Flipkart Digiflip Pro XT 712 Voice-Calling Tablet Launched at Rs. 9,999..!!

After much anticipation, Flipkart has finally launched its first tablet, the Digiflip Pro XT 712. The first tablet from Flipkart has now gone on sale priced at Rs. 9,999, and is listed to be delivered in two to three business days. The move mirrors global competitor Amazon's strategy of tying-in content and shopping privileges to its Kindle Fire tablets.

Notably, the online marketplace giant is offering a number of offers to the consumers to make the Digiflip Pro XT 712 tablet a sweet deal. Some of the offers listed by Flipkart include free shopping worth Rs. 5,300 on Flipkart via mobile app; try and buy offer for limited period; free one-month subscription of Flipkart First; flat 50 percent off on book case worth Rs. 799 for Digiflip Pro tablet; free Plantronics ML2 Bluetooth headset worth Rs. 1,199, and free eBooks on Flipkart worth Rs. 2,300.

The Digiflip Pro XT 712 comes with dual-SIM and dual standby support (GSM+GSM), and offers the voice-calling feature. It runs the now-dated Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean out-of-the-box, and sports a 7-inch (1280x800 pixels) IPS HD display. The tablet is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek (MT8382) processor with 1GB of RAM and Mali -400 GPU. It comes with 16GB of inbuilt storage, which is further expandable via microSD card (up to 32GB).

It sports a 5-megapixel autofocus rear camera with LED flash, while there is a secondary 2-megapixel front-facing camera also onboard. On the connectivity front, the Digiflip Pro XT 712 includes 3G, Wi-Fi, Micro-USB, A-GPS, GPRS/ EDGE, and Bluetooth options. The tablet packs a 3000mAh battery, which is rated to deliver up to 8 hours of talk time and up to 168 hours of standby time. The Digiflip Pro XT 712 will be available in Black and White colour variants.

The Black colour variant of the Digiflip Pro XT 712 has already gone on sale via Flipkart, while the White model is expected to be available soon.

Commenting on the launch of first tablet, Michael Adnani, CP- Retail & Head - Brand Alliances, Flipkart said, "We are the first e-commerce marketplace in India to launch our own device through Digiflip Pro. With this, we have taken another step in our goal towards building an entire e-commerce ecosystem in India. With one of the largest user-bases in the country, we have access to unparalleled data that allows us to predict what kind of products and services will work well in the market. And this has helped us come out with a tablet like Digiflip Pro XT712 that offers high-end specifications at unheard of price-point in India thus delivering great value to our customers."

Read more ...

Karbonn Titanium S1 Plus Dual-SIM Smartphone Launched at Rs. 6,490..!!!

Karbonn has launched its latest budget smartphone in India, the Titanium S1 Plus, at Rs. 6,490.
Notably, the Karbonn Titanium S1 Plus went on sale in India via an e-commerce website in April at a discounted price of Rs. 5,749.

The Titanuim S1 Plus is a dual-SIM (3G+2G) smartphone that runs Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. It comes with a 4-inch display with a WVGA (480x800 pixels) resolution.

A quad-core processor (unspecified chipset) powers the smartphone, clocked at 1.2GHz, and coupled with 1GB of RAM. The Titanium S1 Plus sports a 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, while there is a 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera also onboard.

The handset comes with 4GB of inbuilt storage, which can be expanded via microSD card (up to 32GB). The connectivity options included in the Karbonn Titanium S1 Plus are 3G, GPRS/ EDGE, FM radio, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. It is backed by a 1500mAh battery.

Earlier this week, two new Karbonn budget smartphones went on sale in the country, the Karbonn A99i and Titanium S9 Lite, priced at Rs. 4,880 and Rs. 8,990 respectively.

The Karbonn Titanium S9 Lite features dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) support and runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Other specifications include 5.5-inch qHD display; 1.3GHz quad-core processor; 512MB of RAM; 8-megapixel rear camera; 2-megapixel front camera; 4GB inbuilt storage (expandable up to 32GB via microSD card), and 2100mAh battery.

The Karbonn A99i, on the other hand, is also a dual-SIM (GSM-GSM) smartphone and runs on the now-dated Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Featuring a 4-inch display with unspecified resolution, the Karbonn A99i runs on a 1.3GHz dual-core processor (unspecified chipset) that is coupled with 512MB of RAM.

Read more ...

Intex to Launch Sub-Rs. 2,000 'Cloud FX' Firefox OS Smartphone in August..!!

