Tag: igyaan

Report : Micromax Canvas 4 A210 to launch for Rs. 16,900

Although many websites are reporting that the Micromax Canvas 4 A210 will launch for upwards of 24 thousand Rupees, the truth is far from the rumors. Micromax is all set to officially announce and launch the Canvas 4 at an event being held on 8th of July. The event will showcase the product and will also announce official pricing. According to sources close to iGyaan, the Micromax Canvas 4 A210 will launch at a price under Rs. 20,000/-. While the market price will be Rs. 16,999/- at the beginning.

Micromax has also initiated this phone, with its key feature being a blow to unlock software, and a 5 MP camera in the front ensuring that the users have nothing to complain about lack of basic features. The main camera is a 13 MP autofocus camera and the back panel is glazed just like on Samsung Galaxy phones.

Micromax is also planning to launch the Canvas 4 A210 in White and Black colors, with a graphic texture back panel. The Micromax Canvas 4 A210 is expected to be under 9 mm in thickness, where the 8.9mm standard may come into play. The 5 inch 1280 x 720 p display indicates that the phone will be at-least 144 mm high (5.67 inches ) and 76 mm wide (2.87 inches).

We will get you more details when available, and you can expect iGyaan style videos to follow suit.

June 29, 2013
LG LA6910 55 inch 3D Smart TV Review

At a time when manufacturers like Sony are concentrating on pushing forward their 4K televisions, LG recently released their new lineup of smart televisions, and among them was the LG LA6910 55-inch 3D TV.

The LG LA6910 has a 55″, 1920 x 1080 pixels display which is an advanced IPS LED LCD Panel. It has 9 aspect ratio modes including 16:9, Just scan, Original, Full Wide, 4:3, 14:9, Cinema Zoom 1, Zoom.

At the back it has a 2.1 speaker system (2way 3speaker) with Virtual Surround Sound Plus and Dolby Digital Decoder. The LG LA6910 has a bunch of engines to process images like Triple XD Engine, Dynamic Color Enhancer, Contrast Optimizer, Picture Wizard II, (3D MPEG) Noise Reduction.

In terms of design the LG LA6910 has a diminutive bezel with a brushed aluminum finish. A relatively thick brushed steel section of the bezel runs across the bottom lip that’s accentuated with a backlit LG logo at the centre. The stand has a unique chrome finish design with wheels at the bottom to make adjustments. Build quality is as you’d expect from a TV of this price range, solid.

Backlight bleed is virtually non-existent, and this is a mark of the emphasis that LG has paid in terms of the design and build-quality of the TV.

Since it is a smart TV you get access to various applications such as Skype and YouTube. You also have local apps such as NDTV which exist to cater to India-specific needs.

The LG LA6910 has the basic analogue video and audio inputs, Ethernet, Wi-Fi and USB connectivity options, in addition to 3 HDMIs.

The LG LA6910 is available in the market for about Rs 2,00,000/-.

You can watch our video review below :

[youtube id=”2GbYD26BC3M” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

June 25, 2013
Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 Unboxing and Hands on
Samsung recently launched the Galaxy Mega 5.8 and 6.3 at an event in New Delhi, the phones building on the success of the Galaxy note and the Grand build on the success of Phone – Tablet hybrids in the market or better known as “phablets”. Priced at Rs. 25,999/ the Galaxy Mega 5.8 essentially is a bigger Galaxy Grand, but there is something slightly different about the phone.

Galaxy Mega 5.8 Box Contents

The Samsung Galaxy Mega comes with the standard list of Box contents;
Galaxy Mega 5.8 Initial Impressions

The Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 is a large device, but clearly is not as large as its big brother the Mega 6.3, next to the Galaxy S4 the Mega 5.8 simply dwarfs the current flagship from the Korean Manufacturer. The display is a 540 x 960 px capacitive touchscreen, and despite a lowly 190 ppi the screen is really sharp and great to look at. The screen is also extremely bright, fairly visible outdoors and has good viewing angles.

The Galaxy Mega features a dual core 1.4 GHz chipset which is the same chipset seen on the Galaxy Grand, which was pretty good at handling gaming on the smaller variant, but may not deliver on a larger screen with a higher resolution. The phone also has 8 GB storage and 1.5GB of RAM, along with expandability upto 64 GB via microSD.

The phone is also capable of handling two sim cards at the same time with Samsung’s new dual sim smart active mode with active forwarding to your numbers.

The Galaxy Mega 5.8 has dual cameras, an 8MP main shooter and a secondary 1.9 MP camera, both of which capture video at 1080p. The phone also comes with Android 4.2.2 out of the box slapped on with a generous dose of Touchwiz, with many of the UI elements inspired from the S4.

The Galaxy Mega 5.8 appears to be big but is easily handleable and is not that bigger than the Galaxy Note 2. The phone will fit into regular denim pockets, but may cause issues if you are one of those skinny fit lovers.

The UI seems fast and responsive and the handset seems to be holding up well, stay tuned for a barrage of videos iGyaan Style.

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June 23, 2013
Suunto Launches AMBIT2 with GPS and Navigation and Quick MultiSport Mode (Hands On) (PR)

Suunto has been a name synonymous with pro athletes and adventurers of all types. The company’s foray into the Indian market targets more enthusiasts and youth. The new Ambit2 is the successor of the popular Ambit, and adds a new Multi Sports mode.

The new apps on the Suunto Ambit 2 have been designed for a large variety of use, including swimming, cycling, running and multisport training.

The watch features interesting features including route navigation, barometric information, altimeter with FusedAltiTM, 3D compass and other outdoor specific features. In addition the Ambit2 has all the training features of the Ambit2 S.

The Ambit 2 is made inside a glass fiber reinforced casing with a battery life of up to 50 hours in GPS mode, the Ambit2 is a watch designed for serious adventurers, explorers and multisport athletes. The HR edition we put our hands on features a heart monitor belt which syncs up with the watch to track your heart rate through your workout/swim or trek.

The watch is really easy to handle and works great while on the hand, switching form one mode to another is fast and conveniently handled by one hand. The watch can be worn on either hand due to the design and the button layout.

The watch has a massive 50 mm bezel, which to us felt really nice, but a lot of athletes may not want such a huge dial. The backlight is nicely spread and is not overbearing, and should provide ample lighting during the night.

The strap is also designed keeping the active folks in mind, a stretch rubber strap with large breathable perforated holes.

While we take this watch for a spin, check out the video (uploading ) and images and stay tuned for a full review.

[toggle title=”Press Release”]Suunto recently unveils the second generation of Ambit outdoor GPS watches, the new line-up of Ambit2 S and the Ambit2. This creates a collection of Suunto GPS watches for every occassion — whether a multisport training session or a serious adventure.

Comments President of Suunto, Mikko Moilanen: “The Ambit got a tremendously positive response from consumers last year. To meet the needs of perfomance sports oriented users even better we felt that a lighter, slimmer GPS with sports-specific features but less focus on outdoor functionality was needed to complement the Ambit family. In addition, the rapidly advancing technology made it meaningful to update the Ambit family with new members already now.”

