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Xiaomi Redmi 1S Review : Can’t Beat This
The Xiaomi Redmi 1S went on Sale for a price of Rs 5999, with a limited 40,000 phones for sale and the phone got the usual response. But is the phone worth the mega hype that it has created? Lets find out!

Overview

The Redmi 1S just like the Xiaomi phones in the past has built a burning desire in everyones hearts to own the phone, it comes with an impressive price tag and a good spec sheet. The performance on the phone is excellent and everything just seems to be too good to be true. The Redmi 1S will truly change the market perception for starting – lower end smartphones.

Hardware

[pullquote_left]Loaded with Hardware![/pullquote_left]

Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset the Redmi 1S has a Quad Core 1.6 GHz CPU the Adreno 305 GPU, 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of inbuilt storage. The front of the Redmi 1S has a 4.7 inch 1280 x 720 p display a total of 312 ppi it’s protected by Asahi Dragontrail glass and is an IPS panel. Cameras comprise of an 8 MP snapper with a wide f2.2 aperture and a 1.6 MP front camera. The Main camera is capable of a 1920 x 1080p Full HD video capture.

The phone runs on a 2050 mAh battery pack, which is replaceable, has dual SIM card slots, one of which is a 3G (GSM-WCDMA) and one is 2G (GSM). The Redmi 1S also has a memory card slot to add a memory card upto 64GB.

Build quality and Design

The Redmi 1S is a pretty good looking phone, it’s not Moto G, but then it’s almost half the price. The replaceable back panels give you the ability to give the phone a personal look and feel. The phone is essentially made out of plastic, but in no way does it feel cheap or poorly built. The front has a Asahi Dragontrail glass, which many argue that it is equally good when compared to Gorilla Glass variants.

[pullquote_right]Buttons are not Backlit![/pullquote_right]

The buttons are nice and tactile, for volume and power. The touch buttons are responsive and easily reached, they however are not backlit, which is rather disappointing, and difficult in low light situations and at night. The phone has a good fit and feel in the hand, the edges are soft and the outsides curve to match the shape of your hand really well.

Performance and Gaming

We were surprised to see the performance from this sub Rs. 6000 handset. The UI is fast and responsive and you really cannot complain about the performance of this handset. Usually budget phones end up being turnoffs, however the Moto E changed that in the past and the Xiaomi Redmi 1S tops that by almost double.

With an average of 330 MB of Free RAM available at all times, the Redmi 1S also has a built in app kill switch that frees up the RAM for usage. Overall the phone is capable of delivering more than you can expect from a phone in this budget. Our Benchmark and Gaming video shows you exactly that below.

The Gaming is pretty good too, even though really graphic intensive games will not work on full graphics, the phone is able to handle gaming pretty decently and without duress. You will get good viewing angles, good touch response, and great gaming feedback. Audio from the speakers is a bit low but acceptable.

Camera

As far as the Camera is concerned, you will be surprised to see what this phone can achieve. You get the exact same UI from the Mi3 for the Camera app and an excellent 8 MP sensor that does Full HD video, where most struggle to even do video in the first place at this price. Composition of the shot is quick and autofocus is snappy, colours are a bit dull – and contrast is pretty acceptable. We like additional options like filters, HDR and delayed shots all of which works well and intuitively. You also get quick face detection and a zero lag shutter; mighty impressive.

Great Macro

Good Focus

Low Light Sample

Twilight Sample

Dark Sample

Android and MIUI

[pullquote_left]MIUI is fantastic![/pullquote_left]

Even though you get an older version of Android, I don’t see people complaining anytime soon. The phone is really fast and responsive and thanks to the awesome MIUI overlay, there are additional functions and shortcuts that one can really learn to appreciate.

LockScreen

Dialer

Messaging

Browser

Notification Panel

Toggles

FM RADIO

Software Info

Lite Mode

Lite Mode Quick Dialer

Lite Mode Apps List

The version of MIUI is also fairly old, however, there is an imminent update promised for the Redmi 1S to MIUI v6 by the end of the year. You get Google Now style weather updates and notifications, iOS style app layout and folders, and lots of skinning options. All of this with very little load on the RAM and the CPU department, ensuring smooth sailing throughout.

