all-pages-english-march-2013 by My Mobile

www.mymobile.co.in

mar 15 to apr 14 2013 ď Ź Rs 75 tm

for a connected lifestyle

Z10 Unveiled

Budget Tablet Shootout

Four tablets low on cost

P 28

E-Books

Books get into digital mode P 64

Tested

Samsung Galaxy Grand, Sony Xperia Z, LG optimus G, Nokia Lumia 820, Micromax Canvas HD and more... P 40

Phone of the Month

BlackBerry Z10

P 56

cameraphones vs Cameras The imaging battle begins

P 20

!"#$ $% & '% ( )" *++""+

first call

ebruary is always a special month for the mobile industry. It is the month where the mobile world converges on Barcelona in Spain and showcases its achievements and products. This year has been no different, which is why you will find no end of handsets in this particular issue of My Mobile, including a special section on the Mobile World Congress (MWC) itself. Half a decade ago, it was considered sacrilege of the highest order to mention a cameraphone and a camera in the same breath. Today, however, even camera manufacturers acknowledge the fact that phones are emerging as viable imaging solution for those who want to click and share images on the move without the hassle of carrying an extra gadget. Of course, the quality of cameras on phones has improved substantially as well (witness the Nokia 808 PureView, which lets you shoot images at a staggering 38-megapixels) as have their connectivity options. In fact, things have come to such a pass that we now even have smart cameras such as the Samsung Galaxy Camera, which attempts to give the user the best of both smartphone and camera worlds. But are cameraphones really threatening cameras? Can a person with a good smartphone actually leave their camera behind? We tackle the cameraphone vs camera battle in our cover story this time around. When they started out, tablets were a niche item, costing a substantial amount (the first iPad cost close to Rs 30,000). Today, they have gone mainstream with a vengeance and you can even get a dual core tablet from a notable brand for less than Rs 10,000. Which is why we have devoted some space to looking at the best budget tablet options available in the market today. And one of the things you can do with tablets is read e-books on them. But are there actually enough options in the market? And can they actually be as convenient to read as paper books? We take a closer look at the world of e-books and where it is headed, especially in India. And as I said at the very outset, this is one issue that does not lack super handsets. With the players bringing the best from Barcelona to Indian shores, some of the handsets reviewed in this issue include the likes of the LG Optimus G, the Sony Xperia Z, the Samsung Galaxy Grand, and of course, the device that many think will rewrite BlackBerry’s future - the Z10. Which is not to say that we have taken our eyes off other gadgets. You will find reviews of Sony’s latest mirrorless camera and other gadgets in the pages that follow. All this is topped off with our usual servings of interviews with key people in industry, news, gossip and trivia. And if you thought that this is quite a handful (or a magful, to be more literal), be ready for even more next month. For, even as we go to print, one of tech’s most bitter rivalries is set to resume with Samsung getting ready to unleash Galaxy SIV and Apple rumoured to be preparing for an event to showcase yet another iOS product. There’s never a dull moment in the tech world. And we love bringing it to you. Happy reading.

E D I T O R I AL Pankaj Mohindroo |

Editor-in-Chief

DESIGN Ajit Kumar Parashar | Graphic Designer

C I R C U LA T I O N Lalit Sharma | Sr. Manager – Circulation Amit Prakash | Manager – Circulation

ADVISORY BOARD Prithipal Singh S.C. Khanna S.D. Saxena Rajan Mathews T.R. Dua T.V. Ramachandran Shiv K. Bakhshi Sonu Halan Bhasin Bejon Misra

Edited, published, printed and owned by Pankaj Mohindroo, Published from Flat No. 25, First Floor, Shankar Market, Connaught Place, New Delhi – 110001. Printed at HT Media Ltd. B-2, Sector 63, Noida. Distributed by Central News Agency Pvt. Ltd. Copyright 2005. My Mobile is a registered trademark of My Mobile Infomedia Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form– electronic, mechanical, or otherwise, without prior permission.

Pankaj Mohindroo editor-in-chief

04 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for errors and omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and the views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication, which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the reader’s particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged.

Volume IX, Issue II, march 15, To april 14, 2013

content

Lead Story

Are smartphones posing a threat to digital cameras? We look at the new imaging wars.

cell clues

We shortlist four tablets that cost less than Rs 10,000

just in

20 Chief Speak

Peter Chang, Regional Director, South Asia and Country Manager Asus, shares where his company and the industry are headed

Sony aims high, Nokia goes low

Face To Face

sneak peek

Anil Mathews, Founder CEO AdNear talks about the location-based services his company provides and its future plans

News

Consumer Forum

Gear Guide

Mobile Doctor

06 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

HTC bets on the One, LG on a new Optimus

jargon Buster

Letters

HD simplified

26 Rajeev Karwal, Founder and CEO Milagrow, opens up about robots, tablets and where the market for both are headed.

spotlight

Ten products that rocked at the Mobile World Congress 2013

content etc Envent Speakers, SanDisk Ready Cache and Sony NEX-5R

62 Boredom Busters Action and wordplay to keep you engrossed

my guide

BURN TESTS Lava etab xtron

Samsung REX 90

rumour mill

Wynncom g58

Trivia

simmtronics xpad

fly f51

penta tPad Ws707c

nokia lumia 820

lg optimus g

micromax canvas hd

sony xperia z

samsung galaxy grand

blackberry z10

smart apps

Add a spin to your pictures and improve your photography

What cell town is buzzing about

96 97 98

What you might not have known about Instagram

persona More about HTC CEO, Peter Chou

vantage point Jaskirat Singh Gill, Digi Vive on in-app mobile advertising

in focus

We look at the growing popularity of e-books and their future prospects

Total number of pages= 100 (96 + 4 cover)

08 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

apptastic

Love writing and scribbling on your tablet? Try these stylus apps

letters I am a religious reader of My Mobile magazine from past 3 years. The vast coverage of the th latest gadgets and gizmos in 8  FORCE 10 issue vogue or otherwise helps me to know about each and every  Game Over,  Appily Safe  Tested SMS? mobile handset, software applications, etc. But, apart from this I would like to appreciate the concept of Power List which is available in the magazine every year. The basic reason I liked this concept was that the Power List does not focus on a single gender and brings out variations in the people exploring things and contributing in the telecom world. As a freelance journalist whose area of interest is technology, it is really easy to get the desired information via My Mobile. The constant updates about apps, chargers, memory cards, etc., of multiple brands on the website are bliss to read. –Neetika Mahajan, Noida FEB 15 to MAR 14 2013  Rs 75

www.mymobile.co.in

FOR A CONNECTED LIFESTYLE

Anniversary

Will BlackBerry rally with its new OS and devices? P 40

Five apps that you can use in times of trouble P 68

Has mobile messaging defeated texting? P 38

Nokia Lumia 920, HTC Butterfly, HTC 8S, Nokia Asha 308, Idea Ivory and more... P 44

POWERLIST

DEVICE OF THE MONTH ACER ICONIA B1 P 44

I am an 18-year-old guy, and have been a follower of the My Mobile magazine for the past one year. I am a gaming freak and love playing various games on my laptop or mobile handset. The recent February 2013 edition that covered games like Temple Run 2 and Assassins Creed 3 in ‘Boredom Busters’ were the best ones in My Mobile magazine. The article had amazing images and the elaboration of the games was done in such a manner that I felt like as if I am present in the game itself sensing everything happening. Apart from the explanation, the article mentioned B O R ED O M B U ST E R the pros and RUNNING TIME cons of the games AGAIN! AN ASSASSIN IN AMERICA as well as its D functioning on W multiple devices. I hope the team expands the Boredom Buster from two pages to four pages. -Akhil Ghosh, Jaipur WWW.MYMOBILE.CO.IN

Assassin’s Creed ventures across the Pacific, with stunning results

esmond Miles is back in yet another instalment of Assassin’s Creed, which after a slow start, has risen to be one of the most popular games around. Assassin’s Creed 3, puts you once again in the very able shoes of Desmond Miles, who is trying to avert the apocalypse of 2012. To do this he is using a machine to go back in time and reliving the moments of his ancestors and turning the tables around. This time he has to go back to the eighteenth century, at the time of the American Revolution, and play the life of his ancestor Connor, a member of a special Assassins group. In best Assassin’s Creed tradition, the objective is simple: stop the league of Templars in their footsteps. There are some additions to the tradition too, though - Assassin’s Creed 3 brings some new moves to the table, which if executed well are very rewarding. When you are

fighting swarms of foes a special icon lights up on the top of the enemy and if you hit a key at the same time, your character performs a special move to take down the opposition. Shades of Batman: Arkham City. The campaign mode is long and rewarding. The graphics on the PS3 are superb and as in all games of the series, so is sound (it had better be - it plays a vital role in those ‘sneaky’ moments). And of course, you have the run of the place - you can scale city walls, trees and even hills with ease. However, the gameplay can get sloppy sometimes. You will often see your enemies slacking and disinterested in engaging you, even when you are a yard away from them. The open world can be a little harsh and you end up falling from a tower or building, if you are not careful. However the engrossing story more than compensates for these eccentricities. A worthy addition to the series.  sulabh@mymobile.co.in

Name: Assassins Creed 3 Price: 2,599

Tested on: PS3

RATING

58 MYMOBILE FEB 15 to MAR 14 2013

Temple Run gets a stunning sequel

hen it comes to games that redefined and indeed, established mobile gaming, Temple Run - the endless running game from Imangi - has a special place, right alongside the likes of Cut the Rope and Angry Birds. And with good reason - the game combined ease of use with extremely addictive gameplay as you helped an explorer out sprint a group of dangerous monkeys whose sacred idol he or she had stolen. Well, Temple Run has now got a sequel. And while those expecting radical innovation will be disappointed in Temple Run 2, followers of the original will just love it. For, the game remains largely the same. You still play a thief who has stolen an idol and have to get away from its defenders, in this case, something that looks like a cross between a gorilla and a vulture. And yes, the aim of the game is still to keep running endlessly, with you getting points for the distance you have covered, as well as the gold coins, power-ups and gems you manage to pick up along the way. Gameplay remains as simple as ever - your character keeps running whether you touch the display or not, you swipe to the right or left to turn in either direction and swipe upwards to jump and downwards to slide below obstacles and crevasses that pop up at regular intervals. So what has

changed? Well, the game has got a whopping graphics update and looks staggeringly beautiful now with pathways in the clouds and a lot more detail than in the past. We also sensed that running has just got a tad tougher with far more obstacles and tricky pathways and yes, you do get to swing from a rope at times too. All in all, Temple Run 2 is every bit what Temple Run was, with a fresh coat of paint thrown in for good measure. And it remains addictive as ever. Get those shoes on, folks. 

Name: Temple Run 2

Whenever I read the magazine I can visualise in my mind the gadgets that I want to purchase. The ‘Mobile Doctor’ in the magazine helps me to get through the problems related to different people and their handsets. It is a way in which I can be prepared for future problems in my handsets as well. The advice that is given in that column is indeed helpful, as it not only tells us what to do when things go wrong but also how to ensure that our gadgets keep working smoothly. Keep up the good work My Mobile. -Ashu Singhal, Vijaywada I am a dealer of Laptops, tablets, PCs and monitors. Working in the market and keeping all the brands in the stock was risky for me, and I was also wary of testing new brands and models. But the other day my younger brother introduced me to My Mobile magazine. I thought it might be any ordinary magazine but, the moment I turned the magazine's pages I saw all the immense tech knowledge the magazine contained. It covered all areas of my personal as well as professional interest. Thanks to the information provided in it, I was able to try stocking new gadgets. Dealers noticed the assorted brands under one roof and this allowed me to expand my business. Now, it is mandatory for me to read this magazine as it accomplishes the purpose of entertainment and work in one. I like this magazine a lot. -Shobhit, Rohini.

nimish@mymobile.co.in

Price: Free

Tested on: iPad (3rd generation)

RATING

I have been following the My Mobile magazine as well as its website for almost a year now. I like the way the team brings fresh and contemporary content in the monthly editions, and binds the interest of tech readers by covering each and every gadget, apps, software, etc. My favourite portion of the magazine is the My Guide section. It covers all brands and accessories. As for the website, it provides up to date information. The blogs on the website help to understand gadgets. I would like to request the team to come up with more blogs on issues on the website. -Pritish Kothari, Banglore



FEB 15 to MAR 14 2013 MYMOBILE 59

CORRIGENDUM In the February-March 2013 issue of My Mobile Magazine, some members of 'The Powerlist'where shown as part of 'Vodafone Essar' instead of 'Vodafone India Ltd.' Also the Salora Powermaxx Z1 phone has GSM and WCDMA SIM slots. It was carried as CDMA. The errors are regretted.

I am a regular reader of your magazine and I really appreciate the good work that you are doing. Every issue of the magazine carries exclusive stories which are a delight to read. In your latest issue I really liked the apptastic section. It covered e the nd hav the apps for women's security. It is a very crua s e m n a drea ellpho n cial issue and I thank the team for informing c i t y u e o k also azy ab atest ines? readers about such apps. I am also a working you cr pen a few l ews and can ds on the l you have it e r A woman and sometimes I have to work till late at for n think ur han tial to night. I started using the apps after reading in the poten have a nose ve to lay yo em? If you dia’s to th u ra magazine and feel a lot more secure. And my famDo yo ? Do you c orld about sh your CV y Mobile, In w u ne ily members also feel more assured as they keep headli and tell the g for you. R r name in M n s ou i getting updates about my location. Thanks for covgizmo e are look .in to see y w ering such apps as they were needed. o , in you mymobile.c e. - Utkarsha Garg, Dehradun in @

team bile magaz o best m

10 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

NEWS bits operators & tariffs

Value Added Services/Applications/ Games

Vodafone’s unique Angel outlet stores

Google launches e-books store

Vodafone the leading Indian telco is supporting Women through the Vodafone Angel store. The operator has come up with the concept of opening retail stores fully operated and run by women employees. Presently, the company is running 15 such stores in Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Goa, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Shillong, Bhubaneshwar, Jaipur, Agra, Mysore, Chennai, Lucknow, Kolkata and Hyderabad.

The search engine giant Google recently launched a books section in the Google Play store for e-books. The store contains around 50 million tittles, which start at prices as low as Rs 50, and also come with a number of free to download titles as well.

The company feels that this step will encourage a good and suitable working environment for women. The operator is also planning to open more stores on similar lines. And on the occasion of International Women’s Day, it opened the 16th store in Kerala. The purpose behind this initiative is to have only women staff members, including security, pantry staff, customer service resources as well as management level personnel. Now that’s empowerment for you.

The collection also contains books from Indian authors and some international bestsellers as well. All Android users will be able to access, download and read these books on their mobiles and tablets.

Temple Run Oz arrives After the success of Temple Run Brave the Imangi Studio has again joined hands with Disney and launched Temple Run: Oz. The game allows you to Play as Oz and outrun the shrieking flying baboons as you turn, jump and slide your way across the land.

Airtel launches plan for free roaming Bharti Airtel one of the leading telecom operators in India has launched a new roaming plan for its prepaid customers in the Delhi circle. Subscribing to the plan will allow users to enjoy free incoming calls for 30 days while travelling to the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand and West Bengal (except Kolkata) on a recharge of Rs. 21. Presently, customers in Delhi pay Re. 1 for incoming calls and Re 1 for local outgoing calls as well as Rs. 1.50 for STD calls on roaming.

MTS rolls out special plan for women customers Sistema Shyam TeleServices, the telecom operator which operates under the brandname MTS has rolled out a special MTS Women MPowered Plan. The paln was launched with the aim to provide safety and security to its women customers. Women customers who opt for the plan will get special benefits like special calling and SMS rates, calling at negative balance, safety tips and a lot more. And those who are going for a new MTS connection will get a pepper spray as a complimentary gift from the company. The company has also set up a vigilance team, which would provide FREE self defense classes to MTS Women customers opting for this plan.

The striking environment in the game is inspired by the Disney film, Oz. The game lets you fly in a hot air balloon to collect more coins and you can explore new locations in the game by simply following sign posts. The environment around you in the game changes as you run and tests your reflexes. And of course you can compare scores with your friends as you go about competing your weekly challenges. Android users can download the game from the Google Play store, while iPhone and iPad users can get it from Apple iTunes App Store.

PVR launched app for BB10 users PVR has come up with an NFC enabled PVR app for BlackBerry 10 devices, powered by NEC’s Integrated E-money solution. The app will allow movie lovers to tap and pay for movie tickets and refreshments without using paper money across 15 PVR cinemas in cities including Delhi and NCR, Chennai, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Pune, Hyderabad, and Bangalore. The NFC enabled PVR Wallet app is a Closed Loop Payment Wallet, where the rights to use the transaction money remains within the premises of PVR cinemas. Moreover, NEC offers the back-end solution for the PVR Wallet that uses an end-to-end cloud-based e-payment system called NFC e-Money server that is integrated with PVR for interactivity between devices (the NFC enabled phone and PVR wallet access), for monetary transactions. The app can be downloaded from BlackBerry World.

12 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

NEWS bits Policy & Regulations HANDSETS & MORE Konka unveils Expose 960 and 970 smartphones Konka electronics along with MAK Mobility has unveiled new Android-based smartphones in the Expose series, the ‘Expose 960’ and ‘Expose 970. ’ Both the devices come with One Glass Solution displays which give customers greater viewing angles with crystal clear imaging and vibrant color reproduction, and are ideal for viewing HD images and fast motion pictures. The Expose 960 has a 4.3-inch display of 800x480 resolution, while on the other hand, the Expose 970 has 4.5-a inch display with qHD resolution of 960 x 540. On the camera front, the devices are equipped with an 8.0-megapixel rear camera and a 2.0-megapixel front facing camera, which delivers images in vivid colours. An additional boom box thrown in with this series amplifies every beat and note, enhancing the audio experience of the user.

Spice unveils ‘Stellar Pinnacle Mi-530’ smartphone S mobility has launched its largest smartphone called the ‘Stellar Pinnacle Mi-530.’ The phone comes with dual SIM support (3G + 3G) as well as a 5.3inch qHD IPS display and runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. The smartphone is powered by 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and 1GB RAM along with 16GB internal memory which can be expanded up to 32GB. The device boasts an 8.0-megapixel auto focus rear camera with LED flash and is the first phone in the industry, which comes with a 5.0megapixel auto focus front facing camera. On the connectivity front the device offers, 3G, HSPA+, WiFi, and Bluetooth 4.0. It also comes with Dual Mic Suppression technology which reduces the interference from ambient sound and offers crystal-clear conversations even in noisy places. Another interesting feature of the device is the on-board Magnetic Sensor that lets the user take advantage of downloadable e-Compass apps.

PM Powerpack launches ‘Recharge+’ PM Powerpack Solutions has launched its portable charger called the ‘Recharge+’. The power bank comes with 2,600 mAh battery backup and takes approximately 4 hours to charge. The bank comes with the latest Lithium Ion technology packed inside a sleek and slim form factor. It is compatible with all smartphones. The device comes equipped with a power button; LED light and a micro USB input port. The new portable charger comes with 12 months warranty. PM Powerpack will soon be launching two more products: the ‘Single USB Power Bank 2,200mAh’ and the ‘Dual USB Power Bank 7,800mAh’ designed for smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices.

14 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

Airtel, Vodafone and TATA top violators, says TRAI Leading Indian telecom operators Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and TATA have topped the lists of violators for tariff norms for the year 201213, according to TRAI. The telecom regulator registered 745 complaints against Airtel for overcharging, which is the highest followed by Vodafone, Reliance and TATA with 505, 329 and 345 respectively. Idea cellular had the least complaints registered against it. TRAI further received 122 complaints against BSNL and 36 against MTNL. Milind Deora, Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology said that the individual complaints received by TRAI will be forwarded to the concerned service provider. He further added that the consumers are also not satisfied with the resolution of the complaints.

Government provide broadband connections to villages The Government of India is working towards making rural India technologically and informationally advanced. It has approved a plan to provide broadband connections to 2,50,000 Gram Panchayats in the country. Under this scheme the Panchayats will be connected through Optical Fiber Cable (OFC). The Minister of State for Communication and Information Technology Milind Deora said that, three pilot projects have been launched in three blocks of three different states the Arain Block in Ajmer District (Rajasthan), Pansagar Block in North Tripura District (Tripura) and Paravada Block in Vishakhapatnam District (Andhra Pradesh), on 15.10.2012. Bandwidth of 100 Mbps has been provided at all 58 Gram Panchayats in these blocks.

just in

More Asha for Nokia Nokia 306

okia has targeted its Asha series at the budget segment of the Indian market - a move that has reaped rich dividends for the company. Small wonder that it is expanding the Asha portfolio. The latest device to arrive in the portfolio is the Nokia 306. It comes with a 3-inch resistive touchscreen of 240x400 pixels resolution, and has the classic Asha interface that is the trademark of the series. Onboard memory stands at 10MB which can be further expanded via a microSD card, while on the camera front, it sports a 2.0-megapixel rear camera. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPRS/EDGE, GPS, and Bluetooth. And yes, there are lots of apps pre-loaded on it as well, including Facebook and Twitter and 40 Free EA games such as Tetris, Bejeweled, Need for Speed, The Run and FIFA 2012. Not bad at all for a device priced at Rs. 3,990. The handset will be available in Silver White, Red, Mild Blue and Dark Grey colours. n

Z-liteful Xperia? Sony Xperia ZL

fter announcing the Sony xperia ZL at CES 2013, Sony has launched the device in India alongside the more high-profile xperia Z. Although seen by many as a slightly watered down version of the Xperia Z, the ZL is no mean device in its own right, and comes with features like the 5-inch Full HD Reality Display with 1920x1080 resolution at 443 ppi, a 13.0-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, 2GB RAM and 16GB of storage, all of which is powered by a 1.5 GHz quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon APQ8064 processor. The xperia ZL has connectivity attributes like 3G HSPA+, WiFi 820.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 GHz/5 GHz), Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS / GLONASS and NFC. It houses a 2,330 mAh battery. No, it is not waterproof like the Xperia Z, but it still packs a lot of punch and is expected to be available in the market for a price of Rs 36,990 in two colour variants Black and White. n team@mymobile.co.in

16 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

sneak peek HTC One The chosen One?

t is that time of the year when manufacturers flaunt their flagships and HTC has come to the party with the HTC One, which comes with what it terms a revolutionary UltraPixel camera technology. The phone has 4.7-inch full HD (1080p) display and runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, with a 1.7 GHz quad core Qualcomm processor providing the processing muscle. One of the highlights of the device is Blink Feed, a new home screen which delivers direct updates from your Twitter, Facebook and other related accounts in a magazine like format. The device comes in 32GB and 64GB variants, neither of which is expandable, and with 2 GB RAM on board. All the talk, however, has been of the 4.0-megapixel rear camera with UltraPixel technology. The company claims that thanks to a powerful sensor, this 4.0-megapixel shooter takes better pictures than cameras with even three times the megapixel count. Accompanying the camera is Zoe (pronounced as Zoey) which adds an element of animation to images by blending them with video. The connectivity options of the device include LTE/ 3G HSPA+, WiFi 802.11 a/ac/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX codec, DNLA, MHL, GPS with GLONASS. The company has not yet officially disclosed the price of the phone but we expect it to be somewhere in the vicinity of Rs. 45,000. n team@mymobile.co.in

LG Optimus F7 Optimal Fare

fter unveiling the F series at MWC 2013, LG has launched the LG Optimus F7 with 4G LTE support in Korea. The phone comes with a 4.7-inch True HD IPS display with 1280x720 pixels resolution. Like many new Android devices, this too runs on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, but is powered by 1.5 GHz dual core processor, supported by 2GB RAM. Onboard storage stands at 8GB which is expandable up to 32GB through a microSD card. The phone boasts an 8.0megapixel autofocus rear camera and 1.3-megapixel front facing camera to support video calling. It houses a 2,540 mAh battery and offer connectivity options like 4G LTE / 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS / AGPS. The company has also introduced some new features in the device like QSlide, which will allow the user to open two apps simultaneously in a single screen; and Live Zooming which will let you zoom into a particular area while watching a video. The price of the F7 has not been disclosed yet but we expect it to be approximately Rs. 29,000. n

18 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

lead story

the super

20 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

Photo : Akash Das, SanDisk Extreme Team Member

www.mymobile.co.in

snapper wars! Smartphone cameras have come a long way in the past few years, both in terms of megapixels as well as lens quality. Today, equipped with apps and on-board connectivity, they actually pose a challenge to digital cameras. Or do they? We take a close look at the war that is simmering behind the lenses in the world of imaging and ask if smartphones are the cameras of the future Ketan Pratap & Heena Gupta

mar 15 to apr 14 2013 MYMOBILE 21

lead story

itting at a table with some friends on an afternoon, we asked a simple question – “What would you choose to take pictures: a smartphone and a dedicated camera?” Not surprisingly., an argument erupted. One said he would happily pick up a smartphone with an Internet connection because he could use filters through Instagram and make his pictures perfect. The other said he would go for a dedicated camera as he would not compromise on the picture quality. Both had valid points. They say the best camera is the one you have with you but that does not mean it will always give you the bestlooking shot. Many a times you have a great shot in sight but do not have the time to take hold of your DSLR or P & S camera, but your smartphone is much closer at hand. Years ago, if you wanted to click a picture, you needed a dedicated camera. You needed to have batteries for it, keep it fully charged, learn its nitty-gritty and carry it around. Today, chances are you simply click away with your smartphone that probably comes with a camera with a good megapixel count and features. We have seen countless changes and improvements over the years in the mobile phone realm. Could smartphones emerging as cameras of choice become the next one?

