Top 10 tech gadgets of 2013

Wearable gadgets, curved smartphones and new game consoles defined technology in 2013. That's why it's no surprise they make up the bulk of our top 10 devices of the year.

Some of these devices are essentially much better versions of earlier gadgets, while others are new innovations that are exploring possibilities we haven't seen before.

10. Motorola Moto X

Motorola began advertising the Moto X before it was officially unveiled, partly to generate excitement over its possibilities. The Moto X is assembled in the United States, and buyers can customize the phones to their liking.

Unfortunately, the Moto X wasn't as customizable as most users expected. Buyers can choose the aesthetics of the device, but they can pick between having only 16 or 32 gigabytes of storage. Despite these small disappointments, the Moto X is a trailblazer for customizable devices.

After the release of the Moto X, Motorola lent its support for a Phonebloks-led movement to develop customizable phones. Phonebloks is a concept crafted by a Dutch designer that calls for creating smartphones with modular parts, similar to Lego building blocks.

Motorola is working on Project Ara, which promises to one day let customers pick and choose every part of their smartphone.

The Moto X makes the list (just barely) for its innovative spirit and Motorola's pioneering efforts.

9. LG G Flex

The LG G Flex isn't on sale in the U.S., but it launched in South Korea this year and features promising new technologies that we may see on more smartphones in 2014.

For starters, the G Flex is one of two devices that went on sale this year with a curved screen. Although in my experience the curve itself doesn't offer much improvement when it comes to visual quality or ergonomics, the technology behind it is great news for users in terms of smartphone durability.

The G Flex uses a plastic OLED screen. That type of screen is thinner than what we see in phones today, and it is far more durable than what modern-day devices currently use. You can take the LG G Flex, whose curve runs from top to bottom, and flatten it out on a table. The device still works, and the screen doesn't crack.

Additionally, LG covered the back of the phone with a "self-healing coating." That doesn't mean the device is impervious to scratches, but users don't have to worry much about their keys messing up the phone when in the same pocket.

The G Flex may come to the U.S. next year, but it's still more of a concept phone. Either way, the technologies LG showcased with its curved phone are promising.

8. Samsung Galaxy Gear

Pebble, a small Kickstarter project that went viral in 2012, brought smartwatches to the attention of the tech world. But Samsung introduced the technology to the masses.

In October, the South Korean tech giant rolled out the Galaxy Gear, a watch with a small, square touchscreen capable of running apps, handling voice calls, sending text messages, taking pictures and shooting videos.

The Galaxy Gear seems like everything a spy could want, but it's a first-generation device. That usually means there are flaws, and the Galaxy Gear was no exception. The device works only with select Samsung devices, it lacks any must-have apps, it's very expensive at $299, and it's kind of big for a watch.

Regardless of the drawbacks, Samsung said it had sold 800,000 units one month after the Galaxy Gear's U.S. release.

7. Leap Motion Controller

Leap Motion wowed the world in 2012 with YouTube videos showing an extremely accurate motion sensor device for consumer laptops, and in 2013 the San Francisco start-up delivered on its promise by releasing the Leap Motion Controller.

Slightly bigger than a USB jump drive, the Leap Motion Controller enables users to control their computer with hand motions. The device can be used to navigate around a desktop or play games.

The Leap Motion Controller is on this list more for its technical innovation than its practical use in the home and office. If Leap Motion can roll out more useful apps, the little device could be higher on this list in 2014.

6. Nokia Lumia 1020

The Lumia 1020 is one of the most impressive gadgets we've seen this year, yet it had one of the worst launches.

The Nokia smartphone has top-of-the-line specifications, including a 720p HD 4.5-inch screen and the highest-resolution smartphone camera, with a whopping 41 megapixels. Typical smartphones have 8 megapixel cameras. The Lumia camera lets users take pictures they can then zoom in on without decreasing the quality of the image.

But the Lumia 1020 runs on the Windows Phone operating system, and when it came out this summer the platform was still missing many popular apps. At $299 with a two-year contract when it launched, it was also a bit pricey.

Since then, the Windows Phone system has been beefed up with more apps, and the price of the Lumia 1020 has been cut. Nokia lowered the phone's price to $199 with a two-year contract, and Windows Phone added Instagram, Vine and Waze - three apps that had been noticeably missing.

Now, at a competitive price and with more apps available to flex the device's camera muscles, the Lumia 1020 is one of the best smartphones you can buy if photos are a priority.

4 (Tie). Sony PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Xbox One

This year marked the first time Sony and Microsoft released new video game consoles in more than seven years. Sony came out with the PlayStation 4, and Microsoft launched the Xbox One.

The two systems are fairly similar, offering 500-gigabyte hard drives in similarly styled black shells. But the companies are taking different approaches in marketing their products.

Sony is going after hard-core gamers, offering them the ability to easily share video of themselves playing games over the Internet by tapping a "share" button on their game controllers.

Meanwhile, Microsoft wants the Xbox One to be the center of users' home theaters. By saying "Xbox on" followed by a command, users can control their entertainment systems with their voices. The Xbox One can also load up specific users' profiles and preferences by detecting them with the Kinect motion-sensor device.

For now, neither system has separated itself as the clear-cut top choice, and picking between them comes down to users' personal preferences. The PS4 retails for $399.99 while the Xbox One goes for $499.99, but good luck finding either one. At many stores they're back-ordered.

3. Google Chromecast

Chromecast is a digital TV receiver that functions much like Roku and the Apple TV, but at a far lower price and in a much smaller package. The $35 Chromecast plugs into the TV's HDMI outlet and streams content from users' smartphones, tablets, laptops and computers with a Wi-Fi connection.

