Lenovo to launch budget 4G smartphone in January

It seems more smartphones with 4G support will launch in 2015. Lenovo announced that it will be launching a new 4G supported smartphone at CES-2015. The phone comes with Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 chip with low price tag.

The actual price and specifications of the phone are not known yet. It will be unveiled on January 8^th 2015 in Las Vegas at CES-2015 and will reach the Indian stores soon after.

CES : Consumer Electronics Show - is an internationally known electronics and technology trade show, attracting major companies and industry professionals worldwide. The annual show is held each January at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.

Though the company is not declared which model it is releasing at CES-2015, so many techies on the internet expecting it to be Lenovo K3 that was launched in China. The expectation is that it may be priced under 8K.

Lenovo K3 Specifications are:

Qualcomm snapdragon 410 quad core processor with LTE support,

5-inch screen with HD resolution,

Running on Android KitKat with Vibe UI,

1GB RAM, 16GB Internal Storage with micro SD card support,

8MP Rear Camera and 2MP Front camera,

2300mAh Battery.

If Lenovo,  really launches its K3 at CES-2015 then in my view.,  it can not be a real competition for Xiaomi Redmi Note 4G or Micromax Yureka YU. Because both of these devices come with 2GB RAM, 13MP Rear camera and 5MP Front Camera with 4G support.

If the comparison is between Redmi Note 4G and Micromax Yureka YU., then Yureka YU is better than Redmi, because…

a) YU comes with 64Bit Octa core processor and 16GB Internal storage with price tag of Rs. 8,999.

b) Redmi comes with Quad core processor and 8GB Internal storage with price tag of Rs. 9,999.

Click Here to know the full specs of Yureka YU.

Micromax YU (Yureka) with 64Bit octa core processor and with 4G support launched for Rs.8999

Micromax's new Yu brand smartphone with CyanogenMod OS launched on 18thDec2014. The smartphone is priced at Rs. 8,999. It is exclusively available on Amazon. You need to register first to get this phone, registrations will start from today 2PM IST. They will start shipping in second week of January 2015. Early adopters will get a leather back cover worth Rs. 999 free. The company is also saying that they are going to provide "free replacement or repair" at the user's doorstep.

What is YU?

In the present smartphone market people are more attracted to Chinese brands like Xiaomi, OnePlus and Gionee etc. Because they are selling phones with high specifications at affordable price. In this situation Indian brand Micromax came to the conclusion that., it needs to reinvent itself. So they started new brand YU to reposition themselves in the market against these Chinese Smartphones.

Micromax founder Rahul Sharma is the founder of Yu too. This is a completely different venture, it is a different company, the only common thing is that Rahul Sharma is founder for both companies . Rahul Sharma, in the launch event  said that.,  “The Y in YU comes from you(User) and the U from us(The Company).”  

What is CyanogenMod OS ?

It is a custom version of Android with stock Android UI but with a lot of added customisation options such as themes. Cyanogenmod is not different from Android., In fact, it is just enhanced and refined version of  the Android.

Why it is considered as an Amazing Smartphone?

1. It comes with octa core powered (64 bit) snapdragon 615 chipset and running Cyanogen 11 OS out of the box.  

2. This is a dual SIM handset with 4G + 3G support.

3. 2GB DDR3 RAM. 

4. 16GB Internal Storage and micro SD card support upto 32GB.

5. 13MP Primary Camera with SONY EXMOR CMOS sensor and 5MP Secondary Camera

6. The screen is 5.5 inches, IPS with Corning Gorilla Glass3 protection.

7. Screen resolution is 1280 x 720 pixels.                            

8. Battery 2500mAh

9. Warranty not void even though you root your device

10. All the above features just for Rs. 8999.

Micromax Yu Yureka comes with excellent hardware and with a tempting price tag. The phone probably has one of the highest “Value For Money” quotient! Overall, it is an excellent phone for the price

Plan V - Portable emergency charger for your smartphone

What is Plan V?

The Plan V is a small keychain which acts as failsafe portable charger for your smartphone and it uses a 9-volt battery to charge your phone.

Why this is needed when we have power banks?

