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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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The best messaging clients for your smartphone

Love to text people and want to go beyond SMS and WhatsApp? Check out four other cool client messaging options.
by Manik Kakra

With smartphones in our hands or pockets more often than not, it is the best device to stay connected with your near and dear ones. Until recently, SMS was a big part of most people’s phone usage, when messaging apps for user-to-user phone chat started taking their place. Here are the best clients you can install on your smartphone today:

WhatsApp: You saw it coming, right? With the biggest userbase among any such apps, WhatsApp is what most users have installed, and is their go-to app for texting. Active development team, and cross-platform availability, this one is surely among the keepers.

ViberViber: Available for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, BlackBerry, Symbian, this one, along with WhatsApp, enjoys first-to-arrive benefit among these apps. Following the same rule of setting a user’s number as his/her ID, it isn’t much of a hassle to set it up. Users can also call each other through it, though the developers really need to improve the call quality.

LINE: LINE is one of the recent entrants in this list, but is surely here to stay. With over five million users registered in India in about three weeks’ time of its Indian launch, this one could well be your next favourite messaging client. Good call quality, emojis, emoticons, and some really nice stickers, plus a clean and responsive UI are the best things about it. It’s available for Android, iOS, BlackBerry, S40, Windows and Mac OS X.

Tango: You might not have heard its name, but this app got the Best Communication Awards this year. Its call quality – whether voice or video – is impressive, and with the usual text, picture and video-sharing features available, you should try this app once.

Fring: Old, but still relevant. With Fringe, you can not only group chat, but can also conference call with four persons. Great, right? Whether fringlandline (fixed) or mobile phone, you can make free call, mostly.

Apart from these, there are a number of other clients. While iOS has its own native iMessage (along with FaceTime), BlackBerry users have got their beloved BBM, which is soon going to be launched for iOS and Android; Android might get its own client later this year. Other apps worth checking once include Facebook Messenger (with its new Chatheads), SnapChat, which is focused more on image sharing. Nimbuzz, and WeChat.

(Pictures courtesy www.windowsphone.com, play.google.com, beyondthedefaults.com)

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Seven apps for women’s safety

In today’s times, women need some handy help – and it can come via their smartphones, through seven wonderful apps.
by Manik Kakra

Most women must carry a smartphone or tablet with them wherever and whenever they travel. As crimes against women increase all over the country, it is up to women to provide the first ring of security to themselves. Usually, the phone they carry can help establish contact to get immediate aid.

But how can you make sure the device is actually ‘smart’ and useful to you in many more ways than just the conventional ones? Having smart apps is an answer. Let’s take a look at some handy apps and services aimed at women’s safety.

Damini appDamini: Launched after the horrifying Delhi rape case in December 2012, this app allows you to send your location data and video as soon as the person starts the app. You can form a group from your contacts list to whom this app sends data whenever required.

FightBack: Available for almost all smartphone platforms, this app not only uses your phone’s GPS, SMS, and Maps, but also your Facebook account in order to alert your near and dear ones in an emergency.

Cab4me: This is a very useful app even for your day-to-day use. Its database allows you to quickly search through taxi stands near your location and you can book a cab right on it. In case of any emergency, you can quickly glance through your self-made favourite list, so that you can book a cab or inquire about services without wasting too much time looking for a cab on a deserted road. It’s available for Android and iOS.

SafeBridge (also available on Google Play): In case your phone doesn’t have any way to access the Internet at the time, this service has got your covered. It uses safebridge appyour phone’s SMS to send your location quickly to somebody pre-selected from your contact list.

iFollow: This is another smart app. In case you’re running out of time to make a call or do little else, all you have to do is shake your phone thrice and this app will get started. Next, it will make a call to a contact, and further an SMS, if the call doesn’t get answered.

Scream Alarm: As the name suggests, a loud voice comes from your phone as soon as your press the scream button in the app. That’s about it, however.

YWCA-Safety-Alert-Apps-3YWCA Safety Alert: This app not only can make a loud scream from your phone, but can also send your location data as well as email the selected contacts, when you simply shake your phone or tap its alert button.

Apart from these, there are a few apps which send your location data to a particular contact stored on your device, such as SafeTrac and inE.

(Pictures courtesy yourstory.in, play.google.com, itunes.apple.com, techtips9.com)

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Tech

The best tablets to buy

Looking to buy a tablet, but confused about specs and prices? We’ve got a handy list to get you sorted.
by Manik Kakra

In the last four years, tablets have taken consumer technology by storm. Be it Apple’s dominant iPad, or Android’s vast options, the gizmo is surely been talked about, and its effect is visible. Be it slow PC sale or the smartphone’s shift to larger screens, tablets are here to stay. Here are some of the best tablets to choose from:

Apple iPad 4, Rs 31,000 to Rs 51,000: No surprise here, right? Apple’s iPad 4 is arguably the best tablet available out there. It has got the looks, a beautiful 9.7-inch retina screen, and hardware inside to make performance and gaming smooth on it. Plus, there are tons of quality iOS apps to install. The iPad 4, available in black and white colour options, comes in WiFi and WiFi + 3G variants with three storage options. It starts from Rs 31,000 and goes up to Rs 51,000 for WiFi + 3G 64 GB variant.