How it all began…. Phones with cameras have been around for a while now, but the concept of a phone as a device for taking good pictures perhaps gained popularity with Sony Ericsson, now Sony, launching its Cyber-shot camera series, most notably the 790 with 3.2-megapixel camera in the year 2006. Then, in the same year, Samsung went out of the way and launched a 7.0-megapixel camera called the SCH-V770. It was around this time that the ‘camera Vs cameraphone’ debate emerged. And it picked up intensity when Nokia joined the bandwagon and launched the N90, with a 2.0-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, and moved from the realm of speculative to practical when Nokia launched the N95 with a 5.0megapixel camera in 2007. Suddenly phones were taking great, print-worthy pictures. And there has been no looking back since, with cameras getting better and the app and social networking waves generating editing and sharing options from the device itself. Nokia has been working on the PureView range to add more megapixels and better low light shooting to its phones, while HTC is getting ready to unleash the UltraPixel phenomenon with the HTC One, even as Apple, Samsung, LG and Sony continue to improve camera quality on their devices. Today, having a good camera on a handset is no longer

“ “ “With the improved cameraphones, mobile phone users have also got hooked on to photography. Capturing a moment and sharing it with the whole world has become a norm today.” -Akash Das Professional Photographer, Member, SanDisk Extreme Team

“As with technical progress, the quality of camera phones has gone up tremendously and it is set to increase more in the future. We have a saying in photographers’ circles that ‘a camera in hand is worth two in the bag’. And today cameraphones come to the rescue in a pinch in a lot of situations. The quality of the image sensor in some can easily rival p & s camera these days.”

a luxury but a necessity. What’s more, an increasing number of people are now leaving their cameras behind.

Not just a megapixel race! But what makes a good camera? Well, it is time to defuse a myth at the very outset. Many think that more megapixels mean better picture quality. Now, that is not necessarily true. Basically, the more the megapixel count, the larger you can make the photo without losing

The most popular camera on Flickr is.... the iPhone!

22 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

-Kaustav Saikai, Professional Photographer, Member, SanDisk Extreme Team

quality. Even a 1.0-megapixel camera is enough if you need to view photos on your PC. So, you need more megapixels mainly to print or view large photographs. More megapixels does not automatically make a photo look superior, it just allows you to have a larger photo without losing the quality when the photo is enlarged. The actual image quality depends on various things, such as the quality of optics and sensors used. While there is no doubt that smartphones have made shooting videos and images a whole lot easier and more convenient, what also cannot be denied is that convenience has often come at the cost of picture quality. In most cases, handset manufacturers have settled to pump-up the sensor size or megapixel count, neglecting other aspects such as better lenses, low-light functioning, or improved shutter speeds. “Smartphones are convenient but they have their limitations if compared to DSLRs. DSLR quality is still far from reach of smartphones,” said Kenichiro Hibi, MD, Sony India, a company which makes both smartphones and cameras. One of the major problems for smartphone cameras has been sensor size. Essentially, the larger the sensor, more light it detects. Now smartphone makers have been really shifting towards slimmer form-factors making it hard for them to fit good sensors into devices boasting around 9 mm thickness. The Nokia PureView 808 did sport a 41.0-megapixel sensor but a consequence of that was an unsightly hump on the back that put off many users. Clicking shots with a smartphone camera in low light conditions can also be extremely annoying, as using a flash will make the picture too bright and not using it can cause the picture to be dark and grainy. That said, smartphone sensors are improving. Major brands

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like Nokia, HTC and Sony have been making waves of late in this segment. For instance, the HTC One X’s flash identifies the subjects that are closer to the camera and illuminates them, instead of the whole background. Nokia has been a brand that has been consistent in making photography a point of differentiation in its cameras. The Nokia Lumia 920 boasts a new optical-stabilising camera and comes with the PureView branding originally used with the Symbian based PureView 808. The result has been stable videos and amazingly good lowlight photographs. HTC is meanwhile coming out with the concept of an Ultrapixel with a special sensor that it claims makes even a 4.0megapixel camera take great shots. However, Akash Das, a professional photographer, is sceptical. “To set the context right, PureView and UltraPixel can never replace DSLR cameras because with DSLR you can ‘make a picture’ and with the rest you ‘take a picture’. Photography is a creative field and technology is the medium. The technology cannot take over creativity, ” he says. There is however no denying that cameras today are an integral part of smartphone innovation. When BlackBerry launched the BlackBerry Z10, it showcased the time shift feature using its 8.0-megapixel camera. Similarly when Microsoft launched the

Most popular devices on the Flickr Community

Apple iPhone 4S Apple iPhone 4 Apple iPhone 5 Canon EOS 5D Mark II Canon EOS 7D

Windows Phone 8 platform, it paid due attention to the impact it would have on the camera. Vineet Durani, Director, Windows Phone Business Group, Microsoft India explains the

role of the camera in the new OS in these words: “As far as Windows Phone 8 goes, its camera and lenses are among the most innovative features making it a unique smart-

mar 15 to apr 14 2013 MYMOBILE 23

lead story phone platform. The Lenses work in tandem with the smartphone’s camera viewfinder, enabling consumers to unleash their creativity on the go -- from applying a simple filter or effect to creating an interactive 3D panorama.” All of which just goes to prove how important cameras have become for smartphones today.

INSTAGRAM IN STATISTICS n 100 million Monthly Active Users n 40 million Photos Per Day n 8500 Likes Per Second n 1000 Comments Per Second

The rise of SNS The Internet has played a key role in the emergence of smartphone photography. Today, we click and upload more than 200 million images per day on Facebook alone. Our smartphones have become our recording devices and for many people, have replaced the traditional family albums. In fact, a recent analysis on Flickr, a popular photo-sharing website, shows that the majority of its members shared their photos to the website through smartphones, primarily the iPhone, and not a dedicated camera. Photo sharing websites such as Flickr are seeing growing numbers of users uploading pictures taken using their smartphone. And as many social networks, like Facebook and Twitter

dedicated camera and an ordinary one when viewed on Facebook or Twitter.

The attack of image enhancing Apps!

The Nokia Lumia 920 has redefined low light phone photography

actually reduce the resolution of images that are uploaded, quality has been pushed to the background. Suddenly capturing the moment is more important than capturing it well, and anyway, it is often difficult to spot the difference in quality between a picture taken by a

While your smartphone may not click better images than a digital camera, you get immediate access to software that will enhance the look and feel of the pictures as well as upload them to different locations. These apps have changed how millions of people style and share their pictures. Effects like retro toning, vignettes and stylistic borders that were considered the preserve of an expert print maker or advanced digital photographer are now a few clicks away from the mainstream user, and look terrific when viewed on a phone, tablet or social networking sites. Instagram has emerged as a popular platform for users interested in clicking photos casually or regularly and has become such a rage that new platforms are judged by its availability on them (BB10 and WP8 are trying their utmost to get it for their users). With such apps, turning mundane shots into interesting ones is just a matter of a clicks. Or touches.

Cameras get ‘smart’ For years the distinction between digital cameras and smartphones was - if you wanted to take high-quality photos with optical zoom and flash and all other bells and whistles, you got a dedicated camera. But if image quality did not matter much and wanted to share photos instantly on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other such platforms - you got a smartphone with a camera. Unfortunately for camera makers, handset manufacturers have been upping their game, making phones that sport cameras that can even

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Communications Products, Canon India.

Conclusion

A 38.0-megapixel image from a phone? The Nokia 808 PureView delivered!

rival some point-and-shooters. The growing popularity of smartphones with better camera quality has built a pressure on digital camera manufactures to incorporate their features, including the ease of sharing and editing images from a single device. Camera makers have finally started to respond to this pressure by offering cameras that offer greater levels of connectivity, in an attempt to blend the convenience of a smartphone while retaining a camera’s core strengths. This has in turn lead to the emergence of cameras with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity and even smart cameras like the Samsung Galaxy Camera which is powered by Android, an OS seen in phones and tablets. Sony has also added Wi-Fi connectivity to its range of new NEX mirrorless cameras and also added the option to download apps to it to edit and share images. Some manufacturers are also coming out with innovative ways to make cameras work with smartphones. For instance, in some cameras, you can actually use your smartphone as a shutter release button. “Compact cameras and smartphones have their distinct advantages. Though point-and-shoot cameras are easily getting cannibalised by smart phones but this slump in the industry level digicams will not be of much impact as consumers are now shifting to high-end digital cameras. Even though smartphone manufacturers have upped their camera capabilities, camera companies are also ready to attack back with smarter technology and features like Wi-Fi, cloud storage and social sharing,” says Parveen Sahni, director, Image

As of now, the battle between smartphones and dedicated cameras seems set to intensify. The megapixel count of smartphones is going up across all price segments, along with newer technologies like PureView and UltraPixel being introduced in the smartphone arena. And the number of image tweaking apps is increasing at the rate of knots. Camera manufacturers have been trying to catch up by coming out with more portable, sleek models with Wi-Fi, GPS connectivity and even Androidbased smart cameras. All of which brings us back to the question we asked our friends: is a smartphone an alternative to a digital camera in today’s uber connected world? It really boils to individual choice, as with so many things. Those preferring a single networked device will opt for a cameraphone while those unwilling to compromise on image opting for a camera-phone while who lay lot of stress on image quality will go for dedicated cameras. But are smartphones ready to take over from cameras? It is still premature to say this. But handsets are pushing camera manufacturers to come out with devices that are easier to use, more versatile and more connected. As Rohit Pandit, EVP, Fujifilm India says, “Photography has drastically changed over the years--What used to be a difficult process earlier is a very pleasant indulgence now. With several options in the camera for everyone in the family and technology bringing new possibilities every day I feel the Indian camera market is poised for a next big leap.” Mind you, this does not mean that the

The Samsung Galaxy SIII rides high on Android’s photography apps

battle between these two imaging rivals is likely to cease in the coming days. Nay, if anything it is likely to get even more bitter, and dare we say new lines of battle will be drawn.

After megapixels, it could be ultrapixels, if HTC’s One succeeds

As smartphones come with better sensors and even more innovative apps than before, cameras are likely to get more connected and are even likely to start coming with their own apps. In some years, instead of using Photoshop on a PC, you will be processing images on a large touchscreen right after you click the shutter. Yes, we will continue to use high-end digital cameras for important occasions when higher fidelity is necessary but as time progresses and fidelity improves in smartphones, you might not bother to carry a separate dedicated camera. But will you carry a phone that takes great pictures or a camera that lets you make calls? No, that is not as crazy as it sounds - remember that the Galaxy Camera came with 3G connectivity? Photographers - casual, amateur and professional - can look ahead to a crazily innovative period as camera and phone manufacturers fight not just for their hearts and minds but quite literally for their eyes and fingers. No, we cannot hear them complaining. Neither are we. n ketan@mymobile.co.in heenag@mymobile.co.in

mar 15 to apr 14 2013 MYMOBILE 25

Jargon Buster

High-Definition (HD) Simplified Does the term ‘high -definition’ (HD) and its corollaries - 1080p, 1080i, HD Ready, Real HD - leave you dazed and baffled? Here is our attempt to simplify matters. Ketan Pratap

n The term HD or high-definition is mainly

associated with displays. One can find HDTVs, HD monitors and of late, smartphones with HD displays. High-definition (HD) TVs or displays can show much finer details than traditional standard definition TVs or displays. n Time and again you may have noticed the

numbers - 480, 720, 1080 - being attached to the specification tags of televisions or even displays with an ‘i’ or ‘p’ suffixed. These figures represent the number of vertical lines of resolution (usually top to bottom) the television or a display has the more the lines, the better the resolution. The ‘i’ stands for interlaced, meaning half of the full frame is shown 60 times per second, but the human eyes merge them into a full-frame image reproducing itself at a rate of 30 frames per second. The ‘p’ stands for progressive scan which means that the set creates

the image by continuously redrawing the frame, line by line. n Progressive (p)scanning is considered

better that interlaced (i) scanning for fullmotion video displays as there is less jitter, particularly for the portrayal of objects that move diagonally or vertically across the screen and also because every line of resolution is painted with each new video frame simultaneously. This is particularly noticeable for fast-moving images, distinctive of television and DVD programs. n ‘HD ready’ is a new labelling scheme intro-

duced by TV manufacturers. This label means the TV has the minimum screen resolution and digital sockets to receive and display a broadcast HD picture. Most of these sets would require an additional set top box to be able to receive HD channels. TVs labelled HD ready tend to have around 720 to 768 on-screen lines of pixels.

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Televisions labelled Full HD tend to have 1080 horizontal lines and often have better picture quality than ‘HD ready’ television sets when watching an HD programme or Blu-ray film. n Here is a breakdown of the HD formats,

which you can find in your TV or monitor user guides listed by the manufacturers: - 720p or 720x1280 - 720 lines, progressive scanned - 1080i or 1080x1920 - 1,080 lines, interlaced scanned - 1080p or 1080x1920 - 1,080 lines, progressive scanned n The number of lines or pixels and kind of

scan matters because more lines or pixels and quicker scan equal a better picture. In HD signal formats - 720p and 1080i are nearly equal in overall resolution offered while 1080p gives the best resolution.n ketan@mymobile.co.in

‘THE NEXT GEN GENIUS’ It is unlike any smartphone that you might have seen or used. LG’s Optimus G is an impressive blend of design, hardware and software innovation.

esigned to set a new standard in the industry, LG Optimus G combines LG’s leading display and energy technologies with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 Pro processor to create an extremely fast and incredible mobile experience. Equipped with a high-density 2,100mAh battery and impressive 4.7-inch True HD IPS Plus display, Optimus G users can seamlessly multitask between personal, business and entertainment needs and go beyond the boundaries of traditional on-the-go smartphone capabilities.

Leveraging the best of LG The elegant yet sleek design and the imaginative user experience displayed in the new Optimus G are made possible thanks to a collection of technologies from industry-leading developers in their fields. State-ofthe-art display technologies from LG Innotek and LG Display such as True HD IPS Plus and Zerogap Touch, a unibody unit that eliminates the gap between the glass and the LCD panel, harmonize to offer one of the slimmest, sharpest and clearest viewing experiences yet. The new battery from LG Chem has a longer life designed for multitasking. An ultra high

“

Speaking on the device, Mr Pankaj Mohindroo Chairman and Editor in Chief, My Mobile, said “LG has built a reputation for innovation in the smartphone space, and the Optimus G reflects that. It is rare to see a device that blends innovative design and interface with terrific hardware. The Optimus G does just that.” resolution (13MP) camera is employed in the Optimus G to offer super sharp photos without pixilation. The latest Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor – a 1.5GHz quad-core CPU processor with Asysnchronous Symmetric Multiprocessing, enables each core to power up and down independently to increase performance while saving battery life. The impressive processor allows users to easily and quickly view a video while running other apps at the same time. All of this power and functionality

is housed in a light weight, eye-catching slim body to cater to fashionable lifestyles. LG developed and patented Crystal Reflection to give the back cover the ability to display different patterns depending on the angle and lighting. The intricate pattern gives Optimus G a clean finish reminiscent of a jewel. The Optimus G creates the perfect combination of pleasure and functionality through a unique user experience not seen on any other device.

Innovative features galore While mobile communication, business, and entertainment are easily accommodated with the Optimus G, the device can

with their fingers and instantly share with colleagues as an attachment or URL. n Live Zooming enhances viewing experiences by enabling consumers to zoom in up to five times while watching video to see small details normally hidden on the screen. n Photographs can be intensified with camera capabilities like Time Catch Shot, which empowers the user to choose the best photo among various shots taken before the shutter button is pressed. n Dual Screen Dual Play not only allows mirroring between the smartphone and a TV or monitor, it also has the ability to display different content on each screen. For example, a slide presentation can be displayed on the monitor while the Optimus G shows the accompanying speaking notes. n Creativity is also put to the test by the Icon Personalizer, which allows consumers to customize the sizes and images of their most-used apps.

also release one’s inner artist with a wide range of features including:

LG Optimus G: What lies within

n The QSlide Function shows two different screens simultaneously on one display so users can quickly send an important work e-mail while playing a graphic-intense video at the same time. n QuickMemo allows users to take notes on captured documents or photos

4.7-inch WXGA True HD IPS Plus Display (1280 x 768 pixels), Advanced 13 MP rearfacing camera, Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean) operating system with LG Optimus UI 3.0, Qualcomm Snapdragon™ S4 Pro processor with 1.5GHZ Quad-Core Krait CPUs, 32 GB of memory of on-board memory, 2,100mAh battery

ADVT.

cell clues

Four Figures Tablets have been around for a while but it is only recently that they have become the objects of everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desire. And thanks to the advance of technology, today it is possible to get a decent tablet without even venturing into five figures territory. We take a look at four tablets with decent specifications that deliver a fair bit of tablet delight, without blowing a hole in your wallet Ketan Pratap

ith more and more of us living life on the go, tugging a heavy notebook or laptop around always is not advisable, if we have a portable, affordable and lightweight option in its place. And the tablet has emerged as a very handy alternative, which is light, portable and stylish compared to notebooks. Contrary to what many believe, a tablet is an extremely versatile device - you can do almost everything with a tablet that you can on your notebook, from creating documents to making PowerPoint presentations to watching a video. And the advancement of technology and fierce competition have ensured that tablet prices have plummeted to the extent that one can get a decent tablet for less than the price of a high-end handset. So if you are on a tight budget, here is our selection of four tablets that deliver a lot while costing less than Rs 10,000 - yes, four tablets that cost a mere four figures.

After Acer Iconia B1 (Rs 7,999)

f late, Acer has been making waves with its Windows 8 tablet launched in India. But that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean that the company has given up with Android. The Acer Iconia B1 is a prime example. It may not be the best when it comes to looks but it is not bad either. The 7.0inch tablet is a largely plastic affair, but that does make it light in weight (320 grams). The B1 is powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor with 512MB RAM and comes with 8GB internal memory, which can be expanded up to 32 GB. The 1024x600 resolution display is not the best but is better than many other tablets in the sub Rs 10,000 category. The tablet is based on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) which is still a rarity when it comes to tablets in the budget segment. When it comes to multimedia, the device includes a VGA front camera. It includes a 2,710 mAh battery that can last up to six hours on Wi-Fi use, while on standby it easily lasts for more than a day. Pros- Good touchscreen response Cons- Not much to offer in multimedia

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Asus MeMO Pad (Rs 9,999)

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Four Tablets Karbonn Smart Tab 8 (Rs 7,490)

arbonn has been making waves with its Duple-series of smartphones and is clearly looking to replicate the same value for money appeal for its tablets. The company has added the Karbonn Smart Tab 8 Velox to its Duple-series line-up. The ST8 Velox boasts of an 8-inch screen which is scratch-resistant and offers a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. The tablet also packs in a 1.5 GHz Cortex A9 dual core processor, 1GB RAM, comes with Flash memory of 1.51GB that can be expanded up to 32GB, and runs on Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean OS. One area in which the Karbonn Smart Tab 8 excels is multimedia as it comes with dual cameras - VGA in front and a 3.0-megapixel camera at the rear - and supports full HD playback for multimedia entertainment. As for the battery, it includes a 4,500mAh battery that allows it to last for more than a day of routine usage. The tablet also supports 3G (through a USB dongle) and is Wi-Fi enabled. Pros- Dual cameras Cons- Not the greatest build quality

sus seems to be targeting the price conscious Indian market with a vengeance. After showcasing some high-end hybrid devices at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s MWC, Asus launched an affordable tablet dubbed the MeMO Pad in India, and with this has entered the budget tablet market. Given its Nexus pedigree, many expected the MeMO Pad to be similar to the Nexus 7. However, this is a relatively modest affair, albeit with impressive specs for its price. It comes with a 1 GHz processor and 1GB RAM - modest, some might think (considering that the Acer Iconia B1 comes with a dual core processor), but it certainly is no laggard in the performance department, as long as one does not get into HD territory. The MeMO Pad runs on Android 4.1 JellyBean and its 7.0-inch LED touchscreen comes with a 1024x600 pixel resolution. On the multimedia front, Asus has pre-loaded many apps like MyLibrary (epub, pdf), MyNet, Kindle, Zinio, and SuperNote. It also sports a 1.0-megapixel front camera for online video chats using Skype or Google Hangouts. The device has a solid build and backing the device is a 4,270 mAh battery, which can see one through a day of relatively routine use.

Pros- Solid design

icromax has been betting heavily on Android to win followers in the budget smartphone and tablet segment. In the later, it has been launching a number of tablets under the Funbook brand, one of which is the Funbook P600. The P600 runs on an old version of Android - Ice Cream Sandwich - but is still decent enough for most routine tasks. On the hardware front the tablet packs in an ARM Cortex A5 1 GHz dual core with 512MB RAM. For graphics the tablet boasts dual Mali- 2D/3D graphics processor. The tablet sports dual cameras, VGA on the front and a 2.0-megapixel snapper at the back. Micromax has been consistent on delivering educational content on tablets and this one too comes with educational content from kindergarten upto IAS civil services exams. Backing the device is a 3,000 mAh battery. On the connectivity front the tablet scores more than other tablets in the segment with voice calling and 3G support.

Cons- Single core processor

Pros- 3G and voice calling

Micromax Funbook P600 (Rs 9,499)

Cons- Low screen resolution (480 x 800)

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spotlight

Perfect Ten From Barcelona!

For three days every year, Barcelona becomes the Promised Land for the mobile industry faithful as the Spanish city hosts the Mobile World Congress. We take a look at ten products that stood out in the mobile crowd at MWC 2013 Nimish Dubey

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www.mymobile.co.in

very year, the mobile world congregates at Barcelona for the Mobile World Congress (MWC), which showcases the best and the brightest from the mobile industry. This year was no different with established brandnames and newcomers alike jostling for attention in the mobile tech spotlight. For three days, it rained phones, tablets, apps, services and accessories from the best-known brands as well as relative newcomers. When the dust settled, we sat down and cherry pick ten of the best products that made waves at Barcelona:

Ave, Optimus! LG Optimus G Pro

Its Optimus Vu range might not have made the kind of inroads into phablet territory that many had predicted it would, but that has not deterred LG from having another go at the large sized display phone market. And leading its charge is the very muscular G Pro. Sporting a 5.5-inch full HD display and quad core processor, and coming with 2GB RAM and 32GB onboard storage (expandable), this is one monster device, even if you do not factor in the 13-megapixel camera and multiple connectivity options accompanying it. And no, this time there is no stylus for people to make “Note clone” noises. The Optimus G Pro is LG returning to the days of the Optimus 2X – sheer hardware muscle.

