Bharadwaj Chandramouli | Fone Arena

Apple iPad 4 or iPad mini?

The Apple iPad mini was released on October 23rd ,2012 which is roughly 2 and a half years and three generations after the original Apple iPad that was announced on January 27, 2010. What’s special with the iPad mini is that Apple were vehemently denying the need for a smaller iPad, but as they always do, they caved in and then came the iPad mini. But there is always this confusion and a identity crisis associated with a new product, the iPad had it, and naturally, the iPad mini too. Indirectly acknowledging the fact that there is a market for smaller and cheaper iPads, Apple took a risk of cannibalising their own products which include the iPod touch and the original iPad, or did they? With that said, here starts the confusion of which iPad to get and why. We are here to help with that, and answer lies in the video embedded below and the text past the break.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXH_HfyN5fs

Continue reading “Apple iPad 4 or iPad mini?”

Nokia Lumia 920 vs LG Optimus G

The Nokia Lumia 920 had its fair share of comparisons made when it won our Battle of the Flagships 2012 but it wasn’t fair to leave it just at that, and hence we are doing the Lumia 920 vs the flagships series. We are looking at the Nokia Lumia 920 vs the LG Optimus G today. The LG Optimus G was one of the first devices to have been manufactured in collaboration with LG’s own companies like LG Innotek, LG Display and LG Chem and it is certainly one of LG’s best Android flagships till date. The Nokia Lumia 920 is Nokia’s flagship Windows Phone device and is probably the best Windows Phone on the market right now. So, how do they compare? Check out the in depth video comparison below and read past the break to know more.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wymaum2vYU

Continue reading “Nokia Lumia 920 vs LG Optimus G”

Sony Xperia Z and ZL coming soon to India

The Sony Xperia Z and Xperia ZL were introduced at the Consumer electronics show 2013 at Las Vegas recently. With both of them sporting a 5 inch 1080p screen and a powerful Qualcomm APQ8064 processor, they generated quite a lot of buzz at the trade show. It was announced that the global roll out will be started soon, and the above image is the first clue that both the Xperia Z and ZL are landing in the Indian markets soon. As you can see above, straight from the horse’s mouth, the Sony Xperia Z and Xperia ZL are supposedly “coming soon” to India.

Continue reading “Sony Xperia Z and ZL coming soon to India”

Ubuntu Smartphone Devices to Ship Starting October 2013

The Ubuntu operating system for Smartphones was recently unveiled with its radical UI and user experience getting much praise and accolade from the tech press. We took a hands on look at the Ubuntu OS running on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, at the International CES 2013 and we were quite impressed with it. Canonical inc., the minds behind the OS promised to bring a very similar experience from the desktop Ubuntu OS that is widely installed by various classes of consumers, to the smartphone experience. And they have just done that, with the Ubuntu for Smartphones. While we got to know about the software, the hardware was literally non existent at the OS launch, but that might be fixed real soon with Canonical CEO Mark Shuttleworth promising devices as early as October 2013.

Continue reading “Ubuntu Smartphone Devices to Ship Starting October 2013”

HTC Butterfly vs Nokia Lumia 920

The HTC Butterfly launched very recently in India for a price of Rs.45,990, making it one of the costliest phones to buy here. You might have read our review of the HTC Butterfly, with a large emphasis on it being the first smartphone to sport a 1920×1080 screen in India. The device is a monster by every sense and we sought out to compare it with other smartphones in our labs. First up, we have the newly launched Nokia Lumia 920 for comparison. Here’s a in-depth video comparison of both these devices, read past the break to get to know more about these two devices in comparison.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glmX4NWmBdY

Continue reading “HTC Butterfly vs Nokia Lumia 920”

Nokia Lumia 920 vs HTC One X

We’ve been doing the Nokia Lumia 920 vs the flagships series, and you could have seen the Nokia Lumia 920 vs Samsung Galaxy S3 comparison earlier. This time, it’s the Nokia Lumia 920 vs HTC One X. The HTC One X launched at the Mobile World Congress 2012 and was heralded as one of the most beautifully designed smartphones ever, while the Nokia Lumia 920, known for its own design too, was launched recently at Nokia World on the 5th of September. Both these devices share several traits and vie for the consumer’s wallets being placed in the same price bracket. So, which will come out on top? Lets see in the in depth comparison video below –

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njaAGTPbdl0

Continue reading “Nokia Lumia 920 vs HTC One X”

HTC M4 and HTC G2 specs leak out, to be announced after M7?

The HTC M7 is almost confirmed, with them planning the press event at London and NYC on the 19th of February, right before the Mobile World Congress at Barcelona, which is starting on the 25th. But according to some new leaks from the leakmeister, @EVleaks at UnwiredView, HTC is filling up its portfolio with two other devices, the HTC M4 and the HTC G2. By looking at the specs, the HTC M4 looks like a mid to high end device, with possibilities of it being a successor to the HTC One S. It is also interesting to note that the hardware specs somewhat resemble the HTC Windows Phone 8X, while the HTC G2(which bears no similarities to the first Android phone) is supposedly a low end device and a probable successor to the HTC Desire C.

