Micromax to launch 4G and windows based smartphones

Micromax has revealed that the next phase that they are working on is 4G support and Windows based devices. Probably by end of 2013, you might see some of the Micromax devices supporting 4G and some running on WP8 OS.

Micromax had launched the canvas 4yesterday and I believe that it did not go as well as they might have expected. Rahul Sharma, MMX Co-founder stated that they are waiting for the 4G services to be easily accessible. As of now there are limited 4G services in India. Micromax will launch 4G devices (handsets as well as dongles) once the ecosystem is ready.

A Windows Phone 8 powered handset from Micromax, would be interesting, and even more if they can make it more affordable for consumers. Well MMX is working on that and probably future phones and tablets with 4G / WP8 might get affordable.

Blu Life one and Blu Life play for Rs. 16000 and Rs. 14000

Blu life series namely the Blu Life One and Play will be available in India for a price tag of Rs. 16,000 and Rs. 14,000 respectively. The handsets will be available in India via AndroidGuruz.

This 8.9mm super thin handset is price at Rs. 16,000. It is powered by 1.2GHz MT6589 quad core processor running Android 4.2 OS. The 5 inch IPS screen with Corning Gorilla Glass 2 protection supports 1280×720 pixels resolution.

The 13MP rear auto focus camera also comes with macro mode. There is a 5MP front camera too. Full HD videos can be recorded at 30fps. The RAM is 1GB and internal storage is 16GB. Other features are 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth.

Blu Life Play
This handset is with a 4.6 inch touchscreen with HD resolution (1280×720 pixels). It is powered by 1.2GHz quad core processor with 1GB RAM and 4GB internal storage. The handset sails on Android 4.2 OS with 8MP rear camera with flash and 2MP front camera. Other features are 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. The Blu Life Play is 7.8mm thick.

These Blu handsets will be sold by AndroidGuruz and probably will be available by end of this month.

Karbonn A50 android handset with 2G support for Rs. 3999

Karbonn Mobiles does it again, launches single core Karbonn A50 a low cost android phone for a price tag of Rs. 3,999 running on Android 2.3 OS with 2G support and 3MP rear camera. This handset comes with a 3.5 inch screen with 480×320 pixel resolution.

Karbonn A50 sails on 1GHz single core processor. It’s a low spec handset with limited memory 256MB and about 163 MB of internal storage (user available). There is a camera of 3MP resolution placed on the rear with LED support and a front VGA camera.

The A50 is 12.3mm thick. Other features are 2G (3G is not supported), Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The handset runs on Android 4.0 powered by a 1300 mAh battery. There is no built in GPS.

Karbonn A50 key features and specifications

• Dual SIM GSM+GSM with dual standby mode.
• 1GHz single core processor.
• 3.5 inch TFT screen with HVGA (480×320 pixels) resolution.
• Android 2.3 Gingerbread.
• 256MB RAM, 512MB storage of which 163MB is available for user) and micro SD support up to 32GB.
• 3MP FF rear camera with flash support. Front VGA camera.
• 2G (EDGE/GPRS), Wi-Fi (b/g/n), Bluetooth, 3.5mm audio jack and micro USB port.
• Sensors: G-Sensor and Proximity.
• 1300 mAh battery with up to 5 hours of talk-time.
• Price Rs. 3,999

Gionee Elife E5 with 1.5GHz quad core and 6.8mm thickness launched for Rs. 19999

Gionee Elife E5 also being sold as Gionee GPLUS E5 will now be available in India for Rs 19,999. This is with MediaTek quad core chipset clocked at 1.5GHz with Super AMOLED screen and is just 6.85mm thick.

I did get some comments about the Gionee GPLUS E5 (launched in China) from some users a few days back. The GPLUS series is not used by Gionee India or China, in fact GPLUS is a different brand in China and probably Gionee provides the handset or is a partner. But now the official press release from Gionee does confirm the E5 model, it’s the same but named as Gionee Elife E5 in India.