When it launched, Chromecast worked only with Netflix, YouTube and other Google services. Since then it has been updated to also work with HBO Go, Pandora, Hulu Plus and other online subscription services.

If you're looking for a reliable, low-cost digital TV receiver, look no further than Chromecast.

2. Apple iPad Air

Apple has been noticeably absent on this list until now, and that's because it didn't really innovate in 2013. Instead it focused on evolutionary improvements, most of which were marginal - but not when it came to the fifth-generation iPad.

The Cupertino, Calif., tech giant released the iPad Air - a thinner, lighter, sleeker version of its popular tablet - in November. The $499 iPad Air is 0.29-inch thick and weighs exactly a pound. It's also outfitted with Apple's speedy new A7 64-bit chip, making it perfect for gaming.

The iPad Air is an impressive redesign to an already innovative product.

1. Google Glass

Glass has yet to be released to the public, but no other device has had as much public attention as Google's high-tech eyewear.

The pioneering smartglasses are the most expensive item on our list - at $1,500 a pair - and Google sold them to a few thousand selected users, most of whom seem to have fallen under the device's spell.

Like smartwatches, Glass connects to users' smartphones to perform tasks like playing music, sending messages and making phone calls. Glass can also shoot pictures and record video.

But 2013 was just the warmup. Glass is expected to be released to the public in 2014, and if Google can find the right price and a better design, it may have a huge consumer hit on its hands.

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2013-12-tech-gadgets.html#jCp

Samsung to launch Galaxy Grand 2 in India next week; device to be priced under Rs 25,000

Unveiled last month, Samsung has now launched the successor to the Galaxy Grand smartphone in the Indian market. The device will be available for purchase in the first week of January 2014, and while the company has not disclosed an exact pricing for the device (which is weird), it has added that the price will be between Rs 22,990 to Rs 24, 990.

Christened Galaxy Grand 2, the device brings a number of upgrades to its predecessor including an HD display, quad-core processor, and improved battery, among others. In addition, the company has also introduced ‘Club Samsung’, a content store that will enable customers purchasing the new smartphone to get music, videos, live TV and movies directly on the device. The store will be free for the first three months, post that customers will need to purchase the content.

Prior to Grand 2, Samsung had launched a number of variations of the original Galaxy Grand smartphone that included Grand Duos and Grand Quattro. Here is a quick look at the specifications of the smartphone.

Galaxy Grand 2 has a 5.25 inch HD TFT multi-touch capacitive touchscreen display (1280×720 pixel resolution) and runs on the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean operating system. The large screen offers ‘Multi Window’, which offers better multitasking by enabling users to run one application in two windows at the same time. The handset has a 1.2GHz quad-core processor and comes with 1.5 GB of RAM. The internal memory of the device is 8 GB, which can be further expanded up to 64GB with a microSD card.

On the camera front, the smartphone has an 8-megapixel autofocus rear camera with LED Flash, and a 1.9MP front-facing camera for video calling. As for connectivity, the device has Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi and 3G, and comes with a microSD card slot and a USB 2.0 port. It is powered by a 2,600 mAh battery that the company claims will provide up to 10 hours of video playback and 17 hours of calling. The specifications of the phablet are 146.8mm x 75.3mm x 8.9 mm, and its weight is 163gm. This one is also has dual-SIM functionality (GSM + GSM with dual standby option), and comes with GPS.

In addition, the device comes with a number of additional features like Story Album- enables users to organise pictures by timeline, and create and print albums from your device; S Translator- a translation service that provides instantaneous translations; S Travel- provides guides and travel information; Sound & Shot- records up to nine seconds of audio with your photos; Samsung Hub- a content service that provides access to music, videos, games and more; Group Play- for listening music, sharing documents or playing games together; and Samsung Link- connects your devices so you can access photos, music, videos and documents from multiple locations.

In terms of competition, the device will face off against the likes of Sony Xperia S (Rs 25,000), BlackBerry Z10 (Rs 24,999), Google Nexus 4 (Rs 24,575), HTC Desire 601 (Rs 23,990), Huawei Ascend P6 (Rs 25,499), and Lenovo Vibe X (Rs 25,999), among others.

Source: http://techcircle.vccircle.com/2013/12/23/samsung-to-launch-galaxy-grand-2-in-india-next-week-device-to-be-priced-under-rs-25000/

Nokia 'Moneypenny' could be the first dual-SIM Windows Phone

We’ve been hearing about the Windows 8.1-based Moneypenny for some time now. Now, prolific tipster @evleaks has tweeted a screenshot belonging to a device that is supposedly Moneypenny. Interestingly, the leaked image clearly shows that the device will come with dual SIM slot, which means it will be the first dual-SIM Windows Phone device.

The screenshot of the alleged Nokia Moneypenny Windows Phone device also shows 3G connectivity on both SIMs. One will also notice that the leaked screenshot shows Live Tiles on the Start screen for Nokia MixRadio, HERE Maps, Internet Explorer, Photos, SkyDrive, Microsoft Office, Instagram, Asphalt 8 and Vine app for Windows Phone.

First dual-SIM WP device

The screenshot also shows on-screen navigation control buttons for back, Start and Bing search. Earlier this month, we learnt that Microsoft plans to include on-screen buttons in the Windows Phone 8.1 version, just as we see in Android devices. If the screenshot is to be believed, future Microsoft devices may come with on-screen navigation controls instead of capacitive buttons. Some reports suggest that Moneypenny Windows Phone device may be launched as the Lumia 630 or Lumia 635.

