Gionee GPad G5 5.5-inch hexa core phablet unveiled for Rs 14999

The Gionee GPad G5 phablet may have a hexa core processor, but it’s a downgrade in a manner of speaking when compared to its predecessor and this shows in the price of Rs 14999 attached to it. The GPad G4 is currently pegged at Rs 16999 officially even though it was launched for Rs 18999.

The only advantage the Gionee GPad G5 possesses at present is the fact that the Mi 3 has stepped away from the limelight temporarily. Otherwise, it’d be racking up a lot of criticism considering its price is Rs 1000 heavier than the Xiaomi phone’s tag.

And it’s not like the GPad G5 has anything spectacular to show in comparison. Apart from having a hexa core processor, its specs sheet isn’t too impressive. There’s 1GB of RAM onboard and 8GB of ROM, though it does come with expandability of up to 32GB unlike the Mi 3 and GPad G4.

The new GPad takes some design cues from the Mi 3 although it would have done better to borrow more tips on the internal components. The phone is sharp on all four corners and has an easy way about it on the back with its slightly curvy build which should offer a good grip.

This forthcoming Gionee phablet embeds dual SIM slots and 3G connectivity, but no 4G LTE. Its 5.5-inch IPS display which is protected with Dragontrail Glass would have been more interesting if it did full HD instead of sticking to 1280 x 720p resolution .

At least there’s Android KitKat inside and a decent capacity 2400mAh battery that will let you squeeze about 12 hours of 3G talk time out of it. You also get two SIM card slots and an 8MP camera with flash on the back. You’ll have to make do with a 2MP lens for video calls.

Gionee GPad G5 key specs at a glance:

- 5.5-inch 1280 x 720p IPS Dragontrail Glass screen
- Android v4.4 KitKat OS
- 8MP main camera w/ LED flash, 2MP front lens
- 1.5GHz hexa core Cortex A7 processor
- 1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage
- 32GB memory expandability
- 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS
- Dual SIM card slots
- 2400mAh battery, 12 hours 3G talk time
- 157.3 x 77.6 x 7.9 millimeters
- Black and white color options

The Gionee GPad 5 is not up for sale yet, but it will be made available soon enough through the company’s very own store as well as via other retailers.

Xolo Play 8X-1100 featuring 1.7GHz octa core SoC revealed in India at Rs. 14999

The all new Xolo Play 8X-1100 octa core Android gaming smartphone has been rolled out for a tempting price of Rs 14999 so soon after the company launched its Q700s Plus and Q1000s Plus handsets. The Xolo Play 8X-1100 is just one among a few other devices released by the brand with mobile gaming enthusiasts in mind.

We’ve also seen similar offerings like the octa core Xolo Play 8X-1200 and the hexa core Play 6X-1000 previously. As for the Play 8X-1100, it has yet to show up officially on the company’s website. It sports a 1080 x 1920p full HD display measuring 5 inches and ships with Android KitKat.

As you’re going to need powerful components to properly enjoy gaming on the Play 8X-1200, Xolo has stuffed it with an octa core processor accompanied by a 700MHz Mali 450 GPU and 2GB of RAM. There’s 16GB of ROM for hoarding all your entertainment as well as a microSD card slot for adding up to 32GB of extra space.

The Xolo Play 8X-1100 smartphone isn’t only built to please gamers, in case you’re asking. The company has also equipped the handset with a 13MP main camera enhanced by a Sony Exmor RS sensor and an LED flash unit. The webcam appears to be an impressive addition too, with its BSI sensor and 88-degree wide viewing angle.

Yet another highlighted feature of the 3G-capable Play 8X-1100 is its Hotknot file sharing that’s apparently speedier than regular Bluetooth. The system lets users transfer data files between compatible devices by simply touching their screens to each other.

