The Yu Yunique Brings 4G at Rs 4,999

When Micromax released the Yu series of devices, they never imagined the popularity it would gain in such a short time. Now, the Yunique, a brilliant little device from Yu is all set to take the Indian markets by storm. It is realistically the most affordable 4G LTE smartphone available but it does not skimp out on any of the primary features.

Specifications: A clear and sharp 4.7 inch HD display that has a pixel density of 312 ppi makes the Yunique a sight to be seen. It runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 Quad Core processor that clocked in at 1.2GHz. There is a 1GB RAM that comes with 8GB of internal storage which can be expanded to 32GB via a microSD card. Yu Yunique comes with an 8 megapixel primary camera that comes with a flash and the secondary camera is a 2 megapixel for perfect selfies.

The Yunique runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop out of the box and should be upgradeable to the latest 6.0 Marshmallow when it is released. The measurements of the device is 134.5 x 67.5 x 8.3 mm and weighs just 128 grams for easy flaunting. The battery is a pretty impressive 2000 mAh one that powers the Yunique for more than a day of normal use.

The biggest feature on this powerful device is that it supports 4G LTE. Given the price range of the Yunique, features like 4G support and a Snapdragon processor are a rarity but it looks like Micromax has found a common point between affordability and functionality yet again.

Droid Maxx 2 and Droid Turbo 2 Mirror Moto Devices

One of the biggest hits this year came in the form of the Motorola Moto X Play that gave smartphone users around the world something to talk about. But, when I say “around the world”, sadly, I exclude The United States of America out of it because Motorola refuses to release the Play in the county. The reason behind it is still unknown but whatever be the reason, America feels that they are missing out on something extraordinary.

But there is still some hope because in recent rumors, because in the latest smartphone news, Verizon seems to be ready to announce their take on the Moto X Play called the Droid Maxx 2. Verizon has been offering their versions of the Motorola smartphones to America for some years now and this time seems to be no different. The fundamental reason behind the Droid Maxx 2’s demand is its battery power. Similar to the Play, the Maxx 2 presents its users with a list of top notch features with the battery at center stage. Let’s find out what exactly the Droid Maxx 2 will be offering its US buyers.

• Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop)
• 7 GHz Snapdragon Processor (Octa-Core)
• 2GB RAM
• 16GB and 32GB Variants
• 5 Inch Full HD Display Protected By Corning Gorilla Glass 3
• 3630 mAh Battery (48 Hours Usage)
• 21 Megapixel Primary Camera, 5 Megapixel Front Camera
• 1080p HD Video Recording

The above mentioned specifications are what the Moto X Play offers but we can expect the same on the Droid Maxx 2 as well (give or take a few tweaks in hardware). As it is a mirrored device as the Moto X Play, the price will remain the same on the Droid Maxx 2 which will be $300.

Two other devices from Motorola, the Moto X Style and the Moto X Pure Edition will be the model for which Verizon will base its Droid Turbo 2 smartphone. As seen before, it will contain all the similar specifications as the two Moto’s, but include some other features like the display which will be Plastic OLED and wireless charging. The Plastic display has already featured on the G4 from LG which allows the screen to bend in ways no phone should. The Droid Turbo 2 calls itself “unbreakable” which in reality means that the display will not smash the way glass does. The wireless charging is something that the Moto X Pure Edition lacked so this could be a big bonus for sales. A reasonably steep price tag on the Droid Turbo 2 which will cost $600, might be the only reason fans think twice to lay down the cash. But for what the smartphone is offering, it is more than worth it, especially when Motorola refuses to make their phones available to the American market.

What makes Lava Pixel V1 a good buy?

The Android One project in India was introduced last September by Google to make easy to use and affordable smartphones available to people who are not that tech inclined or updated with the latest mobile phone news. Since then, Android One smartphones have been launched in various other markets experiencing transition towards smartphones. Though the first set of Android One handsets came with a minimalist design, the second generation of it introduced recently in India by home grown brand Lava Mobiles, is appealing enough both in terms of looks and features if you compare mobile phones specifications.

Dubbed as Lava Pixel V1, the device rocks a 5.5 inch display, which is a big thing for a mid-range category phone, keeping in mind the present desire of smartphone users to enjoy large displays to watch videos and play games. Design wise, the phone is a winner as well with its metallic finish on its white plastic chassis. In fact, in terms of looks it is quite reminiscent of the Vivo V1 with the same kind of sleek and smooth matte metal combo. It is a big device but the rounded edges and corners enable for a good grip.

