phablet – Tech Raman

Lenovo PHAB Plus resurrects the Phablet category with its 6.8-inch display

Lakshmi Rajan — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 10:46:29 +0000

When the first Galaxy Note was launched people thought it was too big and it had only 5.29-inch display! The mobile screens has grown more bigger since then and going by the sales, people got comfortable with it. But how big can it become? Lenovo tests it now with a 6.8″ display and calls it the Lenovo PHAB Plus, almost on the borderline of a tablet. I have come across many people who uses a 8-inch tablet as their phone, so clearly there is a demand for big devices. The PHAB Plus is a crossover between a big Smartphone and a tablet and will make a good media consumption device for watching videos, browsing or playing games. The PHAB Plus is quiet equipped spec-wise too. To begin with the 6.8-inch IPS display has a fullHD (1080p) resolution packing a 326ppi. Internally, it has a Qualcom Snapdragon 615 chipset, Octacore processor clocked at 1.5GHz, 2GB RAM, Adreno 405 GPU and 32GB storage. There is also a microSD card slot thrown in to accommodate up to 64GB. On the camera side, the PHAB Plus fires a 13-megapixel rear camera with dual-LED flash and a 5MP front shooter. A wide angle lens and a pano selfie mode for groufies might charm the selfies. Further, you can also take 1080p HD video at 60 fps. The dual-SIM PHAB Plus supports 4G and also gets a built-in Dolby ATMOS® 3D Audio soundbox that should provide a good audio when watching movies or playing games. The Lenovo PHAB Plus is priced at Rs 20,990 and will be available on Amazon.in from October 5 and offline at all Croma and Reliance stores from October 12th. Does the super-big phablet excite you? ]]>

Asus FonePad Specs

Lakshmi Rajan — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 14:04:27 +0000

Asus FonePad was announced at this year’s World Mobile Congress. With a calling feature included, it is perfect for those who opt for a tablet that gives a good reading experience and a media device in general as well as make calls.

Asus FonePad Specs

Display: 7-inch HD (1280 x 800) LED-backlit with IPS technology / 10-point multi-touch
OS: Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
Processor: Intel® Atom™ Z2420 (1.2GHz) with PowerVR SGX540 GPU
Modem: IMC XMM6265
1GB RAM
Camera (front): 1.2MP
Camera (rear): 3MP auto-focus with 720p HD video recording (selected models only)
8GB/16GB storage with microSD card slot (up to 32GB)
Networks: WCDMA 850, 900, 1900, 2100MHz, GSM/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900MHz, HSPA+ (21Mbit/s download, 5.76Mbit/s upload)
Wireless: 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0
3.5mm headphone jack
MicroUSB port
Sensors: GPS with GLONASS, accelerometer, proximity, ambient light, e-compass
Noise-cancelling digital microphone, speaker, Micro-SIM
Battery: Li-polymer 16Wh (4270mAh) for up to 9 hours use
Dimensions: 196.4 x 120.1 x 10.4mm
Weight: 340g
Color Options: Titanium Gray / Champagne Gold

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Wicked Leak launches 5.5 inch phablet, Wammy Titan for Rs.13,000

Lakshmi Rajan — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 09:24:57 +0000

Update: Wammy Titan Review

Does the image give you a déjà vu feeling? Wammy Titan shows a strong resemblance to the hugely popular Samsung Galaxy Note 2, atleast on the first look. But the comparison would stop here as spec-wise and feature-wise both the phones are in different leagues. Wammy Titan features a 5.5 QHD inch large 5 Point capacitive touch Screen with a screen resolution of 960 x 540 pixels. The smartphone is powered by a MTK 6577 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and I GB RAM. Measuring 144 x 89 x 1 2mm and weighing 160 gms, the device runs on the latest flavour of Android, Jelly Bean OS. Wammy Titan features a dual SIM card functionality and interestingly it supports one mini-SIM and one standard SIM. The smartphone sports a 8 MP camera in the rear with LED flash , auto focus , panorama and Burst feature and a 2 MB camera in the front. The storage is taken care of by a 4 GB internal memory which can be expanded upto 32 GB by microSD card. The phone has a 2,500 mAh battery that the company claims will provide up to 8 hours of talk time and 260 hours of standby time. Wammy Titan is also available in black and white colours. As an added bonus, Wammy Titan ships with a flip case in the box. [gallery columns="4" link="file" ids="1511,1512,1513,1514"]]]>

