Gionee Elife E7 launched in India

Gionee has officially unveiled Wlife E7 in India starting Rs. 26,999. The Chinese handset maker has announced that the smartphone will hit the market by January 15. Goinee globally announced the Elife E7 in November this year, the successor to the Elife E6.

The Gionee Wlife E7 runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean with the company’s custom Amigo 2.0 UI laye on top, much like its predessor. The gionee Wlife E7 comes with single SIM support.

It features a 5.5-inch full-HD (1080x1920) OGS (One Glass Solution) IPS display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. The Gionee Elife sports a 16 megapicel autofioocus rear camera accompained by an LED flash and also includes an 8-megapixel fornt-facing camera.

It comes in two variants. The first one, priced at Rs. 26,999, comes with 2GB RAM, !6GB and is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 clocked at 2.2 GHz. The 32GB variant with 3GB RAM and a 2.5GHz processor is priced Rs. 29,999.

The Gionee Elife E7 packs a 2500mAh battery. Connectivity options on the Gionee Elife E7 include Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi, GPRS, EDGE, GPS/AGPS, 3G and 4G (for 32GB variant). It measures 150.6x75x9.5mm.

Gionee has been aggressively launching its smartphone in India, which includes the flagship device, Elife E6 launched in October.

The Gionee Elife E6 features a unibody design and sports a 5-inch OGS (One Glass Solution) IPS display with a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels and pixel density of 441ppi. The phone is thin at just 6.18mm, and weighs 128grams. It is powered by a 1.5GHz MediaTek quad-core processor, along with 2Gbof RAM. The inbuilt storage offered by the phone is 32GB which is non-expandable.

The Gionee Wlife E6 sports a 13-megapixel auto focus rear camera with a second generation BSI sensor, along with an Led flash. It also has a 5-megapixel front-facing camera with a 28mm lens. Both cameras suport 1080p video recording. The smartphone runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean with company’s custom Amigo UI layer. The phone is powered by a 2020mAh battery.

Earlier this month,Gionee unveiled Pioneer P3 budget quad-core Android smartphone at Rs. 7,499.

Xolo Q2000 quad-core phablet

Xolo’s latest quad-core phablet is now official for the Indian market, priced at Rs. 14,999. The Xolo Q2000 was earlier spotted on the company’s official site on Friday, but without pricing and availability details.

The Q2000 is dual-SIM device with support for GSM+GSM, and runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The 5.5-inch IPS display on the Xolo Q2000 features a 720x1280 pixel resolution, boasting of a pixel density of 267ppi. The Xolo Q2000 continues the Q range tradition and equips a quad-core 1.2GHz MediaTek 6589W processor with a 357MHz powerVR SGX544 GPU. It includes 1GB of RAM and 8GB of inbuilt storage which is further expandable up to 32B. The Q2000 also sports a 13-megapixel rear autofocus camera with a ‘BSI 2’ sensor and flash, while there is also a 2-megapixel front-facing camera on board. The Xolo Q2000 packs a 2600mAh battery which the listing claim can deliver up to 17 hours of talktime and up to 520 hours of standby time.

The Xolo Q2000 smartphone expands the company’s Q samrtphone series, which already include six smartphones, namely the Xolo Q700, Xolo Q1000, Xolo Q1000S, Xolo Q800 and the recently launched Xolo Q900, all of which powered by quad-core processor.

Xolo has been aggressively launching smartphones across different price segments in the last few months. Recently, the company launched a new A-series smartphone in India, the Xolo A600, at Rs. 8,199.

The Xolo A600 features a 4.5-inch qHD (540x960) IPS display and a pixel density of 245ppi. The smartphone is powered by a dual-core 1.3GHz MediaTek 6572W processor with a Mali 400 GPU, coupled with 512MB of RAM. It runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and supports dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) functionality.

Sony Xperia Z1 f with 4.3-inch display, 20.7-megapixel camera launched

Sony has finally taken the wraps off its latest smartphone, the Xperia Z1 f which is a mini-variant of the flagship smartphone, the Xperia Z1.

The device has been introduced under Japanese operator NTT DoCoMo's winter smartphone line-up, and is expected to be released in late December 2013. No pricing details for the newly introduced Xperia Z1 f have been revealed by Sony and NTT DoCoMo.

The Sony Xperia Z1 f (SO-02F) features a 4.3-inch TRILUMINOS HD (720x1280) display with X-Reality for Mobiles. It is powered by a 2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm MSM8974 processor along with 2GB of RAM, much like its elder sibling. The Xperia Z1 f runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean out of the box and is manufactured by a single aluminium frame with tampered glass on back and front panel. It comes with 16GB of inbuilt storage which is further expandable up to 64GB with the help of microSD card.