Ambit2 S – The GPS watch for athletes
The new Ambit2 S is a light and sleek GPS watch for multisport athletes that packs all the features needed for cycling, running, swimming and multisport training. The GPS provides accurate pace, route navigation and tracking, while the heart rate monitor lets you train within your ideal zone.
• Cycling: The new Suunto Ambit2 S will support power meters (ANT+) and offers various power measurement values and numerous options for in-depth analysis.
• Swimming: The Ambit2 S also offers comprehensive swimming functionality, including pace and distance, automatic intervals, stroke rate and swimming time related to different pool lengths. The Ambit2 S will also learn to recognize your swimming style, which makes performance analysis easier.
• Running: Runners benefit from highly accurate pace and distance thanks to FusedSpeed™, the Ambit’s accelerometer integrated GPS, as well as interval timer and autolaps for training.
• Multisport Training: Users can switch between sports, making the Suunto Ambit2 S ideal for recording your multisport training or race.
•
Ambit2 – The GPS for explorers and athletes
Suunto also launches the Ambit2, which builds on the success of the award-winning Suunto Ambit. It includes Suunto’s hallmark outdoor functions such as route navigation, barometric information, altimeter with FusedAltiTM, 3D compass and other outdoor specific features. In addition the Ambit2 has all the training features of the Ambit2 S.
Packed in a glass fiber reinforced casing with a battery life of up to 50 hours in GPS mode, the Ambit2 is the ultimate watch for serious adventurers, explorers and multisport athletes. The Sapphire edition of the Ambit2, features a brushed steel bezel and sapphire crystal glass, adding some serious style to the Ambit2’s extreme functionality.

Comments Suunto ambassador and climber Ueli Steck: “In the mountains you need a watch you can rely on. I’ve been using Suunto products for many years and the Ambit2 is the ideal product out there for anyone serious about their mountain sports.”

Both Ambit2 S and Ambit2 will be globally available from May 2013.

App Zone and Movescount.com are also upgraded
Suunto is also upgrading the Suunto App Zone, the community forum where users can find and create free Apps for the Ambit GPS watches. Since it launched in November 2012, the App Zone has proved popular with users, who have created over 5,000 Apps so far. The upgrade gives Ambit owners the chance to create and share more advanced Apps. Suunto’s online sports community Movescount.comwhich hosts the App Zone, will also be updated to provide new tools for in-depth analysis, enhanced navigation and improved opportunities for sharing.

About Suunto

Suunto was founded in 1936 by Tuomas Vohlonen, a Finnish orienteer and inventor of the liquid-filled field compass. Since then Suunto has been at the forefront of design and innovation for dive computers, instruments and sports watches used by adventure seekers all over the globe. From the highest mountains to the deepest oceans, Suunto physically and mentally equips outdoor adventurers to conquer new territory. Suunto’s headquarters and manufacturing plant is in Vantaa, Finland. Employing more than 400 people worldwide, Suunto products are sold in over 100 countries. The company is a subsidiary of Amer Sports Corporation along with its sister brands Salomon, Arc’teryx, Atomic, Wilson, Precor, and Mavic
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June 20, 2013
Micromax Teases Next Canvas : is this the Canvas 4?
Micromax is clearly working on the next version of their popular Canvas series and has already started teasing it on TV. A small teaser caught between morning sessions of cricket tells us that another version of the Canvas is headed our way.

While there is no real news on the “Micromax Canvas 4” (expected name) we expect the following specs :
- 5 inch Full HD 1920 x 1080p Display
- The Mediatek 6589 chipset (Quad core)
- 8 – 16 GB inbuilt storage
- 2 GB RAM
- 13 MP camera
- 2-5 MP front camera
- Dual Sim capability
- Android 4.2.2
But these seem to be only speculations until we get real word from the Indian mobile giant on what they are working on next. Stay tuned for more, till then see an exclusive picture of what the design of the Canvas 4 may be. The phone will be aggressively priced as the company will expect to do large numbers in terms of sale. Micromax presently moves out over 300,000 units of their canvas series on a monthly basis, a device like this priced around the 15,000 Rupee price mark could easily increase that by 50%.

Update : it is now confirmed that the phone will be called Micromax Canvas 4 and will be available June 28th. See below image from Micromax Canvas 4 Facebook Page
June 15, 2013
Edit : iOS 7 Battery Life : One Word “Unfortunate”
Apple released iOS 7 for Beta testers and App developers a couple of days back. While we updated to the new OS in almost utter haste, 48 hours into the update few things are different. There are certain things that once you switch over you will simply adore and get used to. But then there are things that, while iOS 7 is in beta, beckon the user to simply flash back to iOS 6.

Here is what we like about iOS 7

A lot of things have become easier, and although small little changes don’t make sense to the observer, in the entirety of the situation they add up to an amazing overhaul of the usage experience.
Here is what we don’t like about iOS 7

The OS is still in BETA stage and although it is a bit premature to give out opinion on Apple’s new iOS 7, these are things that may make us switch back to iOS 6.
A lot more design improvements as well as software fixes are required to make iOS 7 stable and ready for public consumption. However, even with the changes that Apple has shown off, the interface lacks a certain finished feel. While some elements are overly appreciated, some bugs have forced us to revert. A phone that requires a charge every 2 hours if of no use. So, While its time for us to switch back to iOS 6.1.4 on our iPhone 5, it is safe to say Apple is headed in the right direction. Are you switching yet ?

[youtube id=”S5-KmW1QhcE” width=”100%” height=”300px”]
June 13, 2013
Apple Announces iOS 7

Apple has just announced “the biggest change since the launch of the original iPhone” ; iOS 7. The new interface is beautifully designed with a new layer of colors and icons. Transparency plays an important role here, along with gestures.

Folders have pages, for multiple apps and the Game Center now does not have any green felt.

Notification center has a today view and can be accessed from the lock screen. But the most awaited feature : control center has been made available , simply swipe from below and all your quick toggles are front and center even from the lock screen.

Multitasking is available to all Apps now, allowing better battery life.

Apple Apps

reading

game center

Notification center

control center

App updates

dialer and phone

iOS now features Air Drop, allowing sharing of files through wifi just like on mac. Select multiple people by tapping, “no need to run around the room bumping your phone” hah.

The new features of Safari from Mac have been brought to the iOS, tabs reading lists, auto fill keychains and passwords.

The new Camera allows square cropped photos with filters for apps like Instagram, along with new Photos app which features moments and collections for better organization of photos. Of Course sharing of

Siri now has been updated to look great and do more functions, Siri also has a new voice in both male and female tones.

Siri can now Increase Brightness and toggle functions.

more developing..

June 11, 2013
Nokia Lumia 520 Review

Nokia Lumia 520 is the Windows Phone 8 version of the highly successful Nokia Lumia 510 which was the cheapest Windows Phone 7 device. The Lumia 520 continues that moniker for the Windows Phone 8 series buy brings about major changes in the mix. Here is our review of the Lumia 520;

Build and Design

[pullquote_left] Designed for energetic youth[/pullquote_left]One of the best things about Nokia’s Lumia 520 is the design and build profile. Nokia has been ever known to build high quality phones and the 520 is no less. The wonderful use of colors in the entire range also falls down onto the 520, the price bracket where the most playful market space of the energetic youth exists.

Of course in comparison to the higher ups the Lumia 520 feels a tad bit less refined, almost nimble, in front of the higher ups in the Lumia lineup. But it is comfortable to hold, and feels very sturdy in the grip of your palm. The back curves out softly into the edges ensuring a more cosy fit and feel also ensuring that the phone appears to be a lot slimmer than its 9.9 mm profile.