Budget delight Nokia 105

Its Lumia range might be making the news, but Nokia has not forgotten the mainstream handset user. Which is why many rose to applaud the 105. As the pundits insisted that the world was moving towards smartphones, the 105 affirms the Finnish company’s commitment to those who cannot afford expensive devices and are seeking basic phone functionality. Yes, it is low on bells and whistles, has only a 1.4-inch display and no camera or Internet connectivity to speak of. But it sports a solid design, boasts very good battery life and is likely to be uber affordable. The last phone from Nokia that did all three was the highest selling device of all time, the 1100.

Tablet with the X(Z) factor Sony Xperia Tablet Z

“We have not seen a tablet look THIS good” was the remark that escaped from the lips of just about everybody who clapped eyes on the delectable Xperia Z tablet at Barcelona. And with good reason. The Xperia Z is indeed a design wonder. Insanely thin at a mere 6.9mm, it still manages to pack enough power to give other players a very good run for their money, sporting as it does a 10.1-inch Reality Display and a Snapdragon S4 Pro quad core processor. It tips the scales at under half a kilogram and is totally water proof as well. Throw in support for 4G and a host of connectivity options and you can understand why people were going ga-ga over it.

mar 15 to apr 14 2013 MYMOBILE 31

spotlight Note-worthy as ever Samsung Galaxy Note 8

“If you succeed once, then repeat again and again with different screen sizes” seems to be the mantra Samsung is following when it comes to its iconic Note range. After the launch of the first Note, we have had successors with screen sizes of 5.7-inches and 10.1-inches, and now comes one with an 8.0-inch display. Targeted squarely at the iPad mini, it comes with the trademark S-Pen stylus of the Note series and sports some very good hardware under the hood – a quad core processor and a 1280 x 800 resolution display, as well as connectivity options galore (yes, including 3G), and a stack of applications and features designed to work with the stylus. All this in a sleek frame that weighs barely 335 grammes. Whether it will be able to break into the iPad mini-Nexus 7 fortress however will depend upon its price.

WP 8 on a shoestring

Nokia Lumia 520 Everyone had assumed that the Lumia 620 would be the price warrior in Nokia’s new Lumia range powered by Windows Phone 8. Well, they were in for a surprise as Nokia showed just how determined it was to make the OS mainstream with the announcement of the Lumia 520. No it is not a hardware beast but its core strength is to deliver a decent Windows Phone 8 experience on a relatively

tight budget and it does so by serving up a 4.0-inch touchscreen with a 5.0-megapixel camera and 3G connectivity at a price that could well be in the vicinity of Rs 12,500. And of course, it will come with Nokia’s music and map goodies. This could well be the value for money smartphone of the year.

Download demon Huawei Ascend P2

“The world’s fastest 4G smartphone” came not from the likes of Nokia, Samsung or LG, but from Huawei, which bestowed this distinction on its Ascend P2 phone. Although its main claim to phone was the fact that it supported download speeds of upto 150 Mbps (network permitting), it was also quite an impressive device in its own right, sporting a 5.47 inch display, 16 GB onboard storage and a 13.0-megapixel camera, all powered by a quad core processor and 1GB RAM. Running on this will be Android 4.1, with Huawei’s Emotion UI skin on top. And of course, in best Huawei tradition, it is not likely to cost bomb either.

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From browser to OS Firefox OS

There’s a new challenger to Android’s crown as the world’s most popular mobile platform. And it comes from the company that has served up one of the world’s most popular browsers. Built entirely using HTML 5 and other open Web standards, the Firefox OS comes with no restrictions whatsoever and lets phone manufacturers tweak it to their requirements. Speaking of requirements, it does not even require very high system requirements and could well redefine smartphones as we know them. Yes, we can hear cynics sniggering that this is nothing but a browser masquerading as an OS, but hey, if it works and delivers connectivity at a low price, who is complaining. It certainly looks smart.

The Droid Slate

Shapeshifter returns

HP pulled off one of the surprises of the event when it announced the Slate 7, a tablet that ran Android and was firmly in the budget category. The move is a major one when one considers that HP’s previous venture into tablets had run on Palm’s Web OS. The Slate 7 however is an entirely Android affair, boasting a seven inch display, running Android 4.1 and powered by an ARM dual core Cortex 1.6 GHz processor, with 8GB storage and 1GB RAM. And of course, there is the little matter of the price – at $169, the Slate 7 is one of the most affordable and yet decent-specced tablets out there and when allied with HP’s formidable distribution network could well prove to be the winner in tab territory that HP needs.

When it comes to innovation in mobile device form factors, Asus has always been a step ahead of the competition with devices like the Transformer and the PadFone. And the MWC saw Asus release a new PadFone, titled Infinity. Like its predecessor, it is a phone that can also slot into a tablet and work as one. What marks it out as different are some incredibly powerful specs – both the smartphone and tablet displays have been given full HD displays, and the phone also boasts a 13.0-megapixel camera. Yes, you can still put the phone into the tablet dock for a large-screen experience, while also boosting battery life, and this time ensuring that there will be no lags is a powerful quad core 1.7 GHz processor.

HP Slate 7

Asus PadFone Infinity

Fabulous phablet

ZTE Grand Memo It might not be making as many headlines as some of the other players in the smartphone business, but ZTE has been gaining considerable popularity among those seeking powerful devices at affordable prices. And the Grand Memo is a prime example of ZTE’s ability to deliver on these seemingly conflicitng requirements. Sporting a 5.7-inch display of 1280 x 720 resolution and a 13.0-megapixel camera and powered by a quad core processor and 2GB RAM with Android 4.1 running under the hood, the Grand Memo could well redefine what people expect from a phablet. Of course, it will face stiff competition not just from the likes of LG, Smasung and HTC, but also from the plethora of manufacturers who have flooded he budget phablet market. But it could well succeed, given ZTE’s track record.

nimish@mymobile.co.in

mar 15 to apr 14 2013 MYMOBILE 33

fa c e t o fa c e

“A mobile is very different from a PC”

Tell us something about AdNear. AdNear is the leading location-aware mobile advertising platform in APAC. What are the key factors that have been driving the growth of AdNear? The technology and market opportunity, AdNear uses proprietary technology that is ubiquitous in nature, i.e., works across feature phones, smartphones, geographies and operators. This helps us to reach a massive audience and not just the limited percentage of smartphones users who has enabled GPS. A lot has been heard about local mobile advertising. What do you think about its potential? The potential is huge. It’s key to understand that a mobile is very different from the PC. Apart from being more personal and social, it is also more local. And if you aren’t leveraging local advertising on mobile, you aren’t leveraging the full potential of mobile. Your company has provided an

With GPS now a staple feature of most handsets, locationbased services are becoming a rage. One of the companies riding the location wave is AdNear, a hyper-local mobile advertising platform. We met Anil Mathews, Founder and CEO, AdNear, to find out more about the company, its services and plans for the future Mukesh Kumar Singh

advertising platform to various brands. What does AdNear focus on while preparing for an ad campaign? There are two types of popular campaigns. One is where the objective is to drive foot traffic to a retail store. Here we plot the stores on a map and draw a geo-fence around it. And anyone falling in the geo-fence gets the ad to walk-in for an attractive offer. The second type of campaign is where there is no retail store but the advertiser wants to target specific locations such as malls or airports, where the prospective audience is present (for example, malls have shoppers, airports have travellers, etc). What challenges do you face in the Indian advertising market? It’s still early for mobile advertising in the Indian market. But as the ad spend increases, it’s important that we’re able to show engagement rather than mere clicks. And that’s what AdNear is able to demonstrate. What are your targeting parameters for the

34 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

Indian market? Location, context, and behavior are the key parameters. Besides that, the standard parameters such as time/day-parting, operator, OS, etc are available for campaigns that need the same. Any plans of collaborating with Indian operators? We work independent of operators and that’s how our technology is designed. How is the Indian market different from other markets you have been in? As it is an emerging market, we see that many brands do not yet have a mobile presence. This also leads to less transactions on mobile, compared to other developed markets such as Singapore and Australia in APAC. What are your plans for the Indian market? We already have offices in Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi. And we plan to manage the Indian market via direct sales from these cities. We work in partnership with various digital agencies to reach brands and advertisers. n mukesh@mymobile.co.in

chief speak

ASUS is in tandem with the Tablet trend It might not be grabbing headlines as frequently as some of the other players in the mobile and IT industry, but Asus has been making its presence felt in the Indian market for a while with a number of interesting products such as the Transformer and the PadFone. And it shows no sign of slowing down. We caught up with Peter Chang, Regional Director – South Asia and Country Manager - India to talk about his company and the industry in general Ketan Pratap What plans does Asus have for India? India is an important market for ASUS and we are dedicated to serve the country with our innovative products. We have received a positive response from the Indian market and we are committed to deliver better and live our inspiring innovation, persistent perfection brand promise. We strive to become the world’s most admired leading enterprise in the new digital era. Our offerings in the country are not limited to any particular price point and our products have been praised by both, the classes and the masses. Staying with the Indian market, how does it differ from its European counterpart? Like global markets, the Indian market too is experiencing an increased traction towards portability and efficiency. This transformation is evident with the advent of tablets, ultrabooks, convertibles and hybrids. In Europe, the focus has been witnessed on mobility, social media, cloud and big data. In India, considerable transition to new technologies and platforms for growth and innovation has been witnessed and is being built upon by a combination of newer technologies such as mobility (devices, applications, services), cloud (both private and public), big data and social media. Both organizations as well as individuals in India are realising that mobility and connectivity are a very compelling combination when it comes to increasing productivity. With proliferation of mobile devices, expect to see several more hybrid and convertible devices in the market. What changes in consumer preferences have

you witnessed over the last few years in the smartphone segment? Today, the use of smartphone devices has become rather ubiquitous. And, while mobiles were once narrowly defined as a device designed for the singular purpose of telephonic convenience on-the-go, the advent of smartphone technology moved cultural, consumer and business sensitivities into a new era. India is one of the largest mobile handset-making countries in the world and is poised to become an even larger market. A majority of Indian consumers have always been inclined towards value for money products. Adding to this market behavior, the Indian mobile consumers, who are now maturing, preference for high-end handsets and the younger demographic’s desire to use mobile Web technologies could see the smartphone market’s revenues soar.

ASUS is perceived as not being very aggressive when it comes to pushing products. There are are no brand endorsements... We are currently not very aggressive on brand endorsements and anticipate on staying focused on our ongoing branding strategies. Our main focus this year would be in strengthening our position among multi brand retailers and channel partners.

Moving on to tablets, how big is the Indian tablet market? What kind of growth does Asus see for it this year? Tablets seem to be one of the fastest-growing market segments in the country. The segment is witnessing quarter-on-quarter growth of over 90 per cent and is expected to continue the dream run in 2013 as well. ASUS is in tandem with this trend and would be offering inspiring innovation in this segment by launching different tablet PCs in the near future with prices ranging from less than Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 20,000. We have been quite persistent with our retail expansion strategy. Apart from the metros, we have also launched our exclusive stores in the Tier II and Tier III towns and cities of India and we wish to expand our stores even more.

You have recently launched the MeMO Pad in the Indian market, a budget tablet. Can we expect more budget tablets from the company? After offering various high-end and mid-end products in the Indian market with innovative technologies, we believe it’s time to bring the same grandeur to the budget market segment. ASUS MeMO Pad gives customers the mobility to stay connected in today’s socially connected environment. With its ultra-lightweight, minimalistic and anti-slip design, the MeMO Pad will surely enhance the way the user interacts with friends and family. We will be launching different tablet PCs in the near future in prices ranging from less than Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 20,000.

36 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

Many global IT players have been setting up their manufacturing units in India. What about Asus? As of now we don’t plan to set– up an R&D facility in India. We are currently focusing on our retail expansion in the country and launching innovative products for various segments. Also, we will be targeting untapped markets through new channel partners to achieve the set target of market share.

www.mymobile.co.in

What is the total number of Asus exclusive stores in India? Any plans to expand the number? India has emerged conspicuously and has witnessed an all round development. The business prospects in India are prominently affirmative and the people have become highly adaptive and constantly look forward for superior technologies. In view of the demand and great prospects, we have been immensely focusing on escalating our retail presence. We have 60 stores across India and we wish to touch 200 by the end of the year. After sales service is an integral part of the product these days. What is Asus doing in this regard? Our after sales services are one of the best in the country and our authorised service providers further enable us to provide quick redressal of customer queries. Additionally, they also help us in reducing our turnaround time and further expand our reach in smaller cities and towns. Customers can call the ASUS Toll Free number (1800-2090-365). The authorised service providers have expanded the geographical reach and assisted to further provide superior after sales support to the customers across the country. What are your expectations from the Indian market this year? Being a huge country, the Indian market is widespread and diversified with each region having its own market trends and preferences. So, keeping our focus and the market dynamics in mind, we formulate different strategies for various pockets. Asus is determined to touch customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hearts in terms of incredible product, incredible design, incredible quality and incredible service. Portfolios of various venders have become ever more diversified and distributed. New technology based effective options like Windows 8 will transform the market and will be an important driver for growth in 2013. An array of Windows products are expected to be launched in the coming year and Windows 8 could be the next game changer for the tech landscape. n

Tablets seem to be one of the fastestgrowing market segments in the country. The segment is witnessing quarteron-quarter growth of over 90 per cent and is expected to continue the dream run in 2013 as well. ASUS is in tandem with this trend and would be offering inspiring innovation in this segment by launching different tablet PCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in the near future with prices ranging from less than Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000

ketan@mymobile.co.in

mar 15 to apr 14 2013 MYMOBILE 37

fa c e t o fa c e

“Domestic Robots Will Become Very Big” It may be a relative newcomer, but Milagrow has been making waves in the market with its array of innovative and affordable products, be they robots or tablets. We met Rajeev Karwal, founder and CEO, Milagrow, to get his views on where the company is headed Sulabh Puri Milagrow has been a relatively new entrant in the tech sector. How has the ride been so far? Business is going very well. Milagrow has two divisions: the product division and the consulting division. In the consulting division we basically focus on small and medium enterprises and the consulting model is also different from what the other companies follow. We provide strategies to the organization and the ways to implement them. On the product division we basically focus on two things: intelligence infotech and robotics. On the robotics side, we are focusing on domestic robots and not industrial robots. We have three kinds of robots currently in the market: floor cleaning robot, body massaging robots, and window cleaning robots. On the intelligence infotech side, we are only focusing on tablet PCs. We call them tabtops and in this we have two kinds – Android and Windows. Our first two tablets brought us partnerships with many good brands like Croma, Reliance, and Flipkart. All our tablets have certain standard features like connectivity to external hard drives and all the dongles in the market. All the tablets are ready to use as we give pre-loaded apps in five different folders. You started off as a B2B business and now you are completely into B2C. How lucra-

tive is that for you? The B2C segment is two kinds - the government and non-government. The government sector is very weak and not even clean. In the non-governmental sector, we are doing quite well. Basically, four segments - sales automation, education, hospitals and hospitality - are the biggest segment for tablets. Adapting to these increases the productivity of the product. The market should be like 50 per cent on enterprise base and 50 per cent on retail. And the total number of devices which would have been sold last year would be about 1.6 to 1.7 million. We are long term players and we also feel that somewhere our intelligence infotech and robotics would start to converge. You have a calling tablet coming next month. Will it have 3G SIM support? A user can pick it up and talk. It will have some more features which will be a surprise for customers. It will be more or less at the same price as the current models. How soon do we see that? In one month’s time. Have you tied up with any Indian players for apps for your products? At the back end, yes. But on the front end, you will not see anything right now with the Indian players.

38 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

The market has changed very dramatically in recent times after the price drops. What we have done is that we have reached out to international developers for certain apps and installed them. We have always focused on something that the consumer would always need. So we focus on the apps from utility, networking and productivity perspective. Those are the kinds of applications that we pre-install. Are you looking at a convertible in the future? For Windows, yes. For a 9.7-inch display, yes. Bundling a keyboard with anything below that would result in a device which is not handy. It will come with a retina display and larger storage capacity as well. What do you have in store for the future? In the robot space, you will see more from us. A robot which can smell the odor or aroma and can judge the viruses, bacteria around, as Indian consumers are concerned about cleanliness and security. Over a period of time domestic robots will become very big. As far as response is concerned, many well-known people like Amitabh Bachchan and Anil Ambani are our customers. On the tablet side, there is a 9.0-inch tablet with retina display. Sulabh@mymobile.co.in

burn test Extra Xtron Lava’s new tablet Pros  Good

battery backup

 Decent

hardware

tory. The user interface is smooth and the battery backup was also good, although it takes a long time to get recharged. We did have some problems connecting to Wi-Fi networks, though.

Conclusion The Lava E-Tab Xtron comes with a price tag of Rs. 6,499 which is not a bad deal as far as the specifications are concerned. Those of you who still want to save some extra bucks can also consider the Karbonn Smart Tab 2 for Rs. 5,990. n team@mymobile.co.in

Cons A

bit heavy

 Takes

time to charge

Lava e-tab Xtron tech specs Size | 131 x 184 x 11.5 mm

m 184

ava has rejoined the budget tablet fray with its E-Tab Xtron, but will the attractively priced tablet give it a foothold in a very competitive market?

Looks: Shiny! The tablet comes with a classy silver body and rounded corners which gives it a shiny look. A 7-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen of 1240x600 pixels resolution dominates the front, and there are three hard keys on the left - the volume rocker, the on/off button and the back button. A 3.5mm jack is on the top with the memory card slot, while the speaker is on the rear. The tablet looks stylish, but is a little heavy.

Hardware: Very competent The tablet does well in hardware terms too. It is powered by a 1.5 GHz dual core Cortex A9 processor, and comes with 1GB RAM and 8 GB of internal memory (expandable

to 32GB). Connectivity options include 3G mm 131 via dongle, Wi-Fi 802 and micro-USB port.

Software: It’s Jelly Bean The tablet runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and has a simple and user-friendly interface with five customisable homescreen panels. There are three soft keys given on the left of the tablet for Back, Home and recently used apps and options. Also on the right is a soft key to access the menu. Oddly enough, there are no pre-loaded apps on the tablet.

Multimedia: Works well The tablet’s sound quality was good on headphones, but on the low side on loudspeaker. It played videos very well, courtesy its very good display.. supported videos of all format and played videos really well. The 2.0-megapixel secondary camera is good for video calling.

User Experience: Satisfactory Our experience with the tablet was satisfac-

40 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

GPRS/3G/BT/WiFi | No/-/No/Yes Camera | 2.0-megapixel Others | Good display, USB support, 1.5 GHZ dual core processor

Price: Rs 6,499 verdict 8

Looks Features

ease of use

performance

value for money overall

76%

www.mymobile.co.in

Not quite a T-Rex Samsung’s

and social network updates. The phone comes with pre-installed apps as well like Facebook, Opera Mini and Samsung ChatOn messenger.

feature phone salvo

Multimedia: Decent sound quality

Looks: Same as earlier Samsung Rex 90 reminds us of earlier Samsung phones. It looks simple yet trendy. It has a plastic body and is covered by a silver band on all sides. The phone comes with a 3.5-inch TFT capacitive display, with an on/off button on the right side and the volume buttons on the left. The charging slot is at the bottom, while the 3.5mm audio jack is right on top of the phone. There is one hard button on the front for home accompanied by two soft keys for Options and Return. The back contains the 3.2-megapixel camera and the speaker.

The Rex 90 has a 3.2-megapixel camera with no flash. The camera is nothing to rave about, with photo quality not being particularly good especially in low light conditions. That said, the camera does come with some special effects and the pixel count can be tweaked. The sound quality of the device was good, both on call and while listening to music. The FM reception was also decent and there was no breakage in the signals. The phone supports most popular audio formats and also MPEG and 3GP video formats. There are also some games on board from the manufacturer and there is Samsung App Store in case you want more.

113 mm

fter claiming supremacy in the smartphone market, Samsung has targeted the feature phone section of the market with its Rex series. But how well will it perform against the likes of Nokia’s Asha device? We spent some time with the Samsung Rex 90 to find out.

User experience: Mixed bag

Hardware: Not that great

The Rex 90 has its high and low points. The touch experience is not the greatest and we were not too impressed by the camera as well as occasional lags while using the device. However, Internet browsing was good and the battery backup sufficient to see us through more than a day of usage.

61.90 mm

Being a feature phone the Rex 90 is

Pros

Cons

 3.2-megapixel  Slow

camera

 Big

display

processor

 Low

resolution screen

powered by a 312 MHz xMM2230 chip - not the fastest. The device has 20MB of internal storage, which can be expanded to 32GB using a microSD card and also comes with dual SIM functionality. On the connectivity front, the phone offers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and depends on a 1,000 mAh battery to keep ticking.

Software: Simple This Samsung feature phone runs on a Java based operating system with Samsung Touchwiz UI. The user interface is simple, with five customisable homescreens, and fixed shortcuts for keypad, contacts, messages and menu on the main screen. There is also a notification drop down bar, for the latest mail

Samsung Rex 90 tech specs Size | 113 x 61.90 x 11.84 mm

Conclusion At Rs 5,700 we would say that the Samsung Rex 90 is priced on the high side. Those looking for alternatives can go for the Nokia 308 which also has dual SIM support, a capacitive touchscreen display and comes for Rs. 5,200. n team@mymobile.co.in

Weight | -

verdict

Memory | 10MB, microSD

Looks

Screen Size | 3.5 inch, Capacitive

Features

Battery | Li-Ion 1000 mAh

ease of use

Talktime/Standby | up to 15 hours/-

performance

GPRS/3G/BT/WiFi | Yes/No/Yes/Yes

value for money

OS | Proprietary

Camera | 3.2-megapixel

overall

Others | ChatOn, Samsung apps, Opera mini

Price: Rs 5,700

74%

mar 15 to apr 14 20131 MYMOBILE 41

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burn test Wynn Wynn Phablet Joining

the affordable phablet range

ynncom is known for providing feature laden smartphones at affordable prices. The Wynncom G58 phablet adheres to this tradition. But how will it fare in an increasingly competitive market?

with a default player that supports most popular video formats, and can handle HD videos easily. The quality of the pictures taken by the 8.0-megapixel camera were, however, middling, as was the video.

It has a more than passing resemblance to some Lumia devices, but the Wynncom G58 is solidly built and comes with a 5.0-inch IPS display. The front is dominated by the display that includes three soft keys present on the bottom. The textured top and bottom panel give the device a classy look. The back houses an 8.0-megapixel camera along with flash. We liked the overall look of the device, although we wish it had been a bit lighter.

Pros  Smart

build and design

 Low

price tag

145 mm

Looks: Delightful

User experience: Brisk

Cons  Slightly

heavy

 Average

camera

quality

78 mm

Hardware: Generally Solid The Wynncom G58 is pretty well stacked in the hardware department. It is powered by 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, and comes with around 2.5GB storage available to users that can be expanded up to 32GB. It also boasts an 8.0-megapixel snapper at the rear and a VGA camera at the front. On the connectivity front, the device comes with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, dual SIMs and 3.5G network support.

Software: ICS calling The Wynncom G58 runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the OS of preference in budget segment smart devices. The user interface is a plain vanilla, and you can customise the homescreen with widgets and app shortcuts. On the application front the device comes with pre-loaded apps like CricBuzz, Moneycontrol, Nimbuzz, Opera Mini, Skype, TOI, Twitter, WhatsApp and YZone.

