5 Large screen phones under Rs. 15,000

When Dell introduced the first 5-inch phablet called Streak, the device didn't manage to impress consumers. It all zeroed down to comfort, and most users felt that the screen was too large for a smartphone experience. It was the Galaxy Note that helped break the ice. And today, as we see it, larger screens are becoming a prerequisite for smartphones. A large screen ensures more viewing area for essential features such as Internet browsing, emails, entertainment and others. By large screen, we mean a display size above 4-inches, usually seen on high-end phones. But there are a handful of Android smartphones that bring to you the large screen viewing experience without a steep price tag. We have listed 5 such phones with larger display (above 4-inches) under Rs. 15,000. 

Micromax Superphone Canvas A100 - Rs. 9,900 
Micromax brings the large screen device experience to the budget category with the Superphone Canvas A100. During our hands-on with the Canvas A100, it came across sporting good aesthetics and not cheap or bulky. Moreover, considering the phone has a 1GHz processor with an Adreno 200 GPU, a large 5-inch display, dual SIM and selling at a lucrative price of Rs. 9,900 (MOP), we think the A100 is an excellent buy. It is one of the cheapest, branded Android ICS -based handset with the largest screen on the market, available for a price below the Rs 10,000 mark.

5-inch Superphone under 10k

Take a quick look at its specs:

• 5-inch IPS touchscreen with 480 x 800 pixel resolution
• 3G, EDGE, GPRS
• GPS
• Bluetooth with A2DP, USB 2.0 (micro)
• 5 MP camera with autofocus and LED flash, front facing VGA camera
• 2GB of internal memory plus microSD support for up to 32GB

                        
Samsung Wave 3 - Rs. 14,499 
If you are looking for a large screen device from giant like Samsung, then the Wave 3 fits the aforementioned criteria perfectly. The Wave 3 has a 4-inch Super AMOLED display but isn't the usual Android-clad phone from Samsung. It runs on Samsung’s Bada 2.0 OS and has a nifty specs sheet. In our hands-on review, we found the device very impressive, except for the lack of apps in the Samsung Apps store. It is the crisp and clear screen that makes this device a great option for media consumption. It has been priced just under Rs. 15,000.

Samsung's Wave at low price, large screen

Here are the specs of the Samsung Wave 3:

• 4-inch capacitive touchscreen with a 480 x 800 pixel resolution
• 3G, EDGE/GRPS and Wi-Fi
• GPS with A-GPS support
• Bluetooth with A2DP, USB 2.0,
• 5MP AF camera with an LED flash and 720p video recoding
• 4GB of internal memory plus microSD support for up to 32GB

iBall Andi 5c - Rs. 12,900 
The Andi 5c is yet another attempt at bringing the 5-inch viewing experience at lower cost. This phone puts on plate all the connectivity features that one may be looking for at a lucrative price tag. Though the MRP is Rs. 15,999, it is available through online stores for Rs. 12,999, which seems a decent price looking at the overall device and the 5-inch IPS display. This device also runs on Android Ice Cream Sandwich and is fuelled by a 1GHz Cortex A9 processor. The large display spruces up the viewing experience and the large battery supports it further by squeezing out 9 hours and 50 minutes of continuous movie playback.

Large screen, long battery life

A quick look at its specs:

• 5-inch IPS touchscreen with 480 x 800 pixel resolution
• 3G, EDGE / GPRS, Wi-Fi
• GPS
• Bluetooth with A2DP, USB (micro)
• 5MP rear camera with autofocus and LED flash and VGA front facing camera
• 4GB internal + microSD card support for up to 32GB more memory

LG Optimus L5 - Rs. 13,000
The next mobile phone in our list is the Optimus L5 from renowned phone maker LG. Sporting a 4-inch TFT display, this handset maintains a good balance between features and looks. In fact, it even supports NFC, which is a pretty good move for a device that is priced well below the Rs. 15K mark. It is aesthetically pleasing and definitely one of the good looking phones in its class. It will give you a taste of the Android Ice Cream Sandwich and is powered by an 800 MHz Cortex-A5 processor.

Aesthetics at its best

Take a look at the specs of the LG Optimus L5:

• 4.0-inch capacitive HVGA touchscreen with 320 x 480 pixel resolution
• 3G, EDGE/GPRS, Wi-Fi (Hot spot)
• NFC,  Bluetooth 3.0, USB 2.0
• GPS with A-GPS Navigation,
• 5MP camera with LED flash
• 4GB internal + microSD card support for up to 32GB

WickedLeak Wammy - Rs. 11,000 
The Wammy Note is the latest entrant in the budget 5-inch category. Crafted by a group of engineers, it works on a single core 1GHz processor but is pretty smooth and fast enough for daily use. It sports a sleek, slim look along with additional bundled items such as a free battery and plastic back panel case. The Wammy is being shipped with Ice Cream Sandwich, but is expected to get a Jelly Bean update soon. The phone is one of the first Androids with a large screen to feature a built-in analogue TV tuner; you can tune into local terrestrial signals using the antenna which looks like a stylus.