The buttons are kept black on all colors keeping a keen sense of contrast alive on the handsets. The phone weighs in at 124 gms and hence is not the lightest phone available, but is well within the small category.

Display and Hardware

The Display on the Lumia 520 is a 4 inch 480 x800 px IPS LCD display making it extremely pleasing on the eyes, fairly bright outdoors and good at color reproduction. The display also has excellent viewing angles, which ensures the maximum use of the larger 4 inch display.

The innards are a mix of a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus processor, clocked at 1GHz, along with 512MB of RAM and expandable storage ( upto 64 GB) along with the fixed 8 GB of inbuilt space. You will also get 7 GB of Skydrive storage with each Lumia phone. The Graphics are handled by a capable Adreno 305 GPU.

A few things that might bother users is the lack of a front facing camera and the missing LED flash on the rear 5 megapixel flasher. The 1430 mAh battery will remind you of the olden Nokia days due to its looks and removable nature.

Windows 8 and Smartphone usage

Nokia has really helped Windows grow as an ecosystem. With the Lumia 520, Nokia has once again got the Windows Phone experience close to the masses. Nokia adds a lot of custom apps and enhancements to make the Windows experience a lot better with their navigation, music and camera filters appealing truly to the masses (especially in India) . With the amber update due soon users will be able to use the FM radio on these phones, making them truly one for the masses, additional features including smart camera will also be released with the Amber update.

In its current form Windows Phone 8 is a somewhat adolescent OS, maturing two folds from its initial years, we still wouldn’t call it a fully mature OS. Many users will miss the customizations and the liberties enjoyed with the likes of Android. Those upgrading from Symbian, Java or even Blackberry 7 OS will really appreciate it for its worth.

[pullquote_right]Office on the no-go[/pullquote_right]The size of the display is good enough but not big enough to get real office work done. Office integration exists and can be accessed on this phone, but the Nokia Lumia 520 seems cramped, especially when comparing it with slightly bigger Windows phone hardware.

The application base is growing on a daily basis, and even though developers prefer Android and iOS because of sheer market size, the ease with which apps can be made for Windows Phone encourages a lot of developers.

Camera and Multimedia

[pullquote_left]free unlimited Music[/pullquote_left]The included Nokia Music service giver users access to free unlimited Music for upto three moths, after which they have to opt in for a pricing plan. With this service users can literally listen to any kind of music and even create offline playlists to listen to later on. The screen is slightly dim, but bright enough for enjoying videos and images, audio playback is great as is video streaming and playback. Music through headphones is loud, but the included earphones are disappointing.

The camera is a pretty basic 5 megapixel snapper, with a lot of noise and disturbance is low light images, affected more so by the lack of a flash module. The response from the camera is a little delayed, so you will need to steady your hand after you click a picture and wait for the preview to appear before you can move ahead. This will also be a problem if you have fast-moving subjects like kids or even pets. You still get camera lenses, so you can add filters or stylize your images, and the upcoming Smart camera will also be a great addition to the camera.

Phone, Networks and Battery

The phone call quality is solid, and networks are strong. With little or no disturbances on either end, you can hear callers great and the microphone picks you up for the person on the other end of the high bid spectrum.

Battery life will be a concern for users. With lost of features constantly asking for connectivity the Nokia Lumia 520 barely gets on through the day. Talk time is established at around 4 hours with Nokia’s claim of 9 hours nowhere near it. The 1430 mAh battery seems a little small for the hardware on the inside of this phone honestly and with apps like Nokia music constantly pinging servers, battery life is a big worry.

Verdict

Nokia has yet again made it possible for almost everyone to own Windows Phone 8, the hardware is good, responsive and well-built. Nokia also ensures that users throughly enjoy the Windows Phone experience with their Lumia 520, thanks to the included apps and services, with more to come in the Amber update. However cost cutting measures are clearly evident, the lack of a front camera and LED flash for the rear camera, a strangely small battery and the lack of support for NFC, which even though is not a big deal today, comes in each of the other Lumia hardware via external covers if not natively. But considering the price of Windows phone devices, at its current price, the Lumia 520 offers a lot more than owners can bargain for.

The Nokia Lumia 520 is a great all round package for people on the go, and people online, those who don’t delve too much into apps and customizations and don’t fear trying something new. The Nokia Lumia 520 is also a great switch from a cheaper Android device and also a good upgrade to the older Lumia 510 incase you plan it.

Video Review

[youtube id=”mQB8FqCi9WE” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

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May 29, 2013
Nexus 4 for India Review

Nexus 4, a smartphone that launched last year was speculated to arrive India soon after its global availability. The Nexus 4’s rumored launch dates for India got shunned, and prospective owners dealt with a lot of delay before the phone finally launched. LG brought the Nexus 4 to India under the assumption that the Indian people still wanted it. Was the company right ? Does the Nexus 4 bring about a world of difference in the way one looks at Android ? Lets find out!

Nexus

[pullquote_left]The Way Google Intended[/pullquote_left]A line of Mobile devices manufactured by an OEM brand selected by Google to lead into the area of expertise and build the Android flagship for that particular year. Apart from the lack of any form of software or network customizations or restrictions, they also have unlock-able bootloaders and are the first devices to receive instant Android Operating System updates.

In most cases Nexus units are responsibility of Google, sales in a particular country are pushed by Google and availability is also based on Google’s interest to bring forth the device. In India however, the only Nexus phone to have been made available prior to the Nexus 4 was the Nexus S. Just as the Nexus 4 was ignored in India initially, the Galaxy Nexus was not launched at all, despite huge demand for the successful handset.

LG decided to bring the Nexus 4 on their own accord, thanks to high public interest. Initially plans to bring in the Nexus 4 were sacked as the company thought it was not going to do well enough. The first few lots of Nexus 4 handsets also faced manufacturing issues, keeping the Nexus 4 virtually sold out, due to limited supplies.

Build Quality, Design and Hardware

There is no question that the initial look at the design reminds us of the iPhone 4/4s with a glass front and a glass back fused on either sides of a solid shell. The difference here is that LG has actually rounded the device out a lot, the front blends into the solid plastic bezel which then flattens out into a glass back.

Problems with the Nexus 4’s back glass cracking in the heat have been aplenty and still exist. But, some are fortunate enough to not have that issue, the problem however persists. If the Nexus 4 is left in the sun, or put through intensive activities that cause the device to heat up, the glass back around the camera lens develops hairline cracks.

Apart from the cracking issues, the Nexus 4 is noticeably well built and definitely has a very premium design factor. The dotted, glittery back glass makes the device shimmer in the slightest gleam of any light, almost making the Nexus 4 appeal to a artsy tingle in the brain. Somewhat making you feel the sense of passion towards a mere black piece of Android Jelly Bean hardware.

Speaking of hardware, the Nexus 4 has just the right amount to justify the price unlike some seriously strange mistakes for India. Powered by a 2100 mAh Li-Po battery the Nexus 4 runs a Quad Core Snapdragon S4 Pro Krait processor clocking in 1.5 GHz of raw unadulterated silicone hum. The impressive Adreno 320 GPU ensures graphics performance along with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of fixed – non expandable storage for the Nexus 4. Google however ensures that each Android user now gets 15 gigs of cloud storage, incase you would like to consider that as a value addition.

