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The dope on the new iPhones

Apple’s long-awaited iPhone event is done, and here’s what you need to know about the two new iPhones they launched.
by Manik Kakra

The iPhone event was expected to give two new iPhones – iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C. Apple’s new phones will obviously run on its new OS, iOS 7. The OS will be available for iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, and iPhone 5 from September 18, and a little later for iPad and iPod Touch (5th Generation) users. We will cover the OS when it’s out for consumers, but right now, let’s talk what these two new phones have in store for us.

Both the phones have a 4-inch (1136 x 640) screen, and are equipped with Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi a/b/g/n, 3G, and 4G LTE.

iPhone5C-iPhone 5C: Many people were expecting Apple to come out with a cheap model, which was basically due to the ‘C’ in the name. Turns out, this phone is Apple’s first attempt where colours are given some attention. We have seen iPods in loads of colours, and now we have an iPhone that comes in blue, green, pink, white and yellow.

The phone has a polycarbonate (a type of plastic material) body, and has the same internal metallic structure like the iPhone 5, which is no longer available. The hardware inside is pretty much the same as the iPhone 5 – A6 processor, 8 MP camera, and 1.2 MP front camera. The company’s main focus here is on the colour options. Maybe that ‘C’ stands for ‘colour’, and Apple now wants to expand its iPhone portfolio in a different direction.

While the phone will be available on contract, starting September 20, $99 for 16 GB, $199 for 32 GB, there is no official word on its launch in India, but it is expected to cost somewhere around Rs. 37,000 for 16 GB.

iPhone 5S: This is Apple’s new flagship phone. This new iPhone is the first smartphone that comes with 64-bit architecture. What this means is, there’s more raw power, and apps can iPhone5s_now be built on 64-bit platform to run even more smoothly. Powered by A7 SoC, the new iPhone is expected to be more powerful on the graphical side and visual effects.

Also, the iPhone 5S comes with M7 motion co-processor. What it does is, it takes all the load from gyroscope, proximity sensor and accelerometer. So, the co-processor will hopefully make battery last longer without having to put a lot of load on the main SoC.

Another thing the iphone5S brings to the table is the TouchID fingerprint sensor. There is a fingerprint sensor right on the Home button, so you have to press the button with your finger (which has previously registered in the phone), and it will get unlocked. You can change the Touch ID from Settings – a very interesting move from Apple.

Apple has also done quite a few things with the camera. The phone comes with a 1.2 MP front-facing camera, and a better 8 MP (ƒ/2.2) camera, and there’s a lot more in the interface part. You can now shoot 1080p videos at 30FPS, and 720p videos in 120 FPS. Thanks to the dual LED flash on the back, the phone automatically processes the colour temperature, and takes a shot according to light conditions. There are also Burst mode, Panorama mode, and addition of five element lenses in the camera app.

The iPhone 5S comes in Champagne Gold, Space Grey, and white and silver colour options. On contract, it starts from $199 for 16 GB, and goes to $399 for 64 GB. Again, there is no official word on its Indian availability or price.

Apple has also made the iPhone 4S (8 GB) free on contract, along with discontinuing the production of the iPhone 5. Apart from these, Apple also announced shell cases for the iPhone 5C, which cost $29, and the iPhone 5S, which cost $39. These shells are available in black, blue, brown, yellow, and white.

What are your thoughts on the new iPhones? Tell us in the comments section below.

(Feature image courtesy arstechnica.com)

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What’s happening at IFA?

The ongoing Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin trade fair has seen a lot of launches. Here’s a lowdown on all that mattered.
by Manik Kakra

The ongoing IFA trade fair, which is being held from September 6 to 11 this year at Berlin, has revealed a few good things. Here’s presenting a few:

SAMSUNG   

Note 3Note 3: We already knew Samsung’s new Note (see pic on left) is going to be unveiled at IFA, and so it was. Running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, the Note 3 features a 5.7-inch SAMOLED full HD screen, but its size is almost same to the Note II (5.5-inch screen) thanks to that slim bezel. This Samsung device is powered by 2.3 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 chipset (having Adreno 330 GPU) or Samsung’s own 1.9 GHz Exynos octa-core chipset –depending on your market – along with, not 2 GB, but 3 GB of RAM. That’s beefy, right?