Even though competition is currently offering Android KitKat and more soon, Redmi 1S has the capabilities of holding its own, mostly thanks to the enabled hardware. The future update is expected to free up some RAM on the phone making performance much better, giving you an average of 420 plus MB of free RAM vs the current average of 320-340.

The Phone also has a lite-mode which was initially intended for senior citizens, but however in the indian edition is been designed to give an easier usage experience to the first time user.

Phone and Battery

Phone networks ar good, but not great. We feel that there is a low network reception indoors with the Redmi 1S when compared to other devices. Outdoors however is great and we have no complaints with audio quality on the incoming or outgoing while on a call.

Battery life is not the best, on an average the phone will run out before end of day, and if you are a heavy user, expect to carry a charger/ powerbank at all times. Xiaomi is also planning to sell additional spare batteries and external battery chargers.

With the existing battery expect 5-6 hours of real talk time, or a mix of internet usage and apps with 3-4 hours of talk time.

Conclusion

While the Redmi 1S is going to have the same issues like the Mi3, i.e. the lack of available units to sell, service centre issues, Flipkart selling woes, and what not. The Redmi 1S still makes for one hell of a device for one hell of a price, that you can’t beat right now. The hardware is equivalent to devices almost twice the price and performance even better.

[pullquote_right]You simply can’t beat this Phone![/pullquote_right]

The phone is good looking, well built and supported with respect to the OS and UI, with the added advantage of cheap accessories and quick updates one really can’t complain. For the price you will not find a better device, even if you add another 50$.

REVIEW VIDEO

[tw-column width=”one-half”]

GOOD THINGS
- Super Cheap
- Excellent Hardware
- Flexible Software
- Great Optics/Camera
- Fast and Intuitive
- High Resolution Display
- Large Display
[/tw-column]

[tw-column width=”one-half” position=”last”]

BAD THINGS
- Lack of Units to Sell
- Still on Android 4.3
- Horrible Sale Method
[/tw-column]
September 4, 2014
Samsung’s Galaxy Gear VR, It’s An Oculus For Note 4

Samsung had quite an eventful, launches filled day today. After facing immense amount of criticism for lack of innovation, Samsung flexed out its innovation muscle for its critics. The company released varied products that were impressive in their own strengths. One major release is the Gear VR which is a virtual reality headset that uses the Note 4 for displaying content.

Few weeks back we had heard of oculus using the Note 3 screen for its display. Guess there were bigger plans at work and Samsung working in coordination with Oculus brought out this piece of gadgetry.

Apart from the focus control and the trackpad, there aren’t any manual controls/
Image Credit: The Verge

The device looks like Oculus but is untethered and only works with the Note 4. The only control it has is a trackpad on the right and focus adjusting wheel on the top.

The Gear VR does remind you of the Google Cardboard project but much more complete. It also has a safety support for the head so the device stays stable on the head.

The device comes with some preloaded content, and you can use it to play games, watch immersive videos. The coolest aspect of the device would be the Tony Stark labs which let you peer at the world with Tony Starks perspective, We are Sold!

The release date of the device is not mentioned yet, but it hopefully will arrive by this fall. We’ll be vigilantly looking forward to this one.

September 3, 2014
YouTube Goes The Crowdfunding Way, Introduces Fan Funding

If you thought you had good ideas that you could share with people and make some money out of it, it’s become rather easy. YouTube, which has become the largest repository of informative and entertaining videos along with some rants and hurtful comments, now allows you to collect tips through the virtual tip jar.

This update is a great initiative from YouTube. Google has struggled with the great YouTube experiment as the website demands massive investments to run at optimum speeds but the revenue from the website has been low. The ads gradually became a menace and folks went with an Adblock solution which again harmed the websites revenue stream. Google will take a tiny 5% cut off each video that is an acceptable considering the huge platform they offer.

Youtube’s platform has been used by everyone, from prominent corporations to a blogger, sending out his thoughts from the bedroom. It surely has made a lot of people famous as well as wealthy. It did occasionally give undue attention to certain folks, but that’s what you from a completely free and open ecosystem.

