gadgets and gizmos - july 2014 (true pdf)

GADGETS AND GIZMOSGG

Volume 7, Number 3, for the month July2014 - August 2014

Editor-in-Chief: Aroon PurieAssistant Editor: Nidhi Singal

Assistant Art Director: Amit Sharma

Senior Visualiser: Raj Verma

Production: Surinder Hastu (Chief of Production), Harish Aggarwal, Vijay Sharma, Naveen Gupta

Chief Executive Officer: Ashish BaggaGroup Business Head: Manoj Sharma

Associate Publisher(IMPACt): Anil Fernandes

IMPACt tEAM

Senior General ManaGerS (iMPaCT):

Kaustav Chatterjee (East), V. Somasundaram (Chennai), Jitendra Lad (West), Head (North)Dipayan Chowdhary

Product Head: Jaykumar Mistry

SALES AND OPERAtIONS

Chief General ManaGer: D.V.S. Rama Rao

Senior General ManaGer (naTional): Vinod Das

General ManaGer (SouTh): Deepak Bhatt

General ManaGer (WeST): Rajesh Menon

reGional ManaGer (eaST): V.a. Chotalia

General ManaGer (oPeraTionS): Rakesh Sharma

Copyright Living Media India Ltd. All rights reserved throughout the world.

Reproduction in any manner is prohibited. Printed and published by Ashish

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www.gadgetsngizmos.in

Toshiba P50t Water-proof your gadgetsGG Choice Accessories

Cover Design: Amit ShArmA

Wearable Tech Wearable technology is the buzzword of 2014. From smartwatches to wrist bands to rings, we have a lot in store.

CONTENTS

806 26

Nokia Lumia 630: The sub 10k Windows Phone.

Asus FonePad: Is this dual SIM FonePad worth buying?

speCiAls

CONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTS

The sub 10k

Is this dual SIM

@helpGG

HELP AT HANDHaving trouble with your laptop? Would like to boost your cell phones capabilities? Want advice on what camera is best for your needs? Write to us with all your queries and we will have experts answering them.

Email us at [email protected]

Mail us [email protected] comments and suggestions printed on this page may be edited for length and clarity.

Interact wIth G&G Visit us at: www.gadgetsngizmos.in

to catch up on tech news, comment on, discuss and read archived G&G stories.

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twitter.com/gngmagazine

Xiaomi all set for IndiaThe news world is going crazy talking about Xiaomi entering the Indian market. The Chinese handset manufacturer is doing a good job in China and I hope it does well in India too. It will compete with the likes of Micromax, Gionee, Lava and Motorola. I am eagerly waiting for its launch in India.

Ankit, New Delhi

I am plannIng to buy a smartphone wIthIn ` 15,000. Can you suggest some good optIons?

RidhimA,A,A on email

Within `15,000, you have some good options to choose from. To start with, the Motorola Moto G 16 GB variant is among the best. Xiaomi, the Chinese handset manufacturer, is also stepping into the Indian market. Xiaomi Mi 3, which will be sold exclusively through Flipkart, also looks good. Last, you can also consider Nokia Lumia 625 or the BlackBerry Z3.

GGGGG

I am plannIng to buy a new led tV and want to sell my old sony lCd tV. I got In touCh wIth a junk seller, but he Is not wIllIng to pay anythIng For the old tV, whICh Is In a good workIng CondItIon. how Chow Chow an I possIbly sell Isell Isell t at a deCent prICe?

Roy, on email

You can try uploading a picture and specifications, along with the desired price on portals such as OLX and Quikr. People check these sites for second hand gadgets too. Flipkart has also started selling TVs and is running an exchange offer. Last, you can always check out companies promotional schemes for a good discount on exchange of an old TV.

GGGGG

I am plannIng to buy an Ipad but someone told me Ipad but someone told me Ipto waIt as new models wIll be announCed shortly. Is It true, and wIll they Cost less as Compared to the Current prICes?

SAchin, on email

Yes, Apple is due to announce the launch of new iPad models in the coming months. However, it will take close to a month for the models to hit India after the international launch. The prices will be either same or higher than that of existing iPads. It will definitely not cost less owing to the current dollar rate.

GGGGG

InteractIve magazIne

TVTech

DCP No. F.2(I/I) Press/2009

TechTVTechTVDemystifying the evolving television space.

GG ChoiCe: Sony Xperia Z2

How Things Work: Dolby Atmos

Consumer Durable Survey

June 2014 / `50/ www.gadgetsngizmos.in

5first take

4

Facebook has Finally launched a tablet-optimised version of its Messenger app for the Apple iPad. Messenger for iPad introduces a new multi-window layout, in addition to carrying over features from the iPhone including voice calling, and stickers among others.

Facebook messenger app For ipadpadp

samsung galaXy Xy X k Zoomk Zoomk

Focusing on the imaging, Samsung has launched a successor to its Galaxy S4 Zoom smartphone. The K Zoom sports a 20.7-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor at the back accompanied by a xenon flash and features optical image stabilisation for low-light imaging. The rear camera supports 10x optical zoom and comes with some advanced features, including AF/AE Separation (Auto Focus/ Auto Exposure). The Pro Suggest mode offers five optimised filter settings, while the Selfie Alarm allows users to take timed selfies.

more launches

herehere

ttoshiba satellite sseriesseries

ttoshibas neW satellite s series features a stylish brushed Aluminum finish and a thinner-stylish brushed Aluminum finish and a thinner-than-ever profile, making it easy to carry and than-ever profile, making it easy to carry and comfortable to use anywhere. The laptops are comfortable to use anywhere. The laptops are powered by 4th Gen Intel CoreTM i5-4200U powered by 4th Gen Intel CoreTM i5-4200U Processors and run on Windows 8.1 OS. The Processors and run on Windows 8.1 OS. The notebooks have 4 GB DDR3L 1600 MHz RAM notebooks have 4 GB DDR3L 1600 MHz RAM (expandable up to 16 GB) and include 1 TB 5400 (expandable up to 16 GB) and include 1 TB 5400 RPM SATA drive. The laptops also feature a full RPM SATA drive. The laptops also feature a full array of ports for a variety of computing needs, array of ports for a variety of computing needs, including an HDMI port capable of 4K output and including an HDMI port capable of 4K output and dual USB 3.0 ports.dual USB 3.0 ports.

