Samsung Galaxy Star Pro Android smartphone with 4-inch display spotted selling for Rs 6,989

By Vijay

Here comes another Samsung Galaxy smartphone which falls in the 4-inch entry level smartphone segment to compete against the likes of Mircomax and other domestic handset vendors ruling this segment. Samsung’s unannounced Galaxy Star Pro S7262 has spotted selling on a popular online retail portal for as little as Rs 6,989. It becomes Samsung’s second 4-inch smartphone priced under Rs 10,000 after the Galaxy Trend Duos.

The Galaxy Smart Pro supports dual-SIM and comes with a 4-inch WVGA display (480×800 pixels) just like the Galaxy Trend Duos. It runs on the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and is powered by a 1GHz single-core cortex A5 processor coupled with 512MB of RAM. In addition to that, there is 4GB of internal storage which can be supplemented with a 32GB of microSD card. Basically, aside the display, it is an extension of the Galaxy Star smartphone launched earlier for Rs 5,240.

It also features a 2-megapixel rear camera which is capable of shooting videos but lacks a front-facing camera like the Galaxy Trend Duos. The Galaxy Star Pro supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, but doesn’t have 3G connectivity. Other features in the phone include an accelerometer and a 1500mAH battery, which is claimed to offer up to 15 hours of talktime and up to 370 hours of standby time. In addition to that the smartphone will come pre-loaded with several Samsung apps including ChatON, as well as other apps like mFluent IM, and ActiveSync.

With this phone, it is clear that Samsung has its eyes set on its domestic rivals, especially Micromax which with 22 percent smartphone market share has become a threat to Samsung’s 26 percent market share in India.

Samsung Galaxy Grand Duos Android 4.2.2 update starts rolling out in India.

By Vijay @ 02:09pm

Samsung has finally started rolling out the Android 4.2.2 update for the Galaxy Grand Duos (GT-I9082). The update started rolling out for the Grand Duos starting from Russia last month. . The phone was announced in December last year running Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean). It was launched in India back in January.

The Android 4.2.2 update for the Galaxy Grand Duos brings Quick Setting toggles in the drop-down notification bar, faster performance, lockscreen widgets, improved task switching, Daydream mode and lots more new features.  Samsung confirmed Android 4.1 update for range of Galaxy devices last year, but they are yet to confirm the list of device that would get the Android 4.2.2 or the 4.3 update.

Samsung released regional language support for range of Smartphones and Tablet last month, including the Grand Duos. These features would remain even after the update. We also got couple of updates after the Android 4.2.2 update for stability improvements.

The Android 4.2.2 update for the Grand Duos is 488.76MB and is available over-the-air (OTA) and also via Samsung Kies software. You can check for the update manually from the Settings, About, Software update.

Samsung Galaxy Trend Duos with 4-inch display and Android 4.1 now available in India for Rs. 8490/-

By Vijay @ 02:03pm

Samsung India recently announced that they would release couple of Android mid-range Android smartphone. The Samsung Galaxy Trend Duos (GT-S7392) is now available in India from online retailer Snapdeal.

Even though Samsung has not announced the smartphone officially, it is available in China in a different name. The phone has a  4.0-inch WVGA(480×800) capacitive touch screen display similar to the Galaxy S Duos and also comes with Dual SIM support with Dual SIM always-on feature that automatically forwards calls from the phone number on SIM 2, even if a user is on the phone with SIM 1’s number.

It is powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). It has a 3-megapixel rear camera without a front-facing camera. However this comes with proximity and ambient light sensors similar to the S Duos.

Samsung Galaxy Trend Duos Specifications

• 4.0-inch WVGA(480×800) capacitive touch screen display
• 1.2 GHz dual-core processor
• Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) OS
• 11.1 mm thick and weighs 128.5 grams
• Dual SIM (GSM + GSM)
• 3MP rear Camera
• 512MB RAM, 4GB internal memory that is expandable up to 32GB with microSD
• 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth v 3.0 and aGPS
• 1500mAh battery

The Samsung Galaxy Trend Duos comes in Black and White colors and is priced at Rs. 8,490.  The phone has not been listed on the Samsung India website or the Samsung eStore yet. The official launch is expected soon

 

Nokia Lumia 1020 listed on Flipkart as coming soon

By Vijay @ 09:29pm

The Nokia Lumia 1020 started out as an exclusive on AT&T in US. Although it didn’t take too long before the device started appearing in other markets. First up was China, then other countries slowly gained the list. For example, a few days ago it went on sale in Germany (and it was the 64GB variant too!). Up next however, is going to be India. Details below.

Head on over to Flipkart and you’ll see the Lumia 1020 sitting there getting ready for you. The device has a “notify me” page set up for anyone interested in the device. Availability is listed as “coming soon”. Unfortunately, details are a bit scarce. There is no pricing on the page. It’s the 32GB model though, not the 64GB which is exclusive to Vodafone. You’ll have your choice of white, yellow, or black when the devices do become available.