Fan Funding is mutually beneficial for the content creator as well as the company

This initiative was announced at VidCon this year along with features like viewer translated videos. A YouTube user can translate the video and give it subtitles, and the owner has the authority to accept or decline the videos. It was seen that the viewership of the videos greatly increased when it was translated into multiple languages. This will let a channel attract a larger viewer base as well as help in a free and fair exchange of ideas throughout the world.

To make a contribution to a channel, a user must have a Google Wallet account. A support button will be added on the info card, or on the channel page, using which people can make the contributions.

Crowdfunding has been immensely successful in bringing ideas, films, prototype products and much more to the real world. These innovations would have had a tougher time seeing the light of the day if they had taken the tough route of impressing venture capitalists to fund their products. Using crowd-funding, consumers can invest in the projects they like and clearly make a consumer oriented market.

Currently, the service is available in U.S., Australia, Japan and Mexico and will be extended to other nations. To access the YouTube Fan Funding feature, users can use PC web browsers and the official YouTube Android app (version 5.7 or later).

September 3, 2014
IFA 2014 : New Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is Just a Smaller Version of the Flagship

Sony has presented a decent Xperia line up at today’s pre-IFA event, with the star attraction being the Xperia Z3. It’s a huge device with a 5.2-inch display. But Sony has provided its consumers another option who aren’t ready to make the leap to 5+ inches – new Xperia Z3 Compact with a 4.6-inch display.

The only difference between the Xperia Z3 and the Z3 Compact is the size of the display — the Z3 Compact features a 720p 4.6-inch screen. Other than that, it’s nearly identical to the flagship. Without compromising on specifications, Sony has built two variations of a single smartphone in order capture wider market base.

September 3, 2014
IFA 2014 : Sony Launches First Android Wear Smartwatch 3 and SmartBand Talk

IFA is expected to go big on the wearable category. Just like Samsung, LG, Motorola and others, Sony has launch two wearable devices – Sony Smartwatch 3 and SmartBand Talk.

Unlike earlier versions, Sony Smartwatch 3 is based on the Google’s Android Wear. The device sports 1.6-inch 320 x 320 LCD display. It runs on 1.2 GHz quad-core processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 and 420mAh battery. And also, following the Sony’s waterproof obsession he SmartWatch 3 comes with IP68 waterproof and dustproof certification.

The company didn’t revealed any pricing details, however, it is expected to be priced around $300 ith an additional watchband priced at $30 per band.

The company announced another wearable, called SmartBand Talk. The company described it as a “powerful lifelogging wearable, with intuitive features” that will cost $200 later this year. The device can run 3 day on a single charge and have built in microphone and loud speaker.

The device lets users record various fitness and health-related activities, while also supporting voice calls when paired with a smartphone. The SmartBand Talk has a 1.4-inch e-ink display, 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4 processor, 2MB of internal flash memory, a 70mAh battery, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 LE and microUSB support. The device is also IP68 certified, and is supposed to work with Android devices running KitKat or later courtesy the special Lifelog Android application.

September 3, 2014
IFA 2014 : Sony Unveils Xperia E3 and Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact

Sony has launched a long list of devices at it’s pre-IFA event today. In addition to the Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact flagship smartphones, company has also announced affordable Xperia E3 and Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact.

The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is 8-inch tablet will compete against similarly sized devices from Sony’s rivals including the Google Nexus 9 and the 2014 Retina iPad mini later this year when it hits stores. The Compact Z3 Tablet has an ultra-slim 6.4 millimeter profile, weighs 270 grams, and comes with IP65/68 waterproof and dustproof certification.

When it comes to hardware, this compact tablet will offer users an 8-inch Full HD Triluminos display, a 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB of RAM, 8.1-megapixel camera, 2.2-megapixel front-facing camera, up to 16GB memory, microSD support, Android 4.4 KitKat and a 4,500mAh battery capable of delivering up to 13 hours of video playback.

But the most interesting part about this device is PlayStation 4 support., Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact owners will be able to pair their tablet with the console and play PS4 games on the 8-inch display using the DualShock 4 controller with the new Remote Play feature, whenever the TV is being used for other
purposes.

The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact will launch globally in autumn 2014, in both LTE and Wi-Fi versions, although pricing details are not available yet.

The company also launched an affordable Xperia E3, to expand it’s range more budget friendly market. The specs of the Xperia E3 are losses some important specifications in order to accommodate the lower price point, but this is still a perfectly capable device for anyone who aren’t looking for a high-end Android smartphone.