Rumours are rife that Nokia is working on two Windows Phone 8.1 devices–Goldfinger and Moneypenny. It should be noted that both codenames are reference to characters from the James Bond canon. While Goldfinger is said to be the company’s flagship device, nothing much is known about Moneypenny.

source: http://tech2.in.com/news/smartphones/nokia-moneypenny-could-be-the-first-dualsim-windows-phone/924152

First look at Samsung's 5.25-inch Galaxy Grand 2

Samsung just made the Galaxy Grand 2 .The smartphone will be hitting stores in the first week of January, which is when the final retail price will be revealed. With an estimated price of Rs 23,000, the Grand 2 will compete directly with the Lenovo Vibe X. 


The Grand 2 or SM-G7102 borrows some design elements from the Note 3 and past Samsung handsets. The slightly larger 5.2-inch screen is now longer rather than wider so it’s much easier to hold with one hand. The HD display is a welcomed addition and even though the pixel count is not high enough, it’s much better than what Samsung offered us the first time. There’s barely any pixilation around icons and text is better to read without having to strain your eyes. Sadly, it’s still a TFT display and not IPS, so viewing angles and colours are strictly average.

The Grand 2 also debuts Club Samsung – a new service which lets you stream (or purchase) localised content – music, movies, web clips live TV, etc. Currently, only movies and music is available, but others should be ready soon by the time the phone hits retail.

The Grand 2 comes with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean along with Samsung’s TouchWiz interface. The UI wasn’t very smooth however and we noticed quite a bit of lag when jumping around apps and homescreens. This could be restricted to the demo units alone so we’ll have to wait till we get our hands on the final unit. Just like the first phone, the Grand 2 is also a dual-SIM handset so you can use one SIM for calling and the other for data. 

The Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 is definitely a worthy successor to the Grand as it improves upon many of the pain points from the first version. The biggest of all has to be the higher resolution display, better aesthetics and a larger battery. While there’s little doubt the Grand 2 will be a bit hit next year, we’re not sure if it will be the best buy at around Rs 23,000. By the time it actually launches, we’ll have phones like the Lenovo Vibe X and Gionee Elife E7 out in the market, which will hover around that ball park. Compared to the Grand 2, these phones offer a richer feature set and much better displays, the latter being a key factor in today’s smartphone experience. We foresee a big price cut heading for the Grand 2 as its current asking price feels a bit much

source: http://tech2.in.com/news/smartphones/first-look-at-samsungs-525inch-galaxy-grand-2/924042

World's first phone with 2K resolution launched

Chinese manufacturer  Vivo has pipped the likes of Samsung and LG to launch the world's first smartphone with 2K (2560x1440p) resolution, named Xplay 3S. This phone's screen has more pixels than the current crop of 1080p displays, making text, videos, images etc clearer and sharper.

The new Vivo Xplay 3S's 6-inch display has pixel density of 490ppi, which is higher than the 469ppi (the highest pixel density before this launch) of HTC One. Other features of Xplay 3S are also top end, such as 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 chipset, 3GB RAM and 13MP rear camera. It also has a 5MP camera in front and comes with an app called Photo+ that features augmented reality functionalities and shares video on the cloud.

The phone is powered by a customized version of Android, named Funtouch OS. Other features of Vivo Xplay 3S include 32GB built-in storage, 3,200mAh battery and metallic bezel. The phone weighs 172gram, measures 4.95mm at its thinnest point and comes with a fingerprint scanner.

The manufacturer has included several audio technologies in the phone, such as TI OPA2604 amplifier and ESS Technology ES9018 DAC. Its DTS Headphones:X technology supports 7.1 and 11.1 surround sound effect.

Vivo is also the company behind the world's thinnest smartphone, X3, which is just 5.75mm thick.

Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S5 smartphone is also rumoured to feature 2K resolution. Earlier this year, LG unveiled its 2K resolution display panel that is likely to be used in future smartphones. Chinese manufacturer Oppo has also announced that its upcoming Find 7 handset will have 2K screen resolution

Sony unveils pen drives for smartphones, tablet

Eyeing a new market for data storage devices, Sony has launched the world's first pen drives compatible with smartphones and tablets. The new flash drives are "2-in-1 devices" with both USB 2.0 and microUSB connectors, allowing buyers to use them in laptops and desktops as well as smartphones and tablets. 

Sony has launched the world’s first pen drives compatible with smartphones and tablets.

Viviano Cantu, director of consumer media marketing, Sony Electronics, said, "These new drives combine convenience, peace of mind and performance and are perfect for mobile multi-tasking." 

The new drives are compatible with Android (Ice Cream Sandwich to Jelly Bean) operating systems and offer USB on-the-go (OTG) functionality. Sony says that it is working on making them compatible with Android 4.4 (KitKat), the latest version of Google's mobile operating system. 

Apart from copying data between devices, these flash drives can be used to as additional or temporary storage for smartphones and tablets. 

Their locking caps (available in three colours) will protect the connectors from damage, dust and debris, says Sony. The metal body of the flash drives is durable enough to withstand everyday mobile use, it claims. 

Sony has said that the new flash drives will be available in of 8, 16 and 32 GB capacities, priced at $19.99, $29.99 and $62.99. While the Japanese manufacturer has not announced their India launch date, it has said that the flash drives will hit global markets in January next year.

New smartphone app to help you save money

A new smartphone app that keeps tabs on your expenses, creates a monthly budget and suggests ways to curb over-spending has been developed. 