The front of the Nexus 4 has a brilliant LG display, True HD IPS Plus capacitive touchscreen with a 768 x 1280 px resolution clocking in a good 318 ppi. The addition of Gorilla Glass 2 on the front as well as the back give the phone strength, the unibody shell adds reinforcement. The back has a 8 Megapixel camera which is said to be quite terrible, we found otherwise (see below), the camera also does 1080p video at 30 fps. The front carries a 1.3 MP camera, only as good as it gets, capable of shoddy imagery and video.

Un-Salted Beans

(Stock Android Experience)

The fact that the Nexus 4 runs a stock version of Android actually has a lot of people in turmoil, we hope we can clarify some doubts. The Nexus 4, infact any Nexus phone, runs a stock unadulterated un-skinned version of Android out of the box. That means no – task manager, no floating weather animations and definitely no fancy dual picture camera shots. But the key word here is essentially “out of the box”, the Nexus 4 also give you, on the other hand, the maximum flexibility with the Android operating system. An unlock-able bootloader means the minute you get hold of the Nexus 4, you can root it and get developing.

[pullquote_left]Felxibilty with the Interface[/pullquote_left]The ability to use custom ROMs and skins is then endless, install widgets and apps from select manufacturers or even add your own custom UI, this is what truly makes the Nexus 4 experience fun. However the customization and open-ness is not for everyone. Some people want fancy UI’s out of the box. Pick up a Galaxy S3 and you have things like multi-window and fancy multi layer User interface, but with the Nexus 4 you have a bland boring flat UI from the get go.

Dashboard

Dialer

Keyboard

Browser

Camera Settings

Quick Toggles

About Screen

Camera Options

Photosphere

A first few days of the custom UI aside, you soon start playing with the Android open-ness and start trying to modify the phone to do interesting things. Splashing different user interfaces or even different launchers, different ROMs each day. It’s a time-consuming process, but on that makes you truly appreciate Android. As with each customization you find out another thing your phone is capable of.

Some on the other hand will love the vanilla experience, the way Google intended for Android to be, fast and snappy and completely flat.

Camera, Multimedia and Gaming

The camera on the Nexus 4 has been critiqued heavily for not being close to expectations set by Google. With the latest Android 4.2.2 update from Google we found that the camera sensor although not the best, is quite good. Images are almost always in focus, well composed, rightly saturated and for those who stick to auto easily captured. A lot of flexibility is available on the Nexus 4 for the camera. Check the sample below.

[pullquote_left]Washed out, But only in Comparison![/pullquote_left]When put in comparison to the Optimus G the Screen of the Nexus 4 appears to be washed out. The Optimus G’s display is a lot more deep and vibrant, whereas the Nexus 4 appears to be a little less effective. Many argue that the Galaxy S3 available at a similar price has a display which is a lot more appreciated. However, the Nexus 4 has a well-balanced display that not only works indoors it works great outdoors as well. Problems arise when you start comparing individual aspects of the display with other devices. The Nexus 4 is a great device for multimedia, audio is loud and crisp from the speaker and well handled during video playback. Whether you like online or offline multimedia the Nexus 4 can deliver a great performance.

Gaming is also well handled by the Nexus 4, the Adreno 320 is one of the most celebrated GPU of today’s hardware market. With the Nexus 4 you will see most games supported out of the box, incase you wish to download unsupported ones, you can do that by a simple root. The ample amount of graphics power and sufficient RAM make the hardware quite capable of gaming, in fact the only real problem gamers would end up facing with the Nexus 4 is the limited storage.

Performance, Phone and Networks

The Nexus 4, although launched last year, at current price is capable of dethroning most celebrated handsets. The pure OS experience not only gets quicker updates, but is a way to truly experience Android in its full potential as a smooth user interface. Apart from being the easiest day-to-day phone, users will realize soon that the Nexus 4 is capable of deep levels of multitasking, and expertly handled process distribution thanks to the great processing brain on the inside of the Nexus 4.

Mostly the performance of the Nexus 4 becomes evident in the initial uses, however for those who truly like to exploit the handset. The ability to root and install an overclocked kernel will speed up the performance. The most recent version allows up to 1.944 GHz on the 4 cores – Wow!

The phone call quality and networks remain excellent, ensuring good usage of the handset’s primary function; calling. Network quality remains pristine even during commutes and the callers are audible pretty nicely through the earpiece.

Battery Life

Battery life is sufficient out of the box on the Nexus 4, if you do a lot of gaming you might want to underclock and undervolt your Nexus 4 to get an additional 90 minutes of on-screen time. Running stock though you get a good mix of battery life through a day – 5-6 hours of talk time, an hour of browsing, half hour of gaming and few hours of music can also be included.

3G ON

Pure Talk time : 7 Hours

Pure Standby : 48 Hours
Pure Gaming : 3.5 Hours
Pure Online : 6 hours
Pure Music 8 – 10 hours[/tab]

3G OFF

Pure Talk time : 8.5 Hours
Pure Standby : 54 Hours
Pure Gaming : 4 Hours
Pure Online : 7 hours (wi-fi)
Pure Music 8-10 hours[/tab]

Verdict

[pullquote_left]Your Playground[/pullquote_left]Although a little late, the Nexus 4 has launched in India at an excellent price mark, lower than similar hardware equipped handsets, yet the first one to get updates. The Nexus 4 is also the most flexible hardware and a pretty premium looking handset. However, The Nexus 4 does lack the basic microSD expansion, possesses a sub par camera module, and somewhat cheeky display in comparison to its brother the Optimus G. That being said, if you want to experience Android, the way it was intended to be, then the Nexus 4 is your playground and Android is your sport. Even if that is not the case the Nexus 4 will satisfy!

Hands on Video

[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQypYqoF_lI”]

Full Review Video

[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMJzXBJv5Y8″]

May 29, 2013

Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 and 6.3 launched in India Rs. 25,100 and Rs. 31,490 : (Hands On) (PR)

Samsung has just launched the Galaxy Mega 5.8 and the Galaxy Mega 6.3 in India at a fairly reasonable price difference between the handsets. The Galaxy Mega 5.8 goes on sale for Rs. 25,100 while the Galaxy Mega 6.3 will be launched for Rs. 31,490.

Galaxy Mega Initial Impressions

The first thing you will say once you handle these phones is “these phones are gigantic”, for reference in front of the Galaxy Mega 5.8 and 6.3 the Galaxy S4 looks considerably puny. The Galaxy Mega phones still remain slim and easily handle-able, thanks to the software tweaks using the phone with one hands is easy. Samsung’s “One Handed Use” a feature that puts keyboards and calling buttons on the primary hand side of the phone, just like it did on the Galaxy Note 2, extends its capabilities on the Galaxy Mega phones.

Loaded with Android 4.2.2 the Galaxy Mega phones resemble the Galaxy S4 with respect to UI looks and feel, and despite the major spec difference the handsets are quite snappy and responsive. The display on the Galaxy Mega 5.8 is a 5 point multi-touch, which is quite disappointing for a handset of this value and screen real estate.