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binatone 3g data card with portable wiFi

tata Photon WiFi tata Photon WiFi t maX was an instant hit. Following the success, other players too are launching such devices. Binatone has come up with a 3G dongle that can support a 3G SIM card from any operator. Plugging it in a power source, the dongle can use the SIM network and turn it into a WiFi network. This dongle can be used to connect up to 5 devices on the WiFi network.

pooch-o app

hiring an autorickshaWiring an autorickshaWiring an autoricksha in the national capital has been made easy with a new app called Pooch-O. Launched recently, this app has been developed by Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS). It allows users to locate autos fitted with GPS nearest to them. The users can then call the drivers whose numbers are registered with DIMTS and book a trip. The app can be downloaded on only Android phones from Google Play store. Thereafter, people have to ensure GPS of their phone is on and can find out auto nearest to them through Maps.

airtel 4g lte eXpands

FolloWing the successFul launch of its 4G services in Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Panchkula, Mohali, Ludhiana and Kolkata, Airtel has now launched its 4G LTE services in four more towns in Punjab Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Phagwara and Kapurthala. The service will enable customers in these cities to enjoy high-speed Internet not only on their smartphones but also enable the same speed with 4G LTE dongles and Wi-Fi at home. Airtel also offers free 4G SIM with every purchase of dongle, priced at `1,500, or CPE, priced at

`2,500, whereas for mobile users it will cost a nominal amount of `49. The plans will start as low as `100. For heavy users, Airtel has a `999 plan for postpaid users and `995 for prepaid users, which will give them 10GB of data.

w6 7

choice Ultra HD, also known as 4k, is the new buzzword in the technology space. This technology is currently very

elusive owing to the high price that the products command. And it isnt going to be the mainstream technology anytime soon. While the 4k TVs continue to be priced exorbitantly, Toshibas Satellite P50t is the worlds first Ultra HD laptop, priced at `86,000. This laptop packs in a 15.6-inch

IPS display, which offers great colours, crisp text and wide viewing angles. The 4k resolution makes it look good even further. Be it HD or 4k content, the video playback quality is superb. But its real application lies when you are editing multiple videos or photographs. You do not have to browse these videos or photographs and you have more space to view them on in a very high resolution. The only limitation at the moment is the lack of 4k content. But the Satellite P50t successfully manages to make full HD content look good and better than the other laptops. For gamers, the laptop is ahead of its times as very limited, new games look good on this display. The older titles dont. Lastly, the HDMI port is 4k ready, which goes well with a 4k TV at home. Looking very similar to the

Satellite P50 launched last year, this new 4k laptop has a brushed metallic finish which is prone to scratches. The Toshiba logo is placed on the corner, gelling with the design. The keyboard is very smooth to type. However, it weights 2.35 kg, which makes it a bit too heavy. Other than the 4k display, the laptop packs in an i7 processor, Harmon Kardon speakers, 1TB HDD and 16GB RAM. All in all, the P50t brings in a lot many features at this price.

toshiba satellite p50t`86,000specs: 15.6-inch display; IPS touch screen; 3480x2160 pixel resolution; Intel i7-4710HQ @ 2.5GHz; 16GB RAM; 1TB HDD; AMD Radeon R9 M265x

Leaps Ahead After Apples retina display (2880x1800) in MacBooks, we put to test the worlds first 4k laptop with 3480 x 2160 resolution from Toshiba. By Nidhi Singal

Alternative option: NoNe

The Xperia has a

premium look and feel

Why We fell for it The Ultra HD display in the laptop, the

industrys first, looks superb.

cover story

Wearable Tech

Wearable TechWearable technology has moved beyond fancy prototypes and

firmly established itself as a evolving product category. Players like Qualcomm and Intel are betting on wearable technology. Amazon UK, the online retail giant has

started a wearable technology store , which pretty much tells us that this category is here to stay. Many of the internationally available wearable gadgets are easily available at Amazon India, Snapdeal, Flipkart, etc. Some are even bundled with

smartphones. Here is a glimpse of what is in store.

cover story

Wearable Wearable Wearable Wearable Wearable Wearable Wearable From Google Glass to shoes, wrist bands to smartwatches to

rings, wearable technology has gained traction in 2014.

Raj veRma

8

9cover story

Wearable Tech

Wearable TechWearable technology has moved beyond fancy prototypes and

firmly established itself as a evolving product category. Players like Qualcomm and Intel are betting on wearable technology. Amazon UK, the online retail giant has

started a wearable technology store , which pretty much tells us that this category is here to stay. Many of the internationally available wearable gadgets are easily available at Amazon India, Snapdeal, Flipkart, etc. Some are even bundled with

smartphones. Here is a glimpse of what is in store.

From Google Glass to shoes, wrist bands to smartwatches to rings, wearable technology has gained traction in 2014.