On the basis of the financial information you provide to 'HelloWallet' while signing up, the application will instantly show you recent transactions, accounts and a budget summary. 

HelloWallet also helps you determine where to trim excess spending so you can work towards saving more money, 'Mashable' reported. 

The app also creates a budget to help you work toward your financial goals in addition to providing spending insights. 

Hellowallet adds all of your financial information - income, checking, savings, credit cards, healthcare and investments, the company said on its website. 

It connects to your banks to retrieve balances and transactions to keep information current and creates budgets and analyses trends, it said. 

The application keeps tabs on your spending on its own, keeping you in the loop with the help of alerts and reminders, the report said. 

HelloWallet also has a unique feature to help you reduce your interest rates and other fees that can add up to big spending.

Apple launches iPhone 5S, 5C; eyes India & China

 Apple has, for the first time, unveiled a cheaper smartphone, named the iPhone 5C. It has almost the same specifications as iPhone 5, which was launched as the company's flagship device last year, but in a plastic body.

The iPhone 5C (with contract in the US) is cheaper than all new iPhones launched till now, and is said to be targeted at emerging markets like India and China. With the launch of iPhone 5S, Apple has discontinued the iPhone 5 that was rolled out last year and served as the flagship model till now.

Apple also launched its pricey new iPhone 5S, which will take over from iPhone 5 as the latest flagship device of the company. It will be available in three colours - gold, white and black.

But the wow appeal usually associated with Apple's launches clearly seemed to be missing from today's event. Unlike in the past when iPhone's newer models turned slimmer, lighter, glitzier each year, Apple seemed to have reserved most of its attention to what lies inside the body this time.

However, in a bold move aimed to take on rivals Microsoft and Google, Apple also announced that it was making its premium productivity suite iWork, which can be downloaded free with iOS 7.

under the hood of iPhone 5S
Unlike the iPhone 5C, this device is made using aluminium and is powered by the A7 processor. The A7 chip is the only one in the world to feature the 64-bit desktop-class architecture and is twice as fast as previous processors in performing tasks and rendering graphics.

"With up to twice the CPU and graphics performance, almost everything you do on iPhone 5s is faster and better than ever, from launching apps and editing photos to playing graphic-intensive games," claimed the company.

The new iPhone 5S has an 8MP camera, which comes with dual-LED flash. The camera's sensor is 15% larger than that of its predecessor and offers better low-light performance.

Apple claims that this phone's camera can take 20 photos in two seconds, features auto image stabilization and records 720p videos at 120 frames per second (which is the highest for any smartphone). 1080p videos are recorded at 30fps.

iPhone 5S also has an all-new M7 chip that tracks motion data without waking the A7 chip and interacts with health apps to give fitness data. However, Apple claimed the two-chip system does not affect battery life of the device, which offers 250 hours on standby and 10 hours of talk time on 3G networks.

At the launch, the company showcased the gaming prowess of the iPhone 5S, which supports OpenGL 3.0 standard. The new phone delivers more details and makes graphics more vivid.

Google had recently introduced the OpenGL 3.0 standard in Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean). It can render rich and complex visual effects, previously only possible on desktops and gaming consoles.

Apple has also introduced a new, hi-tech biometric feature called Touch ID, using which one can unlock the phone with the touch of a finger.

Setting up Touch ID to recognize your fingerprint is easy, and every time you use it, it gets better. The Touch ID sensor recognizes the touch of a finger so the sensor is only activated when needed, preserving battery life.

All fingerprint information is encrypted and stored on the chip itself. Touch ID can also be used as a secure way to approve purchases from the iTunes Store, App Store or iBooks Store.

"iPhone 5s is the most forward-thinking smartphone in the world, delivering desktop class architecture in the palm of your hand," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing.

"iPhone 5S sets a new standard for smartphones, packed into its beautiful and refined design are breakthrough features that really matter to people," Schiller claimed.

Pricey proposition
iPhone 5S ( with contract) will be available in the US for a suggested retail price of $199 for the 16GB model, $299 for the 32GB model and $399 for the 64GB model. The 16, 32 and 64GB unlocked variants have been priced in the US at a hefty $649, $749 and $849, respectively. This is the same pricing format followed by Apple for previous iPhones.

In first phase, iPhone 5S will start retailing in the US, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the UK on September 20. A new iPhone 4S 8GB model will also be available for free on contract.

Cooking old wine for Asia
Apple's move to launch a cheaper version is clearly aimed at boosting penetration in key Asian countries like India, China and Japan. However, many may be disappointed as iPhone 5C comes across as old wine in new bottle since it has received hardly any hardware update.

Instead of cutting the prices of its older models, Apple has adopted a different strategy this time. "In the past, we've lowered the price of the current iPhone, making it accessible to more people. This year, we're not going to do that," said Schiller teasingly.

"The business has become so large that this year we're going to replace the iPhone 5, and we're going to replace it with not one, but two new designs," he reiterated.

Of the two devices launched tonight, this is how Schiller described the cheaper variant made of polycarbonate: "iPhone 5C is beautifully, unapologetically plastic."

iPhone 5C will come in two variants and will have two-year contracts. It will come in five colours - green, grey, light blue, peach, and yellow.

It has a 4-inch screen and comes with Apple's A6 processor, which power the now-discontinued iPhone 5. This new cheaper iPhone has an 8MP camera with a five-element lens, similar to the one used in iPhone 5. Connectivity options in the new handset include 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi.

