Moto X 2nd Generation - Specs And Review

Motorola, recently showing a good success in market, especially in Indian market. The success story started with Moto G, then Moto E and the recently released Moto G2. Now, Motorola has released their flagship of 2014, Moto X 2nd Generation smartphone for Rs 31,999. Motorola built this smartphone with an entirely different vision than other companies. It is very simple, having good hardware, less customizations in UI i.e. having almost pure stock Android experience.
Lets see if this 2nd generation Moto X captures the heats of customers or it is kept aside for Samsung Galaxy S5 and Apple iPhone 6.

Design:
Instead of fully plastic body, Moto X offers strength with metallic frame around the sides of the device. Frame is thicker in the middle and becomes thinner at the ends, which rises the problem while holding the phone, just like HTC One M8. The is repeatedly slipped from our hands or onto our face while laying down in bed.
It comes with  Corning Gorilla Glass 3 which is beveled round the edges, creating most satisfying experience when you slide your finger on it. Moto X has front facing speaker with nice quality of sound. The back of the phone is very nice. I like the positioning of the camera and LED flash and the surface to very smooth making it easy too wipe the fingerprints on the lens. Metallic 'M' logo of Motorola looks great withing the back panel. All in one, the phone looks great in hands.

Display:
Moto X comes with 5.2 inch 1080p AMOLED display, pretty much larger than previous one.
The display is having several issues such as it does have a typical AMOLED yellow tinge on it, you'll notice it while viewing white screen. Also the display is not that much sharp as a 1080p should be. In case of display, I am disappointed with it.

Hardware and Software:
Last year's Moto X was having nice hardware, but there was something missing in it. With this 2nd generation Moto X, Motorola used all the high end specs you can expect from a flagship of 2014. It is powered by 2.5 GHz Snapdragon 801 processor, 2GN RAM and 13 MP camera. This hardware is enough for good performance and user experience.
Software is the main thing where the strength of Moto X exists. It comes with latest Android 4.4.4 KitKat. Motorola kept stock android UI which offers a great performance. Motorola throw away some of their apps and came with some more functionality. Everything from automating certain tasks, or adding a more convenient lock-screen, and the most notable improvement is the way Motorola has extended Android’s standard voice commands by providing “always listening” functionality. This means that, even with the screen off, you can still perform quick Google searches, set a timer, or just ask the Moto X what time it is — all without ever having to physically touch the phone. There are some more utilities and apps such as Moto actions, Moto voice, Moto assist, Moto Display, Motorola Connect and some more.

Storage:
Limited storage is the only problem with Moto X and that is really a major problem. Moto X comes with 16GB and 32GB internal storage. The model which I have seen was a 16 GB model with only 10.2 GB usable. On top of that, it does not support any external storage. Now, the choice is yours. I think 16 GB model is almost useless with this much less memory and should not an option. If you want to buy Moto X, go with 32 GB.

Performance:
Thanks to Motorola for running nearly a stock Android on Moto X, which does not take extra memory is useless skins and applications. The 2.5 GHz processor is fast and gives a good performance. They choose the fastest processor currently available. The UI is silky smooth, app opens very quickly. Honestly speaking, its really joyful to use this kicky fast and buttery smooth phone.
Battery life of the phone, the hardest area of a phone to examine as it depends on many things and usage of users. In case of Moto X, battery life is normal, not good not bad with its 3100 mAh battery. Actually, when I look at the battery, I expected more battery backup, but that was a fantasy.

Camera:
Moto X 2nd generation comes with a 13 MP camera with Exmor RS IMX135 sensor coupled with slightly faster f.2.2 lens. This sensor are found on the devices like LG G3 or Samsung Galaxy Note 4. Motorola has its custom camera app which does not offer a complete set of manual functions, but provides good additional features which are not found in stock camera app. Overall, the camera quality is more than adequate.

Conclusion:
Lets come to the conclusion. Moto X 2nd generation is having a nice design, powerful hardware, silky smooth UI, good camera, average battery life and a lot of utility apps. The only problem with Moto X is its display and limited storage capacity. The performance of the phone is really good. I am  sure that you will like to operate it. It gives a fast and smooth user experience. It is really a worthy upgrade of previous Moto X.

Pros:

• Premium build quality
• Front facing speaker
•  Good camera performance
• Stock Android 

Cons:

• Display
• No microSD
• Limited storage
• Battery life

Rating : 8.5/10

Spice Android One Dream UNO Mi-498 Vs. Moto E

Though Google is planning to launch Android One today, flipkart has accidentally revealed the specifications of the first Android One smartphone, Spice Dream UNO Mi-498. Android One program is launched to lower the price of smartphones. It was declared that smartphones of Android One will be priced around $100. But, Spice Android One is priced at Rs.6999 which is mire than $100. With this price, this phone is now challenging Moto E in the market. Lets compare both the phones.

Display :
Moto E features a 4.3 inch display while Spice has 4.5 inch. In case of resolution Moto E has qHD resolution (960 * 540). However, Spice's Android One has FWVGA (854 * 480) resolution. Thus, Moto E has a better display than Spice.

Processor :
Moto E had 1.2 GHz Snapdragon 200 dual core processor while Spice's Android One has 1.3 GHz Media Tek quad core processor. Both the phones are having 1GB RAM and 4 GB internal storage which can be expanded with the help of microSD. So, Spice wins the battle in case of hardware.

Camera :
Spice's Android One has 2 mega-pixel front facing camera which is absent in case of Moto E. Bothe the phones are having 5 MP rear camera. Without looking at Spice's Android One hands on, we cannot tell more information about camera.

Battery :
Moto E has 1980 mAh battery while Spice's Android One has 1700 mAh battery. Moto E has a very good battery backup. We can't tell about Spice right now.

Software :
As declared by the Google, Android One smartphones will be having Android 4.4.4 KitKat. Spice's Android One has it. Moto E also runs on Android 4.4.4 KitKat. But, there are some other advantages of Android One OS (refer this). Thus, Spice's Android One seems better than Moto E here.

