Gionee to launch Elife E7 Mini with MT6592 octa-core processor

Gionee is planning to release a mini version of its recently announced Elife E7 smartphone in the form Elife E7 Mini. There is no word on the actual release date right now but the phone is expected to feature the new MediaTek MT6592 octa-core processor.

According to Sogi.com.tw, the phone will also come with 4.7-inch HD IPS display, 1GB of RAM, Android 4.3 and 16GB of internal storage. In addition, the phone will pack 13MP rear camera, 3G, Wi-Fi, and 2100 mAh battery.

The phone will be competing with other octa-core devices, which are arriving in January 2014.

In related news, Gionee’s recently introduced Elife E7 is also set to be released in India in January next year. The phone will come with 5.5-inch full HD display, Snapdragon 800 and 16MP rear camera.

BSNL & Pantel launch Penta Smart PS501, PS650 smartphones in India

BSNL has announced the launch of new BSNL Penta Smart PS501 and Penta Smart PS650 smartphones today in collaboration with Pantel. The PS501 smartphone is already available in the country via retail stores and online for around INR 6,299 (MRP: INR 6,999), however Penta PS650 will be available in the coming days for INR 7,999 (MRP).

Penta Smart PS501 features a 5-inch FWVGA display, 1.2GHz dual-core processor, Android 4.2.2, 5MP rear camera, dual-SIM support, and 0.3MP front camera. The phone also comes with 1800 mAh battery, 4GB of internal storage, and 2G support.

On the other hand, Penta Smart PS650 comes with 6.5-inch IPS display, 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 512MB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage. The phone also packs 2MP rear camera, VGA front camera, Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, 3G, and 2,500mAh battery.

Data offer: BSNL is offering free 3GB of 3G data and up to 300 minutes of talk-time with the purchase of both smartphones.

Quad core Gionee GPad-G3 with 5.5 screen launched at Rs 9999

It has Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system, 1 GB RAM, 4 GB internal storage, and 32 GB expandable memory.

Gionee, which has recently launched the Elife E6 in India, today announced the launch of GPad-G3 phablet with a huge 5.5 inch screen and attractive features. The Gionee GPad-G3 is available in black and white colours and is priced at Rs 9,999.

The 9.8 mm Gionee Gpad-G3 is powered by a 1.2 GHz quad core processor and has a 5.5 inch LCD display. It has Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system, 1 GB RAM, 4 GB internal storage, and 32 GB expandable memory.

The smartphone has a 5 megapixel auto focus back camera with LED flash light while in its front there is a 0.3 megapixel camera. The 3G smartphone comes with WiFi, dual SIM with dual standby, and Bluetooth. The GPad-G3 is powered by a 2250 mAh battery.

Huawei Ascend G700 with 2 GB RAM available for Rs 16,199

The phone has impressive specification including Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system, 1.2 GHz MT6589 quad core processor, 5 inch touchscreen with HD resolution.

Huawei Ascend G700, which comes with 2 GB RAM, is now available from Flipkart for Rs 16,199.

The phone has impressive specification including Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system, 1.2 GHz MT6589 quad core processor, 5 inch touchscreen with HD resolution, 8 megapixel primary camera, 1.3 megapixel rear camera, and 2150 mAh battery.

It has 8 GB ROM and 32 GB expandable storage slot. The 8.95 mm thick smartphone is armed with WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, dual SIM, and micro USB port as well.

Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 launched with an HD display

Samsung continues its legacy with the new Galaxy Grand 2 with an essential 720 HD display and powered by a 1.2 GHz quad core mobile processor.

Last year Samsung tried to tap the spiking trend of affordable large screen smartphones with the Galaxy Grand. This smartphone packed a large screen display, decent mobile processor and battery to deliver top smartphone like performance at an affordable price. Samsung goes ahead with its strategy to launch iterations of the smartphone and introduces the new Galaxy Grand 2.

Samsung Galaxy Grand, which was offered mostly in dual SIM version for India, got quite popular in the first couple of months. Later there were complaints about the phone being slow when it has too many apps due to its limited RAM.

With the Galaxy Grand 2, Samsung has tried to cover all the bases and offer the best the market can give. Galaxy Grand 2 features a 5.25 inch TFT LCD display that features 1280 x 720 pixel resolution. Samsung has powered this smartphone with a quad core 1.2 GHz mobile processor, 1.5 GB RAM, and 8 GB internal memory with a memory card slot. Galaxy Grand 2 runs Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update packed in NatureUX.

Samsung has installed an 8 megapixel camera at the back with auto focus and LED Flash. In the front is a 1.9 megapixel camera for chat and for clicking self portraits. Samsung indeed has had to bumper the display resolution, processor and RAM for this smartphone to match consumer expectations Not only that, Galaxy Grand 2 comes with a 2600 mAh battery for longer run time.

Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 will come pre-loaded with the Samsung specific features Story Album, S Translator, S Travel, Group Play, Samsung Link etc. The price of the smartphone was not announced.

The Galaxy Grand 2 confirms that large screen phablets are here to stay as a separate sub-category that offers decent performance on a fairly large screen but at an affordable price.

Samsung brings SMS integration to ChatON messenger in Germany & Brazil

Following SMS/ MMS integration in Hangouts, Samsung has now released an update for its messaging app ChatON, bringing SMS/ MMS integration. The functionality is currently only available in Germany and Brazil and there is no word on when the company plans to roll-out the same to other markets.

