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Phone of the month BlackBerry Passport

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An online buyer's guide

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it's here! android one arrives

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Tested

Nokia Lumia 830, Moto G (2nd Gen), Sony Xperia Z3, Jolla, Moto X (2nd Gen), LG G3 Beat, Sony Xperia C3, Oppo N1 Mini, Xolo Win Q900s, Nokia X2, and many more... P 38 @mymobilemag

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hen they write the history of technology in India, they will probably mention September and October 2014 as the month in which the world stood up and took notice of our nation as a major tech power. These two months saw literally the Who’s Who in mobile technology arrive in India - be it Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, Google’s Sundar Pichai or Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg. What was most heartening was that these visits were not just to talk about specific products but to highlight new concepts and initiatives. It was also the month in which India sent a space mission to Mars at a cost that was a fraction of a Hollywood blockbuster. One of these is the subject of our lead story. When Sundar Pichai unveiled the Android One series of devices first in India, he marked the beginning of a new era for the world’s most popular mobile operating system. But while there has been no doubting the popularity of Android, one of the complaints many users have had is the fact that those seeking a “proper” Android experience complete with regular OS updates could get it only on the expensive Nexus series. Well, that changes with Android One. Thanks to the initiative, now a person can get the latest and best from Android for less than Rs 6,500. This is technological democracy at its best with power being given to the masses rather than just the select geek class, which is why we have taken a closer look at the initiative and what it means to the user in our lead story. But there has been more to the past few weeks than just the arrival of high-profile visitors. This was also the time when India started shopping online with a vengeance, with major e-commerce players like Amazon, Flipkart and Snapdeal coming out with offers that consumers found very hard to resist. This festive season has seen online retail throw the gauntlet in the face of conventional retail, with an increasing number of people now shopping online instead of heading to the local bazaar. Which is why one of the features in this issue is a simple guide, outlining some points you need to keep in mind while venturing into the online market with your digital shopping bag. But most of all, this issue is about reviews, reviews and more reviews. Seldom have we seen so many devices being launched in solittle time, across different price segments. Our Burn Tests number comfortably over a dozen and feature the likes of the Lumia 830, the Sony Xperia Z3 and the new Moto G and Moto X. Also featured is the lightest Windows Phone device in the world, from Xolo. There are also our usual interactions with key members of industry, including an interview with Marc Dillon, one of the cofounders of Jolla, the company that is trying to redefine how we use our phones; as well as our app and game reviews. And no issue would be complete without your letters and queries. In short, there is a lot here to feed your eyes and mind. And there is more to come - HTC has launched a new camera, Lenovo is releasing new devices, the iPhone 6 has just arrived as we go to print. Never a dull moment, is there? But those are stories for another time and another issue. Bon appetit and happy reading. And from all of us: a very happy Deepawali.

04 MYMOBILE november 2014

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EDITORIAL Pankaj Mohindroo |

Editor-in-Chief

DESIGN Ajit Kumar Parashar | Sr. Graphic Designer Pooja Papnai | Assistant Graphic Designer

C I R C U L A T I ON Lalit Sharma | Sr. Manager – Circulation

A D V I S O R Y BO A R D 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 My Mobile Infomedia 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.

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 X, Issue X, november 2014

content

Lead Story

Android One has finally arrived on Indian shores. We take a closer look at what it offers.

18 chief speak

Marc Dillon on how he created Jolla, Sailfish OS, and whether he regrets leaving the 'burning platform.'

just in

sneak peek

Here they come! iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, the most awaited smartphones arrive in the Indian market.

The HTC Desire Eye is on its way, and so is the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge.

face to face

Arvind Vohra, India Head, Gionee, discusses what makes the Chinese brand tick in India.

06 MYMOBILE november 2014

Letters

News

Mobile Doctor

Consumer Forum

Gear Guide

Bazaar Bargain

content

in focus

my guide

Microsoft has taken the covers off the next Windows. It's early days but here is our look at what Windows 10 has in store for users all over the world.

etcetera

BURN TESTS Salora Arya Z2 alcatel fire c videocon Infinium z40 nokia x2 Digi Flip pro xt911 xolo q900s lg g3 beat moto g (2nd Gen) jolla oppo n1 mini sony xperia c3 moto x (2nd Gen) blackberry passport nokia lumia 830 sony xperia z3 Total number of pages = 100 (96 + 4 cover) 08 MYMOBILE november 2014

38 39 40 41 42 43 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60

Spot Light

Our Shopaholics Guide for online shopping addicts to ensure that you shop safely online.

The Cubix Blue PQR171 speaker, Transcend Jetflash 340 and Jetflash 710, the new Amazon Kindle, the Notion Ink Cain,and more...

Boredom Busters Badminton gets a decent game, the FIFA saga continues, and will Bang Bang pack in as many thrills as the film it is based on, and more.

Smart Apps

Flipboard comes to Windows Phone, Blippar adds a slice of augmented reality to advertising, and Glympse launches a keyboard that lets you share your location, and more.

letters I am a new reader of My Mobile FROM CHINA WITH LOVE Magazine. Tested When I saw it in the market for the first time, I was really impressed as it gave me information about new mobile phones launched in the market. I am a mobile lover, that is why this magazine is very interesting for me. I personally like reading the ‘Etcetera” section from which I get information about other latest gadgets in the market. I want to thank the entire team of My Mobile and I hope the magazine keeps on updating us about new phones and gadgets every month. -Suprakash Sharma, Bareilly OCTOBER 2014  Rs 100

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The iPhone 6 Arrives

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Two new iPhones, big screens, and an Apple Watch too P 68

Nokia Lumia 530, Asus ZenFone 4, Xiaomi Redmi 1S, Panasonic Eluga, Xolo 8X-1000, Acer Iconia Tab 7, Samsung Galaxy Tab S and many more... P 42

Phone of the month Micromax Canvas Nitro P 50

Quad HD Displays

Substance or just hype? P 36

I am a business woman, always travelling to different places because of my work. I am a big fan of Apple products. I have been following your magazine and the web portal and reading about Apple’s new iPhone 6. And thanks to you, I got information about its upcoming launch in India. Thanks for being such an active medium. Keep going. -Malvika Manchandani, New Delhi

@mymobilemag

I appreciate the work of My Mobile Magazine. It is always fun to read it as it gives me a lot of information about the gadgets available in the market. My favourite section in the magazine is the Burn Test in which you give full information about the product. Keep up the good work, My Mobile! -Rohit Ratnagiri, Chandigarh I have been following your magazine for the past one year and enjoy reading most WWW.MYMOBILE.CO.IN

CHIEF SPEAK

“We Sell for Business and not for PR” Few people in the Indian mobile industry know as much about leadership as Vineet Taneja. He has been with Airtel, Nokia and Samsung, the last two when each was at the apogee of its powers. And he is now with a company that many feel will take the numero uno spot in the Indian smartphone market, Micromax. But how exactly does he intend to make that happen? We met Vineet Taneja, CEO, Micromax, to find that out, and a whole lot else besides. Nimish Dubey & Mukesh Kumar Singh How is working in an MNC different from working in an Indian company like Micromax? The biggest difference is that the speed of innovation is much faster in Micromax. We live and breathe in the Indian market so we are not victims of some global strategy of whicb India is just one part. There is greater flexibility here and one’s role isn’t restricted. You have the full freedom to influence any part of the business. One of the challenges you face at Micromax is fighting the perception in some quarters that the brand plays mainly on price. How are you going to go about it? I have always believed that when one has to deal with a perception like that the best way is to correct it by visible action. We will always be a high value product and will never be cheap product. We feel that in this category, a consumer is willing to pay a 5 to 10 per cent premium if you deliver better quality. Micromax Nitro is a good example of this. We are not selling it cheap but selling it at good value price. People would buy it not for its price but for the combination of features and price. That combination is very subtle but very important. What are you expectations from the new Nitro as it lies in the same range in which devices like Moto G and Xiaomi Mi 3 had been selling like hot cakes and selling out in seconds? This is where I don’t agree with you. Selling 10,000 units in 4 seconds is nothing. The real test lies in selling it consistently. We sold 10 lakh units of the Unite 2 in 100 days. We sell for business and not for PR, which is why we didn’t stop sales of Unite 2

so we could claim that we sold so many units in a few seconds. We are not selling those products that we are not able to sell in foreign markets where migration from 3G to 4G is happening. We are not dumping products. We are designing them for Indian consumers and selling them to Indian consumers. According to a survey, the online market is growing so rapidly that survival of physical stores is at peril. Would you agree? The Indian model is very different from what exists in other countries. The online model in India is like an exchange. If you are a mobile seller with five extra products, you put it up online. This is an exchange. How can physical stores be in danger when 80 to 90 per cent of the online sales are coming from physical stores! For instance, if I launch a product and sell it through physical stores alone, it still shows up online. It’s the store owners who sell products online. A key challenge Micromax faces is about the quality of its service... My number one priority is to improve the customer care service. The biggest issue with our customer care centers is that they are not working with a system. We are working on changing the entire backend system, in the next two months so we can access all information transparently. It will get rid of all loopholes that a service centre can take advantage of. We will also open our central repair capacity or L3 repair centers in every state to take care of those issues which other service centres can’t handle. We are also working on taking big calls like replacing a product that is stuck at a service centre for a specific period of

“Selling 10,000 units in 4 seconds is nothing. The real test lies in selling it consistently. We are not selling those products that we are not able to sell in foreign markets where migration from 3G to 4G is happening. We are not dumping products. We are designing them for Indian consumers and selling them to Indian consumers.”

time, like 15 days. When is Micromax coming with their wearable device? See, there is no market or ecosystem for wearables yet. We can launch wearables tomorrow. We believe that in a new category it’s good to follow fast and bring in the right innovation at the right price rather than coming out with products that have no market. Right now it is not clear how and why consumers buy wearables. When is Micromax going to become the number one smartphone brand in the country? We are not concerned about the number one position. We want to keep bringing new products in the market and cater to every segment. Market leadership will come by itself. What can we expect from Micromax in the coming days ? We will launch three to four Windows Phone based devices this year. We have no plans for Firefox yet. We won’t say we will never come into it, because we have seen brands who said they will never make dual SIM phones and the market slipped from under their feet. I think in the next 9 months a lot of technology will get destroyed and get redefined. For instance, super AMOLED screens will be available in different products. Each of the high end feature launched by high end players will be redefined and will be available at price that will open a new segment for use. We are also working on having a more coherent strategy on tablets, and we will do something in wearables. 

CALLING VINEET TANEJA Which was your first phone? Motorola StarTAC Which phone are you now using? Micromax Unite 2. I was using a Knight but I asked them to change my phone as I wanted to experience our bestseller)

It has been three years now that I have been a regular reader for your magazine. I started my retail shop for mobile phone and its accessories in 2011, when I came across this magazine and it has now become a part of my monthly reading routine. Thanks to it, I can explain features of various products to my visitors. Your work is fantastic and very informative for readers like me. -Manish Kumar, Jamshedpur

I am an active reader of My Mobile Hindi and suggest it to my friends as well. They borrowed the magazine from me, and now they are the active readers for your English edition. We all are technology admirers and whenever we sit together, it is always a discussion about mobiles and gadgets. And thanks to what you write, there’s always plenty to talk about. -Rachel Gambore, Pune

Which is your favourite app? MyFitnessPal Which is your favourite game 2048

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OCTOBER 2014 MYMOBILE 31

of the articles. The magazine is fun to read, specially the reviews of products. I enjoyed the interview of Vineet Taneja of Micromax. It was very inspiring and fun to read. Your work is a real piece of hardwork and research, My Mobile Team. Keep it up. -Raghav Shinde, Nasik

10 MYMOBILE november 2014

My Mobile Magazine is a magazine which is quite easy to grasp. The articles and descriptions are very good, and the Etcetera section is quite informative as it gives information about mobile accessories: speaker, headphones and more. I learnt about the Amkette speaker by reading about it in your magazine. Keep the good work going. -Natasha Singh, Puri

My husband and I both work in a MNC and are very fond of classy phones. We both love reading My Mobile and recently my husband booked an iPhone 6 plus for himself, after reading about it in your October issue. Thanks for being so informative, My Mobile. Keep up the excellent work. -Rashmi Sabarwal, Bokaro

What is your ringtone? I use the default ringtone on the device

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30 MYMOBILE OCTOBER 2014

Dear My Mobile Magazine, You are the only book I prefer reading besides my school’s course book. I study in 11th grade and love gadgets. Your magazine is affordable and easily available. I buy it mostly every month form my pocket money. My favourite section is the Boredom Buster which gives me knowledge about lots of games. -Siddhanth Agarwal, Nainital

Greetings to My Mobile Magazine. I am a student form Symbiosis and am very mobile savvy. I love clicking selfies all the time I go out with friends and even love playing sport games on my handset. Recently, I bought the Asus ZenFone 4 after reading the Burn Test in your magazine. And seriously, I am in love with my phone. Thanks for helping me out. Keep doing the good work. -Richa Sehgal, Jaipur

e the nd hav a s e m n a drea ellpho n c i t y u e o k so st y ab es? can al u craz e it he late ew lin Are yo l to pen a f or news and hands on t ink you hav f th ur tia poten have a nose ve to lay yo em? If you h a dia’s to t u r Do yo ? Do you c orld about sh your CV y Mobile, In w u ne headli and tell the g for you. R r name in M n s ou i gizmo e are look .in to see y w o , in you mymobile.c e. n i @ z team bile maga o m best

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news bits HTC becomes Lead Sponsor For Northeast United FC

HTC have joined hands with North East United FC as the team’s lead sponsor in the India Super League (ISL). The brand logo will be positioned on the chest of the Jersey. At the conference John Abraham, Co-Owner, North East United Football Club, and Faisal Siddiqui, Vice President and Country Head , HTC showed the Team Jersey with the HTC logo and club colours.

Mapmyindia Gets Hall Of Fame 2014 Certification MapmyIndia has received the Inc Hall of Fame 2014 certificate for best-performing mid-sized enterprises in India due to their entrepreneurial zeal, growth and excellence. The certificate was received by MapMyIndia Managing Director Rakesh Verma. MapmyIndia maps are used by leading automotive, FMCG, Ecommerce, and mobile (service & handset) companies. The recently launched MapmyIndia NaviMaps for Android and iOS provides traffic update and 3D views. The company claims its YoY growth rate has been over 100 per cent.

55,990. The stereo features 6.5 inch WVGA TFT LCD display, 800MHz procesor, 1GB RAM, full automotive processor, built-in navigation with voice direction and 25Wx4ch digital Amplifier, 6-channel RCA output, automatic lighting which is adjustable according to the time, Virtual Acoustic Positioning System (VAPS) technology for music/sound enhancement, internal and external microphone support, rear camera input, fast booting and Infogo App Garage. The company claims that the device provides complete infotainment for the users.

Sony launches MDR-XB950BT Headphones

Clarion Launches Android-Based Car Stereo At Rs.55,990 Clarion, a Japanese car communication system manufacturer has launched the Clarion AX1, an Android-Based Connected Car Stereo which is priced at Rs.

14 MYMOBILE november 2014

HTC to manufacture Nexus 9 The Nexus 9 is rumored to be launched soon and will be manufactured by HTC. A number of sources claim that the Google smartphone will be unveiled by October 16 and will be running on Android L. The HTC Nexus 9 has been given the codenames Volantis and Flounder and is further said to be a joint effort from Google and HTC together. It is further rumored that the Nexus 9 will come with a Type Cover on which a user can type comfortably.

Sony has unveiled a wireless headphone, the MDR-XB950BT with ‘Extra Bass’ and Bluetooth connectivity at Rs. 12,990. The headphone features extra bass and has frequency responses upto 28,000Hz. It comes with 40mm dynamic driver unit and Electro Bass Booster. The headphone is further comes with NFC (Near Field Communication) which offers one-touch connectivity with smartphones, enabling the user to use it without the tangle of wires. It also features a built-in microphone to attend calls and chat with hands-free facility. The company claims that the headphone can play non-stop music for 20 hours on one charge.

Aircel launches Aircel On, Gift On

Vu Launches 85-Inch 4K Smart LED TV on eBay.in

Intex launches Aqua Y2 Pro at Rs.4,333

Aircel has launched the Aircel On, Gift On, a brand new offering on this festive season to engage its consumer till 25 December, 2014. Customers have to register themselves once during this period to confirm their participation by simply dialing *121# from their Aircel number and answering the question to qualify for the contest. The customers will get a chance to win a car worth Rs. 4 Lakhs, gold worth Rs. 25,000 every week, talktime worth Rs.250 every day or can simply win a free Aircel to Aircel minute.

Intex has unveiled the Aqua Y2 Pro at Rs.4,333. The smartphone is powered by 1.0 GHz Dualcore processor, and comes with a 5.0-megapixel rear camera and a front VGA camera. It also offers dual-SIM support, 3G, Wi-Fi, and 4 GB inbuilt memory which is expandable up to 32GB. It is available in Black and Navy Blue color. The device will be available through the distributors and dealers and can also be obtained through e-commerce websites.

Government Of Telangana Launches Public Wi-Fi The Government of Telangana with Bharti Airtel launched Public Wi-fi to make Hyderabad as a “Global Smart City”. These hotspots have been set up between the Cyber towers to Raheja Mindspace Circle, Cyber Towers to Kothaguda Junction and Madhapur Police Station. It has been setup in 17 tested hotspot areas in the Hi-Tech city which enables the customer to avail the public Wi-Fi access and enjoydecent surfing speeds. This initiative is the part of Government’s broader agenda which will allow the citizens to experience Internet opportunities making Hyderabad a renowned digital city.

that enables the user to prevent data leakage from mobile devices.

Vu, a California-based luxury television manufacturing company has launched an 85 inch 4K UHD 3D SMART LED TV exclusively on the e-commerce store eBay.in at Rs. 8,99,900. The company claims the display offers four times better graphics than HD displays and comes with more inputs and intelligent features

Airangel And F-Secure launches F-Secure Freedom App F-Secure and Airangel Limited have entered apartnership to provide uninterrupted surfing, and blocking of spam Web links which are harmful for the system, and improving the privacy as well as safety of WiFi hotspots for users across the United Kingdom. Users of Airangel’s WiFi hotspots are provided with the way to the Web page which will enable them to protect their privacy through F-Secure’s security system. The company also unveiled the F-Secure Freedome which is a VPN app

Meru Cabs Launches Free Booking App With Mobile Wallet Meru Cabs has launched a free mobile application with mobile wallet which allows users to book cabs instantly as well as pay the bill through the smartphone. It also allows advance booking of upto 7 days. The app draws information based on users’ existing location doing away the need to enter data on the pick-up point as it auto-detects location through GPS or GPRS connection. Users can also track a taxi through live positioning on the map in real time including the time a taxi would take to reach the location.

Riva Launches Flock App for Business Communication Riva.co has launched its latest app, named Flock.co. The app is a free, simple messaging application for workplace communications. It does not require any IT admins to set up and

news bits and claims to provide the fastest and easiest way for teams to get connected and communicate with each other across all the platforms and operating systems. The application is free for unlimited users and usage and is available for iOS, Android, Windows PC, Mac and Linux.

Getactive Tapp Wearable Launched GetActive, an Indian wearable technology has launched the GetActive Tapp which is an ingenuously developed and designed product. The wearable follows WHO guidelines to check an individual’s activity levels. It tracks daily physical activity like – steps taken in a day, calories burnt, distance covered in ‘km’, and inactive time spent all day. It uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to communicate automatically with mobile phones. It is available for sale exclusively on Myntra at a price of Rs.4,999.

Unlockar App Launches Hindi Language Support The Unlockar app for lock screens has launched dual language support for its users where they can interact in Hindi language. The company has further added more features and rewards in the app which aims at enhancing the user’s engagement and entertainment opportunities. The app has added three new Hindi language supporting feature which includes Real Time Channels, under which the app has added 13 new lock screen channels that provide real time updates on News, Sports, Cricket Scores, Movie Reviews, Bollywood Gossips, Horoscope, Automobiles, Health and Fitness, Lifestyle, Trends, Technology, Business, Stock Markets and Hindi News.

Campus Nova at a price of Rs.1,999 and is available exclusively on Snapdeal.com. The handset features a 3.5 inch capacitive touch screen, runs on Android Jelly Bean (V4.2.2), has 256 MB RAM, and has 512 MB internal memory which is expandable upto 32 GB. The handset supports a 2.0megapixel rear camera and has a 1400 mAh battery.

Huawei Unveils Honor Holly And Honor X1 On Flipkart Huawei has launched the Honor Holly smartphone and Honor X1 tablet at Rs. 6,999 and Rs.19,990 respectively. The devices will be exclusively available on Flipkart.com. Holly has a 5 inch display with HD IPS screen, a quad core 1.3 GHz processor, 2000 mAh battery and runs on Android 4.4.2 KitKat OS. It has 1 GB RAM and 16 GB internal storage, supports dual SIMs, and comes with a 8.0-megapixel camera and a 2.0-megapixel front camera. The Honor X1 is a 7 inch FHD LTPS tablet with 10 point multi-touch screen. It runs on a 1.6 GHz quad core processor with Kirin 910 chipset, comes with 2GB RAM and 16 GB internal memory, and has a 13.0-megapixel Sony BSI rear camera which has a 75 degree wide angle and a 5.0-megapixel front camera with 10-level auto face enhancement.

Samsung launches Galaxy Note 4 and Gear S

Nous Global Markets, a London based trading company has announced their entry in India with the launch of the ‘Spark Profit’ application. The app is s free to join, play and to earn virtual trading game. It will pay the actual cash to the users for correct predictions for the financial markets related to currencies, commodities, stock indices and Bitcoin. The company says that the players will learn the skills which are needed for trade as a fulltime occupation. The goal of Spark Profit is to make predictions in financial markets and to earn enough points.

Samsung has launched the Galaxy Note 4 in India at a price of Rs.58,300. The phablet has a 5.7-inch quad HD Super AMOLED display, runs on the latest Android OS v4.4.4 KitKat, and is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 chipset. It comes with the iconic S-Pen and also has a 16.0-megapixel rear-facing camera, and a 3.7 megapixel front-facing camera with an f 1.9 aperture. It comes with 32 GB internal memory which is expandable upto 128 GB by using a micro SDcard, and comes with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS connectivity. The Gear S on the other hand is a smartwatch which has been unveiled at Rs. 28,900 and runs on the Tizen platform. Water and dust resistant, the smartwatch has a 2-inch curved Super AMOLED display with 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Celkon launches Campus nova at Rs.1,999

BlackBerry unveils Passport at Rs. 49,990

Celkon has unveiled a new smrtphone, the

Blackberry has launched the Passport in

Spark Profit App launched in India

16 MYMOBILE november 2014

India at Rs. 49,990. The device relies on both touch and physical keys for inputs. It has a full QWERTY keyboard, which also works as one whole touchpad and can be used to scroll web pages or to move the cursor. The device comes with a 4.5-inch 1440 x 1440 display, weighs 196g and runs on Blackberry’s latest 10.3 OS. It is powered by a 2.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor, Adreno 330 GPU and comes with a 3,450 mAh battery that claims upto 18 hours of talktime. It also boasts of 3GB RAM, 32GB internal memory, a 13 megapixel rear camerand supports micro SD cards of upto 128GB.

