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Preview: LG’s ‘G2’ smartphone

Our tech writer explores LG’s newest offering – the G2 smartphone, which has Power and Volume buttons at the back.
by Manik Kakra

LG has been coming up with a lot of good stuff when it comes to smartphones in the last 18 months or so, and this year they seem to be doing even better. Officially announced about a month back, LG has just launched the new G2 in India. The phone has got a lot to look forward to including its unique button positions. The G2 is more or less the successor to the popular Optimus G without carrying the moniker ‘Optimus’.

G2_Global_Onshot _(B)(1)What’s new? LG’s G2 features a 5.2-inch full HD LCD touchscreen with Corning Gorilla Glass on top, and very thin bezel on the sides. The phone is powered by Qualcomm’s 2.26 GHz Snapdragon 800 SoC, along with 2 GB of RAM. Sporting a 13 MP rear camera (OIS) with some features which LG calls ‘advance’; with Power and Volume buttons on the back, just below the camera. Yes, that’s quite unique. The rear camera can shoot 1080p videos at 60 FPS, while the 2.1 MP front-facing camera can do HD videos. Similar to the Note 3 and S 4, the G2 has also got dual recording to record from both the cameras at the same time. Running on Android 4.2.2 with LG’s own Optimus UI on top, this smartphone boasts 192 KHz 24-bit playback for FLAC and WAV audio files, which isn’t common, but certainly a good news, in phones.

What else? The device is equipped with 3,000 mAh battery and 16 GB or 32 GB of internal storage. Coming as a competitor to Samsung’s Note 3, the phone has got quite a few things different from a usual Android device. LG seems to be banking a lot on this device, and rightly so, looking at the phone, it sure does have a lot going for it. The G2 also features double tap to unlock the screen (seen on quite a lot of older Nokia phones), and guest mode, for when you give your phone to somebody and don’t want them to browse through personal stuff on the phone. Other features include Bluetooth 4.0, 3G, 4G LTE, microUSB 2.0 and NFC.

Colour and cost: Available in black and white colour options, the phone has been launched at an MRP of Rs 41,500 for the 16 GB model and Rs 44,000 for the 32 GB model, where you also get a free Quick View flip cover with your purchase.

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Lumia 1020 comes to the party

While it has several great things going for it, the just-out Nokia Lumia 1020’s most striking feature is its camera.
by Manik Kakra

Nokia has just launched its much-anticipated smartphone in India, Lumia 1020. The Lumia 1020, popular for its unique 41 MP rear PureView camera, runs Windows Phone 8 OS, and comes with quite a few Nokia goodies. This Nokia device features a 4.5-inch (1280×768) AMOLED touchscreen with Nokia’s own ClearBlack display technology used along with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 on top.

Connectivity-wise, there are microUSB 2.0, Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi a/b/g/n, A-GPS and NFC. This phone also supports wireless charging, so you can put it on a supported charging pad (like the old Pre), and it should start charging sitting on it. Equipped with 2,000 mAh battery, the Lumia 1020 has got 32 GB of on-board storage, and users also get 7 GB of free storage on SkyDrive (using their MS Account).

Nokia-Lumia-1020Under the hood, there is a 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragone S4 chipset, along with 2 GB of RAM. And since we are talking about the Lumia 1020, it would be wrong to not describe a bit about its camera technology. The smartphone boasts a 1.2 MP front camera and a 41 MP (Carl Zeiss) rear camera (with Xenon + LED flash). Yes, that 41 MP camera sets the stage here. Previously seen only on Nokia’s own PureView 808, the 41 MP PureView technology is quite interesting to dig. Nokia’s theory behind this implementation is that, the camera is going to give you details more than before.

What it’s doing is oversampling. You are given options to choose between 5 MP, 8 MP till 38 MP, among a host of other camera settings while taking a shot, and the camera captures a lot of details and so you don’t lose out on details when zooming in. Thanks to the camera’s large 1/1.5-inch sensor, you get a lot more details than a normal camera on a phone would. That means, you not only get good, sharp images, but images without too much noise. You can zoom-in as much you need, and still have your subject clear and bright. With Nokia’s Pro Cam app in use, it is really intuitive to select from settings while taking any shot – from ISO levels, to White Balance, and what not. They have covered a lot here.

The Nokia Lumia 1020 comes in white, black and yellow colour options, but, for some unknown reasons, its price point has not been declared at the launch. The phone goes on sale October 11 and is expected to be available for above Rs 45,000.

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On the (sur)face of it

What is the ‘Surface’ that’s got everyone’s attention since yesterday? Our tech writer gives the dope on Microsoft’s newest offerings.
by Manik Kakra

Microsoft’s previous Surface efforts did not prove to be very fruitful. Their sale figures were not very impressive, and the company had to write down a huge loss from the devices. Yesterday, in its Surface event, Microsoft released two new tablets – Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 – to take on the iPad as well as make some efforts to better Microsoft’s position in the mobile space.

