Hans Gogia

by Hans Gogia • July 23, 2013

After the disappointment from Micromax with the Canvas 4, there are rumours that Micromax is planning for something big this time. MMXNewscaster the source for all Micromax leaks recently tweeted “Next: Micromax Canvas A240. #StayTuned”. Analysing this tweet we can infer that the next Micromax Canvas model which Micromax is currently working on will have model number A240 alike Canvas 4 which has A210.

Micromax

There are rumours that the next Canvas model will feature the latest octa-core chipset from MediaTek MT65892 which is known to exist. Recent reports tell us that the new octa-core MediaTek chipsets are expected to arrive by the end of this month and if it proves to be true then our hopes to the octa-core budget smartphone lives in.

The Canvas 4 though pictured itself as a budget alternative to Samsung Galaxy S4 with some similar features lacking the octa-core performance but still was not able to surprise the public which expected it to be the first smartphone using MediaTek updated quad-core chipsets with Turbo boost. MediaTek MT6589T which boasts up to 1.5GHz pushing up benchmark test results a little more higher is an improvement over MT6589, the chipset in Canvas 4, Canvas HD and most of the other budget smartphones by Karbonn, Lava, Zen, Xolo and maybe some more.

GizChina expects the first MediaTek chipset octa-core smartphone to launch sometime before December this year but Micromax better hurry up before anyone else take this oppurtunity to stand back in the competition. Another possibility is having a big screen which has been now trending these days as phablets market share is constantly rising up.

We expect Canvas A240 to have:

MT65892 Octa-core chipset
5-inch full HD display
2GB RAM
Android 4.2

What do you think? It will be fun to see how these rumours come out to be, stay with us for more updates.

Source : Daily Bhaskar

Smartphone

ZTE Launches Six Budget Smartphones In India

by Hans Gogia • July 20, 2013

ZTE corporation recently made its arrival in the Indian sub-continent and now after 2 months they have launched six smartphones and four 3G datacards in India on 19th July 2013 at an event in Mumbai. With the arrival of chinese mobile giants in the country like Gionee, Lenovo, Huawei and now ZTE we have a wide range of devices for customers to choose from but what it matters is performance and pricing.

The company launched four mid-range handsets in Blade series, one in high-end and one in low-end counting it to be total of six.

ZTE Grand X Quad Lite

ZTE Grand X Quad Lite is the flagship device from ZTE perfectly priced for the Indian market. The specifications are almost the same what other budget smartphone manufacturers are offering with 5-inch display. The complete specifications are as follows:

5 inch qHD 960×540 touchscreen
9.6 mm thick, 170g weight
1.2 GHz Quad Core processor with 1 GB RAM
4 GB internal memory with 32 GB micro SD support
BesAudEnh audio support
5 MP rear facing camera with AF and 720p video recording 0.3 MP front facing camera
Dual SIM with one SIM 3G and the other EDGE, bluetooth, WiFi and GPS
2500 mAH battery
Android 4.2 JellyBean
Price: ₹14,999

Coming to the mid-range Blade series, ZTE has 4 smartphones priced between 12,599 to 7,599 INR

ZTE Blade L

Arranging in the price one first is the Blade L with 5-inches WVGA display. Complete specifications are as below.

5.0 inch WVGA 800×480 display
10.5mm thick, 200 gms weight
1.2 GHz Dual Core processor with 512 MB RAM
4 GB Internal Memory with micro SD cards upto 32 GB
5 MP AF rear camera with single LED flash, 720p video recording, 0.3 MP VGA Front facing camera
3G, WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS, DUAL SIM. Only one SIM will work with 3G.
Android 4.0 ICS
Price: ₹12,599

ZTE Blade G2

Next in the series is Blade G2 cutting down price and screen size from the Blade L. Technical specifications are as below:

4.5 inch 854×480 display
9.9mm thick, 145g weight
1.2 GHz quad core processor with 512 MB RAM
4 GB internal memory with micro SD card slot support, upto 32 GB
5 MP AF rear camera with 720p video and 0.3 MP front facing camera
BesAudEnh support
Bluetooth, WiFi, 3G with Dual SIM. Only one SIM will work with 3G.
Android 4.1 Jellybean
2000 mAH battery
Price: ₹11,599