Apple iPad Mini, Rs 21,800 to Rs 41,000: Ever since Apple released the mini version of its tablet, consumers have shown how much they want this form factor. Having all the IOS apps made for tablets, the form factor and convenience make this tablet a hot seller. Sporting a 7.9-inch (1024 x 768) screen, this tablet, too, comes in 3G and WiFi-only variants.

asus-nexus-7ASUS Nexus 7, Rs 14,000 to Rs 21,000: If you want an Android tablet right now, this is the one to get. Having stock Android and the tablet, which made Android’s apps story serious on the tablet side, it comes with a 7-inch (1280 x 800) screen. This is a feature-packed tablet without too much fuss. Starting from Rs 14,000 for WiFi-only 8 GB variant, and going up to Rs 21,000, the Nexus 7 is surely a value-for-money tablet.

Sony Xperia Z Tablet, Rs 44,000 (approx): Sony’s tablet is the one you should consider if you are looking for good looks as well as a big screen. This tablet boasts a quad-core processor and a great 10.1-inch (1920 x 1024) screen, and it runs on Android 4.1. In fact, it is also water resistant and dust proof, so you don’t have to worry too much about its handling.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (P3110), Rs 9,300: If you are going to buy your first tablet and don’t want to spend too much, this samsung-galaxy-tab-2could be a good option for you. Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 2 runs on Android 4.1, has a 3 Mp rear camera, VGA front-facing camera, and it features a 7-inch (1026 x 600) screen. It has WiFi and Bluetooth for connectivity. This is the cheapest tablet on our list.

(Pictures courtesy gadgets.ndtv.com, www.engadget.com, mobiles.pricedekho.com)

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All you need to know about Apple’s WWDC 2013

Three major developments in the recently concluded Apple WWDC at San Francisco will change the way we use our iDevices.
by Manik Kakra

Apple’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference (WWDC) is a well-known developer conference, especially in the mobile space. Every year, Apple invites (a limited number, paid) developers to attend the event live in their building and get to meet the new Mac OS X and iOS versions, along with new hardware and other announcements, at times.

The first day of this year’s WWDC, which is always the most exciting one where they announce all the major bullet points, saw Apple showcasing some major additions and changes to its operating systems. Here are the biggest news stories that came out:

iOS-7-on-iPhone-4S-WWDC-2013The new iOS iteration – iOS7: As soon as Jony Ive was given the chief role of iOS, it was rumoured that the next version of iOS is going to be very different and the biggest change to come to the iOS. Indeed, it is. The new iOS is refreshingly different, and looks almost nothing like iOS6. Apple has gone away with a lot of traditional iOS palettes here. Apple has taken a lot of ‘inspiration’ from other OSes here.

First, there’s better multitasking where the OS itself identifies which are the apps that the users uses the most and which require to be available instantly from the multitasking view. Interestingly, the multitasking view (app switching page) looks a lot like WP’s, which was taken from webOS.

Secondly, iOS also has Control Center for all your device controls (like WiFi switch, brightness, and more), has now got translucency overlaying (what’s underneath it) for better context. You can swipe up from the bottom of your phone’s screen to bring up Control Center. Swipe down from the top of the screen to bring up Notification Center, which is also available from the lock screen, shows more details now, with its three tabs – Today, All and Missed.

iOS 7 also brings AirDrop to iPhone. With Airdrop, users can share files with other iOS users over WiFi network or Bluetooth. One critical feature added with iOS 7 is the Activation lock. Any time, if you lose your iDevice, you can remotely wipe off your data completely from the phone, using your Apple ID. Besides the icons with a new UI, this update brings several improvements like iTunes Radio (which works like Spotify and Pandora), new Weather app, flash light, Newsstand (can be added into a folder), new Safari browser, and more.

The iOS 7 Beta build is already seeding out to developers. Users with an iPhone 4 and higher, iPad 2 and higher, iPod Touch 5G and iPad Mini will get this upgrade, but those who don’t have the latest generation devices will only get some of the new features along with the new UI.

New OS X – Mavericks: The Mac OS X version names will now be city-based, and this starts with Mavericks, which is a California-based term. The new operating systems brings a lot OS X Mavericksof change – tabs have been introduced, through which you can tab multiple Finder Tabs for less clutter on your desktop. Mavericks also adds iBooks to OS X, as well as Tags, which are aimed for better organising of your files on PC as well as cloud. Apart from big bug fixes and performance improvements, the new OS also has iCloud keychain for password management, credit card information, etc.; new Calendar app; and interactive Notifications.

Developers are already getting Developer Preview of the new OS, and users will get this uprade coming fall.

macbook-air-11-inch-002New Mac Pro and MacBook Air: The only major hardware news to come out was of the new Mac Pro and MacBook Air. The new Mac Pro comes with the brand new Haswell ULT chip, and boasts a stylish, cylindrical chassis. It is smaller than the previous Mac Pro, and will start shipping later this year. It comes with dual GPUs, new thunderbolt ports, can handle three desktop monitors, and is capable of playing two 4K videos at once. The new MacBook Air, Apple claims, gives a 12-hour battery life without any performance hiccups. While not many Apple users have them, Apple also introduced AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule with 802.11ac support.

(Pictures courtesy www.onlinegadgetstore.com, www.foxnews.com, www.technobuffalo.com, www.technobuffalo.com)

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