Category: Mobile

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Acer Liquid E700 Review

Last year was quite an exciting year for the Indian smartphone market, especially in the overcrowded budget phone category. We saw some top-notch devices coming from domestic as well as International manufacturers packed with relatively high-end specs at an attractive price. Manufacturers are constantly trying to invent new ways to create demand for their product by offering something unique. Taiwanese manufacturer Acer has tried to do something similar and have forayed into the Indian smartphone market after a long break with the launch of their triple-SIM phone the Acer Liquid E700.

The company known for making quality laptops has launched two new smartphones in its Liquid Range of handsets. While the Liquid Jade is a mid-range offering at Rs.16,999, the Liquid E700 is a budget phone, and the one, we’ll be reviewing, is priced at Rs.11,999.

The E700 comes with a good specs which include a hefty 3500mAh battery. The phone does seem like a great budget phone on paper but has it got enough to make its mark. The phone has something unique to offer geared towards frequent travelers. It is a quad-band phone, implying you’ll be able to use it anywhere in the world where there is support for GSM. It faces some stiff competition from the likes of the hot favourite Moto G (2nd Gen) while there are also other worthy contenders such as Xiaomi, Asus, Xolo, Lava and Huawei.

HARDWARE

In terms of hardware, the E700 packs a decent set of specs at least on paper. It sports a mid-range Quad-core chipset from MediaTek bundled with a hefty 2GB of RAM, a lush bright 5-inch HD screen. Check out the key specs below:

Specifications	Acer Liquid E700
Display	5-inch IPS HD
Processor	Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7
RAM	2 GB
Storage	16GB Internal, microSD upto 32GB
Camera	8 MP rear camera with flash, 2 MP front selfie cam
Battery	3,500mAh
OS	Android 4.4.2(KitKat)

BUILD QUALITY AND DESIGN

The Acer Liquid E700 does not appear to be like any other budget smartphone one would come across. It has a curved top and bottom edge along with fine contours along the display, giving it a niche distinct look.

The front of the phone is largely covered by the display, with physical capacitive touch buttons placed below the screen while there are two front grills reminiscent of HTC’s recent phones. The right edge of the phone houses the volume rocker keys along with a micro-USB port, while on the top edge rests the 3.5 mm jack along with the power key.

Meanwhile, the back of the phone sports a soft black matte plastic finish offering better grip with a soft feel. The back also houses the primary camera unit bundled with flash along with an additional button which can be assigned a function. The back of the phone is removable which reveals the three SIM slots along with the microSD slots, with the battery unit embedded within the phone.

Hence, the overall look and feel of the phone is relatively good with precise cutouts made for camera units and flash. It sports a nice form factor with an ergonomic design making it apt for one handed usage. Despite featuring a heavy battery unit, the phone feels relatively light weight.

DISPLAY AND MULTIMEDIA

An HD IPS display is the standard norm these days, and the Acer Liquid E700 sports a 5-inch HD IPS capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 1280×720 pixels. The same display is also found on the Moto G 2nd Gen along with the Asus ZenFone 5.

The 5-inch screen does the job quite handsomely rendering good colour saturation with crisp viewing angles. Visibility is top notch both indoors as well as outdoors owing to the bright screen.

Meanwhile, the phone is perfectly suited for multimedia consumption. The 720p screen can take care of all your multimedia needs. Even Full HD videos can be rendered easily and run quite smooth without any noticeable jitters. In addition, the front facing speakers pack enough punch, though at times gets distorted which is quite common in this category of phones.

ANDROID & UI

Acer Liquid E700 runs the Android 4.4.2 KitKat with the company’s Liquid Float UI on top. The Float UI brings in a whole new look and feel with its flashy icons and transparent shortcuts. Even the drop-down menu appears a bit different. The UI needs some time getting used to.

Once you’re a bit used to the UI, it offers new and unique ways to multitask. The Float app interface displays several apps and widgets at the same time. These apps come in very handy when you need to take note of something quickly. In addition, Acer has pre-installed a few apps including its Cloud-based Office suite, Polaris Office 5, Acer Snapnote and more.

Overall, the UI is quite snappy and smooth giving a seamless response to swipe and touch. The only weak link with the UI would be excessive bloatware that makes the home screen appear very cluttered. Acer would have been better off had they kept things simple.