Power banks, as small as some of them are, can add weight to your pockets, bags, and might not necessarily be that comfortable or convenient to carry around. You may forget the power bank  at home, while you are at a remote area.  So wouldn’t it be awesome if you could charge your mobile device using a regular battery?

                            

Plan V is essentially an accessory for mobile devices that is small enough to fit onto a keychain. What sets it apart is that it is able to charge mobile devices using a 9-volt battery that you can easily pick up from any store. You simply connect a 9 volt battery to the Plan V device and then hook it up to your phone. The idea is, if your phone dies or gets too low on juice, you whip out the Plan V and attach it to a 9-volt battery, thus getting you around four hours additional talk time on a Galaxy S5 (as an example).

How the Idea came:

18 months ago Plan V co-creators Evan and Luke found themselves in a tricky situation that could have gone terribly wrong. Stranded in Bogota, Colombia they were without a lifeline, their mobile phones dead, battery back-ups flat and hopes of finding their hostel were growing slim. After hours of wandering through dark and dangerous lane ways and a few close calls they finally found their accommodation. It was that night Evan and Luke decided to create an ultra portable, failsafe charging device, one that will never let you down no matter where you are in the world.

Flintu is awaiting Apple certification. There’s a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the Plan V, which has raised more than $64,144 AUD  from nearly 2,266 backers. The project closes on Dec. 24. Flintu hopes to make its first deliveries of the portable smartphone charger in February. (If Apple certification is granted, the Plan V Lightning is scheduled to ship in March.)

Asus PadFone Mini Released

Asus launched a new hybrid device that transforms from a 4-inch phone to a 7-inch tablet for Rs 15,999 in India and is called Asus PadFone. This PadFone is available on Flipkart.

It is aimed at those who want a big-screen device to read ebooks, surf the web and watch videos but don't want to carry it around all the time.

The Asus PadFone is composed of two separate pieces — a smartphone unit and a tablet dock. The smartphone is almost  same as ZenFone 4 in terms of features and design. What's different is that it has a docking point at the bottom, so that data can be relayed from the smartphone to the tablet part.

Main Features:

ASUS PadFone mini utilizes Intel® Atom™ Z2560 processors for best performance and power efficiency. Apps open quickly, games run smoothly and you can effortlessly browse JavaScript-heavy webpages - all without compromising on battery life.

PadFone mini includes dual SIM support, allowing you to have one device for your personal and work needs.With support for network speeds up to 42Mbps DC-HSPA+, you can effortlessly stream HD video and browse the web .

ASUS SonicMaster technology is a new audio optimization technology developed by the ASUS Golden Ear Team. It is a combination of superior hardware and software designed to deliver the ultimate sound experience.

PixelMaster is a unique ASUS-developed technology that combines software, hardware and optical design to deliver incredible image quality. With PixelMaster, your smartphone always produces professional high-quality photos.

The tablet charges the PadFone Mini smartphone when docked. You can see Asus Padfone mini product video here..

The specifications of Asus Padfone Mini are listed below:

1. Processor:  1.6 GHz Intel Atom Z2560

2. RAM: 1 GB

3. Screen Size:  4 inch (On Phone) + 7 inch ( On Tablet) Inches

4. Screen Resolution:  WVGA, 800 x 480 Pixels(On device) + 1200 x 800 Pixels(On Station) Pixels

5. Screen PPI: 233ppi(On Phone) + 206ppi(On Tablet)

6. Battery Capacity:  Lithium, 1200 mAh (On Phone) + 2200 mAh (On Tablet) mAh

7. Operating System:  Android v4.3 (Jelly Bean), Upgradable to v4.4 (KitKat)

8. Primary Camera:  8 Megapixel

9. Secondary Camera:  2 Megapixel

10. Internal Memory:  8GB  and expandable upto 64GB with microSD card

11. Sensors:  G-Sensor, Proximity Sensor, eCompass

12. Weight:  Phone weight is 116 grams and the pad weight is 260.

Panasonic Eluga S with Octa Core Processor Launched for Rs.10,990

Japanese manufacturer - Panasonic launched new smartphone in its Eluga series and is called Eluga S. This is the third phone in its series after Eluga U and Eluga A.  It is a selfie focused device, it comes with 5MP front camera with Blink Play feature.

