Tag: specs

Panasonic Launches Three New Mirrorless Cameras

Panasonic recently added three new cameras to its Mirrorless series- the GX1, G5 and GH3. The price range of the cameras ranges from Rs. 22,000 to Rs. 99,990 (body only).

Panasonic GH3

The camera offers smooth high-definition progressive scanning, a host of recording formats, and a heat-dispersing design for extended shooting.

At the heart of the DMC-GH3 lies a re-engineered 16.05-megapixel Live MOS Sensor. To maximize the resolution of the newly developed Live MOS Sensor, the image sensing block is designed as an integrated unit. The new filter optimizes the conventionally conflicting effects of increasing resolution while suppressing moire. The camera also features the new Venus Engine which has an unprecedented ability to process both still and video signals with razor-sharp clarity.

A rugged magnesium alloy body with a splash proof, dustproof design makes the DMC-GH3 tough enough for active outdoor use. . In the DMC-GH3’s Contrast AF system, the image sensor doubles as the AF sensor to resist any mechanical margin of error.

The DMC-GH3 uses a variety of advanced recording media, including the SDXC, SDHC, and SD Memory Cards. It lets you transfer your valuable shooting data at lightning fast speeds. The camera also has a built-in Wi-Fi® (IEEE 802.11 b/g/n) function. By installing LUMIX LINK 2.1 or newer, a dedicated application compatible with iOS and Android for smartphones and tablets, you can enjoy a new shooting style using Wi-Fi.

Price: Rs. 99,990 Body, Rs 154990 with 14140 lens.

Panasonic GX1

The Panasonic GX1 comes equipped with a 16.0-megapixel Live MOS Sensor. With the dedicated circuit, which reads out signals with minimum noise, the level of noise is significantly suppressed by more than 66%.

The DMC-GX1 features approx. 0.09 second of ultra-high speed Light Speed AF which is achieved by reducing the detection time for focusing by the synchronization of the lens and the sensor at 120 fps.

An electric zoom lever on the left side of the lens barrel makes it smoother to zoom when concentrating on the shutter operation with the right hand.

Price: Rs.34,990 with 1442 mm lens.

Panasonic G5

Panasonic has formally unveiled the LUMIX DMC-G5, a mid-level mirrorless interchangable lens camera. The G5 is built around a 16MP LiveMOS sensor that the company implies hasn’t been used in a G-series camera before. This, combined with the company’s latest ‘Venus Engine’ allows the capture of 1080p video at 60 frames per second. It also gains an additional control lever, higher-resolution 920,000 dot rear LCD and regains the eye-sensor to automatically switch between LCD and electronic viewfinder.

The Panasonic DMC-G5 features two types of noise reduction: Multiprocess Noise Reduction, which optimizes the noise reduction in the bright parts of the image for both single* and burst shooting, and 3D Noise Reduction, which applies optimal noise reduction by differentiating the edges and the smooth parts of the image in single shots.

It features the world’s fastest level of auto focusing, called Light Speed AF, which is achieved by reducing the detection time for focusing by doubling the drive speed from 60 to 120 frames per second.* The DMC-G5’s high-speed, high-precision AF functions operate even while shooting videos. The DMC-G5 records high-resolution Full-HD 1,920 x 1,080 60p (NTSC)/50p (PAL) videos with 28 Mbps videos in AVCHD Progressive (MPEG-4/H.264) format.

Price: Rs. 37,990 with 1442 mm, Rs. 43,990 with 1442 and 45150 mm lens.

July 11, 2013
HTC Butterfly S Hands on

HTC yesterday at a showcase event held in Thailand showed off the new HTC Butterfly S. A revamp of the HTC Butterfly, the new Butterfly S builds along the same design strategy but adding features from HTC’s popular HTC ONE.

Curved to fit in the hand the new Butterfly S has been splashed with a metallic finish making it resemble a “car paint job”. The color options for the handset are also not limited to two like last year, this year they include a white, a metal grey and a glossy red.

The HTC Butterfly S is packed with a lot of exciting elements including a 3200 mAh battery, a Qualcomm APQ8064T Snapdragon 600 chipset with a Quad-core 1.9 GHz Krait 300 CPU and the Adreno 320 GPU. The front has a beautiful IPS LCD 3 display of a 5 inch size and a full HD 1920 x1080p resolution and a layer of Gorilla Glass 3. The design and the materials used in the construction of the HTC Butterfly S show to a great extent what the thought process of the company is when they are building a handset. The HTC Butterfly S is not only functional but looks really good.

The new HTC Sense 5.0 on top of Android 4.2.2 improves on the Blinkfeed experience as well as the Camera features, including enhanced ZOE file management amang many other improvements.