Pixel V1 runs a very bloat free vanilla version of Android’s latest 5.1 Lollipop with an interface similar to the Nexus devices. This means it does not have unnecessary tweaks and redundant customizations or those flashy looking icons added by smartphone manufacturers which tend to make the device pretty tardy in the long run. And with Lollipop on board, the device runs smooth and seamless. So, this is a huge plus point for users who stick to basic usage like calling, messaging, sending mails or maybe a bit of playing YouTube videos.

As a matter of fact, the internal specs of the device would allow you to do only that much lag free. To power up functions, the CPU has four cores with a clock speed of 1.3GHz with a surprising 2GB of RAM. And the memory is good enough at 32GB along with an additional 32GB which can be added with MicroSD storage card, which means plenty of space to install apps and media files, however, the speed of the device may have to be compromised there in.

The 13 megapixel camera with F2.0 Aperture ensures decent shots though it takes time to adjust the focus. And the 8 Megapixel front camera is a satisfying leap over the 2 Megapixel snapper offered by the first generation Android One smartphone.

To sum up, Lava Pixel V1, priced at Rs. 11,349 (around $177) is definitely a smart looking Android One device which has taken a commendable leap from its earlier generation with rather unimpressive specs. Not to forget the other contenders in the same price range namely Lenovo K3 Note, Yu Yureka and the more recent Moto G 3^rd Gen, all of which can give tough competition to the Pixel V1. And also there are other phones in the market at a much lower price. However, Lava Pixel V1 scors points on the vanilla software, even more with Google’s promise to update with latest builds till two years from the date of purchase.

Are eBook Readers Redundant in Today’s Times?

Books are one of the few joys in life that really have no parallel. People can be as ignorant as they want but a good book lures even the most bored and disinterested people toward it. An excellent and compelling storyline makes it possible for people to actually live in that story. Seeing the craze that people have for books and stories, technology enthusiasts wanted to come up with ways in which books could be read, without the need to carry a 1000 page book around, and to keep the light in the room on all night. This is what spurred eBook readers to become a part of mainstream devices among the latest electronic gadgets. An exclusive device, low power consuming, which allows you to read without disturbing people around was the dream for book lovers a few years ago. However, seeing how fickle and fast moving technology is, after all these years, is it possible that eBook readers have become redundant?

It is no secret, as several sources of the latest gadgets news too have reported, that the sales of eBook readers have seen a slump off late. People aren’t as fascinated by eBook readers as they used to be. There are several reasons for this, the foremost one being that many of the latest electronic gadgets can do everything that eBook readers can do, and then some more. Smartphones and tablets can easily carry as many eBooks as required and come with great lighting, allowing you to catch up on your reading anytime and anywhere.

In fact, since most smartphones today have a screen stretching 5 inches anyway, it doesn’t make sense to carry a 7 inch device just for reading. Thus, for users, it seems silly and it means that besides your smartphone, laptop, tablet and smartwatch, there is an additional eBook reader that you need to carry around all the time just to read. Carrying and charging an extra device is a cumbersome venture, especially when you other gadgets will be competing for the charging plug.

stacked books with a tablet on top

Furthermore, several eBook reader brands today, seeing the shift in people’s preferences toward smartphones, are releasing apps which allow users to read eBooks on their smartphones. It made headlines in the latest gadgets news when Amazon Kindle and the Nook, two premier eBook reader brands, came out with apps for both Android and iOS devices. Thus, this further makes it easy to enjoy similar experiences on your smartphones and tablets. Also, let’s not forget the cost factor – a good eBook Reader can cost as much as a budget smartphone, which means you will really need to put aside some cash for it if you want it.

Another way of looking at the matter is that many book lovers stress that no device in the world can really replace the feel of a good book, with its pages and smell. The favourite repeatedly read books, with dog eared pages and cracked spines, are a source of pride for many book enthusiasts. Hence, in the end, perhaps it is time for eBook reader brands to re-think their strategy, as people are now becoming weary of carrying multiple devices, which are becoming more of a burden than a convenience.

Asus ZenWatch gets a Price Cut

Many gadgets have come and gone but few have really managed to make a good enough impression on buyers to ensure excellent sales. In fact, not just products but there are entire categories of products that have not managed to really capture the imagination of the masses. One such category is that of smartwatches. Unfortunately, if the latest smartwatch news sources are to be believed, smartwatch makers are having to resort to desperate measures to ensure adequate sales of their products. One such recent example is the drastic price cut of the Asus ZenWatch.