The highlight of the Xperia Z1 f is again the 20.7-megapixel Exmor RS sensor alongside BIONZ image processor engine and pulsed LED flash, as seen in Xperia Z1. It also includes a 2.2-megapixel front-facing camera. Connectivity options on the device include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS/ GLONASS and NFC. The Xperia Z1 f packs a 2300mAh battery with STAMINA mode and is waterproof and dust-proof smartphone, like other high-end Xperia smartphones.

The Xperia Z1 f will be available in multiple colours, Black, Lime, Pink and White, as rumoured earlier.

Meanwhile, Sony unveiled its flagship, the Xperia Z1 at IFA in Berlin and launched the device in India recently.

Sony Xperia C with 5-inch display, dual-SIM available online for Rs. 20,490

Sony seems to be geared up to officially launch another mid-range smartphone, the Xperia C for the Indian market. The device is currently available online for Rs. 20,490 on Saholic, while it is up for pre-order on Flipkart with the same pricing. Both the ecommerce sites have mentioned that the device will be available from second week of October. The Xperia C was officially unveiled earlier this year at the Mobile Asia Expo.

The Sony Xpreria C is the first smartphone from the Japanese handset to be based on quad-core MediaTek MTK6589 processor; clocked at 1.2GHz. It comes with 5-inch TFT LCD qHD (540x960 pixel) display and runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. It includes 1GB of RAM and 4GB of inbuilt storage, which can be further expandable up to 32GB via microSD card. The Sony Xperia C is a dual-SIM smartphone (GSM+GSM) with dual standby.

The Xperia c sports an 8-megapixel rear camera with Exmore R sensor. The rear camera comes with features like face detection and Sweep Panorama, and is also capable of shooting videos in full-HD (1080p) mode. There is a 0.3-megapixel front camera onboard also. Connectivity options include 3G, Wi-Fi, DLNA, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS. The smartphone will be available in White, Black and Purple colour options.

Other features on the Sony Xperia C include motion-gaming, FM radio with RDS, walkman app and ‘screen mirroring’. The device is backed by a 2330mAh battery, which the company claims can deliver up to 10hours of talktime and up to 588 hours of standby time.

Windows Phone gains in Europe, iOS up in US: Survey

Windows-based smartphones are making significant inroads in Europe, while Apple’s iPhone is strengthening its position in the United States, a survey showed Monday.

Data from Kantar World panel ComTech for three month ending in August Showed Windows Phone, the mobile platform from Microsoft, has posted its highest ever sales share of 9.2 percent in the five major Europe markets.

Windows had a 12 percent share in Britain, 10.8 percent in France, 9.5 percent in Italy, 8.8 percent in Germany and 2.2 percent in Spain, the survey found.

“Windows Phone’s latest wave of growth is being driven by Nokia’s expansion into the low and mid range market with the Lumia 520 and Lumia 620 handsets,” said Kantar analyst Dominic Sunnebo.

“These models are hitting the sweet spot with 16 to 24 years-olds and 35 to 49 years-olds, two key groups that look for a balance of price and functionality in their smartphone,” he said.

Android, the Google platform used by Samsung and several other manufacturers, remains the top operating system across Europe with a 70 percent market share but it is being threatened by higher growth from Windows and Apple’s iOS, the survey found.

“After years of increasing market share, Android has now reached a point where significant growth in developed markets is becoming harder to find, “Sunnebo said.

“Android’s growth has been spearheaded by Samsung, but the manufacturer is now seeing its share of sales across the major European economic dip year as a sustained comeback from Sony, Nokia and LG begins to broaden the competitive landscape.

In the United States, Android has also seen its market share drop to 55.8 percent from 60.7 percent a year earlier, while Apple’s share was up more than five percentage points at 39.3 percent. Windows rose to 3.0 percent from 2.6 percent.

Kantar said it expects Apple’s share “to spike in the coming months with the release of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5C,” unveiled on September 20.

Apple and Android are roughly even in Japan with 48.6 percent for iOS and 47.4 percent for Android. But the agreement with Japan’s largest carrier, NTT DoCoMo, for the first time makes it likely that Apple will pull ahead of Android in this market, according to Kantar.

Apple also made strong gains in Britain, France and Spain, the survey found.

Blackberry’s woes have deepened, with the Canadian firm accounting for just 2.4 percent of sales across the five European markets and 1.8 percent in the United States, Kantar said. 