PERFORMANCE & GAMING

The smartphone sports a quad-core Mediatek Soc clocked at 1.3Ghz bundled with an ARM Mali-400 MP2 graphics chip. This is further bolstered by a hefty 2GB RAM that enhances the overall performance of the phone.

The phone offers hassle free multitasking. It switches from one app to other in time. Meanwhile, it can even run high-end titles like Asphalt 8 and Modern Combat 5. Even at fully cranked up settings, the device was able to render satisfactory frame rates.

Coming to its benchmark scores, the Acer Liquid 700 fared some average scores, have a look at the benchmark scores of this device along with its competitors below:

Device Name	Antutu	NenaMark II
Xolo Omega 5.0	27,290	59.1
Acer Liquid E700	18,254	54.5
Gionee Marathon M3	17,939	55.2
Lava Iris Fuel 60	18,025	59.1

CAMERA

The Acer Liquid E700 comes with an 8 MP rear camera with LED flash along with a 2 MP front-facing snapper. Meanwhile, the camera app on the E700 gives users a lot of options to fiddle around. Users can manually set the ISO and Exposure settings along with the white balance. Though the image quality is not as satisfying as one would want. There are better options in the same price range that render much better quality pictures.

Outdoors shots are fairly decent, especially the macro shots which come out fairly well rendered with good colour saturation and clarity. Though indoor shots appear a tad grainy and lack the finer details with noise clearly evident, while low light images are plain bad appearing washed out and dulled.

Here are some camera samples for your viewing:

In addition, when you tap the screen for adjusting the focus, you are presented with a circle that can get annoying at times especially when you need to capture something in an instant. The shutter speed appears relatively sluggish; the only striking feature of the camera is its camera app.

The phone is capable of recording 1080 p but as you would from a phone in the given price range, videos appear to be grainy and shaky.

The front has a 2MP snapper which can manage just about average selfies, so hardcore selfie lovers should stay away from this marketing gimmick as Acer touts it as a ‘selfie phone’.

PHONES, NETWORKS AND BATTERY

The network connectivity is pretty top notch; all three SIM slots get good signal strength whether indoors or outdoors and voice quality is pretty crisp. All the three SIM slots support 3G, but can be used for only one SIM at a time. Other connectivity features include 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth v4.0 with A2DP and GPS. It also has support for USB on-the-go (OTG) support as well.

Additionally, the phone sports a 3500 mAh non-removable battery which the company claims provides upto 60 days of standby, 24 hours of talk time and 800 hours of standby time.

The 3500 mAh battery can easily suffice a day of heavy usage without the need for charging. Meanwhile, in our battery test the phone was able to give over five plus hours of battery life.

All in all, the 3500 mAh battery can easily last a day of intense usage.

CONCLUSION

The Acer Liquid E700 is a decent all round performer given the price tag. It has a bright 5 inch IPS screen that is pretty amazing, a good overall design and build quality, along with a massive 3500 mAh battery. In addition, it has a few nifty features like triple SIM support which can be customised as per your needs ( data, roaming and calls) along with the Acer Rapid button makes it good overall buy.

Its camera performance is below par and the overall UI experience is not that great. There are better options available in the given price bracket including Xolo Omega 5.0 or even the Yu Yureka. If the battery is your main priority, there are smartphones that have a slight edge over the Acer E700 in terms of overall performance like the Iris Fuel 60 or the Gionee Marathon M3.

In our opinion, the Acer E700 Liquid is just another smartphone launch and doesn’t leave a lasting impression.

January 15, 2015

Amazon Apologises For Yu Yureka Price Glitch

E-commerce website, Amazon India, on Wednesday, addressed a glitch that took place during the online sales of the Yu Yureka. The website has got exclusive online retail rights of the Yu Yureka in the country. While the phone is actually priced at Rs 8,999, some of the users were shown the price as Rs 12,499 or higher because of a technical error. The US based firm apologized for the same on Twitter and is presently working to address the customers who were impacted by it.

As of now, it is still not clear what went wrong that led to this price shoot up. The first glitch took place during the first sale of the Yu Yureka in which the company offered 10,000 units for a flash sale.

After the sale on Tuesday, YU announced that it sold off 10,000 units in just 3 seconds. However, later on, some reports alleged that only 3000 units were placed for the flash sale, and even fewer units were sold. Yu has categorically denied the allegations and stood by their stand that they sold 10,000 units.