The handset is powerful something what we are expecting  MT6589T, but the key USP is the thickness which is just 6.85mm. The 4.8 inch screen is with 1280×720 pixels with Super AMOLED technology. RAM is 1GB and internal storage is 16GB.

The handset runs on Jelly Bean 4.2 OS with 5MP front camera and a 8MP rear camera with BSI sensor and LED flash. The front camera can also record full HD videos. Other features are 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth. The battery is 2000 mAh. Consumers are also waiting for the Gionee Elife E6. The E5 was suddenly announced, it seems Gionee were waiting for the Micromax Canvas 4 details.

Gionee Elife E5 key features and specifications

• It seems like a single SIM smartphone.
• Android 4.2 OS with OTA upgrade.
• MT6589T quad core processor clocked at 1.5GHz with PowerVR SGX 544 MP GPU.
• 1GB RAM, 16GB storage. Not sure if it has external SD card slot. Probably to maintain the slimness it is made single SIM and they might have removed the SD card slot.
•  4.8 inch HD Super AMOLED screen (1280×720 pixels).
• 8MP rear AF camera with BSI sensor + 5MP front camera. Full HD video recording and playback is supported.
• 3G, Wi-Fi (b/g/n), Bluetooth 4, GPS, micro USB, FM radio, DTS, 3D surround sound and 3.5mm audio jack.
• Sensors: G-Sensor, light, proximity and magnetic.
• Battery 2000 mAh (not sure if its removable).
• Price Rs. 19,999.

Micromax A210 Canvas 4 CAN (and does) Disappoint

Micromax created a lot of hype by not disclosing the specs and the price of Micromax Canvas 4 handset. Consumers were expecting something better than the Micromax A116 instead it’s the same stuff with some modified features.

I had written an article on wiko heaven stairway that looked exactly similar to the Canvas 4 and surprisingly the specs are almost similar. It’s an OEM model other brands (worldwide) may be rebranding it like Wiko, Micromax and probably some more.

But the fact is Canvas 4 is a big disappointment. We were expecting a MediaTek turbo version. But unfortunately it with the same hardware that powers the MMX A116. The IPS screen is 5 inches with tru-HD resolution. There is a 13MP camera on rear and a front 5MP. It’s dual SIM with dual standby mode. Micromax is also giving a free flip cover.

About 11,000 consumers had pre-booked the Micromax A210 and I guess many of them will hit the refund button. The kind of specs the A210 Canvas 4 has it should be priced 1K to 1.5K more than the Micromax A116.

Micromax A210 Canvas 4 key features and specifications

• Dual SIM with Dual Standby.
• 1.2GHz MT6589 quad core with PowerVR SGX 544 MP.
• 5 inch IPS True HD screen with 1280x720p. Corning Gorilla Glass.
• Android 4.2.1.
• 8.9mm thick.
• 1GB RAM, 16GB storage (2.4GB for apps and 10GB as phone storage) and micro SD support 32GB.
• 13MP rear AF camera with LED flash + 5MP front camera with video call support. Full HD recording and playback.
• 3G, 2G, Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth 4, Micro USB and 3.5mm audio jack.
• Sensors: G-Sensors, proximity, light.
• Smart Gestures : Upside silent, proximity dial / answer.
• Battery : 2000mAh with up to 8 hours talktime.
• Price : 17,999. (With  free Aluminum Flip cover with Surface Touch technology, worth Rs. 2999/-). So without flip it should be 15K?

As mentioned the pricing should be close to A116 and there was no need to create such a hype with such specs. Karbonn S6, Ginoee E6 and the iBerry Auxus Nuclea N1 seems a better option for the price.

Xolo Play T1000 shows up on Flipkart for Rs. 15999 (Pre-order)

Xolo Play also called the Xolo T1000 is now listed on the Flipkart website for Rs. 15,999. This is an NVIDIA Tegra powered handset with 4.7 inch HD screen and 8MP rear camera with full HD recording.