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus arriving in India Apple will be launching the iPhone 6 and iPjhone 6 Plus in the Indian market in October. The devices will be available from 17 October on retail counters as well as online. The iPhone 6 will be available at astarting price of Rs.53,500 and the iPhone 6 Plus will be priced from Rs.62,500 onwards. The devices run on iOS 8 which includes iCloud Drive and comes with a new Health app for tracking fitness data. The models come with 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch retina HD displays, and are packed with innovative technologies in a thin and seamless design which is comfortable to hold and use. Both the handsets include the Apple-designed A8 chip with second generation 64-bit desktop-class architecture for power efficiency and fast performance, advanced HD cameras; and ulrtrafast wireless technologies.

MediaTek launches its True Octacore 4G LTE System, the MT6595 MediaTek, the company that has been making its name in the budget smartphone segment, has unveiled its MT6595. The company claims that this is the first true octa-core 4G LTE System on Chip (SoC) which has reached commercialization in India. The 4G LTE will let consumers experience improved speed from 4G LTE and the company says that it is looking forward to get associated with Indian smartphone manufacturers. The MT6595 SoC assures a premium user experience with 4G connectivity, better multitasking performance as well as sustained performance per watt. Smartphones based on this chipset are expected to enter the Indian market later this year. n

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lead story

The Arrival of

www.mymobile.co.in

It could redefine not just Android, but the entire smartphone world as we know it. We take a closer look at Google’s Android One initiative and what it means to consumers and to the industry. Nimish Dubey

hen Google’s senior vice president of Android, Chrome and Apps, Sundar Pichai arrived in India to launch the first Android One handsets in the world, he opened a new chapter in the history of Android. For the first time, a worldwide initiative was being taken by a major OS player to make its best features available not just to geeks, but to the mainstream smartphone user. Android One was not about high-end, expensive flagships but about the best of Android being available to the common person on the street, at affordable prices with assured updates (something that was available in the past only to the Nexus series and the Google Plus editions of different devices). Speaking at the launch, Pichai explained the essence of the Android One initiative, which had been announced earlier this year. “If we look at how people are getting online and accessing information today, increasingly it’s through a smartphone. While 1.75 billion people around the world already have a smartphone, the vast majority of the world’s population— over five billion more—do not. By working closely with phone and silicon chip makers to share reference designs and select components, we’re making it easier for our partners to build phones that are not just great to use, but also affordable. With Android One, we not only want to help people get online, we want to make sure that when they get there, they can

lead story tap into the wealth of information and knowledge the web holds for everyone.”

Bringing the best of the Web…to everyone! Sandeep Menon, Director Marketing, Google India, feels that the Android One movement is really about ensuring more people get better

“With 80 million new smartphone buyers coming on board in 2014, the smartphone market is burgeoning at a rapid pace. The widening market is a mix of diverse consumerset with varied requirements. The smartphone users in India are growing rapidly and with the increased penetration, the consumption of richfeatured and affordable devices continues to grow in the market. Today, Indian consumers are smart buyers and despite being budget conscious, they understand the value of quality and offerings at a particular price point very well. ” -Shashin Devsare Executive Director, Karbonn Mobiles 20 MYMOBILE november 2014

access to the Web. “At Google, we’re always working towards bringing the best of the Web to as many people as possible,” he says. “The Android One initiative is a part of that mission. We think any effort to make the web and the power of information more accessible to more people is valuable— our effort aims to comprehensively tackle the barriers around hardware, software and data connectivity. For many people, phones are their first gateway to the internet. Currently, less than 10% of the population of India has access to a smartphone. Android One is a step to address themobile computing needs of those in markets like India.” He further explains the concept of Android One and its objectives. “Android One is meant to address three key structural challenges that exist in emerging markets and act as barriers to getting smartphones to the next five billion. These barriers include the cost of quality hardware, not having the latest software, and the high cost of data plans. We hope to address these challenges through the Android One initiative.”

Android updates for the masses! At the core of Android One is the fact that the

devices released as part of the initiative will receive regular Android updates from Google itself, and most important of all, will be extremely affordable. Considering that this has been a facility reserved in the past exclusively to the Nexus series and for Google Play editions of devices, this is very significant indeed. It is a feature that Google’s Menon is keen to

highlight. “We’re proud of Android One. We have a growing number of OEM partners who will make devices for multiple countries around the world,” he says. “These affordable phones will have the latest version of Android and get updates directly from Google, so we’re really bringing an experience that was once only common in a few countries to billions of

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people.” He is also keen to point out that Android can now run on devices even with relatively modest specifications, so a consumer’s experience with an Android One device is likely to be a smooth one. “ With KitKat, we made Android much more lightweight. Today, you can comfortably run Android on a phone with

smartphones have ample memory as well as a microSD slot to add more. We have also added features that we know people in India will find particularly useful, like dual SIM cards, a replaceable battery and built-in FM radio.”

Indian brands to the fore! Interestingly, the first three devices to be released as part of the Android One initiative were all from Indian brands – Micromax released the Canvas A1, Spice the Dream Uno, and Karbonn the Sparkle V. Speaking of the decision to start with Indian brands, Menon says, “For our initial launch in India, it made sense to work with local Indian OEMs, but we look forward to working with many global hardware partners in the future. Samsung is a very close partner in innovation, and we enjoy a close working relationship with them. Android One is a part of a much broader ecosystem so we’re excited to work with many more partners including Acer, Alcatel, Asus, HTC, Intex, Lava, Lenovo, Panasonic, Xolo and chipmaker Qualcomm.” Shashin Devsare, Executive Director, Karbonn, is bullish on the initiatives prospects in India, especially given the fact that

“We are happy to see Google making the landmark move of bringing in Android One for the affordable segment. The fact that all updates will be directly available for the device is something that will excite Android users. The fact that your phone remains the latest always is a strong proposition in a market where technology changes by the day. The sub-10,000 price category is fiercely competitive and product differentiators will have the advantage.” -Prashant Bindal CEO, Spice Mobility.

only 512MB of RAM. This means that you really don’t need incredibly powerful hardware to run Android, HD videos, 3D games and your favourite apps smoothly,” Menon points out. “Android One phones have great processing power, so users can get information quickly. They have high-quality front and back camera. And all those photos, along with all their apps and videos, take up storage space, so these

the Android One series of devices scores on both features and price. “With 80 million new smartphone buyers coming on board in 2014, the smartphone market is burgeoning at a rapid pace,” he says. “The widening market is a mix of diverse consumer-set with varied requirements. The smartphone users in India are growing rapidly and with the increased penetration, the consumption of rich-featured

and affordable devices continues to grow in the market. Today, Indian consumers are smart buyers and despite being budget conscious, they understand the value of quality and offerings at a particular price point very well.” Android One, he feels, is also tailor made for India. “Instant software upgrades, fast and responsive interface and pre-embedded popular apps has been designed in line with the needs of the consumers of emerging markets like India,” he points out.

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lead story Prashant Bindal, CEO, Spice Mobility, is equally optimistic, “We are happy to see Google making the landmark move of bringing in Android One for the affordable segment. The fact that all updates will be directly

“We have always been on Android. We were among the first to introduce Android. We have served Android at all ends of the market, from flagship to entry level devices. Android One is a great OS at the stock level. We don’t want to stop there and want to add a lot more functionality, whether in terms of user interface, app store, content, educational service. We are going to give a lot more of that Samsung advantage to our users. We have always been with Android with the Samsung advantage and will continue doing that.” -ASIM WARSI Vice President, Mobile & IT, Samsung India 22 MYMOBILE november 2014

available for the device is something that will excite Android users.” Sanjay K Kalirona, Senior General Manager– Mobile Business, Intex Technologies, agrees. “This is a thrilling initiative for Intex as our customers will get enhanced experience and latest Google updates on Android One devices. Android One brings fresh air for the consumers.” Karbonn is looking to launch two more Android One phones by the end of the year and is clearly betting big on the initiative. “With Android One, we are looking forward to introducing a wide portfolio of smartphones, which would be unique in terms of product specifications at disruptive price-points,” says Devsare. Meanwhile, another Indian player, Xolo, is also readying its Android One and although we were not able to get any official confirmation about its specifications or price, our sources in the company told us that its device would be very different from what other Indian brands are offering so far. Lenovo and HTC are also believed to be working on Android One devices which are expected to hit the market later this year.

One Android or more Android? On paper, Android One is a very powerful initiative, as it makes devices with the latest version of Android available at relatively low prices – the first batch of Android One

devices started from as low as Rs 6,299. However, there is some concern that the biggest strength of the devices – the latest version of Android with assured updates might not appeal to the segment which purchases

devices at these price points. After all, being concerned about the version of Android is supposed to be geek rather than mainstream user territory. There is also the little matter of a number of notable devices already available at the same price points, some with tech specs comparable and even superior to those being offered under the Android One initiative – the Moto E, the Xiaomi Redmi 1S and the Asus ZenFone 4 are just three instances. In fact, even some of the members of the initiative have devices with comparative specs and prices – Micromax has the Unite 2, while Xolo

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has the Iris X1. Google’s Menon, however, feels that this plethora of options is unlikely to confuse the Indian consumer. “There is a vibrant ecosystem around Android and room for many partners to do well and innovate. As part of the Android One campaign, we are working closely with partners and offering reference boards, qualified components and pre-tuned/optimized software that helps OEMs bring high-quality phones to market faster and in a cost-efficient manner. As Android One moves forward, you can expect a broad family of smartphones with different prices, designs, and function-

Android One will cure the OS of one of its biggest problems – fragmentation, due to which different users end up with different versions of Android.

Android One: The outsiders Not everyone is enamoured of the Android One initiative, though. Some notable players have chosen to steer clear of it. The most notable of these is ironically, the company that has probably sold more Android handsets than any other, Samsung. AsimWarsi, vice president, Mobile and IT, Samsung India, says that the move had more to do with the company’s intention to offer more than stock Android to its consumers. “We have always been on Android. We were among the first to introduce Android. We have served Android at all ends of the market, from flagship to entry level devices,” he points out.“We are going to give a lot more of that Samsung advantage to our users.” While he feels that Android is super at stock level, he says Samsung wants to deliver more than that. “Android One is a great

“Our priority is on the premium segment and Android One is targeted at the entry level segment.” -Kenichiro Hibi Managing Director, Sony India

ality. We will have more devices in different price segments in the near future. We want to give manufacturers a menu of choices so that they can assemble a broad set of smartphones under the Android One family with different prices, designs, and functionality,” he says. Spice’s Bindal agrees, “The fact that your phone remains the latest always is a strong proposition in a market where technology changes by the day. The sub-10,000 price category is fiercely competitive and product differentiators will have the advantage.” There is, of course, also the hope that

OS at the stock level. We don’t want to stop there and want to add a lot more functionality, whether in terms of User Interface, app store, content, educational service. We have always been with Android with the Samsung advantage and will continue doing that,” he says. Anand Narang, marketing director, Huawei India, offers a similar reason for his company’s staying out of Android One. “Android One offers plain Android experience to user. What we give is more than Android. We offer a higher level of customization and more features than Android One,” he claims.

For Kenichiro Hibi, managing director, Sony India, not being a part of Android One was more about the target segment of the movement. “Our priority is on the premium segment and Android One is targeted at the entry level segment,” he told us at the launch of the Xpeia Z3, a device that is aimed at the high-end of the Android segment. It might be stock (“plain”) Android, and it might not have as many features as some of the more elaborately presented versions of Android on different handsets, but what cannot be denied is that the Android One initiative could make the world’s most popular OS available to millions of people, empowering them in the process by giving them access to a massive online resource. Google’s Menon sums up its potential: “We believe that access to information can do tremendous things for the world and for individuals. With Android One, we can help bring the world’s information to the next five billion people. Whether it’s connecting with different people, exploring foreign countries, identifying new educational opportunities, or simply watching a movie with your family, access to the Web changes the way we live for the better.” And that is good news indeed. n

november 2014 MYMOBILE 23

lead story

Versus: The Android T

hey might seem to be carbon copies of each other, but there are subtle differences in the three Android One handsets in the Indian market. Which works best for you? Here is our comparative analysis. When the first three Android One handsets were launched, the first question that was asked by a lot of observers was: “Are they not very similar?” And there is good reason for that query. For, notwithstanding the fact that they come from different brands and manufacturers, the Micromax Canvas A1, the Karbonn Sparkle V and the Spice seemed almost mirror images of each other. And that has made

choosing between them a tough choice for most consumers. We compared the three handsets in an attempt to work out which one worked best and for whom.

Looks and design With identical hardware and software, design and appearance are the main points of distinction between the three devices. And in this regard, it is clear that all three come from different schools. While the Spice Dream Uno focuses on being solid and plain, the Canvas A1 is most likely to grab attention because of its placing the camera in a disc on the back and with its own shiny logo, while

the Karbonn Sparkle V has opted to go for the Asha/Lumia way and provided bright coloured back plates. All three phones come with solid design and will hit easily into most hands, but if we had to pick one that stood out, it would be the Canvas A1. Winner: Micromax Canvas A1

Hardware There’s no way we could make a call in this one, with all three devices having identical hardware – all have 4.5 inch displays of 854 x 480 resolution, all are powered by a 1.3 GHz quad core processor from MediaTek, and all come with 1GB RAM and 4GB of storage. All

VS 24 MYMOBILE november 2014

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One ShootOut come with a 5.0-megapixel main camera and a 2.0-megapixel front facing one. All have dual SIM connectivity with 3G support and all of them even have the same battery, a 1700 mAh one. Round that off with similar connectivity options (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS) and you can see why we are calling this round a tie. Winner: Tie.

Software The similarity persists here, with all three devices running the latest version of Android in its pure, plain form with no skins whatsoever. And all of them are also assured Android updates for two years as per the Android One

agreement. The only difference in software seem to come from the preinstalled apps with manufacturers and retailers placing their own apps on board. Once again, this is too tight to call for us. Another tie. Winner: Tie

Multimedia Logically, this should have been another tie, but we could see subtle changes in terms of camera and sound performance between the three devices. All three cameras were mediocre and turned in decent results only in good light conditions. While the Spice Dream Uno seemed to take the best pictures of the three, we felt that the Karbonn Sparkle V delivered the best sound on loudspeaker, and the Canvas A1 seemed to have a marginally brighter display. We need to state clearly that these differences were so small as to be unnoticeable, but if we had to pick a winner, we would go with the Spice Dream Uno. Winner: Spice Dream Uno

General performance Same hardware, same software…how on earth do you pull out in differences in performance from these three devices, then? All three phones were brilliant in handling Android, delivering the kind of experience we have not seen in phones that cost three times as much. However, we found the Spice Dream Uno delivering better in photography, the Sparkle V scoring in the sound department, and the display of the Canvas A1 just seemed a tad brighter than the competition. But when pushed to the benchmarks, it was the Karbonn Sparkle V that came out with the highest score (about 18,800 on Antutu), although not by much. It is a frightfully close call, but we would

go with the Spice Dream Uno in this case, not least because it also was the only one of the three to come with buttons attached to the main body instead of the back cover (as was the case in the other two). Winner: Spice Dream Uno

Value for money The three devices were not too different in terms of price at the time of the launch: the Spice Dream Uno was priced at Rs 6,299, Karbonn Sparkle V at Rs 6,399 and the Micromax Canvas A1 at Rs 6,499. There has been some change in that price, with the Sparkle V being available for Rs 5,999 from some vendors. And considering how evenly matched the three devices are, the sheer price combined with its colourful design gives this round to the Sparkle V. Winner: Karbonn Sparkle V

Conclusion: Which is the (Android) One for you? It is kind of difficult to pick and choose between these three devices, which given how well they work, is a good problem to have. We think a lot is going to boil down to design and appearance. The young college crowd is likely to love the colourful Karbonn Sparkle V, the executive class will queue up for the classy looking Micromax Canvas A1, while those who just want performance and care not too much for design bells and whistles will get the Spice Dream Uno. The important thing to remember, however, is that no matter which Android One device you go for, your experience of Android is likely to be an exceptional one, especially at these price points. Android One could not have found better ambassadors. n nimishdubey@mymobile.co.in

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fa c e t o fa c e

“I don’t know why people buy and use tablets” Selling a phone every seven seconds is quite an achievement in a market that is as competitive as India, but that is exactly what Chinese manufacturer Gionee claims to have achieved. We met Arvind Vohra, India Head, Gionee, to find out exactly how it managed to achieve this and what plans Gionee has in the coming days. Nimish Dubey & Mukesh Kumar Singh You have been in India for more than a year now. What are the challenges you have faced? In this business there are two challenges-distribution and service. The deeper you go, higher the challenge because managing logistics is difficult. These two challenges are always going to stay. For instance, Delhi to Jaipur is easy to manage because it is close, but to reach Jhunjhunu we have to build a hub in Jaipur and that increases the cost. How has been the market response to Gionee? Every brand has good products but the story doesn’t end there, it starts from there. The story will end when we are available on every counter. Right now our devices are available on 21 thousand counters out of over 1 lakh counters in India. In terms of numbers, we made Rs 500 crores in the first year, Rs 525 crore in the first quarter this year, Rs 230 crore in July and Rs 275 crore in August. How has your brand gained the faith of the Indian consumer? The way we conducted ourselves in the market, our trade relations, our relationship with customers are the

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things that made the difference. Even today I go through all mails so I know which product has issues. We are also working on improving our service. Right now, we have 600 service centers, and by March next year we will have 750 service centers. Earlier people didn’t know about Gionee, so we came as freshers. But we decided not to compromise on specs to match the price and offered the best possible specs at the lowest possible price. Is the coming of Chinese manufacturers a threat to Indian brands? If you see the list of top global brands, you will find that every one of them is a manufacturer. You have to do manufacturing if you have to be in this business. Either you do it yourself or get it done like Apple. Mere marketing and putting up an advertisement doesn’t prove your commitment. There has been a negative perception about Chinese brands. How did you handle it? It was for a short term phase when some mysterious brands showed up in the name of Chinese brands, sold products for some time but eventually failed to survive in the market. Unfortunately, they blemished the name of

all Chinese brands. But, it didn’t last long. We just did our work and stuck by certain standards of quality. When users realized that Chinese devices are as good as other brands, the perception changed itself What next can we expect from Gionee? We have opened the Kernel code and the drivers to our interface. That is why the blogging fraternity is upbeat. We have also got something called a G Café, an online service where one can go and write whatever they like. We feel that critics are our biggest friends. In terms of market share, right now we have 4 per cent and our next target is 10 per cent. In devices, we will come with the next edition of S5.5 and its LTE version. We will also come out with an Elife E8 in MWC Barcelona next year. Also, very soon all our smartphones above Rs. 10,000 will support 4G. When can we see tablets from Gionee? I don’t know why people buy and use tablets and why manufacturers sell them. The day I will get its answer, we will start making tablets. n nimishdubey@mymobile.co.in mukesh@mymobile.co.in

chief speak

“India is of significant strategic importance to Jolla!” At a time when most manufacturers are choosing different OSes and platforms, Finland-based Jolla has developed its own OS and phone to boot. The company, which includes a number of exNokia personnel who worked on the MeeGo project, has been making waves internationally and has now arrived in the Indian market too. We caught up with Marc Dillon, co-founder and head of software at Jolla, to find out more about the company and its plans for India. Nimish Dubey

This is something a lot of people have been asking. The Jolla phone has been out for a while. Why has it taken so long to come to India? Our original launch date was planned to mid-August, but due to some practicalities we had to postpone the launch for a month. India is a big country and of significant strategic importance to Jolla. We wanted to ensure the launch of the Jolla smartphone goes as smoothly as possible for all of our customers in India and this took a bit more time than we originally anticipated. We also wanted to pick a date to suit well the upcoming Diwali season. Is your selling model in India going to be only online or do you have plans to sell in normal retail (shops, malls, etc.) as well? Snapdeal.com is our exclusive partner In India, which means our strategy is online. The online strategy is based on the ability to scale fast and making the product available to as many people as possible quickly. A bit of background now - what was the reason for starting Jolla and how did Sailfish come about? You could write a novel out of this topic! To put it briefly: after Nokia’s strategy change in 2011, the founders of Jolla noticed that they had a great asset in MeeGo, and a lot of talented people around capable of building products, and an operating system. The rest is history. People are going to say that there are already the likes of Android, Windows Phone and iOS around. Why would anyone want a new OS? Why should anyone want to buy a Jolla? Jolla is a new Finnish smartphone running its own independent operating system called Sailfish OS. Based on the heritage of MeeGo, an open source operating system formerly developed by Nokia among others, the Jolla smartphone and Sailfish OS offer a distinct user experience, which is unlike the competition. Jolla includes many innovations both on the software and hardware side. Jolla and Sailfish OS offer the smartphone world something new and fresh, a true alternative to the current market dominators. Privacy was something you kept stressing again and again at the Jolla launch. How would you say Jolla protects your privacy better than say, Android or iOS (which actually claims to be a closed, secure system)? Unlike other players, Jolla’s business model does not include selling users’ data to any third

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parties. We respect your privacy, and protect your user data. There will be some who will say that other phones at similar prices from Android and Windows Phone have been better hardware specifications. Why should they opt for a Jolla? The answer is Sailfish OS. Currently the operating system market is being colonized by Android, which is making differentiation and innovation hard for mobile device developers. In practice this means that even with different specs, the smartphones currently out there offer a very similar user experience. Sailfish OS and Jolla offer something different. You said that a Jolla device could also run Android apps - in fact it could run some Android apps better than Android devices themselves. How is this possible? Sailfish OS is fully Android application compatible, i.e. you can run your favorite Android apps on a Jolla. In the Jolla home view you can easily see all open application in a nice and simple view, which is from a user’s point of view more convenient than on Android itself. A big issue here - from where does one get apps for a Jolla device? Jolla’s own store seems to have limited apps. The Jolla Store offers native Sailfish OS applications and selected Android apps. A user can download Android application stores, such as Aptoide or Yandex, where Android applications are available. It has been more than three years since Jolla was formed. How has the journey been? And do you ever regret leaving the “burning platform”? No, we definitely do not regret this. Without this part in history Jolla would not exists, not to mention a whole lot more Finnish innovative startups. The journey has been super exciting! With a relatively small team we have managed to build our own independent operating system, the Jolla smartphone, with the help of our big international community. What can we expect next from Jolla? We have a lot of plans, which we can’t wait to tell you about! We continue to develop our most important asset, the Sailfish OS operating system, and are looking to form new exciting partnerships for that. We also have a roadmap for new products too, and we will announce details of that later this year. n nimishdubey@mymobile.co.in

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Calling Marc Dillon Which is your current phone? Jolla! I still pick up my N950 occasionally. Which was your first phone? The first pocket phone was a Nokia 5120 in bright yellow. The first phone I contributed to in Nokia was 3589, which is also the first phone I worked on and got to say “I worked on that” to a stranger. My favourite Nokia phone is N900, that was so far ahead of its time… What is your ringtone? The Jolla tune! Previously, I would put a new ringtone each time I got a phone. On Nokia N900 it was “Rover” by Led Zeppelin (the codename for the phone was rover!) On Nokia N9, it was “Heavy” by Collective Soul, as N9 was quite heavy on my soul. The first ringtone I ever personalized was a MIDI version of “Goin Down” by Freddie King. Which is your favourite app? Flashlight! Spotify, Friends and Tweetian, I use the Here Maps a lot on my motorcycle. Which is your favourite game? Games are for people that do not play guitar. Seriously, I have not been an avid gamer but have a lot of friends who are. I enjoyed the new Angry Birds game, Stella.