Multimedia: Steady The multimedia performance of the phone was decent. Sound quality is extremely good, on both loudspeaker and earphones. One can also tweak audio, thanks to the settings in the music gallery. For videos the device comes

The Wynncom G58 was a pleasant surprise for us. We could have preferred a lighter and sleeker device, but even with those reservations, we cannot help but like what Wynncom has served up. Performance was brisk and battery life decent.

Conclusion

Wyncomm G58 tech specs Size | 145 x 78 x 10.4 mm

The Wynncom G58 is priced at Rs 10,999, making it a decent device for all those seeking a large screen at an affordable price. One can consider the iBall Andi 5C which also boasts of a 5.0-inch display but costs a little more at Rs 12,999 and the Spice Stellar Mi 500, which is available at Rs 12,490. n team@mymobile.co.in

Weight | 200 grams Memory | 2.5GB, microSD

verdict

OS | Android 4.0

Looks

Screen Size | 5.0 inch, Capacitive

Features

Battery | Li-Ion 2100 mAh

ease of use

Talktime/Standby | -/-

performance

GPRS/3G/BT/WiFi | Yes/Yes/Yes/Yes

value for money

Camera | 8.0-megapixel Others | Nimbuzz, Opera Mini, Skype, TOI

Price: Rs 10,999

42 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

overall

80%

www.mymobile.co.in

Wallet friendly 10-incher Budget tablet gets 10.1-inch boost

immtronics is the latest to have thrown its hat into the budget tablet ring, with its Simm-X1010 X Pad that boasts of a 10.1-inch screen and costs less than Rs 10,000.

Looks: Not a ten! 165 mm

It might be called X Pad, but as far as the looks go, it has almost the same design that many other entry-level tablets have- it looks more like a stretched out version of a 7.0-inch tablet. The tablet has a black front panel and silver metallic finished plastic back panel. The glossy front also sports a front VGA camera. The right side of the tablet has the power key, 3.5mm audio jack, HDMI port, mini pin charging port, a TF card slot, and two mini USB ports. The top has the volume rocker accompanied by a back physical key (yes, a strange place for it).

Hardware: Bigger and better The Simmtronics Xpad X1010’s biggest strength is its 10.1-inch display with 1024x600 pixels resolution which is quite good, for the price. The device is powered by a 1.2 GHz Cortex processor, and comes w ith 1GB RAM and 8GB storage that can be expanded via TF card. There is a VGA camera for video calls and a lage 5,600 mAh battery serves up more than a day of usage with Wi-Fi switched on.

Software: ICS on board The X Pad X1010 runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The interface is user-friendly with the locked screen coming with various options that include camera launcher, unlocking the tablet and access to the most used apps on the device. There are six touch icons on the lower left side of the screen for back, home, recently used apps, volume adjustment keys and the option to open system settings. The browser supports multi-touch and comes with full Flash support. The device also comes with some pre-loaded apps like BIGFLIX, Aldiko, Skype, Twitter and Stick Cricket.

263 mm

Pros

can be transferred easily from one’s PC to the tablet. The VGA camera is good for video chats only.

Cons

large  Screen could have been display better  Impressive  Very few prebattery life loaded apps  10.1-inch

User experience: Middling Our experience of the X Pad falls in the average category. The tablet is capable of handling most routine tasks without burning a hole in your pocket. The touch experience was decent with not many lags.

Conclusion

Simmtronics Xpad X1010 tech specs

The X Pad X1010 is a decent performer but faces stiff competition. These include the Micromax Funbook Pro priced at Rs 9,000 and the Karbonn Smart Cosmic that is priced at Rs 9,990. n

Size | 263 x 165 x 10.5 mm

team@mymobile.co.in

Weight | 610

verdict

Memory | 8GB, microSD OS | Android 4.0

Looks

Screen Size | 10.1 inch, Capacitive

Features

Battery | Li-Ion 5600 mAh Talktime/Standby | -/GPRS/3G/BT/WiFi | -/-/No/Yes

Multimedia: Video delight

Camera | VGA

The multimedia experience on the tablet was decent, although we would have preferred the speakers to be louder (the bundled headphones are not the greatest either). The large screen is great for watching videos and files

Others | BIGFLIX, Aldiko, Skype, Twitter and Stick Cricket

Price: Rs 8,449

ease of use

performance

value for money

overall

76%

mar 15 to apr 14 20131 MYMOBILE 43

burn test ‘Fly’-ing phablet Fly joins

Pros  Decent

the big screen race

battery back-up

number of brands have been showing interest in phones with large displays or phablets, and the latest one to bite the phablet bullet is Fly. Its F51 is high on features, and low on price, but will its performance lure consumers?

The Fly F51 is not the slimmest phone around (11.5 mm) but is not bulky. There are a few hardware keys around the phone for power and volume, and a silver strip around the front panel for some style quotient. The front is dominated by a 5.0-inch display with three keys below the screen and the front camera on top-right. The back holds the 5.0megapixel camera and flash with the speaker grille at the bottom. All in all, decent rather than spectacular.

core processor

Cons A

bit on the heavier side

146 mm

Looks: Simple and basic

 Dual

 Camera

not that great

User Experience: Mixed bag The F51 serves up a standard Android experience and scores well in terms of performance, thanks to the dual core processor. The big display also makes this device a very good option when it comes to browsing the Web or watching videos.

Hardware: Dual-core punch The Fly F51 comes with decent hardware ammunition. The phone has a dual core 1GHz processor with 512MB RAM, as well as dual SIM (GSM+GSM) support. For data transfer, the phone has Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, EDGE and USB 2.0 support. Storage is distinctly low at 149MB but can be expanded up to 32GB using a microSD card. Battery life is good thanks to the 1,800 mAh battery.

Software: ICS again The Fly F51 runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, which is not the newest but is more than adequate for most functions. The company has made some minor tweaks in the interface. Like other Fly devices, this one too has four unlock options, letting you access calls, messages and camera, and of course, unlock the device from the lock screen. Fly has placed some basic apps on this device but nothing to really rave about – Nimbuzz, Twitter, Facebook, Zenga TV and Saavn. The company is also giving a one year Live TV subscription free with every device.

Multimedia: Average Joe For its price, the Fly F51’s performance is decent in the multimedia department. The rear 5.0-megapixel camera takes average pictures and video too is nothing to rave about. The front camera is good for video calls and even self portraits. Sound quality is however acceptable in both headphone and loudspeaker mode.

77 mm

FLy F51 tech specs Size | 146 X 77 X 11.5 mm Weight | 170 grams Memory | 130MB, microSD OS | Android 4.0

Conclusion The Fly F51 is available at Rs 7,450. If you are looking for alternative you can consider the Karbonn A21 that has a smaller screen (4.5-inch) but runs Android Jelly Bean and is priced at Rs 9,990. n team@mymobile.co.in

verdict

Screen Size | 5.0 inch, Capacitive

Looks

Battery | Li-ion 1,800 mAh

Features

Talktime/Standby | up to 7 hours/up to 144 hours

ease of use

GPRS/3G/BT/WiFi | Yes/Yes/Yes/Camera | 5.0-megapixel Others | Twitter, Facebook, Zenga TV and Saavn

Price: Rs 7,450

44 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

performance

value for money overall

78%

www.mymobile.co.in

Pantel pops an affordable tablet fray! Pros  SIM

121.4 mm

Typically ‘Pentastic’

support

 Android

Jelly Bean OS

Cons  Plain A

looks

bit on the heavier side

he last year has been the year of the budget tablet in India, with prices dipping well below five figures, thanks to the intense competition. The latest to hit the budget tablet market is Pantel with its Penta T-Pad WS707C, which comes with a low price tag.

Looks: Basic yet sturdy Most seven-inch budget tablets look alike to us, and the Penta T-Pad WS707C does very little to change our opinion. There is the usual full touchscreen front with no physical keys on the panel. The sides are dotted with ports and slots for SIM card, TF card, HDMI, charger, 3.5mm jack, micro USB port, power-cum-lock key, volume rocker keys and a hardware reset hole. The back panel houses a 2.0-megapixel camera accompanied by a speaker grille. There is a front facing camera that comes on top in landscape mode. All said and done, a normal seven-inch affair.

Hardware: Budget serving The Penta T-Pad WS707C tablet runs on a 1.0 GHz Cortex A9 processor, which handles most basic tasks well, as it also comes with 1 GB RAM. Rather unusually at this price point, the tablet comes with voice calling support. Storage stands at 8GB that can be expanded up to 32GB. For connectivity, the T-Pad includes options like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and EDGE. The 3,000 mAh battery of the device turned in a decent performance as it lasted a day and half with continuous Wi-Fi.

Software: Whiff of Jelly Bean Unlike many of its competitors who prefer Android 4.0, the Penta T-Pad runs on Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean. The user interface is standard

194.2 mm Android with three keys – back, home and recent apps - at the bottom left of the homescreen, and the notification bar along with settings on the bottom right, with the app tray on the top. The menu is divided into apps and widgets. Pre-loaded apps include Documents To Go for MS Office files, YouTube, NexGtv, Facebook, Skype, and WhatsApp.

Multimedia: Adequate The Penta T-Pad WS707C comes with a VGA camera in front and a 2.0-megapixel one at the back. However, the quality is nothing to

rave about. The device can play HD videos with ease and comes with 3D glasses for 3D content. The sound quality is good enough on both loudspeakers and earphones.

User experience: Very user friendly For a device in the budget tablet segment, the tablet turned in a very good performance when it comes to battery performance, sound quality and connectivity. SIM support is a welcome bonus.

Conclusion The Penta T-Pad WS707C is priced at Rs 7,999. Those looking for alternatives will have to shell-out more to get SIM support in a tab, or opt for the Wi-Fi only HCL V1 which is available at Rs 7,999 or the Karbonn Smart Tab 8 for Rs 6,990. n

Penta T-Pad tech specs Size | 194.2 x 121.4 x 11.45 mm

team@mymobile.co.in

Weight | -

verdict

Memory | 8GB, microSD OS | Android 4.1

Looks

Screen Size | 7.0 inch, Capacitive

Features

Price: Rs 7,999

7 8

ease of use

performance

value for money

overall

72%

mar 15 to apr 14 20131 MYMOBILE 45

burn test 1

Nokia’s second WP8 salvo Backing

Pros

5 123.8 mm

up the flagship



Smart design and form factor



AMOLED screen



Nokia Apps

Cons

ne of the problems with having a highprofile flagship is that it tends to overshadow others. And that has been the fate of the Lumia 820, which has had to live in the massive shadow cast by the Lumia 920. Marketed as the ‘most versatile Lumia,’ is the Lumia 820 compelling enough to compete in the limited Windows Phone 8 ecosystem?

Looks: Smart, but not wow! We would be lying if we said that we did not find the Lumia 820 attractive, but we would be deviating equally from the truth if we said that its design has a ‘wow’ factor. Unlike the flagship Lumia 920, the Lumia 820 does not

Camera performance



Battery life



Plasticky back covers

68.5 mm



boast a unibody. Instead, it features a plasticky casing at the back that can be swapped with those of other colours - we got a white one, but other options include red, yellow, blue, and black. Unfortunately, you get no options in the pack itself. Removing the shell itself can take some doing - we were terrified we would damage the phone at one stage. At 9.9 mm and 160 grams, the Lumia 820 is not the slimmest in its league, although it is not fat either. The front is dominated by a 4.3-inch AMOLED display with Nokia’s proprietary ClearBlack technology. The capacitive back, Windows start and search keys are placed below it, while the front facing VGA camera and sensors are placed

on top. Like its siblings, the Lumia 820 has all the physical keys on the right side – volume rocker, power and the camera - with the micro USB /data transfer port on the bottom, and the 3.5 mm audio jack on top panel.

Hardware: Muscular, AMOLED delight The Nokia Lumia 820 is powered by the same dual-core 1.5GHz processor with 1GB RAM as in the flagship Lumia 920, and is a brisk performer. The 4.3-inch AMOLED display features ClearBlack technology but the resolution stands at a relatively low 480x800 pixels, considering that the Samsung Galaxy SIII is

highlights The Nokia Lumia runs on Windows Phone 8

The device boasts an AMOLED screen

46 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

The Nokia Lumia 820 is available in different colours

Users can use the screen while wearing gloves

The camera comes with Carl-Zeiss optics

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tech specs

beat with version of MS Office, an all new Internet Explorer and full social network integration and support for e-mail services. We were impressed with the automatic screen brightness sensor that usually did a good job of adjusting the AMOLED display to ambient light in most conditions.

Size | 123.8 x 68.5 x 9.9 mm

Multimedia: Entertainer

Price: Rs 27,000 available at a similar price, and boasts a higher resolution display. Onboard memory stands at 8GB that can be expanded up to 64GB using a microSD card. On the camera front, the Lumia 820 sports dual cameras – VGA on the front and an 8.0-megapixel camera on the rear with a dual LED flash. However, it features none of the PureView witchcraft of the Lumia 920. On the connectivity front, it supports EDGE, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth and 3G with HSDPA and HSUPA support.

Software: Standard WP8 The device runs on the Windows Phone 8 operating and features the same fingerfriendly, tiled interface that is the OS’ trademark. Nokia brings its own flavour to the device in the form of various preinstalled apps that are Lumia exclusives – Nokia Maps, Nokia Drive, and City Lens. If you like to hang out with friends while exploring, find new restaurants, shops, malls or places of interest, well Nokia City Lens will not disappoint you. The company has also added utilities like Transfer My Data, Wallet, One Note and even has a separate section of the device for children, Kid’s corner. In terms of pre-loaded apps, Windows Phone 8 remains the OS to

The Lumia 820 comes with an 8.0-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics. And let’s not beat about the bush here - the Lumia 820 offers nothing like the image quality that the Lumia 920 does. Outdoor pictures produced good quality shots in daylight but picture quality dipped as the lights did, and in low light conditions, it was decidedly average. The company has added features like Cinemagraph, Smart Shoot and Panorama to improve the photography experience. The camera is also capable of recording full HD videos. On the music front, the Lumia 820 comes with unlimited downloads from the Nokia Music Store for a year. The device supports popular video formats and plays HD videos without any hitch. For gaming, the Lumia 820 also comes with XBOX Live games.

User-Experience: It grows on you! The Nokia Lumia 820 easily fits into the hand and offers a near-perfect balance of using the device single-handedly. We found it more comfortable to use with one hand than any other device with a similar sized display. And it worked very smoothly too, with no delays or lag, thanks to the hardware under the hood. We also liked the ability to increase the sensitivity of the screen to enable touch even while wearing gloves - something that is rare and will be welcomed by all those living in colder climes. Battery life was however a matter of concern - the 1,650 mAh battery did not last for a day with Wi-Fi or 3G connections switched on. Still, all said and done, we loved our time with the Lumia 820.

Conclusion

verdict Looks

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Features ease of use

The Nokia Lumia 820 is a great option for those looking for a Windows Phone 8 experience but not having a budget for the Lumia 920. Yes, it is not exactly super affordable at Rs 27,000, but delivers a very good Windows Phone 8 experience with good hardware and Nokia apps. Those looking for an alternative can go for HTC 8S that is the cheapest WP8 device and has a price tag of Rs 19,000. n

8 9

perfoRmance value for money

overall

84%

mar 15 to apr 14 2013 MYMOBILE 47

burn test 3

Just Plain Powerful The Optimus G is low on glamour, high on performance

131.9 mm

highlights

68.9 mm

G’s Optimus G handset has finally arrived on Indian shores. And while some might complain about the delay it has taken to get here, what cannot be denied is that it is perhaps the most reasonably priced of the new quad core handset breed. But does it do enough to win LG some ground?

Looks: Routine Loud in-your-face design has not been LG’s forte since the days of the Chocolate and the Prada. Indeed, the company seems to be following a more understated look of late and the Optimus G reflects that. Seen from the front, the Optimus G seems like a black slab with no physical buttons at all, with a steel border

The large display has a high pixel density and is great for viewing text and videos

on the sides and the LG logo atop the 4.7-inch Gorilla Glass touchscreen display, next to the front facing camera. The phone has a slightly curved feel with the sides sloping towards the back encased in scratch-resistant glass, which also houses a 13.0-megapixel shooter, and is non-removable. LG has again kept the volume rocker on the left, which is a bit unusual, while the display/power on/off button is on the right. Surprisingly, there is no camera button - we expected one in a camera with this megapixel count. All in all, there is nothing very unusual or outstanding about the looks of the Optimus G. No, it does not look bad, but neither is it likely to stand out in a crowd or turn heads.

48 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

The device runs Android 4.1.2 with LG’s interface over it

Hardware: Muscle, muscle The 4.7-inch display has a very respectable 1280 x 768 resolution with a pixel density of 318 ppi - figures that are comparable with those of the iPhone 5 and Galaxy SIII. Powering it is a 1.5 GHz quad core Krait processor, aided by 2GB of RAM. The handset comes with 32GB of onboard storage, but has no expandable memory slot. There are two cameras - the 13.0-megapixel one at the back and an 1.3-megapixel one in front. When it comes to connectivity, the device comes with everything you could ask for: 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC and GPS. In hardware terms, this is a heavyweight all right.

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LG OPTIMUS G

expected better from the 13.0-megapixel camera, which serves up mediocre results. Colours were not the greatest and low light shots were replete with noise. Video was much better, though. The loudspeaker is about par for the course, but sound through the bundled headsets is very good indeed. And of course, the processor and specs mean that the phone can handle pretty much everything you can throw at it in entertainment terms. Oh but for a better camera!

tech specs Size | 131.9 x 68.9 x 8.5 mm Weight | 145 grams Memory | 32GB, No

OS | Android 4.1 Screen Size | 4.7 inch, capacitive

Performance: Very good

Price: Rs 30,990 

Good hardware



Mediocre camera



Very good display



Non-expandable memory



Speedy performance



Plain design

The 13.0megapixel camera is not much to write home about

5 4

Conclusion: At Rs 30,990, the LG Optimus G is perhaps the most affordable of the new crowd of quad core devices. And certainly in terms of performance and hardware, it is no slouch and compares very favourably with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy SIII and the HTC One X+. It however arrives in the Indian market at a time when many people are bracing themselves for highprofile Android devices like the HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy SIV. How well it will fare against those is a different matter, but if what you are looking for is a powerful smartphone, then the Optimus G is as good as an option you can get. Those looking for alternatives can consider the Samsung Galaxy SIII which is available for Rs 29,000. n

Cons

Pros

The back is covered in glass

We must confess to being impressed by the performance of the Optimus G. The display is brilliant, the hardware good and although we did need to rush to recharge our phone at the end of the day, we never suffered a single lag or slowdown, whether we were playing Temple Run, browsing the Web or tweaking video. We also loved the tweaks LG has made to the interface, and the colourful wallpapers. The three touch navigation buttons below the display could, however, have been more responsive - we sometimes had to jab at them a few times to make them work.

There are no physical buttons on the front

Software: Jelly Bean, anyone? LG has thankfully released the Optimus G on a relatively new version of Android in India, Android 4.1.2 or Jelly bean. Yes, we know that Android 4.2 has been around for a while now, but then not too many handsets in the country have got it anyway. And LG has added a few neat interface touches to it - for instance, touching the locked screen will reveal a bit of what’s beneath it (a bit like a magnifying glass). You can also place app shortcuts on the lock screen so that unlocking the display takes you straight to the apps. Of course, there are the usual five customisable homescreens on which one can park apps and shortcuts and in yet another neat touch, LG’s QuickMemo

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verdict lies in the notification bar, letting you take a screenshot of any app and then making notes on it. It is not the easiest app to understand, but multitaskers who love to make scribbles all the time will appreciate it. Also on board is the Polaris Office Suite for handling MS Office files, a browser, a video editor, a weather app, a voice recorder and a few other handy apps (you can always head to Google Play for more). This being Android, you get social network and mail connectivity out of the box!

Multimedia: Not quite there The Optimus G’s magnificent display makes viewing HD films and playing games a pleasure. However, we must confess that we

Looks

Features

ease of use

perfoRmance value for money

8 9

overall

84%

mar 15 to apr 14 2013 MYMOBILE 49

burn test Affordable quad-core crusader Canvas gets a

m 144

spec boost

highlights

The 5.0-inch display is a delight

2 1

The 8.0-megapixel camera comes with LED flash

3 The Canvas HD runs on Jelly Bean

4 The device is sleek than its predecessor

5 The loudspeaker delivers crisp sound

50 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

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any Indian brands have come out with interesting feature-packed handsets to challenge the supremacy of global brands, but not many have done so as effectively as Micromax. The indigenous handset maker raised the bar for the competition with its Canvas 2 a few months back, and now has launched the Canvas HD with even better hardware. But will the improved hardware and amazing price be enough to make it a success?

Looks: Subtle, yet noticeable changes The Canvas HD is the successor to the very popular Canvas 2 and follows the same designing aspect. However, this one is sleek and stylish with rounded edges and curved sides. The front is dominated by the 5.0-inch IPS display with around 294 PPI pixels density, which is very acceptable considering the price. Also on the front is the earpiece with the hidden notifications light, along with a 2.0-megapixel camera on the top right. The back panel houses the 8.0-megapixel camera that protrudes and is accompanied by a dual LED flash, with the speaker grille on the bottom, just below the Micromax logo. The right side sports the power key while the volume rocker is on the left. On top of the device is the earphone port and the charging slot. All said and done, the phone exudes smartness.

Hardware: Quad-core, yeah baby! The Micromax Canvas HD comes with a quad-core Cortex A7 processor clocked at 1.2 GHz and 1GB RAM. The device fared better in every aspect of its speed and performance, if compared to other devices in the segment. The smartphone has support for dual SIMs which can run on 2G and 3G and can be changed in the settings. However, both the SIMs and the microSD card are not hot swappable. On the storage front, it comes with 4GB (only 1.77GB is available to users), which can be expanded up to 32GB through a microSD card. For connectivity, the Canvas HD includes options like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, and 3G with HSUPA and HSDPA support.

Software: A Jelly Bean cometh The Canvas HD runs on the Android 4.1.2 version operating system which is not the latest (4.2 has been out for a while), but if our sources are to be believed, the company is likely to upgrade the OS in the coming days. The user interface is standard Android, with no great tweaks in the interface by the company.

The unlock screen appears with options to directly launch camera, Google or simply unlock the device. On board are Micromax’s own apps like M! Live, M!Zone+, M!Store and the new proprietary ‘Hookup’ text messaging app.

Multimedia: Smart, consistent

Pros Super affordable  Quad core 1.2 GHz processor  Smart design 

Cons

The Canvas HD is no slouch in the multimedia department. The camera lets you click 8.0-megapixel images and comes with options like touch-to-focus, face detection and Freeze Frame. The Freeze Frame feature lets you shoot up to about 99 images at one go, very similar to the burst shot. Image quality, however, is not too impressive. We were expecting better colours and certainly more detail in normal light shots, and our recommendation is not to bother using the camera if it happens to get dark - even the flash does not improve matters much. On the video front, one can even record videos in HDR mode, which is quite impressive. Web browsing and gaming on the device is smooth with even heavy graphics games running with no lag, and multitasking working smoothly. We did however, feel a bit let down by the display, which in spite of its specifications, did not deliver the level of colours we expected.

User Experience: Yes, we ‘Can’

Plasticky build quality  Battery life  Mediocre camera 

The Canvas HD is the first quad-core processor smartphone from Micromax and the only one of its kind in its price segment. And the processor is not a piece of jargon - the Canvas HD delivers a performance that’s on par with some of the high-end devices we have seen. We tested the device on Quadrant benchmark tests and it scored 3,860. It has its problems - we would have preferred a better camera and superior call clarity, not to mention a more responsive power button, but even with those reservations we were more than satisfied with the device, considering its price. Just do not stray too far from a charging point if you are using 3G - the battery drains very fast indeed and will struggle to make it through a day.