Raj veRma

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cover story

google glaSSThis is the most talked about wearable eyegear in

the world, a perfect example of wearable technology. Google Glass displays information in a smartphone-

like hands-free format. Wearers communicate with the Internet via natural language voice commands. Wear this Glass and you will have insight into all the world's knowledge, Google Search to be precise. It is a small LCD screen in front of your eyes, controlled by both voice and touch on the frame. You can make calls, surf the Internet, record and share what you see.

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JawBone UPOne of the most popular fitness bands around, jawbone UP helps people to understand their sleep cycles, move and eat better. The band is paired with an app that displays movement and sleep details from the UP24 or UP band and delivers insights, celebrates milestones, and sets challenges. One can even share achievements with friends by teaming up in the UP app.

SamSUng gear 2The Gear 2 from Samsung is an evolved smart-watch. The most important part of the device is its 1.63 inch SUPeR amOLeD display with 320 x 320 pixel resolution. However, the Gear 2 is restricted to just Samsung smartphone owners as it pairs with only a few select Samsung Gal-axy smartphones. One can use it to answer calls while driving. The notifications for emails and messages appear on the phone. The Gear 2 runs on Tizen, and has a dual core 1GHz processor. on Tizen, and has a dual core 1GHz processor.

FitBit FlexFitBit FlexThis cute, flexible band reflects its name. The Fitbit Flex helps you turn exercise into a game that works around your daily routines. It aims to get you fit even if you never set foot in a gym. The Fitbit Flex could be just the thing to drag you off the sofa and into the land of the healthy. It comes in various attractive colours.

nUmetrex FaBric cheSt StraPThis is a heart rate monitoring chest strap with heart sensing fabric technology and second-skin fit. It consists of a soft band with heart rate sensors knitted into the fabric. The stretch fabric moves as one breathes. a small transmitter snaps into the pocket in the front of the strap. It is a quick drying fabric that wicks moisture away from the body. It can be used with heart rate monitoring sports watch, smart phones and cardio equipment.

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cover story

Fin ringWearable technology has moved beyond bands and wrist watches. Fin Ring is an innovative gesture based control

for devices. Bluetooth enabled, it helps to control any smart device just by moving the thumb over the other fin-gers. Switching between devices requires a tap on the fin-ger while wearing the Fin on the thumb. It can be used for playing games, making business presentations, it comes in handy while driving - for instance, one can control the aC without taking ones hands off the steering wheel. It

can capture images and share files. Listed for $120, it will begin shipping in by 2015.

SP andThe Spotnsave Wristband lets you send SOSs to dear ones if you are ever in trouble. The wristband lets you activate Spotnsave's emergency alert system without touching your phone. You just need to install the Spotnsave app on your android phone, choose up to four guardians and pair it with the wristband via Bluetooth. To activate the emergency alert, you will have to press a button on the wristband twice. The app will then send an SmS every two minutes to your guardians., telling your guardians you need help and giving your location coordinates.

PotnSave wriStBandThe Spotnsave Wristband lets you send SOSs to dear ones if you are ever in trouble. The wristband lets you activate

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lechal gPS ShoeSNavigational maps on the phone might be a big support for the die-heart trekker. But it is a pain having to walk unknown territory with your eyes glued to your smartphones screen. With these pair of Bluetooth-connected shoes that these pair of Bluetooth-connected shoes that use haptic feedback to notify users which direc-tion to take, navigational maps might become tion to take, navigational maps might become passe. You can buy LeCHaL, (take me along in Hindi) as either a set of shoes or a set of in-soles. Using GPS the app determines directions soles. Using GPS the app determines directions and notifies the user which side to turn by send-ing a mild vibration to the right or the left shoe. The app also functions as a fitness tracker and The app also functions as a fitness tracker and lets you check your record at places.

active SlimThis is a a touch operation personalised dash board that tracks your activity and measures sleep quality. It is a sleek designer device that looks trendy. It offers func-tionalies such as it measures daily steps, calories burnt, distance travelled, active time, activity break-up in a day, sleep tracking,etc. It has a 3D accelerometer sensor and

D Display. It can store data for up to 15 days and can be synced online using the USB cable.

get This is a a touch operation personalised dash board that tracks your activity and measures sleep quality. It is a sleek designer device that looks trendy. It offers functionalies such as it measures daily steps, calories burnt, distance travelled, active time, activity break-up in a day, sleep tracking,etc. It has a 3D accelerometer sensor and an LeD Display. It can store data for up to 15 days and can be synced online using the USB cable.

goQiiThis is a life fitness tracker with lifestyle This is a life fitness tracker with lifestyle coaching as it helps to make a permacoaching as it helps to make a perma-nent shift towards a healthier lifestyle. nent shift towards a healthier lifestyle. GoQii has got a touch OLGoQii has got a touch OLeD display and 360 motion sensor that measure activ360 motion sensor that measure activ-ity and sleep quality. It has Bluetooth ity and sleep quality. It has Bluetooth

4.0 and 4 -5 days of backup on a single 4.0 and 4 -5 days of backup on a single charge. GoQii has got some world leadcharge. GoQii has got some world lead-ing experts that analyze the data such as ing experts that analyze the data such as height, weight, gender, etc. This is a goal height, weight, gender, etc. This is a goal enabled fitness band guiding and pushing enabled fitness band guiding and pushing

one to work out.one to work out.