Yet another 5-incher

Take a quick look at its specs:

• 5-inch capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels
• 3G, GPRS, Wi-Fi
• GPS
• Bluetooth, microUSB cable
• 8 megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash, VGA front facing camera
• 4GB internal + microSD card support for up to 32GB more memory

Several manufacturers are now trying to build budget phones with larger screens. In fact, 5-inchers are being favoured by manufactueres. Spice is expected to start shipping the Horizonwhereas Mercury has recently released the Magiq, both featuring 5-inch screens at  low price.

Credits:

tech2.in

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Intex I Buddy 7.2 tablet exclusively selling on Snapdeal for Rs 5,490

In an official statement, retail website Snapdeal.com has declared that it has exclusively launched the Intex I Buddy 7.2 on its website. A 7-inch tablet, the Intex I Buddy 7.2 runs on Android v4.0 (ICS), supported by the latest Adobe Flash Player 11, and is powered by a 1GHz Cortex A8 core A13 processor. It is also embedded with 512MB DDRIII RAM. The Intex I Buddy 7.2 is listed at Snapdeal.com for Rs 5,490 with a one-year warranty. 

The Intex I Buddy 7.2 supports multiple languages with audio formats such as mp3, wma, aac, amr; video formats such as mp4, avi, wmv, mkv, rm, rmvb, flv, vob, mov, 3gp; eBook formats such as pdf, html; MS Office formats such as doc and xls; and Wi-Fi connectivity. It is fuelled by a polymer lithium battery with a capacity of 2,800mAh. Further, it also supports different operating systems. 

Intex I Buddy 7.2 tablet exclusively launched on Snapdeal.com

Here’s a quick look at the specifications of the Intex I Buddy 7.2:

• 7-inch capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 800x480 pixels
• 3G (dongle support), Wi-Fi capabilities
• 0.3MP front camera
• 4GB internal memory

The category of 7-inch Android-running tablets in the market in that price segnment is currently a well-populated one. Yesterday, Zync Global, a maker of low-cost tablets announced the launch of its new product, the Z930. The 7-inch tablet is priced at Rs 5,499. It runs on the Android v4.0 (ICS), which can be upgraded to the Android v4.1 (Jellybean) platform. The tablet is powered by a 1.2GHz Cortex A8 processor with a Mali 400 GPU. It also offers in-built 3G support via dongles. It is fuelled by a 3,600mAh Lithium-Ion battery. Z930 comes loaded with 512MB of RAM, and weighs 340 grams. Other features include a standard USB port, a micro USB port, a 3.5mm earphone jack, a microSD TF slot along with HDMI support. The tablet also boasts of features such as a G-Sensor that allows for motion sensor based games.

Back in July, WickedLeak had launched its budget Android tablet, the WickedLeak Wammy Ethos.The 7-inch tablet supports 800 x 480p resolution and also features Bluetooth and tethering. Tipping the scales at just 450 grams, the tablet’s light build should allow convenient portability. It operates on a 1.2GHz processor, 512MB RAM and 4GB internal memory. The memory is extendable up to 32GB via microSD cards. It also features a mini USB port. The tablet houses a powerful 3,500mAh battery. Apart from Wi-Fi and 3G, the tablet features voice calling and SMS. The show is run by the Android ICS OS, while there are a host of preloaded apps such as Facebook and Skype. The tablet also supports navigation apps such as Google Maps.

Credits:Tech2.in

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Previous iPhones become cheaper, iPhone 4S 16GB at Rs 41,400

The Apple iPhone 5 has been launched in a host of countries and it is only a matter of time before it graces shores in India. As of now, there is no official word about the time of the arrival of Apple's new flagship handset in India, but the latest information shows that the launch date is looming close.

According to various reports, it appears that the prices of older iPhones such as the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 4 have been slashed in India. According to a report by IBNLive, the author states,“Preparing for the launch of the iPhone 5 in India, Apple has announced a cut in prices of the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 models. According to an Apple spokesperson, the iPhone 4S 16GB model is now available for Rs 41,400, a reduction of Rs 3,100 from its earlier price of Rs 44,500. The big news for Apple enthusiasts is that the company has slashed the price of the iPhone 4 (8GB) by Rs 9,600. The phone, which was earlier available for Rs 37,900 is now available for Rs 28,300. Further, Apple has discontinued the iPhone 3GS.”

