Tag: video

BMW showcases the new i3 and i8 Concepts, we drool! (PR)

BMW automobiles is a well known name in the automotive industry, especially when it comes to innovation. The i brand was announced for the electric division of BMW automobiles earlier this year. The launch of the sub brand comes hand in hand with the two concept electric cars.

The i3 Concept

The i3 will drive 150km on a full charge, acceleration is about 0-60mph in around 8 seconds, while buying the vehicle owners will be able to opt in for the range-extending motor aptly named “REx.” The first consumer model should hit prime markets by as early as 2013. The charger will complete eighty percent charging in an hour, while a full charge could take as long as 6 hours.

The i8 Concept

The i8 on the other hand is highly aerodynamic and has a hybrid diesel-electric drivetrain, while consumption will remain around the region of 2.7 liters per 100km, while it will speed up from 0 to 62mph in 4.6 seconds.

[toggle title_open=”Collapse” title_closed=”Read The Press Release” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]BMW Group presents mobility of the future +++ World premiere of the BMW i3 Concept and BMW i8 Concept +++ Reithofer: A milestone in the history of the company +++ Sustainability across the entire value added chain

Frankfurt a.M. / Munich. The BMW Group showcases its visions of future mobility in the shape of the BMW i3 Concept and BMW i8 Concept studies. Unveiled for the first time, these concept vehicles provide a glimpse of the first electrically powered production cars from the new BMW i sub-brand, due to be launched as the BMW i3 in 2013 and the BMW i8 in 2014.

“We are marking another milestone in the history of the BMW Group. As Chairman of the Board and an engineer myself, I am very proud of this project,” declared Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, at Friday’s premiere of the two vehicles in Frankfurt. “As the world’s leading premium car manufacturer, our aim is to offer customers purpose-built electric-drive cars as well,” he added.

With its zero-emission electric drive and a range of approximately 150 kilometres, the BMW i3 Concept has been specifically developed for use in an urban environment, its dynamic 125 kW electric motor and rear-wheel drive ensuring BMW-style dynamic handling. Thanks to its innovative LifeDrive architecture featuring a carbon passenger cell, the BMW i3 Concept combines an extremely low weight of 1,250 kilograms with optimal interior space and the highest crash safety levels. With four seats and a 200-litre luggage compartment, this vehicle is fully suited for everyday use.

Draeger: a revolution in car design

“This vehicle will mark the launch of the first volume-produced car featuring bodywork largely made of carbon. It’s a revolution in automotive design,” stressed Klaus Draeger, Member of the Board responsible for Development. The application of this new CFRP technology allows a weight reduction, compared to a conventional electric car, of between 250 and 350 kilos, and that means more dynamic handling coupled with a greater range. The BMW i3 does the 0 to 100 km/h sprint in less than eight seconds, while a high-speed charger achieves an 80% battery charge in just an hour.

Thanks to the emission-free drivetrain and a value added chain designed to be sustainable all along the line, life cycle emission figures for the BMW i3 are at least a third lower than for a highly efficient combustion-engine car. If the BMW i3 is run on electricity from renewable sources, the figures improve by well over 50%.

BMW i8 Concept: new-generation sports car

The BMW i8 Concept goes from 0 to 100 km/h in less than five seconds and boasts fuel consumption of under three litres per 100 km. Its plug-in hybrid drive with a system output of 260 kW allows a range of up to 35 kilometres in electric mode – sufficient for most everyday journeys. For more dynamic driving or out-of-town routes, a high-performance three-cylinder petrol engine also comes into play. The sports car has an electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h and space for up to four occupants. “The BMW i8 Concept is the sports car for a new generation – pure, emotional and sustainable,” Draeger underlined.

With BMW i, the BMW Group is corroborating its position as the most innovative and sustainable auto manufacturer in the world, as reflected in the fact that it has been the supersector leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes for the sixth year running. With BMW i, the BMW Group is providing answers to the mobility challenges of the future while pursuing a holistic approach. In addition to purpose-built premium vehicles with electric drive, the company is also offering intelligent mobility services.

The focus here is on solutions for improved use of parking space, intelligent navigation systems with location-based information, intermodal route planning and car-sharing schemes such as DriveNow. Following MyCityWay, ParkatmyHouse marks the second investment by the recently launched venture capital company BMW i Ventures in a company providing internet-based mobility services. Parkatmyhouse allows private individuals to use the internet or
smartphone app to rent out their private parking spaces on a short- or long-term basis.