The E3 features a scratch-resistant 4.5-inch display made of durable tempered glass and corners on its body which are designed to stand up to the occasional falls. Other specs include a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 1GB of RAM, up to 4GB of internal storage and a 5-megapixel camera. The phone is expected to launch this fall alongside the Xperia Z3, but there is no set release date yet.

September 3, 2014
The Beast is Back: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Unveiled

The season of big ticket releases has been kicked off by Samsung in an optimistic fashion. The company flaunted an assortment of products at its pre-IFA event in Berlin. The company finally unveiled the Galaxy Note 4 which gets quite a few upgrades over its predecessor both on the hardware, as well as the software front.

The presentation was done by three presenters who were well prepared for the show, though it got a bit annoying when they tried to over-reach. Most of the features presented were affirmative of the leaks.

Looks

Image Credit: The Verge

The new generation Note flagship comes with a 5.7 inch Quad HD Super AMOLED screen. It has a thickness of 8.5 mm and weighs 176 gm. The device is LTE category 6 ready.

On the looks front, the device borrows the design language from the Samsung stable while going for an edgier design. The device is built on a metal frame which strengthens the device to minimize damage from dropping of the device. It has a soft textured back cover.

Camera

The cameras on the Note 4 get a lot better.
Image Credit: The Verge

The Galaxy Note 4 comes with a 16 MP camera on the back with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS.) With the OIS, Samsung claims, you’ll get professional quality HD videos with minimum jitters.

The company has gone out of its way to bring a superior selfie experience, and it was truly innovative of them. The 3.7 MP front camera has a wide f/1.9 iris which will ensure brightness of the image. To make selfie taking more convenient, the Note 4 utilizes the heart rate sensor on the back as a shutter release. To take a selfie all you need to do is hold the heart rate sensor and release, when you are ready for a click. For taking a wider selfie or a “Weefie” with multiple people, the device offers a wide 90-degree frame. There is also an option for Wide Selfie that lets you take an even wider 120-degree selfie by moving the phone till everyone is in view. The presenters took the photo of the entire auditorium using the feature.

The camera also has an extremely useful feature called the Snap Note through which you can take an image, and the phone will extract the data from it. So when sitting in a classroom you can simply click the photo of the board, and the phone scan the image and will take the information out. You can then add annotations to the information and have an easy learning experience.

S-Pen

The S-Pen also gets upgrades and added functionalities. The pressure sensitivity has been increased to give a more natural pen-like feel. The pen now also acts as a mouse with features like click and drag which lets you select multiple files at once.

The Smart select feature lets you select text and images from multiple sources and lets you bring them all together. It also lets you easily share them on the internet.

Audio Recorder

The audio recorder on the device has also received some really handy and functional upgrades. The device can now track voices in 8 distinct directions so it great for getting quality sounds in multi-people environment. The interview mode on the device cancels out the unnecessary ambient noise and hence gives a clearer audio output.

Multi-Windows

Using multi-window gets easier with the new device. You can now access the multi-window feature through the recent apps menu. It has become a lot easier to resize, relocate or minimize the screens during multi-window usage.

Note 4 comes in four color options: White Black, Gold and Pink. It also provides customizability with 4 covers. There is the S-View, Flip wallet, S-view Flip wallet and LED cover which reminds of the Dot case by HTC. The device also comes with a back panel encrusted with Swarovski Crystals.

The device is sleeker and edgier than the Note 3.
Image Credit: The Verge

Battery

The device gets its juice from a 3220 mAh battery which is a slight increase over the predecessor. Samsung claims that with advanced optimization of their product, the battery will last longer than before. They have also brought the ultra power saving mode from the S5 onto this device.

Mont Blanc

As the phone flaunts its USP of a writeable screen, it was only natural for them to partner with a writing instrument manufacturer sooner or later. So Samsung has partnered with Mont Blanc to bring stylish writing instruments for the Note 4. The pens have multiple usability as they come with interchangeable refills for the paper and the screen. They also offer several nib options for different needs. The pen is connected with the device using a chip that lets the user have a fulfilling writing experience on the device’s massive 5.7 inch screen.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 comes with 50 GB of Dropbox storage for two years. The phone will be available in the market in the month of October.