Soon after Mozilla's announcement that domestic handset manufacturers Intex and Spice were going to be launching Firefox OS-based smartphones in the 'next few months,' Intex and Spice have made statements to the same effect.

While Spice has only provided a July timeframe for the launch of its first Firefox OS smartphone, and said (via BGR) it would be a dual-SIM supporting device, Intex has listed some specifications of its first Firefox OS smartphone as well.

Intex in a statement on Thursday said its first Firefox OS smartphone, the Intex Cloud FX, would be priced under Rs. 2,000 when it launches in the first week of August. The company said the Cloud FX would sport a 3.5-inch display (resolution unspecified), and be powered by a 1GHz processor (number of cores unspecified).

Other features detailed by Intex for its Cloud FX smartphone running Firefox OS include a 2-megapixel rear camera, as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. The specifications detailed by Intex are conspicuously similar to the reference $25 Firefox OS smartphone platform unveiled by Mozilla and Spreadtrum at MWC 2014.

  

The reference $25 (roughly Rs. 1,500) Firefox OS smartphone is based on the Spreadtrum SC6821 chipset, which supports 3.5-inch HVGA (320x480 pixels) touchscreens, integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, FM radio and camera functions, and access to HTML 5 apps. We can expect the Intex Cloud FX to sport the same display resolution and connectivity features mentioned by Spreadtrum.

Commenting on the launch, Sanjay Kumar Kalirona, Business Head of the Mobile vertical at Intex, said, "Intex association with Mozilla Firefox is a step towards our brand's promise to offer quality products to our consumers to improve their lives and set industry benchmarks. Intex Cloud FX is aimed at fulfilling the idea of - 'Smartphone for all' which will be priced below Rs. 2,000. This smartphones will be equipped with enhanced phone and browser features of Firefox OS with an access to a rich ecosystem of latest web applications improving users overall smartphone experience at affordable prices"

Intex in its statement also added it is targeting sales of 3 million smartphones this year, after selling 1.5 million last year. So far, Spice has not provided more details about its unnamed Firefox OS smartphone that's due in July. We'll keep you updated as soon as we know more. What do you think of the sub-Rs. 2,000 Firefox OS smartphones due to hit the Indian market as soon as next month? Do they stand a chance against Android in the intensely competitive budget smartphone space? Let us know in the comments section below.

Read more ...

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4, Galaxy Tab S 10.5 With AMOLED Displays Launched...!!!

New tablet computers from Samsung will feature screens that are richer in color than standard LCDs.

These screens, known as AMOLED for active-matrix organic light-emitting diodes, are already found in smartphones made by Samsung and a few other manufacturers. But until now, tablets haven't used them because larger AMOLED screens are more difficult to produce.

Samsung Electronics Co. is trying to change that with its upcoming line of Android tablets, called the Galaxy Tab S. On Thursday, Samsung announced two such models, with screens of 8.4 inches (Galaxy Tab S 8.4) and 10.5 inches (Galaxy Tab S 10.5), as measured diagonally.

The tablets will start selling in the U.S. in July at $400 (roughly Rs. 23,772) for the smaller model and $500 (roughly Rs. 29,720) for the larger one - the same as comparable iPads. Models with 4G LTE cellular (Galaxy Tab S 8.4 LTE, Galaxy Tab S 10.5 LTE) access are expected later in the year.

Samsung is the world's second-largest maker of tablets, behind Apple and its trend-setting iPads. In recent years, Samsung has been gaining market share - at Apple's expense - by offering a wide range of sizes and quality.

Earlier this year, it unveiled a "Pro" brand aimed at professionals. The "Tab" brand has been used on Samsung's budget tablets and don't come with a stylus, as Samsung's "Note" tablets do. With the new screens, Samsung is elevating the Tab line to become its flagship tablet.

Besides producing richer colors, AMOLED allows tablets to be thinner and use less power because screens typically don't require backlighting. But IHS analyst Sweta Dash said the performance gap between AMOLED screens and regular LCDs has narrowed, while AMOLED screens can cost 10 to 30 percent more to make.

Samsung does have the advantage of making its own screens, and the South Korean company can afford to reduce profit margins on tablets if that boosts volume and reduces costs on the screen-production business. What it learns from making tablet screens might even help it one day make affordable AMOLED television sets.

Samsung did release an AMOLED tablet in 2012, but it was expensive and didn't sell well. The new ones will be priced more competitively.

The tablets are a quarter of an inch (6.6 millimeters) thick, which is thinner than iPads. The smaller version is also lighter than the iPad Mini, while the larger one is about the same as the iPad Air.