The HTC Butterfly S caters to a niche, an audience which liked the original Butterfly but wants more. Hopefully it reaches India in all three colors with a price tag in the OH-So-Affordable under 40k price bracket, here is hoping anyway! Check out the images below and stay tuned for Video.

HTC Butterfly S

HTC Butterfly S

July 11, 2013
Micromax Canvas 4 A210 Hands On

Micromax has let out yet another sensation into the market, or has it? Micromax today announced the new Micromax Canvas 4 A210, a double jump in model number but no real jump in specs. The phone is priced at Rs. 17990 and is available to purchase today.

Initial Impressions

At the first glance the phone will remind you of each and every Canvas phone you have seen till date, plastic design and glass front and the Micromax Canvas 4 A210 is no different. The built quality is much improved over the previous edition Canvases but it is identical to many a smartphone already in the market. The bezel reminds you of a an iPhone with a stainless steel finish where the back panel is very Samsung.

Micromax has kept exactly the same specs of the Canvas HD with the Micromax Canvas 4 A210 and only bumped up the camera on the back and the front. The Blow to unlock feature, comes via an app and is very gimmicky and should cause a lot of problem for people. The interface is stock apart from a lot of Micromax bloatware and the performance seems shabby at first.

The cameras did not boot up on the device we were shown so we were unable to check them out, but the camera app is the standard camera app. The Micromax Canvas 4 A210 is the company’s attempt at making a device which focuses on build quality vs the hardware, and it seems to most this will be a disappointment. The company is also promising good service and easy replacements for the devices, which can only be seen in the time to come.

The camera upgrade and design are not the only changes, Micromax has also reduced the battery to a 2000 mAh battery which may end up resulting in lower battery life. Has Micromax built up this phone too much pre launch to the extent that users got really excited? Is the Micromax Canvas 4 A210 overpriced? While we search for the answers check out the images and stay tuned for a hands on Video.

Are you keeping or canceling your preorder? Let us know below.

July 8, 2013
Motorola Droid Ultra Makes An Appearance In A Leaked Photo

A photo of the Motorola Droid Ultra XT1080 has appeared on the XDA Developers forum as leaked by user xavierk75, according to Engadget. Earlier this week the first press images appeared of Motorola‘s upcoming DROID MAXX.

There is absolutely zero details to go along with the leak, but hopefully more will be coming. A random 1-post user over on XDA revealed the photo, so we’re stuck waiting for more. Right out the gate we see Motorola has changed their mind from last year, and they’ve returned to capacitive touch hardware buttons.

The Motorola Droid Ultra in the photo shows a white face plate with thin bezels. It has a speaker and sensors on its top and a power button and volume controls on one side. Just beside the display, the smartphone is labelled “Motorola confidential property.” It also sports the new Motorola logo that was launched some time ago, the same one which has been seen on other purported photos of leaked Motorola phones. White is expected to be one of the color choices that will be available for the handset, along with red and black, so there may be a chance that this is a real image of the device.

Rumoured specs of the Motorola Droid Ultra include a Dupont Kevlar coating, various color options, a 4.3-inch, 540 x 960-pixel Super AMOLED Advanced qHD screen, Dual-Core 1.5GHz processsor, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, 8GB of memory, 2000 mAh Li Ion battery, NFC, and 8 MP/0.3 MP cameras.

@evleaks says that the Motorola Droid Ultra has the product code XT1080, whereas the Droid MAXX has the code XT1080M.

[Via]

July 8, 2013
LG Optimus G Pro E988 Unboxing (Video)
LG today launched their new flagship device for 2013, the LG Optimus G Pro E988 in India (known globally as the E985). The LG Optimus G Pro has been priced at Rs. 39,900 will compete with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, the Galaxy S4 and the HTC One in the Android Market.

In terms of specifications, the LG Optimus G Pro has a True Full HD IPS Plus LCD capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, which features a 1.7GHz Quad-Core CPU and Adreno 320 GPU. A massive 3140 mAh battery and 2GB of RAM.

The LG Optimus G Pro has a 32 GB storage along with 64 GB expandability via microSD card. A 13 MP rear camera and a 2.1 MP front camera enable full HD video recording and LG was also the first to show off dual camera features with the LG Optimus G Pro, right before Samsung launched the S4 into the market.

The rear of the Optimus G Pro features a glittery digital cube pattern which is seen on the Nexus 4 and LG also says that the Optimus G Pro features a curved glass at the front, which gives it a 2.5D effect.