Xolo Play 8X-1100 handset: Quick look at the specs

- 5-inch 1080 x 1920p touchscreen
- Android v4.4 KitKat OS
- 1.7GHz octa core processor
- 700MHz Mali 450 GPU
- 2GB of RAM, 16GB internal space
- 32GB memory expandability
- 13MP main camera w/ flash
- 5MP front lens
- Dual SIM card slots
- 2100mAh battery

The Xolo Play 8X-1100 is currently being sold through retail outlets across the country in white, though we have no doubt that it will hit online stores soon enough.

BlackBerry banks on QWERTY smartphones, lines up Passport and Classic for India

BlackBerry is back to its QWERTY formula that made the brand a success, and plans to launch its new Passport and Classic smartphones in India within the next few months. Apart from revealing this, the company has also announced its intention to keep its physical stores open instead of moving sales purely to the online medium.

Starting with the Passport handset, its interface does not stick to the whole BlackBerry format of a QWERTY keyboard paired with a trackpad. It adopts a 4.5-inch square touchscreen and a plain old physical QWERTY layout instead. The last mentioned is also built to support personalized commands by users.

The name of the odd-looking phone is inspired from, you guessed it right, the traveler’s passport which the company describes as a ‘universal symbol of mobility.’ It will be rolled out in two color options of black and white. Not much about the BlackBery Q20 has been unveiled so far, but we do know that it will be made out of premium materials.

BlackBerry Passport key specs list:

- 4.5-inch 1440 x 1440p IPS screen
- Quad core 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 processor
- Adreno 330 graphics
- BlackBerry 10.3 OS
- 3GB RAM, 32GB ROM, 64GB expandability
- 13MP camera with flash
- 2MP front-facing lens
- 4G, 3G, 2G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS
- 3450mAh non-removable Li-ion battery

As for the BlackBerry Classic, you get a 3.2-inch 1440 x 1440p capacitive display, 2GB RAM, 64GB microSD card support and a 1.5GHz dual core Qualcomm chip. This smartphone runs on the same OS as its awkwardly shaped companion and was previously revealed as the Q20. The company maintains that users feel the hard buttons and trackpad are typical of the QWERTY experience provided by the brand, which explains the renaming.

There’s no word on pricing or exact release dates with regards to the roll-out of the BlackBerry Passport and Classic in India, but we’ll keep you updated as soon as we hear anything.

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

Videocon rolls out VStyle Smart phone for Rs 2950 and 4 other handsets

Videocon has gone full throttle and launched fournew feature phones called the V-Style Mega, V-Style Curve, V-Style Flip and V-Style Mini in India. Apart from these, the company has also let loose the V-Style Smart device running on Android, a competitor to the Intex and Spice Mozilla Firefox OS phones.

The Videocon V-Style Smart works on the very outdated Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread OS and costs Rs 2950. It has a 3.5-inch 320 x 480p HVGA resolution screen and a 1GHz processor. There’s a measly 128MB of RAM under the hood and 256MB of ROM along with 16GB microSD card support.

The dual SIM and dual standby handset is powered by a 1300mAh battery, has a basic 1.3MPback camera and a 118mm x 61.2mm x 9.6mm body. It can connect to GPRS, EDGE, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. In terms of looks, you couldn’t ask for any design more generic than the one sported by the V-Style Smart.

The V-Style Mini carries a price of Rs 1299 and a QVGA resolution 2-inch screen phone. It also offers the standard specs you’d expect of it such as a VGA camera, 16GB memory expandability, Bluetooth support, GPRS connectivity, FM radio and a decent capacity 1000mAh battery.

The Videocon V-Style Flip and V-Style Curve are each pegged at Rs 1749. The former has 16GBmicroSD card support, while the latter allows for double the expansion. On other counts, both feature phones are remarkably alike. The first mentioned handset also arrives with a flip cover.

Each has a 2.4-inch QVGA panel, 900mAh rechargeable cell, a 1.3MP snapper, GPRS compatibility and FM radio. The Rs 1999 Videocon V-Style Mega boasts of a 3-inch IPS display, a 1.3MP camera, 32GB microSD card support, FM radio, GPRS, Bluetooth and a 1000mAh battery.