Extras :
Moto E boasts a nano coating inside as well as outside to protect the phone from accidental splashes of water. Spice's Android One is not having any such coating.

So, both the phones are better than others in different criteria. But, Motorola is more trustworthy brand than Spice. Android One has collaborated with Spice, Micromax and Karbonn which some people don't find good in terms of hardware quality. However, Google has provided them some basic guidelines about hardware, so these phones may be trusted now. Lets not make any conclusion yet. We will see both the  phones hands on and then we will decide which wins the battle

Google's New Android Coming Soon

Google is going to release its first series of low cost Android Smartphones. These smartphones will be powered by the most awaited Android One operating system. It is an initiative through which a key set of references for hardware are provided for help to the device manufacturers which will help them to make low cost smartphones. The phones will be unveiled by Sundar Pichai, Google's SVP of Android, Chrome and Apps in New Delhi on Sept 15.

India is the launching ground for the platform that Google eventually wants to take other economies. India is the world's fastest growing  smartphone market. Millions of users are using Androids and many people are now turning towards Android phones. Thus, India provides a large market for low-cost smartphones. Google has collaborated with leading Indian smartphone manufacturers Micromax, Spice and Karbonn to launch this Android One series.

In India low cost smartphones get large market while the high end premium gadgets do not get that much response.Theses Android One phones could be priced around $100. Google indicate that it could work with mobile carriers to package the devices with inexpensive internet activity. If Google manages this, then its going to change the game of Android Smartphones.


By customizing operating system and other softwares, Google is trying to make a better operating system specially designed for low cost smartphones. The race is to make the low cost smartphones with better hardware and performance. Lets see how Google introduces it's new series.

The Most Awaited Smartwatch Is Now Available

2014 is the year of Android Wears. From the beginning of the year many leading companies are releasing their smartwatches. LG has revealed two smathwatches yet. Samsung is going launch one very soon. At the start of year, Motorola had announced it's first Android Wear Smartwatch, Moto 360. Moto 360 went very popular among the people due to its premium look and features.

Check out the features of Moto 360 here.

This much awaited watch is now available in the market. Is Moto 360 is able to give a good competition to recent smartwatches? Actually, It is difficult to say without spending some time with it. According to some people, who get the watch hands on, Moto 360 is easy to use and it takes a few minutes to get hands on it.

A good thing about Moto 360 is it's design. It has a round dial with metallic strap. Leather strap is also available as an option. It looks like a regular watch and gives a premium look with its metal strap. This is what we are able to say by looking at the pictures. But, does it really look good on wrist? Not much. It looks oversized with it's big dial and a little odd when compared to traditional watches. It is 11.5mm thick and 49 gram heavy.

The dispay of Moto 360 is nice with scratch proof Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. It offers excellent brightness and viewing angles. It is powered by OMAP 3 processor and 512 MB RAM. It has Android Wear and has to be connected to smartphones with Android 4.3 or higher via Bluetooth. "OK Google" command gives you access to voice commands to send messages, play music, measure heart rate, etc. Moto 360 is having a pedometer and optical heart rate sensor. According to TOI, it can measure heartbeats without hiccups.

Moto 360 comes with 320mAh battery and the bad thing is that you have to charge it every day. Motorola has used a new technology for charging. Moto 360 is docked for charging and charged wirelessly. It can act as a night clock while docked. But still, I don't think people will like to charge their watch everyday.

It seems everything good except the battery backup of the watch. Moto 360 is available in market approx at Rs. 15,000.

Here's a video of Moto 360 unboxing by Android Authority.

Is Android Safe? Our Data Might Be At Risk

Android is a platform that supports almost four out of five mobile devices worldwide. Android users are increasing daily on a large scale. It is so popular because it is free, easy to use,have large variety of apps and it's terms do not dictate to manufacturers about the hardware to be used.

But, over the past few months, Android platform is having a difficult time. Hackers are making some softwares with malicious intents. They are finding the ways about how to make this operating system weak. It seems that the hacking is the result of the popularity of Android, but there are some inherent problems, which experts and hackers have discovered don't exist on other platforms.

Android is getting more attention from hackers and malware creators, because it has more than 40,000different malware compromises. Same systems for Apple or Windows phones seem to have less such issues.

Few months ago, there was a concern about an SMS worm that could propagate via Android Devices. Now, researchers have found a flaw in the GMail Android app. This flaw makes it easy to create malware to obtain personal information using the gmail application as a route to extract all kinds of data from your phones.

The researchers have claimed that this is an issue about Windows and Apple devices also. But, Microsoft and Apple have app stores that include a range of strict security checks before an app is allowed on their devices. Unlike this, Google Play Environment lacks in these security checks. Also, Plat Store is not the only source of Android applications. There are many non-Google appstores available for Android devices.

The security community has also exposed some flaws with the official Google Play Store. In case of Microsoft or Apple devices, we can trust the applications we have downloaded. In case of Android devices, te risk is considerably higher. You must have an up-to-date anto-malware software on your device.

Another issue for Android devices is with their factory reset option. It has been found that, the factory reset option, which should erase any historical data from the device, seemed not to work well. (This is the same issue regarding the Tesco Hudl Tablet, reported earlier this August.)

The system of Android updates also is an issue. When new and better Android version releases, newly released devices uses them. Also some high-end devices get the updates. But the lower priced Android devices stick to the same version. So, currently along with the latest version of Android, KitKat, previous versions such as Jellybean, ICS, etc. are also in use.

I agree that Android is a great platform. It has enabled the low-cost smartphones and tablets to take place in the market. But still, Google should make some more improvements in it and should tighten the rules about how an application should enter the device. Currently, the most important thing is that, every Android user should do is to install an anti-malware app on their device.

This article is previously published at The Conversation.

The Most Expensive Android Wear Yet - LG G Watch R

As I said before, this year many new Android Wears are going to be revealed by the leading companies. Samsung, LG, Motorola have already released their smartwatches this year and now, here comes the successor of LG G Watch, LG G Watch R. Unlike G Watch, this smartwatch has a circular display and is going to give a tough competition to Moto 360.