Both the BMW i3 and the BMW i8 will be built at BMW’s Leipzig plant in Germany. Some 400 million euros are earmarked for investment in new buildings and facilities by 2013, while 800 new jobs are to be created. Vehicle production will be CO2 neutral and will draw on renewable resources. The company is currently investigating the possibility of erecting its own wind turbines on the plant site.

The BMW Group
The BMW Group is one of the most successful manufacturers of automobiles and motorcycles in the world with its BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 25 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

During the financial year 2010, the BMW Group sold 1.46 million cars and more than 110,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for 2010 was euro 4.8 billion on revenues amounting to euro 60.5 billion. At 31 December 2010, the BMW Group had a workforce of approximately 95,500 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been built on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy. As a result of its efforts, the BMW Group has been ranked industry leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes for the last six years.[/toggle]

August 1, 2011
Dell Streak Pro 10 Launched in China for the World
The Dell Streak never really gained popularity in India, but its successors might catch on if the timing is right. The new Dell Streak Pro 10 / 10 Pro has been launched globally with a unveiling in China yesterday. The device has interesting specs and a really good price, it is also backed by Dell’s reliable service in India.
- 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 T20 chip
- 1GB DDR2 RAM
- 1,280 x 800 LCD
- Corning’s Gorilla Glass
- 5 megapixel camera
- 2 megapixel camera ( front)
- SDHC expansion slot
- 24.1WH battery
- Honeycomb 3.1
Price of the 16GB WiFi tablet plus 2GB of cloud storage for just ¥2,999 ($465) (Rs.22,000). Stay tuned while we try and contact Dell for official word on release in India.
July 30, 2011
Bang & Olufsen intros BeoSound 5 Encore calls it affordable (PR)

Bang & Olufsen has just announced the new BeoSound 5 Encore, calling it an affordable yet luxurious piece of audio hardware. Compared to the BeoSound 5 the new BeoSound 5 Encore comes in at a mere $3350 or Rs. 1,70,000.

BeoSound 5 Encore carries over the 10.4-inch LCD / scroll wheel controller from its predecessor. It has multiple inputs for content, via USB, NAS, A2DP Bluetooth, or from one of 13,000 internet radio stations.

[toggle title_open=”Collapse” title_closed=”Read The Press Release” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]Bang & Olufsen Launches BeoSound 5 Encore Digital Music System

Presenting a window to the world of digital music with patented playlist technology and convenient “plug and play” operation

Arlington Heights, IL – July 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ – Bang & Olufsen, the worldwide provider of exclusive, custom made audio and video products, announces the arrival of its BeoSound 5 Encore – a digital music system that allows for easy navigation to one’s preferred digital music library, access to over 13,000 internet radio stations and a high quality listening experience featuring an award winning playlist technology, intuitive graphical user interface, and an interactive, convenient operation for the end user. BeoSound 5 Encore is the new addition to the BeoSound 5 digital audio family. It is Bang & Olufsen’s plug-n-play answer to a growing demand in the era of digital music, as it allows for easy access of one’s music library without a complicated navigation process. BeoSound 5 Encore acts as an all-consuming sound hub with content conveniently and instantly arranged by album, artist, track, or ‘favorites’ category. It can be used as a stand-alone audio system or in a multi-source/multi-room application.

“BeoSound 5 Encore represents the first step into the new digital world where both permanent and temporary devices constantly change,” states Zean Nielsen, President of Bang & Olufsen America, Inc. “We believe BeoSound 5 Encore acknowledges the different customer levels – in terms of familiarity with the digital music paradigm – and will appeal to both the technologically advanced and those that prefer a more simplistic way of interacting and navigating with ones preferred digital music library.”

A variety of sources and genres

BeoSound 5 Encore offers easy access to more than 13,000 internet radio stations from all over the world, and with every possible genre and language represented. The quality of the stations is monitored and constantly updated automatically by Bang & Olufsen.

In addition to internet radio, BeoSound 5 Encore can browse and play music from a plethora of sources; a connected hard disc, a NAS server, a computer, a USB stick or a handheld device. It supports music in lossless quality; therefore it is possible to enjoy the full qualities of one’s favorite music tracks.