Micromax Canvas 4 was a big disappointment for many users. I believe many of those who had initially pre-booked the MMX A210 might have already cancelled the order and will be looking out for more options.

There is the Gionee E6, iBerry Auxus Nuclea N1 and the Xolo Play T1000 that are with better hardware and a good option if priced accordingly. The Auxus Nuclea N1 is price at Rs. 15,990 and the Xolo Play as we know now is for Rs. 15,999. The Gionee ELife E6 price is not yet confirmed.

Xolo Play T1000 is loaded with 1.5GHz NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad core processor coupled with GeForce 12 core GPU from NVIDIA (416MHz). The Multi touch OGS screen is 4.7 inches with HD resolution. The 8MP camera on the rear with BSI sensor can record full HD videos and the front camera of 2MP supports video call.

Handset is 10.4mm thick and weight is 167 grams. Play T1000 runs on Android 4.1.1 with 1GB RAM and 4GB internal storage. Other features are 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth. Battery is of a modest 2000 mAh with up to 9 hours talktime on 3G.

The Xolo Play T1000 for Rs. 15,999 can be pre-ordered from Flipkart. The handset will be available by 3^rd week of July.

Spice Mi-496 coolpad 2 with quad core processor and qHD screen for Rs. 9499

Spice Coolpad 2 Mi-496 is another affordable quad core handset with a price tag under Rs. 10K (Rs. 9,499). The Spice Mi-496 is with 4.5 inch qHD screen and 5MP rear camera.

All of these low cost handsets with quad core processor come with slightly under powered GPU. Though the performance is good enough, these handsets cannot record full HD videos. But these specs do have an impact on the price tag bringing it down to under Rs. 10K.

The Spice Mi-496 comes with 4.5 inch TFT LCD screen with 960×540 pixels resolution. It is a dual SIM handset with 3G support. Android 4.1 Jelly Bean runs the show with 1GB RAM and 4GB storage. A 5 megapixel auto focus camera is on the back with LED flash. Unfortunately there is no front camera.

Other common features included are 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth. The battery is of 1700 mAh capacity.  This handset is listed on Saholic and now available. There are other model like the Spice Mi-491 and the Spice Mi-495 that are priced at 7,999 and 11,600 respectively, however both these models are with dual core processor.

Spice Mi-496 CoolPad 2 key features and specifications

• Dual SIM with Dual Standby mode.
• 1.2GHz quad core processor (chipset unknown, probably – QUALCOMM).
•  1GB RAM, 4GB internal storage and micro SD card slot.
• Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean OS.
• 4.5 inch LCD TFT screen with 960×540 pixels (qHD) resolution.
• 5MP rear AF camera with flash. There is no front camera.
• 3G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS with A-GPS, micro USB and 3.5mm audio jack.
• Sensors: G-Sensor, light and proximity.
• Battery : 1700 mAh.
• Price Rs. 9,499

Magicon Q50 UlltraSmart Magnus with dual core processor launched for Rs. 8000

Magicon has launched the Q50 UlltraSmart Magnus that looks much like the UMI S1for Rs. 7,999.  This is a dual core handset with 2MP rear camera.

Though the specs, 1GHz dual core, looks and the price may be of interest to many, however do note that this handset does not support 3G network. It is a dual SIM handset with 2G Support (EDGE/GPRS). The Magicon UlltraSmart Q50 runs on the ICS OS version 4.0.4 with 512MB RAM and user storage of about 200 MB. There is micro SD slot that supports 32GB card.

The touchscreen display is 5 inches with 800×480 pixel resolution. There are dual cameras a front VGA and a rear fixed focus camera of 2MP resolution. The battery is of 1650 mAh capacity. Other features are Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, micro USB and 3.5mm audio jack.

The Magicon Q50 will be available in black and white colour options for a price of Rs. 7,999. The handset competes with Spice Mi-491, Micromax A92 and Intex Z5 cloudto name a few.