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cover story

Sony Smart Band Srw 10announced at the CeS earlier this year, the Smart Band SRW 10 has been launched fairly quickly in In-dia. and that too at the right price. But how smart is it? and is it worth buying?Priced at `5,990 it does a lot more than just track the users fitness regime. add-on features includes sleep monitoring, wake up alarm, notifications, activity log, etc. The Smart Band has a small sen-sor, referred to as the core, that fits into the band. Sony has added two black bands the smaller one for women, the bigger for men. The only hardware key on the sen-sor powers on the band. There isnt any display to check whether it is turned on, a long vibration does the job. To pair it with the Sony Xperia Z2, I had to install LifeLog and update Sony Smart Connect. Smart Connect gives access to all the basic settings while Lifelog is the app where all the activity data is stored. The Smart Band con-nects to the phone over Bluetooth 4.0 (Le) and allows the phone to be paired with one more accessory over Bluetooth. The Lifelog app stores the activity log and even shows it separately. It showed me the how many steps I had walked, how many calls I took or made using the phone, my sleeping hours, etc. In all, it tracks 12 different activities. It is basi-cally a snapshot of what you were doing, where you were doing it, the

weather at the time and so on. The band also notifies the activity on the phone. It also has the ability to wake up the user at a scheduled time provided he/she is not in deep sleep. This works beautifully. The band stores the data for a cou-ple of hours even when the phone is not around. It automatically

updates the app when paired with the phone later. If you often leave your phone behind, it will notify you as soon as it goes out of the range. Sony has not restricted the band to work only with Sony smartphones. It can work with any android smartphone running KitKat. How-ever, the experience wasnt good. The band failed to record the logs at times. even when it did, there was a long lag in getting updates.

Price: `5,990

Verdict:Sony has done a good job but the band needs some enhancements

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Verdict:A great-looking fitness band but comes at a steep price

Samsung has not just come up with a next version of the Gear smartwatch. It has launched three wearable gadgets, of which the Gear Fit is one.Unlike other fitness bands that are sleek and slim, the Fit comes with a 1.65 inch curved amOLeD dis-play, which looks great. This makes it slightly thick and gives the feel of a watch. Due to the curved screen, it wraps around the wrist easily. Samsung has used plastic and rubber to design the Fit that makes it look good. But then, it does come at a premium cost. The Gear Fit

cant be used as an individual fit-ness band and needs to be paired with a smartphone. Samsung has restricted the Fit to a few Samsung android smartphones only. One has to download Gear Fit manager from the Samsung Store that initi-ates the pairing. The user interface of the Fit is in-tuitive as one has to swipe left and right to access various features. The touch response is good.The

basic functionality form of the Fit is to act as a smartwatch and even a fitness device. When paired with a phone, the Fit notifies the user about incoming calls, messages, emails, etc. The Fit tracks physical activity and counts steps in real time. It also syncs data with the S Health app. It comes with every activity tracker one would want. It can measure heart rate, quantify your workouts whatever you might be doing walking, running on cycling.

Price: `11,500

SamSUng gear Fit

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alcatel One Touch has also joined the bandwagon of wearable gadg-ets. The company had announced the BoomBand earlier this year. It was launched in India along with the alcatel One Touch Idol X+. although it comes bundled with the Idol X+ in the box at the mo-ment, alcatel One Touch plans to sell it as an independent accessory sometime soon. Heres my experi-ence with the BoomBand.The BoomBand looks very similar to the Sony SmartBand. The only difference being that the Boom-Band doesnt have any hardware key to turn off the power. However,

it has notifications for incoming calls and other features. The Band has to be paired with the BookBand Life app that was pre-installed on the Idol X+. after launching the app one has to key in one's body measurements and it is ready to use. The homescreen shows todays stats how much one has walked. One can check be-tween sports data and sleep data. The sports data shows the number of steps, calories and kilometres.

The sleep data is divided into awake time, turn over and sleep time. The band also has vibration reminders for alarms, anti-loss alerts and call reminders. For call reminders, it can notify either all in-coming calls or selected contacts. When the band is not within the range of the phone, it will vibrate and blink. One can also choose to turn the phone to silent mode when the band is in sleep mode. To charge, one removes the sensor from the band and inserts it into the accompanying jacket to plug it to charge. The app also shows the charging status of the band.

Verdict:Coming free as an Coming free as an accessory with Idol X+ smartphone, it smartly tracks the sleep and workout sessions.

cover story

alcatel one toUch BoomBand

Bench

SpecS: 4.5-inch display; 5 MP camera; 1.2 GHz quad core processor; 512 MB RAM, 8 GB internal storage, expandable memory card slot, Windows Phone 8.1; 1800 mAh battery

GGNokiA LuMiA 630`9,995

BenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBenchBench

Budget phones are selling like hot cakes. Nokia has now updated its sub-`10,000 line-up with the Lu-mia 630. It doesnt look revolution-ary different from its predecessor but has got a slightly better look and feel. This is a dual SIM smart-phone and the two micro-SIM slots are hidden beneath the back cover. It is 9.2 mm thick and comes with a polycarbonate back shell wrapped around its 4.5-inch Corning Gorilla Glass 3 display, which has 480 x 854 pixel resolution. It isnt the best display around and it doesnt support automatic brightness either.

While the touch response is good, the sunlight legibility is just average.

It is the first handset to ship in with Windows Phone 8.1 in India. The OS brings in the much needed Action Center, where all notifica-tions come under one hood. There are four customisable toggles too. The Battery Saver app allows you to check the apps that are power hogging, Data Sense helps to set data usage limit, Wi-Fi Sense auto-matically connects to the password-protected Wi-Fi hotspots used in the past, and Storage Sense helps to clear catches and manage apps.

Two-in-oneBag it or junk it:

A good dual SiM phone

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With so much happening in the smartphone space, Panasonic isnt staying quiet. Focusing on Android smartphones for some time now, the company has now launched a phablet under `20,000. The P81 has got a 5.5-inch display with 1280 x 720 pixel resolution. It has a 7.9 mm thickness and the faux leather back panel makes for a comfortable grip.

