Oppo Neo 3 handset out for Rs 10990, is competing with Asus ZenFone

For some weird reason, the Oppo Neo 3 thinks you’ll be willing to pay Rs 10990 for it when there are competitors with better specs costing much less. Take the new ZenFone 4 which has superior specifications on a few counts, but still asks you to cough up only Rs 6999 for it.

And then let’s not forget the Xiaomi Redmi 1S handset which is priced even more competitively at Rs 5999 in spite of featuring impressive components for a device of its ilk. So let’s tell you what you’ll be getting for Rs 10990 with the Oppo Neo 3 smartphone.

If you ask us what’s the difference between the Oppo Neo and the newer device, the addition of flash is the only major change we can spot. The latter handset works on Android v4.2 Jelly Bean mated with Oppo’s proprietary ColorOS user interface.

The dual SIM device sticks to a 4.5-inch FWVGA resolution touchscreen and works on a dual core 1.3GHz processor of unnamed origin, though MediaTek is the sensible bet. It limps along on 1GB of RAM and has 4GB of memory which can be expanded by up to 32GB via its microSD card slot.

Oppo Neo 3 specs at a glance:

- Android Jelly Bean with ColorOS
- 4.5-inch FWVGA 480 x 854p display
- 1GB RAM, 4GB internal memory
- 32GB microSD card support
- Dual core 1.3GHz processor
- 5MP rear camera w/ flash
- 2MP front lens
- 3G, 2G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS/AGPS
- 1900mAh battery
- 65.8 x 132 x 9.2 millimeters
- 130 grams

Android KitKat adoption boosts, beats Ice Cream Sandwich finally

13.6 percent of all Android smartphone and tabletscombined are now running the 4.4 KitKat platform. According to new data which has just been released by Google, the latest version of Android OS has finally beaten Ice Cream Sandwich, but it has of course not been able to challenge the Jelly Bean variant which occupies space on most of the affordable smartphones from around the world.

This release of data seems quite like an answer to Apple’s revelation at the ongoing WWDC of iOS 7being present on 89 percent of all iPhones, whereas Android KitKat only possessing a 9 percent installed base. According to numbers release by Google, between May and June Android 4.4.x KitKat rose by 5.1 percent to reach 13.6 percent from 8.5 percent.

Furthermore, Android 4.3 Jelly Bean has also seen a small amount of growth from last month’s 8.5 percent to 10.3 percent. The same fate stands for Android 4.2 Jelly Bean which gained pretty little as opposed to the 4.1 Jelly Bean version which lost 4.5 percent to land at 29 percent from last month’s 33.5 percent.

Right now, it is this particular version which occupies the largest share in the Android devicesarena. As expected, adoption of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich has decreased by 1.1 percent, and it now occupies space on just 12.3 percent of all Android devices worldwide.

As compared to iOS, Android updates face delays and are cancelled for many devices due to fragmentation. KitKat’s rise will come as good news to Google since that means more devices become eligible for its rumored 4.5 or probably 5.0 Lollipop update that’s apparently slated for this year.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo gets a bite of Android 4.4 KitKat in India

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo is finally receiving Android 4.4.2 KitKat in India, bringing the device to the same OS version as its larger siblings. The new firmware is being delivered over the air and we’re pretty sure that it’ll be available through the Kies PC software as well.

The news of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo getting Android 4.4.2 KitKat broke on XDA Developers. While the South Korean conglomerate hasn’t officially disclosed its availability or provided a changelog, a few XDA members have posted screenshots of the update.

You’ll basically have to download around 495.61MB to get your smartphone updated to KitKat. Apart from the usual fixes and enhancements the OS tags along, there are changes from Samsung’s side as well, which are mostly cosmetic. Users will be treated to an enhanced UI and a new launcher settings menu. The overall stability of the interface has also been improved.

Coming to the lock screen, you’ll now be able to launch the default camera app through the dedicated shortcut on the bottom right corner. Also, Album art will be displayed here during music playback. The Note 3 Neo was recently given a price cut in India, making it available for Rs 29570 through Samsung’s eStore or Rs 27249 via online retailer Flipkart.

Quick view of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo specs:

- 5.5-inch 720p Super AMOLED display
- 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, 64GB expandable
- Exynos 5 Hexa processor
- 2MP front camera, 8MP rear snapper
- 3100mAh battery

If you haven’t received the Android 4.4.2 KitKat upgrade as yet on your Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo, you could manually search for it via the Software Update option in the About phone menuunder settings.