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mobile doctor KitKat, so your choice is a good one indeed. I want to purchase a phone (excluding Windows Phone OS) with a price limit upto Rs. 6,000. The phone should have features like good voice calling, excellent battery performance, very good music experience in loudspeaker mode, good autofocus camera. It is important to tell you that the brand doesn’t matter to me. Kindly suggest. -Amit Narain I have been following your magazine for the last 2 years. I want to know about Sony Xperia Z3’s specifications. Please tell whether it is possible to do a 4K recording for more than 10 minutes and is it really waterproof ? - Aarohi Jaiswar, Kanpur Dear Aarohi, The Sony Xperia Z3 comes with a 5.2 inch full HD display, 3G RAM and 16 GB onboard storage which can be expanded using a memory card. It is powered by a quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor clocked at 2.5 GHz, and has a 20.7-megapixel camera. We have not seen any restrictions on duration of 4K recording in the camera settings, but yes, the phone can get a bit hot while recording 4K video as it consumes a lot of resources. Yes, the phone is really waterproof - it can even be used underwater (there are limits, of course, but in general conditions, water cannot harm it, as per our experience). I am willing to buy a mobile phone under the budget of Rs. 10,000. I am thinking about Asus Zenfone 5 and Moto G. Which one will be a good option to buy? -Rupesh Rai Dear Rupesh, Of the two devices you have mentioned, only the Asus ZenFone 5 comes under Rs 10,000. The Moto G costs over that amount. That said, the Asus ZenFone 5 is a very good option, as it combines good design, an innovative interface and some excellent hardware. It has also been updated to Android

Dear Amit, At the price point you have set down, the Xiaomi Redmi 1S is by far the best option, as it combines a good processor with a 720p display and an excellent 8.0-megapixel camera. It is also priced at Rs 5,999. However, its availability is an issue as it arrives only in limit-

ed stocks and so far has been sold only on Flipkart. We also think you could consider the Android One series of handsets from Micromax, Karbonn and Spice as they too offer a very good experience (4.5 inch display, quad core processor, latest Android, 5.0-megapixel camera with autofocus) and are within range of your budget, priced as they are in the range of Rs 6,000 – Rs 6,500. I am using the Sony Miro for the

32 MYMOBILE november 2014

last two years. Now I want to upgrade my mobile. My requirements are: big display, good camera, inbuilt memory upto 16GB, good Internet experience with access to Facebook and WhatsApp, good battery life and good processor. My budget is upto Rs 25,000. Kindly suggest a good mobile phone. -L. Sathyavageeswaran Dear Sathyavageeswaran, In that budget, we would suggest going for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo, which comes with a hexa core processor, a 5.5-inch display and a lot of the functionality that you would see in the Galaxy Note 3, including the S-Pen. The device also has a very good 8.0megapixel camera.  I want to purchase a mobile phone but I am confused between Android phone and iPhone. Please suggest which will be the best choice. I want a mobile with good camera, no hanging on excessive use, a smoothly working touchscreen, and good battery life. The most important thing is that it should have a note facility and a large screen. My budget is between Rs 20,000 to Rs 40,000. - Abhay Pandey Dear Abhay, Your requirement of a large screen rules iOS out as at the moment, only the iPhone 6 Plus has what can be called a large screen and its price starts well beyond the budget you had mentioned. In the price band that you have mentioned, we would recommend the Samsung Galaxy S5, which comes with an octa core processor and full HD display, and has an excellent camera as well. If you can make do with a smaller display, you can check out

the iPhone 5S, which comes with an excellent camera and is less prone to hanging. Another option worth checking out is the freshly released Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro, which has a quad HD display and a superb 16.0-megapixel camera, and also comes well within your budget.  I recently purchased. Panasonic Eluga U model. It is working nicely. However I am not able to record audio messages in WhatsApp. Please guide me how to solve this problem -Sudhakaran Dear Sudhakaran, We suggest you contact the Panasonic service team in this regard. But before that, try to simply uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp. That often fixes matters. I am looking for an Android phone (4.4 KitKat) with at least 1GHz Snapdragon quad core processor, 1GB RAM, external microSD support, 5 inches or more display and a brand other than Samsung and Micromax. It should also be able to run games without lagging. My budget is Rs 20,000. - Asdar Aziz Dear Asdar, We would suggest you invest in the new Moto G. It meets all your requirements of a large display, quad core processor, expandable memory and 1 GB RAM, and also runs games and apps quite beautifully.

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.

consumer forum Complaint-1 I bought Karbonn Titanium S1 handset on 26 June 2014. I took my handset for repair at Aryan Communications, Patna. The representative at the repair center took my handset for the repair. Later on, when I went to collect it back they told me that my handset has been sent to the the company and has not returned yet. Will I ever receive my handset or not? Or should I file a case in the Consumer Court? -Prabhat Kumar

140829/ 059 – since a long time. I am disappointed with this kind of service and would not leave any stone unturned to get the mobile back in working condition because I purchased it with my hard earned money. Please do not make the consumer suffer because of the

Karbonn’s Response: Karbonn team has spoken to the consumer and his handset was delivered to him on 17 October.

Nokia’s Response: Awaited

Complaint-4 I am a BSNL customer for the last two years living in Mughalsarai, Chandauli. U.P. I have been using 2G network which I got upgraded to 3G. But near my residence, 3G connectivity is poor. I have called the customer care several times in this regard, but every time they gave me a new complaint number and assured me that my problem will be solved within 48 hours. It has been two months now, and the problem is still the same. Please help me. -Irshad Ahmad BSNL’s Response: Awaited

Complaint-5 I asked for the deactivation of international roaming from my number on 9 April, 2014 as it wasn’t worth it. I have been paying the rental for the last two years but the number doesn’t work. Every time I start it, it asks me to visit the nearest Vodafone centre. Where can I find a Vodafone office outside India? Finally, when I came back to India, I went to Vodafone’s office and asked them to deactivate the international roaming and change the plan. They asked me to call the customer care and request for the changes. I called up and asked them to do so. After two days, I called them again and I was told that the plan was changed and international roaming deactivated. But when my bill arrived, it shows I have been charged for international roaming as well as data. What kind of poor service is this? If I go to Vodafone, they will again give a foolish excuse or ask me to visit their office again. -Dheeraj

Complaint-2 I have been following up the HTC Repair Order Status – 14INA330016495 – for the last two months and visited the HTC Centre at Ameerpet in Hyderabad many times but I did not get any positive revert from their customer support team. Every time I went to the service centre, they informed me that the device is not available and will be available by the next week. I am sick of visiting the centre and calling them again and again. This is an unprofessional attitude which was never expected from HTC. The warranty of the above device will be over by 22 October and till now I do not have any clue regarding its replacement. Please give me some relevant feedback when the motherboard replacement of the unit is possible. -Karishma Jain

Vodafone’s response: Awaited

HTC’s Response: Awaited

Complaint-3 It is really sad to see a reputed brand like Nokia not cooperating with its customers. I bought a brand new Nokia mobile phone from an authorized shop with proper documentation yet it is with their service centre - jobsheet Number - 113433527/

34 MYMOBILE november 2014

careless attitude of a few technicians. -Awtar Saini

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.

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just in Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus The new iPhones come to India

oth the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus will have arrived in the Indian market by the time you read this. Apple’s latest batch of devices marks a new chapter in the history of the iconic iPhone series as this is the first time that Apple has gone for significantly large displays in its iPhone. Interestingly, Apple had stuck to relatively smaller displays (3.5 inches and 4.0 inches) in the past, citing ease of use by one hand, but now it seems to have jumped on to the large display bandwagon – the iPhone 6 comes with a 4.7-inch display while the appropriately named 6 Plus will come with an almost phablet-like 5.5 inch display. While the iPhone 6 has a 720p (1334 x 750) resolution retina display, the 6 Plus has a full HD one (1920 x 1080), becoming the first iPhone to feature a 1080p display. Both phones are powered by 64-bit A8 processors and come with fingerprint scanners. And they are both incredibly thin – the iPhone 6 is a mere 6.9 mm thick while the 6 Plus is 7.2 mm thick. It is this thinness that has led to the controversy over the iPhone 6 Plus ‘bending’ under pressure, although Apple has claimed that these are isolated cases. Both phones also feature 8.0-megapixel iSight cameras with Focus Pixels, but it is only the camera on the 6 Plus that comes with optical image stabilisation. And as always, the phones come with an all new OS – iOS 8. The 6 Plus even gives users a multipane view when held in landscape mode. Interestingly, this time Apple has not come out with a 32GB variant of either device and has instead come out with 16GB, 64GB and 128GB versions. The pricing, as always, remains premium – the iPhone 6 starts at Rs 53,500 and goes up to Rs 71,500 for the 128GB model, while the iPhone 6 Plus starts at Rs 62,500 and goes up to Rs 80,500 for the 128GB model. Both devices are available in shades of silver, space grey and gold. n team@mymobile.co.in

36 MYMOBILE november 2014

burn test Budget smartphone stalwart The

Salora Arya Z2 slugs it out on price

f you have heard of old TV brands the name Salora is going to be familiar to you. They have been around for years and were famous at one time. Now, they are into the smartphone segment. We got hold of their new Arya Z2 smartphone, their latest Android running smartphone targeted at the budget smartphone segment.

Good looking It is surprising to see a new entrant in the smartphone segment make such a good looking device. Salora Arya is a stylish device with a neat and simple design with a sleek form factor. It is 7.55 mm thin. The back panel is made of rubber which improves the grip, but overall, handling it is a little uncomfortable due to its sharp edges. The metallic panel on the sides adds to its good looks. The charging and audio slot is on the upper panel. The 5.0-inch display is large for this price but is prone to smudges.

Impressive features The Arya Z2 comes with impressive features. It has a 5.0 inch display with screen resolution of 1280x720. For photography enthusiasts it has an 8.0 megapixel rear camera and a 2.0 megapixel front facing camera. It runs on a 1.3 GHz MediaTek quad core processor, has 1GB RAM, 4GB internal storage, and upto 32GB expandable storage. It comes with dual SIM slots with 3G

support. All of these are very impressive when you consider its price point.

Easy to use A number of smartphone brands have developed their own unique interface. Xolo has Hive, Gionee has Amigo, Oppo has Color, but Arya Z2 prefers to offer a pure Android experience and runs on a stock Android interface, and it runs on the latest Android 4.4 (KitKat) operating system. It comes pre-loaded with the Amazon Shopping App, Amazon Kindle and Amazon App Store. Its performance and handling of tasks is good. It can handle graphic intensive games effortlessly without any lag. But due to low internal memory, we could not download too many games on to it. The touch response is good but we have seen better touch response from the likes of the Moto E. Due to lamination, the screen was protected from scratches but it couldn’t keep it free from fingerprints and smudegs. Its 8.0 megapixel rear camera comes with flash for low light photography. Outdoor shots came out well but indoor images were grainy. For an 8.0 meagpixel camera, it’s an average performer.

Value for money The Salora Arya Z2 is priced at Rs. 6,999, which considering its features makes it a very decent option. It has a big screen, 8.0 megapixel camera

and a quad core processor, but disappoints due to low internal memory and an average camera performance. You can try out Oplus XonPhone 5 and Asus Zenfone 4 (4.5 inch screen) in this range, and well if you happen to be lucky enough to be in the position to order a Xiaomi Redmi 1S, we would recommend you go right ahead. But that one glaring exception apart, Salora’s new smartphone can pretty much go toe to toe with most competitors in the budget smartphone segment. And that is not bad at all from a relative newcomer. n team@mymobile.co.in

Pros Impressive price HD display

GPRS/3G/BT/WiFi | Yes/Yes/Yes/Yes Camera | 8.0-megapixel Others | IPS HD OGS Screen, Amazon app store

Price: Rs 6,999 verdict perfoRmance

Features

Cons Average camera Low internal memory

8 Looks

ease of use

/10

value for money

overall

80% 38 MYMOBILE November 2014

www.mymobile.co.in

A Touch of Fire(fox) Alcatel gets

onto the Firefox platform

n a segment of the market predominately ruled by Android, and to some extent by Windows Phone, the coming of Firefox has opened a new avenue for buyers, particularly those who are still using feature phones are mulling over upgrading to the next level, a level that offers smart features at feature phone prices. The Firefox story has well and truly got underway in India and the latest to join is Alcatel, which has launched the Alcatel Fire C on this new platform

Highly compact and handy to use It may be selling at a feature phoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s price, but that does not show in the design of the Fire C. Most handsets in this price point feel ordinary and cheap, but not the C. Its build quality is good and so is the look and feel. It is compact, lightweight and can be easily used with one hand. The back panel is made of fine quality plastic and the front has a glass display. Unlike Android, the front panel has just one touch button, which works as the back and home button. Among external buttons, there is a volume controller on the side panel and the power button is on the top.

Decent device with a decent performance At its incredibly low price, the Fire C offer a good set of features to early smartphone adopters. The screen size is 3.5-inches. Even though the display quality is ordinary and screen resolution low, but in this budget it is good deal. It is powered by a 1GHz Spreadtrum processor, has 128 MB RAM, 256MB internal memory and can take in upto 32GB micro SD cards. It also features a VGA camera, Wi-Fi with Hotspot support, Bluetooth, and dual SIM slots (which take standard SIMs) with 2G connectivity. The handset runs on Firefox OS and its user interface, called Dynamic UI, is a blend of iOS and Android. Besides English, it can be used in Hindi, Bangla and Tamil. The settings menu is similar to Android. Calling, messaging, contact and Fiefox browser are given as default buttons at the bottom of the display. The app icons are small and so is the

Pros Good browsing experience 1GHz processor

font size. The touch screen is decent and so is the performance, and quite surprisingly, the browsing speed is good and fast even on a 2G connection. You can download and use apps like Whatsapp from the Firefox store. The handsetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s battery back-up is also good. The one thing you need to keep in mind is that as most apps run off the Web, good connectivity is a must.

Conclusion If you are expecting a lot from the new OS, you may not find a great deal, especially if you have used any other smartphone platform, like Android or Windows Phone. The greatest strength of the Fire C is that it offers Internet browsing and social networking at a staggeringly low cost. Music player, FM radio and video player are available on it too. Video playback is passable too and you can even play some casual games like 2048 on it without too much trouble. There are no Android alternatives at this price point, but you can try out the Intex Cloud FX or Spice Fire One. They are priced in the same range and offer a similar spec set, albeit with a variation in design and build quality. n team@mymobile.co.in

Alcatel Fire c

Cons Low internal memory Most apps need Web access

tech specs Size | 112.2 x 62 x 11.95 Weight | 94 grams Memory | 256MB, microSD OS | Firefox OS

Screen Size | 3.5-inch, Capacitive

verdict

Price: Rs 1,990

perfoRmance

Features

Looks

ease of use

/10

value for money

overall

80%

November 2014 MYMOBILE 39

burn test The budget selfie Videocon’s

Pros Latest Android Good front camera

Infinium Z40 Quad tries to cash in on the selfie craze

he craze for selfies has been increasing and to meet it companies have launched many “selfie” phones with relatively powerful front facing cameras in the market. Devices like iBall Selfie and Infinium Z40 Quad from Videocon have made this selfie fest available in budget smartphone segment, in which many smartphones do not even have a front facing camera. We find out more about Videocon Infinium Z40 and where it stands.

Conclusion The Videocon Infinium Z40 Quad is priced at Rs. 5,490, which is quite good given its specifications and the fact that it runs Android KitKat. It can be called a value for money phone even though a few of its features disappointed us. In case you want an alternative, you can have a look at any of the recently launched Android One smartphones, which start from Rs. 5,9999. n team@mymobile.co.in

videocon infinium z40 quad

Ordinary looks The Infinium Z40 Quad is an ordinary looking device with a design that has been done many times before in the budget smartphone segment. The small size makes it compact and handy to use. Its three touch buttons are placed below the screen while the physical buttons are on the side panels. The upper panel has a 3.5 mm audio jack and a USB slot. The back panel is made of plastic with faux leather finish.

Power of four cores The handset is powered by 1.3GHz quadcore processor, which is a rarity at this price point. Quad-core chipsets are becoming quite common in devices priced below Rs 10,000 but they are yet to take off in the same way in the Rs 5,000 devices. The phone comes with 512MB RAM, 4GB internal memory, and comes with a 5.0 megapixel rear camera, and a 3.2 megapixel front-facing camera, dual SIM support, 3G and Wi-Fi. The handset also boasts of the latest Android 4.4 KitKat operating system. There are apps like V-Secure and Opera Mini which are preloaded in the handset. We like the presence of V-Secure, which provides security and data backup, which is relatively unknown at this price point. Cons

Laggy performance Low internal memory

40 MYMOBILE November 2014

tech specs Size | 125x63.2x9.4 mm Weight | 165 grams Memory | 4GB, microSD OS | Android OS v4.4

Price: Rs 5,490 verdict

Good front-facing camera For a quad-core device, the performance of the Infinium Z40 is not up to the mark. Games and applications did run on it, but not very smoothly. One of the reasons could be the handset’s low memory (RAM). The camera quality is good for a 5.0 megapixel camera and then there is a 3.2 megapixel front camera for selfies, which delivers very good results, when you consider its price point.

perfoRmance

Features

Looks

ease of use

/10

value for money

overall

76%

www.mymobile.co.in

Android in Windows phone’s garb

Pros Preloaded Nokia apps Impressive looks

The X2 tries to get the best of both Android and WP

okia’s tryst with Android might have ended, but its handsets continue to arrive in the market. And the latest one is the X2, which many experts considered to be Nokia’s best stab at Android, after the under-specced Nokia X. If you want an Android phone with a dash of uniqueness, the X2 is just the device for you. This is the fourth and most probably the last Android phone from Nokia. Though it runs on Android it doesn’t use the standard Android nomenclature, and calls its OS the Nokia Software Platform. The handset is well designed, but does it do enough to take on some very formidable competition at its price point?

Impressive design The handset is one of the best looking devices we have seen in the budget segment. The shiny back panel gives it a unique and attractive look and feel. The number of customary touch buttons in most Andorid phones is three but this one has only two buttons. The hardware buttons are placed on the right panel and the card and SIM slots under the back panel. It comes with two SIM support with one hot swappable SIM slot, a feature generally seen in Nokia’s dual SIM devices. This means you just have to open the back panel for inserting the SIM and will not have to take out the battery. It can take in both standard and micro SIM cards.

More than regular Android The X2 comes with a 4.0-inch display with 800x480 resolution, that runs on the Nokia Clear Black display technology. It runs on a 1.2 GHz Snapdragon dual core processor, features 1GB RAM and 4 GB internal memory, expandable to upto 32GB. The UI is more Windows Phone than Android and carries the same live tile feature. Even the menu is like a Lumia phone. You can change it and put up any launcher you like, downloaded from Nokia App Store, or Android stores like Yandex or Getjar. You can uninstall any app you like here, unlike Android devices where you cannot get rid of any pre-loaded Google apps. It played games, HD videos and apps very

well. It has a 5.0-megapixel auto focus camera with average output and a VGA front camera. For music enthusiasts, it has the Nokia Music Store and also has Nokia Here maps.

Conclusion The Nokia X2 might seem a little over priced compared to the likes of the Moto E and Xiaomi Redmi 1S, but in terms of performance it is as reliable as any of them, although some hard core Android lovers might miss the presence of the Google Play store on it. It is available at Rs. 8,500, which is more than Asus ZenFone 4, which comes with a 4.5 inch display and the Moto E, both of which are priced at Rs. 6,999. And of course, there is also the little matter of the Xiaomi Redmi 1S which features a 720p display and 8.0-megapixel camera and is perhaps the best value for money device in the low-end of the smartphone market at Rs 5,999. That said, the Redmi 1S is notoriously difficult to get. If you want a different take on Android with excellent build quality, we really think you should consider the Nokia X2. n team@mymobile.co.in

Nokia X2 Dual SIM tech specs Size | 121.7 x 68.3 x 11.1 Weight | 150 grams

Cons

No Play Store Average camera

Memory | 4GB, microSD OS | Nokia X software platform Screen Size | 4.3-inch, Capacitive

verdict

Price: Rs 8,500

perfoRmance

Features

Looks

ease of use

/10

value for money

overall

82%

November 2014 MYMOBILE 41

burn test Impressive tablet, impressive price The Digiflip Pro XT911 is a very good proposition

lipkart may be serving up many other brands from its website but that has not stopped them from coming up with their own tablet. First they came with a 7.0-inch tablet and now they have introduced a 8.9-inch tablet called the Digiflip Pro XT911. the Intel powered XT911 comes with a number of impressive features. But, does it have what it takes to compete with the likes of the Asus FonePad and Samsung Galaxy Tab?

High on style and looks The Digiflip Pro XT911 is a smart looking tablet with a very good design and build-quality. It is available in white colour and has got glass panels on both the sides, somewhat similar to Sony Xperia and LG Nexus 4 device. The SIM card and micros SD card slots, along with the micro USB and speaker are placed on the side panel. The positioning of the speaker is good as putting it down on a surface wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stifle the sound. The design is very good but the presence of glass makes it highly susceptible to smudges and finger prints.

Powered by Intel The tablet is powered by Intelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2.2 GHz dualcore chipset, and comes with 2GB RAM and has 16GB internal memory with microSD card support for upto 32GB. In terms of storage it is very well equipped. Its other highlight is an impressive looking 8.9-inch display with a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080, which is a rarity among tablets at this price point. It supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity but the fact that it supports calling with 3G makes it all the more appealing. In multimedia, it has a 5.0-megapixel camera on the front and a 2.0-megapixel camera on the rear. Rather disappointingly, it runs on a fairly old version of the Android OS (4.2, Jellybean). This is surprising as devices that cost less than Rs 5,000 are available with KitKat OS on them. Besides the regular Google apps, it has a number of Flipkart apps like Flipkart store, Flipkart ebook app, and the Myntra shopping app.