Samsung announces curved display smartphone for October release

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said it will introduce a smartphone with a curved display in October, as the world's top handset maker seeks to set the pace of hardware innovation and maintain its supremacy in a fiercely competitive business.

Curved displays are an early stage in screen evolution which is shifting to bendable or foldable designs, eventually allowing mobile and wearable gadgets to take on new forms that could radically change the high-end smartphone market.

“We plan to introduce a Smartphone with a curved display in South Korea in October, “Samsung’s mobile business head of strategic marketing D.J. Lee said on Wednesday at an event launching the Galaxy Note 3 Smartphone in Seoul.

In January Samsung which has taken over from Apple as the global Smartphone leader, showed off prototype products with a flexible screen and a display that extends from the side of a device.

But technology firms have yet to figure out how to mass produce the parts cheaply and come up with display panels that can be as a sheet and highly heat resistant.

Curved display is already commercially available in large-screen televisions. Samsung and its home rival LG Electronics Inc had started selling curved OLED TV sets year priced at about $9,000.

LG Vu 3 with 5.2-inch display, Snapdragon 800 processor unveiled

LG has finally taken the wraps off the third generation of the Optimus Vu smarrtphone in Korea. However, the company has not revealed the pricing and availability details of the new phablet, yet.

The LG Vu 3 comes with a 5.2-inch IPS display with a 960x1280 pixel resolution. It is powered by 2.26GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 (MSM8974) processor, coupled with a 480MHz Aderno 330 GPU. The device sports a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera, both with BSI. It comes with 2GB of RAM and includes 16GB of inbuilt storage, though there is no word for now about expandable storage.

It also includes speakers that can deliver high-quality 24-bit/192KHz audio, which were first seen on LG’s flagship smartphone, the G2. The company has also included Carrier Aggregation (CA) technology that doubles the speed of LTE-advanced. The LG Vu 3 runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and packs in a 2610mAh battery (unspecified talktime and standby time). Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, AGPS and Micro-USB. The device comes with dimensions 132.1x85.6x9.34mm and weighs 161 grams. It will come in three colours variants – Indigo Black, Mint and White.

Earlier this month, a Korean report noted that the South Korean major will officially announce the LG Vu 3 at the end of September while the device will be released in October. Additionally, the company had teased few images of the QuickView cases for the LG Vu 3.

Moreover, LG also pulled the curtains off its long-rumoured tablet, the LG G Pad 8.3 earlier this month. 

Google developing new interface for mobile searches

Ben Gomes, the India-trend techie who overseas Google’s handling of 100 searches a month, believes a new voice-based interface is needed for the next frontier of search centered round mobile phones and tablet computers.

“Now search is becoming mobile-on phones and tablets. The challenge is that it is on a small screen, so it’s hard to type. The opportunity is that it’s got a really good microphone and touch screen,” he said.

“It can enable a new kind of interface. So we realized we want to build and interface that can much like the way you talk to some person and ask a question,” Gomes said.

And while the Google search app can already respond to questions using voice-based software, Gomes told the BBC that the process is “going to be got more better and intelligent”.

The Tanzania-born, India-bred, US-educated vice-president of search is responsible for helping to answer queries in the shortest time possible on desktops, tablets and phones.

Search is Google’s cash cow, bringing in a majority o f its USD 50 billion revenues last year. It is also, said Gomes, “about having a continuous conversation with the user to find out what he wants”.

Described by a BBC as a “boy-like 45-years-old guru of search in Googleplex”, the company headquarters in Mountain View, California, Gomes works out of an untidy cubicle with four other top engineers.

Gomes and his team work on “their fine-tooth comb search of the worldwide web to serve up the popular search engine”. He said: “When I joined Google in 1999, search was about basically finding the words you search for in a document. Then we took this view that we were going to understand what you want and give you what you need.

Trawling through over 20 million web pages a day, Gomes and his “army of search” – a substantial number of Google’s 44,000 employees – use algorithms to make search intuitive, multimedia and super smart. Gomes is especially proud of knowledge Graph, a new function launched last year to make the site’s algorithm “act more human” in a attempt to offer instant answers to search questions.

“It’s a database of all things in the world. It pulls together different databases and unifies them into a single coherent one that has about 500 to 600 million people, places and things in them and about 18 billion attributes and connections between those things,” he said.

Google handles 100-billio plus searches every month, or over three billion a day. A good 15 percent of the searches questions every day are now. When Gomes joined Google in 1999 after a stint in Sun Microsystems working on a Java programming language, some searches could take up to 20 seconds. Today a search for Ben Gomes on Google shows about 19,000,000 results in 28 seconds.

Gomes, the son of car distributor father and a school teacher mother, moved to the US 25 years ago. He went to Berkeley, where he received a PhD in computer science.