Spice Fire One – Mi FX1 out for Rs 2229, is India’s 2nd Firefox OS phone

The Spice Fire One – Mi FX1 Firefox OS smartphone should technically be up for the taking at a price if Rs 2229, as announced previously. But online retailer Snapdeal, through which it was supposed to be made available initially, is still to add the device to its listings.

On the other hand, the Intex Cloud FX is already up for grabs as a Snapdeal exclusive for Rs 1999. Spice has yet to reveal all the details of the Fire One – Mi FX1, but we know you’re wondering about the difference in prices between the two handsets.

It starts with the fact that the Spice Fire One has a front camera of 1.3MP unlike its only other current Firefox OS rival in India. Owing to Mozilla’s partnership with Spectrum, we expect to see a processor from the latter inside the Mi – FX1, of course.

Spice Fire One Mi – FX1 main specifications list:

- Mozilla Firefox OS
- 3.5-inch 320 x 480p capacitive display
- 1GHz processor
- Dual SIM card slots
- 2MP rear camera, 1.3MP front lens
- 2G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth connectivity

As you can tell from the specs we’ve lined up above, the Spice phone is a very basic device which is almost totally based on the reference design dictated by Mozilla. A fun fact – just like the Cloud FX, even this handset is practically the first generation iPhone of 2014 if you compare the features.

We’ll give you the word as soon as the Spice Fire One Mi – FX1 hits availability status on Snapdeal. Meanwhile, here’s the link you can follow in order to buy the aforesaid Intex smartphone.

IRCTC brings ticket booking app to BlackBerry World

Available now on the BlackBerry World is the IRCTC ticketing app which will allow BB loyalists to ensure that their tickets are booked right through their smartphones. It’s only meant for BB 10 devices at the moment, and can be downloaded free of cost of course.

Describing it as an ‘easy and streamlined train booking service,’ Annie Mathew, who’s the director of the business development and alliance over at BlackBerry India has asserted that the company is ‘excited’ to bring the IRCTC app to BB World. ‘Increasing smartphone perpetration and the increasing dependence on mobile applications,’ is what has propelled the Indian body to release this product, according to her.

Apart from booking tickets, you can make use of the app for other important tasks as well, thus enhancing your travelling experience further. For instance, if you’ve booked a waitlisted ticket, your reservation status will be accessible from right inside the application, whereas the schedules and routes of trains will also be available.

And that’s not all, using the IRCTC app on your BlackBerry devices you can check the availability of tickets for a particular train or journey whenever you wish to. Other traits that form part of its offerings include the ability to cancel tickets, view stuff like booking history, recent history, favorites and the facility to add passengers as contacts.

Like we said, the IRCTC app is live now on the BlackBerry World storefront as a free download. The app is already available through the Windows Phone Store since late last year.

Uber slim Sony Xperia T3 outed at Rs 27990 in India

The Sony Xperia T3 has been launched in India with its price set at Rs 27990 pleasingly soon after the smartphone made its first appearance in June, ensuring fans over here aren’t left feeling like they got access to the device late. Equipped with the Android 4.4 KitKat OS, it kicks in mid-range specs and comes wrapped in a stainless steel frame.

The Xperia T3 features a 5.3-inch 720p HD displayand a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset bearing a 1.4GHz quad core processor. It’s a very slim device, with a thickness of just 7mm. An 8MP Sony Exmor RS camera forms part of its offerings as well, apart from a 1.1MP front-facing snapper.

Sony has granted this smartphone 8GB worth of internal memory which you can expand further by means of its microSD card slot that can accommodate up to 32GB. A 2500mAh battery has made its way into the Xperia T3 smartphone, providing it with 13 hours of talk time and 688 hours of standby time.