Smart performer The Digiflip Pro XT911 impressed us a lot in performance and works smoothly in all

scenarios. It is powered by a huge 6,500mAh battery, which gives upto 15 hours of talktime. Display quality is very good but is prone to smudges and is not protected against scratches either. The camera quality is ordinary, but then we hardly expect great cameras in tablets. The XT911 is priced at Rs. 14,999, which makes it good value for money when you consider the quality of its display and processor. You can also check out the Milagrow M2 Pro, which is selling at the same price, or you can try out iBall Slide i1017 which has a 10.1-inch screen. n team@mymobile.co.in

DIGIFLIP PRO XT911 tech specs Size | 150 x 235.5 x 8.5 mm Weight | 483 grams Memory | 16GB, microSD OS | Android OS v4.2

Pros Impressive full HD display Good design

Price: Rs 14,999 verdict perfoRmance

Features

Cons

Old Android OS Smudge prone surface

Looks

ease of use

/10

value for money

overall

78% 42 MYMOBILE November 2014

www.mymobile.co.in

Feather Light Windows Phone But the Xolo Win Q900s is no

lightweight performer

he “world’s lightest Windows smartphone” are the words Xolo has been using to promote its first Windows Phone device, the Q900s. And it certainly is amazingly light. But do the missing grammes come at the cost of performance?

“Is the battery inside?” - yes, THAT light Xolo has been highlighting the weight of the Q900s in its ad campaign. However, nothing really prepared us for the sheer feather like weight of the device. The phone is not exactly small - it sports a 4.7 inch display- but is amazingly thin at 7.2 mm, and well, the first question we heard many people ask the moment they held it was: “Is the battery inside?” Yes, at a mere 100 grammes, the Q900s is perhaps the lightest smartphone we have ever used. It is even lighter than the smaller iPhone 5S, which tips the scale at 112 grammes. In terms of design, it sticks to a plain rather than spectacular approach. The front is all about the 4.7-inch display, which is incidentally a 720p HD one, something you do not see at this price point, and below it are the three typical Windows Phone keys for Back, Home and Search, although they do not come with the usual icons. The back is plain and features an 8.0-megapixel camera with flash (again, a rarity at this price point). Xolo has opted to keep the power and display button on the left of the device and the volume rocker on the right, which we think is a slightly odd arrangement, but all said and done, the device feels comfortable to hold and will easily fit most palms.

Good perfomer The Q900s is driven by a quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor, and comes with 1GB RAM and 8GB storage, which can be expanded using a memory card. It comes with 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS, and runs Windows Phone 8.1 While the display is not the brightest we have seen, it is definitely more than adequate for most browsing and reading tasks. There was a slight stutter in some high-end games, but by and large, the phone performed well. Sound quality was a bit on the mediocre side, but that was redeemed by a surprisingly decent 8.0-megapixel camera, which performed very well in normal light conditions, although we would not recom-

mend using it in low light conditions. The battery easily lasted a day of use.

Pros Light weight Excellent sound quality

Conclusion At Rs 9,999, the Xolo Q900s comes across as very decent value for money for someone looking for a sleek Windows Phone device. We would have liked a brighter display and better sound quality, but those quibbles fade in the face of what the phone delivers in terms of general smartphone performance and a decent camera. Yes, it does not have the attendant apps that you would get in a Microsoft Lumia device (maps, music, special camera

Xolo Win Q900s tech specs Size | 135.8x67.2x7.2 mm Weight | 100 grams

Cons

Simple design We missed Microsoft Apps

app, etc.) but we have no hesitation in crowning this the best non-Microsoft Windows Phone device we have used. It is definitely a notch above the Lumia 630 and 525, which are in the same price segment, thanks to its camera and higher resolution display. Those looking for an Android alternative could consider the Asus ZenFone 5, which comes with a 5.0-inch 720p display, an Intel processor and a 8.0-megapixel camera, at a similar price tag. n

Memory | 8GB, microSD

team@mymobile.co.in

OS | Windows Phone 8.1

verdict

Price: Rs 9,999

perfoRmance

Features

Looks

ease of use

/10

value for money

overall

82%

November 2014 MYMOBILE 43

burn test Pocket sized G3! LG shrinks

the G3 to produce the G3 Beat

f the G3 was LGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best handset in the high-end range so far, the new G3 Beat can be called its best mid-segment smartphone. The design that has become a trademark of LGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high end products shows up for the first time in a mid-range device and in a compact form factor.

Shades of the G3 The G3 beat is compact and fits very well in one hand, something that no other G series smartphone can claim and that likeness to a top class flagship device makes it all the more appealing. For a mini edition, a 5.0-inch display is far from small, but with slim bezels, LG has showed that even a 5.0-inch display can be accommodated into a compact form factor. The matte finish, metal strip,

44 MYMOBILE November 2014

www.mymobile.co.in

tapered back and slightly rounded corners gives it the look and feel of a premium phone. It is light and weighs just 134 grams. Besides the 5.0-inch display, the front panel features a front-facing camera and a LG logo beneath the display. The rear panel features a camera with flash, speaker and buttons to control volume, power on/off and locking/ unlocking the screen, in the same vein as the G2 and G3. It is very handy, as it does away with those side buttons that make holding a handset uncomfortable. The micro SIM and microSD card slots and the 2,540 mAh battery are placed inside the back cover and can be accessed by removing the back lid.

Decent specs The G3 Beat runs on a 1.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400, the same chipset that powers the Moto G. The amount of RAM is 1GB, but internal memory is just 8GB, out of which only 4GB is available for use. The system alone takes 3.75GB of internal memory. The G3 Beat can take external memory cards upto 32GB. It also features an 8.0-megapixel laser auto-focus camera. The display is big and good looking with screen resolution of 1280x720p and pixel density of 294ppi, which is a little on the lower side for phones in this price segment now. It impresses in connectivity, though. Not only does it have NFC, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, and 3G but also supports 4G LTE.

Latest Android in town The G3 Beat runs on the latest Android 4.4.4 (KitKat) operating system and runs the same UI that ran on the LG G3. By and large it looks like a stock Android UI. The apps are drawn close to each other, icons are small, but overall it is uncomplicated. The Settings panel is different, has network, sound, display, and general so one will not have to scroll down a long list to change settings. The touch is smooth and the viewing angles on the display are brilliant. You can turn on the camera by tilting the handset in a certain way. You can also lock and unlock the handset by setting a knock code by setting a tap pattern on the phone screen. Tapping according to the pattern can set it on and unlock the screen. LG has patented this unique unlocking pattern, so you will find it only on LG devices.

Smooth and fast If G3 is the power house of high-end phones, the G3 Beat comes close to being one in the mid-segment. It delivers a very good performance in most scenarios. It has an impressive 8.0-megapixel auto-focus camera, capable of decent shots both indoors and outdoors and comes with a number of handy features. Multiple focuses, swiping a finger to switch

Cons Screen resolution could have been more Slightly overpriced

Pros ce rforman Great Pe era Good cam ctivity 4G conne

to front camera and clicking picture by saying cheese or smiling are some of the intelligent features that make it fun to use. It can also record decent looking full HD videos. The 1.3megapixel front camera, however, is ordinary. It has a decent 2,540 mAh battery that gives a dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s backup easily. It handled games and HD content effortlessly and showed no signs of lag at any point. The speaker sound could have

LG G3 Beat tech specs Size | 137.7 x 69.6 x 10.3

been louder as we were expecting a bit more from a handset in this range.

Conclusion The LG G3 Beat is an impressive addition to the mid-segment smartphone market. It may not be as good looking as the Moto X but is still quite easy on the eye. Unfortunately, like many mini versions of high profile devices, it too suffers from the bane of being overpriced. It is priced at Rs. 25,000, which is too much for a handset with a 1280x720 screen resolution, and with a processor that powers devices that come at half its price. If you want 4G LTE and the look and feel of a high-end G3, this is a good choice, otherwise you can go for Moto X, priced at Rs, 17,999, which is a great looking device and has a brilliant display. n

Weight | 134 grams

team@mymobile.co.in

Memory | 8GB, microSD OS | Android OS v4.4

verdict

Price: Rs 25,000

perfoRmance

Features

Looks

ease of use

/10

value for money

overall

82%

November 2014 MYMOBILE 45

burn test Bigger and Better? The new Moto G has a lot to live up to

or many people, the original Moto G was the device that actually started the trend of devices that delivered excellent performance without costing the earth. Does its successor do the same?

Looking very...usual The first thing that might strike you about the Moto G (2nd Gen) is well, the fact that it does

46 MYMOBILE November 2014

not seem too extraordinary in terms of appearance. Unlike the original Moto G, the new one is not exactly compact. And that is because the display of the device is bigger and adheres to the current trend of big displays - while its predecessor sported a 4.5 inch display, the new Moto G has a 5.0-inch one. It also looks discernibly bigger - while the original Moto G was 129.9 mm long, the new one is 141.5 mm, and

while the original was 65.9 mm wide, the new one is 70.7 mm. Yes, at around 11 mm, the new Moto G is marginally thinner than its 11.6 mm thick predecessor, but there is no getting away from the fact that this is a large-ish phone, even though Motorola is to be commended at keeping the weight down to 149 grammes, a mere 6 grammes more than the original Moto G. In terms of appearance, the phone seems a

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bit more run of the mill, to be brutally honest. The display is flanked by twin speakers, which juts out a bit, and the volume rocker and power/ display buttons are on the right of the device, the micro USB port at the base, and the 3.5 mm audio jack bang on top. The back is smooth plastic (we got the white model) in which is lodged an 8.0-megapixel camera with single LED flash. There is also a front-facing 2.0-megapixel camera. We would not call this as compact and as palm-friendly as the oroiginal Moto G, but the Moto G (2nd Gen) does feel reassuringly solid to hold.

Getting a spec boost The second generation Moto G comes with slightly better specs than its predecessor, but just how much the spec bump up matters to you depends on what you value. The display has got bigger, but has the same resolution (1280 x 720) as the first Moto G. Honestly, we still think it is a very high-class display with good viewing angles, but there is a drop in pixel density (from an iPhone 5S-like 326 ppi to 294 ppi). Similarly, the processor and RAM combination remains the same - a 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 affair and 1GB. Connectivity options also remain more or less similar - 3G, Dual SIM, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. The most discernible change, apart from the display size is in cameras - the new Moto G sports a 8.0-megapixel camera at the back and a 2.0-megapixel camera in front. One of the main complaints about the original Moto G has also been addressed although like its predecessor, the new Moto G comes with storage of 8GB and 16GB, you can now expand it using a memory card. There are also twin speakers now, instead of just one, in front (one of the reasons why the phone seems longer). And of course, when it comes to software, you still get the latest version of Android - KitKat.

Still a brilliant performer When we had reviewed the original Moto G, we had come away impressed with its buttery smooth performance, and well, that is one aspect of the device that has not changed a bit. The Moto G (2nd Gen) is every bit as brilliant a performer as the first. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more, it brings considerable improvements in the two departments where the first was seen to lag - the camera and the sound. The 8.0-megapixel camera is not really the best at this price point (we think it is bettered significantly the slightly more expensive Xiaomi Mi3 and is matched by the lower priced Asus ZenFone 5), but is a significant step forward from the rather routine 5.0megapixel affair on the original. And yes, sound on those front-facing twin speakers is very good indeed. That apart, the large display is great for viewing videos and Web pages, and well, although some devices at this price point might

Pros isplay Bigger d t price Excellen ance perform Smooth

come with 2GB RAM, as compared to the 1GB on the new Moto G, the latter more than holds its own when it comes to handling high-definition games and hefty content. The fact that it runs plain Android makes it a very smooth performer indeed.

Conclusion: worthy successor? And yes, the price of the Moto G remains unchanged - it comes at Rs 12,999 for the 16GB model. However, what has changed is the market. When the original Moto G was released at this price earlier this year in India, there had been gasps of surprise. However, the period since has seen users being flooded with devices that come with good hardware at relatively low prices. So while the original Moto G had mainly to contend with the likes of the Lumia 525 and 630, the new one faces a very formidable challenge - most notably from the trio of the Asus ZenFone 5, which

Motorola Moto G (2nd Gen) tech specs Size | 141.5x70.7x10.99 mm Weight | 149 grams Memory | 16GB, microSD

Cons Routine looks No major spec upgrade Mediocre camera

starts at Rs 9,999 and also has an 8.0-megapixel camera and 5.0-inch display and is powered by a 64-bit Intel processor; the Micromax Canvas Nitro, which is priced at Rs 12,999 has a 5.0-inch display, a 13.0-megapixel camera and is powered by an octa core processor; and most notably, the difficult to find Xiaomi Mi 3, which costs slightly more at Rs 13,999, but packs in a full HD display, a quad core Snapdragon 800 processor and a 13.0-megapixel camera. The original Moto G was in a league of its own, the new one has competition. But yes, if you are looking for a solid performing smartphone in the sub-Rs 15,000 category, the Moto G (2nd generation) is definitely one of the prime options. n team@mymobile.co.in

OS | Android OS v4.4

verdict

Screen Size | 5.0-inch, Capacitive Battery | Li-Ion 2,070 mAh Talktime/Standby | -/GPRS/3G/BT/WiFi | Yes/Yes/Yes/Yes

perfoRmance

Features

Camera | 8.0-megapixel

Others | Dual SIM, Gorilla Glass 3, Motorola Migrate

Looks

Price: Rs 12,999

ease of use

/10

value for money

overall

80%

November 2014 MYMOBILE 47

burn test A breath of fresh air That is what the

Jolla is

he past few years have seen the smartphone world get split between Android, iOS and Windows Phone, with BlackBerry trying to make its presence felt. But there is more to the smartphone world than this mighty quarter. There are players trying to offer the user something different. And none more so than Jolla, whose first smartphone has now arrived in the Indian market.

Pros e UI Innovativ d Solid buil oid for Andr Support

48 MYMOBILE November 2014

Those old world specs and design On paper and in appearance, the Jolla seems like a device from a few years ago. At a time when most phones are focusing on being thinner than pencils even while sporting massive displays, the Jolla actually seems made up of two different parts and comes with a 4.5 inch display. At 9.9 mm, the phone is not particularly thick, but the fact that its back can be removed

and replaced by another (referred to as ‘the other half’) makes it look just a bit thicker than it actually is. The phone itself is built on very sturdy lines. The front is all display, with no buttons of any sort anywhere – no, not even soft keys. Even in terms of design, the focus seems to be more on substance than on style. There are no buttons on the left and on the base of the phone, and the volume and power buttons are on the right, while the micro USB port and 3.5 mm audio jack are right on top of the device. The back is very plain with an 8.0-megapixel camera with a flash next to it being the only feature worthy of mention. Interestingly, there is very little of the Jolla branding on the phone – there is a tiny ‘Jolla’ written on the top of the phone and a slightly larger one of the back, but the latter is in the same colour as the back cover so it is easy to miss it. You can add a dash of colour to the phone by changing its back but all said and done, this phone would not seem out of place in 2014. And the same goes for its spec sheet. The 4.5 inch display has a resolution of 960 x 540, and the phone is powered by a dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, backed up by 1GB RAM. There is 16GB of storage onboard, which can be expanded using a microSD card. Connectivity is the one area where this device can pretty much go toe to toe with any device: 3G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS and NFC are on board here.

Cons Not easy to learn Specs seem moderate A bit bulky

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And new world performance But you can banish all thoughts of the old world when you start using the Jolla. For the Jolla runs on the Sailfish OS, which is unlike any other OS in the smartphone market. There are no navigation buttons and the homescreen actually shows you your running apps, below which are arranged the apps on your device in a grid form. You can launch an app by tapping it and simply return to the homescreen by swiping in from the sides. This reduces the running app to a box on the homescreen where you can opt to close it if you wish. Swiping down from the top shows your calendar, and swiping up from the lower panel shows you notifications. Yes, it takes some getting used to but once you get to grips with it, you will be surprised at how smoothly it does work, barring the odd lag. The number of native apps for Sailfish are limited but the phone can run Android apps too and lets you install certain Android app stores like Yandex. You can also download Android APK files and run them on the phone, although those files needing a Google sign-in will face issues. All in all, we found the phone handling functions like mail, browsing the Web and social networks reasonably well, although some functionalities were conspicuous by their absence, such as the option to search mail. We were also able to instally many APKs without too many problems, most notably Flipboard which ran very smoothly indeed. And that actually is the term that best describes our experience with Sailfish – smooth. Yes, there was the odd niggle and searching for APKs for apps became a pain at times, but by and large, the phone performed admirably. The 8.0-megapixel camera was a pleasant surprise although it sometimes took a bit of time to launch, and sound quality was by and large good. Battery life was not great but careful nursing saw us through a day of use.

Conclusion: A worthy newcomer We will have to be brutally honest – the Jolla is unlikely to be everyone’s cup of tea. The phone has a definite learning curve and many mainstream users might find it too complicated for something in which they have invested Rs 16,499. We however have developed a fondness for the device, simply because of the high level of innovation it brings to what is becoming an increasingly predictable smartphone marketplace. The phone in itself has no alternative as it is the only one of its kind, but if you want something else for the same price, then you could consider the Moto G (2nd Gen) which is currently available for Rs 12,999 and comes with impressive hardware and software for the price, as well as the Lumia 730, which comes with a superb selfie camera and runs Windows Phone and is available for approximately Rs 16,500. But if you are in the mood to try something new, this is one phone that we would definitely recommend. n team@mymobile.co.in

Jolla tech specs Size | 131 x 68 x 9.9 mm Weight | 141 grams Memory | 16GB, microSD

verdict

OS | Sailfish OS, v1 Screen Size | 4.5-inch, Capacitive

perfoRmance

Battery | Li-Ion 2,100 mAh Talktime/Standby | Up to 9 hours/Up to 500 hours

GPRS/3G/BT/WiFi | Yes/Yes/Yes/Yes Camera | 8.0-megapixel Others | Supports Android Apps, NFC ready

Price: Rs 16,499

ease of use

Features

Looks

/10

value for money

overall

84%

November 2014 MYMOBILE 49

burn test Pros mera Swivel ca sign Classy de pecs Decent s

Honey, I Shrunk the N1 Oppo tries to

bottle the N1 magic in a smaller package

hile most of the Chinese brands in the country have been fighting on price, Oppo has been treading a distinctly different path, focusing instead on high-end features, often accompanied by a relatively high price tag. The N1 Mini is another example of this approach. But does it offer enough bang for the price it charges?

Looks stylish...again

Cons Expensive for specs A bit bulky Older Android

Oppo has been forging a reputation for itself as a manufacturer of phones that have a premium look and feel. The N1 was a prime example of this - some found it to be a bit large and bulky, but we loved its solid feel and the use of premium materials. The N1 Mini, as its name indicates, is a smaller version of the flagship. The ‘smaller’ however is only in comparative terms, for seen on its own, the N1 Mini is hardly a small phone. It is almost half a foot long and tips the scales at a very healthy 150 grammes. The front is dominated by a 5.0-inch display (the N1 had a 5.9 inch one, remember?), and unlike most of the other devices in the market, the upper and lower parts of the device are slightly curved in a convex shape, making it stand out from the routine rectangular shapes we see in other phones. But what is really likely to mark it out as different is the rotating camera on top of the display, which can turn on its hinge to act as both a front facing as well as a rear camera, depending on your inclination. There are three touch buttons beneath the display for Menu, Back and Home. In a slightly unusual arrangement, the left side of the phone houses the power/display key, while the right has the volume rocker, which takes some getting used to. The top is bare, while the base houses the micro USB slot and the 3.5 mm audio jack. The SIM card tray is right next to the volume rocker. The back is plain and made of smooth plastic, and there are metal accents on the side and on the rotating camera. All in all, the phone once again feels a bit large to hold, but has a good feel to it, once one gets used to the power and volume key arrangement. It hardly looks like a ‘mini’ edition, though.

Innovative camera, but routine hardware The most striking feature of the N1 Mini is without doubt the 13.0-megapixel rotating camera, which as in the N1, turns in a very good performance, in terms of colour and detail. However, the other specifications of the device are more routine than exceptional. The 5.0-inch display looks good

50 MYMOBILE November 2014

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in terms of brightness and colour but is actually a 720p one, and powering the device is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, backed up by 2GB RAM. Memory stands at 16GB and is non-expandable. Connectivity options include 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS, and also with the device is the remote that lets you click selfies from a distance. The phone runs an older version of Android (4.3), although you would be hardpressed to spot it as it runs below Oppoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own ColorOS skin. In terms of performance, the N1 Mini walks the middle path. It is not going to set benchmarks on fire but handled most games and high-end applications without much trouble. The camera is the highlight of the device, taking some very sharp images and shooting decent video. We would have preferred better sound quality though, both in general and on call (something we experienced on the N1 too). The remote is a handy addition for those who like to control the camera from a distance, but honestly, we think it becomes another thing to carry, and therefore, to lose - we are not too convinced by the value it delivers.

Conclusion It is a solid performer with a very innovative camera, but all said and done, one cannot help but feel that at Rs 26,990, the Oppo N1 Mini is a bit of an expensive proposition, especially in a market that is getting used to devices that offer high-end specs at relatively lower prices. There will be people who will point out that the Nexus 5 comes with a better processor, albeit with an inferior camera, at a slightly higher price, while another Chinese manufacturer, Gionee, offers its flagship Elife E7 at an almost similar price with a superior 16.0-megapixel camera and far superior hardware (Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor). Gionee in fact also offers the Elife E7 Mini, with a twist around camera similar to that seen on the N1 Mini, and with an octa core processor, for Rs 18,999. And then there is the Lumia 830 which sports a PureView camera and a very solid finish and costs only slightly more. All of which makes the Oppo N1 Mini seem a slightly overpriced proposition. It is a good device, yes, and we love the build and the camera especially, but honestly, for that kind of price, we expected a lot more. n team@mymobile.co.in

Oppo N1 mini tech specs Size | 148.4 x 72.2 x 9.2 mm Weight | 150 grams Memory | 16GB, microSD

verdict

Price: Rs 26,990

perfoRmance

Features

Looks

ease of use

/10

value for money

overall

78%

November 2014 MYMOBILE 51

burn test The Selfie Xperia That’s what the Sony Xperia C3 claims to be

ith the Xperia C3, Sony is taking a dab in the selfie trend and showing off its fine design sense once again. The selfie camera, which until sometime ago used to be just a front camera, is redefining the role of cameras in a smartphone. The Xperia C3 has a 5.0-megapixel front camera, which by conventional standards is high but definitely not rare – the Micromax Canvas Nitro has 5.0megapixel front camera while the Gionee Elife E7 boasts of an 8.0-megapixel front camera. Certainly, it is not a ground breaking accomplishment but it is what Sony has done with it that makes the C3 special.