On the back, there is a 13 MP camera with dual LED flash, capable of recording full HD videos (60 FPS), while the front boasts a 2 MP camera. Other features include WiFi a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0, A-GPS, and microUSB 3.0, yes, it has 3.0, not 2.0. The phone comes in 32 GB and 64 GB storage options (expandable via microSD), and 3,200 mAh battery. The phone is expected to be launched in a number of markets, including India, within the next two months.

Galaxy Gear smartwatch: Wearable tech is suddenly becoming mainstream news. We have seen quite a few smartwatches (Sony Smartwatch and Pebble) and leaks from various companies. Samsung, too, has come up with one (see pic on right). The Galaxy gear smartwatch is a watch that can wirelessly connect with your tablet or smartphone to give you instant information. This watch Galaxy Gear smartwatchfeatures a 1.63-inch SAMOLED screen, and can be paired with Samsung’s Note 3, Note II, SIII and S4. It gives you notifications right on your palm, so you don’t have to whip out your phone every time. Other functionalities could be detailed once the product is on sale and gets some apps as well.

Note 10.1  2014 Edition: This was probably the least exciting launch from Samsung. The tablet looks a lot like the previous 10.1 tablet, and there isn’t too much to talk about Android on tablets right now. It is powered by the same 1.9 GHz Exynos SoC with 3 GB of RAM. The screen is SAMOLED with a resolution of 2560×1600. Coming in 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB variants, this tablet features an 8 MP rear camera, and 2 MP front-facing camera.

SONY

Xperia Z1: This was yet another smartphone, information about which leaked before the event, and was eagerly awaited by many. The Sony Xperia Z1 runs on Android 4.2, and is powered by the last Snapdragon 800 quad-core chipset, along with 2 GB of RAM. This water-resistant and dust-proof smartphone features a 5-inch full HD TFT screen, and a 207 MP camera (Exmor RS), which is really the USP of this device. It would be interesting to see how it performs as compared to other flagship smartphones from this year.

QX100 and QX10: These are two detachable lenses that can be attached with your iPhone and Android phone. While the QX100 has a 1-inch 20.2 MP Exmor RS sensor, the QX10 has got .2-inch 18.2 MP. Both have Bluetooth and NF connectivity options. Sony has also released their Sdk for better support and uses. We have seen a few such attempts, but not much from a phone company. Would you like a separate lens to get much more out of your smartphone, for those crisp images?

4_SmartWatch_2_Xperia_Z_1Smartwatch 2: Sony’s original Smartwatch didn’t get too many good reviews, but the Smartwatch 2 might just change that. With a 1.6-inch LCD, fully water-proof, the company promises 3 to 4 days of battery life. Connectivity-wise, there is Bluetooth, NFC, and microUSB.

Lenovo Vibe X: This phone sports a 5-inch HD screen, and with its polycarbonate material looks quite different from what we have seen from the Chinese giant so far. Powered by MediaTek’s quad-core chipset and 2 GB of RAM, this Lenovo phone runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. We are still not sure if this phone would make it to other markets.

Toshiba Encore 8.1 Tablet: In a bid to compete against the iPad mini, Toshiba is launching its new Windows 8.1 tablet – Encore. Featuring an 8-inch (1200 x 800) screen, the tablet has got the usual Windows 8 plus new functionalities. Under the hood, there is Intel’s new Bay Trail Atom chip, this tablet does seem competitive as we have not seen many Windows tablets in this form factor.

What are your thoughts so far on what’s being unveiled at IFA? Is it a hit or miss? Anything more you were expecting? Tell us in the comments section below.

(Featured image courtesy Reuters)

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Two spanking new Windows phones

Nokia launched two new WP smartphones in the Indian market yesterday; both will have to compete with low-budget Android phones.
by Manik Kakra

Nokia launched two new Windows smartphones in the Indian market yesterday. The Lumia 625 and 925 are the new additions to its WP lineup.

Let’s first talk about the Lumia 625 (in featured image above). This 3G phone has been priced at Rs 19,999. It features a 4.7-inch (480×800) LCD, a 5 MP rear camera, and a VGA front-facing camera. This mid-range WP handset is powered by the 1 GHz S4 processor, along with 512 MB of RAM. The Lumia 625 packs 2,000 mAh battery and 8 GB of on-board storage (expandable via microSD card).

Probably the best thing about this smartphone is Your Movies. It’s an app that gives you service for free downloading and streaming movies (high quality and standard quality options) for the first three months of buying a Lumia 625. Very nice move by Nokia, right? This phone comes in yellow, orange, green, black and white colours.