Conclusion The Micromax Canvas HD has been priced at around Rs 13,990 and comes with a quad-core processor 1GB RAM, and runs Android Jelly Bean - tough to beat at this price. Those looking for alternatives (considering long queues for the HD) can opt for its predecessor, the Canvas 2 A110 that packs a dual-core processor and is priced at Rs 9,999. n team@mymobile.co.in

to 174 hours GPRS/3G/BT/WiFi | Yes/Yes/Yes/Yes Camera | 8.0-megapixel Others | M! Live, M!Zone+, M!Store

Price: Rs 13,990 verdict Looks

8 9

Features ease of use

perfoRmance

value for money

overall

84%

mar 15 to apr 14 2013 MYMOBILE 51

burn test Quad Core Xperia Sony finally unleashes a hardware beast

fter sticking to dual cores for more than a year, Sony has finally moved up a level in hardware terms and is taking on the competition with its first quad core smartphone - the Xperia Z. But has it come too late to the spec party?

Looks: Modern and nice the quad core category with a powerful 1.5 GHz Krait CPU, backed up by 2GB RAM and an ADRENO 320 graphics. Yes, this device can certainly handle almost everything that you throw at it. And you can see it all in full HD glory on the 1080p 5- inch display. The phone comes with 16GB inbuilt storage that can be increased by 32GB (not 64GB as some of its competitors can) via a microSD card. On the connectivity front, the phone is well stacked too with support for 3G, NFC. GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The rear camera has a 13.1-megapixel sensor with auto focus, while the one in front has a 2.2megapixel one.

139 mm

Sonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Xperia range had a more of less consistent, slightly block-y looks, but for the Xperia Z, Sony has taken a leaf out of their slim T series camera books. And the result is fabulous. With a 5.0-inch display, the phone is right up there with the phablets but does not look bulky. It has a premium feel to it with scratch-resistant glass panels on both the front and the back of the device, and is very slim. And if you notice that all the ports SIM and microSD card slots are tucked nicely behind the pop-able side slot panels, that is because, with all of them shut, the Xperia Z is waterproof and will survive a splash or two without too much trouble. Of course, that also means that you cannot remove the rear panel and the battery. One will also find the main 13.1-megapixel camera with an LED Flash at the top of the back. The overall build and feel of the phone is excellent.

Hardware: Very good indeed

Software: Relatively new Like most new high-end handsets, the Xperia Z also comes with Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, with the promise of an upgrade to Android 4.2 coming soon. The good hardware and sensitive touchscreen allow one to navigate through the apps and panels smoothly. The bottom of the

71 mm

The XPERIA Z sees Sony finally get into

highlights The screen is powered by the new Bravia Engine 2

Battery cannot be removed but lasts for long

Quad core processor does wonders to its performance

1 The screen is shatter-proof and scratch resistant

52 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

Design is excellent

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Price: Rs 38,990

screen has the usual Back, Home and Recently Used Apps keys. Sony has also installed some apps on the phone for both entertainment and productive use. These include a McAfee trial pack for a limited time, a note taking and doodle app for quick notes, and a free office suite that enables the users to open text and spreadsheet files. GPS navigation on the large screen is a superb experience.

Multimedia: Display and camera magic The front camera of the Xperia Z is decent for video chats and self portraits, but if you want to get really good pictures, turn on the rear 13.1-megapixel rear camera. You get vibrant colours and the flash ensures that you get decent images even in low light conditions - that is a bit of a rarity in phone cameras. Videos are very good as well the Xperia Z delivered some spectacular full HD videos. The phone also has image stabilisation, which goes a long way in ensuring you get clean shots. Colours are lovely in best Sony tradition and viewing them on that large display is a delight. Sound quality also is top notch - both on speaker and headphones.

Pros

User Experience: Very impressive The Xperia Z is not the smallest of phones, and will not slip into pockets easily. The call quality of the phone is very good and the display makes viewing videos and Web pages a delight. The screen does manage to retain its colours under the sun, though it could have been better. We liked the choice of apps Sony has placed on the device - of course, we can always head to Google Play for more. Battery life lasted us a day comfortably.

Conclusion At Rs 38,990, the Xperia Z can be said to competitively priced for the devices in its segment. At present, only one other device offers a full HD display - the HTC Butterfly, which comes with a stiffer price tag. However, the phone will have to contend with the likes of LG’s Optimus G and Samsung’s awesome twosome of the Note 2 and the Galaxy SIII, which have seen price cuts of late, and also sport very impressive specs. n team@mymobile.co.in

verdict



Very good design

Looks



Water and scratch resistant body

Features



Good camera

Cons 

Non-removable battery



No dedicated camera button



Screen attracts fingerprints

ease of use

perfoRmance

value for money

overall

84%

mar 15 to apr 14 2013 MYMOBILE 53

burn test A big Galaxy on a budget If the Galaxy SIII or

Note 2 are too expensive, consider the Galaxy Grand Duos

highlights

143.5 mm

76.8 mm The Galaxy series from Samsung keeps expanding, across different market segments. And the latest addition to the range is the Grand Duos, a large screen dual SIM device. But just how well does it fare against some very tough competition?

Looks: Like the SIII The Galaxy Grand Duos has got its neat looks from its elder brother the SIII. However, the Grand is a bit chunkier. In the league of phablets, it has a large 5-inch capacitive touchscreen under which are a fairly comfortable Home key along with feather touch Back and Options buttons. Dressed in white silver trims, the phone looks very good indeed. Samsung

3 The big screen is good to work on

has placed the power button on the right side and the volume rocker key on the left, both complementing the silver trim. The audio port is placed at the top with the charging-cumUSB port at the bottom. The rear houses the 8.0-megapixel camera along with LED flash, and next to it is a small grille for the loudspeaker. Overall, the phone looks smart and has a firm feel.

Hardware: Powerful enough The Grand Duos has a good amount of firepower under its hood. It has a 1.2 GHz dual core ARM Cortex A9 processor, which is accompanied by 1GB RAM. They combine to turn in a very decent performance, be it

54 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

Loudspeaker is clear

launching apps quickly or running games like Angry Birds Space and Temple Run 2. The phone comes with 8GB on board storage which can be expanded to up to 64GB with the help of a microSD card. The phone has two cameras - an 8.0-megapixel one at the rear and a 2.0-megapixel one at the front. The 16 million colour screen supports a resolution of 480 x 800 pixel. As the name suggests, the phone supports 2 SIM cards.

Software: More shades of the SIII The Grand runs on Android 4.1.2, and there is plenty of action happening as it has also embraced the Nature UX skin, which was on

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4 2 we quite liked the phone.

User Experience: A good one

Samsung Galaxy Grand Duos tech specs Size | 143.5 x 76.8 x 9.6 mm

Weight | 161 grams

Conclusion

Memory | 8GB, microSD

All in all, this phone is excellent for people who want something like the Galaxy SIII but do not have the budget to match. Those looking for a large screen device could also consider the LG Optimus Vu which is now available for Rs 21,990 and comes with a quad core processor. n

OS | Android 4.1 Screen Size | 5.0 inch, capacitive Battery | Li-ion 2,100 mAh

The Samsung Galaxy Duos does a good job when it comes to call quality and battery backup. The loudspeaker is clear and one can easily talk using it. The screen responds well to every finger touch and so do the feather touch keys. We tested the phone out with Quadrant and it fetched a decent 2,567 points score which is at par with the other dual core phones in the category and shows good overall performance. The battery charges quickly and easily lasts for a day.

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Talktime/Standby | up to 10.1 hours/ up to 440 hours

Pros

GPRS/3G/BT/WiFi | Yes/Yes/Yes/Yes Camera | 8.0-megapixel Others | Nature UX skin, Picasa, Document viewer



Decent battery life



Good build quality



Multiple window support functionality

Price: Rs 21,000

Cons

5 The form factor is modern and nice

Front camera is decent

the Galaxy SIII. The working of the phone is therefore comparable to that of the SIII, which is not a bad thing at all. Unlike many Android skins where you get five home screen panels, on the Grand Duos you will get seven. An abundance of widgets are available which can be hooked on to these panels and can be resized or repositioned. And then there is multi-window mode that again was seen on the SIII and lets you run two apps literally next to each other - great for power users. There’s also a SIM app that lets you manage connectivity, call and data options on the two SIM cards.

Multimedia: Not too shabby The 5-inch screen on the Grand is a treat to

The battery lasts for long

work on. There are few good movie and music apps on the device that enhance the multimedia experience further. Movies look exceptionally good and we were able to play DVD quality ones without any problems. Major formats are supported so one need not downsize or convert them before playing them on this phone. Sound is not bad either, as the loudspeaker does its job well and so do the supplied headphones. The default Webkit browser does a good job of surfing the Web but we were happier with Chrome, truth be told. When it comes to the camera, we have seen Samsung do better. Digital noise was apparent, but on the other hand, the macro shots were pretty good. Overall on the multimedia front



Camera could have been better



Limited on board apps



Flash not the best

verdict Looks

Features

8 9

ease of use perfoRmance value for money

8 9

overall

84%

mar 15 to apr 14 2013 MYMOBILE 55

burn test

The comeback phone Will the

Z10 help BlackBerry recapture its lost glory?



Good camera



Excellent screen



New interface

130 mm

Pros

Cons Very Expensive



OS might be confusing for some



Limited apps as of now

65.6 mm

inally it is here - the phone with the operating system and platform on which BlackBerry has staked its future. But will the Z10 change BlackBerry’s fortunes? We spent some time with the all touch device to find out more.

Looks: Look, no home button! At the first glance, the Z10 looks a bit similar to the iPhone. But there is a huge difference - there is no homescreen button on the Z10, whose front is dominated by a 4.2-inch touchscreen. The rear has a nice rubberised plastic panel that lets the user grip the phone better. Also at the back one will find an 8.0-megapixel shooter with an LED flash, along with a nice silver blackberry logo in the middle. At the top one will find the power button and the headphone jack. The right side has the volume keys, between which the designers have placed a special button that lets you access voice commands. The left side has a USBcum-charging port along with a micro HDMI port, which lets you connect the phone to any compatible HDTV. The loudspeaker is on the bottom of the face, while a front-facing camera is on top, along with a proximity sensor, which turns the screen off as soon as the phone is

highlights



1 Fresh new OS

Blackberry Z10

placed next to one’s ear.

tech specs

The Z10 comes with a 4.2-inch capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 1280 x 768, which is among the highest we have seen in a display of this size, and a pixel density of 355 pi, which is higher than that of both the iPhone 5 and the Galaxy Note 2. Yes, this is the age of quad cores, but the dual-core 1.5 GHz processor, backed up by 2GB RAM, on the Z10 is no laggard. We found programs working smoothly with no lags. The phone comes with 16GB storage, which can be expanded using a microSD card slot. Under the panel is a removable 1,800 mAh battery. Users also get NFC, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. And BlackBerry has come to the camera imaging wars with an 8.0-megapixel camera, that can take images at 3,264 x 2,448 pixels. The front amera is a 2.0megapixel affair with support for HD video for video chats. As far as networks are concerned, the Z10 supports EDGE, 3G and LTE networks. Also on board are an accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor and compass.

Price: Rs 43,490

56 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

Hardware: Pretty quick

Software: Fresh new BB10 The Z10 is the first BlackBerry device to

www.mymobile.co.in

4 3

The screen is excellent to work on

come with BB10. As there is no home, back or menu key on the phone, one needs to manage most functions using the touchscreen. BB10 is a whole new playfield where screen gestures and swipes do the trick, and you need to get familiar with both. You can turn on the screen by swiping the screen from bottom to top. As soon as you do that you would be taken to the application panel or the program you last used. There is a new hub system that can be accessed by swiping up and to the right from any application, letting you access the BlackBerry Hub, which aggregates your e-mail, BBM, Facebook and other accounts, letting you check and read messages and even compose new ones. And then there is the new keyboard which comes with a predictive text system that shows possible words above the letters themselves instead of on a panel - to choose a word, just swipe upwards. One does tend to get lost at first in the new OS, however after a day or two of use, one can work one’s way around. Also on board are a few applications to take care of your day to day and document needs - a good idea as apps for the new OS are not really in the Android and iOS class yet. All in all, the new OS is a welcome upgrade, just be ready to invest some time getting used to it.

5 There is no home key on the phone

Battery lasts for long

Call quality is pretty good

Multimedia: Click me good With the Z10, we finally have a BlackBerry with a decent camera. The 8.0-megapixel camera turned in very good results, both indoors and outdoors, although it did stumble when we were shooting portraits under low light conditions (the flash helped, but managed to give a few of the subjects a red eye if not two). A feature that BlackBerry has added to the camera is the time shift mode. The camera takes multiple shots at once and you can choose the best one out of the lot and save it . This way all your subjects are smiling with eyes wide open. On the video and games front, the phone’s display and loudspeaker make both a visual treat, although the games themselves are limited in number. The phone also becomes unusually hot from the middle when you play games for a long time.

User Experience: Not bad

from the smartphone crowd.

Conclusion The Z10 might be the right step ahead for Blackberry,but veteran users might take some time getting used to it. Then there is the matter of the price, which at Rs 43, 490 is on the higher side, especially when you consider that the iPhone 5 16GB is available for Rs 45,500. team@mymobile.co.in

verdict Looks

Features

ease of use

perfoRmance

value for money

Well, we had high expectations from both BB10 and the Z10. And were satisfied to a large extent. The screen responds very well indeed and the interface works smoothly. BlackBerry needs to be commended for daring to make a fresh start with an OS that’s certainly different

overall

86%

mar 15 to apr 14 2013 MYMOBILE 57

boredom buster Wordy Business An

interesting word game to keep you occupied for long

obile games might be getting graphically richer and more complicated by the day, but there are still those who prefer nothing more than a simple word game that exercises their little grey cells. Coming from the stables of Indian developers, Milestone Interactive, Worbble is a word game that is designed to keep you occupied for hours. Worbble is a simple timed puzzle word game where letters appear in a bubble and you have to select them to make a word.

You can choose from three difficulty levels and clear out different stages. At each stage you are given different tasks to perform as well. If you make word combos you get extra points and can quickly move on to the next level. You also get power ups of different types to help you along the way. These can freeze time, extend time and do much more to help you on your word-making way. The graphics of the game are pretty decent for the genre, although we think the

Name: Worbble Price: $ 0.99 Tested on: iPad

RATING

58 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013



soundtrack could have been better. If you want to get far in the game, here’s a tip for you: try making bigger words to get extra points and achieve all three stars. Also as you progress further, the stage objectives get tougher, so choose your difficulty level wisely. All in all, Worbble will test your word-making ability and will pose more than the odd challenge to you. A great way to exercise your mind or to just while away some time. n sulabh@mymobile.co.in

www.mymobile.co.in

Space shooter A

rattling good arcade game

MORPGs and 3D shooters might be ruling the roost in gaming, but this does not mean that arcade games are dead. There are quite a few good ones around, and one that has caught our eye is Sector Strike, a fine-looking space fighting arcade game. You are in charge of a spaceship which is going up against swarms of AI drones. Your task? To shoot them down to reach the next level. Sounds familiar? Well, what makes this one different are the weapons and upgrades you get and a super hard AI. When you start a level you get the basic cannon, with additional firepower just a few kills away. You get power-ups in the game that enables missiles, laser beams and a protective orb system. All of which can be

upgraded by spending a few space credits and energy cubes that you get when you bump off some enemies. The graphics are exceptionally good and so is the sound, and the levels in the game are unusually hard. There are places where you get set upon by missiles, droids and plasmas, and have no option but to quickly power up and shoot them down. There are plenty of levels in the game to keep you occupied for a while. Sector Strike is built on the freemium model - the game itself is free but you can buy credits and space cubes by shelling out some bucks. And you might not mind doing so - Sector Strike is a rattling good arcade game. Just be ready to go up against a really tough AI. n sulabh@mymobile.co.in

Name: Sector Strike Price: Free Tested on: BlackBerry Z10

RATING



mar 15 to apr 14 2013 MYMOBILE 59

Smart apps Pure filter Magic Color

Thief makes every picture a filter

he times when we used to head to Photoshop and other specialised image-editing software to edit pictures are long past. We now live in the era of Instagram where all one has to do is click a picture and place a layer - or a ‘filter’ as they are popularly called - over it to give a totally different appearance. It could be a retro look, one with more saturated colours, or even one with no colours at all. Now imagine if you could use the colour patterns in every photograph you take with other pictures. In simple terms, each of your photographs becomes a filter and you can replicate its colour patterns in other photographs. Well, that is exactly what an app called Color Thief does. Available currently only for iOS devices, the app is incredible and intuitive to use. What it does is arrange all your images in two rows with an arrow between the two. To copy the colour formatting of one picture simply move the arrow from it to the picture you wish it copied too. Yes, that’s all it takes. And you can share your results across mail and social networks, and that too without any compromise on image resolution. It is brilliant, simple and actually works. In fact, we often found ourselves working our way around Instagram’s resolution restrictions by just transferring the color from its images to others in Color Thief. A clever way of using the app would be to save images from good cameras (DSLRs,

60 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

prosumers) on your phone and then utilise their excellent color representation on your phone’s pictures - mind you, the iPhone and iPad do take very good pictures themselves. No, it is not free but it is nevertheless a very good investment for all those who share pictures from their iPads and iPhones.n

nimish@mymobile.co.in

Name: Color Thief Price: Rs 110 Tested on: Apple iPhone 4s

RATING



www.mymobile.co.in

Tips for clicks

Phone photography, the Nat Geo way

t might not command the smartphone market like it did a while ago, but when it comes to cameraphones, Nokia remains in a league of its own thanks to devices like the 808 PureView and the Nokia N8. And well, if you happen to be using one of those devices or just about any Symbian device and want to take better pictures, then National Geographic have an app for you. National Geographic Photo Tips is a collection of photography tips from actual photographers from the magazine, complete with sample images. It is arranged in a presentation-like format and you can move from tip to tip by simply moving your finger across them. The tips are arranged under different heads such as Cities, Places, Lanscapes, Palette, Light and so on. Under each you will get a set of tips that will help you take better pictures - explained in simple terms. And of course, you do get to gawk at an image that illustrates just what the tip is about - so for instance, in the Landscape section, you see some stunning images of natural landmarks. Many of the tips are generic and can apply to normal cameras as well as cameraphones, but are nevertheless effective - nothing beats common sense. All of which makes this a musthave application for all those who want to make best use of their phone’s camera. And at Rs 10, it is quite a good deal. If we had a complaint, it was about the never ending stream of ads that interrupted the tips. And yes, it is available only for Symbian devices. That said, there are still a number of Symbian phones around and many of them come with excellent cameras. n

nimish@mymobile.co.in

Name: National Geographic Photo tips Price: Rs 10 Tested on: Nokia 808 PureView

RATING



mar 15 to apr 14 2013 MYMOBILE 61

etcetera Envent Muzik Price: Rs 799 Pros | Lightweight, Portable Cons | Distortion at higher volume, Build quality could have been better

RATING



Let the ‘Muzik’ play Compact

performer

nvent might be best known for its iPhone and iPad accessories but has some formidable products in its computer accessories segment too, the latest being the Muzik, an all new 2.0 notebook speaker. This portable device can be attached to a notebook and comes with an output power of

300W PMPO. In our rundown test the speakers delivered clear sound at low and medium volumes. However, once the volume went to higher levels, there was a bit of distortion. We consider Muzik notebook speakers good enough to fill a small or medium sized room with music. You can also play

the songs from your mobile phone using the 3.5 mm support cable but will need to connect the speakers with your USB cable for power while doing so. The device is available in two colours - black and white. The Envent Muzik notebook speakers are available at a price of Rs 799.n

warp speed performance

A good option to get your PC racing

e all love out of the box ideas and SanDisk has just brought one to the table. Usually, to speed up a PC, one tends to upgrade the RAM. However, now one can upgrade the PC with an SSD drive called ReadyCache from SanDisk that will boost its performance. You simply have to plug it in to your PC using a SATA port and turn it on. Install the ReadyCache software from the website, and a few restarts later, your PC will be ready to, well, fly. What the SSD does is that it caches and makes a list of all the commonly used programs on your desktop and runs them through it. So you get lower boot times and speedy processing. On our test bench the SSD did very well. It can transfer data at blitzkrieg speeds – 320MB per second to be exact. The capacity of the hard drive is 32GB, which is fine for your usual programs and games. We didn’t have any problem installing and running the SSD and were up and operational in an hour’s time. All in all, a great device to boost your PC’s performance at a great price. A must buy for professionals.

SanDisk SSD ReadyCache 32GB Price: Rs 3,759

RATING

62 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

Pros | Boosts PC performance, Easy to manage Cons | Only for Windows OS7, More storage would have been better



www.mymobile.co.in

Sony NEX 5R

Pros | Good build, Excellent picture and video quality

Price: Rs 30,990

Cons | Digital noise in low light, Slightly heavy

RATING

Nex(t) up from Sony Sony refreshes its mirrorless range



he past few years have seen mirrorless cameras emerge as challengers to both DSLRs and prosumers, serving up high-quality images while giving users the option to swap lenses in a form factor that is much smaller than the conventional DSLR. And Sony is one of the frontrunners in the mirrorless camera segment, with its NEX series. A new addition to it is the Alpha NEX 5R, which is very similar in form factor to its predecessor, the NEX 5, although it has a better grip. You get a fairly decent sized 3-inch touch screen at the back, which can be swivelled upto 180 degrees for a better shot. Most features of the camera can be managed from the touchscreen, for others, one can use the circular navigation key. The camera comes with a 16-50 mm lens in the

box, which can be configured to focus automatically or manually using the ring on it. The 16.1-megapixel camera takes some excellent shots, especially in good light conditions. In the night and in low light conditions, users would need to attach a flash to the hot shoe on top to get better results. There are plenty of modes onboard to play around and experiment with - for beginners there is the intelligent auto mode and for users who want more control over their pictures, one can go to aperture priority or full manual. One can also shoot videos in full HD and get very good results. Overall this camera did not disappoint much - it even has Wi-Fi connectivity that enables the user to share photos online with ease. n team@mymobile.co.in

mar 15 to apr 14 2013 MYMOBILE 63

in focus

E-books: Reading Goes Digital?

The tech pundits keep telling us that we are living in a digital age, with everything from music to television getting into digital mode. And the next thing to follow this path might well be books. We take a look at the growing popularity of e-books Heena Gupta

64 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

eading a book was always associated with paper. A decade ago most people did not even think that one day they would read a book on their mobiles or tablets. Today, various titles are just a few clicks away on oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s handset or tablet. Millions of e-books are available online, many of them free of cost, which can be carried around on a device and read anytime anywhere.

www.mymobile.co.in

The e-book phenomenon Once considered a passing fad, e-books today are gaining popularity, thanks to people’s growing accessibility to the Web and the falling prices of devices to access them. An e-book is prepared by scanning the pages from the hard copy of a book through robotic scanners. The commonly used formats of e-books used around the globe includes Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, eReader, HTML, Mobipocket, Newton eBook, SSReader and TomeRaider. These books and the reading experience are made more interesting and interactive by adding features like videos and HDR pictures. And in many cases, they are not very expensive either, costing significantly lesser than their

Each has its own benefits and pitfalls. E-books come with a number of readability options and are certainly more portable than conventional books you can carry hundreds of them on your tablet, handset or e-book reader. Print editions on the other hand tend to be bulky, although some find paper to be easier on the eye than electronic displays ing their online stores and apps for users. Rishi M Jha, Digital Head RockASAP says, “The trend of e-books will further grow because of two reasons. Firstly, the reading habits are improving and people wants to go for a convenient and less hassle free way. Secondly, as Internet data rates are going low people are using more and more internet and are also downloading e-books.” And e-books are not limited to bestsellers, but are being embraced by the academic community as well, as they significantly reduce the physical burden that students and also place entire libraries at their disposal on their devices. Which is why a number of publishers like Oxford and Pearsons are generating educational content based e-books. Many schools today are also supporting the concept of m-education which is fostered by e-books.