The new tablets will sport displays of 2,560 pixels by 1,600 pixels, matching what's found in the Pro series. By comparison, Apple's iPad Air is at 2,048 pixels by 1,536 pixels. Apple markets its displays as "Retina" and doesn't believe more pixels will necessarily be discernible to the eye. Apple is expected to refresh its iPad lineup this fall

 

Until now, iPad rivals have succeeded largely by undercutting Apple on price, and better hardware hasn't been enough, said Rhoda Alexander, director of tablet and monitor research at IHS. AMOLED screens could change that, she said, because colors will pop out when compared side by side at a Walmart or a Best Buy.

The new tablets will also let people make calls when a Samsung phone is nearby and to unlock the device with a fingerprint. The tablets can support up to eight user profiles, so members of a household can get separate home screens simply by swiping their finger on the sensor.

Read more ...

Huawei Ascend G6 With 4.5-Inch Display Now Available at Rs. 16,999...!!!

The Huawei Ascend G6 is now officially available at Rs. 16,999 in India. The new mid-range smartphone from Huawei is now up for grabs at an e-commerce website.

Notably, the Chinese handset maker had announced in mid-May that the Ascend G6 would be available early June. Earlier this month, the Honor 3C was officially available at Rs. 14,999 exclusively via Flipkart.

The Huawei Ascend G6 was globally announced at MWC, alongside tablets MediaPad M1 and MediaPad X1.

The smartphone runs Android 4.3 Jelly Bean with company's Emotion 2.0 Lite UI on top. It features a 4.5-inch qHD display and offers a pixel density 245ppi. The Ascend G6 is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor (unspecified chipset) and sports a 7.85mm slim profile and weighs 115 grams.

The Ascend G6 is globally available in Black, Blue, Gold, Pink, and White colour variants; however,Flipkart is currently only selling the Black model of the handset. It comes with 1GB of RAM and also packs 4GB of built-in storage, expandable up to 32GB (via microSD card).

The Ascend G6 sports an 8-megapixel autofocus rear camera and also includes a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. The rear camera comes with features such as a Sony IMX134 BSI sensor, f2.0 aperture, beauty mode, and sequential and macro shooting. It packs a 2000mAh battery and support GPRS/ EDGE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 3G connectivity options.

In May, Huawei expanded its smartphone range in India, introducing three new mid-range devices - the Honor 3C, Ascend G6 and Ascend G750. While, Huawei Honor 3C and Ascend G6 are now officially available the company is yet to announce availability of the Ascend G750. The company launched the Ascend G750 for Rs. 24,999, alongside Honor 3C and Ascend G6.

Read more ...

WWDC 2014 Preview: iOS 8, OS X v10.10, and the Much-Awaited New Product Line....!!!!?

It's almost time for Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference, and that means CEO Tim Cook will be getting up on stage to talk about the company's progress and potentially reveal details of new products and software. Apple's policy of keeping future products secret has become legendary, and it's no overstatement to say that people around the world are already salivating in anticipation of what might be announced.

Thanks to dozens of leaks and even a few teasers from Apple itself - Senior Vice President Eddy Cue has boasted that the products coming later this year are the best he's seen in 25 years - we have a fairly good idea of what to expect at WWDC 2014. Here's a quick recap of everything we know so far:

Hardware:

One of the most tantalising rumours suggests that we'll see new iMac and MacBook models. The iMac is said to be more affordable than existing models, which would help Apple strengthen its position in emerging markets and attract orders from educational institutions where it has traditionally had a strong footprint. Current iMac models are more expensive than the ones they replaced and are also less repairable and upgradeable, thanks to a super slim chassis and increasing integration of core components.

The new MacBook, which could be the basis for a new or revamped product line, is said to be a 12-inch model. It might replace the current MacBook Air lineup, but would come with the same kind of Retina Display that defines the current MacBook Pro models.

A far more ambitious claim that somewhat dovetails with the iMac and MacBook rumour is that Apple will reveal a new lineup of low-cost, low-powered devices based on the same ARM architecture that powers its iPhones and iPads. While the specifics of actual products might not be discussed yet, Apple could announce its intentions in order for developers to have time to port applications to the new architecture, and would have to share details about an ARM-ported version of OS X.

Even more recent leaks suggest that Apple has something entirely different in mind - a home automation platform. After Google's recent acquisition of Nest, Apple might be trying to make sure its competitor isn't able to entrench people in an ecosystem spanning every part of their lives.