Flipkart expands tablet portfolio with three Intel devices starting Rs 5,999

Widening its portfolio of devices under the Digiflip Pro brand Flipkart has launched three new Intel-powered tablets. The new range includes a 7-inch Wi-Fi only ET701 as well as 8 and 9 inch tablets with both Wi-Fi and 3G versions.

In fact, the seven inch tablet will be among the most affordable in the market with a price tag of just Rs 5,999. It has an 1024x600p IPS display and is powered by a  1.2GHz Intel Atom Z2520 processor running Android Jelly Bean. The tablet has 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage expandable by up to 32GB. It comes with a 2800 mAH battery.

The 8-inch XT 811 and XT 801 will be powered by 2 GHz Intel Atom Z2580 processors and have a 1280 x 800p HD screen. It will be powered by a 4200 mAH battery and will have 16GB storage. The Wi-Fi only version will cost Rs 8,999, while the version with 3G calling will cost Rs 10,000.

The 8.9-inch XT 911 and XT 901 come with a Full HD screen and has a larger 6500 mAh Li-polymer, but has the same processor as the 8-incher. The Wi-Fi model has been priced at Rs 13,999, while the 3G version will cost Rs 2,000 more.

Michael Adnani, VP – Retail & Head – Brand Alliances, Flipkart, told IndianExpress.com that the idea was to offer something for everyone who can afford to spend on a tablet. Fipkart had launched another Android device a couple of months back and Adnani said the new devices made their specrtum pretty wide and plugged all the gaps. “At the moment the premium is all about quality and not the price as before. Our tablets offer affordability and value,” he added.

Sandeep Aurora, Director Marketing and Market Development, Intel South Asia said it is good see that the low quality tablets which had been clouding user judgement for long has started exiting the market. “We can now ensure that the customer is wowed by their first tablet experience, unlike before,” he said, adding that the market will keep evolving till it figures out what are the types of tablets that will sell.

Aurora said the trend of tablets with calling was still quite storng in India as a lot of Indian look at this feature as a fail safe mechanism when their primary phone has an issue. Adnani added that the tablet market in India was unlike the rest of the world. “Our effort is to develop a tablet market for the India consumer that solves his specific needs and problems.”

Gmail, other apps easily hacked with 92 percent accuracy, say researchers

Scientists have developed a novel method that allowed them to successfully hack into Gmail with up to 92 percent accuracy. A team of researchers, including an assistant professor at the University of California, Riverside Bourns College of Engineering, have identified a weakness believed to exist in Android, Windows and iOS mobile operating systems that could be used to obtain personal information from unsuspecting users. They demonstrated the hack in an Android phone.

The researchers tested the method and found it was successful between 82 per cent and 92 percent of the time on six of the seven popular apps they tested. Among the apps they easily hacked were Gmail, CHASE Bank and H&R Block. Amazon, with a 48 percent success rate, was the only app they tested that was difficult to penetrate. The researchers believe their method will work on other operating systems because they share a key feature researchers exploited in the Android system.

The researchers believed there was a security risk with so many apps being created by so many developers. Once a user downloads a bunch of apps to their smartphone they are all running on the same shared infrastructure, or operating system.

“The assumption has always been that these apps can’t interfere with each other easily,” Zhiyun Qian, of the Computer Science and Engineering Department at UC Riverside said. “We show that assumption is not correct and one app can in fact significantly impact another and result in harmful consequences for the user,” said Qian.

The attack works by getting a user to download a seemingly benign, but actually malicious, app, such as one for background wallpaper on a phone. Once that app is installed, the researchers are able to exploit a newly discovered public side channel – the shared memory statistics of a process, which can be accessed without any privileges.

The researchers monitor changes in shared memory and are able to correlate changes to what they call an “activity transition event,” which includes such things as a user logging into Gmail or taking a picture of a check so it can be deposited online.

Augmented with a few other side channels, the authors show that it is possible to fairly accurately track in real time which activity a victim app is in.

There are two keys to the attack. One, the attack needs to take place at the exact moment the user is logging into the app or taking the picture. Two, the attack needs to be done in an inconspicuous way. The researchers did this by carefully calculating the attack timing.

Facebook Messenger App Not a Requirement to Keep on Chatting

The Facebook Messenger app has taken a lot of heat over the last couple of days but it is not a requirement to keep on chatting. In fact, there are many myths surrounding the idea of Facebook forcing smartphone users to download the app after announcing the removal of messenger from the main app.