Lumia 925On the other hand, the Lumia 925 is Nokia’s new high-end smartphone in the Indian market. It sports a 4.5-inch (1280×768) screen, and is powered by the 1.2 GHz S4 processor, along 1 GB of RAM. On the back, there is an 8.7 MP camera; while the front has got a 1.2 MP (wide angle) camera. It packs 2,000 mAh battery and 16 GB of internal storage (not expandable). The Lumia 925, priced at Rs. 33,490, comes in grey, white, and black colours.

Both these phones pack usual smartphones features, too, like Bluetooth, WiFi, microUSB 2.0, and A-GPS. Apart from these, these Lumia phones also come with pre-loaded Nokia apps and services like Nokia Music, Camera360, HERE Maps, and also give users 7 GB of free storage space on SkyDrive.

After the Lumia 520, 620, 720,820 and 920, these two phones are its latest Windows Phone 8 handsets, which aim at different price-point audiences, while not trying to compromise much on the experience. It will be interesting to see, especially after seeing that budget Android phones have improved over the last one year or so, what consumers choose from here, and whether Windows Phone OS attracts them or not.

Do you won a Windows Phone device? Or do you prefer Android over WP? Do let us know your opinions on this.

(Pictures courtesy Nokia India)

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The best apps for your WP smartphone

Have a Windows phone but not the apps to go with it? Check out our app list to get started.
by Manik Kakra

Announced more than two years ago, the Windows phone has been a refreshing new OS in the smartphone world. The OS is on the third place, and though it still needs lots of apps, services, and improvements, there’s no doubt that Microsoft has got a lot of great applications for users.

This is a list of apps you should definitely try on your shiny new WP handset.

rap dialerRap Dialer: WP has got some decent native apps, but its dialer seems a bit uncooked. Rap Dialer (in pic on left) is what you should try if you feel the same about the stock dialer. Rap Dialer has got a few interesting gestures, and has got features you need from your phone’s dialpad, right there.

The alternative? People Search

Twabbit: If you’ve been using a smartphone for some time, chances are you would be quite active on Twitter. I never really liked the official Twitter app for WP, and I would recommend Twabbit. This app has got a great features list, from streaming, push notifications, image preview, custom theme, to mute filters. This feature-packed app is surely worth an active Twitter user’s bucks.

The alternative? Mehdoh

WhatsApp: I wouldn’t have mentioned it here had the developers not brought about the major update this app required. With the last few updates, this chat client has become much more reliable, and has got much better reviews from what users had to say about it earlier.

The alternative? LINE

UC Browser: In order to get a better Web browsing experience than what the IE10 Mobile offers with its less-than-required number of features, download the UC Browser (see pic on right). This UC browserbrowser has been on the scene since Symbian days, and has got a lot of features in its WP avatar. From offline mode, to custom font and speed dial, this free browser is a worthy addition to your WP tiles.

The alternative? Surfcube

Baconit: Want to check Reddit on the go? Well, Baconit is probably the best Reddit client on WP. It’s fast, well-designed, and has all the features you might need.

The alternative? Baconography

Besides these apps, you should also check out apps like MapmyIndia, MetroTube, 6stagram (coming soon), Wikipedia, Avirall, Camera360, Zomato, Nextgen Reader, 4th & Mayor and games like Gravity Guy, 4 Pics 1 Word, and N.O.V.A. 3. 

Do let us know if we’ve missed out on any of your favourite WP apps, and if any other apps require a mention here.

(Pictures courtesy www.thelostogle.com, www.windowsphone.com, www.funkygadgets9.com)

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The best phablets to buy

As smartphones get bigger and bigger, we compile a list of the five best, value-for-money phablet choices you can make.
by Manik Kakra

For the last two years or so, phone manufacturers have gone from big to bigger smartphones. We have seen smartphone screen sizes go from 3 to 4 inches, and now beyond the 5-inch size. Bigger smartphones, or phablets (phone + tablet), are here to stay, and here are some of the best available today.

Remember, having at least a 5-inch screen (but less than 7-inch) is a must to be considered in this list.

Samsung Galaxy Note II

Samsung Galaxy Note II, Rs 30,000: Samsung’s Note series has been successful — whether it was the Note or the Note II (see pic on left) — consumers have liked Samsung’s Note devices, and the Note II is selling really well. Sporting a 5.5-inch 720p screen, Android 4.1 with TouchWiz U, that has got a lot of extra features from Samsung, this phone has got every base covered for what most smartphone users would like on the move.