January 15, 2015
BlackBerry Classic With BB10 OS Comes to India, Priced at Rs. 31,990

BlackBerry has launched the Classic in India. The device is available for purchase at BlackBerry stores and Snapdeal exclusively. It comes with a hefty price tag of Rs. 31,990.

BlackBerry Classic boasts its aesthetic QWERTY keypad which will make it a definite choice of the BlackBerry followers. The brand has restored its style and decided against using a touch screen.

Coming to its specs, the phone has a capacitive touchscreen display of 3.5-inch, which is secured by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. The handset is powered by a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor paired with 2 GB of RAM. It features 16 GB of internal storage capacity that can be expanded up to 128 GB via MicroSD card.

Taking the camera into consideration, the Classic sports an 8MP shooter with the added features like autofocus and LED flash, along with a 2MP snapper at the front to take selfies. The device runs on company’s own BB OS 10.3.1 and houses a non-removable 2,512mAh battery.

The e-commerce website has released a buyback offer to lure customers. As per the deal, the existing BlackBerry Bold holders will get a rebate of up to Rs. 4,500 on the purchase of the Classic. The device comes with some in-built features like Blackberry Hub, BBM Meetings and BlackBerry Blend.

January 15, 2015
Xiaomi Directly Targets OnePlus One With the Launch of 5.7-inch Mi Note

World’s third largest smartphone maker, Xiaomi took a great leap in order to challenge the likes of Apple, Samsung and OnePlus with the new 5.7-inch phablet called the Mi Note.

Many expected the Chinese manufacturer to launch the second generation Redmi Note or the Mi5, but instead the company decided to take a step ahead and launched the Xiaomi Mi Note. The new device flaunts a 5.7-inch 1080p display and seems to be Xiaomi’s contender against the OnePlus One (with a price to match.)

The device is powered by a Snapdragon 801 processor and comes with 3 GB RAM. The phablet will be available in 16 and 32 GB variants. The company has also launched a Pro version of the Mi Note which is powered by 64 bit Snapdragon 810, comes with 4GB of RAM and has a 64GB version only. The pro version flaunts an enticing 2560×1440 at 515ppi screen (2k display.)

Both are powered by a 3000mAh battery. The devices also sport a 13MP main camera with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and a 4 MP front facing selfie camera. They run on MIUI 6, which is based on Android 4.4 KitKat. The Mi Note and Pro are 7 mm thin and weigh 161 gm.

Mi Note is protected on both sides with 2.5D + 3D curved Gorilla Glass 3. According to the company, it’s highly resistant to scratches and shattering.

Xiaomi has become the world’s fastest growing smartphone manufacturer swelling its shipment three times last year. The new Mi Note will compete head to head with OnePlus’ One which was launched last year.

There is no doubt the company has a strong hold on the tech market, however, Xiaomi is still struggling with the idea of breaking into the western market. With the launch of Mi Note, we can expect the Chinese smartphone giant to break free from the Asian market and focus on a more global scale.

The Xiaomi Mi Note will retail for 2,299RMB, which is about $371 or Rs. 22,893, while the Mi Note Pro is priced for 3,299RMB, which is about $532 dollars or Rs. 32,800.

Correction (19/01/15) : Front facing camera 4MP with 2-micron pixels. Thickness 7mm

January 15, 2015
Hands On with the New Tizen-Based Samsung Z1

Android has taken over the market share and is widely available across multiple brands. Companies like Samsung, LG, Motorola and a lot of other companies have greatly benefitted from the Google’s open source operating system. But several electronic giants are attempting to come out of Android’s shadow and set up their own operating systems.

Samsung is attempting to break free from Android’s dominance with its homegrown Tizen OS. Samsung had already inducted Tizen in its Gear family of smartwatches and now they have launched the first phone based on the OS.

We got our hands briefly on the new Samsung Z1 which is the first phone based on the new operating system.

The Samsung Z1 totally looks like something that came out of Samsung’s stable. It has recognizable features including the physical button at the center. The phone has a metal-like casing that along with the polished back panel gives it a premium feel.

The Z1 is being marketed as a multimedia device and offers multitude of content through its tie-up with hungama.com and live tv options like BoxTv. But it comes with a 4-inch WVGA display that doesn’t feel adequate for a complete multimedia delight. The bit that is appreciated is the expandable storage option which is up to 64 GB; an amount great for multimedia hoarders.