Continue reading “HTC M4 and HTC G2 specs leak out, to be announced after M7?”

Whatsapp takes a breather after investigation of privacy violation by Canadian and Dutch authorities

California-based Whatsapp inc., the ubiquitous internet messaging service that rapidly became popular on all SmartPhone platforms has been facing privacy issues since its humble beginnings, but it was stepped up another notch when Dutch and Canadian privacy investigators found some disturbing violations relating to how Whatsapp handles the contacts library. However, once the investigation was over, with Whatsapp offering to fix some flaws quickly, the issue seems to be partly resolved. But authorities say it is far from over, and there is more work to be done, from Whatsapp’s end.

Continue reading “Whatsapp takes a breather after investigation of privacy violation by Canadian and Dutch authorities”

Karbonn Smart Titanium I vs Micromax A116 Canvas HD specs comparison

Like we witnessed earlier, with the launch of the Micromax A116 Canvas HD, the mid range smartphone segment just got way hotter in India. And the launch of the devices like Samsung Galaxy Grand and the Karbonn Smart Titanium I is a testament to that fact. These devices are perfect for the budget minded smartphone buyer, and each device offers specs and features at different price points. We had initially compared the specs of the Micromax A116 Canvas HD and the Samsung Galaxy Grand, and now, we are going to take a look at the Karbonn Smart Titanium I in comparison with the stalwart of the mid range segment in terms of specs – the Micromax A116 Canvas HD.

Continue reading “Karbonn Smart Titanium I vs Micromax A116 Canvas HD specs comparison”

Lava Xolo X500 to be the first Intel Z2420 powered smartphone in India

Intel had launched the Z2420 reference platform for low to mid end devices at the International CES 2013 just a week back, and we are now starting to learn from a report on NDTV Gadgets that the first smartphone to use that platform in India would be the Lava XOLO X500. Lava had already released the XOLO X900 in collaboration with Intel, and it proved to be quite a success. Following that, the XOLO X500 is supposed to be Lava’s second Intel phone that is ready to be launched in the Indian market.

UPDATE – It’s official!

Continue reading “Lava Xolo X500 to be the first Intel Z2420 powered smartphone in India”

Samsung posts $27.2 billion profit with 4% QoQ growth in mobile

It’s the season of quarterly results and yearly financial analysis of most of the consumer electronics and product companies in the world and Samsung is no exception. We saw the brilliant Q1 results Apple had, and the promising results Nokia had, now it’s time for the Samsung results, which, as you might have guessed by now, is huge. Samsung Electronics, the company as a whole, which includes, mobile, semi conductor and consumer electronics, has posted a whopping 27.2 billion USD profit, with the mobile division driving the growth at 4% QoQ increase in revenues.

Continue reading “Samsung posts $27.2 billion profit with 4% QoQ growth in mobile”

Huawei Ascend P2 press image leaks ahead of MWC launch

Tired of 5 inch full HD 1080p smartphones? Well, Huawei’s got you covered with the just leaked Huawei Ascend P2, sporting a 4.5 inches full HD 1920×1080 screen with a whopping 489 PPI pixel density. It’s like Huawei announced the Ascend D2 and the Ascend Mate just hours ago. This leak comes from the well known and trusted tipster @evleaks at UnwiredView. So, we are kinda leaning on completely trusting this leak, with its glorious press image and all. Read on to find out more.

Continue reading “Huawei Ascend P2 press image leaks ahead of MWC launch”

NFC goes mainstream at the GSMA MWC 2013, Barcelona

Get ready Android and Windows Phone 8 users/attendees, the GSM association has sought to bring NFC into the mainstream at the Mobile World Congress 2013, Barcelona. And yes, Apple iPhone users will be left out of this huge initiative. There will be NFC posters, booths, experience centers and even NFC based registration at the Mobile World Congress, the world’s largest mobile convention that is slated to happen between February 25 – 28 2013 this year.

Continue reading “NFC goes mainstream at the GSMA MWC 2013, Barcelona”

Carrier unlocking to be illegal in the United States starting January 26

It’s always hard to imagine how people are putting up with carrier restrictions in countries like the United States of America. While we Indians have been more than blessed with carrier independent phones from get go, it’s now apparently getting harder in the other side of the planet. The Digital Millenium Copyright Act(DMCA) had termed manual user level unlocking of phones illegal in October last year, but had provided a 90 day window for getting the phones unlocked. That 90 day window is getting over on January 26 this year, and from that day on, user unlocking of any phone will be termed illegal.

Continue reading “Carrier unlocking to be illegal in the United States starting January 26”

Micromax A116 Canvas HD vs Samsung Galaxy Grand specs comparison

It’s been quite exciting for the past few days, especially for the mid range smartphone segment here, in India. All that excitement is largely attested to the launch of two new devices serving the needs of the budget minded Indian Smartphone buyer. Just a day after Micromax launched the A116 canvas HD, Samsung followed suit and revealed the Galaxy grand, with similarities being huge 5 inch screens on both the phones. So, how do they compare with each other on paper? That’s exactly what we are going to see right now.

Continue reading “Micromax A116 Canvas HD vs Samsung Galaxy Grand specs comparison”