The pioneer smartwatch released by Asus received excellent reviews, and several critics and users like applauded its sleek look and design. Unlike most watches released till date, the ZenWatch came with a much more stylish look and a sandy coloured leather strap, rather than an ugly black rubber strap. Originally released last year in September, the ZenWatch runs on Android Wear OS, and has a metal body and sports a 1.6 inch curved screen, which can be navigated about by touching and swiping. By using Bluetooth, the smartwatch links with any smartphone that has Android v4.3 and higher.

The Asus ZenWatch was lauded for its innovative features, such as the ability to unlock and locate smartphone, mute incoming calls and many other such features. These feature were further enhanced when the smartwatch paired with an Asus smartphone.

The smartwatch is now available for $129 which makes it extremely affordable indeed. The price cut is understandable, as Asus recently announced that the Asus ZenWatch 2 is expected to be launched later this year. However, the sharp fall in the price of the ZenWatch reported in the latest smartwatch news, comes as a surprise because, even when the smartwatch was initially released, it was extremely affordable and competitively priced. At launch, the Asus ZenWatch was available for $199, which made it par, price wise, with the likes of pocket friendly smartwatch options, such as the Pebble Steel and one of the three pioneer Android Wear devices, the LG G Watch. The much anticipated ZenWatch 2 is set to be a better version of the original, with interesting features and effects.

So, that was all about the details on the ZenWatch and its new hefty price cut detailed on the Google Play Store. People claim that smartwatches are perhaps still too futuristic to be considered as products that are a necessity in today’s life. Perhaps, when a time comes where smartwatches can really replace smartphones entirely, such watches may then become commonplace. However, for now, smartwatch companies will need to resort to such price cuts and discounted sales to ensure that their product manages to move from shelves to people’s pockets and wrists.

Should Microsoft Just Give up Already?

Smartphones have come a long way and overtime, more than the number of handsets, it is the extent of innovation that has dominated this market. The sea of change that smartphones has seen in the past mere half a decade is ridiculously astounding. The latest mobile phone news today is dominated by extensive stories of innovation and fairytales where unknown brands and names have managed to garner attention and sales. Hence, as long as you have innovation on your side, you will surely be able to get enough sales. Unfortunately, it isn’t a fairytale for everyone involved, as even a veteran in the mobile phone market, such as Nokia and Microsoft have been having a rough time simply staying afloat in the smartphone market.

The recent turn of events for Microsoft has not been pleasant and the company has had to take some drastic measures to undo the damage done with Microsoft’s much talked about buyout of Nokia. Of course, Microsoft will never admit that this was an outright disaster and that it should never have entered into territory it was never familiar with to begin with. What’s more, rather than pairing up with a strong player, it opted to take the support of Nokia, a brand that was one that had already seen its golden days well behind it. So, the only thing that could have saved a union of a dying and a novice brand coming together would have been drastic innovation.

This union should have led to handsets that would storm the latest mobile phone news forums and steal focus from other Android and iOS devices. Unfortunately, that was not going to happen as neither brand really contributed significantly to any kind of revolutionary changes. Instead, the Lumia series continued along the same line and the tiled pattern didn’t impress users.

There’s no denying that Microsoft did try at least some tricks before giving up. It released many Lumia phones, consequently getting rid of the Nokia tag altogether in the process. When the Lumia Denim update was announced, along with many Lumia handset releases, while it did make it to handheld news, where it didn’t make it was into shops and the eventual hands of users. Thus, Microsoft has perhaps begun to face the harsh reality that it really has no chance of making it big in the smartphone sector if things go on like this.

 

Of course, the smartphone sector is a fickle one and you should be willing to enter it only if you are willing to modernize, transform and move at the insane pace that the market moves at. Satya Nadella can always argue that the smartphone market was very different at the time of their Nokia buyout than what it is today, a claim that any channel of handheld news will affirm. However, despite all the excuses that Microsoft can possibly dish out, the truth remains that it may be the end of the road for Nokia and Microsoft altogether in the mobile phone sector.

What makes Canvas Knight 2 better than the previous one?

Though Micromax, the popular Indian smartphone manufacturer started getting mass attention with its economical android smartphones, but the launch of Canvas devices gave it a new platform in the smartphone market.