Samsung has done well on its presentation, and this will help calm some of the criticism that it has been facing for a while. The Note 4 is without a doubt a new era for the company. This was a good launch event, and we’ll be updating you when more information surfaces.

September 3, 2014
IFA 2014 : Sony’s New Flagship Smartphone, The Xperia Z3 is Finally Here
Sony is now here to add to the long list of phones being launched today. We’ve already seen Samsung starting the event right by introducing a revolutionary curved screen smartphone. Now, we have Sony lining up its contenders to fight this year’s flagship war.

The company introduced its new flagship device, the Xperia Z3. This smartphone, will now go on to fight the highly-anticipated iPhone 6 and the newly released Galaxy Note 4.

As expected, Sony has integrated the new Xperia Z3 with the Playstation 4, by adding a new feature called PS4 Remote Play that will let you use the Xperia Z3 as “a remote screen to connect to and control your games on PS4.”

Sony Xperia Z3 will come with a 5.2-inch Full HD display that Sony claims is “the world’s brightest display of all the leading premium smartphones.” Other specs for the device include a 2.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB of RAM, a 20.7-megapixel camera and Android 4.4 KitKat.

Sony hasn’t yet provided a release date for the phone and will only say that it plans to launch the phone this fall. There are no pricing details revealed either.

Key Specs
- Snapdragon 2.5 GHz Qualcomm Quad-core
- Adreno 330 GPU
- 5.2″ Full HD display (1920×1080 pixels)
- TRILUMINOS™ Display for mobile
- 20.7 megapixel camera with auto focus
- 8x digital zoom
- ISO 3200 maximum in manual mode
- Sony Exmor RS for mobile image sensor
- 4K video recording
- Front-facing camera, HD 1080p for video chat and 2.2 MP for camera capture
- Pulsed LED flash
- 3 GB RAM
- Up to 16 GB flash memory
- Up to 128 GB microSD™ (card slot, SDXC supported)
September 3, 2014
IFA 2014 : Samsung Enters the Future With the Curved Galaxy Note Edge

Samsung introduced a one-of-a-kind smartphone today. It stands out in the crowd for its unique screen, which extends and runs over onto the right side of the device. And if you’re thinking the curved panel is simply a marketing gimmick, you’re wrong.

The extended side screen is super functional as well – it has 7 scrollable panels which are customisable. When the Galaxy Note Edge is locked, the side-panel can be used to have a quick look at notifications and get faster access to certain features such as time and date display, flashlight, camera, messages and even a ruler. Preferred apps can also be shifted to the side panel, frequent use of which will help users conserve battery life.

The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge comes as a pleasant surprise which was kept well under wraps. It is one of the few devices launched recently which left no virtual trail and had no ‘leakster’ tracking its every more.

Photo Credits: The Verge

So, the new bent display not only gives Samsung’s new smartphone a sleek look, but it actually might help keep the main screen clutter-free. Samsung has also announced that will release the API so that third-party app developers can make use of the new screen and create appropriate apps for the screen.

Specs-wise, the smartphone has a 5.6-inch, Quad HD 2560 x 1440 display and is powered by a 3,000 mAh battery. It comes with Snapdragon 805 or Exynos 5433 chipset, Android 4.4, 16MP OIS camera and S Pen stylus. With this launch, Samsung proved that it still has an eye for innovation.

September 3, 2014
IFA 2014 : Lenovo Introduces 17-inch Gaming Laptop, The Y70 Touch

Along with the Tab S8 and the ERAZER X315, Lenovo gave us a good look at another addition to its line-up of laptops, the Y70 Touch. The company claims that the Y70 Touch gaming laptop is its first 17-inch touch device.

The Y70 Touch gaming laptop comes in three variants and is available to buy from Lenovo’s US online store. The three models – 80DU000EUS, 80DU000NUS, and 80DU000HUS – are priced at $1,399.99, $1,499.99 , and $1,689.00 respectively. Lenovo also said that the laptops will be available with major retailers in October.

The only fact that may not go down well with its prospective buyers is its weight; the Lenovo Y70 Touch laptops weigh a hefty 3.4kgs.