Both, the Galaxy Mega 5.8 and the Galaxy Mega 6.3 come with dual core processors, the one on the Galaxy Mega 6.3 is manufactured by Qualcomm, whereas the Galaxy Mega 5.8 carries the same chipset found in the Galaxy Grand, made by Broadcom.

The Galaxy Mega phones have 8 MP cameras and front facing 1.9 MP cameras, with the possibility of 1080p video capture at 30fps. The Galaxy Mega 6.3 however will also get the Smart Camera features from the Galaxy S4 along with UI features like Multi Window and Air View.

Check out our Hands on Images below and stay tuned for the Video.

Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 Images

Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 Images

Samsung Galaxy Mega Hands on Video

[youtube id=”VuyRU-HwzUs” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

Samsung GALAXY Mega 6.3 inches Product Specifications

Display	6.3-inch HD Super Clear LCD
Processor	1.7GHz Dual Core processor
OS	Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
Camera	Main (Rear): 8 megapixel rear-facing camera Sub (Front): 1.9 megapixel front-facing camera
Camera Feature	Auto ,Beauty Face, Best Photo, Best Face , Continuous Shot , Best face , Sound & Shot , Rich Tone (High Dynamic Range),Panorama , Sports , Night
Video	MPEG4 , H.263,H.264, VC-1, VP8 Recording/playback :1080@30fps
Audio	MP3, OGA , AAC , AAC+ , Eaac+ ,WMA, AMR-NB /WB FLAC , PCM , MID , IMY
Services & Additional Features	Group Play: Share Music, Share Picture, Share Document, Play Games
	Story Album, S Translator
	Air View, Multi Window, Pop Up Play
	Samsung ChatON mobile communication service
	Samsung WatchON
	Samsung Link, S Travel , S Voice 2.0
Connectivity	Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, WiFi Direct BT 4.0(BLE), USB 2.0 H/S GPS?GLONASS, NFC, MHL
Sensor	Accelerometer, light, Geomagnetic, Proximity, Gyroscope
Memory	16GB Internal Memory (microSD up to 64GB) ? 1.5GB RAM
Dimension	167.6 x 88 x 8.0 mm , 199g
Battery	Standard battery, Li-ion 3,200 mAh

Samsung GALAXY Mega 5.8 inches Product Specifications

Network	HSPA?21/5.76
Display	5.8-inch QHD TFT
Processor	1.4GHz Dual Core Processor
OS	Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
Camera	Main (Rear): 8 megapixel rear-facing camera Sub (Front): 1.9 megapixel front-facing camera
Camera Feature	Auto , Beauty Face, Best face , Continuous Shot , Best Photo, Sound &Shot , Panorama , Sports
Video	MPEG4, H.263 , H.264 , VC-1, DivX , Xvid , VP8 Recording/Playback: 1080@30fps
Audio	MP3, OGG,AAC , AAC+, eAAC+ ,WMA , AMR-NB/WB , FLAC , PCM , MID , IMY
Services & Additional Features	Group Play: Share Picture, Share Document and Play Games
	Story Album, S Translator
	Multi Window
	Samsung ChatON mobile communication service
	Samsung Link, S Travel , S Voice 2.0
Google Mobile Services	Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, Google Latitude, Google Play Store, Google Plus, YouTube, Google Talk, Google Places, Google Navigation, Google Downloads, Voice Search
Connectivity	Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, WiFi Direct BT 4.0(BLE), USB 2.0 H/S GPS?GLONASS
Sensor	Accelerometer, Geomagnetic, Proximity, Light, Gyroscope
Memory	8GB Internal Memory (microSD up to 64GB) ? 1.5GB RAM
Dimension	162.6 x 82.4 x 9.0 mm, 182g
Battery	Standard battery, Li-ion 2,600 mAh

[toggle title=”Press Release”]‘Stay smart, Live Large’ with Samsung GALAXY Mega
New GALAXY Mega models offer the latest smartphone features with an extensive viewing experience.
Delhi, May 28, 2013 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, today announced the launch of Samsung GALAXY Mega, a device that combines the portability and convenience of a smartphone with the power, multitasking capabilities and extensive viewing experience of a tablet. Two models of Samsung Galaxy Mega , with 5.8 inches and 6.3 inches screen sizes , are being launched .The newest addition to the GALAXY family , the Mega series balances an optimal viewing experience on a large screen, yet is ultra-thin and portable enough to put into a pocket or hold in one hand. The GALAXY Mega offers a mix of popular smartphone and tablet features such as an effortless user experience, a split screen, multitasking between video and other apps and more.
“Consumers in India as in other parts of the world are preferring the larger screen displays in their Smartphones owing to the time they spend doing more with their devices – staying connected with their work and friends/family , web browsing , extensive multimedia viewing and more,” states Mr. Vineet Taneja , Country Head , Samsung Mobile and Digital Imaging Business .“To meet the varying lifestyles of our consumers, we are very pleased to offer the GALAXY Mega which further enriches the product portfolio of our award-winning GALAXY series.”
Best of Both Worlds
The GALAXY Mega is an ideal choice for customers who want to get the most out of their device: device that brings great quality at an even greater value. The GALAXY Mega enables an exceptional widescreen view for various applications including web browsing, video, and SNS.
The GALAXY Mega is also light and thin for incredible portability and easy, convenient mobile phone use. Customers can stay connected with a variety of new phone features including:
Group Play: Enables easy content sharing of games, documents and pictures
Samsung Link: Easily streams photos, videos, notes, or music to your television, tablet or computer

S Translator: Say or text what you need translated into the GALAXY Mega, and it will provide instant translation, using text or voice translation on applications including email, and ChatON.