LG G Watch R is going to hit the market by October at a price of EUR 299 (roughly Rs.23,900), announced by LG. With this price, this smartwatch is going to be the most expensive Android Wear yet. LG G Watch, the first smartwatch of LG is now available at Rs.15,000. But, the new watch gives more premium look.

LG G Watch R features 1.3 inch Plastic OLED circular display and resolution 360*360 pixels. It is having a stainless steel frame and supported by 22mm calf skin leather strap. LG G Watch R will be available in black colour only. It is powered by a 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon Processor along with 512MB RAM. It runs on Android Wear, an Android OS specially designed for wearables. It features 4 GB internal storage and is backed by a 410mAh battery. The watch is IP67 certified and is claimed to run for 30 minutes in 1 metre of water.

LG G Watch R has a good voice recognition which provides information about messages, missed calls, upcoming events, weather forecasts, etc. It features a PPG sensor to track user's heartbeats. It also has gyro-sensor, accelerometer, compass and barometer.

LG G Watch R has great specs and features. Also, the look and design of the watch is really good. But, Moto 360 is also a similar kind of watch with more premium look (due to it's metallic strap) and Samsung is also going to launch it's new smartwatch Gear S with 3G connectivity and voice calling. The pricing of LG G Watch R can be a barrier for it's marketing. In that case, Moto 360 and Gear S are going to give a tough battle to it.

HTC Announces First 64-bit Android Smartphone

We always think that the high-end smartphones are released with the latest features, but this time HTC is going to change the game. HTC announced the first 64-bit Android smartphone and surprisingly it will be a mid-range smartphone. The Desire 510 is that first 64-bit smartphone which will be accompanied by Snapdragon 410. Snapdragon 410 has four Cortex A53 CPU cores running at 1.2 GHz, along with an Andreno 306 GPU. This combination of CPU and GPU should make for a quite fast SoC compared to Snapdragon 400.

HTC Desire 510

According to AnandTech, this phone ships with the Android 4.4 and it's likely that it is running in AArch32 mode only. AArch64 mode will be coming soon with Android L. Android L is expected to be released in this November or December. HTC should launch the device quickly as this is going to impress the people as the first 64-bit Android Smartphone. As a mid range smartphone, this device will give a good competition to Moto G and Lumia 530.

Specs :

• Software : 

1. Android 4.4.4
2. HTC Sense 6
3. HTC Blinkfeed

• Hardware :

1. Display - 4.7 inch, 854*480 pixels resolution (FWVGA)
2. Size - 139.9*69.8*9.99 mm
3. Weight - 158 grams
4. SoC - Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 -- MSM8916
5. CPU - 4 * 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 cores
6. GPU- Andreno 306
7. Memory - A GB LPDDR2
8. Storage - 8GB internal SD, expandable upto 128 GB
9. Camera : 5MP Rear , 0.3 MP Front
10. Battery : 2100 mAh

All the specs seems good except the display. HTC did not tell anything about price yet, but it should be near Moto G. HTC should tell more about the benefits due to 64-bit smartphone.

Google Releases Android 4.4.3 KitKat

This year Google had launched Android 4.4 KitKat which was a very good OS with great features. When most of the companies like Samsung and Sony were providing latest update of Android 4.4.2 to most of their devices, Google announced the update of Android 4.4.3 KitKat. The rumours have been spreading for months, that the Android 4.4.3 is being designed by Google, Samsung and Motorola. T-mobile announced on Monday that they will be giving this latest update to Nexus devices i.e. Nexus 4, Nexus 5 and Nexus 7.

Google has listed the Android 4.4.3 update in 'Factory Images For Nexus Devices' page. While OTA updates have not begun yet, Nexus users can update their phone on themselves. A backup of all the data should be taken before using the factory images as it will reset your phone to factory conditions. OTA updates will be available so, so user can wait for them also. According to T-Mobile's software page, Android 4.4.3 for devices Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 is having built number KTU84L and that for Nexus 7, it is KTU84M.This software support page said that the 4.4.3 update these three Nexus devices will be available form Monday.

The new 4.4.3 update is the incrementation of Android 4.4.2 and is having size of 54 MB. Many bugs are fixed in this update. Also, it brings some security enhancements. Further, Google said that they will bring many fixed with this update such as data connection loss, video camera bug, misses calls bug and random reboots. Other than fixing the bugs, Android 4.4.3 is not bringing any new feature or UI customizations.

Earlier, Nexus 5 devices was having a large issue of battery draining. Google claimed that the issue was due to excessive usage of CPU due to 'mm-qcamera-daemon' process that result in draining of battery sooner than expected. So, we are expecting that this bug will be fixed in the update of Android 4.4.3.

This Android 4.4.3 update will be available for other devices very soon. This is being rumoured that the Samsung is testing Android 4.4.3 on Samsung Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S4 Variants. Let's hope for a better update.

Low Budget Android Phones - Worth It or Not?

Android is the largest platform which powers almost 70% of the smartphones all over the world. A unique feature of Android is that, it is available for the devices of all the budgets. Android devices ranges from Rs.5,000 to Rs.50,000. But, up-to previous year, buying a low budget Android phone was like wasting your money. These low budget Android devices were not giving the performance as expected by the user for the cast he paid. Using such low performance smartphones makes the user more unhappy.

But, this year, some good low-budget smartphones were released bye several mobile companies such as Nokia, Motorola, Micromax, etc. Many of these phones are having a great success in the market. Motorola's Moto E, which costs Rs.6,999, went out of stock in market in first week only. It is the most successful smartphone in this year until now. This indicates that, nowadays companies are trying to make low-budget smartphones which are having good features as well as hardware specifications and will satisfy the user for the cost he paid. But, we can't expect some features form these phones. So, low budget Android phones are worth it or not depends on the expectations of user.