Here’s a quick glance at the full list of Sony Xperia T3 specs:

- Display: 5.3-inch, 720p HD
- OS: Android 4.4 KitKat
- Processor: 1.4GHz quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400
- Memory: 1GB RAM, 8GB storage (expandable up to 32GB)
- Camera: 8MP rear, 1.1MP
- Battery: 2500mAh
- Dimensions: 150.7mm x 77mm x 7mm
- Weight: 148gms
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Miracast, Bluetooth 4.0, DLNA, NFC, USB, GPS

Dubbed as the slimmest 5.3-inch smartphone right now, the Sony Xperia T3 will soon be seen arriving on store shelves in India. If you’re interested in purchasing it, be sure to set aside a sum of Rs 27990 before you charge forward.

Wickedleak Wammy Note 3 looks like Galaxy S5, retails for Rs 12990 only

The newly announced water-resistant device, the Wickedleak Wammy Note 3 is blatantly copying the Galaxy S5 right down to the way its promotional pictures and press shots have been taken. This handset which looks exactly like the Samsung flagship can be bought in India from September 1 onwards at a price of just Rs 12990.

What’s interesting is that its water resistance attributes are optional. So you need to add another Rs 1500 to your purchase if you wish to grab those. The device ships with a 5.2-inch full HD display and runs on a 1.7GHz octa core MediaTek processor.

2GB worth of RAM is also in the offing, apart from a Mali 450 GPU for fast graphics processing. This dual SIM phone features the Android 4.4 KitKat OS, and offers a 13MP main camera and a 5MP front one. The Wammy Note 3 comes equipped with 8GB of storage which can of course be expanded further up to 32GB via its microSD card slot. Its S Window feature which works with a flip cover allows you to perform many important functions without having to open the protective case.

Here’s a deep look at all the key specs of the Wickedleak Wammy Note 3:

- Display: 5.2-inch 1080p IPS LCD
- OS: Android 4.4 KitKat
- Processor: 1.7GHz octa core
- Memory: 2GB RAM, 8GB storage (32GB expandable)
- Camera: 5MP front, 13MP rear
- Battery: 3800mAh

Like we said, the Wickedleak Wammy Note 3 costs Rs 12990, but if you wish to grab it with its water resisting properties onboard, the asking amount will go up to Rs 14490.

Google to add Celkon and Intex to its India Android One partner list

Google’s Android One project could be getting new partners in India as Celkon Mobiles and Intex are said to be in talks with the search giant. So far, Karbonn, Spice and Micromax are scheduled to launch handsets under the program in the coming months and we could see the roster increase as other OEMs are looking to join the bandwagon.

Google announced the Android One initiative during its I/O conference last month with an aim to offer highly affordable smartphones in emerging markets. The search giant is basically aiming at $99 devices and it has partnered with MediaTek to develop reference designs which will be used for these handsets.

ET notes that Celkon Mobiles is a done deal as the fourth partner in the program. However, Intex is yet to secure its position as the fifth member and it’ll disclose the final outcome in the next 15 to 20 days. The former has confirmed that its first smartphones in the series will be out sometime during Diwali which will take place in the month of October.

There are no details about the handset, but we expect it to be similar to the Micromax one which was showcased at the I/O conference. In the Android One project, Google will basically provide OEMs with hardware and software support to reduce the overall production cost of devices. These handsets will offer a pure Android experience like Nexus phones and software updates will be issued directly from the search giant.

The Android One project will materialize in India and will be made available in other locations around the globe in the near future. With Intex and Celkon onboard, the total number of OEMs will increase to 5.

Nexus 5 Android 4.4.4_r2 KitKat firmware update rolling out in India

Google is reportedly rolling out a new update for the Nexus 5 smartphone dubbed Android 4.4.4_r2 KitKat which is said fix certain network issues. The new firmware isn’t a global release since it’s being seeded to devices only on Telsta in Australia, New Zealand’s 2Degrees, and in India.

What’s interesting is that the Android 4.4.4_r2 update for the Nexus 5 is just a mere 2MB in size. A post on XDA Developers notes that the only changes it introduces are radio-related to make the device work better in the said locations.