BeoSound 5 Encore is an excellent and simple solution for those wanting to clean up the mess of a physical, CD-based music collection. Simply connect Encore to a pair of Bang & Olufsen speakers and the setup is complete. It can work as your primary music system connected to the internet (either wired or wirelessly) with access to internet radio and music on a server, or a USB connected hard disc. Additionally, it can also act as an access point for your secondary music devices.

The customer can connect up to eight BeoSound 5 Encores to the same server, with the added benefit of being able to play different music content in different rooms at the same time. Resulting in less arguments with the family about what to listen to, and where. Everyone can simultaneously enjoy their favorite tunes in the comfort of their own room, be it internet radio or digital music files, and the music is still stored in one place.

Re-inventing the wheel

BeoSound 5 Encore conveniently presents a rich choice of content in a well-organized way, appealing to those who desire simplicity and easy access. Visually it proudly displays its design heritage from BeoSound 5 with a unique mixture of mechanical tactile elements and a strong graphical expression.

BeoSound 5 Encore features a 10.4″ full graphical display and a magical wheel that easily scrolls through even the greatest of music collections at the spin of a finger. With a number of different options for wall, table or floor placement, BeoSound 5 Encore will easily fit into any home decor. Additionally, it has been specially designed with permanent sockets hidden for concealed and elegant cabling. Also, sockets for temporary devices such as USB sticks, portable players or headphones are easily accessible below the display.
Automatic playlist with a high IQ

The patented MOTS ‘More of the Same’ algorithm, is an award-winning Bang & Olufsen technology. It automatically captures the unique musical identity of a track and then builds a playlist of similar music – based on parameters such as sound, dynamics, and rhythmic aspects of a particular track.

Being the intelligent playlist of the future, MOTS automatically generates a playlist when the user accesses the content of a USB or WLAN/LAN connected device, leaving the end user with more time to rediscover the music collection, instead of manually having to select a number of tracks every time. It is a fast and convenient way to set the musical scene for any mood or setting, (i.e. a dinner party or a laid-back evening on the couch). Additionally, the customer can select a particular favorite playlist offered by MOTS, by simply saving the track initially selected, and then the customer can listen to the specific playlist whenever desired.

With the launch of BeoSound 5 Encore, Bang & Olufsen is now able to offer customers two different state-of-the-art digital audio solutions which – with their individual advantages – are designed to exceed the expectations of any discerning customer eager to take the next step into the world of digital music. BeoSound 5 Encore is available for purchase in all Bang & Olufsen showrooms in August 2011. It retails at $3350.00.

Bang & Olufsen was founded in Struer, Denmark, in 1925 by Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen, two innovative, young engineers devoted to high quality audio reproduction. Since then, the brand has become an icon of performance and design excellence through its long-standing craftsmanship tradition and the strongest possible commitment to high-tech research and development.

Still at the forefront of domestic technology, Bang & Olufsen has extended its comprehensive experience with integrated audio and video solutions for the home to other areas such as the hospitality and automotive industries in recent years. Consequently, its current product range epitomizes seamless media experiences in the home as well as in the car and on the move.

For more information on Bang & Olufsen, please visit www.bang-olufsen.com.[/toggle]

[Bang & Olufsen]

July 27, 2011
Apple Planning to buy HULU – Bring it to the World

Looks like Apple is in talks to buy HULU, according to a report by Bloomberg. In June, Hulu announced that it had hired Morgan Stanley and Guggenheim Partners to assist with a the sale of the company earlier reports stated that Yahoo! was interested in making a bid at that time.

Currently Hulu is available only in select countries. Should Apple buy it, we can expect a massive video service offering from Apple , that would easily take on the likes of Netflix, even make it available in less fortunate countries, like ours. (redundant sarcasm)

July 24, 2011

LG Optimus Black Unboxing and Hands On with Video

The LG Optimus Black Was announced just recently in India, and we are here today with a quick unboxing and hands on preview of the device.