Definitely not a good buy, you can get better deal for the price with 3G.

AndroidGuruz to sell Blu Mobiles in India

Blu Mobiles founded in 2009 is one of the fastest growing phone manufacturers in the World. If AndroidGuruz is to be believed we will soon see the Blu mobiles in the Indian markets.

The Micromax Canvas 4 is indeed the Blu Life One and probably Micromax and Wiko are re-branding it. When the canvas 4 was announced many users pointed out that it was the Blu Life One handset but the image that was floating around was a little different than what MMX had shown in their video.  Here is the image. If you compare it with MMX Canvas 4 the cuts (near the button) are on the opposite site.

However I have a Blu presentation file (PPT) and I can confirm the Blu Life is the Canvas 4. The picture is exactly identical to the canvas 4 with identical cuts, except for an extra button below the power button. The wiko heaven stairway is still the best match. I guess the life one image that many users were pointing to when canvas 4 was announced was probably a different model, or Blu made some design changes, or customized it as per the orders.

Well the good news (if it is true) is that Blu Mobiles may soon be available in India via AndroidGuruz.  As per the latest info you may soon be able to experience / buy UMI and other handsets from themobilestore.in. AndroidGuruz is also working with Salora who will handle the after sales / service issues in India.  Blu life one will be priced at Rs. 16000 & Blu life play at Rs. 14,000.

Gionee Elife E6 launched with MT6589T processor for over Rs. 25000

Gionee Elife E6 has just been launched in China. The Elife E6 is powered by MT6589T quad core processor and sports a 5 inch full HD screen. The specs are good however the price in China is 2699 Yuan that comes to approx Rs. 26K in India.

The Gionee Elife E6 automatically became the next looked out phone after the Micromax canvas 4 that failed to impress. Gionee had recently launched the Gionee Elife E5 that is priced at Rs. 19,999 that too seem a bit pricy. The recently launched Gionee Elife series have crossed the affordability barrier and the E6 at over Rs. 25K seems too much.

The handset runs on Jelly Bean OS with 2GB RAM. The internal storage is a good 32 GB however there is no external SD card support. The battery is said to be built in (non-removable). There are dual cameras 13MP / 5MP. This is a single SIM handset (micro SIM slot), the slot is present on the right side it’s similar to as found on the Nexus 4 handset. Its a classy premium design, slim and lightweight.

Gionee Elife E6 key features and specifications

• Single Micro SIM.
• 1.5GHz MT6589T processor with PowerVR SGX 544MP GPU.
• Android 4.2 JB OS with Amigo User interface.
• 2GB RAM, 32GB Storage and no Micro SD support.
• 7.9mm thick and light weight at 128 grams. (142.5 × 69.4 × 7.9 mm)
• 5 inch IPS capacitive screen with OGS supporting 1920×1080 pixels resolution. (441 ppi).
• 13MP rear camera – F2.2 aperture with LED flash. 5MP front camera. Full HD recording and Playback supported. HDR and Macro shooting mode.
• Dual speaker at the bottom.
• 3G, 2G, Bluetooth, GPS with A-GPS, Wi-Fi (b/g/n), micro USB, DTS 3D stereo surround, Dual Mic for Noise-cancelling and 3.5mm audio jack.
• Motion sensor, Gesture control
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyro, Magnetic, proximity and light.
• 2020 mAh built in Polymer Lithium battery. Most Intelligent Power Control System for better backup.
• Price Rs. Rs. 25,000 + (estimated not yet confirmed.).

Xolo Q1000S 5 inch HD with 1.5GHz quad core coming soon for Rs. 16999

By end of this month probably Xolo will launch the Xolo Q1000S handset that is powered by 1.5GHz quad core processor with 5 inch HD screen for a good price of Rs. 16,999. Xolo Play T1000 is already listed for pre-order.