Micromax introduced Micromax Canvas Knight last year, August, where it has featured 4.7 inch screen with good memory, camera and powerful processor support in a budget friendly price. This newly launched Knight Smartphone has attracted the smartphone buyers and has received a great many complement from some of the notable names of Indian tech media, at the same time.

Now, in June, 2015, Micromax has launched the next generation of the Knight. Micromax Canvas Knight 2 is the newest addition in its Canvas list and has appeared in a greater mobile case with the newest version of Android. If you want to know that which one is better amongst these two then you have to compare mobile phones specifications.

 

Micromax Canvas Knight: Micromax Canvas Knight is the first Knight Smartphone from this Gurgaon based smartphone hub. This device is featuring a 4.7 inch HD IPS display with 1280×720 megapixel display resolution. This device has appeared with the Android 4.4.2 KitKat and gets support of MT6592M 1.4GHz Octa core CPU. Along with these supports, Canvas Knight also features 1GB RAM with 8GB inbuilt memory and let you expand the memory space up to 32GB. With a 2000mAh battery Canvas Knight assures up to 180 hours of power support, at the same time.

Micromax Canvas Knight 2: As it is the next generation of its predecessor, hence, it is quite evident that, the version is more developed and efficient, not only by specification but also in work. This Android Lollipop device is featuring the most demanding 5 inch display of present time with HD screen and protected by Corning Gorilla Glass, a specialist display protector in the market, which keep devices scratch, dust and drop resistant. Micromax Canvas Knight 2 is powered with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 615, 64 Bit octa-core CPU with Adreno 405, which make this device faster and smoother and also a powerful GPU makes it an efficient gaming smartphone.

Apart from it, 2GB RAM has been offered with Knight 2, that the device can save more short term data, that you can check out more things in a better and faster way. Along with 16GB in-built memory support, this smartphone users will get the access to install external memory card, up to 32GB. Knight 2 is offering 2260mAh battery with up to 335 hours of battery backup, which is undoubtedly more powerful than the previous one.

What makes the new one better?

In every aspect Canvas Knight 2 is an advanced smartphone than Canvas Knight and it is quite clear from the above mobile phone comparison. Not only because a powerful CPU and battery support, the pre-loaded latest and most developed Operating System, improved memory support, strong display glass and more over a better sleek look with elegant color combination. So, the buyers have to decide now, that they will buy a mobile with lesser specs to save a little amount or, would like to get a far better device in a bit of extra price.

How HTC is Giving a Tough Time to Other Brands

HTC is a brand that has truly come into its own. There was a time when the smartphone market was dominated by two key players, which were Samsung and Nokia. There was hardly any third name that came close to giving these two giants a hard time. However, in a not so far away land, a David was slowly grooming himself, as eventually HTC rose to prominence. The story of the rise of HTC is no short of a fairytale.

It was in 2013 that HTC released its first ever flagship handset, the HTC One. This smartphone proved to be the biggest upset of the year, as it took the market by storm. Yes, this HTC smartphone specification list boasted of a 4.7 inch screen with a pixel density of 468 PPI, Android 4.2.2 OS, 4G/LTE, quad core Snapdragon 600 chipset, 2 GB RAM, 4 MP main camera and a 2.1 MP front camera. Back then, these were all features that were considered the latest mobile specifications, as even Samsung and Nokia were releasing phones of this kind. Most of all, the sleek metallic finish of the handset rendered it a better looking handset than most Samsung phones then.

Several iterations of the HTC One followed, including its successors like HTC One M8, M9, M9+, E9, etc. There was also the HTC One GPE that was released, and not to forget the HTC One Mini and HTC One M8 for Windows.

HTC then decided to up its game and aim for the mid-price ranged smartphone market. This is what spurned the eventual long list of handsets released by HTC under its Desire series. The Desire series came with huge handsets and HTC’s trademark dual front BoomSound speakers, which proved to be a huge hit among the younger generation. Within the Desire series it there was lots of variation, as some handsets were more affordable than the rest, with simple and basic HTC smartphone specification, while there were other handsets, which neared specs that were seen in flagship handsets. There were also specifically targeted handsets within these, such as the Desire Eye handset, which was aimed at the selfie crazy generation. HTC didn’t stop its innovation there, as it also released a phone with a Windows OS, allowing users to get the most of the HTC hardware and the Windows software.

So, this is how HTC has managed to capture the imagination of the smartphone market. Its constant innovation and release of smartphones loaded with the latest mobile specification has helped maintain its stronghold over the Asian and American market. Unless Samsung and other big names decide to innovate, HTC’s stronghold will continue to increase and flourish.