What we can expect from low-budget Android Smartphones :

• Screen : When we consider the screen, these smartphones don't come with high-resolution screen having different viewing angles and scratch resistant material. But, Moto E is having scratch resistant Gorilla glass. So, upcoming phones also might have scratch resistant screen. But still, you will have to compromise with the resolution.
• Performance : When it comes to the performance, it is the criteria where these phones are rejected.Until last year, low-budget smartphones were giving the worst performance. But now, some smartphones give a satisfying performance. Generally, we can expect dual core processor and at max 1 GB RAM from these phones which is sufficient for general daily use of the phones and for running some simple games and softwares. But, if you want to play high-end games, then these are not the options for you.
• Camera : In this criteria also, these phones are not so good. Though the company claim 5 MP camera, it's processor, resolution and less scarcity of effects makes it useless. So, you can't expect good quality photos and video recordings from these phones. If you don't have craze about photography, then you can consider these phones.
• Battery : The phone is having low processor and less performance doesn't mean that it will be having a good battery life. Generally, these phones comes with a battery around 2000mAh which can power them for a day easily.
• Softwares : Well, low-budget smartphones don't get any software updates from the company. You can to use them on the initial firmware only. But, Moto E comes with the latest Android KitKat firmware. This is a great feature of this phone. Android phones of Nokia are also having different and attractive UI and some microsoft supported softwares. In case of softwares, less internal memory doesn't allow you to use more softwares and low RAM doesn't allow to use these softwares at a time i.e. multi-tasking is not so good on these phones.
• Storage : Low internal storage is the biggest problem with low-budget smartphones. You can get maximum internal storage of 4 GB out of which only 2.1 GB is actually usable. This limits the user to download software and games. Though softwares can be moves to external SD, such softwares are very less. To move all the softwares to external SD, you will have to root the phone.

You Should Buy A Low-Budget Android If -

• You need a phone for basic functioning such as calling, SMS, mailing, etc.
• You don't like to play games or you don't play the high-end games. You can play simple games such as Angry Birds, Candy Crush on these phones.
• You don't have much interest in photography and low quality photos are acceptable to you.
• You are having access to tech-savvy users, so that you can manually update you phone and can move the softwares to external SD.

You Should Not Buy A Low-Budget Android If -

• If you want to play high-end games and you use many softwares at a time.
• If you like to download newly released games and applications.
• If you have a good interest in photography and shoot photos at all times to capture some amazing moments.

Thus, low-budget Android smartphones are not for everyone. But, for basic users they are really good. Newly released smartphones such as Moto E, Nokia XL, etc are good for such users.

LG G3 - Specs and Features

LG has launched it's most awaited new flagship smartphone LG G3 yesterday. After lots of leaks and rumours, finally LG has launched this smartphone which is having some great features and upgraded specifications than it's previous model LG G2. With it's brilliant design and specs, it is going to give a great competition in the market. Let's see all the specs and features of this phone.

Design -
In we consider the design, it is similar to LG G2 or LG G Pro 2. LG has given a shiny, metallic look to the backside of the phone. They have used polycarbonate material which is lightweight as well as finger-print proof. Like LG G2, this smartphone also has buttons place on it's backside and not on front side. It is having power button and volume buttons on the backside. Backside of the phone is curved and all the buttons are flattened which makes it less prone to scratches. Dimensions of phone are 146.3*74.6*8.9 mm. LG has tried to give maximum possible area for display. Design-wise, G3 is really brilliant and worth it's price.

Display -
As I said above, LG has tried to give larger area for display. LG G3 is having 5.5 inch qHD display with resolution 2560*1440 pixel and pixel density 538 ppi. This resolution is four times the HD display and around two times the full HD display. Even the competitors of G3 such as Samsung Galaxy S5 and Sony Xperia Z2 are not having such high resolution. This is a great advantage of G3. It is having a large screen as well as high resolution.

Processor -
Processor is something that play a great role in functioning of the phone. LG G3 is powered by quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor which can be clocked upto 2.5 GHz. It is having an Andreno 330 GPU. It comes in two variants, one having 2 GB RAM and 16 GB internal memory and another is having 3 GB RAM and 32 GB internal memory. It is having a large expandable memory of 128 GB with the help of microSD card.

OS -
As expected, LG G3 comes with the latest version of Android i.e. Android KitKat 4.4.2 with LG's Optimus interface. Well, this interface is different than that of we have seen earlier. LG has tried to design flatted, rounded and less childish icons which suits better to it's design. Also, LG has introduced some new features such as 'Smart Notice' which gives you notices according to your location and time.

Camera and Battery-
LG G3 is having a 13MP rear camera and 2.1 MP front-facing camera. LG has introduced some new features such as OIS +, dual LED flash and laser autofocus to improve the picture quality and focus sharply.

Battery backup is something very important for every smartphone. LG G3 is having 3000 mAh  battery which does not differ from it's other competitor smartphone. We can't say about the battery backup right now, as the competitors Galaxy S5 and Xperia Z2 are not having qHD display and such a high resolution.

Price and release -
LG has launched G3 on 28th May. But, it is yet to come to India, so the price is not declared yet. It's expected price is around Rs. 52,000.

Final Words - 
If we compare the specs, features and price of this LG G3 with it's other competitor smartphones, then design-wise LG G3 is very good. Also it is having very good resolution. In case of camera, though it having some new features, it can't record 4k videos as done by Samsung Galaxy S5 and Xperia Z2. Also, we can't give opinion about batter backup right now. So, from design and display LG G3 is a good phone to buy. But, we can't give a final conclusion about LG G3 right now.

Education Android Table - Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Education Launched

Samsung, largest Android device manufacturer, just launched new version of the Tab series, Samsung Galaxy Tab 4. Currently, this tab has been launched in US only. Well, this an educational version of tab, which has average specs which will satisfy a normal user for his day to day life.

