B2/B1) MHz)
- CDMA (800/1900 BC0/BC1/BC10, Sprint)
- LTE (1900 (B25, SPCS)
- Frequencies will vary by region/operator
SENSORS
- Gyro sensor
- Accelerometer
- Proximity sensor
- Ambient light sensor
LOCATION
- Internal GPS antenna + GLONASS
- Digital compass
AC ADAPTER
- Voltage range/frequency: 100 ~ 240 V AC, 50/60 Hz
- DC output: 5 V and 1 A
- SIZE: 137.4 x 68.2 x 9.3mm/4mm (max/min)
- WEIGHT: 143 grams with battery
- DISPLAY: 4.7 inch, Full HD 1080p, 468 PPI
February 21, 2013
Exclusive : HTC Butterfly Hands On

HTC finally launched the new HTC Butterfly in India, while the phone will be available in a totally limited fashion, it is truly worth admiring. The HTC Butterfly is powered by a quad core 1.5 Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor and 2 GB of in built RAM.

While it follows along the previous design elements of HTC devices, the HTC Butterfly seems more refined any classy. The design has a curved back so feels a lot more slim and fits well in the hands. Including a 2020 mAh battery HTC feels that the device is powered well enough, that is if you probably dont consider the heavy consumption of the 5 inch 1080p LCD3 display which has a whopping 440 ppi.

HTC Butterfly also emphasizes on authentic sound and amazing camera, continuing along with their 8-megapixel f/2.0 28mm wide-angle lens, 5-level automatic flash, backside illuminated sensor (BSI) equipped main camera and upping the game by adding a 2.1-megapixel, f/2.0, 88-degree, ultra-wide angle, front-facing camera. Everything does sound fancy, we found that the main camera does instantly click images, even if the flash is on.

The HTC Butterfly runs Android 4.1 along with HTC Sense 4+ so it has improved features such as Google Now pre-loaded. HTC has also confirmed that a update for 4.2 is in works and will be out sooner than later.

We will be coming out with an unboxing and extended comparison of the butterfly shortly so stay tuned. Till then check out our hands on images and Video shortly.

January 29, 2013
Hands on : Samsung Galaxy Grand

Samsung saw the “Indian” version of the PHABLET and decided that it needed to penetrate the market which was dominated by lower class devices. The new Samsung Galaxy Grand aims to do that, with slight bit of problem the initial market price of Rs 21,500.

At first the Galaxy Grand looks like a fuse between the S3 and the Note 2, however it has features of neither (except the looks). The Samsung Galaxy Grand is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, it has 1 Gb of RAM and 8GB internal storage which honestly is the only current redeeming feature. The Grand also belongs to the DUOS series since it a dual sim phone.

The front of the device has a 5 inch 480×800 px display which surprisingly is very clear and vivid with good outdoor visibility. The phone also has multi window which we demonstrated in our hands on video (coming up.)

8 MP Camera

On the back, the Samsung Galaxy Grand features an 8 megapixel primary camera with LED flash, which if Samsung is to be believed has “enhanced optics”. At first it just seems like a bunch of gimmicks, only a final review will tell. The camera however zero shutter-lag and a backside illumination sensor.

The build quality of the phone is also standard Samsung style, so plastics all round, keeping manufacturing costs low for the device. Samsung Galaxy Grand comes with Jelly Bean and Touch Wiz designed for Jelly Bean. So Samsung though it fair enough to stuff the phone with features like “direct call” and “popup video” from the Galaxy S3 and Note 2.

Usual Button Layout

Flip Case

[pullquote_left]”too little too late”[/pullquote_left] Although the Galaxy Grand is a noble attempt from Samsung, is the device “too little too late” especially considering the “Indian” counterparts one up-ed Samsung just a day ago. While true usage capabilities will only come with the final review, as far as The Galaxy Grand is concerned, it should be a decent if not “GRAND” add-on to the lineup of devices from Samsung. However considering sheer market value and brand value, a stable user experience and a good user support coverage, the device will be a great eye candy and will attract a lot of buyers, especially those who will prefer a “brand” over specs.

The final device will drop the matte bezel and will adopt a shiny glossy bezel, similar to the one on the Note 2. The added flip cover and the striking resemblance to the mammoth flagship will enable the user to pass the Galaxy grand as a Note 2 to the unknown eye. That is essentially what will make this device really popular for the Indian psyche.

Hands on Video:

January 22, 2013