The Xolo Q1000S as mentioned could be powered by MT6589T processorthat is clocked at 1.5GHz. Xolo it seems are going in the right direction they are launching / coming up with what the users are waiting for.

As per the news on NDTV Gadgets, the Q1000S will sport a 5 inch screen with HD resolution and will come with 13MP rear camera plus a 5MP on the front. The 6.8mm thick handset will run on the Android Jelly Bean OS.

Well this is all we know for now. The RAM / ROM I believe will be 1GB / 4GB or 8GB with other features like 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth. Stay tuned for more.

Karbonn A27+ with dual core processor now available for Rs. 8999

The Karbonn A27+ with 5 inch screen, dual SIM support and powered by Dual Core processor is now available for Rs. 8,999. A27+ is an upgraded version of Karbonn A27 Retina that came with a 4.3 inch screen and dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.

The Karbonn A27+ runs on the Jelly Bean 4.1.2 OS with 512MB RAM and 4GB internal storage. The handset is 9.1mm thick and supports dual SIM. It is powered by 1GHz dual core processor. The 5 inch screen supports qHD resolution.

Other features are 8MP rear AF camera with LED support and a front camera too for video calls. 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth with A2DP and GPS are supported. The battery is 2000 mAh capacity with up to 7 hours talktime on 2G and up to 4 hours on 3G networks.

Karbonn Smart A27+ key features and specifications

• Dual SIM with dual Standby (GSM+GSM).
• 1GHz dual core processor (chipset unknown).
• 5 inch capacitive touch screen with 960×540 pixels resolution.
• Jelly Bean 4.1.2.
• 512MB RAM, 4GB ROM (2.55 GB as phone storage) and micro SD card support of up to 32GB.
• 8MP AF rear camera with LED flash + front camera.
• 3G, 2G, Wi-Fi (b/g/n), Bluetooth, GPS, micro USB and 3.5mm audio jack.
• Sensors: Light, G-Sensor and proximity.
• 2000 mAh battery with up to 7 hours (2G) and 4 hours (3G) talktime.
• Price Rs. 8,999 via Flipkart.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini and Zoom launched for under Rs. 30K

Samsung Galaxy S4 series the Galaxy S4 Mini and the Galaxy S4 Zoom has been launched in India for price tag of Rs. 27,990 and Rs. 29,900 respectively.  Both these handsets are powered by dual core processor. The Galaxy S4 Zoom is a phone – camera hybrid.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini

This handset as the name reveals is a mini version of Samsung Galaxy S4. It is powered by 1.7GHz dual core processor with 1.5GB RAM and 8Gigs of internal storage. The Super AMOLED screen is 4.3 inches with qHD resolution.

The S4 Mini is packed with an 8MP rear AF camera with flash and a front camera as well. The handset runs on Android 4.2.2 and is light weight – just over 100 grams (107 grams). The battery is of 1900 mAh capacity.

Galaxy S4 Mini is priced at Rs. 27,990.

Samsung Galaxy S4 ZOOM
The camera – phone hybrid with ZOOM lens is powered by 1.5GHz dual core processor running Jelly Bean 4.2.2 with 1.5GB RAM and 8GB storage. This handset too comes with 4.3 inch super AMOLED screen with qHD resolution (960×540 pixels).

The key USP is the ZOOM camera with 16MP resolution and 10X zoom (optical). There is a front camera of 1.9MP resolution.  This hybrid handset will be bulky (15.4mm thick) as it houses the Lens too. There is a 2300 mAh battery required to power up this hybrid.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom is priced at Rs. 29,900.

iBall Andi 3.5KKe with single core processor launched for Rs. 3249

iBall has launched the iBall Andi 3.5KKe handset for Rs. 3,249. It’s with a 3.5 inch touch screen and the KKe is for Kareena Kapoor’s signature on the back side. The 3.5KKe is a single core powered handset with dual SIM capabilities.