Inside the box of the LG Optimus G Pro are,
LG had originally decided to launch the Optimus G Pro around the 20th of June 2013, but due to the conflicting price of US Dollar vs Rupee, The Optimus G Pro shipments were delayed. The LG Optimus G Pro is also price considerably higher than what LG had originally decided (around Rs. 35000) making it a tough seller, since the competition can continue selling stocks bought at earlier dollar prices. Samsung and HTC are also set to raise prices of handsets if the Dollar Price does not normalize in the coming days. Considering the price increase of the competitors the LG Optimus G Pro might sell better in the coming months.

Check out our Unboxing video and Images.

Buy Now

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July 4, 2013
Canon PowerShot A2500 Review

Canon has revamped one of its entry-level pocket camera, the PowerShot A2300, with the PowerShot A2500.

The Canon Powershot A2500 employs the same 16-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor, the same DiGiC 4 processor, the same 5x optical zoom lens that delivers from 28mm wide angle (max aperture of f/2.8) to 140mm equivalent telephoto (max aperture of f/6.9) range, the same 2.7-inch, 230,000-dot LCD display and the same basic 720p HD video capabilities.

Build Quality And Design

At 125 gram weight, Canon PowerShot A2500 is among the lightest cameras around. It is solidly built and has a silver accent towards the front of the camera that separates it from its predecessor.

At the back there is the LCD monitor with a control panel comprising of a 5-way D-pad and buttons for video recording, help, playback and menu.

Space for battery and SD card are at the bottom while USB port is located to the right. It uses a li-ion battery pack and the PowerShot A2500 also features Canon’s new ECO Mode which saves power so you can take more pictures on a single charge.

Performance

The images we shot from the Canon PowerShot A2500 seemed a little lackluster. The colour reproduction felt slightly unnatural and the images weren’t sharp enough. Outdoor images were decent though. Indoor images however, were not up to the mark. You can check out the sample images and video in our video review below.

The Canon PowerShot A2500 employs Canon’s Smart AUTO Mode, which recognizes up to 32 different shooting situations and selects the camera settings for no-fuss picture taking. Creative filters available include Fisheye Effect, Toy Camera Effect and Monochrome.

As the Canon PowerShot A2500 does not feature Optical Image Stabilization, videos were quite shaky and low light imaging as a result was unsatisfactory. There’s digital image stabilization, but that typically works by raising ISO sensitivity and noise levels to increase your shutter speed and reduce blur – not necessarily what most shooters are looking for.

It records 720p HD video at twenty five frames per second and 640 x 480 VGA video at 30 frames per second. It picked up background audio quite nicely though, and the 5x zoom came in handy.

Conclusion

if you’re not picky about your photos, take mostly outside shots and primarily share them with friends and family online, then the price of the Canon PowerShot A2500 at Rs 5,500 is just right.

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July 3, 2013
Unannounced Motorola Droid Ultra Shows Up On Its Website

We know something is happening at Motorola, Google’s beleaguered handset manufacturer it purchased in 2011 for $12.5 billion. First, we got confirmation of the rumoured X Phone, Motorola’s foray into next-generation smartphone. Next we saw the redesigned, simplified and be-Googled Motorola logo.

And now we’re seeing hints of a device called the Motorola Droid Ultra, leaked briefly on Motorola’s own website. The page provides almost everything you could want to know about the phone, except what it looks like, as the main image is sadly missing. The device is expected to be fairly mid-range, with a 1.5Ghz dual-core processor, a 4.3-inch qHD display, 8GB of internal storage, an 8MP camera and 2000mAh battery.

The landing page paints the Motorola Droid Ultra as “available in a bunch of glossy colours,” with a “high-grade DuPont Kevlar body” that’s “even thinner and…tough as steel.” At 122.5 x 60.9 x 8.3 mm, the Droid Ultra should be a very compact device, seemingly a follow-up to the RAZR M that was released last year.

Unfortunately, there is little to differentiate the Motorola Droid Ultra from the rest of the market at this point, so unless Motorola pulls something drastic from its hat, this will be just another mid-range Android.

No release date is mentioned, but an official announcement can’t be far away, seeing as the webpage is almost completely ready to go.

[Via]

July 3, 2013
Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 Review – iGyaan
Samsung in the recent times has bombarded the market with phones of all sizes, but mostly of the same shape. The Galaxy Mega 5.8 is a blown up Galaxy Grand and it appears to behave in a similar manner. Lets see if the Galaxy Mega 5.8 is really the value for money smartphone that Samsung claims it to be.

Build Quality and Design

[pullquote_left]It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.[/pullquote_left]

The Galaxy Mega will remind you of every other Samsung phone till date, maybe even many other Samsung phones to come. Built with the same plastic as seen on many-a-Samsung device, the Galaxy Grand fails to impress. First impression of the Galaxy Mega 5.8 will show you either a larger S4, a Galaxy Grand, or a slightly different Note 2, so for innovative new design points; Samsung gets a big zero.