The Galaxy Tab 4 Education tablet flaunts a 10.1-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen display with 1280 x 800 pixel resolutions with Corning Gorilla Glass protection. This tab runs on latest Android 4.4 Kitkat. The device is powered with 1.2 GHz quad core processor coupled with 1.5 GB of RAM. The battery on the back of the device is at 6800 mAh to power it for 10 hours (normal use).

The Galaxy Tab 4 Education has an on-board memory of 16 GB that can be further extended up to 64 GB via microSD card slot. The connectivity of the device includes Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n wireless, NFC, and HDMI port. It has the additional services and features like Chat ON, Voice Call, Multi window, HW key, Samsung kies, Samsung apps, Group Play (D/L), Samsung Link (D/L).

Specifications of Galaxy Tab 4 Education

• 10.1 inch TFT capacitive touch screen display
• 1280 x 800 pixels resolutions
• Android 4.4 KitKat OS with Touchwiz on top
• 16 GB internal memory, extendable up to 64 GB via microSD
• 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Quad core processor
• 1.5 GB RAM
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, NFC, and HDMI port
• 6800 mAh battery

The Galaxy Tab 4 Education will be coming with a silicon case giving it more durability, and is available for a price of $369 from the Samsung stores and channel partners. Moreover the tablet is compatible with Samsung School that lets the teachers to track the activities of the students, and it can be bought from Google Apps for Education web console for $30 extra. Samsung has pushed in the multi window feature in to it so that the student can read and take notes at a time.

Nokia XL Android Released in India for Rs.11,499.

After Nokia X and X+, new Android smartphone of Nokia hits the Indian market at Rs.11,499. Now, Nokia is standing firmly in Android devices.

This new smartphone of Nokia seems good from the specifications. Android which is used in this model is not official by Google, but it is based on Android Open Source Project. Interface of this smartphone is also different than other common Androids. Well, the play store which is supported on Android devices will not be supporting this phone. But no need to worry as Nokia has launched their own app store for this phone. More and more apps will be added to this store with time. One benefit is that, this device will be getting more Microsoft apps.

Camera is 5MP, which is satisfactory. RAM is 728 MB, which seems less but I think it will be sufficient for this AOSP Android. Resolution is also fine. Internal memory is less which is 4 GB.
This smartphone comes with a variety of back panels.

Specs and Features of Nokia XL:

• 5 inches of screen size with IPS LCD Display,
• 187PPI,
• 10.9mm thickness, 190 grams weight,
• 480 x 800p Resolution,
• 1GHz Dual Core Snapdragon 4 Play Processor,
• 4GB internal memory, Touch UI,
• FM Radio,
• Expandable memory sd card of up to 32GB,
• Bluetooth 3.0, 3G, WIFI, GPS with A-GPS,
• 768 MB RAM,
• 5 MP Auto Focus Camera at the back with 592 x 1944 pixels resolution,
• 2MP of front facing camera,
• Dual Sim Support, (Micro Sim)
• 3.5mm headset audio jack,
• Microsoft’s One Drive support, Nokia Android App Store, Nokia Fastlane experience,
• 2000mAh of Battery

Nokia XL : Conlusion

While Nokia has successfully made its first entry into the Android domain, if seen closer, the release may seem like a gamble to many. Although the device is Nokia's bigger variant of the previuosly released X, it still needs to be seen if the device will be popular with fans.
However, nothing takes away the fact that Nokia actually tried something new and different with the XL, and by the looks of it, they have pulled it off pretty well. But if the device is really to take the market by storm, it will only be due to the fact that this one is one of Nokia's first Android powered devices.

Update Galaxy S3 with Latest 4.4 Kitkat

Most of the Samsung Galaxy S3 users are unhappy as Samsung said that they will not be releasing an update of latest Android 4.4 for S3 due to its 1 GB RAM. Android 4.4 Kitkat is far better than its previous version as compared to speed, smooth working and less bugs. So, it is really a sad news for all the S3 users that they will not be getting this update officially.

But, you can get unofficial update of Android 4.4 for your handset very easily. Many Android techies have made Custom ROMs based on Cyanogen Mode which are based on the latest Android 4.4 firmware. By installing this updates to your handset, you will be able to enjoy Android 4.4 as well as many custom features included in the the ROMs.

These customs ROMs are always better than stock firmwares. Though there are chances of crashing, but they are less and are avoidable. Just proper care should be taken while installing the ROM or get it installed from a person who already knows about it.

These ROMs contains not only latest firmware and apps but they are totally different in looks and processing. If you are bored of using the same Android interface, then you should switch to these custom ROMs. They also contains some extra productivity apps which might be useful to you.

Some of the popular customs ROMs for Galaxy S3 having Android 4.4 -
1) Liquid Smooth
2) Resurrection Remix
3) Archi Port
4) crDroid
5) Fusion SP

• For installing these ROMs you must have to root your phone first. (What is rooting?)

• After rooting, you will have to download the update file of the custom ROM you wish to install. For this, you can search on Google or on XDA FORUM.
• Just follow the instruction given there and install the ROM or just tell it to a buddy who know how to install it.

 These custom ROMs are available for all the Android devices. For more information, contact us on Google+.

Android Wear - LG G Watch Vs. Moto 360

Android wears are going to hit on large scale this year. But, out of these devises, which is better? Which device should we choose? Although the concept isn’t new, with Samsung Galaxy Gear and Pebble already on the market, offerings from Motorola and LG look to be the most attractive right now. I’ve chosen two of the best looking Android Wear smart watches, the Moto 360 and the LG G Watch, and made them face-off in order to decide what should we be wearing around our wrists in the coming months. Keep in mind that we don’t have final hardware specs for these devices just yet, but that won’t be an issue, because we already know about their features. Let’s see how it goes.

Moto 360
The Moto 360 seems to be the poster child of Android Wear. This smart watch was heavily featured in the debut of the new software’s video in Google’s presentation and it looks to have the biggest following online. Design-wise it’s really gorgeous, with a round body and familiar look. Motorola went with a classic watch look for the 360, and named it accordingly. In the front and center there’s rumored to be a beautiful round OLED display, something that you don’t see very often.