Important specs include:

Name	Type
Operating System	Android OS v2.2
Dimensions	122mm x 64mm x 9.2 mm
Weight	109g
Display Screen	4 inch WVGA IPS LCD
Processor	1 GHz Cortex A8 Processor
RAM	512 MB
Storage	2GB Internal + 32GB Optional
Camera	5 MP Rear : 2 MP Front (AF)
Video	720P VIDEO @30 fps
Connectivity	Wi-Fi, 3G, GPRS, EDGE, A-GPS, Bluetooth v3.1 with EDR
Battery	1500 mAh Li-Ion

The Price of the Device is about : Rs. 19,800 in the Market

Image Gallery

Video Unboxing

July 20, 2011

The Samsung Galaxy S2 Review

One of the Smartest Smart Phones to hit our country, The Samsung Galaxy S2 has gathered a lot of public attention. But, does it stand up to the challenge put out by Day-to-Day Smart-Phone use? Lets Find Out!

BUILD QUALITY, HARDWARE & DESIGN

The Galaxy S2 has a nice design, a sleek body and extra tough glass. But the build quality of the phone may not be up to the mark. The device features a total plastic construction that defies all laws of mobile phone existence. At just 8.5mm thick the device boasts an extremely slim profile. The back panel/cover is a flimsy piece of plastic that is fidgety to remove and put back on and also rattles when the phone is shaken.

The screen on the other hand is extremely tough, it also resists scratches and impacts without a question in mind. Overall, the build is solid, the plastics don’t bend easily and are not cheap to look at either. But are not nearly enough when you compare it with what you pay for the device.

In terms of hardware the two major things working for the Indian version of the Samsung Galaxy S2 are

Super Amoled Plus Screen – 480 x 800 px – 4.3 inches
1.2 GHZ dual core processor

The performances of these two major hardware components can be seen from the get go, and are attracting people towards the GS2. There is also 1 GB of RAM, giving an effective 853MB for usage (we really don’t know why only 853 is there totally). There is no NFC on the Indian Samsung Galaxy S2, and why would you need it anyway? The 8 MP rear camera with full HD video recording, a 2 MP front camera, 1650mah battery. You can also check out the full Spec Sheet Here

CAMERA AND MULTIMEDIA

The Camera on the S2 is brilliant; the screen viewfinder makes it even better. The colors are projected to the screen as-is, and are captured beautifully with the 8MP lens. The camera is fast to focus and has great exposure values. Tap to focus lets you select you subject and one click capture brings you an experience that’s hard to replicate. The camera app is also packed with a long list of settings and effects you can tweak and play around with. Shooting modes, scene modes, effects, image size, exposure values, white balance, noise reduction and anti shake to name a few.

Macro mode is exceptionally great as it can capture close-ups with great detail. There is also a timer, ISO settings, Metering selection, blink detection and geo-tagging. The S2 has a fully loaded camera app and a great camera lens to go with it. Overall performance of the camera is easily notable and can replace your point and shoot camera for day-to-day use. The flash is bright and has a great field of coverage.

Video capture at 1080p is smooth and without frame drops, although you can notice the autofocus on the camera struggle during the video recording output. Videos are clean and the microphone picks up sound just great. Video is so good in fact we actually shot an unboxing video on full HD with the Samsung Galaxy S2 – Check it HERE

Sounds from the speaker are actually louder than we expected. Audio quality is clear and speech notions can be understood easily. Why we emphasize on speech is because you will be watching a lot of videos and movies on the STUNNING AMOLED PLUS display. It is the best possible display from Samsung to date. With amazing depths of color and a great resolution (480 x 800) the display is very vivid. Colors are bold and there is no washout even at greater viewing angles. Some may argue that the colors on the screen are not what they appear to be, and the AMOLED screen gives a heightened look to a normal display/video.

The included earphones are not a great match with the S2, the bass on the earphones is poor, watching movies or listening to music. If you enjoy good depth, you wont enjoy the included earphones. The placement of the main speaker can also be bothersome, especially when you hold the device in landscape to watch videos or play games. You will find your fingers covering up the main speaker for a total loss of sound.

PHONE AND MESSAGING

Nice large dialer, good speaker, strong mic and excellent network performance make the Galaxy S2 a great phone aswell. We tested the phone capability over extended periods of use and failed to get one reason to complain about the device. It was pure performance for the phone through out.