We’ll of course let you guys and gals know when more information comes in. Any of our readers in India looking forward to the Lumia 1020? Let me know below in comments…

Source: Flipkart

Samsung outs an official, extra long hands-on video of the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear(Smart Watch)

By Vijay @ 06:19pm

One of the headlines that has come out of IFA 2013 so far is the announcement of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. It sports a plethora of new software features and awesome integration options with the just announced Galaxy Gear smartwatch.

 So, in order to familiarize potential Note 3 owners with some of its new software tricks, Samsung has made a lengthy hands-on video of the phablet. In the video, the presenter talks about the new S Pen functionality, namely the Air Command feature. The updated S Pen, Scrapbook, Action Memo, as well as S Finder are also mentioned in the hands-on.

Here’s the 18-minute video below. I suggest you make yourself comfortable, grab a snack and check it out in full.

For even more information on the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear, we strongly urge you to check out this detailed hands-on from GSMArena..

 

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 to get launched on September 25th in INDIA

By Vijay @ 04:39pm

The Galaxy Note 3, Samsung’s flagship phablet that was unveiled last night, will be launched in India on September 25. A Samsung India spokesperson has confirmed that India is among the list of countries where the Galaxy Note 3 will be launched in the first wave. “The global introduction is on September 25 and India is in the list of countries,” he said.

The Galaxy Note 3 features the latest and greatest hardware specifications on any Samsung smartphone. Despite having a bigger 5.7-inch and higher resolution full HD display, Samsung has managed to keep the device’s footprint the same as the Galaxy Note II that had a 5.5-inch display. The Indian variant of the Galaxy Note 3 is expected to run on the Exynos 5 Octa Core 5420 chipset along with 3GB of RAM. Other features include a 13-megapixel rear camera, a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera, 32GB of internal storage with microSD card slot and a 3,200mAh battery.

It will run on Android 4.3 with a new version of TouchWiz on top that brings new features for the S-Pen input. The biggest news, however, is that it would be the first Samsung Galaxy smartphone to not feel plasticky thanks to a faux leather finish on the back panel. You can check out all the hardware and software features in the promo video below.

Samsung GALAXY Note 3 Product Specifications

Network	2.5G (GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE): 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz 3G (HSPA＋ 42Mbps): 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz 4G (LTE Cat 4 150/50Mbps) : up to 6 different band sets (Dependent on market)
Processor	LTE 2.3 GHz Quad-Core Processor 3G 1.9 GHz Octa Core  Processor ( A15 1.9 GHz ＋ A7 1.3 GHz) The selection of AP will be differed by markets.
Display	5.7inch (144.3mm)  Full HD Super AMOLED (1920 x 1080)
OS	Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean)
Camera
	Main(Rear): 13 Mega-pixel BSI Sensor, Auto Focus camera with Smart Stabilization, LED Flash(High CRI), and Zero Shutter Lag Sub (Front): 2 Mega-pixel BSI sensor with Smart Stabilization, Full HD recording @30fps
	Dual Camera: Dual Shot / Dual Recording/ Dual Video Call Recording: UHD 30fps, Smooth motion (FHD 60fps), Slow motion (HD 120fps) Camera Mode: Drama Shot, Sound & Shot, Animated Photo, Eraser, Best Photo, Best Face, Beauty Face, HDR (High Dynamic Range), Panorama, Sports, Golf, Surround shot, Live effect
Video	Codec: H.264, MPEG-4, H.263, VC-1, WMV7, WMV8, Sorenson Spark, MP43, VP8, HEVC Recording & Playback: Full HD (1080p), UHD (＊may differ by market)
Audio	Codec: MP3, AAC/AAC＋/eAAC＋, WMA, AMR-NB/WB, Vorbis, FLAC(＊), WAV(＊) (＊) Ultra High Quality Audio (~192KHz, 24 bit) support
S PenOptimized Features	Air Command: Action Memo, Scrapbook, Screen Write, S Finder, Pen Window S Note, Multi Window, new Easy Clip, Direct Pen Input
AdditionalFeatures	Group Play: Share Music, Share Picture, Share Video, Share Document, Play Games
	Story Album, S Translator
	Samsung Smart Scroll, Samsung Smart Pause, Air Gesture, Air View
	Samsung Apps, Samsung Hub, ChatON (Voice/Video Call, Share screen, 3-way calling), Samsung WatchON
	S Voice™ Hands Free, S Health
	Samsung Adapt Display, Samsung Adapt Sound Auto adjust touch sensitivity (Glove friendly)
	Samsung Link, Screen Mirroring
	Safety Assistance, Samsung KNOX
Google MobileServices	Chrome, Search, Gmail, Google＋, Maps, Play Books Play Movies, Play Music, Play Store, Hangouts Voice Search, YouTube, Google Settings, Play Games, Messenger
Connectivity	WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (HT80) GPS / GLONASS NFC,  Bluetooth® v 4.0 (LE) IR LED (Remote Control), MHL 2.0
Sensor	Gesture, Accelerometer, Geo-magnetic, Gyroscope, RGB Proximity, Barometer, Temperature & Humidity, Hall Sensor
Memory	32/ 64 GB User memory ＋ microSD slot (up to 64GB) 3GB RAM
Dimension	151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3mm, 168g
Battery	Standard battery, Li-ion 3,200 mAh

Temple Run: Oz now available for Windows Phone 8, but only 1gb ram

By Vijay @ 09:44pm

Temple Run: Oz from Imangi Studios and Disney/Pixar is now available for Windows Phone 8. The game was released for Android, iPhone and iPad in March. The Temple Run: Oz based on the Temple Run 2 and inspired by Oz the Great and Powerful movie that released earlier this year. This game would let you Play as Oz outrun the shrieking flying baboons as you turn, jump and slide your way across the land. You can also explore different environments and complete weekly challenges.