The round design can be another advantage when thinking about orientation. You can wear it on any hand you prefer, and the watch will look just as beautiful and be just as useful. The only button we can see from the photos of the Moto 360 is placed on the side, and it is equally accessible if positioned on the left or the right. Other rumors say that the screen will be protected by sapphire glass, an unsearchable material used to protect expensive watches. If that’s the case, the price of the Moto 360 will rise.

According to rumors, its price will be around $299. Motorola already hinted at some “secret” charging technology that will give the Moto 360 longer battery life. Considering that a wired plug would require an ugly USB port on the side or back, wireless is always a good thing from a design standpoint. Unfortunately there’s no information about water resistance, dust resistance or other features like the Galaxy Gear’s camera. This watch will basically be a window into Google Now, a tether to the Android Phone you wear in your pocket. Maybe that’s the reason nobody talks tech specs just yet, because there won’t be a need for great processing power.


LG G Watch
LG has recently released a new video for it’s first Android Wear smart watch, the G Watch. This is also a watch Google promoted in the Android Wear debut video, but has not recieved as much attention as the Motorola device. In all fairness, the G Watch doesn’t look as good as the 360. It’s square shape is reminiscent of Galaxy Gear’s design and  does not impress as much as it’s competition. It is by no means an ugly device, but it’s not as classy as a round-shaped one. We don’t know the type of screen LG will use, but my bet is on OLED yet again. The reason for this is because G Watch will always be on. Its screen does not turn off, and a the black background of the stand-by screen is perfect for saving battery via an OLED screen.

This smart watch will have no physical buttons, so every interaction with it will be via touch input and voice commands. This design also encourages usage on either hand, and the fact that LG used a standard strap means you can change the default one with any other. The G Watch comes in two different colors: Stealth Black and Champagne Gold, so there’s some diversity there, and both of them are neutral and elegant enough to be worn by anyone from teenagers to business people.

On the back we can clearly see some golden contacts, which means that LG did not include wireless charging for it’s first Android Wear smart watch. The company boasts long battery life on a single charge, a thing we will most definitely put to the test once the G Watch hits the market. What’s really interesting about this watch in particular is the fact that it’s weather sealed, meaning water and dust does not harm it. This device does not feature a camera, so we have parity here. The price range is also interesting. This device will cost around $300. No other details were disclosed, such as processor, RAM or storage.

Conclusion
Now that we’ve seen what the first Android Wear smart watches can do, it’s time to pick a winner. Even though we don’t have the full picture on any of them, at a glance, the Moto 360 seems to be the winner from my perspective. The reason for this is the fact that the price range is the same, but Motorola has managed to include wireless charging into it’s device. For the same price of the G Watch you will be able to get a better looking watch with similar specs and sapphire glass on top.

Portal and Half Life 2 Launched on Android, But Only For Nvidia's Shield

Android will be now supporting Half Life 2 and Portal, famous PC games. But, they will be supported by Nvidia's Shield only and not on other Androids.

The gaming handheld has the exclusive on both games, which were converted to Android by Nvidia's own team under licence from their developer, Valve.

Both games are available on Android's Google Play store, but are Shield-only for now – although in the past, such exclusives have supported more smartphones and tablets within a few months of their initial release.

Nvidia said in March it was porting Portal to its Shield, but the appearance of Half-Life 2 alongside it is a surprise for gamers. "We’re huge Half-Life fans. So bringing it to Shield was a labor for love for more than a few members of the team," explained a post on Nvidia's corporate blog. "Using the utmost care, we paid attention to every detail to ensure gamers get the full PC versions natively on Android. The graphic performance is sharp; the controls are precise and natural."

The releases are part of Nvidia's efforts to ensure there is a wide catalogue of games available for its handheld, which went on sale in July 2013. There are now more than 300 available for the $199 device, which isn't yet available in the UK.

Nvidia hasn't given public sales figures for the device, although in August 2013 its senior director of investor relations, Chris Evenden, said sales had been "great", adding that "everything that we shipped so far has sold out, but we're just starting to ramp production".

Early indications are good for the two new Shield games. Half-Life 2 has an average review score of 4.9 out of five on the Google Play store based on 91 ratings from players, while Portal is averaging a perfect 5.0 from 60 reviews.

Nvidia also recently launched a remote-streaming feature for the Shield, enabling owners to play games running on their PCs even when they're away from their home. The company pitched its GameStream feature as a way to play games including Titanfall, World of Warcraft and League of Legends on the device.

Six Android 4.4 Kitkat Smartphone Which Costs Under Rs.20,000

Google launched Android 4.4 Kitkat in last November, but there are very few smartphones which are running on this latest OS. Android 4.4 KitKat has a number of changes compared to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean including more immersive graphics, as well as deeper integration with Google's intelligent assistant, Google Now. Here I have mentioned six smartphones which are running on Android 4.4 having price below Rs.20,000

1) Motorola Moto G
This year saw one of the popular global handset manufacturers enter the Indian smartphone arena, after a brief sabbatical. Yes, we are talking about Motorola that grabbed a lot of eye balls thanks to its Moto G. It was an attempt to grab user attention by giving a lot of features at low cost.

One of the biggest highlights of the Moto G is its 4.5-inch 720x1280-pixel IPS LCD, which works out to a density of 329 pixels per inch. It is powered by 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor with Adreno 305 graphics and 1GB of RAM onboard. Its price is Rs.13,499 for 16 GB version.

2) Motorola Moto E
 This is the best smartphone until now, in its price group. It has very good specs and features for its price Rs.7,000.

 It has 5MP camera, 1GB RAM, 4 GB internal memory and better battery backup than all the phones in its range.

3) LG L70 Dual
LG seems to be throwing everything it has behind its range of 'L' series smartphones by introducing its third-generation devices in the new L Series III range. All of which are based on Android 4.4 KitKat.

