Bharadwaj Chandramouli | Fone Arena

Sony Xperia Z1 Compact Review: The Mini we Deserve

In a world where gargantuan phones, as big as tablets, are released regularly, started a trend of “mini” flagships from companies like Samsung and HTC. They were supposed to be just scaled down versions of their popular flagship devices to cater to the market that just doesn’t want huge screens; instead they were scaled down even from the inside. They sported the same design, but a ton of compromises were made otherwise. A lot of companies followed suit with this, with their own “mini” offerings, and so did Sony, but with a twist.

The Xperia Z1 f was first launched in Japan, showing us the first glimpses of what seemed like the perfect “mini” of a flagship. Sensing the potential, Sony undoubtedly went global and announced the Xperia Z1 compact. It was, much like the Z1 f, just a smaller version of the Z1. The internals and the most important USPs of the Z1 were left untouched, hence becoming the “mini” we all yearned for, and deserved. With the burden of being almost the perfect Android replacement for the iPhone, can Sony’s “mini” flagship match the deservedly high expectations? Lets find out in our detailed review of the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact.

Video Review

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmR85EJy3_8

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Huawei calls Apple the “Fruit” and Samsung “Some song” in its bizarre MWC14 teaser

Huawei is gearing up to introduce a range of new products at the Mobile World Congress event this year, but before doing so, the Chinese company has readied a bizarre teaser to explain the kind of products it is launching. First off, why the video is bizarre is because it uses an “Apple” iPhone with a Siri-like voice assistant, to mock “Apple” and Samsung, calling them the “Fruit” and “Some song” respectively. Nevertheless, it gives us a taste of what we can expect from the company, when it reveals its products at this year’s biggest mobile event, the Mobile World Congress. Here’s the video –

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKa1Lx3IJio

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Apple and Samsung reportedly fail to reach an agreement in mediation talks

In unsurprising news of this week, a lot of Korean websites and news papers are reporting that top level executives from Samsung and Apple have failed to reach an agreement in their mediation talks. Apple and Samsung have been battling it out in the courts for a long while now, and that’s not a secret. Apple had accused Samsung of various IP infringements including the hotly debated “Trade Dress”, but the Judge had decided to give both the companies the option to resolve their tussle through mediation talks. If the reports are true, those talks just failed and both the companies with be back to the courts, with Samsung defending Apple’s claims again.

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Intex Aqua Octa Photo Gallery

Intex Aqua Octa is the Indian company’s foray into the huge screen 6″ phablet market, and is also one of the first devices to sport the Octa core processor from MediaTek. We had unboxed it earlier, to show you the box contents and a quick overview of the device, but this time around, we will show a walkthrough of the phone in clear photos. This 6 inch device from Intex is pretty unique. It looks like a really slim unibody phone but actually has a removable back cover and a replaceable battery, while managing to be light at the same time. It also has a sleek design over at the front, with a dark IPS screen and a metal rim, so how does it look from all the sides? Lets find out.

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Dell Venue tablets get free stylus and movie tickets in Valentine’s day offer

It’s Valentine’s day tomorrow, so a lot of companies are planning to cash in on the massive gift exchanges that will happen. Dell, which launched its new Venue range of tablets sometime last month, wants you to buy your lover one of them, and as an advantage, you will get a stylus for free. This offer will be valid for today and tomorrow only, with a free capacitive stylus and movie tickets for the day, but that’s about it. Dell had launched the Android based Venue 7 and Venue 8 tablets, along with the Windows based Venue 8 Pro tablet in India, but it seems like only the Android ones are getting this offer.

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Google Now can now directly let you call or text your loved ones

“Ok Google, Call Mom!” is now possible thanks to a new update for Google Now Voice Search. Being one of the more popular features that worked well in Apple’s Siri ever since its first release, Google Now finally steps it up in this department. The feature incorporates specific contact look up through voice, in case you have saved it by the same name, or even help you set up specific titles for you close ones. If you call it out, Google Now will pick that nick name first, and only then will look up names generally. This makes the contextual assistant more personal, and makes the process of calling so much easier. This update comes at a time when Android is gearing up to be inside cars, in which Google Now’s voice control would play a major role. With Siri already set to be inside cars, with its own mapping, Google’s efforts seem directly aimed at it.

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Alleged photos of the Apple iPhone 6 leak, features a big screen with no bezels

The iPhone 6 has been rumoured to have a big screen, through multiple reports, but we may be seeing the confirmation of it right now, if the allegedly leaked photos of the Apple iPhone 6 are true. Now, we are always advised to take the Apple leaks with a pinch of salt, as excitement around the iPhones usually drive people to actually make real life concepts, but from what we have seen with leaks after the iPhone 4S, most of them have somewhat turned true and this leak might turn out the same way(Update: High chances it might be fake). The picture you see above portrays the iPhone 6 with a design similar to the iPad mini and the iPad Air, zero bezels on the sides and of course, looks to sport a bigger screen. Earlier rumours had pointed at two models, one with a 4.7 inch screen and the other with a 5.7 inch one, are we seeing the smaller variant here?