There is nothing much to talk about this iBall Andi handset. It is powered by 1GHz single core cortex A9 processor and runs on Android 2.3

Gingerbread OS. The RAM is 256MB and usable internal storage is around 200 MB.

The 3.5 inch capacitive touchscreen is with HVGA resolution (480×320 pixels). There is a 3.2MP rear camera with LED flash and a front VGA camera too. This is a low budget android powered phone and like many other single core handsets this one too does not support 3G.

Other features are built in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 2G (EDGE  / GPRS), micro USB and 3.5mm universal audio jack. The battery is of 1450 mAh capacity. There are light, G-Sensor and proximity sensor.  iBall Andi 3.5KKe is priced at Rs. 3,249 available on Flipkart.

Spice Mi-525 Pinnacle FHD with 1.5GHz quad core listed for Rs. 16990

The dual SIM supported Spice Mi-525 also called the Spice Pinnacle FHD is now listed on Saholic for Rs. 16,990. This is a quad core handset with MT6589T (1.5GHz) processor with 5 inch Full HD screen.

The Spice Mi-525 will compete withMicromax Canvas 4 as well as the upcoming Xolo Q1000S. The Mi-525 sports a 5 inch screen with 1920×1080 pixel resolution.  As mentioned it is with MT6589T processor and runs on Jelly Bean 4.2 OS with 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage.

The rear camera is limited to 8 megapixels complimented with built in LED flash. There is a secondary camera of 2MP resolution. Full HD video recording at 30fps and playback is supported. There is 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4, micro USB and 3.5mm audio jack. The battery is 2100 mAh capacity.

So here is one more handset using the MediaTek turbo processor, competition is building up with more and more MT6589T powered devices showing up. Let’s see what Karbonn comes up with.

Spice Pinnacle FHD Mi-525 key features and specifications

• Dual SIM with dual Standby.
• 1.5GHz MT6589T processor with PowerVR SGX 544MP.
• Spice Mi-525 is 9.3mm thick and weight is 175 grams.
• 5 inch TFT LCD touchscreen with 1920x1080p resolution.
• Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.
• 1GB RAM, 8GB storage and micro SD support (32GB).
• 8MP rear AF camera with LED + 2MP front camera. FHD video recording and playback supported.
• 3G (HSPA+), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS with A-GPS, micro USB and 3.5mm audio jack.
• Sensors : G-Sensor, light, Proximity and Gyro.
• Removable Battery is 2100 mAh capacity.
• Price Rs. 16,990

Xolo Q600 quad core phone now available online for Rs 8,749

Now Xolo offers four smartphones in its Q series with Q600, A700, A800 and Q1000.

Xolo Q600, which was launched just days back, is now available on Snapdeal but for Rs 8,749 against its launch price of for Rs 8,499.

The Android 4.2 Jelly Bean based Xolo Q600 features a 4.5-inch TFT FWVGA display with a resolution of 480X854 pixels and a pixel density of 217ppi. The smartphone is powered by 1.2 GHzquad-core processor and Power VR SGX544 GPU. Internally, Xolo Q600 come packed with 512 MB RAM and 4 GB of internal storage, which can be further expanded by up to 32 GB via a micro SD card.

The smartphone comes with a 2,000mAh battery which is claimed to deliver up to 13.4 hours of talk time on 2G network and a standby time of 333 hours.

There is a 5 megapixel rear camera that can also record videos at 30 frames per second and a VGA camera in the front for video chat. It is a dual-SIM smartphone with dual standby. Other connectivity options include 3G, Bluetooth, WiFi, and GPS.

Now Xolo offers four smartphones in its Q series with Q600, A700, A800 and Q1000. The phone is not available through any other online retailer at the time of writing this news.

Lenovo S920 now available for Rs 19,999

The quad core phone comes with Android 4.2, 1 GB RAM and 8 megapixel rear camera.

Lenovo S920 quad core processor based Android smartphone, which was launched way back in March this year, is now available Saholic.com for Rs 19,999. It is otherwise priced at Rs 26,399.