The L70 Dual features a 4.5-inch IPS LCD display, packing a WVGA (400x800 pixels) resolution and a pixel density of 207ppi. The smartphone comes with 1GB of RAM, and is paired with a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon 200 processor alongside an Adreno 302 GPU. It sports a 5-megapixel rear autofocus CMOS camera and also houses a 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera. It cots as Rs.13,560.

4) LG L 90 Dual
The LG L90 Dual is part of company's third-generation L Series device and runs Android 4.4 KitKat out-of-the-box, which is the highlight of LG's new mid-range smartphone and it costs Rs.16,745.

It sports a 4.7-inch IPS display with qHD (540x960 pixels) resolutio and is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor with 1GB of RAM. The LG L90 Dual sports an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 1.3-megapixel front camera.

5) Karbonn Titanium Octane
Large displays seem to be the craze among handset manufacturers these days. Karbonn has played a prominent part in the large phone display race and released three new Android smartphones in India.

The Karbonn Titanium Octane, as the name suggests runs on a 1.7GHz octa-core MediaTek MT6592 processor with 1GB of RAM. It features a 5-inch HD IPS display and sports a 13-megapixel rear camera, accompanied by a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. This device costs Rs.14,490.

6) Karbonn Titanium Octane Plus
The Karbonn Titanium Octane Plus features a 5-inch full-HD (1080x1920 pixel) IPS display, and runs on the 1.7GHz MediaTek MT6592 octa-core processor, however, with 2GB of RAM. It features a 16-megapixel autofocus rear camera with an 8-megapixel front-facing camera. This costs Rs.17,990.

Android is Unbeatable - Here's Why

The statement that Android will come among topmost OS was laughable few years ago. But now in 2014, everyone will agree that Android is an unbeatable OS. Eight years have been passed since the release of first android version and now its version 4.4 (Kitkat) which is the latest version of Android.

In year 2013, android hits approx. 81.3% activations. According to a report from research firm Gartner, actual Android device shipments will top 1 billion in 2014. Not too shabby!
Those billions of handsets which will be shipped in 2014 will be coming from lots of manufacturers. Except the huge number of manufacturers, there are plenty of reasons for the success of Android.

Endless Options :

Apple is Apple because Apple has an image to maintain. That means that options in the world of Apple translate to case colors and memory figures. There are simply more choices in the world of Android – spend a lot or a little; big or small; grownup workhorse or family-family entertainment center – chances are that whatever the consumer's needs there will be an Android device that's a perfect fit thanks to hardware diversity. But let's take the concept of choice one step further. For the layperson, there are widgets allowing for customization beyond the normal range of options. And for the developer, the sky is the limit.

User Friendly :
Google's OS is just plain solid. Apple enthusiasts love to talk up the benefits of the iOS, but for those who aren't in the Apple fan club Android can seem more intuitive and overall easier to use. There are also more sharing opportunities, more apps and more opportunities to customize the user experience – and at this point, no sacrifice in computing power compared to the iPhone or iPad. 

Available For All The Price Groups :
There is an Android device for nearly every budget. At the top of the scale there's the cream of the crop and at the bottom there are tablets so inexpensive you can put them in a toddler's Christmas stocking. In between there are plenty of high quality devices that are more than adequate for the average user. Buying through a carrier can sweeten the deal.

So that's what's happening now. The question people are asking is "What's next?" And the answer depends largely on whether Android is thriving simply because it's the default OS on the low-cost alternatives to Apple devices or on the momentum created by its own virtues. A couple of years of strong sales showings mean chances are good that Android has now come fully into its own but in either picture, 2014 is shaping up to be a defining year in the OS race. 

Motorola Moto E - A Game Changer Smartphone

Nowadays, every company is trying to make a mid range smartphone having better specs and features. Another such a mid range smartphone is being released by Motorola. Motorola Moto E is that new smartphone and it will be available for Rs.6,999. This smartphone with is fully loaded features and such a low cost will be touch competition to other devices in this range.

Now, the budget smartphone market wasn’t ever good in India, and it was full of devices which couldn’t deliver the performance expected by the users for what they were paying. But, the Moto E now, for me at least, is a game changer. Why? there are quite a few reasons for the same.


The display is quite neat. It is a 4.3 inch qHD display along with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection and also having water resistant splash guard for better durability and one can easily slide it into the pocket, where the keys and sharp objects won’t bother it much.

This phone is provided with latest Android 4.4 Kitkat. Just few days before, galaxy S3 users wew informed that kitkat update will not be available for them because of 1 GB RAM. But, Moto E having same RAM is available with Kitkat OS.

Motorola Shells - interchangeable back covers which come in 9 colors. You had to once select just between the White or Black options and had to settle with one for the entire time you are using it. Here, Motorola is giving the option to swap the back cover easily with some excellent color options.

The Motorola Apps that come pre-installed are quite enough for the users to start off with the new phone, and transfer all the content from their current smartphone. Just like what was in the earlier Motorola devices, the Moto G and Moto X. That’s the Moto Migrate function which transfers all the old content from your previous phone to the Moto E.

Besides this, it has a 5 MP rear camera, 1.2 Ghz Cortex A-7 processor,1 GB RAM, 4 GB internal memory expandable upto 32 GB and finally the 1980 mAh bettery which will provide a longer battery backup.

How it is a game changer?

Having said all this, now, here’s why I feel this could turn around the game in the low-cost Android smartphone market – the competitor brands such as Samsung, HTC, Nokia, Sony have the entry-level devices in the market at this price point and none hold such neat specifications which the Moto E is coming with.

• The Galaxy Trend from Samsung is priced at Rs. 6700 and it has a 4-inch WVGA display, Android Jelly Bean OS, 1GHz Processor with 512MB of RAM.
• Nokia X was initially priced over Rs. 8000, but now has got a price drop, with the recent pricing of Rs. 6931, and it has some of the basic specs for the Nokia X platform – having a 1 GHz processor, 512MB RAM and a 3MP fixed focus camera.
• The Sony Xperia E1 is priced at Rs. 7730, a little higher than what the Moto E is available for, but still, the phone comes with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, 4-inch WVGA display, Snapdragon 200 processor and a 3MP camera.
• HTC doesn’t have a decent phone under the price point of Rs. 8000.