Here is the official change-log for ChatON v3.2.115 update

SMS/MMS function has been integrated with ChatON. The message and chat list are combined, and you can see your contacts on ChatON buddy list. (Germany and Brazil only)
The badge indicating the number of unread messages is added on ChatON icon.
According to The Next Web, Samsung has told the publication that new feature “offers the best performance” on Galaxy S III, S4, Note II, and Note 3 smartphones, but you can use it on any smartphone running Android 4.0 or higher.

Although we are yet to see any official announcement, the ChatON app, which comes pre-installed on all Samsung devices, might even replace the existing text messaging app in Android 4.4 running devices from the company as Google did in Nexus 5 by replacing stock messaging app with Hangouts.

Download ChatON from Google Play

Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play edition getting Android 4.4 update

Within hours of Android 4.4 roll-out for HTC One Google Play edition, Google has announced that Galaxy S4 will also get the update today. The update will automatically reach Galaxy S4 GPe but you can also check for it manually by going to Settings << About Phone << System Updates << Check now.

Expected to be around 300MB in size, the update will brings the KitKat features like cloud-print support, faster multi-tasking, lock-screen improvements, immersive mode, updated phone app and smarter caller-ID.

With the release of Android 4.4 update for Galaxy S4 Google Play edition, KitKat is now officially available for all Nexus or Google Play edition devices. If your Nexus device hasn’t got the update, it will most probably get the update in the next few days and same is true for Google Play edition devices.

Micromax A77 Canvas Juice with 3000 mAh battery on sale for INR 7,999

Micromax has released a new Android smartphone in the Indian market. Dubbed as A77 Canvas Juice, the smartphone packs a huge 3,000 mAh battery and is currently available on HomeShop18 for INR 7,999.

Other specifications of Micromax A77 include 5-inch FWVGA display, Android 4.2.2, 1.3GHz dual-core processor, 5MP rear camera and VGA front camera. As you can see, apart from the battery, all other specifications of the phone are decent but not great. The phone is clearly meant for consumers, who are more concerned about the battery backup of their phone than other features.

The smartphone will be joining Micromax’s Canvas line-up, which includes other smartphones like Canvas Fun, Canvas HD, Canvas Turbo and Canvas 3D.

In related news, Micromax has also released A116i Android smartphone in India, which is currently selling for INR 12,090 and comes with Android 4.2, 5-inch HD display and quad-core processor.

Micromax Canvas Juice A77 key specifications

5-inch display with 854x480p resolution
Dual-SIM support
1.3GHz dual-core processor
Android 4.2.2
5MP rear camera with LED flash, VGA front camera
3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G
1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, MicroSD card slot
3000 mAh battery

Specs of MediaTek MT6592-powered Glory 4 leaked online

The key specifications of Huawei’s upcoming Glory 4 smartphone have leaked online. Published by Chinese publication MyDrivers, these specifications confirm that the phone will indeed be powered by MediaTek’s octa-core processor MT6592.

Huawei Glory 4 (which could be known as Honor 4 on release) will also come with 720p display of unknown size, 13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera, Android 4.2 with Emotion UI 2.0, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage.

The phone will be competing with Xiaomi’s ultra-cheap Red Rice smartphone and its upcoming successor. There is no word on the exact release date of the smartphone or whether it will ever reach markets outside China.

An alleged image of the front of the Glory 4 has also been along with these specifications, which can be seen embedded earlier in the post.

Goodbye Winmap

Once a popular media player, Winamp is now nearing its demise. The player will not be available after December 20, reads a note on the Winamp website.  While AOL, the current owner of Wimamp, has not released any official statement, the note on the Winamp website seems pretty clear.

Here is the full note:

Winamp.com and associated web services will no longer be available past December 20, 2013. Additionally, Winamp Media players will no longer be available for download. Please download the latest version before that date. See release notes for latest improvements to this last release.  Thanks for supporting the Winamp community for over 15 years.

As you can see there is no direct mention of the fate of the Winamp Android version, but it looks like even Android version will be killed.

If you love Winamp, you can download Winamp before the December 20 and keep using as long as you like but you won’t be getting any support or receive any future updates.

Qualcomm announces Snapdragon 805 processor with Adreno 420 GPU

Qualcomm today announced a new processor in its Snapdragon 800 tier in the form of Snapdragon 805. It is expected to be available in commercial devices by the first half of 2014.

According to Qualcomm, it is the first processor to offer system-level Ultra HD support and it comes with new Adreno 420 GPU, which packs 40 percent more graphics processing power than its predecessor.

“Using a smartphone or tablet powered by Snapdragon 805 processor is like having an UltraHD home theater in your pocket, with 4K video, imaging and graphics, all built for mobile,” said Murthy Renduchintala, executive vice president, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 key features

• Krait 450 quad-core CPU with speeds of up to 2.5 GHz per core
• Memory bandwidth support of up to 25.6 GB/second
• User interface and games support Ultra HD resolution
• Adreno 420 GPU offers advanced 4K rendering, with even more realistic scenes and objects, visually stunning user interface, graphics and mobile gaming experiences at lower power.
• Can be integrated with Qualcomm Gobi MDM9x25 or the Gobi MDM9x35 modem
• Ability to stream more video content at higher quality using less power
• First to introduce hardware 4K HEVC (H.265) decode for mobile for extremely low-power HD video playback.
• First Gpixel/s throughput camera support in a mobile processor designed for a significant increase in camera speed and imaging quality.