The Lenovo S920 comes with a 5.3 inch screen with 1280x720 pixels resolution. It is based on the Mediated MT6589 1.2 GHz quad core processor and runs on the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system. It has decent 1 GB RAM, 4 GB internal memory, 32 GB expandable micro SD card slot, 8 megapixel auto focus rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera.

Besides, the Lenovo S920 has a 2250 mAh Li-Po battery that claims to provide 25 hours of 2G talktime and 12 hours of talktime on 3G network. The dual SIM handset has also WiFi, Bluetooth, USB, A-GPS, 3.5mm audio jack, and FM radio.

The 7.9 mm thick Lenovo S920 has Gravitation, Ambient light, and Proximity sensors.

Simmtronics XPAD X-722 calling tablet launched for Rs 5,999

It has also WiFi, Bluetooth and 3G accessibility via dongles.

Simmtronics has announced the launch of a calling tablet, called XPAD X-722, in India. The tablet is priced at Rs 5, 999

Simmtronics XPAD X-722 runs on Android 4.0 ICS operating system and is powered by a 1 GHzprocessor. It has a 7-inch display screen with a pixel resolution of 800x 480.The tablet has capacitive multi touch option for convenient use.

This XPAD X-722 is equipped with a 0.3 megapixel secondary camera and 2 megapixel primary camera. The tablet comes with 512 MB RAM, an internal memory of 4 GB and is expandable up to 32 GB. It is powered by a 3,500mAh Lithium polymer battery that claims to provide 4-5 hours of internet browsing time. It not only allows 2G calling but has also connectivity options like WiFi,Bluetooth and 3G accessibility via dongles.

Indrajit Sabharwal, managing director, Simmtronics stated, "We are very delighted to announce the launch of yet another device with a path-breaking technology, the XPAD X-722 in the Indian market. This unique addition to the series of our innovative tablets have been done keeping in mind, fast growing tech-savvy patrons. The new product comes after a thorough understanding of the buyer aspirations and hence is equipped with a never-before calling facility and affordable pricing."

Official MEGA app for Android arrives with 50 GB free storage

Cloud storage based MEGA service introduces official Android app and brings several features right from the first version along with 50 GB free storage.

MEGA, the secure cloud storage web service, has extended its presence to mobile platform with official Android app. The new MEGA app for Android platform offers 50 GB secure storage free to the users. The app carries native Android interface to provide access to the MEGA service for uploading, downloading and browse the files. MEGA app for Android arrives to compete directly with Dropbox, SugarSync and other similar services.

MEGA app for the Android platform features simple and native user interface for uploading files, browsing uploaded files and downloading the content. Just like Dropbox, even MEGA does Camera Sync that automatically uploads the photos and videos.

Apart from that, the MEGA app lets the users rename, move, delete files but also create folders to manage the files. The MEGA app can be downloaded from the Google Play store.

Nokia 207 and Nokia 208 handsets with 3G support unveiled

Nokia has revealed two new handsets with 3G support, the Nokia 207 and the Nokia 208. The Nokia 208 comes in two variants – single / dual SIM support.  It’s a simple candy bar type phone with numeric keypad.

Nokia 207

This is a single SIM (Micro SIM) handset with 12.8mm thickness. It is light weight (91 grams) and comes in Red, White, Yellow, Cyan and Black colors. The 2.4 inch screen is TFT with resolution 320×240 pixels.

There are no cameras on the Nokia 207. The handset comes with 256MB internal storage and 64MB RAM. Other features are 3G (7.2Mbps), 2G, Bluetooth 3.0, micro USB, FM radio and 3.5mm audio jack. There is no Wi-Fi and GPS.

The battery is 1020 mAh capacity with talktime of up to 12 hours on 2G network and up to 4 hours on 3G network. The Nokia 207 is priced at $68.