The new firmware update is being seeded over the air and can be downloaded manually as well, but with a huge 442MB size. The current firmware carries the build number KTU84P, while the new one is KTU84Q. You’ll be able to know if you’re already on the latest release by checking the ‘About phone’ tab in the Settings menu.

If you’re in India or have a Nexus 5 running on Telsta in Australia or 2Degrees in New Zealand, we highly recommend getting the update. Users from other countries, however, can still acquire the firmware through Google, but it wouldn’t be wise to flash it to your device, especially since there’s nothing new to benefit from.

Apart from the new KitKat build, Google has also started rolling out an update for its Glass wearable. The new release brings in various new features including an overhaul of the interface which now flaunts a cleaner appearance. Apart from this, connectivity has been improved along with network handling.

To manually check for the Android 4.4.4_r2 KitKat update on your Nexus 5, head over to the ‘Software update’ tab under ‘About phone’ in the Settings menu.

HTC introduces Desire 616, HTC One E8 dual SIM in India

The HTC One E8 and Desire 616 dual SIM smartphones have been unveiled in India for Rs 34990 and Rs 16900, in that order. The former is a plastic-fantastic M8, while the other is the firstAndroid handset from the Taiwanese brand to run on an octa core processor.

Right off the bat, let’s get the differences between the HTC One E8 and the HTC M8 sorted out. The latest handset ditches aluminum for polycarbonate and replaces the Duo Camera setup for a 13MP snapper on its rear. Otherwise, having the new device on you is as good as owning the flagship.

The HTC Desire 616 Dual SIM is happy to make do with an octa core MediaTek chipset since it keeps the price low, one of prerequisite aspects needed to make a successful push into the Indian market. The other key specs are noted down below for your reading convenience.

HTC One E8 features list:

- Chipset: Quad core 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801
- Display: 5-inch, 1080p resolution
- OS: Android 4.4 KitKat
- Cameras: 13MP and 5MP rear
- Memory: 16GB internal storage, 2GB RAM
- MicroSD card support: Up to 128GB
- Dual SIM support
- Power house: 2600mAh battery

HTC Desire 616 Dual SIM specs at a glance:

- Processor: 1.4GHz octa core MediaTek
- Platform: Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
- Touchscreen: 5-inch 720p LCD
- Cameras: 8MP and 2MP
- Memory: 4GB ROM, 1GB RAM
- Expandability: 32GB
- Dual SIM support
- Battery: 2000mAh

HTC has noted MRPs of Rs 35990 and Rs 17200 for the HTC One E8 and Desire 616 Dual SIM smartphones, respectively. The more expensive of the two will hit India in the end of July and its companion will be up for grabs in white and gray, starting from next week.

HTC One M8 receives Android KitKat 4.4.3 update in India, 4G LTE support added too

If you live in India and are an HTC One M8 user, then get ready for the Android 4.4.3 KitKat OS update which has started rolling out to your smartphone with software changes and support for 4G LTEservices. This new firmware version appears to be sized at around 660MB and can be grabbed in an OTA fashion.

The One M8 was launched with the 4.4.2 version of Google’s OS onboard, but its successor was outed recently with no huge changes but some system and security improvements. HTC has decided to infuse this update with a number of its own additions.

Prime among them is support for 4G LTE networks in India which was promised beforehand by the Taiwanese company. Moreover, performance optimizations and updates to proprietary apps also form part of this download.

The HTC One M8 smartphone was released in the country back in April this year. It ships with a 5-inch 1080p full HD display and runs on a quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor. This smartphone is highlighted by its Duo Camera setup which allows users to adjust focus on their images even after they’ve been clicked.

Here’s a quick look at the specs of the HTC One M8:

- 5-inch full HD 1080p display
- Android 4.4 KitKat OS
- 2600mAh battery
- 2.3GHz quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor
- 2GB RAM, 16GB storage options (expandable)
- Duo Camera including Ultrapixel camera and depth sensing secondary camera, 5MP front
- 146.36mm x 70.6mm x 9.35mm
- 160 grams