Huawei Ascend W3 Windows Phone spotted in leaked images

Huawei has managed to make its presence known this year with a few of its Android-based smart phone. However, it seems that the China-based company is getting ready to unveil a new Windows Phone device.

Huawei’s expected third-generation of Window Phone 8 devices; the Ascend W3 has been spotted leaked images. The images of the alleged Huawei Ascend W3 were leaked from china and were first reported by GSMinsider which notes that the alleged Windows Phone device will come in two color models – Blue and Yellow. The leaked images show the Ascend W3’s front panel with Live Tiles and Huawei logo branding on top beneath the earpiece alongside the front-facing camera.

The rear panel of the device sports a camera and comes again with a Huawei logo branding in the centre. Presently, there is no word about the innards of the device. However, the site notes that alleged Ascend W3 will support multiple LTE networks in China.

This is not the first Windows Phone that Huawei has manufactured till now. The company had launched Ascend W2 earlier this year at the Mobile Asia Expo 2013. Ascend W2 was the successor to Huawei Ascend W1, which was launched in January.

The Huawei Ascend W2 is powered by a Qualcomm MSM8230 Snapdragon S4 Plus processor with a dual-core clocked at 1.4GHz along with Adreno 305 GPU. It comes with 512MB of RAM and 8GB of inbuilt storage, which can be further expanded by up to 32GB through a microSD card. Huawei Ascend W2 features a 4.3-inch display with a resolution of 480x800 pixels.

On the other hand, the Huawei Ascend W1 comes with a 4-inch LCD display with a resolution of 480x800 pixels with OGS Technology. The device is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 MSM8230 processor and 512 MB RAM. It sports a 5-megapixel auto-focus rear camera with LED flash and a 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera. It includes 4GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 32GB through microSD card. It is backed by a 1950mAh battery.

Micromax Canvas Fun A63 with Android 4.2

Micromax’s new budget Android smart phone, the Canvas Fun A63 is now available online for Rs. 6,799 through Snapdeal. However, the company has not officially launched the device in the country.

The Micromax Canvas Fun A63 was listed on the company’s official website earlier this month; however there was no word about the pricing and availability of the device.

The Canvas Fun A63 comes with a 4inch WVGA (480x800 pixels) display, and is powered by a single-core 1.3GHz MediaTek 6572 processor paired with 512MB of RAM. It is also includes 1GB of inbuilt storage which can be further expanded up to 32GB. The Canvas Fun A63 sports a 2-megapixel rear camera with flash. It runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Connectivity options on the device include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, EDGE, GPRS, GPS and 3G. It includes a 15oomAh battery that can give up to 4.5 hours of standby time, as per the company. It is a dual-SIM device with support for GSM+GSM.

Micromax has been launching a number of budget and mid-range devices in the last few days. Earlier this month, Micromax, introduced a new mid-range Smartphone, the Canvas Ego A113 which went for pre-orders at Snapdeal for Rs. 12,999.

The Micromax Canvas Ego A113 features a 4.7-inch display. The device is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor along with 1GB of RAM. It comes with a4GB inbuilt storage which can be expanded up to 32GB via microSD card. It also sports an 8-megapixel rear camera with an LED flash while there is no word about the front –facing camera. The Micromax Canvas Ego runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. It is dual-SIM phone with support for GSM+GSM. It also packs in 2000mAh battery. Micromax has not officially launched the Canvas Ego A113, yet.

Micromax also rolled out, the Canvas Fun A74 which was available for pre-orders at ecommerce website Snapdeal and lnfibeam for Rs. 7,749. 

HTC One Max reportedly official name of the rumoured 'T6'

The latest word on HTC’s rumored upcoming flagship phablet codenamed HTC T6 is that the company plans to officially introduce the Smartphone as the HTC One Max.

Popular phone tipster, @evleaks claims that the HTC One Max has been confirmed as the retail name of the HTC T6. The tweet said,”HTC One Max confirmed as retail name of the T6. “However, the tweet does not mention anything about the possible launch dates of the long-rumored HTC One Max. The Taiwanese handset giant has been rumored for a while to be working on a large screen Smartphone which will boast a large 5.9-inch display.

Earlier, specifications of HTC’s upcoming One Max phablet surfaced online. The device is said to run Android 4.3 Jelly Bean HTC’s Sense 5.5 UI on top. Other specifications leaked include TD-LTE connectivity, a5.9-inch full-HD display with 1080x1920 pixels resolution, and a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor coupled with 2GB of RAM. The leaked specifications also revealed that the alleged HTC One Max will sport a 2.1-meagapixel front-facing camera and the 4MO Ultrapixel camera on the back, which has been introduced in the HTC One.