Opera for Android gets tablet support in latest update

Opera has updated its browser app for Android with tablet user-interface and bug-fixes. Based from Chromium 31, the version 18 of Opera for Android is now available for download via Google Play.

“We poured a great deal of thought into the Opera for Android tablet version. The size of devices and mindset of users make the tablet very different from its smaller cousin, the smartphone, and we have to respect that. In Opera 18 for Android, we have spent hours and hours tweaking, and fiddling with the placement of, even the minute details, just to get that top tablet feel,” writes Johan Schön, SVP for Mobile Consumer Browsers, Opera Software in a blog post.

To remind you, Opera for Android includes features like Discover, Speed Dial and Off-Road mode, which make access to content easier.

Here is the full change-log

• Based on chromium 31
• New UI for tablet devices
• Improvements in search engine list
• New remote debugging feature (requires new permissions)
• Fixed issue with fullscreen video playback, HW back button on Discover, viewport size in new tab, keyboard staying on screen, page reload when leaving text input in off-road pages
• Various stabilization and performance improvements

Download Opera from Google Play

Google Play Newsstand is official

It is Google Play Magazines and Currents rolled into one

Google has introduced a new news-reading app in the form of Play Newsstand today. With Play Newsstand, Google is aiming to provide Android users a single place to read their favourite newspapers, magazines, website and blogs. It is basically Google Play Magazines and Currents rolled into one and Google will be upgrading these two apps to Play Newsstand.

“Staying up on the news can be a daunting task. You have to go to a different website or app for each of your favorite magazines, newspapers and blogs. One place to read and discover all of this would be a lot simpler,” Google writes on the official Android blog.

According to Google, at this point Play Newsstand offers more than 1900 free and paid publications, which Android users can subscribe. Here is an example of what you can find on Play Newsstand.

• Newspaper Subscriptions: The Australian, The Financial Times, Los Angeles Times, The National Post, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
• Magazines: Better Homes & Gardens, The Economist, Esquire, Fast Company, Forbes, Game Informer, The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, Shape, TIME, Vanity Fair and WIRED
• Blogs: Apartment Therapy, Colossal, Cool Hunting, Flavorpill, Saveur Daily, TMZ
• News sites: ABC News, The Atlantic, CBS Sports, CNET, The Daily Beast, Huffington Post, The Guardian, NPR, Reuters, The Telegraph

Google adds Android Open Source Project to Patch Rewards program

Google has recently announced that it has now added all the open-source components of Android to its Patch Rewards program, which means now you can get financial incentives for proactive security improvements to AOSP (Android Open Source Project) too.

We all know that no software is without vulnerabilities but with the proactive participation of open-source community, these vulnerabilities can be spotted and patched much faster and then there is the financial benefit. It is win-win situation for all – software professionals, Google and everyone who uses these products.

Quick Note: AOSP isn’t the only new addition to Google’s Patch Reward program. Google has also added a lot more open source projects ranging from Apache to OpenVPN. You can read more about them in the official blog post.

You can read more about Patch Rewards Program here.

Nexus 4 Android 4.4 OTA update finally here

Google has finally started rolling-out Android 4.4 over-the-air update for Nexus 4 smartphone. This update takes your Nexus 4 from Android 4.3 to Android 4.4 KRT16S build.

Around 239MB in size, the update will automatically reach your smartphone. You can also manually check for the update by going to Settings < About Phone < Software updates.

It is important to note here that all updates are released in phases, so not everyone will get the update right-away and it might take days to appear on your device.

To remind you, Android 4.4 brings several UI improvements, cloud print support, better multi-tasking, and more.

Nexus 7 (2013) now available in India via Google Play, priced starting INR 20,999

The new Nexus 7 tablet is finally available in the Indian market. Listed on the Google Play along with the Nexus 5 smartphone, it has been priced at INR 20,999 for the 16GB Wi-Fi version and INR 23,999 for the 32GB Wi-Fi version. The 32GB 3G/ LTE version is being sold for INR 27,999. All three variants of the tablet can be bought from Google Play today.

Originally introduced back in July, the new Nexus 7 tablet has been made by Asus. It features a 7.02-inch 1920x1200p IPS display with Gorilla Glass, Android 4.3 (Android 4.4 update already available), 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor, and 2GB of RAM. The tablet also comes with 5MP rear camera, 1.2MP front camera, NFC, and 3950 mAh battery.

The pricing seems to be decent given the depreciation in the value of rupee over the last few months.

Nexus 5 now available in Google Play for INR 28,999

Google has released the Nexus 5 smartphone in the Indian market today. Available now via Google Play, the smartphone has been priced at INR 28,999 for the 16GB version and INR 32,999 for the 32GB version. Google is selling both White and Black colour versions in the country.

Originally introduced on October 31, Nexus 5 is the third Nexus smartphone to be ever released in the country and the first one to reach Indian shores within a fortnight of US release.