E-books: both sides of the coin

print counterparts (although this is not always the case, we must add). Just about every major tech player is looking at the e-book market with Apple, Google and Amazon all having launched their e-book services. And while e-books can be read on just about any digital device, ranging from computers to handsets, there has also been a flood of devices that have been designed to specifically read them, such as Amazon’s Kindle, Barnes and Noble’s Nook and Sony’s Reader. And there are a number of Indian players in the e-book market too, with the likes of Flipkart, RockASAP and many others launch-

There’s a lot to be said in favour of owning an e-book. They are handy and a user can easily read it on the go irrespective of location, be it a bus, train or coffee shop. They also come with options to enhance the reading experience like zooming in, letter resizing, font selection and more. E-books are also eco-friendly as no paper is used and fewer trees are being cut. And as many e-book readers and handsets come with backlighting, you can read them in the dark as well. And they are difficult to steal. RockASAP’s Rishi M Jha points out “The books are offered through an app. A user can download the e-book in the app which makes it secure, as you cannot share the e-book with

others and every e-book has a DRM (Digital Right Margin) which additionally protects it. So, your book is only yours.” Mind you, it is not all roses. Some e-books are tied in to specific apps and hardware. And well, all of them depend on some hardware to be read, so if something goes wrong with your phone or tablet, bang goes all your reading. Prices too are a problem at the moment with many paperback titles actually being available for a lot lesser than their digital editions - in fact, a number of titles are still not available in digital form. There is also the little matter of lending a book - something that is very difficult in the case of e-books, as it would either involve sharing your username and password for the particular reading app or sharing the device itself.

Paper vs display

All of which has torn book lovers between two alternatives - paper books and digital ones. Each has its own benefits and pitfalls. E-books come with a number of readability options and are certainly more portable than conventional books - you can carry hundreds of them on your tablet, handset or e-book reader. Print editions on the other hand tend to be bulky, although some find paper to be easier on the eye than electronic displays. E-books also come with a number of other add-ons, such as inbuilt dictionaries that let you check the meanings of words, as well as the option to read a sample of book free of cost (imagine being able to do so at a proper book store!). Also bookmarking pages on e-books is a far less messy affair than on paper - there are no physical bookmarks to be kept in place and dog earing is not an option at all. And let’s face it, there is no physical wear and tear in the case of an e-book. That said, there are those who simply find paper a better medium to read - a paper book is less liable to get damaged if you go to sleep while reading it, and in many cases, illustrations and photographs appear a lot sharper on paper.

A matter of choice No doubt that e-books are becoming a rage, but it would be premature to say that they are all set to replace old fashioned paper titles. Yes, reading an e-book does offer a number of advantages over conventional paper titles, but until every title is available in a digital format and at a viable price, people are unlikely to move away from paper. Smartphone users have the best of both worlds today - they can read a book on their handset or if they prefer the rustle and smell of paper, just head on to the nearby bookstore and pick up a physical copy. It is all a matter choice. heenag@mymobile.co.in

mar 15 to apr 14 2013 MYMOBILE 65

a p p ta s t i c

Super Stylus Apps Steve Jobs poked fun at it, but after a brief sabbatical, the stylus is back in action. We take a look at five apps that will help you get the best out of this device. Nimish Dubey

rior to 2007, it was rare to see a touchscreen device without a stylus. Be it Palm or Windows Mobile, phones with touchscreens inevitably came accompanied with a pen-like stick that let you scribble on displays. And then the iPhone came along, accompanied by Steve Jobs making fun of styluses in a launch presentation...and suddenly styluses went out of vogue and everyone was touching and swiping screens with their hands. Many considered the stylus era to be well and truly over. Except that it was not. With the arrival of larger displays in general and tablets in particular, people started using their mobile devices for more than just typing and selecting items â&#x20AC;&#x201C; drawing and

sketching became options, and before you knew it, the stylus was back, first as an accessory, and then as an integral part of devices like the Samsung Galaxy Note, the LG Optimus Vu and the HTC Flyer. Even Windows 8 comes with a strong handwriting support that is clearly targeted at styluses. Today, the stylus is well and truly back, and the greatest evidence of this is the large number of apps that have been designed to support it. So if you are looking for a slice of stylus action on your touchscreen device, here are five apps that will deliver just that:

66 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

www.mymobile.co.in without having to lift your finger to tap on keys, but what not too many know is that it also comes with a very cool handwriting recognition feature that lets you write on the screen and converts your scribbles into words. And while it is certainly not the fastest or most accurate handwriting recognition app we have seen, what works for it is the simple fact that it comes bundled with an onscreen keyboard, so you can switch over to typing whenever you tire of writing. Neat.

Swype Beta (Android) Price: Free Yes, we know that Swype is better known for its finger-dragging typing which lets you type out words on an onscreen keyboard

Available from: http://beta.swype. com/android/get/

Paper (iOS)

WritePad (iOS and Android)

This multiple award winning application has been making waves with its incredibly simple interface and powerful features. As its name indicates, it is designed to mimic real paper and well, it does so to a remarkable extent. You can choose brushes, pens, inks of different types and even purchase others if you do not like the ones bundled with the app. And all this in an interface that is uncluttered and totally clean, letting you focus on your writing or sketching. You can also save and share your work without much fuss. Brilliant for those who just like to sit and sketch.

If you are sick and tired of typing on your iOS and Android device and wish you could write on them just as you could on paper, then this is the app for you. WritePad boasts one of the best handwriting recognition engines out there, so not only can you scribble away to your heart’s content, but you can also do so in the knowledge that your scribbles are being converted into clear text that you can share across different apps if you wish and even synchronise your documents with Dropbox and Evernote. You also can play around with page, text and ink colours. Yes, it is not cheap, but on the flip side, it just works.

Price: Free

Available from: iTunes App Store

Price: Rs 550 (Approx)

Graffiti (Android) Price: Free

Available from: Google Play, iTunes App Store This is for those veterans who used Palm devices. These were marked by Graffiti, a handwriting recognition software that converted symbols made using a stylus into letters and words. Well, if you want the same on your Android device, you can now download an app that follows the same principles and replaces your default keyboard. Yes, you will have to learn the strokes that represent each character, but on the flip side, the level of accuracy is startlingly high, and of course, if you have used a Palm device in the past, there is a fair chance that you are in familiar territory anyway.

Available from: Google Play

Penultimate (iOS) Price: Free

If all that you are seeking is a simple app that lets you scratch and scribble to your heart’s content, this is definitely it. With its beautifully designed notebooks and seamless Evernote integration (Evernote acquired the app recently), Penultimate is actually what every stylus wielder’s note app should be with its wrist protection ensuring that you can rest your palm on the surface of your touchscreen without leaving any smudges on your notes. And yes, it lets you search through handwritten notes as well and even mail your notebooks or pages as PDFs. Simplicity at its brilliant best.

Available from: iTunes App Store nimish@mymobile.co.in

mar 15 to apr 14 2013 MYMOBILE 67

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Visit Asia’s largest integrated ICT event – CommunicAsia / EnterpriseIT2013

Gear guide Disclaimer: The prices have been obtained from companies respective showrooms

Nokia Fast Micro-USB Charger | AC-10E

Save energy and save the environment. Based on a common energy-rating system for chargers, it has a 5-star rating for energy saving. Rs 900

Nokia Bluetooth Headset | BH-607

This headset enables you to be connected with little charging. It just requires 15 minutes of charging, giving you up to 5 hours of talk time. Rs 4,500

Nokia Bluetooth Headset | BH-111

Choose the colour that suits you in a design that’s as comfortable as it is stylish - up to five colours available. It is lightweight and offers long time usage. Rs 2,100

Nokia Monster Earphone | WH920 The in-ear design of the set isolates external noise to ensure enriched music experience. The earphones have volume controller built in to its cord. Rs 5,000

Nokia Bluetooth Headset | BH-218

It puts you in control of your hands free calls and keeps you connected all day long. Rs 1,999

Nokia Universal Portable USB Charger | DC-16

You can now charge your smartphone anytime, anywhere with this power bank. It is compatible with most of the devices and has a battery capacity of 2,200 mAh. Rs 1,600

Nokia Play | 360°

Enjoy clear 360-degree audio for your music with Nokia Play 360° (MD-50W). The curved design case brings a modern look and feel. Rs 9,000

Nokia Bluetooth Stereo Headset | BH-505

Nokia Mono Bluetooth Headset | BH-109

With Nokia Bluetooth Headset BH-109, you can handle calls hands-free, even when you are using two mobile devices at the same time. Rs 1,600

Bluetooth Headset BH-505 keeps you active and entertained. The headset features a lightweight neckband for all day comfort. Rs 3,500

70 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

www.mymobile.co.in in Delhi but may vary on account of dealer discretion/company schemes.

Nokia Extra Power | DC-8

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on the road and away from an AC supply, you can get peace of mind with a reliable, pocket-sized source of backup power. Rs 1,500

Nokia Bluetooth Headset | BH-112

Keep it simple - pick up and end calls at the touch of a button. It works with multiple handsets at the same time ideal if you have phones for work and play. Rs 1,450

Nokia Retractable Car Charger | DC-10 With Nokia Retractable Car Charger DC-10 charge your phone in the car. Rs 950

Nokia Monster Headset | WH 930

This Nokia headset boasts of some high end features that are not to be seen in any other headsets available in the market. Rs 10,500

Nokia Stereo Headset | WH-701

It helps to control your calls and music in a world of sound. It features three sets of comfortable ear pads and an integrated remote for controlling volume, calls, and music. Rs 1,100

Nokia Mini Speaker | MD-11

Play your music and listen to the radio out loud with this compact, yet powerful mini speaker. You can also connect them for quality stereo surround sound. Rs 1,100

Nokia Extra Power | DC-11K

Charge two devices at the same time. It is extra compact and lightweight and offers a quick boost of power. Rs 2,400

Nokia Bluetooth Headset | BH-104

With Nokia Bluetooth Headset BH-104 you can stay on top of your calls and enable convenient wireless communication throughout the day. Rs 1,000

Nokia Car Charger | DC-4

Simple and compact, this mobile phone charger offers rapid phone charging from a car cigarette lighter socket. Rs 220

mar 15 to apr 14 2013 MYMOBILE 71

mobile doctor

I want to purchase a smartphone. The features I am looking for are a good touch experience and 1.5 GHz processor. It should also have a good camera and must be able to record videos in HD format. I would like to have a 5.0-inch display which is clearly visible in daylight. I have shortlisted the Nokia Lumia 920. What’s your opinion about the phone and can I transfer data via Bluetooth in Windows Phone? -Satish Kumar You can definitely go for the Nokia Lumia 920 as it a very good phone that meets most of your requirements (it does not have a 5.0-inch display). And yes, you can transfer data via Bluetooth in a Windows Phone device. If you want to go for an Android device, then you can opt for the Samsung Galaxy SIII. I want to buy a smartphone within the budget of Rs. 20,000. The features that I am looking for include camera with flash, and good touch response. It also must have 2 GB of RAM and come with video calling facility. - Anil Kumar A phone with 2GB RAM will not be available in your budget. But you can easily get all the other specifications in the HTC OneV, and the Nokia N8. While the touch experience is superior on the One V, the N8 has a much better camera. I want to buy a mobile phone of a reputed brand and my budget is Rs. 20,000. The specifications I am looking for include the latest

Android and 1 GHz processor. It should have a 5.0-megapixel rear camera with flash and 1.3-megapixel front facing camera. On the connectivity front, I want 3G, Wi-Fi, GPRS and Bluetooth. The music and sound quality of the device should also be good. Please suggest some smartphones with these specifications. – Vikram Vikrant The Samsung Galaxy Grand is the phone that comes with your desired specifications but it’s slightly high on the budget and comes with a price tag of Rs. 21,000. It has a 5-inch display and comes with a good camera as well as excellent sound quality. I purchased a BSNL Penta Tab model number IS 701C. The device runs on Android 4.0 but unfortunately, the Wi-Fi and USB is not working. Whenever I turn on the Wi-Fi, the device doesn’t search for any device. When I check the serial number the tab highlights unknown. The USB port is also not working. Whenever I insert a pen drive in it, it does not give any response. I also tried booting but all was in vain. Can rooting solve my problem and if yes then from where? - Rishikanan Sanasam I would advise you not to opt for rooting your device as there is no guarantee that it would solve your problem, but is also likely to void your device’s warranty. It is advised that you first go to the customer care center to get your issue resolved and consider rooting only if that does not work out. I want to buy a tablet but I am a bit confused between a dongle based and SIM based tablet. I want to know which one is better for surfing the internet and downloading. I have shortlisted the Karbonn

72 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

10 Cosmic, HCL Me Y3 and the iBerry Auxus CireX2 3G. Is the iBerry a trustworthy brand and does the Karbonn Cosmic 10 support calling? I want the latest Android and my budget is Rs, 12,000. –Utathya Hazra If you are not much into the apps then you can go for the HCL Me Y3 as it doesn’t allow you to access Google Play. But if want your apps next to you then you

can definitely go for the Karbonn 10 Cosmic tab. The performance of SIM-based and Dongle based tabs are largely identical - it all depends on the speed of the connection. I want to buy a mobile with exceptional camera quality and with minimum 1 GHz processor. It should also support the latest Android version and fast Internet browsing. My budget is Rs. 15,000 and I have shortlisted the Samsung Galaxy S Duos, Nokia Lumia 710 and Samsung Omnia M. Please suggest the best amongst them. –Rahul Gupta The Samsung Galaxy S Duos lags a bit and can cause a few problems to you. The Nokia Lumia 710 is a good buy, but we would

suggest that you go for the Nokia Lumia 620 as it comes with the new version of Windows Phone, Windows Phone 8, has a dual core processor and also fits your budget. I want to buy a tablet which has a calling feature. My budget is Rs. 10,000. It should have maximum features and should also be good on the performance front. Please advise some good options. – Vinay Dubey The tablets that suit your specifications and budget are the Penta Tab, Intex iConnect, MyZen Tab. All of them come with the calling feature and are decent performers. I want to purchase a smartphone within the budget of Rs. 11,000. I decided to buy the Samsung Galaxy Ace Duos. Please highlight its pros and cons. I have also heard that the phone starts to hang after some time. Is that correct? Please also suggest some other good options. –Ajay -Kashera Samsung Galaxy Ace Duos is a bit on the slower side as far as processing power is concerned and is also low on memory. If you are looking for an alternative in the same budget, we would suggest the Nokia Lumia 510 or Lumia 610, both of which operate smoothly, fall within your budget and run on Windows Phone 7.8. If you are looking for an alternative on Android, you could can opt for the LG L5.

Is your mobile phone acting strange? Email your queries at team@mymobile.co.in and our mobile doctor Arshdeep Singh will suggest remedies for your ailing device. Disclaimer: The views expressed by Arshdeep Singh are his own and do not necessarily coincide with those of My Mobile.

MY GUIDE Disclaimer : The prices quoted in My Guide are the Best Buy prices quoted by the respective companies, ex-Delhi. The prices may vary on account of promotional schemes or dealer discretion. M.O.P. mentiond in My Guide are not applicable in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. While My Mobile tries to ensure accuracy in the pricing and features any discrepancies that may emerge are beyond our control. Please check with the retailer about features of the phone before buying. The ratings that have been included are from the burn tests of the phones that we have reviewed. Feel free to update us.

(Last updated on March 3, 2013) Devices featured in the My Guide have been segregated into four categories baswed on price and colourcoded as:

Tablet CDMA Enterprise High-end (Rs 12,000 upwards) Mid-level

(Rs 6,000 - Rs 11,999)

Entry-level (Rs 2,500 - Rs 5,999) Sub-entry level (up to Rs 2,499) Nokia

NR stands for not reviewed M.O.P. stands for Market Operating Price

Y MOBILE 73 MAR 15 to APR 14 2013 MY

MODELS

NOKIA

PARAMETERS 1280

100

101

110

114

112

C2-02

Dimension (mm)

107.2 x 45.1 x 15.3

110 x 45.5 x 14.9

110 x 46 x 14.8

110.4 x 46.9 x 15.4

102.8 x 51.2 x 17

Weight (grams)

81.92

69.6

110

Model

Talktime/Standby (hours)

8.30/528

Screen (colours)/Size (inch) Monochrome/1.36 Inbuilt/Expandable memory

NA/No

7.2/840

10.5/637

14/840

5/60x0

65,536/1.8

56K/1.8

65,536/2.6

NA/No

64MB/32GB

16MB/32GB

10MB/32GB

No/No

Yes/No

Camera/Flash/Video

No/No/No

VGA/No/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

500

1,000

1000

1,000

Frequency/Dual SIM

Dual Band/No

No/No/No

Yes/Yes/No

Symbian S30

S30

S40

Symbian S40

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Dual Band/No

No/Yes

Yes/Yes

Bar/No/No

Slider/Yes/No

Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

990

1,190

1,480

2,300

2,565

3,150

Music Player/FM Radio

MODELS

Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY

NOKIA

PARAMETERS X2-02

Asha 205

206

C2-03

202

Asha 200

Asha 306

Dimension (mm)

113 x 50 x 15

112.8 x 61.1 x 13

116 x 49 x 12.4

103 x 51.4 x 17

114.8 x 49.8 x 13.9

115.4 x 61.1 x 14

110.3 x 53.8 x 12.8

Weight (grams)

115

105

9.8/443

11/891

20/680

5/400

7/888

14/600

Model

Talktime/Standby (hours) Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

262,144/2.2

65,536/2.4

65,536/2.6

262,144/2.4

65,536/2.4

65,536/3.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

10MB/32GB

64MB/32GB

10MB/32GB

NA/32GB

64MB/32GB

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

2.0MP/No/Yes

VGA/No/Yes

1.3Mp/No/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

1000

Shared

1,000

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Dual Band/No

Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Dual Band/No

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/No

Operating System

Symbian S40

Yes/Yes

Bar/No/No

Bar/No/Yes

Bar/No/No

Slider/Yes/No

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

3,350

3,500

3,700

3,900

4,000

4,150

3,900

Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs

74 MYMOBILE MAR 15 to APR 14 2013

MODELS

NOKIA

PARAMETERS Model

Asha 305

Asha 309

Asha 308

302

Asha311

303

Dimension (mm)

110.3X53.8X12.8

109.9 x 54 x 13.2

109.9x54x13

116.5 x 55.7 x 13.9

106 x 52 x 12.9

116.5 x 55.7 x 13.9

115 x 58.9 x 12.8

Weight (grams)

102

104

126

Talktime/Standby (hours)

14X528

6/650

17/600

9/707

14/696

8.2/731

7.3/400

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

262,144/3.0

65,536/3.0

262,144/2.4

262,144/3.0

262,144/2.6

262,a144/2.36

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

64MB/32GB

128MB/32GB

64MB/32GB

128MB/32GB

256MB/32GB

100MB/32GB

256MB/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

2.0MP/No/Yes

3.2MP/No/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

1,000

2,000

Shared

2,000

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/No

Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

Quad Band/GSM+GSM

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/No

Operating System

Symbian S40

Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Symbian S40

Symbian S60

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/Yes/Yes

Bar/No/Yes

4,250

4,850

5,200

6,250

6,375

7,900

9,400

808

Lumia 820

Lumia 900

MODELS

Price in Rs.

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

NOKIA

PARAMETERS Model

Lumia 510

Lumia 610

Lumia 710

Lumia 800

Dimension (mm)

120.7 x 64.9 x 11.5

119.24 x 62.18 x 11.9

119 x 62.4 x 12.5

116.5 x 61.2 x 12.1

123.9 x 60.2 x 13.9

123.8 x 68.5 x 9.9

127.8 x 68.5 x 11.5

Weight (grams)

129

131.5

125.5

142

169

160

6.2/738

10.5/670

7.3/400

13/265

11/465

15.4/360

7/300

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

65,536/4.0

16million/3.7

16miilion/3.7

16million/4.0

16.7million/4.3

16million/4.3

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

4GB/No

8GB/No

16GB/No

16GB/32GB

8GB/64GB

16GB/No

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

5.0MP/No/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

41.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/No

Talktime/Standby (hours)

GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Yes/Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Windows Phone 7.8 Windows Phone 7.5 Windows Phone 7.5 Windows Phone 7.5

Nokia Belle

Windows Phone 8

Windows Phone 7.5

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/No

Bar/Yes/No

10,199

12,250

13,250

18,200

24,250

27,000

29,000

MAR 15 to APR 14 2013 MYMOBILE 75

myguide MODELS

SUB-ENTRY LEVEL

PARAMETERS Model

NOKIA

FLY

Lumia 920

DS 186

DS187

DS222

MV242n

DS222+

MV264

Dimension (mm)

130.3 x 70.8 x 10.7

108X47X15.6mm

107.9 x 44 x 14.8

115 x 49 x 14.7

118 x 51 x 15

115 x 49 x 14.5

122 x 53 x 14

Weight (grams)

185

125

138

Talktime/Standby (hours)

18.6/460

5/240

5/200

9/500

10/ 400

9/ 360

10/500

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16.7million/4.5

65,536/1.8

NA/2.2

NA/2.4

NA/2.6

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

32GB/No

NA/ 16GB

NA/32GB

245KB/32GB

NA/32GB

100KB/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Camera/Flash/Video

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

Yes/No/Yes

VGA/No/Yes

Yes/No/Yes

VGA/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

200

100

200

500

200

300

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Dual Band/GSM+GSM

No/No/No

Yes/No/No

Windows Phone 8

Nucleus

Proprietry

Nucleus

Proprietry

Nucleus

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/No

37,250

990

1,090

1,590

1,790

MODELS

Price in Rs.