The problem with the design is that despite being old, it still works. People still love the shape and the handleability of the phone, and the first look creates a instant connect with the brand, making this design an identifier, or even a statement for some.

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Hardware

Samsung has truly disappointed us with the hardware on the Galaxy Mega 5.8, not that it is really old, considering that the Galaxy Grand was launched in February 2013. Today a few months is as good as a year, even more if you compare it to 2 years ago. The Broadcom chipset still holds its ground and the benchmark performance is not all that bad, the CPU is Dual-core clocked at 1.4 GHz. The Galaxy Mega adds a bit of RAM to reach the 1.5 GB mark and retains the 8 GB capacity. The cameras are also a stark reminder with the 8 MP main and the 1.9 MP secondary. What is different is the large 5.8 inch capacitive touch screen, with its 540 x 960 px resolution gives a bare 190 ppi, which on parer sounds really low for today. The display however is great and we will explain that in the next segment.

The Battery on the Mega 5.8 is a 2600 mAh cell and for some reason it seems Samsung has managed to manage it quite well, there is a significant improvement in battery life.

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Display and Multimedia

The Galaxy Mega 5.8 as the name suggests has a Mega display, a 5.8 inch smartphone is not really a divine though. In the early days the idea was to make phones smaller and more compact. Today as smartphones begin to replace basic forms of computing screens are getting bigger and bigger. The Galaxy Mega’s 5.8 inch display is still smaller than its 6.3 inch sibling, but is quite an interesting display. For one, it does not appear to be much larger than the Note 2 thanks to the design strategy employed by Samsung. The display is also bright and crisp despite its low ppi. This may be because of sheer size of the screen, you tend to hold it further than you would a traditional smartphone, say 3.5-4.5 inch. The screen however uses what Samsung calls a “display enhancement engine” that reduces the noise and pixellation on the display as it does in their televisions, this seems to work well on the Mega 5.8.

The speakerphone on the Mega is fantastic, it is really loud, but not in a painfully distorted way, it sounds good through videos, music and even games. It does not however compete with HTC One’s Boomsound which has a more direct sound delivery approach. The sheer size of the screen makes consuming media enjoyable and almost stress free, and the chipset is more than capable of handling HD video playback and streaming.

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Camera and Interface

The camera app on the Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 has been brought down from the Galaxy S4 which is initially inspired from the Galaxy Camera. With multiple shooting modes the camera app gives a lot of versatility to the user. Interesting shooting modes like “Best Photo”, “Best Face” and “Sound and Shot” worked really well on the S4, and they work just as great on the Galaxy Mega 5.8 .

Video is captured at Full HD and employs anti-shake if you need it from the main UI, the front camera however- captures 720p video. You can also add some effects to your pictures in the Auto Mode.

The Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 runs on Android 4.2.2 and slaps on a large lump of their popular Touchwiz UI. The interface brings many elements to make this device larger than life. For starters you have smart features, Smart Stay : Keeps your display on as long as you stare at the device. You do have motion gestures ; Screenshots by a palm swipe and muting the device by simply moving your hand on top of the phone.

[pullquote_left]E.T. fingers are a must[/pullquote_left]

The old elements of the TouchWiz UI are intact too, with features like Direct call (lift the phone from within a message to call), Smart Alert, tilting to zoom into pictures or gallery. Pan device to move the Icons or browse a zoomed in Image and even Flipping the device to Mute or pause.

The One handed use feature borrowed from the Galaxy Note 2, makes it slightly easier to dial on the Galaxy Mega 5.8, and also use the calculator. What we find funnily missing however is this feature in the main keyboard. You simply cannot use the keyboard with the same hand you are holding the phone with, unless you have gigantic E.T. fingers.

The Touchwiz UI adds more to the experience, a nice notification panel with scrollable toggles, a task manger and even “S-Voice” (Samsung’s long ignored voice assistant). Samsung often ignores required features in these phones, for example a phone of this size would do wonderfully well as a remote, but since the hardware is absent there is really no point.

Phone, Networks and Battery

The Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 is a dual sim smartphone (micro Sim), while the technology to have two sim cards running in the same device may exist, Samsung chooses to not employ it in their latest iteration of the big phone. Phone call handling is easy and simple, and once you get the hang of it you become a master of the device.

The network is solid and we faced almost zero to none dropped calls. We saw a frequent full signal bar, whether in software or in reality the network performance on the Galaxy Mega 5.8 is excellent. Voice is clear through and through, and while both ends of the phone call get clear and crisp audio streams. The speakerphone also keeps up with its name and is sufficiently loud for hands free voice calls.