The Keyboard on the GS2 is well spaced out in portrait and is very responsive during those long messaging sessions. You also have a huge list of settings that you can modify to make the keyboard a complete unit for you. From auto text to auto replace, modifiers and word learning, the keyboard is simply intelligent. You can also switch to the included Swype keyboard for a faster input experience. In Landscape, typing is fast and efficient and the keys are wide enough to compile long emails without breaking a sweat.

DATA & INTERNET

Getting a smartphone like this? Expect to get a 3G data plan if you don’t already have one. This phone turns you into an “on the go data monster”. With the constant need to feed information into the device the unit comes ready to handle all sorts of online activity, from social feeds directly on your homescreen to business mails in a secret box. You get the latest news, weather information and stock prices without ever needing to install an app or setup the device. 3G / HSDPA performance is somewhat good, we found that the device would drop the connection to the server and would require a restart of the data service from the settings app. We have never faced a similar issue with any other Android device an it appears to be a glitch in the software somewhere. Another thing to note, is that when the device is in this suspended data connection mode, the back of the phone starts to heat up incredibly fast which leads to an equally fast battery drain.

Wi-Fi Hotspot, also acts up (due to the network error we presume) and you will find your self constantly struggling with the error messages on the portable hotspot window.

BATTERY LIFE

If you haven’t read the section above we suggest you go ahead and read it. The battery life is largely affected by data mismanagement.

Values	2G	3G	3G with Error
Talk Time	upto 7 Hours	4.5 hours	1 hour
Standby time	36 Hours	24 hours	6 Hours
Web Browsing	8-9 hours	4-5 hours	–
Video Streaming	4 Hours	2 Hours	–
Music Streaming	14 hours	6 hours	–

Wi-Fi Values stand more or less the same with 2G data

GAMING

We though we would include this section just to clarify a lot of questions. While the device is perfectly capable of running high graphic games, you will not find us showing you videos of any such games for one simple reason. They don’t work on the device. Most games like Fast 5, NFS shift Asphalt, Assassins creed, Settlers crash on start up and some don’t show visuals. This is possibly a software -hardware integration glitch and perhaps the games are not designed to run on dual core smart phones. Other games like Angry Birds -All, Gun Brothers and our new favorite Age of the Zombies work perfect and without any issues.

DUAL CORE

The Samsung Galaxy S2 is India’s second phone to boast a dual core processor, and after our previous let down, we a happy to say that Samsung has managed to utilize the dual core- Android combo perfectly and has made it possible for the end user to enjoy the total experience. The phone is not only fast and responsive it is a super performer. All visuals play smooth, graphics and renders are fast all of this with tons of ram to spare. The Galaxy S2 also uses Android suspend multitasking which enables you to pause your ongoing app in real time and switch to another app, and then come back to the previous app without loosing data, or in our case lives.

There is the heating issue that is causing battery loss but we believe its due to the data glitch and can be resolved by switching data modes, or turning on data as and when required (which can be troublesome, but is a quick fix until Samsung can fix it). If you haven’t already seen the benchmarks, check them out here.

CONCLUSION

The Samsung Galaxy S2 is highest spec’d phone available in India through official channels, its thin and light, its got a beautifully vivid display and a dual core processor that’s on steroids. The Galaxy S2 is ready to perform from the get-go and looks good doing it. Yes its got a flimsy looking build and some overheating issues. But why do we feel okay looking past those? Possibly because poor build usually leads to a damaged display, but in this case the gorilla glass wont let that happen. As far as the battery drain- data error issue, Samsung is already working on pushing an update that will fix these issues.

[xrr rating=4.25/5 label=”We Rate The Galaxy S 2 : ” imageset=shiny_yellow_star display_as=fraction_stars]

PRICE :

Rs: 30500/-

US$ 700 /-

VIDEOS

UNBOXING VIDEO

REVIEW VIDEO PART I

REVIEW VIDEO PART II

July 20, 2011

Qualcomm launches Vellamo browser benchmark for Android devices

The mastermind behind a flurry of chipsets for Mobile phones, also responsible for graphic benchmarks like Neocore. Qualcomm has just launched the Vellamo Benchmark for Android devices. This benchmark if for mobile browser lagging tests. Vellamo is essentially a suite of 11 tests designed to gauge browser performance on Android phones and tablets.