Surface 2Surface 2: The Surface 2, like the original Surface, is meant for Microsoft’s RT platform. The tablet runs on Windows RT 8.1, and comes pre-loaded with apps like Outlook RT and MS Office. Under the hood, there is a 1.7 GHz quad-core nVidia Tegra 4 SoC, along with 2 GB of RAM. It boasts a 10.6-inch ClearType full HD screen, and comes in 32 GB and 64 GB storage options. While the rear has a 5 MP camera, the front has a 3.5 MP camera, and both can do HD videos. Other features include Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi a/b/g/n, 3.5 mm headset jack, dual stereo speakers, card reader and USB 3.0. Among freebies, users will get a year of free Skype call and also 200 GB of cloud storage on SkyDrive for two years. The tablet can be pre-ordered on Microsoft’s website (http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-us/pre-order), but not for the Indian market. The 32 GB model costs $449 and the 64 GB model $549.

Surface Pro 2: The Surface Pro 2 (see main image above) is the tablet to get if you need full-fledged Windows 8 functionality. The tablet is powered by Intel’s 4th generation Haswell chipset, along with 4 GB (or 8 GB, depending on model) RAM. Having the same 10.1-inch HD screen, the Surface Pro 2, and comes in 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB storage options. You also get a Pro Pen to be used on the tablet’s screen. You can buy one ffrom $899 up to $1,799, depending on the model.

Microsoft has also introduced Type Cover 2, which can be used with both these Surface devices. It has got backlit keys and comes in black, blue, pink and purple. Apart from that, a new Power Cover was also shown. This one is meant to be attached with your tablet in order to increase its battery life (MS claims two and a half times the original battery) without adding too much bulk.

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Two new APUs by AMD

We preview two new APUs launched recently by AMD for the Indian market, and what their specs and features mean.
by Manik Kakra

AMD has launched two new Accelerated Processing Units (APUs) for Indian costumers. Both – Mainstream APU, Elite APU and Elite Performance – are quad-core (or dual-core in Lenovo G505some cases) x86 SoCs.

Coming to the 2013 Elite Mobility (also known as Temash), it’s a 28nm SoC — dual-core A4, quad-core A6, which is mainly designed for tablets and hybrids. Concentrating on the graphical side, this chipset has got AMD’s Radeon 8000 Series graphics, which, as per the company, gives five times of better GPU performance than its competition. For consumers, this chipset is for Windows laptops, tablets, and hybrids which have full HD (1080p) screens. From the battery point of view, Temash could provide twelve hours of battery life, and that’s what OEM heads confirmed to us. What’s more, AMD says this SoC is ready to be used with laptops running Microsoft’s upcoming Windows Blue OS.

The 2013 AMD Mainstream APU (Kabini) is targeted at low-end, small-form tablets and notebooks. Here, the focus is more on decent performance within a small budget. Having dual-core and quad-core options, this SoC is already used in touch notebooks. Promising 33 per cent better peformance from what the competition provides in this segment, the Maintream APU also claims to give 11 hours of average battery life on your Windows device.

The 2013 Elite Performance is the company’s top-of-the-line product that provides best computing and graphical performance from them. Talking about its power efficiency, the company claims it should give you a battery life of 13 hours on a full single charge, and about 40% better gaming performance that what the competition has got.

Here’s a list of some of the laptops, with their configuration in brief, showcased at the event:

HP TouchSmart 11– HP Touchsmart 11 – APU A4-1250, Radeon HD 8210, 4 GB RAM, 11.6-inch touchscreen, Windows 8

– HP 1000 – APU E1, Radeon HD 7310, 14.1-inch screen, 2 GB RAM, 500 GB hard disk, Windows 8

– ASUS X552 – APU E1-2100, Radeon HD 8210, 15.6-inch screen, 2 GB RAM, 500 GB hard disk, DOS

– ASUS X102 – APU A4-1200, Radeon 8180G, 10.1-inch touchscreen, 2 GB RAM, 500 GB hard disk, Windows 8

– Lenovo G505 – APU E1-2100, Radeon HD 8210, 15.6-inch screen, 2 GB RAM, 500 GB hard disk DOS

– Acer Aspire – E1-522 – APUA4-5000, Radeon HD 8330, 15.6-inch screen, 2 GB RAM, 500 GB hard disk, DOS

Looking at AMD India’s effort in the last two years, the company seems to be making a lot of progress, and these new offerings in the market could well give them even more loyal buyers.

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Sony launches Xperia Z, QX100, QX10 and SmartWatch 2

Here’s a lowdown on the new Sony launches for the Indian market and what their different features mean for users.
by Manik Kakra

Sony today launched its new phone – Xperia Z1, smartphone-attachable lenses – QX100 and QX10, and SmartWatch2.