The three models of the Y70 Touch gaming laptops are powered by the fourth-generation Intel Core i7-4710HQ Processor (2.50GHz, 4 cores, 8 threads, 6MB cache). The difference between the three variants is in system memory, dedicated GPUs, and in-built storage. All three models of the Lenovo Y70 Touch run Windows 8.1 64-bit OS and sport a 17.3-inch full-HD LED anti-glare multi-touch display. An integrated HD (720p) webcam is also included.

The three Lenovo Y70 Touch laptop variants also share the connectivity features including Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11 ac/b/g/n, as well as the same battery – a 4-cell 54-Watt Hour Li-Po. Sized at 422.9×290.6×25.9mm, the Lenovo Y70 Touch laptops boast stereo speakers powered by JBL alongside a backlit keyboard for easy typing during low light conditions.

September 3, 2014
Android Wear Updates to Make Smartwatches More Independent

The biggest factor blamed for the slow adoption of smartwatches is their need to be connected with smartphones. This made them more of an accessory than an actual fully-functional device. Now the companies have sensed the need to detach the Smartwatch from the smartphone while keeping its smartness intact. Google plans to do the same with its Android Wear Operating system.

Google in talks with CNET said that the company plans to bring several updates for the Android Wear ecosystem. These updates will add additional features to the devices as well as cut the umbilical cord that feeds the wearables their features through the smartphones.

These updates will help decouple the Smartwatch from the Smartphone

The updates are essential to providing independent features to these devices. Updates such as Bluetooth headsets support will let you hold your playlist on your watch itself so that you don’t need to lug around your huge smartphone when you go out for a run. In a GPS-enabled smartwatch, the GPS support will map your jog for you.

The updates will be rolled out on a regular basis and will roll out from next week. The first update is expected to advance the voice and navigation features of the smartwatches. One update that the customers will really look forward to is the one that will provide custom watch faces. This will offer the option to have customized watch faces that the users can select according to their liking.

There is still a lot of promise in this burgeoning tech segment. Smart wearables are where the companies are putting their money right now. If Google succeeds in bringing a standardized operating system that is appreciated by the people at large, it will be a big boost to the smartwatch category. Not only would there be a recognizable UI throughout, it will also help easily interconnect with the wide Android ecosystem.

It’s time Apple opened its cards on the long rumoured iWatch. The world is waiting to see if Apple can stop Android’s victory march midway.

September 3, 2014
IFA 2014 : Lenovo Debuts New Gaming Desktop, The ERAZER X315

Along with the Tab S8, Lenovo took the wraps off two new gaming PCs at the IFA trade show in Berlin today – The Y70 Touch and The ERAZER X315.

Talking about the first one, the Erazer X315 comes in two variants, the 3.1GHz quad-core AMD A8-7600 and the 3.7GHz quad-core AMD A10-7850k processors. With the AMD A8-7600, users get a 2GB AMD Radeon R9 255 GPU, 1TB+8GB SSHD in-built storage, and 8GB of RAM. And with the AMD A10-7850k, users get a 2GB AMD Radeon R9 260 GPU; 2TB+8GB SSHD in-built storage, and 12GB of RAM.

The connectivity features of the Erazer X315 include 4x USB 3.0; 2x USB 2.0; HDMI-in; 7-in-1 card reader; 6x audio jack with S/PDIF; and Wi-Fi 802.11ac. Weighing 16.5 pounds, the Erazer X315 gaming desktop measures 375.9×360.6×175.2mm and also features Dolby Advanced Audio technology.

The Erazer X315 will be available in November this year with major retailers with the starting price tag of $599.

September 3, 2014
IFA 2014 : Asus Officially Unveiled its First Android Wear Wearable, The ZenWatch

Asus has been teasing its smartwatch for quite a while, and now it’s finally here. The super sleek ZenWatch runs Android Wear OS and features a version of the ASUS ZenUI developed specifically for the ZenWatch.

Powered with Android Wear, the new ZenWatch will be priced around $250, while the international pricing is yet to be announced. It’s the first Android Wear smartwatch with a customised UI. It is compatible with smartphones running Android 4.3 or above.