The Temple Run: Brave from the Temple Run franchise was released for Windows Phone 8 back in January, 6 months after it released for Android and iOS devices. This one took less than 5 months.

Features of Temple Run: Oz

• Stunning environments inspired by the film – explore them all.
• Fly in a hot air balloon – earn even more coins.
• Explore different locations in Oz – follow sign posts!
• The environment changes as you run – test your reflexes.

Download Temple Run: Oz for Windows Phone 8 devices from the Windows Phone Store at $0.99 / Rs. 55

Samsung Galaxy Gear detailed (Samsung’s Expected Smart Watch)

By Vijay @ 09:19am

There has been a sudden flow of reports talking about Samsung’s upcoming smartwatch Galaxy Gear. Popular technology blogs The Verge and GigaOM have published separate reports in the last 24 hours, claiming some exclusive information about this upcoming accessory.

 

A mockup of Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch

According to The Verge, which contradicts recent Bloomberg story on voice calling support in this Samsung smartwatch, Galaxy Gear will definitely not be a phone unto itself. “It works with phones but the watch is not a phone,” the blog noted citing a source with information about Galaxy Gear.

On the other hand, GigaOM’s Om Malilk, who claims to have details about the specs of Galaxy Gear, the Samsung smartwatch will come with a 2.5-inch square display and dual-core processor.  The display is said to be OLED. Om adds a few more details like presence of a camera, NFC chip and Bluetooth 4.0 LE support in Galaxy Gear. “In addition, the watch might also has a built-in accelerometer that makes it possible to switch it on when it is moved up towards the eye. It could be a great way to wake the watch and also the apps and manage battery power,” he noted.

On the software front, he states that the watch will most probably run on Android 4.2 and will pack tight integration with smartphones using Watch Manager app. Samsung is reportedly using a proprietary accessory protocol, which will use Bluetooth LE as the network transport.

This is not all, GigaOM report also includes that the apps designed for this watch will be available via Samsung Appstore not Google Play. So this is watch can fully utilized with Samsung Smartphones only.

To remind you, Samsung Galaxy Gear is expected to be announced on September 4 in Berlin and New York at simultaneous press events along with Samgung Galaxy Note 3.

Official YouTube app for Windows Phone is back and now available for both 7.x & 8 devices.

By Vijay @ 01:12pm

Today, Google had released a new version 3.2.0.0 of youtube app which is now live on the Store for Windows Phone 7.x and Windows Phone 8 devices.

The new app looks a lot like the app that was pulled and even includes an upload feature for posting videos directly to the service. That should reassure customers who believe the app would be stripped of functionality (one feature that seems to be missing is downloading of videos).

According to the app description, the features include:

• Pin any video, playlist, channel, and search queries to Live Tiles
• Manage your YouTube profile with your unique My YouTube page
• Manage your playlists, uploads, and video lists
• Find channels, videos, and playlists with the quick access search bar
• Share videos to your social networks, e-mail, and text messages
• Let your kids watch safe videos in Kid’s Corner and keep their own profile

The app is now available for older devices too, which is a great win for legacy users who have felt left out lately from Microsoft’s releases.

You can download the now official YouTube app for Windows Phone here in the Store.

 

Samsung Galaxy Smartphones and Tablets to get support for 9 Indian languages…

By Vijay @ 04:53pm

Samsung today announced support for 9 Indian languages for their Galaxy smartphones and tablets. This would let the Samsung smartphone users to access the user interface and content in these languages. The 9 Indian languages include, Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi and Gujarati. These Indian languages will be supported on Galaxy Grand, Galaxy S4 and the Galaxy Tab 3 starting from today.

This would let customers access applications from Samsung Application Store in their preferred Indian language in different categories such as entertainment, games, business and more. Bharat Matrimony, India property, Times of India, BSE and Mydala and lots more application would soon be available in these Indian languages. There are lot of applications such as Newshunt, Chaton and more that are available in regional languages. Facebook and Facebook messenger would also be available for select Samsung devices in 9 Indian languages.

Samsung says that they will not work with content providers, but will develop an ecosystem with app developers to let customers experience the apps in their favorites language. At the event, Arvind Pani, Co-Founder & CEO of Reverie language Technologies has announced that they have launched Reverie PhoneBook app that would let users to access PhoneBook in several languages including Hindi, Gujarati, Gurmukhi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and English. The app would be available from Samsung App Store. It will be available for free till December 2013.

Samsung plans to roll out the regional language support for other affordable smartphones starting from the Galaxy Star starting from this month. It plans to increase the number of devices with regional language content from next month.