LG Optimus G Pro, Rs 36,000: The last 18 months have seen LG’s race back to the top spots of the smartphone race, and why not? They have produced some great devices to get back their mojo, and the Optimus G Pro is one of them. Sporting a 5.5-inch full HD screen and 13 MP rear camera, this LG phone also has Optimus UI, which has a few features just like the Note II with its TouchWiz UI. Some of these are: QuickMemo to take notes quickly with your hand, and QSlide, where you can multitask with two apps open side by side on the screen, among others.

Sony Xperia Ultra Z, Rs 43,000: With its 6.44-inch HD screen, this is the biggest device in the list (see featured image above). Under the hood, this Sony phablet has got the Snapdragon 800 processor, Adreno 330 GPU, along with 2 GB of RAM. On the back, there is an 8 MP EXMOR RS sensor. This is an aggressive device that marks Sony’s entry into the phablet arena.

Huawei Ascend Mate, Rs 23,000: You didn’t see this one coming, right? Well, Huawei has done pretty good in several markets and the Ascend Mate deserves a mention here. With it 6.1-inch 720p screen, this Huawei phablet has got a big 4,050 mAh battery, it could be a solution for your battery woes. Running on Android 4.1 with Huawei’s own quad-core processor under the hood, it is not the best performer in this list, but certainly not a slouch.

HTC Butterfly, Rs 38,000: Released five months ago, this device is the smallest one in our list. Upgradable to Android 4.2, this HTC (see pic on right) boasts a 5-inch full HD screen, and is powered htc butterflyby the Snapdragon S4 Pro processor. Looks-wise, it is a really good HTC device that feels good to hold and is solid to use. With a decent 8 MP camera and Beats Audio, this is a good if you are looking for a not-so-huge phablet experience.

There are a few more available in the market like the Xperia Z, Galaxy Mega 5.8 and 6.3 but we find the above-mentioned devices more. Do let us know your favourite ones, and if you really like this large form factor or not.

(Pictures courtesy www.gospelherald.com, www.htc.com, www.extremetech.com)

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Google could give your TV the smarts

Google’s latest event unveiled new devices and a device that, if it comes to India, could smarten up our TVs.
by Manik Kakra

Google recently held an event centred around its Android operating system. The event was held under the name of Sundar Pichai, Android team head. Google showed not one but two new gizmos – new Nexus 7 and Chromecast. On the software side, it released the new Android version – Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.

New Nexus 7The tablet. Let’s first talk about the tablet. The new Nexus 7 (in pic on left) sports a 7-inch (1200 x 1920) screen, and runs on the latest Android 4.3 OS. It is powered by Qualcomm’s S4 Pro processor with Adreno 320 GPU, along with 2 GB of RAM. On the back, there is a 5 MP camera; and the front has got the same camera from its predecessor. The tablet comes in 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB options with WiFi-only and WiFi + 4G variants, starting from $229 (approx Rs 13,521) and going up to $349 (approx Rs 20,606). As of now, there is no official news on its Indian release or price.

The software. Coming to Android 4.3, Google has brought a lot to the platform with this update, but mainly all under-the-hood stuff. The OS has now got support for 4K videos, yes. Along with better graphics and responsive UI, the OS has also got a new games Play app, which is basically a competitor to Apple’s Game Center on iOS. Other highlights include improved Bluetooth support with lower power requirement; restricted profiles through which you can restrict apps and content consumed by other users using your tablet; tweaked camera app, and more. The OS update is already out for Nexus devices – Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 7, Nexus 10 and Nexus 4, and will be out for Google Play edition devices soon.

Chromecast. The Chromecast was more of a surprising announcement at this event. There were no prior leaks or rumours, and not many saw it coming. What is Chromecast? ChromecastChromecast is a dongle which allow you to play content from your PC, tablet or smartphone to your TV. Plug it in your connected TV, and you can watch your content on it. With this plugged in, you can access YouTube and Netflix, too. It costs $35 (approx Rs 1,4756), and is out of stock already. When we can get it in India, you ask? Well, not any time soon. And above that, there is not much hope that we would see any content for such devices even if they make it to India, in the near future. Having said that, Chromecast, and Apple TV, could well be the next buy for your living room just to make that idiot box a little smarter and more useful.

(Pictures courtesy www.redmondpie.com, gigaom.com, allthingsd.com)

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