Privacy concerns are evident. To use the app, users are being asked to allow Facebook to use their cameras and even have access to control the phonebook. For those really concerned, this was also a requirement for the main app if the terms and conditions were looked into carefully.

The main way to get around these privacy issues is to not download the apps at all. But does that not mean that there is no option to communicate with friends or use Facebook? Not at all! For those who prefer the main app and refuse to download the Facebook Messenger app, there is also a way to still use this part of the social media site to keep in touch with friends.

It is still possible to access the messaging system through a desktop. For those on the go, it is also possible to go to the mobile site through an internet app and access everything on the site through there. The change has only happened to the Facebook app for smartphones, and means that the Facebook Messenger app is not a requirement to keep on chatting privately.

There have been calls to get rid of some of the scary requirements. Having access to the microphone and camera could mean that the social media giant is able to record someone without them knowing. That is not the reason for this part of the terms and conditions. It is so that Facebook can let you use the microphone and camera for the video chat function. Without access to these, it would affect the quality and value of the free app.

The access to the phone book and the ability to send text messages is not to communicate with people you do not know. It is not designed to put your safety at risk. This is in place for those who add contact numbers through messages. Facebook is able to contact a user via text to make sure this is correct.

The main app does have access to the phone book too. Facebook users are automatically added to a person’s phone book to make communication much easier. It is possible to have phone numbers of Facebook friends if they share them on the social media site, which can turn out extremely useful when on the go.

This is not a new app that is designed to affect privacy. There are some very good reasons for access to various parts of the phone. There are also ways around the situation by using the mobile site or just refusing access to the social media site completely from a smartphone. The Facebook Messenger app is certainly not a requirement to keep on chatting, but does make chatting on a smartphone much more convenient.

iPhone vs. Android: Who sexts more?

BY Varun Raj

iPhone users are twice as likely to sext as their Android counterparts, according to the latest research from activity monitoring company Retina-X Studios.

The survey of 4,800 people also revealed a sexting surge on Mondays and Tuesdays. Peak hours, however, occurred between 10 a.m. and noon on Tuesday mornings.

“I don’t think any of us expected to discover that Tuesday mornings were the peak sexting time, however, if you think about it, people may be getting back on the horse after a weekend that fell short or perhaps have gotten past the Monday rush and have a spare minute,” said Ivory Thompson, Retina-X Studios’ operations manager, in a statement emailed to FoxNews.com. “Whatever the case may be, it’s certainly surprising that it occurs during the work day as opposed to the weekend.”

A separate study by Retina-X Studios has also highlighted parents’ fears about teenage sexting. The research, compiled from the company’s sales data, reveals that up to 70 percent of concerned parents find that their teenager is sexting.

“The majority of teenagers have cell phones, and they are unaware of the emotional, social, and legal repercussions of getting involved in sexting,” said Thompson. “Parents are becoming aware of these issues and are taking charge by monitoring their children’s online/phone activity.”   

Earlier this year a study found that more than one in five middle-school aged children with behavioral or emotional problems had recently engaged in sexting.

Samsung claims it’s still on top in India in reaction to ‘Micromax is No. 1′ claims

Just a week back, a research firm announced that Samsung India had lost its spot as the leading mobile phone maker in Q2 2014 to Micromax. Well, the company hasn’t taken the information lying down and has responded stating the claims to be untrue and that it still holds the top position in the mobile market.

Samsung’s President and Chief Executive for South-West Asia, BD Park, has disclosed this information to The Economic Times and has also stated that the company still holds a market share of almost 50%. And in the smartphone category, it apparently has a market share that’s twice the amount of the next competitor’s, which is obviously Micromax.

This information shared by BD Park was based on the company’s internal research and data form an undisclosed firm. He also went on to suggest the possibility of there being ‘some business motive behind release of such kind of data.’ The report which was published by Counterpoint Technology last week disclosed that Micromax managed to earn the top spot in India for Q2.

Also see: Micromax ranks second in Indian smartphone segment, may soon dethrone Samsung

However, CMR (CyberMedia Research) disclosed that the South Korean conglomerate was still in the lead, but the gap between it and the second place holder was slowly closing. While this data is highly contradictory, both research companies are sticking to their findings. Then there’s the India-based GfK which disclosed that Samsung possessed a smartphone market share of 42.5% with the overall total being 40.5%.