This is available on SnapDeal at 10,990 Rupees.

What is Blink Play feature?

When you are ready to take a selfie simply blink your eyes, then the phone will recognize the eye gesture to initiate the automatic three-second countdown and after three sconds it clicks a smooth selfie.

It comes with leather-like back cover. It is called Fluidic Leatherette Design, with this feature by holding it in your hand., you will get a nice smooth feel.

Other main features:

1. Dual SIM handset running Android 4.4.2 (Kitkat) over a 5 inch HD screen.
2. True Octa Core 1.4GHz Processor.
3. 8 Mega Pixel Rear camera and 5 Mega Pixel front camera.
4. 1GB RAM and 8GB Internal Storage and expandable up to 32GB.

The specifications of Panasonic Eluga S are listed below:

1. Processor:  MediaTek 1.4GHz octa core processor (MT6592M)

2. RAM: 1 GB

3. Screen Size: 5  Inches IPS Display

4. Screen Resolution: HD, 720x1280 Pixels

5. Screen PPI: 294ppi

6. Battery Capacity: 2100mAh

7. Operating System: Android 4.4.2 KitKat

8. Primary Camera: 8 Megapixel Auto focus with LED flash

9. Secondary Camera: 5 Megapixel

10. Internal Memory: 8GB  - From this 8GB, 5.64GB available for users (Micro SD card supported upto 32GB)

11. Sensors: Light Sensor, Proximity sensor & Accelerometer

12. Weight: 155 grams

You can compare the specifications of this phone with Micromax Canvas Nitro A310

Earn money through Social Networking website – Tsu

What is Tsu:

Tsu – It is a new social media network and is pronounced as ‘Sue’. This is just like any other social networking website but the difference is you can earn money from this. This was launched on October 21^st.

Here is my invitation to join in tsu : https://www.tsu.co/a_r_manohar

These days we are spending lot of our time on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter etc and those websites are earning money from their ads through the content generated by users like us. But none of them are paying back to their users (Who are actual source for their ad revenue). Tsu launched as first social and payment platform where users can earn from the content they are sharing , posting , liking and commenting.

How it works:

According to Tsu, it shares social revenues that come from third party ads, sponsorships and partnerships. Once economics are created,  tsu receives 10% to maintain the platform. Half of the remaining earned revenue is paid to the user who created the content. The other half of the remaining earned revenue is distributed to the user’s network family tree.

What is Network Family Tree:

Users of Tsu have family trees. Everytime someone joins via your invite they become part of your family tree. They are considered your children. New children are the latest members you invited to join Tsu.

You cannot sign up into tsu, without an invite or short code from an existing user and when you do., you then become part of that person’s  family tree.

Here is my invitation to join in tsu : https://www.tsu.co/a_r_manohar. You can use this link and sign up in tsu.

After registering in tsu, you will get a confirmation mail to the registered email address, you have to click on the link given in that mail to activate your account. If you could not find the mail then check in spam folder as well.

Example of money distribution:

User A invites user B, who invites user C, who invites user D.

Part 1 – If, $100 of earned revenue is generated based on the content user D shared (photos, videos, status updates, etc.)

Part 2 – 90% of earned revenue go to the users. In this case, $90 of the $100 is shared with all the users.  tsu takes 10% of the $100 for maintenance. In this case $10.

Part 3 –  User D, the original content creator takes 50% of the $90. In this case, $45. –

Part 4 – User C gets 33.3% (1/3) of the original $90 generated. In this case, $30

Part 5 -  User B gets 11.1% (1/3 of 1/3 = 1/9) of the original $90 generated. In this case $10

Part 6 -  User A gets 3.70% (1/3 of 1/3 of 1/3 = 1/27) of the original $90 generated. In this case $3.33

Redeeming your tsu earnings:

Tsu makes you have to wait until you have $100 in earnings to cash out. Just hit the redeem button on the upper right hand corner and fill out some verifications. They then send out actual checks to their users.