Classy looks, easy to handle With the Xperia C3, Sony has shown that not all its classy looking devices have to belong to the Z series. Even a mid-range smartphone like C3 can be knock out. A slim build, sleek form factor, matte finish, eye popping colours and a shiny metal strip running across the entire side panel, which curls at the corners for user’s comfort, enhance the device’s aura. It is relatively lightweight and is good to handle. The buttons have been placed in such a way as to assist in onehanded use. The keys are placed on the lower side of the side panel, a rarity, to make them accessible. The side panel also features a micro SD slot and the SIM card tray – interestingly, the phone restarts if the SIM card tray is taken out. For a handset with screen size of 5.5-inches, the Xperia C3 is compact and handy. Since it’s a unibody device, the back panel is closed and the battery cannot be taken out. Memory card and SIM card slots are placed on the side panel, and covered with typical Sony rubber flap. The back panel carries an 8.0-megapixel camera with flash, a wide speaker and the Sony Xperia imprint.

KitKat phone with Sony effect The phone comes with Android KitKat version 4.4.2 out of the box and has the typical Sony Xperia interface that Sony uses in all its smartphones. The UI is simple and easy to follow even though it is very distinct from a stock Android UI. Being a Sony device, it has a number of Sony created apps like Smart Connect, Wisepilot- a traffic and driving assistant, Walkman music app, Sony Select app store, Social Life- a news aggregator site like Newsstand, Sony LIV, and Xperia Lounge-a multimedia app for sports, music and film based content. Overall, the phone offers an immense amount of multimedia content to keep one thoroughly occupied.

52 MYMOBILE November 2014

Pros e design Impressiv eras ir of cam a p d o o G ance perform Smooth

Power of two cameras The Xperia C3 is powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor, has 1GB RAM, 8GB internal memory, upto 32GB expandable memory and a 2,500mAh Li-ion battery. The internal memory struck us as being a bit low, but in terms of cameras, this is a well equipped device. The rear one is of 8.0-megapixels and boasts of touch to focus, object tracking, face/smile detection, LED flash, panorama mode and can record full HD videos. The front camera, however, the surprise here, as it comes with a 5.0-megapixel count as well as, surprise, surprise, a flash. Speaking of cameras, Sony has included a dedicated camera button on the device, which is always welcome. The phone has a wide 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with 1280 x 720 screen resolution and 267 ppi pixel density, which is respectable but a bit low when one considers that the likes of the Gionee Elife E5.5 and Micromax Canvas Knight come with full HD displays at lower prices.

Smooth performance, impressive cameras In performance, the Xperia C3 delivers a good performance, particularly when it comes to the front facing camera. It can handle pretty much everything we threw at it, from games, to HD movies without any signs of lag. The rear camera can be really good in a properly lit environment, produces accurate colours and can record decent looking videos. In low light it appeared beaten and dull. The front camera is good and is going to impress the selfie enthusiasts a lot. It comes with handy features like self-timer, smile shutter, image preview and burst mode. The speaker is wide and gives decent output, although it loses its intensity when placed on a surface. The battery backup is decent and we got through a day on a single charge with moderate use.

Price: Rs 23,000 verdict

Conclusion The Sony Xperia C3 is a great camera phone with not just a good rear camera but also a good front camera. If a camera is high on your priority list, it is certainly worth checking out, as it is quite good looking, works fluently and has plenty of multimedia features. Its alternative could be the Gionee Elife E7, which offers a full HD display, Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 32GB internal memory, and a 16-megapixel camera as well as a 8.0-megapixel front facing camera for Rs. 27,000. n team@mymobile.co.in

perfoRmance

Features

Looks

ease of use

/10

value for money

overall

80%

www.mymobile.co.in Cons Screen resolution low for display size Internal memory should have been more

November 2014 MYMOBILE 53

burn test A New X Cometh The new Moto X packs in great design and great hardware

t is bigger and packs in some of the most powerful hardware seen in a Motorola device, but does the new Moto X retain the magic that made the original stand out from the crowd?

Looks awesome...at the back Motorola had stunned the world when it had released the original Moto X in 2013. At a time when most manufacturers were going for phones with larger displays and high-end technical specifications, the original Moto X stuck to a 4.7-inch display and was powered by a dual core processor. And it still churned out a brilliant performance and won rave reviews for its compact design. The Moto X (2nd Gen) however, treads the path set by others. In fact, many who saw it from the front even thought it was a Samsung - the plethora of sensors around the 5.0-inch display flanked by the metal speakers reminding them of some of the devices in the Galaxy series. Turn the device around, however, and the Moto magic kicks in. We got the wooden edition of the phone and it certainly was a head turner, with the 13.0megapixel camera with a ringed dual LED flash and a metallic Motorola logo on the upper side. Speaking of metal, the sides of the device are all metal, giving it a very solid feel, with the volume rocker and display/power button on the right, the 3.5 mm audio jack and SIM card slot on top and the micro USB port at the base. The left side is totally bare. Yes, the phone is significantly larger than the original Moto X, a fact that can be put down to its 5.2-inch display, but it still feels comfortable to hold for its size. That said, at 140.8 mm length and 72.4 mm width, it is hardly a compact device. In fact, it seemed almost the same size as the Galaxy S5, which is marginally longer and wider, but which is much thinner at 8.1 mm, as compared to the slightly thicker Moto X (2nd Gen), which is 10 mm in that department. That wooden back and metallic logo will, however, turn heads we assure you!

Great specs, great performance The Moto X (2nd Gen.) comes with specs right out of the Android flagship department. The 5.2-inch display is AMOLED and like its predecessor, is brilliant and bright. Unlike its predecessor, it is also a full HD one. And there is no dual core processor this time - the

54 MYMOBILE November 2014

Moto X (2nd Gen) is powered by a 2.5 GHz quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, similar to the one seen in most Android flagships in the market. This is backed up by 2GB RAM, and storage that stands at 16GB or 32GB, depending on your version. As in the original, you cannot expand it. The camera has been bumped up to 13.0-megapixels and now comes with a dual LED flash, while the front facing camera remains a 2.0-megapixel affair. Connectivity options include 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC and Bluetooth. And the Moto X delivers a performance worthy of its specs as well. As in the case of the original, it comes with plain, uncluttered Android and we found playing games and browsing the Web an utter delight. Sound quality was excellent from the dual speakers, and while camera performance was a notch above that seen in the original Moto X, we would not call this a great camera phone yet - do remember to check your pictures on a proper display as the AMOLED one on the Moto X tends to saturate colours. Battery life was not exceptional but was more than decent - the phone easily saw off a day of hefty use.

Conclusion Yes, it has much better hardware than its predecessor, and it still looks wonderful, but the new Moto X is a step away from the philosophy of the original which revolved around a relatively smaller form factor and a stress on experience rather than hardware. And while there is no doubting the hardware muscle and performance of the new Moto X, it does face some stiff competition at its price tag of Rs 31,999. Perhaps the most significant comes from the just-released Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro, which costs Rs 32,999, but comes with a larger 6.0-inch quad HD display and a 16.0-megapixel camera, and 3GB RAM even though it too is powered by a Snapdragon 801 processor. There is also the little matter of the Nexus 5 which is priced at Rs 28,999 and for many remains the Holy Grail of Android with its 4.95-inch full HD display backed by a quad core processor, and well, looming above just about every high-end device is the Xiaomi Mi 3, which comes with a 5.0-inch full HD display, a quad core processor and a 13.0-megapixel camera, and is priced at a staggering Rs 13,999. The new Moto X is a fantastic phone, no doubt, but it is not as unique as its predecessor, and that is where its biggest challenge lies. If you

Price: Rs 31,999

www.mymobile.co.in Pros Very good design Top notch hardware Latest Android

verdict perfoRmance

Cons A little expensive Average camera A bit bulky

Features

Looks

ease of use

/10

value for money

overall

82%

November 2014 MYMOBILE 55

burn test A Passport to Productivity The BlackBerry Passport is unlike anything we have seen

t is being hailed as BlackBerry’s saviour in some quarters and is being derided as a relic from a glorious past in some others. But what actually is the BlackBerry Passport?

Nothing like anything We are not going to mince any words here - the BlackBerry Passport looks unlike any phone we have ever used. At a time when most phones look pretty much the same, barring the odd curve and the material used (like wood in the case of the Moto X), the Passport sticks out in the smartphone crowd with its square-ish appearance. No, it is nowhere near being a perfect square but to get an idea of its proportions, well, consider the fact that at 128 mm, it is slightly longer than the 123.8 mm long iPhone 5s but is almost one and a half times as wide at 90.3 mm. At 9.3 mm, it is on the thinner side, although not in the wafer-thin league that seems to rule the smartphone world these days. But if the shape of the Passport hits you straight away, what will strike you next is its design. The phone comprises a 4.5-inch display and a full QWERTY keyboard, albeit one with no shortcut keys - you only get the alphabet, and the Enter, Space and Delete keys on the keyboard. We have seen relatively large displays with QWERTY keyboard before (most notably in the Nokia E61i, the Nokia Communicator E90 and in BlackBerry’s own Q10), but have never seen this large a display over a QWERTY keyboard in a smartphone. It is like a massive handheld computer. And in best BlackBerry tradition, it is built on solid lines with a lot of understated style. There are steel bands running along the keyboard, the back is smooth plastic, and the sides are all metal. Lending a distinct touch of class to the appearance of the device is the shiny BlackBerry logo at the back, just below the 13.0-megapixel camera with flash. The volume rocker and voice command buttons are on the right, the 3.5 mm audio jack on top and the micro USB slot on the base. The top can be pulled off to insert a SIM or memory card. Yes, it won’t fit the hand of any person we know, but we have seldom seen a device that looks as different as the Passport does. It seems right out of Suits!

Built for Work In terms of hardware, the Passport is very much a beast and is clearly designed for work. The 4.5 inch display has a very unusual resolution of 1440 x 1440, which might make some apps run with blank bands

56 MYMOBILE November 2014

above and below them, but is terrific for reading content and viewing spreadsheets (you can actually view multiple columns and rows without having to tilt your device). Ensuring that there are no lags is the quad core Snapdragon 801 processor accompanied by 3GB RAM. Storage stands at 32GB and can be expanded via memory card. Connectivity options include 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. Touch works brilliantly on the large display, but for many people, it will be the keyboard that will be the clinching argument for designating the Passport as the ultimate productivity phone. Yes, the shortcut keys appearing at the bottom of the screen takes some getting used to and you are best using the keyboard with both hands, but a few days with the device will get you typing like a pro. BlackBerry’s predictive text is in place too and you can even select words by swiping upwards on the keyboard - it seems a bit odd initially but works like a charm once you get the hang of it (the predictive text, incidentally, is superb, as we saw in the Z10 and Z30!). BlackBerry has updated the OS on the device to BlackBerry 10.3, and you also get access to Amazon’s App Store, which means a lot more apps than in the past. Not all of them run perfectly, thanks to the device’s odd resolution, but if it is mail, social networks and office suite that you want, then this is the device to own. The camera delivers a very solid performance, especially in terms of detail, and battery life is excellent - you can get a day and a half of work on a single charge. Call quality is top notch although we would have preferred slightly louder sound in loudspeaker mode.

Conclusion: BlackBerry scores! We had heard a lot of complaints about the Rs 49,999 price tag of the Passport, but honestly, at a time when most flagship devices cost in the range of Rs 50,000, it does not strike us as being as over the top as some seem to assume. What’s more, unlike its Android brethren, the Passport has the advantage of being pretty much in a league of its own. People can talk in terms of processor speed and display size, but there is simply no phone out there that delivers a display of this resolution with a proper QWERTY keyboard. Are you the kind of person that reads and writes a lot and want a handheld device that lets you leave you notebook behind sometimes? Grab a Passport. BlackBerry just redefined mobile productivity, we think. n team@mymobile.co.in

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Pros Innovative design Good QWERTY keyboard Excellent display

Price: Rs 49,990

verdict perfoRmance

ease of use

Features

Cons Expensive Needs getting used to Bulky for most hands

Looks

/10

value for money

overall

86%

November 2014 MYMOBILE 57

burn test Lumia in the Middle The Lumia 830 walks

between high-end and affordable

fter an unusually quiet period, Microsoft has finally boosted the Lumia range with three new devices. While the Lumia 930 is high-end and the Lumia 730 more affordable, the Lumia 830 tries to strike the middle ground between them. Does it succeed? The Lumia 800 series has traditionally occupied the so-called middle ground between the very high priced models and the relatively more affordable ones. The Lumia 800 was priced well above the middle segment but below the premium 900, the Lumia 820 occupied a similar status with regards to the Lumia 920, and now with the Lumia 930 hitting the Indian market, the Lumia 830 tries to slip into the Rs 25,00030,000 slot that seems to be its preserve. It was even described as delivering premium features at a relatively affordable price. But is it at home in that very competitive segment?

too distant past. The phone has a very solid aluminum frame on which it rests, and while at 8.5 mm, it is by no means fat, neither does it sport that thinness that terrifies rather than reassures us. No, this is Nokia at its solid, reliable best. The front is dominated by a 5.0-inch display with the three typical Windows Phone buttons beneath it - back, home and search. The

Looks: so solid, so Nokia! At a time when phones are trying to give fashion models lessons in anorexia, the Lumia 830 seems to be a refreshing blast from a not

Price: Rs 28,500 58 MYMOBILE November 2014

Pros Superb camera Decent hardware Rock solid design

design is pretty minimalistic in general - the left side and the base are totally plain metal, while the right houses the volume rocker, display on/ off key and the dedicated camera button. Switch to the top for the audio jack. Flip the phone around and you get to see a carbonate cover with the PureView camera, which comes in a black circular enclosure and stands out without

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protruding. You can take off the back cover - a bit of anannoying process given the number of contact points (or “teeth” as some call them) on it - to insert the SIM and the microSD card and before you ask, yes, the battery is removable

Decent specs In terms of hardware, the Lumia 830 seems to tread middle ground once again. Although it features a relatively large 5.0-inch display, the resolution is 720p, and the processor powering the device is a 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, similar to the one we have seen in the Moto G. This is backed up by 1GB RAM and 16GB storage, which is expandable using a memory card. Connectivity options include 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and NFC, and

running on top of all this is the latest edition of Windows Phone 8.1. However, one of the main selling points of the device is likely to be its 10.0-megapixel camera which comes with the PureView technology made famous by the Lumia 920 and 1020. There is a front camera too, although that is a more modest 0.90-megapixel affair.

Decent performer too, with a great camera And it is the camera that is the star act in the Lumia 830. Although the display was good for viewing Web pages and playing videos, we must confess we have seen brighter ones. Windows Phone is its usually smooth self on the phone, but where it really pulls away from the competition is in terms of the camera. The 10.0-megapixel PureView shooter was quite outstanding in normal light and more than adequate in low light conditions, capturing a lot of detail, and reproducing colour very well indeed. It even shot very good video with superb sound, thanks to the 3 Mic rich recording system. Sound quality was decent on loudspeaker and excellent on headphones, and well, call quality was typical Nokia: reliable and clear. The phone also comes with the usual freebies for Lumia users

including maps and music. We did expect a bit more out of the battery though – if we used the camera a lot, which we were tempted to do, seeing through a day on a single charge was a challenge.

Conclusion We must confess we have rather mixed feelings about the Lumia 830. We love its solid build and general performance, but at Rs 28,799 we must confess that it does not really do enough to make us feel that it is a step above the very good Lumia 925, which is available at around the same price or even lower at some places, and remains a very good performer. Android fans will of course point out that they can opt for the Nexus 5 or the very good-looking Moto X, which are priced in a similar range and boast better specifications or opt for the HTC Desire 816, which boasts comparable specifications but comes with a larger display and a very good camera too. The Lumia 830’s biggest ace up its sleeve is that PureView camera, and if photography is a major factor in your phone purchase, then perhaps this is one of the best camera phones you can get for less than Rs 30,000. As purely a smartphone, however, it faces a very stiff challenge from some very worthy rivals. n team@mymobile.co.in

Cons A bit expensive Poor front facing camera Battery drains fast

verdict perfoRmance

Features

Looks

ease of use

/10

value for money

overall

80%

November 2014 MYMOBILE 59

burn test Stunning Xperia

The Z3 is Sony’s greatest Xperia yet

ost companies restrict themselves to a single flagship device per year. Sony has, however, gone ahead and released its second flagship, the Xperia Z3, barely six months after the release of the Xperia Z2. Is this a worthy upgrade or just a spec sheet rehash?

It’s...beautiful We have seen our share of good-looking phones, but there is no getting away from it - the Sony Xperia Z3 is absolutely drop-dead gorgeous. Like its predecessors in the Xperia Z series, the Z3 too is sandwiched between two glass panels and has a solid metal frame, but unlike those worthies, it has a very curvy feel to it. Whereas the Z1 and Z2 had a definite box-y element about their designs, with relatively straight sides, the Z3 has sides that curve out gently - even the card and USB slot covers are gently arched. Sony has also gone into trimming overdrive, shaving off the bezels from the sides, although the areas above and below the phone continue to remain bulky by modern minimalistic standards. The right side seems a bit crowded with the SIM card slot, the microSD card slot (both covered with flaps), the round metallic display on/off button, the volume rocker and the dedicated camera button. The left side has a magnetic accessory port and a covered micro USB slot. The top houses the 3.5 mm audio jack, while the base is left bare. The back is sheer glass with a 20.7-megapixel camera with a LED flash below it on the top left corner. All in all, this is a phone that is incredibly classy to hold and which in spite of being heavier than the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S5, does not quite feel so - we suspect that its incredibly slim 7.3mm frame might have something to do with that. We got the copper model of the Xperia Z3 and have no hesitation in declaring it to be one of the most beautifully crafted phones we have used, right alongside (and maybe even ahead of) the brilliant HTC One M8. This is understated premium quality indeed.

It’s tough... The Xperia Z3 like its brethren in the Xperia Z range is water resistant (just keep those flaps covering the ports shut) and dust resistant too. In fact, if the fancy strikes you, you can even take it for a spot of underwater photography. And you might well be tempted to, because while the megapixel count of the camera remains the same as the Z2 at 20.7-megapixels, it has been given a massive boost in terms of low light muscle with an ISO count of 12,800, well above most camera phones. The phone itself is no slouch in the hardware department - the display is a full HD one using Sony’s Triluminos technology and among the brightest we have seen on a handset (Sony says it is its brightest), while ensuring

60 MYMOBILE November 2014

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Pros Great design Good camera Water, dust resistant

Weight | 152 grams

matters run smoothly is a quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor backed up by 3GB RAM. Storage stands at 16GB and is expandable using a memory card, and when it comes to connectivity options, you have 3G, NFC, Bluetooth, GPS and Wi-Fi. Running on top of all this is Android KitKat, with Sonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s generally non-intrusive interface, which sticks to the customisable homescreens with an app drawer format, without trying too much. Any way you look at it, this is one powerful device.

Memory | 16GB, microSD

..and it performs

Sony Xperia z3 tech specs Size | 146 x 72 x 7.3 mm

OS | Android OS v4.4 Screen Size | 5.2-inch, Capacitive Battery | Li-Ion 3,100 mAh

Cons Expensive Sound could be louder Can heat up

Talktime/Standby | Up to 14 hours/ Up to 890 hours GPRS/3G/BT/WiFi | Yes/Yes/Yes/Yes Camera | 20.7-megapixel Others | Dust proof and water resistant, Sonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Triluminous display

Price: Rs 51,990

And it is no mere spec monster. For, the Xperia Z3 performs very well indeed. It handled high definition games and videos without a hitch, and was a wizard at multi-tasking. The display is one of the best we have seen in terms of colour reproduction and sharpness. And then there is the matter of the camera. We must confess we had been a bit underwhelmed by the camera on the Z2, but the Z3 delivers a very good performance on this front, be it in low light or normal conditions (we would advise not using the flash too much, though). Sony has also added some very interesting editing effects to the camera and kept its interface relatively simple. It has also retained the dedicated camera button, which is a must in large screen devices, in our opinion. Picture quality is excellent as is video (you can shoot 4K video with this phone, incidentally). Sound quality is good, although we had expected slightly higher volumes from the twin front facing speakers. But the real surprise is the battery life. Sony claims this is a two day battery and while it did not last that much, it comfortably saw us into a second day of hectic use, which is amazing in a device with this sort of a display and camera. Speaking of the camera, go easy on the special effects, as that can cause the phone to heat up a bit.

Conclusion: Pricey, but a performer At Rs 51,990, the Xperia Z3 definitely is not a cheap proposition. However, we can safely say that it is easily one of the best combinations of substance and style that we have seen in an Android device for a long time. It looks good and it performs brilliantly, with no discernible weakness. Yes, there will be those who will be lured by the quad HD displays on the LG G3 and the Lenovo Vibe X2 Pro which offer comparable specs at lower prices, as well as those who will feel tempted by the new iPhone 6 which costs Rs 53,500, but what we can safely say is that while the Xperia Z3 is a hefty investment, those who invest in it are unlikely to regret doing so. Sony has just unleashed the greatest Xperia on the world. n team@mymobile.co.in

verdict perfoRmance

Features

Looks

ease of use

/10

value for money

overall

84%

November 2014 MYMOBILE 61

sneak peek SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE EDGE Adding An Edge to the Note

amsung might have released the Galaxy Note 4 recently, but it is the upcoming Galaxy Note Edge that has phablet lovers buzzing. And that is because the device comes with a 5.6-inch curved Quad HD display that is quite unlike anything seen in the market for a while, displaying notifications and information not just on the main screen but also on the edge (hence the name). Of course, the hardware remains cutting edge (pun intended): the Edge comes with a super AMOLED display with 524 ppi pixel density and runs on Android 4.4.4 KitKat. It is powered by a 2.7 GHz quadcore Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor and comes with 3GB RAM, 32GB of internal storage (expandable by a microSD card), a 16.0-megapixel rear camera, a 3.0-megapixel front facing camera and a 3,000mAh battery. This being part of the iconic Note series, it is also accompanied by a S-Pen stylus. It is expected to arrive in the Indian market in November at a premium price that is expected to be in the vicinity of Rs 65,000. n

team@mymobile.co.in

HTC Desire Eye Pure Selfie Magic

fter making waves with the front facing camera on its Desire 816, HTC has decided to add a new dimension to the selfie world with its Desire Eye smartphone. It is made of high quality plastic and comes with a 5.2-inch full HD display and is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, backed up by 2GB RAM and 8GB of storage. It runs on Android 4.4.2 (KitKat) and has a 2,400 mAh battery. Yes, we left the best for last – it comes with dual 13.0-megapixel cameras. Even the front-facing camera is a 13.0-megapixel one, making it one of the most powerful front facing cameras in the world at the moment. The device is expected to arrive in the market at a price in the vicinity of Rs 35,000. We can see selfie lovers lining up for it. Rumour is also rife that HTC plans to launch a whole range of devices with powerful front-facing cameras bearing the ‘Eye’ suffix, but that is another story altogether, for another time and issue n

62 MYMOBILE november 2014

in focus

Windows 10: A New Windows Is En Route!