Even if Samsung India continues to reign supreme in the Indian smartphone market, Micromax and other OEMs are still trying their best to overtake the giant. And who knows, we might even see that happen in the near future with the Korean company slowly losing its pace.

LG L60 could be coming soon, gets listed on official site

LG may be prepping the launch of the LG L60 smartphone. The device was recently spotted on its official site in Russia. It is likely to be a budget smartphone with a 4.3-inch WVGA display and would come with the latest Android 4.4 KitKat Operating System on board. Like other budget smartphones in the market this one too comes with entry level specs and features.

Other than a compact display and Android KitKat the LG L60 also has a 5-MP rear facing camera with LED flash and a front facing VGA resolution camera for photography and video calling respectively. The specs of this smartphone are similar to the LG L65 launched recently. This device will carry the legacy of L series of smartphone ahead with its Dual SIM feature on board.

It is powered by a 1.3GHz Dual-Core processor paired with 512MB of RAM and 4GB ROM. It allows memory expansion by up to 32GB using micro SD cards and has 3G on board for faster internet connections on the go. We speculate the device to come in India with a price tag not exceeding Rs 9,000. If so then this device will compete with other budget smartphones that come with MedaiTek processor on board.

Are you up for this device from LG? Or you were expecting a little more like the LG G3 smartphone? Let us know what you feel about this one.

Celkon Millennium Ultra Q500 coming soon with a budget price

Celkon, the Indian budget smartphone manufacturer, is planning to launch the Millennium Ultra Q500 smartphone this month. Celkon had earlier launched multiple budget friendly smartphones in India targeting all age categories. Now with Millennium Ultra Q500 the company is targeting KitKat lovers.

The latest Millennium Q500 from Celkon comes with Android KitKat OS on board and has a 5-inch HD display with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels. The display is based on One-Glass-Solution and has a Quad-Core processor (likely to be MediaTek SoC), there is 2GB RAM on board to handle multitasking efficiently and it has 16GB built-in storage.

The device will have a micro SD card slot for memory expansion and it will be priced around Rs 9,000 in India. Preorder for this device begins exclusively on Flipkart starting 14 August. Sales will begin on 24th August. This device will take the budget smartphone market with a storm. Recently Wickedleak launched a smartphone with similar specs but Octa-Core processor and priced it at Rs 8,490. The price war in India is likely to benefit customers. What do you think about this price war in India? Will it bring down the prices of popular brands too? Give us your thoughts on this.

Intex launches Aqua Style Android 4.4.2 KitKat phone at Rs 5,99

Supporting dual-SIM functionality, the smartphone comes with a 5 MP rear camera.

Intex Technologies has added another smartphone to its Aqua series, called Aqua Style. The phone runs on Android 4.4.2 KitKat operating system and is powered by 1.3 GHz quad-core processor along with 1 GB of RAM and 4 GB ROM. The smartphone comes with a 5 MP rear camera and offers shooting modes like panorama, HDR and continuous shot.

Supporting dual-SIM functionality, the phone supports Bluetooth 4.0 and WiFi. Available in two colors – white and black, the device is priced at Rs. 5,990. Intex is also offering a free flip cover with it. The phone is available at Intex retail stores, and leading e-commerce portals across India.

Top 10 Shooter Games for Android

Shooting games are always one of the most favorite choice for the video game enthusiasts. Shooting games are undoubtedly addictive and full of excitement. The amazing hardware attributes of smartphones had opened the new gates for gaming enthusiasts. The sharply accelerating popularity graph of shooting games has magnetized a lot of game developers to showcase their expertise.

At present Google Play Store is flooded with a bunch of various shooter games and to help you choose from some of the best I am providing the list of top 10 best shooter games available on your Android devices. All these games are recommended by millions of users from all around the globe.

Frontline Commando

This is one of the most popular shooting game for Android users. This is a mission based game which enables the users to use a wide range of weapon , strategies and shooting specification to blow down the enemies. This game is absolutely free to install and liked by more than 4 million Android users.

N.O.V.A 3

Get ready to fight for the survival of the human kind. Amazing graphics and a strong storyline behind the concept of N.O.V.A makes it a great choice. This is a paid game brought to you by the popular developer Gameloft. You can play this game with your friends with its innovative multiplayer features. The critics had tagged N.O.V.A as the copy of the popular XBOX 360 game Halo; if you are a regular player of the Halo franchise then this game may disappoint your expectations.