Battery life is great on the Galaxy Mega and despite the fact that it has a mere 200 mAh increase from the Galaxy Grand’s 2400 mAh, and taking into consideration the increase in display size, the battery performance is far superior.
Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 is no magical innovation and does not really create a wow statement, except probably “Wow its Big!”, which actually may be good enough for a lot of people. The blown up version of the Galaxy Grand actually improves on many things, including a larger yet better display, an improved battery life and a great camera. The price difference however seems a bit much for these.

The Galaxy Mega 5.8 is a phone that might as well be the next big thing, but, the problem here may be that its just too big to be an everyday phone. All size judgements aside Samsung has really managed to increase their portfolio across different price segments, but here a Galaxy S3 for Rs. 27,000 seems a lot more promising and portable. The Galaxy Mega 5.8 also does not have multi-window a feature which now comes out of the box on the Galaxy S3.

Buy Now
July 2, 2013
Micromax Canvas 4 Pre-Orders Begin
The next big thing from Micromax, the Micromax Canvas 4, is now up for pre-order on their official website.

To pre-order the Micromax Canvas 4, you will have to pay an initial amount of Rs. 5,000. When the device is officially released, on July 8, customers will have 7 days to pay the rest of the amount (If the consumer fails to pay the remaining amount by 15 July, the order gets automatically cancelled), which is rumoured to be around the Rs. 15,500 price mark.

The official specifications and other details of the phone, including the price, will be revealed on July 8th. Micromax has also said that consumers will also have the option of cancelling their orders, but only between 8 – 15 July.

The Micromax Canvas 4 will start shipping on July 10, and Micromax is promising to deliver your unit within 7 business days thereafter. You can check out the rest of the terms of pre-booking on Micromax’s website.

While there is no real news on the Micromax Canvas 4 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
Micromax has also teased a new feature of the Canvas 4 and people suspect that users can blow to unlock the screen and need not have to come in contact with the smartphone.
June 28, 2013
Leaked : Images Of Upcoming LG G2, Show Rear Mounted Volume Controls

After showing off glimpses of itself in a few different leaks earlier this year, the LG G2 may finally have been revealed tonight in a set of leaked images that appear to be from a promotional video. Posted by @evleaks, who claims to have received them from a tipster, the shots show the front of a thin device that appears to have an LG logo at the bottom of its face, just like the phone in the first G2 leak.

This new flagship smartphone is expected to be unveiled on July 7th in New York and come with a 2.3GH quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, 13MP camera running Android OS 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. In addition, the LG G2 will have an “edge to edge” 5.5-inch full HD display.

The screenshots show the volume buttons have moved from the side of the device to the back, right under the camera. Could be an interesting shift in design, definitely useful for those who talk a great deal, but might be a but frustrating for who liste to music.

While it’s tough to say whether or not the device in these leaked images is that successor, it wouldn’t be a surprise to learn that LG is prepping some marketing materials for its next flagship smartphone with a debut that’s just a little over a month out.

Previous rumours indicated that LG would shed the ‘Optimus’ naming scheme and these pictures, if true, bring its truth. Vanished is Optimus and the device is called the “LG G2.”

[EVLeaks]

June 26, 2013
Sony SmartWatch 2 Announced

Smartwatches today haven’t yet reached the must-have status among consumers—not yet. But companies, big and small, are banking on the market fully blowing up in 2013; the year wearable technology will be the next big mobile revolution. To get ahead of the trend, Sony has announced its brand new touch Sony SmartWatch 2 at the Mobile Asia Expo, a device the company claims is “the most advanced smartwatch available.”

The Sony SmartWatch 2 features a 1.6-inch 220×176 touchscreen, which is larger than the 1.3-inch display on the previous SmartWatch. Sony also promises that the display on the SmartWatch 2 is easier to read in sunlight. Along with its larger display, the SmartWatch 2 packs Bluetooth 3.0, NFC, a micro-USB port and the ability to be used with any standard 24mm wrist strap. Finally, the SmartWatch 2 is IP57 rated, meaning that it can withstand splashed water and rain.

“We have over 200 unique apps dedicated for Sony SmartWatch with over one million downloads to date and we are continuing to work with our strong developer network to deliver even more compelling smartwatch experiences,” said Stefan K. Persson, Head of Companion Products at Sony Mobile Communications.

On the software side of things, the Sony SmartWatch 2 is powered by Android and features a UI similar to Google’s mobile OS, which Sony says helps to make the SmartWatch 2 a more intuitive experience. The new wrist gear can also display a user’s missed notifications (including Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, calls and messages) and can be used as a remote for a Sony Walkman or other media players. Sony says that the SmartWatch 2 is compatible with “most Android phones.” The device is expected to begin shipping worldwide in September 2013.