ZTE Blade E

After G2 comes ZTE Blade E for 11,999 with some changes as compared to the predessor Blade G2. It features:

4.5 inch 854×480 resolution IPS LCD
11mm thick and 140g weight
1.2 GHz Quad Core processor with 512 MB RAM
5 MP rear facing camera with 720p video recording and 0.3 MP front facing camera
4 GB of internal memory with 32 GB micro SD support
Bluetooth, WiFi, Dual SIM with one SIM HSPA 3G.
1600 mAH battery
Android 4.1 JellyBean
Price: ₹11,999

ZTE Blade C

Blade C is a low end offering that comes at a cheaper price. The complete specifications are –

4 inch WVGA 800×480 display
11.9mm thick, 130g weight
1 GHz Dual Core processor with 512 MB RAM
4 GB internal storage with 32 GB micro SD card support
3 MP fixed focus rear camera with 720p video recording
Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, DUAL SIM with 1 3G and the other EDGE
1600 mAH battery
Android 4.1 Jellybean
Price: ₹7,599

ZTE Kis Flex

And lastly the Kis Flex which is the cheapest in the range and is targeted for first time smartphone users. Its complete specifications are :

3.5 inch QVGA 320×240 display
1 GHz processor with 256 MB RAM
512 MB internal memory with micro SD cards support upto 32 GB
2 MP fixed focus rear camera
Dual SIM, with 3G on primary SIM
WiFi, 3G, Bluetooth and GPS
Price: ₹5,799

All these smartphones doesn’t seem to impress us but we shall get more details once we have review. So till keep checking our blog.

Smartphone

WickedLeak launches Full HD Android Wammy Passion Z+ in India for Rs. 15,990

by Hans Gogia • July 19, 2013

WickedLeak Inc has announced their latest addition to the quad-core category – Wammy Passion Z+ on 16th July 2013. Wammy Passion Z+ is the first smartphone to be out in the market with MediaTek MTK6589T processors that are clocked at 1.5Ghz rather than the previous 1.2GHz series.

Features:

Wammy Passion Z+ sports a Super Clear 5-inch Full HD IPS display with scratch resistant Dragon Trail Glass ( OGS ) with the updated MediaTek MTK6589 Turbo quad-core 1.5GHz processors. It comes with 1GB RAM and dual sim capability with one of the sim having 3G access. It also features a 13MP rear camera with LED flash with BSI sensor and 2MP front facing camera. It has 4GB internal memory which can be expanded up to 64GB via microSD card slot. Wammy Passion Z+ is powered by a 2500 mAh battery to backup this device. It could not be called a phablet because 5inch devices genrally are quoted as smartphones these days.

Specifications at a glance:

Super Clear 5-inch Full HD display
1.5GHz Mediatek Quad-core processor MTK6589 Turbo
1GB RAM
4GB internal memory
13MP rear camera with BSI sensor and 2MP front camera
2500 mAh battery
Android 4.2.2
3G / WiFi / Bluetooth

Wammy Passion Z+ has been priced at ₹15,990. WickedLeak has started taking pre-orders for the device since 16th July 2013 and the expected availability date is 25 July 2013.

Comparison:

At this price point, we think no one is better than Wammy Passion Z+ till now. Reason being it has the 1.5GHz MediaTek Turbo processor and it runs on Android 4.2.2 and it has full HD display with OGS. Nothing can beat that till now. But we still don’t have any takes on performance because we need to test the device before commiting. We have tested Zen Mobiles Ultrafone 701 HD and Lava Iris 504q which gave the best performance at their pricing. If Wammy stands out in this competition it will undoubtedly be the champion until other manufacturers come out with their updated products.

Laptop, Tablet PC

HP Announces Intel and Nvidia Powered New Generation Personal Computers In India

by Hans Gogia • July 17, 2013

Hewlett-Packard today on 17th July 2013 in India announced the launch of six new products which shall form the basis for next generation personal computers. Updated with Intel 4th generation processors and the latest Nvdia Tegra 4 chipsets, HP launched two Android and four Windows 8 running devices to provide mobility without compromising performance.