The amount of money is really all based around the quality of content and the engagement that it receives and the activity of members that you have introduced to Tsu.,  you get paid for the activity of your friends and family that you bring to the platform.

So what are you waiting for., join this amazing new social media networking site now and earn money.

Here is my invitation to join in tsu : https://www.tsu.co/a_r_manohar

After registering in tsu, you will get a confirmation mail to the registered email address, you have to click on the link given in that mail to activate your account. If you could not find the mail then check in spam folder as well.

Update Released to fix issues of Xiaomi Redmi 1S

Many users are facing issues with Redmi 1S and complaining about it. Vice President of Xiaomi Global(Hugo Barra) said that they released system update(v45) for Redmi 1S users in India. This update can fix major issues of this phone like heating problem and memory management(RAM).

They used an improved thermal control algorithm to better regulate temperature and keep it under 38-degrees Celsius in normal usage conditions.

Xiaomi made some improvements to the memory (RAM) management in MIUI. The update also addresses performance issues such as frame rate drops and UI lag prevalent during computationally intensive tasks like gaming.

This update(v45) can offer the following improvements:

1. Heating and Battery life improvements
2. More free RAM availability
3. UI Performance Increase

On October 14^th(Today), Xiaomi is conducting its sixth flash sale of the Redmi 1S. The flash sale will start  at 2pm on Flipkart for registered users.  This time 1,00,000 units are available. Over 3,00,000 users are registered for this product.

Jolla Smartphone with Sailfish OS released on 23rd September for Rs 16499

A new company(Jolla) from Finland is ready to launch their new smartphone Jolla in India on September  23^rd. Jolla will be availabe exclusively on Snapdeal. Unlike all other smartphones which runs on Android/iOS/Windows this new smartphone runs on their own operating system called Sailfish. So the company is coming with the tagline “We are unlike”!!. They also say that -  The world doesn’t need yet another smartphone – it needs a new way of thinking. That’s why Jolla was born.

Sailfish OS is compatible with Android Apps.

What is Jolla? (a small history touch)

1. After rapidly losing market share in the smartphone market, Nokia decided to create a new Operating System for smartphones based on Linux and the project was named “MeeGo”. 
2. After that Nokia stopped their development of MeeGo and decided to concentrate on working with Windows Phones.
3. Then the team who worked on MeeGo project left Nokia and formed new company called Jolla in Finland.
4. They developed new Operating system based on MeeGo and it is called Sailfish
5. Jolla, in Finnish, is pronounced as 'yolla'.
6. Jolla, the company name, means dinghy (a small agile boat) in Finnish.

The Jolla smartphone features a distinct button-less design, and the Sailfish OS gesture-based user experience. The Sailfish OS's main focus is on multi-tasking without jumping in and out of apps. We can use gestures for navigating from one app to other. It is a single SIM phone. Key features are 4G LTE, 3G, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS with GLONASS, micro SIM slot, micro USB and 3.5mm audio jack.

Price of this smartphone is Rs. 16499. Looks like overpriced for the hardware specifications it is offering. Only new thing is, its Operating System.

The Specifications of Jolla Smartphone are listed below:

1. Processor:  1.4GHz qualcomm snapdragon dual core processor

2. RAM:  1GB

3. Screen Size: 4.5  Inches IPS Display with Gorilla 2 Glass

4. Screen Resolution: qHD, 960x540 Pixels

5. Screen PPI: 244ppi

6. SIM: Single SIM(micro SIM)

7. Battery Capacity: 2100mAh

8. Operating System: Sailfish and compatible with Android Apps

9. Primary Camera: 8MP with LED flash

10. Secondary Camera: 2MP

11. Internal Memory:  16GB (Micro SD card supported upto 32GB)

12. Weight: 141 grams


You can watch Jolla's Official look here...

Arya Z2 Smartphone releasing on 22nd Septemeber 2014 for Rs 6999

Domestic electronics firm Salora International, known for television sets, announced the launch of Arya  Z2 smartphone in India. The Arya Z2 is available from 12:00 pm of 22nd September 2014 exclusively on Amazon.in at a special launch price of Rs.6999/- with an 8GB microSD card free.