LG-built Nexus 5 features a 4.95-inch full HD display with Corning Gorilla Glass, 2.26GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM and 8MP rear camera with optical image stabilisation. The phone also comes with 1.3MP front camera, 2300 mAh battery and the usual connectivity options.

Nexus 5 is the first Android device to run on Android 4.4, the latest Android version, which brings host of improvements and new features to Android. Some of the salient software features of Nexus 5 include the new Google launcher, update Hangouts app with SMS integration, ‘Ok Google’ support, built-in cloud print, and a revamped phone app.

The initial reviews of the phone have been positive barring some concerns about the camera quality of the device. At this price-point, it is the best Android smartphone that you can get in the Indian market right now. All other Android phones with similar specifications are priced around INR 40,000 mark.

Verizon Moto X KitKat update coming soon, soak-test ready

Verizon Moto X users should be getting Android 4.4 KitKat update on their phones soon, making it the first non-Nexus device to get Android 4.4 update. There is no confirmation on the update release schedule right now but Motorola has already sending out emails to the testers for the soak-test of this update. If everything goes well with the soak, the update will be made live within days.

As per the emails sent to the testers, the Moto X Android 4.4 update will include enhanced touch-to-focus in camera app, new photo-editing options in gallery, Find my phone command in Touchless control, and Square credit card reader support along with host of KitKat specific changes. You can check out the full change-log below.

ZTE introduces Nubia Z5S, Nubia Z5S mini smartphones

ZTE today introduced two new smartphones as part of its premium smartphone brand Nubia. Dubbed as Nubia Z5S and Nubia Z5S Mini, the smartphones will be available in China later this month. The company will also be releasing LTE variants of both smartphones, which support FD-LTE and TD-LTE bands.

“We designed the Nubia Z5S to be our fastest, most fully featured smartphone, with an array of advanced entertainment capabilities,” said Ni Fei, General Manager of the Nubia brand.

Nubia Z5S: 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, 5MP front camera, 13MP rear camera, 5-inch 1080p LCD, 2GB of RAM, 2300mAh battery

Other key features:

Android 4.2.2
Dedicated camera button
4K video capture support
IR blaster, SlimPort
2.67mm bezel, 7.6mm thickness
Price: starts CN¥1,999 (US$330) (16GB storage)
LTE version price: starts CN¥3,456 (US$570) (32GB storage)
Nubia Z5S Mini: 4.7-inch 720p IGZO display, 13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera combo, microSD expansion, 1.7GHz Snapdragon 600 processor, 2000mAh battery

Other key features

Android 4.2.2
2.67mm bezel
Swappable back covers
Price: CN¥1,499 (US$250) (16GB)
LTE version price: CN¥2,345 (US$390) (32GB)
Both smartphones will be available beginning November 26.

Moto G to launch with Android 4.4 in US and India

Indian and US consumers waiting for Moto G would be happy to know that over one and a half months of wait from now to the expected Moto G launch won’t be a total waste. According to Mark Randal, Senior Vice President, Supply Chain & Operations at Motorola, Moto G will be coming with Android 4.4 pre-loaded in India, US and other South-East Asian countries, where the phone is being launched in January 2014.

According to Randal, Motorola is releasing Moto G in two phases, the first phases is currently going-on, when the smartphone is being launched in Brazil, Europe and Latin American. The second-phase will begin after Christmas, about which time it expects to complete developing Android 4.4 Kitkat for Moto G, and the counties getting the phone in phase two will have KitKat out of the box.

About the markets that are getting Android 4.3 running Moto G, they will all be upgraded to Android 4.4 by the end-of-January 2014, added Mark.

Acer to launch a touchscreen Chromebook for 299 euros soon

Acer is looking to expand its C720 Chromebook line-up with another device, which will be the second-ever touchscreen Chromebook after Google’s Chromebook Pixel.  Spotted on Amazon France, this Chromebook will come with model number C720P-29552G03aii.

Currently on pre-order for 299 euros, Acer C720P-29552G03aii is expected to be officially announced soon. It will feature 11.6-inch touchscreen display, Intel’s 1.4GHz Celeron processor (most probably with Haswell microarchitecture), 32GB SSD, and 2GB of RAM.

As you can see most of the specifications of this Acer Chromebook are similar to C720 apart from odd changes in SSD size and RAM. It is quite possible that Acer will introduce more variants of its touchscreen Chromebook with different SSD and RAM sizes.

There is no word on when Acer C720P-29552G03aiiwill go on sale but if you are looking to grab this device and you live in France, you can now place you pre-order at Amazon.

Acer C720P-29552G03aii key specifications

• Weight: 1.2 Kg
• Screen Size: 11.6 inches
• Intel Celeron 1.4 GHz dual-core processor
• 2GB of RAM, 32GB SSD
• Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n
• USB 2.0, 3.0 ports, HDMI out

Acer introduces C720-2848 Chromebook for $199.99

Acer has introduced a new variant of recently launched $249.99 C720 Chromebook in the form of Acer C720-2848. The new Chromebook is actually a down-graded version of C720 and has been priced at just $199.99.

Acer C720-2848 comes with 11.6-inch 1366x768p display Intel Haswell Celeron processor, 16GB SSD like C720 but it packs just 2GB of RAM instead of 4GB in C720. Other specifications of the new Chromebook include HD webcam, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, dual speakers, USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, and HDMI out.