Yes, Microsoft is working on a new version of Windows, and no, contrary to what a lot of people thought, it will not be called Windows 9. The

Redmond giant surprised a lot of people when it took the covers off the next edition of Windows, which will be known as Windows 10.

Abhijit Ahaskar

64 MYMOBILE november 2014

www.mymobile.co.in

new Windows OS is in the making. Its prototype was shown off recently in California and it soon will be made available through Windows Insider Program for preview for developers and members before it is finally released for the general public some time next year. Windows 10 OS (yes, there will be no Windows 9) is full of surprises, but also treads on familiar territory with the focus on offering a more universal Windows OS. To begin with, the new operating system is designed in line with Microsoftâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new strategy which focuses more on cloud and mobile platforms. So, when it came to naming the product, Microsoft decided against naming it Windows 9. The company feels Windows 10 is a major leap and calling it Windows 10 conveys the message better.

Enterprise first Microsoft considers enterprise users as its most important customers. Windows 8 failed to impress many as it had very few things in common, in terms of design and use, with the previous operating systems. The focus was more on touch and the new tile interface and the old desktop experience was also given a new look and feel. If Microsoft was lauded for its innovation, it was also slammed for not keeping a balance between the old and the new. A lot of users felt more at home with a full-fledged PC and not a half breed tablet PC. Windows 10 brings that familiarity, known to users of Windows 7, back. It is going to be familiar to all Windows users no matter which Windows OS they are coming from, and is going to be compatible with all the apps and tools running on previous versions of Windows.

Multiple devices, one experience The existence of multiple devices of multiple sizes is a dilemma that present day corporate world has to live with. For enterprise, managing so many devices can be a formidable challenge, unless they all can be handled through a single platform. Windows 10 is that single platform that can run on multiple devices of different screen sizes, offering a tailor-made experience on all. Windows 10 allows its users to manage all devices including PCs, tablets and mobile with one mobile device management interface. Security is another concern that enterprise wanted to be addressed better. Microsoft claims that Windows 10 is more secure than its predecessors as it separates and protects corporate data from personal data across all devices.

Improving the experience The pace of evolution in tablets and mobile

has been relatively more rapid as compared to PCs. Windows 10 is built on the premise of making the user experience better, more advanced and more comprehensive. Bringing back the old was not enough, so new features were added as well. Some notable features include: Start Menu- Leaving out the Start Menu in Windows 8 was a move that did not go down well with the Windows faithful. The new OS brings it back. And it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come alone but with some elements of Windows 8. A live tile inventory has been added with the Start menu. The inventory can be customized, so can the apps on it but the most interesting feature is the ability to resize the Start Menu. Title Bar- Windows 10 also brings back the title bar, and runs in a manner similar to the classic Windows apps. Users can drag it anywhere on the screen, resize and close it or minimize it. One can also lay out two or more than two Windows apps side by side, and keep them open simultaneously. Task view- A new button called Task View on taskbar has been added, enabling a user to move across swiftly from one task to another. This is going to be handy for users, as it gives

them a glimpse of all apps running in the background, and allows seamless movement from one to another. Shortcut keyboard- The keyboard remains the most popular mode input mode on PCs. Windows 10 introduces a higher level of integration with keyboard. Professional users can jump to apps and control a great deal of action on their PC with their keyboard and achieve higher productivity in lesser time. From type to touch automaticallyThe touch aspect which confused many users in Windows 8 has been better handled in Windows 10. A convertible or hybrid PC will automatically shift to a tablet mode the moment a keyboard is detached. The new OS seems one of the most comprehensive reworkings of Windows we have seen. It attempts to bridge the gap between the past and the present editions of the OS, even while focusing on enterprise and attempting to improve the desktop experience. The consumer version of Windows 10 is expected only in the latter half of 2015, but its technical preview is available for download. Stay tuned for more news in this regard. After all, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a new Windows in tech town! n abhijit@mymobile.co.in

november 2014 MYMOBILE 65

spot light

The Online Shopaholic’s Guide Addicted to shopping online? We don’t blame you, given the kind of deals and

products that are becoming available. A bit of caution, however, is needed to ensure that you are not swindled. Here’s our basic shopping guide for online shopaholics.

Mukesh Kumar Singh & Abhijit Ahaskar

66 MYMOBILE november 2014

www.mymobile.co.in

he ease and comfort of buying goods without stepping into a crowded retail store, or waiting for the right colour and right product to arrive, and (most importantly) getting discounts in the bargain, are some of the key factors that draws more and more people to online shopping. But, this remarkable and comforting mode of shopping can be a nightmare if a buyer is not aware of the various nuances of the online business. Yes, it is easy but it is definitely not free from deception and deceit. However, one can ensure that one is not tricked by keeping an eye on a few points.

Pay attention to every detail One of the most common tricks played on buyers in online stores is presenting lookalikes of certain products with brand names that appear similar. A brand that sounds like a major brand or an imitation of a

high profile device from a high profile brand would be presented in such a way that a buyer would mistake it for the real thing. So, the first rule of online shopping is to pay attention to every detail, examining every aspect carefully, reading the terms and conditions, no matter how long they might be. And yes, a rule of thumb is that if a deal seems too good to be true, then there probably is something fishy involved.

Credit cards are safer When it comes to payment, cash on delivery is the most popular mode of transaction in India. But, COD is not available everywhere and many buyers don’t mind paying ahead of delivery. Users paying through a card must understand that the risk is higher when one is paying through a debit card than on a credit card. A credit card offers more protection to a buyer. In case of a fraud or transaction gone awry, a user can refuse to pay and the onus is on the banks to settle the matter with the retailer. The user won’t lose his or her peace of mind over it as they might in case of purchase made through a debit card where the actual deposit would be debited at once and the process of recovery could be long and arduous.

The dilemma of warranty Warranty on products is often shrouded in mystery. Often it covers only a certain part and applies only to specific damages. A user must be aware of what all is covered in the warranty or whether the device on the e-store is backed by manufacturer warranty. For instance, some time ago, Lenovo announced that e-commerce sites like Amazon, Snapdeal and Flipkart, are not its authorized sellers and asked users to check the warranty entitlements before buying any Lenovo products from these portals. Users must check these aspects before buying a device. Also, one must find out if the brand has a service centre in the city they live in. This is important because a number of popular online bestsellers do not have service centres beyond major urban locations.

The online store should be a credible one The last few years has seen a significant increase in the number of online stores, and they all offer discounts and deals. One might visit many sites but when it comes to buying a product, users should stick to a few trusted online stores. A user can also call up or send mails to the merchant mentioned on the site to verify and find out more details

about the product.

The importance of right security protocol Sometimes online shopping can be a very risky business if the site in question does not have a secure encryption protocol in place. Sites that use HTTPS (Secure Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) for encryption provide a higher level of data security, especially personal data like passwords and card details used during online transactions. The benefit of HTTPS over HTTP is that it uses another security protocol called SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), which is used by a lot of e-commerce sites across the globe to protect customers and keep online transactions confidential. Sites using the HTTPS carry a green address bar in the browser URL and start with ‘https.’

Saving passwords must be avoided Most sites during purchase ask users to save their card details like passwords, card number, etc., for future transactions. They appear as selected by default and a user must take care to deselect these before moving further. Yes, it does seem more convenient to shop by saving all your card details online but take our word for it, entering the card data every time is far more secure.

Not all EMIs are same Almost all e-commerce sites give you the option of making payments through EMIs. However, one should remember that every bank applies different interest rates on EMIs. A buyer should check them thoroughly before agreeing to them. For instance, some banks like SBI charge up to 15 percent EMI while some banks like ICICI offer 12 per cent interest rates on EMI. Interest rates also vary depending on the tenure of the EMI, irrespective of the bank. The higher the tenure, the more the interest rate will be.

The cost of shipping Last but not the least is to make sure the product is delivered without sustaining avoidable expense in shipping. Most e-commerce stores keep a classification of regions for shipment. If the buyer is based in a remote and rural area, the online store is likely to charge something for shipping. If the delivery has to be made in a major urban centre, the shipping cost would be nominal or nothing. In case of cash on delivery, a small amount is also charged for transporting cash. n mukesh@mymobile.co.in abhijit@mymobile.co.in

november 2014 MYMOBILE 67

boredom busters Badminton 3D The first real mobile badminton game

espite being a major sport in its own right, badminton has not really inspired developers to come out with a game to whet its fans’ appetites. So you can imagine how delighted we were to see Badminton 3D, which is perhaps the first notable game based on the sport on the mobile platform. It is a free and small game but offers very engaging and thrilling gameplay. One can embark on an international career, play in leagues, tournaments and engage in a fast-paced exchange of smashes and parries. Jump and smash is all you have to do, keeping an eye on the timing bar. As players onscreen respond on their own, based on your timing, gameplay is easy to learn. Swiping to give the shot direction works well but mastering the timing bar is tough. In multiplayer, you can compete against online players but the part that really interested us was the split screen mode that lets two players play on the same screen – one on either end of the screen representing the player on their side. No, it is not in the class of Virtua Tennis when it comes to free movement and gameplay controls, but it reminds us more of the very basic and simple Stick Tennis. Considering the paucity of badminton games in the past, we are not complaining. n

Name: Badminton 3D Price: Free Tested on: LG G3 Beat

Asphalt Overdrive A light

dose of Asphalt racing

RATING



Name: Asphalt Overdrive Price: Free Tested on: LG G3 Beat

ameloft’s latest racing game Asphalt Overdrive is nothing like previous Asphalt games. It is small, simple to play and free of cost. Its biggest attraction is the graphics, as it offers the same level of detail and special effects and beautiful scenarios seen in previous Asphalt games. But there the similarity ends. Unlike in other Asphalt games, you have no control over the speed in Overdrive. Acceleration is automatic and it takes a brush against other vehicles to slow you down (if that happens to be a truck or bus, it pretty much wrecks your car). The game offers multiple racing modes, such as Getaway mode (where you run from police), Destruction, Daily Test, Restricted Run and Stunt Run. You start with the Getaway mode and the rest become available gradually as you progress. The number of cars is limited but there is ample amount of customization available. Gameplay is too simple but time consuming and can become boring as the racing modes are too unconventional for racing buffs. It is more suited for those who are not much into racing but want something to while away time. Or want just a basic taster of the Asphalt magic. n

RATING

68 MYMOBILE november 2014



www.mymobile.co.in

Bang Bang Another

movie, another game!

ovie-based games will soon be a genre on mobile gaming, given the pace at which every action flick is converted into a game and that isn’t just in case of Hollywood movies but also with Indian movies like Kochidayan, Dhoom 3 and now Bang Bang. Bang Bang is a decent looking game with moderate graphics and scores mostly in gameplay. It is divided into three missions, with lots of kicking, fist fighting and shooting and is difficult enough to make clearing a mission much more than a formality. Graphics quality is decent but nowhere at par with the games based on Hollywood movies. Indian game developers have a lot of catching up to do in this area. The number of missions is also limited. Just three missions is not enough to keep one engaged for long, but since its free, and runs smoothly even on low specs, someone with a budget device and lower gaming expectations may feel differently about it. n Name: Bang Bang

RATING



Price: Free Tested on: LG G3 Beat

FIFA 15 Ultimate Team On the ball, online!

he latest edition of one of the most popular mobile football games around, FIFA 15 Ultimate Team is very much like the previous edition of FIFA, but with a completely new game play. Unlike FIFA 14 where you had several modes, this game is one big career mode where you start from scratch with zero cash and no experience. What impressed us most is that the game has done away with the one-time payment to play the career mode. Payments come afterwards and will be required only if you do not feel like starting out with an inferior team and very little cash. The interface is more jazzy and colourful than in previous editions, but anyone who has played FIFA 14 will be able to figure it out easily. Controls have been improved and unnecessary ones like skill move have been left out, simplifying matters a great deal. Touch options are available but can only be used side by side with gamepad controls. Overall, it is a worthy addition to the famed FIFA series, complete with licensed teams, stadia and player likenesses. A little note: you need to be online to play this game. So keep an eye on the data consumption meter. n

RATING



nimishdubey@mymobile.co.in

Name: FIFA 15 Ultimate Team Price: Free Tested on: LG G3 Beat

november 2014 MYMOBILE 69

Smart apps Flipboard News magazine magic

comes to Windows Phone

ne of the most popular news reading apps, Flipboard, has finally arrived on Window Phone. The app was one of the first to present news in the form of a digital magazine, whose pages could be “flipped” (hence the name), and was initially designed for tablets (it was first shown on the iPad). It has since made its way to phones and to Android (it was an iOS exclusive for a while), and now it is on Windows Phone too. While the app will work on just about every Windows Phone that has been updated to Windows Phone 8.1, it really comes into its own on the larger displays seen on the Lumia 1520, 1320 and most recently, the 830. The app remains as amazing as ever with different tabs representing different sections, and tapping on each revealing page after page of related content. The app has been tailored for Windows Phone and looks quite outstanding, but a few bugs remain - there seems to be no way to choose your own topics or save pages for offline reading, although you can create your own Flipboard magazine if you wish. Still, we think it is a must-download for anyone who loves following the news and likes to read it in a magazine-like format on their handset. n Name: Flipboard

RATING



Price: Free Tested on: Nokia Lumia 830

Blippar Point, shoot

and...discover

magine being able to get additional information about something by simply pointing your phone at it? Well, that is what Blippar sets out to achieve. Of course, there will be those who will insist that there is nothing new in this concept and that apps like Layar (which has been acquired by Blippar) and Google Goggles have been trying to do the same for a while now. However, what makes Blippar different is the amount and vastness of content that it can show. All you have to do is download the app (it is free) and then simply load it when you see anything that has a Blippar logo - a page, a container, a signboard, anything. And then watch everything change as fresh content gets loaded on to your phone - you could see an entire video, become part of a game, watch a presentation, and do much more depending on the amount of content uploaded by the party. It is a whole new way to experience content and adds a completely new dimension to reading anything. Yes, you would need a decent Internet connection to make the most of it, but given the rate at which many people are jumping on to the Blippar bandwagon, we really think this is one app that you should download and keep ready, for you never really know what it might reveal on a seemingly routine page or object. n

Name: Blippar Price: Free Tested on: Google Nexus 5

70 MYMOBILE NOVEMBER 2014

RATING



www.mymobile.co.in

Adobe Color CC Capturing color from your camera

t might not be making as many headlines as the likes of Instagram, but Adobe has been working away on its suite of mobile apps and has been delivering some very powerful apps related to image editing on mobile devices. And one of the most interesting of these is Color CC, which amazingly extracts colors from photographs. Earlier known as Kuler, the app has just one purpose - to extract colour from scenes. Sounds amazing? Well, that is what it does. All you need to do is launch the app and the camera from within it and then point it at an object, and in front of your eyes, the app will pull out different hues that it sees there. You can save them, tweak them and use them later if you wish. You can even take colours from existing photographs. You can build your own colour themes if you are the artistic type and share them with your friends. It is all very amazing and the best part is that it is totally free and incredibly easy to use. All of which makes it a must-have for those with an artistic bend of mind, and even for normal users, just for its jaw-dropping simplicity. It is currently available only for iOS users, but hopefully an Android version should come along soon. n

RATING



Name: Adobe Color CC Price: Free Tested on: iPhone 5S

Glympse Keyboard Share your location even more easily

RATING



e have been huge fans of Glympse, the app that lets you share your location with specific people - all you need to do is send a message or a mail to person through the app and they can track your location on a map. And now, Glympse has come out with an additional app that lets you do things even faster. In the original app, you have to launch the app and then type in the name of the person to whom you wish to send your location. Well, with Glympse Keyboard, the process gets even faster - you can actually send a Glympse from anywhere. You might be writing a text message, composing a mail or just searching for something on Google - all you need to do is have a text entry box open and you will be able to share your location. You can do so either by choosing ‘Quick Send’ from your input methods (this involves pulling down the notification bar) or actually using the “Full Keyboard” which actually replaces your regular keyboard with one that has a big Glympse button bang in the middle of it. All you need to do to send a Glympse is tap the button. Location sharing just got a whole lot more simple, which makes this an app that we think is well worth a download, even though we do wish the full keyboard had more features. n nimishdubey@mymobile.co.in

Name: Glympse Keyboard Price: Free Tested on: Nexus 5

nOVEMBER 2014 MYMOBILE 71

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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

Wireless Charging Plate

Keep your Nokia Lumia on this sleek plate and watch your battery charge up. It comes with minimalistic design and vibrant colours to match your device. Rs 3,999

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 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 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

72 MYMOBILE november 2014

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

Wireless Charging Shell for Lumia 820 With wireless charging shell make your Nokia Lumia 820 compatible across any Qi wireless charger. Rs 1,999

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

Wireless Charging Pillow by Fatboy

Now simply place your Lumia on the Fatboy pillow to start charging without even plugging in your Lumia. Rs 5,499

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

november 2014 MYMOBILE 73

MY GUIDE

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 Oct 10, 2014) Devices featured in the My Guide have been segregated into four categories baswed on price and colour-coded as:

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.

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

(Rs 6,000 - Rs 11,999)

High-level

(Rs 12,000 upwards)

CDMA Tablet Lifestyle

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

NOVEMBER 2014 MYMOBILE 75

myguide NOKIA

NOKIA

MODELS

NOKIA

PARAMETERS 105

107

130

108

114

220 Dual SIM

Asha 230 Dual SIM

Dimension (mm)

107 x 44.8 x 14.3

112.9 x 47.5 x 14.9

106 x 45.5 x 13.9

110.4 x 47 x 13.5

110 x 46 x 14.8

116.4 x 50.3 x 13.2

99.5 x 58.6 x 13.2

Weight (grams)

75.8

67.9

69.9

83.4

89.3

Model

12/840

12.7/576

13/624

13.8/600

10.5/637

24/576

12/504

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

65,536/1.45

65,536/1.8

262,144/2.4

262,144/2.8

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

8MB/No

4MB/16GB

NA/32GB

4MB/32GB

16MB/32GB

-/32GB

64MB/32GB

Talktime/Standby (hours)

No/No

Yes/No

Camera/Flash/Video

No/No/No

VGA/No/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

1.3MP/No/No

Phonebook Capacity

500

1000

500

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Dual Band/No

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

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

GPRS/EDGE/3G

No/No/No

Yes/Yes/No

Operating System

Series 30

Series 40

Nokia OS

Asha software 1.1

Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY

No/Yes

Yes/Yes

Bar/No/No

Bar/Yes/No

1,170

1,500

1,850

2,400

2,700

3,300

Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

NOKIA

MODELS

NOKIA

PARAMETERS 225

206

Asha 501

Asha 210

502

301

Dimension (mm)

124 x 55.5 x 10.4

116 x 49 x 12.4

99.2 x 58 x 12.1

111.5 x 60 x 11.8

99.6 x 59.5 x 11.1

114 x 50 x 12.5

115.5 x 63 x 10.4

Weight (grams)

100.6

97.3

100

102

128.7

21/648

20/680

17/624

12/1104

13.7/576

20/504

13.3/408

Model

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

262,144/2.8

65,536/2.4

262,144/3.0

65,536/2.4

262,144/3.0

262,144/2.4

16million/4.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

NA/32GB

64MB/32GB

4GB/32GB

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

2.0MP/No/No

1.3MP/No/Yes

3.15MP/No/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

3.15MP/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

1,000

Shared

2,000

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

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

Quad Band/No

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Yes/Yes/HSPA

Asha software 1.1

Series 40

Asha software 1.3

Series 40

Asha software 1.5

Series 40

Nokia X software platform

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/No

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/No

Bar/Yes/No

3,499

3,700

4,000

4,600

4,890

5,300

7,000

76 MYMOBILE NOVEMBER 2014

myguide NOKIA

NOKIA

MODELS

NOKIA

PARAMETERS Model

Lumia 530

X+

Lumia 520

515 Dual SIM

Lumia 630

Lumia 525

Dimension (mm)

119.7 x 62.3 x 11.7

115.5 x 63 x 10.4

121.7 x 68.3 x 11.1

119.9 x 64 x 9.9

114 x 48 x 11

129.5 x 66.7 x 9.2

119.9 x 64 x 9.9

Weight (grams)

129

128.7

150

124

102

134

124

Talktime/Standby (hours)

13.4/528

13.3/408

10/552

14/360

10.4/432

16.4/648

17/336

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/4.0

16million/4.3

16million/4.0

262,144/2.4

16million/4.5

16million/4.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

4GB/128GB

4GB/32GB

8GB/64GB

256MB/32GB

8GB/128GB

8GB/64GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

5.0MP/No/Yes

3.15MP/No/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/No/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/No/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

1,000

Shared

Quad Band/No

Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

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

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Windows Phone 8.1

Windows Phone 8

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/No

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Operating System

Windows Phone 8.1

Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY

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

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Nokia X software platform Nokia X software platform

Windows Phone 8

Series 40

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/No

Bar/Yes/No

7,199

8,000

8,500

8,800

9,000

9,200

10,300

Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

NOKIA

MODELS

NOKIA

PARAMETERS Model

Lumia 630

Lumia 625

Lumia 730

NEW

Lumia 1320

Lumia 925

Lumia 830

NEW

Dimension (mm)

141.4 x 77.7 x 10.9

129.5 x 66.7 x 9.2

133.2 x 72.2 x 9.2

134.7 x 68.5 x 8.7

164.2 x 85.9 x 9.8

129 x 70.6 x 8.5

139.4x70.7x8.5

Weight (grams)

190

134

159

130

220

139

150

16/720

16.4/648

23.9/768

22/600

25/672

18.3/432

12.9/528

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/5.0

16million/4.5

16.7million/4.7

16million/6.0

16.7million/4.5

16million/5.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

4GB/32GB

8GB/128GB

8GB/64GB

8GB/128GB

8GB/64GB

16GB/No

16GB/128GB

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/No/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

6.7MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.7MP/Yes/Yes

10.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Quad Band/No

Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

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.