June 25, 2013
Sony Xperia Z Ultra Announced Officially, Snapdragon 800, 6.4″ 1080p Display (PR)

After numerous leaks over the past few weeks, Sony today officially announced the Sony Xperia Z Ultra, a new smartphone with a 6.4-inch full high-definition screen and a Snapdragon 800 chipset.

The 6.4-inch, 1,920 by 1,080 pixel display is what Sony calls a TRILUMINOUS Display, incorporating technology from the Bravia television line, including the X-Reality video-enhancing software.

The Sony Xperia Z Ultra works with a stylus (or any pencil, Sony says) and runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. There’s a powerful Adreno 330 GPU to push all the pixels to the screen too, a part of the new Snapdragon 800 chipset, which also packs a quad-core Krait 400 processor clocked at 2.2GHz.

At 6.5 mmm Sony is heralding the phone as the “world’s slimmest and largest full HD smartphone.”

Other specs of note include an 8-megapixel camera, a 3,000 mAh battery and 16 gigabytes of internal storage, with about 11 GB available to the user, and a microSD card slot for extra space. (Props to Sony for being up-front about the usable storage space).

The battery, on the other hand, is a quite respectable 3000mAh, though that screen will definitely eat it up faster than more conventional phones.

The Xperia Z Ultra is set for a third quarter 2013 global release, with precise dates varying by market. There is no price set for the phone at the moment.

[toggle title=”Press Release”]

The new Xperia™ Z Ultra: The world’s slimmest and largest Full HD smartphone display*

6.4” Full HD TRILUMINOS™ Display for mobile powered by X-Reality™ for mobile engine for the ultimate big screen entertainment experience
Ultra slim, waterproof** and dust-resistant (IP55/IP58) durable design
Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 800 processor with 2.2 GHz quad-core CPUs and 4G LTE for fast performance
Write and sketch with any pencil and selected stylus or pen
Full accessory ecosystem for premium entertainment and one-touch connectivity
Battery STAMINA Mode for outstanding battery life
25th June 2013, Mobile Asia Expo, Shanghai – Sony Mobile Communications (“Sony Mobile”) today introduces the next revolution in premium large-screen Android smartphone entertainment. The new Xperia Z Ultra is waterproof**, ultra-slim with a lightweight design so you can enjoy it anytime, anywhere. It’s the first smartphone ever to incorporate a Full HD TRILUMINOS™ Display for mobile powered by Sony’s latest X-Reality™ for mobile picture engine to deliver the most immersive viewing experience imaginable. Additionally, the Xperia Z Ultra will also feature the fully integrated Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 800 processor with 2.2 GHz quad-core CPUs, 4GLTE and HD voice to provide a seamless connected entertainment experience, industry-leading battery performance and amazing speed.

“The Xperia Z Ultra is the most exciting revolution in large-screen smartphone entertainment devices with both the slimmest and largest Full HD smartphone display* in the world that is second to none.” said Calum MacDougall, Director of Xperia Marketing at Sony Mobile Communications. “We’re already bringing the best of Sony technology and design across a range of premium smartphones and tablets, and now we are bringing this same premium offering to the large-screen smartphone segment, setting a new standard for others to follow.”

The world’s largest Full HD smartphone display*

Xperia Z Ultra features a 6.4” touchscreen Full HD display with Sony’s unique TRILUMINOS® Display for mobile, creating a wider palette of rich natural colours thanks to Sony’s BRAVIA TV expertise. The breakthrough technology includes X-Reality™ for mobile – Sony’s intelligent super resolution display technology which analyzes each image and reproduces lacking pixels to optimize quality for the sharpest videos. It analyses elements depending on the scene and adjusts them based on pattern, outline and colour composition. It also strengthens subtle patterns and accurately portrays their detailed feel, as well as reinforcing bold outlines. The large Full HD display has been optimised to experience at least 60%*** more of the screen than most other smartphones.

The world’s slimmest Full HD smartphone*

Xperia Z Ultra is supremely slim and lightweight with a beautifully crafted 6.5mm body and weighing just 212 grams for ultimate portability. Sony craftsmanship in design and attention to detail comes to the fore with clean lines and premium materials – the front and back are made of tempered glass, creating a seamless surface with the OptiContrast™ panel housed in an innovative solid metal frame which looks stunning from any angle. It features the same acclaimed OmniBalance design as Xperia Z and Tablet Z. The Xperia Z Ultra is available in a choice of black, white or purple colour finishes.