This isnt a vanilla Android phablet as Panasonic has custom-ised the interface. There are a few features, such as gesture com-mands, pop-up video player, built-in call recorder, Play More apps, etc. that add utility value to this device. While the P81 manages to run all the day-to-day tasks with ease, the phone does lag a couple of times with multiple heavy apps running in the background.

While the camera might not stand against the results obtained by the ones added on the flagship Samsung and Sony smartphones, the images captured are impres-sive, sharp and offers natural colours. However, there werent many modes to play around with. Watching multimedia was good as other than good viewing angles, it offered great sound too. The bat-tery lasted over a day and a half with heavy usage.

Power Packed Phablet

TesT Bench

SpecS: 4.7-inch display; 5 MP camera; 1.3 GHz quad core processor; 1 GB RAM; 4 GB internal storage; 32 GB expandable; Android 4.4; 2000 mAh battery

GGGGG MicRoMAx uNite 2`6,999

Bag it or junk it:

Faces competition from Motorola

Moto e

the comeBack of Motorola completely changed the market dy-namics in India. The mid-segment smartphones, where players like Micromax and Lava were doing amazingly well, were affected by the launch of the Motorola Moto G. And with Motorola launching the budget Moto E in India, Micromax isnt staying far behind.

The Unite 2 is Micromaxs under

`7,000 offering. It feels like a slab with curved edges and is slightly heavy. It packs in a 4.7-inch display with 800 x 480 pixel resolution. The display is clear and bright with av-erage sunlight legibility. It runs on Android KitKat. Connectivity options are pretty standard: 2G, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and microUSB 2.0.

The biggest highlight of the Unite 2 is its support for 21 Indian

languages. While the menu, set-tings and app names appear in English, the vernacular languages can be used to save the names (of contacts), type a text message or an email.

The overall performance of the phone is smooth but it does slow down after continuous long hours of usage and when loaded with heavy apps.

Motorola vs MicroMax

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With so much happening in the smartphone space, Panasonic isnt staying quiet. Focusing on Android smartphones for some time now, the company has now launched a phablet under `20,000. The P81 has got a 5.5-inch display with 1280 x 720 pixel resolution. It has a 7.9 mm thickness and the faux leather back panel makes for a comfortable grip.

This isnt a vanilla Android phablet as Panasonic has custom-ised the interface. There are a few features, such as gesture com-mands, pop-up video player, built-in call recorder, Play More apps, etc. that add utility value to this device. While the P81 manages to run all the day-to-day tasks with ease, the phone does lag a couple of times with multiple heavy apps running in the background.

While the camera might not stand against the results obtained by the ones added on the flagship Samsung and Sony smartphones, the images captured are impres-sive, sharp and offers natural colours. However, there werent many modes to play around with. Watching multimedia was good as other than good viewing angles, it offered great sound too. The bat-tery lasted over a day and a half with heavy usage.

Power Packed Phablet

Bag it or junk it:

Panasonic P81 performs, without

many glitches

SpecS: 5.5-inch iPS, 1.7 GHz PS, 1.7 GHz Mediatek octa core processor, 1 GB RAM, 8 GB + microSD slot, 1 GB RAM, 8 GB + microSD slot, 13 MP + 5 MP camera, dual S13 MP + 5 MP camera, dual SiM, Android 4.2, 2,500 mAh batteryAndroid 4.2, 2,500 mAh battery

GGGGG PANASPANASP oNic P81`18,999

TesT Bench

the comeBack of Motorola completely changed the market dy-namics in India. The mid-segment smartphones, where players like Micromax and Lava were doing amazingly well, were affected by the launch of the Motorola Moto G. And with Motorola launching the budget Moto E in India, Micromax isnt staying far behind.

The Unite 2 is Micromaxs under

`7,000 offering. It feels like a slab with curved edges and is slightly heavy. It packs in a 4.7-inch display with 800 x 480 pixel resolution. The display is clear and bright with av-erage sunlight legibility. It runs on Android KitKat. Connectivity options are pretty standard: 2G, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and microUSB 2.0.

The biggest highlight of the Unite 2 is its support for 21 Indian

languages. While the menu, set-tings and app names appear in English, the vernacular languages can be used to save the names (of contacts), type a text message or an email.

The overall performance of the phone is smooth but it does slow down after continuous long hours of usage and when loaded with heavy apps.

Motorola vs MicroMax

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Right fRom the elife E3, E5, E6 and E7, Gionee has come up with some fabulous smartphones. The company claims this one to be the worlds slimmest smartphone and advertises it to be more than just a pretty phone. The Gionee S5.5 is a sleek phone with aluminium alloy edges and glass panel at the front and the back. The smooth surface makes for a comfort-able to grip.

When launched, this smartphone ran on Android Jelly Bean but thank-fully Gionee has released the KitKat update for the phone. The performance is smooth but it did lag a few times while handling heavy graphic games. The phone packs in Bluetooth 4.0. As far as the camera goes, the results were just about average. The outdoor shots were good, but it isnt a performer in low light situations. The phone has got a non-removable battery, which failed to last even a single day.

The slim facTor

TesT Bench

20

Bench

BlackBeRRy might not be attracting new cus-tomers but there are still loyal BlackBerry fans who are waiting for a good upgrade. The Black-Berry Z3 is that perfect device priced at `15,999. The Z3 seems to be inspired by the design lan-guage of the Z10. It has got a rectangular design and a textured back. The 5-inch display sits on the front with the BlackBerry branding at the bot-tom. Power key along with volume controls are placed on the left panel. The back seems to be non-removable as the memory card slot and the SIM slot are placed on the right.