Sony Xperia Z1_ GroupLet’s first talk about the Xperia Z1. This is Sony’s new flagship model, successor to the Xperia Z. The phone runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, and has a full HD 5-inch screen. Under the hood, there is a quad-core Snapdragon 800 SoC (MSM8974), clocked at 2.2 GHz, along with 2 GB of RAM. One of the USPs of the phone is its 20.7 MP rear camera (f/2.0). It packs in Sony’s G Lens, and has got a BIONZ image processing chip just for the imaging function. There are no keys on the front, as all are onscreen keys, and there’s a 2 MP camera. This water-resistant and dust-proof phone packs 3,000 mAh battery and 16 GB of on-board storage (expandable via microSD).

Other features include Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi, A-GPS, NFC, microUSB port (with MHL), LTE connectivity and DLNA. Available in black, white and purple colours, the Xperia Z1 goes on sale today and is priced at Rs 44,900. Sony has partnered with Vodafone to provide a 3G data bundle. The Xperia Z1 also comes loaded with Sony Jive app, which allows you to have unlimited song downloads and streaming for free, for first six months. Similarly, the Sony LIV app allows you to stream Sony QX10_1movies right on your Xperia device for no cost.

The QX100 and QX10 (in pic on right) are two unique kinds of lenses that could be attached with most smartphones. You can choose to shoot videos and photos on your phone through these lenses, without doing much else. You can also connect these lenses with your smartphone using WiFi or NFC. The QX100 sports a 20.2 MP CMOS sensor, with keys for dedicated controls like zoom and shutter release. The lens can do 3.6x optical zoom, too. The QX10 has got an 18.2 MP sensor, which can do 10x optical zoom. While the QX100 costs Rs 24,990, the QX10 is priced at Rs 12,990, and both hit the market today.

sw2-one-touch-smartwatch2Last but not the least, the Sony SmartWatch2. This is a water-resistant NFC-enabled watch that can be paired with your smartphone or tablet to give you notifications and allow you to message from your watch instantly. Sony claimed that there are already a few dedicated apps for this smartwatch, and they expect to see the number rising soon. It sort of works as a second screen to your main device, at least for a few functions. The watch is equipped with a 1.6-inch (220 x 176) screen and USB port. It goes on sale starting next month, and will be available for Rs 14,990.

What do you think of Sony’s newest offerings? Tell us in the comments section below.

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Just in: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear smartwatch

Today, Samsung launched the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear smartwatch devices in India. Read on for a quick review.
by Manik Kakra

Samsung launched two new devices in India today – Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear smartwatch.

First, let’s talk a bit about the Android 4.3-powered Note 3. Unveiled at the recently-concluded IFA 2013, the Note 3 boasts a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED screen, with size almost identical to the Note II, but slimmer. The phablet is powered by an octa-core  Exynos (quad-core 1.9 GHz A15 + quad-core 1.3 GHz A7) chipset, along with 3 GB of RAM.

Accompanied by a stylus (S Pen), the Note 3, just like its predecessor, comes with a host of S-features, some of which are based on the use of stylus. Connectivity-wise, there is Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, WiFi a/b/g/n/ac, DLNA, microUSB +(MHL). Its back sports a 13 MP camera that can shoot full HD videos as well as 4K videos at 30 FPS. The front side has got a 2 MP camera that can also do HD videos. A part of Samsung’s S-features, the cameras can do duals-shoot, meaning you can shoot from both the camera in a single video simultaneously. The Note 3 is equipped with 3,200 mAh battery, and 32 GB and 64 GB of on-baord storage options (expandable via microSD card).

Samsung had previously made the phablet to be pre-ordered for Rs 2,000. The device comes in black, white, and pink colour options. Samsung has priced the Note 3 at Rs 49,900 (32 GB) at the launch, along with a data bundle for Vodafone users.

Galaxy Gear smartwatchComing to the Galaxy Gear smartwatch, this is a connected watch that sports a 1.6-inch Super AMOLED for showing all the notifications and some other bits while it’s connected to your Galaxy device. As of now, you can only pair one to a select few Galaxy devices, and get all the supported data right from your wrist. It is also equipped with a 1.9 MP camera on its strap, and a built-in speaker. What else, this watch has got voice control and a Twitter app, too (sixty pre-loaed apps). Weighing about 2.6 ounces, the watch has is powered by a single core 800 MHz SoC, and has got 315 mAh battery and 4 GB of internal storage space.

A few functions it is capable of includes showing missed calls, messages, email alerts, and instant messaging. Once connected with your supported device, you can check your contacts, messages, emails, etc. right from the watch. The smartwatch has been priced at Rs 22,990.

Which of these devices would you buy? Tell us in the comments section below.

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