Tizen OS looks and feels like the TouchWiz UI

Tizen OS looks and feels like the TouchWiz UI on Samsung’s Android devices. The only thing missing is the app drawer. The drop down menu too looks exactly the same as TouchWiz UI with similar setting options. It will be familiar interface for anyone switching from an Android device or upgrading from a feature phone into a smartphone.

Samsung claims most of the major apps are available on Tizen OS

The company has attempted to bring features from its higher end devices on Z1 like the ultra power saving mode, which up until now has been available on premium handsets like the Galaxy S5 and Note 4. It also offers 500 MB of free data plan with Reliance and Aircel for six months.

Overall, in the brief amount of time we spent with the device, we were excited to see Samsung trying to bring something new to its consumers. The device still falls short of competing with products like the Redmi 1S and the Moto E but is still a good effort. The company said that they will be refreshing their line-up of devices over the future and we would like to see where the new path leads Samsung.

January 14, 2015

Samsung Launches its First Tizen-Based Smartphone in India

Samsung has finally launched its much awaited Tizen-based Z1 smartphone in an event held in New Delhi. As expected, the new Tizen OS powered smartphone is a budget smartphone. It sports a 4-inch WVGA (480x800p) PLS display and is powered by a 1.2GHz A7 dual-core processor and comes with 768MB RAM. The Z1 has 4GB of internal storage expandable up to 64GB via a microSD card.

On the imaging side, Z1 flaunts a 3.1MP rear camera with LED flash and a VGA front camera. It is powered by a 1500mAh battery. It will support 3G, Bluetooth 4.1, Wi-Fi and A-GPS connectivity option. Additional features include accelerometer, ultra power saving mode, private mode and ability to access browser pages offline.

Samsung, ultimately, aims to make Tizen the ‘OS of Everything’, making it the direct rival to Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS mobile platforms. At CES 2015, announced that all the 2015 TVs will be powered by Tizen OS.

However, the delays and the consumer skepticism for anything other than Android and iOS have meant that the devices running on Tizen haven’t been able to emerge from its initial stage.

With the launch of Tizen-OS powered Z1, the company has shifted its strategy, setting aside its high-end ambitions and aiming at emerging markets like India with cheap devices powered by the OS. Samsung Z1 is priced at Rs. 5,700 and will go on sale today, on both online and offline stores.

Specs	Samsung Z1
Processor	1.2GHz A7 dual-core
RAM	768MB RAM
Display	4-inch WVGA (480x800p) PLS
Operating System	Tizen 2.3
Camera	3.1MP rear camera with LED flash and a VGA front camera
Battery	1500mAh
Storage	4GB, expandable up to 64GB
Price	Rs. 5,700

January 14, 2015

LG G Flex 2 is Cheaper Than its Predecessor

The Consumer Electronic Show (CES) saw some really interesting innovations this year. One such innovation was the LG G Flex 2, which is an enhanced version of the original LG G Flex released last year. The device made a cameo at the event; only its specifications were released, while the price was kept under wraps. Now, the South Korean smartphone manufacturer has come up with a price tag, which is a bit lower than the launch price of its predecessor.

The device is listed on Amazon, where it is priced for €599. This translates to somewhere around Rs. 44,000. The original LG G Flex was a little pricey and came at an introductory cost of €850. For now, the phone is available for purchase in Germany only and the shipping date of the same is not yet specified.

The major tweak in the device is its fast restoring capacity. The phone retrieves its original position in just 10 seconds whereas the G Flex took around three minutes to heal. Briefing its specs, then LG G Flex 2 boasts a 5.5-inch full HD Curved POLED display, with a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels. It is powered by a Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor with 64-bit capability, becoming the first device to pack the latest and powerful processing system. The G Flex 2 sports 2 GB of RAM and runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop.

Coming onto the camera front, the G Flex 2 has a 13MP rear shooter along with OIS+ and laser auto focus capacity and a 2.1MP front snapper for your selfie needs. Furthermore, the phone features both 16 GB and 32 GB of internal storage and has a microSD card support.

As of now, there is no official announcement about its launch in India, but it is speculated to release soon.

January 13, 2015
All 2013 and 2014 Motorola Devices to Get Lollipop Update Soon

There is finally some good news on the horizon for Motorola users. After a considerably long delay, Motorola has announced that it will be bringing out Android Lollipop updates for all its handsets released in 2013 and 2014.