Running on BlackBerry OS 10.2.1, it features Priority Hub, one of the best features of this OS. Under the Priority Hub, all important notifica-tions, be it messages, emails, calls, BBM, etc., are stored under a single hood. The user interface is easy once you get hooked to it.

The real time multitasking works brilliantly. However, the only front where this phone lacks is the camera and sound. And the sound output is nowhere close to the existing BlackBerry offer-ings. The battery backup is impressive as it lasts over a day on a single charge.

bbs back

SpecS: 5-inch display; 5 MP camera; 1.2 GHz dual core processor; 1.5 GB RAM; 8 GB internal storage; expandable memory card slot; 2500 mAh battery

GGGGGBLAckBeRRy Z3`15,990

Bag it or junk it:

A good device for this price

21

Right fRom the elife E3, E5, E6 and E7, Gionee has come up with some fabulous smartphones. The company claims this one to be the worlds slimmest smartphone and advertises it to be more than just a pretty phone. The Gionee S5.5 is a sleek phone with aluminium alloy edges and glass panel at the front and the back. The smooth surface makes for a comfort-able to grip.

When launched, this smartphone ran on Android Jelly Bean but thank-fully Gionee has released the KitKat update for the phone. The performance is smooth but it did lag a few times while handling heavy graphic games. The phone packs in Bluetooth 4.0. As far as the camera goes, the results were just about average. The outdoor shots were good, but it isnt a performer in low light situations. The phone has got a non-removable battery, which failed to last even a single day.

The slim facTor

Bag it or junk it:

consider Moto xover this one

SpecS: 5-inch display; 13 MP camera; 1.7 GHz octa core processor; 2 GB RAM; 16 GB onboard storage; Bluetooth 4.0

GGGGG GioNee S5.5`22,999

TesT Bench

20

BlackBeRRy might not be attracting new cus-tomers but there are still loyal BlackBerry fans who are waiting for a good upgrade. The Black-Berry Z3 is that perfect device priced at `15,999. The Z3 seems to be inspired by the design lan-guage of the Z10. It has got a rectangular design and a textured back. The 5-inch display sits on the front with the BlackBerry branding at the bot-tom. Power key along with volume controls are placed on the left panel. The back seems to be non-removable as the memory card slot and the SIM slot are placed on the right.

Running on BlackBerry OS 10.2.1, it features Priority Hub, one of the best features of this OS. Under the Priority Hub, all important notifica-tions, be it messages, emails, calls, BBM, etc., are stored under a single hood. The user interface is easy once you get hooked to it.

The real time multitasking works brilliantly. However, the only front where this phone lacks is the camera and sound. And the sound output is nowhere close to the existing BlackBerry offer-ings. The battery backup is impressive as it lasts over a day on a single charge.

bbs back

23

GGcANoN Sx600 HS `15,995

the sX600 hs packs in an 18x optical zoom in a sleek plastic body that can be easily slipped into your jeans pocket. At 188 grams, it isnt that heavy either. The red plastic looks decent. The front is dominated by the lens while the flash is placed on the top edge that pops out. In addition, the top edge houses the shutter button release with a zoom ring around it and the power button. There is a large 3-inch display at the back with various keys.

This camera packs in the companys proprietary Digic 4+ image processor. The camera has a 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor. The zoom has a focal length of 4.5 mm (wide) to 81 mm (telephoto), and a

f/3.8 aperture. It has an ISO range of 100 to 3200 and a plenty of modes, including Hybrid Auto, Crea-tive Shot, Auto, Program, Portrait, SmartShutter, High-speed Burst, Handheld NightScene, Low Light, Fish-eye Effect, Miniature Effect, Toy, Camera Effect, Monochrome, Super Vivid, Poster Effect, Snow, Fireworks and Long Shutter.

The camera manages to capture good details when used during day-light. The colours appear natural. One has to ensure that the camera is held steady, otherwise it results in blurry images. At night, it does a decent job but isnt the best. The camera captures images at 1080p resolution.

in The pockeT Bag it or junk it:

can be considered at this price

TesT Bench

22

you might be thinking why we review Asus Fonepad 7 so often. After introducing Fonepad 7 in In-dia last year, it was followed by an improved version of the tablet. The company has now come up with the third Fonepad 7, which supports dual SIM slot.

In terms of the design, this one

looks very similar to its predeces-sors. The 7-inch IPS panel with 1280 x 800 pixels is surrounded by a thick bezel, wasting a lot of space. The tablet has got custom UI onboard. There is a notification tray giving access to toggles for Wi-Fi, mobile data, airplane mode, among others, and these can be

customised as well. The tab is an average performer

and there was a slight lag while switching between the running apps. This is a dual SIM voice calling tab-let with decent call clarity. However, it is uncomfortable to hold it next to the face. The camera captures decent images in bright daylight.

Value for Money

SpecS: 7-inch iPS display; 5 MP camera; Android

Jelly Bean; 1.2 GHz dual core

processor; 1 GB RAM; 8 GB

onboard storage; dual SiM slot;

WiFi, 3G, Bluetooth

GGASuS FoNePAD 7

DuAL SiM`12,999

Bag it or junk it:

For the price it comes, we cant

complaint

25

not a populaR BRand in India, the Alcatel One Touch has now launched the Idol X+. This phone is the successor to the Idol X that was launched last year. The Idol X+ has got a premium finish. The front is dominated by the display with no branding and looks neat. The back is done in glossy black with Alcatel One Touch branding below the camera. The corner edges and the sides are slightly curved. Even though, it has a 5-inch display, it is more convenient to hold than 5-inch phablets. It is sleek, at 8.1 mm thickness, and weighs 130 grams. When kept on the table, many confused it to be a Samsung smartphone.