The 16GB variant of this smartphone will cost $99 on contract, while the 32GB version has been priced at $199. The unlocked 16 and 32GB versions of the iPhone 5C have been priced at $549 and $649, respectively. The company also announced cases in six colours for this handset, which will cost $29 a piece.

iWork now offered free
Earlier, Apple CEO Tim Cook kicked off the launch event at Apple headquarters in Califiornia, US, with an introduction of the company's new iOS 7 operating system. Cook surprised everyone by announcing that Apple was making available free with the new iOS 7 five of its premium paid productivity software apps such as iPhoto, iMovie. Pages, Numbers and Keynote are collectively known as iWork suite. The move clearly seems aimed at taking on Microsoft Windows Mobile and Android devices.

iOS comes on September 18
iOS7 will be available for downloads from September 18, which is in contrast to Apple's past practice of rolling out the iOS update on the day of unveiling the latest iPhone. The delay could disappoint Apple aficionados, as also the fact that iOS 7 updates won't apply to many older generation devices.

It is a bad news for many existing owners of Apple's mobile devices such as iPhones and iPad. The older generation devices won't get the iOS 7 update which will apply only to iPhone 4 and 5, iPad 2 and 3, iPad mini, and the 5th-gen iPod touch. This means the owners of the iPhone 3GS and iPad 1 would be left high and dry.

The iOS 7 which will come pre-loaded on the two new iPhones, will feature new icons and ringtones; several new Siri features (including a male voice option); redesigned search and Safari browser; new multitasking layout in a 3D look; new camera features, including Sqaure (for Instagram photos) and better segregation of images as per location, occasion and time.

It will also have a new Control Center, besides Notification Center that can be opened even on a locked screen by merely swiping down from top to bottom of the screen. Other features include improved multitasking, AirDrop and iTunes Radio.

iOS and Android evenly poised
With Apple shipping its 700 millionth iOS device next month, it will become the most popular mobile operating system in the world. claimed Cook.

Interestingly, Apple and rival Google are neck to neck vis-a-vis app downloads. Apple's App Store had 900,000 apps and 50 billion total downloads according to the company's announcement made at the time of launch of iOS 7 on June 10. Google's Android had 1 million apps and same 50 billion downloads as announced by the company while launching the Android 4.3 on July 24.

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Asha is the new hope for Microsoft

Microsoft-Nokia may never reach the market share highs that Nokia saw in India-it was 56% in 2008-but the merged entity stands a good chance of arresting the fall (the share is now down to 27%) and making gains in the mid and upper segments of the mobile phone market.

Most analysts don't think Microsoft will bother about the low-end of the feature phone segment, where margins are very low and local players like Micromax and Karbonn have proved too competitive for Nokia. This market remains big in India, and so long as it remains big and Microsoft does not play significantly in it, the company's share in the overall market will stay low.

The big opportunity that Microsoft perhaps sees is in the mid- and upper-end, where it has the Asha and the Windows-based Lumia brands. Manasi Yadav, senior market analyst with research firm IDC India, believes Microsoft will bring greater focus to the mid segment in the short run. "Access to Nokia's patents and OS will help it to create powerful devices in the market. Going forward, we will see more launches in the sub-Rs 10,000 market that will lift volumes. Nokia has strong brand equity in feature phones and since Microsoft has inherited strong legacy from Nokia, they will look at new launches in that price point," she said. IDC categorizes Asha phones, priced at Rs 4,000-6,000, as feature phones, though some call them low-end smartphones.

Soma Sundaram, founder of mobile payments platform iKaaz, said Asha was a huge win for Microsoft, "From a growth with profitability perspective, the Asha and higher-end smartphone segments are what Microsoft will likely focus on."

Yadav thinks Microsoft will take a longer time to build its smartphone strategy because Lumia is still a nascent platform compared to Android.

Anshul Gupta, principal research analyst in Gartner, said since the Nokia deal puts Microsoft closer to the customer-as it now controls both hardware and software-they would be in a better position to understand what the market wants. "This deal is good for the Windows ecosystem and MS should be able to manage device upgrades easily," he said. But Sridhar Pai, CEO of telecom research company Tonse Telecom, said Microsoft would find the going tough. "They are late entrants into a market dominated by Android phones. They have a set of adaptive issues and they have to execute their strategy faster to accelerate their capabilities," he said.

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Sony announces Xperia Z1 with 20MP camera

Sony on Wednesday announced Xperia Z1, world's first smartphone with a 20.7 megapixels (MP) camera, at IFA, a trade show, in Berlin. The company said that the device has the "world's leading camera in a smartphone", implying that it can shoot better images than what Nokia's Lumia 1020, which has a 41MP camera, can manage.

"The Xperia Z1 is the absolute embodiment of that one Sony ethos," said Sony CEO Kaz Hirai. "We designed Z1 to deliver Sony's compact camera performance in a smartphone."

While the camera is the highlight of Z1, it is a high-end and powerful device. The phone has a 5-inch TFT screen with FullHD (1080x1920 pixels) resolution. It is powered by Qualcomm's S800chip, which is theoretically the world's fastest mobile processor. The quad-core S800 in Z1 runs at 2.2GHz and uses an Adreno 330 chip for graphics-related processing. The device has 2GB RAM, an aluminum and glass body, 16GB internal storage and support for a microSD card.

Like other recent Xperia devices, Z1 uses a waterproof and dustproof design. It will run Android 4.2.2.

Sony said that Z1 would be available in markets across the world in the coming weeks. In India the device is expected to be launched within this month. For now Sony has not revealed the country-specific prices.