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

Yes/Yes/HSPA

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Nokia X software platform

Windows Phone 8.1

Windows Phone 8

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

10,500

11,590

15,000

15,299

19,990

26,100

28,500

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

Windows Phone 8.1 Windows Phone 8.1 Windows Phone 8.1 Windows Phone 8.1

NOVEMBER 2014 MYMOBILE 77

myguide SUB-ENTRY LEVEL (UP TO Rs 2,499)

MODELS

NOKIA

PARAMETERS Model

ADCOM

MAXX

SAMSUNG

Lumia 1520

Lumia 1020

X14

X28

MX153

MX555

E1207Y

Dimension (mm)

162.8 x 85.4 8.7

130.4 x 71.4 x 10.4

126 x 55 x 15

127 x 56x 12

112.5 x 45.5 x 14

122.8 x 51 x 9.8

108.0 x 45.5 x 13.5

Weight (grams)

209

158

96.5

65.1

Talktime/Standby (hours)

27.4/768

19.1/384

30/120

-/350

NA/350

8/430

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/6.0

16.7million/4.5

262,144/2.4

256K/2.8

65,536/1.8

NA/2.6

65,536/1.52

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

16GB/64GB

Yes/Yes

32MB/8GB

NA/NA

NA/No

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

32GB/No

Yes/No

No/No

Camera/Flash/Video

20.0MP/Yes/Yes

41.0MP/Yes/Yes

1.3MP/No/Yes

1.3MP/NO/Yes

VGA/No/Yes

1.3 MP/No/Yes

No/No/No

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

150

300

1,000

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/No

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Yes/No/N0

Yes/No/No

No/No/No

Yes/No/Yes

No/No/No

Windows Phone 8

Proprietary

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 BandGSM+GSM

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/No

39,000

40,800

1,249

1,299

1,030

2,376

1,370

ENTRY LEVEL (Rs 2,500-5,999)

(Rs 2,500-5,999)

MODELS

(UP TO R s 2,499)

SAMSUNG

PARAMETERS Model

ADCOM

ALCATEL

Guru Music 2

Metro 312

400

440Plus

A50

OT 2005D

OT 4007D PIXI

Dimension (mm)

112.7 x 46.4 x 13.1

126 x 66 x 13

136.36 X 66.36 x 8.8

145 x 70 x 9

120 x 50 x 9.95

115 x 62.3 x 12.2

Weight (grams)

74.98

73.7

152

135

162

118

Talktime/Standby (hours)

11/800

12/NA

11/72

14/425

13/500

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

65,536/2.0

16million/4.0

16million/4 inch

16million/5.0

262,155/2.4

262,144/3.5

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

NA/16GB

512MB/32GB

4GB/32GB

512MB/32GB

128 MB/8GB

512MB/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

No/No

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

No/No/No

VGA/No/Yes

3.2MP/Yes/Yes

3MP/Yes/Yes

3.2MP/Yes/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

1000

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Dual BandGSM+GSM Dual BandGSM+GSM Qual BandGSM+GSM Qual BandGSM+GSM Qual BandGSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM

GPRS/EDGE/3G

No/No/No

Yes/Yes/NO

Yes/Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes /NO

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/Yes

Operating System

Proprietary

Android OS v4.0

Android OS v4.4

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v2.3

Yes/Yes

Bar/No/No

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/No

Bar/Yes/No

1,785

2,480

2,599

3,499

3,999

2,750

4,933

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

Price in Rs.

78 MYMOBILE NOVEMBER 2014

myguide (Rs 2,500-5,999)

(Rs 2,500-5,999)

MODELS

(Rs 2,500-5,999)

CELKON

PARAMETERS Model

LAVA

A 9 Dual

A 15

A64

A 20

A 40

356 3G

402+

Dimension (mm)

120.5 x 63.9 x 10.6

119 x 63 x 9.9

124 x 65 x 10.5

125.5 x 64.5 x 11.4

126.2 x 64 x 10.8

116.9 x 62.5 x 12.6

125.50 x 64.50 x 11.40

Weight (grams)

116

125.6

122

126.5

112

124

Talktime/Standby (hours)

3/200

6/150

5/150

4/200

5/200

4/200

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/3.5

16million/4.0

16million/3.5

16million/4.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

512MB/32GB

4GB/32GB

512MB/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

3.2MP/No/Yes

3.2MP/Yes/Yes

2.0MP/Yes/Yes

3.2 MP/Yes/Yes

5MP/No/Yes

1.3MP/Yes/Yes

3.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Dual Band/Yes

Dual band/Yes

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes/HSPA

Yes/Yes/Yes

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v4.1

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

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

3,399

3,499

3,999

4,599

5,999

3,900

5,699

(Rs 2,500-5,999)

MODELS

(Rs 2,500-5,999)

PARAMETERS Model

MAXX

T375

T585

MT401

MSD7

AXD21

Dimension (mm)

103 x 59 x 10.7

103.09 x 59.9 x 10.8

102.6 x 61.1 x 11.9

102.9 x 61.3 x 11.9

125.5 X 67 X 12.5

115 x 61 x 11.5

125.30 x 63.83 x 10.10

Weight (grams)

103

125

110

140

114

109.3

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Optimus L3 II Single Optimus L3II Dual

12.8/601

9/560

8/480

16/730

NA/300

2.5/300

4/150

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

262,144/3.2

NA/4.0

262,144/3.5

256,144/4.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

48MB/16GB

50MB/32GB

4GB/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

2.0MP/No/Yes

3.0MP/No/Yes

3.15MP/No/Yes

3.0MP/Yes/Yes

2.0MP/Yes/Yes

3.2MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

1,000

Shared

1,000

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/No

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

Dual Band/GSM+GSM

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/No/No

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Operating System

Proprietary

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.2.2

Android OS v4.4.2

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

4,000

5,700

5,900

2,838

3,636

4,020

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

Price in Rs.

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

NOVEMBER 2014 MYMOBILE 79

myguide (Rs 2,500-5,999)

(Rs 2,500-5,999)

MODELS

(Rs 2,500-5,999)

MAXX

PARAMETERS Model

SAMSUNG

SPICE

AX409 DUO

AX356

AXD 11

Champ Neo Duos C3262

Galaxy Star Pro

Mi 356

Mi 426

Dimension (mm)

123.5 x 63.5 x 11

116.3 x 61.1 x 10.4

122.3 x 62.3 x 10.4

96.9 x 54.3 x 13.5

121.2 x 62.7 x 10.6

119.9 x 63 x 11.5

119.9 x 58 x 10.8

Weight (grams)

115.6

107.6

71.10

121

112

122

Talktime/Standby (hours)

5/200

3.5/100

4/150

14/550

15/370

7.5/120

6/250

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

262,144/4.0

262,144/3.5

262,144/4.0

262,144/2.4

16million/4.0

16million/3.5

16million/4.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

512MB/32GB

4GB/32GB

20MB/32GB

4GB/32GB

NA/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

2.0 MP/Yes/Yes

3.2MP/Yes/Yes

VGA/No/Yes

2.0MP/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

Price in Rs.

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

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Yes/No/No

Yes/Yes/No

Android OS v4.2.2

Android OS v4.2

Proprietary

Android OS v4.1

Android OS, v4.2

Android OS v4.2

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

4,300

4,392

5,184

3,000

5,500

3,300

4,000

MID LEVEL

(Rs 6000-11,999)

MODELS

(Rs 6000-11,999)

PARAMETERS Model

SPICE

ZTE

ALCATEL

BLACKBERRY

GIONEE

3G MI 438

KIS Flex (V793)

Blade C (V807)

OT 8000D

OT 6012D IDOL MINI

Curve 9320

Dimension (mm)

145 x 79 x 9.5

116.3 x 63 x 11.5

124 x 64 x 11.9

143 x 78.4 X 9.8

127.1 x 62 x 7.9

109 x 60 x 12.7

129.3 x 68 x 11.1

Weight (grams)

155

117

130

163

103

Talktime/Standby (hours)

4/170

8/340

6.6/220

16/15

9/540

7/432

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/4.0

16million/3.5

16million/4

262,144/NA

16million/4.3

65,536/2.44

16million/4.3

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

NA/32GB

512MB /32GB

2GB/32GB

4GB/32 GB

8GB/None

512MB/32GB

4GB/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

2.0MP/No/Yes

2MP/No/Yes

3.0MP/No/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

3.15MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Dual Band/No

Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Yes/Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/Yes

Android OS v2.3

Android 4.1

Android OS v4.1

BlackBerry OS 7.1

Android OS v4.2

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

4,900

4,300

4,999

9,999

10,900

9,900

7,440

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

Price in Rs.

80 MYMOBILE NOVEMBER 2014

myguide (Rs 6000-11,999)

(Rs 6000-11,999)

MODELS

(Rs 6000-11,999)

HTC

PARAMETERS Model

IDEA

KARBONN

Desire 210

Desire XDS

Desire 310 Plus

Aurus III

Aurus IV

S99 Titanium

Sparkle V

Dimension (mm)

125.7 x 65 x 10.5

118.5 X 62.3 X 9.3

132.4 x 68 x 11.3

133 x 66 x 9.7

113x66x10.4

Weight (grams)

130

114

140

130

138

Talktime/Standby (hours)

NA/NA

11/852

7/350

7.5/400

5/168

8/160

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/4.0

16million/4.5

16million/4.0

16million/4.5

16million/4.0

16million/4.5

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

4GB/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

5.0MP/No/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/No/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

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

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA+

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Operating System

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.4

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

Price in Rs.

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

7,300

9,100

11,000

7,790

8,999

5,990

6,199

(Rs 6000-11,999)

MODELS

(R s 6000-11,999)

PARAMETERS Model

KARBONN

LAVA

S5+ Titanium

Irish 506Q

Optimus L4 II Dual E445

Optimus L5 II E450

Optimus L5 II Dual

Dimension (mm)

143 x 73 x 8.9

112.8 x 64.7 x 11.9

143.5 x 71.5 x 7.7

117.5 x 62.2 x 9.2

132x67x9.15

Weight (grams)

125

134

103

136

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Irish X5

MICROMAX

NEW

NA/NA

5.3/230

NA/NA

6/200

10/642

6/160

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/5.0

16million/3.8

16million/5.0

16million/4.0

16million/4.5

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

1.4GB/32GB

4GB/32GB

8GB/32GB

4GB/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

3.15MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

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

Quad Band/No

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

Yes/Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.4

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.4

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

11,000

8,800

7,100

8,650

8,600

8,900

6,499

NOVEMBER 2014 MYMOBILE 81

myguide (Rs 6000-11,999)

(R s 6000-11,999)

MODELS

(R s 6000-11,999)

MICROMAX

PARAMETERS

SAMSUNG

SONY

Galaxy S duos 2

Galaxy Core 2

Unite 2

Canvas Doodle 3

Galaxy Star 2Plus

Galaxy Ace NXT

Dimension (mm)

138.9 x 71.9 x 9.4

129.7 x 65.9 x 9.4

121.4 x 62.9 x 10.7

121.5 x 63.1 x 10.6

130.3 x 68 x 9.8

118 x 62.4 x 12

Weight (grams)

158

123

118

138

120

Model

8/190

9/260

-/-

8/280

-/-

8.2/498

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/4.7

16million/6.0

65,536/4.3

16million/4.0

262,144/4.5

16million/4.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

4GB/32GB

4GB/64GB

4GB/32GB

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

3.5MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/No

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

3.15MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Frequency/Dual SIM

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

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Operating System

Android OS v4.4

Android v4.2

Android v4.4

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

Price in Rs.

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

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v4.4

Quad Band/No Yes/Yes/HSPA Android OS v4.3

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/Yes/Bar

Bar/Yes/No

6,999

8,200

7,334

7,000

8,600

11,790

7,500

(Rs 6000-11,999)

(R s 6000-11,999)

MODELS

(R s 6000-11,999)

SONY

PARAMETERS

SPICE Stellar Virtuoso Mi 496

Mi 506

Coolpad MI-515

Stellar Virtuoso Mi 495

132x67x9.15

145 x 72.9 x 9.6

140 x 73 x 9.9

115

138

177

161

8.2/498

10.16/498

17/160

7.5/200

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/4.0

16million/4.5

16million/5.0

16million/4.5

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

4GB/32GB

NA/32GB

4GB/32GB

NA/32GB

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

3.15MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

Model

E1 Dual

Xperia M

Dimension (mm)

118 x 62.4 x 12

124 x 62 x 9.3

Weight (grams)

120

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.

Dream UNO Mi

NEW

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

Yes/Yes/HSPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Android OS v4.3

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.4

Android v4.0

Android v4.2

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.0

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/Yes/Bar

Bar/Yes/No

8,200

11,500

6,299

6,500

6,750

7,800

10,499

82 MYMOBILE NOVEMBER 2014

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

myguide (Rs 6000-11,999)

(Rs 6000-11,999)

MODELS

(Rs 6000-11,999)

PARAMETERS

SPICE

XOLO

ZTE

Stellar Virtuoso Mi 530

A600

Q1000 Opus

Q900

Q800

Q1000

G2 (V880)

Dimension (mm)

152 x 79 x 10.3

136 x 67 x 9

143.3 x 72.9 x 9

137 x 70 x 9.9

135.5 x 67 x 9.6

143.5 x 70.8 x 8.8

133 × 66 × 9.9

Weight (grams)

196.3

138

143.5

145

Model

Talktime/Standby (hours)

4.1/696

22/650

18/700

13/384

16/360

14/350

12/300

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/5.3

16million/4.5

16million/5.0

16million/4.7

16million/4.5

16.7million/5.0

16million/4.5

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

16GB/32GB

4GB/32GB

2.5GB/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

5MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Quad Band/No

Dual Band/No

Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Frequency/Dual SIM

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

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Yes/Yes/HSDP+

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Android OS v4.0

Android OS v4.2

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

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.2

Yes/Yes/Yes Android OS v4.2

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/Yes/Yes

13,999

7,000

9,000

10,000

11,500

9,500

Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

HIGH LEVEL

MODELS

(R s 6000-11,999)

PARAMETERS

ZTE

ALCATEL

APPLE

ATOM

Model

Blade L (V887)

OT 6030

Idol X+

OT 6033X

Iphone 5C

Iphone 5S

Supremus

Dimension (mm)

148 x 78 x 10.5

133 x 67.5 x 7.9

140.4 x 69.1 x 7.9

134.4 x 68.5 x 6.4

124.4 x 59.2 8.97

123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6

157 X 78 X 9.2

Weight (grams)

200

110

130

110

132

112

125

8/320

7.2/415

12/240

16/700

10/250

18/460

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/5

16million/NA

16million/5.0

16million/NA

16million/4.0

16.7million/5.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

2.5GB/32GB

4GB/32GB

16GB/No

16,32/No

16,32,64/No

16GB/32GB

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

5MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

13.1/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Quad Band/No

Quad Band

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.

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

Yes/Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Yes/Yes/HPSA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Android OS v4.0

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v4.1

iOS7

Android OS v4.2

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Bar/Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

9,900

13,500

16,999

17,900

41,900/53,500

53,500/62,500/73,500

10,999

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

NOVEMBER 2014 MYMOBILE 83

myguide Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

MODELS

Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

ATOM

PARAMETERS

BLACKBERRY

Ultimus

Maximus

9720

Curve 9360

Q10

Dimension (mm)

157 X 78 X 9.2

167 X 88 X 9.2

120 x 66 x 10.8

114 x 66 x 12

140 x 72.8 x 9.3

112 x 62 x 14.2

119.6 x 66.8 x 10.4

Weight (grams)

125

225

120

164

130

139

Model

18/460

12/336

7/432

15.5/384

5/336

10/NA

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16.7million/5.0

16.7/6.5

16million/3.1

262,144/2.8

16million/5.0

262,144/2.44

16million/3.1

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

16GB/32GB

8GB/32GB

512MB/32GB

8GB/32GB

256MB/32GB

16GB/64GB

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Quad Band/No

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSPA

BlackBerry OS 10.2

BlackBerry OS 7.0

BlackBerry OS 10

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad 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.

Android v4.2

BlackBerry OS 10

BlackBerry OS 7.1

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/Yes

Bar/Yes/Yes

12,999

18,400

13,990

11,990

15,990

16,990

22,000

Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

MODELS

Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

Model

CELKON

BLACKBERRY

PARAMETERS Z10

Z30

Dimension (mm)

130 x 65.6 x 9

140.7 x 72 x 9.4

Weight (grams)

136

170

CTRL V5

Elife E3

Elife E5

128 x 90.3 x 9.3

17.8 x 9.8 x 6.5

134.5 x 67.7 x 8.1

137 X 68 X 7.9

137 X 69 X 6.85

196

135

103.5

133.9

10/312

25/384

18/432

8/200

14.5/324

14/312

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

16million/4.2

16million/5.0

16million/4.5

16million/5.0

16million/4.7

16Millon/4.7

16millon/4.8

16GB/64GB

32GB/128GB

16GB/32GB

8GB/32GB

16GB/32GB

16GB/NA

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

13MP/Yes/Yes

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad band/No

Quad Band/No

Dual Band/Yes

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.

Passport

GIONEE

NEW

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

Quad Band/NA

Yes/Yes/HSPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

BlackBerry OS 10

BlackBerry OS 10.2

BlackBerry OS 10.3

Android 4.2

Android OS, v4.2

Android OS v4.2

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

18,300

28,990

49,990

14,499

12,999

13,700

15,700

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

84 MYMOBILE NOVEMBER 2014

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

myguide Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

MODELS

Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

GIONEE

PARAMETERS Model

HTC

Elife E7 Mini

Elife S5.5

Elife E6

Elife E7

Desire 516

Desire 616

Desire 700

Dimension (mm)

139.8 x 66.2 x 8.6

145.1 x 70.2 x 5.6

142.5 x 69.4 x 7.9

150.6 x 75 x 9.5

140 x 72 x 9.7

142 x 71.9 x 9.2

145.5 x 72 x 10.3

Weight (grams)

142.9

120

150

160

150

Talktime/Standby (hours)

18/200

NA/NA

9/220

14/700

8/338

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/4.7

16million/5.0

16.7million/5.0

16million/5.5

16million/5.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

16BG/No

16GB/No

32GB/No

16GB/32GB

4GB/32GB

4GB/64GB

8GB/64GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

13MP/Yes/Yes

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

16MP/Yes/Yes

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/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Yes/Yes/HSPA

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

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

Android OS v4.2

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

Price in Rs.

Android OS v4.2

Yes/Yes/HSPA Android OS v4.1

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

17,000

20,500

22,300

23,900

12,500

16,100

18,300

Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

MODELS

Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

HTC

PARAMETERS Model

Desire 816G

NEW

Desire 601

Desire 816

One (E8)

One DS

One M8

One Max

Dimension (mm)

156.6 x78.74 x 7.99

134.5 x 66.7 x 9.88

156.6 x 78.7 x 8

146.4 x 70.7 x 9.9

137.4 x 68.2 x 10.4

146.4 x 70.6 x 9.4

164.5 x 82.5 x 10.29

Weight (grams)

158

130

165

145

143

160

217

10/460

12.8/440

21/737

26.7/504

27/500

14/271

25/585

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/5.5

16million/4.5

16million/5.5

16milliom/5.0

16.7million/4.7

16million/5.0

16million/5.9

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

8GB/32GB

8GB/64GB

8GB/128GB

16GB/128GB

32GB/No

16GB/128GB

16GB/64GB

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

4.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Quad Band/No

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Frequency/Dual SIM

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

GPRS/EDGE/3G

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.

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Android OS v4.4

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v4.4

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Android OS v4.4

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.4

Android OS v4.3

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

18,990

19,800

24,000

33,200

36,000

45,500

50,000

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

NOVEMBER 2014 MYMOBILE 85

myguide Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

MODELS

Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

IDEA

PARAMETERS

KARBONN

LAVA

LENOVO

Whiz

Ultra

S7 Titanium

S9 Titanium

Irish Pro 30

A850

S890

Dimension (mm)

143.5 x 72 x 9.3

138 x 66.7 x 7.5

79.3 x 9.45 x 153.5

143.6 x 74.2 x 9.3

Weight (grams)

176.5

114

184

176

Model

8.5/NA

16/700

4/200

4.5/400

28.6/490

17/312

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

262,144/4.0

16million/5.0

16million/5.5

16.7million/4.7

16million/5.5

16million/5.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

4GB/32GB

16GB/32GB

4GB/32GB

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/No/Yes

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

13MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Frequency/Dual SIM

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

Tri Band/Dual SIM

Tri Band/Dual Band

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA+

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Android v4.0

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.2

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

Price in Rs.

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

7,800

12,500

15,500

14,400

13,500

12,000

13,000

Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

MODELS

Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

PARAMETERS

LENOVO S660

Vibe X S960

Optimus L7 II

Optimus L7II Dual

L70 D310

L90 D410

G Pro Lite Dual D686

Dimension (mm)

137 x 68.8 x 10

144 x 74 x 6.9 mm

121.5 x 66.6 x 9.7

122.2 x 66.6 x 9.7

127.2 x 66.8 x 9.5

131.6 x 66 x 9.7

150.2 x 76.9 x 9.48

Weight (grams)

151

121

118

115.5

126.6

161

36/840

16/288

12/800

4.6/490

14.5/845

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/4.7

16million/5.0

16million/4.3

16 million/4.3

16million/4.5

16million/4.7

16million/5.5

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

8GB/32GB

16GB/No

4GB/32GB

8GB/32GB

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

Model

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

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

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Yes/Yes/HSPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Operating System

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.4

Android OS v4.1

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

14,500

23,500

12,000

12,200

13,100

15,800

17,900

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

Price in Rs.

86 MYMOBILE NOVEMBER 2014

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

myguide Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

MODELS

Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

PARAMETERS Optimus G Pro

Nexus 5 16GB/32GB

G2 16GB/32GB

G Pro 2

G3 16GB

G Flex

Dimension (mm)

137.7 x 69.6 x 10.3

150.2 x 76.1 x 9.4

137.9 x 69.2 x 8.6

138.5 x 70.9 x 8.9

157.9 x 81.9 x 8.3

146.3 x 74.6 x 8.9

160.5 x 81.6 x 7.9

Weight (grams)

134

170

130

143

172

149

177

Model

G3 Beat

NEW

-/-

31/598

17/300

NA/NA

8/270

19/565

15/720

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/5.0

16million/5.5

16million/4.95

16million/5.2

16million/5.9

16million/5.5

16million/6.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

8GB/64GB

16GB/64GB

16GB/No

16GB/64GB

16GB/128GB

32GB/No

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

13MP/Yes/Yes

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Sahred

Shared

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/No

Qual Band/No

Quad Band/No

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Operating System

Android OS v4.4

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.4

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v4.4

Android OS v4.2

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

Price in Rs.

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

23,000

32,000

29,990/34,000

34,000/37,000

49,990

39,000

45,000

Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

MODELS

Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

PARAMETERS Model

MICROMAX

G3 32GB

Canvas 2.2

Canvas Doodle 2

Canvas Nitro

Canvas XL A119

Turbo

Canvas Knight

Dimension (mm)

146.3 x 74.6 x 8.9

147 x 76.5 x 9.7

147x77x9.9

141 x 72 x 9

165 x 84.2 x 10.4

128.3 x 71 x 8.6

144 x 70 x 7.3

Weight (grams)

149

147

152

180

19/565

7/290

6/220

10/320

9.4/209

7/105

7.5/175

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/5.5

16 million/5.0

16million/5.3

16million/5.0

16million/6.0

16million/5.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

16GB/128GB

4GB/32GB

8GB/32GB

4GB/32GB

16GB/No

32GB/No

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

16MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/No

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

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

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

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Operating System

Android OS v4.4

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.4

Android OS v4.2

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

42,100

8,900

12,700

12,999

14,600

14,300

20,000

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

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

Price in Rs.