Productivity and Multimedia for the Multi-Tasker
GALAXY Mega users will accomplish more with the rich, interactive experience and increased usability of the widescreen mode. Split screen capability for a variety of applications including email, messages, ‘MyFiles,’ ‘S Memo,’ and more, makes for increased efficiency. With the popular ‘Air View’ feature available in the Galaxy Mega (6.3 inches), customers can preview information in emails, photos in Gallery, and speed dial contacts.
The GALAXY Mega is equipped with an enhanced 8 megapixel rear-facing camera with a 1.9 megapixel front-facing camera, along with a variety of camera modes including ‘Sound & Shot’ (captures 9 seconds of sound and voice together as the picture is taken to capture moments), ‘Sports’ and more. The device also packs various newly-introduced features for endless entertainment, including: ‘S Travel’: Provides trip information, local guides and resources and more and ‘Story Album’: Allows customers to create albums of daily events, keep special moments in one place using a timeline, geo-tag information and publish digital albums in hard copy.
Both GALAXY Mega 6.3 inches and 5.8 inches run on the latest Android 4.2 Jelly Bean experience, and feature Dual Core Processor, spacious internal storage along with up to 64GB of expandable memory to store favorite apps, music, videos, photos and more. The devices’ advanced software also facilitates more efficient processor use for improved battery life, meaning users can enjoy longer talk time and multimedia use.
Product Pricing: The Samsung GALAXY Mega 5.8 inches will be available in the market within a week , while the GALAXY Mega 6.3 inches will be introduced in the market in mid June 2013. While the GALAXY Mega with 5.8 inches qHD TFT Display screen is priced at Rs 25,100/- , the GALAXY Mega with 6.3 inches HD Super Clear LCD Screen is priced at Rs. 31,490/-.
The GALAXY Mega is being launched with special offers from RCom and Vodafone . RCom customers buying Samsung GALAXY Mega will get 2GB data per month free for 3 months as well as unlimited access to Big Movies Library , unlimited WhatsApp , Twitter , Facebook during this period . Vodafone customers too will get access to 2GB data download per month free for two months (3G + 2G).
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of televisions, smartphones, personal computers, printers, cameras, home appliances, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 236,000 people across 79 countries with annual sales of US$187.8 billion. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.
Note to Editors:
Samsung GALAXY Mega 6.3 inches Product Specifications
Display
6.3-inch HD Super Clear LCD
Processor
1.7GHz Dual Core processor
OS
Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
Camera
Main (Rear): 8 megapixel rear-facing camera
Sub (Front): 1.9 megapixel front-facing camera
Camera Feature
Auto ,Beauty Face, Best Photo, Best Face , Continuous Shot , Best face , Sound & Shot , Rich Tone (High Dynamic Range),Panorama , Sports , Night
Video
MPEG4 , H.263,H.264, VC-1, VP8
Recording/playback :1080@30fps
Audio
MP3, OGA , AAC , AAC+ , Eaac+ ,WMA, AMR-NB /WB
FLAC , PCM , MID , IMY
Services
&
Additional
Features
Group Play: Share Music, Share Picture, Share Document, Play Games
Story Album, S Translator
Air View, Multi Window, Pop Up Play
Samsung ChatON mobile communication service
Samsung WatchON
Samsung Link, S Travel , S Voice 2.0
Connectivity
Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, WiFi Direct
BT 4.0(BLE), USB 2.0 H/S
GPS?GLONASS, NFC, MHL
Sensor
Accelerometer, light, Geomagnetic, Proximity, Gyroscope
Memory
16GB Internal Memory (microSD up to 64GB) ? 1.5GB RAM
Dimension
167.6 x 88 x 8.0 mm , 199g
Battery
Standard battery, Li-ion 3,200 mAh

Samsung GALAXY Mega 5.8 inches Product Specifications
Network
HSPA?21/5.76
Display
5.8-inch QHD TFT
Processor
1.4GHz Dual Core Processor
OS
Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
Camera
Main (Rear): 8 megapixel rear-facing camera
Sub (Front): 1.9 megapixel front-facing camera
Camera Feature
Auto , Beauty Face, Best face , Continuous Shot , Best Photo, Sound &Shot , Panorama , Sports
Video
MPEG4, H.263 , H.264 , VC-1, DivX , Xvid , VP8
Recording/Playback: 1080@30fps
Audio
MP3, OGG,AAC , AAC+, eAAC+ ,WMA , AMR-NB/WB , FLAC , PCM , MID , IMY
Services
&
Additional
Features
Group Play: Share Picture, Share Document and Play Games
Story Album, S Translator
Multi Window
Samsung ChatON mobile communication service
Samsung Link, S Travel , S Voice 2.0
Google Mobile
Services
Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, Google Latitude,
Google Play Store, Google Plus, YouTube, Google Talk,
Google Places, Google Navigation, Google Downloads, Voice Search
Connectivity
Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, WiFi Direct
BT 4.0(BLE), USB 2.0 H/S
GPS?GLONASS
Sensor
Accelerometer, Geomagnetic, Proximity, Light, Gyroscope
Memory
8GB Internal Memory (microSD up to 64GB) ? 1.5GB RAM
Dimension
162.6 x 82.4 x 9.0 mm, 182g
Battery
Standard battery, Li-ion 2,600 mAh

? Availability and launching time of the services may differ by region.
? Android, Google, Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, Google Latitude, Google Play, Google Plus, YouTube, Google Talk, Google Places, Google Navigation, Google Downloads and Voice Search are trademarks of Google Inc.
? All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.[/toggle]

May 28, 2013

HTC One + with Bigger Screen Scheduled for Release

HTC recently assured their spot on the Android maps with the HTC One, but the Taiwanese company’s passion for large displays will die hard, as proves the company’s new attempt to make the HTC One +. With major failures like the the HD 7 the Sensation XL, the company has seemingly revamped its strategy and will now launch a HTC One +. This big brother will be identical to the HTC One but will come with a larger display supposedly between the 5-6 inch mark, according to Pocket-lint.

An Independent iGyaan Source within HTC has confirmed that;

HTC does not have any major new devices for launch this year. The HTC One will remain the flagship just as the HTC One X did last year.

The HTC One + then seems likely, since the company is planning a strategy similar to last year, where the HTC One X + simply replaced the HTC One X and added few elements. The HTC One + will add a bigger screen and an 8 UltraPixel camera. The big HTC One + has been codenamed the M10 and is expected to be announced in the July-August time period.

HTC has also been in the news recently because of their management shuffle, and also for another device Codename M4 (which HTC denied outright), which supposedly will have a 4.3 inch display and a lesser spec’d hardware lineup.

[via]

May 27, 2013
Micromax A111 Canvas Doodle Review

Micromax attempts yet another handset in the Indian Market with the new A111 Canvas Doodle, trying to grab the attention of budget seekers. The Quad Core smartphone is Micromax’s take on making a budget Note series smartphone. But, does the Micromax A111 Canvas Doodle fulfill that promise? lets find out.

Build Quality, Hardware and Design

The Micromax A111 Canvas Doodle isn’t exceptionally well built, but has just the right mix of elements that make it a fairly durable phone. The plastics and the back panel are solid and do not have any rattle in them what so ever. The included flip cover is a poorly made cover and will not last the users a long time, the fact that the white colored faux-leather material is not coated also makes it a dirt and grime magnet. However, it does do its job of protecting the front screen of the Micromax A111 Canvas Doodle, which thankfully takes a different design approach from the previous Canvas series smartphones.

The insides are laced with a thick layer of Qualcomm grease, in other words a Qualcomm MSM8225Q Snapdragon chipset runs the Canvas Doodle. The RAM is kept at a lowly 512 MB, and storage a mere 4 GB. The good thing however, is that the phone when provided with a class 10 microSD card, converts that into the main storage. This truly expands the capability of the device and makes Micromax’s Canvas series highly desirable (at least the new units). The front of the phone has a large 5.3 inch 480 x 854 px display which will not win any points in the resolution department, but is surely a large display.

Cameras on the Micromax A111 Canvas Doodle include an 8 MP main shooter and a 2 MP secondary shooter. Both of which are fairly good in their respective capabilities. You will also get video calls over 3G from the front facing camera.

The Micromax A111 Canvas Doodle take a design leap in a new direction, making the phone a lot more squarish and flatter vs the wobbly and curved design of the previous generation of Micromax Canvas phones. The bold new logo on the back, although appreciated by some, is almost like an eyesore on a fairly well finished smart phone, which constantly reminds you that you own a “punch” flavored smart phone.

[youtube id=”JBo949WJJ3U” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

The Doodle of Jelly Beans

(OS and Usage)

“Doodle”! Honestly, a year ago if a phone with this name would have appeared in the market, it would have been ridiculed to death. But the market is different today, and we have heard of anything from “dream” to “titanium” to “grand” and even “iris” so nobody really cares if their smart phone is called Doodle. Now, coming to the point, the Micromax A111 Canvas Doodle was named such due to the inclusion of the stylus and the overall appeal of the smartphone as a pen input device. Unfortunately, the Micromax A111 Canvas Doodle comes no where near that, the included stylus is the most horrible stylus you can get for a phone, it is too small to hold, does not extend, and worst of all; does not work properly on the Micromax A111 Canvas Doodle.