Quad Band/No Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HUSPA

FLY

PARAMETERS Model

SX243

INTEX

SAMSUNG

Yuvi

X350

X295

X325

1200

Dimension (mm)

121X51.5X10.5

125.3x48.8x14.3

117×50.5×13.8

121x51x10.77 mm

126.9 x 55.1 x 10.95

109.5 x 45.5 x 12.8

Weight (grams)

81.2

64.5

92.5

65.1

NEW

SX260

MICROMAX

NEW

Talktime/Standby (hours)

4.5/180

12/250

5/250

5/360

4/200

8.6/800

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

NA/2.4

NA/2.6

262,144/2.4

262,144/3.0

65,536/2.6

65,536/2.8

65536/1.5

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

NA/32GB

180KB/32GB

NA/16GB

78KB/4GB

258KB/4GB

32MB/No

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/No

No/No

Camera/Flash/Video

Yes/No/Yes

Yes/Yes/Yes

1.3MP/No/Yes

VGA/No/Yes

No/No/No

Phonebook Capacity

1000

300

500

300

500

100

Frequency/Dual SIM

Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Dual Band/No

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/No/No

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/No/No

Yes/Yes/No

No/No/No

Operating System

Proprietry

Proprietary

Yes/Yes

No/Yes

Bar/No/No

1990

2190

1,485

1,900

1,950

2,250

1,010

Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM

76 MYMOBILE MAR 15 to APR 14 2013

MODELS

SAMSUNG

PARAMETERS Model

WYNNCOM

E1207T

E1282T

E2232

Metro 2252

W100n

W221

W617

Dimension (mm)

108.0 x 45.5 x 13.5

109.2 x 45.5 x 14.5

109.2 x 46.0 x 14.9

113.0 x 46.0 x 13.9

108 x 46 x 14.7

128 x 48 x 13.5

124.4 x 57.2 x 14.7

Weight (grams)

74.5

110

Talktime/Standby (hours)

8/430

12/660

NA/500

11.9/760

NA/NA

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

65,536/1.52

65,536/1.8

65,536/1.77

65,536/1.8

NA/1.8

NA/2.0

NA/3.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

NA/No

NA/4GB

20MB/8GB

NA/32GB

NA/16GB

NA/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

No/No

Yes/No

No/Yes

Yes/No

Camera/Flash/Video

No/No/No

VGA/No/Yes

NA/NA/NA

0.3 MP/No/Yes

1.3MP/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

1,000

300

1,500

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Dual Band/GSM+GSM

No/No/No

Yes/No/No

No/No/No

Yes/No/No

Proprietary

Yes/Yes

Bar/No/No

1,250

1,625

2,200

2,500

999

1,499

2,199

MODELS

ENTRY LEVEL

WYNNCOM

PARAMETERS Model

FLY

LAVA

W601

W704

E284

E350

Discover 132

Discover 135

T375

Dimension (mm)

117.2 x 55.4 x 13.5

103 x 56 x 13.8

114 x 62 x 13.5

114 x 62 x 13.2

103 x 59 x 10.7

Weight (grams)

111.4

81.2

Talktime/Standby (hours)

NA/NA

6.5/500

8/700

12.8/601

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

NA/2.8

NA/3.0

NA/2.8

NA/3.5

262,144/3.2

262,144/3.5

262,144/3.2

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

NA/32GB

NA/32 GB

45KB/16GB

258KB/4GB

NA/16GB

48MB/16GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

1.3 MP/Yes /Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

1.3MP/Yes/Yes

1.3 MP/Yes/Yes

VGA/No/Yes

Yes/No/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

1,000

500

1,000

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Yes/No/No

Yes/Yes/No

Operating System

Nucleous

Proprietary

Nucleus

Proprietary

Music Player/FM Radio

Yes/Yes

Bar/No/No

Bar/Yes/No

2,349

2,499

2,490

2,990

3,299

3,600

4,599

Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

MAR 15 to APR 14 2013 MYMOBILE 77

MODELS

SAMSUNG

PARAMETERS Model

Champ Neo Duos C3262

Champ Delux

Star 3 Duos

Champ 3.5G S3770

Dimension (mm)

96.9 x 54.3 x 13.5

101.8 x 55.0 x 12.3

101.8 x 55 x 12.5

103 x 55 x 12

104.90 x 57.20 x 11.99

102 x 58 x 11.51

Weight (grams)

89.7

95.5

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Rex 60

NEW

Chat 3G 527

Rex 70

NEW

14/550

15.8/500

15/NA

3/288

13/NA

14.3/520

6/350

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

262,144/2.4

262,144/2.8

65,536/2.8

262,144/2.4

65,536/3.0

262,144/3.0

262,144/2.8

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

20MB/32GB

30MB/16GB

80MB/32GB

10MB/32GB

20MB/16GB

30MB/16GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

VGA/No/Yes

1.3MP/No/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

3.0MP/No/Yes

2.0MP/No/No

Phonebook Capacity

1,000

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad band/GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

Quad Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/No/No

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA, HSUPA

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Operating System

Proprietary

Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

3,000

3,600

3,690

3,800

4,250

4,050

4,750

MODELS

Price in Rs.

Yes/Yes Bar/Yes/No

SAMSUNG

PARAMETERS Model

M5900

W707

W716

W711

W720

102.0 x 58 x 11.5

113 x 61.90 x 11.84

114x62x13.6

107.5 x 55.8 x 13.1

120 x 63 x 12.4

120 x 63 x 11.8

125.7 x 68.6 x 10.8

Weight (grams)

109

110

138

NEW

Rex 90

WYNNCOM

Dimension (mm)

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Rex 80

SPICE NEW

15/NA

3/200

NA/NA

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

262,144/3.0

262,144/3.5

NA/3.2

NA/3.5

NA/4.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

20MB/16GB

10MB/32GB

NA/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Camera/Flash/Video

3.15/No/Yes

3.2/No/Yes

1.3MP/No/Yes

2.0MP/Yes/Yes

1.3MP/Yes/Yes

1.3 MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

1,000

500

1,000

2,000

500

Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/No/No

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/No/No

Operating System

Proprietary

Nucleous

Yes/Yes

Yes / Yes

Bar/Yes/No

4,940

5,700

3,000

3,049

3,249

3,399

4,599

Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

78 MYMOBILE MAR 15 to APR 14 2013

MODELS

HIGH END

TAG HEUER

PARAMETERS

VERTU

Meridiist GMT Stainless Steel/Black PVD

Link

Meridiist Steel & Gold

Ascent

Constellation Ayxta

Ascent Ti

Constellation Quest

Dimension (mm)

112 x 46 x 15.5

118 x 67 x 16.6

112 x 46 x 15.5

117 x 46 x 19

100 x 48 x 18

115.5 x 49 x 13.1

116 x 60.8 x 12.7

Weight (grams)

155

200

155

148

174

160

165 to 185

Model

Talktime/Standby (hours)

7/392

6.5/336

7/392

4.8/300

6/300

5/300

7.5/349

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

262,144/1.9

16million/3.5

262,144/1.9

16million/2.0

16million/2.4

16million/2.0

16million/2.46

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

NA/NA

256MB/8GB

NA/NA

8GB/32GB

100MB/8GB

4GB/No

8GB/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

No/No/No

5.0MP/No/Yes

No/No/No

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

3.15MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

1,000

Shared

1,000

2,000

1,500

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/No

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/R99

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Andriod v2.2

GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Yes/No

Yes/NA

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Bar/No/No

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/No

Clamshell/No/No

Bar/No/No

Bar/No/Yes

Starting 2,85,000+/3,55,000

Starting 3,27,000+

Starting 5,45,000+

Starting 2,89,000+

Starting 3,47,000+

Starting 3,75,000+

Starting 3,90,000+

MODELS

ENTERPRISE LEVEL

PARAMETERS Model

VERTU

APPLE

BLACKBERRY

Signature

iPhone 4

iPhone 4S

iPhone 5

Curve 8520

Curve 9220

Curve 9320

Dimension (mm)

130 x 42 x 13

115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3

123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6

109 x 60 x 13.9

109 x 60 x 12.7

Weight (grams)

166

137

140

112

106

102

103

Talktime/Standby (hours)

3.5/300

14/300

14/200

8/225

4.5/408

7/432

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/2.0

16million/3.5

16million/4.0

65,536/2.46

65,536/2.44

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

4GB/No

16,32GB/No

16,32,64GB/No

256MB/microSD

512MB/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

No/No/No

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

3.15MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

2,000

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/No

Quad band/No

Quad Band/No

Dual Band/No

GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Yes/Yes/R99

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

iOS 6

BlackBerry OS

BlackBerry OS 7.1

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Bar/No/No

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/Yes

Starting 7,28,000+

26,500/31,900

8,400

9,990

15,200

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

38,500/45,500/54,500 45,500/52,500/59,500

MAR 15 to APR 14 2013 MYMOBILE 79

MODELS

myguide

BLACKBERRY

PARAMETERS

BYOND 9900

Curve 9360

9860

Bold 9790

9810

Dimension (mm)

112 x 62 x 14.2 mm

120 x 62 x 11.5

110 x 60 x 11.4

111 x 62 14.6

115 x 66 x 10.5

130 x 65.6 x 9

Weight (grams)

130

135

107

161

130

136

115

Model

Z10

NEW

B51 113 x 61.2 x 8

5/336

4.7/337

5.1/432

6.5/296

6.3/296

10/312

4/120

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

262,144/2.44

16million/3.7

16million/2.45

16million/3.2

16million/2.8

16 million/4.2

NA/3.5

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

256MB/32GB

2.5GB/32GB

8GB/32GB

16GB/64GB

256MB/32GB

Yes/Yes

YesYes

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

3.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Quad Band/No

Quad band/No

Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Quad Band/No

Yes/Yes/No

BlackBerry OS 7.0

Blackberry OS 7.0

BlackBerry OS 7.0

BlackBerry 10

Android v 2.3

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Bar/No/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/Yes/Yes

Slider/Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

25,499

27,500

30,999

43,490

3,499

16,750

20,650

MODELS

Price in Rs.

Quad Band/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSUPA,HSDPA

BYOND

PARAMETERS Model

FLY

B54

B63

Phablet PIII

F350

F51

Dimension (mm)

125.2 x 64 .4 x 11.8

136 x 68.8 x 1.7

158.5 x 88.6 x 11.3

110 x 58.7 x 14.7

118.88 x 61.79 x 11.8

146 x 77 x 11.5

126 x 63.5 x 10.3

Weight (grams)

172

164

230

115.5

170

140

4/192

7/140

4/100

6.5/250

4/350

7/144

7.5/263

Talktime/Standby (hours)

F32

NEW

F41S

NEW

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

NA/4.0

NA/4.5

NA/6.0

NA/3.2

NA/3.5

16.7million/5.0

NA/4.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

512MB/32GB

4GB/32GB

154MB/32GB

110MB/32GB

130MB/32GB

139MB/32GB

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

3.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

Yes/No/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

Yes/Yes/Yes

Yes/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

1,000

Shared

Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/NA

Yes/Yes/Yes

Android v 2.3

Android v 4.1

Android v2.3

Android v 2.3

Android 4.0 ICS

Android v4.0

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

4,499

9,999

12,699

3,990

4,990

7,450

7790

80 MYMOBILE MAR 15 to APR 14 2013

MODELS PARAMETERS Model

FLY

HTC

F410

Explorer

Wildfire S

Desire C

Desire V

One V

Desire X

Dimension (mm)

123.9 x 64 x 10

102.8 x 57.2 x 12.9

101.3 x 59.4 x 12.4

107 X 60 X 11.9

118.5 x 62.3 x 9.32

120.3 x 59.7 x 9.24

118.5 x 62.3 x 9.3

Weight (grams)

101.5

81.3

105

114

115

114

Talktime/Standby (hours)

10/331

7.6/485

4/120

NA/NA

6.73/261

20/833

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/4.0

262,144/3.2

16million/3.2

16million/3.5

16million/4.0

16million/3.7

16million/4.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

1GB/32GB

90MB/32GB

512MB/microSD

4GB/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

Yes/Yes/Yes

3.15MP/No/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/No/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/Yes

Operating System

Android v4.0

Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Android OS v2.3

Android v2.3

Android v4.0

Yes/Yes/HSDPA Android v4.0

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Android v4.0

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

7,690

7,500

9,500

11,650

16,250

15,500

18,000

MODELS

Price in Rs.

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

HTC

PARAMETERS Model

Desire VC

Desire SV

One S

OneX

One X+

Dimension (mm)

120.5 x 63 x 10.28

119.5 x 62.3 x 9.5

129.7 x 67.9 x 10.7

130.9 x 65 x 7.8

134.36 x 69.9 x 8.9

132.35 x 66.2 x 10.12

134.36 x 69.9 x 8.9

Weight (grams)

113

118

131

119.5

130

135

NA/NA

10/290

NA/NA

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/4.0

16 million/4.3

16million/4.3

16million/4.7

16 million/ 4.3

16million/4.7

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

4GB/32GB

16GB/No

32GB/No

16GB/No

64GB/No

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/No

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/Rev.A

Windows Phone 8

Android v4.0

Windows Phone 8

Android v4.1

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

18,999

19,250

20,000

25,000

33,500

34,999

39,000

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

MAR 15 to APR 14 2013 MYMOBILE 81

MODELS

myguide

PARAMETERS

HTC

IDEA

INTEX Aqua 3.2

Aqua Sx

Aqua 5.0

Dimension (mm)

143 x 70.5 x 9.08

110.5 x 61 x 12.6

116 x 60.5 x 13

143 x 80 x 10.1

Weight (grams)

140

125

138

198.9

Model

Butterfly

Zeal

NEW

Aurus

Ivory

NEW

NA/NA

7/300

3.5/200

5/320

4/120

5/360

5/115

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/5.0

262,144/3.5

16million/5.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

16GB/32GB

512MB/32GB

256MB/32GB

4GB/32GB

75MB/32GB

128MB/32GB

2GB/32GB

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

3.0MP/No/Yes

5.0/Yes/Yes

3.2MP/No/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

5.0 MP/No/Yes

5.0 MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Android v4.1

Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Yes/Yes/HSUPA,HSDPA

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/Yes

Android v2.3

Android v4.0

Android v2.3

Android v4.0

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Android v2.3

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

45,500

5,390

7,000

7,090

3,730

4,720

9,690

MODELS

Price in Rs.

Quad Band/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSUPA,HSDPA

KARBONN

PARAMETERS Model

A1+

A15

A9+

A21

S1 Titanium

A30

Dimension (mm)

114.5 x 60.6 x 13.8

124 x 63.6 x 12.4

134.6 x 66 x 9.25

166 x 91 x 10.7

Weight (grams)

130

110

280

4/240

3.5/120

NA/NA

4/200

5/200

4/200

10/600

Talktime/Standby (hours) Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

262,144/3.5

262,144/4.0

NA/4.5

16million/4.5

262,144/5.9

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

NA/32GB

202MB/32GB

NA/32GB

4GB/32GB

2.5GB/32GB

4GB/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

3.0MP/No/Yes

3.15/No/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Frequency/Dual SIM

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Operating System

Android v2.3

Android v4.0

Android v4.1

Android v4.0

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

4,190

4,990

6,290

7,990

9,990

10,990

11,490

Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

82 MYMOBILE MAR 15 to APR 14 2013

MODELS

LAVA

PARAMETERS Model

Iris N320

Iris n400

Iris N501

L3 E400

Optimus L3 Dual

P698

E510

Dimension (mm)

115 x 61.5 x 11.9

125 x 63 x 10.2

148.5 x 79 x 10.5

102.6 x 61.6 x 11.85

102.6x 61.6 x11.85

114 x 59 x 11.7

113.4 x 60.8 x 11.9

Weight (grams)

115

110

119

124

123

Talktime/Standby (hours)

4/390

7.8/620

12/600

17/1044

11.5/556

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

262,144/3.2

16million/4.0

16million/5.0

262,144/3.2

262144/3.2

262,144/3.2

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

100MB/32GB

127MB/32GB

4GB/32GB

1GB/32GB

160MB/32GB

Yes/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

2.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

3.2MP/No/Yes

5.0MP/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

1,000

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Operating System

Android v2.3

Android v4.0

Android v2.3

Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Android v2.3

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

4,799

8,499

13,999

7,000

7,500

9,100

11,500

MODELS

Price in Rs.

Quad Band/N0

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

PARAMETERS Model

Optimus L5

Optimus L5 Dual

Optimus L7 P705

Optimus Black P970

E730

Optimus L9 P765

Optimus 2X

Dimension (mm)

118.3 X 66.5 X 9.5

118.3 X 66.5 X 9.6

125.5 x 67 x 8.7

122 x 64 x 9.2

122.5 x 62.5 x 9.8

131.9 x 68.2 x 9.1

123.9 x 63.2 x 10.9

Weight (grams)

125

126

124

109

107

125

139

10/900

10/901

19/902

6/375

18.5/496

12/830

14.5/421

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/4.0

16million/4.1

16million/4.3

16 million/4.0

16million/3.8

16 million/4.7

16million/4.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

4GB/32GB

2.72GB/32GB

2GB/32GB

1GB/32GB

4GB/32GB

8GB/32GB

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/No/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/No

Quad Band/ GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

Quad Band/GSM

Quad Band/No

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Android v4.0

Android v4.1

Android v4.0

Android v2.3

Android v4.0

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

10,999

12,750

16,000

16,350

16,880

18,750

19,000

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

MAR 15 to APR 14 2013 MYMOBILE 83

MODELS

myguide

PARAMETERS

MICROMAX Optimus G

Bolt A35

Model

Optimus Vu P895

Optimus 4X HD

A54 Smarty 3.5

A89 Ninja

A110

Dimension (mm)

139.6 X 90.4 X 8.5

132.4 x 68.1 x 8.9

131.9 x 68.9 x 8.5

116x62x11.5

147 x 76.5 x 9.7

Weight (grams)

168

133

145

144

NEW

16/510

9.3/730

15/335

4.5/260

4/170

5/180

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/5.0

16million/4.7

262144/4

262,144/3.5

262,144/4.0

16 million/5.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

32GB/No

16GB/32GB

32GB/No

160MB/16GB

130MB/32GB

2.07GB/32GB

4GB/32GB

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

3.0MP/No/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Quad Band/No

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Android v4.0

Android v4.1

Quad Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Android v2.3

Android v4.0

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes / Yes

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

20,999

27,490

30,999

4,250

4,500

6,050

9,990

MODELS

Price in Rs.

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSUPA,HSDPA

MICROMAX

PARAMETERS Model

A90S

RAGE

Canvas HD

NEW

OPS40

NEW

OPS50

NEW

SAMSUNG OPS60

NEW

Galaxy Pocket 5300

Galaxy Y Duos Lite

Dimension (mm)

125 x 65 x 10.6

144 x 74 x 10.7

116 x 59 x 12.5

127 x 64.3 x 10.8

140.5 x 70 x 11.5

Weight (grams)

156

110

135

170

5/174

5/200

6/240

15.8/520

15/410

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

262,144/4.3

16 million/5.0

NA/3.5

NA/4.0

NA/4.6

262,144/2.8

262,144/3.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

4GB/32GB

512/32GB

512MB/32GB

3GB/32GB

2GB/32GB

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0/Yes/Yes

Yes/No/Yes

5MP/Yes/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

1000

Shared

Quad Band/No

Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM

103.9 x 57.90 x 12.98 103.9 x 57.9 x 12.98

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Yes/Yes/HSUPA,HSDPA

Yes/No/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Android v4.0

Android v4.1

Android V2.3

Android v2.3

Yes/Yes

Yes/ Yes

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

13,250

13,990

3,999

4,999

6,999

6,080

6,150

84 MYMOBILE MAR 15 to APR 14 2013

MODELS

SAMSUNG

PARAMETERS Model

Galaxy Y

Galaxy Chat B5330

Galaxy Y Duos

Galaxy Y Duos Pro 5512

Galaxy Music Duos

5830 Galaxy Ace

Galaxy Ace Duos

Dimension (mm)

104.0 x 58.0 x 11.5

118.9 x 59.3 x 11.7

109.8 x 60 x 11.95

110.8 x 63.5 x 11.9

110.1 X 59 X 12.3

112.4 x 59.9 x 11.5

112.74 x 61.5 x 11.5

Weight (grams)

97.5

112

109

112.3

106.9

113

122

Talktime/Standby (hours)

6/120

14/520

17.5/630

19.16/740

15/570

12/520

16.8/570

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

262,144/3.0

262,144/3.1

262,144/2.6

262,144/3.0

16million/3.5

262,144/3.5

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

160MB/32GB

4GB/32GB

160MB/32GB

512MB/32GB

4GB/32GB

158MB/32GB

3GB/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

2.0MP/No/Yes

3.0MP/No/Yes

3.15MP/No/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/No

Quad Band/GSM+GSM

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Android v2.3

Android v4.0

Android v2.3

Android v4.0

Android v2.2

Android v2.3

Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

6,500

8,100

7,500

8,550

9,000

9,900

11,000

MODELS

Price in Rs.

Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM

SAMSUNG

PARAMETERS Model

Galaxy S duos

Galaxy Advance i9070

Galaxy Grand

Galaxy SII i9100

Galaxy Note

Galaxy SIII

Galaxy Note II N7100

Dimension (mm)

121.5 x 63.1 x 10.5

123.20 x 63 x 9.79

143.5 x 76.8 x 9.6

125.30 x 66.10 x 8.49

146.9 x 83 x 9.7

136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6

151.1 x 80.5 x 9.4

Weight (grams)

120

161

116

178

133

183

12.8/570

15.5/690

10.1/440

19.3/710

6/100

22.5/830

35/980

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/4.0

16million/5.0

16million/4.27

16million/5.3

16million/4.8

16 million/5.5

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

4GB/32GB

8GB/32GB

8GB/64GB

16GB/32GB

16GB/64GB

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Android v4.0

Android v2.3

Android v4.1

Android v2.3

Android v4.0

Android v4.1

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

13,100

16,500

21,000

23,500

26,750

29,000

35,500

MAR 15 to APR 14 2013 MYMOBILE 85

MODELS

myguide

SONY

PARAMETERS Model Dimension (mm) Weight (grams)

Xperia tipo

Xperia tipo dual

Xperia miro

Xperia U

Xperia J

Xperia go

Neo L

103 x 57 x 13

103 x 57 x 13 mm

113 x 59.4 x 9.9 mm

112 x 54 x 12

124.3 x 61.2 x 9.2

111 X 60.3 X 9.8

120 X 61 X 12.8

99.4

110

124

110

131.5

5/470

6.6/472

7/618

6.3/520

8/575

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

262,144/3.2

16million/3.5

16million/4.0

16million/3.5

16million/4.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

2.9GB/32GB

4GB/32GB

8GB/No

4GB/32GB

1GB/32GB

Yes/Yes

3.15/No/Yes

5.0/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Camera/Flash/Video Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/No

Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Android v4.0

Android v2.3

Android v4.0

Android v2.3

Android v4.0

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

8,499

9,499

13,900

13,500

14,700

16,600

14,200

MODELS

Price in Rs.

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSUPA,HSDPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

PARAMETERS Model

SONY

SPICE

Xperia Sola

Xperia P

Xperia S

Xperia SL

Xperia Ion

Dimension (mm)

116.0 x 59.0 x 9.9

122 x 59.5 x 10.5

128 x 64 x 10.6

128.0 x 64.0 x 10.6

133.0 x 68.0 x 10.6

139 x 71 x 7.9

118 x 62 x 11.5

Weight (grams)

107

120

144

146

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Xperia Z

NEW

Stellar Craze Mi-355

6/475

7.5/450

8/410

10/400

11/550

4/192

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/3.7

16million/4.0

16million/4.3

16M/4.55

16million/5.0

NA/3.5

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

8GB/32GB

16GB/No

32GB/No

16GB/32GB

140MB/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

12.0MP/Yes/Yes

12.1MP/Yes/Yes

12.0MP/Yes/Yes

13.1/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Quad Band/No

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Android v2.3

Android v4.0

Quad Band/No

Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Yes/Yes/HSUPA,HSDPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Android v4.0

Android v4.1

Android v2.3

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

14,900

20,999

26,000

24,000

28,500

38,990

5,500

86 MYMOBILE MAR 15 to APR 14 2013

MODELS

SPICE

PARAMETERS Model Dimension (mm) Weight (grams)

WYNNCOM

Stellar Mi-425

Stellar Virtuoso Mi 495

Mi-500

G32

Stellar Virtuoso Mi 530

125 x 63.5 x 12.5

143 x 77.4 x 10.5

152 x 79 x 10.3

115.4x61.6x12

NEW

119.5 x 63 x 11.4

117.8 x 63 x 11.2

110

205

196.3

114

129

118

5/NA

NA/NA

4.1/696

NA/NA

4/140

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

262,144/4.0

16millionm/4.5

16 million/5.0

16million/5.3

NA/3.5

65,536/3.5

16million/3.5

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

149MB/32GB

NA/32GB

4GB/32GB

16GB/32GB

NA/32 GB

100MB/32 GB

Yes/Yes

Yes / Yes

Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes

3.0MP/No/ Yes

3.0MP/Yes/Yes

Shared

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Camera/Flash/Video Phonebook Capacity Frequency/Dual SIM

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Shared Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Yes/Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/Yes

Android v2.3

Android v4.0

Android v2.3

Android v4.0

Yes/Yes

Yes / Yes

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

6,499

7,499

8,350

10,499

12,400

13,999

5,550

MODELS

CDMA

WYNNCOM

PARAMETERS Model

G58

CDMA

A700

A800

N900

Samsung Hero Plus 159

146 x 77 x 11.5

145 x 78 x 10.4

136 x 68.5 x 9.1

133x67x10.5

143.5 x 70.8 x 8.8

123 x 63 x 10.99

108.5 x 45.8 x 13.3

Weight (grams)

170

200

115

124

Talktime/Standby (hours)

G51

XOLO

Dimension (mm)

NEW

A1000

NEW

NA/NA

7/425

6/NA

NA/NA

14/336

3/230

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

NA/5

NA/5.0

16 million/ 4.5

16 million/4.5

16million/5.0

16million/4.0

65,536/1.52

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

NA/32GB

4 GB/32 GB

4GB/32GB

16GB/No

597KB/No

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

No/No

Camera/Flash/Video

5 MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

No/No/No

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

1,000

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Android v4.0

Dual Band/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSUPA,HSDPA

Android v4.0

Androi v4.1

Quad Band/No

CDMA/No

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

No/No/No

Android v2.3

BREW

Yes / Yes

Yes/Yes

No/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/No

8,999

10,999

9,250

11,500

13,999

14,000

1,000

MAR 15 to APR 14 2013 MYMOBILE 87

MODELS

myguide

CDMA

PARAMETERS Model Dimension (mm) Weight (grams)

Samsung B209

Samsung B229

108.0 x 44.8 x 14.3

108 x 44.38 x 14.20

Samsung Hero B189 Samsung Hero B319 105 x 44 x 13

108 x 45.4 x 14.7

Samsung B379

Samsung B339

Samsung Guru 539

109.5 x 45.4 x 14.2

108.20 x 47.1 x 14.35

109.6 x 44.9 x 14.0

72.3

75.7

77.5

4.3/470

6.5/720

3.3/250

3/257

4.3/470

6/720

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

65,536/1.52

65,536/1.5

65,536/1.52

65,536/1.5

65,536/1.52

65,536/1.77

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

351KB/No

450KB/No

NA/No

1MB/No

351KB/No

2.5MB/4+4GB

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

No/No

Yes/Yes

No/No

Camera/Flash/Video

No/No/No

Phonebook Capacity

1,000

500

1,000

Frequency/Dual SIM

CDMA/No

GPRS/EDGE/3G

No/No/No

Yes/Yes/CDMA1X

BREW

Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

No/No

No/Yes

Yes/Yes

Bar/No/No

1,000

1,100

1,200

1,380

1,400

1,650

2,100

MODELS

Price in Rs.