Some reports even claimed that the HTC’s phablet may be showcased this month that pointed out to possible launch at IFA in Berlin. However, the device was not showcased at the event.

Not too long ago, alleged renders of the HTC One Max (T6) were leaked online. The leaked image showed was supposed to be the non-final artwork of the HTC T6. While it was not the final artwork, it did give a good idea of what to expect from the upcoming phablet from HTC.

Alcatel announces four new One Touch Pop C-series smartphones

Alcatel seems on a launching spree at the IFA, this year. The company has launched many mobiles to strengthen its smart phone line-up. But theirs is more. The company has announced four new Pop C smart phones, the Alcatel One Touch Pop C1, Pop C3, Pop C5 and Pop C7.

The Alcatel One Touch Pop C1 comes with a 3.5-inch HVGA display (320x480 pixels). The phone is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor and sports a 2-megapixel rear camera. The One Touch Pop C1 includes a 1300mAh battery. The device in two colors models – Neon Green and Pink.

The Alcatel One Touch Pop C3 features a 4-inch WVGA display with 480x800 pixels and sports a 3.2-megapixel rear camera along with a VGA front-facing camera. The device is powered by a 1.3GHz dual-core processor and also includes Bluetooth. Much like the One Touch Pop C1, this is also comes with 1300mAh battery. The company is also building a flip cover with the One Touch Pop C3.

The Alcatel one Touch Pop C5 comes with a 4.5-inch display a resolution 480x854 pixels. This one is also powered by a 1.3GHz dual-core processor and sports a 5-megapixel rear camera with panoramic picture function. The phone also includes a VGA front-facing camera. There is 4GB of internal storage which can be further expanded up to 2GB via microSD card.

Last among them is the Alcatel One touch Pop C7 that features a 5-inch display (480x854). The device is powered by a quad-core processor clocked at 1.3GHz. It comes with a 5-megapixel rear camera and can record videos at up to 720p resolution. There is a VGA front-facing camera as well. The One Touch C7 is backed by a 2000mAh battery.

All four Pop C-series smart phones unveiled at IFA 2013 run the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS and come preloaded with ONE TOUCH live app.

Alcatel has not the pricing of the four devices but has revealed that the One Touch Pop C1 and Pop C3 will hit markets in October while the Pop C5 will be rolled out in November. The One Touch pop C7 phablet is expected to be release in Q4 2013.

Alcatel launched two new smartphones

Alcatel has been listed its new two smart phones, first one is One Touch Idol S and Second one is One Touch Idol on its major websites.

The Fist one mobile that is One Touch Idol S has comes with the features of a 4.7-inch display with 720x1280 pixels resolution and features Dragontrail Glass with the oleophobic coating. The Smartphone is powered by 1.2GHz dual-core processor with 1GB of RAM. The one Touch Idol S sports an 8-megapixel rear camera accompanied by an LED flash and is capable of recording full-HD videos. It also comes with a 1.3-megapixel front camera. He Smartphone runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The device has 4GB of internal memory which can be expanded up to 32GB via a microSD card. Connectivity options include Bluetooth, WI-Fi, DLNA, GPS/aGPS and 3G. Alcatel One Touch Idol S comes in three colors variants – Slate, Fresh Rose and Cheery Red.

On the other hand their second mobile have these specification, The Alcatel One Touch Idol Mini features a 4.3-inch FWVGA display with 480x854 pixel resolution. It is powered by a 1.3GHz dual-core processor along with 512MB RAM. The Alcatel One Touch Idol Mini comes in two variants – single-SIM and dual-SIM. The internal storage on the single-SIM variant is 4GB which is expandable up to 32GB, while the dual-SIM variant comes with 8GB of non-expandable storage. Connectivity options on the device include WI-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS/aGPS and 3G. The device sports 5-megapixel rear camera accompanied by an LED flash and a VGA front-facing camera. The one Touch Idol Mini will run on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. It will also come in three color variant – Slate, Silver and Cranberry Pink.

Alcatel has been also launched a tablet, the Alcatel One Touch Evo 8 HD. The tablet comes an 8-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1024x768 pixels and runs Android 4.2. It is powered by dual-core processor clocked at 1.6GHz along with 1GB of RAM.

Micromax Canvas Doodle 2 with 5.7-inch HD display, stylus now available online for Rs. 19,990

After being teased on the company's Facebook page, the Micromax Canvas Doodle 2 has finally hit the stores for Rs. 19,990.

