Mobiles

Celkon launches dual-SIM Android based smartphones -Celkon Monalisa ML-5, Signature Swift A112 and Campus A10

Like Micromax, another Indian handset maker Celkon too seems to have got into launch mode with the announcement of three smartphones- Celkon Monalisa ML-5, Signature Swift A112 and Campus A10 on Wednesday.
All of them are Android based, dual-SIM devices with GSM+GSM and come with 3G connectivity.  The three devices have a price tag of Rs, 10, 999 Rs 8799 and Rs 4,299 respectively.
The device with 4.5-inch qHD (540x960 pixel Celkon Monalisa ML-5 smartphone is powered by 1.2GHz quad-core processor (presumably the MediaTek MT6589).  It comes with 1GB of RAM. It runs Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. It has 4GB of inbuilt storage which can be expandable up to 32GB. The device is equipped with an 8-megapixel rear camera while there is a 2-megapixel front-facing camera also onboard. The devices has an 1800mAh battery.
The mid-range Signature Swift A112 features a 5-inch FWVGA (480x854 pixel) display. It is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and runs on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. It comes with 512MB of RAM. It has an 8-megapixel rear facing camera and also has a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera. It has 4GB of inbuilt storage which can be further expanded up to 32GB and a 2000mAh battery.
The low-cost Campus A10 comes with a 3.5-inch HVGA (320x480 pixel) display. It runs on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor. It comes with 256MB of RAM and a 1500mAh battery. IT sports dual cameras, 1.3-megapixel at the back while the front houses a VGA camera.
All the newly launched Celkon smartphones are dual-SIM devices with GSM+GSM and come with 3G connectivity as well.
Last month Celkon launched Campus A63 and A60. Celkon had launched the Camus series phones during the last one-day match between India and Zimbabwe recently.
Celkon Monalisa ML-5 key features
4.5-inch qHD (f 540x960 pixel) display
Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean
1.2GHz quad-core processor
Dual-SIM (GSM+GSM)
1GB of RAM
512MB of inbuilt storage, expandable up to 32GB
8-megapixel rear camera
2-megapixel front-facing camera
1800mAh battery
Celkon Signature Swift A112 key features
Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
5-inch FWVGA (480x854 pixel) display
Dual-SIM (GSM+GSM)
1.2GHz dual-core processor
512MB of RAM
4GB of inbuilt storage, expandable up to 32GB
8-megapixel rear camera
1.3-megapixel front-facing camera
Dual-SIM (GSM+GSM)
2000mAh battery
Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
Celkon Campus A10 key features
Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
Dual-SIM (GSM + GSM)
3.5-inch HVGA display with resolution of 320x480 pixels
1GHz dual-core processor
256MB of RAM
512MB of inbuilt storage, expandable up to 32GB
1.3-megapixel rear camera
VGA front-facing camera
1500mAh battery
Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 'to hit UK on 16 September'

The next version of Samsung's popular Galaxy Note 'phablet' will arrive in the UK on 16 September, according to reports.

Last week, Lee Young-hee, executive vice president of Samsung mobile, revealed in an interview with The Korea Times that the Galaxy Note 3 phone-cum-tablet would be announced, along with the Galaxy Gear smartwatch, at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin on 4 September.

Now an internal document leaked by mobile operator Three UK to technology blog Engadget suggests that the Note 3 will arrive in the UK on 16 September, followed by the Xperia Z1 on 24 September.

It is not clear whether 16 September is the date that Three starts taking pre-orders or the date that the it actually releases the phone. Three is also one of several UK mobile operators likely to get the Galaxy Note 3 when it arrives, and may not be the first to launch the device.

Another rumour from ETrade claims that the device will go up for pre-order in Taiwan on 16 September, with a release on 27 September. Taiwan is traditionally one of the first regions to get Samsung’s flagship smartphones. The UK is almost always one of, if not the first to get them.

According to specs leaked online, the Galaxy Note 3 will have a 5.68-inch 1080p display, 3 GB of RAM and a 13-megapixel camera with optical image stabilisation and 3x optical zoom.

It is expected to come in two versions – one with a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor and one with a 1.8GHz octa-core Exynos processor.

Although there has been some talk about Samsung using another material for its smartphones, such as carbon fiber or aluminum, it is expected that the Note 3 will have the same plastic finish seen on previous smartphones released by Samsung this year.