Fortunately for Micromax, they do get redeeming points because, the freebies aside, the phone is quite a capable handset. With dual sim and the storage extended the phone manages to run smoothly and will not crash in daily chores. The internet experience is pleasing and the overall usage of the phone will not be a let down.

If you are seriously considering this device for the included stylus and drawing capabilities, investing in a tablet and a Rs. 1000 stylus will get you more than the Jelly Bean Doodle. The Micromax A111 Canvas Doodle is quite capable in other aspects and due to a firly common resolution will support most of the apps from the Google Play store, including high end games, which we tested in the gaming video. See below.

Multimedia, Camera and Gaming

[pullquote_left]The oodles of the Doodle! [/pullquote_left]We have understood, mostly from our readers, that the maximum number of sales happening in these so called “budget phablets” are happening with the youth or the younger crowd. The usage of the phone survives around social media, networking, Multimedia consumption and creation along with leisure activities that include some gaming. The Micromax A111 Canvas Doodle seems to be a good balance in all, while not being premier in either.

Due to the nature of the Android Eco System, the Micromax A111 Canvas Doodle is capable of all forms of social media and networking. You have apps for Facebook, Pinterest, Flipboard (subscribe to iGyaan on Flipboard ) and Instagram, just to name a few. You have all forms of other apps that let you interact between networks and socialize over multiple platforms. The internet experience is good too, the Micromax A111 Canvas Doodle has WiFi and 3G access allowing you to connect to high speed internet (if present) and access all forms of networks. The internet browser is fairly smooth and capable, while many a replacement are available in the Android Google Play store, to improve the online experience.

The Camera on the Micromax A111 Canvas Doodle is an 8 MP autofocus camera capable of capturing good pictures provided light is ample, a little into the darkness and the distortion in the images is clear. See some samples below. The front camera is also quite handy for clicking self portraits for that new Facebook profile picture or even group party shots. Since the Camera app is not custom designed, it will be better if you opt in for a premium app from the Play store.

Sample Images

Gaming on the Canvas Doodle was surprisingly good, it played all forms of games from tennis to NOVA 3 and handled them quite capably. Most high end games will run with reduced graphics, but will play smoothly enough to be able to enjoy the gameplay.

[youtube id=”aZPl-BX6e1g” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

Gaming Video

[youtube id=”QxraVTRuTeY” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

Phone, Networks and Battery

The networks and phone call capability on the Micromax A111 Canvas Doodle is excellent, with little or no network issues, and great connectivity throughout, you will have no complaints with the phone. The dual sim is still standby, so if you are connected on one, the other remains off or out of reach. We also have issue with only one slot being 3G, its high time that companies start adapting the Samsung approach and making phones that let you switch 3G internally vs a sim slot capable of 3G and another for 2G.

The battery is good for one day with average usage, but if you are a heavy user expect to charge it twice.

[tabgroup]

[tab title=”Battery Life with 3G ON” icon=”icon-headphones”]Talk time : 5 Hours
Standby : 48 Hours
Gaming : 3.5 Hours
Online : 6 hours
Music 8 hours[/tab]

[tab title=”Battery Life with 3G OFF” icon=”icon-headphones”]Talk time : 6 Hours
Standby : 54 Hours
Gaming : 3.5 Hours
Online : 6 hours (wi-fi)
Music 8.5 hours[/tab]

[/tabgroup]

Conclusion

The Micromax A111 Canvas Doodle offers you up with a capability of being a Note-worth competitor, while failing miserably at that, it by itself is quite a satisfying product. A well balanced phone with a new design and decent hardware on the inside. It balances between all the tasks you could expect from a phone while leaving out performance from any. If you are opting in for a well balanced device, the Micromax A111 Canvas Doodle will not disappoint, But, of you are looking for a single important feature, be it pure gaming, Online capabilities or even a great camera, The Micromax Canvas Doodle is not the phone you want to get.

Video Review

(Pending)

[button_2 color=”#71889c” size=”button-med” icon=”icon-shopping-cart” float=”left” text=”Buy Now” link=”http://gizmolution.com/Details.aspx?ID=726″ id=”doodle”]

May 26, 2013
Microsoft Unveils The Xbox One!

Microsoft’s next-generation console is finally here, the Xbox One.

The Xbox One is all black and features a two-tone finish with both matte and gloss in equal measure; a slot-loading Blu-ray optical drive sits out front on the left face, while a power button with the traditional incomplete circle symbol is emblazoned on the right side (which looks to be touch-based). A new Kinect was also unveiled, and it powers the console — “Xbox On” is being trumpeted as the most important feature.

“Team Xbox is on a new mission,” Don Mattrick, president of the interactive entertainment business, said.”And that mission is focused on making this an entertainment console.”

He said the goal is to build a system that lines up games, television and software and that the most important part is that it must be “simple, instant and complete.”

“It is time for technology to step behind the curtain and you and your entertainment to take the stage,” Mattrick said.

Yusuf Medhi, senior vice president of Microsoft’s interactive entertainment business, unveiled how voice input can be used to control Xbox One. It will also respond to gesture controls.

“Xbox On” turns on the hardware to power up an instant-on system with a new Home dashboard that is near-identical to Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system.

There’s instant switching from the Xbox One dashboard to live television (which seems to confirm that HDMI-in rumor). People using Skype on Xbox One will be able to do group chats now.

Mark Whitten, corporate vice president of Xbox LIVE, said the console can detect your heartbeat when you are exercising, using the Kinect sensor.

The Xbox One’s controller was created with game players, Whitten said. It will have improved ergonomics and a new d-pad. “This is your controller,” he said. The triggers now have a built-in rumble system, which Microsoft’s calling “Impulse Triggers,” and there’s now also a redesigned D-pad. The battery compartment, meanwhile, is much smaller than the previous version.

Whitten said the Xbox One will use more power than the entire world did in 1999.

EA said that it is developing four games for Xbox One: FIFA, Madden NFL, NBA Live, and UFC, which will release within the next 12 months.

EA Sports Ignite has been unveiled: “to blur the line between real and virtual.” It will utilize the Xbox One’s exclusive updates for enhanced game play.

“Sports are as much about your head as your feet or your hands,” Microsoft said.

Forza Motorsport 5 announced for Xbox One and will be available at launch. Microsoft Studios plans to launch 15 new games in the first year of Xbox One, including 8 brand new franchises.

More developing…

May 21, 2013
LG Officially Launches the Nexus 4 in India – Rs. 25,999 /- (PR) (Hands On)
The Google Branded Nexus 4 was launched in the US, last year and was expected to reach India early December 2012. LG gave word today that it has officially launched the Google Nexus 4 Smartphone in India for a Price of Rs. 25,999 /-., talk about delayed Indian Standard Time. The Nexus 4 has been launched and is available through online as well as offline vendors.

Most of us are already familiar with the Specs and Features of the Nexus 4, and the fact that the latest version of Android is instantly seeded to owners. The roundup for the Nexus 4 includes, a Qualcomm SnapdragonTM S4 Pro CPU 1.5 GHz Krait, with Android 4.2 .2. The Display is a 4.7 inch 1280 x 768 px IPS LCD display with Gorilla® Glass 2. Read full Specs and PR below.