NOVEMBER 2014 MYMOBILE 87

myguide Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

MODELS

Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

PARAMETERS Model Dimension (mm) Weight (grams)

MICROMAX

SAMSUNG

Canvas Gold

Galaxy Quattro

133.30 x 70.70 x 9.65

Galaxy Grand Neo Galaxy Grand Prime NEW 143.7 x 77.1 x 9.6

144.8 x 72.1 x 8.6

Galaxy S4 mini

Galaxy Grand 2

Galaxy SIII Neo

124.60 x 61.30 x 8.94 146.80 x 75.30 x 8.95

136.6 x 70.75 x 8.6

143.9

163

156

108

163

132

8/210

11/210

11/430

17/-

12/NA

17/370

14/NA

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/5.5

16million/4.7

16million/5.01

16million/5.0

16million/4.3

16million/5.25

16million/4.8

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

32GB/No

8GB/32GB

8GB/64GB

NA/64GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

16MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

Shared

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Camera/Flash/Video Phonebook Capacity Frequency/Dual SIM

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

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Operating System

Android OS v4.4

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v4.4

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

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

Price in Rs.

Shared Quad Band/No

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

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v4.3

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

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

19,000

13,900

14,770

15,499

17,500

17,900

23,900

Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

MODELS

Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

PARAMETERS Model

SAMSUNG Galaxy S5 mini

NEW

Galaxy Mega 6.3

Galaxy Note II N7100 Galaxy Note 3 Neo

Galaxy S4

Galaxy S5

Galaxy Alpha

NEW

Dimension (mm)

131.1 x 64.8 x 9.1

167.6 x 88 x 8

151.1 x 80.5 x 9.4

148.4 x 77.4 x 8.6

136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9

142 x 72.5 x 8.1

132.4 x 65.5 x 6.7

Weight (grams)

120

199

183

162.5

130

145

115

Talktime/Standby (hours)

10/NA

17/420

35/980

18/540

17/370

21/390

NA/NA

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/4.5

16million/6.3

16million/5.5

16million/5.0

16million/5.1

16million/4.7

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

16GB/64GB

8GB/64GB

16GB/64GB

16GB/128GB

32GB/No

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

16MP/Yes/Yes

12MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Quad Band/No

Quad Band/NA

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

Android OS v4.4

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v4.1

Quad Band/No

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Android OS v4.3

Android OS v4.2

Android OS, v4.4

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

26,200

27,500

29,500

30,000

38,500

39,990

88 MYMOBILE NOVEMBER 2014

myguide Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

MODELS

Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

PARAMETERS Model Dimension (mm) Weight (grams)

SAMSUNG

SONY

Galaxy Note 3

Xperia M Dual

Xperia C

Xperia M2

M2 Dual

Xpiria C3

Xperia ZR

151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3

124 x 62 x 9.3

141.5 x 74.15 x 8.88

139.7 x 71.1 x 8.6

156.2 x 78.7 x 7.6

131.3 x 67.3 x 10.5

168

115

153

148

149.7

138

20/490

10.16/498

14.1/588

13.5/588

11.2/580

11/1040

11/470

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/5.7

16million/4.0

16million/5.0

16million/4.8

16milion/5.5

16million/4.6

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

32GB/64GB

4GB/32GB

8GB/32GB

Yes/Yes

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

13.1MP/Yes/Yes

Shared

Talktime/Standby (hours)

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

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/No

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

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Operating System

Android OS v4.3 Yes/No Bar/Yes/No

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

Price in Rs.

Shared

Quad Band/GSM

Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

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

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.2

Android OS, v4.3

Android OS v4.3

Android OS v4.4

Android OS v4.2

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

23,000

24,500

40,000

12,100

17,000

18,600

19,300

Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

MODELS

Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

SONY

PARAMETERS Model

Xperia T2 Ultra

Xperia Z

Xperia Z 1 Compact

Xperia Z 1

Xperia Z Ultra

Xperia Z 2

Dimension (mm)

165.2 x 83.8 x 7.7

150.7 x 77 x 7

139 x 71 x 7.9

127 x 64.9 x 9.5

144.4 x 73.9 x 8.5

179 x 92 x 6.5

146.8 x 73.3 x 8.2

Weight (grams)

171.8

148

146

137

169

212

163

Talktime/Standby (hours)

16/1120

12.7/639

11/550

10/670

14/880

11/550

15/690

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/6.0

16million/5.3

16million/5.0

16million/4.3

16million/5.0

16million/5.4

16million/5.2

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

8GB/32GB

16GB/32GB

16GB/64GB

16BG/128GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

13.1MP/Yes/Yes

20.7MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

20.7MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Operating System

Android OS, v4.3

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

Price in Rs.

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

Android OS v4.1

Quad Band/No Yes/Yes/HSPA+ Android OS v4.3

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

Android OS v4.2

Quad Band/No Yes/Yes/HSPA+ Android OS v4.4

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

23,500

26,700

26,000

32,000

38,000

44,000

NOVEMBER 2014 MYMOBILE 89

myguide CDMA PHONE

Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

MODELS

Rs 12,000 UPWARDS

SONY

PARAMETERS Model Dimension (mm) Weight (grams)

XOLO

CDMA

Xperia Z3 Copact NEW

Xperia Z3 NEW

X1000

Q1000s

Q3000

Samsung B229

MTS Striker C121

127.3x64.9x8.6

146 x 72 x 7.3

147 x 72.1 x 7

164.8 x 81.6 x 8.9

108 x 44.38 x 14.20

106.8×44.7×13.15

129

152

158

65.5

12/880

14/890

9.5/336

22/327

33/667

6.5/720

33/360

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/4.3

16million/5.2

16million/4.7

16million/5.0

16million/5.7

65,536/1.5

65,536/1.44

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

16GB/128GB

8GB/32GB

16GB/No

16GB/32GB

450KB/No

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

No/No

Camera/Flash/Video

20.7MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

No/No/No

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

1,000

500

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/No

Dual Band/No

Quad Band/GSM+GSM

CDMA/No

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSDPA+

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

No/No/No

Operating System

Android OS v4.4

Android OS v4.0

Android OS v4.2

BREW

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

Price in Rs.

Yes/Yes

No/No

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/No

44,990

51,990

13,800

14,000

18,500

1,100

1,500

CDMA PHONE

MODELS

CDMA PHONE

CDMA

PARAMETERS Model

MTS Striker C131

MTS Striker C132

Micromax GC222

Lava ARC8c

MTS Mtag 281

MTS Duet

MTS Duet II

Dimension (mm)

108.5 × 46.7 × 12.15

115.5 × 47 × 13.5

110 x 45 x 10

104 x 57 x 13.3

116.36 x 61.7 x 12.7

Weight (grams)

68.2

Talktime/Standby (hours)

16/240

17.9/360

4.5/170

May-90

10/220

NA/NA

10/NA

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

65,536/1.77

262,144/1.8

65,536/2.2

262,144/2.8

242,144/3.5

262,14/4.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

1.29MB/No

59KB/4GB

NA/8GB

170MB/32GB

4GB/32GB

120MB/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

No/No

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

No/No/No

VGS/No/Yes

VGA/No/Yes

3.0MP/No/Yes

3.2MP/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

500

300

100

Shared

Sahred

Frequency/Dual SIM

CDMA/No

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/No/No

Yes/Yes/EVDO Rev.0

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/Yes

Operating System

BREW

Brew 3.1.5

Brew 3.1

BREW

Android OS v2.3

Music Player/FM Radio

No/No

Yes/Yes

Bar/No/No

Bar/Yes/No

1,550

1,650

2,289

2,699

3,199

5,199

5,648

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

90 MYMOBILE NOVEMBER 2014

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

myguide CDMA PHONE

CDMA PHONE

MODELS

CDMA PHONE

CDMA

PARAMETERS Model Dimension (mm) Weight (grams)

Blackberry 8530

Moto G

BlackBerry Curve CDMA 9350

HTC Desire XC

HTC Desire 700 C

Desire 816

HTC Desire 600 C

109 x 60 x 13.9

129.9 x 65.9 x 11.6

109 x 60 x 11

119.5x 62.3 x 9.4

145.5 x 72 x 10.3

156.6 x 78.7 x 7.9

134.8 x 67 x 9.26

105

143

107

150

165

130

4.5/252

24/NA

NA/NA

8/338

21/737

11.4/539

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

65,536/NA

16million/4.5

NA/2.44

16million/4.0

16million/5.0

16million/5.5

16million/4.5

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

256MB/32GB

8GB/No

512MB/32GB

4GB/32GB

8GB/64GB

8GB/128GB

8GB/64GB

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

2.0MP/NA/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

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

Price in Rs.

CDMA/No

CDMA/N0

CDMA/No

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/1xEV-DO

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Yes/Yes/HSPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

BlackBerry OS

Android OS v4.4

BlackBerry OS7

Android OS v4.1

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

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Bar/No/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

12,500

13,490

17,250

18,190

18,300

24,000

TABLET

MODELS

CDMA PHONE

CDMA

APPLE

Model

HTC One Dual SIM

iPad Mini Wi-Fi

i-Pad Wi-Fi

iPad Mini Wi-Fi with iPad Mini W-Fii+3G retina display

Dimension (mm)

137.4 x 68.2 x 10.4

200 x 134.7 x 7.2

241.2 x 185.7 x 9.4

200 x 134.7 x 7.5

Weight (grams)

143

308

662

331

PARAMETERS

i-Pad Wi-Fi+3G

iPad Mini Wi-Fi+3G with retina display

200 x 134.7 x 7.2

241.2 x 185.7 x 9.4

200 x 134.7 x 7.5

312

662

331

27/500

NA/NA

10/720

NA/NA

10/720

NA/NA

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16.7million/4.7

16 million/7.9

262,144/9.7

16 million/7.9

262,144/9.7

16 million/7.9

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

32GB/No

16,32,64GB/No

16GB/No

16,32,64/128GB/No

16,32,64GB/No

16,32,64 GB/No

16,32,64/128GB/No

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

4.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0 MP/No/Yes

VGA/No/Yes

5.0 MP/No/Yes

VGA/No/Yes

5.0 MP/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/CDMA+GSM

NA/No

Quad Band/No

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

No/No/No

Android OS v4.1

iOS 7

iOS 6

iOS 7

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

iOS 7

iOS 6

NA/No No/No/No iOS 7

Yes/Yes

No/No

Yes/No

No/No

Yes/No

No/No

Bar/Yes/No

36,000

21,900/27,900/33,900

28,900

28,900/35,900/42,900/49,900

29,900/35,900/41,900

37,900

37,900/44,900/51,900/58,900

NOVEMBER 2014 MYMOBILE 91

myguide TABLET

TABLET

MODELS

TABLET

APPLE

PARAMETERS

KARBONN

LAVA

iPad Air Wi-Fi

iPad Air W-Fii+3G

A34 TA-FONE HD

A39 TA-FONE HD

A37 TA-FONE HD

Smart Cosmic

Ivory Tab 702

Dimension (mm)

241.2 x 185.7 x 9.4

197 x 124 x 12.3

194 X 120.5 X 10.8

Weight (grams)

652

662

335

360

Model

NA/NA

8/240

NA/NA

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16 million/9.7

16million/7.0

262,144/7.0

16 million/9.7

16milliom/7.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

16,32,64GB/No

4GB/32GB

1.5GB/32GB

4GB/32GB

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Yes/Yes

No/Yes

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

5.0 MP/No/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

2.0MP/Yes/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/No

Tri Band/GSM+GSM

Tri Band/NA

Tri Band/GSM+GSM

No/No/Yes

Dual Band/GSM+GSM

No/No/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

No/No/Yes

Yes/Yes/Yes

iOS 7

Android OS v4.0

Android OS v4.1

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

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

No/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Bar/Yes/No

7,200

8,500

8,900

9,000

8,700

Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

31,900/37,900/43,900 39,900/45,900/51,900

TABLET

MODELS

TABLET

LENOVO

PARAMETERS Model

SAMSUNG

A1000

Yoga 8

Galaxy Tab 3 Neo

Galaxy Tab 4 231

Galaxy Tab 4 331

Galaxy Tab 4 531

Galaxy Tab S 705

Dimension (mm)

199 x 121 x 10.7

213.3 x 114.78 x 7.62

193.4 x 116.4 x 9.7

186.9 x 107.9 x 9

210 x 124 x 7.9

243.4 x 176.4 x 7.9

212.8 x 125.6 x 6.6

Weight (grams)

340

401

322

276

320

487

345.7

8/336

18/NA

20/NA

10/-

-/-

-/432

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/7.0

16million/8.0

16million/7.0

16milliom/8.0

16million/10.1

16million/8.4

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

4GB/32GB

16GB/32GB

NA/32GB

8GB/32GB

16GB/64GB

8GB/128GB

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

VGA/No/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

VGA/No/Yes

3.15/MP/No/Yes

3.15MP/No/Yes

8.0MP/No/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.

Yes/Yes/HSPA

Yes/Yes/HSPA+/LTE

Android OS, v4.1

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v4.4

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

8,400

19,500

11,300

17,900

23,500

30,498

37,800

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

92 MYMOBILE NOVEMBER 2014

LIFESTYLE

MODELS

TABLET

SAMSUNG

PARAMETERS Model

SONY

TAG HEUER Meridiist GMT Stainless Racer Sport Classic Steel/Black PVD

Galaxy Tab S 805

Galaxy Note Pro

Xperia Tablet Z

Racing Carbon

Link

Dimension (mm)

247.3 x 177.3 x 6.6

204 x 295.6 x 7.95

266 x 172 x 6.9

118 x 64.35 x 15.9

112 x 46 x 15.5

118 x 64.35 x 15.9

118 x 67 x 16.6

Weight (grams)

753

495

160

155

160

200

Talktime/Standby (hours)

-/432

54/NA

10/890

3/220

7/392

3/220

6.5/336

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/10.0

16million/12.2

16million/10.1

16 million/3.5

262,144/1.9

16million/3.5

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

16GB/64GB

32GB/64GB

16GB/64GB

8GB/32GB

NA/NA

8GB/32GB

256MB/8GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

3.15MP/No/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.1/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/No/Yes

No/No/No

5.0MP/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

1,000

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/No

NA/No

Quad Band/No

Yes/Yes/HSPA

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

No/No/HSPA+

Yes/Yes/HSUPA

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v2.3

Android v2.3

Android OS v2.2

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

Price in Rs.

Android OS v4.0 Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/No

Bar/Yes/No

44,500

57,600

40,000

Starting 2,06,000+

Starting 2,85,000+

3,15,000

Starting 3,40,000+

LIFESTYLE

MODELS

LIFESTYLE

TAG HEUER

PARAMETERS Model

VERTU

Racer Prestige Gold Meridiist Steel & Gold

Ascent

Constellation Ayxta

Ascent Ti

Constellation Quest

Signature

Dimension (mm)

118 x 64.35 x 15.9

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

130 x 42 x 13

Weight (grams)

160

155

148

174

160

165 to 185

166

3/220

7/392

4.8/300

6/300

5/300

7.5/349

3.5/300

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/3.5

262,144/1.9

16million/2.0

16million/2.4

16million/2.0

16million/2.46

16million/2.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

8GB/32GB

NA/NA

8GB/32GB

100MB/8GB

4GB/No

8GB/32GB

4GB/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Camera/Flash/Video

5.0MP/No/Yes

No/No/No

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

3.15MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

No/No/No

Phonebook Capacity

1,000

2,000

1,500

Shared

2,000

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/No

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSUPA

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/No/No

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/R99

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Yes/Yes/R99

Operating System

Android OS v2.3

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/No

Clamshell/No/No

Bar/No/No

Bar/No/Yes

Bar/No/No

4,55,000

Starting 5,45,000+

Starting 2,89,000+

Starting 3,47,000+

Starting 3,75,000+

Starting 3,90,000+

Starting 7,28,000+

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

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

Price in Rs.

NOVEMBER 2014 MYMOBILE 93

etcetera Notion Ink Cain Super

portable Windows

e have seen our share of portable Windows devices, but frankly nothing comes close to matching the Cain from Notion Ink. At 635 grammes, the Cain is ridiculously light, and well, we are still recovering from the surprise of seeing its elegant cloth cover with a keyboard, to which you can attach the tablet for more productive use. You can even fold the back of the cover to make an impromptu stand to prop up the keyboard. And all this with decent specs - the Cain runs Windows 8.1, and comes with a 10.1 inch touchscreen display of 1280x800p, is powered by an Intel Baytrail Z3735D quad processor and has 2GB RAM as well as 32GB onboard storage. Yes, we wished the keyboard had been a bit larger and the cover needs constant dusting, but on the flip side, one gets amazing portability and the almost seven hour battery life is very impressive indeed. And for Rs 19,990, the Cain delivers staggering value to anyone who likes to work on the move and wants a proper computer. n

Price: Rs 19,990

MapMyIndia Buzz For those in travel mode

Price: Rs 17,990

94 MYMOBILE november 2014

ost people travelling in a car (and not driving, we hasten to add) have to draw out a laptop, tablet or smartphone to pass their time. MapMyIndia Buzz does away with the need to hold anything in hand or on the lap and makes the most of the car environment. It uses the back side of the seat to keep the traveller entertained. It comes with a decent looking 7.0-inch display, runs on stock Android operating system, has Wi-Fi connectivity, and plays movies and songs very well. Being a MapMyIndia device, it comes pre-loaded with a number of useful navigation apps and solutions, including Explore, Maps, Reach Me and more. Buzz comes with a frame which keeps it firmly clasped to the back seat no matter how bumpy the ride gets. It comes at Rs. 17,990, which seems a little extravagant, but one canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t deny that the implementation is unique and commendable. n

www.mymobile.co.in

Amazon Kindle The basic Kindle goes all touch

Price: Rs 3,999

mazon has just updated the base model of its Kindle e-book reader range, and in a welcome development, it has made it a touchscreen affair. Unlike its predecessor, where one had to tangle with a button based navigation system, the new Kindle sports a touchscreen, letting you tap, type and swipe. Amazon also claims that the new Kindle comes with a faster processor, but what really grabbed our attention - as always - was the 6.0-inch e-ink display. No, it does not glow in the dark like the one on the Kindle Paperwhite, but it is a sheer joy to read books on and almost mimics the paper experience. Top that off with a selection of millions of e-books on the Amazon Kindle Store, a battery life that runs into weeks, and stacks of additional features, like a built-in dictionary and vocabulary builder for children, and you have perhaps the best reading device in tech town by a mile. Pretty much the only option for anyone into digital book reading, in our opinion, and at Rs 5,999, worth every paisa. n

Tupelo Mymo Wearable with best of both worlds

hey are calling this the age of wearable technology and while that is open to debate, what cannot be argued is that we are seeing more wearable devices than ever before. And the latest to join the group is the Tupelo Mymo, a handy little wearable that you wear from your waist rather than on your wrist (no competition for your watch!). The device pairs with your Android phone (an iOS app is in development) and tracks your fitness data. That sounds routine? Well, there is a spin to it. You can choose to just watch your data using the Base Pack or also get advice from actual fitness and health experts by using the Summit Pack. And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not all - you also get freebies like talk time and air miles depending on just how active you are. Round that off with zero charging problems - the device comes with a pre-installed battery that lasts for a comfortable six months - and a reasonable starting price (the Mymo base model comes for Rs 3,999 per year), and the Mymo emerges as one of the most useful fitness tracking solutions we have seen, combining the best of both worlds - real and digital. n Price: Rs 5,999

november 2014 MYMOBILE 95

etcetera Cubix Blue PQR171 The Superhero speaker

he Portronics’ Cubix Blue speaker impresses on two counts. First is its highly compact form factor and the second one is that it carries beautiful Marvel superheroes and their gear as art work on it. Most Marvel characters are good-looking and stylish and make anything they appear on look like a part of them. The cube shaped portable speaker uses this very well. We got the one with Captain America’s Shield on it. The print is right on the speaker grille and looks well laid and impressive. It features a blue coloured rubber strip around the side panel. The rubber looks good but seems as if it can tear off easily. There is a scroller on it to control volume and switch the speaker on/off. The sound quality is clear and good but is more suited for a small gathering. It charges through micro USB and can be used with a smartphone, tablet or PC through the conventional 3.5 mm cable. There is no Bluetooth support or microSD card support in it, yet, at this price, it is not a bad deal at all, especially if you happen to be a superhero fan. n

Price: Rs 1,399

Transcend Jetflash 340 & Jetflash 710 Compact

Price: Rs 1,708

storage

ranscend’s Jetflash 340 is a dual mode plastic bodied USB 2.0 flash drive, that works not just with a PC and laptop but also with a smartphone and tablet, and unlike some that require an app on the handset to access the drive, it works on the plug and play model. Just connect and it is ready to use. It is made of delicate plastic material, comes with a removable cap for the micro USB end and a slot to attach it to a string. It works smoothly, has a capacity of 32GB and comes with limited lifetime warranty. The JetFlash 710 is a more robust and compact flash drive. It is as small as one’s thumbnail and has a solid metallic exterior. It supports USB 3.0, which makes it faster than Jetflash 340. It is small and one can end up losing it more easily than the previous one. Its capacity is also 32GB storage but it works only with PCs and laptops or devices with USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports. n team@mymobile.co.in

96 MYMOBILE november 2014

Price: Rs 1,908

Telecom Equipment Manufacturersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Association of India

WTA

mobile senseX

bazaar bargain Yes, it was launched this July in the Indian market, but LGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quad HD behemoth has already seen its price decline by almost a fifth in some stores. Which makes it all the more compelling as it remains a formidable proposition in its own right with some of the most powerful hardware one can find on any device in the market right now, LGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new interface and of course, that brilliant quad HD screen that has been matched by very few players in the market. Yes, it will drain battery fast but at the current price, it is perhaps one of the best value for money high end Android devices you can find out there.

oX 99 Mot 23,9 : Rs t 99 a 9 , 17 ched : Rs Laun nt rice e P c t r en 5 pe 2 Curr : ll e fa Pric

LG G Laun 3 ched at: R Curr s 4 ent 7,99 Pric Pric e: R 0 e fa s 39 ll: 1 ,000 8.73 per cen t

98 MYMOBILE november 2014

It might not have proved to be the saviour of Motorola that many had hoped it would be, but the world stood up and applauded the design and software of the first Moto X, as it proved that not all phones needed to be massive or driven by quad core processors to work smoothly. And although there is a new Moto X in town, the original remains the favoured one for many users, simply because it stood out more in a crowd courtesy its super compact form factor, and well, because it still works incredibly smoothly in spite of being powered by a dual core processor. Its original vision might not have succeeded, but at this price, this is an awesome device. If only it had been released at a similar price!