In the Android category, HP announced the HP SlateBook x2 which is a Android running tablet cum laptop. The SlateBook x2 has a removable screen which gives user an access to tablet and a notebook at the same time. With the advanced magnetic hinges and dual battery system – one in the tablet and one in the base, users can totally rely on this while on the go.

Slatebook is powered by Nvdia Tegra 4 chipset on a 10.1-inch touchscreen display which give users a pleasant experience to work with. The SlateBook x2 also includes up to 64 GB of storage and DTS Sound+ Solution for accessing and enjoying media content. The HP SlateBook x2 shall be available in India at a price of ₹39,990

Another Android powered device is HP Slate ALL-in-One which offers a 21.5inch Full HD IPS touchscreen display with wide viewing angles to enjoy music and videos with family and friends that too with the power of Android applications. HP Slate All-in-One comes with the dual-band technology which makes simultaneous media streaming and browsing at ease. It also has DTS Sound technology built-in which makes this experience joyful. It comes pre-installed with an HP TrueVision HD Webcam and Wireless Direct allowing users to share videos, photos and data between devices without the need for a network connection, and multi-user support with the latest Android OS Jelly Bean 4.2. It too is powered by a Nvdia Tegra 4 chipset maximizing performance with entertainment. HP Slate21 All-in-One is priced at ₹24,990.

Alike the SlateBook x2, HP also announced a similar tablet cum laptop with magnetic hinges and dual battery system but running Windows 8 and powered by Intel 4th generation processors. The HP Split x2 offers an sleek design with a soft-touch coating that provides a comfortable hold without being a fingerprint magnet. It features exclusive HP innovations such as a 2-megapixel HP TrueVision Full HD(2) webcam and the HP ClickPad for precise multifinger and gesture navigation. The base when connected with the tablet not only provides extended battery but also expands the storage capacity. With 13.3 inch HD display and Beats Audio, HP Split x2 gives an ultramobile solution for people on the move. The HP Split x2 is priced at ₹64990.

Windows 8 without touch is not Windows 8 and that’s why HP build an intuitive touch experience in its new product lineup.
HP announced two more Windows 8 products namely HP ENVY Rove, HP Pavillion 11 TouchSmart Notebook and HP ENVY TouchSmart 14 Ultrabook.

HP ENVY Rove All-in-One PC is the company’s first of its kind. ENVY Rove features a 20-inch IPS HD+ (1600×900) LED backlit touchscreen display with wide-viewing angles and crisp graphics. It can easily move from upright to completely horizontal for a tabletop entertainment experience. HP ENVY Rove is powered by 4th Generation Intel core processors with Intel HD Graphics and Beats Audio providing a rich immersive experience to play with. It is priced at ₹69,990.

Another entrant to this new generation lineup is the HP Pavillion 11 TouchSmart Notebook. It is HP’s one of the affordable touch notebook till now priced at ₹31,990. It features a 11.6inch capacitive touch screen display with powerful quad-core processor and graphics keeping it thin and light keeping portability in mind. It binds sophistication and style with its two-tone look that features an Ano silver lid finish which opens to reveal a midnight black metal interior.

Lastly, the HP ENVY TouchSmart 14 Ultrabook that features power with style. HP ENVY TouchSmart 14 is designed for the providing best audio output available on a PC with dual speakers, and a subwoofer. People can get upto 9 hours of battery life with incredible graphics by NVIDIA and 2GB of video memory. The product is priced at ₹64,990.

Smartphone

BlackBerry launches Q5 in India for 24,990INR

by Hans Gogia • July 16, 2013

BlackBerry the king of qwerty handsets today on 16th July 2013 launched their latest entrant to the BlackBerry 10 smartphone series and the budget friendly – BlackBerry Q5 at an event in New Delhi. Q5 is the cheapest BB10 running handset available out there which provides an awesome qwerty experience as is the best alternative to Q10, company’s high profile smartphone.

BlackBerry Q5 features an awesome qwerty keyboard which provides one of the best typing experience with an youthful design. It also has a 3.1 inches touchscreen display which makes it for the BB10 gestures and provide best of both worlds in one device. BlackBerry Q5 comes with the BlackBerry 10.1 software upgrade pre-installed with all the BB10 features like Time Shift, BlackBerry Hub, Story Maker, BBM and the other 120,000 applications from the BlackBerry World which shall be compatible with the Q5 as well.