To operate it requires any Android Device over OS 2.0

July 15, 2011
Paypal throws a hook, Launches Mobile to Mobile NFC Payments

Paypal usually not preferred by Sellers has announced a new Mobile-Mobile NFC payment system at the Mobile Beat 2011. NFC equipped Device owners, majorly Nexus S, can accept transactions from other NFC equipped devices.

Currently the functionality is limited – there is only the Nexus S which is supported- and only specific type of transfer requests can be made. Paypal promises its working hard to roll out the system more commercially. Also to note – Inter-Mobile transactions will be free of cost especially if you are using a tied bank account or Paypal credit.

The app will be available for free in the Android Marketplace in the coming months. Check out the video demo below

July 14, 2011
Google Updates Android Market to add Movies and Books tabs

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

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

[Google Mobile Blog]

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

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

July 12, 2011
Apple Planning to Kill WebOS Wireless Sharing, With a Patent of Their Own

Looks like Apple is preparing to end HP’s “Touch to Share” in one single sweep. As the folks fro PatentlyApple found in the new patent 20110163944, the new wireless sharing feature that could allow users to quickly and easily transfer files from various iOS devices. a user might be able to “pour” the files from an iPhone onto an iPad in one single gesture or motion of the wrist.

July 9, 2011
Dell Peju tablet leaked, 10.1-inch , Windows 8 and Core i5?
A new source of information for the upcoming Dell Peju tablet has surface. Looks the the device is a 10.1 inch tablet has a gorilla glass front and with its internals clocking Core i5 and Windows 8 os. The Device is set to launch in october this year (if the source is to be believed)

Other Specs Include
- CPU: Intel Core i5 processor
- Memory: 4 GB
- Storage: 64 GB SSD or 120 GB SSD
- Display: 10.1-inch, wide-angle, 1920×1080
- OS: Windows 7 Pro / Windows 8 Compatible
- Slots/ ports: 2-USB, Mini VGA, HDMI, microSD, audio, SIM (3G)
- Battery: integrated, 5,500 mAh, 6 – 8 hour real-world battery life
- Connectivity: WiFi b/g, Bluetooth, 3G & 4G
- Webcam: 1.3 MP Front Facing & 5MP Rear Facing Camera
- Input: Touch, Stylus, Bluetooth Keyboard, & USB Keyboard. via the docking station. (Keyboard not included)
- Dimensions: 10.8 x 6.7 x 0.63 inches, 1.9 lbs.
July 9, 2011

Spice Mi 410 Full Review

The Mi 410 is the first attempt from Spice to attack the 1 GHZ smartphone market in India. Possibly the only phone to offer these specs at a pretty decent price. Lets look into the Spice MI 410 carefully.

BUILD QUALITY, HARDWARE & DESIGN

The Spice MI 410 is built to last, metal accents and a full metal back cover, a metal frame and solid construction make the Mi 410 an extremely robust device. The volume rocker and the power button are flush with the device and highly tactile. The screen is also scratch resistant, but its no gorilla glass.

The device or its internals don’t shake or rattle and the phone is like one solid piece of hardware. Talking about hardware, lets look at the specs.

OS	ANDROID 2.2
Processor	1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8255
Flash ROM	2GB eMMC
Ram	512MB
Dimensions	122X 66X 9.9 mm
Weight	143 gm
Display	4.1-inch Capacitive Touch Screen , 800 X 480 WVGA
Camera	5 MP rear with HD Video, 0.3MP front
Battery	1400 mAH
Talk Time	Upto 380 Mins GSM , Upto 300 Mins (3G)
Standby Time	Upto 300 Hours
Network	Quad band GSM , Tri-band 3G, HSDPA/HSUPA , up to 14.2 Mbps
Connect	Bluetooth v2.1 EDR
Other	Supports Flash 10.1
Price	Rs. 14,000/-

Design on the Mi410 is pretty good too with a flat slab/tablet type structure on the device. It one of those designs that may not appeal to all in the beginning, but grows on you as you begin to use the device. Honestly, it kind of reminds us of end 2010 HTC phones, with really prominent edges.

CAMERA & MULTIMEDIA

The rear camera on the Mi410 is a 5MP autofocus camera which does a good job of focusing, you can actually see the camera move when its trying to focus, making it an exceptionally great autofocus mechanism. It also utilized 4 point metering to gain a focus point allowing it to be accurate in most situations, indoor, outdoor or night mode.

