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The HTC Sensation Full Review

After the sudden downpour of benchmark gods in the division of mobility, HTC also let out its dual core beast amidst the ever growing population. The HTC Sensation is the first dual core phone from HTC and also the highest resolution device from the company. Lets see if it actually fares decently well with the competition in the market.

BUILD QUALITY

If you want benchmarks for build quality when it comes to mobile devices, HTC is the global standard. HTC has always managed to surprise us with their quality and build standards. Solid unibody construction along with a tough front facing gorilla glass display which is not only impact resistant, but is also very scratch resistant. The back of the device has rubber accents in strategic locations making it an easy to handle and operate phone. The device is well build and you can see that as soon as you pick up the device in your hand.

With no shaking and rattling this device is robust and built to last. The upward edged glass is functional and is easy on the fingers as you slide off – off the screen. The designers of the HTC Sensation took everything into perspective from the aesthetics to the functionality and the intelligent placement of the buttons – which by the way are extremely tactile and responsive.

HARDWARE

There is no questioning the latest hardware in the Sensation, the latest dual core processors a very high resolution screen, functional 8 megapixel camera with full HD video at 1080p.

DESIGN

While it may not be as clean and sleek as the Samsung Galaxy S2, The Sensation wasn’t meant to be. HTC Sensation takes its design cues from the practical and robust hues of life. You can call it a Range Rover in front of a 7 series ( Galaxy S2) while both may have powerful engines, the rover is more practical in India, is tougher, bolder and solid. Nothing describes holding the HTC Sensation better than this, Its a premium SUV in the smartphone market.

PHONE AND MESSAGING

Superior audio in and out from the Sensation during calls, is the only main thing we saw. The network performance was excellent and sustained throughout our test period. 3G and WCDMA performance excelled in the Sensation as we literally hogged the bandwidth of our providers. With brilliant performance from even the likes of an MTNL trump number ( usually 2 – bars, and weak performance in our area), we were literally amazed at how well this phone handled networks. With as little as two dropped calls in two weeks of testing, this phone has scored the top rank in the iG Phone- Networks Review till date.

The touchscreen on the Sensation is a 4 point multitouch, what that means is that you can have 4 simultaneous inputs. What it also means is that you can use the onboard keyboard as fast as you can move your thumbs. As soon as you lift the finger and tap the next letter, the device is already recognizing your input and will accept the desired letter. Brilliant keyboard , with an definable auto-correct smooth interactions throughout.

DATA & INTERNET

Getting a phone like the sensation and ignoring the Internet connectivity is like buying a spacecraft without the intention to visit the moon. The device is built for online connectivity, with a superb end user experience while browsing the web, streaming audio, playing multiplayer games or even watching an iGyaan review or two. The connections to WiFi are strong and stable, the device can connect to our wireless networks in areas which other phones would term as dead spots. In a head to head comparison the WiFi network on the Sensation was much better than that on the Galaxy S2.

The Hotspot feature is possibly the one we used the most on the Sensation. Because, the network performance was so great, we were able to share our 3G networks over 7 devices and were able to enjoy the shared bandwidth and download speeds of the connection. We did struggle to upload our posts from a off road cafe on the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway over a 512kbps upload connection split 7 way, but the Sensation is not to blame for it.

BATTERY LIFE

Unlike the Galaxy S2 the Sensation has a very stable OS, add to the mix a brilliant power management framework and you get a brilliant powerhouse with excellent battery life.

Values	2G	3G	WiFi
Talk Time	upto 9 Hours	6 hours	–
Standby time	48 Hours	36 hours	7 Days
Web Browsing	8-9 hours	5 hours	5 Hours
Video Streaming	4 Hours	2.5 Hours	4 Hours
Music Streaming	14 hours	9 hours	14 hours

GAMING

We found that most games work great with the device and we had no issues with incompatibilities. The only issue that we did see is the difference in display size. Some apps failed to recognize the QHD display on the HTC Sensation and came as mini boxes within the screen of the Sensation, limiting them to their maximum pixel size. The processor is managed well with the GPU and can deliver great graphics and a brilliant gaming experience. Align those with excellent sensors, including a gyroscope and a brilliant touch screen, you have yourself a gaming device

DUAL CORE

We feel HTC did a better job than LG did on the Optimus 2X and Samsung on the S2. Sure the Optimus 2x is cheaper and Samsung has better benchmark results, HTC is more organized and professional and the framework and implementation of the hardware is built to last. The OS is tweaked to give little or no errors and is bug and crash free. Graphics and Implementation of the user interface elements is absolutely stunning and smooth. The Sensation impressed us in all hooks when it came to stuff under the hood, yes it didn’t score high on quadrant, but it can with a little tweaking. Currently the Sensation is a mature device and not as young and energetic as the Galaxy S2 especially when it comes to Processor and Graphics.