The only waterproof Full HD smartphone**Xperia Z Ultra is both elegant and durable. With an impressive rating of IP55 and IP58, this smartphone isn’t only resistant to dust, but is waterproof** too – giving you the freedom to enjoy it anywhere. You can even film in Full HD underwater, taking your large-screen smartphone experience to a new level. The camera features “Exmor RS for mobile”, HDR for both photos and film, and Superior Auto mode automatically activates HDR and noise reduction when needed, so you’ll get stunning imagery even in challenging light conditions.

Ultimate entertainment experience

The Xperia Z Ultra is uniquely positioned to offer the ultimate big screen phone entertainment experience for watching movies, playing games, reading books and browsing the web.

Sony’s “WALKMAN”, Album and Movies media applications enable discovery of online and offline content through a single access point with new ways to enjoy and share that content.

The “WALKMAN” application leverages Sony’s audio engine and Facebook integration for sharing and discovering new music and is unique in that it provides seamlessly integrated access to all your downloaded music as well as access to a global library of over 20 million songs2 from Sony’s cloud-based subscription music service, Music Unlimited3.

The Movies application brings new intuitive ways to discover, manage and play movie content, together with easy access to an extensive library of blockbuster movies and the latest TV episodes from the Video Unlimited2 service.

The Album application provides seamless integration with the PlayMemories Online2 service, letting you access all your photos and albums from within the Album app instantly and easily, wherever you are. You can even set an automatic upload of your photos to the PlayMemories Online service to access and enjoy from any your favourite Sony devices.

The Sony Reader app2 provides seamless Reader store2 access so you can download and enjoy the latest bestsellers – it even lets you sync purchased books in popular formats and continue reading from same page.
Xperia Z Ultra will include an exclusive free entertainment content offer, including a free trial of the Music Unlimited2 service (subject to availability).

Ultimate performance with the world’s fastest smartphone processor****

The Xperia Z Ultra features the world’s fastest smartphone processor**** – the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor with HD voice, that together with Sony´s audio Sony’s ClearAudio+ mode and Xloud loudness enhancement, delivers not just exceptional speed and performance, but also unsurpassed voice and audio quality.

Battery STAMINA Mode significantly improves the standby time of your smartphone by four times or more1 as it recognises when you’re not using your display and automatically turns off the functions you don’t need, while keeping the notifications you want. As soon as you press the power button to wake up your screen, everything is up and running again.

Built for business

The Xperia Z Ultra is the ideal business partner thanks to the super responsive screen with handwriting recognition which is compatible with any pencil and selected stylus or pen (capacitive stylus or metal pen with tip diameter over 1mm). You can even write notes or sketches during calls so you’ll always be ready capture your ideas as they happen. The easy-toggle keyboard makes it ideal for one-handed input and multi-tasking, with small apps to help you improve productivity so you don’t lose time browsing between windows.

The robust security architecture safeguards both your corporate and personal data, with support for multiple accounts that are quick and simple to set up. Further business oriented applications will be made available in future as software updates, ensuring you get the best smartphone experience – whether for work or play.

Ultra connectivity

With one-touch functions you can instantly and easily share music, photos and videos from your smartphone to a wide range of NFC-enabled Sony devices, including speakers, SmartWatch, wireless headsets and TVs. There are several new and innovative accessories joining the range of popular connected devices.

The SBH52 is a dynamic Smart Bluetooth™ Handset that provides easy hands-free call handling with a single press, while leaving your smartphone conveniently in your bag. The OLED display conveniently lets you browse your call log, view text messages, and see who’s calling you. Use it as a quality stereo music headset to listen to your tracks or to the built-in standalone FM radio with RDS. Pairing and connecting is done simply by touching it to your Xperia Z Ultra or other NFC-enabled device. And it’s sleek, minimal design is splash-proof, meaning you can now use it anywhere, in any weather.

The latest generation of SmartWatch, the SmartWatch 2 SW2, helps you keep track of everything without taking your smartphone out of your pocket or bag. The SmartWatch 2 is a truly multifunctional digital watch and phone remote that lets you receive notifications, control your music, and connect with one-touch NFC to your Bluetooth™ headset for easy call handling. The water-resistant design makes it more versatile to use than ever and can be personalised with any standard watch strap. Use it as a standalone watch or with your smartphone. There are over 200 apps available for our first generation and with an open API we expect new applications will be developed quickly and easily for SmartWatch 2.

The Magnetic Charging Dock DK30 has an innovative magnetic pin that lets you to place your Xperia Z Ultra snugly in the dock using one hand, either with or without the phone cover on. While your phone is charging, it stands at a comfortable viewing angle easily allowing you to keep watching your favourite movies even while charging.