Is the price drop indicating a iPhone 5 launch?

This will be great news for those who are looking to procure an iPhone, and a decrease of Rs 9,600 in the price is a sizeable amount, especially because Apple has never wavered from a device's price while it was still a part of its device portfolio. However, if wishes were horses, we would hope that the price of Rs 28,300 was for the iPhone 4S and not the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 would do pretty well in India, if it got a price tag of around the Rs 20,000 mark, similar to how the iPhone 3GS did when the iPhone 4S was announced.

Another reason to covet the iPhone 4S over the iPhone 4 is that the former can reap all the benefits of the iOS 6.

India has very little to benefit from iOS 6, and though improvements in Siri and Maps are the major talking points of the latest software update, users in India can feel quite limited as the above mentioned features do not work all that well in India yet. However, the major plus point for the iPhone 4S could be FaceTime over cellular networks, something that the iPhone 4 cannot do. 

With this all said, one thing is for certain. The iPhone 5 is coming to India and the launch date is close. 

Here is a quick glance at the highlighted features of the iPhone 5:

• 4-inch, 326ppi Retina display at 1136 x 640 pixels
• GPRS, EDGE, EV-DO, HSPA, HSPA+, DC-HSDPA, LTE and Wi-Fi
• GPS
• Bluetooth
• 8-megapixel camera with 1080p HD recording, 720p front-facing camera
• 16GB, 32GB and 64GB versions

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The Politics Of Aakash

Datawind's proverbial tiger — better known as the Aakash tablet — seems to have increasingly taken on the qualities of an illusion. For those keeping a check, the release date was last stated to be October, without any further details being specified. By the likes of it, the HRD ministry wants to bring out the Aakash II on the same day as the original tab's launch a year ago.

While those who paid in advance to own this piece of the sky are still waiting, politicians are busy taking digs at each other over the world's cheapest tablet. At a recent gathering on 5th September(Teacher's Day), Gujarat CM Narendra Modi took a potshot at the government's initiative of distributing low-cost tablets to students, "Eleven months have passed by, but no Aakash tablet has come down on earth... Now I realise why this gizmo is named 'Aakash' ".

In retaliation, a hurt Kapil Sibal wrote in a letter to the BJP leader that he was "disappointed" by that statement. He added, "Education is a collaborative venture beyond the pale of politics and we need to work together in the best interests of the children of the country". He further suggested that since this initiative involved students, Modi should extend his cooperation to "maintain the morale of the institutions which have collaborated in an initiative never before seen in the country". He also sent the CM a tablet — which he shouldn't have, considering that Modi is tech-savvy and would pretty quickly see that the slate was essentially good for nothing.

As expected, Modi has expressed his disdain at Sibal's move on Twitter. He tweeted,"Instead of cheap gimmicks, the minister should first inform the nation on his promise to provide Aakash tablet to 10 lakh youth in 2011!". He further posted, "In future, Mr Sibal should make honest effort to ensure delivery of good quality Computing & Access device to our youth".

After a long time, I've seen a politician make sense while talking about tech. Although the likelihood of Sibal meeting the challenge with a better product looks bleak for now, let's just hope that those who paid for the devices get the tab this year (or at least their money back).

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Facebook, YouTube blocked in Kashmir: Reports

It seems Internet service providers (ISPs) have blocked Facebook and YouTube in Kashmir following a directive by the government to restrict access to the websites. Reports in the media state that this move is in light of the protests and outrage against an anti-Islam video on YouTube. A report by Greater Kashmir states that mobile telecom companies have also blocked GPRS services on mobile phones. As per the report, mobile Internet access has been barred by several cellular service providers, including Vodafone, BSNL, Reliance, Aircel and Airtel.

The order was issued late last month by the state Home Department, invoking the powers conferred under section 5(2) of the Indian Telegraph Act 1885. "In the interest of public safety and for maintaining public order, the government directed all licensed Telecom Service Providers and Internet Service Providers to make arrangements to ensure that their subscribers in Jammu and Kashmir should not be able to download or upload the contents" with regard to the video, the order stated.

No Facebook, YouTube for the folks in Kashmir?

“If necessary, due to technical reasons, the Fully Qualified Domain Names shall be blocked viz. www.youtube.com, www.facebook.com, etc,” the order reads.

The video on YouTube, which has been deemed offensive to Islam, has been blocked in India following government directives to Google, but it now seems that access to the entire websites have been restricted. Last month, the government of Jammu and Kashmir had directed service providers to ensure that the controversial YouTube video was not accessible from the state. 