Like most of other Chromebooks, Acer C720-2848 will also come with 100GB of free Google Drive cloud space for two years, 60 days of Google Play Music All Access and 12 free Gogo Inflight passes.

“Since the Acer C720 debuted last month, it’s been acclaimed for delivering industry-leading performance and long battery life to mobile savvy computer users. Our new $199.99 model delivers an incredible value proposition for this level of performance at a time of year when so many people are shopping for gifts for loved ones”, said Arif Maskatia, CTO for Acer.

The Chromebook goes on sale in the US today at Amazon and Best Buy and will be available in Acer stores sometime in December.

Acer Chromebook C720-2848 key specifications

Intel Celeron 2955U 1.4 GHz (Haswell micro-architecture)
2 GB DDR3L SDRAM
16 GB Solid-State Drive
11.6-Inch Anti-Glare Screen, Intel HD Graphics
Bluetooth 4.0
Built-in HD Webcam
Two built-in stereo speakers
1- USB 3.0 Port
1- USB 2.0 Port
1- HDMI Port
Full-size Acer FineTip Keyboard
Multi-Gesture Touchpad
3-Cell Li-Polymer BatteryUp to 8.5-hours Battery Life
11.34×8.03×0.75 inches
2.76 lbs.| 1.25 kg(system unit only)

Google updates Chrome for Android, brings cloud print support

Google has released updated Chrome for Android in Google Play in the form of version 31. Now rolling out in stages, the new version brings cloud-print support on KitKat devices, enhanced autofill and performance enhancements.

According to a post on Google Chrome blog, this update also fixes multiple memory corruption issue.

Full change-log for Chrome for Android 31.0.1650.59

Printing from Chrome on Android KitKat devices
Enhanced autofill for a faster checkout experience on sites supporting requestAutocomplete.
Stability, performance, and security updates
‘Add to home screen’ for web apps
Updated New Tab Page

Chrome on Google Play

Lenovo announces Vibe Z with Snapdragon 800 & 5.5-inch FHD display

Lenovo has announced its new Vibe Z Android smartphone in Chinese market. First seen at the Vibe X launch in Beijing on September 30, the smartphone is finally official. It will be joining the Vibe X in the company’s new Vibe-series of Android devices.

Lenovo Vibe Z features a 5.5-inch full HD IPS display, 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and dual-SIM support (WCDMA + GSM, CDMA2000 + GSM, & LTE + GSM options depending on the market and telecom operator). The phone also comes with 13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera and Android 4.2.2.

Lenovo is also introducing a flip cover like Samsung’s S-view with Vibe Z, which in addition to the small window on the front, also comes with a trackpad. This trackpad allows users to receive or reject calls without opening the flip cover.

The phone will reportedly be available on pre-order in China soon but the exact details are unclear at this point. There is no word on the international release plans either.

Google extends Waze incident reports to 46 new countries in Google Maps

Google has announced that Waze Incidents are now available in 46 new countries and regions in Google Maps on both mobile and desktop. This is the first expansion of Waze incident reports since they were first included in Google Maps less than three months ago.

Waze Incidents will now be visible in a total of 57 countries worldwide (including the 13 countries where the feature was available since day one of Waze integration in Maps).

The names of the new 46 countries are not known right now but we think all major markets would have gotten the feature and the rest of the countries will get it in the future expansions.

How does this work?

When Wazers (Waze users) report accidents, construction, road closures and more on Waze, the updates also appear on the Google Maps app for Android, iOS, and Desktop versions. You can then tap on the particular incidents in the Google Maps to get more information.

Zync launches Cloud Z401 Android phone for INR 4,499

Zync launched a new Android smartphone in the Indian market on Monday. Dubbed as Cloud Z401, the phone has been priced at INR 4,499 and is now available in the stores and online.

The phone features a 4-inch WVGA display, 1GHz processor, 256MB of RAM, Android 2.3 and 1300 mAh battery. Zync Cloud Z401 also comes with 2MP rear camera, front camera, 512MB of storage, 2G connectivity and microSD card slot.

“After seeing the success of the low cost tablets, we have decided to extend our footprint in the low cost smartphone category as well. This category has great untapped potential and just like our tablets, we plan to offer maximum features at a very affordable price to appeal to our value conscious Indian consumers,” said Amul Mohan Mittal, Co-Founder, Zync Global.

Moto Maker support now available on all four major US carriers

As leaked earlier, now you can order a customised Moto X smartphone from Moto Maker on all four major carriers in the United States. Earlier exclusive to AT&T, Moto Maker is now open to Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile too.

Moto Maker allows you to choose from various back plate colours, front plate colours and accent colours to make a custom Moto X smartphone (full list of options later in the post), which will delivered to you in four days (normally) from Motorola’s Texas factory.

Custom Moto X from Moto Maker costs $99.99 (16GB) on a two year contract for all four telecom operators.

Here is look at the customisation options available to the consumers via Moto Maker:

• Colour options for the front and back
• Accent colours for the power key, volume key and camera ring
• Adding your name or short message on the back of the phone
• Unique wallpapers
• Custom power-on message
• Memory capacity – 16GB or 32GB

Source: Moto Maker

Sleek Nokia Lumia 525 spotted

The Nokia Lumia 525 is expected to be an upgraded version of the existing Lumia 520.