Samsung launches dual-Sim Galaxy Grand I9082 in India,priced at Rs.21,500

Lakshmi Rajan — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 07:39:48 +0000

Galaxy Grand Tech Specifications

On the technical front, Galaxy Grand which looks very similar to the very successful Galaxy S3 has a marginally bigger screen display at 5 inch compared to Galaxy S3 ‘s 4.8 inch display. So when it comes to screen real estate it sits in-between Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note but the advantage over Galaxy S3 stops with the display area. Powered by a 1.2 GHz dual core processor and 1 GB RAM, the dual-SIM smartphone is flavoured by 4.1.2 Android Jelly Bean OS. The ‘phablet’ measures 143.5 mm x 76.9 mm x 9.6 mm and weighs 162gms. The display is a 5″ WVGA TFT LCD screen. Galaxy Grand sports a 8 MP front camera which boasts of zero shutter lag and image stabilization features, on the front you have a 2 MP camera. The camera also features some of the cool features that was recently seen in Galaxy S3 and Note 2 like buddy share, face and smile detection, best face features etc. It also promises a better picture quality in low lights and also allows for full HD video recording. Connectivity options include Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and the various sensors that are included, are Accelerometer, Light Sensor, Digital Compass, Proximity Sensor and Gyro Sensor. The inluded battery is a Li-ion one, with a capacity of 2100 mAh,same as in Galaxy S3. The phablet has a 8GB internal storage with expandable microSD support up to 64GB.

Read further below Galaxy Grand features, pricing and limited time offers

Galaxy Grand ‘smart’ Features

Galaxy Grand also features some of the recently included premium galaxy features that we saw in Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 like Smart stay, Direct call, Smart Alerts, Pop up play, S-voice, All share etc. More importantly, Galaxy Grand allows for multiple windows and multi-tasking wherein you can run two apps at the same time. Samsung has also included some new value added services called myServices like myMovies,myMusic,myEducation. myStream is a new interesting feature to capture and stream live events. According to Samsung, myMovies would have a collection of 2000 movies, while myMusic service would give access to more than 3 lakhs songs. myEducation aimed at the student community gives access to text books and video books for students of class 1 – 12. More on that in our detailed review later. Smart Stay detects our eye movement and helps in avoiding the time-out as long as our eyes are focused on the screen, it not only avoids the irritation of screen time-out while reading or browsing but also saves battery. Direct call is yet another intuitive feature where in an user can automatically dial a call by taking the phone up to the ears from the message window or from the view contact, reducing the manual step required to connect a call. Smart Alert shows missed events such as missed calls and new messages just by picking up the phone, without having to go into the notification panel. Popup Play enables the users to watch video in a pop-up window anywhere on the screen while running other tasks.The screen size of the pop up window can be adjusted too. The S Voice feature is Samsung’s answer to Apple’s SIRI and it helps the user to control the phone using their voice. The All Share Play enables easy sharing and playing of contents across Samsung digital devices, anywhere anytime. Also included are face and voice lock and unlock.