The Arya Z2 has an 8MP (Interpolated to 13MP) auto-focus camera with a Sony BSI sensor. It supports HD recording and has smart features like smile detection, Voice activated Camera Operation and high speed continuous shooting.

It comes with 5 Inch IPS display with OGS. The OGS (one glass solution) screen with full lamination reduces the thickness of the device and provides a superior touch experience. The device supports a micro and regular sized SIM with 3G data connectivity on both SIM cards. The Z2 runs on Android 4.4 KitKat out-of-the-box providing the user the latest Android experience. The device also supports EDGE, GPRS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB OTG Connectivity.

Salora Chairman and Managing Director Gopal Jiwarajka said that the company will replace its mobile phone under warranty condition if brought dead on arrival within 10 days of sale. Salora also promises 7 days guaranteed customer complain resolution. Arya smartphone is supported by Salora’s 250 service centers in 189 cities across India.

The specifications of Arya Z2 are listed below:

1. Processor:  MediaTek 1.3GHz quad core processor

2. RAM:  1GB

3. Screen Size: 5  Inches IPS Display with OGS

4. Screen Resolution: HD, 720x1280 Pixels

5. Screen PPI: 294ppi

6. Graphics:  Mali-400 MP GPU

7. SIM: Dual SIM(One micro SIM and one regular sized SIM)

8. Battery Capacity: 1800mAh

9. Operating System: Android Kitkat 4.4

10. Primary Camera: 8MP

11. Secondary Camera: 2MP

12. Internal Memory:  4GB (Micro SD card supported upto 32GB)

Google's AndroidOne releasing on 15thSeptember

Android One smartphones will release on September 15^th Monday at 3.30PM on different e-commerce websites(Flipkart,Snapdeal and Amazon).  The price could be between 6K to 7K. 

What is Android One?

Android One was announced by Google’s Senior Vice President – Mr.Sundar Pichai at Google I/O  event,  this June.  The Android One platform is Google's attempt to reach the 'next 5 billion users' who don't currently own a smartphone.  Pichai announced Google's first three Android One partners, all from India - Micromax, Karbonn  and Spice.

The Android One is created by Google and is expected to be a low cost smartphone with 6K to 7K Price.  Its specs could be: 

1) Dual SIM Handset

2) QuadCore Processor

3) 1GB RAM

4) 4.5 Inch Screen

5) Android 4.4.4(Kitkat and upgradable to Android L)

6) MicroSD Card support
7) Primary and Secondary Cameras(Mostly 5MP and 2MP)

8) 3G,2G, Wifi, GPS , FM Radio etc

Android One Phone will be launched by 3 companies – Micromax, Karbonn and Spice. These three companies are launching Android One on different online stores.

1) Micromax  -  Amazon.in

2) Karbonn - Snapdeal.com

3) Spice - Flipkart.com

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus announced..!!!

Apple announced the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus at an exclusive event in California. The 4.7-inch iPhone 6 features a 1334 x 750 display at 326 pixels-per-inch(ppi) while the iPhone 6 Plus features a 1920 x 1080 display at 401 ppi. Both models comes with Retina HD Display. They have Multi-Touch display with IPS technology. iPhone 6 supports 4G LTE. The Wi-Fi is 3 times faster than as compared to the iPhone 5s.

Both devices will launch on September 19 in selected countries, with pre-orders starting on September 12. The iPhone 6 will be available in 16 GB, 64 GB, and 128 GB variants for $199, $299, and $399. The iPhone 6 Plus will be available in the same storage capacities for $299, $399, and $499, respectively. 

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus smartphones will be available in India from October 17, according to Apple's India website. Apple had earlier announced India availability date as September 26 in their website and now it's been updated to October 17.

Both iPhone 6 models come in the  Space Gray, Gold, and Silver variants.