ADD ON NOTES

The Sensation has a much higher resolution display in comparison to the S2, but the super Amoled plus trumps the extra resolution 4 times over. The Amoled plus screen is extremely vivid and lifelike. We faced a lot of network issues on the S2, but none on the Sensation, the battery drain issue faced on the S2 was also nowhere to be found on the Sensation. The device does not overheat and performance is smooth throughout.

CONCLUSION

The HTC Sensation is true competition to the Samsung Galaxy S2 and the hype around it. The S2 failed to deliver where it mattered most, the Sensation on the other hand does everything that its meant to and more. The Sensation also is a bit cheaper than the Galaxy S2 in the market and provides excellent user support throughout its service channels. The device is robust, well made and is built to impress. If you are looking for a good investment for your moolah, this is the true multi-taskers of choice.

If it wasn’t for the washed out display in comparison to the Super Amoled Plus, this device would have scored maximum score but for now :

[xrr rating=4.5/5 label=”We Rate The Sensation : ” imageset=shiny_yellow_star display_as=fraction_stars]

PRICE :IN Rs. 29,000/-

UNBOXING VIDEO

SAMPLE VIDEO CAMERA FOOTAGE

REVIEW VIDEO

iG Tech labs

July 14, 2011

Sony to Double VAIO Sales in 2011 (PR)
Sony plans to double its VAIO laptop sales this year. With over 62 models in 4 different series, the company may just achieve its targets. Read the Press Release to find out how.

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Sony India today announced its strategy to double VAIO sales in India by selling 5 lakh laptop units in FY11. VAIO is already the fastest growing laptop brand in India (according to IDC report 2010) with more than 100% growth and the new product line-up will ensure that it becomes even more closer to the Indian audience. VAIO S, C, E & Y series are tailor-made to suit the diverse lifestyle of the customers, so there is a laptop for everyone, be it a business executive, style conscious youth, students or even PC beginners.

Mr. Masaru Tamagawa, Managing Director, Sony India, said, “VAIO contributes 20% to the total sales revenue of Sony India and hence a very important part of our business. This year, our objective is to ensure that we offer a VAIO to meet the lifestyle requirements of every customer. We have an exciting product line-up of 62 models, a robust distribution network of 1500 outlets and heavy marketing investment of Rs. 50 crore to reach our business target of 5 lakh units in FY11. Talking about the new brand campaign, he said, “‘More Colour.More Style’ campaign is all about making a lifestyle statement and with Ms. Kareena Kapoor as the face of this campaign, we hope it will resonate well with our customers.”

Sony offers an extensive VAIO line-up that is aimed at different consumer segments with varied lifestyle requirements ranging from business class to college goers to even casual PC users. The price, features and the captivating colours compliments the product ensemble and lends unique beauty to the product offering. Details for each series are as follows:
- VAIO S: VAIO S is a perfectly balanced mobile PC with a premium design. Its slim and full-flat body allows you to carry it wherever you go. The long battery life makes it perfect for that business meeting and outdoor use. Available in 5 captivating colours, it is available at a price range of Rs. 47,990 to Rs.1,29,900.
- VAIO C: VAIO C is inspired by high fashion. It is made up of light-emitting material which adds to the visual impact of the vivid colour, rendering it an absolutely unique look. The Full HD screen and high-performance graphics makes playing games and watching movies a totally delightful experience. Available in 6 vibrant hues, it is priced from Rs. 54,990 to Rs. 69,990
- VAIO E: VAIO E, optimized for daily use, perfectly meets daily task demands such as checking emails, web browsing, listening to music, or organizing photos. With a wide selection of processors and colours, it fits right into a variety of usage scenes and styles. Featuring a unique truss pattern, it is targeted towards students and young working professionals. Available in 4 colours, it starts at a price of Rs. 27,990.
- VAIO Y: The key attraction of this series is the basic versatility of the product, that suits anyone and everyone making it a perfect gadget for casual users and beginners. Available in 4 colours, it starts at Rs. 24,990, making it extremely easy on the pocket.
The total product line-up, having 62 models, is available in 16 captivating colours to ensure that customers across a variety of segments have a personalized notebook that matches their idea of style.