Also read: Samsung Galaxy Grand Vs Micromax A116 Canvas HD

Galaxy Grand Price and limited time offer

Galaxy Grand is priced at Rs. 21,500. As a limited time offer, Samsung offers a free original flip case with the box and also bundled is a Rs 8000 worth free music and movie download through ‘My Services’ and 50GB Dropbox space. Additionally, Vodafone users also get 2GB data download free per month for 2 months. In short, Galaxy Grand offers the best of Galaxy S3 in a bigger screen and only sore note would be the could-be-better screen resolution. Otherwise, the device is smartly priced.]]>

Micromax A116 Canvas HD announced, a 5-inch quad-core smartphone running on Jelly Bean

Lakshmi Rajan — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 16:25:16 +0000

The ‘phablet’ features a 5-inch HD IPS touchscreen with a resolution of 1280×720 pixels. The power needs is taken care by a 2100 mAh battery. The smartphone packs a 8 megapixel rear camera with LED flash and also sports multiple camera settings such as night mode, 4x zoom etc. Though the front camera is a paltry VGA shooter, which could have been better. The company also claims Canvas A116 would provide for faster browsing. And as the name indicates, it would play HD quality videos. Canvas HD has a 4 GB internal storage and an expandable memory upto 32 GB through a micro SD card. Canvas HD is expected to be attractively priced below Rs.15,000 and would be available in India from the first week of February.

Micromax A116 Canvas HD tech specifications:

5-inch Full touch display
1280×720 HD screen resolution
294 ppi pixel density
MediaTek’s MT6589 1.2 GHz quad core processor
1 GB RAM
4 GB internal memory and external microSD slot expandable up to 32 GB
Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) OS
Dual SIM (Mini-SIM)
2100mAh battery
8MP rear camera with autofocus and LED
VGA front camera

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Participate in Samsung Galaxy Note 2 – The Incredible Piece World Record Attempt

Lakshmi Rajan — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 09:56:33 +0000

The Samsung Galaxy Note II Incredible Art Piece world record attempt was kickstarted on Nov 16, 2012 in New Delhi by acclaimed artist duo Thukral and Tagra along with the Bollywood actor Genelia D’Souza. You can participate in the initiative by one of the following ways:

You can visit the micro-site in Samsung India Website and contribute. Click Here
Visit Samsung India facebook page and engage with the online app created for this attempt.
Visit any of the Samsung Digital Plazas, Samsung Smartphone Café’s and Samsung Experience Zones, where they can use a Samsung Galaxy Note II to create their digital art piece and submit online.
For all those who would like to use the traditional pen and sketch, you can scan and email it to Samsung India.

For more details click > HERE You can also stand a chance to win Samsung Galaxy Note 2 as well as other merchandise as part of the initiative.]]>

Samsung Galaxy Note II – AirView Feature

Lakshmi Rajan — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 07:08:41 +0000

AirView

Best Face camera feature

Easy Clip

Pop Up Note

Quick command

and, an upgraded S-Pen with a S-Button

On the hardware front, the new Note 2 sports a much better 5.5″ HD Super AMOLED screen offering a better clarity and a a 16:9 screen ratio for perfect viewing experience. Sitting within the second generation, Samsung Galaxy Note is a 1.6 GHz quad-core processor for smoother, faster performance and 3100mAh battery for the demanding energy needs. One of the unique feature of Galaxy Note II that impressed me and everyone who fiddled with the device is Air View, which enabled the S-Pen to interact with the device even without touching it. So what this feature does is, it allows you to hover the S-Pen over an email, S Planner, Image gallery or video to preview the content without having to open it. It works neat, saves time, gives quick access to search and view information detail without having to get into multiple tabs or screens. ]]>

Be Creative and Win a Samsung Galaxy Note II

Lakshmi Rajan — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 05:21:40 +0000

AirView

Best Face camera feature

Easy Clip

Pop Up Note

Quick command

and, an upgraded S-Pen with a S-Button

The device is aptly termed as the device for ‘expressionist’ which aids in the creative process of an individual. It opens up a lot of possibilities that is impossible in other devices and is a Pièce de résistance for anyone inclined creatively. Promoting the device aggressively in the Indian market where it sees a considerable fan following for the phablet, Samsung India is currently running a contest in Facebook and Twitter, where 10 followers stand a chance to win a Galaxy Note II.