Video quality is also decent with jitter free recording and smooth capture. While in video mode the zoom option while recording is missing, but was not quite missed.

The screen is nice and vivid and has a comparatively large ppi at 227.55 ppi. With a native resolution of 480×800 pixels making it a very good display. We have no complaints with the display and in-fact were quite happy with it. The screen is good for watching videos and browsing the internet. The ppi is rich enough for reading books, documents and articles without trouble. Let us remind you that its no retina display, but its possibly one of the best resolutions you can get for the price.

The inclusion of stereo speakers caught our attention at the get go. Its surprising the kind of sound you can get from these speakers. In a normally quiet environment the speakers are sufficient for watching videos and movies. The speakers are loud and clear with accurate channel mapping.

The touch screen on the Mi410 seems like a bother initially, after a bit of playing around we found out that the maximum issue is with the lock screen, where the screen response seems to be less, it also seems like a software glitch, as we upgraded to 2.3 the touch sensitivity issue reduced significantly, but is still there. Pinch to zoom and scrolling work fine and are not affected by the issue.

The included earphones are simply ordinary and don’t expect much from them. While they can be used for simple handsfree usage, if you want to enjoy music on this device, invest in a good pair of earphones.

PHONE & MESSAGING

The sound quality from the earphones and the outgoing sound from the mic is great, and more than expected. While network strength is constantly 1 bar less, it does not affect the usage of the device and in our signal measurement test we would get a consistent -60db value.

Messaging and typing on the keyboard is achieved with ease and effortlessness. The keyboard is well spaces with large keys and responsive, the touch sensitivity issue does not occur in the keyboard, that why we insist its a software issue and not hardware (we could be wrong too).

BATTERY LIFE

A lot of people asked us to test the battery and we did some extensive tests on the battery.

VALUES	2G	3G	WiFI
Talk Time	5 Hours	3.5 Hours	-NA-
Standby Time	72 Hours	50 Hours	5 days
Internet Browsing	5-6 hours	5 hours	8 hours
Video Playback	3 hours	3 hours	3 hours
Video Stream	2.5 hours	1 Hour	3.5 hours
Music	12 hours	12 hours	12 hours
Music Stream	7 hours	5 hours	8.5 hours

We noticed a well managed battery life even with the wifi hotspot on. Battery was inconsistent and scores above are average from out tests.

CONCLUSION

The Spice Mi410 is an extremely great option at its price. With features usually found in devices upwards of 20k. This device also looks, feels and performs like an expensive phone, so it should be a satisfying experience for the user. The fact that this handset is easily root-able will let people exploit the real benefits of the device. The screen issue may bother some , but it is not enough to not let us recommend this phone to some one who has this device in mind.

PRICE : 14,000/-

[xrr rating=4/5 label=”We Rate it : ” imageset=shiny_yellow_star display_as=fraction_stars]

UNBOXING VIDEO

REVIEW VIDEO

CAMERA SAMPLE

iG Tech Labs

July 5, 2011

Skype – Cross Platform Video Calls Now on Android

Skype announced that its Android client now supports cross platform video calls, so desktop users can now see mobile users and vice versa. At the moment, this functionality is limited to only four Android handsets, the Desire S, Xperia Neo and Pro and the Nexus S. If you have one of these phones, you can now make video calls to your friends over WiFi and 3G both.

Video Calls between android devices have been possible for a while now, but the option to make video calls to desktops/laptops has been limited. Most Android users won’t be affected by this update although Skype promises to add other handsets “soon”.

The new Skype client can switch between front and rear facing cameras, so you can show people your face as well as what you are seeing. It can connect to all Skype clients including the iPhone as well as many Skype enabled TV’s.

the Desire S, Xperia Neo and Pro and (of course) the Nexus S

July 1, 2011
Tag Heuer Launches US$ 6,700 Alligator Skinned Android 2.2 Mobile

Usually Super expensive phones have been nothing but, well, expensive. Tag Heuer has changed that by launching a super expensive alligator skinned Android powered smartphone which has pretty boring specs, 3.5-inch (800 x 480) display, 5 megapixel autofocus camera, 256MB internal memory, an 8GB memory card, 1400 mAh battery, and EDGE / HSUPA connectivity.