In a post on Google Plus, Motorola Engineer Luciano Carvalho has said that the company is currently working hard to bring the update to its consumers. He has not specified the exact date and has just said that the updates will arrive “real soon”.

It is also mentioned in the post that the company has released an Android 5.0.3 update as a limited soak test. The reason cited for the delay is the bug ridden launch of the Android Lollipop. The post says that the team at Motorola are constantly finding bugs and fixing them, and they will reveal the update once it’s completely bug free.

Motorola is one of the best companies out there in terms of timely updates. The devices launched by the company are really popular and get proactive support from the company. So if you are a Motorola user, the wait for your Lollipop will soon come to an end.

January 13, 2015
Micromax Brings Out the Canvas Hue with 3000 mAh Battery for Rs. 10,999

India-based company Micromax is the top choice of many smartphone users. The latest offering by its subsidiary, Yu, recently released a device that houses an exceptional set of specs at a super low price. Now, Micromax has added one more handset to its portfolio, the Canvas Hue. The company claims that the device can last up to 30 days on a single charge, which seems a bit far-fetched if you ask us.

As far as the specifications are concerned, Micromax Canvas Hue has a 5-inch HD AMOLED display of 1280×720 pixels resolution. The Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection prevents the display from breakage and makes it scratch-resistant. The device is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core processor paired with 1GB of RAM. The handset runs on Android 4.4.4 KitKat as of now, but it is expected to get the Android 5.0 Lollipop update soon.

Talking about the camera specification, the device has an 8MP primary camera along with a 2MP shooter at front. Canvas Hue houses a powerful 3,000mAh battery and has a support for super power saving mode, which extends the battery life of the phone. The handset features a storage capacity of 8 GB, which can be further expanded via MicroSD card.

The Chief Executive Officer of Micromax Vineet Taneja said in a statement:

With an AMOLED HD screen, users are guaranteed of a life-like viewing experience through more vivid colours and a crystal clear display. The Canvas Hue is a perfect blend of premium design, seamless efficiency and superior technology that supports the needs of the ever evolving consumers.

Priced at Rs. 10,999, Canvas Hue will go on sale on 16^th January. The device is relatively cheap and can compete with big contenders in the market like Xiaomi Redmi Note 4G, Gionee Marathon M3 and Yu Yureka, which pack somewhat similar set of specs.

January 13, 2015
With More Than 700 Million Users, WhatsApp is Growing Strong

WhatsApp has rapidly grown from a meager messaging app to a formidable force that has made SMS nearly obsolete. The app is available on all the prominent mobile platforms. The app is rapidly gaining a massive user base and a new report by BI Intelligence shows, at present, it is being used by over 700 Million folks.

WhatsApp co-founder and CEO Jan Koum wrote a Facebook post where he made the announcement of the 700 million strong user base. He also mentioned that the users of WhatsApp send over 30 Billion messages every single day. This clearly shows why the network providers are so infuriated by the free messaging services as these apps are causing a massive dent in their revenues.

In four months since August last year Whatsapp has added 100 Million new users

The rate of growth of WhatsApp is exponential too. Just last August the company had announced that it had gathered 600 Million subscribers. The speed of adoption is similar to its parent company, Facebook, which now hosts the profile of over 1.28 Billion monthly users and which is rapidly growing.

WhatsApp is not just a messaging app anymore. It is being utilized for political, marketing, spreading information and even entrepreneurial collaboration. It will, in the coming future face some challenges from the network providers and vested interests, but if the past and the latest report is any indication, WhatsApp is only going to get stronger.

January 12, 2015
Report: A Windows-Based Samsung Smartphone Might Arrive This Year

Samsung has been ruling the smartphone market with its high-end Android devices, but it has recently been learnt that the company is keen on including Windows-based phones in its smartphone line-up. According to a report by Korean Times, the South Korean multinational giant is interested in making an affordable Windows Phone.

According to their source, the company is testing a “pilot programs on the stability of Windows 8.1 software on devices.” However, it cannot embed Windows onto the devices until the company settle down on the previous dispute with Microsoft. For those who don’t remember the story; Microsoft sued Samsung in August saying that the company had failed to make payments as per the signed contract.

Samsung ATIV SE, The Last Windows Phone by Samsung

It seems like the firm is reducing its dependability on Google’s Android and is prepping to get a stronghold on the Windows platform.