The Idol X+ runs on Android 4.2, which is a letdown con-sidering most smartphones run Android KitKat. Alcatel One Touch has added a customised user interface to this phone which isnt that heavy. But for an even better performance, Nova Launcher works well on this phone. The phone comes packed with plenty of pre-installed apps, such as productiv-ity tools, clean master, BoomBand, etc. The device comes with 16 GB onboard storage out of which only 12.3 GB is user accessible. It doesnt have a memory card slot. The camera does a good job outdoors as well as indoors.

Looking ahead

SpecS: 5-inch display; 13 MP camera; Android 4.2; 2 GHz octa core processor; 2 GB RAM; 2500 mAh battery

GGALcAteL oNe toucH iDoL x+`16,999

Bag it or junk it:

A value for money smartphone

24

TesT Bench

the lava 504Q+ has got a rec-tangular design with metallic front frame and back cover. The phone packs in a 5-inch display with 720p resolution. The build quality is good and it does feel premium to hold. It has also got air gesture controls for various apps, including music, FM radio, gallery, camera, etc.

The phone comes with a few preloaded apps like Sketch, Varie-ty Theme, and My Notes. Powered by MediaTek MT6582 processor,

the RAM is not enough for a smooth performance. The phone did slow down while launching apps and switching between them. It simply couldnt support heavy graphic apps.

The camera captures good im-ages during bright sunny days but they are grainy in low light. It also packs in 8 GB of internal storage of which only around 5.4 GB is user accessible. The battery onboard lasts a full day on a single charge.

Steady runner

SpecS: 5-inch display; 10 MP camera; Android 4.2; 1.3 GHz quad core; 1 GB RAM; 149 grams; 2000 mAh battery

GGLAvA iRiS 504Q+`13,990

Bag it or junk it:

Faces competition from Motorola

Moto G

26 27

Water is one of the biggest enemies of electronic gadgets. While many compa-nies have launched water-resistant products, is it worthwhile to pay a premium

for these gadgets? And can these devices really withstand a heavy downpour dur-ing the monsoon? Now that the monsoon season is back and with it concerns about protecting your costly gadgets we suggest you a list of accessories that will help you use your phones, laptops and cameras without any worry during the

rainy season. By Nidhi Singal

Make Gadgets Rain-proof

SmartphoneSSmartphones stand the highest risk of getting wet since they remain with you throughout the day. Even if you are using a good cover to protect your phone from dust and scratches, it wont be enough to protect the device from getting wet. Here are some special covers to protect the handset.

BuBBle Shield Pro: `4,199If you think adding a water-proof cover to your iPad will restrict its touch interface, you are mistaken. The Bubble Shield Pro is IPX7 certified and lets the tablet work even under a foot water for 30 minutes.

WaterProof Bag: `999The big-size waterproof bag can be used to carry almost any gadget, even a 10-inch tablet. It is an IP68 certified cover but we are not sure if you will be able to use the tablet while it is inside the cover.

targuS revolution exPedition BackPack: `3,250Designed for laptops with up to 15.6-inch screens, this backpack features a built-in rain cover and a water-resistant bottom.

liviya WaterProof laPtoP BackPack: `1,890Weighing one kg, this bag is made of nylon that protects it from water splash. This bag can easily fit in a laptop with a 15-inch display. Available on amazon.in, the bag has a matt finish and comes with one-year manufacturer warranty.

dry caSe for SmartPhoneS: `2,699 This is a crystal waterproof case for smartphones and portable music players that offers full functionality. You can suck out all air with a hand pump provided in the kit.

touch enaBled Water duSt Proof Pouch caSe: `499Designed for camping, boating, hiking and other outdoor activities, this case has a double-sealing design that protects phones and small devices from water under 10 meters. The case is easily available on e-retailers.

tiPS: A Bluetooth headset is made for rainy conditions. Keep your phone safe in the bag inside a zip pouch and continue to answer calls on the handsfree.

26 27

Water is one of the biggest enemies of electronic gadgets. While many compa-nies have launched water-resistant products, is it worthwhile to pay a premium

for these gadgets? And can these devices really withstand a heavy downpour dur-ing the monsoon? Now that the monsoon season is back and with it concerns about protecting your costly gadgets we suggest you a list of accessories that will help you use your phones, laptops and cameras without any worry during the

rainy season.

LaptopSMost laptops are vulnerable to damage from water. That is why a good-quality bag is a must have for your laptop. Targus and Samsonite are known for such offerings.

tabtabt LetSCompared to phones, tablets are more at risk from rain because we often carry these devices in our hands and not in the relative safety of bags or pockets. Thankfully, special covers are available for popular tablet models such as the Apple iPad and Samsung Galaxy tab.

abLetS

BuBBle Shield Pro: `4,199If you think adding a water-proof cover to your iPad will restrict its touch interface, you are mistaken. The Bubble Shield Pro is IPX7 certified and lets the tablet work even under a foot water for 30 minutes.

WaterProof Bag: `999The big-size waterproof bag can be used to carry almost any gadget, even a 10-inch tablet. It is an IP68 certified cover but we are not sure if you will be able to use the tablet while it is inside the cover.

targuS revolution exPedition BackPack: `3,250Designed for laptops with up to 15.6-inch screens, this backpack features a built-in rain cover and a water-resistant bottom.

liviya WaterProof laPtoP BackPack: `1,890Weighing one kg, this bag is made of nylon that protects it from water splash. This bag can easily fit in a laptop with a 15-inch display. Available on amazon.in, the bag has a matt finish and comes with one-year manufacturer warranty.

dry caSe for SmartPhoneS: `2,699 This is a crystal waterproof case for smartphones and portable music players that offers full functionality. You can suck out all air with a hand pump provided in the kit.

touch enaBled Water duSt Proof Pouch caSe: `499Designed for camping, boating, hiking and other outdoor activities, this case has a double-sealing design that protects phones and small devices from water under 10 meters. The case is easily available on e-retailers.

tiPS: A Bluetooth headset is made for rainy conditions. Keep your phone safe in the bag inside a zip pouch and continue to answer calls on the handsfree.