A new Nokia Lumia handset, identified as Lumia 525, has been spotted. Press images of the handsets were published on Facebook, a social networking site.

Previously known as Nokia Glee, the handset is widely expected to be the upgraded version of the existing Nokia Lumia 520 which currently available in India for around Rs 8,500 and comes with Windows Phone 8 operating system, 5 megapixel rear camera, 4 inch IPS touchscreen, 1 GHz dual core processor, and 64 GB expandable storage slot.

As per earlier reports, the Lumia 525 is said to come with a 4-inch WVGA (480x800 pixels) IPS LCD display, a 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon 400 processor, 1 GB RAM, 8 GB ROM, 64 GB microSD card slot, a 1430 mAh battery, a 5-megapixel autofocus rear camera, Windows Phone 8 operating system, and connectivity features like WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS">AGPS, GPS, 3G and micro USB.

Google announces Nexus 10 for India for Rs 29,999

It has huge 2 GB RAM, 9000 mAh battery, and 16 GB ROM.

After launching Nexus 5 in India, Google has now announced Nexus 10 tablet for India. The 16 GB, WiFi version of the tablet has now been listed on Google Play store India's website for Rs 29,999.

The Samsung made Nexus 10 comes with a 10 inch display with 2560x1600 pixels resolution which translates to 300 ppi pixel density. The display has Corning Gorilla Glass 2 protection. The 8.9 mm thick tablet has a dual core Samsung Exynos 5 processor and Mali T604 graphics processing unit. This processor runs by Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system but since Android 4.4 KitKat and Android 4.3 version has been announced, we hope Google to release the same for the Nexus 10 soon.

The 603 grams weighing Nexus 10 has a 5 megapixel rear camera and a 1.9 megapixel front camera, It has healthy 2 GB RAM and 16 GB internal storage but there is no expandable storage slot. The tablet has a huge 9000 mAh battery and is quite rich in terms of connectivity as it has WiFi (b/g/n), Bluetooth, NFC, micro USB, micro HDMI, and 3.5 mm jack. It has GPS as well.

Currently, the tablet has been listed on the Google Play store but is not available for sale which is expected to start soon.

Alleged images of HTC One successor emerge, rumoured to pack Snapdragon 800

Purported images of the HTC M8 (codename for HTC One successor) have emerged in Taiwan. Posted by ePrice Taiwan, these images show the back-panel of the device, which seems to be keeping the HTC One like design.

The authenticity of these images could not be verified and even the source seems to be slightly sceptical about them, so take these with a pinch of salt.

The phone is rumoured to pack Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, 3GB of RAM, HTC Sense 6.0 user-interface and 5/5.2-inch display. The phone also reportedly features a fingerprint scanner but the position is not same as recently launched One Max and scanner has now been placed on the top of the back-panel.

HTC M8 is expected to be announced at Mobile World Congress 2014. Other details are a mystery at this point.

The ePrice Taiwan also notes that HTC will be unveiling Butterfly 2 at CES 2014, which will also come with Snapdragon 800 processor but other details are unclear right now.

Google to showcase Glassware Development Kit on November 19

As per online reports, Google has sent out invites to the app developers for a two-day San Francisco hackathon, where the company will be showcasing its Glassware (Google Glass Apps) development kit. The developers will be able to test the GDK and get other Glass related information at this event, which is scheduled for November 19 and 20.

Google also notes in the invite that it will also be sharing the event video for public viewing after the event.

With the release of GDK, developers will finally have a proper dev kit to create Glass apps. We hope to see many interesting apps from the devs in the coming months.

In related news, Google recently opened a  Google Glass accessory store, where Glass users will be able to purchase stuff like clear shield, charger, pouch and the upcoming mono earbud.

Answer surveys and earn Google Play credits with Google Opinion Rewards

Google Consumer Surveys has released an Android app – Google Opinion Rewards – in Google Play, which rewards users with Google Play credit to answer surveys.

US-only right now, the app will notify users of a new survey each week, which will normally consist of ten questions. Upon successful completion of the survey, users will get Play Store credit but how many credits? it remains a mystery at this point.

How to use the app?

Getting started is easy. Download the app and answer answer basic questions about yourself. About once a week you’ll get a notification on your phone that a short and relevant survey is ready for you. Questions will range from, “Which logo is best?” and “Which promotion is most compelling?” to “When do you plan on traveling next?”

Download Google Opinion Rewards from Google Play (for US users only)

Intex Aqua i6 phone official, 5-inch display & quad-core CPU for INR 8,990

Intex has introduced a new Aqua-series Android phone in the form of Aqua i6 today. The smartphone features a 5-inch FWVGA display and has been priced at INR 8,990.

According to MediaTek, Intex Aqua i6 is the first smartphone to be released in South Asia with 1.3GHz quad-core MT6582 processor.

“With the launch of Aqua i6, South Asia’s first handset based on the MT6582, we extend our association with Intex Mobile to help bring the world’s best technology to the Indian market,” said Dr. Finbarr Moynihan, General Manager – International Sales & Marketing, MediaTek Inc.

Aqua i6 also comes with 512MB of RAM, Android 4.2.2, 4GB of storage, microSD card slot, 8MP rear camera, and 2MP front camera. In addition, the phone packs 1900mAh battery and dual-SIM support.