If the report turns out to be true, then customers can expect a Windows-based device as early as this fall. It might run on Windows 8.1 or the upcoming Windows 10. We’ll still emphasise the fact that it’s just a report and neither Samsung nor Microsoft have confirmed the story. The last Windows Phone by Samsung was Samsung ATIV SE, a Verizon Wireless exclusive based on Windows 8. The firm hasn’t released any Windows devices since.

January 12, 2015
10,000 Yu Yureka Units Go on Sale Tomorrow on Amazon India

The most anticipated device of the year, Yu Yureka, will go up for sale tomorrow. In spite of the huge registrations, the company said that, for now, they will be putting only 10,000 units of its 4G device on Amazon. The smartphone, unveiled last month, boasts a set of specs seen on many high-end devices while it comes at a price of Rs. 8,999.

[quote text_size=”medium” author=”Rahul Sharma” author_title=”Co-Founder of Micromax”]

We saw unprecedented response with over three lakh registrations. Registrations were to be open till 25th December. However, owing to the mega response they had to be closed a day earlier.

[/quote]

If we talk about its specifications, the Yu Yureka has a 5.5-inch display with 1280 x 720p resolution. The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 3. It is powered by Snapdragon 615 CPU along with Adreno 405 GPU. The device features 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage capacity, out of which 12 GB is free. The phone gets its juice from the 2500mAh battery.

On the camera front, the handset has a 13MP rear snapper along with a 5MP shooter on the front. The most significant feature of the device is the attractive Cyanogen OS 11.

Rahul further talked about the phone units, “We are working on ramping our capacities. Given the kind of enthusiasm that we have seen, we will increase the number of units put out for sale gradually.” It was also learnt that Cash-on-Delivery System will be available to Yureka buyers. Do read the full review of the Yu Yureka here.

January 12, 2015
Xiaomi to Raise Curtains Off its Next Flagship Killer on 15th January

After a very successful year, where Xiaomi managed to became the most valued startup, the company is now about to bring out its next flagship product. The company has sent out invites for the launch event set for 15th of January. According to the office MIUI thread, the launch will take place at 2.00 PM Beijing time. The page doesn’t specifically state what new device they’re launching, but the general agreement is that this launch is for the Mi5.

The post asks the users on the thread to vote on what phone they expect Xiaomi is launching with the option given as Mi4s, Mi5 and others. With 70% in favour, Mi5 leads the polls.

The invite only says that Xiaomi will unveil a new device on Jan 15.

This upcoming premium launch by Xiaomi is expected to sport a 5.7 inches QHD display. It will get is processing might from the 64-bit Snapdragon 810 SoC which will be supported by Adreno 430 graphics engine and 3 GB RAM. It will offer 16 GB internal memory and feature a fingerprint sensor. It is also expected to flaunt a 20.7 MP camera with Sony Exmor RS sensor.

There are also speculations that Xiaomi might unveil the new Mi Pad 2. It is expected to feature a 7.9-inch display with 2048X1536 resolution. It will come with 2 GB RAM and 16 GB internal storage. This does look like a quality update to the Mi Pad line and the resolution of the display might attract a good number of consumers.

If Xiaomi prices it as competitively as it usually does, then it sure would have a winner on its hands. With the specs being offered in this edition of Mi smartphone, Xiaomi is directly challenging the authority of the flagship devices. Having knocked off Samsung from the top spot in China, Xiaomi has seriously taken a bullish approach to the market. Let’s hope it lasts long and encourages other manufacturers to duplicate Xiaomi’s business model and give consumers more functionality at affordable costs.

January 10, 2015
Round Up of Tech Innovations That Made a Mark at CES 2015

The Consumer Electronic Show (CES) has been a podium of futuristic innovations for years. Almost all big tech giants take part in this 3-day long event to showcase their prototypes.

This year’s CES also saw some really amazing gadgets; from Samsung to HTC, from mobiles, TVs to wearables, from devices to concepts, we have summed up the CES 2015 in this list of top 15 gadgets. The below listed technologies gathered the limelight at this year’s CES:

1. Razer Forge TV

The one that tops the list is Forge TV by Razer that has won the People’s Choice Award for Best of CES 2015. It’s an Android-powered console for hardcore gamers. Its compact size brings gaming to your living room. The console is powered by a Snapdragon 805 processor, quad-core Krait 450 CPU, and Adreno 420 GPU. The device has 2 GB of RAM along with 16 GB of internal storage capacity and runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop.