Xperia Z Ultra features

6.4” Full HD TRILUMINOS™ Display for mobile powered by X-Reality™ for mobile engine for the ultimate viewing experience
Ultra slim, waterproof** and dust resistant (IP55/IP58) durable design
Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 800 processor with 2.2 GHz quad-core CPUs and 4G LTE for fast performance
Write and sketch with any pencil and selected stylus or pen (capacitive stylus or metal pen with tip diameter over 1mm)
8 megapixel camera with “Exmor RS for mobile” sensor and HDR for videos and photos
Full accessory ecosystem for premium entertainment and connectivity
Battery STAMINA Mode for outstanding battery life
The Xperia Z Ultra will launch globally from Q3 2013 (exact timing of availability will vary by market).

* Specifications verified by Strategy Analytics’ SpecTRAX service, as of 19th of June 2013 the Xperia Z Ultra is the slimmest smartphone with a Full HD display, for more information on Strategy analytics results go to: www.sonymobile.com/testresults

** As of 19th of June 2013, outside of Japan, the Xperia Z Ultra is the only waterproof smartphone with a Full HD display on global distribution. In compliance with IP55 and IP58, Xperia Z Ultra is protected against the ingress of dust and is waterproof. Provided that all ports and covers are firmly closed, the phone is (i) protected against low pressure jets of water from all practicable directions in compliance with IP 55; and/or (ii) can be kept under 1.50 metre of freshwater for up to 30 minutes in compliance with IP58. The phone is not designed to float or work submerged underwater outside the IP55 or IP58 classification range that may lead to your warranty will being void. Find out more www.sonymobile.com/testresults

*** Display area available compared to smartphones with a 5” display or smaller

**** Specifications of Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core 2.2GHz processor verified by Strategy Analytics’ SpecTRAX service as of 19th of June 2013, for more information on Strategy analytics results go to: www.sonymobile.com/testresults

1 Based on testing done with default settings, default accounts and applications for Skype™ and Twitter downloaded to the phone. The more applications installed, the bigger the effect of Battery STAMINA Mode.

2 Number of tracks available from this catalogue varies by country and may be less.

3 Sony Entertainment Network services are subject to availability by region. Please visit www.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com for more details.[/toggle]

June 25, 2013
Leaked : Photos Of The Upcoming Sony Xperia Z Ultra

Sony is set to unveil a few new smartphones tomorrow, but the most noteworthy is a 6.4-inch stylus-friendly phablet likely to be called the Sony Xperia Z Ultra.

Unlike the Samsung Galaxy Note, the Sony Xperia Z Ultra is unlikely to come with a stylus. Instead, users will be encouraged to use other objects such as pencils to interact with the screen, though an intermediary piece of paper is encouraged. The technology behind the ZU is similar to what you find on the Nokia Lumia 920 and Samsung Galaxy S4, both of which offer screens of increased sensitivity that can be used with gloves. Sony takes this one step further by allowing non-capacitive styli to work with the screen.

The Sony Xperia Z Ultra is expected to feature Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor with a clock speed of 2.2GHz, the handset will also feature an Adreno 330 GPU.

Other specifications on the Sony Xperia Z Ultra will include 2GB of RAM and 16GB of built in storage. The handset will also feature a 6.4 inch display with a full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.

As you can see from the promotional shot above, someone is using a drafting pencil to sketch onto a piece of paper on top of the ZU, which in turn will appear on the screen. This could open up a lot of uses beyond just the obvious, but we’ll see what Sony has to say tomorrow.

[Via]

June 25, 2013
Leaked : Gionee ELIFE E6 Smarphone Specs, 5″ Full-HD Display, Quad-Core Processor

Gionee has been aggressively launching devices in the Indian market for quite some time now, receiving both positive and negative feedback for their devices. Now according to a report from VR-Zone, they have something special in store for the Indian market.

The new smartphone will be called the Gionee ELIFE E6. It will sport a 5.0-inch 1080p (1920 x 1080) display on the front, with a 1.5 GHz Quad-Core ARM Cortex A7 CPU coupled with 2GB of RAM.

The Gionee ELIFE E6 will have a MediaTek MT6589T Chipset, PowerVR SGX544 GPU. At the back, there will be a 13 MP Camera with a BSI sensor and LED Flash which will be able to record Full-HD videos at 30 frames per second. There will be a 5 MP Front Camera which will be capable of 720p video recording.

The Gionee ELIFE E6 will run on Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean and will be powered by a 2000 mAh+ battery. It is also reported that the smartphone will be 8mm thick.

The report further goes on to state that the expected price of the Gionee ELIFE E6 will be between Rs. 18,000-20,000 which effectively pits it against the upcoming Micromax Canvas 4 and the Samsung Galaxy Grand.

The reported release date for the Gionee ELIFE E6 is July 10th. Will you be interested in this smartphone? Let us know in the comments section below!

June 24, 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