The leather cloaked LG G4 is set to ship for the large global market

The Seoul based, Korean tech giant LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company has launched its latest and widely appreciated LG G4 in April, 2015. LG launched its flagship device with an incredible visual experience, admirable camera with flash support and in an amazing grip friendly sleek, stylish and elegant look, which makes it an incomparable elite smartphone amongst the devices of its class.

At the time of the launch and afterwards many speculation came across regarding its roll out. Finally the company has made an announcement, according to which, they have already started shipping and the device will be available in the Global market from this week itself. The Hong Kong market will be the first to experience this incredible device with bets of the latest mobile specification. In Continuation, LG G4 will be shipped in Singapore, Turkey and Russia, followed by South-East Asia, Middle East and Commonwealth States. The device will be available in US market, as well, but may be lately. From North to Central and South the roll out will take place one after another. So, all the American market may not get it together, but no matter what time it takes, LG G4 fans from United States will certainly get the chance to try out their hand on G4.

The CEO of LG Electronics, Juno Cho during the announcement explained that, the company is quite ambitious and wants to set its own position in the latest smartphone market and therefore it has designed LG G4 with best of the specs and features, which makes it incredible amongst the new launch mobile phones. With a positive thought in mind, LG clearly shows its expectation for this latest flagship.

Specification:  

OS: Android Lollipop 5.1

Display Size: 5.5 inch

Display Glass: Corning Gorilla glass 4

Network: 2G/3G/4G LTE

CPU: 64-bit Hexa-Core 1.8 GHz, Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor

RAM: 3GB

In built memory: 32GB

Camera: 16MP (Primary)/ 8MP (Front) with LRD flash support

Expandable memory: Up to 128GB

Sensor: Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, Compass, Barometer

Battery: 3,000 mAh

Extra Features: Event Pocket, Smart Notice, Knock Code, Guest Mode

Available in: Genuine Leather Brown, Genuine Leather Black, Genuine Leather Red, Metallic Gray, Ceramic White and Gold

To get a good success, LG has done a great thing for the extended marketing, where it has tied up with 180 vendors. These carriers are going to help the company to expand the devices all over the globe. Due to this third party interference and local market value, price of LG G4 may differ a bit.

For the US customers, LG has associated with:

AT&T

Sprint

T-Mobile

Verizon

U.S. Cellular

Amazon.com and

Best Buy

Has India Finally Arrived?

There was a time when mobile phones came in the option of two brands; it was either  Yes, Samsung was the undisputed king of mobile phones in Asia. Its position was virtually unchallenged for years. That was of course till the advent of smartphones. Over the past two or three years, there has been an explosion of smartphone brands that have all fought for space in the latest smartphone news. The decade long hold of the South Korean Samsung is gone now, as there are several other Asian underdogs that are slowly changing the game. One such underdog is India.

People were surprised when a country like India, a long time loyalists of the two pioneer brands, started offering options to its users. The biggest game changer in India today is undoubtedly . Micromax is a brand that people mocked when it came up with its ambitious Canvas series. However, this brand proved everyone wrong, with phenomenal sales for a start up. After a year, it even managed to rope in the highly popular Wolverine star, Hugh Jackman as its brand ambassador. This was at a time when other better known brands were content with being advertised by Indian stars.

Micromax also exemplified its position by teaming up with Google to launch one of the three handsets that were released under the Android One series. This was a highly affordable handset with great mobile specifications, aimed at people looking to own their very first ever smartphone. It was also came with guaranteed updates, which was a feature that even several famous brands such as Sony and Samsung couldn’t promise.

The different handsets that made Micromax a household name included handsets like the Canvas Knight and Canvas Turbo. These are smartphones that came with 13MP and 16MP cameras respectively at a time when even leading handsets were making their users settle for 8-12 MP cameras, among other mediocre mobile specifications. Several of Micromax’s handsets made it to the latest smartphone news, making people aware of the scope of what this brand had to offer.

Yes, Micromax’s run in India has been the stuff that dreams are made of. From an unknown novice to a brand that has proven to be a saviour for people on a budget, Micromax has come a long way indeed. Currently, Micromax is the tenth largest smartphone seller in the world. However, with the kind of competition in the smartphone market today, this brand still has a long way to go before really making a lasting impression in the masses. It is still a relatively unknown brands beyond India’s borders and to have a global reach, it needs to really up its game and come up with unique smartphone features that will help it garner global attention.