2. Saygus V²

This one nearly broke the internet. Saygus took the centre stage at the event with its V². The device has a mammoth storage capacity of 320 GB. It has 64 GB of in-built storage capacity and comes with support to two MicroSD cards that can store 128 GB each. The V²is an Android-based handset with a 5-inch 1080p display, 2.5 GHz Snapdragon 801 quadcore processor and 3 GB of RAM. It runs on Android 4.4.4 KitKat with a 21 MP primary camera together with dual LED flash and a 13MP selfie snapper upfront.

3. LG dual-bending display

LG released a smartphone, which can takes a step further from the Galaxy Note Edge. LG’s new phone has a sloping display on both sides of the screen. It flaunts a 6-inch display with 1280x720p resolution and is 0.7 mm thick. It has extra peril on the side screen that will help users navigate their way through the phone without accidental tapping.

4. Intel Chipset

Intel announced a new tiny chipset for wearable devices which is the size of a coat button. It’s a low power 32-bit micro-controller called the Quark SE, which has 384 KB of flash memory and 80 KB SRAM. In addition to that, the chipset comprises a plethora of sensors including accelerometer, gyroscope and Bluetooth LE support. The company claimed that one could build a wearable device out of anything from rings to handbags, pendants and even glasses through this chip.

5. Intel’s Compute Stick

The Compute Stick by Intel is a piece of brilliant innovation. It can turn your regular TV into a computer. It is available in Windows and Linux variants. The stick sports a USB port, micro USB port, and supports Bluetooth 4.0, and 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi. You can connect a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse and begin your task where ever you go. The Windows version comes with 2 GB RAM and 32 GB Flash storage, while the Linux version comes with 1 GB RAM and 8GB storage. Both the devices are powered by a quad-core Atom CPU. The Linux variant comes at a price of $89.

6. Lenovo ThinkPadStack

Lenovo ThinkPad Stack is yet another useful and compact accessory released at CES. This device is a compilation of many accessories that demand extra space in your laptop bag. It’s best for frequent commuters. The list of peripherals includes a 10,000mAh battery pack, a 1TB USB 3.0 hard drive, a Bluetooth speaker and an LTE data hotspot. The modules are piled one over another and they share power and data.

7. Samsung SSD T1

Samsung has released three new versions of SSD T1. Available in 250GB, 500GB and 1TB variants, the drives measure a mere 71×53.2×9.2 mm, which is smaller than a business card. It supports AES 256-bit encryption, USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 along with transfer speeds of up to 450MB/s. The SSD T1 models will be made available later this year.

8. Lenovo VB10 Band

The VB10 Band by Lenovo is a fitness track with good battery life. It sports an E-ink display and its battery can last more than a week on a single charge. The Band features full fitness tracking functions and works with a phone via always-on Bluetooth. It warns you when the phone moves too far away from the Band. The Vibe Band will be available in April 2015 for $89, making it one of the cheaper wearables in the market.

9. HTC Desire 826 and Desire 320

HTC Desire 826 with a 5.5-inch display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor and 2 GB RAM

HTC Desire 320 with 4.5-inch LCD display and 1.3 GHz quad-core MediaTek processor.

Both the devices by the company are amazing. While Desire 826 is a selfie-friendly handset, the Desire 320 is a device that’s affordable. The Desire 826 sports a 5.5-inch 1080p display, 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 octa-core processor, 2GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage capacity. Running on Android 5.0 Lollipop, the device has 13MP of rear camera and 4-UltraPixel upfront.

On the other hand, Desire 320 has a 4.5-inch LCD display, 1.3 GHz quad-core MediaTek processor, Android 4.4 KitKat, 4 GB or 8 GB internal storage and 2,100mAh battery. It has a 5 MP rear camera and 0.3MP secondary shooter.

10. Sony NW-ZX2 Walkman

Sony revived its music player with the launch of NW-ZX2 Walkman. It boasts 128 GB of storage space with up to 60 hours of battery life. The company claims that the device gives better sound output than other conventional smartphones. It supports high-quality audio codecs like DSD, WAV, AIFF, FLAC, Apple Lossless, and more. The Walkman also provides you with a Micro SD slot which lets you extend the storage beyond 128 GB. It also supports Bluetooth and NFC output, making this a full-package entertainment device.