Apple launches iPhone trade-ins

Apple retail stores are accepting customers' old iPhones for credit toward new ones. The company is expected to unveil the latest iterations of the iPhone at an event next month.

Apple has begun a long-awaited iPhone trade-in program at its retail stores, ahead of an event that is widely expected to include the unveiling of the new iPhone on September 10.

Apple spokeswoman Amy Bessette told CNET that the program launched Friday in Apple's US stores only. "iPhones hold great value," she said. "Customers will be able to receive a credit for their returned phone that they can use toward the purchase of a new iPhone."

She couldn't comment on a range of values Apple would ascribe to phones its customers swap for credit. CNBC said the service would give customers a trade-in value for the handset estimated at $125 for an iPhone 4, $200 for an iPhone 4S, and $250 for an iPhone 5 -- with a fresh contract. An unnamed source told The Wall Street Journal that the most Apple would be willing to credit customers would be about $280. ABC reported a figure closer to $300, also according to an unnamed source.

With Apple on the sidelines of the iPhone aftermarket for years, other trade-in options have cropped up to meet the need -- sometimes at values much higher than those being reported for an Apple program. People who want to ditch their phone when a new one comes along, without eating the full cost, found other companies willing to welcome them with open arms.

Devices traded in on sites like Gazelle and NextWorth are sold internationally in places where iPhones are very expensive. Right now, a 64GB iPhone 5 can snag a customer $370 on NextWorth.

Retailers like Best Buy and Target also offer trade-in options when new phones emerge, in addition to discounts -- like a deal this weekend at Best Buy giving iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S owners who trade in a working handset at least 50 percent off the purchase of an iPhone 5.

And, of course, there's always eBay.

With more lucrative options available, the biggest draw for an Apple program is convenience for people who buy directly through the computer maker, especially those who line up for days to be among the first to get hold of the latest iPhone.

Word of such a service cropped up in June, when Bloomberg reported that Apple was working with Miami-based trade-in company Brightstar on a program that would let consumers bring in their used iPhones for a discount on newer models and potentially for credit on other items in Apple's stores.

Next month's Apple event has the rumor mill churning out speculation at top speed, but the computer maker is generally expected to be introducing a high-end flagship iPhone, called the iPhone 5S, along with a lower-cost option, called the iPhone 5C.

Reports Monday indicated the company was close to firing up a trade-in service for its flagship smartphone. Apple was said to be preparing retail workers, giving first trainers their instructions Monday for them to start teaching other employees, and may have even started piloting the program in some stores.

Micromax in again with low cost canvas mobiles 

'canvas A74 and A76'

After the launch of its costliest and best ever, the 5.7 inch display Canvas Doodle 2, Micromax has shifted its focus to its low cost Canvas phones. The company is working on two new Canvas phones that are under 10K devices, but do not sport the Canvas 5-inch profile.

The A74 Canvas Fun has made a debut in an online store. This Jelly Bean 4.2 operating system phone has a 4.5-inch display screen and runs a 1.3 GHz dual-core processor.

There is 1 GB of RAM and internal memory of 1.25 GB that can be expanded up to 32 GB using a microSD card. There is a 5 megapixel primary shooter and a 0.3 megapixel secondary camera.

The phone has come up for sale at Snapdeal at Rs. 7749. It has also come up at Flipkart sporting a coming soon tag.

While at one side Canvas Fun A74 makes a store debut, Micromax website shows another phone in the Canvas Fun range, the Canvas Fun A63.

With this Micromax strikes the colour platter as the phone will be offered in Blue, Yellow and Black colour variants. This one will come with a 1.3 GHz dual core processor, 2 megapixel primary camera and 0.3 megapixel secondary camera, 4-inch display screen with 480 x 800 pixels display resolution, 1500 mAh battery, Android 4.2.2 OS, 4 GB ROM and 512 MB RAM.

The price of this handset is yet not revealed. We can expect Micromax to place below the A72 Canvas Viva that sports a 5-inch profile and 3 megapixel primary shooter. The Fun A63 may be priced at around Rs.5500.

Here is a comparison of the A74 Fun with the A76 Fun recently launched by the company.