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Microsoft reportedly discussing support for Android apps on Windows Phone and Windows

Microsoft is in discussions to add support for Android apps in Windows and Windows Phone, according to a report from TheVerge. Sources have told TheVerge that Microsoft is serious about bringing Android apps to both its platforms, but the discussions are still ongoing and nothing is concrete yet. The ongoing talks currently point to adding Android apps in the Windows Phone and Windows Stores, according to the report, which will inadvertently boost the app numbers, something that Microsoft really needs. Windows Phone and Windows have been second thoughts for any new developer looking at developing an app, and at most of the times, there are not enough resources to dedicate for a third platform, so will Android apps support on Windows and Windows Phone make sense?

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Nokia teases #NokiaFG on Twitter, possibly an accessory?

Nokia has started teasing some of its products as the Mobile World Congress event is heading closer and closer. Among many of the teasers on various social networks, the company has posted an image of various phones stacked together, and tagged it as “2014’s hottest fashion… #NokiaFG coming soon ;)” which makes no sense for us, but the picture may has some clues.

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Sony Xperia Z1 Compact Lime Photo Gallery

We had just unboxed the new Xperia Z1 Compact, Sony’s latest “mini” flagship device that is as powerful as its big brother, the Xperia Z1. The Japanese had finally delivered what everyone wanted, a small screened device in today’s standards, but with no compromise on power or features. With Snapdragon 800, 20.7 MP Sony camera with G Lens and Bionz sensor, a waterproof body in a design similar to the Z1, it checks all the marks for the best possible Android device with a smaller screen, unlike the ill performing “mini”s from Samsung or HTC. But that aside, the Z1 compact also looks really good, with a colourful lime coloured outer shell in the variant we got, so to showcase the device before our review, here is a photo gallery and walkthrough of the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact.

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HTC M8 poses for the camera with on screen buttons and a familiar design

The HTC M8 is possibly the worst kept secret in the mobile industry right now, just like its predecessor, the HTC One. The Taiwanese company has been planning its next flagship for a while now, and our bets are on a MWC reveal later this month. After leaking out in the flesh, with dual cameras on the back and even on screen buttons on the front, the latest leak portrays the HTC M8 with a full view of the front. As expected, we are seeing the leaked on screen buttons, and also the very familiar design from the HTC One, which is a good thing.

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Sony Xperia Z1 Compact Unboxing and First Impressions

Sony launched the Xperia Z1 Compact, as the “mini” variant of its flagship device, the Xperia Z1 sometime back. It was the Z1f(launched in Japan) for the world and was almost immediately heralded as the best compact Android device yet. Samsung and other companies like HTC have been playing the “mini” game for a generation or two, in which they would release a device that is identical to the flagship, but saddled by poorer specifications and obvious cost cutting, but Sony has done the inevitable, a smaller flagship, with deservedly flagship level specifications and a worthy competitor to the Apple iPhone, which still remains the only small-ish flagship product in the world. In a world of 6 inch phablets, how does the little one fare? Before we let you know that in our review, here is the customary unboxing video –

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL7flC_kTr8

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Dual OS Geeksphone Revolution to launch on 20th February for 289 Euros

The Geeksphone Revolution was introduced as one of the first ever devices to come with two operating systems out of the box, Android and Firefox Boot2Gecko. The Spanish handset maker, known for making other Firefox phones, will be launching it on the 20th of February for a price of 289 Euros(around 24,500 INR). Powered by the Intel Z2560 processor with PowerSGX544 for graphics, the Geeksphone revolution will be able to switch between two operating systems with ease. Sporting a 4.7 inch 960×540 screen and a 8MP camera, the phone is aimed at the mid-range segment, with the choice of OS being the obvious advantage here. Here are its complete specifications –

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Windows Phone 8.1 leak confirms SD card installation support, VPN and universal apps

Windows Phone 8.1 might be unveiled to the public only in April at the Build developer event, but some enterprising developers have already been able to get a preview of the SDK, as reported earlier by TheVerge. We had expected more information to pop up once it became available, and thanks to a redditor, who claims to be a high-profile WP app developer(there is proof), some details of the next big update to Microsoft’s mobile platform have leaked. While most of the details are developer-oriented, some of the long standing consumer complaints seem to have been resolved, like the support for installation of apps on the SD card, VPN support and the start of universal apps for Windows Store and Windows Phone Store.

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Intex Aqua Octa Unboxing and First Impressions

The Intex Aqua Octa is one of the first phones in the Indian market to feature the first “True Octa” processor from the MediaTek, the MT6592. It is also Intex’s first 6 inch phone in the mid range category, priced at Rs. 19,999. With new innards, a big screen and a decently built body, the Aqua Octa is an interesting device to enter this market. We have got hold of the retail version of this device, so if you are looking to pick one up, here’s an unboxing video that will show you the box contents, a quick overview of the device and more –

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

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