“Intex believes in providing users with a single device which is capable of combining work and fun together. Aqua i6 is yet another quality offering from Intex for those who look forward to a powerful device which makes juggling between multiple tasks a breeze,” Sanjay Kumar Kalirona, Business Head – Mobile, Intex Technologies Ltd said in a statement.

Intex Aqua i6 will be competing with the likes of Karbonn Titanium S2 and Spice Coolpad Mi-515 smartphones in the Indian market.

Swiftkey 4.3 leaves beta, now available to all on Google Play

Swiftkey has released the 4.3 version of its official keyboard app on Google Play today. Released in beta form last month, the new version brings three new keyboard layouts, undocking support and more.

The existing Swiftkey users will receive this version as a free update via Google play, rest of you can buy Swiftkey from Google Play, Amazon Appstore and Android Pit. The company is also offering 50% off on the list price in the UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Australia, Russia and New Zealand as part of Google’s Autumn promotion. The India price of the keyboard is INR 99.

Talking about the new version in detail, it includes the new Layouts for Living – full, compact and thumb keyboard, which allow consumers to choose the keyboard layout best for their device or need.

“Layouts for Living make it easier and more comfortable to type, whatever you’re using and whatever you’re doing. The choice is yours – your SwiftKey, your way. We received an overwhelmingly positive response from our beta testers and we’re excited to bring SwiftKey 4.3 to all our users,” SwiftKey co-founder and CTO Ben Medlock said in a statement.

Full change-log

• Choose from 5 sizes to get your keyboard the perfect size for you
• Undock your keyboard and position it where you choose on your screen
• Rearranged and optimized secondary (123) and tertiary (symbols) layout, based on extensive user testing
• A new theme: previously SwiftKey and SwiftKey Tablet had two different themes called “Dark”. Both are now available on phones and tablets, with the tablet “Dark” renamed as “Forest”
• Extended layout for tablets, including left and right cursor keys
• All 4 cursor keys (up, down, left, right) are now available on the secondary (123) layout on tablets – phone users can still choose to have cursor keys on the main layout
• 10-inch tablets can choose to have a central numpad in the thumb layout in landscape
• Combined phone and tablet app to give a seamless experience across all device sizes
• New language model: Canadian English is now supported – English (CA)

HP announces Compaq-branded budget Android tablets

HP recently introduced three new Android tablets in the Chinese market but surprisingly the company has opted for the Compaq brand for these devices.  Dubbed as HP Compaq 7, HP Compaq 7J, and HP Compaq 8, the tablets are already on pre-order and will be available shortly.

Talking about the tablets in detail, all three tablets come with Android 4.2, 1GHz Allwinner A31s quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and 16GB of internal storage. On the display front, Compaq 7 comes with 7-inch 1024x600p TN display, Compaq 7J packs the same resolution and size IPS display, however Compaq 8 comes with 1024x768p IPS display.

There is no word on the international availability right now.

Pricing:

HP Compaq 7: Unknown
HP Compaq 7J: ¥ 1,399 ($229)
HP Compaq 8: ¥ 1,199.00 ($196) (for limited period: 999 yuan)

HP Compaq 8:

7.85-inch 1024x768p IPS display
1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, microSD card slot
2MP rear camera, 0.3MP front camera
3800 mAh battery
Android 4.2
1GHz AllWinner A31s quad-core processor

HP Compaq 7:

7-inch 1024x600p TN display
1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, microSD card slot
2MP rear camera, 0.3MP front camera
Android 4.2
1GHz AllWinner A31s quad-core processor

HP Compaq 7J:

7-inch 1024x600p IPS display
1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, microSD card slot
2MP rear camera, 0.3MP front camera
3000 mAh battery
Android 4.2
1GHz AllWinner A31s quad-core processor

Samsung aims to release devices with folding displays in 2015

Samsung stated at its first analyst day in eight years that it plans to bring the first fully-foldable devices to consumers sometime tin 2015. The company has not revealed any other details but Samsung is focussing quite a bit of foldable displays and their use in smart devices.

Samsung CEO Kwon Oh-hyun noted at the Analyst day that his company is putting a lot of energy into the five new form factors – phablets, curved phones, wearable devices, flexible phones, foldable phones.

To remind you, Samsung recently launched a curved-screen smartphone Galaxy Round in South Korea, which although features a flexible display but is not a flexible smartphone. The company is hoping to perfect the technology to create flexible or folding smartphones in the next two years.

Google launches Helpouts, official app goes live in Google Play

Google earlier today unveiled its new Helpouts service, which allows users to consult experts on video as per their need. The service is obviously paid but it will sure come in handy for many, who want a quick answer to their problem. As you know, we don’t always have friends or colleagues, who can get us a solution for each for our problem and we need experts in such cases, which is where Helpouts come in play.

“Our goal is simple: help people help each other. We want to use the convenience and efficiency of the web to enable everyone, no matter where they are or what time it is, to easily connect with someone who can help,” Google’s Udi Manber wrote in a blog post.

According to Google, Helpouts can be accessed by web or the Helpouts Android application.

Google Helpouts features

Choose who you get help from based on their qualifications, their availability, their price, their ratings and reviews
Connect instantly or book in advance
Get help from individuals or from brands
Do more than just talk, share your computer screen, collaboratively edit a presentation, or record a Helpout
Full money back guarantee.