In this contest, Samsung India run one particular feature (referred to as ‘creative power’) of the Galaxy Note II for 1 week and expect participants to post (within the application on Facebook) or tweet (using #BeCreative) what they would do if they had the particular creative power as many times as they can.The participant (must be a follower/fan) with most number of creative tweets would be declared as winner.

The winners would be given a Galaxy Note II. Thus, in total 10 Galaxy Note II as prizes are to be given away (5 from Twitter and 5 from Facebook). Currently the third creative power ‘Easy Clip’ is being run (the first two being Air View and Best Face) with two more to go. Winners of AirView and Best Face features are already announced.

You can engage with the application by clicking on the following link:

https://www.facebook.com/SamsungMobileIndia/app_108009826020106

Be Creative, Stand a chance to win a Samsung Galaxy Note II.]]>

Samsung Galaxy Note II – Best Face Feature

Lakshmi Rajan — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 04:53:04 +0000

Samsung Galaxy Note II Launched in India, Priced at Rs. 39,900

Lakshmi Rajan — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 14:39:55 +0000

Speaking at the launch BD Park, President & CEO, South West Asia, Samsung Electronics stated

‘By delivering a complete mobile experience for creating content and by introducing new products and continous enhancements to the Note category of devices, Samsung provides a unique user experience that goes beyond passive content consumption to a new world of productivity, active creation and personalized communications‘

Along with BD Park, Azim Warzi, VP Samsing India and the celebrity guest of the event Imitiaz Ali, acclaimed Bollywood director officially launched the Galaxy Note II in India. Azim Warsi explained the key features of the Samsung Galaxy Note II, which we will cover in detail very soon for our readers.

Key features of Samsung Galaxy Note II

Upgraded S-Pen – there is a notable enhancement to S-Pen, which does more stuffs now. It also sports an S-button for better functionality.
AirView – This is one remarkable upgrade in Galaxy Note II, which remains of our top pick of the new add-on enhancements to the new device. AirView enables users to hover the S-Pen over image gallery, video gallery, emails, S-Planner without even touching the screen and preview the contents. It saves time, gives quick access to search and view informations without having to get into multiple tabs or screens.
Easy Clip – Just press the new S-button in the S-Pen and the S-Pen understands that you want to clip or edit the selected content on the screen. The Easy Clip feature allows you to instantly outline and crop any content on the screen in any shape to save, share or paste, even from a browser. The cropped image can be edited through coloring, sharing, or add handwritten annotations and not just that it is mighty easy to share the clip with your friends.
Popup Note – Galaxy S3 flaunted Popup Play video and now Note 2, shows off its Popup Note capabilities along with the Popup video play. Similarly, here the S-Note can be popped up anywhere in the screen and pinch zoomed to any size alongside watching video or smsing or any other activity you do on screen.
Quick command – This is one interesting feature. It lets users quickly activate frequently used apps with S-Pen. The command pad appears when a user just swipes upward on the screen with the S-Pen button pressed. Here you can pre-define set of commands or customize the commands for quick and easy access. Say you can draw a simple ‘O’ to open camera and more..
Best Face feature – Another cool enhancemnt this time to camera. When you click pics with best face feature mode on and when you preview the image, it offers you 4-5 alternate facial expressions it had captured while shooting and you can simply ‘swap’ the expression to the face. So in a group shot, if one person had blinked his eyes, it offers few other facial expression of his and you just click the one you liked and it gets swaped on the image. How cool isn’t it?

Well, we spend quiet a good time with the Galaxy Note II during the event and there are lot more cool and interesting features. Ofcourse we will detail all of them in our coming posts very soon. Keep glued to us. Samsung India also announced an exciting news while winding up the event. Samsung Galaxy Camera which blends the smartness of the smartphone and camera is getting launched next month for the Diwali festive season. Quiet a dhamaka isn’t it? Galaxy Camera has the smartness of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS within it and also has a 3G, bluetooth,WiFi options. You just can’t make a call through it but rest of all the Android smartphone features you can enable as well as quick share the photo images from the device.]]>