BlackBerry aims this model especially to the youth who want BBM, qwerty keyboard with some really cool colors. Q5 will be available in Pure Black, Pure White and Pure Red color options for 24,990 from authorized retailers in India from 20th July 2013.

After Z10 and the Q10 and their highly incorrect pricing, we think though BlackBerry managed to go down but still Q5 is pricey. Something kind of 9220 here could have done the magic but sigh they lost it once again. BlackBerry Q5 no doubt is a good smartphone which even though being at the lower end feels premium but 25k for this hardware and software combo is too vague for targeting the youth. At a similar price point, we can have some top notch Android smartphones which could be a better value for money for example even today S3 not to forget which was smartphone of the year 2012 comes for about this much price can be a better deal.
In the same price window we can get Huawei Ascend Mate the 6.1 inch Android running phablet with powerful specification packed inside for 25 grands to combine performance, design and size if one is looking for such handsets. Other than this we have the Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 for ₹23,699 or the Nokia Lumia 820 for 21k running the Windows Phone 8.

Smartphone

Xolo Play T1000 Powered By Nvdia Tegra 3 Processor launched In India For 15,999INR

by Hans Gogia • July 15, 2013

After some rumors Xolo finally unveiled its plan for a gaming smartphone powered by a Tegra 3 processor which we expected to arrive sometime this quarter but not this soon. Earlier this month following the rumor Xolo started the pre-bookings of the handset in association with an e-commerce portal. It was declared that the smartphone shall be launched on 15 July and here it is for ₹15,999.

Xolo Play T1000 is the company’s first Nvdia powered Tegra 3 processor smartphone aimed to provide its patrons with mobile gaming experience at an affordable price point. Xolo Play sports a 4.7-inch HD capacitive touch screen IPS display with 1280 x 720 pixels resolution based on one glass solution (OGS) technology. It features a 1.5 GHz quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor with 416 MHz 12 Core NVIDIA ULP GeForce GPU and runs on Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean mobile operating system. It has 1GB of RAM and 4GB of internal memory with an expandable option up to 32 GB via a microSD card slot. It comes with a 8MP BSI sensor primary camera with LED flash and 2MP front-facing secondary camera and runs on a 2000 mAh battery. On the connectivity front the device features single-SIM card slot with 3G , Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS/ AGPS support.

The smartphone having Tegra processor comes bundled with an application by Nvidia itself which is the Tegra Zone that would let users search and install Tegra optimized games on their Android. Tegra processor and battery issues though run hand-in hand but Xolo Play shall give 11.2 hours of talk time on 2G and up to 9 hours on 3G under nominal usage conditions.

Xolo Play T1000 is available for purchase online via xolo.in and other retailing web-sites and shall hit the shelves soon across the country.

Xolo Play at this price point will definitely face a huge competition from the budget android market with Canvas 4 and Karbonn Titanium S9 or even Lava Iris 504q from the parent company itself. Most of the features that is quad-core processor, HD display, 1GB RAM, 4GB internal memory, 8MP BSI sensor camera are exactly the same with the prominent difference between the SoC used. Though the rest run on MediTek MT6589 SoC and this on Tegra 3 but now the general public knows about the pros and cons of Tegra chipsets which primarily include battery woes, overheating and undoubtedly better gaming experience than MediaTek inbuild GPU. Let’s see how well the market accepts another struggler in this already stagnated scenario.

How To

[How To] Speed Up Samsung Galaxy Grand TouchWiz UI

by Hans Gogia • July 13, 2013

Samsung Galaxy Grand – the Dual SIM standby to be phablet from Samsung at a very reasonable price point. Even though it comes under the category of reasonable cost, it still is counted in high end dual SIM. Featuring 5-inch LCD screen with 480×800 screen resolution and dual-core processor with 1 GB RAM and 4 GB internal memory, Galaxy Grand still proves the hatred towards TouchWix UI by the general public. But the fact is Grand owners have to live with this because even xda forums does not have any ROM alternatives.

If this helps any better we have got some tips to decrease the lag and help improve the performance of the Galaxy Grand. We will disable the double-tap to home key S-voice shortcut and animations to speed up the UI.