No/No Bar/No/No

CDMA

PARAMETERS Samsung Guru Muzik 219

Lava ARC8c

Samsung Guru Dual CDMA

Mpower TV 239

MTS Live Wire

MTS M-Tag

Samsung Primo Duos

Dimension (mm)

112 x 46.3 x 15.3

114.9 x 47.8 x 14.1

118.5 x 50 x 12.45

198 x 54 x 13

113 x 54 x 12

118.8 x 49.9 x 14.07

Weight (grams)

86.7

103

Model

Talktime/Standby (hours)

4/230

May-90

6.5/300

4.4/420

3/200

4.4/200

6.67/160

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

65,536/1.7

65,536/2.2

65,536/2.0

262,144/2.4

262,144/2.8

262,144/2.4

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

14MB/2GB

NA/8GB

7.41MB/4GB

85MB/16GB

256MB/32GB

170MB/32GB

75MB/-

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/No

YesNo

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

1.3MP/No/Yes

VGA/No/Yes

No/No/No

1.3MP/No/Yes

3.2MP/No/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

1,000

100

1,000

2,000

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

CDMA/No

Dual Band/GSM+CDMA

CDMA/No

Dual Band/GSM+CDMA Band/GSM+CDMA

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/No/No

Yes/Yes/EVDO Rev.0

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Yes/Yes/Yes

BREW

Android v2.2

BREW

Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Yes/Yes

Bar/No/No

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/No

2,500

2,699

3,250

4,050

4,600

4,699

4,999

88 MYMOBILE MAR 15 to APR 14 2013

MODELS

CDMA

PARAMETERS Model

MTS M-Tag 352

MTS M-Tag 351

Samsung Galaxy Y CDMA

MTS M-Tag401

Blackberry 8530

Galaxy Ace Duos I589

BlackBerry Curve CDMA 9350

Dimension (mm)

114.5 x 61 x 11

116x62.2x12.15

104.0 x 58.0 x 11.5

127 x 64 x 13

109 x 60 x 13.9

112.4 x 59.9 x 12.44

109 x 60 x 11

Weight (grams)

97.5

132

105

125

4/200

5/200

6/120

4.3/200

4.5/252

7/300

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

262,144/3.5

262,144/3.0

262,144/4.0

65,536/NA

16million/3.5

NA/2.44

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

512MB/32GB

160MB/32GB

512MB/32GB

256MB/32GB

512MB/32GB

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

YesYes

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

3.0MP/No/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

3.0MP/No/Yes

2.0MP/NA/Yes

3.15MP/No/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/No

CDMA/No

Quad Band/No

CDMA/No

Dual Band/CDMA+GSM

CDMA/No

No/No/Rev.A

Yes/Yes/Rev.A

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/Rev.A

Yes/Yes/No

Android OS v2.3

Android v2.3

BlackBerry OS

Android v2.3

BlackBerry OS7

GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/Yes

5,999

6,900

7,250

7,800

12,500

12,850

17,999

iPad(4th generation) Wi-Fi+3G

Mi Book Mi 1

MODELS

TABLET

APPLE

PARAMETERS

BYOND

Model

iPad Mini Wi-Fi

iPad Mini Wi+3G

iPad 2 Wi-Fi

i-Pad 2 Wi-Fi+3G

iPad(4th generation) Wi-Fi

Dimension (mm)

200 x 134.7 x 7.2

241.2 x 185.7 x 8.8

241.2 x 185.7 x 9.4

119x191x11.9 mm

Weight (grams)

308

312

607

652

662

340

NA/NA

10/720

NA/NA

3/NA

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16 million/7.9

262,144/9.7

16 million/9.7

16million/7.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

16,32,64GB/No

16,32,64 GB/No

16,32,64GB/No

4GB/32GB

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Yes/Yes

No/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

5.0 MP/No/Yes

VGA/No/Yes

5.0 MP/No/Yes

VGA/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

NA/No

Quad Band/No

No/No/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

No/No/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

No/No/Yes

iOS 6

iOS 4.3

iOS 6

Android OS, v4.0

No/No

Yes/No

No/No

Yes/No

Bar/Yes/No

21,900/27,900/33,900 29,900/35,900/41,900 23,999/29,500/34,500 32,000/38,000/44,000 31,900/37,900/43,900 39,900/45,900/51,900

4,250

MAR 15 to APR 14 2013 MYMOBILE 89

MODELS

myguide

BYOND

PARAMETERS

HCL

Mi Book Mi 2

Mi Book Mi 5

Laplet L9

Laplet L9+

Mi Book Mi 7

Mi Book Mi 8

Dimension (mm)

111.5x193x11.6 mm

124.6x194x11

120 x 190 x 9.3

151 x 200 x 9.6

Weight (grams)

324

348

474

344

430

Model

NA/NA

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/7.0

16million/9.0

16million/7.0

16million/8.0

16million/7.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

4GB/32GB

8GB/32GB

4GB/32GB

Yes/Yes

Talktime/Standby (hours)

No/Yes

Yes/Yes

No/Yes

Yes/Yes

4GB/32GBp

Camera/Flash/Video

VGA/No/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

VGA/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Sahred

Shared

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Dual Band/No

Quad Band/No

Yes/Yes/Yes

No/No/Yes

Yes/Yes/Yes

No/No/Yes

Android OS, v4.0

Yes/No

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

5,350

6,999

7,750

8,250

10,999

11,999

5,999

MODELS

Price in Rs.

NA No/No/Yes

HCL

PARAMETERS

INTEX

KARBONN

Model

ME G1

I BUDDY 7.0

Smart Tab 2

Smart Tab 8

Smart Cosmic

Dimension (mm)

238 X 186 X 11

193 X 121 X 9

Weight (grams)

570

316

Talktime/Standby (hours)

NA/NA

7/NA

NA/NA

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/7.0

NA/9.7

16million/7.0

16million/8.0

16 million/9.7

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

Yes/Yes

8GB/32GB

4GB/32GB

1GB/32GB

1.5GB/32GB

4GB/32GB

Yes/Yes

No/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

2.0MP/No/Yes

VGA/No/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

3.0MP/No/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Dual Band/No

Dual Band/GSM+GSM

No/No/Yes

Yes/Yes/Yes

NA/NA/Yes

No/No/NA

No/No/Yes

Android OS, v4.0

Android v4.0

Android v4.1

Yes/No

Bar/Yes/No

7,999

11,999

14,999

6,150

5,990

6,990

9,990

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

90 MYMOBILE MAR 15 to APR 14 2013

MODELS

MICROMAX

PARAMETERS Model

MY ZEN TAB

RAGE

Infinity P275

Funbook

708B

708BH

773B

Dimension (mm)

192 x 122 x 10.5

122 x 192 x 10

193 x 121 x 8.5

195 x 122 x 11.7

194.2 x 121.4 x 11.45

241 x 185 x 9.8

193.7 x 122.4 x 10.5

Weight (grams)

360

440

400

345

Talktime/Standby (hours)

OPT400 Laptab

SAMSUNG NEW

Galaxy Tab2 311

NEW

NA/NA

4/NA

5/NA

5/ 150

NA/1070

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16.7million/7.0

NA/7.0

16million/7.0

NA/9.7

16million/7.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

4GB/32GB

8GB/32GB

1GB/ 32GB

8GB/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

No/Yes

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

2.0MP/No/No

0.3/No/NA

VGA/No/Yes

2MP/No/Yes

3.0MP/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Dual Band/No

No/No/Yes

Yes/Yes/Yes

Yes/No/Yes

Android v4.0

Androi v4.1

Yes/No

Bar/Yes/No

4,500

5,850

6,999

7,699

9,930

14,999

12,899

MODELS

Price in Rs.

No/No/Yes

SAMSUNG

PARAMETERS Model

SIMMTRONICS

Galaxy Tab2 310

Tab 10.1 1750

Galaxy Note10.1N800

Dimension (mm)

193.7 x 122.4 x 10.5

256.7 x 175.3 x 8.6

262 x 180 x 8.9

117 x 193 x 11.6

10.5 x 165 x 263

162 x 212 x 12.8

Weight (grams)

345

565

600

332

610

500

30/NA

9/NA

NA/NA

NA/384

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/7.0

16million/10.1

16 million/7.0

16 million/ 10.1

16 million/ 8.0

16million/10.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

16GB/32GB

16GB/No

8GB/32GB

4GB/32GB

8GB/32GB

16GB/32GB

Yes/Yes

NA/Yes

No/Yes

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

3.15MP/No/Yesz

3.2MP/No/Yes

5.0MP/No/Yes

0.3 MP/No/Yes

0.3/No/Yes

2.0 MP/No/Yes

3.0MP/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/No

NA/No

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

X720

X1010

SPICE

NEW

X801

NEW

Stellar Pad Mi 1010

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

No/No/Yes

Yes/No/Yes

No/No/Yes

Android v4.0

Android v3.1

Android v4.0

Android v4.1

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/Yes/Yes

Bar/No/Yes

18,250

31,750

36,500

3,999

8,449

8,499

12,999

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

MAR 15 to APR 14 2013 MYMOBILE 91

consumer forum Complaint 1 I bought the Aakash tablet 7ci by advance payment in March 2012, but the device was shipped in December. I got the device late and that was not the end, it was a defective piece and when I contacted officials, I was advised to send the tablet to the service centre. Accordingly, I sent the tablet on 31 January and the customer centre representatives told me that they will replace the device in one week. Now it is more than four weeks and whenever I contact them, I get the same answer again and again. Please help. -Shashidhar kumar Aakash’s response: Awaited.

product first and later send a mail through their website for any information. Accordingly, I purchased a Bluetooth headset (trusting the product/company) by paying Rs.2,300. To my surprise, the headset is not deliv-

Complaint 2 I purchased a Nokia C1 – 01 recently. I faced some issues related to the handset. I visited a Nokia Care as my handset was under warranty to check the issue. I was informed that it was because of liquid log. They asked for the purchase bill and after cross-checking told me that the warranty period is followed from date of manufacturing and not of sale. And they cannot provide the warranty service according to the purchase bill. As per their advice, I mailed Nokia a scanned copy of the purchase bill. After that I received a revert saying that we are not authorised to update the device warranty as per proof of purchase. Now this is something I was not informed of while purchasing. Could you please look into the matter .-Swarup Barua Nokia’s response: Thank you for writing to us. We are looking into the matter.

Complaint 3 I wanted to buy a Samsung Bluetooth headset and for this sent a mail to the company in January requesting information like noise reduction, version, etc. Even after 15 days, they did not bother to respond. Later a person from Samsung called me and advised me to buy the

ering what they claim in their website. It works fine indoors but not outdoors. Immediately within 24 hours of buying this product, I sent a mail to the company, informing on this and till today no one has bother to look in to the issue. -SM Ramesh Samsung’s Reply: We have resolved the issue. Thank you for contacting us.

Complaint 4 I have been facing some problems with Airtel services. I have a postpaid Airtel connection that I

92 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

started using about seven months ago. A couple of months ago, I bought a Nokia Lumia 800 and wanted some Internet connectivity, so I called customer care to activate the Rs 98 plan on my number. According to the instructions from the customer care, I was supposed to start my Internet after four hours of recharge, so I followed the same. After a couple of days of use of Internet, I got a message from customer care that my bill had crossed the credit limit of Rs 1000. I immediately called up the customer care regarding the bill and was told that my bill will be refunded, but I did not get any response from company. I continued to call the company but I did not get any response. When the monthly bill came, and I did not pay it as I was not happy with the result. Finally, I had to move to another service provider. However, I continue to get the bills every month in spite of not using the number at all. Even

today I am getting the bills, when I have not used the Internet service and my outgoing service is also barred. Please help. -Sumeet Ghodke Airtel’s Response: Thank you for reaching out. This may take some time as this involves cross-checking of details of the bill.

Complaint 5 I bought a Nokia Lumia 610 last year. Its camera had some issues so I gave the device to Nokia Care for repair. After almost a month, I get a call from Nokia saying that the handset is tampered and the warranty is void. I

never opened its back cover since I purchased the device. Still, my phone is with them and I have not used it for a month. I got a data plan of 2GB (3G) free for 4 months, but it got expired since the phone was with them. I chose Nokia phone keeping its service and the warranty in mind. Kindly, look into the matter. -Rijith kumar Nokia’s Reply: Awaited.

Complaint 6 Recently, I visited a Spice HotSpot for buying a new smartphone. I was treated very well and was asked to go ahead with a device from LG. Although that was not my first choice, I trusted the representatives and bought the device. I was also given an assurance from representatives that if I was not happy with the device, they would take it back within seven days. However, I faced some issues with the device. Within seven days I went to the store and asked them to either resolve the issue or replace the handset with a new one as they promised. However, the representatives started misbehaving and treated me badly. I am not at all happy at the way the representatives handled my case. I want to report this issue to Spice’s higher officials. Please help. -Sudhir Kumar Spice’s Reply: Awaited.

Are you being harassed by a Telco that doesn’t hear your plea? Email your issues to consumer-forum@my mobile.co.in and we will take up your cause with the concerned company. Kindly mention your contact number at the end of the Email so that we can get in touch with you. Whenever possible, also provide us complete details of the correspondence with the Telco.

rumour mill

Talk Cheaper, carbonate iPhone on the way?

The iPhone 5 continues to do well but rumours about the new iPhone refuse to die. The latest claim that Cupertino is looking to make a more mainstream version of its iconic handset, and keep prices low by opting to use carbonate rather than glass and metal on its back. Of course, that would mean no glittering chamfers on the corners, and maybe even a slightly inferior camera. But all this might be offset by a much lower price – yes, maybe even as low as Rs 20,000.

Micromax Canvas to get a stylus

Micromax’s value for money Canvas range of phablets has played a major role in making large screen handsets a rage in the Indian market. But well thought the Canvas 2 and the Canvas HD have done, the company is in no mood to rest on its laurels. If rumour is to be believed, the company is talking to a stylus manufacturer to come out with a styussupporting edition of the Canvas. We hear it will sport a slightly larger display (6.5-inches) and will come with 3G support. And yes, it

in Tech Corners

will not cost the earth!

Kindle Fire coming to India after all

It is the second highest selling tablet in the world, this side of the iconic iPad, but Amazon’s Kindle Fire has so far steered clear of Indian shores. However, that could change this summer with Amazon evidently entering into tie-ups with Indian distributors and also working out content alliances for videos and music. A number of people have told us that the Kindle Fire series will be available in the Indian market in May, and unlike in other markets, in India, consumers will be able to purchase it over the counter. And the range is likely to start from as low as Rs 12,000.

Nokia working on a Windows 8 Communicator

The Communicator was one of Nokia’s iconic devices, combining a large display with comfortable QWERTY keyboard for those who liked to type a lot. And now Nokia seems to be working on a new edition of it, and what’s

94 MYMOBILE mar 15 to apr 14 2013

more, this will be one that will be almost as big as a notebook and will run on Windows 8 RT. Nokia had come out with its own Netbook a few years ago but had not followed it up. If what we have heard is true, then the Communicator might be revived in the form of a touchscreen netbook running Windows 8 and with 3G connectivity. Now, THAT would be something.

Is the MacBook Air going touch

Yes, it is another rumour from Apple. And this one has nothing to do with the iPad or iPhone but with the company’s uber portable notebook, the MacBook Air. We are hearing chatter that Apple is actually looking to add a touchscreen to the Air, making it a bit like an iPad with a keyboard, complete with retina display and a powerful camera. Of course, that in turn triggers off a whole series of other questions – will it run on iOS or Mac OS? Will it run apps from the iTunes App Store? And of course, there is the little matter of just how much it will cost. We have no idea as of now, but suffice to say that we are watching with a lot of interest. n team@mymobile.co.in

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The Photo Filter Maker

It’s still a mystery what made Kevin Systrom, a geeky management science and engineering student along with fellow ex-Stanford student Mike Krieger, create Instagram, the free photo-sharing app for smartphones. Instagram was developed in San Francisco when Systrom and Mike chose to focus their multi-featured HTML5 check-in project Burbn on mobile photography. On October 6, 2010 Instagram was launched in iTunes. Within twomonths and two-weeks, it touched 1 million users mark - Foursquare took a year and Twitter almost two years to touch the same milestone. The Android version arrived on April 3, 2012 on the Google Play Store. It was named Apple’s “App of the Year” for 2011. It was said that the app makes it “near-impossible to take a bad shot.” Facebook’s billion dollar valuation of Instagram makes the less-than-twoyear-old startup, more valuable than 161 year-old The New York Times Company. However, Zuckerberg has

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confirmed that, despite the acquisition, Instagram will continue to run independent of Facebook, at least initially. In September 2012, Instagram reached 100 million users. On November 5, 2012 it expanded to the Web. Previously, users’ profiles existed only on Instagram’s mobile applications. With the change, users have a website with a profile photo, bio and a selection of the snapshots they have recently shared. The company hasn’t made a single dollar in profits since being launched. The question on many people’s lips is: When will Instagram make money? But then, they were asking the same of Amazon not too long ago. According to a survey on Instagram, 37 per cent of Instagram users never uploaded a single photo. As of 2012, there are ten pictures uploaded on Instagram every second. n ketan@mymobile.co.in

persona

www.mymobile.co.in

Ten Things You Might Not Know About... Peter Chou, CEO and President, HTC Co. Ltd

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Peter Chou has been with the company since the day it was established, way back in 1997. Chou strongly believes in the values of entrepreneurship and innovation. In his spare time, Peter enjoys reading novels. He appreciates all forms of art and loves listening to classical music. Known for being straight forward, Peter once compared HTC’s HD2 smartphone with Apple’s iPhone and called it a small-screen phone. He believes in motivating his employees and he often e-mails them. Recently, a company-wide e-mail titled ‘We are coming back’ from Peter Chou was leaked to the press, highlighting some of the company’s internal struggles to the employees. Peter has been connected to the mobile industry for almost 15 years but still finds it incredible.

Prior to joining HTC, Chou was the Server Division Director at the Digital Equipment Corporation.

Peter has graduated with an electronic engineering degree from the National Taiwan Ocean University in 1985. He also joined National Chengchi University’s Executive MBA Program in 2003.

Pundits have always accused HTC of not launching low-end phones - one of the reasons for this is Peter’s belief that releasing super-low-end phones would ‘destroy brand image.’ How many tech company CEOs can claim to have been part of the team that carried the Olympic torch to its destination? Well, Peter certainly can. He carried the torch on its way to London for the 2012 Olympics.

*Disclaimer: The information has been collected from the public domain and not from an interview with Peter Chou.

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va n ta g e p o i n t

The rising case for In-App mobile advertising in India E ver since the concept of advertising was discovered it has grown from black and white print ads to swift and interactive mobile ads. As per Gartnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest forecast for global mobile advertising released in January 2013, mobile ads are expected to reach $11.4 billion, rising from 2012 $9.6 billion and hence are expected to witness approximately 19 per cent growth from the previous year. Pushed by this explosive growth, there is a

significant change in how different types of mobile advertising are growing. In-app advertisements are an innovation which has hit the cusp of growth and is witnessing immense acceptance among the advertising fraternity. Much of this growth is being driven by countries such as India, where people across a wide demographic and geography have taken to smartphones very quickly. Swift technological advances mean that a consumer in a Tier 2 or Tier 3 city who holds in their hand a smartphone, can log on to the Internet and run apps. As they experience the Internet-perhaps for the first

time - this gives an opportunity to various data driven apps/ VAS services to enter untouched territory and reach out to the masses. In an era where mobile applications are being accepted with immense enthusiasm, an NSN study shows that of all the next generation data categories, entertainment (with a 45 per cent share) is expected to be the largest revenue contributor by 2015. Even today this is reflected in the fast uptake of entertainment apps such as mobile TV which is one of the most popular applications on various app stores. As per Nielsen, Mobile TV is becoming an app-driven industry with mobile TV apps having seven times more exposure compared to mobile TV websites. Leading mobile TV app players like nexGTv are clocking a staggering 33,000 hours of total average daily viewing. What opportunity does this present for advertisers? First of all, in-app mobile advertising is one of the fastest growing platforms that will help you reach millions of app users across the country. To give you just one example, mobile TV apps like nexGTv, have now touched a user base of 8 million in just a year of its launch, reaching an audience not just in large cities but in also the so-called Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across India. Secondly, Mobile TV is one of the most cost effective video advertising platforms. For mobile video advertising, it is not just that the cost is lesser but also the fact that unlike TV advertising, an advertiser pays only for the ads that have actually been viewed. Thirdly, unlike many mass advertising mediums, mobile video advertising provides an immense capability to filter and profile

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the exact TG. Viewers can be profiled by region, operating systems, handset, operator, network and time slot and other parameters. This also enables easy measurement of a campaignâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s effectiveness. Fourthly, in-app advertising is a clutter free advertising medium since there is only one ad played as pre-roll compared to traditional advertising media which are flooded with a large number of advertisements before, in-between and after shows. Advertisers can also set up dedicated channels for brands, do preview screen branding or channel skin branding. In tune with the growing use of smart devices, a number of video and networking firms have also emerged to leverage the opportunity. Mobile ad media buyers like Vdopia among others are key players in the sector. There is a growing number of video advertisement networking firms also such as Monsoon Ads, Jivox and Ripple. Backed by technology innovations, these firms deliver ads which are contextual to the kind of video content being consumed, thus making it not only more engaging for users, but also more relevant for advertisers and publishers. So far 3G has been the major driver of mobile display ads. Already local apps have put in place adaptive streaming so that the viewer can enjoy hassle free viewing regardless of the type of network. But once the 4G networks roll out in India, even this issue will no longer be a concern as better networks drive high quality and jitter free viewing. The time has therefore arrived when in-app and mobile Web display ads of different kinds and advertisers can no longer ignore them while drawing up a plan for brand promotion. The age of in-app mobile advertising is here. n

-Jaskirat Singh Gill, vice-president, marketing, product and content DigiVive (Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the stance of the magazine)

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