Apple has also been allegedly working on wearable devices for several years, and with Samsung, Google and other companies jumping into the battle with all guns blazing, now would be the time to act. We might see a smartwatch iPhone accessory, or perhaps some kind of fitness tracker. Other accessories such as new earphones could also be on the cards.

The Apple TV is long overdue for an update, but if it's addressed at all, it will be a minor refresh. A more radical overhaul will come later, with fresh software and content made possible thanks to the recent acquisition of Beats and its team. Apple will certainly acknowledge the team, especially Dr Dre and Jimmy Iovine on stage, and could discuss what it's planning for the hugely popular Beats line of headphones.

Apple might provide hints about its next iPhone and iPad releases, but only to the extent that developers need to know in order to get apps ready for the expected launch of those devices in the August-October time frame.

Software:

It's pretty certain that OS X v10.10 will be previewed, but it also might be that Apple dedicates a significant portion of WWDC to its desktop OS, which has been overshadowed by iOS in recent years. iOS got a radical makeover last year, with an all-new look and a number of major features. That aesthetic is widely expected to be carried over to OS X this year. All remaining leather, felt and canvas textures will be excised in favour of sharp lines, stark colours and frosted translucent overlays. OS X v10.10 could also feature improved interoperation with iCloud and iOS.

There have also been plenty of leaks regarding iOS 8, although it now seems as though not all planned features will be available at the time of launch. There have been strong indications that Apple will update its Maps app with better imagery and more helpful directions, split the iTunes Radio feature off into its own app, allow Siri to recognise songs, and introduce mobile equivalents of the OS X Preview and TextEdit apps. Perhaps the most significant update could be Healthbook, a new app designed to tie in to potential new health tracking hardware, and track information such as heart rate, sleep patterns, food intake, physical activity, hydration, and much more. iPad users might be able to use two apps side by side if another rumour of split-screen functionality and improved inter-app communication proves to be accurate.

It's also high time the iWork and iLife apps received some attention - Apple changed Pages, Numbers and Keynote significantly in an attempt to simplify them and allow documents to be created and edited on Macs and iOS devices, but alienated many users in the process. Many features were dropped, but Apple has promised to reintroduce many of them.

Developers would also love to hear about improvements to iCloud, hopefully including better file sharing, version control and collaborative editing. iCloud would also have to be a major part of the rumoured home automation platform, so that's another potential topic of discussion.

Read more ...

Intex Aqua i5 Mini With 4.5-Inch Display, Quad-Core SoC Launched at Rs. 6,850..!!!

The Intex Aqua i5 Mini has been launched in India at Rs. 6,850. The new budget smartphone from Intex was listed on company's site earlier this month without pricing and availability details.

The Aqua i5 Mini is a dual-SIM (GSM+WCDMA) smartphone that runs on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, and features a 4.5-inch FWVGA (480x854 pixel) IPS display (which works out to a pixel density of roughly 218ppi). The smartphone is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6582 processor, coupled with 1GB of RAM.

Other specifications of the Intex Aqua i5 Mini include an 8-megapixel autofocus rear camera with LED flash, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, and 4GB of built-in storage (1.69GB user available) with microSD card expandability (up to 32GB).

In terms of connectivity options, the Intex Aqua i5 Mini offers 3G, GPRS/ EDGE, GPS/ A-GPS, Wi-Fi with hotspot functionality, Micro-USB, Bluetooth, and FM radio with recording. The smartphone is powered by a 1500mAh battery, which according to the manufacturer is rated to deliver a talk-time of up to 5 hours, and a standby time of up to 180 hours.

The Intex Aqua i5 Mini sports dimensions of 135x67.4x9.5mm, and a weight of 140 grams. It will be available in a White colour variant. It features a proximity sensor, accelerometer, and ambient light sensor.

Intex has pre-installed few apps on the Intex Cloud, Intex Zone, BigFlix, Greetzap, Hungama, NQ Mobile Security, NQ Vault, Quikr, Saavn, Opera mini, Sony Liv, Zapak, Newshunt, and Getit, as well as two games - The Avengers, Chennai Express. The built-in call-recording feature is also being touted by the company.

Commenting on the launch, Sanjay Kumar Kalirona, Business Head- Mobiles, Intex said, "We at Intex always aim to offer products which cater to the aspirations of users across various platforms. Intex Aqua i5 Mini is one such product which is affordably priced without compromising on its quality, looks and performance giving buyers a delightful smartphone experience."

Read more ...