The Micromax Canvas Doodle 2 A240 features a 5.7-inch HD display with a resolution of 720x1280 pixels. The device is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor. It packs in a 12-megapixel rear camera accompanied by dual LED flash and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. The device includes 12GB of internal storage. The Canvas Doodle 2 runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. There is a 2600mAh battery that can give up to 8 hours of talk time, as per the listing. It is a dual-SIM device (GSM+GSM). Connectivity options include EDGE, GPRS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 3G. Pre-loaded apps include M! Doodle, M! Live, M! Security, M! Zone, Hike, Spuul, Foneclay and Facebook.

The listing also confirms that the device comes with a stylus, like the original Micromax Canvas Doodle A111. The phablet also includes features like Smart Pause, Skitch and Blow or Shake to Unlock, which were recently introduced on company's flagship smartphone, the Micromax Canvas 4.

Though, the handset has not been launched officially, it is available through online retailer, Snapdeal. Earlier, the handset was spotted at another online retailer with coming soon tag.

Micromax's latest phablet has been priced steeply and is now the costliest handset in Micromax's smartphone line-up, leaving behind company's flagship smartphone, the Micromax Canvas 4. The Micromax Canvas Doodle 2 will face the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 and Samsung Galaxy Note.

Micromax Canvas Doodle 2 A240 key specifications

• 5.7-inch HD display with a resolution of 720x1280 pixels
• 1.2GHz quad-core processor
• 12GB of internal storage
• 12-megapixel rear camera with dual LED flash
• 5-megapixel front-facing camera
• Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
• 2,600 mAh battery
• Dual-SIM (GSM+GSM)

Xolo Q1000S with 5-inch HD display launched for Rs. 18,999

The Xolo Q1000S features a 5-inch HD IPS display with OGS display technology and boasts a resolution of 720x1280 pixels with 294ppi pixel density. It runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The device is powered by 1.5GHz quad-core MediaTek 6589T processor paired with 1GB RAM. It also comes with 16GB of internal storage which is non-expandable and measures 6.98mm in thickness.

The Xolo Q1000S sports a 13-megapixel rear camera with BSI 2 sensor with LED flash and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. The rear camera is capable of recording full-HD videos and also comes with image stabilisation technology. Other features of camera are scene detection and tuning, high dynamic range (HDR), low-light enhancement, face recognition, burst mode feature to capture up to 99 shots, Panorama and geo-tagging. The handset packs in a 2500 mAh battery that can give up to 327 hours of standby time and about 23 hours of talk time, as per the company. Connectivity options include GPRS, EDGE, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and 3G.

Earlier this month, the company had launched the Xolo A500S. The Xolo A500S features a 4-inch WVGA display that has a resolution of 480x800 pixels and pixel density of 233 Pixels Per Inch (PPI). The device is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor with 512MB of RAM and a Mali-400 MP GPU. It includes a 5-megapixel rear camera accompanied by an LED flash and a VGA front facing camera. The rear camera can record videos up to 720p resolution. The Xolo A500S runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. It also includes 4GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 32GB through microSD card. It is a dual SIM device with support for GSM+GSM with dual standby. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPRS, EDGE, 3G, and Micro-USB. Other features include an accelerometer, ambient light sensor, proximity sensor and AGPS. The Xolo A500S is backed by a 1400mAh battery.

Xolo Q1000S key specifications

• 5-inch HD IPS display with 720x1280 pixels resolution and 294ppi pixel density
• 1.5GHz quad-core MediaTek 6589T processor
• 1GB RAM
• 16GB internal storage
• 13-megapixel rear camera
• 5-megapixel front facing camera
• Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
• 2500mAh battery

Purported press image of iPhone 5C appears online

While the purported iPhone 5C, Apple's low-cost iPhone, has made several online appearances, including in some really high resolution pictures and videos that surfaced on the Internet, a website now claims to have published the official press shots of the phone.

Romania based publication, Mobilissimo.ro, claims that a Romanian retailer sent a couple of press shots of the iPhone 5C to the website.

The press photo features the White coloured variant of the iPhone 5C running iOS 7.The front panel is also in White unlike some previous leaks, while the back of the phone features the same plastic polycarbonate body panel that appeared in recent leaks, in glossy White, complete with a round camera lens and LED flash, Apple logo and iPhone branding.

The left-hand side of the phone features the same pill shaped volume rocker and mute keys that had appeared online, in a recent leak. These are also White in colour.

In addition to the press pictures, the site has also posted images of what the Romania-based dealer claims as iPhone 5C dummies placed in shop shelves till the actual phone arrives. The dummy features a White plastic power button. At the bottom of the dummy phone, there's a small hole for the second microphone, next to the 3.5mm headset jack port, two screw holes with the Lightning connector port at the centre, and four holes for the speaker towards bottom right. This is in line with the pictures that appeared recently on Sonny Dickson's website.