Greater Kashmir cites people who called in about the mobile Internet service disruption as stating that mobile services have been taken down completely. “Apart from jamming the social networking sites, the companies have started to put restrictions on general use like e-mails and on search engines as well,” the report quotes the callers as stating. 

The report has also quoted Reliance (J&K) General Manager, Ataullah Haque, as saying that every company has jammed Facebook and YouTube but the rest of the services were functioning. “Basically government has issued a directive to block the Facebook but other services are functioning,” he said. A BSNL official has confirmed with Greater Kashmir that the services have been disrupted following directions by the state government.

However, Jammu and Kashmir’s Minister for Information Technology Aga Ruhullah, when quoted by Greater Kashmir, said that there was no ban on the two sites. “There is not any ban on these websites. I don’t have proper information of it. I can’t confirm whether there is any technical snag in it,” Ruhullah said.

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HTC One X+ photos leaked online

One of the phones in the high-end Android lineup is the HTC One X. It, of course, stands to reason that HTC would like to improve on the design of the One X. PocketLint has acquired pictures of the yet unofficial HTC One X+, along with some sparse information.

According seen in the photos, the HTC One X+ seems to be almost identical to the One X in terms of design. The only noticeable change is the newer logo for Beats. The screen of the One X+ seems rather large, and is speculated to be 4.7 inches long. According to PocketLint, the HTC One X+ will run Android v4.1 (Jelly Bean), house an Nvidia AP37 1.6GHz quad-core processor along with a 1.7GHz single core and will offer 32GB ROM and 1GB RAM.

The HTC One X+ looks very similar to the HTC One X (Image Credit: PocketLint)

GSMArena spotted the One X+ in the latest catalogue for UK's wireless carrier O2. According to the catalog, HTC One X+ will feature 64GB of storage, an 8-megapixel camera, 1.7GHz quad core processor, Jelly Bean, and 25GB of Dropbox storage. It will be available for £479.99 (around Rs 41,000).

HTC’s current flagship device, the HTC One X, is slated to get the update to the latest version of Andriod, Jelly Bean. The HTC One X packs some nifty features in a slim design and is aimed at the high-end mobile users who want a good user experience and speedy functionality. It runs Android v4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and is powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core processor. It sports an 8MP shooter and can record 1080p videos at 24fps. This handset is powered by an 1800mAh battery.

Here's a more detailed look at the specifications of the HTC One X:

• 4.7-inch display with a 1280 x 720 pixel resolution
• 3G, EDGE/GPRS, Wi-Fi (Hot spot), Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
• NFC, Bluetooth with A2DP, USB 2.0
• GPS with A-GPS support
• 8 megapixel with LED flash, BSI sensor, 1.3 megapixel front camera
• Stereo FM Radio
• 32GB memory, 1GB RAM

• MHL for AV out

In July, Ausdroid had quoted HTC as saying, "We know HTC fans are excited to get their hands on Google's latest version of Android. At this point in time, we can confirm that we have plans to upgrade our HTC One X, HTC One XL and HTC One S to Jelly Bean. Please stay tuned for more updates regarding device upgrades, timing and other details about HTC and Jelly Bean".

Along with the One X+, HTC is also all set to release the HTC Windows Phone 8X. The Windows Phone 8X might see a release during November, according to earlier reports.

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Americans Underqualified For Thousands Of Microsoft Jobs

Microsoft has come up with an interesting proposal for increasing the number of foreign tech workers in the US: Use money to coax the government into giving out visas, thus raising the HI-B visa cap.

The company's general counsel, Brad Smith, suggested that US tech companies could pay the government $10,000 for each foreign national they hire under a new H-1B visa program, and $15,000 for each green card that is issued for a tech job. Smith's proposal came 27th September, at a discussion of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education in the US.

There are, apparently, six thousand jobs at Microsoft that US citizens aren't able to walk into. These include jobs for programmers and computer scientists. InformationWeek.com quotes Smith: "We are creating unfilled jobs... We have a shortage". He also hinted that Microsoft wasn't the only tech company with this kind of problem: The US economy creates 1,20,000 jobs each year that require science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills, but US colleges produce only one-third that number of STEM graduates.

At the CES 2011 in San Francisco, GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt spoke disparagingly about sports therapists:"There's a million and a half engineers graduated in China every year. There's still more sports therapists graduated in the US than electrical engineers. So that's a losing equation. ... I mean, a good massage is still good, but it shouldn't stay that way."

Paying the government for H1-B visas and green cards seems the logical way forward, where everyone wins — except that logic and politics don't go together. At least not close to election time.

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