Google Helpouts on web
Google Play

Google launches Helpouts for live expert advice on just about everything

Google has launched Helpouts (https://helpouts.google.com/home), a paid live video service for users. It offers Hangouts-like video chat that connects users with experts who will answer questions about a wide range of questions. Users can ask questions just about everything such as home improvement, fixing a computer, applying makeup, playing a musical instrument and more.

Helpouts will act as a marketplace where approved companies can participate in real-time conversations over video. Currently, Google has invited around 1,000 companies, and the marketplace will continue to be "invitation only" for the time being. Vendors are also allowed to set their own prices. The charges are per minute or per session, and Google also plans to introduce several free services. The search giant reportedly takes 20 percent of each transaction. Users can choose to set up an appointment with a specific company or simply speak to the company that is available to answer their queries.

The payments are accepted only via Google Wallet, and the video conferencing is done using Google+ Hangouts. It is mandatory to create/own a Google+ profile to join a Helpout. Google has also added a couple of safety measures. For instance, users can immediately exit a video call. A user can instantly report a vendor or vice versa, if there is any form of harassment or inappropriate behavior.

Users will also be asked to leave feedback after every live conversation. This also means that the marketplace will generate a lot of customer reviews. Users can also ask for full refund incase they feel they’ve been shortchanged with the advice offered. Moreover, users can get a session for free if a vendor is later than five minutes or claims to be available but does not start the video conference.

iBall Andi 4Di+ listed on company website, to be priced at INR 6,399

iBall is planning to release a new Android smartphone in the Indian market. Part of the company’s Andi-series, this smartphone will be a successor to Andi 4Di and known as Andi 4Di+.  The phone has already been listed on the company website with a price-tag of INR 6,399 but the actual availability details are unclear at this moment.

iBall Andi 4Di+ features a 4-inch WVGA display, Android 4.2.2, 1.3GHz dual-core processor  and 512MB of RAM. The phone also comes with dual-SIM support, 1700 mAh battery, 5MP rear camera, 0.3MP front camera, 4GB of internal storage, microSD card slot and 3G support.

Most of the specifications of Andi 4Di+ are similar to Andi 4Di apart from the upgraded processor, newer Android version and increases internal storage. The phone will be competing with the likes of Lava IRIS 503, XOLO A600, Zen Ultrafone 502 qHD, Intex Aqua N2, iBall Andi 4.5z and Panasonic T31.

Xolo A600 launched at Rs 8,199

It has a 4.5 inch display and a dual core processor.

Xolo has launched yet another 4.5 inch display bearing smartphone, called A600. The phone has Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system and runs on a 1.3 GHz Mediatek MT6572W dual core processor and is priced at Rs 8,199.

Xolo A600's 4.5 inch IPS display has qHD(540x960 pixels) resolution. The phone has 512 MB RAM, Mali 400 GPU, 5 megapixel auto focus rear camera, VGA front camera, 4 GB internal memory, and 32 GB expandable memory slot. It has a single LED flash to assist the rear camera in low light.

The 9 mm thick smartphone has a 1900 mAh battery that claims to provide 22 hours of 2G back up and 10 hours of 3G back up. It has USB 2.0, Bluetooth 3.0, and WiFi (b/g/n) for connectivity. This 3G Android handset has GPS for navigation too.

Lava IRIS 503, IRIS 352e Android phones go on sale in India

Lava has silently released two new Android smartphones in the Indian market. Part of the company’s IRIS series, the new IRIS 503 and IRIS 352e are now on sale at Flipkart. While IRIS 503 can be grabbed for INR 8,990, IRIS 352e has been priced at INR 4,290.

Talking about the new smartphones in detail, Lava IRIS 503 features a 5-inch qHD display, 1.2GHz dual-core processor, Android 4.2 and 5MP rear camera. The phone also comes with dual-SIM support, 1.2MP front camera, 2000 mAh battery, 512MB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage with microSD card slot.

Lava IRIS 503 will be competing with the likes of XOLO A600, Zen Ultrafone 502 qHD, Intex Aqua N2, iBall Andi 4.5z and Panasonic T31.

Coming to Lava IRIS 352e, the phone packs 3.5-inch HVGA display, 1GHz dual-core processor, 2MP rear camera and Android 4.2. The phone also comes with 1450 mAh battery, 256MB RAM, 512MB of storage, microSD card slot and dual-SIM support.

Lava IRIS 352e will be competing with the likes of Celkon Campus A15 smartphone.

Motorola reveals Moto G, to be announced on November 13

The rumoured Moto G smartphone is official but we will have to wait for November 13 to get more information. Motorola today released Moto G teaser website (https://www.moto-g.com/), which notes that the smartphone will be officially announced on November 13.

The announcement will be streamed live, so everyone can check it out. You can sign-up at the teaser website for more information on the phone and the live-streaming.

If a tweet from Motorola is any indication, Moto G is expected to be launched at least in India, Australia, France, Portugal, UK and Spain. Other markets are also expected to get the smartphone but the details are unclear at this moment.

As per a recent leak, Moto G will come with 4.5-inch 720p display, 5MP rear camera, Android 4.3, 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor, and 8GB of internal storage. The phone will also pack 1.3MP front camera, HSPA+ connectivity, Bluetooth 4.0, and Wi-Fi.