To ensure that this comprehensive product line-up reaches the masses across India, Sony has a very aggressive expansion plan in place. The distribution network would see an increase of about 700 outlets, raising the count to 1500 in FY11 from 800 in the previous year. The company would also open 30 exclusive VAIO Flagship stores in FY11 taking the total number to 50 as a dedicated VAIO channel.

Sony will launch ‘More Colours.More Style’ VAIO brand campaign featuring its popular Brand Ambassador, Ms. Kareena Kapoor. Thrilled about the new campaign, Kareena Kapoor said, “I am very glad to be associated yet again with Sony VAIO for the ‘More Colour. More Style’ campaign. VAIO is different, vibrant and ultra stylish and makes for a perfect lifestyle statement, and this message is reinforced in the new brand campaign. The essence of this campaign is ‘Uniqueness’, so there is VAIO to suit every style and speak every mood.”

The brand campaign would be supported with extensive Above-the-line and Below-the-line activities, including print and television commercial, Web, PR, cinema and shop-front, for which the company has lined up an investment of Rs. 50 crore.

Sony has a very favorable record of Kareena led VAIO campaigns. VAIO sales doubled during the VAIO X ‘Size Zero’ campaign & VAIO E ‘Go Vivid’ campaign which were launched in Nov-Dec 2009 & July-Aug 2010 respectively.

Business facts summary:
- In FY10, Sony sold 2.5 lakh notebooks which is expected to go up to 5 lakh notebooks by FY11. The consumer notebook market in India stood at 17 lakhs units in FY10 and is expected to increase to 25 lakhs units by FY11
- For VAIO category, Sony has earmarked a budget of Rs. 50 crore towards marketing activities in FY11. Out of this, Rs. 25 crore has been allocated to ‘More Colour.More Style’ campaign.
- In FY10, Sony achieved a market share of 15%, the company targets 20% share by FY11.
- Expansion of channel network to 1,500 counters by FY11 across 200 cities up from 800 sales counters in FY10. VAIO Flagship stores to increase to 50 counters by FY11, an increase of 30 counters from 20 in FY10.
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July 13, 2011
Titan Launches HTSE Watches (PR)
Titan has launched a range of self charging light powered watches in India. These watches can be powered from any light source ranging from sunlight to a candle flame. Read the Press Release for more info.

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Indore, Madhya Pradesh, July 12, 2011 /India PRwire/ — Add panache to your persona with HTSE (High Tech Self Energized), a collection of self energizing light powered watches from Titan. These watches have a unique and unprecedented ability of being charged by any source of light upward of 200 lux power, ranging from Sunlight to a candle flame.

This new range of neo futuristic watches which merges style with technology, mark a distinct departure from the customary classic & fashion offerings from Titan. Inspired by the most complex self energizing bodies like space stations & the space crafts, this collection is distinguished by the case contours in anthracite colors & the saucer shaped perforated dials. Loaded with following innovative light powered features, this collection is a techno watch aficionado’s dream come true.
- ‘Quick Start Function’ – starts the watch from absolute dead state in 10-20 secs
- ‘Sleep Mode’ to increased shelf-life of the battery
- ‘End of Life’ – indicating recharge for the battery
- ‘Over charge prevention’- to avoid the overcharging of the battery
- ‘TSWF’ – Time set warning function
Targeted at the young urban male, this collection of 10 choices is priced between Rs 6,495 – 10,995. Featured here is ‘Quadrant’, which is inspired by the various elements of a space shuttle. The geometrically serrated profile of the Bezel rin g resembles the locking mechanism used in space shuttles. Hand of the watch resembles the fan blades of the shuttle cooling units. The pronounced crown combined with the anthracite color gives the watch a space craftish cross sectional view.

The collection is available in all World of Titan showrooms, select leading multi brand outlets and departmental stores across top 12 metros in the country.

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July 13, 2011
The Oppopet Mouse

The Oppopet series of wireless mice is produced by Elecom in collaboration with Nendo. Whats nice about these mice is that the designers have taken a traditional mouse and given it a new persona. Instead of having a regular receiver, these mice have receivers shaped like the tail of an animal, making the devices appear like small pets. While they were announced last year, the devices have just been launched in Japan.