Live from Apple’s iPhone 6S announcement: The Verve

The 3.5 Lac device will come in 3 options, steel, 18K rose gold, or titanium. Other options include alligator- and lizard-skin, rubber, and diamond accents. Tag Heuer goes into great detail discussing how it is water-tight, fully air-sealed, shock-resistant, and used some type of a hard material over the screen called Gorilla Glass.

Read the Tag Heuer version

Unlike anything else on the luxury market, the TAG Heuer LINK is a high-performance machine of unprecedented functionality. Extreme reliability and robustness are guaranteed through a battery of quality tests well exceeding industry standards.
Stand out features include lightning-fast connectivity, 16-million color screen resolution, a large 3.5’’ display, a high-definition 5-mega-pixel auto-focus camera, 11 hours of music play time, and, through its avant-garde Android operating system, download access to over 250,000 applications. It also comes fully loaded with a host of TAG Heuer add-ons: customized screen designs,widgets, animations, wallpapers, icons and ring tones.

Swiss Watchmaking tradition allied with the latest in high-tech telephony

The TAG Heuer LINK is instantly recognizable as a top-end TAG Heuer product, avant-gardeboth for its ergonomic design and its very contemporary elegance. Motion, purity, curve, precision, a shimmering dynamism in its form and silhouette — these are its signature values.

The luxury handset is composed of classic watch components and cutting-edge technology. Fully shockproof, the body is engineered like the case of a TAG Heuer watch. As airtight and locked-down as a strong box, it provides full protection of the precious contents — your videos, photos, files and data — sealed in its interior.

Other signature TAG Heuer references include the screws on the handset’s reinforced chassis, which echo those on the casebacks of TAG Heuer chronographs. The unique autolock system on the side, which gives quick access to the SIM card, the connection port and the memory card, sports the TAG Heuer’s shield in black lacquer and looks like a classic TAG Heuer timepiece crown.

A luxury design object of ultimate prestige and performance

Luxuriously crafted and detailed, the TAG Heuer LINK incorporates the most prestigious materials and advanced components in the watchmaking and automotive worlds, including black PVD, diamonds and rose gold. The mirror-polished and fine-brushed stainless steel is premium grade surgical 316L, corrosion-resistant and hypoallergenic. The big display front is made from visually stunning, lightweight, and highly damage-resistant Gorilla glass®. The exclusive, hand-worked coverings are in calfskin, alligator or lizard. Every material, precious stone and exotic skin or leather is sourced within the strictest industry standards.

Exclusively launched in TAG Heuer retailers in July 2011, the TAG Heuer LINK is the essential work hard/play instrument, ideal for business and entertainment. Like thewatchmaking heritage that inspires it, it delivers avant-garde luxury with uncompromisingstrength, precision and reliability. A communications instrument of uncompromised calibreand capabilities, it shares the pinnacle of high-performance engineering and innovation with its partner, the MERIDIIST.

The TAG Heuer LINK seriously upgrades the way the world connects.

Main characteristics
Size: 118mm (H) x 67mm (W) x 16.6mm (D)
OS: Android 2.2
Form factor: Bar type touch screen
Weight: 200 grams (battery included)
3G Talk time: 6 hours 30 minutes
Stand by time: up to 330hrs (~14 days)
Battery included: Li-lon 1400mAh

Messaging
SMS / MMS / Email (Predictive Text Input XT9)
Image formats supported: JPEG / GIF / BMP
Sound formats supported: MP3 / AAC / AAC+ / RA / WMA

Connectivity
Stereo Bluetooth
AGPS, Wifi, WAPI
Compatible with any SIM card

Radio
Edge & HSUPA (3G)
4 Band GSM/Tri Band WCDMA

Music / Photo & Video
Internal memory: 256 MB
Memory card: 8GB
Music play time: 11 hours

Photo & Video
LCM Screen: TFT 3.5”
Screen resolution: 800*480 pixels – 16 millions of colors
5 Mega Pixel Camera Auto Focus
Video player and recorder

Applications
Android Market with up to 250 000 applications such as:
Adobe Flash Reader
Google Search, Google Maps
GMail , You Tube , E-Blogger

Phone Materials
316L Stainless steel, Gold, Diamonds, Black PVD, Titanium, Rubber, Calfskin leather,
Carbon leather, Alligator and Lizard

Price
An entry price of 4700€.

June 29, 2011