It's interesting to note that the low-cost iPhone has leaked several times but the pictures were of pre-production units and did not feature cut outs for the power and volume rocker keys.

Other alleged pictures of the iPhone 5C have revealed a plastic polycarbonate body back panel in White, Blue, Red, Yellow and Green colours. However, we've not heard much about the specifications of the phone till now.

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 5C along with the iPhone 5S, the next generation iPhone, on September 10 at an event in San Francisco. It's worth pointing out that Apple has not sent any invitations or announced an event officially, yet, though it typically sends out official invitations only a week before the actual event.

Spice Stellar Glamour and Smart Flo Space with Android 4.2 launched

Spice has launched Spice Stellar Glamour and Smart Flo Space budget smartphones for Rs. 5,999 and Rs. 3,799, respectively.

The Spice Stellar Glamour features a 4-inch WVGA display with 480x800 pixels resolution. The device is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor paired with 512MB RAM. The Spice Stellar Glamour offers dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) connectivity with both the SIMs supporting 3G connectivity. It sports a 5-megapixel rear camera accompanied by an LED flash and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera. The handset runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. It also includes 4GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 32GB via microSD card. The device is backed by a 1400mAh battery. Connectivity features include GPRS, EDGE, 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The Spice Stellar Glamour comes preloaded with NQ Antivirus that comes with a 6 months subscription.

The Spice Flo Space Mi-354 features a 3.5-inch display with a resolution of 320x480 pixels. It is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor coupled with 256MB RAM. It packs a 3-megapixel rear camera along with an LED flash and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera. It also runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The device includes 512MB internal storage that can be expanded up to 32GB through a microSD card. It is backed by a 1450mAh battery. The Spice Flo Space is a dual SIM (GSM+GSM) device with 2G support for both the SIMs.

Commenting on the launch, T M Ramakrishnan, CEO - Devices, S Mobility Ltd, said, "We have witnessed massive growth with low-cost offerings and delivering the best android experience without sacrificing on performance or features. These products position themselves as premium budget phones with enhanced features and better than what competition is offering. This latest offering by Spice is a perfect amalgamation of functionality, style & entertainment. "

Both the devices come preloaded with Spice Cloud app that provides consumers free Cloud backup with 2GB data storage and access to user photos, documents, music, videos and contacts across the devices, along with security and anti-theft features.

Spice Stellar Glamour Mi-436 key specifications

• 4-inch WVGA display with 480x800 pixels resolution
• 1.2GHz dual-core processor
• 512MB RAM
• 4GB internal storage expandable up to 32GB via microSD card
• Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
• 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash
• 1.3-megapixel front facing camera
• 1,400mAh Battery
• Dual-SIM (3G+3G)

Spice Flo Space Mi-354 key specifications

• 3.5-inch display with a resolution of 320x480 pixels
• 1GHz dual-core processor
• 256MB RAM
• 512MB internal storage, expandable up to 32GB via microSD card
• Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)
• 3-megapixel rear camera with LED flash
• 1.3-megapixel front facing camera
• 1,450mAh Battery
• Dual-SIM (2G+2G)

Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3, HTC One Mini make their US debuts

Smartphones are getting bigger as people use them more to watch movies and play games. A new one from Samsung is beyond big.

With a screen measuring 6.3 inches diagonally, the Galaxy Mega 6.3 is almost as big as a 7-inch tablet computer. The difference: it makes phone calls. Samsung says the Mega is a hybrid that combines the portability of a smartphone with the immersive experience that a tablet offers for movies, books, music and games. Phones of this size are typically referred to as phablets.

Samsung Electronics Co. is known for big phones. Its flagship Galaxy S4 is 5 inches, while the Galaxy Note 2 is 5.5 inches. Apple's iPhone 5 is 4 inches.

Samsung is also known for offering a variety of devices, with different screen sizes and prices, to target a range of consumers. Because of that, it's now the leading maker of phones. Apple, by contrast, has been releasing one model a year that targets high-end consumers. A new iPhone is expected this fall.

The Mega includes many features available in other recent Galaxy phones. That includes Multi Window, which allows multitasking in a split screen, and Easy Mode, which reduces the number of features and choices for new smartphone users.

AT&T Inc. says it will start selling the Mega on Friday for $150 with a two-year service contract. The Mega is also coming to Sprint and U.S. Cellular. Dates and prices weren't announced for those carriers. The Mega made its debut in Europe and Russia in May, but hasn't been available in the U.S. until now.