Oppopet requires no drivers and can be used simply by plugging the tail into a free USB port on your desktop or laptop. Equipped with an on-off switch, the 2.4GHz, 3-button optical mouse weighs 55 grams and runs on a single AAA battery. It is produced in models including a fox, dog, dolphin, cat, pig, squirrel, chameleon, and rabbit. Check out the pictures below. We already want one.

July 13, 2011
The Machine That Prints Gadgets

This monstrous machine has been dubbed the MBE and its named after the process that it uses to assemble objects at the molecular level. The process, called molecular beam epitaxy, is the method by which tiny crystalline structures are layered together to form objects. The process is similar to 3D printing, but works on a molecular level.

With this particular MBE, Sharp researchers at the company’s Oxford Labs in England use a plethora of sensors and magnetic arrays to piece together molecular sized Lego blocks to assemble electronics. The machine works in an environment that is similar to the vacuum of outer space.

As crazy as it sounds, these machines have been around since the 1960s and this particular MBE is one of the smallest to date. Check out the researchers detailing the machine in the video below.

July 13, 2011
Google Updates Android Market to add Movies and Books tabs

Google is updating the marketplace app in their Android OS to include a easy tab for Books and Movies being sold and rented on the Android Marketplace. At movie titles starting at just US$ 1.99 or IN Rs. 84/- it makes it a highly worthwhile option for Android device owners who had to earlier toss around looking to download rich media content to their devices. The Update is said to roll out within the coming weeks but a pre-release build is already doing the rounds and can be found here(download )

Watch the video below to get a quick overview of the design.

[Google Mobile Blog]

July 13, 2011
Klipsch Releases Mode noise-canceling headphones

Klipsch has just added the Mode noise-cancellation headphones to its lineup of premium devices. Not only are they active noise-cancelling headphones they are also able to sustain this through their leather wrapped head-cups for upto 45 hours on a single battery.

Apart from the above theu will also have a 40mm woofer and a 15mm tweeter driver for deep bass, dynamic midrange with active crossover and crisp clean highs. They also feature a detachable cable and a foldable design. While the price is said to be set at 350 US $ ( INR 15000 approx) there is no confirmation yet.

Expect to drop a semi huge chunk of money for them when they release this fall.

[Klipsch]

July 13, 2011
HTC Tells Apple to not be a Nasty Sue Baby

Apple has been suing every bit of competition they find in the market including their latest attack target – HTC. In an attempt to weaken the morale of the folks at Cupertino HTC’s general counsel Grace Lei said:

HTC is disappointed at Apple’s constant attempts at litigations instead of competing fairly in the market.

This comes after a previous attempt from Apple to stop imports of products by HTC in the US. Final resolution of the previous case is due this month, while Apple has already planned ahead.

July 13, 2011
Researchers at MIT Develop Foldable and Printable Solar Cells

Scientists at MIT have developed a new technique for creating solar cells. The process doesn’t require the high temperature and pressure treatment that regular cells require, bringing the cost down significantly. They have used a vapor deposition process which is similar to the process used to give the silver lining to the inside of a bag of potato chips, and were able to print an array of working photovoltaics to a sheet of untreated paper, plastic and even cloth.

This breakthrough technology cant be used to power too many things just yet as the cells work at only one percent efficiency. Despite this bottleneck, the cells provide many advantages over traditional silicone based photovoltaics, namely, they are flexible, in both physical terms as well as the materials used, and they are much much cheaper to manufacture. Don’t go looking for these on the market just yet though. They should be available in a couple of years.

July 13, 2011
Panasonic Announces UT-PB1 Dedicated E-reader Tablet, with Android

Panasonic has just announced a EBook Reader Tablet for the Japanese market. The device is based on the Android OS and features a 7-inch 1024 x 600px display, expandability via micro SD slot, a front facing camera, and WiFi. The device will come with 600 Preview titles when its launched. Weighing in at just 400gms. There is no news on Pricing or date of release.

July 12, 2011
3-in-1 Computer – Gigabyte’s Booktop

With the earliest models debuted last fall, Gigabyte has just officially announced at Computex 2011 the Booktop T1125P 3-in-1 computer: a laptop whose rotating screen can convert the machine into a tablet-like device, and which when docked into a special station can be used in a desktop configuration.