Highlighting the camera performance of Z1, Sony said "independent testing has confirmed that Xperia Z1 provides the best overall image quality of all leading smartphones". The camera in Z1 features 1/2.3-inch image sensor, a dedicated chip for image processing and a lens with F 2.0 aperture.

'Lenses' that attach to a smartphone

A smartphone with high-resolution camera was not the only highlight of Sony's event in Berlin. The company also announced two 'lenses' that can be attached to almost any Android device or iPhone to convert the phones into powerful cameras.

While Sony is calling QX10 and QX100 lenses, they are tiny full-fledged cameras that have their own image sensors, memory card slot, battery and microphone. QX10 has a 2/3-inch, 18MP image sensor while QX100 has a 1-inch, 20MP image sensor. QX10 offers 10X optical zoom while QX100 can zoom up to 3.6X. However, QX100 also features a lens with F1.8 aperture, which should help users click far better images in low light.

The QX10 and QX100 will have to be controlled by an Android device or iPhone through Wi-Fi or NFC, if it is available. Once the 'lenses' have been paired with a smartphone, the screen of the phone turns into a viewfinder.

QX10 has been priced at $250 and QX100 will cost $499. The country-specific price of the two has not been yet revealed by Sony. Both QX10 and QX100 are expected to launch in India along with Xperia Z1.

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Micromax launches dual core, Android 4.2 Canvas Fun A74 for Rs 7,749

Micromax has added another budget Android device to its Canvas series with the Canvas Fun A74. The smartphone is available online on Snapdeal and Infibeam for Rs 7,749.

The Micromax Canvas Fun A74 has a 4.5-inch capacitive display with 854 x 480 pixels resolution and a pixel density of 218 ppi. It is powered by a 1.3GHz dual-core processor coupled with 512MB of RAM. It has a 5-megapixel rear camera with flash support and a VGA front camera for video calling. The smartphone has 4GB internal memory expandable via microSD card support to 32 GB and a 1,500mAh battery. Connectivity-wise the device offers 3G, Wi-Fi, GPRS and Bluetooth support and has a 1500 mAh battery. 

Micromax had also launched another phone in the Canvas Fun series called the Canvas Fun A76 with a bigger 5 inch display and a 2000 mAh battery. The rest of the specs on the phone are similar to the Canvas Fun A74, with a 1.3 GHz dual core processor, Android 4.2, 5 MP rear camera and a VGA front camera. The Micromax Canvas A76 is available for Rs 8,499 on Flipkart and Infibeam. 

The company has also listed the Canvas Fun A73 on its official website hinting that the phone will be launched soon. The Fun A73 will have a smaller 4 inch display, a 2MP rear camera and a VGA front facing camera. It will be powered by a 1.3 GHz MediaTek (MTK 6572) processor, Android 4.2 OS and a 1500 mAh battery. The launch date and price of the device has not yet been revealed. 

Micromax has become the second most preferred brand in the Indian smartphone market according to a recent IDC report. Micromax now has almost 22 percent of the market share and is second only to Samsung which has 26 percent of the market share. The brand rules the Phablet market which has grown nearly 30 percent in Q2 2013. 

Micromax’s biggest, most expensive phone launched

Indigenous smartphone manufacturer Micromax has launched its biggest-ever and most expensive smartphone in India. The new phone, named Canvas Doodle 2, has a 5.7-inch screen; the upcoming SamsungGalaxy Note III is also said to have a 5.7-inch display.

Available on online retailer Snapdeal, the new Micromax phone has been priced at Rs 19,990, making it the most expensive handset by the company. The listing says the phone will be dispatched in five days.

The new Canvas Doodle 2 has previously been teased by Micromax via its Facebook page with the tagline "Can your imagination get bigger?" The phone is not listed on the company's website as of now.

Micromax Canvas Doodle 2 has screen resolution of 1280x720p, same as that of Canvas HD and Canvas 4. It is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, backed by 1GB RAM and comes with 12GB internal storage. This dual-sim smartphone will run on Android4.2 (Jelly Bean) and come with Micromax's 'Blow to Unlock' feature.

The manufacturer has used a 12MP camera with dual-LED flash on the back and a 5MP shooter in front. The listing on Snapdeal mentions connectivity options like 2G, 3G and Wi-Fi. The 2,600mAh battery of the phone has been rated at 8 hours of talk time on 2G network.

Micromax has said it will launch a total of 30 smartphones this year and has tasted success with handsets likes Canvas HD and Canvas 4.

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‘6-inch Nokia phone with 20MP camera in the works‘

Nokia recently announced its biggest-ever smartphone, Lumia 625. The all-new smartphone features a 4.7-inch screen, biggest in the company's portfolio. The screen size, however, pales in front of the behemoths offered by many of its rivals like Samsung, Sony and Huawei. Now, the buzz is that the Finnish manufacturer too is joining the big-screen war.

Tech news website The Verge, citing sources at Nokia, has reported that the company is working on a phablet with a 6-inch screen. It is expected that the upcoming handset has been codenamed Bandit and will have a full HD screen, 20MP camera and a quad-core Snapdragon processor. The report says "Bandit will be the first of many planned 1080p Windows Phone devices."

An image of a Nokia phone with 6-inch screen has leaked too, with a Weibo user claiming that the device is already under mass production in China. A report by UK's Mobile Today says Nokia will unveil its 6-inch phablet in the fourth quarter of this year, priced between $620 and $780.

Windows Phone 8 operating system currently does not support full HD screens, which will come with the GDR3 update that is scheduled to be released this fall. This update will also bring support for quad-core processor on phones running on Microsoft's mobile OS.