As Samsung's phones get larger, at least one of HTC Corp.'s is getting smaller. AT&T announced Monday that it will start selling a smaller version of the HTC One. Called the HTC One Mini, it will have a 4.3-inch screen, compared with 4.7 inches on the standard model. It's also lighter, at 4.3 ounces. The One is 5 ounces. The HTC One Mini will be about $100 cheaper than its big brother. It will be available starting Friday for $100 with a two-year service agreement.

New tech enables wireless devices to communicate without battery

Internet-of-things! Researchers, led by an Indian-origin scientist, have developed a new technology that lets wireless devices communicate with each other without relying on batteries or wires for power.

The new communication technique, called "ambient backscatter," takes advantage of the TV and cellular transmissions that already surround us around the clock.

Two devices communicate with each other by reflecting the existing signals to exchange information. The researchers built small, battery-free devices with antennas that can detect, harness and reflect a TV signal, which then is pickedup by other similar devices.The technology could enable a network of devices and sensors to communicate with no power source or human attention needed.

"We can re-purpose wireless signals that are already around us into both a source of power and a communication medium," said lead researcher Shyam Gollakota, from the University of Washington.

"It's hopefully going to have applications in a number of areas including wearable computing, smart homes and self-sustaining sensor networks," said Gollakota.

"Our devices form a network out of thin air. You can reflect these signals slightly to create a Morse code of communication between battery-free devices," said co-author Joshua Smith.

The technology can also be used for communication - text messages and emails, for example - in wearable devices, without requiring battery consumption.

The researchers tested the ambient backscatter technique with credit card-sized prototype devices placed within several feet of each other.

For each device the researchers built antennas into ordinary circuit boards that flash an LED light when receiving a communication signal from another device.

Groups of the devices were tested in a variety of settings, including inside an apartment building, on a street corner and on the top level of a parking garage.

They found that the devices were able to communicate with each other, even the ones farthest from a TV tower. The receiving devices picked up a signal from their transmitting counterparts at a rate of 1 kilobit per second when up to 2.5 feet apart outdoors and 1.5 feet apart indoors.

This is enough to send information such as a sensor reading, text messages and contact information.

It is also feasible to build this technology into devices that do rely on batteries, such as smartphones. It could be configured so that when the battery dies, the phone could still send text messages by leveraging power from an ambient TV signal.

Nokia starts rollout of Windows Phone 8 Amber update for Lumia smartphones

Nokia's long-awaited Amber update for its Lumia Windows Phone 8-based smartphones has finally started rolling.

The Amber update is built upon the latest update for Windows Phone 8 from Microsoft with some exclusive features added by Nokia. The update will be applicable for current line of Lumia smartphones that includes the Nokia Lumia 920, Nokia Lumia 820, Nokia Lumia 720, Nokia Lumia 620 and Nokia Lumia 520.

The new Nokia Lumia Amber software update adds some new and improved features like Nokia Glance Screen with the standby clock and a better imaging experience, a new FM Radio player, improvements to Xbox Music and the default browser, Internet Explorer for Nokia Lumia users.

In a blog post, Nokia has noted the details of phones to get the Amber upgrade and what features will be included on each phone. The blog post also notes that the rollout starts now for the Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 in selected countries as well as the Lumia 521, Lumia 810, and Lumia 928 in the US. Exact delivery timings will vary by region, phone and operator, but Nokia says the update will reach Lumia 520, Lumia 620, Lumia 720, Lumia 820 and Lumia 920 users by the end of September.

The biggest improvement with the update is to camera capabilities of the phones that will now feature the all-new Nokia Smart Camera mode that debuted on the Nokia Lumia 925. It allows users to create high quality images and offers the ability to take ten shots at a time and then edit with tools and effects like Best Shot, Action Shot and Motion Focus.

Another addition will be the Pro Camera app that was introduced with the Lumia 1020 and it will be rolled out to Lumia 920, Lumia 925 and Lumia 928.

Other features include flip to silence, double-tap to unlock, storage check and faster map updates. Another major new feature is Glance Screen, that brings a clock to your screen when the phone is inactive, along with indicators to show the battery level when running on a low battery or the phone is charging, and whether your phone is set to 'silent'. Nokia says that Glance Screen will be available for all Windows Phone 8 Lumia devices except the Nokia Lumia 520 and Lumia 625, which have a smaller display memory.

The Amber update is the biggest change to hit Lumia Windows Phone 8 smartphones since they were launched. The update was announced at the time of the launch of Nokia Lumia 925, that shipped with the update pre-installed.