The ZenWatch features a gold-colored middle layer and stainless steel top and bottom, with a brushed surface around the face. It has a 1.63-inch 320×320 AMOLED display with a slight curve to its surface, and a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, as well as 512MB or RAM and Bluetooth 4.0.

They’ve provided a heart rate sensor on the bottom, and it uses standard user-replaceable 22mm watchbands. IP55 water and dust-proofing helps it tolerate accidental splashes, and it has a 9-axis sensor for tracking activity and movement.

Asus has also included a number of gesture controls and pre-loaded features, which makes it stand out amongst other Android Wear devices. These features give you options to unlock your phone or tablet by tapping the face of the ZenWatch, auto-opening a function you set with a double-tap, covering the watch to mute and phone finding, remote camera operation and slide deck control apps. However, for these feature to work you are required to install a separate, Asus-created watch manager app in addition to Android Wear on your companion device to work.

The Asus ZenWatch comes in a a soft touch stitched-leather strap and quick-release clasp. The display is curved to give off a 2.5D effect.

September 3, 2014
IFA 2014 : Lenovo Introduces 8-Inch Android-Powered Tab S8

Lenovo, ahead of thursday’s pre-IFA event, has launched a 8-inch Intel Atom-powered Android tablet, called the Tab S8. The tablet has an 8-inch (1920×1200) display and includes the One Glass Solution touch-panel technology. The tablet has a ultra-slim bezel with the dark front panel which gives it a very sleek look.

The Tab S8 has a 8.0-inch, 1920×1200 resolution IPS display, Intel Atom Z3745 SoC with quad-core 1.86GHz CPU, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal memory, 8 megapixel rear camera, 1.6 megapixel front camera, stereo speakers with Dolby sound, 7 hours of battery life and Android 4.4 KitKat.

The Tab S8 will go on sale beginning of September for $199. The company has listed Ebony, Blue, Canary, Yellow, and White colour variants (depending on regional availability) for the Tab S8. The low price is impressive considering its capabilities, and might be worth a look for anyone wanting a mid-sized tablet on a budget. The Company also mention a 3G/LTE version of the Tab S8 without any further details.

September 3, 2014
Sony Introduced Six New 4k Televisions in India

Japanese electronics giant Sony has announced new 4K televisions in three new series in India. The six new offerings from Sony come in screen sizes ranging from 49-inch to 85-inch within the price range of Rs. 1,74,900 to Rs. 7,04,900.

The company said that four of these 4K televisions are already available in the market while the other two will be available by the end of September. Sony claims that the new Bravia 4K TVs offer ‘excellent picture and audio quality, while featuring a bevy of new features will appeal to the discerning consumer’.

Sony has further stated that all six of the new Bravia 4K models offered by them will incorporate the powerful picture processing engine, 4K X-Reality PRO, which uses a combination of unique up-scaling and super resolution technology from Sony to offer any content in beautiful and stunning 4K resolution. All new models supports HDMI 2.0 which gives them the ability to display 4K/60p content.

They are also equipped with a new decoder which supports HEVC and can playback 4K/60p content from Internet streaming services and USB playback. The TVs are also compatible with MHL 3.0, which supports 4K output from smartphones and tablets.

The company is also introducing a new feature called ‘One-Flick Entertainment,’ that allows viewers to quickly browse content across different sources at home. The added One-Flick Remote Control gives users ‘intuitive control’. Using simple swipes users can access both offline and online content. There is also an option of seeing content stored on NFC-enabled smartphones or tablets by touching those devices to the One-Flick Remote Control.

One-Flick Entertainment gives users quick YouTube access while watching regular TV channels. Also, the Sony Bravia 4K televisions have a new ‘Social Viewing’ feature, which enables users to Skype chat (with the built-in camera) apart from keeping track of their social media accounts.

Sony has detailed pricing for the four available Bravia 4K TVs, with the 79-inch Bravia KD-79X9000B priced at Rs. 7,04,900, the 55-inch Bravia KD-55X9000B priced at Rs. 3,14,900, the 55-inch Bravia KD-55X8500B priced at Rs. 2,54,900, and the 49-inch Bravia KD-49X8500B priced at Rs. 1,74,900.

However, pricing details of the remaining two 4K televisions will be revealed when they launch by the end of this month.

September 3, 2014