With such features, the new flagship would be competing with some of the big screen devices in the market today, such as Sony Xperia Z Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Note III and Huawei Ascend Mate.

Details of Nokia's upcoming 5.2-inch screen phone and 10.1-inch tablet (codenamed Vanquish) too appeared online recently.

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Videocon A42 smartphone launched at Rs 7,490

Indigenous smartphone manufacturer Videocon Mobiles has launched the A42 budget smartphone in the country. This handset boasts of Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) operating system as well as 3.75G connectivity and costs Rs 7,490. 

The latest handset in Videocon's portfolio, the A42 has a 4.5-inch screen with 654x480p resolution. It runs on a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, backed by 512MB RAM, and features dual-sim functionality. This phone comes with 4GB internal storage and supports microSD cards up to 32GB. 

Videocon has used a 5MP rear camera with LED flash on the back and a 1.3MP unit in front. Connectivity options in the phone include 2G, 3.75G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and microUSB. It is powered by a 1,700mAh battery and comes in black and white colours. 

Khalid Zamir, head product planning & development, Videocon Mobile, commented, "For these first time Android users, our endeavour is to bring an easy, intuitive yet immersive Android experience with which they can stay connected to their friends, peers and family on the go. The device's well laid out feature set tuned up with the latest Android (Jelly Bean version 4.2.2) provides a deeper engagement with the consumers thus helping them to experience the best of Android Smartphone capabilities on offer." 

Key specs: 

*Display: 4.5-inch screen with 854x480p resolution

*Operating system: Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)

*Processor & RAM: Dual-core 1.2GHz CPU, 512MB RAM

*Storage: 4GB internal storage, microSD expansion up to 32GB

*Camera: 5MP rear unit with LED flash, 1.3MP front camera

*Connectivity: 2G, 3.75G, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, microUSB

*Battery: 1,700mAh 

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Samsung beats Nokia to emerge No.1 in India: Report

Buoyed by high demand for smartphones, the mobile handset market in India is estimated to have grown by 14.7% in 2012-13 to touch Rs 35,946 crore, according to a Voice&Data Survey.

The market grew from Rs 31,330 crore in FY'12 with Korean electronics maker Samsung dethroning Nokia from the top position this year, the survey said.

The 18th annual survey 'V&D 100' covered over 30 mobile handset companies doing business in India across categories like feature phones, multimedia phones, enterprise phones and smartphones.

The survey attributed Samsung's rise in Indian market to its rich product portfolio catering to customers of all budget categories.

"Samsung handset prices range from Rs 1,500 to Rs 50,000 and come in varied screen sizes. These two factors helped the company grab customer's attention, besides the product quality and new features," it added.

The survey said Samsung ended the year with revenues of Rs 11,328 crore in 2012-13 as compared to Rs 7,891 crore in FY'12, a growth of 43.6%. It also became the market leader with 31.5% market share.

On the other hand, Nokia, with 27.2% market share, dropped to the No 2 spot.

In the 12 months ended March 2013, Nokia's revenues from Indian operations were placed at Rs 9,780 crore as compared to Rs 11,925 crore in FY'12, as per the survey.

"Nokia's drop in market share started when the company failed to sense the need of a dual-sim phone for the Indian consumer, and the same was tapped by the Indian players years ahead of global players like Nokia," it added.

Nokia's Lumia series phones that witnessed huge growth globally in the initial phases could not draw much attention in India.

The survey said Apple's revenues grew 417.2% to post revenues of Rs 1,293 crore in FY'13 as compared to Rs 250 crore in the year ago period.

Though India was never a focus market for the Cupertino-based smart devices maker till some years back, in the last two years, the iPhone maker has started making inroads slowly.

"In the last fiscal, Apple made some disruptive changes in its sales strategy, which paid off. Appointing Ingram Micro and Redington as the national distributors for their entire sales, and offering EMI schemes to the consumers to buy the most coveted Apple product changed the game for them," the survey said.

Apple now enjoys 3.6% market share in India having the smallest number of handset models in its portfolio.

Homegrown handset maker Micromax captured the third position with 8.7% market share. In FY'13, Micromax posted revenues of Rs 3,138 crore as against Rs 1,978 crore in FY'12, a growth of 58.6%.

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Google unveils new Nexus 7, Android 4.3, Chromecast Internet TV dongle

San Francisco: Google is betting consumers will pay slightly more for a sleeker, more powerful version of its Nexus 7 tablet as the Internet company escalates its rivalry with Apple and Amazon.com in technology's key battleground - the mobile computing market.

The fancier devices unveiled on Wednesday in San Francisco will go on sale in the US next Tuesday in Google's online store and numerous retailers with brick-and-mortar stores. 


Among other things, the souped-up line of Nexus tablets will boast a higher-definition 7-inch display screen and a processor that promises to be nearly as twice as fast. Dual stereo speakers have been added for richer sound, and the device's battery duration has been extended to 10 hours for Web browsing, an increase of about an hour.  


On other fronts, Google also unveiled a gadget that will lean on its widely used Chrome Web browser and take aim at Apple on another front - the living room.

The new device, called Chromecast, is part of the company's attempt to make it easier for people to access Internet content on their TVs. Chromecast is a small stick roughly the same size as a thumb drive that can be plugged into an HDMI port on flat-panel TVs. It brings Netflix, Google's YouTube site and other Internet content to what is usually the biggest screen in households.

Forrester Research analyst Sarah Rotman Epps said Chromecast could undermine Apple in the still-nascent market to plug streaming devices into TVs, just as the Nexus tablets have siphoned some sales away from Apple's iPad.