In either case the Nexus 4 seems like a better proposition than another Android 4.2 Smartphone launched today.

Nexus 4 Specification:
Display
Touch
Camera
Battery
Audio/Video
Data Connectivity
Memory
Processor
Advance Features
[toggle title=”Press Release”]New Delhi, 16th May, 2013:– Designed collaboratively by LG and Google, Nexus 4, the newest smartphone in the Nexus line-up from Google, was announced today for availability in India. With a sophisticated hardware design from LG, your favourite Google Apps, and the latest version of Android™, Nexus 4 puts the best of Google in the palm of your hand.

“LG Electronics is pleased to partner Google on the release of the Nexus 4 in India,” shared Mr. Soon Kwon, Managing Director, LG Electronics India. “We added the best of our talent to our strength, and the result is a feature- packed smartphone that packs superb hardware under a slim hood. With LG Nexus 4, consumers would be delighted by the perfectly balanced combination of style, function and power. The smartphone encourages consumers to explore a world of possibilities and also helps them balance between business and entertainment”

Built for speed
Nexus 4 comes with a cutting edge Qualcomm Snapdragon™ S4 Pro processor, so you’ve got speed and power to spare. Zip around the web, experience rich 3D graphics and gameplay, and effortlessly switch between multiple apps without ever missing a beat. With 2GB of RAM and the fastest version of Android ever, Nexus 4 is the snappiest Nexus smartphone yet.

Capture and share your world
Nexus 4 comes with a high performance 8MP camera and takes stunning Photo Sphere images, letting you capture every detail of the world around you. Up, down and all around you, it’s like no camera you’ve ever seen; with Nexus 4, you can snap pictures in every direction that come together into incredible, immersive Photo Spheres that put you right inside the scene. Plus, photos upload themselves with Instant Upload so you’ll never lose a shot.
All of this comes to life with stunning clarity and crisp, natural color on the vibrant 1280by768 4.7inch True HD IPS Plus display supported by Zerogap Touch technology. Gently curved glass edges allow your finger to slide smoothly on and off the 320ppi screen, while cutting edge display technology means you feel like you’re touching every pixel, protected by scratch resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass 2.

Information at your fingertips
Nexus 4 comes with the latest Google apps, putting the best of Google in the palm of your hand. The latest version of Google Now is built in, which keeps you even more organized – get reminders about upcoming flights, restaurant reservations, hotel confirmations and even nearby photo opportunities – when and where you need them. Get to the places you care about quickly and easily with Google Maps™ for Android. With turn by turn GPS navigation, live traffic info, and integrated driving, walking and public transit directions, getting from A to B has never been easier. 3D Maps and rich satellite imagery give you a more realistic sense of what’s around you while features like Street View and Indoor Maps make sure you always know what’s in front of you.

With this and a host of other new features, LG Nexus 4 is bound to transform and elevate a consumer’s smartphone experience. LG’s Nexus 4 is priced at Rs 25, 999 and will be available at selected LG exclusive brand shops, Multi brand outlets and speciality stores ( modern trade ) across India.

Specification:
CPU Qualcomm SnapdragonTM S4 Pro CPU 1.5 GHz Krait
Network Unlocked GSM/UMTS/HSPA+
GSM/EDGE/GPRS (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
3G (850, 900, 1700, 1900, 2100 MHz)
HSPA+ 42
Dimension 133.9 x 68.7 x 9.1 mm
Operating System Android 4.2 .2
Weight 139g

Display
Type LCD/True HD IPS+
Size 4.7” diagonal
Resolution WXGA (1280 x 768) pixel resolution (320ppi)
Etc Corning® Gorilla® Glass 2

Touch
Type/Handwriting Zerogap/Yes

Camera
Main Camera 8MP
Flash LED 1EA
Front Camera 1.3MP HD

Battery
Capacity/Type 2,100mAh/Lipolymer
(Embedded)
Talk Time 11.9 hours (Tx power 10dm)
Standby Time 564.5 hours (DRX 8)

Audio/Video
Audio Codec MP3/AAC/AA+/eAAC+/AMR NB/ WAV/WMA/MIDI
Video Codec MPEG4/H.263/H.264
Audio Jack 3.5mm
2nd Microphone Yes

Data Connectivity
Bluetooth/USB/WiFI
3.0/2.0HS/802.11 a/b/g/n (Dual Band)
GPS/HDMI/NFC Yes with GLONASS Support / Yes (Slimport)/ Yes (Android Beam)

Memory
Internal RAM/ROM 2GB/16GB

Processor
Quad Core 1.5GHz

Advance Features
Wireless Charging Yes
Wireless Display Yes

About LG Electronics India Pvt. Ltd.
LG Electronics India Pvt. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of LG Electronics, South Korea was established in January 1997 in India. It is one of the most formidable brands in consumer electronics, home appliances, IT hardware and mobile communications space. In India for a decade, LG has earned a premium brand positioning and is the acknowledged trendsetter for the industry.
LGEIL’s manufacturing unit at Greater Noida is one of the most eco-friendly units among all LG manufacturing plants in the world. The second Greenfield facility is located at Ranjangaon; Pune has the capacity to manufacture GSM Phones, Colour Televisions, Air Conditioners, LCD TVs, Washing Machines, Refrigerators, Monitors and Optical Disc Drives.

About Google Inc.
Google is a global technology leader focused on improving the ways people connect with information. Google’s innovations in web search and advertising have made its website a top internet property and its brand one of the most recognized in the world.[/toggle]
May 16, 2013
Exclusive : Micromax A111 Canvas Doodle Leaked, 5.3 inch Quad Core at Rs 16,999

We just checked our inbox and a tipster just sent us a few pictures of the upcoming Micromax A111 Canvas Doodle. This is Micromax’s revision to the A110 Canvas2 and will feature interesting specs to boot. A 5.2 inch multitouch capacitive screen, along with a Quadcore Mediatek 1.2 GHz processor.

The Micromax A111 Canvas Doodle will also have 4 GB of inbuilt storage and 512 MB of RAM (seems like a misprint) according to images. The Main camera is an 8 MP autofocus camera and the secondary camera is a 2.1 MP snapper, Both should be capable of HD Video.

The main display is a 5.3 inch Hypersensitive display which is expected to be at least 1280 x 720p in terms of resolution.

If the images are carefully examined this looks like Micromax’s take on the Galaxy S4 with the UI quite identical to that seen on Samsung’s new flagship. The MRP. of the product has been set at Rs. 16,999 but should be available for under Rs. 15,000 when it is launched.

At just under 10mm the phone is fairly slim and according to rumors should feature a hypersensitive display capable of stylus input, hence the name “Doodle”. As per the packaging Evernote and Skitch are also preloaded on the smartphone for out of the box functionality

Previously leaked images have shown the Dual Sim slots, keeping in tradition of the Canvas series, the Canvas Doodle will also have dual sim capabilities, with possibly dual Active Sim cards.

Micromax has enjoyed a huge amount of success with their Canvas Series and this device by the looks of it will add to that success. Stay tuned for more updates!

[Thanks Rohit]

May 13, 2013