TesT Bench

28 29

kata kt Pl-e-690 element cover: `3,499Love shooting pictures in rain? Then this rain cover is perfect for you. Keep the camera in this cover that has sleeves on both sides. The cover lets you use a tripod as well.

CameraThere are a range of waterproof pouches from companies such as Quapack or Dipacpac available from `1,200. You could also buy a waterproof kit that lets you click pictures even when it is raining.

TesT Bench

28 29

kata kt Pl-e-690 element cover: `3,499Love shooting pictures in rain? Then this rain cover is perfect for you. Keep the camera in this cover that has sleeves on both sides. The cover lets you use a tripod as well.

PanaSonic toughBook cf-c2: `1,00,000 + taxeSThe Toughbook range is a rugged series that can take on shock and water without any hassle. It has a 12.5-inch capacitive five-finger multi-touch display.

BoSe Sie2i: `8,663The Bose SIE2I is designed for use The Bose SIE2I is designed for use while working out in the gym as it while working out in the gym as it is sweat-resistant. But it is also good is sweat-resistant. But it is also good enough to be used in a drizzle.

nikon coolPix aW110: aW110: a `16,950This is amongst the few waterproof and shockproof cameras available in India and features a 16MP CMOS sensor with a 5x zoom.

SamSung galaxy S5: `35,000The latest Samsung flagship smartphone can survive in the rain. The S5 has a water-resistant body that saves it from a sudden water spill. The S5 was launched for `51,500 and is now retailing for

Sony xPeria Z2: `44,490The Xperia Z2 is an improvement over its predecessor. The phone is water-resistant and has a decent camera that captures good images. The battery backup is amazing, too.

GaDGetS that LoVe raInWaterproofing gadgets is one thing. But if you want to save yourself from this hassle, consider buying yourself a water-resistant gadget that you can continue to use, flaunt or work on even in a deluge.

do not switch on the device to see if it is working.

remove the back panel, battery, SIM card and memory card from the phone and dry it with a towel.

Place the phone in an air-tight bag full of raw rice for absorbing moisture over night or even a couple of days.

do not use a hair dryer or vacuum cleaner to dry the phone.

keeP it under a strong light such as a table lamp that can evaporate the moisture.

5 tips to save a wet phone

Price: ` 1,35,000SamSung ua46f700BJ

Specs: 46-inch Full HD LED with 3D, motion & voice control, 10Wx2 speakers, Wi-Fi, LAN, USB, HDMI, 81.4 watts power consumption

`2,50,000Specs: 55-inch; 1080p, 24w; + 3D quality, remote

`2,67,000Specs: 55-inch; 1080p, 20w; + Smart features

1

2 SAMSUNg 55ES80003

`1,38,900Specs: 50-inch; 1080p; 18w; +Superb blacks, apps

` 3,59,900 Specs: 65-inch; 768p; 30w; + 3D

pANASoNIc p50gT504 SoNy BrAvIA HX925 LED5

Price: ` 35,900apple ipad air

Specs: 9.7-inch display; A7 chip; IoS 7; Wi-Fi, Bluetooth; 16gB onboard storage; 5Mp camera

`32,900Specs: 9.7-inch; 1gHz dual-core; 3g, Wi-Fi; +performance

`20,999Specs: 7-inch; 1.5 gHz quad-core; Wi-Fi; +oS updates +overall

AppLE IpAD 2

1

2 3

`15,999Specs: 7-inch; 1.2 gHz; dual-core; 3g,Wi-Fi; +Book store

`15,999Specs: 7-inch , 1.2gHz Intel Atom, 3g, Wi-Fi, 8gB+ calling, price

KINDLE FIrE HD 7"4 ASUS FoNEpAD5

Price: ` 75,933dell XpS 15 l501X

Specs: 15.6-inch LED display; Intel core i7 Q740 1.73 gHz (8 cores); 4 gB rAM; 500 gB HDD; NvIDIA 2 gB gT 435 M graphics card; JBL speakers

` 57,000Specs: Intel centrino c2D 2.53 gHz; nvidia gT230M; 320gB; 14; +Specs

`1,59,900Specs: Intel i7 processor, 2.66Hz; nvidia gT330M; 64gB x 4SSD; 13 +Speed

SoNy vAIo cW16Fg

1

2 SoNy vAIo Z1173

`64,990 Specs: Intel core i7-3612 QM Nvidia geForce gT630M; 1TB; 15.6; + overall performance

`89,990Specs: Intel core i7 1.7gHz dual core; HD 3000; 256gB; 13.3; + Slim design

LENovo Z5804 MAcBooK AIr 5

Price: ` 18,910

SamSung ua22d5000nrlXl

Specs: 22 inch LED Tv; Full HD support; 2 HDMI ports, Dolby Digital plus; 6W sound; SrS TheaterSound HD; 45 W power consumption

`44,899Specs: 32-inch; 1080p; 20w; + picture, contrast

`29,999Specs: 32-inch; 1080p; 20w + price

SoNy BrAvIA KDL-32EX520

1

2 oNIDA LEo32NMSF100L3

`34,890Specs: 32-inch; 1080p; 20w; +picture

`17,499Specs: 32-inch; 768p; 20w; +price

Lg 32Lv35004 ToSHIBA 32Hv10ZE5

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