	A76 Canvas Fun	A74 Canvas Fun
Display size	5 inch	4.5 inch
Display resolution	480 x 854 Pixels	480 x 854 Pixels
Thinness	10.55 mm	10.1 mm
Operating system	4.2 Jelly Bean	4.2 Jelly Bean
Processor	Mediatek 6572 Dual core	Dual core
Processor speed	1.2 GHz	1.3 GHz
RAM	512 GB RAM	512 GB RAM
Internal memory	4 GB	4 GB
User memory	1.25 GB	1.25 GB
Expandable memory	32 GB	32 GB
Primary camera	5 megapixel with 4x zoom and multiple shot mode	5 megapixel with 4x zoom and multiple shot mode
Came flash	Single	Single
Secondary camera	0.3 megapixel	0.3 megapixel
Sim support	Dual sim	Dual sim
Connectivity	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G, 2G, Gprs,usb	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G, 2G, Gprs, usb
Battery	2000 mAh	1500 mAh
Sensors	G-Sensor, Proximity Sensor	G-Sensor, Proximity Sensor
Colour options	Red, Black	Blue
Price	Rs. 8499	Rs. 7749

Micromax, Lava beat Apple,Samsung sales in India

The rising demand for affordable smartphones in the major emerging markets of India and China has helped local mobile manufacturers surpass shipments by established global brands like Samsung and Apple in April-June quarter this year, research firm IDC says.

According to IDC data in asia/pacific region excluding japan.homegrown vendors shipped 46 million units, while Samsung and apple combined shipped 35 million units in second quarter this year.

Other global brands like HTC, BlackBerry, Nokia, Sony, LG and Motor shipped a combined 10 million units, whereas, the internal vendors from China like Huawei, ZTE and Lenovo shipped a total of 27 million units in April-June 2013.

IDC identified Micromax, Karbonn, Lava, Maxx and Intex as the rising players in the emerging smartphone market in India and brands like Coolpad, K-Touch, Xiaomi, Gionee and Oppo in China.

The research firm said local brands in the world's two most populous country, part of Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan) region (APEJ), have aggressively scaled up their operations and are competitive on both price and hardware specifications.

"Aside from the top-tier international brands or Chinese brands that also ship globally like Huawei and ZTE, there is also a rising segment of homegrown brands, which as a group have been steadily rising in shipments and prominence," IDC said in its latest report on mobile shipments.

These homegrown players comprised 38% of second quarter 2013 volumes, up from 20% in the same quarter of 2012 and 7% in 2011 second quarter, it added.

Asia/Pacific region saw mobile shipments of 119 million units in April-June 2013, up 10% quarter-on-quarter and a huge jump of 75% from Q2 2012, IDC said.

"In emerging markets like China and India, IDC has seen many local competitors spring up, but only in the last few quarters have we seen them aggressively scale up, competitive on both price and hardware specs like bigger screens.

"We are now hitting a place where there are smartphones for every price point, where the masses will benefit from the slew of players bringing in more options," the firm said.

This is the first quarter that IDC saw both the under $50 segment of smartphones gain some traction in China. While, the 4-inch plus screen size segment drove most shipments, the 5-6-inch segment saw its first gain in both China and India, it added

Galaxy Gear ‘will have 10 hours battery life’

The hotly-anticipated device will come with 10 hours of battery life, according to reports, meaning it would have to be charged every day.

And the watch will come with speakers integrated into the clasp, built in NFC and a Bluetooth connection, AmongTech said, allowing it to sync with mobile devices.

Other reports have suggested the gadget will only be able to sync with other Samsung mobile products.

Samsung Galaxy S5 may feature metal body

With the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 ready to make its formal debut at IFA next week, the rumor mill is already moving onto that otherbig thing, the Galaxy S line. According to a recent ET News report (translate), Samsung will employ an aluminum or other-metal housing for its fifth-generation hero phone.

As one of the biggest knocks against theSamsung Galaxy S4, the plastic body is often viewed as an inferior material compared to the likes of the HTC One's metal chassis. CNET, in its review of the twosmartphone, noted the "plastic design gives it a cheaper look than its rivals." Still, Samsung has said it chooses plastic for lightness and durability.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 may be another nine months from release, but that won't stop the Internet from buzzing about it. This week also gave way to a second S5 rumor, this time that it'll come with a 16-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization.

It's worth noting that high-profile devices such as the Galaxy S5 will be the subject of much rumor and conjecture in the coming months. Considering we're nowhere close to its announcement, we should tread lightly and expect conflicting reports.