The Specifications for iPhone6 are given below:

1. Processor:  64-bit 20-nanometer Apple A8 processor (20% faster CPU, 50% faster graphics) with M8 motion co-processor -  2GHz QuadCore

2.  Display: 4.7-inch Retina HD LCD LED-backlit display with 1334 x 750 resolution (326ppi) with ion-strenthened glass and 38% more pixels than iPhone 5s

3. Memory: Available in 16/64/128GB of storage

4. Camera:  8-megapixel camera with True Tone flash

5. FrontCamera: 1.2Megapilxel

6. Weight: 129g

7. Battery life : 50 hours of audio, 11 hours of video/Wi-Fi browsing, 10 days of standby

8. Operating System: iOS 8 and Apple Pay support

Micromax Canvas Nitro A310 launched for Rs 12,990

Indian smartphone maker Micromax has launched its latest smart phone: Canvas Nitro A310. This is exclusively available on Snapdeal at the price tag of Rs 12,990. This is available in two colors Mesmerising Blue, Pristine White.

Recently Indian budget-smartphone market is very much affected by the arrival of some brands from other countries like…, Chinese brand Xiaomi MI3. Asus Zefone series and Motorola’s Moto series.  Now to compete with these phones., Indian company Micromax has released Canvas Nitro A310

Canvas Nitro A310 runs on Android KitKat 4.4.2. It comes with the tagline “Now Everyone Can”. Key features are  1.7 GHz Tru-Octacore processor, 2GB RAM,  8GB Internal Memory and microSD card support upto 32GB, 13MP Rear Camera and 5MP front Camera and 2500mAH Battery. The back panel has a leather finish and Anti FingerPrint Coating. Its Camera can shoot from and back shots at same time.

The specifications of Moto G are listed below:

1. Processor:  1.7GHz Tru-Octacore Mediatek 6592 CPU

2. RAM: 2 GB

3. Screen Size: 5  Inches IPS Display

4. Screen Resolution: HD, 720x1280 Pixels

5. Screen PPI: 294ppi

6. Graphics: Quad core ARM mali 450@700MHz GPU

7. Battery Capacity: 2500mAh

8. Operating System: Android 4.4.2 KitKat

9. Primary Camera: 13 Megapixel with LED flash

10. Secondary Camera: 5 Megapixel

11. Internal Memory: 8GB (Micro SD card supported upto 32GB)

12. Sensors: Gravity , Light, Proximity Sensor

Moto G - 2nd Gen. Released for Rs. 12,999

Motorola released Moto G (Moto G2) . They are calling it as Moto G – 2^nd Generation device.  The handset is available exclusively on flipkart for Rs. 12999. The 2nd Gen Moto G will be available in Black and White colours.

It comes with Android 4.4(KitKat) and is upgradeable to Android L(Next android version). It does come with a few Motorola apps like Migrate -  which helps you transfer old phone contacts to the new one, and Assist - which provides a voice-activated Drive Mode when you’re on the road.

Main differences between Moto G and Moto G – 2nd Gen device:

1. Screen Size - increased from 4.5 inches to 5 inches.

2. Camera – Front 2MP and Rear 8MP (Old Moto G front 1.3MP , Rear 5MP)

3. Front Stereo speakers (Old Moto G had a single speaker at the back)

4. Weight 149 grams (Old Moto  G – 143 grams)

5. It can support microSD card upto 32 GB (Old Moto G does not support mircoSD card)

Processor, RAM, Battery capacity, Screen resolution are same as Moto G. Even though the screen size is increased still the resolution stays the same at 720x1280 pixels, so the pixel density drops from 326ppi to 294ppi.

The specifications of Moto G are listed below:

1. Processor: 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, Quad Core

2. RAM: 1 GB

3. Screen Size: 5  Inches IPS  LCD Display

4. Screen Resolution: HD, 720x1280 Pixels

5. Screen PPI: 294ppi

6. Graphics: Adreno 305, 450 MHz Single Core

7. Battery Capacity: 2070 mAh (Non- Removable Battery)

8. Operating System: Android v4.4.4 (KitKat)

9. Primary Camera: 8 Megapixel with LED flash

10. Secondary Camera: 2 Megapixel

11. Internal Memory: 16GB (Micro SD card supported upto 32GB)

12. Phone Weight: 149 grams

13. Build Quality and Look: Awesomely built with Corning Gorilla Glass 3