All this would surely make the competition tougher for the other brands and Motorola emerges as a clear winner and the game changer. Now, other brands will have to rethink about their strategy to introduce mid-range smartphones in market.

LG G Pro 2 : 4K Video Recording, Specs and Pricing

Here is the most awaited LG G Pro 2 Android Phablet, launched in India for Rs. 51,500. After the great success of LG G Pro, LG has launched this new device with sleek design, stunning new specs and features.

The LG G Pro 2 flaunts a huge 5.9 inch capacitive touch screen display with 1920 x 1080 pixel resolutions and will be running on latest Android 4.4 KitKat OS. The device is powered by a 2.26 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor coupled with Adreno 330 GPU and 3 GB of RAM. This handset has a 3,200 mAh battery on the back to power the device.

The LG G Pro 2 has a 13 MP rear facing camera with OIS+ technology and is capable of recording 4K videos and there is a 2.1 MP front facing camera for video calling. The on-board memory of the device is at 16 GB / 32 GB that can be further extendable with micro SD card slot. The connectivity of the device includes LTE / 3G HSPA+, WiFi 802.11 ac/a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, GPS / aGPS, NFC, SlimPort.

Specifications of LG G Pro 2

• 5.9 inch Full HD IPS capacitive touchscreen display
• 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution
• Connectivity: 3G HSPA+, WiFi 802.11 ac/a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, SlimPort
• 3200 mAh removable battery
• Dimensions: 157.9 x 81.9 x 8.3mm
• 2.26 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor
• Adreno 330 GPU
• Android 4.4 KitKat OS
• 3 GB RAM
• 13 MP rear facing camera with LED flash and OIS+, capable of 4K Video recording
• 2.1MP front facing camera
• 16GB / 32GB of internal memory, expandable with micro SD card up to 64 GB

The LG G Pro 2 comes with many other features like the Knock Code for giving high security, and also has Watt Hi-Fi Sound with Visual Mixer that gives the user studio quality sound with the ability to tone and speed. The dual browser features divides the screen in to two different windows for easier multitasking and also has the Quick Window case 2.0 that allows you to call directly from the small window.
The device will be coming with A Quad Beat 2 headphone for better and detailed sound quality and will be available in White and Titan Black colour variants. The device will be available from all the LG Shoppes and is priced at Rs. 51,500 in India.

Sony's New Flagship - Xperia Z2 Launched in Indian at Rs.49,990

Sony, a leading smartphone company, launched its new flagship phone Sony Xperia Z2 in Indian market for Rs. 49,990 with free smartband and cover. Let's check it out.

Display :
This smartphone comes with a 5.2 inch triluminos display having 1920*1080 pixel resolution as previous Z1 having pixel density 423 ppi which is slightly less than Z1. But it makes no difference really. Triluminous technology as used in Bravia makes the display more vivid.Its not only bright, it has rich , vibrant colours with plenty of contrast and angles of viewing.

Design :
The Xperia Z2 is physically very similar to its predecessor, but that's by no means a criticism. It has the same glass front and back and aluminium band running around the edge. It looks stunning and feels extremely luxurious to hold. It certainly feels more premium than the lightweight, plastic-bodied Samsung Galaxy S5.

The Z2's glass panels do make it rather more susceptible to scratches from keys in your pocket, so if you want to keep it looking pristine -- which I imagine you will, given how much you've paid for it -- you should pop it in a case. Like its siblings, the Z2 is completely waterproof, but the waterproof rating has been slightly increased. It's IP55 and IP58 rated which basically means you can completely submerse it in up to 1.5 metres of water for up to 30 minutes at a time.

Software and Processor :
The Z2 arrives running the latest version of Google's mobile operating system, Android 4.4.2 KitKat. You'd be right to expect the latest version of software on new launches, but Sony does have a habit of using older Android iteration.

It's all powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor clocked in at 2.3GHz, backed up by a very generous 3GB of RAM. That's a seriously potent lineup of specs so I wasn't at all surprised that it gave a very strong performance. It achieved an impressive score of 3,822 on the Geekbench 2 benchmark test, easily rivalling both the Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8.

Camera:
Around the back of the phone is the same 20.7-megapixel camera you'll find on both the Z1 and the Z1 Compact. It's an impressive amount of megapixels, but it doesn't necessarily guarantee better pictures. You aren't able to shoot in intelligent auto mode -- or use any of the scene modes or HDR modes in manual -- when at the full 20-megapixel resolution. You'll need to knock it down to 8 megapixels in order to use those modes. Luckily then, the settings it chooses when shooting at full resolution can still be superb.

4K Video Capture :
The Z2 has a trick up its sleeve in the form of 4K video capture -- that's considerably more than the resolution previously available. I put it against the S5, which can also shoot 4K, and watched the footage back on a 65-inch Panasonic 4K TV.
Neither phone is perfect though. The Z2's main problem is its auto-focus, which continually readjusts during filming, causing the entire image to quickly go out of focus. That might not matter to you if you're only filming your friends in the park, but it makes the Z2 unsuitable for more professional purposes.
The Z2 does have more realistic colours however, with the S5's looking unnaturally oversaturated. Neither the Z2 or the S5 handled movement in a scene particularly well.  Overall though, the S5 has the edge over the Z2, with a much more stable autofocus.


Battery:
Thanks to its slightly larger size, the Xperia Z2 has been able to cram in a marginally more capacious battery than its predecessor. Sony also reckons the Qualcomm processor is more power efficient, but I still found its battery performance to be a mixed bag.

The Xperia Z2 is priced at Rs. 49,990 and it comes with two accessories for free as a bundle for a limited time -

• Free Sony Smartband worth Rs. 5,990
• Free Protective cover worth Rs. 2,990

The Xperia Z2 would be available in India from May 12th, and the color options in which it would be available, include White, Black and Purple.