Google's previous products designed to connect TV sets to the Internet haven't worked out well. The company initially tried to embed an operating system called Google TV into sets made by TV manufacturers, but that flopped. Last year, Google introduced an orb-like device called the Nexus Q in hopes of delivering more Internet video to flat-panel TVs, only to quickly pull the product from the market.

"Chromecast looks like a smart and disruptive device," Rotman Epps said. "Maybe it took the other failures for Google to get it right."

Google wants to have a presence on TVs because it could open up a lucrative new channel for it to sell more ads, which bring in most of its revenue.

In a show of its determination to make inroads on TVs, Google started selling Chromecast for just $35 on Wednesday. That price undercuts the most popular Internet-streaming devices made by Apple and Roku. An Apple TV box sells for $99, while the least expensive Roku box capable of showing high-definition video goes for $80. Roku, a company that formed within Internet video subscription service Netflix, also sells an Internet streaming stick similar to Chromecast for $100.

Earlier this year, Apple revealed that it has sold more than 13 million of its streaming boxes. Roku said its sales of streaming boxes surpassed 5 million units this year.

The Chromecast device connects with smartphones, tablets and personal computers to beam Internet connect to TVs. The Apple and Roku streaming boxes rely on a standard remote control to select Internet content.

As an enticement to get people to try Chromecast, Google is offering three months of free Netflix service with a purchase of the Internet-streaming stick. That translates to a $24 value, leaving the cost of the device at $11 for those who would have gotten Netflix anyway.

As for the Nexus 7, the extra firepower added to the second generation of the tablets will come with a higher price. A model with 16 gigabytes of storage will sell for $229, a $30 per increase from the current Nexus 7 released a year ago. That's still 30 per cent below the $329 that Apple charges for its iPad Mini. A comparable Kindle Fire HD tablet from Amazon.com currently sells for $199.

A 32-gigabyte version of the Nexus 7 will sell for $269, a $20 price increase.
The price hike for the Nexus 7 comes at a time when more people have been showing a preference for less expensive tablets. Google helped propel the trend with last year's introduction of the Nexus line, contributing to pressure for Apple to come out with the iPad Mini as an alternative to its top-selling tablets with a 10-inch screen.

Google is confident the Nexus 7 will still look like a great value once consumers see how much more powerful the new models are, said Sundar Pichai, an executive who oversees the company's Android and Chrome software.

The iPad Mini has driven down the average selling price of Apple's tablets, hurting the Cupertino, Calif., company's profit margins.

Even at a lower price, the Nexus tablets haven't been as popular as the iPad. Pichai said the Nexus products account for about 10 percent, or 7 million, of the roughly 70 million tablets now running Android software.
In the first half of this year alone, Apple sold 34 million iPads, including full-size models.

Amazon.com doesn't disclose its sales of Kindle Fires, which run on a modified version of Android. The research firm IDC estimates about 1.8 million Kindle Fires were sold during the first three months of this year.

The Nexus 7 will be the first device to get the 4.3 version of its Android software. It's a relatively minor upgrade from the "Jelly Bean" flavour of Android. Google still hasn't said when it will release a more comprehensive Android overhaul, currently known as "Key Lime Pie."

As with the original line of Nexus 7s, the new devices are being made by AsusTek Computer, working from Google's design.

Google is still tinkering with a new line of Nexus tablets with 10-inch display screens. The Mountain View, California, company also hasn't updated its Nexus 4 phones, though it worked with phone makers to release variants of Samsung's Galaxy S4 and HTC's One this summer. The variants run a pure version of Android, without the customizations added by the phone makers.

Pre-orders start for Sony’s 6.4-inch phablet

Sony upped the ante for high-end phablets in June by unveiling its Xperia Z Ultra. This phablet has a 6.4-inch screen, the biggest among top-of-the-line handsets, and ranks amongst the thinnest smartphones in the world. Within a month of its global showcasing, rumours have begun that the handset will soon launch in India, and now, even pre-orders have started.

Speculation is rife that the new Xperia Z Ultra will hit India on July 31, though nothing has been confirmed by the Japanese manufacturer. However, the device has been listed on Sony Mobile's India website. Online retailer Saholic has even started taking pre-orders for the phablet at Rs 44,990, with delivery promised within seven days. The website's page for Xperia Z Ultra shows an official price tag of Rs 46,990, though if rumours are to be believed then the device may be priced under Rs 40,000.

Xperia Z Ultra phablet has a full HD display (1920x1080p resolution) with 344ppi pixel density. The quad-core CPU of the handset is clocked at 2.2GHz and is supported by 2GB RAM. This device has the same design language as Xperia Z smartphone and features on-screen keys as well as scratch-resistant and shatterproof glass. Just like the current flagship phone, Xperia Z Ultra is waterproof and dust resistant, even though it can withstand staying in the water for longer duration of time.

The phablet runs on Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) with a customized UI to make better use of the extra screen size. Powered by a 3,000mAh battery, Xperia Z Ultra packs 16GB internal storage and supports microSD card expansion up to 64GB. Connectivity suite of Sony's latest gadget consists of 2G, 3G, 4G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC and microUSB 2.0. On the back is an 8MPcamera with LED flash, while a 2MP unit is placed in the front.

At 212gram, Xperia Z Ultra is one of the heftiest phablets in the market, but with thickness of just 6.5mm, it finds itself a spot among the slimmest handsets today. Apart from multitouch, users can input data via stylus in this new phablet and pencils.