Nokia 208
This handset comes in two versions (single SIM and dual SIM). The handset is 12.8mm thick and weight is about 90 grams. The 2.4 inch TFT screen supports 320×240 pixels. The RAM is 64MB and internal storage is 256MB. This handset does come with rear camera of 1.3MP resolution.

Other features are 3G (7.2Mbps), 2G, Bluetooth 3, micro USB, 3.5mm audio jack and FM radio. Even the Nokia 208 handset does not support Wi-Fi and GPS. This handset is also priced at around $68. The battery capacity is 1020 mAh, same as on the Nokia 207.

No word as to when it will be available in India or the price. But looking at the specs and key missing features (specially the Wi-Fi) I think it should be priced under Rs. 4,500.

Aakash 4 the upcoming low cost tablet for Rs. 3000

Aakash the world cheapest tablet was a complete disaster, it never took off. And now the Aakash 4 will be the next in line that will be better than its predecessors (that hardly existed) and will be priced at Rs. 3000.

Forget about Aakash 2 or Aakash 3, many of you might not have seen the Aakash 1, except for in pictures. Many users had booked the tablet when it was launched and a few also paid the money. I am not sure how many have got it or how many are still waiting.

The Aakash 4 development will also go though the GOVT tender process and as per the HRD ministry it will score a minimum of 3537 with Antutu benchmark. The Aakash 4 may likely come with 1GB RAM, 4GB internal storage, a 7 inch screen with 800×480 pixel resolution. A standard battery that may last for up to 3 hours with continuous usage, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and external 3G support (via Dongle). The Aakash 4 will be developed by IIT Madras and will probably run on Jelly Bean OS (4.2).

There is a rumor that this tab will house two different OS Android and Ubuntu with dual boot option. I guess the Rs. 3000 will be for the students after concession and for private consumers it will be under Rs. 4,500. An and in case you know any students who got the Aakash tablet with subsidized rates do let me know.

Will the Aakash 4 succeed or is it another disaster waiting to happen?

HTC Desire 600 with MSM8625Q Snapdragon processor for Rs. 26860

The HTC Desire 600 is available for pre-order priced at Rs. 26,860. This 4.5 inch (Super LCD 2) handset is powered by 1.2GHz quad core processor running Jelly Bean OS.

When you look at the specifications, the price tag of Rs. 26,860 seem way too high. The Super LCD 2 capacitive touchscreen is appreciated but the processor is 1.2GHz MSM8625Q Snapdragon 200 quad core with Adreno 203 GPU the same that powers the Samsung Galaxy Quattro which is priced at approx Rs. 16,000.

The HTC Desire 600 supports Dual SIM and runs on Jelly Bean OS. The touch screen is 4.5 inches with qHD resolution. There is an 8MP rear camera, auto focus with LED flash support and a 1.6MP camera on the front. This hardware can record videos in 720p resolution.

Desire 600 is 9.2mm thick and weight is 130 grams. RAM is 1GB and internal storage is 8GB. The HTC 600 comes loaded with 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. Battery is 1860 mAh capacity with talktime backup of up to 11 hours.

HTC Desire 600 Key features and Specifications

• Dual SIM (GSM+GSM) Micro SIM.
• 1.2GHz quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 + Adreno 203 GPU.
• Android Jelly Bean.
• 1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage and micro SD support up to 64GB.
• 4.5 inch super LCD 2 capacitive touchscreen with 960×540 pixels resolution.
• 8MP auto focus rear camera with LED and a front 1.6MP fixed focus camera. HD video recording (720p) is supported.
• 3G (7.2), 2G, Wi-Fi (b/g/n), GPS with A-GPS, Bluetooth 4.0, micro USB, HTC Boom Sound, Beats audio and 3.5mm universal audio jack.
• Sensors: Light, accelerometer and proximity sensors.
• 1860 mAh Li-Po battery with up to 500 hours standby and up to 11 hours of talktime.
• Price Rs. 26,860 via Flipkart