On the T1125P, is a 11.6-inch capacitive multi-touch display that is fixed to a 180-degree hinge, which lets the laptop be closed with the screen facing outward for use as a tablet. The device itself contains a USB 3.0 and HDMI ports, as well as two dual-channel stereo speakers and two woofers. an ultra low voltage intel core i5/i3 processor plus Nvidia GPU with 1GB dedicated visual RAM translates to a responsive, high-quality multimedia experience. a built/in 3.5G modem facilitates mobile internet connectivity, while the docking station features a DVD drive. when docked (which is necessarily in the vertical position), the device in addition to charging can be used for processing power and as a second screen to an external monitor.

Gigabyte also announced the Booktop M2432 which features a 14 inch backlit LCD and has a Core i3/i5 sandy-bridge processor. This allows the device to function as a laptop or a desktop when docked, but not as a tablet. The dock contains an in-built Nvidia GPU.

July 12, 2011
Apple Files second Patent Infringement Complaint against HTC – Shares Drop

Its only been a couple of months and Apple has slammed HTC with the second patent infringement case. The US International Trade Commission is reporting that HTC is being accused and is being asked to stop the import of “personal electronic devices”. Last year, Apple filed a separate action against HTC with the U.S. International Trade Commission, where HTC then leveled its own patent infringement claims against Apple. Preliminary rulings for those cases are expected this week.

Shares in the world’s No.5 handset maker, HTC Corp (2498.TW), tumbled more than 4 percent on Tuesday, after Apple Inc (AAPL.O) sued the company in a fresh complaint with a U.S. trade panel.

HTC said its net profit doubled in the second quarter, beating market expectations. But analysts suggested that because the operating income tracked forecasts, they expected shares of HTC would consolidate before the investor conference at the end of this month, when the company gives guidance for the third quarter. There are rumours out there that HTC would need to pay Apple T$20 billion ($693.64 million) in compensation.

That would lower down profit expectations considerably.

July 12, 2011
100 Disc Changing Xbox 360

How many times have you had to get off your beanbag to change the disc in your Xbox 360? Well those days are past. Ben Heck, self styled modder, tinkerer and designer, the creator of such wondrous mods as the PS3 laptop and the portable Ninetendo 64, has come out with another great mod. He’s taken an old 100 CD changer and combined it with an Xbox 360 creating a version of the console that can store 100 discs.

As we get more and more used to downloading and viewing content, changing discs seems so yesterday. As we all know, progress breeds laziness, and if that’s true, this mod marks true progress.

Unfortunately, not only is this mod not available for purchase, its also not yet completed. We can’t wait to see this thing in action.

July 12, 2011
Biometric ATM Uses Fingerprints Instead of a PIN

Using an ATM is pretty straightforward for most of us. But that might not be the case with people who are illiterate/semi-literate. It makes it a lot harder for such people to use the machine, but a new machine is looking to change all that.

As banks look to expand to rural areas in the developing world, universal literacy cant be assumed, so an ATM machine is required that doesn’t need people to be able to read. NRC Corp’s machine fits the bill. It identifies people using a biometric fingerprint scanner and then allows them to choose the amount that they would like with suitable pictures on the screen. This makes it easier for a illiterate person to withdraw money and removes the barriers that they face with traditional ATMs.

At the moment, the machines are being tested in the US, but the company hopes that it passes the tests soon before being installed in rural areas of India and China.

July 12, 2011
iRiver Story HD – Google’s New E-Book Reader

Google had launched an e-bookstore in December but the store never really took off as using it with an e-book reader was quite a pain. You had to download stuff to your PC and sync it across to your device. Now, a new e-book reader is all set to change that process and challenge the likes of the Kindle and the Nook.

Created by iRiver, the company behind a range of MP3 players, the device is called the Story HD and hooks directly into the Google Library. The Story HD will pull books directly from the Google Library without having to use a PC to perform a sync to the device. This means that the device will have access to over three million free titles as well as access to hundreds of thousands of paid books.

There are over 80 devices that currently support Google’s e-book format when synced via a PC including the Kindle and the Nook. None of the readers natively support the e-bookstore however, if you have a smartphone, you could just use the Google Books app to access the store.

The iRiver Story HD will be available for $140 online. The device will have built in WiFi as well as a black and white screen with a QWERTY keyboard. For comparison, the Nook and the Kindle are available for the same price as well.

July 12, 2011