Contract Killer 2

Contract Killer is a new entry in the list of the best shooting games for Android. Attractive high definition graphics and easy controls offer an engaging interface to the player. The story theme of this game revolves around the concept of contract killing and assassination of gangs. This game offers a bunch weapons and moves which create a unique experience. This is a free game on the Google Play Store.

Shadowgun

This game has undoubtedly extended the horizon of Android games. Excellent graphics, mind blowing story and fluid controls emphasize the user to spend hours on this game. It is a paid game but it can surely worth the value. The only reason that makes it a bit low in the ranking is the fact that this game is OLD, it is undoubtedly the best choice but it is very common now. If you haven’t tried it yet then I will surely recommend you to give it a shot.

Max Payne Mobile

After rocking the charts on desktop and consoles; Max Payne now wants to be on your smartphones and tablets. Although it took some time for Rockstar Games to get it on mobile devices, it is finally here and making huge sound. The gameplay and controls of this game is almost similar to the mobile version of Grand Theft Auto III. It might take some time for getting used to the controls.

9 MM

9 MM is another blockbuster game by Gameloft which can fulfill every expectation of a shooter enthusiast. Amazing visual graphics, Hip-Hop beats from Apathy, Jack One and Beanie Sigel make this game a super cool option for Android users. The fluid locomotive controls incorporation with a long list of arsenals can attract any user to blow up some thugs and gang leaders.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies

A lot of impressive reviews from various users as well as market experts earned this game a place to be in my list of top 10 shooting games for Android. This is a must to try game for every Call of Duty fan; now the enemies are the zombies who want to see you dead on the floor. Sadly some users have also raised the problem of game crash on their Android smartphones.

Dead Space

Published by EA Games; Dead Space is a great Android shooting game that can suck the life out of you. It is a must for every user who loves the combination of science fiction with horror. The fluid and easy control are the best part of the game. So if you are looking for the good Android shooter and you are also a fan of the original franchise then Dead Space surely is a good deal for $6.

Mass Effect Infiltrator

With second spot in the list of top 10 Shooters for Android; Mass Effect is another impressive game by the EA. It has a great story and can get you addicted for a long time. The visual effects employed in Mass Effect Infiltrator are awesome and works great with high definition displays.

Modern Combat 3

Modern Combat 3 is surely the best game in my list of top 10 shooters for Android. This is undoubtedly a game which I will recommend to everyone. Super amazing visuals, mind blowing theme and brilliant gameplay options offer the crown to this game. It is a multiplayer game that enables up to 12 players to play together on 7 different maps. It require a powerful device with 1.37 GB of free storage space for optimum performance.

Alcatel One Touch launches One Touch Idol and One Touch Idol Ultra smartphones in India

Alcatel One Touch has launched two new Android based handheld smartphones in the Indian market and these are called the One Touch Idol and the One Touch Idol Ultra. Apparently these two devices are the slimmest and the lightest smartphones in their respective segments.

The One Touch Idol measures 7.9mm thick and weighs at 110 grams making it the lightest phone in this segment. This is a dual-SIM capable smartphone which sports a 4.7-inch qHD display with 540×960 pixels resolution. The device is powered by a 1GHz dual-core MediaTek MT6577 processor and has 512MB of RAM. It also sports an 8 megapixel rear camera, 2 megapixel front facing camera, 4GB of internal storage capacity and a 1,800 mAh battery. This smartphone will be available in silver, slate, cranberry pink and red color variations.

The One Touch Idol Ultra is a 6.45mm thick smartphone, making it the slimmest phone in its category and it sports a 4.65-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1280×720 pixels. It is powered by a 1.2Hz dual-core MediaTek MT6577 processor and includes 1GB of RAM along with 16GB of ROM. It sports an 8 megapixel rear camera, a secondary front facing 1.3 megapixel camera and a 1,800 mAh battery. It will come in black and red color variations.

Both smartphone will come pre-loaded with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and will feature on oleophobic coating on the display (oleophobic coating is an oil resistant coating, to protect the display of the phone from natural finger oil or skin oil from your face while talking on the phone). It seems that the OS will feature a few cosmetic customizations from the company.

Alcatel One Touch has collaborated with Idea Cellular to offer buyers an affordable 3G plan which includes 1GB of 3G data and 3 months of Idea TV subscription with a recharge of Rs. 261 on prepaid and an additional plan of Rs. 259 on postpaid.