11. Lenovo P90 and Vibe X2 Pro

Lenovo refreshed its smartphone list with two new devices; the Lenovo P90 and Vibe X2 Pro. The first sports a 5.5-inch 1920×1080 IPS display, 2 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal storage, 13 MP rear camera with OIS (optical image stabilization), front-facing 5 MP camera and a massive 4,000mAh battery. The latter is a limited edition offering by the company. The X2 Pro comes with a 5.3-inch display, a 64-bit 1.5GHz Snapdragon octa-core processor, a 13MP rear camera with optical image stabilisation along with a matching 13MP front facing camera.

12. LG G Flex 2

LG brought out the next installment in the G Flex series, the LG G Flex 2. It retrieves its original position in seconds compared to the original G Flex which takes around three minutes to heal. The device boasts a 5.5-inch full HD Curved P-OLED 1920×1080p display, a 64-bit Snapdragon 810 Octa-core processor, 2 GB of RAM and Android 5.0 Lollipop. Its camera specs include a 13MP rear shooter along with OIS+ and laser auto focus capacity and a 2.1MP front snapper for your selfie needs.

13. Voice Bridge

SwissVoice came up with a new device called Voice Bridge, through which you can make and receive calls on their mobile devices using their existing fixed line. This doesn’t charge any additional cost. The device has a box-like structure that can connect your landlines to smartphones and tablets. It can connect up to 5 devices to a fixed line. Through this, multiple users can have a conversation in conference mode. The device uses PSTN line and acts like a standard PSTN line, so there’s no need to modify the home setup. There is no need for Wi-Fi pairing or setting up a user account and also, it’s really easy to setup.

14. Asus Zenfone 2 and Zenfone Zoom

The Taiwanese smartphone maker Asus released two new variants at the show. The Zenfone 2 flaunts a 5.5-inch full HD (1920×1080 pixels) IPS display, 64-bit Atom Z3580 quad-core processor clocked at 2.3GHz, 4GB of RAM, Android 5.0 Lollipop and a 3,000mAh battery. It features 13 MP of primary camera, which is said to be the world’s best HDR technology and a 5MP of front snapper.

The Zenfone Zoom packs the same set of specs as of Zenfone 2, but it has a superior camera. The Zoom sports a 13MP camera that has 10-element lens, 3X optical zoom, and Optical Image Stabilisation.

15. FLIR One

FLIR specialises in making thermal image sensors. Now the company has come up with a gadget that works with just about any smartphone. Titled FLIR One, the attachment can be plugged into a lighting port for Apple devices and the micro USB port for the Android devices. The device comes with two cameras and an internal battery. One camera called Lepton camera shoots thermal images while a standard camera shoots a normal image. Both the images are blended together to give a better thermal image output. The FLIR One is expected to come into the market by the mid-2015.

January 10, 2015
OnePlus is Planning a Design-Driven Smartphone (Other Than OnePlus Two)

Seems like the recent allegations regarding Cyanogen haven’t deterred the Chinese manufacturing firm, OnePlus. Few days back, the Director of OnePlus Global, Carl Pei, revealed that they will soon be launching OnePlus Two and India will be one of the first countries to see the phone. Now, Carl has come up with yet another statement that confirms that the company will be releasing another phone, other than the Two, this year.

While in conversation with PC World, Pei revealed that another phone by the company will cater to the audience for whom design is more prior than the specifications.

I think it’s going to be a phone catering to a different type of audience. Perhaps for those who appreciate design over specs.

The news has come as a surprise and the device is still under wraps (and probably still under works). No statement has come about the specifications, price and availability of the yet untitled gadget, but through the statement, it can be estimated that the handset is in early stages. We will soon update you as soon as we dig out information about the same.

Meanwhile, rumours are still hot about the upcoming flagship OnePlus Two. It is said that the device will sport a 5.5-inch display powered by Snapdragon 805 processor. The internal storage capacity of the handset will be 32 GB and it will house a battery of 3,300mAh. On the camera front, it may have a 16MP shooter along with 5 MP snapper on the front.

Seems like OnePlus has done its research well. In a country like India, a stylish smartphone (even with low specs) will definitely work well. Let’s see where this move takes the company.

January 9, 2015